Random Thursday Thoughts

I have a million things going on in my mind right now and yet concern for a 16 year old girl carrying scars already looms largest. It's funny how everything else pales in comparison to a hurting young person. It takes me back to where I was when I was 16. Life was difficult. I was beginning to make really poor choices and I didn't really care. It all seemed so hopeless anyway so why not give in to the crowd. This is what I don't want to happen to this friend of mine and to so many other young women (and men) who are thinking those same things even now. How do we reach them? Sometimes I think we're afraid to tell them our stories for fear they'll think that we turned out okay so what's the big deal or that it will give them permission to make the same mistakes. How could we be so far from the truth? I think we need to be really honest. I think we need to not only tell them our stories but make sure they hear the consequences our stories have had on our lives. This sentence came to me the other day as I was driving around and it's been resonating in my heart and mind ever since, "I found myself locked in a prison the world defined as freedom" The world's definition of freedom and God's definition of freedom are not one and the same. He gave us freedom of choice or free will in the hopes we would choose Him. For me the consequences of not choosing Him were astronomical. I've lived them every day, only now God has shown me how His forgiveness covers all those scars. And He has chosen to allow me to speak truth. Heck, He's allowed me to speak! There was a time when I couldn't even do that! There is such freedom in forgiveness! In fact, there are many gifts in forgiveness. There is healing, purity, freedom, love, and whatever else you need. Step into it. Let it overtake you. Let it transform you. Something I heard the other day by Grahm Cooke has also stuck with me. He said, "Jesus' blood is like acid to my sin." Think about that. His blood eats away our sin leaving nothing behind. No sin. In God's eyes we are clean, pure and glowing. I want to see myself like that. I want my friend to see herself like that, too. So I continue to speak of His love and grace and mercy. It is new every morning.

(This photo was taken in my backyard this morning.)