Grateful for Music

Posted on November 7, 2019 by Bridget
woman sitting while showing heart sign hands

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A month of gratitude! Let’s focus on gratitude throughout the month of November. I challenge you to look around and be more aware of the blessings in your life. And each day write down at least five things you are thankful for.

Since I am a writer, I like words. I have always been one who loved a good quote. When I see signs with words on them, I feel compelled to read them. When my husband and I visit the mountains, sometimes we will go in different gift shops. Like a magnet, I am drawn to the plaques with words on them. I have to know what they say, and my hope is the words will be meaningful.

One of the most commonly quoted Bible verses is John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (NKJV) I was in the post office the other day and there was a man at the counter with a T-shirt which had words on it. I couldn’t read most of it because it was in Spanish. But I still knew it was this beloved Bible verse, because at the top of the shirt it said “Juan 3:16.”

Why do people love this verse so much? It sums up the love of God and what Jesus did for us. Words properly strung together can have a huge impact on us, just as this Bible verse does. Words can make people cry or laugh or both at the same time. Words can be beautiful and life-changing.

But let’s take this a step further by adding music to our words. A song with just the right lyrics and melody can leave us in awe. I have a T-shirt from my favorite radio station (The Joy FM) which states, “When words fail, music speaks.” The right song can unleash so much truth and emotion.

But I also believe that music, Christian music in particular, is an important piece of the puzzle when you are practicing gratitude. For one thing, the right music can be so uplifting! If you are feeling down, try turning on the radio for a boost. There are certain songs that just make us want to sing along, dance, and smile. Studies also show that music can having healing power. Music is even used in some hospitals to decrease a patient’s pain, improve their mood, lower their side effects, and make them less anxious. There is definitely power in music.

And when we sing songs to the Lord, our praise helps the feeling of gratitude bubble up inside of us. When we immerse ourselves into worshipping the Lord with good praise music, we can feel in our core what a wonderful, loving Father we have. And this, in turn, helps us to walk in gratitude and thanksgiving, because our eyes are opened to just how good God is to us.

And with that, I will leave you with a song which I have been enjoying recently. I hope you like it as much as I do! “Yes I Will” by Vertical Worship

Remember that every day is a gift from God!

(I will be sharing similar gratitude related posts here each Thursday of this month. So be sure to visit again. And on the first four Saturdays of this month, I will be sharing similar gratitude related posts on my author website. If you want to read last Saturday’s post, click here.)

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Living for God in a Pagan Society: What Daniel Can Teach Us

Posted on November 6, 2019 by jrcoggins

Do you ever feel confused or disappointed with what is going on in the world? Do you feel helpless before unwelcome trends in society? Do you feel pressured and isolated by what seems to be a pagan, God-defying culture all around you? Are you unsure of what you should do about it?

This is scarcely surprising. North American Christians are living in a society that is increasingly non-Christian and sometimes even anti-Christian. Accustomed to living in an at least nominally Christian society, many North American Christians are unprepared for the new reality. Where can they find a model for how to live for God in a God-defying culture?

My new book, Living for God in a Pagan Society: What Daniel Can Teach Us, argues that the early chapters of the Bible book called Daniel offer just such a model. Living at a time when the people of God had suffered a crushing and shocking defeat at the hands of the pagan Babylonians, Daniel and his friends were immersed in a society where the state, the education system, the culture and religion were all thoroughly pagan. In this situation, Daniel and his friends committed themselves to a course of action that North American Christians can use as a pattern to guide their own lives.

The book consists of an introduction and ten chapters. It concludes with study questions on each chapter and then a statement of commitment, which summarizes the teaching of the book and which the reader is invited to sign as an indication that he/she is committed to putting into practice the lessons of the book.

What Others Say

“If you want to understand the times, culture, message, and life of Daniel, James R. Coggins’s Living for God in a Pagan Society: What Daniel Can Teach Usis a must read. It is accessible (easy to read), informative (filled with history and explanatory notes) and applicable to our time. Looking at the early chapters of the book of Daniel, Coggins leads us into that world with an eye on how we, the people of God, can live in today’s pagan-bent world. This vital and important treatment of this critical moment in the ancient world will be helpful for study groups, pastoral preaching and personal reflection on the ways of God, then and today.”              

– Brian C. Stiller, Global Ambassador, The World Evangelical Alliance

“In his relatively concise look at the book of Daniel, James R. Coggins gives helpful insights into the background, meaning and application of this Old Testament prophet. While one will not find a detailed interpretation of the ‘prophetic’ elements of the book (this is not Coggins’s intent), this volume does provide the reader with a glimpse of the stories that run parallel to the prophecies and stimulates reflection on their meaning for life in the 21st century. Coggins does a good job of helping us understand the narratives and what we can learn from them. Recommended as an aid for Bible teachers and preachers who want to get some practical handles on an ancient text.”

– Ron Redekop, Senior Pastor, Richmond Alliance Church, Richmond, BC

Living for God in a Pagan Society: What Daniel Can Teach Us (ISBN: 978-0-9951983-8-8) is published by Mill Lake Books and is available through online retailers such as Amazon and through local bookstores.

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Ever Thankful…

Posted on November 5, 2019 by Kristin

I’m in the homestretch of what has been an epic era of garbage living.  Not that I didn’t have a lot to be grateful for in the midst of it, I did.  I had a company that hired me with little to no experience when I needed a job and a place to live.  They let my dog come live with me when she was without a home and finally, they treated me like family when I needed one.

In less than a month now, my son will be home from deployment — he’s been gone since the end of April and my family will reunite.  So I’m thrilled.  But before that happens, he has another month of pretty poor living conditions.  I have to move to my new state and get my obnoxious dog there on a flight (pray for me!) I have to arrange to have my son’s truck in San Diego when he gets home, then fly the volunteers home, etc., etc.,

It’s a dangerous place to live in the future.  When this happens, I will… I have always tried, in the midst of these trials to be grateful for all the blessings that God allowed me.  Oh, don’t get me wrong, I love to complain, but ultimately, I am the most grateful person on the planet.  My kids are healthy and successful — in that they are all doing what they want to do.  Is it the close family picture I wanted?  Well, no.  They’re scattered all over the west living their best lives.

In the next two weeks, I have to move, buy a new car, get settled, then get to San Diego for my son’s homecoming and it all feels so overwhelming for my ADD self.  That’s when I know that I have to stop.  To breathe.  And to be still and know…

There really is no better way to handle stress and loss than to be grateful.  Write down three things every day that you are grateful for — it’s so easy to get lost in what we don’t have, when in reality, God knows exactly what we need.  He’s giving us the lessons we need to make us better humans who are closer to Him. 41bFf1F0dQL._SX331_BO1,204,203,200_

Gratitude Journal

If you’re struggling, I encourage you to be grateful.  I’ve had a difficult journey the last few years, but God was always present.  He used Christians, He used non-Christians, but never did He let me fall.

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Encouragement by Nancy J. Farrier

Posted on November 4, 2019 by Nancy J. Farrier

 

November is here. I consider this the start of the holiday season. We discuss plans and menus for Thanksgiving. We consider gifts for Christmas and start making lists. New tasks are added to an already busy schedule. 

For authors, November can add an extra challenge. This is National Novel Writing Month or NaNoWriMo. This is the month where authors can sign up to write at least 50,000 words of a novel. The focus is getting words on the page, not editing as you go. 

For newer authors this can be a challenge. Writing isn’t easy. Putting the story you see in your head on to a page is daunting. Those words that sounded so good don’t look quite right when written down. But, writing takes practice, so participating in NaNoWriMo is good. Why? 

The encouragement.

Writing can be a lonely profession. An author spends hours alone – except for all those imaginary people – hunched over a keyboard. Type. Type. Type. Research. Type some more. Get coffee. Get some chocolate. But keep typing. Alone.

Writing is filled with doubts. No matter how much the author loves the story there is no guarantee anyone else will like it. All it takes to confirm this is to read reviews on Amazon or Goodreads. Even popular books have some nasty reviews. Every author is hurt by those reviews and the looming possibility that people will be cruel can cause you to doubt your craft.

Writers need encouragement. Every writer can use a dose of affirmation. That can come from many places, but during November’s NaNoWriMo, encouragement is everywhere. There are online groups and in person groups that meet. They don’t care if your story and writing are stellar, they just encourage you to put words on the page and do what you are called to do.

I also believe this applies to many people in many professions. I think of my walk as a Christian. Hebrews 10:24, 25, says, “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some but exhorting one another…” What wonderful words as we consider the needs of fellow Christians.

Being Christian can be lonely. Whether at home or in the workplace, being a Christian can be a difficult and lonely place to be. Often, we are treated differently. Sometimes we are shunned over some preconceived notion of how we will think or act. 

Being Christian can be filled with doubts. Faith is just that—faith. Not a road map with the stops and actions laid out, but a walk on a path that is often clouded and hard to perceive. Harsh words from those around us, and even criticism within the Christian community, can be very discouraging. All we want is to please God. This sounds easy, but can be filled with uncertainty.

Christians need encouragement. Sometimes all it takes to get a Christian back on track is an affirmation that God loves them. Going to church on Sunday gives an opportunity to meet with others just like you, walking in faith, struggling with doubt. It’s a time to sing and praise, to worship God in the reading and hearing of His Word. A time to get refilled for the coming week.

I love the idea of encouragement and often try to smile at people or say something uplifting. Instead of focusing on criticism and negativity, I think those we come in contact with would benefit from some affirmation. Don’t you?

So, this November, as the holiday season begins, consider adding one more item to your to-do list. Encourage someone every day.

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Four Words That Will Solve All Your Problems

Posted on October 31, 2019 by Bridget

The story of Esther in the Old Testament is one that I always enjoy reading. The book of Esther starts out by telling us that a king by the name of King Xerxes was holding an elaborate banquet. He asked the queen, whose name was Queen Vashti, to come to the assembly so everyone could see how beautiful she was. However, the queen refused to go, and this angered the king. So, the king dismissed her and searched for a new queen. Many young ladies came to present themselves as a potential queen, including a young lady named Esther. Esther was orphaned at a young age due to the death of her parents. So, a cousin named Mordecai raised her and acted as father to her. Since Mordecai and Esther were Jewish, they were foreigners in this land. But Mordecai told Esther not to reveal her nationality. When the king saw Esther, she immediately won his favor because of her beauty. Therefore, she became queen.

But the story doesn’t end there. There was a man named Haman who King Xerxes honored by giving him a seat higher than any noble. All the royal officials at the king’s gate knelt before Haman to honor him. However, Mordecai would not kneel as the others did. This made Haman very angry. Somehow, he learned that Mordecai was a Jew and he plotted to have all the Jews in the kingdom killed. When Mordecai learned of this, he was greatly distressed. He went to the king’s gate in sackcloth. Esther heard that he was there and sent someone to ask him what was troubling him. He explained the whole story and asked that Esther plead with the king. Initially Esther did not agree to the request because no one was allowed to approach the king in the inner court without being summoned. The consequences could result in death, unless the king extended his gold scepter to them and spared their lives. Mordecai further persuaded Esther saying that perhaps she gained her royal position “for such a time as this.”

Esther decided she would do whatever she could, even if it meant death. She and her attendants, as well as Mordecai and the other Jews, fasted for three days. When Esther went to the inner court, the king was pleased to see her and extended his gold scepter. He asked her what it was that she wanted. In the end she requested that the lives of the Jews be spared and her request was granted.

(This is the abridged version. If you have never read the book of Esther in the Old Testament, I recommend it. It is a quick, yet entertaining, read.)

I think Esther knew the secret to life. I think she knew a key piece of knowledge that many of us miss out on. I think she knew the four words that will solve all our problems.

It’s not about me.

Nothing is about us. It’s all about God. The King of kings and the Lord of lords. The Great I Am. Esther becoming queen was not about her. It was not about her beauty. It was not a Cinderella story. It was about God and His glory. God orchestrated the whole thing in order to save His people.

Let’s remind ourselves of some biblical truths. We were created by God Almighty. God wanted a relationship with us. We were chosen by God long before we were born. Even when we turned against Him, He chased after us. God knew we would sin and He paved a way to save us. Jesus went to the cross for us. We have a purpose. We have been appointed. The Lord called us. All of this tells me that everything we do should be done for His glory.

I don’t know about you, but this makes me feel as though a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. When I am tempted to feel fearful, discouraged, irritated, angry, defeated, tired, or sad due to whatever I might be facing in life – the four words “it’s not about me” turn everything around. Suddenly I feel as though I can press forward. I have to ask myself, what right do I have to complain about anything? I don’t, because it’s not about me.

But we can rest assured that whatever is done for God’s glory, He will also work for our good. Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

In the end, everything should be from the perspective of serving God and honoring God. Colossians 3:17 says, “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” No matter what mountain is in front of you, perhaps this helps change your perspective, and press forward with courage. Perhaps this gives you hope.

“I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever.” – Psalm 86:12

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Fruit and Love by Julie Arduini

Posted on October 30, 2019 by juliearduini

This fall I’ve been attending a small group that has been discussing principles gleaned from the movie, Overcomer. There has been so much great conversation there. The one main theme I’ve come away with is when it comes to our identity, if we know Jesus, it has to be rooted in Him. And everyone will know us by our love.

Or lack of.

Years ago I was asked to give an opinion on a conflict that was sadly playing out on social media. Basically I was questioned which side did I believe. On one hand there was someone in a leadership position who grew up in the church. On the other, there was a broken person who was far from making perfect choices, but man, the worship was real.

I answered that I can’t tell them what to think, but my measuring stick was fruit. I said, “Look for the fruit.” For me, an abundant crop for the cause of Christ came from an unexpected place—the wounded warrior who kept their focus on Him and making sure He got the glory.

As I type, my Facebook feed is full of comments on Kanye West’s new album and very public proclamation that he is born again and that Jesus is his Savior. There are two camps I’m seeing: those rejoicing, and those warning the first camp to beware of a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

I don’t know where Kanye’s heart is, but I can say this: no one with a false agenda for the advancement of God’s Kingdom through Jesus would make Jesus the focus. In any cult or false testimony, whether immediate or in time, the real worship is on man and self. To hear that Kanye is proclaiming Jesus and that his mission is to point the world to HIM and not him, I gotta admit, I’m rooting for him.

No matter where he stands, the heat on him will be intense. His circle and fanbase have followed him for his brand of showcasing himself. And Christians? I fear a portion of those identifying as Christ followers will be criticizing his every move.

I’ve seen it time and time again. The modern Pharisees come in their perfect suits, perfect hair, and perfect attendance. But anything that looks less than perfect in the Body of Christ, they are rankled.

As the saying goes, just because you go to McDonald’s, it doesn’t make you a hamburger. Just because you go to church, it doesn’t make you a Christian.

You—and I—we will be known by our love and fruit.

—Julie Arduini

I’ve watched hungry hearts for Christ run into the world’s heartbreak because they came across those focused on religion point out their jeans while singing on the worship team. For awhile, those that sat with me joked it was a “tattoo safe pew” because they had been judged in other seats.

How dare we? Do we not remember Jesus wore a robe and sandals? That one of the most faithful messengers was a man who wore smelly clothes made out of camel hair and ate locusts and honey?

I’m far from an expert in anything Biblical or Christ-like. My faith is so simple and basic because I am not a complex thinker. I’m not that smart. But, I believe if we call ourselves followers of Christ, we need to be known by our love and our fruit.

God’s Word does not change. However, I believe the coming days are going to show a Holy Spirit infused movement where the imperfect, broken, smelly, weird, and downright shocking are going to rise up and proclaim their relationship with Christ. We’ve got to be ready to open our arms to an addict coming off a high walking into our church and sitting in “our” seat. There will be those in perfect suits walking to the altar because they are facing legal proceedings. So many things we can’t even predict will play out before us.

I told my friend who asked about the conflict that we better not be afraid to get close to those with a “Mess-timony.” They will have a witness, but it will make our jaws drop and our eyebrows raise.

The measuring stick we’re using on Kanye and Bieber, I have to use it on me. You need to do the same. How do people perceive you? They are looking to see how you love. They are looking for your fruit in how you treat others, serve, forgive.

Let’s rally around these new Christians, celebrity and not, and not spend our time waiting for them to fall, but pray they are safe, mentored, and able to go the distance to hear, as we all desire at the end of our time on earth, “Well done, faithful servant.”

***

My Christmas novella, Restoring Christmas, is available for Kindle pre-order. First featured in the 2018 boxed set A Christmas to Remember, Restoring Christmas features a mansion tourist attraction, two grieving family members, a special education teacher, and his class. Can Kevin and his students help Holly restore the Christmas Mansion before she leaves town? Again?

Only .99.

Print version coming soon.

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Retirement (by Hannah Alexander)

Posted on October 29, 2019 by alexanderhodde

Kim Woodhouse, a friend of mine, loves snow. She lives in Montana, so that’s a good thing. I wish I shared her joy.

We’ve begun our snow season here in Wyoming–which lasts 7 months, and even longer in the mountains. It’s a time when the temperature never gets high enough to melt the snow. The roads are covered in ice, and the city doesn’t plow because there are so many double-parked cars on the streets that a plow cannot get through. Thus we have packed snow, which turns to ice, which causes wrecks all winter. And it’s still October!

Do I sound depressed? I’ll get over it. We just got our first two snowstorms in the past two days, plus a low of 15 below. And so I retreat to scenes of summer…and plans for retirement in a place where we can get away from the ice. I’ve done some research for retirement, and have discovered that my dream state–for winter–is Arizona. Mel wants to stay where it’s warm enough to heat a pool without needing a heater. We love Arizona. Recently, my cousin gifted us with a subscription to Arizona Highways Magazine.

Did you know that some states are set up better for retirement than others? If you’re planning to go to a southern state for retirement, I would strongly recommend you check out the tax set-up for each state before you make plans to move. That can make a huge difference in the quality of your retirement. Check out the ten most friendly tax states, and check more than one site, since I found some very erroneous information yesterday.

As a heads-up, Wyoming has the best summers I’ve ever seen, with low humidity, temps rarely in the 90s, and no state tax. We do, however, have grizzlies and lots of winter.

When I think of retirement I dream of hitting the road and leaving all cares and worries behind. That dream becomes more vivid the colder it gets. How lovely it would be to pull up to a beach and walk in the sand, collect seashells, bask in the sun. I’d love to make a checklist of the types of cactus on a hiking trail–as we did last time we were in the Phoenix area.

I also think of our true retirement. We have a heavenly retirement to consider, which deserves our priority. Saving money on this venture is not in our best interests. Investing financially in that future seems counterintuitive on a human level, but in all honesty, it is the most important thing we will ever do.

There are so many ways we can invest in that future. You choose your way, and bask in the joy of a quality investment.

 

 

 

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Nora’s Review of… The Last Year of the War

Posted on October 25, 2019 by Vicki Hinze

The Last Year of the War, Susan Meissner, Nora St. Laurent, Christians Read

 

 

THE LAST YEAR OF THE WAR

by Susan Meissner

Published by Berkley

ISBN:  978-0451492153

400 pages

 

Amazon

 

 

REVIEW: The first line grabbed and surprised me. It compelled me to read more, “I’ve a thief to thank for finding the one person I need to see before I die.”

This author masterfully blends two story lines. One in the past (1943) and the other in present time with main character Else Sontag searching for a long-lost friend named Mariko Inoue Hayashi. These teens meet after the attack on Pearl Harbor when both ladies’ families were tossed in an internment camp. Mariko was Japanese and Else’s family was from Germany. These two became fast friends as they learned to navigate this new life they were thrown into.

Most of this novel was told through the eyes of teenage Else and some in 90-year-old Else’s voice where her Dr. tells her she has Alzheimer’s. I liked Else’s spunk and attitude when she says, “I’ve named my diagnosis after a girl at my Junior High School in Daven port – Agnes Finster – who was forever taking things that didn’t belong to her out of lockers. My own Agnes will be the death of me” —“Agnes will swallow me whole, inch by inch. Every day a little more. She will become stronger and I will become weaker…. I will forget forever the important things. The things that matter.”

The urgency to find Mariko before she forgets – was real. She had something important to give her. Else sets out on a secret journey her family knows nothing about; using techniques she’s learned to keep her on track to the mission at hand should she forget.

Readers get a front row seat at Else’s house 1934 when their home was invaded by Everything changed after the attack on Pearl Harbor. “FBI agents on a mission to find dirt on her daddy and arrest him as being an enemy alien suspected of subversive crimes, against the United States of America…” 

Else and her family were abandoned, left to fend for themselves. I had never read anything about the internment camps, how America created them and who they put inside. Fear and panic seized the world after Pearl Harbor. Susan Meissner tells this first-person account through teenage Else’s eyes and understanding. Readers get a front row seat and sometimes walking in the shoes of this young lady and her family as they try to make sense of why the are being taken from the only home in Arizona, they’ve known for 15 years and then placed in a family camp with a fence and guards.

These were dark times and people did some pretty crazy fear driven things trying to get control. I’m not a history buff but this heart-wrenching tale helped me learn so much about this time period. People were left to put the pieces of their lives back together after the war ended. I love learning about history through this powerful, poignant historical fiction depicting things as they were through characters I cared about. This story and the situation will stay with me for a long time.

This makes for a fascinating read and one that would work well for book club. I highly recommend this novel. It’s a must read.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the Publisher.  I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Nora St. Laurent

TBCN Where Book Fun Begins! www.bookfun.org

The Book Club Network blog www.psalm516.blogspot.com

Book Fun Catalogue front page www.bookfun.org

 

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Keep Watch by Bridget A. Thomas

Posted on October 24, 2019 by Bridget

My husband and I lived in four different houses over the twelve years we have been married. The house we are in now my husband referred to once as our “forever home.” So hopefully that means we will stay put for a while! One of the several times we put our house up for sale was around the time the market suffered. So that particular house was up for sale for two years before we finally sold it. We both worked at the same place at the time, and our job was a good forty-five minute drive away. If you have ever put a house on the market with a realtor, then you probably know how it works. You can get a call at any given time when someone wants to see your house. This means every day when we left for work, we never knew if someone might want to see our house that particular day.

So every day for two years when we left for work in the morning, our house had to be in tiptop shape. Every day for two years we didn’t leave any garbage in the house. Every day for two years we made sure the bathrooms and kitchen were spotless. Every day for two years we sprayed a pleasant orange-scented air freshener as we walked out the door. Every day for two years we would hide our dirty laundry (literally!). Every day for two years we tried to make our house look Pinterest perfect.

We never knew the day or the hour that we might get a call from a realtor who wanted to show our house. So we always had to be ready. I was thinking about this recently and the parable that Jesus told in Matthew 25:1-13 (NLT) came to mind:

“Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. The five who were foolish didn’t take enough olive oil for their lamps, but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil. When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

“At midnight they were roused by the shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!’

“All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps. Then the five foolish ones asked the others, ‘Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.’

“But the others replied, ‘We don’t have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.’

“But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked. Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’

“But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’

“So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.”

The foolish bridesmaids make me think of three types of people: those who have heard the gospel but are not ready to take the next step, those who gave their lives to Jesus at one time but have now turned away from the Lord, and those who appear to be believers but in their hearts they are not sincere. Whatever the case may be, The Bible gives us a clear warning to be ready at all times.

And my heart breaks when I think of all the people who are not living for the Lord. I feel as though so many people are off track. Some people go to church every week, but when they walk out of the building, their life has nothing to do with God at all. In today’s culture we have to be on guard, now more than ever. There are more ways the enemy can trap us. For example, millions of people are constantly glued to video games, social media, devices, television, etc. This is a subtle, yet highly effective, tactic of the enemy to keep people distracted, to keep their focus off of the kingdom of God.

I heard it said recently that we are in a period of grace, but that grace will come to an end one day. We cannot take this lightly. We do not want to be locked out when the time comes. Just as my husband and I always had to be ready for someone who wanted to see our home, we all always have to be ready for Someone – Jesus. Like the wise bridesmaids, we should be prepared. Our hearts need to be in the right place. When we make Jesus the center of our lives, we can’t go wrong!

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Handling Criticism by James R. Coggins

Posted on October 23, 2019 by jrcoggins

Anyone with a public profile, including writers, inevitably receives criticism from to time. How do we handle it?

I know criticism bothers some people greatly, but I have never had a great problem with it. Some of this has to do with my background.

I was trained as an academic, in a milieu where scholarly debate was considered a good thing, since questioning and debating are necessary tools in the search for truth. Proverbs 27:17 (NIV) says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” The idea is that as an iron file sharpens an iron tool, so criticism can grind the rough edges off a theory (or a person) and make it more correct. The process might be painful, but it is useful and helpful.

Of course, this comes with the condition that the scholarly debate sticks to the issues and does not become a personal attack. When one academic debate got out of hand, another professor (R.H. Tawney) cautioned, “An erring colleague is not an Amalekite to be smitten hip and thigh.”

My other learning experience in this area came when I was an editor with a denominational Christian magazine for nineteen years. That magazine had always had a robust Letters to the Editor section. We used to say that we counted on one of our columnists to fill two pages in the magazine, one with his column and the other with letters responding to his column. This columnist was an academic who usually addressed important issues and stimulated people to think. We thought the resulting debate often helped to clarify issues.

Several principles helped guide our practice as editors.

1. It was helpful to realize that we had no monopoly on truth, we were not always right, and it was a good thing to let others correct our mistakes. That iron sharpening iron thing again. Proverbs 27:6 (KJV) says, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” The idea is that a friend will correct your mistakes by telling you the truth even if it hurts, whereas an enemy will gladly let you continue on in your error. Proverbs 11:14 (KJV) says, “In the multitude of counsellors there is safety.” In modern parlance, “Many heads are better than one.”

2. It was also helpful to remember that the magazine belonged to all of the members of the denomination. The editors controlled most of the content, so it was important to let the other owners of the paper also have their say. Something similar may be said of authors who write a book or an article and release it to the public. The author owns the copyright on what he or she wrote, but not on the resulting discussion.

3. We also found it helpful to consider that we were often right and that other people’s criticisms didn’t negate that fact. That is, we realized we needed to have confidence in what we were presenting and not be threatened by every criticism.

4. It was helpful to put criticism into perspective. By that time, our magazine had established an enviable track record. The reality was that we received far more praise than we did criticism (even though people tended to write more often when they were upset with something), and we learned to take the good with the bad.

5. Another editor offered this advice: “Never take yourself too seriously.” One of my favorite illustrations of this came very early, when I was co-editor of our high school newspaper. It was the 1960s, the era when radical, left-wing groups were springing up on university campuses all over North America to demand all kinds of changes. A friend of mine wrote a letter to the editor criticizing something I had written in the high school newspaper and signed it, “SCN (Students for a Cogginsless Newspaper).” I laughed and published the letter.

6. We also had to accept that ultimate truth belonged to God and that while we were privileged to have been given some aspects of the truth, God would judge all of our words in the end and reveal what was true. In the presence of God, a little humility is in order.

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When Christians Must Do Battle… by Kristin Writes Billerbeck

Posted on October 22, 2019 by Kristin

We all know what Jesus says about doing turning the other cheek when faced with a battle.  “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’[a] 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.” Matthew 5:38-42

I can testify that I did this in my own battle — until I realized that I was enabling sinful behavior.  I was not merely turning the other cheek, I was allowing evil to prosper with my lack of action and forgiveness.  Have you ever been faced with that?  Where you must do battle — even when you’re conflict-averse — because it is the only way to do what’s right? 

God gave me a word to look up Winston Churchill.  Now, I didn’t know a lot about Winston Churchill.  I mean, I have heard it said that if we didn’t have him, we’d all be speaking German, but other than that?  I know he was a prime minister, a painter and the rest I’ve gleaned off of “The Queen” on Amazon Prime.  But I had a word that being Neville Chamberlain will prolong the war.  Being Winston Churchill will end it.

We always think the peacemaker is the innocent one.  The good one.  But Neville Chamberlain wanted to appease Adolf Hitler! That was never going to end well because Hitler wanted the total destruction of anyone who veered from his crazed, sociopathic view of a “perfect world.”  Neville wasn’t equipped to deal with evil.

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By nature, I’m a healer — an INFP on the Myers-Briggs.  I want everyone to come together and live in total harmony.  But God called me to do battle in this circumstance and it hasn’t been pretty.  I wanted to live in harmony, but not at the expense of someone’s soul.  And I believe that allowing someone to continue in the destruction of others and evil is at the expense of their soul.  So yes, we should forgive.  We should turn the other cheek, but when God calls us in love to do battle, we must rise up rather than allow evil to prosper.

Have you ever kept a “false peace” to avoid battle?  Have you ever had to rise up and do the right thing though it would cost you? Sometimes, we get pulled into a battle we want no part in — like Beth Moore being pulled into John MacArthur’s statement yesterday.  I imagine Beth Moore would have just like to have avoided the fray altogether and had a Starbucks yesterday.  But she didn’t.  She spoke out because it was necessary. That doesn’t mean she isn’t forgiving or looking for a fight.  It means she couldn’t allow a falsehood to stand as “God’s word.”

 

 

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Writing the Seasons by Tara Randel

Posted on October 21, 2019 by tararandel

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We’re in that fun time of the year when the weather is changing and we get outdoors more often. I love seeing so many Harvest festivals advertised, wishing I could attend every one. I’m sure you have them where you live, celebrations surrounding pumpkin patches or a farmers market. I’ve always wanted to try out a corn maze, which sounds challenging and lots of fun. Hiking or camping may not be considered exclusive fall activities, but with the crisp clean air making an appearance, why not get out on a trail for exercise, enjoying nature at its best? And while you’re at it, why not indulge in a picnic?

I don’t live near an apple orchard, but to me, the scent of apples always reminds me of fall. And pie. I really like pie. Football is popular right about now, so why not attend a game? Perhaps you prefer to stay inside and roast pumpkin seeds while you stroke up the fireplace for the first time this season. Or host a bond fire. My family has spent many happy hours sitting beside a fire pit, enjoying the cooler weather and precious time spent together, talking, roasting marshmallows and drinking hot cider.

As a writer, including the seasons is an integral part of any story. The mood of a character can be brought out by memories of a particular birthday, Christmas, or any holiday, that will have an emotional bearing on how they act, or react, to others in the book. I’ve done a series of Christmas-themed books and that particular holiday evokes all kinds of emotions, which is a treasure trove for writers and pure enjoyment for readers. That is one of the aspects of writing I enjoy so much, using the seasons to enhance the story. Everyone can relate, we all live through the different seasons, so my characters benefit from my memories or experiences.

In my latest book, Trusting Her Heart, the small mountain town of Golden holds its annual Oktoberfest celebration. The townspeople in the book all join in to volunteer, creating opportunities for all kinds of interactions. This is the first time the heroine, Serena, is involved in a group effort where she really feels like she belongs. She works with friends who have become like family, and is also thrown together with the hero, which is tricky since she is keeping a huge secret.

The hero, Logan, has a wonderful heart-to-heart with his grandmother, with the Oktoberfest activities in the background. He left town for personal reasons years ago but is back for a job, which throws him into all the traditions he remembered from growing up in Golden. But is it enough to make him stay? He’s also falling for Serena, which makes his decisions even more difficult to make.

Using the Oktoberfest celebration enabled me to work in scenes that showed different aspects of my characters, and as an added bonus, it was fun to write.

I hope you enjoy the autumn season, get your fill of everything pumpkin related and I encourage you to try something new, like attending a festival or two. Serena and Logan stepped out of their comfort zones and, as you’ll find out in the book, where glad they did.

9781335510808

Can a love built on lies…

…survive the truth?

Serena Stanhope fears her dark past might ruin the life she’s built as a successful shop owner. Especially when handsome Logan Masterson suddenly arrives in town asking questions about her background. He seems to have his own secrets, but the pair share an instant connection and Serena finds herself falling for Logan. He could destroy everything—or he could be the chance at love she thought she’d never have…

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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. Look for her next Harlequin Heartwarming romance, Always the One , available February 2020.  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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WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR? By Yvonne Lehmann

Posted on October 18, 2019 by Vicki Hinze

I’m loving… loving my neighbors!

An expert in religious law questioned Jesus, seemingly testing him, about how to live. Instead of telling the expert, Jesus asked what the law says. The expert responded with the correct reply which included “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Luke 10: 27 NLT).

Then, the expert asked, “And who is my neighbor?”

Jesus responded with the story of the Good Samaritan which concludes with one who loves his neighbor is one who shows mercy. Throughout the Bible there are references and admonitions about loving our neighbors and tells us who they are.

So, how do we love our neighbors? We may love those we’ve never seen and know nothing about, through prayer or charitable donations. Some of us have sponsored children from other countries and come to know and love them. We may love those closer to us when a need is made known or when a congratulatory word is applicable. Maybe even a smile will do it.

Yes, we can love our neighbors from a distance. My contact with many neighbors has often been greeting them if they’re outside when I walk around the neighborhood, a short friendly conversation, and even getting to know a few who have children playing outside, a dog, or when they’re working in the yard. You get to know a little more when they have a yard sale.

I have lived where a neighbor would have a drop-in at Christmastime, another might have a jewelry party (or another kind), or even an occasional block party. What we’re doing in our neighborhood has developed and grown since one person decided to make a list of neighbors.

We had experienced a couple of outside get-togethers, and afterwards a neighbor-man knocked on doors and asked if we’d like to be on a list. He typed the names, along with physical and email addresses. When someone moved away or moved in, he made changes on the list and brought them to us.

Then… after a truck break-in, a neighbor emailed us all which led to a few having a meeting with police about safety and the police saying they would drive through our neighborhood at random times. The email writer took the initiative to plan a summer back yard get-together. I responded that my son (he and I are housemates) was recuperating from prostate cancer surgery and if he felt like it, we would attend. About 20 neighbors attended. Of course, they asked my son how he was and he’d say the usual, “fine” or “all right.”

Next… after a few neighbors getting to know each other better, stopping to talk when anyone’s outside, led to several possibilities including a fall get-together. That was held last week in a neighbor’s back yard and about 30 attended. Those who wanted to, brought a dish of food. Our “business” session included our planning a late October joint yard sale. Stemming from our earlier talks, we decided on a Christmas Progressive Dinner. I opted for the dessert part since I want to be last and have Santa (if my son will do it) give all a copy of my new book release of articles written by 47 authors, Remembering  Christmas.

My son mumbled to me, “Why does everyone keep asking how I’m feeling?” I laughed and reminded him that all some of them knew about him was his cancer surgery. So, I suggested we print short bios of all neighbors who are willing to participate. We will get to know more, including whether they’re retired (and from what), any expertise, anyone expecting a baby, where they work, where they’re from (since we are in the mountains of western North Carolina, we get a lot of Floridians who move here or visit for a season).

Of course there are a few neighbors who haven’t come to the get-togethers. That provides opportunity to approach them and instead of asking questions, just let them know we missed them and they’re welcome. One of my neighbors who is very friendly with me, was reluctant to attend the get-togethers, so I asked if she’d come and help with desserts at Christmastime. She was delighted. Some just need a little more encouragement than others. And if some never want to come or participate, that’s good to know too.

Perhaps some neighborhoods aren’t conducive to this, but just a block party can be fun and informative. However, I feel so blessed to be getting to know these people and greet them by name. It’s a good feeling for conversation to go from “How are you?” and answer “Fine” to asking more pertinent questions, or talking about more personal things whether it’s about a  house or yard or family or a recipe.

And of course, these kind of things can be done with various groups, not just in neighborhoods. And we can even form our own groups of people who have common, or uncommon, interests.

So… who is my neighbor? Well, aside from being anyone and everyone, it’s people with names with who are sort of like family (should be) and it feels good. Knowing and accepting all the differences and being able to ask advice, or give it, or ask more than “How are you?” feels like I’m beginning to know my neighbors. And love them.

Posted in Uncategorized, Yvonne Lehman | Tagged | 1 Comment

A Loving Father

Posted on October 17, 2019 by Bridget

light sunset people water

Photo by Negative Space on Pexels.com

Recently a friend shared with me a YouTube video in which Billy Graham’s daughter, Ruth Graham, was interviewed by Glenn Beck. In the video, Ruth talks about a failed marriage. She was a bit hasty in this relationship and her parents advised her not to marry the man. But she married him anyway. Immediately she realized she had made a mistake. She wound up leaving him and headed home. It was a two day drive, which meant she had a lot of time to fret along the way. Many fears and questions ran through her head regarding what her parents might say to her.

But when Ruth arrived home, her father (Billy Graham) was standing outside, he hugged her, and he said, “Welcome home.” There was no condemnation. He didn’t say I told you so. He wasn’t angry or upset about her mistake. There was only love and grace. And Ruth said that grace changed her life.

What a beautiful picture of the love between a father and child. (Or any relationship.) What an awesome representation of the love of Jesus. And what a stunning reminder of how our Heavenly Father loves us.

This made me think of the story of the lost son, or who many people refer to as the prodigal son, found in Luke 15: 11-24:

Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.

“Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ So he got up and went to his father.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.”

This is the way that God loves each of us. No matter what we have done and no matter where we have been, He still longs for us to return home to Him. Don’t be afraid to take that step into the arms of God. He is there ready and waiting for you with love.

And I pray that you and I always show others this kind of love, the love of Jesus. In John 13:34-35, Jesus said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” As followers of Jesus, we have a responsibility. So I pray that we each can love others with this same love, just as Jesus commanded. Every day we encounter people who are hurting, people who have made mistakes, and people who are lost. May we seek to extend this same grace and love to all those around us.

If you would like to see the entire Ruth Graham interview, here is the link.

Now available on Amazon! Giving God Your Whole Heart: The Path to True Fulfillment by Bridget A. Thomas. This book touches on numerous things which are essential in our Christian walk. Yet due to our busy lives, we tend to push God to the back burner. In this book I will show you how to seek the Lord with all your heart, mind and soul. As a result, you will find true fulfillment in life.

Cover Design - Giving God Your Whole Heart

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My Ripped Pants and Your Shame by Julie Arduini

Posted on October 16, 2019 by juliearduini

Spongebob Squarepants has played in our home for close to 20 years. Of all the crazy episodes out there, my husband and son say their favorite is the one where Spongebob rips his pants.

It’s comedy gold for those two. But real life? It’s one of those situations you pray never happens in public.

So, lucky me.

I’ve had them rip twice.

In church.

The first time wasn’t too long after I gave birth. I didn’t know it at the time but I was port-partum, obsessed with the fact my delivery ended up an emergency c-section. I felt an enormous failure, compacted by the fact nursing didn’t work and I wasn’t feeling the strong emotional connection I saw on commercials weekday afternoons.

I walked into church and my husband whispered in my ear that I had a rip in the back of my pants. It wasn’t huge, but he noticed. He promised to cover me, but the feel of failure and shame rose up like bile and I wanted out of there fast. As soon as we entered, we were in the car heading back home. I entertained the failure thought all the way home and for the rest of the day.

Week.

Month.

Year.

And that was the plan. Over the years I’ve learned that the true defeated one operates on a budget. His resources never renew, so he’s got to go with what works. Little pricks of failure and defeat thrown our way time and time again. It took me time and a lot of prayer, Bible reading and study to realize there’s only one defeated one.

JULIE

And it isn’t me.

So fast forward a couple decades and it’s been a tough season. Oh, I’ve been through worse, but it’s been a lot of small stuff pecking away at my confidence, resolve, and faith.

Imagine my surprise when I crossed my legs at church today, the material bunched up with my Salvation Army $2 pants when I made the move and heard a rip. I placed my hand under my leg and there was skin. Yep, ripped pants again.

For a second I thought about high-tailing it out of there. My contacts had a smudge on them so I couldn’t see right, I was tired, and it had been a tough week. Leaving? It made sense.

But I knew this time around if I left, I was going to admit defeat. And I’m not the defeated one

You know what? Neither are you.

If it’s been awhile since you’ve been at church and you feel it’s been too long, you should go for it and show up. If you woke up this morning with a hangover or next to a stranger and the shame is strong, shake it off and find your way to a Bible believing and reading church. Maybe you just lost your job or were served with divorce papers you never saw coming. Perhaps you’re the one that served them. Whatever your shame situation, I’m telling you, the goal is for you to sulk and isolate yourself.

I hope you do what I did the second time around. Like Spongebob, I laughed. Not loud at first, but I decided after that second I was staying. My family was serving around the building, so I texted and asked my husband if he had a coat. I texted my son so he and his girlfriend knew I wasn’t going to stand and join them in prayer because I was pretty sure most of my left thigh was exposed with more area to come. I laughed to myself as I thought about it. These were pants that were actually big on me so although my weight has been an issue for quite awhile, I wasn’t falling for the lie today. Even funnier, when I got home and got the pants off, I still had the Salvation Army tag on them. That made it even more hilarious.

Before I got home, a friend approached me and went to hug me and I squeaked, “Don’t touch me! I ripped my pants and this jacket is falling!” And I burst into laughter. When she laughed, I didn’t even feel a tinge of shame. She knows me. She gets it was a victory I came even with good pants on. To stay with ripped pants? It was a clear act of defiance against the true defeated one.

She knew my week and I knew hers. There were times we were bottomed out by our tears and laments that God, we love you, but can You show up for this already? Where’s that breakthrough?

Well, my breakthrough was literal. They were my pants. But they were a reminder that I am NOT defeated. And no matter what your clothes look like, what you’ve done, what you’ve said, if you put your trust in Your heavenly Father and our Living Christ, you aren’t defeated either.

***

What I loved about writing Match Made in Heaven is that the heroine is mad at God because life didn’t work out like she thought it would when she did all the right things. For the hero, He’s scared because He’s taken tentative steps back to faith after choosing many wrong things. I’d love for you to check out Dean and Beth’s story in MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN. The latest review says, “Beth with her lack of focus feels ‘not worthy, unlovable, and not good enough.’ Julie Arduini writes a compelling inspiring story about overcoming a childhood disease and poor self esteem with well developed characters, twist and turn plot, and a believable resolution. God’s got this. Always enjoy a story when I learn something new.

Julie Arduini
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