Julia looked back at Hadassah on the bloodstained sand. A great emptiness opened within her as she looked at the still form. Gone, too, was the salt that had kept her from completely corruption.

Letting go isn't giving up. It's trusting God to do whatever He has to do.

I'm going to give you God's truth, little girl. All men want to do is hurt you. Once you give them your heart, they tear it to shreds. ~Francine Rivers; Redeeming Love

God does not abandon men, my son. Men abandon God.

I was learning to recognize when God was speaking through someone. He repeats himself. He says it over and over because we are so stubborn, stupid and unwilling. And even scared. Even when he tells us not to be afraid, we set our minds about it, worrying and fretting about every little thing. I was shaken by what God expected us to do.

God will give you courage when you need it.

Better to have trouble with man than trouble with God.

Lord...You prevail. You always have. You always will. I can rest in that knowledge. I can cling to Your promises and listen to your voice, and walk in Your ways. I can trust You whatever the world may say or do. Someday my time will come, and however it does, I know you will not lose me. You will bring me safely home.

I learned that courage is not something we can manufacture by our own efforts. But when we surrender wholeheartedly to God, he gives us the courage to face whatever comes. He gives us the words to speak when we are called to stand and voice our faith.

Everyone to whom she drew close left her. Sooner or later they walked away.

Don't trust in your own strength. None of us is strong in him or herself. It's the Lord who upholds us.

He needed the warmth of the sun to take away the chill of foreboding that grew in him.