Love. Even when it seems impossible.

Loving others unconditionally is not an easy undertaking. Those who mistreat us or want to do us harm are hard to love in our own strength. In the study, Rivka, created by CRU Ministries, Rivka tells one of her young friends something we all need to remember – hate hurts the one who hates.

“If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.” – Luke 6:32-36

The story is set 2,000 years ago, yet the experiences of the people in the story are not so different from those many of us experience today. Rivka endures scorn from her husband. The Jews are fearful of the Romans and feel hatred toward them for the things they were doing to their people. People within families and communities have difficulty resolving their different beliefs, so they are angry and even reject one another.

The fact is that, as much as hating others hurts the one who hates, loving those who treat you poorly makes you stronger. It strengthens our connection to the Holy Spirit and our ability to overcome what our human emotions want us to do.

Rivka reminds us that Jesus died for us even when we were still sinners, when we rejected him and turned away from him. He set the example for how he wants us to love others and gave us the Holy Spirit to empower us to do what we could not do on our own. And when we follow his ways, people will see we are different and be curious. They may even want what we have – to know Jesus.

It has been nothing short of amazing to see the transformation that is happening with all of the women going through the study, and how their hearts are changing. They are praying for those who have hurt and rejected them. They are experiencing joy and peace in the midst of difficult circumstances and uncertainty. They are reading God’s Word and working to apply it to their lives.

Jesus commands that we are to love others even when they don't deserve our love. This is the most powerful love of all.

How can we love difficult people? Here are some practical ideas:

1. Remember what Jesus did for you. He took on your sin and died in your place (Romans 5:8). By the grace and mercy of God, you have been set free.

2. Look at others through God’s eyes. All of us are God’s children and He doesn’t want to lose any one of us (2 Peter 3:9). When you love others who don’t treat you well, you are paving the way for them to see Christ.

3. Pray constantly (1 Thessalonians 5:17). By keeping in close contact with the Lord, you will discover supernatural strength to do what you could not do on your own. He will give you the words to speak and be your guide.

4. Read God’s Word daily. Jesus said that as we abide in him and his words abide in us we will bear much fruit (John 15:5). Studying God’s Word will provide you with the wisdom you need to call upon in even the most difficult circumstances.

Jesus did not command us to love without giving us the power to do so. That’s why he gave us the Holy Spirit. But we must be committed to allowing the Spirit to direct us. We must be intentional about loving others under all circumstances. And when we do, miracles happen.

Living with Forgiveness

Forgiveness is not some lightweight Christian doctrine or a seldom sought-after human want.  We all need forgiveness.

As I have been in prison, I have witnessed many individuals, including myself, searching for forgiveness and then learning to live our lives from it. The search mainly includes asking family, friends or a parole board. Yet I learned these searches were secondary, and positive results are not possible until we learn the true source and meaning of forgiveness.

“Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
    wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
    let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins
    and blot out all my iniquity.
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,
    and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”  Psalm 51:7-10

Satan wants to keep us trapped in the past, in our guilt, because there we can’t truly confess our sins or be 100 percent transparent with our Father, ourselves or others.

Once I completely surrendered and became totally broken over my sin, I began to grow from the reality of God’s forgiveness, and began to understand and live life from Scripture such as Psalm 51 above and many others including “as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12).  And, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

The best thing we can do for ourselves and others is to forgive and accept forgiveness. 

Forgiveness not only heals, but also clears the way for quality of life to love, renew and to restore.  This is the grace God gives us even though we have done nothing to deserve it.

While I still pray for some people to forgive me, I can live knowing the joy of forgiveness far outweighs the pleasure and guilt of sin.

“The forgiveness of God is the test by which I myself am judged.”  – Oswald Chambers

Discovering Jesus' Love for Women

Women are valuable to God, yet sadly many women feel less than, marginalized and insignificant. Women who have endured difficulties in their lives are vulnerable to the lies that our enemy, the devil, want us to believe. And those lies are only reinforced by people who let us down or treat us poorly. Rejection, divorce, abuse, abandonment, tragedy, and the judgment of others can cause anyone to question her own value.

Ladies of Grace recently taught the study Magdalena: Through Her Eyes, created by CRU Ministries, on the inside. We wanted the women to see how valuable women – and they – are to Jesus. The study includes a video depicting Jesus’ interaction with several women during his earthly ministry. 

• We got to see how Jesus helped Mary Magdalene become free from demon possession when all others shunned her out of fear and disgust (Luke 8:1-3). He called her a daughter of Abraham and her gratitude motivated her to follow Jesus for the rest of her days. 

• We got to be witnesses to the love Jesus expressed to the Samaritan woman at the well of Jacob (John 4:5-42). This woman was not only rejected by the Jews, but hated by her own people. Yet she was the one Jesus chose to reveal his identity of Messiah to, and she was the one who led her people to Jesus. 

• We got to see Jesus extend great mercy to a woman caught in adultery when the men were ready to stone her (John 8:1-11). Jesus showed her love, forgave her and restored her dignity. 

At the end of our study time, the women shared what they got out of the movie and our weekly discussions. 

Here are just a few of the wonderful realizations from the women who participated:

• My addiction was my identity but now Jesus looks at me as clean and pure, just like Mary Magdalene.

• Mary Magdalene’s dedication to Jesus after he drove out the demons was the most impressive. There was no fake loyalty. After coming out of my addiction I strive to follow Jesus every day.

• Who are we to do the selfish things that feed our flesh? If we would just stay focused on what Jesus did for us, we would all be better. If just one person turned from darkness to light, many could turn to Jesus. That’s what we are here for. We need to do things for Him, not things that are worthless. 

• I’ve been excellent at being a bad role model. Loyalty is a big deal and you think others are being loyal to you when you are in your addiction. All of the women we studied were struggling, but Jesus was there for them. His word is true and what he says he will do, HE WILL DO! That is true loyalty!

• I love the way he spoke to the woman caught in adultery with such tenderness and love.

• Through Jesus we have hope. He didn’t bring us here to harm us, he gave us hope! 

• I’m new to believing in God. I saw myself in all of those ladies in the video. To see Jesus walk up to each one gives me hope that he is real and that he cares. 

The fact is that God created man and woman in His image (Genesis 1:27). He loves everyone of us and relentlessly pursues us because He doesn’t want any one of us to be lost. We praise God for the impact this study has had on the women on the inside! Please pray with us that the seeds that have been planted in the hearts of all who participated will continue to grow and flourish.

Sunday Songs: Great Are You Lord

I was having a bone marrow biopsy on a Tuesday and heard the line, "these bones will sing," during our church's worship service.  I had heard the song many times before but this particular day at this particular time I heard something I hadn't heard before in those four words.  Right then I knew I was doing the right thing in having this procedure.  I had doubted my decision for days because so many procedures had been done and everything was still the same and, in some ways, getting worse.  Having an unknown medical diagnosis is exhausting, physically and emotionally.  Our Lord knows what it is like to be exhausted.  His own Son cried out to Him in the Garden of Gethsemane before His crucifixion.  I don't know if this bone marrow biopsy will show anything that leads to a diagnosis but I do know our Lord is great and I have found great comfort in this song.

Enjoy this Sunday Song by Sons & Daughters

Restoring Relationships: Motherhood

My evolution into motherhood had a rather bumpy beginning.  You see, I did not want to be a mother, at first.  My husband and I married with the understanding that we would choose not to have children.  Well, eight years later that changed.  We decided maybe kids wouldn't be so bad.  I had been on birth control pills for almost ten years at that point and all my friends said it would take forever to get pregnant--they were wrong.  Six weeks later I had three positive pregnancy tests in my hand that I had taken at work. 

Our first child was born in October and by his first birthday I was pregnant again.  Yes, you read that correctly.  We went from not wanting any children to having two eighteen months apart.  That was when they say, "it hit the fan."

Having an eighteen month old and a newborn was hard for me.  Mix in some ear infections, reflux, sleep deprivation, and postpartum depression and you have a crazy storm brewing in the house.  I simply survived.  I, by no means, was thriving in motherhood.  I doubted almost every decision I made with my children.  I constantly compared myself to every mother I met.  When our second born child was diagnosed with food allergies at 18 months old I felt tremendous guilt for not knowing earlier.

In order to fix myself I read almost every book under the sun.  I also read the book of Proverbs over and over and over.  I needed wisdom and I needed a dump truck load of it.  I began using Proverbs as a prayer guide for my children and my marriage.

Often Psalm 139 is quoted when babies are born or printed on pretty pictures for nurseries.  I challenge you to read that chapter as a mother:

"For it was You who created my inward parts;

You knit me together in my mother's womb.

I will praise You because I have been remarkably and wondrously made.

Your works are wondrous, and I know this very well."

God made YOU to be your child's parent.  Some of your children are not in your custody.  They are in foster care or with other family members.  The court has deemed you unfit.  But God made YOU to be that child's parent.  No pain is wasted in God's economy.  There is never a reason not to pray for your children daily.  Some of your children might be teenagers.  None the less, you pray for them to find Jesus and forgive you of your short comings.  If your child is in foster care you pray for those foster parents, they love your children as their own temporarily, they need wisdom just like you.

Above all else, be encouraged that God loves YOU and created YOU!  You are HIS.