May 30, 2017

Greetings My Friend, My greatest desire is to give the hope I have to others I meet in my life. My hope is Jesus. Because of Jesus I find I am able to find the strength to face each day's set of struggles, to feel joy when overcoming a huge obstacle and to know the comfort of loving caring arms wrapped around me when I have hit bottom. I have learned that God does not take away the struggles in my life although He walks me with me through each thing in my life and I find joy in living my life the good days and the not so good days. While talking with Debbie our friend the other day as she drove us for Junior's hernia operation Junior and I found ourselves exploring our faith. One thing we learned is a great way to minister is right in the church. Junior and I were learning how the church comes alongside of us with praying, helping us get back and forth since I no longer drive and sent words of encouragement through online and cards in the mail. When I finished thinking of how the church starts ministry right within its doors a new thought came to me, " I want what she has!" My thinking is how we invite others to the faith is by the way we live our lives day in and day out while others are watching us and we are unaware of this watching that is going on. I often tell the story about my friend Michele B who watched me as I went through my divorce then began life as a single woman. She knew my story of abuse and found how I was growing through what my life had handed me. She felt safe to approach me when she had a similar struggle because she had been watching me. I had began a serious walk with Jesus as I went through my divorce and Michele saw the change in me. I also had a coworker who was making my life difficult, Michele came beside me to let me know that the coworker was cruel and encouraged me while I dealt with this situation. She often asked how I was able to deal with it to which I responded "I walk on my lunch hour asking God to give me courage to go back." To be honest that was the only way I was able to deal with this situation, I wanted to quit, to run away and God kept me right there. I believe this was a lesson teaching me to rely on God in all things and it is one I remember often. I do "remembering what God has done in the past" in the form of thank you's then listing the things God has done or given me to face my day. Terri from church has shared a journey of abuse in her life as I have, we have become good friends and encourage each other often. We have another friend who knows abuse and has poor health with a kidney missing. Debbie knows some of Junior's story of unfaithfulness and relates to us. These people are church friends and we have started sharing holidays with each other, we invite friends outside the church to some of these holiday gatherings and the prayer is others will see the love we have. Our hope and prayer is that they may get to know Jesus by the way we interact with each other. A couple of years ago Boogie fell and broke her shoulder, she is Debbie's mother. Junior and I drew close to them during their struggle of healing. At this point I am not concerned that my children are not near to comfort me. My friends are close to us and we are willing to love each other as Jesus loved us. This group of church friends has shown me the love of Jesus, the body in the church shows us Jesus, I am learning how important those cards that are sent mean and I am going to start sending cards as well. God is awesome. May God bless you and keep you make His face shine on you. Love Janet