Kayla Mueller---A Profile in Strength and Courage through Christ

Kayla Mueller was 25 years old when she was captured by ISIS in 2013.

Kayla was an Aid Worker, helping Syrian refugees.

She was held with several other young girls: 

most were Yazidi captives.

In 2014 some young girls escaped

and they spoke of the bravery of Kayla.

These girls, including Kayla,had been given as reward 

to ISIS fighters for their victories.   

In the 2 months the escapees spent with Kayla, 

they reported they she tried to protect them from abuse,

 often putting herself in greater danger by doing so.

The other captive girls came to care for Kayla as a mother figure.

When these girls escaped,

Kayla could have easily went with them to safety,

but she refused to go.  

Kayla feared that her foreign appearance

 would endanger the girls' escape.

Kayla Mueller died in 2015 

in an American airstrike against ISIS

Prior to her death, she did write a letter to her family

that the escapees were able to smuggle out for her.

In this letter it is clear that God gave her strength and courage 

to endure the suffering and torture.

...  I remember mom always telling me that all in all in the end the only one you really have is God. I have come to a place in experience where, in every sense of the word, I have surrendered myself to our creator b/c literally there was no else….+ by God + by your prayers I have felt tenderly cradled in freefall.

I have been shown in darkness, light + have learned that even in prison, one can be free. I am grateful.

I have come to see that there is good in every situation, sometimes we just have to look for it. I pray each each day that if nothing else, you have felt a certain closeness + surrender to God as well + have formed a bond of love + support amongst one another…

It is hard to understand how God could allow such suffering,

Especially for one with such faith.

But that is an outsiders view.

God put a calling on her heart to be in that place at that time

She did tremendous good in those 1.5 years,

to an extent we will never know.

I just recently finished a book called:

The Centurion’s Wife

By: Davis Bunn and Janette Oke

Leah is the niece of Pontius Pilate given into servitude

 to Pilate’s wife, Procula.

It is the week after the crucifixion 

of a radial rebel leader, 

Jesus of Nazareth.

 Procula is haunted by nightmares and migraines, 

fearing an innocent man have been put to death. 

  And she is increasingly suspicious that this man 

may have been much more than a man.  

She orders Leah to infiltrate the followers of this rebel

 to learn if the rumors are true,

 that this man, who was dead, 

now lives.

Alban, the centurion, is an ambitious man,

 hoping to obtain Leah’s betrothal to elevate his own status.  

He has never met her, but knowing she is Pilate’s niece, 

his marriage to her would give him rise in stature

 in the eyes of Rome.   

The centurion is favored among the Jews as a God Fearer. 

He has been righteous in many of his deeds

 and respectful of their religion.  

When Alban approached Jesus the Healer

 in hopes to have his beloved servant healed, 

Jesus proclaimed to all that Alban had great faith.

Pilate is troubled by the rumors that the rebel, 

Jesus may somehow still be alive 

and a threat to Rome 

and his own position of power.   

He needs someone to infiltrate the followers of Jesus to find out.  

That is the condition he lays upon Alban

 in order to be allowed to wed Leah.

Leah does not want to be given in marriage.  

She has seen her sisters enslaved and degraded

 in loveless marriages

 and would prefer to stay a maid servant to Procula.  

But she has no power and the decision has been made for her.

Separately, and without knowledge of each other, 

Leah and Alban enter the hidden world 

of the followers of Christ 

and their lives are turned upside down

This is a beautifully told love story

 as well as a story of how Jesus can change your life.

Equipping Godly Women

I just discovered this blog:   Equipping Godly Women  that has some wonderful posts that are not just for women.  It is for everyone.   Has tips on parenting, marriage, and our relationship with God that are scripture based.  Check them out!

Hey You

I love Pink Floyd's album "The Wall".

Yes, it's dark and depressing, but also I feel represents the Human Condition for many of us---especially those who do not know Christ.

The album is a "Rock Opera" about a man named Pink that has faced many struggles and his defense mechanism for self preservation is to build a metaphorical wall around himself.   He seals himself away from the world, even though he is desperate for love and acceptance.

His dad died when he was young, his mother is overbearing and over protective, his head master at his school is depraved and cruel.  He grows up in a time of turmoil, when often it looks as though evil will triumph over good.

Although he is a very talented musician, as his career advances the more people take advantage of him.   His wife cheats on him when hes' on the road.  His manager only cares about money.  When Pink nearly overdoses before a performance, his manager shoots him up with other drugs to keep him moving so he can perform and not risk loosing money.   His fans are demanding for performance as well.  They would not be so forgiving if he did not show for the concert.

I think there are a lot of aspects to this fictional character's life that we can all too easily relate.  Who among us has not lost loved ones? Who among us have not discovered our friends do not truly have our best interest in their hearts?  Many of us have tried to escape into a world of drugs or alcohol, many of us become overwhelmed and fade into a darkness.

We build walls around ourselves----block others out before they can get close enough to hurt us.

We don't realize that these walls become our jails.   We have imprisoned ourselves, not only away from the bad, but also the good.  We imprison ourselves for so long that we do not know how to get out.  We have lost the key to the gate.

And while we allow our inner selves to rot away, 

the worms will fill your brain with lies.  

You are worthless

No one loves you.

No one cares.

And we believe the worms. 

Afterall,  we cry out to others for help

But they walk right past us.......

without even a glance.

Do they see me?

Do they hear me?

Will they reach out and touch me?

If you feel like you have imprisoned yourself behind metaphorical walls, there is one who can break down the walls and let in the love and light.  There is one who can heal your broken heart and lift you out of the darkness.

Jesus Christ can open any door of any prison, open the gates of any wall.

All you have to do is call out for Him.

He will help you to carry your stone, your cross, your burdens. 

If you open your heart, you can come home.....to Him.

Brick by brick, Jesus can help you to tear down that wall.

An Inspiring Video

This is a great story about a father's love and sacrifice for his son.....

With all the stories in the news today about abortions, how many babies like Patrick never survived to birth?

How many miracle prodigies, like Patrick have we denied life to, and have missed on the blessing they could have brought to this world?

This video shows a great story about a father's love and sacrifice for his child, how much greater is our Father in Heaven's love and sacrifice for His children...


All should be born to be blessed by God's love and to be a blessing to others.