Beverly Joy Roberts

Many years ago, when we were missionaries in the Philippines, we decided to buy a family pet.   Kelly the Dalmati an joined our famil y, and our children were thrilled to pour their love on this newest family member.     The first night we had Kelly, she was whimpering.  Our 8 year old son cradled her like a baby and spoke words of comfort to the puppy.      He said, “We’ll take you home tomorrow to see your mommy.   Don’t be sad.”   Then he buried his face into the puppy’s neck and cuddled with her.    I heard him say this and simply stated the facts.   “She won’t ever see her mother again.   We’re her family now .”    The next thing I heard was heart breaking, shoulder shaking sobbing.    I immediately regretted my blunt communication.    To a child who had just been uprooted from all he knew and plopped down in a foreign country—he couldn’t handle anymore simple truth.    My words were true, but my delivery was abrupt causing another pain.   I went

I’m a pretty tough gal—at least that’s what I what to project.   I’m a bit crusty on the outside but have a tender heart.   One thing that always hurts me deeply is when my good intentions are misinterpreted.   My heart is right.   I’m trying to be helpful and bam —I’m judged wrongly.   Ouch!   That 's painful !   I know I’m not alone.   I doubt there is a person alive today that hasn’t at one time or another had their actions misinterpret.   Or possibly YOU have judged another wrongly.   (Not me of course—just trying to help YOU be a better person! ) Here are a few things from the Bible that were not what they seemed : Isaac thought Jacob was Esau and gave him the blessing…but he wasn’t. The Children of Israel thought the Red Sea was impassable…but it wasn’t. Ananias and Sapphira thought they could lie to the Holy Spirit…but they couldn’t David’s brother’s thought he was too weak and small to fight Goliath…but he fought and won!   Joseph’s brothers sold him

Easter is only a few weeks away.  This is the time when Christians celebrate our Risen Savior and the empty tomb.  The truth that stands out to me the most on this holiday is— forgiveness .  From the cross, Jesus says, “Father, forgive them.”     His innocent life was the supreme sacrifice for the sins of the world from generations past straight through to eternity.  Christ is and forever will be our example of forgiveness.  His death and resurrection cleared the roadblocks between the creator and the created.   Now, we can freely receive the grace of His forgiveness.  Yet, we the created still struggle to apply forgiveness in our encounters with others.    Here are the three areas we wrestle with when dealing with forgiveness: You forgiving me Me forgiving you… AND the biggie... Me forgiving me We all want to be forgiven by someone when we mess up, yet the hardest person to forgive—is ourselves.   I can extend mercy to you, but not to me.  I look in

Remember that first time you took your little one swimming.   They wrapped their tiny legs and arms tightly around you and h eld on with all their might.  Y ou entered th e pool, lake or ocean walking slowly letting the water creep higher and higher.   At this point, your little one may have cried out in fear tightening their grip.      If you’re anything like me, this is when you began to speak reassuring words.    "It's okay." “You’re safe. " " I’ve got you." " I’m not going to let go . ”     The last thing we would ever do to a scared child is “let them go.”  Then all too soon that same child will be doing cannonballs into the pool, drenching you with a wave of water followed by roaring laughter. (boys)  S omewhere between the scared but trusting child holding on to you ‘part’ and the roaring with laughter ‘part’ is where most of us are in our walk with the Lord.    We need to be reassured that when we let go and