"I am here at this time and this season because God has a plan and a purpose for my life. He is weaving the threads of my life together for the journey He has for me. We can be certain of one thing, and that is we will have trials and tribulations. How will I handle them? Will I make Him look good? Will I bring glory to His name? Those are thoughts I often have, especially when the world seems upside down. Daniel 2:21 says He changes times and seasons. He deposes kings and raises up others. He is in control. I have learned to rest. I am learning to listen without being defensive. I don’t always have to say what I think. I have learned that there is truth on all sides, and so often, we are shouting so loudly what we think, we miss what others are saying. Their words might be the very words God wanted me to hear. Do not quarrel, do not offend others for the sake of argument. Proverbs 15:1 says, “a gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” God is reminding me that we are all created in His image, not just those that look and talk like me. I want to daily step outside my comfort zone and talk with those who are different from me, those that don’t think like me, so that I can speak in words drenched in love and full of the Holy Spirit that I might live like Daniel in Babylon." - Cindy W.