In case you are hearing about my book for the first time, you can learn more about it and read a sample by clicking here
Saturday, September 28, 2013
Virtual Book Tour - Women For All Seasons
I suspend my regular programming to bring you a very important announcement. I will be taking my book Women For All Seasons on a virtual book tour
from October 7 – 18. I will also be giving away a copy of the book and
downloadable excerpts to readers who visit the blogs and leave a
comment. I will post all the details as the time draws nearer.
Meanwhile, if you wish to jump ahead you can purchase a copy on Amazon
from the link on your right, or from Smashwords at
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/34069
In case you are hearing about my book for the first time, you can learn more about it and read a sample by clicking here
In case you are hearing about my book for the first time, you can learn more about it and read a sample by clicking here
Sunday, September 22, 2013
Encourage Yourself
There are so many kinds of pressure and stressful situations that come at us on a daily basis that we can easily become discouraged. When we feel things pressing down on us, let us do like the Psalmist David. We have to encourage ourselves. David's capability as a leader was sorely tested when the Amalekites invaded the south and burned the city, taking all the women and children captive. This was bad enough, but his men, after they had mourned for their families, turned against David and wanted to stone him. He was all alone, defenseless and desperate.
What did David do? He encouraged himself in the LORD his God 1 Samuel 30: 6.You may not be at war like David was, but a lot of things may be invading your space and taking what is yours captive - your health, your children, your marriage, your finances, your peace.
Encourage yourself in the Lord.
Here's a song that has encouraged me many times when I was feeling down, or when I simply needed to remind myself of God's power and His love. Read the articles below which tell the story of David's trial at Ziklag then enjoy the song and come back and leave a comment if these resources have blessed you.
What did David do? He encouraged himself in the LORD his God 1 Samuel 30: 6.You may not be at war like David was, but a lot of things may be invading your space and taking what is yours captive - your health, your children, your marriage, your finances, your peace.
Encourage yourself in the Lord.
Here's a song that has encouraged me many times when I was feeling down, or when I simply needed to remind myself of God's power and His love. Read the articles below which tell the story of David's trial at Ziklag then enjoy the song and come back and leave a comment if these resources have blessed you.
Saturday, September 14, 2013
Can You Live One Day Without Your Cell Phone?
Maybe it's my age, but sometimes I feel irritated when I step into an elevator and see everyone, cellphone in hand, gazing intently at the screen, index finger moving busily in some cases. I ask myself, how did they ever live before the days of cellphone? But I guess the answer would be, you won't miss what you never had. Now I'll confess, I do have an attachment. To my computer. I would be miserable if I had to go a week without it. Unless I was on vacation. And even then I do sneak away to check my email once in a while.
So, it makes me wonder, why are we so dependent on things? For most people nowadays, it might be the cellphone, for me it's my computer, for someone else it may be a car, a hobby or a sport. The Bible warns us to flee from idolatry (1 Corinthians 10: 14). But, you say, I don't worship anything. You may not bow down to it and pray to it as pagans do, but if it, whatever it might be, is
a) something you are so attached to that you can't live without it for a day
b) you elevate it higher than God
c) you spend more time with it than with the word of God, or even with your own family
d) you crave better and/or bigger of the same - the latest iphone, ipad, SUV or whatever.
If you answer yes, to any of the above, then that thing has become your idol. In Exodus 20 :3, God warns, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." In verse 5 He goes on to say, "Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;"
Let's examine ourselves. God loves us so much He is jealous of the time we devote to other things or other people. I like my computer, but I don't let it stop me from reading the Word, or attending church. If you are in church and you have to check your cellphone or send a text every minute, God is jealous because He wants to spend time with you. He wants to take first place in your life. If you let him, you'll experience greater joy, greater satisfaction, greater fulfillment than any gadget can ever give you.
Saturday, September 07, 2013
The Glory Of God
Today I sat on my patio and looked out at the ducks swimming in the lake, the reflection of the trees in the water, the sun shimmering on the water like thousands of jewels and I thought, there is the glory of God. If anyone doubts the existence of God, and there are many who do, they only have to look around them to see the glory of His presence.
There are approximately 10,000 species of birds, over 40, 000 species of fish, over 1,000,000 species of animals and over 7 billion people on planet earth. Not to mention other planets and hundreds of billions of galaxies. No one knows the exact number. Man, with all the technology at his command and with all the space exploration he has done, has only seen a fraction of the universe. Who created it all? Who makes the sun to shine everyday, the rain to fall, the seasons to change according to their designated times?
As God said to Job, "Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if thou hast understanding" (Job 38 : 4). For the next four chapters God goes on to shoot Job with questions that not even the most brilliant scientists of our times can ever answer. Until in chapter 42, Job caves in. "Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know... I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, But now my eye sees You" (v 3 - 5).
That's how God reveals Himself to us - through His glory. Someone asked me, "Where is heaven? Astronauts have gone into outer space and they have yet to find heaven." I have no idea where heaven is, but I know how to get there. By accepting His Son Jesus Christ as my Savior, I will one day get there. And you can too. So the next time you stop to admire a bird, a pretty flower or a scenic landscape, remember the glory of God. He created all of that for us to enjoy. But He has something even more spectacular, that words cannot describe, waiting for us in heaven. Do you want to see it? Accept Jesus Christ today. Enjoy the video below as you bask in His presence.
There are approximately 10,000 species of birds, over 40, 000 species of fish, over 1,000,000 species of animals and over 7 billion people on planet earth. Not to mention other planets and hundreds of billions of galaxies. No one knows the exact number. Man, with all the technology at his command and with all the space exploration he has done, has only seen a fraction of the universe. Who created it all? Who makes the sun to shine everyday, the rain to fall, the seasons to change according to their designated times?
As God said to Job, "Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if thou hast understanding" (Job 38 : 4). For the next four chapters God goes on to shoot Job with questions that not even the most brilliant scientists of our times can ever answer. Until in chapter 42, Job caves in. "Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know... I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, But now my eye sees You" (v 3 - 5).
That's how God reveals Himself to us - through His glory. Someone asked me, "Where is heaven? Astronauts have gone into outer space and they have yet to find heaven." I have no idea where heaven is, but I know how to get there. By accepting His Son Jesus Christ as my Savior, I will one day get there. And you can too. So the next time you stop to admire a bird, a pretty flower or a scenic landscape, remember the glory of God. He created all of that for us to enjoy. But He has something even more spectacular, that words cannot describe, waiting for us in heaven. Do you want to see it? Accept Jesus Christ today. Enjoy the video below as you bask in His presence.
Sunday, September 01, 2013
Whose Report Do You Believe?
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| A police car (Seat) of the city of Granada local police, Spain. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
This past week I was involved in an accident on my way to work. Nothing major, but enough to warrant some repairs to the driver side of my car. My doors are dented and do not close properly. The lady who ran into me with her vehicle seemed a bit shaken and so was I. This was my first accident in all the years I've been driving. I initially said I was going to call the police, but then she mentioned that she was on her way to pick up a friend from the hospital. Being a hospital worker myself, I decided not to call the police as it may have taken a while for them to arrive. I took the woman's driver's license and insurance information and went on my way.
When I got to work I related the incident to one of my co-workers. A young man standing nearby shook his head. He said I should have called the police because the other driver could always say I caused the accident, or I hit her car. He went on to state other possible terrible consequences that may follow. By the time I got to my office I was berating myself for my stupidity. I called the police, but the officer told me they could not get involved once I'd left the scene. Okay. I called my insurance company. The lady I spoke to was very nice. She took what information I had, then when she asked for the lady's tag number I slapped my forehead. I had overlooked that one, but I had her phone number. The lady assured me she would try her best to locate the driver of the car, but without the tag number it might be difficult. By this time I'm praying. The woman had said she was a Christian after hearing the Christian program I had been listening to on my radio. I prayed that she would behave in a Christian manner and speak the truth when my insurance contacted her.
About an hour later, I received a call from my insurance company. The driver had given her insurance information willingly and a case number had been generated. From there I was referred to the driver's insurance who is now handling the matter. I wrote all this to show that when problems arise it can be very easy for us to listen to negative reports. This produces fear which ultimately leads to the thing feared coming to pass.
This is what happened to the Israelites when Moses sent out the spies to check out the land of Canaan.
And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying , The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight (Numbers 13: 32 - 33).
Even those men that did bring up the evil report upon the land, died by the plague before the LORD (14: 37).
God became angry with them because they did not believe that He would do as He promised. Instead of believing Him they believed the spies. God promises to take care of us even when trouble strikes. He said, No weapon formed against you shall prosper (Isaiah 54 : 17). Whose report will you believe?
Enjoy this song in the video below and reflect on the words. Remember, no matter what happens God will take care of you.
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