Christianity…Is It a Hoax?

This is a friend of mine. I enjoyed reading this.

Michael•Burrus

Christianity, it is among the most controversial themes to have ever existed in the world.  For years, there has been endless debate as to whether the claims of this man Jesus of Nazareth, and the story of his life, are true.

I was an atheist.  I was not raised in a Christian family.  I did not hold to the belief of a supreme ruler of the universe that created all things but still had knowledge of each person that walked the earth.  I grew up believing that if you wanted something done, you did it, you did not pray for something to happen and hope that God heard your prayers.  I had no desire to hear anything about this “God” that people would try to push on me.  I wanted no part of any of it.

Enter a man named Jesus.

I had never heard that name before; I had…

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Let People See Jesus In Me?

Let people see Jesus in me. This is something I have often prayed. In fact, I wrote a song by that title. It is an easy thing to say, and I believe I really want others to see Jesus in me. I want them to see a life that is different. A life that will make them want to know more about the Jesus I know and love. I believe that most of us who are Christians feel the same way. But, it is easy to say the words les people see Jesus in me. What does it really mean? What was Jesus like? Let’s examine some of the characteristics of Jesus. Are we willing to adopt his nature into our daily lives? 1. Jesus was a rebel. By this I mean that he was willing to go against the grain. He din’t follow the norms of his day. For example, the religious leaders of Jesus’s day would never have associated with sinners. But, Jesus often hung out with drunkards, prostitutes, tax collectors, and outcasts. He knew that spending time with them was the only way to show them love and assure them that they could be forgiven. So he ate, drank, and talked with them. He said: “They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Mark 2:17. Are we willing to associate with and to love those who don’t yet know Jesus? Another example of Jesus going against the grain, was that he often healed on the sabbath. If you know anything about the Jewish religion, you know that this was a Nono. People weren’t suppose to work or do anything on the sabbath. But when Jesus saw a need, he met it. Sabbath or not. One example of this is found in mark 3:1-6. Jesus healed a man with a withered hand on the sabbath day. He knew that he would be roundly criticized and misunderstood, but he did it anyway. Are we willing to stand for the right thing, no matter the cost? Would we take a stand even if it meant being persecuted for our faith? 2. Jesus was a man of compassion. Jesus was a busy man. He had many demands on his schedule. Yet, he was never too busy to help those in need. In Mark 5, we see two examples of the compassion of Jesus. First, he was approached by a Roman ruler named Jairus, who asked him to come and see his daughter who was dying. He wanted Jesus to heal her. Jesus didn’t hesitate. He stopped what he was doing and immediately followed Jairus. But as he was going, a crowd of people pressed in around him. One woman, who had been sick for twelve years, thought that if she could just touch the him of Jesus’s garment, she would be healed. When she touched him, she was healed instantly. She feared that Jesus would condemn her, but he commended her faith. Then, he went and raised the daughter of Jairus from the dead. He wasn’t too busy to help others. How do we react when our plans are interrupted/. Do we grumble or become resentful, or do we try to meet the need, even if it is inconvenient/. Jesus also showed compassion in Mark 6:30-42. After a long period of tie spent ministering to others, Jesus knew that he and his disciples needed some time to rest. As they were going to a deserted pace to refresh themselves, a crowd of people followed them. Jesus was moved with compassion for the people. He taught them and then fed them before they went home. He knew that they were like sheep without a shepherd who desperately needed to know ‘God’s truth. Mark 6:34. So, despite his weariness, he met their needs. Are we willing to put others before ourselves? Jesus was. 3. Jesus was a humble servant. This is demonstrated in John 13. Jesus washed the dirty feet of the disciples just hours before he faced death on the cross. He wanted to set an example of serving others. He wasn’t too proud to do a menial task, even though he was Lord of lords, and King of kings. Are we willing to serve? Or would we rather be served. 4. Jesus showed mercy and forgiveness. Part of the Lord’s Prayer is: “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” Matthew 6:12. Jesus shares a story in Matthew 18:21-35, which demonstrates how we are to forgive. When peter asked how often we are to forgive others, Jesus said, up to seventy times seven. Then he tells the story of a man who owed a great deal of money to his master. The man begged for mercy and asked for forgiveness. The master had compassion on the man and forgave the debt. But, when the forgiven man was confronted with the opportunity to extend forgiveness to a fellow servant, he refused to do so. How often are we like the forgiven man? We have been forgiven and shown great mercy, but do we show others that same forgiveness. Jesus warns us that if we don’t forgive others, God will not forgive us. Matthew 18:35. Jesus shows us the ultimate example of forgiveness on the cross. As he wa dying for the sins of mankind, Jesus cried: “Father forgive them; for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34. Are we willing to show that kind of mercy to others? 5. Finally, Jesus loved his enemies. That includes you and me. Jesus said: “But love ye your enemies, and do good, lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.” Luke 6:35. It’s hard to imagine that kind of love, yet, that’s how Jesus loved all of us. Are we willing to love our enemies? I have barely scratched the surface of the characteristics of Jesus. But as we think about the nature of Christ, we realize that it is much easier to say let people see Jesus in me, than it is to actually live that way. Thankfully, we don’t have to try to live this way alone. We have God’s help as we live our lives each day. We will never live perfectly, but as we submit to God’s Holy Spirit each day, and spend time with the lord, we can become more like him. With His help, people can see Jesus in us.

Let People See Jesus In Me? Is That What We Really Want?

Let people see Jesus in me. I have often prayed that prayer. In fact, I wrote a song several years ago by that title. I believe that most of us who are Christians want to reflect the characteristics of Jesus in our daily lives. This is a godly desire and something we should certainly strive for. But, when we pray that others will see Jesus in us, are we merely saying something that sounds good? Or do we really stop and think about what we are asking for? Let’s examine some of the characteristics of Jesus and see if we are really willing to commit to being more like him. 1. Jesus was a rebel. By this I mean that he often went against the grain when it came to popular opinion in his day. For example, Jesus spent a lot of time hanging out with sinners. He had dinner with them. He engaged in conversation with them. He was always willing to meet their needs. The story of the woman at the well in John chapter four, is just one example of this. When the religious leaders of the day asked why Jesus spent time with those who were considered undesirable, he said: “They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Mark 2:17. Jesus was willing to spend time with prostitutes, outcasts, drunkards, and hated tax collectors. Are we willing to reach out to broken people who are different than us? Will we share God’s love to people with different lifestyles and backgrounds? Even if it makes us uncomfortable? Another example of Jesus going against the grain was that he often healed the sick on the sabbath day. One example of this is found in Mark chapter three, when Jesus healed a man with a withered hand on the sabbath. In spite of the fact that it was unlawful to do anything on the sabbath day, Jesus believed that it was always right to do good. He ministered unto people every day, including the sabbath. He knew he would be roundly criticized and misunderstood, but he did the right thing anyway. Are we willing to stand for what is right? Even if it goes against popular opinion or the norms of the day? Would we be willing to stand for our faith even if it means suffering persecution? 2. Jesus always showed compassion, even when it was inconvenient. One passage which illustrates the compassion of Jesus is found in Mark, 6:30-42. Jesus and his disciples had spent several days ministering unto others. Jesus told his disciples that it was time for them to take a break and go away and rest for a while. But, as they were going to a deserted place to rest, people saw them and followed them. Jesus was moved with compassion for the people. He knew that they were like sheep without a shepherd who desperately needed to know God’s truth. See Mark 6:34. So, in spite of how weary he was, he taught the people. Then, after several hours, he knew they must be hungry. He fed the multitudes with just a few fish and some bread. He was more concerned about meeting their needs than taking care of himself. How do we act when our plans are interrupted? Do we grumble or become resentful? Or do we stop what we are doing and try to meet the needs of others? 3. Jesus was always willing to forgive. An example of this is found in Matthew 18:21-35. Peter asked Jesus how often we should forgive someone. Peter asked should we forgive up to seven times? Jesus responded that we should forgive up to seventy times seven. He then told a parable about a man who owed a great debt of money to his master. When the man begged for mercy, his master had compassion on him and forgave the debt. But after the man experienced mercy, he failed to show the same mercy to someone else. When he encountered a fellow servant who owed him a small amount of money, he refused to forgive. Jesus warns us that if we don’t forgive others from the heart, God will not forgive us. Jesus showed us the ultimate example of forgiveness when he hung on the cross. He cried out: “Father forgive them; for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34. Forgiveness is often one of the most challenging things we must do. Sometimes we suffer hurt and pain which is unimaginable. But, we are called to forgive. Just as we have been forgiven, so we must forgive. Are we willing to do so? 4. Jesus loved others. This is similar to forgiveness. But when Jesus loved, he loved differently than most of us do. He loved his enemies. He talked about this in Matthew 5, and in Luke 6. It is easy to love people who are kind to us. But Jesus said: “Love your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.” Luke 6:35. Are we willing to love our enemies? 5. Jesus was a humble servant. In John chapter thirteen, we see Jesus washing the dirty feet of the disciples. He told them that he was washing their feet as an example of how we ought to be willing to serve others. How extraordinary that the Lord of Lords and the King of kings was willing to serve others. Are we humble? Are we willing to serve? Or do we expect others to serve us? These are just a few examples of the character of Jesus. I know I have barely scratched the surface of describing who he is. But, as we think about letting others see Jesus in us, we can realize how challenging this is. It’s easy to say the words, are we really willing to live this way? I believe that most of us want to live in such a way that people can see Jesus in us. We will never do it perfectly, and we cant do it on our own, But with oGod’s help, we can develop these Christlike characteristics. With His Devine help, people can see Jesus in us.

No Turning Back

One of the greatest things about the Bible is that we can read a passage many times and still glean something new each time we read it. That happened to me today. One of my devotional asked the question: Are you a true follower of Jesus? The author pointed out that although many people followed Jesus during his earthly ministry, only 120 people were waiting in the upper room for the coming of the Holy Spirit after the resurrection. See Acts 1:12-15. Actually, we can narrow this down even more. When Jesus was crucified, only a few women and one disciple were present in the Crowd. Many people in Christ’s day followed him at a distance. Perhaps they were curious about who he was. Or, maybe they just wanted something from him. This was the case in the story recorded in John 6, about when Jesus fed five thousand people with some fish and bread. Many people followed him the next day because they wanted to be fed physically again. Some wanted to see more miracles or to see him use his power to defeat the Roman Empire by becoming a great military leader. When Jesus didn’t act according to what the multitudes wanted, many people fell away. This is human nature. In fact, Jesus talked about this in the gospels. He said that many would follow the broad road which leads to destruction, but only a few will walk the straight and narrow path. Matthew 713-14. He gives another description of temporary followers in Matthew thirteen. The parable of the sower in a great illustration of both the true and the false followers of Jesus. Here are the characteristics of the false followers. 1. Those who receive seed by the way side. This type of person is described in Matthew 7:13-19. This is the person who comes to church and never receives the Word. They reject the message of salvation. They seem to have no understanding of their need for God. 2. The stony ground follower. These people are described in Matthew 13:20-21. They follow Christ for a little while. They may come to church and quickly make a decision to get saved and join the church. They may be excited about their new found faith for a while. They may soak up the Bible and try to learn all they can. Maybe they get actively involved in the church for a time. But when trouble comes, they get discouraged and quickly turn back to their old way of life. 3. The unfruitful and thorny follower. These are the people who let other pursuits keep them away from church. These are busy people who get distracted by pursuing wealth. Or they get bogged down by the daily cares of life and get distracted from seeking the Lord. See Matthew 13:-22. 4. The faithful followers. These are those who stay true to the course. They hear the Word, understand it, and live lives that bear fruit for God. Matthew 13:23. These are the people we want to be. Those who decide to follow Jesus come what may. As I thought about being a true follower of Jesus, I read another devotional today about the church at Laodicea. This is found in Revelation 3:14-22. This church was full of people who attended services regularly. But Jesus said they were neither hot nor cold. They were lukewarm. Just going through the motions each week. Many people today attend church on Sunday morning. They sing the songs, read the Scriptures, and dutifully listen to the sermon. They may even give a little money now and then. But their hearts are far from God. They have the false idea that just because they are basically good people, and they attend church regularly, they are fine. But God is interested in those who will commit their lives to Him come what may. When the skies are sunny in our lives and it seems that nothing can go wrong, we follow Jesus. When it’s been a rotten week and we just want to sleep on Sunday morning, we follow Jesus. When we are misunderstood or ridiculed for our faith, we follow Jesus. When we cant find a job, when we lose our good health, when a relationship fails, when dreams don’t come true, we follow Jesus. I don’t always succeed like I want to, but I want to be a true follower of Jesus. As the old song says: I have decided to follow Jesus. I have decided to follow Jesus. I have decided to follow Jesus. No turning back, no turning back.

Follow The Golden Rule

As most of you know, I have been blind since birth. I think of blindness not as a disability, but more as an inconvenience in life. But sometimes people are uncomfortable around those who are blind or physically handicapped. So I thought I would share my personal preference about how I want to be treated. This is just my opinion. Others with physical limitations may feel differently. Here is my list of suggestions about how to treat people with disabilities. 1. It’s ok to use humor. I often joke about my blindness as a way to break the ice or to help others feel more comfortable. For example, I might say something like I forgot my glasses at home. Or, do you need for me to drive? Humor always makes any situation easier. I don’t mind if you joke and laugh right along with me. 2. It’s ok to ask questions. If you wonder how I do something just ask. I don’t mind answering questions. Asking opens a dialogue and usually helps us both to learn more about each other. If you are curious about how I match my clothes, how I separate dollar bills, or if I can understand what colors are, go ahead and ask. Learning will make you more comfortable, and in turn, will make me feel more at ease around you because you are less nervous. 3. Understand that often the only thing blind people have in common is our lack of sight. We are as diverse as any other group of people. Sometimes people want to compare people with disabilities with one another. For example, I usually get around by walking with someone. I can use a cane, but I don’t use one that often. That is my personal choice. Other blind people travel independently with a cane or a seeing eye guide dog. That is their preference. I know some blind people who are excellent cooks. I can cook simple things, but I don’t like to do so. Again, this is just a matter of personal choice. There is no right or wrong. The point is that we don’t need to be compared with each other. We do what works for us as individuals. Just like everyone else. 4. Use a normal tone of voice when you are speaking to me. This doesn’t happen all the time, but sometimes people will speak loudly or more slowly to me. This isn’t necessary. I am blind, not deaf. Although I may need hearing aides soon, this is because of my age, not my blindness. Also, I can reasonably understand and comprehend what you are saying. I may not be the smartest person in the world, but my blindness doesn’t make me less able to understand what you mean. 5. If I haven’t seen you in a while, or if we don’t talk often, I like it when you identify yourself to me. This helps me know who you are without having to try to identify a voice I don’t hear on a regular basis. I have had some people ask if I knew who they were when I hadn’t been around them for years. When I didn’t know, it made the situation awkward for both of us. If I’m around you all the time, I know you by your voice or some other identifying trait. But, if we rarely have contact, I think it helps both of us if you tell me who you are. 6. Think before you speak. As I said earlier, blindness is more of an inconvenience than a disability. I have often felt that there are other physical handicaps that are worse than mine. However, I still wish I could see. I would love to be able to drive or to see facial expressions. I would enjoy looking at pictures or to be able to view the glorious wonders of God’s creation. So it bothers me when people say, be glad you cant see because that was gross. Or be glad you don’t have to drive because you don’t have to deal with stupid drivers. Most people are trying to be funny when they say this, but you would never say to someone in a wheelchair, be glad you cant walk because walking a long distance can men you tired. Most of us would rather not have the physical or mental disabilities we have, these things are a fact of life we have to overcome. We don’t want pity, but just use common sense before you speak. 7. Just think of the golden rule when you are dealing with anyone with a disability. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Do you want to be included in conversations or activities? Do you wish to be perceived as a normal person? Do you want to be accepted and treated like everyone else? Those of us with disabilities want the same things you do. So treat us accordingly. Don’t put us on a pedestal or believe that we are better or worse than anyone based on our limitations. Judge us on the basis of our character. Like us or not because of our personalities. We are human. Treat us like you would treat anyone else. In conclusion, I hope I haven’t offended anyone. These are just my personal opinions and you can agree or disagree with me. I hope this has been helpful. If not just take it as a person sharing her feelings. This was not written because of anything anyone did or said, it was just something I wanted to express. Believe me. There are times when I need to think before I speak, be more sensitive to others, and learn how to be more comfortable around people who are different than I am. If we all remember the golden rule as we interact with one another, I think we will all be better off. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. That’s always a good motto to live by.

Living Lives Of Worship

What do you think of when you hear the word worship? Many times we think of worship as something that happens once a week. We gather at church on Sunday morning and take part in the worship service. We sing songs, take up the offering, hear the sermon, and go home. But worship is meant to be an ongoing experience throughout our life. How can we make worshiping God a daily practice? Here are some things we can do to help us focus on worshiping our Heavenly Father all the time. 1. Having a clean heart. Psalm 139:23 says: Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me and know my thoughts. One of the biggest obstacles of truly worshiping God is a heart which is out of sorts. If we are holding on to unforgiveness, filled with anger or bitterness, or consumed with negative or critical attitudes. Our minds cant be free to focus on the Lord. Before we enter the sanctuary on Sundays, our have our private time with the Lord, we should ask him to show us areas in our lives which need his attention. We should ask his forgiveness for unconfessed sins. We should ask him to cleanse of from all unrighteousness. Then we can be free from the burden of sin and have sweet fellowship with the Lord. 2. Meditate on God’s greatness. Romans 11:33 says: O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! If we focus on God’s greatness and how good he has been to us, we will be more likely to have hearts filled with gratitude. One way we can keep our minds focused on the Lord is to expose ourselves to His Word, listen to Christian music, and watch wholesome programs. If we fill our minds full of the world’s garbage, it is easy to get our minds of of the Lord. 3. Holy living. Romans 12:1-2 tells us to present our bodies as living sacrifices to the Lord. We should no longer live as the world lives, but we need to be transformed more and more into the godly person God wants us to be. As our minds are renewed and our hearts are changed more and more into His likeness, we will be able to know Him better. We will understand more and more how He wants us to live and what He wants us to do. So often Christians try to live as close to the world as possible, but we are called to be set apart. We are called to holy obedient living. 4. Living lives of service. Part of worshiping God is serving Him and others with the gifts He has given us. Romans twelve and 1 Corinthians twelve speak of the body of Christ. We are once body, but we have many members. Each member must do his or her part for the body to work effectively. Using our gifts to serve God and to help others is an offering to God. It is a way of giving back for all God has done for us. Sadly, the church is full of people who don’t use their gifts fully or not at all. This can be a hindrance to worship because the few who are working can become worn out and resentful. In conclusion, God wants our entire lives to be lives of worship to Him. Jesus warned that we should not worship with our lips only, but with our whole hearts. Mark 7:13. We will never worship perfectly while on this earth. There will always be distractions and cares of this world which try to get us off track. But, we can strive every day to lives lives of worship. As Romans 12:1 says: I beseech ye therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. May we strive to live lives of worship.

We Don’t Have To Wonder

Recently I heard a friend say that she hoped she had a home in heaven. We were in a group setting, so I didn’t have an opportunity to respond to my friend’s comment. But, her words made me think about how so many people are unsure of where they will spend eternity. Some even wonder if there is a real heaven and a real hell. I believe the Bible makes it clear that there is indeed both a real heaven and a real hell. You can read a vivid description of life after death in Luke chapter sixteen. Once we have settled the question of a real heaven and a real hell, how can we know where we will spend eternity? God doesn’t want us to wonder or be unsure. We are not meant to go around hoping we will get in to heaven one day. Here are some Biblical truths about eternal life. 1. There is only one way to get to heaven. Many believe there are several paths to God. But, Jesus makes it clear that there is only one way. He says in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comets unto the Father, but by me.” How could Jesus make such a statement? Because he was here from the beginning of the world. John 1:3 says that all things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. Jesus is the author and creator of life. So he has the right to say that he is the only way to have eternal life. 2. Eternal life depends on God, not us. When Adam fell to temptation in the Garden Of Eden, it caused all men to fall. We are born with a sin nature. We are naturally inclined to sin. Romans 3:23 says that all have sinned and come short of God’s glory. Because God is not only a God of mercy, but also a God of justice, he had to make a way for man to atone for his sin. During the Old Testament days, man lived under the law. Animal sacrifices were made to atone for man’s sin. But, no blood from animals was sufficient to satisfy God’s requirement to pay for our sins. Jesus came to earth and lived a sinless life so that he could be the perfect sacrifice for our sins. His blood satisfied the need for a perfect atonement for our sins. It is not our goodness that saves us. The Bible says that our righteousness is like filthy rags. We can never be good enough to save ourselves. 3. Believe on Jesus as Lord and Savior. Romans 10:9 says that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Furthermore, we read in Ephesians 2:8-9, For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. So in order to have eternal life, we must admit we are sinners, believe that Jesus died to save us from our sins and that he rose again, and confess him as our Lord and Savior. Heaven is nothing we can earn. It has nothing to do with how good we are or what church we attend. It doesn’t matter how much money we may have or how well we are known. All that matters is what is our relationship with Jesus. He is the only way to have eternal life. We find these comforting words in John 14. Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: If it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. John 14:1-3. The Bible makes it clear that we can have eternal life through faith in Christ Jesus. We don’t have to hope or wonder. God gives us blessed assurance through His Word. Praise God! We can know.

Our Living Hope

Memorial Day is a microcosm of life. It is filled with joy and sorrow at the same time. On one hand, it is a time of celebration. Many have the day off from work. People will be having cookouts, going to the laek, or just relaxing and being with family. On the other hand, this is a somber day for many. We think of our loved ones who are no longer with us. Many will be spending time at the cemeterry today remembering those whom they have lost. Whether it is someone who gave their life in service to our country, or a precious loved one who meant the world to us, this day can be a hard one to get through for many. Recently, our family experienced a time of loss. When I heard about the death of my husband’s grandmother, John 11:25, came to my mind. “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.”. As difficult as it was to see my husband Jeff and his family grieve during their time of loss, it was bearable because Jeff’s grandmother was a Christian. Because she had trusted Jesus as her Lord and Savor, we believe we will see her again one day. How much harder grief is when we don’t have that blessed hope. So, for those who are hurting today, I know that no words can take away your pain. Grief is a long a nhard process. Everyone deals with it in thier own way. But, Jesus can help you through your grief. The Bible says he wept when he saw the people grieving over Lazarus. He hurts right along with us. And for Christians, we have the hope and blessed assurance of seeing our loved one again. So may God comfort you if you are hurting today. And if you have never trusted Jesus as Lord and Savior, he is ready to welcome you with open arms. Ask him to come into your heart and he will do so. You can find forgiveness, hope, and comfort that only he can give. Have a bless Memorial Day everyone.

When God Says No

Throughout my life, I have struggled with loneliness. I think this is mainly because I am shy around people until I get to know them. Also, my blindness makes some people uncomfortable at first. As a result of my difficulty in making close friends, I have prayed about friendships with women from the time I was a teenager. I remember relationships in the past that I longed for and earnestly prayed about. I think most women have a desire to have intimate friendships with other women. We love our spouses, children, (the furry kind in my case) and our families. But, we still have that longing for intimacy with other women. I use to get so disappointed when relationships with other women didn’t work out as I hoped. I sometimes wondered why God didn’t answer my prayers the way I wanted him to. I would think: “What’s the big deal Lord? A close friendship is all I want. That’s a small request for a God who can do anything.”. I think that by the time I hit my early forties, I had just about given up on ever having close friendships with other women. I had casual friendships at church and work, and a wonderful husband and family. Little did I know that God was about to answer my prayers in an unexpected way. In 2009, a bus shuttle was started which went from Mt. Sterling Ky. where I live, to Lexington Ky. It was started to help people who worked in Lexington to get to work mor affordably. This was when the gas prices were really high. I was excited about the shuttle because I thought it would be a chance to meet new people. I still prayed about friendships, even though I had lost hope. The people on the shuttle were nice, but I didn’t think I was going to connect with anyone. Most days I would sit quietly and listen to the conversations going on around me. The shuttle only lasted a couple of months. But, I was invited to start riding to work with two of the shuttle passengers who had previously carpooled together. That’s when a wonderful new chapter in my life began. Polly and Sherry have become the close friends I have always wanted. We share laughter, tears, meals, and the ups and downs of everyday life with each other. We have even gone on vacation together. It is such a joy and blessing to have their friendship and support. I love the fact that we are all Christians. We often pray for one another. We believe that God brought us together for a reason. Thinking about our friendship reminds me that God does everything in his perfect way and in his perfect timing. Maybe he is teaching us patients and trust as we wait on his answers. So, when God says no, maybe for many years, it just means that he has something better in mind. As for me, the blessing was worth the wait. I thank God for my precious friends.

Seasons

Life comes in seasons.

• There are the year’s seasons: spring, summer, fall, winter, rainy season, & dry season (depending on your location in the world).
• There are the various age seasons: child, adolescent, young adult, middle adult, and older adult.
• There are relationship seasons: child at home in a family, single, dating, engaged, married, divorced, widowed; and also childless, parent of young children, parent of teenagers, empty nest, grandparent.
• There are friendship seasons: people that God places in our lives for some purpose (to benefit us, or them, or both us & them). Some people may stay for a long time, while others may stay for a very short period.
• There are spiritual/emotional seasons: with pain, heartache, & hopelessness; or with joy and blessings that fill our cup to overflowing.

Every season has its beauty, if you look for it; and yet every season also has its less-pleasant parts. I want all the good things in my life to last forever – I mean, doesn’t everybody?

But God knows I wouldn’t love & depend on Him as much then – besides that I would start to take those good things for granted, ceasing to be grateful for them or even to really enjoy them (as hard as that might be to believe at times).

Not to mention that Father-Love has so many good things planned to give us that if we had them all at once, we’d simply be too overwhelmed to appreciate or take pleasure from it all!

He really does have OUR best interests at heart. He loves us and is working everything in all of these seasons FOR OUR GOOD – just like Grace said here:

Room 828

I’ve been through some pretty rough seasons … physical death, months in a semi-coma, years of therapy, my parents’ divorce, great loneliness, extended job-searches, lots of change from early childhood on in regards to homes/churches/jobs/colleges, over a decade to get my degree, almost two decades as a single woman interested in guys, etc.

I’ve also had plenty of very-joyous seasons and am in a pretty nice one right now … graduated college in May, interned with Joni & Friends in Arizona this summer, have been 24/7 caregiver for 3 months to a toddler who lives with me and calls me “Mommy,” and am dating a great guy.

When we’re in the midst of tough seasons, it feels like they’re gonna last forever – but they won’t, I promise.

When we’re in the midst of happy seasons, we hope (and usually expect) that they’re gonna last forever – but they might not. Not in this life, anyway. We/I need to keep our/my hope in God and not in some little season He’s temporarily blessing us/me with.

And the best news of all is that we WILL get to enjoy the-most-perfect-season-ever someday in Heaven, and that this final season will NEVER END!!!