麻豆约拍

A spiritual comment and prayer to begin the day with Juanita Francis, Youth Pastor at Ruach City Church, London.

Good morning. One night, I was driving around my old neighbourhood where I grew up. I've been there a couple of times. And I usually smile because I think about all the cool memories as a child 鈥� but then I tend to get frustrated as I also remember some old memories that I would rather forget.

I drove past my house one particular time and it reminded me of one night when I was a teenager, I was in a really dark place due to a difficult experience I had been through and I remember kneeling by my bed crying out to God. Although I remembered the pain, I sat and realised where I am today and that I got through that phase of depression. Jesus cared and loved me so much that he chose to hear my cry that night. I actually began smiling and thanking God knowing that my testimony is now helping others! This was the house I started writing my songs, learning to play piano, and even playing the violin, which happened to be purple by the way , this was also the same road where I had my first mini driving lesson with my mum who was probably kind of a bit frightened as I parked the car.

As I drove I realised what I thought was my end was actually my beginning and although the journey to today hasn't been straight forward, I realised I would've missed out on so much had things not been difficult before it got better.

Paul鈥檚 second letter to Corinthians says; "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; and behold, all things are become new.鈥�

Let鈥檚 pray . Dear God help me to see every pain of my past and unpleasant memory as a vehicle to encourage and uplift someone else. Help me to not live in my past but use it as a stepping stone to your future.

Amen