You Can Be A Blessing

One of the most frequent requests we make in our prayers is, "Lord, bless me." We pray God's blessing over our homes, our families, our job, or something important that we are working on. And that's fine. We need to ask God for His blessing, otherwise it may be impossible for us to accomplish anything. But how often do we pray for God to make us a blessing? Do we want to bless others the way God has blessed us?

A very common Christian response when someone cries to us for help is, "I will pray for you." Prayer is always good, but sometimes a person's immediate need might not be prayer, but for some tangible help. Notice the number of times Jesus fed the people and healed them before teaching them about the kingdom. We don't have to be rich to be a blessing. In fact, the Bible gives many examples of people who blessed others when they themselves had no material wealth to speak of.

Peter said to the crippled beggar, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk" (Acts 3: 6). What Peter gave that man was ultimately worth more than silver or gold.

Ruth, the Moabitess, had no material goods to give to Naomi, her mother-in-law. Naomi had lost her husband and her two sons, and she was understandably bitter. In those days a widow who had no sons was truly destitute. Naomi had no choice but to return to her hometown, Bethlehem, in the hope of finding the help that she needed. 

Against Naomi's advice, Ruth decides to go with her. As soon as they settle in in their new home, Ruth goes out to look for work. Not only does she find work, but she also finds favor in the eyes of Boaz, the owner of the field, who later marries her. Ruth and Boaz have a son who is the ancestor of our Lord Jesus Christ. Naomi, who was a bitter old woman, now has the pleasure of caring for this baby and is comfortably settled in life. Ruth's faithfulness has turned out to be a blessing to Naomi.

When you pray today, why not ask God to make you a blessing to others? Maybe all you need to do is visit someone in the hospital, hold the hand of someone who is going through a difficult time, prepare a dish and take it to someone, help in the nursery at church, volunteer your time somewhere. The list is endless. Jesus said,  'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'(Matthew 25: 40).

You can learn more about Ruth by downloading a copy here.

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Happy Independence Day!

Two hundred and thirty-nine years ago, America declared its independence from Great Britain.  The move

came as a result of grievances over the Empire's taxation and trade policies. The colonies felt they were being unfairly treated and so they rebelled. America now stands proud as a sovereign nation. Over the years, many countries have followed America's example, and today there are close to 200 independent countries.


As I think about this powerful nation, my thoughts go back to the book of Judges. This book  deals with a period in Israel's history when there was no king. Under Joshua's leadership, the people had finally entered the promised land, and they served the Lord well. But then Joshua and his generation died, and  "The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD; they forgot the LORD their God and served the Baals and the Asherahs" (Judges 3 : 7). 

We know the consequences of their actions. Israel went through a terrible time of  defeat and captivity at the hands of its enemies. Eventually, they cried out to God and He took pity on them. He appointed judges over them and they did well, but each time the judge died, they returned to their sinful ways. Then they would cry out to God again, He would appoint another judge, and the process would be repeated.

There's a line in the book of Judges that is repeated over and over:  "In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes" (Judges 17: 6).

Today in America, we have leaders over us, but we are doing what is right in our own eyes. The will of the people has usurped the will of God. Church attendance hovers around 40% while an average 60% of Americans support same-sex marriage. An overall "anything goes" is the pervading lifestyle in America. Policemen kill unarmed civilians and go free. "Every man does that which is right in his own eyes." 

But God is a good God. He is not like man. He does not punish us as our sins deserve. Isaiah 55: 7 says,     "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." Happy Independence!

Here are two of my older posts on Independence:

http://quildonwrites.blogspot.com/2005/07/happy-fourth-of-july.html
http://quildonwrites.blogspot.com/2010/07/happy-fourth.html

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Footprints In The Sand

Sometimes when I go to the gym or go walking I have to push myself to stay the course and not cut my

workout short. One day last week I was really tempted to turn around and go back home. The weather was humid and my legs felt unwilling to cooperate, but I persevered and eventually my muscles loosened up and I completed my exercise comfortably.

There will be other days like that one, just as in life there are days when we just feel like giving up. Our job, marriage, ministry, life in general may seem frustrating or even difficult at times, and we may think, why bother? But know this: wherever you are now it's God's will for your life. He has given you that husband/wife, those children, that position, and He has equipped you to carry out that task. So, don't give up! Persevere, fight the good fight of faith. You know what they say about the grass being greener on the other side. It only appears to be greener.

The apostle Paul knew what it was to become discouraged. He'd been beaten, imprisoned, shipwrecked and suffered all kinds of hardship for the sake of the gospel, but yet he persisted and left a wonderful legacy for the church. He wrote,  "And let us not be weary in well doing : for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not" (Galatians 6: 9). 

Sometimes I'm tempted to give up this blog. It takes time, even though I only post weekly, and I don't earn a penny from it. Working on my novel devours even more time. Sometimes I wonder if it will ever be worth the trouble, but when I consider that the apostle Paul did most of his writing in a jail cell - dark, cold, wet and crawling with all kinds of unwelcome visitors - I have no reason to complain, or to give up. Besides, I know that  "every one of us shall give account of himself to God" (Romans 14 : 12).

Are you weary, feel like giving up? God never gives up on us. Ever read the poem Footprints In The Sand? If you haven't, you can read it here.

And here's a video to bless you further.


 

Satan Just Fired An Imp

As I looked at the extensive coverage of the massacre at the AME church in Charleston, SC a few days

ago, I couldn't help thinking that Satan must be furious. Not that the gunman was so easily caught - Satan couldn't care less - but about what ensued after the killing.


The Bible tells us that Satan uses people to carry out his plans, so the way I see it, he assigned an imp to influence the twenty-one-year-old white man to carry out the massacre. He did it, but failed miserably in what he hoped to achieve. According to Dylann Roof, his goal was to see the races separated. He wanted us to return to the days of segregation. And that's Satan's goal. He is all for division. He hates to see people, especially Christians, united. He divides families, friends, relatives, even nations. But instead of division, we saw on television people of all races and backgrounds hugging each other and mourning the senseless murder of the saints. This tragedy has brought unity in a way that has even crossed political lines.


But unity is not all that has been achieved. Every television reporter commented on the incredible display of Christian love and forgiveness expressed by the victims' families. One lady said, "Jesus forgives you, and I forgive you." Another one held up a sign that read, "Your evil doing did not break our community. You made us stronger,"  and one pastor said that this tragedy should strengthen our faith and bring us closer to God. Even businesses are showing their solidarity and pouring money into the city of Charleston. 

People are asking the question, "Why didn't someone take the gunman down?" Why was he given time to reload and kill nine people? One day we may know the answer, but I believe those people were martyred, not just because they were black, but also for their faith. They have joined the distinguished ranks of  early Christians who willingly surrendered their lives for their love of Jesus.

So now Satan is scratching his head, wondering how he could have underestimated the strength and resilience of God's people. I believe that scoffers and mockers will see Christians in a different light after this, and even though they may not know the words, they will realize that "the gates of hell cannot prevail against it (the church) (Matthew 16: 18).

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Those Lazy Hazy Days Of Summer

Portrait of Nat King Cole, New York, N.Y. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Those of you who are old enough may recall a song by Nat Cole that went something like this: Roll out those lazy, hazy crazy days of summer ... For many of us, our summer may be anything but lazy. Even though the kids are out of school, we may pack so many activities into our schedule that we have very little time to rest.

Occasionally, on Sundays after church, I stop off at the supermarket to pick up something I'd forgotten. Today was one of those days. I was surprised at how crowded the place was. When I was growing up, Saturday was shopping day. Oh, I know things have changed. People work on Saturdays and even on Sundays, in some cases. Which brings me to the topic of rest. 

Seventh Day Adventists observe Saturday as the Sabbath, and they do nothing except go to church on that day. This is according to the third commandment which God gave to Moses in which He said, "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy" (Exodus 20: 8).We Christians who worship on Sunday very rarely observe a day of rest. No wonder we are so tired. No wonder we contract so many colds and other illnesses. Our immune system has difficulty keeping up with the burden we place on it. Even our children are tired.

We need to make physical rest a priority. Rest has several benefits, not just to our bodies but to our minds.  Our muscles and organs get a chance to recover from the stress we place on them, our minds are refreshed and can process thoughts better. But there is an added benefit. As Christians, rest can give us a chance to commune with God. When was the last time you sat somewhere in your backyard, gazed up at the heavens and wondered at the magnificence of the One who created them? I believe David did that a lot. Here's what he says in Psalm 19:1 -  The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Make time for rest this summer. Lie on the grass in your backyard and contemplate the glory and majesty and splendor of our God. Your physical, mental and spiritual health will thank you for it.

Did Someone Break Your Heart?

The young man was handsome, pleasant and financially independent. Yet, with downcast eyes, he related to

me how someone had broken his heart. Yes, ladies, guys are not the only ones who break hearts. Some of us do it too. I tried my best to reassure him that he was still young, and for him, life held a lot of possibilities. I'm not sure he was convinced.

What we need to realize is that if we live long enough, someone is going to break our heart. It doesn't have to be a romantic interest; it can be a child, a friend, even a parent or someone we trusted in. So what do you do when someone breaks your heart? There are many psychological books and articles on the subject, but for me, the best resource is the Bible.

Many of us suffer heartbreak because we elevate people to a position they are not capable of maintaining. We forget they are mere mortals like we are with the same weaknesses and inconsistencies that we have. They may want to do the right thing, but like Paul said, "I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.  For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do--this I keep on doing (Romans 7: 18 - 19).

If we understand this, we would not place unrealistic expectations on others. Someone said, "You may not always trust the person you love, but you can always love the person you trust." In other words, you love them unconditionally. Whether you can go on living with them is up to you. 

The Bible puts it this way: "It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man" (Psalm 118: 8). You know you can always trust Him and He will always love you, no matter how bad you are. King David was a very popular and well-loved king, yet he experienced heartbreak and betrayal from those he considered his friends. In Psalm 55 he said, "If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were raising himself against me, I could hide from him. But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend" ( v 12- 13). 

And what was his consolation? "But I call to God, and the LORD saves me.  Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice" (v16-17).

That's your answer, my friend. Put your trust in God. When others disappoint you - as they will - cry out to Him. Enjoy the articles and the audio recording below and please drop me a line and let me know your thoughts.

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A Story Of Two Guinea Pigs

Recently, I was given the awesome responsibility of taking care of my grandchildren's pets while the family was away. Since I love animals, I didn't mind looking after the two Guinea pigs and a very playful Lab.  Once Ziggy, the Lab, was fed and given a fresh bowl of water, he pretty much took care of himself. But Charlie and Arthur, the guinea pigs, caused me a bit of concern.

To begin with, once I'd removed the water bottle from where it hung at the side of the cage, I couldn't figure out how to replace it. I was later embarrassed when I saw how simple it was, but for the time I was there, I had to hold the bottle while Charlie drank and drank and drank. Whenever Arthur tried to get near the bottle, she (Charlie is a girl) pushed  him away with her mouth or with her butt. The same thing happened when he tried to get near the food. I began to worry that if Charlie kept that up, Arthur may soon be undernourished. Charlie used to be a very nice, docile pet, but since Arthur came, she has become selfish and aggressive.

Jayden and Jen with Charlie

Maybe that's the nature of guinea pigs, I don't know, but Charlie's behavior set me thinking about the way we humans treat each other. Are we kind and compassionate toward others? Do we willingly share what we have, or are we like Charlie, trying to grab all for ourselves, not caring about the other person? Let's examine our behavior in the home, the workplace and even in the church. If we find that we are anything like Charlie, let's ask God to give us a caring and sharing heart.

"And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4 : 19). This is a verse we often quote, but when Paul spoke these words, he was referring to the gifts the Philippians had sent him, which he called " a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God" (v 18). 

When we give or do good to others, we make a fragrant offering that is pleasing to God. Think about it.

Comfort To Mothers On Mother's Day

This is a repost of a blog posted a few years ago. When I reread it, I thought the message still relevant to 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.

today. For most mothers around the world

Disturbing The Peace

This week I have the unexpected pleasure of visiting with my grandchildren while their father is away. Kevin

Peaceful scene

is a  widower and has been raising his children single-handedly since their mother passed away eight years ago. He told me there is a park not far from the house, so on my first morning, after dropping the kids off to school, I decided to go for a walk.

The area includes a lake surrounded by tall trees and is made accessible in some places by wooden bridges. The air was cool and refreshing and occasionally I stopped to take the pictures you see here. There were lots of people walking, and nearly everyone smiled and said, "Good-morning," something I'm not used to where I live. After completing the two-mile circle, I headed home, feeling wonderfully refreshed and invigoraated. As I neared the paved path that would take me home, I saw three people standing looking at something on the ground.

Bridge over the lake

That's me the day I arrived

Fearing the worst, I whispered, "What is it?" 

One of the young men replied, "It's a little snake."

A little snake? Just where I have to pass? I didn't care how little it was, I wasn't going there. I looked around for another route, but saw none. Slowly, I approached the creature that had disturbed my peace. I watched as he took his time, slithering across the path. When he was almost in the grass, I bolted away. When I told this to a friend she said, "The devil always tries to steal your joy."

I agreed. Stealing our joy is the devil's business, but Jesus delights in giving us peace.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid (John 14: 27).

Do not let anything or anyone disturb your peace today. Be blessed.

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Don't Go There!

David and Bathsheba by Jan Matsys, 1562, Louvre (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Just one is all it takes. One drink, one puff, one night in a cheap motel somewhere and you can end up in a condition that may last the rest of your life. You may even end up dead. Just one. People, young and old, are getting hooked on drugs and alcohol. Teenage girls, as young as eleven, experts say, are getting pregnant and/or contracting STDs.

Recently, I listened to a broadcast by one of my favorite apologetics, Ravi Zacharias. He said something so significant I had to write it down. He said, "It is easier to say no before you have tasted it than after you have tasted it." In other words, don't taste it! You know what happens when you eat that first nut or that first chip. Before you know it, you have eaten the whole bag.

But it doesn't have to be that way. Ravi states that God has given us the capacity to control our appetite. We do not have to give in to sin and temptation. The Bible tells us, "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin" (Hebrews 4: 15). 

In an earlier chapter, the writer said, "Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted" (Hebrews 2 : 18). 

King David was a powerful and highly-respected king, but one day he saw a woman having a bath, and he gave into temptation. He committed adultery with Bathsheba, but it didn't stop there. When she became pregnant, David tried to get her husband Uriah, a general in his army, to go home and sleep with his wife so she could pass the child off as his. But good soldier that Uriah was, he refused to go home while the other men were either camping out in the fields or sleeping in tents. So, David conspired to have Uriah killed. Just one look led to adultery then murder. To top it off, the baby died. 

God is saying to us, "Don't go there!" Don't start something that will cause you regret. If you are tempted, pray. Jesus knows our weaknesses and  "is able to help those who are being tempted" (Hebrews 2 : 18). 

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After Jesus?

Some years ago, CNN ran a program around Easter titled "After Jesus." I don't remember the content of the

program, but I did not like the title then and I do not like it now. It sounds like Jesus is dead or obsolete or a thing of the past. Nothing can be further from the truth. According to Newsmax, there has been a rise in practicing Christians in America as opposed to those who simply profess to be Christians but never darken the doorway of a church. People are getting saved, witnessing for Christ and finding new hope in Christ.

Other reports state that Christianity is on the rise in South America, Africa, Asia and South Korea. Many Muslims are also risking their lives by converting to Christianity. One only has to look at the number of Christians being martyred in Iraq and Africa as testimony of their faith in Jesus Christ. In addition, Christian bookstores, radio and television stations and major films continue to draw record numbers of people.

Whenever I visit some forums on the internet, I am always amazed at the number of questions that atheists are asking about God and Christianity. Many of these questions are very sarcastic, but why take the time to inquire about someone you don't believe in, or someone you say is dead. I attended a viewing this weekend and you can be sure I won't be inquiring about that person any longer. 

Some may look at the number of negative events happening in the world and say, where is God?  However, the Bible tells us that in the last days, "perilous times will come." 2 Timothy 3: 1. Luke 21: 28 says, And when these things begin to come to pass , then look up , and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh." 

Jesus is very present in the world today, and always will be. When you write the date on a check or post something to your calendar, you are acknowledging that we live in 2015 AD, the year of Our Lord. He says,
"I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last" (Revelation 22: 13). His name is "Emmanuel, which which being interpreted is , God with us," (Matthew 1: 23). 

Let us as Christians show the world that the light of Jesus still shines in us and through us, not only at Easter, but all year through. Enjoy the video below and please leave a comment in the box below or share this post on Facebook, Twitter or any other social media site you frequent. God bless.  

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Rejoice?

News of another fatal shooting of an unarmed black man by a police officer has left Americans stunned and another family grieving for their loved one. As I thought about this latest incident, a word flashed across my mind: REJOICE. But as quickly as it came, I tried to push it away. What was there to rejoice about? A father, brother, husband, friend lost his life in a senseless way. The Scott family will never be the same again.

Yet, the apostle Paul said, "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" So I questioned the Lord, "How can we rejoice when such a tragedy takes place? There can be no cause for rejoicing when the breadwinner of a family has been cut off. But the Holy Spirit gently reminded me, "Two thousand years ago an innocent Man was crucified."

Yes, Jesus was innocent. He was unarmed. He didn't even open his mouth to try to defend Himself. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And after He died, His disciples saw no cause for rejoicing. They went back to the life they had before they met Him. They obviously thought, that was the end of the story. But on Easter Sunday, He rose from the grave, and the world has never been the same since. Now we rejoice because Jesus is risen and we who have accepted Him will one day be with Him.

So what does this have to do with the Scott family? We certainly do not rejoice over their loss. We mourn with them and the Browns and all the other families who lost loved ones. But we can take comfort in knowing that just as God used Jesus' death for good, in the same way He will use the deaths of Walter Scott and the others for good. And in that we can rejoice. 

If you enjoyed reading this blog, will you share it on your Facebook page and any other social media sites that you frequent. Thank you and God bless.

 

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Jesus Loves You

What are your thoughts as we go into Holy Week next week? Do you reflect on what Jesus may have been thinking as He rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday? When I was a child my mother had me read the story of the crucifixion. I read it the way I read my stories and wept when I realized there was no way Jesus' life would be spared. Now as an adult and a Christian, I know that Jesus came to earth to die for my sins. As a child I couldn't understand this. Do you?

Most of all, do you realize why Jesus died? It wasn't because the religious leaders hated him or because Herod and Pilate couldn't agree on what to do with Him. If Jesus wanted to get out from dying, no amount of hate or political bungling could have made Him die. He died because He loves you and he loves me. Plain and simple. 

It's easy to say, "Yes, I know Jesus loves me."  But the concept of someone loving us to the extent that He would die for us can be difficult to grasp. Here's what the Bible says:

For God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son that all who believe in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3: 16.

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.  John 15: 13

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5: 8

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3: 23

The amazing thing about Jesus' love is that it is unconditional. You don't have to be good or holy or even a Christian for Jesus to love you. He can't help but love you, because He is love. So when you reflect on Palm Sunday and holy week, realize that Jesus had you in mind when He did all that He did. And He still does. That's why He stretched out his arms wide on the cross so you could run into them and be saved. And they are still outstretched. Won't you run into them today? He's waiting, but He won't wait forever. 

The Bible says, "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts" (Hebrews 4 : 7).

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What Does Your Conscience Say?

So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man. Acts 24: 16 NIV

 

"They don't have a conscience." We often say this to refer to people who commit heinous crimes without showing any feelings of remorse. But everyone does have a conscience. Call it "the little voice" or whatever you choose to call it, our conscience can keep us from wrongdoing and even from getting into serious trouble.

Christopher Reeve said, 
"I think we all have a little voice inside us that will guide us. It may be God, I don't know. But I think that if we shut out all the noise and clutter from our lives and listen to that voice, it will tell us the right thing to do."

The Bible has a lot to say about conscience. Is is just a little voice, or is it the work of the Holy Spirit in us?

When Abraham and his wife Sarah went on a journey, Abraham feared that because Sarah was so beautiful, the men would kill him and take her, so he told her to say she was his sister. Sarah did as she was told and the king did, in fact, send for her to make her part of his harem. But the Lord appeared to him in a dream and warned him not to touch her because she was another man's wife.

The king, very afraid, said, "Did he not say to me, 'She is my sister,' and didn't she also say, 'He is my brother'? I have done this with a clear conscience and clean hands." 
Then God said to him in the dream, "Yes, I know you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept you from sinning against me. That is why I did not let you touch her" (Genesis 20: 5-6). 

In Romans 13: 5, Paul says,  "Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience."

In other words, you don't submit because you fear punishment, but because your conscience tells you it's the right thing to do.


Christians face many temptations throughout life, but we must always listen to the voice of our conscience. We must be able to say like Job,  "I will maintain my righteousness and never let go of it; my conscience will not reproach me as long as I live" (27: 6).

Even children have a conscience. Although they may not always confess when they do something wrong, the guilt shows on their faces. Children know when they deserve to be punished. It's the same with us adults. We know we deserve God's wrath, but instead, we receive His grace. However, that doesn't give us the license to ignore our conscience and go on sinning. We must do the right thing. Go to God, confess our sins and ask Him to help us turn away from them once and for all. God bless.

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Half Empty Or Half Full?

I'm sure you've heard the question before: Is your glass half empty or half full? I answered this

question in a forum recently where the person who posed the question seemed to think that the glass is half empty for most people. I daresay I was pleased that most of the respondents, including myself, agreed that it was a matter of perspective and for many, the glass was half full.


This question reminded me of Ruth and Naomi who I wrote about in a recent post. If you haven't read it yet, you may read it here. Naomi became bitter over the loss of her husband and sons, while Ruth, who had also lost her husband, looked to the future with hope.

Ruth could have easily become despondent and bitter. She was a young widow and she did not have a son to provide for her. Two factors that put her at a great disadvantage, unless she could remarry. When Naomi, her mother-in-law, decided to leave for Judah, Ruth readily decided to follow her. Ruth saw her glass as half full, waiting to be filled. And it did, as you read in my earlier post.

What I find amazing about this story is that Ruth, who had been childless before, became pregnant and bore a son when she married Boaz. And Naomi, who had never been a grandmother before, became nurse to Ruth's baby.

The Bible says, "... godliness with contentment is great gain" (1 Timothy 6:6).Ruth gained by being godly and contented. Not many Christians are contented. We tend to fret and become anxious when our glass looks like it's half empty, when instead, we should see it as half full.

Lessons From My Orchid

The orchid you see in this picture was once as beautiful as it is now, then after a while, it became withered,

the blooms fell off, and it looked pretty sad. I had two options: keep it and try to restore it, or throw it away. After considering for a few weeks, I decided to take the uncertain route. I would repot the thing and see what happened. I went down to the garden store, bought a nice terra cotta pot and some orchid potting soil. Armed with these, I faced the poor, unsuspecting plant.

Now this orchid had sent out a lot of leaves and roots, and not being a horticulturist by any means, I wasn't sure how to separate them, but I did my best, and the result is what you see in the picture. As I looked at my lovely orchid this morning, I thought about the way God restores us when we are burnt out, tired and no longer feel capable of bearing fruit. 

Sarah was a woman like that. Well past her child-bearing years, she thought she could no longer fulfill the promise God had made to her and her husband Abraham. God had told her she would have a son, but here she was, already ninety years old. Impossible dream, right? Wrong! Nothing is impossible with God. If I, a novice where orchids are concerned, could transplant an orchid and make it produce beautiful blooms, think what God, the Master Creator can do with us if we would only entrust our broken lives to Him. 

 The Bible says, "Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings" (Isaiah 58: 12).
You don't have to go about feeling like a dried-up plant. God has promised, "Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up" Psalm 71: 20). 
 
"God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill" (Numbers 23: 19).

You can learn more about Sarah and how she received God's promise of a son even though she had been barren most of her life. Just go to Amazon Kindle where you can purchase my book Women For All Seasons for just $2. 99.  

A True Love Story For Valentine's Day

The Book of Ruth (novel) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

What is your favorite Valentine's Day activity? If you say curling up with your honey and reading a good love story, then you may be in tandem with some other people. So, if you're looking for a good love story to read this weekend, why not read the book of Ruth? Aww, that's the Bible, you might say. True, but reading this story has several benefits:
1) If you feel guilty because you haven't been reading your Bible, this is a way to assuage your guilt.
2) If you love romance, this is one of the best romances ever.
3) It's true.

So, here's the story of Ruth.

Ruth was a young widow who decided to follow Naomi her mother-in-law to Bethlehem because there was a famine in the land where they lived. Naomi had recently lost her husband and, feeling very bitter, thought she would be better off relocating. She and Ruth got to Bethlehem at the beginning of the harvest, and no sooner had they settled in than Ruth decided to go in search of work.

She went straight to the field of Boaz, who just happened to be Naomi's relative. Boaz came in to inspect his field and his eyes lit on Ruth. "Who is that?" he asked. When the other workers told him who she was, he invited her to have lunch with him. How many of us have been invited to lunch with the boss on the first day? That evening when Ruth told Naomi where she'd worked that day, Naomi began to hear wedding bells. When the harvest came to an end, she instructed Ruth to put on her best clothes and go down to the threshing floor where Boaz would sleep after threshing wheat that night. Ruth obeyed her mother-in-law, and the rest, as we say, is history.

I'm not going to tell you the whole story because I want you to read it for yourself. But, like all romances, it does have a very happy ending. Ruth's story is the story of every believer. Boaz represents Jesus Christ and Ruth represents us, His bride. Ruth was a Moabitess, a race of people who were outside the covenant of God. We were Gentiles, outside the covenant of God. Just as Boaz redeemed Ruth and made her his own, just so Christ has redeemed us and made us His own. Isn't that beautiful? Read the story for yourself. You will fall in love again. Happy Valentine's Day.

For a limited time, you can learn more about Ruth and other women of the Bible by purchasing my book Women For All Seasons from the Amazon Kindle store for just  $2.99 cents. Or, if you prefer the print copy, go to

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If God Be For Us: A Black History Moment

English: Frontispiece to Phillis Wheatley's Poems on Various Subjects... Русский: Филлис Уитли, портрет из сборника её стихов. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Today, in honor of Black History month, I'd like to honor Phyllis Wheatley, the first published African American woman and the second African American to publish a book of poems. Phyllis was born in Senegal in 1753, kidnapped at the age of 8 and brought to Boston on a slave ship named Phillis, after which she was named. Phyllis' fate could have been similar to that of other slave girls - work, suffer cruelty, and die a slave. Or, if you were brave and lucky enough, you could run away, eventually gain freedom and marry a former slave.

However, Phyllis's life demonstrates that if God be for us, who can be against us (Romans 8: 31). Phyllis was not a healthy girl, but she had a brain. When her mistress, Susana Wheatley discovered this, she did not allow Phyllis to be trained as a servant. Instead, Phyllis received lessons in theology, English, Latin and Greek. She was also taught ancient history, mythology and literature. Education of a slave was definitely not the norm at the time. Slaves who happened to learn to read and write did so under risk of being severely punished. To have her slave owner provide the means for Phyllis's education was nothing short of God's providence. 

Phyllis was treated as a member of the family, and at the age of 12, published her first poem. Other poems followed, and in 1772, she completed her first and  only book of poems: Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral.  However, Phyllis was not accepted as a poet by the colonists in Boston and had to appear in court to prove that she had indeed written the poems. After careful examination, the panel conceded that she was indeed the author and wrote an attestation which was included in the preface of the book. Susana Wheatley encouraged Phyllis to journey to London where she published her book and received widespread acclaim. 

Here's an excerpt from one of her poems:

Twas mercy brought me from my Pagan land,
Taught my benighted soul to understand
That there's a God, that there's a Saviour too:
Once I redemption neither sought nor knew.
Some view our sable race with scornful eye,
"Their colour is a diabolic dye."
Remember, Christians, Negroes, black as Cain,
May be refin'd, and join th' angelic train.

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