Devotions from Moose Manor: A Tale of Forgiveness

Jesus never fails. I did. My husband and I had been living large for nearly thirty years and were in debt up to our eyeballs when the housing market crashed. As went the economy, so went my husband's job. Crushed with depression, he left for Hollywood to reinvent himself and his career. I was left with a huge home, a huge debt, two college-aged sons, my husband's eighty-nine-year-old mother who had lived in our home for seventeen years, and a badly bruised self-esteem. Within four months, the bank foreclosed on our debt. I sold what I could, shipped the rest to California, and helped my sons and mother-in-law find places to live.

From my crisis came deliverance. From my loneliness came a newfound intimacy with the One who loves me unconditionally. He stands beside me drawing me near to Him in prayer, praise and Bible study, constantly reminding me of the Bible verses I memorized as a child. Each day I see His flavor in my life. God has never left my side.

When others ride off into the sunset and you are left without a horse, let the dust settle. Lay down the burden of anger, resentment and fear. You were never meant to carry the heavy load. Jesus has said: "My yoke is easy and my burden is light!" (Matthew 11:30)

Jesus Christ restores through forgiveness: His and yours.

Judi Collins, former television actress and singer/songwriter, is mom to six kids and “Mops” to six grandkids. A Bible study leader for more than thirty-five years, Judi writes from a quiet little cottage she has christened “Moose Manor.” God has shared with Judi His wisdom and humor and has given her an abundance of time to get to know Him. Retaliation is the world's answer to rejection, but God's answer is forgiveness.