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Were you there?” She shook her head. “No. I was here in Nain having achild.”“ Then why do you weep as though you had part in hiscrucifixion? You had no part in it.”“ I’d like nothing better than to think I would haveremained faithful. But if those closest to him–hisdisciples, his own brothers–turned away, who am I tothink I’m better than they and would have donedifferently? No, Marcus. We all wanted what wewanted, and when the Lord fulfilled his purpose ratherthan ours, we struck out against him. Like you. In anger. Like you. In disappointment. Yet, it is God’s will thatprevails.” He looked away. “I don’t understand any of this.”“ I know you don’t. I see it in your face, Marcus. Youdon’t want to see. You’ve hardened your heart againsthim.” She started to walk again.“ As should all who value their lives, ” he said, thinking of Hadassah’s death.“ It is God who has driven you here.” He gave a derisive laugh. “I came here of my ownaccord and for my own purposes.”“ Did you?” Marcus’ face became stony. Deborah pressed on. “We were all created incompleteand will find no rest until we satisfy the deepest hungerand thirst within us. You’ve tried to satisfy it in your ownway. I see that in your eyes, too, as I’ve seen it in somany others. And yet, though you deny it with your lastbreath, your soul yearns for God, Marcus LucianusValerian.”Her words angered him. “Gods aside, Rome showsthe world that life is what man makes of it.”“ If that’s so, what are you making of yours?”“ I own a fleet of ships, as well as emporiums andhouses. I have wealth.” Yet, even as he told her, heknew it all meant nothing. His father had come to thatrealization just before he died. Vanity. It was all vanity. Meaningless. Empty.Old Deborah paused on the pathway. “Rome points theway to wealth and pleasure, power and knowledge. ButRome remains hungry. Just as you are hungry now. Search all you will for retribution or meaning to your life, but until you find God, you live in vain. .Francine Rivers
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Leaving the group, he reclined on a couch, drank morosely, and watched people. He noticed the games they played with one another. They put on masks of civility, all while spewing their venom.Francine Rivers
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What does the body matter if the soul is dead?Francine Rivers
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I'd rather see your honest pain than a brave front.Francine Rivers
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Past and future were out of her hands. One was finished and couldn't be undone. The other was beyond imagining.Francine Rivers
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Dwelling on the past only defeated her chances for changing the future.Francine Rivers
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The appeal was so often the same: Make me comfortable so I can go on doing whatever I want to do. They wanted sin without consequences.Francine Rivers
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Tell me everything about this woman you once knew. Tell me everything she ever told you about Jesus of Nazareth." Marcus saw the fever in his eyes. "Why?" he said, frowning. "Why does it matter?"" Just tell me, Marcus Lucianus Valerian. Tell me everything. From the beginning. Let me decide for myself what matters." And so Marcus did as he was asked. He gave in to his deep need to speak of Hadassah. And all the while he talked of her, he failed to see the irony in what he was doing. For as he told the story of a simple Judean slave girl, Marcus Lucianus Valerian, a Roman who didn't believe in anything, proclaimed the gospel of Jesus Christ. .Francine Rivers
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Regret drives us to repentance, and repentance leads us to God.Francine Rivers