From The Crucible (by Pastor Linda Pugsley)

Are you feeling lonely, no one loves you, separated from all who could warm your heart and life? That's a very real sense, and ever on the increase because of the relentless destruction of the American family. Many men have abdicated their roles as provider and builder of the home and left in pursuit of the sensual pleasures of sex, alcohol and drugs, or the filling of the ego with worldly gain.

Many women, also, have abdicated their roles as nurturer and teacher and no longer care that, "the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world." They, too, have been captivated by these sensual, worldly pleasures and carnal gains. That leaves so few who are fighting the battle of life to maintain the family and its values. But no matter where you stand, know that your solace is in God, not in "stuff". The old devil wants you angry with God and not able to seek for or receive His love. Reject that thought!

God loves you, no matter what, but you need to be one of His family members to receive His inheritance. Give your heart to Jesus and let Him love you through your pain and loneliness. Ephesians 3:16-19 tells us, “that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man; so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.” Endure the fire—it’s producing pure gold!

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