{"id":217,"date":"2014-03-28T04:18:05","date_gmt":"2014-03-28T04:18:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/joyindestructible\/?p=217"},"modified":"2014-03-28T04:18:05","modified_gmt":"2014-03-28T04:18:05","slug":"a-life-taken-and-life-given","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/joyindestructible\/2014\/03\/28\/a-life-taken-and-life-given\/","title":{"rendered":"A Life Taken and Life Given"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

Volunteering with the local crisis pregnancy center is one of the great joys of my time in DC. A few months ago, I was asked to help out with a parenting class. Chuckling, I replied that I obviously don\u2019t have any experience since I am neither married nor a parent. However, my role is to take care of the children while the parents attend a class, where they learn how to be parents.<\/span><\/p>\n

This evening, as I waltzed in to hold my precious babies, I was pulled aside by one of the workers and informed that one of the couples who had been attending the classes was no longer going to be coming. When I asked why, I was told that the husband had murdered the wife and then was involved in a shoot out with the police, where he was killed.<\/span><\/p>\n

I was in shock.<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"image-3\"<\/a><\/p>\n


After leaving the center, I needed to walk. So I headed over to a friends house to deliver some extra food I had from that evening\u2019s dinner. He profusely thanked me for walking the 15 minutes over. What I didn\u2019t tell him was that I despertly needed that time to walk.<\/span><\/p>\n

Walking clears my head and allows me time to think. As I walked on the hill, my heart was torn in two grieving for these beautiful women who\u2019s husbands beat them, abuse them, and refuse to love and cherish them. One lady came in tonight with her jaw broken. I want so desperately to save them and rescue them.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

As I poured out my thoughts to my Savior, He gently reminded me that\u00a0He<\/em> is the one to save them. My job is to point these broken people straight to the heart of the Father.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

The ground is level at the foot of the cross.<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\n
<\/div>\n
\n

Most of these people know their depravity. They live with it up close and personal everyday. What they need isn\u2019t a better government program, it isn\u2019t more money, or even a loving husband. <\/span><\/p>\n

What they need is Jesus.<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n
<\/div>\n
\n

I get to show them love every week by holding their beautiful children while they attend class. Sure, over half the people are only there because they have<\/em><\/strong> to be by court order, but nevertheless, I can still show them love.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
\n

You see, my job isn\u2019t supposed to be their savior, but my job is to point them to the One who truly can redeem. The one who died for their souls, that they might know eternal life<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

As my heart grieved the loss of the couple \u2013 I was encouraged that I have new life<\/strong><\/em> to offer these precious people. I have so much more to offer than my human love for a few hours a week. <\/span><\/p>\n

I can point them to eternal love.<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/h2>\n
\n

My job is to point them to the hands and feet of Christ \u2013 pierced on the Cross. My job is to share the Gospel with them, in word<\/strong> and in deed. <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I will continue to love them. <\/span><\/em><\/h3>\n

I will continue to hold their babies.<\/span><\/em><\/h3>\n

I will continue to play with cuties such as this handsome fellow!<\/span><\/em><\/h3>\n

\"10006946_842332162449119_1890014860_n\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\n
<\/div>\n
\n

I will continue to proclaim the gospel to them. <\/span><\/em><\/h3>\n

And I will rest in my Fathers arms. <\/span><\/em><\/h3>\n

I don\u2019t save them, He does<\/strong><\/em>.<\/span><\/h1>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Volunteering with the local crisis pregnancy center is one of the great joys of my time in DC. A few months ago, I was asked to help out with a parenting class. Chuckling, I replied that I obviously don\u2019t have any experience since I am neither married nor a parent. However, my role is to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2105,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[19,25,31,46,50,51,61,67,68,77,78],"class_list":["post-217","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-spiritual","tag-babies","tag-christ","tag-crisis-pregnancy-center","tag-jesus","tag-life","tag-love","tag-pro-life","tag-salvation","tag-savior","tag-volunteering","tag-washington-dc"],"yoast_head":"\nA Life Taken and Life Given<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Volunteering with the local crisis pregnancy center is one of the great joys of my time in DC. 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