Exhaling by SammyJo

I had a conversation with a friend the other day, and then today I read a few of Wordofhope's post...and it got me thinking and feeling and really realizing things...

My friend, is really thinking hard on the end of times lately..He knows the things he has done wrong in this life and is afraid it will cost him his soul..He seems to really be caught up in these preachers who talk of the end of times and they even give a certain date...

With all the things happening in this world today, I can understand, and I loose hope and faith at time also..But for some reason, I find my hope and faith thru others...like my friend..because of his fear I seem to find my faith..how odd..I hear his lost of faith speaking and mine grows stronger...

I told him, that we both seem to be searching, but his search seems to be in fear..and he needs to stop the fear and replace it with faith...I told him, did you not know that Jesus died on the cross that even the worst sins that you feel cannot be forgiven is forgiven thru him...all you need to do is truly be sorry and ask him for forgiveness..He told me he knows this and he has done this...but still fears...and my words to him were that he needs to forgive himself, and to truly accept the forgiveness of God...I told him what a special person here told me once...it may not be in the exact way..but this is it.."Do you think you are above God??..then who are you to not forgive yourself, when the Lord himself has already forgiven you"...

As with my friend, I see so many others focusing only in the fear of what is to come...It seems they only see the signs of the beginning of the end...but...are so blind to the wondrous signs of Hope..Faith..Love...that the Lord is showing us also...Don't get me wrong...I see all too well the horrific things happening, and it angers me..and I question Him all the time...but..each and every time I do, He gives me hope and faith...

I see it in the clouds, in the ripples of the water as the wind blows across the fields in my back yard...in the rain...in the smiles and tears of ppl's faces...it's there in each and every person as they awake to another day to do what is necessary..All these things and so much more is God's way of telling us not to give up...that he is here..and there is Hope and Love and Faith...you only need to walk his way and embrace it and live it...

No, it will not be an easy path, this I know.. but, giving up is not an option ..at least not for me...

So today, look around...look up..look at others...look within yourself...and see God's signs of Love...