Touched by your response

Dearest friends,
Thank you for allowing me to share from the deepest part of my heart yesterday. New friends, I used to be a criminal prosecutor doing what I could to help domestic violence victims (and their abusers) break free from that cycle. As the lady in yesterday's post shows, though, not all the women were able to see beyond their circumstances. I couldn't convince this one that filing charges could be the beginning of a new life for her. She felt that she deserved her beatings.

Can you imagine being trapped by your own mind like that?

Yet we all do it, to one degree or another. Some of us work 60 hours or more each week, convinced that "just a few more hours" will make the difference and get us the promotion or the prestige we crave. Some of us spend every last penny -- and even pennies we don't have -- on designer clothes. Outwardly, we look great. Inside, we're worrying ourselves to death over bills. I bet we all know at least one someone who has lost their McMansion in this economy. We wear the disguise of prosperity, though our finances are a wreck.... and our lives are quickly following.

Some of us pursue love in all the wrong ways, jumping from one relationship to the next, certain that "this time" we will have that fairy tale life we dream of. We don't stop chasing love long enough to realize that we don't really accept who we are. How could someone else fill the holes we have knocked in our own hearts?

Some chase looks, appearances and fitness like a drug.

We all have our weakness. The difference, for some, is that we understand weakness like Paul did. In 2 Corinthians 12:10 he wrote, "...for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."We understand that when we face hardship, God wants to battle with us. For us.

We are all weak. With Christ, we become strong.

Friends, this year -- as we all focus on the fresh start before us -- let's make a difference. How about:

• becoming the Samaritan for a homeless person? Instead of averting our eyes, let's bring them dinner (or if they hang out on a corner near a restaurant, invite them to join you for dinner. Your treat.)
• investing in the future? Most every homeless person, abuse victim and drunk has a family somewhere. They may have lost contact years ago... and the child is left with a hole in their heart. We can volunteer at Big Brothers/Big Sisters or other community agencies, read with kids, become a mentor... whatever. Let's start filling rejected hearts with love and value.
• invest in the kingdom? What does your church do? Where is your church's mission field? Get involved. Put your resources, your time, your prayer and your heart into reaching out to others.

I truly believe that if the church stood as one, we could eliminate a lot of the tragedy in our cities, our nation and this world. God is hope... but if they never get a chance to learn about him, they remain hopeless. 

With prayers for a nation filled with real love!