Encourage Your Children

Courtesy morguefile

 The second to last Sunday of every month is set aside as Youth Sunday in my church, Sierra Norwood Calvary Baptist Church in Miami. This is the day when the young people conduct the service. They do everything except preach the sermon. As I watched them perform this morning, I thought Jesus must be looking on and smiling. I smiled too as I recalled His words, "Suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them not for of such is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 19: 14)

What a wonderful privilege we have to nurture and prepare the next generation to become the leaders of tomorrow. It is one we should not take lightly. Unfortunately, not all children receive this type of preparation. Many of them are left to fend for themselves - which is a form of abuse - and are forced into adulthood while they are still children. Many of them never hear the name of Jesus spoken in the home, never have the Bible read to them, never attend church or Sunday School.

Children need to be encouraged to achieve their God-given potential. Some children are so discouraged by the treatment they receive at home they develop low self-esteem. The Bible says, "And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord" (Ephesians 6: 4). doesn't give us a lot about Jesus's teenage years. We don't know if He kept Mary and Joseph up late at nights wondering where He was or who He was hanging out with. We do know that when He was twelve, He did cause them some worry when they went to Jerusalem and Jesus disappeared for three whole days! That would make any mom frantic.  (Read Luke 2: 42 - 50)


Some years later, we see Mary being the one to launch Jesus's ministry at the wedding feast in Cana of Galilee. (Read John 2: 1 - 11) I believe Mary must have been given divine wisdom from God to do what she did, because prior to this, she didn't seem to understand the full implications of who Jesus really was. Parents, if you want to know how to encourage your children, how to bring out the best in them, ask God for wisdom and guidance. He will tell you what, when and how to do what needs to be done for them. And He never makes a mistake. God bless.

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Save The Children

It seems like more and more lately I'm getting these messages on my phone about an amber alert in my

area. In case you don't know what that is, it's an alert that warns of a child abduction. Usually, the child's name and description are given, along with a description of the vehicle in which the child has been abducted. Whenever I see that, I immediately begin to pray for the child to be found and returned safely to his/her parents. I want to encourage you to do the same if you ever receive such an alert.

I am thankful that we live in an age of technology where very little goes unnoticed, but unfortunately, if something is taking place within a person's home, it is hidden from the eyes of the public. I don't have to fill you in on a bunch of statistics to show you what you already know. Child abuse is a serious matter. Every day children are abused in their homes by a parent or some other relative, at school by teachers or other students, and in the community by strangers.

In most cases, child abuse survivors carry the scars with them for life. They may have difficulty   concentrating in school, may exhibit antisocial behavior and may even suffer from depression and other mental disorders.

Child abuse is not something we talk about in church. We tend to sweep it under the rug, hoping no one will discover it. But even Jesus spoke out about child abuse. He said, " But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea" Matthew 18: 6.

In other words, Jesus was saying He would not look the other way when offenses are committed against children. And neither should we. As Christians we can and should

•  pray that God will raise up men and women who will advocate for the safety of these innocent children.
• volunteer in treatment centers and shelters for battered women and children.
• support organizations that work with these children by donating money and/or other resources.
• become advocates ourselves. Advocates For Victims of Assault is an organization that runs self-paced courses that will help prepare you to minister to victims in your church or community.

Let's be vigilant where our children are concerned. They are the most at- risk group in our society today, but they are also our future. Let's save our children!

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I would like to recommend to you my first novel Coming Out Of Egypt, the first in a three-part series,  which deals with the effects of sexual abuse on the victims. In the book I show that no matter how painful your past may have been, you can find hope and peace in Jesus Christ. Get it now while it's on preorder for only .99 by clicking here.

 

Happy Mother's Day

Hope you all are enjoying a wonderful day with your family and friends. Here's a little haiku I composed in honor of all mothers every where. Whether you are a stepmom, adoptive mom, mom-in-law, this poem is for you.

Your smile lights the room

Your touch heals the deepest wound

Your kiss dries my tears

Encouraging Others - A Gift From God

Do you know someone you can call on when things get really rough? When you toss and turn and can't get to sleep - even after you have prayed and read the Bible before going to bed? I think we all experience this at some time - unless you are in grade school. And during your tossing and turning, a face flashes before your eyes, and just thinking about that person causes your worry to ooze away. Why? Because that person is an encourager. He or she may not be aware of it, but that person always manages to say the right thing at the right time. And when there is no need for words he will just put an arm around you or give your hand a squeeze and you begin to feel better.

Without meaning to boast, I believe I have the gift of encouraging others. How do I know? People have told me. They say I have a calm and quiet personality that soothes them and helps them forget their problem. I wish I could encourage myself that way! But we don't often think of encouraging as a spiritual gift, do we? We tend to focus on the more spectacular ones, like healing and prophesying and speaking in tongues, but here's what the apostle Paul says, "We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith;

 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously ..." (Romans 12: 8)

 

So who can you encourage today? If you can't think of someone, ask the Holy Spirit to lead you and show you who needs to be encouraged and how you should encourage that person. It might be just through a phone call, a visit, listening or giving them a hug if you are close to them.

I pray that this blog is a source of encouragement to you. If it is, please leave a comment and let me know. And if you would like these posts delivered to your inbox so you don't have to search for this site, then please use the sign-up form to subscribe. 

 

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And speaking of encouraging, we all know someone in our lives who needs encouragement. I'm speaking of those hard- working mothers - your mother, mother-in-law, wife, sister, whoever she might be, give her something this Mother's Day to encourage her and show her what she means to you. Click on the banner below.

The Price Of Success

This past week the world was saddened by the loss of yet another superstar. As if you didn't know it already, the singer popularly known as Prince passed away last Thursday. He was only 57. While the cause of death is not yet known, fans mourn the star's passing at such an early age. Like Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston and many others, the lament "gone too soon," will be heard over and over. Were illicit drugs involved? We don't know. ABC news said that a full report, including toxicology, will take weeks to be released.

Whatever the cause of the singer's death, we know one thing for sure. Prince was hugely successful on the world stage, but did he pay the ultimate price of success? An early death? A life of pain - physical as well as emotional? Loneliness? Dependency? Elvis Presley, one of the best known performers of all times, died  a very lonely man. Surely, success must have its benefits, otherwise people would not strive for it. So, what is your definition of success? Is it money, fame, possessions, admirers?

Denzel Washington, one of the most successful actors, sums it up this way:  "Success? I don't know what that word means. I'm happy. But success, that goes back to what in somebody's eyes success means. For me, success is inner peace. That's a good day for me."

And Albert Einsten, scientist and philosopher stated, "Try not to become a person of success, but rather try to become a person of value."

And what does the Bible say?

 In everything he did he had great success, because the LORD was with him.1 Samuel 18: 14

As long as he sought the LORD, God gave him success.2 Chronicles 26: 5

He holds success in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, Proverbs 2: 7

 God wants you to be successful, but His success is not the kind that brings pain and misery. God doesn't want us to be dependent on anything, or anyone - not even ourselves - but only on Him.

 His formula for success is written in Joshua 1 : 8: Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 

Do you desire to be successful? By meditating on God's word and seeking His will for your life you will have good success. 

The Lesson Of The Titanic

In going through my emails I came across this one that said "Today Is National Titanic Remembrance Day." One hundred and four years ago, on April 15, 1912, the Titanic was on her maiden voyage from Southampton, England to New York when she struck an iceberg and sank.  Since then people still ask the question, how did it happen? How did this luxury liner equipped  with water-tight bulkheads to render it unsinkable, still sink to the bottom of the ocean, killing 1500 people.

The Titanic Source: Wikipedia

 Those passengers comprised many of the rich and famous who were proud to be on the Titanic's maiden voyage. Some had set their sights on starting a new life in America. Little did they know that the ship's first trip would be their last, that instead of being bound for a new land they were bound for the ocean floor.

Is there a lesson in the Titanic for us after all these years? I think there is.

Jesus said, 'But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash" (Matthew 7 : 26-27).

Many people have heard the gospel over and over and yet are reluctant to put their faith in Jesus Christ. They ask for proof. How do we know He is real? No one has ever come back and said what heaven is like. It sounds like a fairytale. And on and on go their objections. But those same people will get on a ship or plane and head for some distant land not knowing if they'll ever get there.

I'm not knocking travel. I've been on ships and more planes than I care to remember. If I was around in 1912, I may have been on the Titanic. What I'm saying is, put your faith in Jesus Christ first. Build on the solid rock, not on things that are sinkable or perishable. Some of us trust in our riches, our fine homes and cars, but we know we can't trust those things anymore. What was once the American dream has now become the American nightmare for many. Put your trust in Jesus Christ and Him alone. He is unsinkable, immovable, indestructible.

If you want to know how much Jesus loves you and what He did for you on the cross get a copy of my award-winning story For God So Loved by clicking the image below. 

When God Shows Up

Driving home from work one evening last week during pouring rain, I was tempted to pull aside and sit it out,  but the rain didn't seem to be stopping any time soon so I continued. With the dark, gray clouds and unrelenting rain, visibility was poor, even with my headlights on, and I stuck behind the car in front of me in order to stay on course. The downpour grew heavier until I could barely make out the shape of the car. I said, "I wish he would turn his lights on." Immediately, his lights came on and I was able to see a little better. Some people might say that was a coincidence, but I say it was God showing up just when I needed Him.

Many times in the hustle and bustle of life, we don't recognize the countless little ways in which God helps us. You may be thinking of a friend or family member you haven't heard from in a while, and that person calls. You may be racking your brain for a solution to a problem, and the answer comes in a way you hadn't expected. Somebody gives you something you had been longing for, but didn't think you could afford it. As someone who has experienced a lot of adversity, I know what it's like to have God show up in amazing ways.

Elijah, great man of God, hid in a cave because Jezebel had threatened to kill him after he killed the prophets of Baal. The LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 1 Kings 19: 11 - 12.

And that was when God gave his instructions to Elijah. God is a great and mighty God, but He doesn't always show up with thunder and lightning. Sometimes it's in the little things we see His face: in a beautiful flower, a baby's smile, a gentle breeze on a hot summer day. 

"Be still and know that I am God ..." (Psalm 46: 10).

 Here is a video to help you do just that.

He Is Risen!

English: Resurrection of Christ (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

What if Jesus had not risen from the grave as He said He would? Where would we be? I don't want to think about it. But He is risen and is alive with the Father in heaven and one day He is coming back to take us to live with Him. That is the hope of Easter and the basis of the Christian faith.

But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all died, even so in Christ shall all be made alive" (1 Corinthians 15: 20 - 22).


And so the journey to Calvary has ended. Jesus has been crucified, but now He is risen, as He said. And we too are alive in Him. The empty tomb is a silent witness to the greatest event in history. We don't worship someone who died thousands of years ago, but Someone who is alive.

Happy Easter!

It Is Good Friday

I was probably eight or nine the first time I read the account of Jesus's crucifixion. Good Friday had always been a solemn occasion at our house with my mother cooking a special fish dinner and my father reading the Bible. By teaching me to read and reading the Bible and other story books to me, my mother had instilled in me a love for reading from an early age. So that year when she opened the Bible to the book of Luke and told me to read the story of the crucifixion, I didn't hesitate. But as I read, I became more and more anxious and by the time I got to the part where they crucified Jesus, tears were streaming down my face. It's not Good Friday, I thought in childlike disappointment, it should be called Bad Friday.

Jesus died. How could He? Why did He?

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3: 16).


And that's why the day He died on the cross is called Good Friday. Because on that day, we, the lost and fallen human race, were redeemed, forgiven and restored to our rightful place with God the Father.

Are you in your rightful place? Have you been redeemed, restored and forgiven? If not, Jesus's arms are still outstretched, waiting to welcome you in. But you must ask. Do like one of the thieves who hung on a cross beside Jesus.

He turned to Him and said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 3: 42 - 43).

Just like that the man was saved. Jesus didn't say, "I'm in too much pain, I can't think about that right now." Or, "You are a bad man. I'm not sure if you should go to heaven."

No, He said, "Today." And He will say to you too, "Today," if you ask Him right now.

And if you haven't yet, don't forget to download a copy of my award-winning story on Amazon Kindle, For God So Loved. I'm sure it will bless your heart.
Just click on the image below.

Lenten Reflections cont'd

In my last post, I wrote about the opportunity we have to draw nearer to God during this Lenten season. If ever we needed God it is now. I believe it is no accident that Easter comes during the season of spring, at least in the northern hemisphere. Spring is a time of new beginnings, therefore what better time to begin a new life in Christ or recommit our lives to Him than during this Easter season.

Some questions we may reflect on are:

1. What does God require of me as a Christian?

"And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this , Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these" (Mark 12: 30 - 31).

 2. How can I demonstrate God's love in my dealings with others?

Many of us will readily admit that we love the Lord, but how about our neighbor? When was the last time we spoke to them, smiled or offered to help them in some way? Other scriptures you may want to reflect on: Matthew 22: 37 - 39; Luke 10: 27; John 13: 34; 1 Corinthians 13 : 3. 

But love ye your enemies, and do good , and lend , hoping for nothing again ; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: (Luke 6: 35).

 On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head” (Romans 12: 20)
 
On the cross, Jesus forgave the Roman soldiers who crucified Him. He also forgave the thief who hung next to him.  

3. How can I fulfill the great commission?

The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep" (John 21: 17). 

 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. (Matthew 24: 14).

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28: 19).

Jesus's last command to us before leaving this earth was for us to go and make disciples of all nations. Not all of us will be able to travel extensively to spread the gospel like Paul and some of the other disciples did. In fact, we don't have to leave our little neck of the woods to tell others about Jesus Christ. We can begin right where we are.

Today marks the beginning of Holy week. As we pray and reflect this week, I trust that you will keep some of these questions in mind along with those the Holy Spirit lays on your heart. To help you in your reflections this Lenten season, I have written a little book that won an honorable mention on Writer's Digest. I trust that you will be blessed by it.





 

Lenten Reflections

During the season of Lent, which began on Ash Wednesday and ends on Easter Sunday, many people change their eating habits. Some may

give up sweets or meat, while others may engage in some form of fasting. All of this may carry some benefits, but I think for Christians the Lenten season should be more than another opportunity to become a vegan or to lose weight.

Why observe Lent?

The forty days leading up to Easter are an opportune time for prayer and fasting and drawing closer to God. It is a time when we remember the great sacrifice that Jesus made on our behalf. He left His splendid home in heaven and came down to earth to die on a cruel Roman cross so that we could spend eternity with Him in heaven. Just thinking about it is enough to make us give up all of our bad habits and re-dedicate our lives to Him. Lent is a time when we attempt to empty ourselves and come bare before the cross to find cleansing and healing. As Jesus suffered and died on Calvary, so we too should be willing to suffer and die (to self) with Him.

Lent should be a period of austerity that prepares us for the grand celebration of Easter. This is the day we commemorate Jesus' resurrection from the dead. Contrary to what some religions teach, Jesus literally died on the cross and He literally rose from the grave on Easter Sunday morning (Matthew 28: 1 - 10).

What should we reflect on during Lent?

Our Lord taught us many lessons while He was here on earth, but during the brief period from His arrest to His crucifixion and resurrection, He showed us many examples that we should follow if we are to be His disciples.

Lenten reflections will continue next week.

If you and your family are looking for cards, gifts and decor to celebrate the Easter season, why not check out the link below? There is something for everyone.

Let's Have A Blast

Recently, I overheard a preacher on radio announcing his upcoming event. He ended with the words, "It's going to be a blast." I suppose there's nothing wrong with "having a blast" at a Christian conference. After all, the Bible does tell us to "rejoice in the Lord and be glad," Psalm 32: 11, but as I thought about it I couldn't help comparing what he said to the election campaigns being run here in America. Everyone seems to be having a blast - especially the candidates. And the media, not to be outdone, gleefully bring us a blow by blow account of the latest sensational sayings of so-and-so.

Is this what running for office has come down to? A blast? Forget about ISIS, the refugee crisis, gun violence, escalating drug addiction and our broken healthcare system.That's nasty business. No one wants to talk about that. Instead, let's call each other names and compare hand size and while we're at it, why not have a pie-throwing contest?

I am currently studying the book of 1 Kings. That book is an eye-opener. It traces the source of the people's problems or their successes straight back to their kings. When a good king reigned, the people prospered, when a bad king reigned, the people suffered.

Psalm 33: 12 says,  Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance. 

 Is God our Lord in America, or are we simply having a blast? Let's think about that as we prepare to choose another 'king.'

A Life Well Lived

Ashford with his guitar

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So reads the newspaper headline of a report in the Trinidad Express of my brother-in-law's passing a couple weeks ago. Ashford Joseph lost his battle with prostate cancer at the age of 67. He left to mourn his wife, three daughters, grandchildren, brothers and sisters and thousands of students and fans. Ashford was regarded as a musical icon in his country. In addition to teaching music in several schools, Ashford was founder and principal of Joseph School of the Arts, which spawned many musicians. Ashford trained church choirs, wrote songs (calypsos) for many prominent calypsonians, wrote  books and films and performed the duties of husband, father, and grandfather.

But the amazing thing about Ashford is that he accomplished all this while being blind. He began losing his sight at the tender age of eight, but he did not allow this to stand in the way of his love for the arts. In an interview a few years ago, Ashford stated, "Blindness is not the end, but the beginning of a new life. I have come to terms with the loss of my sight. It does not bother me to the extent of feeling sorry for myself." To achieve his goals, Ashford took classes in Braille, psychology and journalism. From my interactions with him, I know he also had a strong faith in God. 

Ashford's legacy is a rich one. He fulfilled his calling to the best of his ability, and did not allow adversity to stand in his way. There are so many lessons we can learn from his life - his faith, his perseverance, his resilience.

As I think of him, several pieces of scripture come to mind: I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4: 7

I can do all this through him who gives me strength.Philippians 4: 13

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.Philippians 3 : 14.

Read more about Ashford here: http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20160218/features/ashford-joseph-a-life-well-lived

I have come to terms with my loss of sight. It does not bother me to the extent of feeling sorry for myself. - See more at: http://www.guardian.co.tt/archives/features/entertainment/2009/07/06/blind-composer-launches-book-film#sthash.Gj6rCkYf.dpuf

Blindness is not the end but the beginning of a new life; - See more at: http://www.guardian.co.tt/archives/features/entertainment/2009/07/06/blind-composer-launches-book-film#sthash.Gj6rCkYf.dpuf

Blindness is not the end but the beginning of a new life; - See more at: http://www.guardian.co.tt/archives/features/entertainment/2009/07/06/blind-composer-launches-book-film#sthash.Gj6rCkYf.dpuf

Valentine's Day Greetings

This weekend billions of dollars will be spent in purchasing cards, flowers, candy, perfume and all the usual things people use to express their love to their Valentine. And while giving these gifts, they will (hopefully) say all the right words. 

I think we would all agree that we don't need a special day to show our love to that special someone, but there's nothing wrong with celebrating your love along with the rest of the world. And you should do it in a way that means something to both of you.

Often when I read the book of John where Jesus was, in effect, saying good-bye to His disciples, tears come to my eyes. Jesus, the greatest Lover the world has ever known, poured His heart out to His Father on behalf of these men. They had been his companions for a short time, but they shared a closeness deeper than that which He shared with His own family. Let's look at some of His words:

"I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours" (John 17: 9).

I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name ... (v 11)

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,  that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—

I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory ... (v 20 - 24).

Aren't those the most beautiful and loving words coming from the lips of our Lord and Savior? He prayed that the Father would protect His disciples when He was no longer with them; that they would receive glory, that they would have unity and that in the end they would be with Him in heaven. But Jesus didn't pray just for them alone. He prayed for everyone who would receive His gospel message. What a loving Savior!

On this Valentine's Day, before you celebrate with your loved one, why not pray for and with him/her? Pour your heart out to the Lord as Jesus did for us and then you would be a true Valentine. God bless.

Here's something else you might like to give your valentine. Click here
I like to suggest things I think you may like. If you do purchase, I will receive something from it. Thanks! 

Who Are You Listening To?

Have you ever taken someone's advice only to say later on, "I never should have listened to so and so." Or, "Why didn't I follow my gut feeling?"

 Many times we take the advice of an authority figure - a parent, teacher, pastor, employer, and sometimes even a friend. Listening to advice is not always a bad thing, but be careful who you listen to and judge what they are saying in the light of God's word.

One of the saddest stories I read in the Bible is recorded in 1 Kings 13 about a man of God who prophesied to King Jeroboam, a wicked king, and did great signs and wonders in his presence. So impressed was Jeroboam he invited the man of God to his home for a meal and promised him a gift. But the man declined saying, “Even if you were to give me half your possessions, I would not go with you, nor would I eat bread or drink water here. For I was commanded by the word of the LORD: ‘You must not eat bread or drink water or return by the way you came’ ”(v 8 -9).

The man went away taking a different route as God had instructed him. But an old prophet, hearing what the man of God had done that day, went in search of him and invited him to his home for dinner. The man gave the old prophet the same answer he'd given the king. But the old prophet lied to him and said, "And an angel said to me by the word of the LORD: ‘Bring him back with you to your house so that he may eat bread and drink water’ ” (v 18). The man of God believed the old prophet, went home with him and had dinner. On his way home, a lion met him and killed him.

I read this story a few times trying to figure out the old prophet's motive for lying to the man of God. Was he jealous of him? Was he really a prophet? One commentator said he was a bad man who tried to curry favor with the king by making the king believe that the man of God was an impostor because he had done the opposite of what he said he would do (or not do.) 

Be that as it may, the message behind this story is clear: be careful who you listen to. If someone comes up to you and says, "Thus saith the Lord," and what he/she says is in opposition to God's word, do not listen to them. 

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves (Matthew 7: 15).
 

Birthday Thoughts

 

Today is my birthday. I spent it with my husband and daughter visiting the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens in Miami, a place I'd always wanted to visit. Even though it rained most of the time we were there, I could not have desired a better gift. Exploring the magnificent house and gardens built over a hundred years ago gave us a great deal of pleasure, and being in the company of two of my family members gave me an enjoyment that no amount of rain could dampen.

As we drove home, I reflected on how much I have to thank God for:

1. For sparing my life. Like that old house (maybe not a good comparison - I'm not that old) God has preserved me through the years and saved me from a lot of things that could have shortened my life.

2. For my family. Even though they could not all be here with me on my birthday, my children, grand-children and other relatives called and wished me Happy Birthday.

3. For my friends. Birthday greetings from my friends always give me a warm feeling, but to receive greetings from my social media friends, most of whom I've never met face to face, well, I can't express how special it makes me feel. Technology sometimes gets a bad rap, but God knows why He gave man wisdom to develop it, for without it, many people would be out of touch with the rest of the world.

4. Last, but not least, for my salvation. As I grow older, I can feel secure in the fact that if God calls me home tonight, I would go to meet Him and live with Him forever. I don't have to fear the future or fear death.
Thank you, Lord, for all these blessings. 

Vizcaya Museum

Do You Have A Thorn?

If you are a regular reader of this blog, you would have seen me feature my granddaughter, Jen, in some of my posts. She is only seven, but has a mind of her own, as do most seven-year-olds now, I think. Just recently, Jen had something in her toe. I wouldn't call it a thorn. It must have been something from the Christmas tree that she stepped on, but it was uncomfortable enough to keep her seated, and holding on to her foot for a few minutes. Try as her mother and I did, she would not allow us to touch her foot. Eventually, she took the thing out herself and was soon bouncing around, flipping and doing all the usual Jen things.

The following day, I heard someone preaching about Paul's thorn in the flesh. Just as I didn't know exactly what Jen's thorn in the flesh was, we don't know what was Paul's. He didn't tell us, and as the preacher said, if God wanted us to know what it was, he would have told us. So, we are left to speculate.

Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 2 Corinthians 12: 7.

Just as Jen's thorn tormented her and kept her from playing and doing the things she loved to do, this great apostle had something in him that tormented him, but in his case, it kept him from being conceited. I refuse to speculate on what it might be, but I am thinking that we all have something in us that torments us. Doesn't go away, and we can't remove it ourselves. Only God can. But Paul begged God to take it from him and look what happened.

  But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.v 9

We all have a thorn. It may be a sin we are struggling with, someone in our lives, an illness, a problem that doesn't seem to be going away. We have begged God to take it away, but it persists. What can we do? His grace is sufficient for us. We are weak, but He is strong. Let us rely on His grace and His power instead of focusing on our weaknesses. Remember "not by works, so that no one can boast" Ephesians 2 : 9. 
God bless.

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Please enjoy the video below as you reflect on God's amazing grace.

 

The Value Of Teamwork

 

If it's one thing I've learned from my years of working in the healthcare industry, it's the value of teamwork. No one staff member can adequately fulfill his/her duties without the help and support of other members of the team. With everyone pulling together, the workload seems lighter and more pleasant as each person applies his talents and uniqueness to the task. It's no different with Christianity, and that's why the Bible shows many instances where people got together for a common purpose and God was in their midst, helping them achieve the seemingly impossible.

One of the most amazing pieces of teamwork in the Bible is the fall of the walls of Jericho. The Lord promised Joshua that He would give Jericho into the hands of the Israelites if they would do as He commanded them. God's commands were really simple: "March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams' horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have all the people give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the people will go up, every man straight in" (Joshua 6: 3 - 5).

So, Joshua did as he was told. He called the priests together and gave them the same instructions the Lord had given him. The people obeyed and the walls came down. As easy as that. But let's look at a few things. The priests headed the procession in front of the ark of the covenant, blowing the trumpets, followed by the rear guard then the people of Israel, estimated to be about 1200. But the walls of Jericho were no flimsy pieces of construction. These were fortified walls made of mud bricks, towering about 46 feet above ground level. Jericho seemed impenetrable. 

So what made this teamwork succeed?

1. A strong leader. Joshua had succeeded Moses after his death and God had promised Joshua,
"Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses" (Joshua 3 : 7). And God did. Just as He used Moses to part the Red Sea, He used Joshua to part the Jordan so the people crossed over on dry ground (v 17). No doubt, this increased Joshua's faith and earned him the respect of the people.

2.  A sense of purpose. The team knew the purpose of what they were doing and they went forward with that in mind.

3. Obedience. Joshua was obedient to God's commands, and so were the people. Not one of them broke the silence or tried to attack the enemy during the six days as they marched around the city. 

4.Confidence. The people trusted Joshua, but knowing that God was with them gave them the confidence that they would be victorious. 

5. Order. Last, but not least, in order for the teamwork to succeed there had to be order. Nothing can be achieved if there is disorder. In this case, every person knew where his position was and what he was expected to do. (Read 6: 3 - 5 again.)

How is it with the church? Do we have a sense of purpose? Do we have strong leaders we can trust and look up to? Are we obedient to God's commands? Most of all, do we place our confidence in God, knowing  that we can succeed in the task that He has assigned us? 

The apostle Paul said, Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others" (Romans 12: 4 - 5). 

Are you part of a team in the body of Christ? If not, ask the Holy Spirit to show you how you can apply your talents and skills to assist the body. 

Are You Ready For 2016?

                                                                                                                                                    

Whenever my grandson, Jayden and his little sister Jen play hide and seek, I can usually predict  who the winner will be. Jayden is familiar with all Jen's favorite hiding places, so when she is hiding, he waits a little then calls out, "Ready or not!" Shortly after, shouts of joy - from Jayden -and squeals of surprise - from Jen - ring out. 

So it is with the new year. Ready or not, 2016 is here. The only difference between it and a game of hide and seek is that we knew it will find us, but we didn't realize how quickly. Everywhere I turn, I hear people commenting on how quickly 2015 passed. Many of us worked harder, drove faster and stayed up later in an effort to fulfill our dreams, only to be caught before we'd even accomplished half of those things.

I daresay, 2016 will not be much different. With the specter of terrorism, climate change, global financial crises and a host of other ills threatening, we may be tempted to ramp up our efforts to do more in 2016. This can leave us tired, frustrated and defeated.

Jesus Christ gives us some good advice: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls" (Matthew 11: 28 - 29). 

Jesus offers us the perfect hiding place - one where we will never be caught unawares or unprepared. If you have been running yourself ragged trying to achieve this, that or the other, stop now and go to Jesus. Exchange your burden for His, and you will find rest. 

The beginning of a new year is the best time to make a new start. If you don't know Jesus, why not open your heart to Him today, because one day, ready or not, He's coming and He will find you. Will your shout be one of joy or one of surprise? 

Happy New Year!

If you haven't signed up for this blog yet, I encourage you to do so today. You will receive my monthly newsletter with news, views and what is happening in the Christian community both at home and abroad, and can win a copy of my book Women For All Seasons. So please, sign up today.