Michelle

I met a lady today ~ a clerk at a Christian bookstore ~ named Michelle. She was helping me find a book for a woman who has separated from her husband. At that time I did not tell her it was because of the destruction pornography had brought to the family. It seemed she knew many of the books first hand ~ for she kept saying "I’ve read this one and it is good" and "I’ve read that one and it really spoke to me." At first I didn’t notice her tear streaked cheeks and blood shot eyes. She told me ~ "I’ve found these books to be personally helpful. We all go through hard times, don’t we?" It was then that I told her how my friend’s life was forever altered because of her husband’s addiction. And Michelle quietly said, "I know."

As she walked with me up to the cash register, this total stranger told me how she had just received another phone call from her husband of twenty years and had broken down in the stock room of the store. She then said, "What is he thinking? It’s Christmas." At that moment my heart ached for yet another woman who is struggling this season as her husband has faltered under the temptation. I looked at her name tag and said "Michelle? My middle name is Michelle so I am going to remember your name." Total strangers ~ we embraced across the counter and promised to pray for each other. The whole thing just kind of broke my heart.

She is my sister in the Lord and the bond that formed in such a short time was heart warming and pitifully sad all at the same time. But it has encouraged me that we Christians must remain steadfast, we must stand firm. We must reach out to a hurting people ~ men and women ~ it is our call. There are SO MANY folk that are hurting ~ and may we not get so caught up in our own lives that we don’t notice.

Sitting On The Park Bench

Isn't this just beautiful. Oh to sit on this bench right about now. Tranquil. Peaceful. I would like to be there. I've received some difficult news. I would appreciate any prayers you are willing to call out to our Lord.

Strong Crying And Tears

I have been preoccupied for the past few days ~ and when I am preoccupied I don’t seem to concentrate on the scripture as I ought. Eventually I put things into perspective (after much prayer and pleading to God) and then His Word becomes clearer. It’s kind of like the way I feel in the morning before I put on my glasses ~ things just become a whole lot clearer when I put them on.

Tonight I was reading in Hebrews 5. Verses 7-9 are speaking of Christ ~ Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared: Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation.

I reckon I don’t often think of my Lord as crying. I can always recall the account in John when he wept over Lazarus (John 11:35). But today, to my surprise, I read where Christ wept as he beheld the city of Jerusalem in Luke 19. How have I missed that after the many times I have read that book? And here again in Hebrews it mentions Christ crying.

I suppose when I have read that Christ wept I envisioned him with glistening tears on his face ~ moved for sure ~ but not out-in-out crying. That is ~ until tonight. Hebrews 5:7 says that He was praying with strong crying and tears. I know about strong crying while making supplication and petition to God. It seems I’ve been doing that quite a bit lately as I hear of Christian family after family coming under heavy attack by satan ~ in particular watching families being broken apart because of the presence of pornography in the home. Yep, I’ve had some strong crying lately as I have cried out to God to have mercy on these folk.

But when I read that my God ~ my Lord ~ cried strongly with tears it encouraged me. Yes, it encouraged me. Through out His Word it is mentioned that He knows our pain, He knows our infirmities, He can relate to what we are going through. And it isn’t that I doubted that, but when I read that verse I felt even closer to Him ~ at that moment the kindredness between us strengthened a bit more. It was a tiny nugget that God saw fit to share with me tonight because my mind was once again clear and on track. Thank you Lord!