Truth is Truth

A reader messaged me and shared her thoughts about "The Legacy." She loved the story and was touched by the love between the main characters, and I guess I was open enough in my response that she felt she could be open with her thoughts. (I love it when that happens:-))

This is how the messaging went:

Reader: This was a good story. I wish we could all bring others so much love and trust.

Me: Thank you! And yes, if more people in the world possessed such Christlike love, the world would be a far better place.

Reader: Isn't it because the world has forgotten Christ? Why can't we have true Christian love stories in public, in newspapers? Am I asking too much?

Me: It's not asking too much. Sadly, the media only concentrates on the negative when there is still so much good in the world. TV shows push immorality instead of virtue and chastity, and divorce instead of fidelity. "Shacking up" is made to look normal while marriage is looked upon as old fashioned. It isn't right.

I thanked the reader again for taking the time to read my book.
But that isn't really the end of the conversation - at least, for me, it isn't.
There are many people in the world just like this reader - people who are searching for the good in the world, and the pure.
They are searching for the things of Christ.
Those things should not be as hard to find as they are. If I allowed it to, that thought would make me sad.
But there is still some goodness and light left in this darkening world. I choose to hold on to that.

Go and Do

Thinking back on when our children were younger, I remember how painful it was when they chose to do the wrong things when they were raised to do the right things. There were no rewards for disobedience.

Nevertheless, they knew we loved them, and obedience brought good things. Such is the way it with our Heavenly Father. He always hears our prayers, but the blessings come when we do what He asks of us.

Bargaining With God

Some people try to make deals with God. They say to Him, "Lord, if you will just do this, or give me that, then I will do this or that." Sadly, they think bargaining is the way to get God to give them the blessings they seek. But it doesn't work that way.

God doesn't bargain. He isn't made that way. When we pray, we ask in faith, and He will bless us according to His will, whatever His will is. And if we are truly in tune with His spirit, we will never ask for anything contrary to His will, nor will we try to bend His will to our own. Our Heavenly Father knows each of us inside and out, and He know our heart and what is best for us. I pray that we can all remember this.

Life's Fire

Sometimes the phrase, "walking through the fire" describes perfectly life's tests and trials. Because we are currently in the final days of this part of our existence, Satan is running rampant creating fires, both physically and emotionally, and we are in a period of being tried like we have never been tried before.

The shoulder of the Lord is a strong one, and it is always available to us, even when the emotional flames burn so hot, we can't see the path through the thick smoke that is seemingly choking us. I know this now more than ever. I pray that we can all know it. It is a truth that will guide us through both the raging fires and the stormy seas ahead. I'm sure both will seem merciless and endless at times, but as long as we look to our Guide, He will never let us be lost.