the Crossroads

 The Prodigal Son

Luke 15: 11-32

And He said, "A man had two sons. "
The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me ' So he divided his wealth between them.
"And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living.
"Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished.
"So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
"And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him.
"But when he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger!
'I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight;
I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men."'
"So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.
"And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
"But the father said to his slaves, 'Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet;
and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate;
for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.' And they began to celebrate.
"Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. "And he summoned one of the servants and began inquiring what these things could be.
"And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has received him back safe and sound.'
"But he became angry and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him.
"But he answered and said to his father, 'Look! For so many years I have been serving you and I have never neglected a command of yours; and yet you have never given me a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends;
but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.'
"And he said to him, 'Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours.
'But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.'"
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It has taken me a long time to come to the understanding of this explanation of the Prodigal son.

How many times I have been in this guys shoes, gone off doing my own thing, and expecting G-ds wrath, only to find He still loves me, and opens His heart and His arms to me. Bidding me to come back.

I have felt as the other brother too, wondering why I got no recognition for the things I have done, in the past, no open arms no extra celebrations. And now I see, something here, I only had to open my eyes to see, that the love was there all the time, I was blinded by my own selfishness to see.

Thank You L-rd, for opening my spiritual eyes to see You more clearly, and for giving me understanding of the "Prodigal son"

      Thoughts, of days gone by, years ago, a conversation took place between my special friend and myself.

     This was at a time in my life, where I had only 2 friends, Jesus and my friend, "Lampwicke." He told me that one day, I would have many, true and lasting friends.   That was a thought that I found hard to believe, yet it has become a reality.  Take my friend by his word, for he truly knows what he is talking about.

     I am thankful for the days of old, as well as the days ahead, for though we may not know our future, life, changes, on a daily basis. Jesus never told us things would be easy following the straight and narrow, nor did He tell us it was without bumps in the road. He never told us that life was a bowl of cherries without "Pits".

     I come to a place almost everyday now, where the twists and turns are unexpected. Why? One thing I can be certain of, is that when dealing with others, you can't live for them, you have to make a choice for yourself, how you will handle whatever the situation that arises.

     I write my friend Lampwicke still to this day, for we are good friends, and we love each other in Gods love. A few years back, he introduced me to another friend, her name is "kiwibirdLes."  We became very close during these last couple of years, and we too, love each other in Gods love.

     In 2005, we all came together in a small California town of "Paradise", Lampwicke, myself (Grasshopper) KiwibirdLes and her husband, meeting in a pre-heaven bound get together. Those are the days I will always cherish, for to meet with true and lasting friends, in the center of it all, is our Lord Jesus. The one Friend, who never leaves any of us, for any reason.

     Here it is, now 2007, and I truly have made many true and lasting friends. Many I may never meet, until that day we all together fly Home... Heaven. That is okay, because I know when we finally meet, it will be as brothers and sisters, in Gods love.

     In His timing, In His love, together for eternity, friends forever.....and ever

     I have come farther than I ever thought possible, have friends I never thought I would have, and a love so deep that sometimes, it makes me cry, because the promises of a "lifetime ago" have been fulfilled.

     Thank you Lord, for friends, my friends, and for loving me so, to send them to me.

In His love, Grasshopper

written for my special friend, who led me back to my Lord..

In Memory of Becky, the facts:

I would like all who read this to understand who Becky is and was.

Becky started with the screen-name of Dreamer, back in 2002, then when she began a spirit journey, she changed her name to divineone.  In honor, of her Father above. When her computer crashed, she became Gdswhitedove. Those who frequented yahoo "Christian" chats knew her also as "Rebekah42000-at-yahoo-dot-com"

I have never ever known anyone like Becky, who also went by Becca for short.  Becky was born with a disease of the body and skin: lymphedema and elephantitis, and it was from the neck downwards. Becky wasn't bothered by her disease as much as others were bothered by it. She took it in stride to those who just didn't know any better, than to poke fun at her. She had a forgiving heart and spirit, and taught whoever would listen about her disease. Unfortunately for Becky, the doctors didn't catch it ontime, and it became incurable at her young age, when the doctors finally figured out what was wrong, it had set in permanently.  That didn't stop her love for the Lord. When she began following the path of Christ, she was given a gift of "love". A deep agape love for those in need.

I was one of those who she taught well of agape love.

In 2002, Becky and I met at a Christian site, then when she joined PPP, she invited me here, when I was (Grasshopper).  When I became homeless, during a rough spot, she took me in, gave me a home, and we became better friends and sisters in the faith.

One day, when she wrote me an email, telling me what a blessing I was to her..I wrote in Big letters:

Nope U R!!!!

Since then we always ended our emails and chats (when we had chats) Nope U R...

It became our theme of love for each other.

Yesterday while going through a few things she left me to care of for her, I found a pretty little teddy bear with a sign in her writing... Nope U R!!!  I cried for a bit, then said allowed, Nope sis, U R, my blessing and my reward, and dog-gone it sis, I was supposed to be first!

I will never forget Becky, I love her so very much, and even though I am happy she is with Jesus, it doesn't make the loss of her physical being any less hard to bear.

I love you Becky. Be happy with Jesus!

Gone to be with Jesus now

Love you sis!

 "Grasshopper"

http://groups.msn.com/APlaceWhereTheSeedIsPlanted/inmemor...