It was bitter-sweet...

This weekend I had a class reunion. It was bitter-sweet. Its been 27 years since my graduation. I attended a very strict independent Baptist school and church during my high school years. Religion and God was about following rules. I left those days on a negative note, in fact, I walked away from God and religion for 10 years.

It was odd being back amongst these people from my past. Again, bitter-sweet. I took a camera but didn't end up using it. Though I am not bitter, the bitterness of the evening was because of the disconnect I felt there, the sweetness of the evening was because of the reacquainting I had with old friends. I was feeling a bit discouraged that there wasn't a re-connect (except with Suzy). I wanted to be able to share how far I had come spiritually yet it didn't happen.

In my scripture reading this morning, God reminded me that the only thing that would fill that void is He himself. My relationship with Christ is the one that counts. While old friends will fade, relationships be forgotten, past mistakes unforgiven, I am thankful God is not like that. He gave me two pieces of Scripture to comfort me and to encourage me as I continue to walk in faith...

"So keep at your work, this faith and love rooted in Christ, exactly as I set it out for you. It's as sound as the day you first heard it from me. Guard this precious thing placed in your custody by the Holy Spirit who works in us."

~2 Timothy 1:13-14

Life has changed us and taken us in so many different and exciting directions. Though we may have lost the value of each other in our lives that we once had when we were growing up, life goes on. We need to continue to walk in faith and love for Christ by living in His word. I had to guard the grace He has given me and call on the Holy Spirit not to allow any of the negatives from my past or the disconnect I felt to bring me down.

"I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people...

For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”

~Hebrews 8:10b & 12

My prayer today is that as I continue my walk of faith I will continue to put the laws of my faith, God's word, to my mind and heart. Though like most teenagers, I may have made a few poor choices when I was growing up, I am thankful that my God is forgiving and does not remember my past. I am so amazed 27 years have gone by...I am more amazed that my relationship with God is about the intimacy we now share and it is more than just rules.

Today we took a picture of the family for the little boy we adopted through Compassion International when I was at the She Speaks conference. We all wore yellow since it is his favorite color. I haven't shared too many pictures of my family in the past but the girls are too beautiful not to show off...

My husband and I are the two chubby people in the middle (we both about died looking at this picture. Do we really have this much weight on? It's got to be that camera!). The girls are (left to right) Sarah-Kelsey-Caitlin-Emma-Olivia (Libby). Of course that's our black lab Rufus front and center. I am so so thankful for all I have journeyed through in life because I now have this beautiful family to cherish!!

GIVE-A-WAY TIME!!!!

I promised you a book in my give-a-way. I do not have a fancy way to do this so I put all the entries in a bowl as pictured below, prayed for God to bless just the right person with this book and had Sarah and Libby help me out in drawing a name:

Congratulations Rebecca (Tiggerdaisy)! Send me your mailing address (in.his.grace@live.com). I hope you are blessed!!

In His Graces~Pamela