A Year of Blessing - February 19, 2010

Kristi loaned me this book quite a while ago and I just finished it. Why did it take me so long? Well...the story started out with the most horrible tale of an innocent girl being dragged into child prostitution and growing into a woman enslaved in the 'profession'. I couldn't take that. It hurts my heart to know children are hurt so badly. Maimed by adults for the sake of warped pleasure. I put it down...and only recently got the courage to finished it.

It is the story of Gomer (from the book of Hosea) set in the late 1800's in California during the gold rush. And although the lady's name is not Gomer (thank goodness...I always think of Gomer Pile when I hear that name) she doesn't use her real name until she is redeemed by God at the end of the book. Through all the horror she endures, the hand of God is on her life: Pursuing, guiding, loving, protecting her. Just like the biblical story...only with details that were not included in Hosea's telling.

The book made me realize that we are all Gomer's. We all have the horror of sin in our lives. We all endure a type of hell on earth. We all do...until the redeeming love of God breaks through. Then we can look back when we thought everyone had forsaken us, hated us, left us soiled, and see with His eyes that through it all He was Pursuing, guiding, loving and protecting us...and then He give us our real name: Child of God.

Psalm 103:2-4 (The Message)

O my soul, bless God. From head to toe, I'll bless his holy name!
O my soul, bless God,
don't forget a single blessing!

He forgives your sins—every one.
He heals your diseases—every one.
He redeems you from hell—saves your life!
He crowns you with love and mercy—a paradise crown.
He wraps you in goodness—beauty eternal.
He renews your youth—you're always young in his presence.