RIP Sreeja Smith

So I just found out that a dear friend of mine had passed away on Oct. 4, 2011.  I met Sreeja Smith at the treatment center.  I had been at Decision Point for awhile and was having a rough time.  Sreeja had a bubbly personality who would either piss you off or penetrate your heart. You were such a brilliant, kind spirited individual who loved to share poetry, impromptu scenes, quotes, etc. She loved to laugh and make those around her laugh as well. Her illuminating smile brightened every room she walked into. She accepted everyone around her, loving them as herself. The spontaneous script/rap song you did in trauma will be forever etched in my mind.  I will miss you a lot.

"You’re in the arms of the angel

May you find some comfort here."

Born: January 23, 1984

Place of Birth: India

Death: October 4, 2011

Place of Death: St. Louis, Missouri

He Holds You

He Holds You

God never leaves you alone…

He never forgets about you…

He looks out for you and takes care of you.

You are more important than the birds

He feeds and provides for.

Trusting Him means to rest in Him

as your shield, your covering, your provider,

your defender and your friend.

It means freedom from worry, anxiety and fear.

It means peace to your mind and joy to your soul.

Come to Him; He is waiting…

Lean on Him; He is strong…

Talk to Him; He is listening…

Depend on Him; He will never let you down.

He holds you within the hollow of His hands

to keep you close…to keep you safe…

to deliver you from all your fears.

I'm a child of the King

Being a child of God is a big deal; some would say it's central to the Christian faith. Theologian J.I. Packer in his book Knowing God goes so far as to say, "Our understanding of Christianity cannot be better than our grasp of adoption."

To understand our place in God's family is to understand our true identity, and it sets the tone for how we live our lives. All of the faithless striving, scheming and fretting we do is not merely irritating or unfortunate; it's a denial of our Father. It's sin, quite frankly.

There's a wonderful old hymn titled "A Child of the King." Some of the lyrics read:

I once was an outcast stranger on earth,
A sinner by choice, an alien by birth,
But I've been adopted, my name's written down,
An heir to a mansion, a robe and a crown.

I'm a child of the King,

A child of the King:

With Jesus my Savior,

I'm a child of the King. (Buell/Sumner, 1877)