Yesterday I received an email from a thoroughly bewildered father in El Salvador and it reads:

"I came across your blogspot, Gaze of the Soul, as I googled through spiritual topics...I admire your passion for spiritual things and your firm views on God, Christianity and salvation through Jesus Christ...My brilliant, intelligent, good and kind 17 year-old son was recently mutilated and killed by drugged men....May I ask you one question, "MISS OPHELIA JANE JULIA, WHERE WAS GOD WHEN MY SON WAS KILLED?"

DEAR SIR: I deeply appreciate you for sending that email to me. I want you to know that I completely understand and feel the pain and suffering you are going through right now over the recent death of your brilliant, good son and my sincere thoughts and prayers for comfort and strength are with you and your family. Your question echoes that of those who had passed through the same kind of bereavement that you are experiencing right now....Sometimes, even to a Christian, injustices of this kind are hard to fathom which often lead us to question Divine justice and interference. But to answer your question as to where was God when your son was killed, all I can say is....MY FRIEND, GOD WAS JUST WHERE HE WAS WHEN HIS OWN SON, THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, WAS KILLED.

IN MEMORIAM

Shafileah Ahmed, 17 year-old Pakistan girl victim of an honor-killing in January last year in Warrington, UK. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-507020/Teenager-honour-killing-girl-dramatic-plea-help-died.html

World events, its cruelty, wickedness and total defiance of God is such a perplexing thing to a Christian, I must admit. Somehow, secular history does not explain the WHY of all what is happening. But divine history or the WORD OF GOD explains it and gives glory and honor to the Almighty God alone. May we as believers in Christ Jesus, even in the most adverse circumstances, would praise and thank God for He knows what He is doing and that He has promised that what He had begun to do, He will perform it until the day of Christ.

"Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance..."

~~Psalm 32:7~~

Have blessed and fruitful days ahead bloggers!

Sincerely,

Ophelia Jane Julia

BALLAD OF A MOTHER'S HEART

The night was dark, for the moon was young

And the stars were asleep and rare;

The clouds were thick, yet Youth went out

To see his maiden fair.

"Dear one," he pleaded as he knelt

Before her feet in tears

"My love is true, why have you kept me waiting

all these years?"

The maiden looked at him unmoved

It seemed and whispered low:

"Persistent Youth you have to prove

By deeds your love is true."

"There's not a thing I would not do

For you beloved," said he

"Then go," said she "to your mother dear

and bring her heart to me!"

Without another word, Youth left

And went to his mother dear

And opened her breast and took her heart

He did not shed a tear.

Then back to his maiden fair he ran,

Unmindful of the rain

But his feet slipped and down he fell

And loud he groaned with pain.

Still in his hand he held the prize

That would win his maiden's hand;

And suddenly he thought of his mother dear

So kind, so sweet, so fond

And then he heard a voice,

Not from his lips but all apart

"Get up," it said

"Were you hurt, child?"

It was his mother's heart.

"God tells us to honor our mother. And He does not set any limits to His command. Because she's our mom, we are to treat her with respect and love. Mothers don't always live up to our expectations. Sometimes, they experience hardships and challenges that affect their ability to offer what we need or want. Or, they might have a personal weakness that negatively impacts us or our families. But we are to follow the example of our heavenly Father, who loved us even though we didn't have any qualities that deserved His favor. God loved us when we were unlovable. We can express our gratitude to Him by giving unconditional love to our mother."
~~Pastor / Dr. Charles F. Stanley~~

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO ALL MOTHER BLOGGERS!