IN HIS NAME

Carry Your Candle

2012-02-04T22:09:00.004-05:00

Photo credit: MarcoMaru from morguefile.com I don't know what prompted me to start singing this song this past week, but the words have been going round and round in my mind every day. I can only attribute this to the work of the blessed Holy Spirit. This song deals with the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. Part of the first verse goes like this: There is a spirit who brings the fire, Ignites the candle and makes its home. You see, when the Holy Spirit comes to live in us, He lights our candle, empowers us to be the best we can be, so we can shine, not for ourselves, but for Him. On our own, we may just be carrying a candle "without a flame." What good is that?

In Matthew 5: 14 - 16, Jesus says, " Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid . Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

As Christians, we are called upon to be the light of the world. In other words, to carry our candle, to show the world we are proud to be followers of Jesus Christ, to make a difference whenever and wherever we can. This week I came across a great example of someone who is carrying his candle for Jesus Christ. He is Ramiro Garcia, worship leader, who was born without ears, and was not expected to hear or speak. Ramiro recently auditioned for American Idol, sang Amazing Grace and was included to go on to the next level. Check out the video on You Tube:

This is black history month, and you may be hearing stories you've heard before of courageous African Americans such as Rosa Parks, Frederick Douglas and Harriet Tubman, just to name a few. Their acts of bravery and courage may make many of us feel inadequate by comparison. You may never be featured on You Tube or in the daily newspaper, but you can carry your candle by helping someone in need, or by telling them about Jesus Christ. The good that we do is for God's glory, not ours. Think about it, then ask the Holy Spirit to ignite your flame and let your light shine - for Him.

Do You Trust Him?

2012-01-21T18:17:00.000-05:00

After months of house hunting, I finally closed on a condo a week ago. It was a very stressful time, but God was on my side, and even though many times I felt like giving up, I finally succeeded. If nothing else, this experience taught me two things:

1. Never give up.

Have you ever felt so discouraged, so overwhelmed that you wanted to give up? Does your illness seem unconquerable, your bills uncontrollable, your burdens unbearable? You feel like you cannot make it through another day, another sleepless night. David must have felt that way when he penned this Psalm. "Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation: O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man. For thou art the God of my strength: why dost thou cast me off ? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy ? (Psalm 43: 1 - 3)

Those words resonate with despair. The psalmist sounds like he 's ready to give up. But in the next verses, David cries out to the Lord: "O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles. Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God. Why art thou cast down , O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God" (v 4 - 5).

Elijah, miracle worker and mighty prophet of God, found himself in a similar position of depression. The amazing thing is that this took place right after a time of exhilarating success. Elijah had just prayed to God, who sent down fire from heaven and burnt up the water-soaked sacrifice, then he had slain four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal. But when Jezebel threatened to kill him for slaying the prophets, Elijah panicked and ran.

But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die ; and said , It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers (1 Kings 19 : 4)

2. God never fails

If these two icons of the Old Testament could reach that level, what about you and me? But our God never fails. As He was with David and Elijah in their troubles, He was with me in my time of trial and He will be with you too. He gave us His word and His promises to stand on. "For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen ..." (2 Corinthians 1 : 20).

Be strong and of a good courage , fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Deuteronomy 31 : 6.

When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up . Psalm 27 : 10

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer ; I have overcome the world. John 16 : 33.

These and many other verses of encouragement you can read and memorize, so that when the storms of life threaten to overtake you, you can cling to them and find the strength and courage to go on. God knew that His children would face many problems in this world, that is why He gave us His word to be a "lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path" (Psalm 119 : 105).

Believers are not exempt from feeling depressed, or wanting to give up, but know that God is on your side. Your path may appear dark. You may not know where to turn, or what decision to make, but God's word can light your path and give you the clarity and direction you need. So don't give up and don't give in. If you put your trust in God, He will carry you, even to the end.

Are You A Witness?

2012-01-09T21:48:00.000-05:00

Here in Florida, one of the most frequent announcements on the television comes from Crimestoppers. The police are always appealing for people who have witnessed a crime to come forward and testify. If you are ever involved in an accident or some other situation that would warrant a court appearance, you would need a witness. To me, these things sound very unpleasant, and I thank God that I've never been a witness or needed a witness to testify on my behalf. However, the Bible does call on us as Christians to be witnesses.

As far back as the Old Testament, there was a call for witnesses in matters of law. "Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person to cause him to die" (Numbers 35: 30) . In the New Testament, Jesus employed this same law in His teaching on how to deal with someone who has wronged you. He said, "But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established" (Matthew 18 : 16) . Then in Acts 1 : 8 He is reported as saying to His disciples, "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth."

In the last example, Jesus called on His disciples to be witnesses unto Him in another legal battle - the battle between God and Satan for the souls of everyone on earth. Because, make no mistake, the person who has not been witnessed to about Jesus Christ, is in danger of losing His soul - forever. Should we as Christians stand by and allow that to happen? Some time ago, I witnessed to one of my patients about Jesus Christ. A few minutes later, one of my friends came and told me that the patient went and reported to a nurse that I'd told her about God. That nurse immediately picked up the phone and reported me to the director. I didn't hear anything about the incident after that, but I assured my friend that I will continue to witness as the Holy Spirit leads me.

Witnessing involves more than just telling someone about Jesus Christ. In order to be an effective witness we must live the part. Our words and actions must exemplify those of a disciple of Jesus Christ. If we say one thing and do something else, people will see through us for the fake that we are and will not take us seriously.

Witnessing for Jesus is more pleasant, I believe, than being a witness for Crimestoppers. And much more rewarding. You get the satisfaction that you have saved a person from going to hell. Even if the person does not accept Christ there and then, you have sowed the seed and can trust the Holy Spirit to do the rest. If the thought of witnessing intimidates you, ask the Holy Spirit to give you the boldness you need and then go about it with all your might.

My New Year Wishes

2011-12-31T22:44:00.001-05:00

As 2011 rushes to get out of here to make room for 2012, my thoughts turn to what God has done in my life this year. While I have not had any earth-shaking success or changes in my life, God continues to show me that it is He who is watching over me and my family from day to day, providing for us and guiding us. I was able to continue working at my day job as an occupational therapist and while I'm beginning to focus on retirement, I still thank God that I do have a job and am able to meet my financial commitments. That's a lot more than many people can say these days.

My health also seems to be holding steady, and I've increased my activity level somewhat, while keeping a strict eye on what I eat. I eliminated meat from my diet years ago, and now if I only taste a piece of chicken, my stomach rebels. So, I'm sticking to my fish, soy, peas and beans, fruits and vegetables.

As for my Christian walk, I still think I need to not just read, but study the Word more and spend more time with God. I've started waking early some mornings and talking to God, but I have this yearning to just go away and be with Him. My life is so rushed, that I find it difficult to make time for what really matters. So, what do I want for the coming year? I don't need a bigger house, or a new car, or a new boat. I need:

The peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4 : 7) It's too easy to give in to feelings of anxiety when things seem uncertain, but the Bible tells us, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee" (Isaiah 26: 3). The Bible tells us we walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5 : 7). Psalm 34 : 14 says, "Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it."

Prosperity. Contrary to what many Christians believe, prosperity is not a bad thing. In fact, 3 John 1 : 2 says, " Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health , even as thy soul prospereth ." And in Proverbs 21 : 21 we read, "He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor." So, in 2012 I want the prosperity that comes to the child of God who loves Him and serves Him. I want to be prosperous or whole in every area of my life, or, as one preacher puts it, "to have nothing missing, nothing broken."

To exercise patience in my daily life. Patience is part of the fruit of the spirit, which all Christians should display. Colossians 3 : 12 says, "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." Romans 8 ; 25 tells us, "But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

I've used the three benefits above to narrow down the areas where I think I may be lacking spiritually. With the help of the Holy Spirit I can achieve these things in 2012 and beyond, but I have a part to play. In order to have peace, I must keep my mind stayed on God. I must actively refrain from evil and seek peace. Prosperity is linked to health and life and comes through the pursuit of righteousness and love. In order to have patience, I must clothe or cover myself with it. I cannot always expect instantaneous blessings, but must wait with hope on God's timing.

Friends, what do you wish to achieve in 2012 and the years that you have left? Ask the Holy Spirit to show you what you really need, then work diligently at acquiring it. Happy New Year!

God Never Makes Junk

2011-12-18T18:18:00.000-05:00

Photo credit: alvimann from morguefile.com
I was listening to a radio program the other day where the guest spoke of an experience she had in Rawanda. She said she looked out her window and saw a house that was surrounded by what seemed to be junk. Later that morning, a woman came out of the house and began to use every item that was in the yard. To her, everything was useful, none of it was junk. Someone said what impresses him when he enters a house is not how spotless it is or how artistic the decor, but the little things that may appear useless: a fading portrait, a chipped jar, a baby's first shoes. All these things which may appear to be junk are priceless to the owner. And that's how we are to God. We may be old and frail, young and addicted to drugs or alcohol, living a life of sin, but we are still precious to God.

Some people may look at others and see them as junk. They may even treat them that way. Worse, some people may look at themselves as junk, good for nothing, fit to be dumped. Have you ever felt that way about yourself? Has your self-esteem sunk to the level that you see yourself as good for nothing? Someone, maybe a parent, a sibling or even a friend may have told you that you are no good and you'll never amount to anything. And you believed them. Well, I've got news for you. God does not see you that way.

There was an Israelite by the name of Gideon who felt very sorry for himself because Israel was being oppressed by the Midianites and Gideon and his family had fallen on hard times. One day, while "Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress to hide it from the Midianites, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour." But Gideon replied, "Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us ..."(Judges 6 : 12).

Gideon felt unworthy of the angel's greeting. In Gideon's mind, he was a nobody. Later on in the chapter, he said to the angel, "Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house" (v 15). Have you felt that you are too poor, too old, too young, too whatever to be of use to God or even to yourself? God doesn't think so. He made you in His own image and likeness (Genesis 1 : 27). So then, how can you be junk? If you think of yourself as junk, then God has to be junk also, and you know that can never be true.

So, this Christmas season, if you are going through a difficult time, remember the reason Jesus came. He came because you are precious to Him and He wanted to lift you up out of the dump of sin and shame and give you a brand new life. You are not a piece of junk. You are God's special creation and He loves you very, very much.

Here's a lovely video by Scottish superstar Susan Boyle to put you in the Christmas spirit. Enjoy!

Grab A Copy Of My Book

2011-12-10T17:41:00.000-05:00

I never ever post twice in one week, let alone twice in one day, but I wanted to inform you of a great opportunity to get a copy of a book that will enrich your life and/or that of someone else.
From now until Dec. 20, I'm making copies of my book Women For All Seasons available at a reduced cost. Women For All Seasons is a Christian non-fiction book, targeted to women of all ages and stages of life. It is based on stories of women from the Bible, and I’ve featured women who are young, single, married and widowed. In other words, women who reflect the different seasons of a woman’s life.

Are you a young woman, wondering what is your purpose in life or whether you should trust God and risk losing everything you cherish, maybe even your life? Read about Mary and Esther. Are you a married woman struggling with issues such as parenting, or step-parenting, and keeping your marriage going? Read Rachel and Hannah. Are you an older woman who thinks that maybe your useful days are over and you should take a back seat in your church or community? Read Naomi and Sarah. Are you a young woman in search of Mr. Right? Read Ruth. Are you a woman who has been ridiculed and ostracized as a result of your past? Read Mary Magdalene.

These are just some of the issues you will encounter in this book, but I guarantee you that every woman will see herself in the pages of this book. My goal in writing it is to first of all encourage you to read the Bible and to make it easier for you to digest its content. I have used a light and engaging style, like you would find in a novel or magazine and each story is written from the point of view of the main character, making her seem like a true flesh and blood person. The selection of Bible stories in the book demonstrates the importance of trusting God when we go through the seasons of life. Women For All Seasons will make a wonderful addition to your library, or if you belong to a women’s Bible study group you may find this book helpful.

So, take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to get a copy of this book in time for Christmas by clicking on the link below.

Should We Cease To Celebrate Christmas?

2011-12-10T05:53:00.001-05:00

This week I came across an article on the origin of Christmas. According to this article, Jesus was not born on December 25th and the Christmas celebration has nothing to do with His birth, but has its origin in pagan worship of the god Saturn. The article also mentions the Christmas tree, wreath, mistletoe and Santa Claus as icons of pagan origin. According to the article, the festival was a time of revelry and debauchery, to say the least. After reading the article, I felt very discouraged. Why did Christian leaders choose December 25th, the date which, according to the article, marked the end of the Saturnalia festival, to celebrate the birth of Christ? The reason given is that they were able to convert many pagans to Christianity by promising that they could continue to celebrate the festival as Christians. Puritans later banned all Christmas festivities in Massachusets and the early colonies.

So, where does this leave us as Christians who look forward to celebrating Christmas every year?
Should we stop celebrating Christmas because we don't know the exact date of Jesus' birth, or because it has its origins in pagan culture, if the article is true? Should we stop our church services, family gatherings and gift-giving at this time? As I reflected on the article, I shared my thoughts with a good Christian friend. This is what she said to me: "We know that Christmas has nothing to do with the birth of Christ. Even the way we celebrate it today does not honor Christ, but what the devil means for evil, God can turn it around for good." Halleluiah! My heart leaped for joy at her words. What the devil means for evil, God can turn it around for good.

If the content of that article, and others like it, is true then the devil saw the festival of Saturnalia as a great way to slap God in the face, to dishonor His only begotten Son whom He sent to die on the cross to redeem His children back to Him. Satan's plan was to make a mockery of Jesus' birth and to make us all look like hypocrites, but Satan has always been a liar and the father of lies (John 8 : 44). He wants us to believe that celebrating Christ's birth is a bad thing. However, if we use the day as a time to gorge ourselves with food and drink and indulge in things we have no business indulging in, then we are playing right into Satan's hands.

We only have to look around us now to see what is happening. Under the guise of separation of church and state, images of the Holy Family can no longer be displayed in public places, employees are being fired if they mention the name of Jesus or wear any symbol associated with Jesus, or even say 'Merry Christmas'! These present day policies in America would make a Roman pagan blush! Halloween has become a very popular religious celebration in America and churches are once more getting in on the action. This year I saw more Halloween displays in public places than ever before. Are we raising up Satan and lowering Our Lord Jesus Christ?

December 25th, CHRISTmas Day, is almost here and I plan on celebrating it. I'm not interested in the tree or the mistletoe and I've long stopped writing letters to Santa. But I'm gonna celebrate. Want to know why? Because I think everyday should be Christmas Day. I'm ecstatic that Jesus Christ came to save me from my sins. I don't know when He came and it's not important. All I know is He did come, He died on the cross, returned to heaven and is coming again to take me to live with Him in a world where there'll be no more sin, no more suffering and no more death. Now that's something to celebrate!

My Anchor Holds

2011-11-20T07:53:00.000-05:00

Don't you just love the way the Holy Spirit works in the life of the believer? Before Jesus left this earth, He told His disciples, "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away : for if I go not away , the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart , I will send him unto you" ( John 16: 7). I am reminded of the presence of the Holy Spirit whenever I feel anxious or depressed, as I felt a few weeks ago. I was undertaking too much at one time, and my mind and body were rebelling. Who could I turn to? What could I do? Talking to my friends didn't help. They have their own problems. I needed the comforting presence of the Holy Spirit and He came to my rescue.

I learned when I first got saved that one of the best ways to lift my burdens is to sing praises to God - whether I felt like it or not. And as I began to praise, one particular song kept cropping up in my mind and I found myself singing, "In times like these, you need an anchor ..." Imagine my joy that Sunday morning when the choir sang that very song. I felt like shouting. Tears ran down my face as I experienced the comforting warmth of the Holy Spirit. He was telling me to hold on to my anchor, that He was there for me, He'd heard my cries and He would deliver me.

Jesus knew that His disciples were grieved at his departure and that they would face many dangers in the years to come. This is why He said, "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever. Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive , because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. " (John 14 : 16 - 18).

Jesus wasn't making this promise only to His disciples who walked with Him at that time, but to every one of us who has accepted Him into our hearts and has made Him our Lord and Savior. When Judas, not Iscariot, asked Him, "Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?" (v 23) Jesus replied, "If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him" ( v 24). Therefore, once we have accepted Christ as our Savior, He lives in us and if He lives in us, His Spirit lives in us also.

Friends, are you troubled, overwhelmed, distraught, afraid? Hold on to your Anchor, the Comforter, the Holy Spirit whom God has given us to comfort us. I have found many times when I'm feeling any of those emotions, the Holy Spirit would lay a song or a passage of Scripture on my heart and as I sing or recite that verse, I find comfort, peace and sometimes even the solution to a problem I'd been wrestling with. The words of the song ended with "Be very sure, be very sure, your anchor holds and grips the solid rock. "

As I listened to the words of that beloved song, I knew that as long as I held on to my Anchor I would be okay. Do you have an Anchor? One that will never give way and leave you stranded? If you do, hold on to it. If not, it's available to you right now. Please pray this prayer with me: Dear Jesus, I need your support, your comfort, your peace. I repent of my sins and make you my Lord and Savior. Come into my life and live in me forever. Amen.

If you prayed that prayer you are no longer alone, helpless or hopeless. You now have a solid rock to cling to. Please drop me a line in the comment box and tell me all about it.

Pray For This Pastor

2011-11-06T22:07:00.000-05:00

An Iranian Christian is in prison facing a death sentence for leaving Islam. Iran's Supreme Court has upheld the death penalty for Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani who has been in prison since last year, although Iran has not executed a citizen for changing faiths since 1990. The pastor's death sentence sends a strict warning that other Iranians who have converted to Christianity could face a similar fate. Let us pray for Pastor Yousef and other Christians worldwide who are facing persecution.

When Everything Goes Wrong

2011-11-06T05:08:00.000-05:00

Photo credit: alvimann from morguefile.com Have you had one of those times when everything that could go wrong does go wrong? You know, the cat gets stuck in the tree, your dog runs away from you and your best friend moves to Timbuktu? I had one of those last weekend (which is why I had no blog post). But I don't have a cat nor a dog and if my best friend ever moves to Timbuktu, well there'll be no more blog posts from me. So what did happen?

Moving to a new location can be accompanied by stress, but if you're moving from one state to another, it can be even more stressful. And this is what happened to me last weekend. I became so stressed I thought I would have a heart attack. Now that I look back on it I ask myself, why did I become so stressed? I know the answer. Nothing went according to plan. People who were supposed to help me either came too late or just didn't show up.

Be anxious for nothing

After I had calmed down, I looked to my Bible for answers. I asked God to forgive me because I know what His word says about plans, about anxiety and about people. Proverbs 12 : 25 says, "An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up." Philippians 4 : 6 says, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Did I know these verses of scripture before? Of course I did, but I allowed anxiety to consume my being until all I could see was the mammoth task ahead of me.

God may stop your plans

I had everything figured out - or so I thought. I would go to the house, finish my packing and at the prearranged time, the people would come and get everything on the truck and I would be out of there. In the Bible we see many people whose plans failed. David was one of them. Even though he was "a man after God' s heart", his plans to build a temple for God came to naught because God didn't want him to. (1 Chronicles 28: 3).

People may stop your plans

When Zerubbabel and his friends assembled in Jerusalem to build the temple of the Lord, they came up against serious opposition from their enemies. These people went so far as to write a letter to the king, telling him that if the wall was rebuilt the city would lose revenue. No king likes to hear this and so King Xerxes issued an order and the project came to a screeching halt. Their plans failed even though they were doing something for God.

Proverbs 19 : 21 says, "Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails." I couldn't understand why my plans failed and, I daresay, neither could Zerubbabel and his friends.

What can we do when our plans fail? Should we gnaw our nails and pull our hair in frustration? David and Zerubbabel were godly men and yet their plans fell apart. We should not think that God is against us. The Bible says, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" (Jeremiah 29 : 11).

So, here are a few things we can do:

1. Search His Word to see what is His will concerning your plans. (Psalm 119 : 105)
2. As God to take charge. (Proverbs 16 : 3)
3. Seek advice from others, (Proverbs 15 : 22; 20 : 18)
4. Take time to plan ( Proverbs 21 : 5)
5. Do not trust solely in man, but in God. (Psalm 118: 8)

God wants you blessed, He wants your plans to succeed, but according to His will and in His time. Years later, under King Darius, the Jews were given free reign to build the temple. David allowed his son, Solomon, to build the temple as God had instructed him and this weekend I succeeded in getting my furniture and other belongings moved out of the house.

What A Forgiving God

2011-10-23T20:19:00.001-04:00

Today my Bible reading took me to the book of Jeremiah, the OT prophet who was so distraught for his people that he wished "my head were a spring of water and my eyes a fountain of tears! I would weep day and night for the slain of my people" (9 : 1). Jeremiah loved God and was faithful in carrying out His commands, but in this chapter Jeremiah had a complaint. And it concerned the seeming reluctance of God to punish the wicked. Jeremiah said, "Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease? You have planted them, and they have taken root; they grow and bear fruit. You are always on their lips but far from their hearts" (12 : 1 - 2).

Just as Jeremiah had seen all the wickedness of the people, God had also seen it. He said, "As for all my wicked neighbors who seize the inheritance I gave my people Israel, I will uproot them from their lands and I will uproot the house of Judah from among them" ( v 14). But in the very next verse, God says, "But after I uproot them, I will again have compassion and will bring each of them back to his own inheritance and his own country. And if they learn well the ways of my people and swear by my name, saying, 'As surely as the LORD lives'--even as they once taught my people to swear by Baal--then they will be established among my people. But if any nation does not listen, I will completely uproot and destroy it," declares the LORD" ( v 15 - 17).

God has always forgiven the children of Israel, His chosen race, but this time He is referring to Israel's enemies, His "wicked neighbors." God is saying that if they, the Gentiles, will turn away from their wickedness, He will save them. This is the essence of God's forgiveness, the overriding message of the Scriptures. His love is not limited to the Jewish people alone. He loves us all and is ready and willing to forgive us and take us under His banner.

So, yes, God will punish us for our wrongdoing, but the matter does not end there. After punishment comes forgiveness, if we repent and ask for it. Jeremiah was sore because the wicked seemed to be getting away with their sins. But God had a plan and a purpose for them, just as He had for His own people. He was going to uproot them, punish them, but He would bring them back so they could mend their ways and come under his umbrella of forgiveness.

Most of you probably know the story of the prodigal son. The older brother had a similar complaint. Why did his father accept his younger brother into the home after all the ugly things he had done? Friends, when we are tempted to complain about the unfairness of life let us stop and consider the reason Jesus came. It was not to take only the good with Him to heaven, but to bring sinners to repentance. As Paul said, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" (Romans 10 : 13).

Forgetting The Past

2011-10-08T22:19:00.000-04:00

Christian Graphics Last week someone disclosed to me that she dealt with loneliness by being promiscuous. Now this might blow you away as it did me, but I appreciated her honesty and forthrightness, and I told her so. Then came my obvious question. WHY DO YOU DO IT? Her response was flippant, but she was dead serious. She said she'd been married for two years and had a wonderful relationship, until her husband dumped her when he discovered she had a mental illness. Since then she'd been unable to have a steady relationship with anyone and so she settles for the dinner, the flowers, the one-night stand, and when it's over she knows it's over.

Female promiscuity on the rise

Before I could fire my next question she answered it. "I know about STDs and it doesn't really bother me." Now, you may be thinking that this is to be expected of someone who is mentally ill, but think again. An online dating site that boasts of over 10 million registered users recently published statistics showing that promiscuity among women has doubled since 2004. According to the site, the ratio of men to women seeking intimate encounters is now 5 : 1, double that of three years ago, and it's predicted that within a decade this ratio will be 1 : 1. It would be interesting to know how many of these women are mentally ill.

Give it to Jesus

You may be wondering what does this have to do with a Christian blog? In the case of the woman in the first paragraph, she blames her promisucity on her past. This may or may not be true, but many women become promiscuous as a result of past experiences: childhood sexual abuse, rape, broken relationships to name a few. How can a woman get rid of the shackles of the past? The best way I know how is to give them to Jesus. He took our sins and griefs upon Himself and died on an old wooden cross so that we would not have to carry those sins and griefs anymore.

Don't look back

In the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, Lot's wife looked back when they were fleeing from the destruction of the city and she turned into a pillar of salt. (Genesis 19: 26). The premise? DON'T LOOK BACK! The apostle Paul wrote, "... forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3: 13-14).

You are created in the image and likeness of God

If you are a woman who has been battered and bruised by past experiences, it's time to give it up. Don't go looking for love in all the wrong places. Don't subject yourself to someone else's whims and fantasies. You are not an old shoe to be used and discarded. You are a person, created in the image and likeness of God. Bishop TD Jakes says, "You should be someone's priority, not their option." Don't mourn the rest of your life for someone who left you. God loves you and wants to shelter you in His arms, but He cannot if you are seeking shelter somewhere else.

Letting go of the past is not an easy process. It may take months or even years to shed the layers of poor self-esteem you have built up. But it can be done. With God's help, godly counseling and the support of your friends, family and church, you can walk into those everlasting arms, open and outstretched, waiting to embrace you.

Let's pray this prayer: Father God, I acknowledge that I am a sinner and that You sent Your beloved Son, Jesus Christ to die on the cross so that I may be delivered from sin and its dreadful effects. Father, I accept Your deliverance now, and from this day forward I will walk in the newness of life which You have for me. I am no longer chained to my past. I am free, for whom the Son sets free is free indeed. Amen.

Should Our Kids Read Books With Profanity?

2011-09-25T06:48:00.001-04:00

Some time ago I received a lot of comments on this blog and on another forum when I posed the question about modesty in dress. About fifty percent of the respondents felt it was okay for women, and men, to wear shorts to church and some of the other fifty percent said they would not wear shorts to church, but they didn't see anything wrong with it. Now I come to another controversial topic which someone else started, and which I felt that as a Christian parent and grandparent I should get involved in. The question was, "Should YA (young adult) books contain profanity?"

I jumped right in with a vehement NO! Immediately, someone responded that there was nothing wrong with kids reading profanity as it was necessary to portray the character in the book. In other words she was saying, that if there was no profanity, the character would not be realistic because kids use profanity nowadays. Well, maybe I'm out of touch with today's kids, but the kids I know do not use profanity. At least, not in my presence. And I've never heard any of my friends complain that their teens use profanity. However, I'll admit that kids may use foul language when they are with their friends, just to be accepted. But if they don't use that kind of language in the presence of adults, then they recognize that it is wrong and do not need books that make it seem like it's the norm.

The person in her response went on to say that if kids read books that contain profanity it's okay, because AT LEAST THEY ARE READING! My. my, my. So, according to that writer, we should allow our kids to read anything as long as they READ. I wonder if she would allow her kids to gorge themselves on hamburgers, fries and candy as long as they were eating. Doesn't she know that in the same way we take care to nourish our bodies with the right nutrients, in the same way we ought to nourish our minds? Doesn't she realize that God will hold us accountable for what we feed our children- physically, intellectually and spiritually? Doesn't she know that children's minds are like sponges, ready to soak up whatever is put into them? It's the reason we have ratings for movies and television shows and we put blocks on some internet sites. We, as adults, have a responsibility to protect our children's minds as much, or maybe even more than we protect their bodies. We need to raise them up in the fear and admonition of the Lord.

In Matthew 19 : 14 Jesus said, "Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. " We bring our children to the Lord by our example. Not just by taking them to church, but in the way we live our daily lives. The way we speak, the books we read, the shows we watch. We are our children's biggest role models, and if we have books hidden under our mattress, they, too, are going to read books that they have to hide under their mattress. If we cuss in front of them, they will cuss in front of them. The Bible says, "But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation" (1 Peter 1 : 15). Parents, let us be aware!

A Time To Heal

2011-09-11T13:20:00.000-04:00

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If you are anywhere on this planet, you know that today is the tenth anniversary of the infamous 9/11 bombing of the World Trade Center in New York. Many hearts are hurting as they recall the horrific events of that day. Even those of us who did not lose loved ones reflect on that event with pain and more than just a shudder. As I write this, tears well up in my eyes for those whose loved ones were so brutally snatched from him.

Much has happened since then. The American government has stepped up its fight on terror. There is heightened security at airports, wars are being fought in other parts of the world and Osama Ben Ladin, leader of the terrorist group responsible for the bombing, is now dead. But where are we as a people, as a nation, with regards to this incident? Are we still bitter, angry, resentful that this has happened? In an MSNBC report, Elijah Portillo, 17, whose father was killed in the attack, said he had never wanted to attend the anniversary because he thought he would feel angry. But this time was different, he said.
"Time to be a big boy," Elijah said. "Time to not let things hold you back. Time to just step out into the world and see how things are."

It must have taken a lot of courage for that young man to get to this point. Healing of a broken heart may take years, more for some than for others. Is it time for us to heal? The answer is yes, if we turn our hearts to God. At the memorial at Ground Zero, President Obama quoted from Psalm 46, "Therefore, we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea."

Out of the rubble and devastation can rise a new hope, a new faith, a new strength, but we have to put our trust, not in ourselves, but in God. Hebrews 13: 6 says, "So we may boldly say: 'The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?' "

America, let us put aside the fear and look to God for our healing. For those who have lost loved ones, my heart goes out to you. The memories will not fade, and you may not want them to, but the pain and hurt will. Just turn it over to God. He is your healer and your deliver. Maybe the video below will help. Enjoy!

http://youtu.be/YHUwZXnjAtc

Why I Love The Bible

2011-08-28T20:39:00.000-04:00

There was a time when reading the Bible was a very difficult thing for me. In those days the King James version seemed as foreign as Greek to me. My mother had taught me to read the Bible from an early age and to learn some popular verses of scripture such as John 3: 16. I also knew Psalms 23 and, of course, the Lord's prayer. I attended a Catholic school and there I was also made to memorize some verses of scripture and I became familiar with many passages. But I never saw the Bible as a necessary part of my life until I was saved and began studying the Bible in earnest. Now I can think of so many reasons why I love the Word of God.

1. The Word is Life
When Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness, He quoted from the Bible saying, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4). Again Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you , He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life" (John 5: 24). There is life in God's word and as you read further you will see why.

2. The Word is a healer

In many places in the Bible we see that Jesus healed people simply by speaking His word over them. In some cases, He wasn't physically present when the healing took place. The centurion said to Jesus, "Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed" (Matthew 8:8). Jesus said, "Go thy way ; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee" (v 13) . The man returned home to find his servant healed. Psalm 107 : 20 says, "He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions."

3. The Word is a protector

"Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word" (Psalm 119: 14). In the New Testament the word of God is compared to a sword, which is a weapon of warfare. "And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: "( Ephesians 6: 17). In Hebrews 4:12, the writer says, "For the word of God is quick , and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."

4. The Word cleanses us from sin

"Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word" Psalm 119: 9 . And in verse 11 it says, "Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee." "Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me" ( v 133).

5. The Word gives us comfort

Paul says, "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope" (Romans 15:4). And again in 1 Thessalonians 4: 18, he says, "Wherefore comfort one another with these words." Who can read God's promises and not feel comforted?

6. The Word educates us

There is no topic known to man today that the word of God does not address. The Bible deals with relationships, business, money, health, marriage, government, history and the future, to name just a few. Deuteronomy 11: 19 says, " And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up . "

So, let me encourage you to make Bible reading a part of your daily routine. Even if you're very busy during the day you can take a few minutes during your lunch hour to read maybe just one verse. And these days you can access the Bible from your cell phone so you don't have to carry around the Bible with you. If you begin to read the Bible daily it will soon become a habit you'll not want to give up. It will be "a lamp to your feet and a light to your path" (Psalms 119 : 105).

Let's Talk About Rejection

2011-08-13T16:39:00.000-04:00

As a writer, I have suffered the pain of rejection as have many writers, even famous ones like Stephen King. Just this week I received a rejection for a query I sent out for my novel Coming Out of Egypt. I must confess, I had a little pity-party. But only for a brief moment. I quickly reminded myelf that rejection is never God's final answer, and that when we suffer rejection, God does have something better in store for us.

Have you suffered rejection? As a writer? An employee? A friend? A spouse? Take heart, you are not alone. Many famous people in the Bible suffered rejection, including Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who suffered the worst rejection of all when He died on the cross. But today I want to talk a little about Mary Magdalene - one of the most popular female characters in the Bible who was also rejected. Mary Magdalene was healed of demon possession by Jesus Christ, and after being healed she followed Him and ministered to Him.

She was at the foot of the cross when He was crucified and the next morning she went with another Mary to embalm His body with spices. But to her great disappointment, the body was missing. As she sat there weeping, Jesus appeared to her and told her to go and let His disciples know He was alive. Ecstatic, Mary ran to convey the good news, not expecting to be rejected by the followers of Jesus. "Are you out of your mind?" they said to her. (John 20: 16 - 18).

The Bible doesn't say it, but is it possible that they still thought of her as a mad, demon-possessed woman? Other women named Mary are mentioned in the Bible, but only Mary Magdalene has the distinction of always being referred to her by her first and last name - the one who hails from Magdala, a city known for its prostitutes. However, God loved her and bestowed on her the honor of being the first to see Him as the risen Savior. We, too, are sometimes rejected when we try to tell others the good news of Jesus Christ. But when the world rejects you, remember that Jesus loves you and has a special place of honor for you. Don't give up. Keep on pressing on, ever going forward in faith.

To read more about Mary Magdalene and other popular women of the Bible, go to my webpage at http://www.outskirtspress.com/womenforallseasons to find out how you can get a copy of my book Women For All Seasons.

Blog Jog Day

2011-08-07T01:00:00.002-04:00

Today I'm taking a little break from my normal posting to jog over to other blogs and have some fun. Blog Jog Day is an annual event when we bloggers support each other by visiting blogs and leaving comments. So, I invite you to browse my site and if you leave a comment, you will be entered in a drawing to receive a free copy of my new book Women For All Seasons, postage paid. If you would like to know more about the book you may visit my webpage at http://www.outskirtspress.com/womenforallseasons.

So, enjoy my site, and when you're done, please jog over to http://karencioffiwritingandmarkting.com/ to see what her blog has to offer. If you have the time you may also visit my other site at http://www.angelasfreelancewriting.com. Each blog should link you to another one, but if you get lost in the links you can always go back to the main Blog Jog Day Blog at http://blogjogday.blogspot.com/. Thanks and have a wonderful day!

Cutting And Pasting God's Word

2011-07-17T18:27:00.000-04:00

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There's a new move afoot to subvert God's teachings through His holy Word. I just finished reading Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol which, as those of you who have read other books by this author will know, deals with the subject of Freemasonry. In the book, one of the main characters extols the virtues of the Holy Bible and encourages the protagonist, Michael Langdon, to read it. However, he goes on to say that the whole Bible is a parable, full of hidden codes and meanings which will be revealed to us at the proper time.

Now I have a problem with that. If the Holy Bible were a parable which has not yet been interpreted, how could we live by it? How could we discern right from wrong? Why are we seeing those "parables" fulfilled before our eyes as time- as we know it- hurtles to an end? It is no wonder that many are disputing the virgin birth and even the resurrection of Christ. Jesus was famous for speaking in parables; it was the hallmark of his teaching style. When His disciples asked Him, "Why do you speak in parables?" (Matthew 13: 10), Jesus replied, "Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: " 'You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them" (v 13-15).

In other words, Jesus was saying that they (the Pharisees and religious leaders of His day) were so hard-hearted that they would never understand when He spoke. But Jesus always interpreted the parable to His disciples when they were alone, and those interpretations are in the Bible for us to read and understand. Therefore to say that the whole Bible is a parable is dangerous and misleading and gives people the licence to interpret God's Word any way they please.

It is no wonder that teachings on sin, heaven and hell and the Holy Spirit are now banned in some churches and a new MTV style of teaching is now penetrating the twenty-first century church. Peter said, "Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1 : 20-21). 2 Timothy 3 : 16 says, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: "

Let us not be taken in by skeptics' claims that the Bible is an allegory which should not be taken literally. I believe that Jesus was literally born of a virgin, that He literally died on a crude Roman cross, was buried, literally rose and ascended into heaven, and that one day He is literally coming back for all who believe in Him. And that's no parable!

Sodom And Gomorrah Revisited

2011-06-25T09:41:00.003-04:00

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"Champagne corks popped, rainbow flags flapped and crowds embraced and danced in the streets of Manhattan's Greenwich Village as New York became the sixth and largest state in the U.S. to legalize same-sex marriage." So reads the first paragraph of an Associated Press release on yesterday's historic legislation of same-sex marriage. Another report states that New York has 42,000 same-sex couples and that the passage of this bill can have tremendous moral and political impact for the rest of the country. Already New York is gearing to make New York the primary destination for gay weddings.

With head in my hands, I groan. When, in this the twenty-first century we are behaving like Sodom and Gomorrah, I have to ask, "Where are we? Where are we heading?" What do we expect of God in the days, months and years ahead? For answer, we have to look to the Bible. The story of Sodom and Gomorrah begins with Lot parting company with his brother, Abram, and moving to this place.

"Lot looked up and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan was well watered, like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, toward Zoar" (Genesis 13:10). How many people extol the sights and grandeur of New York? It's one of the most exciting cities in the world - "the city that never sleeps." But make no mistake, the same fate that befell Sodom and Gomorrah will befall New York and the United States if we don't turn away from our wickedness.

"Then the LORD rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah--from the LORD out of the heavens.25 Thus he overthrew those cities and the entire plain, including all those living in the cities--and also the vegetation in the land" (19: 24-25).

Prior to the destruction of the cities, Abraham pleaded with God to spare them for the sake of the righteous who lived there. God promised him that He would spare them if He found ten righteous. Unfortunately, Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed, but, look at this: Zoar, the town that Lot fled to was spared.

Friends, God will save us if we will hold fast to our integrity. David said in Psalm 25, "May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope is in you" (v 21). Our integrity and uprightness can protect us. We don't have to perish with Sodom and Gomorrah. God clearly states that homosexuality is an abomination. Refuse to be a part of the sinful lifestyle you see around you. Flee, as Lot did, and God will protect you.

Is Your Dad Perfect?

2011-06-19T19:20:00.001-04:00

Photo credit: manuere from morguefile.com Some people may answer "yes" to this question, but I know some, men especially, who will give an unequivocal "no." It always saddens me when I hear the latter. My own father, who departed this life when I was just a little girl, was my hero. He taught me to read and spell while he indulged his hobby/part-time occupation -shoemaking. Needless to say, I had shoes to match every dress, and love shoes to this day.

My father also cultivated in me a love for reading and I became a good speller. I enjoyed going places with him, and when I heard his voice in the front yard in the evening, I would leave my mother and run to meet him. She often complained that I loved my father more than I did her, which wasn't true, of course. I was just fascinated with him - his voice, his smile, his jokes. The only bad thing I can recall about my dad is that he left me too soon. Late at night, quite suddenly and without warning. Died of a stroke in his sleep.

So, what about your dad? Is he flawless in your eyes? A man's man? A woman's man? As head of the home, fathers carry a heavy responsibility. They are entrusted with the task of providing, protecting and caring for the home and family. The mother is the one who nurtures, comforts and keeps the home together. However, a real father assumes the mother's role as well. The father who confronts the school bully is the same father who takes his little girl on his lap and reads her a bedtime story. Or tucks her in at night. Or takes her to the doctor when she is ill.

Sadly, some dads do not measure up to the ideal. Some walk out on their families and never look back. Others stay in the home, provide and protect but do little else. We need to pray for these fathers. I think of King David, a mighty man of God, but his track record as a father left a lot to be desired. His son, Amnon, raped his daughter Tamar (2 Samuel 13: 10 - 18) and even though the Bible says David was furious (v 21) he did nothing about it. Absalom, David's other son, had Amnon executed to avenge what he had done to his sister.

Later, Absalom fled from David and they didn't see each other for two years. Eventually, Absalom tried to take the throne from David and to murder him, but Absalom himself was killed. On hearing the news, David wept bitterly. "O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you--O Absalom, my son, my son!" (18: 33).

Many thoughts run through my mind when I think of David. After his sin with Bathsheba, the prophet, Nathan, told him, "Now, therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house ..." (12: 10). Oh, if David only knew the weight of those words. As a father, his sins fell not only on him, but on his children. Fathers, do not let this happen to you. The Bible says, "Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4). Provide, protect and care for your family, but make sure you obey God's word. Happy Father's Day!

Should We Give Money to Beggars?

2011-06-05T18:41:00.000-04:00

I've had various replies to this question. Some people say we should never give money to beggars because most of them use it to buy drugs or alcohol. Others say we should buy the food instead and give it to them, still others say we should simply give the money and not worry about how they use it. I tend to straddle the fence on this one. Sometimes I give to the person depending on how he/she looks. If I think the person looks really hungry or needy, I give. People in wheelchairs and bearing a sign that says "Veteran" get me everytime.

But I have often asked myself what is the right thing to do, even though deep down inside I know the answer. Jesus taught, "Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you" (Matthew 5 : 24). And again, "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me" (Matthew 25: 45). Beggars are seen as the least among members of society. How easy it is to fulfill one of Jesus' commands by giving to these people who are so destitute they have to beg in order to eat. Yes, 2 Thessalonians 3 : 10 does say, "If a man will not work, he shall not eat," but like everything else in the Bible, this verse has to be taken in context. Paul was referring to the fact that he and the others who were preaching the gospel with him did so free of charge, and worked in order to provide for themselves so they could not be accused of preaching for monetary gain. The phrase "will not work" in the Greek is translated to mean "not willing to work", therefore some of the beggars we see on the street may be willing to work, but are unable to do so because of the state of the economy or because of ill health.

Yesterday while driving, I saw a woman walking in traffic, holding up a cardboard sign. I was only able to make out the words "Please help" before the light changed and the cars began to move. As the woman turned to cross the street, I noticed she was pregnant. Oh my goodness, I thought. I don't recall ever seeing a pregnant woman begging before. For the rest of the evening my mind kept going back to the woman. How had she gotten herself in that position? What could I have done to help? Maybe if I was in the habit of giving to every beggar I would have reached for my purse as soon as I saw her. Maybe I should have turned around and tried to find her. Maybe she would be going to bed hungry tonight. Maybe I'll see her again and be able to make up for what I shoud have done. Guilt riddled my thoughts.

We need to heed God's word nd apply it to every situation. Jesus gave us the golden rule: "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you" (Matthew 7:12). Just put yourself in the place of a beggar for one day. Years ago, some of Oprah's staff posed as beggars for one day and it was a humbling experience. So, should we give to beggars? The answer is in God's word. If you know someone is begging and unwilling to work, follow 2 Thessalonians 3, but if you don't know, and you are in a position to give, then by all means do so.

My Blog Talk Radio Interview

2011-06-03T19:58:00.000-04:00

Here's the audio of my blog talk radio interview with Ella Curry of BAN radio in which I discussed my new book Women For All Seasons. There were some technical difficulties in the beginning and midway through the show, but Ella was a very kind and capable host and we were able to pull it off.

Please listen and leave a comment.

Listen to internet radio with Black Author Network on Blog Talk Radio

Suffer Little Children to Come Unto Me

2011-05-15T07:19:00.000-04:00

Mother's Day has just passed and soon it will be Father's Day, so I thought I would stick with the family theme until next month. We haven't yet begun to celebrate children's day, maybe because everyday is children's day. I think I hear mothers everywhere agreeing. When it comes to topics dealing with children the choices are as numerous as our imagination would allow. So, for the next three weeks I'd like to focus on three areas - how should children be treated? What is their role in the family? What does the Bible have to say about children? Today I bring you the first part.

Children are to be cherished

Children are a gift from God and as such they are to be cherished. Psalm 127:3- 4 says, "Lo, children are an heritage from the Lord; and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are the children of the youth." Our children are a reward from God, and we know that a reward is something that's good, therefore our children are to be loved and cherished.

Children are to be disciplined

"For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD ..." Genesis 18: 19
"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old , he will not depart from it" (Proverbs 22:6).
"The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame" (29: 15).

Children are to be protected

Moses' mother, a Hebrew woman, hid him for three months so he would not be killed by Pharaoh.
"And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein;" Exodus 2 :3.
"If men strive , and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished" (Exodus 21: 22).
"But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea" (Matthew 18:6).

Children are to be taught in the things of God

"And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath : but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4).
"Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God" (Luke 18: 16).
"And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord and great shall be the peace of thy children" (Psalm 54:

Children are to be provided for

"... for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children" (2 Corinthians 12:14).
"A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children" (Proverbs 13:22).

Happy Mother's Day

2011-05-07T16:13:00.001-04:00

For most mothers around the world Mother's Day is a pleasant time when mothers and their children get together to celebrate this happy occasion. Gifts, hugs and kisses and expressions of love will be exchanged, and that's the way it ought to be. However, for some, Mother's Day may not always be a time of celebration. I hate to interject a note of sadness, but the reality is, there are people for whom Mother's Day is one to dread rather than a day to look forward to. For mothers, especially those who have lost their children, this day can be even more depressing.

I think of Mary, the mother of Jesus, handpicked by God to bring the Savior into the world. If her biography were to be written today it might focus on just a few sensational details. A young girl becoming pregnant while still a virgin, engaged to a man called Joseph and unable to give a credible explanation for her pregnancy. These details while being unique, do not comprise the sum of Mary's life.

Mary also experienced the quandary of parenting, not unlike that of many mothers today. What do you do when your twelve- year- old disappears for three whole days? Then simply says, "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?" (Luke 2: 49). And later when he leaves and is gone for a long time, you go looking for Him and He says, "Who is my mother ..." (Matthew 12: 48).

Parenting can be difficult indeed. But none of these difficulties compare to the excruciating pain of losing a child. Mary lost her Son to death - not just any death, but a horrible, humiliating death upon a cross. But even as she stood there in anguish, looking up at the broken body of her beloved Firstborn, the One she had for such a little time, she realized that He loved her all along and He had not forgotten her. He said to her, "Woman, behold thy son" (John 19 : 26), and gave her into the care of the Apostle John.

Have you experienced the heartbreak of losing your child? To drugs, a sinful life style or even to death? Whatever it might be, my heart goes out to you this Mother's Day. But know this. God has not forgotten you. Just as He gave His mother to someone who would take good care of her, just so by His death on the cross He has given you over to His Father who will take care of you.

Always.

If you have already given your heart to Him and believe His promises, you can take comfort in the fact that He will bring your children back one day. He says, "Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears: for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the LORD; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy" (Jeremiah 31:16).

As Mary stood at the foot of the cross, she must have thought she would never see her Son again, but that morning when the Holy Spirit descended on the occupants of the upper room, Mary was there to receive Him. Her Son was now in heaven with His Father, but He had sent the Comforter to earth to comfort her and everyone who needs His comfort. If you lost your child to death and he died in Christ, know that you will see him again. "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord" (1 Thessalonians 4: 16 - 17).

When I lost my daughter-in-law suddenly four years ago, the verse above is one that brought me comfort. She was a God-fearing young woman and I know she died in Christ. If you are not sure if you will meet Jesus when you die, why don't you ask Him right now?

Dear Jesus, I want to be with You and my loved ones in heaven when that time comes. I give you my heart right now and I ask You to help me to live my life for You from this day forward. Amen

In The Midst Of Celebration

2011-04-30T21:06:00.000-04:00

If you live on this planet, you would no doubt have been aware of or be caught up in the excitement and awe of the Royal nuptials of Prince William and Kate Middleton. I'm sure everyone would agree, no one does Royal weddings like the Brits. As I watched the newly- wed couple ride off in the royal carriage, escorted by dancing white horses and ninettenth-century attired horsemen, I felt transported into a wonderland.

However, at the back of my mind was the devastation that had taken place two days earlier in the southern United States, my state, Georgia, among them. The news networks kept interrupting their coverage of the royal wedding to show scenes of the destruction and of the president touring the disaster area in Alabama.

As I pondered on these things, this verse popped into my mind: "For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child ; and they shall not escape" (1 Thessalonians 5:3). In this case it wasn't all that sudden. The news stations had been issuing warnings days before. Even nature seemed to be preparing us. The storms began during the day, then quieted down, something which the meteorologists called "a warm up" for what was to come. So we did have time to escape. And yet, hundreds of people died.

The Bible tells us, "For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night" (1 Thessalonians 5: 2). This verse calls on us to prepare ourselves because no one knows the day nor the hour when Jesus will return. In the case of tornadoes and hurricanes we do get some warning, but it's not always easy to save ourselves. This must have been the case of those unfortunate ones who perished a few days ago. However, we can prepare ourselves for the coming of Our Lord. We should not be so caught up in the things of the world that we leave ourselves open to eternal destruction.

In our age of information overload, the gospel has not been left out, but some of us remain in our stubborneness and will not heed the warnings we're being given. President Obama, during his tour of the stricken areas in Alabama, said he'd never seen such devastation. Well, there's a devastation far greater that will come upon the earth when Jesus returns. Those of us who are ready will celebrate, but for those who are not "There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out" (Luke 13: 28). Now where do you want to be? In the midst of a celebration or a destruction?

IN HIS NAME

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