Thin Places - Mary's Memoir





Breezing through the pages of Mary’s memoir, I am struck by two things: the rawness and vulnerability of her words and the pace at which she tells the story. I am conflicted in my feelings as I turn the pages - eyeballs glued; heart aching. 
I am upset regarding the things which she has endured; things that no child - no, scratch that - things that no human being should ever have to endure. It breaks my heart to read the effects of the humanistic depravity unleashed on her as a child. She was so innocent. So pure. So unregarded for her wonder; except for maybe with Jim - I think... Nevertheless, she deserved to experience unconditional love from the time of her conception. But, that's not what happened. 
I am grateful for the thin places she has experienced. And I’m encouraged that she is a survivor. So many would have given up - like she tried to do - like I’ve tried to do - but God. He pulled us through. I believe He has done this so that we can see how He can, even in destitute times and situations, resurrect a broken and shambled life and make it productive and beautiful for His Kingdom. 
I respect Mary’s courage in sharing her soul’s journey with us all. And I believe that reading and then sharing this novel with others will aid them in their healing process. Sometimes it helps to know that you are not alone; that others have been through what you are going through and they have come out on the other side victorious. 
To Mary DeMuth, an author for whom the desire to help heal the hurting, thought it not robbery to spill her heart out over these pages, that others may be blessed and healed, God Bless you. 

Copyright Beams of Light Ministries

A Worthy Workout



The thing about North Carolina snow is that it is rarely ever just snow. It's always mixed with something. My driveway would be evidence. I should have taken a picture.

The weathermen called for snow and sleet. We got both. In fact, I got 5 inches of snow but laid upon that was sleet - and then more snow. I went to shovel the driveway, as if I was really going somewhere - ha! Not! But I used the shoveling as an opportunity for exercise. It didn't take long to work up a sweat and a rhythm. Me and my handy shovel were moving snow and breaking up ice. Ice broke apart in pieces that I could pick up and hold - their jagged edges covered my chest. These were big chunks of ice - about 16 X 12 inches across and 3 inches thick. Made me feel really good to be able to break up the chunks like that. But I have to give most of the credit to my handy shovel.

The workout felt good - the reward felt even better. A clean driveway. I got tired of seeing all that snow from my window. I have to imagine that you feel that way too when you have finished a task that you exerted a lot of energy on. We sit back and applaud ourselves for a job well done. We can see where we started and where we ended. The progress makes us smile.

Our Christian journey should be much the same. We will all have to deal with something. And in most cases, that something will be mixed with something else. That's just the way it is. And as we make progress in clearing away the sin from our lives, we should be able to pull some chunks of that old life up and chuck it far away from us. We allow the SON to penetrate the hole we've left when the sin was plucked away and our lives become better. Before long, we can look back and recall each shovel, each scrape and each victory. It's a workout, but it's worth it.


Copyright Beams of Light Ministries

The Freedom of Resolution


I knew that Thomas J was going to die, but I bought the DVD and watched it anyway. And then I cried and cried when Thomas J died. It was ugly. 




Don’t pick at me. If you watched “My Girl” then you know what I mean. To see those big eyes of Vada - when she goes up to Thomas J at the funeral - or when she reads the poem at the end - ah, heart-wrenching...

You just can’t help but let the tears roll... 

Why deny them the freedom to flow down your checks? Better to cry than to let ‘em get all congested and backed up like a traffic jam in your tear ducts. 
I think it’s a good thing to be in touch with your feelings. Whether it be from a good and sincere movie, a moving commercial or something real that happens in everyday life. It’s cleansing to live emotionally clutter-free. 
So keep that in mind the next time that you are tempted to trap your emotions on the inside. The pressure will undoubtedly build up and you will find yourself exploding over something that does not merit that kind of reaction. People will look at you like you are crazy - and if you’re prone to emotion-stacking before you blow up, then folks will think you really are crazy. 
Why go through all that when it’s much much easier just to be candid in the first place. So, if you want to cry, cry. If you don’t understand, ask. If you are confused, get clarification. But whatever you do, get a resolution. 
Copyright Beams of Light Ministries