Tuesday November 22, 2016 

Hope. It's a funny thing. You cling to it fiercely all the while doubting whether it's there. May you be blessed to see a bright future through the darkest of days.

As I faced my Maker, I knelt before the Lord along with the other souls. Before each of us laid our lives, like the squares of a quilt, in many piles.
An Angel sat before each of us sewing our quilt squares together into a tapestry that was our life.

But as my Angel took each piece of cloth off the pile, I noticed how ragged and empty each of my squares were. They were filled with giant holes! Each square was labeled with a part of my life that had been difficult, the challenges and temptations I was faced with in everyday life. I saw hardships that I had endured, which were the largest holes of all.

I glanced around me. Nobody else had such squares. Others had a tiny hole here and there, other tapestries were filled with rich color and the bright hues of worldly fortune.

I gazed upon my own life and was disheartened. My Angel was sewing the ragged pieces of cloth together, threadbare and empty, like binding air. Finally, the time came when each life was to be displayed, held up to the light and the scrutiny of truth. The others rose each in turn, holding up their tapestries. So filled their lives had been.

My Angel looked upon me and nodded for me to rise. My gaze dropped to the ground in shame. I hadn't had all the earthly fortunes. I had love in my life and laughter. But there had also been trials of illness, death, and false accusations that took from me my world as I knew it.

I had to start over many times. I often struggled with the temptation to quit, only to somehow muster the strength to pick up and begin again. I had spent many nights on my knees in prayer, asking for help and guidance in my life.

I had often been held up to ridicule, which I endured painfully; each time offering it up to the Father, in hopes that I would not melt within my skin beneath the judgmental gaze of those who unfairly judged me.

And now, I had to face the truth. My life was what it was, and I had to accept it for what it had been.

I rose and slowly lifted the combined squares of my life to the light. An awe-filled gasp filled the air. I gazed around at the others who stared at me with eyes wide. Then, I looked upon the tapestry before me. Light flooded through the many holes, and I saw God.

The Lord stood before me, with warmth and love and said,

"Every time you gave over your life to Me, it became My life, My hardships, and My struggles. Each point of light in your life is when you stepped aside and let Me shine through, until there was more of Me than there was of you...Welcome home My child."

Please pray for my mom she is 64 years old she has diabetes she also has a softball size kidney stone in her left kidney she is in alot of pain. Also, I live with her and when she is sick she seems to treat people like they are her dog. And that person would be me. Please send prayers our way. Thank you God bless all of you.

We received a message about yesterday's opening quote by Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. which read: "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."

Tom M. suggests:

Can we make this person? As in…"The ultimate measure of a PERSON is not where he or she stands in moments of comfort, but where he or she stands at times of challenge and controversy."

Reply from Susan:

Thanks for your suggestion. I completly agree. I wrestled with whether to change it, and decided not to, out of respect for Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. whose quote I would be tampering with. It was a mistake, he lived in a time of different sensibilities.

We published a praise report from K.B.: 

Today she wrote: This is the front of my aunt and uncles motorhome that was hit by a semi. It is a true miracle that they are doing so well. I just want people to know that power of prayers do work.