Walking With God

Embracing My Natural Hair

2016-09-03T20:43:00.001-04:00

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” (Psalm 139:14)

In November 2013, I took a brave step to stop getting relaxers in my hair. It was a tough and scary decision, because I had become a slave to relaxers due to the false belief that my hair texture was unacceptable; that it was considered “bad” or “nappy” and that I had to straighten it with either a hot comb or a relaxer to be accepted in society. But after 35 years of relaxers—yeah 35 years—my hair was in desperate need of repair. It was constantly breaking and noticeably thinning.

Good Hair vs Bad Hair

As many African American women age 50 and older can attest, the message that our natural hair texture was unacceptable began when we were little girls. We were told that we either had “good” hair or “bad” hair. If our hair was course, rough to the touch, and hard to comb, it was considered “nappy” or “peasy,” and we had “bad” hair. If our hair texture was soft and manageable, even silky, we had “good” hair. And many of us were jealous of our African American sisters if their hair wasn’t “nappy,” but thick and wavy, and long.

My mom didn’t know how to take care of my hair. It was extraordinarily course, and “unmanageable” so-called. Whenever she tried to do my hair, I cried and cried. When she couldn’t take it anymore, she brought me to the hairdresser with her every two weeks. And at the tender age of 8 I was introduced to the dreaded and painful hot comb.

Hot Comb Trauma

The hot combs of old were heated over flames on mini stoves so the hairdresser couldn’t control how hot they were before running them through your hair. Billows of smoke would flow from the comb if the hairdresser left it on the burner too long. My eyes would widen and my body would freeze in the chair praying she wouldn’t burn me. She’d cool off the comb by banging it on a white-turned-brown towel before raking it through my hair. My hair would be weighed down with a ton of grease to protect my hair from the intense heat, and she’d press out every kink she could find as my hair sizzled. Often, the hot comb burned the tips of my ears, the nape of my neck, and the edges of my hairline, and I’d leave the salon in tears wanting never to return. But it would be another five long years before my mom allowed me to say goodbye to the dreaded hot comb and hello to my first relaxer.

Relaxer Heaven

At age 14, my mom gave me permission to get a relaxer, and I never looked back. From that point on, I swore I’d never go back to the hot comb again. And for the next 35 years I’d get relaxers every 6 weeks, then eventually every 8 weeks, then every 12 weeks as time marched on. But in the end, much to my chagrin, the relaxers took their toll. They weakened my hair, damaged some hair follicles, and forced me to bid them farewell.

I was so sad and apprehensive. It had been 30+ years since I saw or even dealt with my natural hair. How would I take care of it? How would I wear it? What was I going to do? I never thought I would have to stop getting relaxers. I figured I’d get them until the day I died.

Natural Hair Journey

To grow out my relaxer, I went to the hairdresser every two weeks to have my hair washed, conditioned, blow dried, flat ironed, and curled. I wasn’t about to do my own hair. In fact, because my hair was flat ironed, it looked like it was relaxed and I was fine with that. At least I was no longer putting that chemical in my hair.

In the meantime, I discovered an incredible online community of young African American women who grew out their relaxers, were transitioning, or had always been natural. They represented what is called The Natural Hair Revolution. Many of these incredible, beautiful women have YouTube Channels where they regularly post hair care tutorials. They teach you how to wash, condition, and style natural hair. They do product reviews and demonstrate hairstyling techniques to get awesome results for rod sets, twist outs, bantu knots, curly fros, and wash ’n Gos. They even teach you how to accessorize your fro with pretty scarves and stylish head bands. These women are super talented, super creative, and inspirational. My favorite natural hair care vloggers who have YouTube channels are SimplyCin, NaturalMe4c, and Naptural85. I also discovered a natural hair care website called Naturallycurly.com that provides articles, videos, and product reviews on everything you need to know about natural hair care.

After reading several articles and watching these videos on YouTube for almost two years, and admiring these and other black women from afar who wear natural styles, I finally took the plunge—I decided to stop blow drying and flat ironing my hair and truly embrace my natural hair.

Joining the Revolution

I got my first rod set in mid-July and have been getting them ever since. My hairdresser did my first three rod sets. And I did the last two (see photos) all by myself. I learned what products I needed to buy and how to put the rods in from watching my YouTube gals, and much to my surprise my hair came out really nice. Next, I’m going to try a twist out.

I have to admit that caring for my natural hair requires an investment of time and some extra money. The products are pricey and the amount of time it takes to do my hair on washday is daunting. But I’m a novice at this, and I’m sure I’ll be able to reduce the time it takes once I become more experienced. The good news is that after you do your hair on washday, all you have to do is cover it at night with a satin bonnet and go to sleep.

Feeling Free

Nonetheless, the hardest part for me is over. I’m no longer a slave to relaxers; I’m no longer afraid to wear my hair in its natural state nor worried about whether the world will accept me. I feel a sense of freedom and peace. Free to wear and accept the hair God has given me. Free to be me!

Personal Message From the Christmas Story

2014-12-24T16:53:00.001-05:00

“And blessed (happy, to be envied) is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of the things that were spoken to her from the Lord.” (Luke 1:45)

As I sat down last Sunday morning to read the Christmas story, I asked the Lord to speak to me through the story of Jesus’ birth like never before and for His Holy Spirit to illuminate the Word and deepen my understanding of the scriptures I was about to read.

While I read the story about Zachariah and Elizabeth’s pregnancy, and about the angel Gabriel who visited Mary to inform her she was going to give birth to Jesus, Luke 1:45 jumped out at me for the first time—despite the fact I read this story practically every year. In its context, Elizabeth in her old age and pregnant was rejoicing that Mary came to visit her. Elizabeth exclaimed that Mary was blessed as well as the fruit of her womb, because she was carrying the Lord Jesus. Elizabeth also exclaimed that Mary was blessed because she believed the things the Lord had spoken to her and that they would be fulfilled. Then Mary began to enthusiastically praise the Lord.

The fact that Mary was blessed because she believed what the Lord had spoken to her would be fulfilled really resonated with me. There are many prayers I’ve prayed over the last 16 years and continue to pray, and they still haven’t come to pass. And there have been and still are times I lose hope and just want to give up. But God reminded me in that passage that He has given me promises: promises for my marriage, promises for my family, promises regarding my career, and countless promises concerning the blessings I have in Christ. And he reminded me that I should continue to believe them, and that they will be fulfilled—and not to lose hope.

So as I celebrate the birth of Jesus the Messiah this Christmas season, I will once again meditate on the promises the Lord has spoken to me and recommit myself to believing that they will be fulfilled as Mary did and be blessed. If you’ve ever experienced times of great stress, doubt, and hopelessness due to life’s circumstances, join me this holiday season and do what Mary did: Believe the things that the Lord has spoken to you and that they will be fulfilled, so you too will be blessed!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank you that you love me perfectly, that you’re gracious, compassionate, and know me intimately. Gently remind me this Christmas season of all the promises you’ve given me. Strengthen my faith and my belief in those promises so I can be blessed and continue to experience your blessings. In your name I pray, Amen!

Baseball Game Blessings

2014-10-04T17:53:00.000-04:00

"You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours." (Psalm 128:2) "Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate." (Proverbs 31:31)

This past week the vice president of my company gave me four all-expense paid tickets to go see the Phillies play the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park on Friday, September 26th. Before she told me about the tickets, she asked me whether my husband and I liked baseball. I said "No," but I'm sure glad my answer didn't stop her from telling me about the special tickets and persuading me to go to the game.

She said the tickets were for Dugout Diamond seating—better than VIP. She said we'd literally be sitting right behind the batter's box (right). We'd enjoy free parking in a special lot for Dugout Diamond fans; we'd have access to free food all night long, first in a special restaurant, and then we'd be waited on hand and foot throughout the entire game with free beverages and snacks. She said it would be a really great experience. She and the president gave me these tickets because of the stellar October issue of Today's Dietitian, which is about to mail next week—our largest and most profitable issue of the year. I was so thankful. The president said the October issue was the best she's seen in terms of content and artwork. I was like "Wow!" I didn't realize it was that good. I simply worked hard on the issue as I always do on all the issues. But I must give all the glory to God!

Of course, my husband accompanied me (above), and I invited my son and his girlfriend (left). I left work early and headed to Philly. We got to the stadium around 5:45 pm due to the traffic. But once we found the special parking lot and parked the car, we headed straight for the special restaurant because we all were hungry. This particular restaurant had different food stations where we could order our food, which was heated up/made right in front of us. There were stations for cheese steaks and hamburgers, salad, sandwiches, pasta, seafood, and ribs. My son had a huge Philly cheese steak and salad; his girlfriend had crab cakes and asparagus and salad; my husband and I had a pasta dish. I later had a salad with grilled veggies, hummus, and crispy chips and bread. The food was delicious—not like the usual baseball game fare of Nathan hot dogs, french fries, and soda. Then we were served pumpkin cheesecake with whipped cream on top. Yum! By that time I was stuffed so I took only a couple of forkfuls just to taste it. Then it was time for the game.

I saw the professional photographers (right) with their $7,000 super zoom lenses sitting on monopods. I brought my camera and couldn't wait to shoot the game. Of course my equipment paled in comparison to the pros. My son's girlfriend is studying photography so she brought her camera as well. We really had a good time. My husband enjoyed himself more than he thought he would, and my son's girlfriend was so thankful that I invited her to come.

Probably the most memorable part of the game was the mascot. OMG! He was so funny—the way he shook his butt, his belly, and got the crowd jumping and dancing. We were hysterical laughing every time he came out to entertain us. I also liked the moves of the pitchers. Ervin Santana (below left and center) from the Atlanta Braves was pretty good, although he got pretty tired midway through the game and they had to replace him. I caught a few action shots, but for the most part my photos were mediocre at best. I caught one player sliding into second base and one sliding back to first base to avoid get struck out—if that's even the correct term. All in all we had a great time! Thank you Great Valley Publishing for giving me and my family such a nice gift! I'll remember it always!!

Public Speaking? I Think I'd Rather Die

2014-05-29T21:04:00.001-04:00

“O Lord, I’m not very good with words. I never have been, and I’m not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled.” Then the Lord said to Moses, “Who makes a person’s mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say.” (Exodus 4:10-11)

Last week, I traveled to Las Vegas to attend my company’s first annual Spring Symposium for Today’s Dietitian magazine, a two-day event that included several continuing education sessions presented by highly acclaimed nutrition professionals in the dietetics field. I was asked to introduce some of these presenters each day and host a panel discussion of prominent RDs about the value of speaking and writing in their field. My first reaction was “Oh no, I don’t like public speaking. I get too nervous; I stumble and stammer over my words. Oh my goodness!”

Then I remembered the panel discussion I participated in last year at the Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo in Houston. I was just as nervous of the thought of speaking in front of an audience, but once I started talking I was fine and I really enjoyed the experience. So I said to myself, “OK, if I enjoyed last year’s panel discussion maybe I’ll enjoy introducing some of the speakers and hosting the panel discussion.

Here I was again relating to how Moses felt when the Lord commanded him to confront Pharaoh and demand he set the Israelites free from slavery. Moses was concerned about the very same thing I was concerned about. He was afraid of speaking to Pharaoh and what the Egyptians would think of him just as I was afraid of speaking in front of 275-plus nutrition professionals. Yikes! I was afraid of stuttering and worrying what they might think of me.

Some people aren’t afraid of public speaking. They can stand in front of an audience with ease and give a wonderful presentation. But I’m not one of those people. So I prayed and asked God to take away my fear and give me a deep sense of peace that transcends all understanding and to guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus. He promised to be with me and give me the words to speak, so I trusted Him in that and everything went well. I wasn’t as nervous as I thought I would be, and I didn’t stumble and stammer over my words. In fact, the presenters liked how I introduced them, and one of them invited me to speak with her on another panel discussion she wants to host next year at a national nutrition conference. I said “I’d love to.”

I’ve come to learn that whenever you ask for the Lord’s presence and His peace, he answers pretty much immediately. He promises to keep you in perfect peace if you believe Him and your mind is focused on Him. So whatever you may be facing that you’re deathly afraid of, just bow your head, ask for His presence, power, strength, peace, and Holy Spirit to be poured out on you. Meditate on scripture about fear and a promise that speaks to your situation. And believe me, God will answer—and people will take notice. They’ll notice there’s something special about you. They won’t be able to put their finger on it, but you’ll know it’s the Lord’s favor, a display of His glory.

I’m not sure what God is doing in my professional career, but He’s surely stretching me and my faith in ways I’m not expecting. He seems to be elevating me by thrusting me into the spotlight. He knows I’m nervous about being in the spotlight, but He has me doing it anyway, and He’s right there with me. He assures me there’s no reason to be afraid, and He’s right. May I praise His holy name!

He Is Risen!

2014-04-20T18:54:00.000-04:00

“I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive forever and ever!” (Revelation 1:18)

Whenever the Easter holiday draws near, I often reflect on this passage of scripture more than any other that speaks of Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross and His miraculous resurrection. Certainly there are other wonderful, riveting passages such as in the gospels that chronicle his death, burial, and resurrection, and in the Old Testament prophecies.

These poignant words of Christ in Revelation 1:18, however, give me special comfort, because He emphatically declares that He is the Living One. He is alive today and forevermore through His spirit living inside of me, in other believers, and in the world at large. He is seated at the right hand of the Father in Heaven, and He is coming back a second time to take all who know and love him to their promised heavenly home.

Because of Jesus’ shed blood and death on the cross, my sins are forgiven. And because He rose from the dead, I have everlasting life. I love the fact He is alive, working in my life, working in the lives of other believers, and working powerfully in the world.

After a busy workweek, with much on my mind, I'm so glad I was able to focus on my Lord this morning with my husband during church services. We were able to reflect on what He’s done for us, on how much He loves us, and on the promises we have in Him because He is alive.

Our Pastor preached on the fact that we don't have to fear death if we have trusted in Christ for our salvation because when we die we will spend eternity in heaven with Him. Christ has freed us from the fear of death. "Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death — that is, the devil — and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death" (Hebrews 2:14-15).

I pray that you and your family have enjoyed this holiday weekend giving praise to the Lord for his sacrificial death and glorious resurrection. Because he rose, we too will rise again to live forever with Him. Amen!

Prayer: Lord, may I set aside all of my worries to focus only on you, to focus on the blood you shed for the forgiveness of my sins, to focus on your sacrificial death, and your resurrection that ensures my life eternal. In Your Name I pray, amen.

Protected by God's Angels

2014-02-03T16:10:00.000-05:00

“He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge … for He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.” (Psalm 91:4,11-12)

No one will argue that when the snow falls, it can make the landscape look beautiful—even breathtaking. In God’s great wisdom, He created the snow to water the earth so that it would yield seed for the sower and bread for the eater. And in His great creativity, not one snowflake looks alike. Each one has its own unique design and pattern.

When the snowstorms hit, as they have in the midwest and northeast lately, the snow can create hazardous road conditions for motorists. A couple of weeks ago during a major snow storm that threatened to dump up to 16 inches in the northeast by night fall, I drove to work early in the morning against my better judgment to beat the snow and get as much work done as possible before leaving the office early.

On my way home between 3 and 3:30 pm, I decided to take the highway, figuring it would be safer since the highways are plowed sooner and more thoroughly than the back roads. I was within 1 mile of my exit, when I saw about three or four cars spinning out of control and banging into one another. (They were about six car lengths in front of me.) Suddenly, my car skidded to the left—right off the highway from the right lane all the way across to the left lane and into a large grassy area.

As I was skidding even in the grassy area, I turned my steering wheel into the skid—to the left and to the right—to prevent my car from doing a 360. My car slid sideways and forward before my car came to a stop. My heart beat quickly in my chest as I realized I didn’t hit any cars; I didn’t hit a guardrail because there wasn’t one to hit, and I didn’t hit any trees.

I prayed to God for help, and thanked him that I was OK as I turned my head to the right and saw that I was now six car lengths in front of the cars that were still spinning out of control and banging into one another. Because there were hardly any cars on the highway, I easily got back onto the highway and drove to my exit, which was now a ½ mile away. I made it home safely and in awe of the way the Lord spared me from hitting those cars. God sure answers prayers, because that morning of the snowstorm I prayed for His protection over me and that He would command His angels to protect me on the road.

This morning another snowstorm hit. I got up at 5:30 am in an attempt to get ready for work. But because I wasn’t feeling well and another snowstorm was on the way I felt the Lord telling me to stay home. And that I did. Thank you Lord for speaking to me and for your power in my life!

** Photo taken this morning with the Nikon D5300: shutter speed 1/250 sec; ISO 400; focal length 45 mm; lens 18-140 mm; matrix metering mode.

** Please visit my new photography blog at Judith Riddle Photography. Visit my gallery of photos and leave me messages on my blog. I'd love to hear from you!

Lance Armstrong's Downfall

2013-01-19T22:19:00.000-05:00

“Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18). “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom” (Proverbs 11:2). “A man’s pride brings him low, but the humble in spirit will retain honor” (Proverbs 29:23). “Before his downfall, a man’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor” (Proverbs 18:12).

By now you’ve heard the story: Lance Armstrong, one of Americas greatest athletes of all time, did use performance-enhancing drugs throughout the majority of his cycling career and to win all seven Tour de France races.

Win at all Costs
He went through great lengths to obtain and take those drugs and hide the fact he took them. And he threatened, bullied, and attacked anyone who accused him of doping. He lied, cheated, and sued people and organizations to keep his illegal activities secret. But as we all know, his dirty dealings caught up with him. He was stripped of all seven of his Tour de France titles. All of his sponsors cut him loose, and Livestrong, the foundation he created to support and inspire cancer victims and survivors urged him to step down as chairman, which was the hardest blow of them all.

Compelled to Confess
When I first heard the news, I wasn’t overwhelmingly surprised, but I was curious to learn the details about the federal investigation into his doping activities and the investigation launched by the US Anti-doping Association, which strategically backed him into a corner and gave him no choice but to come clean and tell the truth.
I was a fan of Lance Armstrong. I didn’t watch the Tour de France races or follow his career closely, but I always rooted for him from the sidelines. Like millions of people, I believed him when he said he didn’t use performance-enhancing drugs, and I had wished everyone would just stop accusing him.

Signs of Softening
I watched his interview with Oprah Winfrey. I saw a man whose hardened, calloused heart was finally beginning to soften, an extremely prideful heart starting to show signs of humility. He admitted his wrongdoing and realized how much heartache and pain he caused so many people, including his children and mother. He almost broke down and cried when he talked about having to break the news to his children and how much of a negative impact the news had on his mother.
I felt somewhat sorry for him, but as I watched the interview and learned about all he had done with such malice and evil intent, I thought about what the Word of God says about pride, sin, sowing and reaping, and what happens when your life is built on sand and not on the Rock. Lance’s life fell with a great crash. His pride led to his destruction, his fall, his disgrace, and it has brought him very low. But God is merciful. God gives grace to the humble; with humility comes wisdom and honor; God dwells with the humble; and He revives the heart and the spirit of the lowly.

Hopes of Meeting the Savior
My prayer for Lance is that he would learn a life-changing lesson from this experience, and learn that there is a God who loves him and is willing to forgive him if he takes the ultimate step of humility: giving his life to Christ. Only then will he be restored and given new life with true meaning and purpose.

Vacation Blessings

2012-07-24T15:28:00.000-04:00

“Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in His ways. You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours. Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your sons will be like olive shoots around your table. Thus is the man blessed who fears the Lord.” (Psalm 128:1-4)

The adage “God is watching over you” is truly an understatement.

This past week my husband, son, and I enjoyed a vacation, a college experience, and a celebration of my son’s early acceptance into Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP).

My son (a soon-to-be high school senior) enjoyed a weeklong stay at Lycoming College in Williamsport, Pa., where he attended a business leadership conference. He learned about all aspects of business and how a company works in today’s economy. He roomed with a high school buddy of his in a dorm, met new friends, and learned firsthand what it would be like to live away from home at college. Just this morning my son said, “I can’t wait to go to college. I’m so excited!”

While he was away, my husband and I enjoyed our own getaway. We drove to Virginia, where we soaked in the sun on the beach and at the pool, and wined and dined each evening at Catch31, one of the most popular fine-dining restaurants along the Virginia Beach shoreline. The live entertainment wasn’t so great this year as it was two years ago so we didn’t hang around to listen to the bands.

I took loads of pictures of our road trip to and from Virginia, while at the beach and the pool. I even took some video. I wish we could’ve stayed in Virginia longer than just four days, but we had to go home to prepare for our trip to Indiana. We took a different route to IUP this time, which was shorter and more direct. We attended what’s called Early Decision Day, where you take a tour of the school and learn that day whether or not you’re child has been accepted. After the 90-minute tour and a complimentary lunch, we picked up a letter at the admissions office. We were all thrilled to learn he was accepted! The school is absolutely beautiful, everything from the campus grounds and office buildings to the library, fitness center, and dorm rooms. It all makes me wish I were young again so I could attend this school and get my college education. But the Lord quickly reminded me that I enjoyed my opportunity to go away to college years ago and that this is my son’s turn. And what a blessing it is.

Our vacation was hard-won. I prayed earnestly for it in light of the fact this is the busiest time of the year as editor of my company’s nutrition magazine. Due to the workload, I didn’t think I’d get the chance to take a vacation this summer. But God answered my prayers by providing me with extra help to make my vacation possible. And God gave me the wisdom to prioritize my work to get it all done. I owe it all to Him who sits high and lifted up, to the one who sits on the throne. Without Him, none of this would’ve been possible.

I encourage everyone who might be in a tight situation, a seemingly impossible circumstance to find promises in scripture that relate to what you’re going through, claim them as yours, and pray through them first before taking action. That way, you give God the chance to go before you and prepare the hearts and minds of those with whom you need to communicate. The Lord worked in a mighty way for my family and me, and I’ll be forever grateful. Thank you Jesus for your faithfulness and unfailing love. Amen!

Prayer and Fasting With Diabetes

2012-07-21T11:23:00.000-04:00

"Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly. Summon the elders and all who live in the land to the house of the Lord your God, and cry out to the Lord." (Joel 1:14)
In the July issue of Today's Dietitian, we published an article titled Prayer and Fasting With Diabetes. If you're a person of faith who has diabetes or know someone of faith with the disease, this article is a must-read.
The American Diabetes Association reports that more than 23 million children and adults in the United States have diabetes. Seventy-nine million have prediabetes, a condition characterized by elevated blood sugar levels, which place them at high risk for developing the disease later in life. And each year, there are now 1.5 million people newly diagnosed with diabetes. African Americans are disproportionately affected by this disease and suffer more complications, such as blindness, kidney failure, neuropathy, and heart disease, than other races.
Given these statistics, you can surmise there are many people of faith with diabetes who set aside time to commune with God while abstaining from food, drink, or both. But the question is can they fast safely without putting their health at risk?
In this article, we discuss that fasting is practiced by the Christian, Jewish, and Muslim faiths and how these practices differ from one another. We review how fasting can impact the health of those with diabetes and provide strategies for fasting safely. Please let me know your thoughts about the article. If you have diabetes or know someone who has the disease and fasts safely, I'd like to hear about your experiences and theirs. I hope you enjoy the article as much as I did in assigning and editing it.

* Linking up with Spiritual Sundays here.

Those Who Will Not Enter the Kingdom

2012-06-17T16:27:00.001-04:00

Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor practicing homosexuals nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)

In my bible study group last week, we focused on several passages that discussed the work of the Holy Spirit. Of all the passages we read, this one gripped me the most. It begins by listing the habitual sins of those who will not inherit or, in other words, enter the Kingdom of God. If any one has ever had a question about what God considers sin and who won’t enter heaven when they die, this verse, among others, plainly provides the answers.

The passage, written by the apostle Paul to the Christians in Corinth, begins by saying the sexually immoral won’t enter heaven: That’s anyone who’s not married and is having casual sex. Idolaters are people who worship anyone or anything that takes first place in their lives other than God, such as work, family, kids, the pleasures of life, money, drugs, alcohol, themselves, false gods, etc.

Adulterers are those who have sex with someone else outside of their marriage. Then the passage mentions male prostitutes and homosexuals, those who are in sexual relationships with people of the same sex (men or women). The Lord mentions thieves, the greedy, drunkards, slanderers (people who regularly say vicious and false statements about others), and swindlers (individuals who often obtain money or property fraudulently—hence the phrase “ill-gotten gains”).

Then, Paul writes “And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” This part of the verse is most comforting, because just as the Christians in Corinth received Christ when they were still practicing these sins and were then washed clean by the Holy Spirit, so was I. The Corinthian Christians were not without sin before they received Christ, and neither was I. But once they came to Christ the Holy Spirit washed them clean. They were now holy (sanctified) and forgiven (justified) of all these sins. And once they were washed clean, they stopped practicing these sins to live a life that honors the Lord. That’s what the powerful work of the Holy Spirit does in our lives the moment we place our faith in Christ for our eternal salvation. The Holy Spirit washes us clean from all our sins, makes us holy, and gives us the power and desire to turn from sin.

May we pray for our friends and family members who don’t know Christ and who are habitually practicing the sins mentioned in this passage without remorse, which will prevent them from inheriting (entering) the Kingdom of God. There was a time when I was not qualified to enter the Kingdom, but because of God’s grace and mercy, I was able to respond to His call to salvation and have now crossed over from death to life. May we bless and praise His Holy Name.

Placing Your Teenagers in God's Hands

2012-06-03T21:23:00.000-04:00

Indiana University of Pennsylvania

“Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

About seven to eight months ago, I began praying about my 16-year-old son’s college search. I’ve been asking God to lead and guide my husband, son, and I to the best college suited for him as we compared and visited schools. We had a rocky beginning as we debated what schools we wanted our son to attend and where and what we could afford.

As we each did our research, our differences soon faded, and we began to see things eye to eye. The first school we visited, which I believe was God’s leading, was Indiana University of Pennsylvania—IUP for short. The visit entailed a 6-hour road trip and an overnight stay at a hotel, but it was well worth it. We were greeted with a wonderful presentation about the university in an auditorium, a comprehensive campus tour of the buildings and business school (my son’s future major), and a free lunch in one of the many campus cafeterias. IUP rolled out the red carpet for visiting parents and prospective students, and we enjoyed every minute of it. All of us really liked the school and its academics. We were very pleased.

Westchester University

Next, we visited Westchester University, but we weren’t too thrilled about the school. The campus wasn't as nice as IUP's; the tour was rushed; and we didn’t get to see the business school, which I later learned doesn’t have state-of-the-art facilities like IUP does.

Today my husband, son, and I took a spontaneous, two-hour car ride to Bloomsburg University. There were no campus tours scheduled, but we wanted to see the campus anyway because we were curious about the school. The campus was really nice, and from what I’ve read they have a wonderful business school with state-of-the-art facilities.

In July, IUP has four early-decision days scheduled for prospective students. We decided to register for one of those days and revisit the school. When we arrive, we’ll drop off our son’s transcripts, SAT scores, and letters of recommendation at the admissions office, enjoy another presentation, campus tour, and free lunch, and return to the admissions office to see if our son has been accepted. That’s right, we’ll know the committee’s decision that same day. I’m looking forward to this visit. I’m praying my son will get accepted. If he does, he’ll receive a great education in a rural environment at a great school that has so much to offer.

Bloomsburg University

What I’ve learned from this experience is that God’s hand has been leading and guiding us every step of the way. And He will continue to do so until He places our son in the right college he’s supposed to be in. It’s all in His hands. All we have to do is enjoy the ride.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, may you continue to direct our search for the perfect college best suited for our son. May you place him where he ought to be. And when you do, may you help him study hard, get good grades, graduate with honors, and find a job that he’ll enjoy. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Is My Blogging Season Over?

2012-05-27T21:30:00.000-04:00

“That I may [continue to] publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.” (Psalm 26:7) [Emphasis Added]

For those of you who’ve followed my devotional writing and photography blogs for the past year or so have probably noticed that I haven’t been blogging lately. My last blog post on Walking With God was February 18. My last post on my photo blog was January 21. From the looks of things, it doesn’t seem as though I’ve lost any followers, but I know that once you develop a following and then suddenly stop posting regularly your readers will either stop following you or stop looking forward to visiting your blog to read your posts. Your blog loses its wow factor if it ever had it, and soon no one will visit you.

Miss You Guys

I’m saddened by the fact I haven’t been able to blog regularly like I used to and visit your blogs and leave comments. I miss the online interaction.

When I began my devotional writing blog, it seemed as though God was speaking to me often because I had so much to say and share. Devotionals were just flowing in and through me. It’s not that God has stopped speaking to me or working in my life, but I just haven’t felt compelled to publicly write about what He’s been up to due to the personal nature of my circumstances.

Been Busy

The other reason is that I’ve been extremely busy with work. I’m working harder now than ever, and I just don’t have the time to write online devotionals like I used to. I also have an online portfolio with a blog that I update monthly. I post blogs about the health and nutrition articles I edit every month. Click on Judy’s Online Portfolio and see what I’ve been up to.

Before I started my new job that I prayed for fervently for more than two years, I started my devotional writing and photo blog as a creative outlet I desperately needed at the time. I was in a job that was devoid of creativity, and the Lord encouraged me to keep my writing skills sharp by writing devotionals. He also coaxed me to begin a photo blog to post photos of His creation. These blogs did wonders for me, and many of you told me that they encouraged you as well.

My prayer is that I will be able to begin blogging again, posting photos, visiting your blogs, and recapture my following. Please visit me periodically, as I may have a new blog post to share. Until then, I’ll see you around in cyberspace. Thanks so much for visiting and leaving your comments.

Farewell to Whitney

2012-02-18T22:57:00.000-05:00

Like millions around the world, I watched Whitney Houston’s funeral service. We all said goodbye to a beautiful legendary singer who died way too young—way too soon.

Notable Attendees

Her homegoing service was wonderful, tastefully done. News reports said about 1,500 invited guests attended. Many well-known family members, singers, pastors, actors, and screenwriters were present, such as Dionne Warwick, Tyler Perry, Kevin Costner, TD Jakes and his wife, music industry executive Clive Davis, Oprah Winfrey and Gale King, R. Kelly, Alicia Keyes, Stevie Wonder, Rev. Jesse Jackson, gospel singers Bebe and Cece Winans, Marvin Winans, Rev. Kim Burrell, and Donny McClurkin, among others. They all said incredible things about Whitney and paid tribute to her in Holy-Spirit-filled song. They truly honored and blessed her.

Tyler Perry preached his heart out, telling attendees that nothing could have separated Whitney “from the love of God” (Romans 8:38-39). He said “God’s grace carried Whitney throughout her life and even carried her home.” Perry also said Whitney “loved the Lord.”

Songs and Words of Tribute

Bebe and Cece Winans, Marvin Winans, Alicia Keyes, R. Kelly, Stevie Wonder, Donnie McClurkin, and Kim Burrell all sang beautiful, emotion-filled songs to and about Whitney. Kevin Costner and Clive Davis gave moving speeches about their experiences knowing Whitney as a first-time actress and fledgling singer. They raved about how beautiful she was as a person and how beautiful her voice was when she sang. “You wait for a beautiful face like that and a voice like that for a lifetime,” Clive Davis said. “And when you find it in one person it takes your breath away. I loved her very much.”

One of the most memorable moments was the speech of her bodyguard Ray Watson who declared he, too, was a Christian. He said he was with Whitney almost every day, and she would carry her bible with her wherever she went. He said “her bible was torn up” from her reading it each day. Whitney had passages underlined and highlighted, he said. And if she thought she’d forgotten it, she would look through her bags and belongings until she found it.

Whitney’s homegoing was a testament to the love, power, and faithfulness of the Lord. Despite how Whitney died, the Lord was glorified through her life and homegoing service. I learned quite a bit about Whitney since her sudden passing. I always suspected she was saved because she would mention Jesus, her faith, and prayer in her television interviews. What I learned was that Whitney knew and surrounded herself with many Christian music artists who know and love God. She was a close friend of Kim Burrell and the Winans. Marvin Winans gave the eulogy, emphasizing the importance of seeking “first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33), “living lives pleasing to God” (Colossians 1:10), and getting to know Him by inviting Him into every aspect of our lives. Whitney wasn’t without prayer partners and a constant prayer covering from those who knew and loved her. This gives me great comfort. But I wrestle with questions about the ultimate victory in her life that probably no one can answer.

Unanswered Questions

Why wasn’t Whitney totally set free from her addictions? Whitney knew and loved the Lord and surrounded herself with others who knew and loved Him as well. Whitney prayed daily and joined others in prayer for her life. So why didn’t God set her free? I’ve heard many stories of people who were set free immediately from drug and alcohol addictions when they went to the Lord. So why couldn’t this have been the case for Whitney? Why weren’t those prayers answered? Why wasn't she completely delivered? I just don’t understand. This grieves my heart.

The Word of God says nothing is too hard for the Lord (Jeremiah 32:27). And “if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him” (1 John 5:14-15). So why did Whitney’s life end this way? Why?

The comfort I have is knowing that she's with God in her heavenly home. She’s at rest, at peace. And one day we’ll see her again.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, please strengthen Whitney’s mother and daughter Bobby Kristina and all of her extended family members and friends who loved her during this difficult time. Draw them closer to you and enable them to get to know you better, in Jesus’ Name, Amen!

Jesus The Great Light

2011-12-25T22:41:00.001-05:00

"The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine." (Isaiah 9:2)
Is the light of Christ shining from within you this Christmas holiday season? Are those walking in darkness seeing the light of our Savior burning bright within your heart?
The Christmas season is always a great time to share the love of Christ with others who don't know Him by feeding and clothing the homeless, giving toys to children who wouldn't otherwise have them, and sharing the gospel.
Christmas is also a wonderful time to reflect not only on the birth of Jesus, but on who Jesus is, what He has done, and what He is doing in our lives right now. He's the Wonderful Counselor, Might God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. He's loving us, blessing us, working within us, and working everything together for our good as we love Him. He's shining His light upon us to lead, guide, and direct our way. He's a lamp unto our feet and a light for our path. Jesus said "Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12).

So as we look at the lights on our Christmas trees, and the lights wrapped around our bushes and shrubs in front of our homes, let us be reminded that Jesus is the light who came into the world to save us from our sins, and celebrate His birth now and into the new year. I hope you all had a wonderful, blessed Christmas in the Lord. Merry Christmas!

* This post is linked to Spiritual Sundays here.

The Demise of Dr. Conrad Murray

2011-11-11T23:20:00.003-05:00

“He who covers his transgressions will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes his sins will obtain mercy.” (Proverbs 28:12-14)

I gasped as I heard the verdict read concerning Dr. Conrad Murray. As you know, he was found guilty of manslaughter in the death of Michael Jackson. Shortly after the verdict was read, he was handcuffed. I shook my head in disbelief. I felt so sorry for him. Instantly, his life was in ruins. His sentencing is scheduled for November 29. He faces four years in prison, the loss of his medical license, and a wrongful death suit the Jackson family threatens to file. Everything he’s worked so hard for all of his life has gone up in smoke!

While a large part of me feels great compassion for Dr. Murray and hopes he doesn’t go to prison, I can’t ignore the evidence that was stacked against him. He was involved in egregious malpractice. Michael was addicted to narcotics and Dr. Murray ordered a great deal of these drugs to give to him, and he administered propofol, a powerful anesthetic that’s to be used only in a hospital surgical setting, so Michael could sleep. Propofol isn’t a sleep aid. It’s absolutely unheard of for a doctor to administer such a drug in the home setting, and Dr. Murray ordered four gallons of the stuff to give to Michael over time. He left Michael unattended while he was on propofol; he didn’t have the appropriate equipment necessary to keep Michael’s airway open in case of an emergency; and he failed to call 911 in a timely manner to save Michael’s life. This was considered criminal negligence, and for this, among other things, Dr. Murray was found guilty of manslaughter.

Throughout the trial, Dr. Murray wore a perpetual frown. His eyes were puffy and bloodshot from lack of sleep, and he cried on several occasions. It was during those moments that my heart broke for him. He didn’t mean to kill Michael. He believed Michael was his friend, and that he was trying to help him.

Chance to Make Different Choices

Instead of walking down such a destructive path, Dr. Murray could’ve made other choices. The moment Michael asked him to be his private doctor and get him the drugs and propofol he needed to sleep, Dr. Murray could’ve said “No.” Secondly, Dr. Murray could’ve contacted Michael’s family to tell them about the state Michael was in and what Michael asked him to do. Thirdly, he could’ve worked with Michael’s family to stage another intervention to get Michael the help he needed—if he really wanted to help him. But that didn’t happen.

Michael shopped around for a doctor who would do anything he asked—even the unthinkable. And he found that doctor in Dr. Murray. Dr. Murray named his price, and Michael agreed. Or, maybe Michael offered the high price, and Dr. Murray agreed. Whichever scenario occurred, Dr. Murray was having financial difficulties, and he saw this as an opportunity to get out of debt and get back on his financial feet. Unfortunately for Dr. Murray, and Michael, their plans didn’t work out.

Michael’s Culpability

I’m a big fan of Michael Jackson. I grew up listening and dancing to his music. He and his brothers were woven into the fabric of my daily life. I own every album of his. I still listen to his music: Every chance I get I listen to his oldies but goodies and his more recent hits. In fact, I listen to his music now more than ever since he died. I dedicated a page to Michael on this blog, called Remembering Michael, in which I wrote a heartfelt article about him. He will always have a special place in my heart.

But No matter how much I love and miss him, I believe that Michael had a huge hand in his own death. Despite how many times his friends and family pleaded with him to get help, he refused. He went into rehab for his addiction to painkillers some years ago at the urging of Elizabeth Taylor, and he ended up taking those same drugs again. He shopped for doctors who’d write him ongoing prescriptions, and when some refused to do it any longer, he used fake names to get those prescriptions renewed. His drug habit was out of control, and he went to great lengths to sustain it. I, and millions of others, wish he’d gotten the help he so desperately needed. I wish he’d spent $150,000 a month on seeking help instead of on dishonest, greedy doctors to take part in his dark world of addiction. Maybe Michael would be alive today, and he’d be well, or at least on the road to wellness had he taken that path.

Sigh!!

Here’s an unfortunate but sobering truth: If Dr. Murray had said no to Michael, Michael would’ve found another doctor to agree to his proposal, and that doctor would be behind bars today for his death instead of Dr. Murray.

As Christians, let’s pray for Dr. Murray's mind, soul, and well being as he awaits sentencing, and for God to do a miracle in his life. In Jesus’ Name.

** This post is linked to Spiritual Sundays and Brag on God Friday.

Stopping to Smell the Roses

2011-10-09T17:50:00.004-04:00

"How handsome you are, my lover! Oh, how charming!" (Song of Songs 1:16)
The sun is shining; the sky is blue; and it's 81 degrees!
I couldn't imagine letting this weekend whiz by without enjoying the last of the beautiful, Indian summer weather. So I asked my husband if he'd like to go to the park, eat lunch picnic style and indulge in some picture taking. He said yes, so we headed out with my camera and tripod in tow.
We needed to spend some time together. For a week I kept saying we should plan a weekend getaway, just the two of us so we can relax and have some fun. You see, we've been working really hard on our jobs. And while having a job these days is truly a blessing, we've been stressed, exhausted and just going through the motions of life just to survive. I felt like it was taking a toll, so I insisted we carve out some time together and stop to smell the roses. When we got to the park, we ate our lunch; I assembled my tripod with my husband's help, and set the timer on my camera to take some pics. I hurried to get into the frame before the camera snapped the picture. I did this several times until I got the perfect shot. Thank you Mike for being so patient. I think this shot came out pretty good, don't you?
Afterward, we walked along one of the trails. As the sun beamed down on us, I took some photos of the beautiful fall leaves. Great exercise but boy was it hot. I looked for the deer who usually graze on the sides of the roads in abundance, but for some reason they weren't out today. Nonetheless, we had a great afternoon together. Something all married couples need to do — and often. To relax, talk, laugh, get reacquainted, stop and smell the roses and enjoy all that God has blessed them with.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for this beautiful day you have made. May we all rejoice and be glad in it. In His name I pray, Amen!

* This post is linked to Spiritual Sundays and Brag on God Friday.

Happy Birthday Michael Jackson

2011-08-27T18:48:00.005-04:00

“Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered — how fleeting my life is. You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand. My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is but a breath. We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing. We heap up wealth, not knowing who will spend it”
(Psalm 39:4-6 / NLT).

It’s been two years since Michael Jackson’s shocking, untimely death. He would’ve been 53 years old on Monday, August 29, had he still been alive. In memory of Michael, I’ve played his music quite a bit over the past two years — his oldies but goodies, and his more current hits from the 80s and 90s.
In the video above, during a rare interview, Michael talks briefly about the creative process. Actually he never explained his creative process. He says his creativity is a gift from God, something the interviewer didn't even touch upon; she was stumped actually so she asked a different question.
I can relate to Michael on some level with regard to the creative process. He said he puts his heart into his music, that there's no formula, no set of rules he follows. He says his creativity and ideas come from God. As an editor and writer who's in Christ, I know my creative ideas come from God as well. Many will come at one time, or one will come here and one there. They come when I pray and need them most.
Like many people, I grew up listening and dancing to Michael's music. To pay tribute to him, I’m posting these videos and the following link to an article I wrote about him from a spiritual perspective the week he died. (Click here to read the article.) I’d like for you to take the time to read it and let me know what you think. Also, please enjoy the videos below, featuring a younger, more vibrant Michael — the way I want to always remember him. Thank you!

** Linking up with Spiritual Sundays here.
** Also linking up with Brag On God Fridays here.

Losing My Spiritual Mother

2011-07-23T21:52:00.003-04:00

“These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children, to live wisely and be pure, to work in their homes, to do good, and to be submissive to their husbands. Then they will not bring shame on the word of God.” (Titus 2:4-5)

“My mother passed this morning,” Vernesha said sorrowfully. It was 7:30 am Sunday, July 10.

“Oh my gosh,” I gasped. “I’m so sorry.” “I know. I’ll be in touch to give you the details about the services later this week OK? “OK,” I replied.

Tears spilled down my face.

My spiritual mother Dorothy was gone.

On Friday, just two days before, I rushed to see her after learning she had slipped into a coma after suffering a stroke earlier in the week. During my visit, I talked to her, sung to her with her grandchildren, and held her hand. She responded to my voice, but she couldn’t open her eyes or speak. I trust she knew I was there, because I had prayed that she would. After visiting with her and her family for about 3 hours, I planted a kiss goodbye on her forehead and headed home.

Deep down I knew this would probably be the last time I’d see Dorothy. And I was right.

Gift from God

Dorothy had been a tremendous blessing to me since the day I met her in church. She came into my life when I was in the midst of tumultuous family issues that left me longing — even desperate — to talk to someone who could relate to what I was going through. (She was an answer to my prayers.) Dorothy sensed I was going through great difficulty based on a few conversations we had, so she gave me her phone number one evening at church and said, “If you ever need to talk, don’t hesitate to call me.” I took her up on her offer. That was 13 years ago. And we were in touch ever since — talking, laughing, and praying together. We sent each other Christmas, birthday and Mothers’ Day cards and called each other often. So many times I’d called her sobbing, wanting to give up. And she was always there for me with a listening ear. “Stay encouraged,” she always said. “Pray and never give up.” Every morning at 5 am Dorothy got up to pray for her family and friends. And she suggested I do the same. “I’ve seen God move in awesome ways,” she’d say. “There’s power in prayer.”

Power indeed. Dorothy was a prayer warrior. She prayed faithfully for several people each day. “I call the names of all of your family members every day,” she’d say. “Your husband, son, your brother and his family. Your mother and father. I pray for them continuously. Oh yes.”

Dorothy firmly believed and lived according to Titus 2:4-5. She taught the younger women how to love their husbands and families and use godly wisdom. Often, she gave me wise advice concerning my husband and family; wise counsel that to this day is probably responsible for my family remaining intact.

Incredible Homegoing

My spiritual mother’s homegoing service was beautiful. Her family and I couldn’t have asked for anything more wonderful. The Pastors and many who served in ministry with her said very loving things about her. The Senior Pastor preached a powerful sermon that uplifted our sorrowful hearts. He preached about how Dorothy “fought the good fight of faith”; he talked about the resurrection and that we’d see her again, and that she was now in glory in the presence of the Heavenly Father. After the sermon, I felt so much peace. That’s the awesome power of our Lord. In the midst of great sorrow and despair, He’s able to bring peace to our hearts by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Don’t you just love that about God? “He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26) These are comforting words from a Lord who loves us and looks forward to dwelling with us forever.

Dear Dorothy,

I love you, and I miss you. But I’m at peace knowing you’re with the Lord, and I’ll see you again. You were wonderful to me. You loved me and treated me like a daughter, and I loved and honored you as a mother. I’ll miss your voice, our phone conversations, and our prayer times. You’ll always be in my thoughts, and you will hold a special place in my heart.

Love Your Spiritual Daughter,

Judy

** This post is linked to Brag on God Fridays here.
** This post is also linked to Spiritual Sundays here.

Major Testimony!

2011-07-01T17:53:00.001-04:00

“Now to him Who, by the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]. (Ephesians 3:20)

Just last week a miracle happened!

After almost two years of prayer, I was offered a leading Editor position at a business-to-business healthcare publisher of print and online magazines. I am in awe of what God has done.

The journey I was on to search for this dream job was painstaking at times as some of you know, but along the way God enabled me to learn much about the changing landscape of my profession and reconnect with many of my former colleagues from years past. He also introduced me to new colleagues who encouraged and counseled me.

New Role

In my role as Editor, I will be considered the face of a leading healthcare magazine, responsible for developing story ideas, assigning articles to junior staff and freelance writers, helping to create design concepts with graphic artists, communicating with readers on Facebook and Twitter, as well as editing and writing online content — everything I want to be doing in magazine publishing.

God has truly answered my prayers. He gave me every single desire and secret petition of my heart (Psalm 37:3-4)!

God's Schooling

Not only did I learn more about my profession, but the Lord taught me more about Himself, how He works, and that He never left me for a second even though at times it felt like He had. Each step of my journey, He placed many people in my path who helped me revise my resume, gave me jobs leads and great encouragement. All along God had the perfect job all picked out for me. He kept telling me to wait, be patient. And when the job became available, He led me right to it. All I had to do was apply and go through the interview process. From the moment I applied for the job to the day I received the offer was 7 days. God worked quickly. And I'm so thankful for it.

Busy as a Bee

During the first week of June the Lord gave me the incredible idea to create my own Website — an online portfolio of my writing and editing samples from previous journalism jobs. And guess what? I did it. For the past four weeks, I've been diligently scanning and uploading articles and supplements, launching another blog, and organizing the site. Which explains why I haven't had time to write articles for this blog or post new photos on my photo blog. I'm so thrilled with the way my Website has turned out. Please visit the site at judithriddle.com and my new blog, and let me know what you think.

Back in the Saddle

Now that things have calmed down a bit, I'll be able to kick back, relax, post more articles and photos, visit your blogs, and leave comments again. I miss you guys. To God be the glory for all He has done.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you so much for your awesome love and power in our lives. When our faith wavers, you are still faithful. Thank you for your patience, compassion, mercy and grace. Where would we be without it? In your Name I pray, Amen!

** This post is linked to Spiritual Sundays here.
** It is also linked to Brag on God Fridays here.

Devotional Blog Makeover!

2011-05-26T20:57:00.001-04:00

Hi Everyone!

   Notice anything different? Yep, I gave my blog a facelift. I don't know about you, but as a woman who thrives on creativity I get bored with the same 'ol same 'ol. I wanted to give my blog a new look to kick off the spring and summer. A template with lighter, brighter colors, a departure from the darker hues of fall and winter — and a new photo — this time without holding my camera. (Even thinking about changing the name of my blog.) So here it is.
   Let me know what you think. But please be kind. :-)
   Hopefully, I'll post a new article soon. Not sure what to write about next. May the Lord inspire me this holiday weekend.

   I have a slew of photos I took of cows, llamas, donkeys, and turkeys at a nearby farm I visited recently that I want to put on my photo blog. Just don't know how to package it yet. The photo above was taken the day I took the farm pictures. Yeah, that's me holding a branch of yellow forsythias.
   The picture to the right also was taken that day. I stood on a bridge to get that shot as cars and trucks whizzed by going 40 mph. A little scary — and risky to say the least. But I had to get that shot. Only a seasoned, diehard photographer could understand. Not that I'm a seasoned photographer, but I aspire to be.
   Well, if I don't get to speak with any of you in the next couple of days, please have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend with your family and friends, and write about it so I can get inspired.

Blessings,
Judy

Fallout from Harold Camping's Doomsday Prediction

2011-05-22T20:50:00.003-04:00

When the clock struck 6:01 pm this past Saturday, May 21, 2011, many Christians and non-Christians alike breathed a sigh of relief. The church wasn’t raptured, and a massive earthquake didn’t occur.

Most of the day Saturday I joked around about Harold Camping’s false prophecy with my mom, my hairstylist, and a fellow patron while getting our hair done at a neighborhood beauty salon.

“I’m getting my hair done for Jesus,” I quipped.

“I want to have all of my errands done before 6 pm,” a woman giggled, “so I’ll be ready.”

Don Lemon, a CNN news anchor, even joked a bit. “Well, it’s 5:52 pm, 8 minutes before the world is supposed to come to an end. I’ll hang around for a couple of seconds after 6 to see if we’re still here.” When it was 6 pm, Lemon said, “Well, looks like we’re still here. Now let’s go to The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer.” My son and I chuckled as I turned off the television.

Not so Funny

While some poked fun of the doomsday prediction, because they simply didn’t believe it, at least one of Camping’s followers didn’t think it was so funny. In a news segment on ABC World News Weekend Edition filmed in Times Square New York City, Good Morning America anchor Ron Claiborne interviewed Robert Fitzpatrick, a Camping follower and retiree who allegedly spent a sizeable chunk of his $140,000 life savings on poster advertisements in the New York City subways. Claiborne reported that Fitzpatrick was clearly shaken, shocked, and saddened when nothing happened at 6 pm.

Interrogation Time

News reporters, cameramen, photographers, and irate New Yorkers surrounded Fitzpatrick in Times Square and peppered him with questions. “We’re still here! We’re still here!” exclaimed an onlooker. “Why didn’t the earthquake happen?” “Why are we still here?” demanded a man in the crowd. Fitzpatrick tried to explain from the bible how Camping arrived at his doomsday prediction. “That’s God Word,” shouted another man. “You shouldn’t play around with God’s Word.” “I want my money back,” demanded a woman. “Are those people who spent money on buses to travel around going to get their money back?” “Are they going to get their money back?”

My burning question is: What does Camping have to say about all of this? One news report said Camping was in seclusion in Oakland, Calif., and couldn’t be reached for comment.

Can Anything Good Come From This?

The travesty behind this false prophecy is that many of Camping’s followers spent their hard earned money, left their jobs, left their families, and wasted time traveling the country to spread the news that the world was going to end on May 21, 2011. The false prediction made people nervous at the very least and almost caused a panic. The good news is that this false prediction got people talking about the bible, the gospel, who Jesus is, the fact you must be saved to go to Heaven, and that there will come a time when God’s judgment will come upon the earth. So if it takes an event such as this, even a duplicitous one, to spread the gospel and encourage people to begin thinking about their salvation and spiritual lives, it can’t be all that bad (Philippians 1:18).

** This post is linked to Spiritual Sundays here.

Is Christ Coming Back May 21, 2011?

2011-05-20T13:05:00.003-04:00

"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come." (Mark 13:32-33)
   By now, you've probably seen newscasts, YouTube videos, Tweets, Facebook chatter, and billboards, declaring the message that Christ is going to return tomorrow, Saturday, May 21, 2011. You've probably heard that there's going to be a tremendous earthquake that will kill millions of people, and that the church is going to be raptured, and escape God's wrath; and five months later on October 21, 2011, God is going to completely destroy the earth and the universe.
   Well according to the Bible, these proclamations are simply not true. No one knows the day or the hour when the Lord will come back to this earth to take those who believe in Him to Heaven. There are signs of His imminent return (i.e., war in the Middle East, false prophets, earthquakes, tornados, tsunamis, hurricanes, etc.), but we cannot know the actual day — no matter how clever our mathematical calculations.
   This false prophecy came from Harold Camping, a Christian radio broadcaster and president of Family Radio, a California-based broadcasting network. Mr. Camping has been known to use so-called Bible-based numerology to predict dates for the end of the world. He miscalculated that Christ would return September 1994. When he realized he was wrong, he recalculated and came up with a new date: May 21, 2011.
   The mention of Christ returning May 21, 2011, has caused quite a stir.
   Many of Mr. Camping's followers have left their jobs and families to stand on street corners and travel from town to town and state to state to tell people the news. I know they mean well, because Jesus said we should share the gospel and warn people of the coming judgment of God, because unless a person is born again, he or she will not enter the Kingdom of heaven.
   Just as earthquakes, wars, and rumors of wars are signs of the end times and of Christ's return, so are false prophets spreading false information. "... many false prophets will appear and deceive many people" (Matthew 24:11). So let us be informed — not deceived.
   Everything we need to know about the truth of Christ's return is in our bibles. All we have to do is open it up and read it. Yes, Christ will return, and God's judgment will take place, but only according to His timing, not ours. "Jesus said to them [his disciples]: It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority" (Acts 1:7).

** This post is linked to Spiritual Sundays here.

Experience God's Resurrection Power

2011-05-13T23:22:00.001-04:00

“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength.” (Ephesians 1:17-19)

Three weeks have whizzed by since we celebrated the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. And while some of us may have moved on with our lives and placed the significance of that day behind us, it’s important to reflect on the impact and the difference the resurrection should make in our daily lives.

Because of the resurrection of Jesus, we can have intimate fellowship with our Heavenly Father and get to know Him better. And we need the Spirit of Wisdom and revelation to accomplish this.

God wants us to get to know Him better and experience His resurrection power in every aspect of our lives — His incomparably great power for us who believe. Just the idea of being able to experience God’s power in every facet of my life gives me goose bumps. Hope. And great joy.

My Pastor said we can miss God’s power if we’re not in tune with Him, which is why we must have the Spirit of wisdom and revelation to discern when His power is at work.

However, my Pastor did say that even though we believe in God’s power, that doesn’t mean that everything is always going work out exactly the way we want it to. That grabbed my attention, especially since I’ve been praying and praying and praying for a successful career move for more than a year and not much, if any, fruit has resulted. “Why isn’t God answering my prayers?” I complain. “Is He not listening? Am I doing something wrong? Is God mad at me? How long, O Lord?”

My Pastor reassured that God’s power is at work in our lives even though we don’t see it. “Whew! That’s a relief,” I thought. For a while, I’ve been wrestling with the horrible, unwarranted thought that God has abandoned me. I know He promises to never leave me nor forsake me, but lately I’ve just been feeling distant from God — as though I’ve entered a dry spell. My faith had been wavering back and forth.

“God’s incomparably great power is available today, right now for those who believe,” my Pastor asserted. I do believe. I believe in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and I want to experience His great power in my life every day. I’ve experienced it plenty of times before, so why not now?

Shameful question.

I know God has blessed me immensely and continues to do so. I have a great husband, son, and family, wonderful friends, and all of my needs are met — and then some. So yes, God’s mighty power is at work in my life indeed. Because Jesus is alive, I have great hope; you have great hope; and our world has great hope.

May we ask the Lord to give us His Spirit of wisdom and revelation to get to know Him better. May we come to know the hope to which He has called us, and experience His incomparably great power as we daily believe and put our trust in Him.

* This post is linked to Spiritual Sundays here.

Celebrating Our Risen Lord!

2011-04-22T22:27:00.001-04:00

“I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive forever and ever!” (Revelation 1:18)

After a busy week, with much on my mind, I pray that I will be able to focus on my Lord and Savior, on what He’s done for me, on how much He loves me, and on the promises I have in Him because He is alive. Amen!

God’s Unexpected Surprises!

2011-04-09T21:24:00.002-04:00

“From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another” (John 1:16)

“You listen to Joyce Meyer?” my coworker asked me after opening my glove compartment to hand me my sunglasses, which was filled with Michael Jackson and gospel CDs and cassettes. We were headed to the Baltimore Inner Harbor to attend a continuing medical education seminar.

“My sister listens to Joyce Meyer all the time,” she continued. “Yeah I really like her,” I replied. “Do you listen to Charles Stanley?” I asked. “Yeah I listen to him,” she said. “I love Charles Stanley.”

Now, I was curious.

“If she was familiar with Joyce Meyer and listened to Charles Stanley, she must be a Christian,” I thought.

“I didn’t know you were a Christian Gwen*,” I said. “Oh yeah, I’ve been saved for years.”

“Really?” I replied.

Gwen had always been so private about her faith, but not in this moment. She told me how she met the Lord, and how He changed her life. We spent most of the drive to Baltimore talking about how God has worked in each of our lives. It was incredible. “What a blessing,” I thought. God was definitely with us, and He answered my prayers in ways I didn’t expect.

After we arrived at the hotel where we were staying, we decided to walk along the harbor with our cameras in tow to take in the sites and snap some pictures. (See more photos of the harbor here.) It was sunny, windy, and hot.

After our hour-long walk and photo session, we freshened up and attended the seminar. While the seminar wasn’t as successful as we’d hoped, I still felt God’s presence.

The next morning, I ate a delicious buffet breakfast that included hot tea, eggs, grits, bacon, and a bagel with butter and strawberry jam. Yum!

On the drive back home, Gwen and I continued to talk about the Lord. God’s presence and blessing were still with us. It almost felt euphoric, like I was on a spiritual high.

When I got home and turned on my computer to check my email and do some work, I received an email from another coworker about how she had received Christ, met with her Pastor to talk about what was going on in her heart, and how excited she was to begin a bible study for the first time. She said she knew I was a Christian, so she felt comfortable sharing her experience with me. I was shocked. “This must be the week God wants me to know who my Christian coworkers are,” I thought.

Just a few weeks ago, the Lord gave me the opportunity to pray with a coworker who I knew was a Christian about an extremely difficult project we were working on. And when we prayed, God’s presence enveloped us.

Work has not been pleasant lately, but God surely has brightened things up when I least expected it? He has a way of doing that, doesn’t he?

May we praise His holy name!

Prayer: Thank you Lord for your mesmerizing presence, the blessing of your people, and your strengthening power. In Jesus’ name, amen.

** This post is linked to Spiritual Sundays here.