Asking God "Why?"

Four years ago, I stood alone in my apartment raging at the Lord, asking Him "why?" Why did He allow this? Did He not care about me? Why did I feel such incredible pain and rejection? Why did I feel all alone?

This morning, I stood in my room getting ready for work, struggling with the same question after receiving an email about friends in a heart-wrenching situation. "Why? Sometimes I just don't understand."

I was thankful to discover this morning that my questions didn't come laced with bitterness and anger as they did four years ago. I think at one point I bought into the lie that God is a genie in a bottle that gives me good things and when he doesn't, there's something wrong with Him and He doesn't care about me. I never, ever would have admitted that was what I thought. Man, reading that now, it reeks of pride and entitlement. God doesn't owe me anything.

So this morning when I don't know what to pray and every encouragement or sentiment seems trite in light of this tragedy, I pray the only thing I know is consistent. I pray scripture.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. Is. 55:8

The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him. Nah. 1:7

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18 

Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 1 Thess. 4:13

My bitterness years ago was more an indication of my heart than God's heart. His character has never wavered since before He created man and called us the pinnacle of His creation. What strikes me is that He called us that knowing that we would reject Him, question Him, and run from Him.

The thing I've learned is that God's goodness is not measured by my circumstances or feelings. It is based on His unwavering character and it is woven throughout His word. The same book that says He is sovereign and good when bad things strike is also the same book that says He is comforter, healer, peace, joy, and that He is about His glory. That also means that anything that comes our way is for our good, even suffering.

Does that taste bitter? I know it does to me. How the heck is losing a child or a spouse or contracting a deadly disease for our good? I can only tell you what I have seen and heard, and without a doubt, those people who claim the name of Christ and walk through those circumstance emerge like gold in that refining. It sucks. It feels like their hearts are physically being ripped from their bodies. But HE IS DOING SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL in the mess and tragedy.

I can't prove it to you. The thing about arguing the goodness of God is that you don't believe it until you CHOOSE to taste and see that He is good, blessed is the man who trusts in Him (Psalm 34:8). If your world is crashing in, try reaching out to Jesus. He is a Father that comforts, renews, restores, and walks through the trials with us. My suspicion is that if you are in the midst of a storm, you have nothing to lose. His character has never been disputed by those who walk with Him.

As I stood before my mirror this morning, aching for the pain my friends are experiencing, I was comforted by this: that my why is not a question of God's character but more confusion and anticipation of how God is going to restore this incredibly broken situation for something beautiful. I am CHOOSING to trust Him, because I know He is trustworthy. Will you?

Shaken Cover Reveal and Release Date

After years of working on this project, I am very excited to announce that it's almost a reality! Shaken, book 1 in the Heart of a Warrior series, hits shelves and e-readers on February 4, 2014.

Shaken is the story of a Kaylan Richards, a young woman who gives up her childhood dreams for a calling to go to Haiti. After a few short weeks, she falls in love with the people, but then the earthquake strikes. Left to pick up pieces of broken lives, Kaylan wrestles with the goodness of God as she returns home to Alabama. But she never counted on Navy SEAL, Nick Carmichael. Can Nick show Kaylan the God who never abandoned her or will the earthquake shake even the most rooted faith?

I can't wait to share the story of Kaylan and Nick, a story of brokenness, hope, and love. And you may even discover that I'm a bit of a closet romantic.

You can pre-order now on Amazon.

Homeless in Dallas

Street Level

You press your face to the office glass,

Street level, street clothes

Outside looking in.

You comb greasy hair,

Eyes wild, unfocused,

Familiar stranger.

Downtown Dallas is your home

Shop doorway, underpass

Restless slumber

I should invite you in

Warm coffee, cozy seat

Hear your story

Do you have family near?

Fatherless children, lonely wife

Life out of control

I wish I could fix it all

Reconciliation, comfort

A roof and bed

Inside out, you’re just like me

Flesh and blood,

A man with needs

I watch you turn away

And I remember the command

To love the least of these.

Five Minute Friday - Broken

It's time for Five Minute Friday where a flash mob of writers join to write purely for the joy of it and then share our thoughts over at Lisa-Jo's.

I think I'm broken.

No. I know I am.

I'm a people-pleaser, a mess of insecurities stitched together with good intentions. I can't sleep at night because I'm constantly thinking of what all has to be done. I over-commit and sometimes under-deliver. I don't have the right words. I pretend to be tough when I'm falling apart inside. I struggle with entitlement and pride.

I have Christmas decorations that have been on my floor since December. My clothes are piled on my sister's bed, transforming it into a second closet. I'm a neat freak who is too tired to care.

I give in too easily, sometimes sacrificing what I want for the sake of peace. Some nights I would rather stay in and watch a movie than go out with friends. I suffer from a massive fear of failure, of not being good enough. I like to speed and constantly pray I won't get caught...while maintaining my pace. And even now, I feel this post is a little too vulnerable, too raw.

But I can't leave it there. Neither can I brag about my strengths or "attractive qualities." I didn't come by them honestly. Like Michelangelo's David, I'm a scarred piece of marble in need of refinement.

He picks me up daily. Humbles me through those around me. He steadies me when my brain feels like mush. He inspires me when I have nothing left to spit out on the page. He reminds me...constantly....that He's holding me. He has a plan.

My mess is His message. My brokenness is His beautiful canvas. So I boast in it. I'm a perfectionist who needs the artistic strokes of the master Creator to turn me into a masterpiece. Slowly, but surely, He is molding me. Refining every rough edge. Pulling me out of the fire and sticking me back in again because He can't quite see His image yet.

But one day, this broken woman will gleam. I just have a few spots left at the moment.

Crazy Lesson Day 1: Hold Things Loosely

You may have heard it said that we need to "stop the glorification of busy." Well, at the moment, I have  no choice. So, I've decided to learn from it instead.

Lesson 1: Hold things loosely.

In the past week, I have wrecked my car, had to redo several work projects, said goodbye to a friend, had a melt down with my community group, and come down with a cold.

Basically, I kissed my transportation, work achievement, relationships, emotional sanity, and physical health goodbye.

I'm pretty sure I place high value in all those things. Unfortunately, I appreciate some of them only when they are gone. In this crazy season, I'm learning to hold these things loosely. Thank goodness for rental cars, second chances, cold medicine, and the fact that life goes on.

In Haiti, I remember thinking that people had maybe one change of clothes, didn't always know where their next meal would come from, and lived under a leaky roof yet worshipped God with their whole hearts. To hear them call God "Provider, Lord, Friend, Good" humbled me. Most of my issues are first world problems. Pathetic on my part.

My car is a blessing. My job is a gift. My friendships are eternal investments. And my health enables me to be my best. I'm not guaranteed any of them tomorrow.

Practical application: Seek the Lord. Develop a thankful heart.

He is good. He knows the plans He has for me. He heals bodies and relationships and provides for my needs. None of this past week's circumstances surprised Him. They just knocked me for a loop.

"Do not boast about tomorrow for you do not know what a day may bring." Proverbs 27:1

Who knows what other lessons I'll learn in this crazy season....

Fun. "Some Nights" Defines a Generation

In the mornings, I typically avoid chatter on the radio at all costs, so I channel surf. Many times, I land on one of the pop or alternative stations. The lyrics are catchy. The music is addicting. And the artists are the walking dead.

Yeah, you read that right.

Fun.'s "Some Nights" describes my generation perfectly, and the lyrics reverberate in my head. Driving through a small Texas town last weekend, a convertible full of 20-somethings raced by with this song blaring through the square. My heart sank.

Photo Credit: The Porch at Watermark

"What do I stand for? Most nights I don't know." What an empty lyric. What a heartfelt cry of a generation for something, anything of meaning. The perception is that good doesn't get you anywhere and life is full of heartbreak that can have a beautiful outcome, but it's rare and faint.

Oh, how I hurt for my generation, many who grew up in split homes with an absent father.

The generation more comfortable with living together before marriage than marrying because they have seen the heartache of ugly divorce.

The generation who still hasn't quite grown up because adults were absent in many of our lives as children.

The generation that has a desire to make a difference but often lacks the commitment.

The generation driven by passion which often drives us to painful addictions.

The generation in desperate need of purpose, worth, and meaning,

A generation who needs to know that their Heavenly Father loves them, and wants to take their passions and use them for His glory.

A generation of "accidental" parents who forget that a quick fix to a surprise pregnancy has future consequences.

My heart breaks, and this song perfectly defines us. Oh, how we need Jesus. Imagine if this passion, this desire, this incredible urge to make a difference and be something was met by a relationship with Jesus. Man, Gen Y could change the world.

It looks so overwhelming when I look at my generation as a whole. But when I focus on sharing the gospel and pouring into one at a time, I see hearts changed and passion whole-heartedly pursuing a God-sized calling. We are changing the world. We are shaking our generation. Maybe one day, it will have a lasting impact.

Some of the lyrics from Fun.'s "Some Nights"...

This is it, boys, this is war - what are we waiting for?


Why don't we break the rules already?


I was never one to believe the hype - save that for the black and white


I try twice as hard and I'm half as liked, 

but here they come again to jack my style



And that's alright; I found a martyr in my bed tonight


She stops my bones from wondering just who I am, 

who I am, who I am


Oh, who am I? Oh, who am I? mmm... mmm...



Well, Some nights, I wish that this all would end


Cause I could use some friends for a change


And some nights, I'm scared you'll forget me again

Some nights, I always win, I always win...



But I still wake up, I still see your ghost


Oh Lord, I'm still not sure what I stand for, oh


What do I stand for? What do I stand for?


Most nights, I don't know... (come on)



So this is it? 

I sold my soul for this?


Washed my hands of that for this?


I miss my mom and dad for this?

Dream Big - Problem with Comparison

Comparison is the thief of joy. It is also the thief of dreams.

While I wrote my first book, I began every writing day praying that the Lord would give me His words, not mine.

Now, I'm working on book 2, and comparison is robbing me of my ability to be effective. I second guess myself every time I sit down. As ideas fall into place, I get excited until it comes to execution, and then i wonder what in the world I'm doing.

In reality, I know I can do this. I know I'm capable of creating something beautiful when I let go. But I look at other writers and wish I could write as eloquently or as creatively. BIG PROBLEM! Comparison steals my confidence, and my writing is mediocre instead of full and rich.

We live in a society of comparisons. If he is succeeding in business by enacting a particular strategy, then I should do that as well since it clearly works. In reality, that strategy may work for that guy, but I'm a different person. I attract a different audience with a different message, style, and voice. I have to do what fits my audience.

I have to be ME.

In order to do my best, I must remember to see myself as my Heavenly Father sees me. I must be who He created me to be. I can learn from the success of others. I can learn from their victories and defeats. I can learn from their style and gifts. But I must use that to shape and make me better, instead of becoming a cheap imitation. No one goes to the museum to see a copy of the Mona Lisa. Everyone wants to see the original.

Here is my prayer for book 2..."But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." (1 Peter 1:9)

Thankful Heart Day 18 - A Church Home

Just over 2 years ago, I stumbled into Watermark Community Church, craving community, something familiar, and something stable. I had just moved home from college and needed a fresh start in my home city. I needed a place to spread my wings and grow.

It didn't take me long to feel at home in this place. I always leave challenged and encouraged. Many days, I leave frustrated because of the biblical accountability...which is how I know it's working.

Every week, without fail, I am either privileged to see lives changed or hear stories of life change from those around me.

I have seen broken people made into beautiful, confident warriors for Christ. And, I am so honored to call them friends and serve with them in ministry.

This place is home. These people are family. We disagree, but we are learning to love one another well. We challenge one another with the gospel message, and we push one another to share it. We pray for one another and pray God does BIG things in our city.

I know this isn't unique to my church. But, I can't help but think it is something special, simply because I get to see what God does using the people here every week. On this beautiful Sunday morning, I am thankful that I walked in those doors 2 years ago. And I'm thankful for how the Lord has changed my life in that time. He is so good!

Thankful Heart Day 16 - When I wanted to run...

Time for Five Minute Friday where a whole bunch of writers virtually gather to share our stories. Today's word?

STAY

Three years ago, my goal was to run. Run as far away from Texas as possible. Don't get me wrong...I'm a die hard Texan, born and bred, and true as they come. But I wanted escape from everything familiar - a total fresh start.

So naturally, God closed every door outta here. One right after the other. Frustrated is an understatement. Presently thankful is also an understatement.

I wanted to run from broken friendships.

The Lord said STAY, and now I wouldn't trade the community of men and women my age who love me and run hard after Christ.

I wanted to run from my future, create my own.

The Lord said STAY, and I found a Christian mentor who helped me finish a book that is about to be published.

I wanted a fresh start, to reinvent myself, or the bitter girl I had become.

The Lord said STAY and used old and new friends to help heal my heart. Then he dropped me right back in the church I grew up in as a staff member doing what I love - writing.

To say that His plans are better than mine is also an understatement. I am so thankful that my God does not give me all the desires that I think my heart wants. He makes me STAY and wait for what is even better. Master story teller right there. And He's still writing mine.

Finding My Voice

It's time for Five Minute Friday where a flash mob of writers join to write purely for the joy of the craft and then share their thoughts over at Lisa-Jo's. Today's word?

Voice

I used to be quiet. I never voiced an opinion unless I was surrounded by my closest family and friends. For those who know me now, that's hard to believe. For those who knew me then, I speak a little differently now.

There was a time when my friends fought over my voice. One discovered I have a sarcastic edge and did his best to nurse it to health. The other discovered subdued opinions and encouraged them to life.

In college, I overcompensated a bit, sometimes struggling to find that line between blunt and honest while seasoning every word with salt. Turns out that seasoning gave my voice a strength and flavor all its own.

I still don't have it mastered, but I know who made my mouth. I know who gave me a voice, and I know He told me to use it well, all for His glory. So I take delight in using this tool God gave me. I exercise it like any other muscle, making it submissive to the heart of my Father. I want Him to approve. I want to make Him proud.

Some days taste a little salty than others. Other days, it's a little bland. But, I'm constantly learning the balance. Turns out my voice is unique to me. My opinions, my heart, and my thoughts are treasured by the King.

He even gives me words to say when my voice goes silent. I pray my voice finds its source of strength in the One who spoke the world into being. Only then will I truly use this platform effectively.

I Got The Blues - Remembering Haiti

I must confess, my heart is in Haiti this week. Or perhaps it is just consumed with the experience, the people, and the way the Lord worked in my heart back in May.

I went to a country many would deem of no account and put hundreds of faces with a name that has come to mean as much to me as my own. I have a severe case of the Haiti blues.

If there is one thing that I have learned since returning from Haiti it is this: MAKE THE MOST OF EVERY OPPORTUNITY. Be intentional. Live life to the fullest. But what does that look like in a culture that doesn't understand how to slow down?

Life is simple in Haiti.

• They sit on their front porch or sweep their one room house.
• Kids run to and fro. Babies sleep or sit on their mother's lap.
• Livestock runs loose.
• They make a trip or two to the well, gathering all the needed water for the day. Some sloshes out on the mile long walk back home while they teach their children the correct way to balance the paint bucket on their heads.
• Teens are no different there. They play pick up games of soccer, have cell phones, flirt with one another, and like to look nice.

But life is simple, uncluttered with the complexity I see in American culture. In Haiti, many families often wonder where their next meal will come from. In America, I wonder what my next big purchase will be.

In Haiti, they see the Lord as Provider. In America, sometimes I don't think He provides enough.

They celebrate a roof over their heads and a one bedroom house. I live in a full-sized house and dream of bigger.

They understand the value of conversation around the front porch. I pop in my headphones and ignore the world.

But a week in this country changed my heart...

- My world lit up with the smile of little Pierre,  suffering from a brain tumor but humming a sweet tune for our ears.
- My heart engaged with the teen as I asked him his vision for Haiti.
- My mind connected with Kinsley as he taught me French and Creole on our long walks.
- My tears fell when we prayed for a teen with cerebral palsy and saw the faith and dedication of his mother, despite the circumstances.
- My hope rose as a girl my age sang the most beautiful worship song in Creole as my team gathered around the porch of her home.

I'll never forget their faces, their stories. And this week, as I pray for 40 of my friends who are serving there faithfully, I selfishly wish I was with them. But, I know I have a job to do here. I know that simplicity can be found in my Dallas life. Time to get busy with the things that matter and discard what doesn't reach to eternity.

Time to develop the heart of a Haitian believer - the knowledge that He is provider, sovereign, and holy in my life!

Grasping His Hand

After a couple weeks of craziness preparing for a writers conference, It's time for Five Minute Friday where a flash mob of writers join to write purely for the joy of it and then share our thoughts over at Lisa-Jo's. Today's word?

Grasp

Next week will begin a new month. I had to prepare my calendar today. It seems I just changed months. Wasn't it just August? March? Time seems to fly.

There is no way to grasp it right now. It slips through my fingers, silkier than water. Illusive. I can't catch it, bottle it, or buy it. I must use it, and use it wisely.

I'm learning more about making the most of every opportunity. A week in Haiti has created a lasting lesson. "Who of you can add a day to his life?" says the Lord.

My desire to cling is clearly an issue of control. And I need to let go. It's that balance between remembering and forgetting. So many times, the Lord charges His people to remember the things He did for them, the places He brought them from and to. Then in Isaiah, He tells them to forget the former things for He is doing something new. Don't you see it?

When I cling, grasping at thin air, I forget the beauty of surrender. Time will pass. It isn't a question but a certainty. Embrace it, move with it, surrender to the God who holds the clock in His hand. He holds my days and my destination. He knows the journey.

So, I think I'll grasp tightly to His hand and trust the One who controls all things. What a great lesson He teaches me from the beginnings of a scattered post.

Dream Big - When Dreams Break (Part 2)

As Americans in this generation, we have an awful sense of entitlement. I can't tell you how many times I have thought or said that I haven't done anything wrong so I deserve to have good things. I can't count how many times I have heard it said by friends and family. The fact is, we aren't owed anything.

When our dreams break, our first reaction should NEVER be anger with God. But let's face it, that is usually our exact response. Why isn't God answering my prayer? Doesn't He want good things for me? Why won't He give me what I want? After all, I'm a good person!

If this is your heart, you need a serious reality check, friend. That isn't the God of the Bible. He rarely promises to give us what we want. He does promise to give us good things, but His version of good things is VERY different from ours. He does desire to use us in great ways, but often that means dying (literally or figuratively depending on where you live) or suffering for His glory.

When we wonder why things aren't working out, why He isn't fulfilling the dreams we think He has placed in our hearts, we MUST look at His character and realign our attitudes.

Who is He in your brokenness?

Ruins of an old abbey in Bury St. Edmunds, England

He RESTORES
"I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent among you. You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you." Joel 2:25-26

"He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake." Psalm 23:3

"Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings." Isaiah  58:12

He HEALS and REBUILDS
"Come, let us return to the Lord; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him. Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth.” Hosea 6:1-3

"'But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,' declares the LORD, 'because you are called an outcast, Zion for whom no one cares.'" Jeremiah 30:17

"They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations." Isaiah 61:4

"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound." Isaiah 61:1

He is FAITHFUL
"...by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire." 2 Peter 1:4

"If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he cannot deny himself." 2 Timothy 2:12-13

He has a PURPOSE

"...so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory." Ephesians 3:10-13

Never doubt that He still cares in your seasons of questioning and wondering. His plan is beautiful. He is faithful. The decision to trust Him will lead to the biggest adventure of your life.

Live Inspired - The Power of Three

Some of the best things in life come in threes....

Entertainment...
3 Stoogies
3 Muskateers
3 Blind Mice
3 Wise Men
3 ring circus

Learning...
ABC
1-2-3
3 sides of a triangle
core, mantle, crust
3 primary colors

Other...
Father, Son, Holy Spirit
body, mind, spirit
beginning, middle, end

Likewise, many of the most powerful phrases are only comprised of 3 little words...

I love you.
I need you.
I miss you.
I am sorry.
Please forgive me.
I need help.
Jesus loves you.

These phrases express a vulnerability. I don't know about you, but I can't remember the last time I told someone that I needed them and really meant it.

Our words have the power to break hearts or build spirits. Are you using them wisely? Are you communicating authentically and openly with people, especially those closest to you?

"Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person." Colossians 4:6

Try telling someone you love them today. And not the flippant version, but the kind that commits to doing anything for them and makes them feel treasured. Try telling the Lord you need Him today. Not that you need Him to help you with something, but that you truly need Him to walk with you because you are lost without Him.

See the power your words possess? Use them wisely.

Countdown to Haiti - 2 Days

As I count down the days until we board the plane for this tiny country, I want to share with you ways the Lord is working in me to prepare to serve in Haiti. Today's focus? "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength."

A DOUBLE DOSE OF SPINACH

I need a double dose of Popeye's spinach for this trip. Exhausted physically, I'm worried I'll be the weak link.

What a blessing to have friends who remind me that the Lord works in our weakness! I made the mistake of drinking coffee Tuesday night before our young adults service having not eaten anything, and I had trouble sitting still the whole service. Afterwards, my hands shook, I felt dizzy and tired and wired all at the same time. Anticipation and anxiousness and exhaustion all weighed heavy. I wasn't sure how to make it through this week. But I was energized being around people I love doing what I love in a place that is home.

Several of my friends reminded me of this verse. "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. ' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me." 2 Corinthians 12:9. 

Come to find out, several of my Haiti teammates have had trying weeks at work and other situations have drained them physically and mentally. This excites me!! The Lord uses us most when we are weakest. Nothing that happens next week will be a result of our ability. We won't be able to boast in our strength. But that's ok because that is when Christ gets the most glory in our lives!

Focusing on my weakness is selfish! I'm excited for what the Lord is going to do. I'm praying for energy. I'm going to rely on my team. And, I'm going to boast in my weakness because I can't wait to see what big things the Lord has up His very large sleeve.

Empty

Every Friday, I link up with the Gypsy Mama and other bloggers to write for five minutes flat - unedited, unplanned, purely for the joy of the craft. And, now that I work in a writing position, it serves as a great warm up for me.

Today's word...

EMPTY

I live in a concrete jungle. Busy paces, empty gazes, cold faces. And I long for the college life of west Texas where everything is slower, simpler, beautiful.

But this is where I am meant to be. My mission field. We are called to GO, but I also know the call to stay, for this is my Jerusalem. The girl behind the counter, the man on the street, the young adult at the Porch searching for answers - they are just as lost as those in Africa or India.

Maybe more so. Many know the truth. They just can't move past their own knowledge or experience to accept it. Empty.

I want to shout, "Hope is over here!" I have the solution to the ache. I know One who fills the emptiness, heals what's broken, binds up the hurting, and loves what everyone else has stamped unloveable.

I'm more conscious now. I pray for His eyes, that I see what He sees and love what He loves. I pray they know the peace and hope I know. For my God fills the emptiness with His heart.

His loving hands never leave scars.

 “Come, let us return to the LORD. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence. Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.” Hosea 6:1-3