The White Squall

I haven't written; I've had writer's block.
I haven't expressed myself; I've had an emotional wall.
I haven't spoken; I've been mute.
I haven't read; I've had my mind closed.

Minor cuts and scrapes. Penny sized bruises. Minute infractions. Diminutive at a glance; there's no need to share the affliction. The big things seemed so monstrous; the little things seemed so effortless.

With a white squall amidst, a massive wave crashes upon my squandered time. The realization set in… the swell which has enveloped my days was an accumulation of little things. It wasn't the big things after all.

I carry the affliction. I bare it on my shoulders. I see its weight in my eyes. I hear the imperfections in my voice. I feel the millstones in my heart.

So how to rid myself of this well developed burden? A burden whose heaviness is more savage than an innocent prey succumbing to a lion's vicious maul?

As I stammer across the fields of time, I bring every weight with me; slowly reaching a sordid pit. I take one burden at a time, gradually peeling each layer of sin off my surface and placing it at the foot of the cross.

For I know the voice of joy and the voice of gladness.
For I know 'not a trace will be left of the wicked or their families. The Lord protects His people, and they can come to Him in times of trouble. The Lord helps them and saves them from the wicked because they run to Him.'

And with this knowledge I bring the swell which has consumed me. I bring my battered and injured soul. I bring my heart, my mind, myself; all pieces of me.

I peel away the imperfections. I praise my Almighty Father. I pray for his mercy. I read and learn of His ways and wishes for me.

And in this the white squall subdues. What began as minute infractions; what brought me to a sordid pit has diminished at His feet! Now with hands raised high, I celebrate the grandeur of our Lord in a pinnacle of revelry!

Dare I share my story… Dare I speak of my defeats and triumphs… Dare I share stories of His glory…

Dare you listen and heed these words wholeheartedly?

by: DeAna Colon

Pick Up the Pieces

As a teenager she thought she was invincible, nothing could detain her. She was confident, smart and beautiful. She was the life of the party. With these kind of attributes, how could she have a care in the world?

Years go by. High school is over, college years ensue. The parties are bigger, louder, and wilder. Everyone is drinking, drugging, dancing, laughing, and having sex. Wild, crazy, "carefree" nights. From one fun night to the next, she’s making many intimate friends. She’s young and beautiful… she’s not hurting anyone… she’s just having a good time. Besides, there are so many guys out there, why not enjoy them?

College graduation comes and goes. She’s in her early twenties, now the real partying begins. Over 21 years old – the world is at her fingertips. She works her 9-5 but makes sure to go out almost every night. Out with the girls. Short skirts and high heels. Guys buying her drinks all night. At the end of the night, his place or hers didn’t matter to her. Many mornings of not knowing who he was or how she got home. But she’s young and "carefree"... it’s all in good fun, right?

More years down the road, she says she’s tamed her ways. An occasional night out, not as reckless as before. From many male encounters to just a handful. She thinks she has it all together. She’s beautiful, successful, and still "carefree." To her, life couldn’t get any better.

"Your test came back positive. You have HIV. We’d like you to come in to discuss your treatment options."

This was crushing. Each spoken word was an anvil-like blow to her heart. Not her! How could this be?! When did this happen? Who did she get it from? How could this happen to someone that was invincible?

She couldn’t possibly know who she contracted this fatal disease from, for there were too many to count. Countless men throughout the years, some even nameless never to be seen again. Her decision to be promiscuous and "carefree" came at the cost of her health.

With no cure, all those years of a "carefree" lifestyle will cost her life.

But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the LORD, and be sure your sin will find you out. (Numbers 32:23)

The bible continuously reminds us to refrain from sexual desires.

Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. (1 Corinthians 6:18, 20)

Why should you be intoxicated, my son, with a forbidden woman and embrace the bosom of an adulteress? For a man’s ways are before the eyes of the LORD, and he ponders all his paths. The iniquities of the wicked ensnare him, and he is held fast in the cords of his sin. He dies for lack of discipline, and because of his great folly he is led astray. (Proverbs 5:20-23)

We have come into an era where sex is main stream. It’s unavoidable, from commercials to movies to fashion. It is one of the easiest sins to fall prey to. Day after day, so many try to justify premarital sex. But it is, in fact, inexcusable. It is, in fact, against the Word of God.

As Christians, we are held to God’s commands. We should exemplify His words in every way… including what we do with our bodies. Our bodies are His temple. HIS temple. We should not abuse or desecrate it.

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. (Romans 13:14)

When you have sex, you are giving that person a piece of yourself. They get a physical, emotional, and mental piece of you. With each thought; with each act; with each person, you lose something within yourself.

When you marry… the day you join your life with the partner that God has intended for you… how can you say your partner is getting all of you? How are you ‘whole’ if you’ve lost pieces of yourself from premarital sex?

Pick up the pieces.

Stop giving yourself away. No matter what your past experience has been, God offers you total forgiveness when you repent. He offers complete healing for the areas that have been broken. Ask the Lord for forgiveness for your lustful desires and sins. He will work within you, making you whole once again.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleanness, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. (Ezekiel 36:25)

Please realize that from this moment on you can start over with a clean slate. You can decide right now that you want to make good choices about your purity from now on.

Romans 12:1
And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.

The Devil & the Duck

A chain email with a good messsage...

There was a little boy visiting his grandparents on their farm.

He was given a slingshot to play with out in the woods.

He practiced in the woods; but he could never hit the target.

Getting a little discouraged, he headed back for dinner.

As he was walking back he saw Grandma's pet duck.

Just out of impulse, he let the slingshot fly, hit the duck square in the head and killed it. He was shocked and grieved!

In a panic, he hid the dead duck in the wood pile; only to see his
Sister watching! Sally had seen it all, but she said nothing.

After lunch the next day Grandma said, 'Sally, let's wash the dishes'

But Sally said, 'Grandma, Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen.'

Then she whispered to him, 'Rem em ber the duck?'

So Johnny did the dishes.

Later that day, Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing and Grandma said, 'I'm sorry but I need Sally to help make supper.'

Sally just smiled and said, 'well that's all right because Johnny told me he wanted to help?

She whispered again, 'Remember the duck?' So Sally went fishing and Johnny stayed to help.

After several days of Johnny doing both his chores and Sally's; he
Finally couldn't stand it any longer.

He came to Grandma and confessed that he had killed the duck.

Grandma knelt down, gave him a hug and said, 'Sweetheart, I know. You see, I was standing at the window and I saw the whole thing, but because I love you, I forgave you. I was just wondering how long you would let Sally make a slave of you.'


Thought for the day and every day thereafter:

Whatever is in your past, whatever you have done... And the devil keeps throwing it up in your face (lying, cheating, debt, fear, bad habits, hatred, anger, bitterness, etc.)...whatever it is... you need to know that:

God was standing at the window and He saw the whole thing.
"For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord." (Proverbs 5:21)

He has seen your whole life. He wants you to know that He loves you and that you are forgiven. He's just wondering how long you will let the devil make a slave of you.

The great thing about God is that when you ask for forgiveness;

He not only forgives you, but He forgets.
"…and will not remember thy sins." (Isaiah 43:25)
"I will remember their sin no more." (Jeremiah 31:34)
"Their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." (Hebrews 8:12)

It is by God's grace and mercy that we are saved.
to give his people the knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins,
because of the tender mercy of our God,
by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven. (Luke 1:77-78)


Always remember:

God is at the window!

When Jesus died on the cross; he was thinking of you!
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)