Forced to see beyond me.

Okay, so by now you all know I LIKE to read. I would read above watching tv, playing video games, reading e-mail and sometimes I read instead of eating (well, I eventually eat, but sometimes several hours late).

Well, yesterday I read a book that will remain unnamed because you DON'T need to read it. I shouldn't have read it to the end, but once I get to a certain point in a book there's no turning back and I needed to know about the end or I would conjure up my own images/endings. Let's suffice it to say it opened my eyes to a world I knew was out there, but have chosen to ignore for over twenty years.

You see I've been married to a wonderful man for those twenty years and he has made my life easy. The first twenty years of my life were not that way, which is why I have chosen to ignore the evil of the world.  I don't watch the news because I don't want to know that people are being abused and/or dying at the hand of their fellow man/woman.

But yesterday's book opened my eyes to see, yet again, the depravity of the human race. So I am going to be proactive. The contents could bring me down, but I refuse to let it. Instead I am going to pray for all those who are in situations beyond their control. Pray with me, won't you?

Father, God, we love you and we thank you for the lives you have given us, for comfort, security, safety, food, shelter and so much more.
I pray now for all those who don't have the benefit of these simple things. I pray for those who are in abusive relationships - either spousal, or parental. Give them your peace, your love, your comfort, and an extra measure of protection.
Father, I pray for those who are in a prison of fear, where they can't escape and feel no hope. Give them your hope - the hope of Jesus. Send your angels to encamp around them, to hug them, so they may feel your love in a tangible way.
I pray for those who abuse. Touch the hurting places inside of them, the dark places that no one sees but you.
Father, I pray for those who strive to help the lost and hurting of this world. Let them not grow weary in the well-doing. Strengthen them, uplift them.
I pray for those who have gotten out of horrible situations, but are still ruled by the hurts and disappointments. Help them past these hurdles into a new and better life.
Lastly, God, I pray for those of us who have a good life, that we would remember to pray for those less fortunate, that we would be thankful for what we have and not grumble about that which we do not have. Give us all eyes to see and ears to hear. Amen.

As always, under HIS wings,

Ginger

Review - "Indelible" by Kristen Heitzmann

Trevor, the ultimate outdoors-man, saves three-year old Cody from a mountain lion. Natalie, Cody's aunt, watches him with fear and awe. Then she runs to her studio and sculpts Trevor - in the form of a saving angel, minus the wings.

He runs from a tragedy that changed his life; she hides because of a disability that prevents her from having a normal life.

Cody's accident draws them together, but a deranged "fan" of Trevor's keeps them fighting an external battle. Their internal wounds struggle to the surface, where they can face and conquer them, together.

"Indelible" gets you involved from the very first chapter and keeps you hooked until the last word. I enjoyed reading it. My only dislike of the story is the ending - it just sort of stops. The story is complete, but it seems to end abruptly.

*FYI - I would suggest the printed copy. I read it on my Kindle and the formatting tended to be slightly confusing in places that I think would be avoided in a hard copy.

Joining the fun...

A fellow writer had this idea and since I can't think of a thing to write on my own today, I'm going to join in.  She is going through the alphabet...this week's letter is J.

So now the hard part - what do I write that has to do with the letter "J"?

Ha...this should have been easy, right? 

JESUS

I live because of and for Him. I write for Him. I love Him. Do you know Him? Read along and find out...

Thousands of years ago (notice I didn't say millions), God created the earth. Genesis 1:1 tells us, "In the beginning God created...." It was perfect. Then man (and woman) sinned. God gave us the choice and, unfortunately, the wrong choice was made. But God (what a wonderful set of words) had a plan. He always has a plan.

A couple thousand years later, Jesus was born. He'd been talked about during those years. From Genesis through the Psalms and into the Prophets, Jesus was there.

John 1:1-3 (NKJV) tells us, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made." See, He was there.

His birth was nothing short of spectacular. Born to a virgin in a stable. Angels proclaiming His birth to shepherds. A star pointing the way for Magi (not necessarily three, by the way). Today we see proud papa's/daddy's handing out cigars (well, not so much), but gloating about being a proud new daddy. God was a proud daddy - his son had sacrificed his place in heaven to come to this chunk of dirt and rock to SAVE us. God wanted everyone to know - so he made sure it was announced.


Jesus ministered on this earth for thirty-three years (give or take). Then he WILLINGLY gave His life for you and for me. He knew what He was walking in to. Why else would He cry out for hours in prayer beforehand? He knew He was about to suffer, severely.

I recently watched The Passion for the first time. Yeah, I know, it's been out for a LONG time, but I couldn't bring myself to watch it. I knew I would remember the scenes in my head for a long time and my own imagination had done a fair job of conjuring up the images all on its own. To know that the scenes portrayed in the movie were only a fraction of what my Lord actually endured broke my heart.

But endure it He did, for me. Whether you were here or not, Jesus did it for ME. But you know what else? He did it for YOU - whether anyone else was here or not - HE did it for YOU.

His love knows no bounds. No matter what you've done or what you're going to do - He loves you.

But that's not enough. You have to accept that love - it's a gift He's giving. You have to accept Him as Lord, Savior, Protector, Healer, Leader, Comforter (and oh so much more). YOU have to say, "Yes" to his call. You have to ask for his forgiveness and turn away from the wrong. He'll help you.

For more in depth information - there's so much that could be shared, but I'm flawed and can't get it all down - please visit here:  The Rock Family Worship Center

As always, under HIS wings,
Ginger