joy

Hidden Smiles

| Laura Lee Bonde

Since I’ve been open about having false teeth and the victories I’ve had about seeing my beauty past that, people have approached me about either having false teeth or having bad teeth. Behind the smile, there’s an insecurity gained and a beauty that seems lost. It’s definitely a strong hold in people’s lives, but God is training His army to walk in victory of indescribable beauty.

As I meet people on the street who have bad teeth, there’s always reason to laugh or smile because I’m usually laughing or smiling, and it causes that same reaction. But what I’ve been noticing is that, as soon as they start to smile, it’s like they realize it and shut there mouth really quickly and simply grin. Every time, it breaks my heart because it feels so good to smile. Continue reading →

A Flight of the Heart

| Laura Lee Bonde

Over the past few months, I’ve become good friends with a man named Emil. He “used” to be grumpy, homeless, unapproachable, and then, he encountered Love. After getting over my fear of him, I approached him and kept approaching him. He didn’t believe in God, but then, something happened…an answered prayer.

The first time I prayed for him, he mocked me. I didn’t pay any attention. He was on a very long waiting list for a room; until his name moved to the top of the list, he would remain homeless. After I prayed, he had some “encounters” with God (like not dying, etc), and then, it happened. Supernaturally, he was placed in a room, and he KNEW it was God answering my prayer. Has he “accepted Jesus in his heart?” Only God knows. Has he accepted love, friendship, laughter from me? Absolutely! And it just gets better. Continue reading →

God Knit Me for Today

| Laura Lee Bonde

Wow! That could be a title for any day, but it sure has a special meaning for me today. Before I opened my eyes, before I woke up, I heard ‘Happy Birthday’ from God. I love God so much, and how much He’s changed me is miraculous! I’m glad He made me, saved me, restored me, loved me on purpose.

Throughout the years, different dates have grabbed my attention: my sobriety date, my born again date, etc, but this year, my birth date is more precious to me than any of those. I’ve thought about God’s purpose, and what I mean by that is that He created me on purpose. He chose the twenty-first of January as my entrance into the world. Even more so than that, He chose the mother to knit me inside of: Denise Holt.

Mom, thank you for being a vessel of God’s love. I am so glad that God chose you, that God chose your womb, as a secret place for me to be formed in. In you, He created my laugh. In you, He created my heart that loves so deeply. In you, He created my smile with an everlasting joy in His heart. In you, He created me, and I am so glad He chose YOU to be my mommy. I wish all my friends could meet you. I wish I could see you. I miss you. I love you. And I’m determined to wrap my arms around you this year. I don’t know “how” it will happen. I just know it WILL.

The Joy of the Lord

| Laura Lee Bonde

On Wednesday, a woman asked if I’d be willing to pray for a young man who wanted to get off heroine. Of course I was willing, so yesterday, the three of us went walking in the park, and God did some amazing things (of course), and it all started with a little joy.

As I was getting ready for work, I had an outfit planned out, and at the last moment, God informed me of wearing something totally different, so I did. I wore jeans, a green plaid shirt, and a white tank-top. That doesn’t “seem” important, but it is. I don’t “normally” dress like that. It was something I wore once to a country-western thing, but God knew what He was doing.

At lunchtime, I was on the street, looking for my friends (not knowing what the vehicle looked like). I spotted a young man who was sitting in the passenger seat who glanced my way, so I knew it was him and started walking toward the van. He got out with really no expression on his face. As my friend walked around from the other side of the van, I saw what she was wearing: jeans, a red plaid shirt, and a white tank-top. I laughed so loud (and if you know me, you KNOW my laugh was LOUD). And guess what my laugh did…put a smile on the young man’s face.

Not only did it put a smile on his face but out came a giggle. God is so creative!! His love for this young man was so strong that He changed my outfit to have me match my friend, “knowing” that it would crack me up and bring a smile to his face, so our meeting started out with an overflow of Joy. How amazing is that!

God is amazing! His truth demolishes heroine’s assignment. His love covers all sin. He holds no record. We all have a created value. It’s just about learning it, believing it, and knowing it. When THAT created value becomes our identity, THAT’s what scares the devil; he’s freaked out that we will someday KNOW who we are and what we’re here to do. Well, for me, that day has come. Yay, God!