Better Than a Hershey’s Bar

 

I love the series “Mad Men.” Most of the time, I confound my husband by binge watching episodes of it on Netflix. And I’ve been especially giddy as I’ve barreled through season six. I won’t spoil plotlines for you, but there was a particular scene in which the Madison Avenue advertising protagonist, Don Draper was pitching to Hershey’s.

Yes, the Hershey’s, the famous chocolate candy bar.

Anyway, in this pitch meeting, Don calls the candy bar “the childhood symbol of love” and the “currency of affection.”

 

Yikes.

It’s squirmy and brings to my mind the food issues many of us who struggle with disordered eating possess. I have my own memories of the Hershey’s bar, during college, in my highly bulimic phase, gorging on many of them via campus vending machines. And yes, in my desperation, I was trying for that “childhood symbol of love” and “currency of affection.” However, the candy bar did not deliver.

Food issues have been around since the very beginning.

“And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.”

Genesis 3:6

Eve may not have had a full-blown eating disorder, but it’s probably safe to say she had some unrealistic expectations about the object of her fancy.

And isn’t that where we get ourselves into trouble? Believing food will love, soothe and solve our lives? No such thing is possible, however. We back the wrong horse.

God isn’t anti-candy bar. Scripture tells us food is not the evil issue...

“All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.”

1 Corinthians 10:23

“All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.”

1 Corinthians 6:12

The issue occurs, however, when we place such importance to food. When we expect it to heal our childhoods, provide unconditional love, support and entertainment, that’s usually when we run into such problems. It will fail us, not because it’s evil, but because it was never designed to serve that purpose in the first place. God, however, does fulfill that role.

“We love him, because he first loved us.”

1 John 4:19

“The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, ‘Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.’”

                                                             Jeremiah 31:3             

“…I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”’

John 10:10

A candy bar is just a candy bar. But how much sweeter, how much more can God be to us?

 

Copyright © 2016 by Sheryle Cruse

 

 

Straighten the Crown!

Because No

 

A large part of my recovery process involves using the word “no.” Indeed, saying “yes” gotten me into more trouble and disease than standing in my own okay-ness with stating it simply, but firmly.

My eating disorder experiences were driven by an insatiable need for perfection, approval and to be pleasing at all cost. So, “no” became a dirty little word. After all, me, a girl, filled with sugar and spice, should be completely fulfilled with making other people happy.

Right?

Wrong.

No matter how much I tried to push the truth down, it would eventually surface, screaming how unhappy and disease-ridden I was. This occurred as I simultaneously tried to convince myself how it was normal and logical for others’ happiness to be at my expense, even risking my life, health and well-being.

“No means no.”

We hear that phrase a lot, especially when it comes to rape. And it certainly captures that truth. But this phrase extends to all areas, especially concerning how a female navigates herself through the world. And, let’s face it, more often than not, the world is not respectful of a female’s “no”- on much of anything.

Indeed, my own experience with my no answer has been challenged many times. And you know what is further troubling? The challenge has come from males. On occasions, when I’ve politely given my “no” to a male, on everything from a date, to a family decision, to my refusal of a piece of cake, unfortunately, I’ve had to resort to my next response:

“No is a complete sentence.”

By now, you would think the point would be made clear. But, no. To that more direct response, I have gotten rebuffed and further coerced; this is usually from the standpoint of the male telling me how much better his reason was for doing things his way. He’d try to sell his persuasive, charm as the reason why I should change my “silly no” to his right “yes.”

 This perspective is disturbing as it call into question a female’s rightful stance to have a response which does not agree with the male who wants something else of her.

Years ago, a self- defense expert, teaching women how to protect themselves against attackers, stated two things which changed my life:

“When a man says no, it’s the end of the discussion. But when a woman says no, it starts the process of negotiation.”

“When a person does not accept your ‘no,’ they’re trying to control you.”

Powerful.

It’s, unfortunately, an insidious, subtle mindset out there which still exerts an argument that, somehow, a female’s no is not as real or as valid as that of a male’s. The mentality encourages the behavior, therefore, of that male’s right to challenge, dismiss, convince and coerce the female until she gives him the “yes” answer he desires.

It’s a violating spirit. It demeans and destroys. For, make no mistake about it, God has instructed us on the “no” question:

“Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.”

Matthew 5:37

And, in case you didn’t notice, there was no gender distinction. A male’s no, a female’s no- both are valid- and to be heeded.

Life does not require we feel giddy when we’re told no. We’ve all had experiences in which “yes” would be so much more pleasing to our wants. Nevertheless, someone’s “no,” however unwanted, needs to be respected. You don’t have to like it. But you do have to honor it.

And, if you can’t do that, it calls into question, therefore, a larger issue concerning your spiritual health. Is your “yes” answer from someone more important to you than their life, sense of dignity and well-being?

What is your honest answer to that question?

Copyright © 2016 by Sheryle Cruse

 

What's In A Name?

 

Featured in March 30^th’s Christians In Recovery, Cruse discusses the significance of name calling, as well as the coping strategies we need to take when toxic encounters, threatening our self-esteem and recovery processes, present themselves.

http://christians-in-recovery.org/Issues_MentalHealth_Self-Esteem_What-is-in-a-Name

 

But So Is...

He is Risen!!!

In all your ways...

It Is Finished

The 100th Sheep

 

“My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their restingplace.”

Jeremiah 50:6

Most of us are familiar with the parable of the lost sheep and the passage about the good shepherd.

 “Then Jesus told them this parable:  “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”

Luke 15:3-7

“I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.”

John 10:11

And most of us have seen the matching artwork, the depiction of a loving, attentive Jesus holding a lamb in His arms.

 

 

 “He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart...”

Isaiah 40:11

Yet, there seems to be a disconnection. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Jesus loves us; He’s our good shepherd. But do we REALLY personalize it? And what exactly would that mean to us?

Years ago, Bishop T.D. Jakes did a message on sheep. Scripture often refers to people as that creature. And it’s honestly not a flattering comparison. As Bishop Jakes went on to point out how sheep are…stubborn, stupid and always getting lost and into trouble. Sheep also don’t have any natural defenses and are helpless.

And we are sheep. Great.

When I was a kid in Vacation Bible School, one of the teachers tried to do a visualization technique.

(I say tried because, after all, we’re talking about kids here- lambs- baby sheep. So we’re talking stubborn, stupid and prone to getting lost, all with unbound youthful energy. But I digress).

Anyway, she suggested each one of us see ourselves as that lamb, that 100^th sheep, once lost, now safely tucked in our shepherd’s arms. And then, from there, really get the feeling of just how much God loves us.

I know- again, kids here. Besides, it seems too simplistic.

But, years later, as fully grown adults, we’re still struggling with that very same notion. We still look like ridiculous lost sheep, in desperate need of a patient and capable shepherd to swoop in and save our hides.

"'For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country. I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel. I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord GOD. I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick...”

Ezekiel 34:11-16

No matter how old we get, how much money we make, what we accomplish or how together we appear, we never outgrow our sheep status. And that might be completely depressing if it weren’t for one large detail we, too often forgotten, if we know it at all: God loves us. And it’s not a casual kind of love either.

“Since you were precious in my sight… I have loved you…”

Isaiah 43:4

“The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.”

Jeremiah 31:3

Love is why He puts up with us and our sheepish ways. We just don’t get it. Nevertheless, God cannot help Himself but to love us. And each one of us is that lost 100^th sheep special to God; we’re that important. Our feelings and experiences backing that up matter not; it goes beyond us and our finite perspectives. God’s thoroughly convinced of His love for us. And He doesn’t change His mind.

Again…

“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 8:38-39

We’re sheep. We cannot change that truth. But we can go a lot further if we choose not to argue with God in His love and reasons for pursuing, chasing and loving us.

Each of us is that 100^th sheep; we are that special. We are the parable.

Copyright © 2016 by Sheryle Cruse

 

 

Pick Them Wisely

A Reflection of Who They Really Are

Don't Waste Your Time...

Esther: Least Likely…

 

And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter.

Esther 2:7

And they told to Mordecai Esther's words.

Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews.

For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

Esther 4:12-14

Feel the least likely? Feel like your dreams are never going to happen? Get in line; Esther understands.

 

 

She had no concrete evidence to believe for her victory- EXCEPT a real God who was working the whole time. Check out the book of Esther for yourself. God’s not intimidated when all the odds seem against you. He’s created and called for you to win!

 

God bless us all this Purim! May we experience a very real God, working Victory in our life circumstances! He did it for Esther; we’re next!!! It’s time to celebrate!!!

 

 

Copyright © 2016 by Sheryle Cruse

 

 

Rock, Paper, Scissors

 

“Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better?”

Ecclesiastes 6:11

I just need to rant a bit. Guess what ridiculous image thing I discovered today?

As if we don’t have enough unrealistic body expectations, tactics and measurements out there, now there is the piece of paper test.

 

 

It’s more self-explanatory than you’d think. Take a white piece of paper, one which is 8 x 10. Next hold in against your midriff, vertically. And the “logic” is as follows:

If you have a waist size larger than the width of this paper, you are fat.

 

 

Arrgh.

I can go on and on about danger body image, eating disorders and slaughter self-esteem.

Yet, it appears we keep rolling out these harmful practices.

 

 

When will it stop?

It the culture now insists on this stupid thing, then, let’s, by all means necessary, apply the rock and the scissors to this stupid paper chase.

“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”

2 Corinthians 10:5

We are certainly worth more than a piece of paper!

Copyright © 2016 by Sheryle Cruse

 

It’s the Waiting

 

Recently, I chatted with a young girl I’ve been mentoring. She’s currently in an eating disorder treatment facility- and fighting her treatment. She has flat out refused to eat, drink or take any medication. She’s been closely monitored, mainly due to a recent episode in which she swallowed glass.

Yes, you heard me right; she swallowed glass.

I asked her what brought this on and she responded she wanted to feel pain and she was tired of waiting for her recovery. I don’t think it has sunken in that recovery is very much a process, not an instant cure.

“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

2 Corinthians 3:18

I’ve tried presenting this concept to her many times. Yet her response is still the desire for the instant, perfect, problem and pain free cure. And, in the meantime, she’s convinced God has caused this, or, at the very least, has been apathetic to her suffering because the struggle has not been eradicated.

But that’s not the case. It’s quite the opposite, in fact...

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

2 Peter 3:9

“And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.”

Isaiah 30:18

That’s the problem, isn’t it? It’s the waiting. No one likes to wait, no matter if it’s a spiritual issue or waiting in a grocery line or traffic. We want what we want NOW!

And so, we often run amuck with our brilliant theory that, because our chosen thing isn’t happening exactly on our timetable, God hates us and we’re failures, destined for only hopelessness. Nothing like exaggeration, huh?

And wrong thinking, not in line with God’s thinking- goody!

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”

Isaiah 55:8-9

“For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.”

1 Corinthians 13:12

I don’t know why we go through pain and struggles; I don’t know why things aren’t automatically, instantly fixed. But God does. There’s something larger at work. And it’s all woven for our good:

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Romans 8:28

That, however, doesn’t feel great to our instant gratification selves. But life IS a process. God IS in control. And part of our part, like it or not, is the waiting. Temper tantrums won’t speed that up. Letting God be God, however, WILL.

How about if we do that then? It’s something to consider while we wait.

 “...wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.”

Proverbs 20:22

 “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.”

Psalms 27:14

Copyright © 2016 by Sheryle Cruse

 

Clueless Or Purposeful Recovery?

 

Featured in March 21^st’s Christians In Recovery, Cruse explores how helping others, via our own recovery process, expands our individual healing.

 

http://christians-in-recovery.org/Issues_Pride_Clueless-or-Purposeful-Recovery

At Least I Know the Difference...

Someone’s Therapist

 

I came across a humorous post on the internet:

“Someone’s therapist knows all about you.”

It made me laugh…and think. I thought back to many therapy sessions I engaged in, talking about certain individuals and their impact of my life, disorder and state of mind. I talked about my mother, my dad and my childhood bullies. Believe me, I had A LOT to say. So, yes, even though my therapist never met them, she knew all about these people.

But this humorous post touched on something bigger. It wasn’t just about the acquired knowledge a therapist gained when his/her patient ranted about their issues. It had to do with God- the ultimate therapist- and His role in our lives as we struggle, hurt and encounter recovery.

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Hebrews 4:12

Cue the heart, therefore:

“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”

Proverbs 4:23

“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he...”

Proverbs 23:7

But this heart issue is not a passive thing, ignored by God. Quite the contrary, in fact.

“…the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”

1 Samuel 16:7

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Hebrews 4:12

 In other words…

“Someone’s therapist knows all about you.”

But, again, there is not a passive nature to these realities, if we choose to participate.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Psalms 139:23-24

 “And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.”

Joel 2:13

And we do have that choice to make.

 “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.”

John 14:1

How does the old saying go? Admitting you need help is the first step.

“But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, ‘They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.’”

Matthew 9:12

And, hey, guess who is our help?

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

Psalms 46:1

 “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

Isaiah 9:6

“Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.”

Hebrews 7:3

A/K/A, someone’s therapist…

“Someone’s therapist knows all about you.”

Yep, get ready for some truly intensive therapy should we, again, choose to accept it.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Psalms 139:23-24

God knows about our issues, our pain, our triggers, our histories, our families- everything. He knows exactly why, where and how we are the way we are in life. Nothing gets past Him.

“You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar.”

Psalm 139:2

Yes, someone’s therapist does know all about you: the good, the bad and the ugly.

And, rather than be frightened by that, we can choose to embrace it and find true comfort IN it.

That sounds quite therapeutic to me.

Copyright © 2016 by Sheryle Cruse

 

 

 

 

In Need of a Donkey

“...‘The Lord needs it.’”

Luke 19:34

Palm Sunday brings to mind Passover, Easter, Jesus and waving palm leaves. We can get so caught up in the Majesty of God, we bypass the lowly, ordinary elements incorporated in the glory, in example, the donkey.

 

 

Whether you, indeed, refer to it as a donkey, burro or a colt, it still does not change the reality; God uses anything of His choosing.

Check this passage out:

^28 “After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. ²⁹ As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, ³⁰ ‘Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. ³¹ If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it.’”

³² Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. ³³ As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, ‘Why are you untying the colt?’

³⁴ They replied, ‘The Lord needs it.’

³⁵ They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. ³⁶ As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.

³⁷ When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:

³⁸ ‘Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!’

‘Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!’

³⁹ Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, rebuke your disciples!’

⁴⁰ ‘I tell you,’ he replied, ‘if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.’

⁴¹ As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it ⁴² and said, ‘If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.’”

Luke 19:28- Luke 19:42

This, however, wasn’t the first time donkeys were of use for God’s purposes: some examples include...

Genesis 22:3...

“Early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about.

Genesis 42:26...

“...they loaded their grain on their donkeys and left.”

Genesis 44:3...

“As morning dawned, the men were sent on their way with their donkeys.”

Exodus 4:20...

“So Moses took his wife and sons, put them on a donkey and started back to Egypt. And he took the staff of God in his hand.”

And let’s not forget Balaam’s donkey. You gotta check this puppy out!

^“21 Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey and went with the Moabite officials. ²² But God was very angry when he went, and the angel of the Lord stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. ²³ When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, it turned off the road into a field. Balaam beat it to get it back on the road.

²⁴ Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path through the vineyards, with walls on both sides. ²⁵ When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it pressed close to the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot against it. So he beat the donkey again.

²⁶ Then the angel of the Lord moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn, either to the right or to the left. ²⁷ When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it lay down under Balaam, and he was angry and beat it with his staff. ²⁸ Then the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth, and it said to Balaam, ‘What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?’

²⁹ Balaam answered the donkey, ‘You have made a fool of me! If only I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now.’

³⁰ The donkey said to Balaam, ‘Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?’

‘No,’ he said.

³¹ Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown.

³² The angel of the Lord asked him, ‘Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? I have come here to oppose you because your path is a reckless one before me.³³ The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If it had not turned away, I would certainly have killed you by now, but I would have spared it.’”

Okay, okay, there’s a theme here, donkeys and what they can do...kinda like...us.

A lot of times, we make God and faith so complicated. But the willingness factor gets downplayed repeatedly. And willingness is no small thing.

First, God chooses...

“I have chosen you and have not cast you away.”

Isaiah 41:9

Again, it’s not a small thing. Next, however, the ball is in our court. What do we choose?

“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.”

Deuteronomy 30:19

There’s a blessing in it, if we choose God...

“If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land.”

Isaiah 1:19

And it might be all too easy, except for one thing we have in common with the donkey: stubbornness. The old saying goes “stubborn as a mule,” right?

“He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.”’

Proverbs 29:1

“And the LORD said unto Moses, ‘I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people.’”

Exodus 32:9

“Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.”

Acts 7:51

Yikes.

But it’s not hopeless. Again, there’s choice. Choice from God’s decision to create, call and use us and our choice to willingly respond with a yes to that decision.

It’s a process of untangling from lies we’ve spent a lifetime believing....

We’re hopeless...

We’re useless...

We’re stupid...

We’re unwanted...

We’re unloved...

God refutes those lies with the Truth of Who He is...

“Since you were precious in my sight… I have loved you…”

Isaiah 43:4

“I have chosen you and have not cast you away.”

Isaiah 41:9

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”

Isaiah 55:8-9

“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

2 Corinthians 3:18

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go: I will guide you with My eye.”

Psalm 32:8

“…being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

Philippians 1:6

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

Jeremiah 29:11

“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 8:38-39

“Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?”

Jeremiah 32:27

“The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.”

Jeremiah 31:3

“We love him, because he first loved us.”

1 John 4:19

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

John 3:16

“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 8:38-39

If God can choose a donkey for such great Glory as to propel Jesus to fulfill His purpose, how can He choose you and me?

And how WILL we respond to that call?

God needed a donkey then.

And God needs us now to be who He created us to be!

Copyright © 2016 by Sheryle Cruse