WITNESS TO HEALING

Starting tonight, I will be co-leading a Rachel’s Hope After-Abortion healing retreat with three incredible sisters in Christ.  We will welcome a small group of courageous women suffering from the devastating effects of abortion.

The retreat is held at a former convent house with each woman having her own bedroom and pampered with home cooked meals, lovingly prepared by a volunteer. The overnight retreat provides them an opportunity to focus on themselves without distraction and be among other post-abortive women that bear the same scars (including the leaders). Through music, sharing, exercises and prayer, they are guided towards healing, concluding with a touching dedication ceremony for their babies.

As I prepare for this journey, my heart is filled with joyful anticipation.  Broken women will walk into the house tonight and on Sunday, walk out freed from the chains of emotional and spiritual pain having experienced the healing touch of God’s love, forgiveness and mercy.

 

 

"Rachel is weeping for her children.  She refuses to be comforted for her children are no more.  Thus says the Lord:  Wipe the tears from your eyes.  The sorrow you have shown shall have its reward."

(Jeremiah 31:15-17)

 

 

 

RETREAT HOUSE

 

A Writing Dilemma

I’m nearing the end of Volume IV of Grave Obsessions, “Unholy Vengeance”.  Finally, a light at the end of the tunnel. 

Adan Fredricks continues his quest to exact revenge on Detective Dallas Keegan. Does he want her dead? Not yet.  His new game is too much fun … Watching her deal with carnage designed to mock what she is struggling to recapture:  Her faith

Will he succeed this time, or will his escalating rage lead to a game-ending mistake?  I don’t know.  I’m at the most excruciating point in the series.  Will there be a Volume V or a final stand-off?  James Patterson has twenty books featuring Alex Cross … Should I follow his lead with Dallas Keegan?  Decisions, decisions.

Guess I’ll have to have to leave it up to Dallas.  She is the boss, after all.

 

 

A Bad Call

You are all waiting for me to whine about the Super Bowl results, aren't you?  Well, contrary to expectations, I'm not going to.  Granted, it was a devastating loss (and yes, I shed tears), but after some thought I realized it was an excellent lesson in "letting go".

After that incredible reception in the closing minutes, I just knew the Beast Mode would take over and punch through the end zone, giving the Seahawks back-to-back victories.  I watched the next play set up and when Russell Wilson stepped back and passed I about fainted.  Pass?  PASS?  Then came the heartbreaking interception and subsequent loss.

What I did for the next few hours was something I have tried desperately to avoid in my faith journey.  My mind replayed the unfortunate call over, and over again and contemplated a million "what ifs" to the point of exhaustion thus leading me into deep despair.

We all make mistakes, or bad calls, as it were, but wallowing in them serves no purpose whatever.  In fact, we leave ourselves open to Satan's grasp.  He loves to haunt us with questionable decisions ... sending us into the abyss of shame and remorse. His destructive mission is to have us all defined by our mistakes. 

The answer is turning it all over to God. He converts bad calls into lessons learned ... basked in the light of forgiveness.  Through Him, we are defined not by our mistakes but His infinite grace and mercy. 

And for my Seahawks ... Thank you for a great season!