“Transformed people transform people.” – Richard Rohr

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Listen to my song “Take the Road Less Traveled” on YouTube by clicking HERE.

Support my ministry by purchasing my songs and books at the links following the scripture reflection below. Thank you!

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2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and God of all encouragement, who encourages us in our every affliction, so that we may be able to encourage those who are in any affliction with the encouragement with which we ourselves are encouraged by God.

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I used to think that my little (and not so little) sufferings of life were a curse.

I would cry out inside, “Why me, God?”

As if God didn’t care or as if God wouldn’t have compassion for my affliction.

Thank God I have by Grace been led to greater understanding.

I look back to a time between 1997 and 1999 with great gratitude now.

Not so much then.

Over that time period I dealt with a ruptured appendix and gall bladder disease as well as a real crisis over my path in life.

I now see that time as a time of great blessing.

It was a time when at my lowest moments of pain and suffering, I discovered a Great Love that was holding me, carrying me, showing me compassion.

This came in various ways: through new people in my life; through songs and books that seemed to show up right when I needed them most. Through mystical experiences of a Loving Mystery beyond what words could explain.

At that time in my life, I wanted to be as far away from hospitals or any form of human suffering as possible.

But in going through these experiences, little did I know that a transformation was happening.

It felt like dying, yet it was actually new life in the making.

Something old needed to go in order that something new could come.

In the process that began during that time, four albums of songs were birthed as well as two devotional books.

I now visit those who are ill as well as those who are incarcerated.

I bring them the Good News of God’s unconditional and transforming love.

Blessed be the God of my Lord Jesus Christ, the God of all encouragement.

If you are hurting, turn to the Great Compassion in whom we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28).

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Listen to the song of the day “Take the Road Less Traveled” on the Live to Love album by clicking HERE.

Stream and/or purchase my songs on Amazon Music by clicking HERE.

Purchase my new book “Listen to Your Heart: A Daily Devotional of Calling, Purpose and New Life” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

Purchase my book “Mercy Reigns: A Daily Devotional of Compassion, Comfort and Healing” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

Remember: God loves you!