Pup Train

 “He works for the good of all who love Him and have been called for His purpose.” ~ Romans 8:28

Eugene lives on a cul-de-sac - the fancier relative of a dead-end street.  Its benefits include less car and foot traffic resulting in more privacy.  The downside is that people sometimes come by and dump unwanted pets there, leaving them to fend for themselves.

Now he spends the majority of his retirement looking after stray dogs.  At 82, what can be more golden than that?

He’s taken in countless dogs over the years, fed them, and got them spayed and neutered.  Eugene made a place for them to live and be loved.  But more than just keeping them safe, he's found an adorable way to keep them happy, too.

One day while driving down a country road near his home, he became fascinated watching his canine passenger with his head out the truck’s window.  The reason dogs like doing that has little to do with enjoying the scenery or feeling the wind.  They have an incredible sense of smell.  So, they hang out the window to enjoy the sensory overload of new and pleasurable smells zipping by.

He had an idea: a “Pup Train.” That would make getting around a little bit easier for everyone involved.  It meant that they could enjoy more outdoor adventures together.

He cut holes in 55-gallon fiberglass barrels, put wheels under them, and tied them together.  The former railroad employee takes his conductor duties seriously: each car has assigned seating for his furry passengers.  He added pillows to make them feel more comfortable.  There’s also a wooden ramp available to help those who might have trouble boarding his puppy express.

Behind his lawn tractor, Eugene began taking the rescue pack of nine in his care around town a couple of times each week.  “Now whenever they hear me hooking the tractor up, they get so excited," he said.  "They all come running and board the train on their own.  They're always ready to go joyriding!"

Residents often spot them go puttering down quiet streets, through the forest near their home, or stopping by a local creek for some fresh air in the coolest, most adorable train in the world.  One of the locals even set up a GoFundMe campaign to help cover the expenses of caring for the dogs. And raised over $17,000.

Perhaps Eugene Bostick's most memorable job began long after he retired.  However, the Fort Worth native never expected his life to take such an unorthodox turn.  It was the cruelty of others that forced him to take on the duty of helping needy pets.  He couldn't bear to see them left to starve on the streets.

Good works often arise from the cruelest circumstances.  One thing’s for sure, bad things equip believers like Eugene for deeper ministry.

Father God, we live in a world of suffering.  Your Son was no stranger to pain.  Instead of doubting Your goodness, help us lean not on your own understanding, but to trust in You more completely.  Amen

Stolen Youth

 “I will never leave you or forsake you." ~ Hebrews 13:5

In 1985, Katariina (13), her teenage brother, and their mother left their South Florida home to escape Kat's abusive father.  Katarina's Mom worked 2 menial jobs while caring for her children.  They hid in a non-descript Miami Beach hotel, where the kids spent most days unsupervised at the swimming pool.

There, Katariina met Mary, a confident 19-year-old who took an interest in the early-teen.  She was everything Kat hoped to be - thin, pretty, and confident.  Mary seemed to be a flower that made others bloom, including Kat.  The two quickly became friends.

Kat was a damaged, vulnerable, lonely young girl, yearning to be loved, and wanting attention.  That made her the perfect target.  Mary began telling her about local men who would take care of her, give her money for food, and offer needed love.  In reality, Mary was slowly luring her into a dangerous child trafficking ring.

Enticed by Mary, Kat soon found herself sequestered in a room with an older man who attempted to purchase her “services.”  She narrowly escaped the harrowing exchange – the first in a series of repulsive experiences she’d face … and the only one she managed to escape untouched. 

A cycle of fake friendships, drugs, and violence kept her trapped.  She was exploited by men who fostered her growing cocaine addiction, making her dependent on them for drugs, food, and affection.

Kat often sensed God’s comfort in those darkest moments.  She’d learned a little about God from her conversion as a nine-year-old.  Her mother had taken her to a Billy Graham crusade where she'd prayed to receive Christ. Graham pointed his finger at the audience and said boldly, “Remember, God will never leave you or forsake you."

Kat remembered that.  

But until her divorce after a 20-year abusive marriage that she began revealing the truth about her past to fellow church members. 

The more she shared, the more Kat realized that she might be able to help other girls caught in trafficking. 

While ministering to these young girls, Katariina earned a Law degree in intercultural human rights and a Ph.D. in conflict analysis and resolution.  In 2011, she formed a non-profit called “There Is H.O.P.E for Me”  https://www.thereishopeforme.org/

Today she works with the F.B.I., Homeland Security, and local police visiting jails, schools, foster homes, and strip clubs to eliminate human slavery.  "Then we take the necessary steps to get these girls the help they need, whether it's providing lawyers, law enforcement, or mental health services," Kat explained.

Katariina Rosenblatt is living proof of the promise Billy Graham proclaimed years ago that God never abandons us.  "He called me to this work and I know God’s greater than any enemy.  He delivered me from such dark circumstances for this purpose." 

Father God, I want to take whatever path You lay before me, even when it looks different from what I thought I wanted.  I know You have bigger plans for my life, so I will trust and obey You with an eager and joyful heart.  Amen

Meant for Greater

 “To whom much is given, much will be required." ~ Luke 12:48

Albertsons Stadium was abuzz with excitement as the Broncos and Cavaliers faced off on the blue turf.  Thousands crowded the stands.  As she had done many times, Heather carried him up to their seats leaving his wheelchair at the base of the stands. 

Nathan Ogden craved the normality of college football games with its crowded seating, boisterous fans, and raucous bands.  But when they came back to retrieve his special motorized chair, it had vanished without a trace.  Bad things happen! 

It wasn’t about the cost ($4,500) and having to wait for a new one.  For a quadriplegic, it meant independence.  It allowed Nathan to move, to tuck his kids into bed, to provide for his family.

Very bad things happened on a snow-capped mountain 16 years earlier.  Nathan, an accomplished skier, launched himself off an enormous jump and landed wrong.  Terribly wrong!  The resulting injury caused paralysis from his chest down.

With two young children, a wonderful wife, and a successful career, he battled through setbacks and obstacles with intense therapy.  Nathan returned to work full time, was able to drive again, and embraced his new life from a seated position with the motto of “We Believe.”  He was getting stronger and knew he’d walk again.

That was until several unfortunate events led to him breaking his neck a 2^nd, much more serious time, leaving him paralyzed forever.  He lost his job, self-esteem, and almost his marriage. “Being physically disabled is difficult; but fear, doubt and lack of progress left me completely paralyzed.”

Excuses be damned, Nathan eventually found new “legs” to live life standing taller; moving from paralysis to progress. 

He and Heather co-founded a non-profit called Chair the Hope https://chairthehope.org/ providing wheelchairs for those desperately needing them in developing countries.  In a twist of fate, the summer before the football game, Nathan’s entire family rode their bicycles over 1,200 miles from Oregon to Los Angeles, raising $43,000 for their charity.

They never found his wheelchair or the thief who stole it.  So, when the search came up empty, Ogden’s supporters turned to GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/nathansnewchair   

Donations quickly easily surpassed the cost of replacing Nathan’s chair – massively exceeded.  With the extras, CtH distributed thousands of new wheelchairs and still counting.

The author of two bestsellers (Unfrozen and Resilience), Nathan has become an international motivational speaker using his life-changing experiences to train students, adults, and business executives around the world.

“It’s easy to assume that only rich people have been “given much,” (Luke 12:48) he offered. “But honestly, we’ve all been given much: God’s abundant grace, His Word, and the gifts of the Holy Spirit.”  Each of us should use whatever gift we’ve received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s blessings in their various (sometimes tragic) forms.

Lord God, let me never forget all that You do for me on a daily basis.  Sustain me with the hope of my salvation and the other countless blessings You provide with your continuous presence in my life. Amen

Love and Dementia

 “Come to Me, all who are tired and troubled, and I will give you rest." ~ Matthew 11:28

Both were single parents - neither was looking for love.  But Brent (69) saw something special in her.  After several refusals, Geri (63) finally agreed to go out with him.  They’ve been together ever since.  Love’s seed had been planted, grew slowly, blossomed, and flourished. 

Three years after their first meal together, Brent was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. 

He didn’t hide or deny it nor let it rule their lives.  For 7 more years, it never did.  Their friendship deepened into a loving bond; just being together was enough.  Sure, there was frustration in his growing incompetence and anxiety when he didn’t know where Geri was.  But Brent never declared war on the disease; acceptance opened plenty of opportunities.

They enjoyed simple things.  Familiarity, routines, and patterns are very important in helping a person with dementia lead as normal a life as possible.

Every day Brent led the way as they strolled the same path along the river.  Another route would have confused him.  As they walked Geri would comment, “Lovely day, lovely sky, lovely river,” and Brent would reply “and lovely companion.” Then he’d kiss her on the cheek; a sweet sense of nurture.

Halfway through their walk, they sat at a favorite bench - arms around each other, snuggling, at peace with the world.

Brent constantly asked the same questions, ‘Where does this river go?’  ‘What kind of clouds are those?’  ‘When do the trees start to turn colors again?’

It kept Geri on her toes.  When asked again the next day she answered respectfully.  Eventually, he’d always get around to asking, “Why are you still with me?” 

He forgot the answer every day, so her reply was like new to him each time he heard her say, "I’ll always be there for you darling, and will take care of you for the rest of our lives because I love you and always will.”

Brent’s mind was still sharp though his memory was fading.  But the windows of “good” moments grew shorter and less frequent.  Alzheimer's takes away so much - but fortunately, love is almost always the last to go.

Geri wrote in her Journal, “Dementia hasn’t diminished Brent’s value.  I find peace and privilege in walking with him, and a depth of love previously unknown.  Without illness, I wouldn’t have held his hand so much.  I found the purest kind of love imaginable.  How beautiful that I have a heart to break.  He may forget me but I won’t ever forget him.”

When we flip to the final chapters in God’s story, we discover that God’s grace is not about our talents and intelligence making us worthy.  It’s all about His undeserved gift of mercy and love.  

God my Redeemer, help use the heartache of dementia to accomplish Your ultimate purpose.  Help the proud be humbled, the caregivers sanctified.  Let us all critique our basic assumptions and values about aptitude and functional capacities.  Amen

His Last Coin

 “Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, and patience.” ~ Colossians 3:12

He began preparing for missionary work at age 14.  Hudson rose early to study the language, exercised vigorously, and learned to live with minimal comforts.  God even provided a way for him to learn basic medicine so he'd be better equipped to serve in China, where an estimated 35,000 people passed into eternity daily without Christ.  Yet, there were some lessons that only life's trials could teach the young man.  

He pulled his coat tighter around his thin frame as he roamed a crowded London street.  A hand in his pocket fingered his sole remaining coin. "Lord, my rent is soon due and I've only a bit of food.  Please remind Dr. Hardy to pay me.  Help me to trust in You, Lord."

As he walked on, a stranger recognized him as the doctor's assistant and grabbed his arm.  "My wife - she needs help," he pleaded.  Hudson responded immediately. 

They rushed inside a squalid flat with cheerless walls and dingy floors.  Foul body odors and tobacco smoke greeted him.  Five hollow-eyed children huddled in the shadows too weak to move. 

Hudson hung his head knowing there was little medicine could do for this family.  "Let’s pray for her,” Hudson suggested.

Even as he asked the Lord to send them food and heal the mom, he felt the coin in his pocket.  They could buy food and fresh vegetables with it, but it was literally all he had.  Soon he’d be hungry too!  

Could he trust God to take care of his needs if he also gave away his belongings?  Hudson felt no peace until he stopped arguing with himself, removed his coat and sweater, and handed them to the woman, along with the coin.  "God bless you," she whispered tearfully.  

And He did.  The boy left with only a song in his heart for warmth and just the lesson that would encourage his work caring for others in Christ's name.  He would forever trust God's provision!

Hudson Taylor moved to Shanghai where, for 51 years, he recruited and trained missionaries in all 18 Chinese provinces.  His pioneering work during the 1800s opened Christianity when China was especially suspicious, even hostile toward foreigners.  

Taylor was not someone whose appearance depicted the leader of a global mission.  An Englishman wearing Chinese robes and a long pigtail drew criticism from other missionaries.  He approached the Chinese with humility rather than self-righteousness; converting people to Christ in their own culture rather than converting them to Western principles.

Pride negotiates as equals; humility approaches in need.  Pride separates by putting down others; humility identifies with others, recognizing we all have the same needs.  Pride destroys through its alienating self-service; humility opens doors with its power to sympathize with the struggles we share.  Humility offers an open and lifted-up hand.

Jesus, meek and humble of heart, let my heart always imitate Your humility, grant me with a natural inclination to never view myself greater than anyone.  Banish all lingering sparks of self-importance that could elevate me greater than You.  Amen

The Hug Lady

 “If you believe in Him, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come to your tent." ~ Psalm 91:10

It was a normal day at Fort Hood in 2011, then the military’s busiest deployment hub in the nation.  Eight flights crammed with hundreds of soldiers headed off to fight terror in the Middle East.  In the lull before the first takeoffs, anxious men and women huddled for last-minute briefings, grabbed coffee from the USO, and lined up with their gear.

Throughout that long and frenzied day, they could count on one calming certainty.  Before boarding, they would get a loving embrace from the “Hug Lady.”  Since 2003, Elizabeth Laird (79), wanted to show them her appreciation as a Salvation Army volunteer.  She gave each one a hug, a loving smile, and a Psalm 91 prayer card.

In return, she saw the pride in their eyes at being able to serve their country and protect their loved ones at home.

Sometimes, a simple gesture can mean the world.  For those going off to war, there was something so warm, something so right.  She cradled them like cherished children.  In her gentle squeeze, worries lost their keen sting and optimism prevailed.

For those returning home, this was the love they’d waited for, prayed for.  Laird, herself an army veteran, was often the first civilian face they saw before processing out.  Her pleasant, heartfelt greeting brought immediate happiness and, for some, the chance to begin healing.      

Wearing a yellow ribbon in her hair adorned with the 1st Cavalry Division pin, Laird tried not to miss a single flight - even those that left at 1:00 in the morning.  It’s probably not a stretch to say she touched millions if you count the family members who’ve given thanks for the hugs their loved ones received - leaving and returning home.

In November 2015, Laird was hospitalized, weakened by the breast cancer she’d been fighting for ten years.  So, the soldiers decided to bring hugs to her.  Sometimes the line outside her hospital room was so long that she’d have to turn people away. 

Some came from over 1,000 miles to give her a hug when they heard she’d been stricken.  A GoFundMe account raised $94,000 for her medical expenses.  She received a letter from former President George W. Bush thanking her for her service.  Still others left comments calling her a blessing and thanking her for the hug they’d never forget.

She passed away that Christmas Eve at the age of 83, but not before leaving a lasting impression on the hearts of American soldiers and their families.  In a fitting tribute, the very room inside the terminal where she hugged so many, was named in the Hug Lady’s honor.

Father God, Elizabeth Laird reminded us of the protection You promised in Psalm 91.  As we are ever mindful of the cost of the freedom we enjoy, continue to hold our troops in Your loving arms.  Protect them as they protect us.  Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for our benefit.  Amen

Greatest Stories Live

 “Anyone who believes in Me will pass from death into everlasting life." ~ John 5:24

They hated to see it end.  Tonight, they gathered for the final campfire, ending an amazing week.  It had been so much more than just camping, it’d been an adventure: a time to explore, grow, and be challenged.

Sure, there was extensive exposure to God’s Word, but it’d also been an opportunity for the campers to observe and learn from godly mentors (counselors, staff, and speakers) absent TVs, cell phones, video games, and other distractions that tend to keep young people from focusing on life’s deeper questions.

They’d also made great friendships.  Between the songs and jokes, between the smiles and stories, their bonds became a kind of palpable ever-glow. 

The night brought such a silence that the crackle of a campfire was all that could be heard, a natural symphony in the ebony sky.  Flames sent red sparks dancing into the breeze; smoke curled skyward charming all their worries away.

Two things must absolutely be present while huddled around a campfire: Smores and scary campfire stories.  Pastor Jacob’s dramatic voice began.

“I heard this happened out west not long ago.

A group of worried ranchers offered a $5,000 bounty for captured wolves.

Two friends, Chad and Lincoln, decided to seek their fortune.  Day and night they scoured forests and mountains for valuable prey.  Exhausted from hunting with no luck, they fell asleep dreaming of their fortune.

Suddenly, Lincoln woke up a bit startled and saw they were surrounded by a huge pack of hungry wolves with searing black eyes, bared teeth, and wariness for their kind.  Low growls rumbled from their throats. He slowly reached over and nudged his friend, "Chad, wake up!"

"I think we're rich!"

After the laughter died, Pastor Jacob finished the story by saying, “A good positive attitude can truly change the way you approach life, and your future.”

“We all love a good story,” he continued.  “Especially one with a surprise ending.

But the BEST story ever conceived, written, or acted out in real life has no end.  The one story you need to hear, understand, and grip with all your heart is hopeful, inspiring, and transforming.  It offers two things that no other story does.

First – it offers you a place in the story – a place that was planned for you long before the story was written.  Secondly, it also offers something hard for us to wrap our brains around.  It offers life that never ends.

The main character of God’s story came to earth, defeated sin and death, and because He did, offers you the one thing that no other character in any other story can – real life now and eternal life to come.  Shall we pray together:

Dear Lord, despite anything we’ve attained, earned or deserved as your children, You welcome us into the greatest story ever by grace alone.  We’re grateful that this story that is our story has an end that never ends.  Amen

Two Castles

 “You people have exchanged your glorious God for empty idols." ~ Jeremiah 2:11

He knelt upon the primrose sand; infinite fun packaged into a tiny human.  Soft curls fell in cinnamon swirls to a face that was as sweet as white chocolate.  His eyes danced with joy and imagination as he scooped and packed sand into a small bucket.

To his sheer delight, a castle tower appeared.  He continued working all afternoon spooning out a moat, forming walls, building sentries and bridges, and decorating the sandcastle with seaweed and seashells.  After hours of determination, his architectural masterwork came alive.

Away from the beach, an executive worked well into the night; office lights shimmering as heaven's stars from within the skyscraper.  He shuffled papers, delegated assignments, juggled numbers, and pounded his keyboard.  Over time and sweat, a profitable empire emerged.

He too worked tirelessly formulating plans and forecasting the future.  He built a stately mansion with acres of lush landscaping, sweeping staircases, and a grand ballroom; a luxurious house lavished with amenities like a koi pond, wine cellar, and eight-car garage. 

The two castle-builders shared much in common.  They both shaped granules into grandeurs, labored diligently at work that made them happy and accepted each day as a blank canvas.  For both, the tide will rise … and the end will come.  Similarities end there.

The little boy embraced his castle’s demise; the man ignored it.  

As the tide rolled in, giggles and laughter filled the air as waves washed away his day’s creation.  No sorrow.  No fear.  No regret.  He knew it would happen.  Collecting his tools, he walked home with his Mom satisfied with all he’d achieved.

As a wave of misfortune collapsed his empire, terror consumed the executive.  Bewildered and crestfallen, he agonized over the loss of his shrine, trying desperately to save it.  He snarled at the incoming challenges.  “I built my fortune from nothing, I don’t deserve this,” he resisted.

The ocean remained silent in response.  Both knew to whom the sand belonged.

Too often, what we once celebrated as a gift from God, becomes an idol that rules and directs our hearts.  It happens too easily and so subtly. 

Our genuine obedience, once the fruit of grace, morphs into self-righteous pride strutted for all to see.  The house once regarded as an unearned gift from God becomes an obsession devouring our thoughts, desires, and energy.  The wisdom once derived from the Holy Spirit’s illuminating ministry becomes the weapon against those who don’t understand what we believe.  We replace God as the epicenter of our spiritual hope and seek salvation in empty things that don’t deliver.

So, build your sandcastle, but build with a child’s heart.  When the sun sets and the tides steal, salute the journey and build new dreams.  But never forget the One who gave you that chance.

Lord, help me build my life with a child’s heart.  Help me see them through Your eyes and love them with the unfailing, unconditional love of Christ.  Cleanse my heart of impatience and selfishness, bitterness and anger.  Amen

Total Eclipse of the Son

 “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands." ~ Psalm 19:1

Pastor Karen had been working with Paula for about 9 months as a certified pastoral counselor.  While providing services similar to clinical counselors or therapists, Karen’s approach integrated spirituality, faith, and theology with psychotherapy to help people seeking assistance with family, personal, marital, and faith issues. 

She’d performed Paula’s and Josh’s wedding ceremony 2 years earlier; a marriage that thrived for six months until Josh walked innocently into a robbery and was fatally wounded.  Paula sank deeply into despair, coming out occasionally for bouts of rage and aggression that cost her job.  Family and friends shared her suffering but not in a way that lightened the burden.  

Her faith went into total eclipse.  A gloomy, dull feeling washed in like an unwelcome wave; as if the whole world knew His light was blocked.  Paula frequently talked of giving up - she no longer saw any purpose in her life.

If only she could be trumpeted like a solar eclipse.  

The sight of the moon blotting out the sun and then turning it into a celestial ring creates a moment of unparalleled wonder.  People don’t judge the sun for not shining during those times.  And no matter how long the light is blocked, it always returns, more brilliantly than before.

Today Paula’s demeanor seemed different.  She stood tall, alert, and engaging.  “I got face to face with my depression,” she began.

“Tell me about it,” Karen replied.

“Last night, the familiar darkness began to wash over me as it’d done for so long.  Only this time, I didn’t drink more wine, eat more chocolate, or curl up on the couch.  I stood up and demanded to know what Ms. Fogbottom (the name she’d given it because of the way it turned everything grey) wanted from me.  I screamed and rebuked her for over an hour.”

“Then something changed!  It wasn’t like happiness immediately broke through; more Ike I’d cracked out from an eggshell and a weight lifted off my heart.  For the first time in forever it felt like maybe God was listening.  What do you think that was?”

Pastor Karen smiled and said, “I think the end of your eclipse might be near.  Jesus has been praying for that all along!”

During the following few sessions, Pastor Karen helped Paula recognize the misery now fading.  “In an eclipse,” she began, “the Light never leaves.  The shadow obscuring it is only temporary.  We’re never alone.  Even when our faith is shattered by loss, addiction, health crises, or other challenges, God is always there praying for your salvation,” she said.

The shadow will pass.  Know He will stand with you until it does.

Almighty Father, let the lunar eclipse serve as a great example.  When the moon covers the sun’s face, let it remind us of Your Son’s humiliation on our behalf and His death on the cross; a death that couldn’t hold him for long!  Amen

The "Wall" of Our Lives

 “Restore the joy of Your salvation to me and a spirit of willing obedience." ~ Psalm 51:12

At a Scottish seaside inn, some fishermen were relaxing after a long day at sea; drinking tea and swapping fish ‘fables.’  One made an expansive hand gesture to describe the size of the fish he claimed to have caught.  As a waitress walked past with a pot of tea, he accidentally knocked it from her hands, leaving an irregular, ugly stain against the wall. 

Surveying the damage, the furious innkeeper said, “That whole wall will have to be repainted.”

“Perhaps not,” came a stranger’s voice from a table nearby.  All eyes turned to the odd man who’d just spoken. “Let me work with the stain.  If my work meets with your approval, you won’t need to repaint it.”

He lifted the satchel from under his chair and approached the wall inquisitively.  Opening the bag, he withdrew pencils, brushes, and some jars of linseed oil and pigment.  He began to sketch and fill it in with smidgens of color and swashes of shading.  

Soon the picture of a huge deer began to emerge.  Part of the splashed tea became a magnificent rack of antlers.  The main part of the blemish became the stag’s powerful body and legs.  

The stranger then added trees and the grass of a meadow. When he’d finished, the random tea stains had been transformed into a centerpiece; something artistic, beautiful, and majestic.

 He signed the picture, paid for his meal, and left.

It took a few minutes for the enormity of what had just happened to sink in.  In less than 10 minutes, art that spoke of mountains and freedom emerged upon a whitewashed wall that previously knew neither.

The innkeeper’s eye’s brightened and his lips stretched wide into a gaping grin as he examined the wall.  “Does anyone know who that man was?” he inquired admiringly.  “The signature read ‘E.H. Landseer!’”

Turned out, they’d just been visited by the legendary wildlife painter Sir Edwin Landseer.  Knighted by Queen Victoria in 1850, Landseer was known for being able to paint with both hands at the same time.  He could paint a horse's head with his right hand, for example, while painting its tail with the left, simultaneously and quickly.

Just as Landseer had a penchant for converting stains into masterpieces, so too does God!

When He looks at the “wall” of our life, God sees every last stain and blemish; every ding, dent, and scratch.  But rather than tearing it down for its repulsiveness, God breaks out the ink and charcoal pencils. 

His grace can transform our mistakes and disappointment into a whole new masterpiece - less and less limited by our past foolishness and traumas, more and more defined by the love for which we were created.

Heavenly Father, we are but clay in Your hands and You are the potter.  Mold us and shape us into what pleases You.  Change us, transform us, perfect us with Your grace to reflect the Your image in all our thoughts and actions.  Amen