"For God So Loved the World"

"God did not send His Son into the world to condemn it, but to SAVE it."
JOHN 3:16

I became a Christian as a child. I was a loner - hurt by friends who teased me at school, and blaming it on a mother who had `gone and left me'.

One day, my sister and I saw Dad's wallet on the table. She came up with the idea to steal some money. If we took it to school, we'd be sure to make lots of friends. It worked too, until the money ran out - and so did the friends.

For some reason, I was the one who got into trouble. Probably because I felt guilty. When Dad asked, "Has anyone seen my wallet?", I burst into tears and ran into my room.

Later my step-mum came in and I told her all about the stolen money. I told her how lonely and bitter I felt. I didn't understand why my Mum had to die, and I didn't think it was fare that the kids at school teased me so much. She got down my Children's Bible from the shelf and read me this verse:
"For God so loved the world, He gave His only Son
that whoever believed in Him should not perish, but
will have eternal life." JOHN 3:16.

Mum told me that Jesus loved me, and that if I gave all my lonliness and bitterness to Him, He would take it all away. Jesus wanted to be my friend.

Now I'd heard all this before. I'd always thought it would be pretty good having Jesus as my friend, but I wasn't sure if I could really trust him. Nobody else seemed to care, so why would he? I was just a little kid - why would he want to be my friend. But, I decided I'd give it a try. I had nothing to lose. Mum and Dad certainly believed in Him.

I prayed with my Mum, and suddenly it felt like someone was holding me in his arms. For some reason, I knew that `someone' would never let me go. This was a wonderful relationship between a Father and His new daughter.

JESUS UNDERSTANDS


I'm feeling rejected, hurt and alone,
I just don't know what to do.
"Don't worry daughter, I UNDERSTAND,
Remember, I've been there too."

It feels like nobody really cares,
They've all turned away, it seems.
"Don't worry daughter, I UNDERSTAND,
They did the same thing to me."

I need somebody to carry my cross,
I need someone on which to lean.
"Don't worry daughter, just turn around,
You'll find your very own, Simon of Cyrene."

It doesn't seem fare, and they will not stop
All the insults, laughter and pain.
"Don't worry daughter GIVE THEM TO ME,
Lay them down at the cross again."

"I UNDERSTAND, I KNOW HOW IT FEELS,
All the rejection, pain and fear.
My daughter, I went through it all for you,
So today, you could know I AM HERE.

Ruth Cheater.