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Moment of Grace

The bedrock of the Christian faith is the good news about God's love. Christian teachings about who we are and about our relationship with our Lord and each other is rooted in the fact that God is love and that He loves His creatures. "And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him." 1 John 4:16.

When we are really hurting, we put up our defenses, become rebellious, and may even feel victimized. We keep trying to lighten the burden by using our own meager resources. We try all sorts of escape mechanisms, only to discover that we feel more and more isolated, lonely, and lost. Our greatest need is to let God into our life.

Do you realize that God really loves you and His love is there to heal you, renew you, restore you, and lift you up? You may be carrying a heavy burden. Let God remove the load. You may be experiencing a broken relationship. Let God mend your heart. It may be job dissatisfaction, financial difficulties, or a deep concern for a world possessed by unspeakable evil and destructive powers. But right now, in this moment of grace, in this moment of spiritual renewal, discover God's gentle healing power in your life.

God is reaching out to comfort you as you have never been comforted before. Why not allow God to hug you right now? Let Him put His loving, compassionate arms around you right now. Experience the dissipation of all your hurts and disappointments as you permit yourself to be soothed, massaged, and gentled by your gracious loving Father.

Prayer:
Gracious Father, in this moment of grace, in this moment of spiritual refreshing, lift my burdens and bring your gentle healing power into my life. Support me, O Lord, through this troublesome life, until the busy world is hushed, the fever of life is over, and my work is done. Then Lord, in your mercy grant me a safe lodging, a holy rest, and sweet peace at last; for the honor of our Advocate and Mediator, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Rev. Saundra L. Washington, D.D., is an ordained clergywoman, veteran social worker, and Founder of AMEN Ministries. She is also the author of two coffee table books: Room Beneath the Snow: Poems that Preach and Negative Disturbances: Homilies that Teach which can be reviewed on her site. Her new book, Out of Deep Waters: My Grief Management Workbook, is expected to be available soon.

You are welcome to visit AMEN Ministries: Your Soul's Service Station for spiritual refreshing, soul edification, browse our newly expanded mini shopping mall or review our recommended books you may want to add to your personal library.

Blessings to all!

In The News:


Boston Globe

Sean Penn Stars In Inspirational Gay Rights Tale "Milk"
NY1, NY - Nov 21, 2008
Sean Penn portrays the first openly gay elected official in America, San Francisco supervisor Harvey Milk, in "Milk," a new film sure to be in the Oscar ...
Story of SF gay rights hero Harvey Milk finally makes it to the ... San Jose Mercury News
all 59 news articles

Inspirational Bristol businessman helps teenagers towards a bright ...
Evening Post, UK - 2 hours ago
Suzanne Bond, executive director of people and skills at the South West Regional Development Agency said: "Muhammad's work is truly inspirational to us all. ...

Seattle Post Intelligencer

Practical and inspirational, 'Fuel' faces the facts of the energy ...
Seattle Post Intelligencer - Nov 20, 2008
By SEAN AXMAKER The rallying cry of director/activist Joshua Tickell's "Fuel" is not as catchy as "Save the cheerleader, save the world," but it is ...

Intelligencer and Courier Times Glad Tidings Story Contest
phillyBurbs.com, PA - 2 hours ago
But do you have a great story, an inspirational story, a hilarious, bizarre or unbelievable story? The kind of story that, when you tell your friends, ...

The Express Times - LehighValleyLive.com

A look at the top 10 inspirational sports movies
The Express Times - LehighValleyLive.com, PA - Nov 19, 2008
It's one of the top ten inspirational sports movies of all time. Not so long ago I came across something on the Beliefnet.com Web site about inspirational ...
Singling out some inspirational sports movies, from 'Titans' and ... The Express Times - LehighValleyLive.com
all 2 news articles

AFP

45 years on, JFK killing haunts Secret Service protecting Obama
AFP - 18 hours ago
"He is inspirational, he is an historic figure, he is the first African-American president; but there is also -- because of that potential for stirring up ...

Ministry of Inspirational Therapy holds meeting
Monroe News Star, LA - Nov 20, 2008
The 18th annual membership meeting of the Ministry of Inspirational Therapy was held Nov. 13 at the NELBA building in West Monroe. Gloria Jones, president ...

3 inspirational books in time for holidays
San Angelo Standard Times, tx - Nov 20, 2008
Both are billed as inspirational gift books for all ages, especially teens and young adults, and both are filled with upbeat quotations from a variety of ...

‘Inspirational’ school sports hall gets the go-ahead
Liverpool Daily Post, UK - Nov 21, 2008
MERCHANT Taylors’ School in Crosby will soon boast an “inspirational, light, bright and welcoming” new sports hall, after Sefton Council granted planning ...

Voice of America

As proud African American, Rice calls Obama 'inspirational'
AFP - Nov 5, 2008
WASHINGTON (AFP) — US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Wednesday called President-elect Barack Obama "inspirational," saying his election marked "an ...
Video: Rice Congratulates Obama on Victory AssociatedPress
Rice calls Obama "inspirational", promises smooth transition Hindustan Times
Rice hails 'inspirational' Obama The Australian
International Herald Tribune - Radio Netherlandsall 321 news articles
inspirational - Google News

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