My New Year Wishes

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

God Never Makes Junk

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

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

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


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


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


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

Grab A Copy Of My Book

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

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

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

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

Should We Cease To Celebrate Christmas?

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

So, where does this leave us as Christians who look forward to celebrating Christmas every year?

My Anchor Holds

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


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


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


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


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


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


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

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Pray For This Pastor

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

Related articles

• Iran set to execute Christian pastor as early as tomorrow (hotair.com)
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When Everything Goes Wrong

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

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

Be anxious for nothing

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


God may stop your plans


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


People may stop your plans


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


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


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


So, here are a few things we can do:


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


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

What A Forgiving God

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

Forgetting The Past

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

Female promiscuity on the rise

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

Give it to Jesus

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

Don't look back

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

You are created in the image and likeness of God

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

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

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

Related articles

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Should Our Kids Read Books With Profanity?

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

A Time To Heal

Image via Wikipedia

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

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

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

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

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

Related articles

• A changed America marks 10 years since 9/11 (abclocal.go.com)
• Guest column: Mosaic of Faith - Area clergy on the meaning of 9/11 (knoxnews.com)

http://youtu.be/YHUwZXnjAtc

Why I Love The Bible

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

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

2. The Word is a healer

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

3. The Word is a protector

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

4. The Word cleanses us from sin

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

5. The Word gives us comfort

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

6. The Word educates us

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

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

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Let's Talk About Rejection

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

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

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

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

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

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Blog Jog Day

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

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

Cutting And Pasting God's Word

Image via Wikipedia

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

Sodom And Gomorrah Revisited

Image via Wikipedia

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

Is Your Dad Perfect?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Should We Give Money to Beggars?

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

My Blog Talk Radio Interview

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

Please listen and leave a comment.

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

Suffer Little Children to Come Unto Me

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

Happy Mother's Day

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

In The Midst Of Celebration

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

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

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

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

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

Happy Easter!

Image via Wikipedia

This Easter Sunday morning millions of people all over the world will gather to celebrate the astounding event that took place over two thousand years ago when a Man called Jesus raised up from the dead, folded His grave clothes neatly and got out of the tomb! My hair grows just thinking about it! The crowd saw the soldiers nail His hands and feet to the cross, suspend Him between earth and heaven, heard His ragged cries and saw Him breathe His last. Yet, three days later, "He had risen, just as He said" (Matthew 28 : 6).

A time of miracles

So what does Easter mean to those of us who believe? It means a time of miracles. By His resurrection, Jesus performed His greatest miracle ever, bringing down the curtain on His extraordinary performance here on earth. If Jesus could raise Himself from the dead, He can raise you up from death to life. I'm not speaking of physical death, although He can do that too, but spiritual death - the one that separates you from God and keeps you from being all that you were created to be.

A new beginning

As He drew the curtain on His life here on earth, Jesus was preparing for a new chapter with His Father in heaven. God "exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth" (Philippians 2: 9-10).  Jesus' work was by no means finished. He would now ascend to heaven to be once more with His Father, interceding for us until the time comes for Him to return to earth.

A time of triumph

Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday was nothing compared to His triumph on Easter Sunday morning. By His resurrection, Jesus "destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel" (2 Timothy 1: 10). Not only did he destroy death, but by "His death he might destroy him who holds the power of death--that is, the devil--" (Hebrews 2 : 14). Jesus also overcame hell. "I am he that liveth , and was dead; and, behold , I am alive for evermore , Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death" (Revelation 1 : 18). 

So what does all this mean to us? It means because of Easter we have hope, victory and newness of life. We know that He who was crucified is now alive and well, and He is seated at the right hand of God the Father, making intercession for us. We know that we do not have to fear death, or the devil, because Jesus has overcome them both, and in Him we have eternal life. In Him everything has been made new. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away ; behold , all things are become new" (2 Corinthians 5 : 17). Have a blessed Easter.

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• Celebrating Easter (pumabydesign001.wordpress.com)
• Jesus is Real to Me - A Reflection on the Gospel For Easter Sunday (adw.org)

Let's Be Crucified

Image by abcdz2000 via FlickrToday is Good Friday! I remember when I was a child wondering why this day was called Good Friday when such a horrible thing as Jesus' crucifixion occurred on that day. But as I grew older I realized that it was actually a good thing because Jesus had to die in order that I might live. And so in my prayers this morning I asked God to help me crucify myself and all those things in me that need to be crucified: My stubborn will, my thoughts, my fears, hopes, dreams, desires.

It's only by crucifying, by dying to these things that we can live the abundant life that God intends us to live. The Bible says, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live ; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20.)

As we celebrate the death of Our Savior Jesus Christ, let us be one with Him today in His sufferings so we can share in His victory. For that is what the cross represents, not a thing of shame, but of power and love and triumph. God bless you and have a wonderful Good Friday.

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• Whats so good about "Good Friday"? (nickflight.wordpress.com)
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Modesty In Dress cont'd

Image via WikipediaTwo things led me to pursue this subject: One was a sermon I heard on the radio while driving to work in which the pastor thundered about the need for women to dress modestly in church. The other had to do with the increasingly warm days we've been having here in the south. As the days get warmer, the clothes tend to get skimpier even in church, so I thought I would pose this question to an online community I belong to. Do you think women should wear shorts to church?