"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a mulitude of sins."
1 Peter 4:8
A young, impressionable girl grew up in a household fraught with pain. Her step-father was an alcoholic who abused her but when she tried to tell her mother, she was not believed. Although she eventually graduated with honors, receiving a degree as a medical assistant, she wandered into the world of strippers and substance abuse, looking for salvation from a line of men.
This person is Joanne Calderon-Arkenburg, founder of Time is Precious Ministries. Having had enough of that rough lifestyle, Joanne launched this ministry whose mission is to make strippers feel loved and honored, just as they are. Joanne says, "Love conquers all." A team of compassionate volunteers provide gift bags, notes of encouragement and times of prayer to show these women they have worth and are valued in the eyes of God.
Joanne recently remarried, works as a personal trainer and has authored a book entitled, "Pain into Purpose with Forgiveness." She had this to say in a recent News-Herald article: "I can't say that my journey from here on out has been easy, nor am I perfect or have it all figured out. But what I do know with certainty is this: The love I have been searching for in others was found in my heavenly Father."
Only God can make lemonade from your lemons. Forgiveness is a wonderful gift, just waiting to be opened. It frees us from unimaginable hurts, heartaches and heaviness, opening the way to love one another as He loves us. Jesus died on the cross to pay for our sinfulness. He met us on that road to Calvary, just the way we were. He didn't wait until we got our act together. Like Joanne, none of us is perfect nor do we have it all figured out, but with the tender grace of God, we can do great things.
Love the least. Reach out to those who need it most. In doing so, you will be serving Jesus.
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