REDEEMING LOVE

 As I looked around as I was eating my lunch with my students, I got teary eyed. I was filled with such JOY! I was remembering in my childhood. 

1.  I couldn't get the nerve to try out for plays, but really wanted to.

2.  I wanted to go to sleep away camp (a friend asked two years in a row for me to go with her.) 

3.  Wanted to go to college but lost my nerve weighing the decision to go into a counseling which would require a master degree.

Have you ever felt like you lost some of the things you wanted to do and never got to! Like life circumstances took you another direction.

I realize I am sort of writing this and it runs along the line of the movie IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE!

You know the character, George Bailey? He always got side tracked when it came to the things that HE THOUGHT HE SHOULD BE DOING!

Hey God are you there, it is me Elaine? Did I listen? Did I go in the right direction?

Feeling peace I thought to myself simply, YES! 

I did the best I could.

Getting back to the lunchroom story, I was reminded that my life moto, I AM A RECYCLER, ANYTHING GOD TEACHES ME HAS NEVER BEEN WASTED IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN RECYCLED FOR GOD'S GLORY!

But that day I remembers this list

I have been to camp of all various kinds over the past 30 years. So much fun!

I took acting classes and I write skits for my speaking ministry! Go God, thank you!

I never knew if I wanted to be a counselor or teacher, never got that degree, but I have had so much training in both areas. Here that day I was actually teach my favorite age group 5th-8th grade. Amazing Grace!

I married the love of my life and we had four children. This core start has led me to doing the things I skipped in my younger years.

So you see friends, it has all been redeemed!

His redeeming, reconciling love did that and I am so grateful.

Joel 2:25 “I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten— the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm — my great army that I sent among you.

Ps. 107:2 " Let the redeemed of the LORD tell their story— those he redeemed from the hand of the foe"

Gal. 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

Our redeemer lives!