Laura's Life

You may have heard of a child's rant that goes like this: Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me This is a common childhood chant meaning hurtful words cannot cause any physical pain and will be ignored or disregarded. I have been around many children and have been told "someone called me a name" or something along those lines. Children can be sensitive and as they grow up, they will be hurt as they learn what they should listen to and what they shouldn't. While the above rant may have been created to help children heal from hateful words, the rant is ironic. I say this because words can and DO hurt. It is much easier for adults because they have learned how to deal with hurtful words. A child however is not mature and hateful words can cause deep wounds that some may never heal from. I know from personal experience that words spoken in anger, meanness, can last a lifetime. While I have healed from much that has happened through the ye...

Everyone has heartache. I think it is normal for us to think that we are alone in our pain. What do we do with this pain? Do we try to substitute things to try to fill the hurt? Do we try to cry out for help? Our world is full of hurting people. Various levels of pain but the important thing is that it all matters!! One might be hurting over losing a loved one, or another be grieving a lost friendship. What can we do to help each other? What can the hurt person do to help themselves not stay in their heartache? As I sit in my own situation of hurt I hope that I can encourage you with a few points. If you or someone you know is going through something please know that I am here, and that if there is anything I can do please let me know. Whether you want me to pray via phone or chat I am here. If you want a hug, I will hug you. If you need an ear, I am here. In closing, I will leave you with this: Luke 12:7 (KJV) But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not there...

I was born to missionary parents and lived overseas till I was twenty. This way of life has caused me to value and support missions wholeheartedly. It is ingrained in my blood and its part of who I am. While missionary life is hard, it molded me in part, who I am today. That is why I find interest in a certain woman of the Bible. She was not a missionary but she cared for her mother in law and left her people to follow her. If you guessed her name to be Ruth you are right. Ruth was from Moab that is present day Jordan which is a three to four, day journey to Bethlehem. Moab was around the Dead Sea and they must have either gone north and around or south and around to get to Bethlehem.They might have had donkeys and the women most likely traveled with a caravan. From a historical timeline Ruth lived 1300 years B.C which means before Christ. The book of Ruth starts when she married Mahlon the Isrealite. We read how Mahlon dies and how Ruth and her mother-in-law Naomi begin their journe...