Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.  Nay, in all these things we are more than  conquerors through him that loved us.  Romans 8:35

Rebecca peered out her bedroom window, watching all the other children playing in the snow.  How she wished she could play with them!

"Now, Rebecca," she remembered her father telling her that morning.  "You can't play in the snow today."  "Why not, Father?" Rebecca had asked.  Every day, the neighborhood children would gather in the park just behind Rebecca's house.  "Just trust me, Rebecca.  It's not what's best for you today," her father had replied.

At the time, Rebecca had responded by giving her father a kiss on the cheek and assuring him that she would stay inside and read.  But now she was having second thoughts.

It was simply beautiful outside, she thought to herself.  And that was true: the sun was shining brilliantly, the pure white snow was packed just right for making snowmen and going sleigh riding.  Why wouldn't her father let her go and play?  Why should she miss out on all the fun?

Just then a snowball exploded just outside her window.  Rebecca decided she couldn't stand it any longer.  She simply had to go and join the other children at play!

Leaving her book on the table, Rebecca slipped down the stairs and outside to join in the fun.  She tried to tell herself she was having a good time, but all the while her heart felt uncomfortable.  She kept looking this way and that, fearful least her father should see her.

After a few hours, Rebecca finally said her goodbyes and headed back towards her house.  She wanted to be safely lodged in her room before her father came home from work.

She was so intent on getting to her room as quickly as possible, that she didn't see the mitten someone had left on the stairs until her foot slipped.  The next thing she knew, she had fallen several steps down.  To her horror, she noticed that she had hit her father's favorite picture when she fell.  It was the last picture taken of her mom, before she died.  A huge gash ran along the front of the picture.

Normally, Rebecca would have hurried immediately to her father after such a fall, so he could doctor her up and make her feel better.  But not this time.  How could she face her father now?  She had disobeyed him and ruined her mother's picture.  Biting her lips to keep from crying out loud, Rebecca grabbed the ruined picture and hobbled to her room.

For the remainder of the day, she lay crying in agony.  Her body ached from the bruises she received in her fall.  But, somehow her heart -ah, that ached worse of all!  She felt certain that her father would no longer love her.  She had messed up in the past, but surely this time she had gone to far!  He would probably never want to speak to her again.  How could he still love her?

She sobbed uncontrollably into her pillow.  She had always been "daddy's little girl."  Especially, since her mom passed away.  She and her father would play and study her school work together.  They had laughed and cried together, but not now.  No, she felt certain all those wonderful times were over.

Who knows how long she would have stayed in her room, had her nanny not come in to check on her.  Rebecca's nanny had a way about her of finding out exactly what was wrong and offering solid, wise counsel.  And, tonight was no exception.

"Rebecca dear," she said firmly, but gently.  "You've been crying, but I suspect those tears are more for you then your father.  You must stop now and go to your father with the broken picture in your hand and tell him everything."

"Oh, but I can't!  I'm not worthy of his love!" Rebecca sobbed.  Her nanny sighed patiently.  "You were no more worthy of it yesterday than today, child.  Your father loves you because you're his daughter, not because of anything you do or don't do.  Hasn't he told you everyday since you were just a little tyke,  I love you?  Do you really think his love is dependent on you?"

"But, I broke mama's last picture."  Her nanny quickly replied, "Do you doubt his words to you?  Doubt his word... that was an angle Rebecca had never thought of before.  Maybe she should go to her father... yes, she must go see him, for if she didn't, she would never be able to rest again.

So, still shaking and trembling with fear, Rebecca limped down the hall to the living room.  She paused at the doorway.  Her father was sitting in his favorite chair, just like he did every night. 

He looked up when she entered and a smile radiating with love illuminated his face.  "Ah, you've come at last!  I've been waiting so long for you. Come, sit here on my lap."  As he spoke to Rebecca, he opened his arms widely.

Rebecca couldn't stand it.  "Oh, you don't understand, Father!  You can't love me anymore.  I've disobeyed you, then Rebecca held up the picture of her mother for her father to see.

"Oh, I know Rebecca, more than you think.  I watched as you went outside to play and I watched you fall and hit the picture frame.  I saw it all, Rebecca." 

"You did?  Rebecca was flabbergasted.  "But... but weren't you at work?"  Her father shook his head.  "Rebecca, I took the day off... just so I could spend some special time with you.  That's why I told you not to go outside to play.  I went to get ready for our day out... but when I returned you were not in your room.

"Rebecca, my little girl... I watched as you played with your friends.  You seemed to be having such a good time that I did not want to interrupt it.  Ever since I saw you fall, I've been longing for you to come to me, so that I could bandage your wounds and help you."

Rebecca could hardly believe her ears.  Her father had planned to spend the entire afternoon with her... and she had missed it.  Oh, what foolishness!  Yet her father knew it all... and loved her anyway.  How could this be?  "But father, how can you love me now?  I've disobeyed you and I've broken your favorite picture of mama?"

Rebecca's father smiled a smile she would never forget. "Rebecca dear, I loved you before you were even born.  You are my daughter and I will always love you!  Even thought your actions will result in consequences you could have avoided... nothing, nothing at all can ever separate you from my love.  Now, won't you come and let me help you with those bumps and bruises?"

Sounds like a funny little story... however, so many of us are like Rebecca.  We go to our secret places when we've sinned and try to hide from our heavenly father.  

But, think about this, God never hesitated to put everything on the line for us. He lovingly embraced us when we were in our sinful condition and then He exposed himself to the worst of the worst... by sending his only son to die for us. 

Do you honestly think that anything or anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Jesus' love for us?  No Way!!!  Not troubles, not hard times, not hatred or backstabbing, not hunger or homelessness, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture!

Nothing, absolutely nothing can withhold the love of Jesus from us!  Nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable - absolutely nothing can get between my Lord and I!!

So, come out of your hiding and get to your heavenly Father!!  Come quickly, run to him... for his arms are wide open and He is waiting... just for you!!

For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.  Romans 12:3

A young soldier, who was known for his nobility and honesty, went to his minister to ask him for advice.  When his pastor  had him come in and take a seat, the soldier asked, "Why do I feel so inferior? I have faced the battlefield and death so many times and I have defended those who were weaker than I.  Yet, I feel like my life has  no meaning, no importance whatsoever."

The preacher just looked at the young man as he went on, "I want to really make a difference in this world.  I want my life to truly count for something!"
 
His pastor replied, "Wait, before I answer, I want you to go to the park and just sit on a bench and observe what is around you."  Anger seemed to build in the young man, as he thought to himself, this preacher probably doesn't even have an answer for me.
Still, out of respect he dutifully went to the park, sat down and watched his surroundings.

The soldier watched as dogs caught Frisbees, children played and new mothers took their babies for a stroll.  He saw a young couple having a picnic and an older man reading a book.

That evening the soldier went back to his pastor and asked, "Do you have an answer for me?  The pastor invited him into his office, there  moonlit beams shone into the room.  The minister asked, "Do you see the moonbeams and how truly beautiful the moon is?  It will cross the entire firmament, and tomorrow the sun will shine once more!"

The preacher went on, "Son, the sunlight is so much brighter than the moon and it can show the details of the landscape around us... trees, mountains, clouds."  The soldier tried to quickly respond, however the preacher spoke again, "Do you think that the moon is inferior to the sun, because it does not shine the same way?"

"Of course not" answered the soldier.  "The moon and the sun are different things, each has its own beauty.  You cannot compare the two!"

"So you know the answer, young man.  We are two different people, each fighting in his own way for that which he believes and we are making it possible for the world to be a better place; the rest are mere appearances!"

Do you ever get tired of your everyday, ordinary life?  Do you get up, eat, go about your day, eat, try to finish the days work, eat again, go to sleep... and then do it all over again the next day?  

Our lives can become customary and familiar.  At times they can simply feel drab, humdrum and routine to us.  We may feel at times that our particular daily duties are uninspired and not as important as other lives may be.

Nonetheless, this not so!!  It is a lie straight from the devil himself!!  When we get up we must give our days to God and let Him have full reign over all we do on a daily basis!  Nothing done for God is mundane!!  

If you have given your day to God, and you are a stay at home mom, tending to your children by cooking, feeding, washing loads of laundry or simply reading a Dr. Zeus book... YOUR JOB IS IMPORTANT!   Maybe more so, because you are raising a generation for God's Kingdom!!

Never compare yourself to others!  Fix your attention on God, letting Him organize your daily plans.  God's will is to bring out the best in you.  When we give Him our time, He brings the changes to our lives from the inside out!  Godly maturity will form within our hearts and minds.

The only precise way to know and interpret ourselves, is by what God is and what He will do in our lives.  It is never by who we are and what  we can do for Him!

From the highest office in the United States... to the most inferior being... God loves us and will work through us... if only we ask Him to!

So, my friend... start your day with God!  Give Him the first fruits of your day by reading His Word, giving Him praise and saying a prayer!  In these simplistic tasks, you will find God does His most intricate works!!

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he  leadeth me beside the still waters.  He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of  righteousness for his name's sake.  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.   Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.  Psalm 23

A mother was concerned about her kindergarten son walking to school.  He didn't want his mother to walk with him.  She wanted to give him the feeling that he had some independence but yet she wanted to know he was safe.

So, she had an idea of how she would handle it.  She asked a neighbor if she would please follow him to school in the mornings, staying behind at a distance, so he wouldn't notice her.  She said that since she was up early with her toddler anyways, it would be a good way for them to get some exercise as well, so she agreed.

The next school day, the neighbor and her little girl set out following Timmy as he walked to school with another neighbor girl he knew.  She did this for the whole week.

As the two kids walked and chatted, kicking stones and twigs, Timmy's little friend noticed the same woman was following them as she seemed to do every day of the week.  Finally she asked Timmy, "Have you noticed that woman following us to school all week? Do you know her?"

Timmy nonchalantly replied, "Yeah, I know who she is."  The little girl asked again, "Well, who is she?"  "That's just Shirley Goodnest." Timmy answered, "and her daughter Marcy."

"Shirley Goodnest? Who is she and why is she following us?  "Well," Timmy explained, "every night my Mum makes me say the 23rd Psalm with my prayers, cus she worries about me so much.  And in the Psalm, it says, Shirley Goodnest and Marcy shall follow me all the days of my life.  So, I guess I'll just have to get used to it!"

Little children are so accepting of what a parent tells them.  And, so it should be, for us as  children of the Lord!  It is wonderful to know that Jesus is our keeper and our Shepherd!

To know that Jesus will provide for all our needs and that he always imparts the very best to us!  When we don't know which way to turn... Jesus will lead us in lush, green meadows and steer us beside still, clear pools of water.

He "restores" our soul! Yes our Lord and Savior can make everything brand new for us.  And then, He places us right back on our pathway, and in the right direction!

Jesus holds our hands as we walk through the Death Valley and we need not be afraid when we are at His side, for He will comfort us!

He dishes up a seven-course meal for us, right in front of all my enemies.  He brings LIFE back into our dying souls and then He fills us up with His blessings!

Grace, blessings and love spring from the heavens to pursue us. And, we can know fully... that one day we will forever and ever be with Jesus!

Friend... do you know my wonderful Savior, who is Jesus?  Feel free to email me for more information!  God Bless you!