Robin Williams, A Reminder

Yesterday, many mourned as they learned about the death of Robin Williams due to an apparent suicide. I must admit that I too was saddened by this needless and tragic event. I was saddened not because I felt some emotional attachment to him as a movie star~ I rarely form attachments to famous people. They are people like you and I and they have struggles too. I was saddened because it was needless and tragic. I feel this way anytime I hear about someone who takes their own life. My first thought is that, like many other people, he found himself chasing things. Once he got them, he found that they did not satisfy like he thought they would satisfy him. Only God can bring real contentment and satisfaction in a person's life. Nothing else we go after in life will do that for us. Lest you think I'm giving a glib "Christian " response to a senseless tragedy, I'm not. Every time I hear about an event like this, I end up asking one question, "Was there not even one person that was in a position to point him in the right direction?" I know we can't make ourselves responsible for every person in the world and yet I can't help but believe that God may have put people in his life for the express purpose of holding out hope for a disillusioned soul. Then I ask, "Who around me needs the hope that I can offer though Christ?" I know that others at times have offered encouragement and strength to me when I needed it and often you still do. None of us have arrived and even as Christians we can struggle with depression because Satan gets us focus on the wrong things. We all need to ask at times, "Who needs my help?" We can't make ourselves responsible for everyone but we can make ourselves responsible for one or two. I pray that this tragedy serves as a reminder to be there for those who are hurting. If you are struggling, for heavens sake don't be afraid to admit it. Most likely others do care; we just don't always know when someone needs help.

The Angel By Your Side
I can't say that everything's okay
'Cause I can see the tears you're crying
And I can't promise to take the pain away
But you can know I won't stop trying

I'll be the angel by your side
I will get you through the night
I'll be the strength you can't provide on your own

'Cause when you're down and out of time
And you think you've lost the fight
Let me be the angel, the angel by your side

I know it feels like you're running out of faith
'Cause it's so hard to keep believing, oh
But if I can bring the smile back to your face
For a moment you'll forget all about it, oh

I'll be the angel by your side
I will get you through the night
I'll be the strength you can't provide on your own

'Cause when you're down and out of time
And you think you've lost the fight
Let me be the angel, the angel by your side

'Cause this won't be the last time
You'll need a little hope
But I wanna be the first to let you know

I'll be the angel by your side
I will get you through the night
I'll be the strength you can't provide on your own

'Cause when you're down and out of time
And you think you've lost the fight
Let me be the angel, the angel by your side
Oh, let me be the angel, the angel by your side, oh
The angel by your side

Angel By Your Side

What’s That Smell?

To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. 2Corinthians 2:16 Last break! The shift was almost over. Then the unthinkable happened, this man appeared out of nowhere wanting to know where the flashlights were kept. As we were on our way to the flashlights, I noticed that this man had a very strong odor. I thought perhaps I could get in front of him so that the smell would not be as strong. That, however, was not to be either since; he insisted on keeping pace and walking right beside me. By the time we got to where the flashlights were; I was practically running just to keep ahead of him. I showed him the flashlights and made a hasty exit. If you’re like me, you shower and even put on perfume or cologne so that you will not stink. We are concerned that the smell coming from our body is not offensive to others. As I write this, I wonder if we are as concerned with our spiritual aroma as ...

Grow Old Gracefully

I’d like to tell you about a lady I visited yesterday. She is ninety-five years young. She recently moved into nursing home. She asked one of the workers how many times she would have to walk around the outside of the building in order to walk a mile. She said the person told her about ten. Then she leaned in really close and whispered, “I walked around twelve just to be sure I walked a mile.” Hahahaha! What a lady! She loves to keep active, even in a nursing home. As we talked, I saw no anger or bitterness in her speech or actions. There was only a love for God, a heart of compassion, and a sense of humor. She has befriended the one "prickly pear" at the home because as she said, “I have to love her, so she knows Jesus loves her too.” Wow!!! I need to live like that! I want to show that much compassion for those around me that need Jesus. She loved to talk about God and what he was teaching her. ...

Thank You God For Turning Our Ashes into Beauty

There are tragedy and sadness in everyone's life, No one is exempt. Yet, in the midst of the hurt and pain, God is there. He takes the things that hurt us and make us sad and turns them into things are beautiful. The death of my mother was a tragedy to my dad. However, because of that tragedy, my dad began to see his need for God. In his brokenness, he found a God that could make him whole. God turned his ashes into beauty. My dad, in turn, taught me to love God. I am blessed to know God as my savior because of my dad. God also blessed me with a lovely step-mom Life is harsh at times, and many things are sad, Yet, if we let him, he will take our ashes and make them into a work of art. He delights in making the ash heaps of our life beautiful. When we are broken, God is near, and where there is sorrow, he will turn it into dancing. Thank you, God, F...

Inspirations

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