From Redemption to Maturity

2020-12-09T19:51:00.000-04:00

Across the Miles: Poems of Fantasy, Faith, and Fun

by Annie Douglass Lima

Watch a violinist spin stars and snowflakes into existence and wake dragons. Step into a bookstore full of dusty treasures, and wander through a graveyard for poems that died before their birth. Join a solitary star treading the measures of its stately dance above a rainbow like a stream of dripping jewels. Then mourn with the alien who crash-landed on Earth and can’t get home - but be careful to avoid the deadly shadow creatures slinking through the darkness.

Grab your copy of this volume of poetry now and embark on an unforgettable journey across the miles!

cover photography by Lisa Douglass

These poems touch on themes such as travel, friendship, nature, God, music, fantasy, music, animal encounters, and school. Some whimsical, some serious, they include specific, lesser-known varieties of poetry such as pantoum, rondeau, triolet, roundel, and villanelle.

Read on to sample two of the poems in Across the Miles!

Monopoly (a Pantoum)

A pantoum consists of four-line stanzas in which the second and fourth lines of one stanza become the first and third lines of the next stanza. It works well to describe noisy places or repetitive thoughts or conversations.

“Monopoly’s such a fun game.”

“So now how much more do I owe you?”

“Did you pay as much as you claim?”

“The rules are right here, let me show you.”

“So now how much more do I owe you?”

“You’re not getting Boardwalk from me!”

“The rules are right here, let me show you.”

“It’s ‘Get out of Jail for Free’.”

“You’re not getting Boardwalk from me!”

“Will all you guys please be more quiet?”

“It’s ‘Get out of Jail for Free’.”

“You landed on mine, don’t deny it.”

“Will all you guys please be more quiet?”

“I can’t hear a word that you say.”

“You landed on mine, don’t deny it.”

“Just pass me the dice, then I’ll play.”

“I can’t hear a word that you say.”

“Are Reading and Short Line for sale?”

“Just pass me the dice, then I’ll play.”

“So how do I get out of jail?”

“Are Reading and Short Line for sale?”

“She owes you nine hundred for rent.”

“So how do I get out of jail?”

“You know how much money I’ve spent?”

“She owes you nine hundred for rent.”

“Aha, he’s advancing my way now!”

“You know how much money I’ve spent?”

“You landed on Baltic, so pay now.”

“Aha, he’s advancing my way now.”

“Did she roll a three or a four?”

“You landed on Baltic, so pay now.”

“I don’t want to play anymore.”

“Did she roll a three or a four?”

“You owe me two hundred and twenty.”

“I don’t want to play anymore.”

“Don’t buy more hotels – you’ve got plenty!”

“You owe me two hundred and twenty.”

“Did you pay as much as you claim?”

“Don’t buy more hotels – you’ve got plenty!”

“Monopoly’s such a fun game.”

Flu

For best effect, read this poem aloud with a stuffy nose and hoarse voice.

I’ve decided I hate the flu – I really do!

The soreness and aching,

the temp’rature taking

which tries to make me a believer that I’ve only got a fever

of 99.2

but I’m pretty sure that thermometer’s a liar

’cause it feels way higher

and I think I may slowly be going insane

’cause my cough’s such a pain

with its racking and its hacking

while all of the drugs that I take are in vain

and my head and my chest

are both tight and congest-

ed, and I’m faced with issues

like running out of tissues

(’cause my drippy nose never stops)

and having to bring cough drops

everywhere I go

and my eyes getting runny

– and NO! It’s not funny!

’cause I don’t like being in pain and congested and woozy

And inconvenienced and fevered and fluzy.

Want to enjoy nearly a hundred more poems like this? Click here to download your copy of Across the Miles for just $2.99 (that's only about three cents per poem!). Or gift a paperback copy to a poetry-loving friend or family member for Christmas!

About the Poet:

Annie Douglass Lima considers herself fortunate to have traveled in twenty different countries and lived in four of them. A fifth-grade teacher in her “other” life, she loves reading to her students and sparking their imaginations. Her books include science fiction, fantasy, YA action and adventure novels, a puppet script, poetry, Bible verse coloring and activity books, and a fantasy-themed cookbook. When she isn’t teaching or writing, Annie can often be found sipping spiced chai or pomegranate green tea in exotic locations, some of which exist in this world.

Connect with the Poet Online:

Email: AnnieDouglassLima@gmail.com
Blog

Click here to join Annie Douglass Lima's author email list and receive a free copy of one of her fantasy ebooks!

In the Depths of Despair

2016-07-14T05:44:00.001-04:00

What happens when a Christian becomes so totally depressed that there seems to be absolutely no way out? Except maybe one way.

Yes, Christians do become depressed. If you are a Christian out there in the depths of despair and afraid to reach out to someone for fear of being looked down upon, I'm here to tell you that it happens to the best of us. No matter how long you've been a Christian, or how tight your relationship with God is, there sometimes comes a point where you feel like you have no energy left and you just can't go on any longer. The weight on your shoulders can be so heavy sometimes, you feel like there's no getting out from under it.

I know that at that point, the last thing you want to hear are the usual clichés from your friends or family. I know that you already know the truth. I know that you already know that God cares and he can turn your situation around and that he has all the answers you're looking for. I also know that sometimes, all you want to do is crawl into corner, fold yourself into the fetal position and scream and cry. There's absolutely nothing wrong with that, I promise you.

What words of encouragement are there for someone who knows the truth but still feels utterly despondent? It almost feels like nothing anybody says will help you get passed this point. And that may well be true. Maybe the last thing we need at the point of total despair are words from another human being.

When I get to such a point, I shut everyone out. No matter what anyone says to me, in my head, I have a counter argument. At these times, the only person who can get through to me, is God. I have discovered that if I just press the ignore button on everything and everybody else and yell and scream and cry in His presence, I become strengthened and I can go on. Why? Because when you are in the depths of darkest despair (and I mean total darkness) God is really the only one who can drag you out. He's really the only one who knows what to say. At that point, His love goes beyond human clichés.

The Bible speaks of the Holy Spirit as our Comforter (John 14:26) and I have found that He really is the best one there is. In your darkest moments, be still in His presence, he knows just what to say, not with words, but with divine comfort, the kind that leaves you with the strength to fight another day. Do it everyday if necessary (and sometimes, it's necessary), reach out to God and let Holy Spirit be the one to pull you back from the brink. He's the one who does it best.

I pray that this day will be one where you find comfort and strength to go on. Be Blessed.

Devotions like this one and others can be found in the Soul Food Series in Kindle or paperback format. To grab a copy, click one of the images below.

That one Thing...

2016-07-08T04:30:00.000-04:00

One of the things that I've noticed we Christians tossing around a lot is the "get your life in order" speech. We sit on our lofty perches as pastors, leaders, teachers, prophets etc and shout down at people: stop sinning! Do the right thing! Trust God! Let go of that thing, God will give you better! All of these are true. Extremely true and extremely good advise. But I have come to learn that there are people who are truly, genuinely STRUGGLING to live a holy life, or to stay away from the ONE thing that the enemy keeps using against them.

It is easy to say that someone isn't really saved or doesn't really love God and is enjoying their sin. However, there is a flip side. Everybody has something; the one thing that they almost cannot resist doing. The enemy has observed us and he knows just what that one thing is. For someone who isn't vigilant we can get them back to doing that thing without them even realising it. And it's not that we enjoy our sinful state. I've seen people bawl and beg and cry out to God for months just struggling to get out of a situation. For whatever reason, they're stuck. Their love for God is very evident but when you look at their actions you can't help but wonder if this is the truth. Maybe deeper spiritual intervention is necessary to help them break through but their love for God is genuine and say that it isn't so is to fail them.

Why am I saying all this? It's because we as Christians need to change our approach. Our job is to reconcile humanity to Christ, no matter how filthy we deem them to be. We are never to condone or encourage sin, but we are not to cast someone aside just because we believe that they are unworthy of our help either. More souls are lost because we turn up our noses, than because they don't hear the gospel! And who are we to do that? Sinners ourselves! In a lot of ways, we have failed at our jobs. We have ignored people who are drowning but desperately pleading for help. We've left them alone and let them drown and justified our actions by saying that they deserved to drown and "God doesn't always strive with men".

My admonishment to us all today is to stop turning up our noses and ignoring the drowning man.

There is more that is required of us all.

Stay blessed everyone.

Devotions like this one and others can be found in the Soul Food Series in Kindle or paperback format.

To grab a copy, click one of the images below.

Persistent Mustard Seed Faith

2016-07-06T07:54:00.004-04:00

The thing about being a Christian is that you don't make the decision one day and then all of a sudden become a good person living a holy life and walking in perfect communion with God. It takes work, actual work, some tears, a lot of sweat and maybe even some blood to get that point.

That's where today's topic comes in. You hear about mustard seed faith all the time. You know, the kind that moves mountains (Matthew 17:20). No there isn't a special kind of faith that we must all work to get. We simply need to learn to have faith. Jesus told us just how little we needed to have to move a big mountain. I have always heard about mustard seeds and how tiny they were, but recently I had the good fortune to hold a packet of them in my hands. Those things can fit on the head of a pin. In other words, it doesn't take a whole lot of faith to make things happen in our lives.

But what about those situations that drag on forever. It's easy to believe God for something and then see it fixed right away, but there are certain situations in our lives that require not just a quick fix prayer and moment of faith. Some situations require that we believe and remain faithful for weeks, months, years, maybe even a decade or two.

That's where Persistent Mustard Seed Faith comes in. It's the kind of faith you need to move not just one mountain, but every one that comes in your way. It's the kind that you need to ensure not just survival but actual conquering of the situations that you may face. It's the kind that you need EVERY morning when you wake so that you will not doubt God's purpose and plan for your life. It's the kind that says over and over "yes Lord, I believe you can move this new mountain".

Why do we need such persistent, unrelenting faith? Because the enemy is persistent and unrelenting! He NEVER stops. He will come coming and keep throwing mountains in your path. There will be emotional mountains, like despair but there will be others. Like losing your job, or blockages that will try to prevent your business from taking off. And let me tell you, "in-the-moment" faith won't help you overcome a consistent barrage of new mountains, what is going to help is a level of faith that is strong and persistent.

That's what Persistent Mustard Seed Faith is. Faith that moves mountains every day without doubting God and his plan.

Devotions like this one and others can be found in the Soul Food Series in Kindle or paperback format.

To grab a copy, click one of the images below.

Just One Thought

2014-07-09T05:54:00.005-04:00

Sin begins with one thought. Yes, just one thought. We Christians recognize that something is not right the second we are faced with it. As soon as we are faced with a situation, the Holy Spirit living inside of us alerts us to the fact that it is wrong and we should not do it. However, there is this moment, the split second when you wonder, what would it be like if I did it? The seed has been planted.

You see, for the true Christian, the devil can't just say to us "do it" because we have the Holy Spirit guiding us and saying "don't do it". Instead, he has to make us feel comfortable with doing the thing that we shouldn't. So, in the back of our minds, the thought comes. Of course, at first, you dismiss it because you know better. But the thought comes again, and again and again until you don't realize that you are spending the entire day thinking about this thing that you know that you should not do.

Let's use a big example, something that we all frown upon (the "big" sin). Over the years I've always wondered how a genuine Christian man or woman finds himself/herself entwined in adultery. I realized that it starts with one moment when somebody other than your spouse looks a little nicer than normal one day. You pay them a compliment and the two of you smile and leave it at that. The devil notices the opportunity and plants the thought. You dismiss it immediately. The next day, you see the person and you smile at them from across the room, noticing how attractive they are. Before you know it, your mind is stewing over that attractiveness, over and over. If you don't recognize what is happening and nip the thought at the source you have already started sliding towards the point of no return. Slowly, you're becoming desensitized to the fact that what you are thinking is wrong. Justification statements like "they're just my friend" slowly start to follow the thoughts that you know that you should be rebuking. Slowly, more thoughts, slowly, more justification until one day, you're not quite so comfortable but having lunch with this person that you're thinking about all the time doesn't seem like such a bad thing and of course it only goes downhill from there.

Not all of us will find ourselves faced with a situation where we may cheat on our spouses, however we all will be faced with situations where sin is justified in our heads long before we actually do it. No genuine Christian actually wants to sin. Every genuine Christian wants to live a holy life that is pleasing and acceptable to God. However, our enemy wants anything but that. We are to be wise concerning his devices, plots and plans and be ready to deal with them as they come.

Just about every sin begins with a single errant thought. Let's learn to recognize them and stop them at the source. Let's learn to take control of our minds and our thought life and make it subject to the will of God and not that of the enemy.

Have a blessed and thought controlled day.

Devotions like this one and others can be found in the Soul Food Series in Kindle or paperback format.

To grab a copy, click one of the images below.

Get Up!

2014-07-03T10:59:00.001-04:00

It can be pretty difficult to move on passed heartache of any kind. Emotional scars tend to run deep and each new one seems to reach further into the soul, making recovery harder and harder and harder. But recovery isn't impossible.

One thing I've learned though is that recovery will only happen if you want it to. Depression has a way of getting worse the longer you stay in it. The more you cry, the more you sit around doing nothing and the more you stay away from the world, the worse it gets. It just hurts more to sit there and think about why you're hurting.

People always say "get up, shake yourself off" to others in such situations and of course it's very annoying to the person who is hurting but I've learned that as cliché as that is, it's the only way to start the healing process.

Of course, there's more to healing than just forgetting your problems. As a matter of fact, you'll run into bigger issues if you just bury stuff away, but you can't dwell on them forever. You will only recover if you want to recover. YOU should be your own motivation. You must want your life to improve for it to happen. You must want to move on for it to happen. You must want change for it to happen.

My encouragement today for all us is to be your own motivation. Be determined to rise above, to move forward, to grow and to change.

Devotions like this one and others can be found in the Soul Food Series in Kindle or paperback format.

To grab a copy, click one of the images below.

Tenure Vs Maturity

2014-04-03T04:50:00.001-04:00

After many years spent doing anything, one gains valuable experience. Experience usually breeds skill and take us to the point where we can do something without even thinking about it sometimes. Experience is important and in the secular world, length of service (tenure) is valuable and comes with all sorts of perks.

However, in the Christian world, tenure or length of service as a Christian can lead to complacency and make us comfortable with our current state. Save for the fact that we have had the opportunity to make more mistakes and therefore have a bit more experience correcting them, tenure does not make us better off than a newborn babe.

Sometimes, with all those years come some pretty bad habits and the refusal to change. Some of us have spent a lot of years getting away with certain things and even though it's not consciously done, we feel like we can continue to get away with those things.

Today, I realized that, by not knowing what I know now when I started my walk 17 years ago, I developed some pretty bad habits that are difficult to let go of. Whilst in my head I know there are a lot of things that I have not done or are not doing right, it's hard to make the changes because I have been doing it this way for so long.

I had the opportunity to speak to a friend recently who has been a Christian for almost as long as I have. We were at a social gathering and were having fun catching up on old times when did something in my presence. I remarked casually in joking fashion "girl, you haven't changed one bit". Her response shocked me into silence. She said "no, I haven't and I won't change for anybody." What was just a casual conversation between friends suddenly became a stark realization in my head and I almost couldn't continue our conversation. It was then I realized that length of service sometimes brings us to a point where we simply refuse to change our bad habits. We become so comfortable with ourselves just the way we are that we fail to realize that Christianity is all about change. It is about waking up daily and saying Lord, those things that are still in me that need to be changed, please, continue to work on it. Christianity is about recognizing where we are wrong and making a conscious decision to be different. The only way to be like Christ is to be less like ourselves, and we can't do that by becoming comfortable with where we are.

So this is one disadvantage of tenure. We sometimes think of Romans 12:1 - 2 as advice for the young Christian to learn to renew their minds, but I'm learning that the renewal of the mind must be constant. We never stop growing and because we are always living, there will always be a necessity for change. Transformation is not an overnight thing, it is a process that will never end simply because our sinful nature will never go away.

Tenure cannot be traded for Christian maturity. Maturity requires action. Tenure is only an existence. If you never do anything, you will still have tenure but you will never mature.

Today, my encouragement to all of us to remember that Christianity is about change, growth and maturity. Let us not become comfortable with our bad habits or simply make a decision to stay the way we are. Let us remember that no matter how many years we have been Christians, we can still be immature.

May we change, grow and mature together.

Devotions like this one and others can be found in the Soul Food Series in Kindle or paperback format.

To grab a copy, click one of the images below.

The Emergency Fund

2014-03-22T07:27:00.000-04:00

We all have an "emergency fund" - a safety net in the event that we fall sick or have an accident or need to fix a leaky roof etc. The emergency fund is not only a bank account - it could comprise of family members and friends who provide emotional support, a good job, a country with a good economy, a university education and more. If you're honest with yourself, your stress levels are way lower when you have something to lean on in the case of an emergency. It's common sense. You feel that if something were to happen to you, then you'd at least have the money to take care of yourself, people to help take care of you etc. An emergency fund is a good thing - a great thing really, but it becomes a problem when we trust the emergency fund more that we trust God.

What do I mean by that?

You see, I've been noticing some thing about myself, and I'm pretty sure that I'm not the only one. As a chronic worrier (yes, I know, that needs to change), when I have nothing or no one to fall back on, I go into panic mode. My human nature needs something that I can see to make me feel safe. However, as a child of God, my hope, trust and confidence should be in God, not what I can see. In other words, my automatic reaction should be faith (Hebrews 11:1) and not panic.

So here's where the emergency fund gets us in trouble. Whilst it is an excellent thing to have (and we should all be working on one), when we have it, we tend to lose sight of the fact that God is our provider - He's our source and everything comes from him. We lose sight of the fact that we don't provide for ourselves, God does. Our faith level drops a little bit because we feel that if something happens we'll be fine. We don't remember that it is God who gave the emergency fund in the first place and He loses a little bit of his significance in our lives. That is why, when our emergency fund is depleted, we go into panic mode.

I believe that faith is like a muscle. It must be exercised or it will deteriorate. If we don't learn to have faith even in the good times, when times become desperate it is going to be difficult to wrap our heads around that fact that God can and WILL take care of us.

So what's the message of today's post? As children of a living God, we must remember to put our faith not in the material things that we have, or the persons that we may have around us, or the jobs that we currently hold or the current state of the economy of the country that we live in. Our faith should ALWAYS be in God. He has given us wisdom and has taught us to save for the future, to educate ourselves, to work diligently at whatever job we have and invest in the future. However, let us not let that "emergency fund" distract us from have total faith in our ultimate source.

Be blessed and have a great day.

Devotions like this one and others can be found in the Soul Food Series in Kindle or paperback format.

To grab a copy, click one of the images below.

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Serving One Another in Love

2014-03-20T06:01:00.002-04:00

We all know Christianity means following Christ, i.e. living our lives patterned after the way he lived here on earth and doing the things he taught. One of the biggest things I've noticed about Christ's life is his ministry. When I say ministry, I'm not referring to the noun the way we all use it these days, rather, I refer to it as a verb.

According to www.dictionary.com Ministry is: a) the profession or duties of a minister of religion and b) the performance of these duties. Hmm... interesting. Does it mean then that as ministers we are required to do something?

You see, I say this because we live in an age where people are obsessed with titles and positions. We call ourselves ministers because we hold certain positions within our local church assembly, but are we really doing ministry?

When Christ walked on planet earth, he healed the sick, the blind, the broken and fed the hungry, both spirituality and physically. He didn't look down on sinners, nor did he cast them aside. He didn't regard the church officials as higher than the regular folk on the street. Rather, he spent more time working with these people, eating in their homes, allowing them to wash his feet and teaching them the errors of their ways in love; showing them that there was a better way to live.

So why then, did our ministry evolve to singing in church to church-folk who already know Jesus and treating others who don't or who are struggling as outcasts? Why do we create tiny cliques of other ministers as "sophisticated" as ourselves to associate with and ignore the plight of everyone else?

See, now I have to be careful with today's posts because I can certainly see a lot of my friends and associates getting mad at me for it because a lot of us fit into these descriptions. However, we must be aware of our mistakes as Christians and this is one of them.

Ministry means helping our fellow man. It means serving those entrusted to our care. It means understanding their plight. It means not being too "stoosh"* to reach down to them in their situations and lend a helping hand. It means leaving the comfort of our church pews sometimes and going next-door to the old lady's house and helping her get rid of the weeds that have over-run her yard. It means, befriending that girl who was just raped and walking her through her recovery process- it does not mean telling her that everything will be alright and then moving on.

Ministry does not mean an exquisitely cut suit with salon-perfect hair and nails and the perfect shoes. We are not called to "look the part" of ministry, we are called to live it. Let's stop being oblivious to the hurt of people around us. There are people in our everyday lives who are in desperate need of help but are afraid to ask us because they fear that we will look down on them. They are afraid that we will offer them only a few church cliches in our best "ministry voice" and then leave them to the wolves to fend for themselves.

Christians, fellow brothers and sisters, our Christianity must be tangible and identifiable. The people we are called to serve need to know that we are accessible and not judgmental or else they will never come to us for their help that they need. If that is the case, then our mission will never be accomplished and Christ's love will never be shown as it should. I'm sure we all agree that we are God's hands here on earth. He does things in the lives of people but it is through other people. If we are too distracted by our church services and our new "ministry suits" then we won't see those who are hurting and who need help.

Let us stop acting the part of ministry and let us learn to live it.

* Stoosh is a term used in the Caribbean to refer to those who are "fresh" or look down on others whom they don't consider to be part of their clique, clan or class.

Devotions like this one and others can be found in the Soul Food Series in Kindle or paperback format.

To grab a copy, click one of the images below.

Being Pushed Into Bad Decisions

2014-03-11T08:08:00.002-04:00

Sometimes we let people who treat us badly push us into bad decisions. Think about it - how many bad decisions have you made because somebody else hurt you or treated you like less than you are worth? How many times have you gone into rebound relationships with people you would never even entertain if you were not hurting? What about leaving a great job for a crappy one because your boss was being a pain? Or maybe you even decided to switch churches because a certain church member just keeps getting under your skin.

People who treat us badly can push us to do things that we don't want to do, but that doesn't have to be the case. There's a saying that goes, "he who angers you controls you" and it is very true. If someone can anger you to the point where you do dumb things, then they are controlling you.

The Bible reminds us that we can be angry without sinning (Ephesians 4:26). Today, I want us to remember that we can be hurt and not do dumb things. Usually with anger we don't stop to think about our reactions, but with hurt, we usually have plenty of time to hash things out in our heads. In situations of hurt, we can be tempted to sit and stew on what has happened to us but that is actually detrimental to growth. You won't see the good in your situation if you spent time dwelling on the bad. Sometimes vengeance is our motivation for doing dumb things, and other times we are simply searching for relief. We may want to just get away from that mean boss or that awful person in church but doing that may actually shift us from a position that God wants us in so that he can propel us forward. What if God has a promotion lined for you? What if your future husband is planning to visit your church the same day you decided that you're never going back?

You're going to miss your blessing by moving hastily or under pressure instead of under direction for God.
Of course the worse case of this I've seen is people jumping into bad relationships because they feel the need to move on from past hurt. It is easy to end up there simply because of all the emotions involved. If you've been rejected by one person and another person comes along ready to accept you, then it feels like the best thing in the world. Unfortunately, because you're so vulnerable you may be hooking up with a monster and not realise it until it's too late.

My encouragement to us all today is to remain focused on God's voice; especially in the times where you feel frustrated or hurt. Those are the times the enemy jumps on to bring dumb distractions in our way. If we're focused on God then we'll see the warning signs and be able to dodge certain destruction. If we're focused on our hurt and looking only for relief then we may make some terrible decisions that have far reaching repercussions.

Do have a blessed day and remember to stay focused on God.

Devotions like this one and others can be found in the Soul Food Series in Kindle or paperback format.

To grab a copy, click one of the images below.

Dealing with loss

2014-03-06T09:06:00.002-04:00

People always say you never know what you have until you lose it. I think that sometimes, you know exactly what you have and you know that losing it will be terrible, but you never really understand just how terrible until its actually gone.

Mommy & Me - cutting cake on her 60th Birthday

Growing up, my mother was my rock, the glue that held my family together and the person who taught me that above all else, trust God with everything. When she was diagnosed with Stage 3 Ovarian cancer, part of me died. I was faced with the harsh reality that one day soon, she'd be gone. The day came eventually and whilst I was sad, a part of me was grateful that her suffering was done. That kept me sane for a while; well until I realised that I could never ask her what recipes I could make with the local "farine" I have had on the dinning room table for several weeks now.

Losing important people in your life sucks, big time. No matter what anybody says, it never really gets easier. You just learn to cope and keep yourself occupied. Thankfully, we Christians have an advantage. We know that our loved ones who have died in Christ will live again. We know that their earthly suffering has ended and that they will never know suffering again. People say that we'll see them again in heaven but honestly I'm not so sure that when we get there we'll even be interested in finding long lost loved ones. I may be wrong, who knows - I guess we'll find out one day.

Today's post is to comfort those of us who've lost the most important people in our lives. Until I lost a parent, I always thought that I understood what it would be like for an individual to lose a parent. Now, I know that I wasn't even close to imagining the pain. One year later, the only people who I speak to about losing my mother are my two friends who also lost parents. It feels like nobody else really gets what I'm going through. Speaking to my friends who understand my pain makes me realise, that I'm not the only one who feels that way. They echo my sentiments and tell me that they don't talk about it either cause people whose parents haven't died don't get it.

It's easy to simply shut everybody out of ours lives because they simply don't get what we're going through. That's not always a good thing though, because in spite of the fact that people don't get it, sometimes they can actually help.

Be reminded also, that in spite of the fact that our earthly friends simply don't get it, God does. He still has our backs, even when you don't understand (like me) why he had to take our loved ones. Find comfort and strength in him. Stay focussed on today's tasks and preparation for a successful future. If at all possible, find someone who actually understands to speak to about your loss - talking really does help.

Stay blessed and have a bearable day.

Devotions like this one and others can be found in the Soul Food Series in Kindle or paperback format.

To grab a copy, click one of the images below.

You Get What You Pray For

2014-01-27T10:31:00.000-04:00

Wow, a lot has happened since my last post in November 2013.

Today's insight is an offshoot from my Pastor's sermon yesterday morning. It has inspired me to write again, which is a huge deal because I have not written anything since November 2013. I said to a friend yesterday that I seriously feel as if God has, as in Job's day, said to the enemy "Have you considered my servant Joana?"

Yup, it's that hard. I feel as if God is stripping me bare and until yesterday's sermon, I was fighting it. But no more, because as my pastor reminded me yesterday, the grape becomes even more useful after it has been crushed in a wine press. In the wine making process, the grape is placed under pressure until it is crushed and everything pours out of it. It is litterally trampled and seemingly destroyed. Yet, the end result is beautiful wine that can be preserved for years to become even more remarkable.

I'm in the wine press season of my life - where God is really crushing all the juices out of me. I was complaining until I remembered that you get what you pray for. For a while now, I've been desperately praying, "God, change me", "God, fix me", "God, I don't like the person that I am", "God, take everything out of me that is not of you".

God is answering me. He's answering me by putting me in places and situations where I have no choice but to let go of all those things that are tripping me up. He's shown me an image of myself in the mirror and drawing big red arrows pointing at the things that have to go. This process is hard, it hurts, it's scary and incredibly lonely sometimes but I know God is faithful. He reminded me yesterday that He has heard me and the fact that I'm going through this means that is answering my desperate plea to make me less like me and more like Him.

So folks, let's learn with me as it's a learning process for all of us. Don't believe any Christian who appears to know everything about this life, no matter how long they've been Christians. If we stop learning, we will stop growing and that is dangerous.

So here are the lessons I've learned between November and now.

1. You get what you pray for. When you ask God to work on you, He will. Don't resist the process.

2. In order for us to get to the point where we are useful to God, we have to go through the molding/crushing/shaping process. That process hurts but it is absolutely essential. Again, don't resist the process.

3. God hasn't forgotten you. He is faithful to finish what He starts. He hears our prayers, and even when it seems as if he is not there, He is, working quietly in the background, doing exactly what we asked. Stay focused and you won't lose sight of Him and what He is doing.

Devotions like this one and others can be found in a handy collection in Kindle or paperback format.

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Fruit of the Spirit: LOVE

2013-11-02T07:02:00.002-04:00

This is the first of a nine post series on the Fruit of the Spirit. Before we delve into the whole thing, let's talk about the Fruit for a while.

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Galatians 5:22-23

You will note that the word fruit is singular, this means that each characteristic described above does not exist in isolation but is part of a whole. In other words, we are not being called to display only love without self-control, or kindness without faithfulness. These are all things that we should strive for.

LOVE

What is love?
We have discussed love on this blog before but let us define it again.

Simply put, Love is a decision to prosper another person above yourself. It means that when you love someone, you consider their needs above your own.

There are many aspects to love. Infact many languages have more than one word for the concept of love. Today we'll look at just a few ways that love is manifested.

Love for one person to another
The bible paints an excellent picture for what love is and what it is not in relation to people loving each other. In 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7 it tells us:

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

The bible also tells us that love for one another:

Is Precious:

Proverbs 15:17

A bowl of vegetables with someone you love

is better than steak with someone you hate.

Is Edifying:

1 Corinthians 8:1

Now regarding your question about food that has been offered to idols. Yes, we know that “we all have knowledge” about this issue. But while knowledge makes us feel important, it is love that strengthens the church.

Is Unquenchable:

Proverbs 17:17

A friend is always loyal,

and a brother is born to help in time of need.

Songs of Solomon 8:6-7

Many waters cannot quench love,

nor can rivers drown it.

If a man tried to buy love

with all his wealth,

his offer would be utterly scorned.

Promotes peace:

Proverbs 10:12

Hatred stirs up quarrels,

but love makes up for all offenses.

Proverbs 17:9

Love prospers when a fault is forgiven,

but dwelling on it separates close friends.

These scriptures show us how powerful love is. If we learn to love each other the way it is taught in 1 Corinthians 13:4 -7, I'm sure we can all agree that the world would be a much greater place to live.

Love of People for God

1 John 5:3 tells us something amazing:

Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome.
This means that our love for God can be demonstrated very easily. If we say we love Him, then what we have to do is pretty simple, keep his commandments! Wow. And here we all thought it meant we had to be at church a certain number of times for the week or serve on as many committees as possible or show our fellow Christians how much doctrine we know. Whilst these things are important, God simply requires one thing from us, that we do what He asks. Doing what He asks shows Him respect and shows Him love.

Love of Money

This aspect shows us that love can have an evil side. Unfortunately for us, most of the problems we currently face in the world stem from man's love for money. People kill each other so that they can aquire what the other person has. Entire countries are suppressed and their resources stripped because of how valuable they are. We spend billions on war in an effort to control what another country has whilst children are starving all over the world. This list can go on and on and on. The point is that the bible is correct when it says:

For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. 1 Timothy 6:10 (NLT)

So today, let us learn to exercise love for one another, the way the bible said we should. Let us also remember that God requires that we show love to him in the simplest way possible, just do what He asks. And finally, be reminded that love directed at the wrong thing can cause chaos in the world and in our loves. Let us set our priorities according to God's will and we will be much better off.

Next week, we will exam the second characteristic of the fruit, JOY!

Devotions like this one and others can be found in the Soul Food Series in Kindle or paperback format.

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How To Be a Good Christian

2013-10-18T07:08:00.001-04:00

Today's topic sounds a bit pretentious doesn't it? Well, I certainly don't claim to know the secret to "good Christianity" but over the years I've learnt that there are some qualities that are absolutely necessary in order to have any chance at succeeding as a Christian. So here they are:

1. Determination - From the first day that you make a decision to follow Christ there will be opposition, naysayers, mockers and more. If you want to make it past the first day, week or year then you need to be determined and sure that this is the decision that you want to make. People will mock you, laugh at you and remind you of your past. Now it's the time to be strong headed if there ever was one. Be determined that no one will change your mind with their lofty arguments, mocking or jeering.

2. Persistence and Perseverance - This is closely linked to point number 1 but slightly different. The Christian life can be fun, eye opening, joy giving and much more but it can also be very hard. You will have moments when you fall, make a mistake and feel like giving up. Don't. You will find every ounce of strength that you need to make it in the Holy Spirit. From the very beginning, learn to depend on Him. It will come in very handy in those difficult times.

3. A thick skin - One thing that always amazes me is this: the world thinks that they can do whatever they want to us or say whatever they want about us and we shouldn't do anything about it because our Bible says to turn the other cheek. As a Christian, you will be lied to, lied about, hated for no reason, ridiculed etc, etc, etc. Learn to let things slide off your back. If you spend your time worrying about every little thing someone does or says about you, you won't have time for anything else. Also note that even among your fellow Christians there will be people who hurt you for no reason. Learn to look past that and forgive. You'll find that you are a stronger person for it.

4. Discipline - This one is a biggie. Christianity is about following rules and our rules are clearly written down in sixty-six books. Following rules requires lots of discipline so now is the time to learn some. Forget all the rebellious ways of your past where you questioned every rule because what God says will never change. Learn to trust that his rules are for your own benefit because they are. Good discipline will keep you out of trouble. Try fasting, I've found that exercising control over the body helps to control the mind.

5. Devotion/Faithfulness - Above all things, stay true to God. Remain faithful. Don't get bored or slack with your Christianity and don't compromise. Pay attention to your spiritual link with God. If you do, you will notice when it starts to fade. Nurture your relationship actively. Feed it, set time aside for it and make it your number one priority. You'll find that it is a lot easier to know what God wants from you and to hear His voice if you are constantly listening for it.

I do hope that these tips helped somebody today. Be blessed and have a successful day.

Devotions like this one and others can be found in the Soul Food Series in Kindle or paperback format.

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Gossiping

2013-10-17T06:20:00.000-04:00

Gossiping. We all know that it's wrong yet we all still do it. Yes, that's right. I said all of us. Every body gossips or has gossiped at some point in their lives. Sometimes it happens accidentally or unconsciously but it still happens.

It is so easy to be pulled into gossip. You may not be a compulsive gossiper; you may not even like gossip, but somewhere along the line somebody comes to you with a juicy story that you just can't help listening to. It may even appear that you are discussing the story out of concern for the individual in question. However, at the end of the day, it's still gossip.

Dictionary.com defines gossip as idle talk or rumor, especially about the personal or private affairs of others. We can all agree that we've all done that, right?

So what makes gossiping so dangerous? Let's see, here are a few reasons.

1. A lot of the time the things we gossip about simply aren't true. We can do a lot of damage to someone's character, family life, careers etc with idle talk. We even justify our gossiping by saying where there is smoke there must be fire, but have you ever come across a situation where there isn't even an ounce of truth in a story that you've heard?

2. Gossiping can lead someone to depression. The worst possible feeling you can have is knowing that you are being talked about but not knowing what is being said. Maybe people have gone into states of depression because of this. Others have committed suicide. It's easy to say that people should keep their heads up and ignore gossip about themselves, but let's be honest. Some people aren't very strong and we destroy them with our idle words. We are like bullies preying on the weak. You never really know what people are going through behind closed doors and your idle talk may just be the thing that pushes them over the edge.

3. It's just plain wrong. I clicked through one of my bible apps and just did a search for the word gossip in the NLT version. Even I was astounded by the number of results. Here are just a few.

Proverbs 16:28

A troublemaker plants seeds of strife; gossip separates the best of friends.

Proverbs 17:4

Wrongdoers eagerly listen to gossip; liars pay close attention to slander.

Proverbs 20:19

A gossip goes around telling secrets, so don't hang around with chatterers.

Proverb 25:23

As surely as a north wind brings rain, so a gossiping tongue causes anger!

Proverbs 26:20

Fire goes out without wood, and quarrels disappear when gossip stops.

Psalm 15:1,3 (I advise that you read the whole chapter)

1 Who may worship in your sanctuary Lord? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill?

3 Those who refuse to gossip or harm their neighbours or speak evil of their friends.

So how do we avoid Gossiping? I said earlier that most of us do it unconsciously but there are ways to recognise gossip and nip it in the bud.

1. Are you talking to a third party about somebody else's business? That's gossip, so stop.

2. Are you really sure that you are doing this so that you can help that individual? If so, what is your plan for helping. If you have none then stop talking. It's not your business.

3. We all have friends who are just dying to know the latest developments in some body else's life. The unfortunate thing is that we often come across information because people confide in us. So let us learn to keep things that are confidential to ourselves. Don't even tell your other best friend. It's how gossip starts in the first place. When asked, simply say "I was told in confidence" and leave it there. Eventually your friends will learn that they shouldn't even bother to ask you about some body else's business. These two verses of scripture bring out this point clearly.

Proverbs 11:13

A gossip goes around telling secrets, but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence.

Proverbs 25:10

Others may accuse you of gossip, and you will never regain your good reputation.

I hope these tips can help us become more aware of gossip and how easily we can fall into the trap. As with all things, awareness is the first step towards resolution.

Have a blessed day.

Devotions like this one and others can be found in the Soul Food Series in Kindle or paperback format.

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People-Pleasing

2013-10-16T05:24:00.002-04:00

Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant. Galations 1:10

It's easy to get caught up trying to make people like you or even approve of you. The world has us constantly seeking attention, affection and approval.

Human beings are strange characters. They don't like you for one thing, but if you change it and do want they want, they probably still won't like you anyway.

Everyday in the media we see severe cases of people-pleasing. Singers who want to be famous get on stage wearing next to nothing and the crowds go wild, soaking it in and buying out their records. People seem to want to only listen to music made by "bad boys" or "bad girls" yet these same singers get seriously crucified in the media when their marriages only last a few days or they are caught with drugs. Most of them can't cope with their people-pleasing so it affects their lives.

People-pleasing is very dangerous for Christians and non-Christians alike. Even in our church lives we sometimes get caught up with putting on a show. Sometimes we raise our hands just because it is the thing to do, not because we want to surrender totally to God. We join certain committees just because everybody else thinks that you'll be good at it even though you don't like doing that particular thing. We even find ourselves marrying a particular person because everybody thinks that "you two look great together!".

Unfortunately for us, people-pleasing has the undesired effect of not pleasing God. If we spend the rest of our lives looking for approval from man, we will probably never accomplish what God has in store for us. If we're busy worrying about what men will think of us, then we'll be too distracted to hear what God wants from us.

Trying to please people is like trying to fill a bucket with holes, it will never happen. Man's perception of what is good changes daily. Somewhere on the planet on any given day and at any given point in time, there will be someone who does not like what you're doing or who simply doesn't like YOU.

Pleasing God is so much easier and has many more benefits. First of all, God will always love you, no matter what, even when you make a mistake. Secondly, His plans for you have already been set. They won't change, because He never changes, therefore you won't be chasing a moving target. Thirdly, God will help you get to where He wants you to go. God guides us through every step in our process and is there to ensure that we don't hurt ourselves when we fall.

So let us go through today remembering that our job is not to please every one around us or even to gain the approval of man. Let us remember that our focus should be on God's plans for our lives and what He wants us to do with it. Remember also, that what God wants from us is true worship i.e. a lifestyle that follows his commands. We can't be true worshippers if our lifestyles are following the commands of the person sitting next to us in church.

Have a blessed day!

Devotions like this one and others can be found in the Soul Food Series in Kindle or paperback format.

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Don't Lose Your Soul

2013-10-15T08:08:00.001-04:00

And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your soul? Mark 8:36

We live in a world that is overly concerned with gaining material wealth. People are no longer content to live comfortably but are driven by a constant need to earn more and own more. Unfortunately, these desires have permeated our churches. Don't get me wrong, I certainly do not believe that Christians should be poor. Nor do I believe that we should be in a constant state of begging and borrowing and living from pay check to pay check. However the Bible admonishes us to be careful. There comes a point where we cross the line of desiring financial freedom and we start walking in pure greed.

What is the point really of owning several homes, fancy cars, etc. if at the end of the day our relationship with God suffers as a result. We may never stop going to church and we'll still pray but what happens when our prayers become self centred and self catering? What happens when all we pray is "Lord give me"? God wants us to be prosperous, but more importantly, He wants us to have a pure relationship with him. He wants us to yield to him and not to be begging for blessings. He wants that when He blesses us, our focus does not turn to the blessings but it stays on Him. God wants YOU more than anything else and you should want HIM more than anything else.

Let's start seeking the giver instead of the gifts. Let our focus be a relationship with God and the work He requires of us. The blessings will come, but when they do, don't forget God. Don't rush through your praise because your new possessions are taking up all of your time. Don't lose your focus or your soul for the sake of material possessions.

Devotions like this one and others can be found in a handy collection in Kindle or paperback format.

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No Looking Back

2013-10-13T05:19:00.001-04:00

Looking back can be very tempting. When God asks us to move forward, He usually requires that we leave some things that are very important to us behind. These things tend to spur what I call, the Lot's Wife Syndrome - looking back at the things that should be left behind with longing.

That story bears an important lesson for all of us. There are certain things in our lives that may be tripping us up, causing us to stumble, to fall, to be in constant pain etc. These may even be things, places or people that we love. However when God is ready to bring us to the place where we fulfill our destiny, those things can't come with us. They'll hinder our growth and cause us to fall all over again. That is why he asks is to leave them behind.

We all know that this is easier said than done; but one thing that will make the task a little less daunting is getting rid of the Lot's Wife Syndrome. Looking back every few days at what you left behind will make you want to go back and pick it up again.

God knew that Lot's wife was heading for trouble that day, hence the reason she was turned into a pillar of salt. She probably wanted to go back. She had friends in that burning city. Her home was there; her whole life was there. However, if she went back, then Lot would have probably followed, after all, she was his wife. I believe that God could not allow something like that, so she was stopped.

Let us stop looking back with longing at the things we know that we need to leave behind us. Let us follow God with confidence, knowing the He is leading us to the best thing for us.

Determine today that there will be no looking back. There will be no "Lot's Wife Syndrome".

Devotions like this one and others can be found in a handy collection in Kindle or paperback format.

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Disappointments Are Designed To Make You Quit

2013-09-26T20:19:00.000-04:00

Disappointments are designed to make you quit, so don't.

Life is full of disappointment. It almost seems like everywhere you turn and with everything you try to do, some sort of disappointment comes your way right. I started the day feeling really excited. There are two things I've really desired in my life. One is a want, the other is a need. Both are really important to me and I believe that it is God's will for me to have both of them, however there has been one obstacle after the next.

A few days ago, I had a eureka moment, a brilliant idea, the kind that could only come from God. I figured out how I was going to finance one of the things - the want.

This morning, I had another eureka moment, again, the kind that could only come from God. I realized that the plan I had for the want would work perfectly for the need instead. EGAD!!!! God had just FREAKED ME OUT! I was amazed, stunned, ecstatic, baffled and thoroughly excited. I was dancing on the clouds, basking in glory and set for an excellent day. That is until I made the phone call that would set things in motion for me. I had a huge spoke thrown in my wheel and it will take a MIRACLE to sort things out.

But guess what. I serve the undisputable king of the universe who holds the world in His hands and makes this go according to HIS plan. So I'm not worried and I won't quit. Disappointments make you appreciate a thing more when you finally get it. I trust God and I'm ready to fight for what's mine.

So though disappointments are designed to make you quit, I have decided that the enemy will not win this round. My God has already fought on my behalf. Maybe you too are faced with one disappointment after another and are almost ready to quit. Don't give up. God has already won the battle on your behalf. Step up and claim what is yours.

DON'T QUIT!

Devotions like this one and others can be found in a handy collection in Kindle or paperback format.

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Joana James - Author

All of Joana's books may be seen here.

Discussion Day 2

2013-09-23T10:42:00.001-04:00

So it's discussion day number two and we'll be taking a look at another excerpt from the same Christian novel. Again, I'm going to tell you which book it is soon, but let's hear your thoughts on this excerpt. Remember it's a discussion so let's have fun!

Daynia wasn’t sure if she should feel happy or not. She’d been trying to put as much distance between them as possible, but this act of kindness could serve as a game changer.

“Thanks for doing that, I really appreciate it.”

“Anytime Daynia,” he sighed. “You do know that I still care for you right?”

“Did you ever care about me Richard? Come on, answer that question honestly. Did you ever care about me? After everything you put me through, you’ll say that you cared about me?”

“Daynia, look, I’m sorry ok. I know this past year was horrible for you. I was confused about a few things and I mistreated you.”

“Confused? Is that how you act when you’re confused? You lie, cheat and treat people like crap when you’re confused? Ever heard of taking a moment to gather your thoughts? You ignored me, stood me up and made me look like a fool for a year and a half Richard! God forbid that you ever get confused again!”

That last comment hung in the air and continued to sting long after it was said. She was right to be angry with him. He’d been a complete idiot. She was the perfect girl and he treated her like trash. Now there really was no hope for the two of them ever getting back together.

“I’m really sorry Daynia,” he breathed, the sound barely audible. “I know I hurt you, and I’m very sorry. I know that my apology can’t make things better, but I need you to know that I’m really, really very sorry and it makes me ashamed when I think about all the things I did to you.”

“I’ve already forgiven you Richard; I didn’t need your apology to do that. I just don’t understand why you did this to me, that’s all. I mean, the usual excuse that most men give isn’t even applicable here; we had sex every time you wanted to. I did whatever you wanted me to even though it went against my conscience. I was always available whenever you wanted me to be. I never nagged or accused you of anything. I trusted you whole-heartedly Richard. I’ll never understand why you needed to have so many others.”

Richard was silent for several moments. Daynia was spewing venom and it scared him.

Finally, he broke the silence. “I hate to say this Daynia, but maybe you should have nagged and accused. I know you knew what was going on at some point. You may not have had proof, but you had to know that I was lying to you all that time.”

“What!” Daynia shouted angrily.

“Hold on,” he said. “Just let me finish.”

He covered her hand in his with a gentle touch that sent her heart into a nose dive. She fell silent, but before she could succumb to the emotions that threatened to overcome her, she yanked her hand away.

“I’m not saying this is an excuse. I’m just saying that it was easy for me to keep going because you never held me accountable for my actions. You went along with everything I suggested in spite of your convictions. I don’t know if you've ever realized this Daynia, but we men, we’ll misbehave until a woman shows up and hold us accountable. That’s just how we are.”

“That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard Richard. There is no way that I’m responsible for your ridiculous behaviour.”

“I never said you were responsible hon, I said you never held me accountable for it.”

The air in the car was suddenly filled with a level of tension that was incomprehensible. Daynia willed the line of traffic ahead of them to disappear, yet their slow crawl towards the city and her home continued at the same agonizing pace.

Let's hear what you think.

Discussion Day 1

2013-09-20T08:56:00.002-04:00

The following is an excerpt from a Christian novel - I'll tell you which one in a few days. Today, I would love to hear what you think, not about the story, but about the discussion the characters are having below. Weigh in, air your views, agree, disagree and send your friends to do the same.

As the weeks rolled by Daynia finally began to heal. Her friends all stood by her, much to her surprise. Ashley held her pitiful form several times while she cried helplessly, but those occurrences were becoming less frequent and she could now function normally at work. She found her way back into her circle of friends with ease and they made her feel like she had never left.

At church, the expected stares accompanied by whispering was almost non-existent and only occurred among the older more judgmental members who’d gone passed the age where they remembered the indiscretions of their youth. Daynia theorized that they remembered quite clearly but chose to remain in a state of total denial as they could not live with their own consciousness. Whatever their reason, their whispering didn’t bother her too much because her God did no such thing. She’d received total forgiveness again and even though she was beating herself up for making the same mistakes all over again, God didn’t hold it against her so she walked with her head held high.

***

“It’s so hard for a Christian woman to find the right mate,” said Ashley. She and Daynia were walking along the beach having some girl time. Ashley made a special effort to do things with her friend these days. She needed the company to help keep her focused.

“Yeah, it is isn’t it? He has to line with God’s plans for you, he has to share your passion for God and he has to be willing to wait for sex.”

“Yup, it’s a tall order, even for men with the best of intentions,” said Ashley. “That’s why we need to wait for God to do the picking; we can’t do a good job by ourselves.”

“You picked a good one.”

“Yeah, Daniel’s great, but don’t forget that I had to wait a while before he came along. God had to fix him first. In his previous state, I wouldn’t have gone within ten feet of him.”

“So that’s the trick really, we gotta wait till they’re ready.”

“Yeah, take Richard for example, he’s not a bad guy, he just wasn’t ready.”

“Oh come on Ash, you’re gonna tell me that a man who spent a year and a half lying to me is a good guy.”

“Yes Dayn, that’s exactly what I’m saying. He needed time to deal with the ghosts from his past. They don’t go away just because you’re now trying to live for God. It’s a process and he didn’t go through his process."

Daynia walked along silently whilst she pondered what Ashley was saying.

“We all had ghosts remember,” continued Ashley. “You have that horrible relationship with your family and all those bad relationships. I had to learn to love myself and treat my body with respect. Remember how I used to dress when I first started coming to church.”

Daynia laughed out loud. “Yes! I do. Those outfits were rather… um interesting.”

“Exactly! Now, I’m a glamor queen without showing my goods to the whole world. I went through my process. You were doing a good job with yours before Richard. You just need to keep pressing. Know what you want for your life and focus on that.”

Daynia stared at her friend for several moments. “When did you get so wise?” she asked, laughing.

“Oh I don’t know, it just happened,” responded Ashley as she tossed her hair back and held her head high in a look of mock sophistication.

“Whatever!” laughed Daynia as she pushed Ashley into the incoming tide.

So there it is...let's hear what you think!

Getting Over The Big Things

2013-09-13T06:04:00.003-04:00

One of the things that trips us up the most as Christians is the ability to move past the things we love that aren't good for us. Often, we realise what is holding back our growth LONG before we actually let it go. Knowing that something isn't good for us doesn't automatically mean that we are able to let go of it. It could be a bad relationship, or maybe a friendship that drains you or a job that's sucking the life out of you or a shopping addiction that's killing your finances. It could be anything. Sometimes we just need to make a strategy and take practical steps to get over certain things.

I've found the following steps to work for me.

1. Set a deadline - give yourself a date after which you will no longer allow yourself to pine over what you're about to lose. Ensure that is realistic or else when the date comes and goes and you're not over your problem you'll find yourself becoming depressed.
2. Write it down - a visual reminder Sometimes it's all that we need to get over certain things. If your space is private enough consider putting it on your mirror as a daily reminder.
3. List all the reasons that whatever is it you are trying to get over is not good for you. Making an actual list will sometimes give you that jolt you needed to move on. Reality will hit and you will have a stronger mental resolve as a result.
4. Let it go a little bit at a time. Cold turkey works for some things. Other things need to be changed over time. Break down your problem into parts. Set mini deadlines for dealing with each part.
5. Pray, pray, pray. This should come first, in the middle and last. In other words, pray the entire time. Pray for God's wisdom, strength, clarity of thought and focus because you will need it. You might even consider a fast too. A fast will help teach you some self control, this may help prevent you from going back to what you've left behind.

I do hope that these steps will help you leave the weights behind and launch into God's purpose for your life. Have a blessed day.

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Joana James - Author

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The Rich Poor and the Poor Rich

2013-09-10T08:23:00.000-04:00

Believers who are poor have something to boast about, for God has honored them. And those who are rich should boast that God has humbled them. They will fade away like a little flower in the field. The hot sun rises and the grass withers; the little flower droops and falls, and its beauty fades away. In the same way, the rich will fade away with all of their achievements. James 1:9-11

The titles of this post sounds rather contradictory doesn't it? It did to me when I first read these scriptures, but upon closer examination, it makes perfect sense. You see, poverty (or less material things) has the benefit of less material distractions. The rich (those with more material possessions) have more distractions and therefore find it harder to get to Christ. Jesus said it himself, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." (Mark 10:25)

Let's examine this a little closer. It is much easier for you and I, the working class to have faith and trust God for our provision because daily we see him work on our behalf. Daily we know that when we ran out of money, it was God who sent the tax return cheque to our mailboxes on the exact day that the electricity bill became due. We know that it is God who sends a friend to our doorsteps bearing the extra produce from her backyard garden because she had too much at the exact moment we were wondering what we would feed our families for the next couple of days. When we have less, it is much easier to see God's provision, his love and his tangible blessings and by extension, our faith in Him grows.

So what's this about the rich being poor and the poor being rich? Well, let's put it this way, the rich (again those with more material things) must learn to remove their trust from their possessions and place it in God. We must learn humility and the transitory nature of earthly things. We must constantly remind themselves that all they have on earth is simply for this life and not for eternity. We must remember that when they die, all their possessions will be left behind. That can be quite a challenging task. That is why Christ used the camel in the eye of a needle analogy. As for us regular folk, we are rich with humility, knowing that God is our sole provider and our eyes are already looking to him for our help.

So does that mean that the poor automatically make it to heaven and the rich don't. Certainly not. It means that we ALL - rich or poor - should remember that whatever material possessions we have now are transitory. In other words, one day, we won't have them. One day, we'll be dead and we'll either move to a place of eternal rest or eternal damnation. Treat your material possessions as what they are, a means to an end. Let us not forget that no matter what our station in life may be, it is God who provides, God who sustains and God who delivers. Even if you have many material things, God is the one who keeps everything in order so that we don't lose what we have.

May you be blessed with more whilst you remember that it is God who has provided it all. Have a blessed day.

Devotions like this one and others can be found in a handy collection in Kindle or paperback format.

To grab your copy, click here.

Joana James - Author

All of Joana's books may be seen here.

Lives of Honour

2013-09-04T06:36:00.002-04:00

Revealing God's character and His presence through your life is one of the fundamentals of Christianity. The very name by which we call ourselves means "like Christ". This means therefore that our lives must pattern after Christ.

So, do our lives reveal the character and presence of God. Can somebody look at us and see Christ's love displayed in our everyday actions, words and temperaments? You see, our biggest testimony here on earth is not what we say, but rather, what we do. We are constantly being watched. I know that in my everyday life, at home, work and everywhere I go, people are constantly examining my behaviour simply because I have declared myself a Christian. I know that sometimes that examination is simply to find my every moment of weakness and amplify it for ridicule, but even that is a testimony. Since we serve the God who is in charge of the universe, our reactions in the face of adversity should display that. God has our backs and when we're backed into a corner, or have been made very angry, we should remember who our God is instead of reacting like the rest of the world.

The rest of the world needs our lives to be an arrow pointing to Christ because lets face it, most of them will never just read the bible on their own or attend one of our churches even though we invite them a hundred times. Our biggest testimony is the way we live our lives because it's what people see and relate to.

So today, let's begin by making a conscious effort to let our lights shine, not by preaching on street corners, but by living lives that will bring Glory and Honour to His name. My goal is that people will start coming to me begging to know how I got through a difficult situation with poise, or how I was able to remain calm when I should have been frantic, or how I'm still alive when I should be dead. That is the biggest opener for sharing God's love with anyone.

“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Matthew 5:14-16

May God bless you and be with you today!

Devotions like this one and others can be found in a handy collection in Kindle or paperback format.

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Joana James - Author of From Redemption to Maturity, Trusting God with your Future, Nightmare at Emerald High & Alana and Alyssa's Secret & Finding Romeo

Prodigal Sons & Daughters

2013-09-03T07:27:00.000-04:00

If you've been a Christian for even a day, you will have moments where you have doubted God, His power, His faithfulness, maybe even His love. Over the years, my favourite thing about God became the way He forgives, simply because I've needed that forgiveness so many times. I came to understand that even when I couldn't forgive myself, God forgave me. My own guilt and condemnation from the devil kept me bound but God was always there saying "daughter, I forgive you, now please, forgive yourself".

In Luke 15, Jesus tells his disciples a wonderful story, one that has helped me understand God's love. A rebellious son left his father's house against his counsel, took his share of the inheritance and squandered it, yet when he returned, the father still showed love and mercy towards him. He never said, "you squandered all your money- you came back, but you're going to have to work in the fields like all the other workers until you can earn my trust again." The father, drew his son back into his arms and returned him to his seat of honour - as his son. Wow. That is exactly what God does every time we fall.

You may not have gone as far as leaving the fold, or maybe you have. To God, it doesn't matter, you are his child and he wants you back. God's love is everlasting and far reaching. He loves even those of us who can't seem to walk the straight and narrow without making a mistake (which is everyone). God knows and sees our hearts and a truly repentant heart is His favourite thing.

The Bible reminds us over and over of God's love for EVERYONE, even sinners (Ephesians 2:4-5, Romans 5:8). It even tells us that if one of us out of a hundred goes astray that God's heart is grieved and He will still seek that one person out (Matthew 18:12-14).

I'm reminded also, that we can't do anything to earn God's love or His salvation. It's a free gift, one that we don't deserve but He gives us anyways. Some of us behave as if we have more right to salvation than the next person, but it isn't so. Doesn't matter what sin the next person has committed, it could even be murder, God's compassion and love for them is the same. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

God's love is amazing and unchanging. It reaches out to all of us sinners no matter what we have done. He doesn't pick who to love based on our own "goodness", He loves us simply because we are His creation, His children, His long lost sheep.

So today, if any prodigal sons or daughters are reading this, please don't be afraid to come back to God, he will receive you with open arms. Trust Him, lean on Him, depend on Him. He loves you and He wants you back.

Be Blessed!

Devotions like this one and others can be found in a handy collection in Kindle or paperback format.

To grab your copy, click here.

Joana James - Author of From Redemption to Maturity, Trusting God with your Future, Nightmare at Emerald High & Alana and Alyssa's Secret & Finding Romeo