Freedom of Speech

Posted on December 22, 2020 by Kristin

Lately, I’ve been very concerned about our freedom of speech in this country. I’m also worried about Christians who don’t see the problem. First off, I’m not a controversial person. I write humor.

But I’ve been concerned about an increase in young adult suicide as my kids have had three acquaintances commit suicide. These young adults have their whole world ahead of them, but they are living without hope. We have taken God and prayer out of our schools and we’ve given these kids no moral guidelines. Told them everything is fine as long as it makes you feel good (forget what it does to other people.) Drugs are okay and now legal. Sex outside of marriage is your right, etc. Never telling them the damage all of this free living can do to your soul. So this was my motive for putting a post on Instagram that said suicide rates were up and posted a number for the Suicide Prevention Line. Instagram flagged my post with a red warning and said that it was fake news because of the statistic used.

This is very dangerous precedent and I want people to be aware of what free speech is. Free speech is the ability to say what you want without fear of legal repercussions. Sure, people might hate you, but legally, you’re safe. If I want to announce the red spaghetti monster has returned from Mars to harm us all — that is my first amendment right. To be corrected by the likes of Instagram when that post might have helped someone struggling with suicidal thoughts, makes me ill. That is what China would do if you posted something against their regime. That’s not free speech. It’s happening on all the apps. Post something the press doesn’t want you to believe and you’re flagged and deleted.

As a journalism major this trend makes me afraid of our future. I lived in Silicon Valley my entire life. You do not want these people telling you how to think. Trust me on this. I watched my sleepy little town turn into a place where greed and money were utterly worshiped, where the middle class slowly disappeared. Where he who has the most money gets the opinion, yours is worthless. My grandparents taught me to never make a decision based solely on money so imagine how counterintuitive living there became. That is not what we want for our future.

I know I’m passionate about this subject, but it starts with the little things. It starts with making you uncomfortable about what you post or believe. Since these apps are private, they hide behind their privacy policies and deny free speech on their apps. They get away with it because you can choose not to use these venues.

I know we are living in unprecedented times, but there are frightening trends happening in our world that have nothing to do with this virus. Please join me in standing up for your rights to have a dissenting opinion and speak them freely. When you start silencing one group, another one will follow. Remember this:

“First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—
     Because I was not a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—
     Because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
     Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.” Martin Niemöller

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A Prayer Quilt Christmas by Nancy J. Farrier

Posted on December 18, 2020 by Nancy J. Farrier

Christmas is almost here, and I have a first this year. This is the first time I’ve written a Christmas story. I loved it so much I’m sure it won’t be the last I’ll do. Today, I wanted to share an excerpt from my Christmas novella. Enjoy.

Her Christmas dream is shattered, but he wants to give her a Christmas that touches her soul.

Sand squished under her blanket as Meg Stratton pulled her knees tight against her chest and tugged her oversize sweatshirt as close to her ankles as possible. Waves gnashed at the beach as weak sunlight attempted to shove heavy clouds aside. Her day off. Working might be better than sitting here with fatigue dragging her under, watching the endless battle between water and sand, and freezing in the late Fall chill.

November.

Two weeks until Thanksgiving.

She had the turkey in the freezer, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and corn, also frozen. Austin and Aaron helped her plan pecan and apple pies, croissants, and her boys even conceded to her making a salad, although they were unlikely to eat much of that dish. They’d had such fun with the planning. That was the first time the three of them had connected with such enthusiasm. The excitement and anticipation had been building. They were even going to make their own decorations for the table.

Not anymore.

Last night, Darrell, her ex, swept in and announced he wanted the boys for the holidays. He was back in the country, a last-minute change, and he had full custody. The right to rip her children out from under her roof. She had no say in the matter. Barely had time to hug the boys before they disappeared into the dark of the evening.

For who knew how long.

Leaving her alone in that empty house she rented, her ears tuned to the silence, aching for the sound of a snore, or that—at times—annoying call of, “Moooom.” What she wouldn’t give to hear a bit of bickering right now.

Instead, there was only the sound of waves crashing, the piercing cry of the seagulls, and the wind whistling past carrying a chill that battered her exterior. Her interior chill had settled in last night when she listened to her ex’s car fire up and disappear down the street.

She dropped her forehead to her sweatshirt-covered knees and squeezed her burning eyes shut. Was this another example of her past coming back to bite her? For sure. If she hadn’t made those very selfish choices years ago, she would still have a husband, a home with her boys, and a life that had meaning. Maybe.

Something pricked her heart. She did have a life with meaning. She loved her job. She loved her friends. And she loved living in Driftwood Cove. The small-town life appealed way more to her than the hectic pace and anonymity of the big city. People liked her here. They didn’t have huge expectations about how she should act. How she should dress. How she should be the little cookie cutter wife—one who would enhance her husband without having any life of her own. That’s what she’d escaped.

Escaped the wrong way.

The wind gusted, sending her short hair swirling, the strands stinging her face. Heavy clouds turned the ocean slate-gray, threatening rain. Yet, she stayed. She had no energy to climb to her feet and trek up the path to her car. If she tried, they would find her crumpled in the sand like some beached ocean creature.

Far down the beach to her right, motion caught her eye. She watched the tiny figure running toward her. Running. Who had the energy to run? She certainly didn’t. Who would want to run? She snorted. She might run for some of the barbecue and pie at I-BBQ, but not for much else.

This person moved with an easy grace, more of a lope than a jog. Male? Female? She squinted, studying the runner. Male. Or not.

She turned away, staring out at the roiling waves battling one another for dibs on the beach, and wished she could see some dolphins or seals. Something to brighten the inner and outer gloom of the day.

If you enjoyed the start of Meg and Wade’s story, here is a link to the A Prayer Quilt Christmas on Amazon.

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Favorite Time of Year – By Kathy Carmichael

Posted on December 17, 2020 by kathc2


 

Merry Christmas!

Can’t you just picture this?

“Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward humankind.”

In my imagination, there are dozens of angels and other heavenly creatures scalloping and draping the night sky, celebrating the birth of baby Jesus.

It’s a lovely visual, and as I sing Christmas carols each year, it’s the image I replay in my mind.

“The Bible tells us that God has ordered angels to minister to His people–those who have been redeemed by the power of Christ’s blood.” ~ From ANGELS by Rev. Billy Graham

My last blog post was about angels, and it couldn’t have been more timely leading up to Christmas. The angels came to earth to give us messages of great tidings. Yes, angels are real. Yes, angels are a separate species. They are not human. They do not die. They do not need to be reborn. They are not saved by Grace as we are. Instead, today’s angels serve our Heavenly Father and help look after us, for which I am eternally grateful.

At the opening of the New Testament, the angel Gabriel comes to Zacharias, and tells him that he and his wife will be having a very special child (John the Baptist). Gabriel came to the Virgin Mary and either he, or another angel, later confirmed to Joseph, about the birth of the baby Jesus. I can only imagine the joy Gabriel experienced at having been chosen by our Lord for these delightful tasks!

It won’t be long until Christmas is again past for another year. I hope that each of you find much of the joy and peace offered to us this season and for the year ahead. I wish you and yours a very Merry and Blessed Christmas.

 

 

 

 

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Was Wenceslas a Saint? by James R. Coggins

Posted on December 16, 2020 by jrcoggins

Has it ever happened that we miss the implications of the songs we sing?

A song that has intrigued me for some time is the Christmas carol, “Good King Wenceslas.” The carol has a medieval European setting and has some basis in history. Wenceslas was the Duke of Bohemia, a popular ruler who was murdered in 936 AD. This was partly because Wenceslas’s encouragement of the Christian faith, which had newly come to his territory, angered some of his pagan subjects. He was struck down by his brother at the door of a church while on his way to mass. Wenceslas was later canonized by the Roman Catholic Church as the patron saint of Czechoslovakia.

The carol begins: “Good King Wenceslas looked out on the Feast of Stephen.” What did he see? Not “the Feast of Stephen.” That was just the date, December 26—although it is significant that this was a feast day commemorating Stephen, one of the first seven deacons in the church responsible for distributing food to widows (Acts 6) and also a martyr, a man killed because of his faith in Jesus.

What Wenceslas saw was something that many rich people don’t see when they look out their windows. He saw the poor: “A poor man came in sight gathering winter fuel.”

Wenceslas went even farther. He asked his servant who the poor man was: “Yonder peasant, who is he? Where and what his dwelling?”

The servant knew the man and provided detailed directions to the man’s house: “Sire, he lives a good league hence underneath the mountain, right against the forest fence, by St. Agnes’ fountain.”

Wenceslas took the next step and decided to do something to help the poor man. He ordered his servant: “Bring me flesh and bring me wine, bring me pine logs hither; thou and I will see him dine when we bear them thither.” So the king and his servant brought food and drink and fuel to the poor man.

When so many rich people keep their wealth to themselves, Wenceslas’s charity is rightly celebrated. He didn’t just send a check. He went personally to the home of the poor man to help. His example is certainly worth copying. And that is the point of the carol, to encourage those with “wealth or rank” to “bless the poor.”

However, a deeper question arises when we consider all the aspects of the relationship between Wenceslas and the poor man.

The servant said that the poor man “lives a good league hence…right against the forest fence.” A “league” is about three miles, five kilometers. So, this poor man had wandered three miles through the snow looking for sticks for his fire. Why would he do that when he lived right next to “the forest”?

The reason is that the forest had a “fence” or boundary.  By law, forests were reserved for the use of kings and nobles. Wenceslas, as a noble and a king, had an abundance of pine logs and food. The pine logs came from the forest. The food came from hunting expeditions in the forest and from taxes (in kind) on the agricultural production of the peasants.

Wenceslas’s charity takes on a different aspect when seen in this light. No doubt his motivation was good. His wealth was justified on legal grounds and social conventions. He could have kept it all. Instead, he chose to share it. However, one can’t help but ask whether a more just socio-economic system (giving the peasant equal access to the forest) would have removed the need for charity in the first place.

Looked at this way, Wenceslas’s charity can be seen as a reward to an “Uncle Tom,” a poor man who accepted the oppression of an unjust social system without questioning it.

There is no need to be unduly critical of Wenceslas. Within the limitations of the existing social system, he was a man who was trying his best to do what was right. As a ruler, he knew it was necessary to maintain the rule of law, property rights, and the integrity of the social order (which everyone at the time considered God-ordained). He couldn’t just democratize control of the nation’s wealth without angering the other nobles, losing the authority to govern, and risking civil war. In an age without an adequate police force, the possibility of social chaos was always a legitimate and immediate concern. Laws based on centuries-old understandings of the social order could not simply be abolished overnight without risking serious problems. And surely wilderness areas needed to be preserved for the sake of the environment. Wenceslas couldn’t just let the peasants burn the forests down for fuel.

The issues Wenceslas struggled with are the issues we struggle with today. Our charity is good, but in many cases necessitated by larger scale social inequities which society seems unable to resolve. We don’t want to let the homeless just camp in the woods because we need to preserve property rights and the social order, not to mention the environment. Simply throwing open the gates and letting anything happen won’t necessarily make things better—as has been proven in places such as Robert Mugabe’s Zimbabwe and Pol Pot’s Cambodia.

Wenceslas was not an evil man. Within the limitations of the feudal system of his time, he was a good man. But it is perhaps stretching the point to call him a saint in medieval terms, a man of such superfluous holiness that his footsteps melted the snow. More likely, Wenceslas, like us, was a sinful man, redeemed by the grace of God, trying to do the right thing in an evil world.

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Wishing You A Merry Christmas by Tara Randel

Posted on December 14, 2020 by tararandel

Merry Christmas, friends! It’s the beautiful time of year when we celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. Although we can easily get caught up with decorations and presents and baking, I hope we never lose sight of what Jesus’ birth meant for each and every one of us.

Gifts are always a big part of the season. Whether it’s treasures from Wise Men who sought out Jesus or the shining star that led shepherds to find the stable and the baby, I find that I love to give rather than receive during the holidays.

In the spirit of the season, I’m announcing two giveaways on my Tara Randel Books Facebook page, running December 14 & 15. You can enter to win one of two giveaways (pictured below) by answering the questions you’ll find on the page. It’s my way of thanking you for being a part of my writing journey. I couldn’t do it without all you lovely readers!

This year, I pray you have a blessed Christmas season. Enjoy family and friends. Thank the Father for the good things that He’s given you during this crazy year of 2020. If anything, we were reminded of how important, and necessary, the Lord is in our lives. I pray for protection, finances and lastly, hope, for all.

Here’s looking forward to 2021!

Tara Randel is an award-winning, USA Today bestselling author. Family values, a bit of mystery and of course, love and romance, are her favorite themes, because she believes love is the greatest gift of all. For more information about her books, visit Tara at www.tararandel.com. Like her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TaraRandelBooks. Sign up for Tara’s Newsletter and receive a link to download a free digital book.

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Speak Faith by Bridget A. Thomas

Posted on December 10, 2020 by Bridget

During this time of year, like many people, I enjoy reading about the birth of Jesus. I was recently reading through the book of Luke. Luke 1 gives us a lot of details that lead up to Jesus’ birth, details which we do not see in the other gospels. It talks about the foretelling of two births – John the Baptist and Jesus.

First, we read about the foretelling of the birth of John the Baptist. John’s parents, Zechariah and Elizabeth, were old and had no children. Zechariah was a priest. Both he and Elizabeth were “righteous in the sight of God” (Luke 1:6). One day Zechariah “was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.” (v 9)

This was a special day for Zechariah. Not only because of the duties he was to perform that day, but also because of something extraordinary that happened while he was in the temple. The angel, Gabriel, appeared to Zechariah while he was inside and told him that Elizabeth would soon bear a son.

Verses 14-17 say, “He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

What an amazing promise this must have been. Was hope bubbling up inside of Zechariah? We don’t have the answer. But as the story unfolds, it does appear that doubt had creeped in. “Zechariah asked the angel, ‘How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.’” (v. 18)

Due to Zechariah’s questioning, things take a slight turn. Gabriel tells him, “…you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.” (v. 20) Yikes. How scary it must have been to not be able to speak for many months.

Later in this chapter we read about the foretelling of Jesus’ birth. The same angel, Gabriel, appeared to Mary. In verses 30-33 he tells her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

I wonder what emotions ran through Mary when she heard this news. Was she fearful or hopeful? Was she in awe or confused? In verse 34, Mary does question Gabriel by asking how this can happen since she is a young, unmarried girl.

The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. …For no word from God will ever fail.” (v 35,37)

How did Mary reply to that? I am amazed by her response. In verse 38 Mary says, “I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled.” Mary’s words are inspiring. Would any of us have been able to submit to the Lord in this situation? Do we submit to the Lord this easily in less consequential situations? How I wish I always had this attitude. In fact, this story makes me cringe at my reaction to much smaller circumstances, when something comes my way that I did not plan for.

And reading through this chapter in Luke, I am often struck by the contrast in these two different stories. Zechariah who doubted versus Mary who surrendered. Reading this shows me the importance of speaking faith with our words. It is not always easy to speak faith, but it is possible because we have the Holy Spirit living inside of us. It must start in our hearts. We must fully trust in the Lord first, and then our words will better reflect our faith. May the words that come out of our mouths be pleasing to the Lord. May our words show God, ourselves, and those around us that we have strong faith in our trustworthy Father.

Photo by Nubia Navarro (nubikini) on Pexels.com
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Breakthrough or Breakup by Julie Arduini

Posted on December 9, 2020 by juliearduini

It’s a rite of passage for authors. The one-star review/rating. The dread of it kept me from writing for publication for decades.

Yes, decades.

In my young adult years I was tied to what people thought of me. It kept me up nights. The mere thought of putting my work out there for others to judge? Nope, I couldn’t do it.

Thankfully, I prayed a lot and went through several Bible studies that helped me. By the time I was thirty-five, I knew I had to surrender the fear. I promised God I would write for Him when He wanted, what He wanted.

Funny part is, I am so untied to opinions that I only look at reviews for marketing purposes. I know there are authors who watch their sales by the hour. Who lose sleep over reviews. I’m very grateful the Lord walked me through that fire before my name ever appeared on Amazon.

Yesterday I was working on marketing and came across a rating. It’s a newer release I haven’t promoted hard because it’s not in my preferred genre and I’m so behind. It’s the first review, so it hits like brick when you see one rating, one star.

The old mindset started to shake off the dust and spring to action.

You’re a failure.

Who will take you seriously with that rating?

They hated what you did.

Instead of those thoughts consuming me for days, I recognized they were from the true defeated one and deflected my thinking to truth.

I am called to write.

My true audience is an audience of One.

Because no review is attached, this person could hate me. There are a few out there. They could have read it during a free promotion and not realized there was a Biblical principle woven throughout. They could have hated the story. They could have thought that one-star was a great thing. They could be a troll just stirring it up.

I had to surrender it and move on.

Hours later I look at my email and see another trigger.

The unsubscribe button.

That tells me someone who signed up for my newsletter content no longer wants it. They could have just signed up for the freebies. They could have signed up thinking I was all romance and no Christ. They could find my newsletter links via social media and decide their inbox is too full. It’s hard to guess why someone dismisses it.

Of course, it’s all the ammunition the enemy needs. Two negative writing-related issues in one day? That’s going to break me, right?

Not so fast.

I did take a moment to lament. As a praying person, I really believe writing is in part why God created me. The purpose He revealed to me involves writing, speaking, and then praying for the remnant that approaches me. That hasn’t even all been fulfilled yet, I believe that season is coming. I did double check with my Heavenly Father.

Did I hear right? I thought You were delivering a breakthrough, but this feels like a breakup.

It reminds me of my labor. Ever the literal reader, my pregnant self digested those birthing books as fast as I was eating chocolate. The books explained transition, the part before delivery, is 20-40 minutes long and marked by a feeling of giving up. The books encouraged the expecting to hold on, breakthough it coming. All that work will pay off very soon with that baby.

My son did not read those books. As soon as I told my husband I wanted to quit, my eyes lit up because I realized I was in transition. Forty minutes to go, tops!

My transition was three hours long before they brought in the emergency surgery team for a C-section.

My guess is no matter what the call on our life, we are all in transition. 2020 is a straight-up shift with periods of shaking. I’ve been tempted to quit. Hide in bed and binge TV all day.

Here’s the thing I referred to the devil as the defeated one. That’s the name he’d rather you not know and certainly doesn’t want you to call him by. His resources are few and his time is short. He’d rather lie and tell us we are defeated.

By the blood of Jesus, we are not.

Did that one-star rating sting? Did the unsubscribe pinch? It did. But I lamented, took a breath, and went to my prayer place and pressed in. Transition isn’t fun an it hurts. But that birth is coming.

And all the hurt, rejection, and stuff of this year will be worth it.

Hang in there. (((hugs)))

Join me December 12 when I host at Free Christian Books & More from 11-3 Eastern. There will be chat, games, and giveaways!
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The World IS Still Turning

Posted on December 8, 2020 by Kristin

I know it’s hard to believe life is going on when you’ve been in quarantine for so long, but I can assure you that it is. And I needed to know that. It’s very easy to believe life will never start up again and I think that has been devastating on our youth. They’ve missed out on so much: Graduations, Weddings, Socialization, etc. I mean, quarantining to me is not that much different from typical life. I’m a writer. I work alone (well, online for a few hours a day with friends to combat quarantine, but I have no actual co-workers.) I walk my dog and I keep up with my adult children. That’s my day.

Young adults and kids are not this lucky. They don’t have school. They don’t have nights out with friends. They don’t have dorm life for the most part and I fear we’re not taking that seriously. There is a cost to our youth and it concerns me immensely. I’m sorry to say that I know of a few suicides in this age group. Mere children who had their whole lives ahead of them but they can’t see past this terrible lockdown.

While most churches are meeting online, that’s not good enough for our kids and I fear the toll on mental health is going to be just as devastating as this disease that I refuse to name. Please, as a Christian, I am begging you to check in on people. Ensure they know that Jesus is Lord and that He has this in His hands. Take them for a drive. Show them that life is still going on even amongst these dark circumstances.

Recently, I drove with my daughter from Colorado to California so her cousin could continue her cosmetology education (cut to bare bones thanks to this disease) and we ended up shopping for her wedding dress since everyone she wanted there was in California. I spent a month there with my family and it was so good for my soul. My parents live about 90 minutes from Lake Tahoe so we took drives. We got outside and we remembered His glory in nature.

Don’t forget to live. My parents turned on the news while I was there and it’s non-stop fear mongering. Let me remind you, we’re all going to die. None of us is immune and yes, we should do what we can to stay healthy and keep others healthy, but don’t forget to live. Go for a drive. Check in on loved ones. Most importantly, pray. This disease can’t stop God. Elle took her mask off for this photo and it makes me so happy to see a bit of normal.

Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;

let the sea resound, and all that is in it. Let the fields be jubilant, and

everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy. Psalm 96:11-12

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Looking Ahead by Nancy J. Farrier

Posted on December 7, 2020 by Nancy J. Farrier

When we moved from California to Arizona over two and a half years ago, that move was very difficult for me. I gave up so much and have struggled since then. I’ve often thought about my ministries left behind and how I disconnected I am right now. And not because I haven’t wanted to get involved.

I’ve prayed about prayed about different ministry opportunities but every time I thought the idea had merit, I’ve received a resounding “no” from God. No matter how good the outreach sounds to me, He hasn’t approved. How can I possibly move forward when He hasn’t given me an opening anywhere?

I want to serve. I’ve always had a heart for ministry. I love giving of myself for Christ, helping others in whatever way He’s called me to, even in the very difficult ministries. But, here in Arizona, we are isolated – and that was before the pandemic. I’ve been alone and lonely, wondering if God is finished with me. Or if I did something that displeased Him, and He plopped me in the middle of the desert – literally.

A couple of weeks ago, God began dealing with my tendency to look back at those times with longing. Wasn’t’ that what Lot’s wife did? Hmmmm. I do not want to be a pillar of salt. He’s shown me that what He has for me isn’t found back there but is found by facing forward. By looking for what’s in store in the future. That’s where my focus and my heart belong.

At a very low point one recent Sunday morning, I prayed for God to speak to me through the Pastor’s message and show me what He wants from me. That morning my Pastor chose to talk about words. About how God speaks to us with words. About the need for us to use words to communicate God’s message. About the power of our words when we use them for God’s purpose.

I sat there stunned at the answer. I’ve been a writer for years, but writing has been just a piece of my ministry. It’s never been my sole focus of my calling. I now realize God brought me to the desert to learn that He wants me to work on my craft of writing and to make this a more important part of my life. To write stories that honor and glorify Him.

I also took some time to see what the Bible has to say about the need to look ahead. Looking forward is found in many Bible stories. What about the choice Moses made? 

By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. Hebrews 11:24-26 (NKJV)

Moses chose to give up everything, to move into the desert with people who were not his own, and then to come back to lead God’s people. His task was difficult in the extreme, yet he chose to do this because he looked forward to what God had for him. 

Jesus did not look back at the fun times he had with his friends and disciples. He didn’t long for his childhood days or home. He looked toward the work God had for him to do—that of dying on the cross and saving all who choose to believe in Him. He set his face toward that work and didn’t look back.

Now it came to pass, when the time had come for [Jesus] to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem. Luke 9:51

With the virus running rampant and so many of us staying at home, maybe there are others who are feeling adrift from the church and from doing God’s work. If so, keep praying. God has a purpose for you. He has a work for you to do. 

Maybe you too can use words to reach someone for God. Writing a book might not be an option for you, but you could consider writing an email or even a little note to send in the mail. There are many lonely people out there who could use a word of encouragement—just something to let them know someone is thinking of them.

If you are so inclined, perhaps a phone call would be a good way to connect with someone. Or get together with a friend on a video call. 

There are many ways to look ahead, instead of looking back at what we once had. Look ahead to what God wants you to do, and to what He has in store for you. 

Look toward God’s purpose for you, and open your heart to hear His desire. He has an amazing plan.

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Angels by Kathy Carmichael

Posted on December 3, 2020 by kathc2

I have been reading a wonderful book by Rev. Billy Graham entitled ANGELS: God’s Secret Agents. It was a very timely book for me and I’m learning a lot from reading it.

 

Having had my own interactions with angels, I questioned whether my experiences would live up to what Billy Graham describes in this book. The answer is, “Yes.” I know everyone has their own unique take on the subject of angels, but I found his teachings to resonate deep inside me, plus I have learned so much.

When I have had a personal interaction with an angel that I’m aware of, it was generally to give me a message. But sometimes we don’t see the angels. They seem to be invisible unless they wish to reveal themselves. And I can’t count the number of times I believe an angel has interceded on my behalf. Like the time when I heard a voice in my head instruct me to “pull the car over; otherwise you’ll be involved in a serious auto accident.” I pulled over, but don’t know what accident I may have avoided in obeying the voice. I just did. I think it’s wisest to listen to warning voices like that.

Here is a quote from the book that particularly spoke to me.

Yes, angels are real. They are not the product of our imagination, but were made by God Himself. Think of it! Whether we see them or not, God has created a vast host of angels to help accomplish His work in this world. When we know God personally through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ, we can have confidence that the angels of God will watch over us and assist us because we belong to Him.

That’s an extremely strong statement. We belong to God and he sends angels to watch over us.

Another quote from the book talks about nations.

The Bible teaches that angels intervene in the affairs of nations. God often uses them to execute judgment on nations. They guide, comfort, and provide for the people of God in the midst of suffering and persecution.

With what is happening the US today regarding the validity of our elections, I felt a strong sense of peace come over me when I read those lines. If it is God’s will, the angels will intervene in the affairs of our nation. I don’t know about you, but I completely trust our Heavenly Father in determining what will happen going forward.

Another section of the book talks about fallen angels and that not all angels are holy angels. This is a needed warning. I’ve known people who’ve talked about visitations from angels that were not particularly holy in the angel’s intentions. We need to be on guard to make sure our perceptions are in tune with the reality and God’s words. Not all angels are good.

If you haven’t read this book or if it’s been awhile since you read it (the original version came out in 1975, but it’s been updated since then), I highly recommend it. Click here to learn more or to buy.

One last quote to bring you peace and calm:

Believers, look up—take courage. The angels are nearer than you think. For after all (as we have already noted), God has given “his angels charge of you, to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone” (Psalm 91:11-12 RSV).

***********************************************************************

An update on the Christians Read Book Club. Currently we have very few members who have signed up through this website. As a result, we are suspending Zoom meetings until after the first of the year–or until we have enough members signed up. I’m sorry to disappoint those who’ve signed up, but without enough people to participate for now, I have no choice. We do have a link on Amazon Book Clubs in which we name the book of each month, and that will continue, so please consider joining it as well 🙂  Click here for Amazon Christians Read Book Club.

 

 

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Cards and Communication by James R. Coggins

Posted on December 2, 2020 by jrcoggins

Every year when I was growing up, one entire wall of our living room would be filled with multiple strings holding Christmas cards our family had received that year.

Long distance telephone rates were very high, and the postal system was the most economical way to keep in touch with family members and distant friends. My mother would spend weeks addressing cards and sending long letters to people far away. Even if they did not communicate all year, people still made a point of catching up at Christmas.

Of course, times have changed. We have much easier ways of keeping in touch—telephone, email, Facebook, Zoom, video chat, and many more.

For a number of years after we were married (42 years ago), my wife and I continued the tradition of sending out Christmas cards and letters. I even developed a tradition of writing a creative and humorous form letter containing all of the family news. Often I would arrange for a different “family member” to write the letter. One year it was our new roof, which had been watching over the family and seeing everything that was happening. Other years, it was our new car or a new pet. I never asked our new rug to write the letter because, well, rugs lie.

In return, our friends and family members would send us Christmas cards and their Christmas letters.

As technology developed, I began sending out some of the letters by email. It was faster and less expensive. I even learned how to incorporate photos into the letter, which was far cheaper than having extra prints of the photos made and stuffing them into envelopes. Because it was less expensive, I found I could send the letter to more people.

Today, I send almost all of the Christmas letters out by email, except for a few recipients who do not have access to modern technology.

But something strange happened when I switched to email. When we were sending Christmas cards through the mail, almost everyone we wrote to responded with a card or letter of their own, and some people sent cards and letters even though we hadn’t sent anything to them. But now that we send our Christmas greetings by email, only a very tiny percentage of the recipients respond.

Something strange is happening as our technology changes. We have far easier, quicker, less expensive, and more varied ways of communicating with each other. But we don’t.

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Who’re You Going to Hate? (by Hannah Alexander)

Posted on December 1, 2020 by alexanderhodde
  • KODAK Digital Still Camera

 

I’d like to think it isn’t in my nature to actually want to hate someone at all times, but really? Maybe it’s there. It’s easier, at times, to complain about someone or something than it is to praise.

A lot of neighbors in town really hate these deer because they live in town and eat everything that isn’t nailed down or behind a sturdy fence. I can’t speak to that, myself, since I’m not a gardener. I prefer the deer, but please don’t tell my neighbors that!

It’s also easier to complain about things that are happening right now than it is to count my blessings. I’ve caught myself a few times lately saying that I “hated” such and such. And I’ve said it about more than one thing more than one time. And when I’ve caught myself, I’ve realized that in that moment, I was personally placing a curse on that particular object. I don’t like myself when I do that.

Mel and I decided many years ago to stop complaining when a car cut us off in traffic. I had to really watch my mouth. But as we’ve read in the Bible, “Let your yea be yea and your nay be nay.” So picture us trying hard to be good and yelling out the window at the poor driver, “Nay!”

Not as satisfying as I’d hoped, but if you can stick you that, you’ll probably be better off.

I want to stop being a complainer. I remind myself that the Israelites grumbled against God and were stuck in the desert for 40 years. Or they were just struck down. Even though these aren’t Old Testament times, I think erring on the side of caution is wise. Now to just DO THAT–bless instead of cursing, count blessings instead of hating–and I think we’ve got this year fixed. Right?

 

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Hacked and Stolen Accounts Happen to Everyday People by Vicki Hinze

Posted on November 30, 2020 by Vicki Hinze


It seems we’ve entered a new stage in America. As Christians, we didn’t ask for it, certainly don’t want it, but it is here all the same and thrust upon us.

Late in the afternoon the day before Thanksgiving, my Twitter account was hacked and stolen.  That might sound like a trivial thing, but I’ve had that account since 2008 and had accumulated nearly 40,000 tweets.  These messages were about my books, but also inspiring and, I hope, uplifting messages to the 10.5 thousand people who followed my account and to those who happened to see the messages when they passed through.  I also did short “Good morning!  My wish for you today is…” followed by a spiritual principle to focus on that day.  For example, that people be gifted with discernment, to know the truth when they see or hear it.  To do a kindness for a stranger.  To do one thing to make someone else’s life a little better that day.

Nothing much different than I’ve done on that account for the past 14 years.  Yet, for the innocuous work on that account, it, or I, was targeted.

I’ve worked with, I thought, Twitter ever since—today is day six—to no avail.  Reports have been circular—report the problem, they need more info, provide it, problem resolved only it isn’t, report… and back through the process.  Someone far more computer savvy tells me, I’ve been corresponding with a bot.  I can’t say either way.  I can say others who have typed in my name get taken to a strange locked page that isn’t me.

Then a similar attempt was made on another social media account and on a phone and in other places.  Clearly, it’s an identity theft attempt.  I have special coverage for that, and it’ll get sorted out by professionals.

My point is I had no idea why I was targeted—and then I heard from a pastor who had experienced the same thing on the same day.  And then two other Christian friends.  And then I saw more.  And still more.

I’m sharing so that you are not caught unaware.

This has come at a problematic time for me, which I suspect could be intentional.  On December 6th, I have a new book coming out, BLOOD STRANGERS, which is the second book in this year’s general audience group series:  Behind Closed Doors: Family Secrets.

Each year, I do a related novel with the same group of authors.  That book is this year’s book and project.  Getting word out about it is my issue.  I’m working on that and have no doubt, God will guide my steps.

The important thing is for you to be aware that this is occurring.  It isn’t that all the people impacted have large accounts—one has 80 followers.  So no one is immune.

What You Can Do

 

I’ve no idea if this will prevent, but it could help. 

 

  1. Use a unique, complex password.Something you do not use elsewhere.
  2. Use a two-factor authentication on your account.So if someone strange tries to log into your account from somewhere other than where you typically do, you’re notified.
  3. Keep your device and your software updated and protected.

Be advised that I was sent a notification about the stranger attempt to log into my account—the day after they did it.  Not exactly in time to do any good.

So, these suggestions are by no means fail-safe or complete.  For that reason, check with your own computer guru and with the social media platform’s privacy and security recommendations in their Help section. 

I do hope this has been at least a little helpful.

Blessings!

 

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A Familiar Favorite by Nancy J. Farrier

Posted on November 27, 2020 by Nancy J. Farrier
Photo by Roman Kraft on Unsplash

Do you have a favorite book of the Bible? A favorite chapter? A favorite verse? 

I think we all have someplace we turn to when we need the comfort of God’s word or a guidance during a difficult time. For me, a favorite chapter is Romans 12. 

Just this week, I was reading in Romans 12 and was struck anew by the absolute practicality of the teaching in these verses. For everyday behavior and how to be a Christian in the world where we live Romans 12 is a great place to turn.

Look at this one verse:

Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Ro. 12:9

There is a gold mine in the simplicity found here. Take the first sentence – Let love be without hypocrisy. Let your love be genuine. Don’t love one person one way and another person a different way. Treat each with the same love God would demonstrate toward that person.

God is love, and we are called to be like Him. I John 3:18 says, “My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.”

Our love is to be genuine, not an act put on for show. Our love for others is to be done in equality not dependent on the who that person is or what they have done. I will admit there are times I’ve had to ask God to give me His love for someone I found impossible to love, but every time He has been faithful to give me the grace needed to love that person. (Note: This does not mean I embraced a person’s behavior if it was not God honoring.)

This brings us to the second sentence in Romans 12:9 – Abhor what is evil. Abhor. To shrink from. To be horrified at. 

Isn’t this something we all do? Who wants to like evil? Yet, as a people of this world, aren’t we attracted to the horrific? Just like Eve in the garden, we want one bite of the forbidden. Our human nature is enticed by the evil dangled in front of us. But God asks us to abhor that evil.

However, God doesn’t leave us to do that on our own. Look at the last sentence in Romans 12:9 – Cling to what is good. Cling. To cleave to. To adhere to. This isn’t like a glue that holds you to something. This is like two sides of a wound knit together so tightly you can’t tell one part from the other.

What is the good that we should cling to? God, of course. When we cling to, cleave to, adhere to, God, we have the ability to love the unlovable with a genuine love. We have the ability to abhor evil and avoid the attraction to it. We have the ability to become more like God each and every day.

So pull out those favorite books, chapters, and verses. Study them daily. Let’s immerse ourselves in the love of God so much that we emulate Him in every part of our lives.

What is your favorite verse or chapter of the Bible. I’d love to hear.

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Happy Thanksgiving by Bridget A. Thomas

Posted on November 26, 2020 by Bridget

Today is Thanksgiving Day in the United States. I am honored to be on the schedule today to share this wonderful day with you.

In honor of this holiday, today I want to focus on 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 which says, “Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” I love these verses. They are so simple, yet so profound. If we followed these words each and every day, I can only imagine how different our lives would be. And think of the impact we could make on the world around us. I believe our good attitude would be contagious to those we encounter in our daily lives.

I have made gratitude a part of my life for a number of years now, and I can absolutely tell you that it does make a difference in your life. Gratitude brings peace and joy, because we are focused on the blessings around us. It helps us to keep our hearts in tune with God and how good He is to us. When we focus on gratitude, and ultimately, on the Lord, it takes our attention away from our problems. It reminds us that even when we have a bad day, so many things in our lives are still going right.

I believe when we follow the latter part of the verses above (be thankful in all circumstances) that will help us to better follow the advice in the beginning of the verses (always be joyful). And I also believe the middle part of the verses (never stop praying) plays a part in both joy and gratitude. Prayer is vital in our Christian walk. When we stay connected to God on a daily basis, this helps us to have joy, and it helps us to have gratitude as well.

But there is one word I want to point out in these verses – all. The Bible says to be thankful in ALL circumstances. I know this can be extremely difficult for us to do when we are in the midst of a storm. Life can be painful and bring us an array of problems. But we are still called to give thanks. I think this becomes easier when we fully know the love of the Lord and when we remember that He works all things together for good.

Dr. Charles Stanley puts it this way, “For us to be able to thank God in all things, we must be able to see him in every detail of our lives. Our hearts should be grateful towards him, even when we face difficulties, because we know he is intimately involved in our circumstances and will work everything for our good if we have faith and obey him (Ro 8:28).” (Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible.)

I would like to encourage you to hold these verses in your heart today. Recite them as you go about your day. I bet you will feel a supernatural peace as you focus on always being joyful, continually praying, and being thankful in all circumstances.

In case you need a little boost getting into a grateful frame of mind, check out this lovely YouTube video. I want to live my life with this mindset: https://youtu.be/zSt7k_q_qRU

I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving! God bless you!

© 2020 Bridget A. Thomas

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