Storytime

It was the first anniversary of the terrorist bombing of September 11, 2001. The rubble from the World Trade Center had been cleared and the Pentagon repaired, but men and women all across America still mourned the 3,000 lives that were lost on that dark day. In my hometown, a memorial was set up on an expanse of land with a sea of twelve-inch white crosses representing the men and women who died.

Kathy and her family went to see the memorial.  Along with her seventeen-year-old daughter, Heather, Kathy took along her three-year-old niece, Taylor.  It was difficult for young Taylor to understand exactly what was going on and why so many people were sad, but she obediently walked hand-in-hand with her cousin between the tiny crosses.  At some point, little Taylor wandered away from her family.

It was reverently silent as the crowd of mourners looked at the names inscribed on the white memorials.  Some crosses were decorated with flowers, others with Teddy Bears or other memorabilia, but nothing spoke more poignantly than the silence broken by quiet sobs.  Then, as if coming directly from heaven, a small voice could be heard floating on the breeze.  Everyone turned to notice a little girl with outstretched arms twirling in circles among the crosses.

With face lifted toward the sky, she sang...

           "Jesus loves me, this I know. 
For the Bible tells me so. 
Little ones to Him belong. 
We are weak but He is strong. 
Yes, Jesus loves me. 
Yes, Jesus loves me. 
Yes, Jesus loves me. 
The Bible tells me so."
 
Time seemed to stand still as hundreds of mourners turned their attention to one small girl with a big message.  Even in the midst of pain, even with the loss of life, loss of dreams, and loss of hope... Jesus still loves us.  That love can lift the burden of despair, resurrect our dreams, and restore our hope.
In 2 Corinthians 4:6-9 Paul reminds us: "For God who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.  But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.  We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.  Therefore we do not lose heart.  Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

Jesus loves me...this I know.

CHUCKK! must read!

Sab: Somebody posted this on the internet and I found the news as amazed as the writer.

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NBC's series 'Chuck' is one of my favorite shows to watch every week. Zachary Levi as Chuck Bartowski is the most lovable tech-smart spy-geek (or is it geek-spy?) to hit television since Maxwell Smart of 'Get Smart,' though Chuck is far more adorable and swoon-worthy a hero. Season three of this cult favorite has Chuck slightly less bumbling, and back and forth between two gorgeous love interests, the kick-butt real spy Sara Walker and newcomer Hannah (Kristin Kreuk of 'Smallville').

The other day when I was discussing the latest post-Olympic episode with another fan friend, she asked me, "Did you know that Chuck is a Christian? A really devout one, I mean?"

Turns out, Relevant Magazine just did a major cover feature, "The Life and Faith of 'Chuck' Star Zac Levi" and Q&A with Levi on not only the show's success but his faith life. For example, here's Zac Levi on the topic of what advice he has for other aspiring actors going out for tough auditions:

"The first advice that I would give is to really spend time in prayer to make sure that this is exactly what God wants you to be doing and not just something that you really feel like you should be doing. Many times I have come home from a really devastating audition, and I'd be really thoroughly depressed because it was a role that I really was hoping for. I realized how crucial having a walk with God was because I could turn around and say, "It didn't happen, but obviously it wasn't God's will." People who don't have God in their lives only have themselves to blame. So they look back at the audition and they say, "I didn't do a good enough job." But so often it has nothing to do with how good you did in the audition; it has to do with the fact that you're a brunette and they were looking for a blonde. So, to me, the most important factor in all of the rejection was that I had a walk with God."

And on the subject of whether Hollywood is a difficult place to be a Christian:

"Absolutely. The atmosphere in Hollywood in general is very anti-conservative, very anti-Christian. The liberal segment of Hollywood, which is 80 percent of it if not more, they look at Christians as hypocrites that are false and fake. The tough part is that in many cases I can't argue with them. My job on my set, I believe, is to first just love people and gain that trust with people where they know that I really do love them and care about their well-being, so that when they are running into problems, they will hopefully, at some point, come to me and ask me, "What is your peace all about? What is your comfort all about? Where do you get your love? Where do you get your talents? And I can turn to them and say without blinking, "Jesus Christ.""

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"It has to do with the fact that you're a brunette and they were looking for a blonde. So, to me, the most important factor in all of the rejection was that I had a walk with God"

Sab: Quote of the day. we know we are weak and we decided to believe in God because miracles has happened to our lives when we clearly know some circumstances is way beyond our control. I frequently think that I don't deserved what he has given to me. He is just being really generous that's all I can say. This entry is by far the best one in my devotion blog. May God bless everyone who read this entry, Amen.

:)

Love you all!

Open your hearts and you'll hear the angels sing!

Temptation

"I sat in a movie theater with a friend who had succumbed to sexual temptation. She had lost her husband, her family, and many of her "friends." During a preview for another movie, the film showed a woman contemplating an affair with a suave Frenchman. Martha (not her real name) spoke a bit too loudly for the moviegoers sitting in the darkened theater. "Don't do it," she cried aloud. The words came out of her mouth before she could stop them. Martha was living the devastation of yielding to sexual temptation, and her audible cry was the overflow of her pain-filled heart.

I know this devotion is not for everybody. But if there is one woman out of the 200,000 or so that receive our Girlfriends in God devotions every day...just one woman who will turn away from the temptation that is knocking on her door today, then it is worth it.

Don't do it. Turn to God and allow Him to fill the emptiness in your heart today. He's waiting with open arms."

Sab: Spreading the words from Girlfriends in God :) NO OFFENSE though!

A gift

"God loves to look at us, and loves it when we will look back at Him. Even when we try to run away from our troubles... God will find us, bless us, even when we feel most alone, unsure... God will find a way to let us know that He is with us in this place, wherever we are."

- Kathleen Norris

p.s. Brought to you by:



Thankyou for the gift nicole!

Nick's Effect

Many might have heard stories about Nick Vujicic, he's absolutely a walking miracle. I'm admiring the things that God has been done to him.

http://ansblog.com/2009/12/imagine-your-life-without-limbs-no-arms-no-legs-meet-nick-vujicic/

A battlefield

"The only way to win this battle is to surrender."

Not to the problem, but to the solution. Not to the conflict, but to the resolution. In order to win in any earthly struggle or relationship battle, we must put away the weapons of our wounding words, and set aside the arsenal of our angry actions.

"Summing up: Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, and be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless—that's your job, to bless. You'll be a blessing and also get a blessing"

(1 Peter 3: 8-9) MSG.