Margo's Moments--Spirit-filled suspense that touches the heart

God still likes it!

2012-01-24T11:57:00.002-06:00

Just looked up "exult" in the dictionary after reading in Psalm 9, "I will give thanks with my whole ♥...I will be glad and *exult* in You."

The dictionaries talk about being exceedingly glad and spinning and leaping for joy. Beth Moore brings it out, too. However, the dictionary says the leaping part is obsolete.

I wonder if God knows that? LOL

Psalms 149-150 say to praise Him with singing and dancing. What if God walked up to us in church and said, "Shall we dance?" What would we say? That's obsolete? Malachi 3 says God doesn't change.

We don't want miracles to be obsolete when we need one. But we tell Him some things He wants are obsolete.

We really are a "peculiar people."

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exult

2012-01-06T12:57:00.000-06:00

Just attended the funeral of a dear saint at my former church. "Blessed in the eyes of the Lord is the death of His saints."

So good to be with these sweet people again. Wish I could be in two places at once--or at least go back and forth fast like Philip of Caesarea.

One thing is certain, we're all going to leave this world. I hope all my Facebook friends will be with me in Heaven one day.

This precious saint I mentioned is with Jesus now and I know I will see him again.

But how can we possibly know? And isn't that pretty arrogant?

No. It's a matter of believing this:

"These things I have written unto you that believe on the name (i.d., power, authority) of the Son of God, that you may know you have eternal life...." I John 5:13

Jesus had the chutzpah to say, "I AM the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but through me." That is, receiving God's forgiveness and eternal life now and later by acknowledging those are our own personal my ways He died for on the cross, and by making Him our own Lord to follow, love and obey.

So, if you'd like this same wonderful assurance of where you will spend eternity, please scroll way down the right margin and just press the Ready button.... : )

God's gifts and power for today?

2011-11-05T09:16:00.010-05:00

I think these verses point to God's power being for all the Church throughout the ages. Some people believe the gifts ceased when the whole, complete and perfect Bible was given. I think these verses show otherwise. Then why don't more of us see God's power in our lives and churches today? Maybe these verses tell us that, too: (And the fonts translated their colors by themselves, for what it's worth, LOL)

1 Corinthians 13:8-12 New International Version (NIV) ⁸ Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹ For we know in part and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰ but when completeness /that which is perfect comes, what is in part disappears. ... ¹² then we shall see *[Jesus?] face to face.*

1 John 3:2-3

New International Version (NIV)

² Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.

1 Corinthians 1:7 Therefore you do *not lack any spiritual gift* as you eagerly *wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.*

Then, where is the power we should have? Where did it go? To the Dark Ages, I guess, when the church took the Bible from the people and followed many more traditions of men:

Matthew 15³ And he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God because of your *tradition*?... ⁶ And ye have made void the word of God because of your *tradition*....9 ⁹ But in vain do they worship me, Teaching as their *doctrines the precepts of men.*

Chronologically speaking, the church at Laodicea is the last church age. Many of us believe we are in the Last Days. So, like the song (click here) says, we are probably "Livin' in Laodicea." Not good:

Revelation 3:14-20 ¹⁴ “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. ¹⁵ I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! ¹⁶ So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. ¹⁷ You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. ¹⁸ I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

¹⁹ Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. ²⁰ Here I am! *I stand [outside] at the [church's] door and knock.* If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

I don't think Jesus is standing outside of all of the Church today. Not at all. Many churches teach that Jesus Christ is Lord and the only Way to the Father, just as Jesus says.

He says He has limited Himself to where He's going to show up in power, though:

John 14:21 AMPLIFIED The person who has My commands and keeps them is the one who [really] loves Me; and whoever [really] loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I [too] will love him and will show (reveal, manifest) Myself to him. [I will let Myself be clearly seen by him and make Myself real to him.]

Matthew 10:1 And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction.

8 "Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay."

Matthew 28:20 "teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you . And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

We know Jesus sits at the right hand of God, and is in us in the power of the Holy Spirit. Let's make the presence and the ministry of the Holy Spirit welcome in our hearts and lives and churches.

All for His glory and our joy and well-being. Thank You, Jesus.

There's nothing we can do! LOL

2011-09-01T09:42:00.001-05:00

There's nothing we can do! To save ourselves, I mean:

And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness.... Romans 4:5.

That *is* Good News!

I once wondered if I was good enough and my cousin called me what Paul would have called me: "O, foolish Galatian!" Love it!
Here's what he was talking about: O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish?Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Galatians 3:1-3

The answer is No. Paul tells us we cannot be perfected by our own effort. We are saved by hearing with faith--believing--that Jesus Christ, the Messiah, died for our sins.

If you'd like more information, scroll waaay down and push the red button in the margin. No obligation. Enjoy.

Crawfish tacos?

2011-08-01T10:06:00.000-05:00

Oh, my, yes. Yum! A little of the Southeast, a lot of the Southwest, a healthy appetite after church, and a delightful discovery of something new. Like hanging moss on a tall cactus. Like a saddle on a gator. Like--somebody stop me! LOL Just lead me back to a Fuzzy's.

God is fun!

2011-06-22T21:39:00.091-05:00

How often do we consider that God is fun? He enjoys us! (Click on bold print for Scriptures.)

That he adores and protects us,

and thinks we’re gorgeous when we praise Him!

Yes, we can "be still and know" He is God.

He also loves noisy, exuberant singing and, yes, dancing .

He loves the blessings of uplifted hand s, too, that's why we see them so much today.

And He does allow drinking and celebrating Him! We can find lots of objections in some traditions, but we can balance them with this.

And we can pray and sing in other tongues.

Because all the gifts of the Spirit are for today.

( They will disappear when knowledge does, but in the last days, knowledge will increase. So we still have knowledge and all the gifts of the Spirit. )

In fact, in these three chapters, there's a Holy Spirit sandwich of Power, Love, Power. I want the whooole thing.

We also have a ruthless enemy

But we also have the gift of God within us forever.

We have authority over the enemy until the end of the world. We also have the power of the help of Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit until the end of the world,

and our mission includes doing all things whatsoever I have commanded you which would not negate these heal the sick and cast out demons
. Freely you have received, freely give.

If we're not seeing these things today as much as the first Christians probably did, I have to suspect we're in the Laodicean Age of the Church.

Most of all, since I know I am going to Heaven someday.

I want my friends and family--and enemies--with me. And there’s only one way to get there.

So I hope everyone who hasn't already will give up their way for God's.

Because here's God's Good News.

Hope I haven’t annoyed anyone, unless it’s to look into these things I’ve placed here with much love. This is how I understand it all, anyway. I'm open to discussion. : ) God bless~

Father's Day discovery an ocean away

2011-06-18T20:06:00.004-05:00

My dad used to let us sit on a big old tarp and he'd run and drag it behind him. Better than any E ticket ride at WDW. He also turned that tarp into a tipi and told us the story of Pocahontas. Later, he was my choir director and my driver-to-get-everything-for-science-projects, etc.. He was diligent to keep a roof over our heads, AC and heat working, food in the pantry, clothes in the closets. He wasn't perfect but he was my Dad and I miss him this Father's Day and always.

I remember another Father's Day whose significance started some years ago when my husband and I toured Scotland. One morning, I got up very early, sleepless, and sat downstairs in the living room of this cute little old hotel in Ft. William. Another sleepless traveler on our tour soon joined me. It was a few weeks before Father's Day and he mentioned where his estranged daughter lived. He named my hometown without knowing it and a street less than a mile from my house. We were both amazed that I knew his daughter's neighborhood.

When we got home, I couldn't forget that. We got our photos developed and I thought about delivering one of him to the daughter. He had told me her name. Would I be butting in where I was not welcome? Why were they estranged? Did he abuse her, or something? Would I just be opening old wounds? We're called to forgive. We don't have to put ourselves back in harm's way.

I prayed. And kept praying. What should I do?

Finally, I couldn't stand it anymore. The night before Father's Day, I looked her up in the phone book, drove to her house, and rang the bell. Thank goodness, she came to the door. I introduced myself and handed her the photo. She was amazed. I told her we had traveled with him, that he missed her. "Tomorrow's Father's Day. Maybe you'd like to give him a call." She thanked me and I left.

I don't know what happened. I never heard from her. But maybe there was a reconciliation. I pray for that.

All I could think was that, sitting there in Ft. William, Scotland, across the Atlantic Ocean and thousands of miles from our homes, her father and I discovered that out of all these United States, towns, and streets, I lived near his daughter. I knew what I had to do. What would you have done?

Pretzels and passivity, anyone?

2011-06-15T22:14:00.001-05:00

Interesting story within the story Mexico by James Michener. Ancient civilization got intoxicated on the juice of maguey and later their great, prosperous, peaceful civiliation was known only as the Drunken Builders. They just *watched* with some alarm as an aggressive tribe of the War God moved closer *every year.* Just watched and wondered what would happen to them. They hoped something would happen to the others and make the problem just go away.

Finally, the War God people marched into the Drunken Builders' bulidings & sacrificed the people to the War God. Cut out their beating hearts.

This troubled me b/c sometimes when I discuss current issues with others, I find that some argue from emotion, not facts. Sometimes they call me a name because I don't agree with the policies of the candidate they like. But they can't always give me a real reason to like him, either.

I know I'm not as informed as I could be.

So, are we sometimes intoxicated with *entertainment* & emotion while an enemy comes closer and closer, instead of being really informed on issues that will affect the rest of our lives and our children's and theirs?

Walter Martin said the cults can make "doctrinal pretzels" out of Christians who may know what they believe but not why they believe it. Where is it written?

So can politicians make pretzels out of our views. Where is it written? Who said so? How do *they* know?

My friend plays golf and has a trainer but her husband is sometimes out of work as an independent contractor and she wants me to pay her medical bills. Oh, yes. She wants socialized medicine. Who does she think pays for that? Just for an example.

Whether politics or religion--do we know what we believe--and why?

Workin' on that! Starting by reading Economics in Plain English. This economy thing is terrifying. China says we are trying to default. Will they try to foreclose?

I don't understand it all but I'm going to try. At least I'll understand more than I do now. I hope.

"Welcome Holy Spirit" Pentecost Sunday's Comin' Concert

2011-06-06T14:41:00.009-05:00

God the Holy Spirit came to Church at Pentecost,the Jewish feast held fifty days after Passover. He empowered the Church with His presence. And He promises never to leave us.

June 12 is Pentecost. To celebrate, I've collected these songs into a "concert." Just click on the titles. We sing about Christmas and Easter. Why not the Holy Spirit at Pentecost! Here we go! Welcome, Holy Spirit!

Welcome, Holy Spirit

Cece Winans- Holy Spirit Come Fill This Place

Come, Holy Spirit, move in your people

Holy Spirit Rain Down

Holy Spirit Rain Down with lyrics

Let Your Spirit Fall

Come Holy Spirit I Need Thee

Spirit of the Living God

Come Holy Spirit Fall Afresh On Me

Elvis Presley introduces The Stamps - Sweet Sweet Spirit 1972 live

The Amen - Prayer to the Holy Spirit

Sweet Holy Spirit By The Isaacs

It's Beginning To Rain

This is a Church on Fire

Just for fun: Send it on Down!

Terry MacAlmon - How We Need The River

Adoration by Mike Adkins

Shine Jesus Shine ... blaze, Spirit, blaze...

If you have any suggestions for other songs about the Holy Spirit, please leave a comment. Thanks.

Acts 10:38 is my favorite Bible verse, besides salvation verses.

God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power,

Amazing! Jesus was anointed by the Holy Spirit. The Bible doesn't speak of Him doing any miracles or teaching until then. But then! But then, He

went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed of the devil for God was with Him.

I love it because we, too, are commanded to be filled with the same Holy Spirit who empowered Jesus.

We know that God the Father sits in Heaven, and God the Son sits beside Him. It's God the Holy Spirit who lives in us and through us, and heals us and encourages us....

And He gives us the power of the gifts of the Spirit for victory in situations of life and we will receive the fruit of the Holy Spirit for victories within ourselves.

I Corinthians 12, 13, and 14 are about the Spirit's power, love, and again, power. A Holy Spirit sandwich. And I want the whoooole thing!

http://tinyurl.com/25xh5lu

Housework is holy work

2011-04-26T09:31:00.000-05:00

Housework is holy work. It's all right to take time to do it. The world can wait.

This is what I heard the Lord say in my spirit this morning.

I don't know about you but I'd rather do anything else, even though I've read it a thousand times: She looketh well to the ways of her household and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed.

Proverbs 31 again.

Oswald Chambers even talks about serving God in drudgery. But the world has preached that housework is boring and inferior.

So this word from the Holy Spirit was encouraging to me--as I was reviewing some videos to prepare to do something out of the house and teach a class on prayer which I'm very excited about.

He reminded me I can do both. Balance! Balance.

Dayenu! It would have been enough!

2011-04-21T08:15:00.005-05:00

Part of the Jewish Passover seder includes leader and all reciting a list of God's blessings and responding, "Dayenu," It would have been enough:

Leader: If He had only taken us out of Egypt and not judged the Egyptians:
All: Dayenu! It would have been enough!

Leader: If He had judged their gods but not slain their firstborn:
Dayenu! it would have been enough!

If He had divided the Red Sea but not allowed us to pass through on dry ground:
Dayenu! It would have been enough!

If He allowed us to pass but did not drown the Egyptian's armies:
Dayenu! It would have been enough!

If He had fed us with manna but had not given us the Sabbath:
Dayenu! it would have been enough!

If He had given us the Sabbath but not the Torah:
Dayenu! It would have been enough!

If He had given us the Torah but not led us into Israel:
Dayenu! it would have been enough!

If He had given us Israel but not built and consecrated the Temple:
Dayenu! It would have been enough!

And in this Messianic seder, they added:

As followers of Yeshua, we add still another Dayenu. Our God not only provided all of the above, He provided a once and for all atonement for us through Jesus the Messiah who died for our sins and rose from the dead so we can know freedom from sin and abundant life now and forever. For this we can all say: Dayenu! It is indeed enough!

The seder is full of symbolism for followers of Yeshua ha Maschiach.

The matzoh is broken and hidden in a pouch w/ three pockets. Why three? They may represent a unity, or Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

We see Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The matzoh is hidden in the middle pocket, as in Son.

The matzoh itself, in the baking, is pierced, and the baking rack gives it stripes. This reminds us of the writings of the Jewish prophet Isaiah in chapter fifty-three:

But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and with His stripes, we are healed.

The ceremony includes four cups of wine. Many believe Yeshua held up the Cup of Redemption at the Last Supper or seder. Some say it was the Cup of Elijah.

"And as they were eating, Jesus took the bread, blessed and broke it and gave it to His disciples and said, 'Take, eat, this is my body.' Then He took the cup and gave thanks, and gave it to them saying, 'Drink from it, all of you. For this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.'" Matthew 26:26-29

"Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." John 1:29.

Dottie Rambo's song expresses this so well. "Behold the Lamb."

Healing for today

2011-03-21T10:36:00.001-05:00

Take a look, if you like, and decide for yourself.

http://www.cbn.com/media/player/index.aspx?s=/vod/DrChaunceyCrandall_091510_WS

If Jesus needed this, I sure do!

2011-01-07T11:23:00.003-06:00

How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed of the devil, for God was with Him. Acts 10:38. I love that all. Yes, please, Lord!

I think that's about the most amazing thing I ever realized in the whole Bible--even Jesus didn't do anything except by the power of the Holy Spirit.

If jesus, Himself, needed that anointing, well, I sure do.

16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Click on Cece Winans in the right margin below, if you like.... Sing it, Cece!

"I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ"

2010-10-27T21:06:00.030-05:00

Some people have a lot of love and compassion for other people. This is good, of course.

But their theology seems based on emotion and maybe traditions of men and not on Scripture.

I once took a class at friend's church, bought all three books, read them, attended a few sessions. It was all about feeling better about ourselves because of God's grace and how much He loves us.

Yes, indeed, He does.

But the course didn't give a true picture of the Gospel. I found sin (Shh!) mentioned only once, in a footnote in the back of the book. And then you had to look up the verse.

I quit the class. It seemed a waste of my limited time.

It's the whole truth of the Gospel that sets us free!

If we want to feel better about ourselves, we have to know this: "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

On the other hand: "But God shows His love to us in this, that when we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

If we feel guilty, we probably are. But God is waiting to forgive. That promise should make us feel better about ourselves. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness," 1 John 1:9. What Good News!

Click here to enjoy Honeytree singing Clean Before My Lord

Way of the Master --Great tv show with that cute Kirk Cameron. Here they explain to a cute teenage boy and others how we break the Ten Commandments without even realizing it.

Roman Road to Salvation, verses that explain how to become a Christian.

"I am Not Ashamed of the Gospel." Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir and Jewish man who believes Jesus is the Jewish Messiah

The Gospel is offered to "whosoever will."

John 3:16, "God loved the world so much, He gave His one and only Son, that *whosoever* believes on (places everything ON) Him will not die but have eternal life." If you like, go down the margin and push the red button for more information.

"I had to exorcise a few!" a Southern Baptist missionary told me

2010-08-30T09:48:00.020-05:00

In the novel I'm writing, my heroine stands at a tomb and makes up a charm. Her husband warns her not to.

She protests. "But God is love. He won't let anything happen to us."

He shakes his head and pulls her close. "It's not that simple."

And a lot happens, both funny and tragic.

At a church meeting, after others had left, I asked a Southern Baptist missionary back from Indonesia if he'd ever had to "have deliverance" for those involved with witch doctors. I didn't want to use the more dramatic e-word. He used it. "I had to exorcise a few!"

He added that his generator wouldn't work under the "demons' tree." He had to move it. "If you'd told me this in seminary, I wouldn't have believed it!"

What an indictment of the seminaries. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge, Hosea 4:6.

One of my Facebook friends said the missionary probably could have solved that problem without moving it, just using the name of Jesus. I agree.

Anyway, you may have to ask when everyone else isn't around, but missionaries will tell you some interesting things.

Some people say that unbelief here in the West hides demonic activity from view. Imagine what things must have been like before Jesus disarmed the enemy!

And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. Colossians 2:15

Wow! What a wonderful LORD! Many Christians, especially here in the West, have discounted and ignored this and other key principles and replaced them with a socialized, humanized gospel--to the detriment of ourselves and the world.

We also overlook the "all things whatsoever." that Jesus mentioned in Matthew 28, which refers back to Matthew 10--"Heal the sick...cast out devils...." Details.

And when we do read it, we don't expect it.

It's a vicious cycle. And God misses out on a lot of credit and glory when we don't see Him in action the way we could.

On the other hand, amusement in the occult is rising, even among Christians. This is sad.

If God hates something--such as sorcery and witchcraft, and He says He does in Deuteronomy 18 and Galatians 5--should we who love Him and took advantage of His wonderful, terrible sacrifice be entertained even with stories about what our Creator and Savior hates?

And why should the enemy heed our rebuking him when we've chosen to climb into his occult playpen with him like old friends?

As the husband in my story tells his wife, Get into a playpen with serpents and sooner or later, you're going to get bitten.

Now, we believe a Christian can't be possessed by a demon because the Christian is indwelt by the Holy Spirit.

The president of the Southern Baptist Convention just stated this in an article in response to a growing interest in the rite of exorcism.

But that doesn't mean demons can't hassle us, especially if we makes them feel at home.

Jesus wasn't joking around when He cast out devils. I figure He could have taught the people, "This is a sickness of the heart," or "This is a sickness of the way a man thinks." People would have understood that. But He didn't. He cast'em out.

The day I started writing this post, the daily Bible verse in the margin on my Facebook page said:

"I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe." Ephesians 1:18-19a - NIV

God, I've heard what our ancestors say about you,
   and I'm stopped in my tracks, down on my knees.
Do among us what you did among them.
   Work among us as you worked among them.
And as you bring judgment, as you surely must,
   remember mercy. Habakkuk 3:2

Yes, Lord, as with Paul's and Habakkuk's prayers, let us see your incomparably great power and do all things whatsoever you taught the apostles. Forgive us for climbing into a playpen with serpents. In the awesome, wonderful, mighty name of Jesus!

Amen!

A great novel about this subject is the classic, This Present Darkness.
Don't read it alone at night, and pray before you read it.

HOW CAN THE CHURCH REVIVE? Well-

2010-08-11T22:33:00.016-05:00

Our Roman Catholic friends have interesting ideas here.

This articles asks, HOW CAN THE CHURCH REVIVE? Imagine the scene. A little boy has seemingly just died and is placed by a distraught mother before a bishop, who lays healing hands upon him. The boy remains limp -- but during Mass, a few minutes later, revives.

The author says, now there is the glaring need to return to the Church's incredible charisms -- the charisms granted by Jesus, (read more by clicking on title above.)

Yes, I agree. I just hate the word incredible, though, which literally means not believable.

I've blogged about my friend Bob Turner who was healed of CP in a home group meeting. The Great Commission of Matthew refers back to Matthew 10. The GC of Mark spells it out. "Signs will follow those who believe." "Until the end of the age/world/cosmos."

Then what happened? The Dark Ages. Laodicea--today? Maybe. The world, the flesh and the devil? Fer sher. Other than that, it's a mystery to me. I long to see God being God as the First Century church must have. I've seen a few things but not enough to satisfy me.

Jesus said when He came back, would He find faith on the earth? Do I have enough faith? Am I blind and too blind to know it? This passage appeared on my Facebook page today, and I didn't see it until after posting this blog. What a coincidence???

Today's Bible Verse

You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. - Revelation 3:17-18 - NIV

You probably know that passage refers to what we were just discussing--the powerless Laodicean Church.

Is most of the Western Church too busy trying to do good things and not enough into just being in Christ?

He goes on, the charisms that can be released by the Eucharist, the deliverance that can come from Confession, from exorcism, from the Rosary....

We differ there. Salvation, yes, obviously. Confession, yes, exorcism, sometimes. I've mentioned on FaceBook the Southern Baptist missionary who told me he was surprised he had to use exorcism, saying, If you had told me that in seminary, I wouldn't have believed it.

The article mentions the charisms that will draw disaffected Catholics back into the fold -- and eventually, evangelicals and Protestants, once they see testimony to power.

Well, Evangelicals and Protestants have shown me that power. It's here. I was instantaneously healed of a damaged nerve in the arm in a Presbyterian healing seminar. And instantaneously healed of tension headaches in a healing crusade. Weeks went by, then five-plus years--no more tension headaches.

He mentions seeing a leg grow out. Yes, I saw that in a living room full of believers. And more. These things can happen where people pray and believe. Sometimes. Sometimes not.

But the point is, it didn't end with the last apostle. We're in agreement there. Here's Biblical proof that it's for today, until the Second Coming, after which we won't need healings, yay:

Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I Corinthians 1:7,8 (After the Resurrection, obviously. So, a future event.)

What has changed in the human condition over 2000 years? Nothing. We still need the gifts in order to be strong to the end.

We've all known situations where we need a message of knowledge and a message of wisdom from the Holy Spirit. We've all wanted to see a loved one or ourselves healed. We've all experienced these needs--not to mention the boldness to witness.

He concludes, When clergy have a deep prayer life, miracles result and problems are solved. It is the heart, not the head, that will revive us, and the solution to many current and seemingly insurmountable woes (falling attendance, abuse, modernism, aridity) is so simple: imitate Jesus.

Mmm, yes, but so many clergy do have a deep prayer life. And they're in the Word, they're on missions, they're in the community spreading the Gospel. They're wonderful, deep, sincere, spiritual people full of love of the Lord, love of people, and full of the Word of God.

But they're up against the Laodicean, I believe, trend today of not emphasizing this minor detail:

How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed of the devil for God was with Him. Acts 10:38, my life verse.

If we are to imitate Jesus as the author suggests--and it's a fine suggestion--we must be (continually) filled and anointed with the Holy Spirit.

Yes, we receive Him with salvation. And He promises never to leave us or forsake us.

But we quench Him and grieve Him.

We need to make Him feel welcome, I guess, by obedience and confession of our shortcomings before a holy and perfect and compassionate and just God.

And maybe by inviting Him to fill us again?

If God in the flesh needed to be filled and anointed with the Holy Spirit, can we need any less?

Habakkuk 3:2 LORD, I have heard of your fame. I stand in awe of your deeds, O LORD. Renew them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy.

"Holy Spirit, Come and Fill this Place" by CeCe Winans
.
.
.

Not guilty!

2010-07-16T10:22:00.024-05:00

God has blessed the USA. I believe it's because we were founded by yes, Christians, but that's another post. And because He has turned-on followers here. Even though, yes, we can always do better. And because we have always sent out the Gospel and stood by Israel. (If you believe the Bible, see Genesis 12:3, John 4:22, and Romans 11. If you don't, you might as well quit reading now.)

And mostly, because God is sweet.

So, because we are so blessed, we should feel guilty???

A few thoughts:

First, on a personal level, too, bad times make us grow.

But when we're alert and grateful, blessings make us grow, too.

Of course, if we want to grow only through bad times, I'm sure the enemy of our souls could arrange some bad times for us, as God allowed him to do with Job.

Otherwise, we can gratefully grow through our blessings as they did at Pentecost when Jesus first made the church and made them grow. In joy and power. He baptized them in the Holy Spirit, and I doubt that was a grim, formal, staid experience. I suspect it was joyful and exciting.

And a few of them preached and 3000-5000 were saved, and the authorities noted that those simple, unlearned men "had been with Jesus."

Wouldn't we love for people to look at us in living and ministering in power and know we had been with Jesus!

Hard times did come later. Even death. And the church grew.

Second: after we are blessed, then we can bless others with our blessings. And not out of guilt but out of gratitude. Stats have shown that Christians are the biggest givers.

Jesus said to give to the poor. Of course. And He said "The poor are always with you." I doubt that we will ever eliminate poverty. But we can help as many as we can, remembering Paul's words, "Those who don't work don't eat." Unless they can't work, or need a temporary hand up.

And we will be blessed for it, too. So, we can't lose with God.

Luke 6:38 "Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure--pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return."

Third: --by choice. By choice. Not by legislation.

Yes, we need more generosity and less greed in this country. But the answer is not government, but God. Here's Malachi 3. Short chapter. Verse 10 is interesting. Take a look, if you like. God bless.

Can you know for sure?

2010-06-10T08:49:00.001-05:00

I once wondered if I believed well enough and hard enough to be saved. And a friend showed me I John 5:13

1 John 5:12-13 (English Standard Version)
12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

That You May Know
13I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.

I said to her, "Oh, then, I know. And I know that I know. I just didn't know that I knew!" Meaning, if it's possible to know, then I know.

I shared that story while sitting in New Orleans, enjoying cafe' au lait and beignets at Cafe' du Monde. My friend's husband laughed and said, "O, foolish Galatian."

I love this passage from Galatians 3:

By Faith, or by Works of the Law?

O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. 2Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? 3Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? 4 Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? 5Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— 6just as Abraham "believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"?

What good news!

For more information, scroll way down and click on the red button.

New Orleans, Florida, Tucson--places of the heart--at risk

2010-05-28T14:31:00.016-05:00

My heart, anyway.

Our culture is threatened, our economy is threatened, and everything that I know and love is at risk.

I was born in the beautiful Southeast with its sugar-white sands as in the above photo at Pensacola Beach last spring, with its azaleas and hanging moss, night-blooming jasmine. I lived there many years, gave birth there.

So, I could not imagine falling in love with the cactus and rocks of the desert Southwest. But as someone reassured me just before we moved there, the desert has a beauty all its own. And fall in love, I did. I lived in Tucson for six years and hated to move away again.

But while I was there, one of the local hospitals closed, and another in a nearby small town, did, too. Both went bankrupt. Now, local taxpayers in that small town had no hospital. Because so many women came to Arizona to have "anchor babies." Babies who were automatically citizens and a free pass for the parents. Who will grow up in a few years, and vote for radical changes, if the rhetoric is any indication.

The U.S. is a generous country. We want to help others and we do. But the problem is, in a word, gushing. Oil gushing up, illegals gushing in, money gushing out. How can we keep paying the bills for everyone?

Our borders are so open, anyone from anywhere is coming in. We realize many are looking for freedom and opportunity? What about the others, the OTMs, Other Than Mexicans? Where do they come from and what do they want?

Another place is my beloved New Orleans. My wip is set there. My heroine loves the city: its history, music, charm and food. She adds to its art, its laughter. She gets lost for a while in its alleged dark side. Finds peace with God again in the afternoon sunshine. That's my fiction.

Now, in reality, there's our food. On a recent trip, I enjoyed this delicious soft-shell crab.

Others are dying a slow death, by what is to most living things, poison.

By an accident that could have been avoided. By other things, too, long before this.

Seafood restaurants support fishermen, not to mention the restaurateurs, chefs, and wait staff. If the industry adapted and switched to steak and chicken, I wonder:

Who would go to New Orleans for a steak?

I would. Because of everything else there that my heroine loves. Anybody else? Some, not many.

Today, Louisiana's Rep. Charlie Melancon wept in Congress and I wept along with him as he said,

Our culture is threatened, our economy is threatened, and everything that I know and love is at risk.
After struggling with his emotions, he stopped speaking, got up, and left the room. The chairman assured him in respectful tones that everyone was praying for the people along the Gulf.

I know I am.

"Welcome, Holy Spirit!"Concert Pentecost Sunday's comin'!

2010-05-10T19:23:00.028-05:00

God the Holy Spirit came to Church at Pentecost,the Jewish feast held fifty days after Passover. He empowered the Church with His presence. And He promises never to leave us.

June 12 is Pentecost. To celebrate, I've collected these songs into a "concert." Just click on the titles. Here we go! Welcome, Holy Spirit!

Welcome, Holy Spirit

Cece Winans- Holy Spirit Come Fill This Place

Holy Spirit You Are Welcome

Holy Spirit Rain Down

Holy Spirit Rain Down with lyrics

Come Holy Spirit

Let Your Spirit Fall

Come Holy Spirit I Need Thee

Spirit of the Living God

Come Holy Spirit Fall Afresh On Me

Come Holy Spirit (different)

Elvis Presley introduces The Stamps - Sweet Sweet Spirit 1972 live

The Amen - Prayer to the Holy Spirit

Sweet Holy Spirit By The Isaacs

It's Beginning To Rain

Just for fun: Send it on Down!

Terry MacAlmon - How We Need The River

Adoration by Mike Adkins

Shine Jesus Shine ... blaze, Spirit, blaze...

If you have any requests for other songs about the Holy Spirit, please leave a comment. Thanks.

Acts 10:38 is my favorite Bible verse, besides salvation verses.

God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power,

Amazing! Jesus was anointed by the Holy Spirit. The Bible doesn't speak of Him doing any miracles or teaching until then. But then! But then, He

went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed of the devil for God was with Him.

I love it because we, too, are commanded to be filled with the same Holy Spirit who empowered Jesus.

We know that God the Father sits in Heaven, and God the Son sits beside Him. It's God the Holy Spirit who lives in us and through us, and heals us and encourages us....

And He gives us the power of the gifts of the Spirit for victory in situations of life and we will receive the fruit of the Holy Spirit for victories within ourselves.

I Corinthians 12, 13, and 14 are about the Spirit's power, love, and again, power. A Holy Spirit sandwich. And I want the whoooole thing!

http://tinyurl.com/25xh5lu

Jesus up, soldiers down? What's up with that?

2010-04-01T12:32:00.049-05:00

An angry, resentful, determined band of men ready to rid themselves of a serious problem strode with Judas to the olive grove.

They were fired up and ready, ultimately, to kill.

Officials of the temple, and according to some Scripture versions, soldiers, approached Jesus and His friends that night.

They demanded to know which man was Jesus. When Jesus answered, they fell backward and to the ground.

But, why would these angry, powerful, motivated men fall down? Let's check it out.

Some versions say Jesus said, I am He. I don't think that's correct.

I believe the versions that say that he said, I am.

Judas, therefore, having taken the band and officers out of the chief priests and Pharisees, doth come thither with torches and lamps, and weapons; Jesus, therefore, knowing all things that are coming upon him, having gone forth, said to them, `Whom do ye seek?' they answered him, `Jesus the Nazarene;'

Jesus saith to them, `I am [he];' -- and Judas who delivered him up was standing with them; --

when, therefore, he said to them -- `I am [he],' they went away backward, and fell to the ground. John 18:3-6

I am. As when God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. Exodus 3:14

God referred to Himself as I AM. Perpetual. Now. Present.

We are also told that in the beginning was the Word and the Word was God and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. John 1:1-14.

Jesus Christ is God. I AM in the flesh. Emmanu-El. God with us.

And when I AM in the flesh stepped up and declared His presence, I AM, the power in that place was so strong, the enemy could not stand. Friend or foe, the human body cannot stand in the presence of the full power of God.

I had to know where and how this happened in the Old Testament.

I called a rabbi friend and asked about these following verses:

1 Kings 8:11 so that the priests could not *stand* to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD.

Did that mean, in the original Hebrew, that the priest could not bear to move and talk, or that he could not stand up?

The rabbi assured me they could not stand up. That's why a rope was tied around the priest's ankle. To pull him out of the Holy of Holies if he died.

And the word for glory in Hebrew is chabod. It also means weight. Heaviness. It makes sense:

2 Chronicles 5:14 so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory (weight, heaviness) of the LORD filled the house of God.

Some today would call it falling under the Power, or slain in the Spirit.

And we have these precedents, Old Testament and New. Tenach and New Covenant.

Jesus' power came, not because He was God, but from His anointing with the Holy Spirit. Acts 10:38 He did no miracles until He was anointed with the Holy Spirit.

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit were there in that Garden.

If we can just wrap our minds around this concept: the same Holy Spirit, this same power of God who raised Jesus from the dead can dwell in all of us. Romans 8:11 We are commanded to "be (continually) filled with the Spirit."

He dwells in those who believe Jesus died to take the punishment for our, yes, sins. In those who receive Him into our hearts and lives and ask Him to help us do better.

We can receive power to tell others and to live our lives to the fullest as God the Holy Spirit works through us for our joy and well-being and His glory.

If you're ready to receive this awesome Jesus, be filled with His Spirit, and have a wonderful relationship with God the Father and see His hand in your life, and know you can live with Him forever, just scroll down and click the Ready button.

Go on, do it now. : )

Sunny walk, dark path--would we have rescued this boy?

2010-03-01T13:11:00.006-06:00

An autistic teenaged boy sank in a pond last Saturday at a dog-walking park. He walked through some brush and between bushes, and next thing his mother knew, he had run out into a pond and was sinking, over his head.

The mother screamed and my friend's husband shed his jacket and ran in after him. The boy, who cannot talk, reached for him. The man pulled him out and carried the 120-pounder to shore.

The grateful, distraught mother said she had tried to teach her son to swim, but the teenager couldn't even learn to blow bubbles.

It could have been so tragic but for the selflessness of the man. They called him a hero but he doesn't accept that. He says anyone else would have done the same thing.

Maybe, maybe not. I hope I would have. But we don't know until we're there.

Every day, don't we see people headed for danger, and say nothing?

I know I do. Sometimes the Holy Spirit says that this isn't the right time or place. That they wouldn't receive it right now. I think I'm hearing that, anyway. Sure makes it easier to say nothing.

But the Bible says, "Now is the day of salvation."

And in Ezekiel 3 it says to warn His people even when they won't listen.

Some may reject us. Some may reach for us. But we won't know until we try.

My heroine's mother-in-law was like this man, ready to plunge in and rescue people. She plunged into conversation with the man who loved the heroine, challenging him to explore his faith further.

He did. All the way to Israel. A whole new world opened up to him and he found more than he sought--including the Six-Day War. Trained as a US Air Force pilot, he flew and fought for Israel after someone dear to him was shot. Eventually, he returned home much richer in spirit, with more to give the heroine--and her mother-in-law.

And then the fun began.

Ever wonder if God loves you?

2010-02-21T00:37:00.002-06:00

He created us to be a pleasure to Him. When we failed to please Him, look what He did for us to make us a pleasure to Him again like He wanted in the first place!

These things I have written to you that believe on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ that you may KNOW you HAVE eternal life. 1 John 5:13

For more information, scroll down and click on the red Ready button.

My MC Maggie says, "God is love." But she finds that some things still bring consequences. So she decides God doesn't love her, after all. Three different men in her life bring her tragedies and triumphs that result in restoration of her fun-loving nature and the knowledge that God does love her and welcome her home.

Divination for children--made easy....

2010-02-05T10:47:00.042-06:00

Ever play with a Ouija Board?

In college, I lived in a big old house off campus from the U of Florida, in a student area, and on an inside door someone had painted a design that included a cross and XPI.

This was before computers and xpi Zip drives. It was Chi Rho Iota, the first three Greek letters of Christ.

One summer night between semesters, back home at my parents' house, my mom and I were playing with a neighbor's Ouija Board, and the planchette moved to X, then P. I was very careful to be sure I wasn't guiding it in any way. My mom and I had decided not to tell each other our respective questions for the board so the other person wouldn't influence it. And she didn't know what I was thinking, so she wasn't unconsciously guiding it. And it slowly moved to I.

I threw up my hands and gasped. "Something is trying to deceive us!"

I had never been warned or taught about the occult and that God hates it. But the Holy Spirit let me know in my baby-Christian spirit that it was not Jesus writing the familiar letters.

We gave the board back to the owner and never played with it again.

Some will say I had to be guiding it without realizing it, by what I was expecting.

Maybe, maybe not. I believe not.

Point is, years later, I read in the Bible how God hates dabbling in any powers not from Him.

Now, Hasboro Toys is selling pretty pink and glow-in-the-dark Ouija Boards in big chain toy stores and marketing them for little children!

What a convenient way for young ones to learn to do what God hates and calls an abomination or detestable--divination--going to a supernatural source for hidden or future knowledge.

I just now read about these new "toys" in a wonderful newsletter by Jan Markell.

Please visit her website and see: Playtime for Kids and It's Called Divination

She has a novel, Gone the Golden Dream, and lot of pertinent information on many topics.

So, is the Ouija Board just harmless fun? Or does it open a door to demonic powers as some believe?

Jesus does give His people power and authority over evil spirits:

Luke 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

But I suspect we make them feel quite welcome to hang around and hassle us when we play with powers not from God, powers He says he hates in Deuteronomy 18 and Galatians 5*

Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.

Yes, Christians are under grace in this New Testament era.

But, We know that the Lord disciplines those He loves, Hebrews 12:6. By lifting His protection and allowing natural consequences? The enemy is like a roaring lion who would love to cause us problems.

In my WIP, fun-loving Maggie is at war with God. In New Orleans, she turns to the occult

for answers, and the fun begins, all right. The answers she gets are not from God and her life is endangered.

This photo reminds me of my heinous villain taking an early morning, innocent stroll outside his French Quarter apartment, no doubt ruminating on some scheme to win Maggie's heart as he leads her farther into the dark side. Does she ever get her fun-lovin' self back and find peace with God?

You'll learn what happens when some savvy editor recognizes the sterling qualities in this story and publishes it. : )

My friends do not have to agree with me about all this, of course.

Everyone has to do as they are led. It's just that I commit enough sins without choosing to be entertained by something God hates. He tells us He does:

Deuteronomy. 18:9 When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. 10 Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in [a] the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, 11 or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. 12 Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you. 13 You must be blameless before the LORD your God.

14 The nations you will dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery or divination. But as for you, the LORD your God has not permitted you to do so.

Galatians 5:19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

We say, If God be for us, who can be against us?

And if we be for God, can we be for occult entertainment if He hates it? That must hurt him when He loves us much, He died for us.

And I hate to think of little children who have never been taught better playing with this "toy."

It's the edge of a slippery slope toward spiritual porn--seeking an illicit spiritual experience. And maybe getting more of one than they expect.

The Holy Spirit is a lot more fun than this, when we get to know Him and see His hand in our lives.

John 14:21 Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.

A concise an interesting book on all this is Don't Buy the Lie: Discerning Truth in a World of Deception by Mark Matlock.

Again, here's that great promise:

John 14:21Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.

And maybe heal our land. But that's a subject for another day.

So--let's pray. Lord, please forgive us for looking for spiritual experiences in the wrong places. Please give us a fresh--or brand-new--infilling of the Holy Spirit and love, joy, peace, power, all that you have for us--from YOU. Thank You. In the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.

f you don't know Jesus, scroll down and push the red button on the side of this blog for more information about a personal relationship with God! That relationship includes the assurance of forgiveness for dabbling and other sins, the inheritance of everlasting life with God in Heaven, and the promise, the seal, the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives here and now!

God bless.

Cece Winans- Holy Spirit Come Fill This Place

When the Saints Go Marchin' In!

2010-01-25T15:11:00.006-06:00

I adore this photo! They must have been cheering for me, I was trying so hard to help them kick that field goal! LOL

There was such unity in the city at that victorious moment, strangers hugging and laughing. New Orleans Saints fans had waited forty-three years for this!

I'm reminded of another moment, what it must have been like in the spirit realm when Jesus came out of that tomb!

And I think of what that means for those who--who want it to:

From St. Paul's letter to the Colossians, Chapter 2

10 And you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.

11 In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ,

12 having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.

13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins,

14 having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.

15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross!!!

Come on, saints! Let's tell our friends! Let's tell strangers on the street! That is worth cheering about!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-01-13T15:50:00.001-06:00

Between Sundays, choosing the things that last....

2010-01-12T14:29:00.008-06:00

I just visited Between Sundays, my friend Robin Bayne's blog. She has posted reviews of her sweet romance, Prodigal. Take a look, maybe find a new favorite!

Between Sundays--love that name. I think of the passage of time plus the significance of Sundays.

And then there was Sinatra Sundays, a restaurant near where we lived. I liked that name, too. Made me think of a lazy Sunday listening to nice love songs.

Last time we saw it, the marquee sported a different name. Sinatra is gone, too, for that matter, although, of course, his music still lives on.

And for me, Sundays are seldom lazy, but full of choir, church, Bible study, dinner, nap, choir, church, all with my little part of God's family. I like it that way.

And Sundays--occasion to worship, anyway--and Jesus--and His music--are all still with us. And they will last forever.

Death on your doorstep--besides the moths. LOL

2010-01-05T12:41:00.004-06:00

So, what is this death on your doorstep? LOL

Not the moths flying around your lightbulbs. And not by an armed intruder.

But darling people. Ringing your bell, they want to rescue you and justify themselves before God. But, blinded by the god of this age, they are dying in their own sins with false religions.

You have a mission field on your doorstep, as the late, great Walter Martin would say.

It's a new year, and groups will be revving up to go out and knock on doors. Including yours.

Will you turn them away to die in their sins or will you give them the Truth and Light of the real Jesus Christ?

It's not that hard. Just three Bible passages could do it.

Jude verse 3--"contend (argue vigorously) for the faith once (Greek--once and for all) delivered to the saints." There is no new revelation since the Holy Spirit closed the canon and separated literature and history books from the inspired Word of God.

Revelation may still come today in a word of wisdom or a word of knowledge to someone about a given situation.

But there is no new doctrine. The Gospel is a done deal. God protects His Word, and there are verses about that. But let's stick with these three passages for today.

This one's easy to remember, II Corinthians 11:3-4--the II looks like the 11. That's two digits,then, 3,4:

"3But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough."

Paul points out that some of the people were not bothered by various doctrines that were false. They were adapting them and being led astray.

Of course, if they receive another spirit, that spirit will lead them to receive another jesus and another gospel. All false. All deception.

Today, it's easier than in Paul's time. We have the Word written down and we can easily learn what is right. And there is only one real Jesus.

And there is a terrible penalty for adapting the real Jesus to suit another doctrine and presenting this false Jesus to others:

Galatians 1:6-9 NIV "6I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8But even if we or an *angel from heaven* should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! 9As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!"

Please read that last line again--eternally condemned.

And after asking them to look up this Galatians passage, we may say this to the darling young people who want to lead us astray without realizing it: "We must be very sure we are presenting the Gospel that the Bible teaches--the real Jesus. Otherwise, we are eternally condemned. Cursed. You are so cute and sweet, and you are so kind, wanting to rescue me. But I am so afraid for you. If your leaders are wrong, Paul says you are cursed." Blunt? You bet.

And the truth of those three passages will make some in cults eventually rethink what they have learned from their leaders and books.

Martin defined cults as groups that hold a book and/or a leader equal to or above the Word of God. The group may small or huge. No matter.

The issue is: Who is Jesus? Walter Martin said that if you miss that, you have missed it all.

(And by the way, page 110 of the popular The Shack says that Jesus is the best way to the Father. He is not. He is the only way to the Father. If The Shack is the only "Christian" book a non-Christian reads, he or she has missed it all.)

Jesus is not just a good person. He is not just Plan B when the Garden of Eden didn't work out.

Jesus is God in the flesh:

The Word was God, and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, the only Son of the Father. John 1:1-14

How did that happen? I don't know. But it's easy if you're God.

These cults may already know John 3:16: "For God loved the world so much, He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."

But they may see him as a way-show-er, and not the only way.

He is the only way. God in the flesh. Jesus Christ is Lord of all.

Maggie, the heroine in my work in progress, thought she was a Christian, thought she was saved. She loved and appreciated Jesus. She even said "God is love." But she didn't really know Him and she paid a price with pain and chaos in her happy life until she found the Way, the Truth, the Life of the real Jesus. Then someone introduced her to Him. And for the most part, they all lived happily ever after.

If someone knocks on your door with a different Jesus, please take a moment and tell them those three passages. It only takes a moment, and the results last forever.

Warning: It can be addictive, rescuing people. Martin says to do your homework and give the Holy Spirit something to work with. He will bring things to your remembrance, and sometimes give you amazing things to say that you know you would have never thought of.

Should you decide to study further, Comparing Christianity with Cults and Comparing Christianity with Cults 2 are charts that compare the Word of God itself and what men are saying.

The same charts are found online: Chart 1, Chart 2.

Happy and blessed 2010.

Photo at Gardener's Cottage, Scotland.

Christmas mini-miracle sends me to church on an icy morning

2009-12-23T15:52:00.010-06:00

One of my favorite Christmas movies and soundtracks is The Preacher's Wife with Whitney Houston, Courtney Vance as her preacher-husband, and Denzel Washington as the angel. It's a remake of The Bishop's Wife. With music, as you might guess.

Whitney Houston directs her husband's church choir and of course, also sings. Some of the songs are Gospel and rowdy, and another one is just beautiful--I Love the Lord, sung in her inimitable style.

I finally had to buy the soundtrack.

But one cold and rainy Saturday night, before I owned the soundtrack, the weather was so awful, I wasn't sure I'd go to church next morning. I set my clock on my Christian station in case the weather improved, spiritual person that I am.

In the morning, I woke up hearing, "I--love--the Lord--for He heard my cry--and lifts me up...." It was Whitney Houston. It was that song.

And it wasn't the Christian radio station.

And the weather was awful.

But I went to church.

I must have bumped the dial when I was setting it, maybe. Or maybe not.

"I--love--the Lord--for He heard my cry--and lifts me up...."

Right out of that bed and into church.

May He lift you up and bless you this Christmas and always.

Have a blessed Christmas!

Healing in the Gospels--is it for today?

2009-12-17T09:01:00.006-06:00

Woke up thinking about some sick people I know and love.

Granted, God in His wisdom does not heal some until they go to Heaven. I don't know why, but it's so.

But if we were in the sunset on the beach at Galilee, they would have been among the "all" below.

Matthew 8:16 When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: "He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases." Isaiah 53

So, why not now? Is healing for today? What do the Scriptures say?

Acts 10:38-- How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed of the devil, for God was with Him.

1 John 3:8b --The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work.

Is the devil at work today? Do we not receive today this same Holy Spirit that worked through Jesus Christ, the same, yesterday, today, and forever?

Matthew 28, the Great Commission: 18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore (YOU) go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Matthew 10: 7As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.' 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

1 Corinthians 1:7,8 Therefore you ***do not lack any spiritual gift*** as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed (or return). 8He will keep you strong to the end...

John 14:12 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.

Yay, Jesus! 2 Cor. 9:15 Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift!

Lord, please show us our sins and forgive us, cleanse us, give us a fresh anointing of your Holy Spirit and His gifts, and use us to do these things Jesus said to do! In the mighty authority of the name of Jesus! Amen! Thank You. We are worthy only because of what you've done in us. Please use us to glorify Yourself and restore our loved ones to health--in this world. Your highest will be done. But you said we have not because we ask not, so we ask this of you. And we say to these sicknesses be gone in the mighty name of Jesus.

Please see the story of my friend who was healed of CP in a living room full of believers.

Celtic Treasure by Liz Babbs--a lovely Christmas gift!

2009-11-20T18:59:00.128-06:00

I was married twenty years when we learned we were part of a Scottish clan with a tartan, "cousins" in the U.S., and a chief and family in Scotland. So, now, more than ever, I love the ancient riches of Celtic Christianity.

And I especially love the writings of my good friend from Nottingham, England, Liz Babbs.

Her latest book, Celtic Treasure, is small and gorgeous, a perfect gift for the rapidly approaching Christmas season. It contains stories and wisdom of the ancient Celts, and to these, she adds lovely original prayers and poems and beautiful photos.

She discusses Celtic traditions of creation, creativity, community, hospitality, and just celebrating life.

We meet some Celtic saints, too, and enjoy their writings, such as these familiar lines from

St. Patrick's Breastplate

Christ behind and before me

Christ beneath and above me

Christ with me and in me...

And from Liz's own poetry:

Spirit of God around me
In the air that I breathe

Glory of God around me
Inspiring all I see...

These are just a tidbit from the richness here.

Some of her books contain CDs with her reading meditations on God and His
Word, to the music of Simeon Wood on flute, bass flute, pan-pipes and Celtic whistles.

The Thing About-- series reflects
her fun sense of humor.

And she wrote about her healing by prayer of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Her website and my earlier blog tell more about these books, as well as her one-woman show,
Licensed to Chill, plus her workshops, and retreats.

I had the pleasure of going to the TV studios with Liz for this interview where she gives a wonderful teaching on Christian meditation. Don't miss it.

When not reading, writing, or performing, my
multi-talented and lovely friend often breaks bread, er, chocolate at the Cheesecake Factory.

Writing Edgy Christian Fiction

2009-11-19T11:09:00.059-06:00

Lots of discussion on requirements and taboos in Christian fiction. Different houses allowing different things according to what their particular audience expects and loves.

My funloving heroine has a problem and for answers, she dabbles in voodoo.

Now, I have blogged before about my worry about Christians dabbling in powers not from God a la Deuteronomy 18:9-14.... I'm concerned because God calls these detestable along with the people who participate. Whoa. Please scroll down to October 19 and see "Twilight" of Loyalty
Yet, there she goes. Why? Her husband even tells her, "Get into a playpen with serpents, sooner or later, you get bitten."

I'm inserting voodoo into my story--which is about many other things besides voodoo--because I want to show the problems and consequences.

The challenge is to make it somewhat realistic but not so attractive that the reader decides to go into it. And not so gorey that it haunts her.

Because all the while, I consider three passages from our Ultimate Editor.

Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. It would seem God wants us to fill our minds with lovely things. I guess it's fine to read the bad news out there, and be aware and wise to the bad realities of life, but not wallow in them for amusement. Be innocent but not ignorant.

I don't know how else to take it. I'm open to suggestions. I have to consider that, too, as my heroine explores sources of power not from God.

Then there's James 3:1
Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.

Even though we may not desire to write a didactic, teaching story, our stories do teach, or at least, influence people's thinking.

Joseph Gold's Read for Your Life/Literature as a Life Support System was
recommended by an instructor in a Christian counseling course I took.

Gold says that experiencing other people's life situations in fiction causes real reactions in our minds and bodies, as we wll know.

He also points out that Dr. Zhivago was so powerful it was banned in Russia.

The third scripture is pretty strong:

Matthew 18:6,76
but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.

Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks! For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to that man through whom the stumbling block comes!

Wow. Of course, we want to entertain without being stumbling blocks.

These are what guide me, before I put my work in black and white for all the world to see. God included.

And everyone must do what's right in their own mind, as they are led.

I love this from St. Augustine, I think: "Love the Lord and do what you please."

Wordless Wednesday

2009-11-18T08:30:00.002-06:00

Tucson, Arizona, Chantilly Tea Room, waiting for Jeri Odell and Audrey Barcus to join me for tea. Saw this reflection and asked a waitress to take the pic. Lovely place. It's almost Thursday, so I can say this. LOL

Wordless Wednesday, almost

2009-10-21T14:57:00.004-05:00

Reading Liz Babbs' beautiful Celtic Treasure. More about that soon!

"Twilight" of loyalty?

2009-10-19T21:01:00.035-05:00

I wish I could say I never do anything wrong and that my faith is therefore perfect and strong. I wish I could say God never has to discipline me.

I have to pray for more love, more power to obey and to minister, and more faith. And I wish I were a perfect example to emulate. I'm not.

But we're told to encourage each other, right? And this is something that worries me in the Church--the pleasure in the books and movie, Twilight.

Along with
Harry Potter and The
Shack , mixed emotions abound about Twilight, as this article attests:

(Click here:) Should Christian Teens Be Reading "Twilight?"

It concludes: So, what's the verdict?

There really is no verdict here, just a conscious choice. Like anything we see in the world today, you have to make a choice you can live with. As Christians, we need to be mindful of what we put in our minds and hearts.

Some Christians have read and seen a lot of books on witchcraft, sex, violence, and more without it ever even denting their faith.

However, a lot of other Christians are more vulnerable, and the smallest mention of something tempting can lure them away. You have to know where you are and what you can handle in order to choose wisely.

Sure, we should consider the weakness of some Christians.

But what about the feelings of our GOD?

He hates powers not from Him. He said in the Old Testament that anyone who dabbled in them could not go into the Promised Land!

Has He changed His mind today? We're under grace. But does it still hurt Him? Even if He won't keep us out of the Promised Land, will He have to discipline us?

The article does mention Deuteronomy 18:9-14

Detestable Practices
9 When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. 10 Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in [a] the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, 11 or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. 12 Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you. 13 You must be blameless before the LORD your God.

14 The nations you will dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery or divination. But as for you, the LORD your God has not permitted you to do so.

Whoa. Detestable. Not permitted you.

And consider: Leviticus 17:10. God said to Moses, "Any Israelite or any alien living among them who eats any blood-I will set my face against that person who eats blood and will cut him off from his people."

To me, it's a matter of obedience.

Holding God in awe and reverence and holy fear of His loving discipline.

And even more, it's a matter of love and loyalty to the One who loves and protects us and gave His life for us--and to us.

Some would object that we're not under the Old Testament. Well, Galatians 5 in the New Testament lists sorcery as something that can keep someone out of the Kingdom. Of course, most people who watch these won't do sorcery. But vampires do; at least, they use powers not from God to do things God hates.

People will say vampires aren't real. ***But the concept of sorcery is real.*** It just seems disloyal to be entertained and amused by something God hates. I fear it will bring His discipline, too. He does discipline those He loves. Not to mention that we are in spiritual warfare.

(And I've recently read here that some teenagers are no longer just giving each other hickeys, but real bites, drawing blood.)

I just read a book of John Wesley's sermons, The Holy Spirit and Power. It reported that in Augustine of Hippo's church, SIX people were raised from the dead.

This was over two hundred years after the death of the last apostle.

Holy Spirit power did not diminish with the death of the last apostle, as some traditions teach.

But we recall that Jesus could do few miracles in Nazareth because of *their* unbelief. He did manage to heal a few!

Heal a few! Wouldn't we love to see a few healings!

Because of current events and prophecy, I suspect we are in the lukewarm Laodicean Church Age. And in the very last of the Last Days.

If so, we share a challenge:

Jesus questions whether He would find faith on the earth when He returns.

He also said in John 14:6 that those who love Him, obey Him, and He will love them, and show Himself to them. So I think obedience is key to more faith. Ephesians 5:18 tells us, Be (continually) filled with the Spirit.

And this plays out in part by not turning for entertainment to books about things God hates. Especially when He tells us so for our own well-being.

I'm no great example of an obedient one. I have temptations and strongholds of my own that I battle.

But I find it easy to resist these popular stories.

Because I've had so much fun seeing God move in my life and I want more. Praise God. I'd much rather have that than any fun I can get from a movie.

And I really, really long to see a few more loved ones healed!

Havah, the Story of Eve by Tosca Lee

2009-10-14T23:22:00.009-05:00

Occasionally, I volunteer to read a friend's book, they send it, and I recommend it if I like it. Tosca Lee sent me Havah, and I loved it from the moment Eve--Havah-- heard, Wake.

Suddenly, Havah's senses were filled with all the luscious sensations of a glorious world, a perfect man, all a perfect gift from God--to His creatures and to Himself.

Tosca Lee took a short and powerful Bible story we've all heard a thousand times, and with her anointed imagination and much research, she created a wonderful, moving novel.

She heightened emotions we all would feel in this setting, by showing the sinless purity of it all, the glory of the presence of God and the freshness of His perfect, untainted Creation. And she placed these emotions in this first woman so childlike in this heavenly place. Everything around Havah was more lovely than anything we could ever imagine. Including this amazing creature so like her, yet so different, her man.

Together, they explored and discovered that world and each other, the joy of sinless love, of gorgeous and functional plants, awesome and affectionate animals, and the regular, tangible presence of the Creator. All was love, beauty, discovery, astonishment, delight. Worship.

Then Havah encountered another beautiful and enticing creature--the Serpent. With the first question recorded in the Bible, he made her doubt. Yea, has God really said?...
And soon the story turned dark. Eve went from complete, carefree joy to desperate despair, blame, guilt, terror. She called God's name and He did not answer.

I love Bible prophecy, and have concluded that we are in the very last days before the Second Coming of Christ. Revelation 3 shows seven churches, and the last one before the voice says Come up here is the Laodicean Church. Among the interpretations of this is the belief that this is a literal time period. And it follows that that would be now. If so, much of today's church is poor, wretched, miserable, blind, and naked. People suffer because of it, and so do animals.

The Bible says Creation waits.

And of course, it started with Adam and Eve.

With her beautiful prose and deep emotion, Tosca made it all so real, my heart broke. Tosca did not overplay this. But when Havah found sweet animals suffering and dead and swarms of flies, after all that beauty, joy and perfection, I had to put the book down for a long time.

The exquisite beauty of the Garden of Eden was polluted. All because Eve had to have her way and eat that fruit. And Adam did not stop her. She was deceived. He disobeyed. He joined her. Then he blamed God:

That woman you gave me.

Because the Serpent hated them so. (You can read more about the feelings of the Fallen Angels in Tosca Lee's amazing Demon.)

Finally, months later, I had to know how Tosca handled the rest of the 900 years of Eve's life.

And I was captivated by her depiction of the joys and challenges of family relationships--what was it like to be married to Adam? Of love and (necessary) incest, survival skills, practical arts, and new homesteads for offspring, and finally, new cities and foreign, false gods. All from venerated Mother Eve.

I rejoiced for her at the end. An end we all desire.

I do recommend this amazing book for mature youth on up.

Be still and--Dance!

2009-10-13T10:50:00.010-05:00

I am blessed to attend a church where the choir leads worship.

We have a praise band and a worship team of soloists on the front row. And the choir is there the whole time, encouraging the congregation to enjoy the Lord and give back enjoyment to Him. Sometimes it's one hundred people in choir enjoying the opportunity to minister to the church and to the Lord.

Recently we cut our second CD. Lots of Christmas presents, LOL

What goes through our minds as we worship there?

Of course, the lyrics of whatever wonderful song we're singing at the moment. Total Praise. Revelation Song. Wednesday--Days of Elijah, Jesus Paid it All, You Humble Me.

And also, obviously, the One we're singing to. And about. Our audience of One.

And a desire to help bring listeners to the Throne Room and prepare their hearts to receive the Word of God presented in truth and love.

And finally, and very important to me, I think of God's heart. He spelled it out--how He likes to be worshipped.

We've all read Be still and know that I am God. A lot of time we are to be still and receive, or just be still because that is appropriate.

I also think about other things He likes and therefore are are appropriate. He says a lot more about that.

For one thing, He wishes people everwhere would pray lifting holy hands without anger or doubting.

He says to lift up our hands in the sanctuary and make him happy!

He inhabits the praises of His people.

He says to make a joyful noise. (He probably said that knowing I'd be "singing" one day.)

He also said to shout, clap hands, play all kinds of instruments, and do creative movement.

No, wait, I can say it: dance!

LOL Like in that great Leon Patillo song from back in the '70s, Dance, Children, Dance!

Because He says He takes delight in His people. He wants to party hearty with us! Doesn't that touch your heart? To be delightful to God in our worship!

I know this from a little word study on hands at Biblegateway.com, and also in the last two Psalms by that man after God's own heart, that dancin' King David.

Years ago at a Jesus Festival in Orlando, the late, great Jamie Buckingham taught us to dance under the stars, just a step and a kick, and a step and a kick and a little persuasion, and soon, we were dancing. Next night, no persuasion necessary. This was not part of the staid tradition I grew up or was in then. But now it was part of my tradition. We, thousands of us, were dancing before the Lord and loving it.

Think about when that darlin' Gator QB Tim Tebow charges down the field, turning, raising his hands to catch the ball, and take off, staggering under one tackle, pushing away another, dodging yet another, gaining yard upon yard, finally crossing the goal line to victory. We cheer and dance and get all free and exuberant celebrating his crossing the goal.

Why not do the same for our Lord and Savior?

Imagine how Satan watched Jesus suffer torture and slowly die and be placed in a cold tomb. You know Satan was all ready to make that victory dance, when wait a minute, the stone was rolled away and the Son of the Most High was not dead, He was alive again, and came forth from the tomb, radiant, glorious, triumphant, escorted by joyful angels!

You know Jesus must have danced! They all must have danced!

Jesus reached His goal!

All for us! For those we love. For those we haven't met yet.

I cannot sit still for long when I think of that! Can you?

The least I can do for Him is what He asked for in His house on His day--Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and make the Lord happy! What a privilege!

Living, He loved me. Dying He saved me. Buried, He carried my sins far away. And rising, He justified, freed me forever, one day He's coming back, glorious day! Oh, glory hallelujah... to the risen King!

That's what's in my spirit as I sing in the Worship Choir.

And once in a while, just a little, I dance!

To put feet on our prayers, let's contact our reps.

2009-07-25T15:02:00.002-05:00

Contact your Senator
http://www.senate.gov/

Contact your Representative
http://www.house.gov/

Here's what I've read about contacting them, for what it's worth.

First, obviously, be polite. Otherwise, you'll be laughed at and probably dismissed.

Second, stick to one topic per post or letter. Often, an aide skims them and merely checks off yes or no on a list of topics. If you write about more than one, it might not get noted.

Third, be encouraged that you wrote. They consider one letter as representing 10,000 more constituents in agreement. It does hold weight.

So, Encourage the ones who vote like you do. They're probably fighting a hard battle.

I read the first two books of the tome, _Advise & Consent_ for a book report. I was touched by the idealistic young man who went to Washington only to experience a very un-idealistic "you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours" modus operandi. If you don't support my pork project, my whole sub-committee will vote against your project.

Finally, be sure that if God tells us to pray for everyone in authority, then he hears and answers. And He reigns!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twuLr5rQmp0 "He Reigns"

Healed of CP

2009-07-11T11:46:00.032-05:00

Does anyone know Bob Turner? Tell him I'd love to chat with him, catch up. He had the most wonderful story to tell.

I met him years ago in a home meeting. He played the piano beautifully for our worship, then he gave his amazing testimony. I love to believe wonderful things and tell others, but I don't want us to be deceived. I want to verify it.

I did. I called his high school and asked the secretary if she remembered him. "Oh, yes," she said.

So I didn't put words in her mouth, just asked what she remembered. She corroborated:

Bob was born with CP and at 14, his left side stopped growing. His left arm and leg were shorter and drawn up, and he walked with a dragging limp. His parents bought him an old piano for coordination therapy. He'd pound on it in frustration. But he still managed to learn a lot.

One night, a friend took him to a home prayer meeting and they laid hands on him and prayed. His left arm and leg straightened out and even his teeth on that side came in longer.

His parents didn't believe it when he ran up the stairs to tell them. They had been through so much for so long. His mother put her pillow over her head. His father said, "Let's see if it's there in the morning."

It was.

He went back to school on Monday and teachers pulled him into their rooms to ask what happened. A Bible club was formed and at the end of the year, an assembly program speaker had to cancel, and Bob and the host of the home meeting were allowed to give their testimony to the whole school.

All this, the school secretary corrobrated--in her own words, not mine. Except for one mistake. She said, "He went to a revival..."

No. It was just a living room full of believers.

Bob spoke in several churches in the area, and in my living room twice. I made more friends on those occasions, strangers brought in by friends into my packed house.

It would seem that God is still in the healing business. Several times, the Bible says Jesus healed them "all." I don't know why all aren't healed who ask with faith today.

Nowhere does it show Jesus refusing anyone with the words, "I think I'll let you keep this affliction. It will make you more spiritual." But we have probably all seen situations where it does.

Nowhere does it say in the Bible the age of miracles is past.

In fact, I Corinthians 1:7-9 KJV says we are to come behind in no gift waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

But miracles do seem to happen more on the mission field than in more "sophisticated" science oriented-countries. Like ours. Ask a missionary back from the foreign fields. When everyone else isn't around.

I think we're pretty Laodicean, a la Revelation 3, but that's another topic for another day.

I do know that some people are still gloriously healed right here, and I hope that knowing that builds faith.

And we should dwell on the Word, such as Isaiah 53:5, "With His stripes, we are healed." And "Jesus Christ, the same, yesterday, today, and forever." But if His plans don't coincide with ours, we should also remember, God has His plans for us, and they're all good. "All things work together for good for them them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose," Romans 8:28.

And who does the healing? We are told in Hebrews that Jesus is at the right hand of God. God and Jesus are seated in heaven. So, the work on earth is done by God's presence in the wonderful Holy Spirit.

James says, "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you." I'm no expert. I just suspect that God appreciates it when we recognize all three aspects of Him in their different roles, and act and believe for Him to minister accordingly, his gifts of the Holy Spirit. Healing, in Bob's case.

My novel's heroine's little girl is very ill and a new believer prays for her. This believer just lost a loved one, himself. He says he doesn't know why everyone isn't healed. He just knows that healing was part of the work of the cross. "With His stripes we are healed." So he prays for the toddler in faith, believing, and....

Pray for me to get a publisher and you can read the book and find out. LOL Thanks!

As for Bob Turner, he doesn't have all the answers, either. But he did get his healing, praise God. May we see more healings like his.

Jesus said, Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him." John 14:21

It might require some sacrifice and some more obedience than we're used to. But it would be worth it all, to see our loved ones healed.

God bless~

Closed--Too Wet & Too Wild

2009-07-03T11:47:00.005-05:00

I'm reading about changing ourselves and how difficult it is, even with God's help. We're "comfortable" with what is familiar. Change for the better may seem artificial, uncomfortable.

I once rode past a Florida water park, Wet 'n' Wild, after a violent storm. A new sign stood out front: "Closed--Too Wet & Too Wild." I laughed and went on by.

But God will not just go on by. He will change us if we tell Him we regret our shortcomings and want Him to change us. He'll forgive us and make us peaceful and calm, regardless of any storm. And let us live with Him forever.

Knowing He loves and accepts us, we can do the same for ourselves and change and grow and become the kind of person He plans for us to be. And that is success.

My heroine, Maggie, had massive self-doubts. Two people died because of her shortcomings, she believes. She searches for answers on the dark side and her artistic, funny, sunny self almost gets lost in the process. But she gets by with a little help from her friends and learns the truth from a surprising source.

Scroll down and push the Ready button in the margin for more information, if you like.

I wish Bibles would do this:

2009-06-25T15:05:00.004-05:00

I wish Bibles would use God's names. Just as I like to hear my friends say my name, I imagine God would enjoy it. And it would show us more clearly the traits in nature of our Heavenly Father. See how powerful are his names in this lovely devotional by Sylvia Gunter:

Praying The Character Of Your Father
From The 23rd Psalm
For every need, there is a name of Father-God that corresponds to the need. His faithfulness and his caring meet in the 23rd Psalm to portray our intimately personal Shepherd. God's character in all of his covenant names can be seen in this psalm. Ask him what he wants you to know about who he is, what he does, what you have in him through each name. Cultivate your personal communion with God praying this Scripture.

The Lord is my Shepherd -
Jehovah-Rohi: The Lord my ShepherdThank your Shepherd that he knows you by name and wants to communicate with you. Talk to him about your intimate relationship with him. Write your response.

I shall lack nothing -
Jehovah-Jireh: The Lord my ProviderThank your good Shepherd that he provides all your needs, beginning with redemption. Ask him to carry all your worries, burdens, and cares. Write what he says to you.

He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside quiet waters -
Jehovah-Shalom: The Lord my Peace
Thank Jesus your Peace for his attention to the details of your life. Tell him you want to see him more clearly in your "dailies." Let him speak to you.

He restores my soul -
Jehovah-Rapha: The Lord my Healer
Because Jesus your Healer became man, he understands everything you have experienced. Thank your Healer for healing the hurts. Write remembrances of his restoration.

He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake -
Jehovah-Tsidkenu: The Lord my Righteousness
Thank the Righteous One that you are accepted in him and completely forgiven. Thank your Shepherd for his guidance of your life for his name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley
of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,
for you are with me -
Jehovah-Shammah: God who is there
Thank God who is there for his presence with you that dispels all fear. Your Shepherd is always there for you. Thank him that he will never leave you nor forsake you.

Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Thank God for his loving authority in your life to discipline, correct, and give you the security of loving limits. Thank him that you can never mess up so bad that you fear punishment by him.

You prepare a table before me in the presence
of my enemies -
Jehovah-Nissi: The Lord my Banner of victory
Thank your Banner for his strength and protection against the enemy. Thank him that Jesus lives victorious in you.

You anoint my head with oil. My cup overflows.
Thank your Shepherd for his grace and favor that he gives you so generously. Thank him that you can enjoy fellowship with him.

Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life, and I will dwell
in the house of the Lord forever.
Thank your Shepherd that you can continuously sense his presence because of his faithfulness. Worship him with a song that speaks of his nearness and love.

From the weekly “Seek Him Meet Him” devotional of Sylvia Gunter © 2009. www.thefathersbusiness.com

Used by permission.

Mission for Wordless Wednesday

2009-06-24T10:28:00.002-05:00

Click

All dogs go to heaven!

2009-06-23T07:08:00.007-05:00

Don't you just adore animals? We've always had at least one dog, and sometimes fish, birds and a cat, as well. As a child, I'd watch the circus on TV and wish I could bring all the animals right into my living room to snuggle.

When I saw how "compassionate" or "tenderhearted" God is toward animals as well as people, I was deeply touched. I just love these indications of the tender love of our Heavenly Father for us all:

When Jesus came upon the funeral at Nain, he found a widow weeping over her son. She now had no man to help her and protect her. His heart moved with compassion, Jesus raised her son from the dead and restored him to her. But first, He had to tell her, "Don't cry."

In the law, God commanded on three different occasions, do not boil a kid goat in its mother's milk. Anyone who has ever cuddled a kid goat at a petting zoo knows how cute they are. I guess our tenderhearted God thought it ironic to the point of being cruel and disrespectful to the animals to cook the little thing in the sustenance of its own mother.

God also tell us that the creation itself groans and waits for our glorification. When we are finally free of the sins of this world, the creation will also experience freedom from corruption. What a beautiful thought.

And finally, in Psalm 104, God mentions His provision for His animals ten times, by my count. You can verify the number, yourself, below and enjoy the praises to God.

Do all dogs go to heaven? I feel sure they do. Cats? Probably. LOL My own theory is that animals are here to serve us and show us God's love and majesty, and then return to Him, like a class of angels. Just my opinion.

My heroine, Maggie, in my wip set in New Orleans, Pensacola, Paris and Israel, is tenderhearted, so much so that sometimes she compromises her values for fear of hurting someone else's feelings. She discovers this can be a problem. A major problem that could cost someone else's life.

Anyway, it's no wonder that God urges us to be kind to one another, compassionate, tenderhearted, as Jesus is toward us. Easier said than done, but God promises that He pours out His love on us through the Holy Spirit. So it's also no wonder He commands us to be (continually) filled with the Spirit. If He desires it for us, He will not deny us the same. Our job is to regret our wrong thoughts and actions and ask Him to forgive us, save us, and fill us. It is a request to which He always says yes.

To enjoy these tenderhearted passages, click here and here.

Want to really thank a soldier?

2009-06-21T14:24:00.005-05:00

Here's an email that's doing around. I love it. Copy and send this, if you like:

I'd like to ask you to do something that has been troubling me.

Our nation is/has been on the slippery slope for a long time. If you look around you will find corruption, greed, moral decay, and a steady move away from the things that made us great.

The principles upon which this nation was founded are no longer our backbone. However, we can reverse this trend.

In God's word he states,"If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land." II Chronicles 7:14

I am convinced that we must pray for our nation and its leaders and ask for forgiveness. For our own sins, as well. So I ask you to join me in this plea to our Lord.

Would you please send this to at least 25 people in your address book, (send it to all of them). Ask them to pray EVERYDAY.

If you do and they comply, we will lift up millions and millions of prayers a day to our Creator. He will hear us and in faith will answer.

Let me just add a quote from Ronald Reagan - "If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under." I truly believe this is why the United States of America is in the shape we are in today.

Most people have forgotten that we are one nation under God! Let us as Christians stand up and remind people of this.

Rise up, O Church of God
Be done with lesser things.
Give heart and mind and soul and strength
To serve the King of Kings.

And write to our would-be kings!

Please take a moment and write courteous letters to our reps in Congress. They say one letter probably represents 10,000 more of the same opinion. One issue per letter gets better notice than a long letter about many issues. This is the best way to say thank you to our soldiers, too.

This is what they fight for. Government *by* the people, a democractic republic in action.

Again, a *courteous* letter will be read. Any other kind will be deleted, maybe laughed at.

Addresses for our reps: http://tinyurl.com/ngg4he

~ Have a blessed day!

"For nothing is impossible with God."

God will not ignore the prayers of His people. Especially not prayers He urges and promises He--promises. He'll heal if we'll repent--change our ways--and He'll help us with that, too.

How to delight our biggest fan.

2009-06-11T10:43:00.008-05:00

CJ Darlington's blog today talks about Writing Edgy for All the Wrong Reasons.

She defines edgy: pushing the envelope of what has generally been considered acceptable in novels regarding violence, sex, language, etc.

On the other hand, not wanting to be preachy, she says she was acting ashamed of the Gospel: Romans 1: 16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

And that if she wanted to write a powerful novel, she needed to include the Good News of Jesus. While she doesn't want to write preachy, she also doesn't want to be ashamed. Excellent points.

LOL, let readers skip over salvation scenes in inspirational the same way some do sex scenes in other books.

I was church librarian for eight years and my favorite books to recommend got people interested in the Bible. A little didactic--instructive as well as very entertaining--the books showed the power of God and led people to salvation.

In this world where science rules for so many, it's wonderful to see when the loving Creator of the universe breaks through and shows Himself in the world.

One of the books, the autobiography of Lydia Prince, reads like an exciting novel: Appointment in Jerusalem. A prosperous Scandinavian school teachers follows a strange urge to leave job and boyfriend to go to Jerusalem in the '30s. A whole different world of opportunities opens up.

Thing is--well, two things. First, we're going to meet a lot of authors in heaven. Maybe in a receiving line. Habakkuk and Malachi among others better known, Matthew, Isaiah, etc.

When I realized that, I read the whole Bible. How humiliating to shake their hand and say, "So nice to meet you. Duh, I haven't read your book...." Imagine! LOL

Second thing, when I go through that line or whatever, I want to hold a book or many in my hands--my own. And I want to be able to say to them, "Here's my little contribution to the Kingdom. It's nothing like yours, of course, but it's my best shot."

Whatever the Lord leads, didactic stories or simply clean stories where people go to church and pray--and to some degree, edgy stories--done the best way we know how--that's our best shot.

Main thing--I want to be able to show it to Jesus. I don't want to be ashamed to hand it to Him.

Not ashamed for making attractive the sin He died for. Not ashamed for excluding Him.

Here's my little contribution to the Kingdom. It's nothing like yours, of course, but it's my best shot.

He reads it, anyway. Even now.

Asking for what we need

2009-06-05T12:53:00.006-05:00

Do we need to interview an expert in order to describe our character's profession? Do we need an endorsement? Do we need time off to write? (Ha!)

The Apostle James said that we don't have because we don't ask. Or we ask for the wrong reasons.

Jack Canfield, co-founder of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, elaborates on asking people for what we need.

Good Things Come to Those Who Ask by Jack Canfield

Asking for what you need is probably the most underutilized tool for people. And yet, amazing requests have been granted to people simply because they've asked for it!

Whether its money, information, support, assistance, or time, most people are afraid to ask for what they need in order to make their dreams come true.

They might be afraid of looking needy, ignorant, helpless, or even greedy. More than likely, though, it is the fear of rejection that is holding them back. Even though they are afraid to hear the word no, they're already saying it to themselves by not asking!

Do you ask for what you want or are you afraid of rejection?

Consider this: Rejection is just a concept. There is really no such thing as rejection! You're not any worse off by hearing no than you were before you asked. You didn't have what you asked for before you asked and you still don't, so what did you lose?

Being rejected doesn't hold you back from anything. Only YOU hold yourself back. When you realize that there's no merit to rejection, you'll feel more comfortable asking for things. You may just need a bit of help learning how to ask for what you want.

How to Ask for What You Want

There’s a specific science to asking for and getting what you want or need in life. And while I recommend you learn more by studying The Aladdin Factor, here are some quick tips to get you started:

1. Ask as if you expect to get it. Ask with a positive expectation. Ask from the place that you have already been given it. It is a done deal. Ask as if you expect to get a “yes.”

2. Assume you can. Don’t start with the assumption that you can’t get it. If you are going to assume, assume you can get an upgrade. Assume you can get a table by the window. Assume that you can return it without a sales slip. Assume that you can get a scholarship, that you can get a raise, that you can get tickets at this late date. Don’t ever assume against yourself.

3. Ask someone who can give it to you. Qualify the person. Who would I have to speak to to get...Who is authorized to make a decision about...What would have to happen for me to get...

4. Be clear and specific. In my seminars, I often asks, “Who wants more money in their life?” I’ll pick someone who raised their hand and he gives them a quarter, asking, “Is that enough for you?” “No? Well, how would I know how much you want. How would anybody know?”

You need to ask for a specific number. Too many people are walking around wanting more of something, but not being specific enough to obtain it.

5. Ask repeatedly. One of the most important Success Principles is the commitment to not give up.

Whenever we’re asking others to participate in the fulfillment of our goals, some people are going to say “no.” They may have other priorities, commitments and reasons not to participate. It’s no reflection on you.

Just get used to the idea that there’s going to be a lot of rejection along the way to the brass ring. The key is to not give up. When someone says “No”— you say “NEXT!” Why?

Because when you keep on asking, even the same person again and again...they might say “yes”...

…on a different day
…when they are in a better mood
…when you have new data to present
…after you’ve proven your commitment to them
…when circumstances have changed
…when you’ve learned how to close better
…when you’ve established better rapport
…when they trust you more
…when you have paid your dues
…when the economy is better
…and so on.

Kids know this Success Principle better than anyone. They will ask the same person over and over again without any hesitation. (can you relate!)

Getting a good perspective on rejection and learning how to ask will make a world of difference for you as you work toward your goals. Practice asking and you'll get very good at it! You'll even speed your progress by getting what you need, or improving yourself in order to get it later.

Make a list of what you need to ask for in all areas of your life, and start asking.

Remember, ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE… if you dare to ask!
© 2009 Jack Canfield

********
Jack Canfield, America's #1 Success Coach, is founder of the billion-dollar book brand Chicken Soup for the Soul© and a leading authority on Peak Performance and Life Success. If you're ready to jump-start your life, make more money, and have more fun and joy in all that you do, get your FREE success tips from Jack Canfield now at: www.FreeSuccessStrategies.com

Thank you, Terry Whalin, for pointing out this article.

Welcome, Holy Spirit! Concert

2009-05-26T06:38:00.038-05:00

We know if we draw near to God, He will draw near to us. I guess that means all three Persons of God. Father, Son--and the wonderful Holy Spirit.

It's Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was first given to the Church. To celebrate, I've collected these songs into a "concert." Just click on the titles.

Welcome, Holy Spirit medley!

Cece Winans- Holy Spirit Come Fill This Place

Come Holy Spirit

Let Your Spirit Fall

Come Holy Spirit I Need Thee

Spirit of the Living God

Come Holy Spirit Fall Afresh On Me

Come Holy
Spirit (different)

Mighty Wind by Andrae Crouch

Elvis Presley introduces The Stamps - Sweet Sweet Spirit 1972 live

The Amen - Prayer to the Holy Spirit

Sweet Holy Spirit By The Isaacs

It's Beginning To Rain

Just for fun: Send it on Down!

Terry MacAlmon - How We Need The River

Shine Jesus Shine

Sipping coffee on my back porch in the sunrise, I thought about how, if Jesus now sits at the right hand of God, then it's the Holy Spirit, really, who does God's work in the world. The Holy Spirit lives in us when we "invite Jesus into our hearts." Who points to Jesus. Baptizes us into Jesus.

I came inside, looked up songs about the Holy Spirit, and just relaxed in the Lord and enjoyed that concert.

"We're all children of God." My main character, Maggie, pushed open cemetery gates and embarked on a journey into the occult, danger, and more problems than she could have ever imagined. Through tears and laughter, she learned we are given power to become children of God, and receive the presence and power of the Holy Spirit when we believe on the name of Jesus.

The Apostle St. Paul, the Catholics' first Pope, prays this for us:

Ephesians 3:14 For this reason I kneel before the Father,

15from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name.

16I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through

his Spirit in your inner being,

17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being

rooted and established in love,

18may have power, together with all

the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,

19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to

the measure of all the fullness of God.

20Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine,

according to his power that is at work within us, 21to him be glory in the church

and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Be filled with the Spirit,

Verses on the Holy Spirit

Obama: "America not a Christian nation." Congress: we'll see!

2009-05-17T17:50:00.006-05:00

I've copied the full text of an article from World Net Daily. It's awesome. Hope you take a minute to also enjoy the short speech on the video below.

Our president stated in Turkey, behind our backs, that the U.S. is no longer a Christian nation. I urge you to watch the short speech below, which refutes this assertion. Nobody asked me about it, that's for sure. The principles of our Founders must still apply, or we are lost:

FAITH OF OUR FATHERS
Whaddya mean, 'America is not a Christian nation'?

Congressmen challenge Obama assertion by drafting 'spiritual heritage' legislation

Posted: May 16, 2009
8:45 pm Eastern
By Drew Zahn
© 2009 WorldNetDaily

While Barack Obama has repeatedly claimed that the U.S. is "no longer a Christian nation," several members of Congress have taken a stand to boldly disagree.

A bipartisan group of 25 members of the House of Representatives earlier this month submitted H.Res. 397, which calls on Congress to affirm "the rich spiritual and religious history of our nation's founding and subsequent history" and to designate the first week of May as America's Spiritual Heritage Week for "the appreciation of and education on America's history of religious faith."

Rep. Randy Forbes, R-Va., specifically challenged the president's claims that America is not a Christian nation in a news conference announcing the bill immediately following last week's National Day of Prayer observance.

"The overwhelming evidence suggests that this nation was born and birthed with Judeo-Christian principles," Forbes told reporters, "and I would challenge anybody to tell me that point in time when we ceased to be so, because it doesn't exist."

Read for yourself the timeless evidence of Christianity's impact on America in the freshly republished "Christianity and the American Commonwealth."

The bill itself cites over 70 historical references and quotes from past presidents, Founding Fathers and Supreme Court decisions as proof that Judeo-Christian principles have been the foundation of our nation.

H.Res. 397, which has now accumulated 41 cosponsors, not only calls on Congress to affirm the nation's spiritual heritage, but also resolves that the U.S. House of Representatives "rejects, in the strongest possible terms, any effort to remove, obscure or purposely omit such history from our nation's public buildings and educational resources."

Video of Forbes presenting his argument for the bill's passage on the floor of the House can be seen here.

The full text of H.Res. 397 begins by asserting that "religious faith was not only important in official American life during the periods of discovery, exploration, colonization and growth but has also been acknowledged and incorporated into all three branches of the federal government from their very beginning."

The bill's long list of "whereas" affirmations begins with the statement, "Whereas the Supreme Court of the United States affirmed this self-evident fact in a unanimous ruling declaring 'This is a religious people. … From the discovery of this continent to the present hour, there is a single voice making this affirmation.'"

Among the many historical proofs included in the bill were the following:

Whereas in 1777, Congress, facing a national shortage of '"Bibles for our schools, and families, and for the public worship of God in our churches," announced that they "desired to have a Bible printed under their care and by their encouragement" and therefore ordered 20,000 copies of the Bible to be imported;

Whereas in 1782, Congress pursued a plan to print a Bible that would be "a neat edition of the Holy Scriptures for the use of schools' and therefore approved the production of the first English language Bible printed in America that contained the congressional endorsement that 'the United States in Congress assembled … recommend this edition of the Bible to the inhabitants of the United States";

Whereas the 1783 Treaty of Paris that officially ended the Revolution and established America as an independent [nation] begins with the appellation "In the name of the most holy and undivided Trinity";

Whereas in 1795, during construction of the Capitol, a practice was instituted whereby "public worship is now regularly administered at the Capitol, every Sunday morning, at 11 o'clock";

Whereas in 1789, Congress, in the midst of framing the Bill of Rights and the First Amendment, passed the first federal law touching education, declaring, "Religion, morality, and knowledge, being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged";

Whereas by 1867, the church at the Capitol was the largest church in Washington, D.C., with up to 2,000 people a week attending Sunday service in the Hall of the House;

Whereas in 1853, the United States Senate declared that the Founding Fathers "had no fear or jealousy of religion itself, nor did they wish to see us an irreligious people. … They did not intend to spread over all the public authorities and the whole public action of the nation the dead and revolting spectacle of atheistical apathy";

Whereas in 1854, the United States House of Representatives declared "It [religion] must be considered as the foundation on which the whole structure rests. … Christianity, in its general principles, is the great conservative element on which we must rely for the purity and permanence of free institutions";

Whereas President John Adams, one of only 2 signers of the Bill of Rights and First Amendment, declared "As the safety and prosperity of nations ultimately and essentially depend on the protection and the blessing of Almighty God, and the national acknowledgment of this truth is not only an indispensable duty which the people owe to Him";

Whereas President Andrew Jackson declared that the Bible "is the rock on which our Republic rests";

Whereas President Franklin D. Roosevelt not only led the Nation in a six-minute prayer during D-Day on June 6, 1944, but he also declared, "If we will not prepare to give all that we have and all that we are to preserve Christian civilization in our land, we shall go to destruction";

Whereas President Dwight D. Eisenhower declared, "Without God there could be no American form of government, nor an American way of life. Recognition of the Supreme Being is the first, the most basic, expression of Americanism. Thus, the Founding Fathers of America saw it, and thus with God's help, it will continue to be," in a declaration later repeated with approval by President Gerald Ford;

Whereas the United States Supreme Court has declared throughout the course of our Nation's history that the United States is "a Christian country," "a Christian nation," "a Christian people," "a religious people whose institutions presuppose a Supreme Being," and that "we cannot read into the Bill of Rights a philosophy of hostility to religion"
Following the lengthy "whereas" section, the bill then calls on the House to resolve to affirm the spiritual history of the nation, reject efforts to cleanse that religious history and establish America's Spiritual History Week to appreciate and educate the citizenry on the country's foundations in faith.

Forbes was joined in announcing the bill's introduction by several members of Congress who spoke in favor of the bill, religious leaders like Dr. James and Shirley Dobson, professional football player Shaun Alexander, and leaders of several national education, policy and advocacy groups.

Asked last year to clarify his remarks on America's spiritual heritage, Obama repeated them to the Christian Broadcast Network: "I think that the right might worry a bit more about the dangers of sectarianism. Whatever we once were, we're no longer just a Christian nation; we are also a Jewish nation, a Muslim nation, a Buddhist nation, a Hindu nation, and a nation of nonbelievers," Obama wrote in an e-mail to CBN News senior national correspondent David Brody.

"We should acknowledge this and realize that when we're formulating policies from the statehouse to the Senate floor to the White House, we've got to work to translate our reasoning into values that are accessible to every one of our citizens, not just members of our own faith community," wrote Obama.

Rep. Mike McIntyre, D-N.C., who serves as co-chair of the Congressional Prayer Caucus with Rep. Forbes, spoke at the press conference announcing H.Res. 397 and asserted to the contrary that it's "high time" the nation recognize and affirm the "integral part of our nation's history" that Christianity has played.

McIntyre said Americans don't know, for example, that even Ben Franklin, who "wasn't known as the most spiritual of the Founding Fathers," nonetheless looked to God as the only hope for our country:

"Ben Franklin," McIntyre said, "stood up and called the assembly of delegates to prayer, because, he said, 'Scripture teaches us that if a sparrow can't fall to the ground without his notice, is it likely that an empire will rise without his aid?' And if we don't first go to prayer, he said, 'We'll be no more successful then the builders of Babel.'"

*****
Please email your congressmen and encourage them to pass this bill.

And pray that God not be offended by so many wanting to kick Him out of our institutions after He has blessed us so much!

Obama: Margo Carmichael World's Greatest Mom!

2009-05-10T18:19:00.001-05:00

You heard it first, here!

I've never been so honored in all my life! LOL

Secret wisdom of God--can we know Him? Yes, we can

2009-04-25T09:57:00.008-05:00

Today, I'm going to let God speak for Himself. I'm sure He thanks me. LOL Enjoy and be blessed:

We have the mind of Christ!

1 Corinthians 2:7-16 (New International Version)

7No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. 8None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9However, as it is written:

"No eye has seen,
no ear has heard,
no mind has conceived
what God has prepared for those who love him"—

10but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.

The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.

12We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.

13This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.

14The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

15The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment: 16"For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?"

But we have the mind of Christ.

Those of us who have regretted and apologized to God for our wrong thoughts and words and actions, asked for help to do better, and asked Jesus to be our Savior and made Him Lord to love and obey, have received eternal life. We will go to Heaven and have a great time, ruling and reigning and praising God. And in this world, we have the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. The promise is that He helps us to understand God. The promise is, we have Christ's mind. Big promise!

Do we always make ourselves available to all of this? Do we receive the Holy Spirit as a welcome indweller who is free to do what He chooses in us and through us? Especially in these Post-Modern days? That is the question.

God says He doesn't change.

Jesus says He doesn't change.

The Spirit doesn't change.

Who changes?
_______

My character, Maggie, thinks she has all the answers she needs. A church-goer, she's now a happy-go-lucky new bride on her honeymoon. But she does not have the mind of Christ and goes exploring where she does not belong. She had married a Navy pilot and later dates a killer. Does she find out in time? Of course. And she gets her joy back, and this time, a real relationship with God. I like happy endings.

Pardon me, I think we dropped something.

2009-04-13T14:43:00.009-05:00

Well, yes, I think we did, somewhat.

An excellent book, Simple Social Graces by Linda Lichter, ought to have a stronger and more descriptive title. It sounds like a nice little etiquette book. Not.

It covers the alarming loss of quality of life, today, compared to the gracious way of life of the Victorian Era.

And no, Lichter says, the Victorians weren't prudes. Freud gives us that impression. He wrote in the Victorian era, about abnormal, unhappy people. Not much is written about average, happier people, because they were not what Freud or Jerry Springer or even Oprah would ever have the opportunity to interview. The Victorians were reticent, respectful and discreet. Some things, they kept private and special. Even sacred. Imagine! But they were not prudes. Queen Victoria really gets an unfair rap, Lichter writes. You'd be surprised.

Mainly, Lichter says that without manners and morals, we are at the mercy of one another's whims.

Women, being smaller and more vulnerable, will not come out ahead! Read this book!

And this rant is not to lay a guilt-trip on women who have to work in order to put food on the table. My heart and blessings go out to those women.

But to those who just want to go out and "find themselves," as they used to say a lot, I suggest: Wait! Stay home. Before your kids get lost. Before you and society get lost!

A woman who trains her children well definitely is worth more than rubies.

My heroine is the diligent, devoted mother of a baby girl. The baby contracts an illness that has no cure but prayer. The heroine is also an artist, and rather fits the stereotype--emotional. Sad to say, because of a desperate need to find a certain answer, she's been dabbling in the occult and paying the price.

And she doesn't know it, but one of the important men in her life is a murderer.

Most of us don't have such problems! We just have to decide what to cook for breakfast. For our maids. I'm still workin' on the maids part.

Then I'll have more time to write!

Brandilyn Collins blogged today about this in reference to thoughts by James Scott Bell, more specifically, on cruelty in the arts. For more on that, click on Brandilyn's Forensics and Faith.

Condolences to author Sara Mills

2009-04-10T09:03:00.005-05:00

My heart goes out to my Canadian friend, Sara Mills on the death of her husband. I met her at an ACFW conference and thoroughly enjoyed her witty sweetness.

Sara has written two mysteries set in NYC in 1947, when clothes were clothes. I can't wait to read them. Just bought Miss Fortune. It looks like my kind of time and place. (Before my time, of course. LOL)

You can buy it used already, but Sara has three kiddos, so I hope everyone will pay full price.

You may read more about Sara and her books by clicking here and visiting my friend Cara Putman's blog.

Sara, sending you and your family (((BIG HUGS))) and blessings and God's peace.

We--and our books--are the only Jesus some will ever see.

2009-03-29T13:36:00.030-05:00

What do we owe the reader, besides an entertaining read? Some laughter and tears and new insights about people and places?

As the Hippocratic Oath allegedly says, but actually doesn't, LOL, but does imply:

"First, do no harm."

Well, obviously, we don't show kids playing with matches and gasoline. At least, not without consequences.

But I also ask myself this:

Do I lead anyone astray with my story? And if my story is the only one a non-Christian ever reads, what impression does she have, now, about the Gospel?

Does it make her want to learn more about Christ and Christians--and how to become one? Or does it turn her off to Christians, pastors, church, and therefore, without knowing what she's missing--the Gospel?

This article brings good non-news: clean stories sell.

The bad news is, as we all know, while Hollywood and publishers still produce the other kind, they also produce stories that make the Gospel look bad. Or make Christians look stupid and/or evil.

Do we? Not on purpose, of course, but--do we?

My main character, Maggie, sees someone die in a plane crash. Angry at God, now, she turns her back on Him and looks for answers in the spirit realm. Obviously, this is not the ideal example to set for a reader. I give the readers credit: Many would know better. But not all. And I don't want to be responsible for anyone going where we're forbidden. So I show Maggie miserable on two fronts. On top of her grief, she is assaulted by fear. Horrible headaches and panic attacks come as a result of her dabbling. Her sunny, funny personality grows dark. And others around her express their misgivings and try to persuade her away from this quest. And she does not find answers there. She finds answers when she turns back to God.

Of course, not everyone feels called to spell out in their stories how to be "saved." Many choose simply to write wholesome stories about people who at least acknowledge God, maybe go to church and pray. How we need those!

But the least we can do is show most Christians as ordinary people with good intentions. They may slip, stumble, sin, but they rise again in God's forgiveness, and go on with their good intentions. And perhaps allude to the power of the Gospel to transform lives and give eternal life.

Because our story may be the only Christian book someone reads.

I think Dan Brown is a genius. But he also takes pleasure in writing stories that make the Catholic church look bad. I'm thinking of _The DaVinci Code_ and _Angels and Demons_. And little "Opie," Ron Howard, takes pleasure in making movies of these unflattering books.
While not a Catholic, I appreciate good Catholics as good people. Moreover, much of the world sees all Christians the same. To the world, all people of the cross believe the same way. Catholics, Evangelicals, Charismatics, Fundamentalists, and everyone in between.

So, what is bad for Catholics is bad for all of us.

It's not PC on television, in books, in movies, in news stories, to disparage any group--except Christians. That would include many people reading here. Us.

Persecution of any group--like us--always begins with disrespecting and disparaging that group.

May our books never, even accidentally, do the same.

A song says, "You're the only Jesus some will ever see." Like it or not, that goes for our books, too. Especially when we are known to be Christian.

I love to write. To get my thoughts down in black and white. I love to have written, too, LOL. To have finished something and maybe had a lot of fun doing it. I've even been paid for some of it, LOL.

In non-fiction, local newspapers, I've interviewed Randy Alcorn, Henry Mancini, Chuck Colson. I even had a walk-on scene with Dennis Quaid in Jaws 3 while covering the filming in Orlando.

In fiction, I'm fleshing out characters with quirks and dreams and problems and ambitions in challenges and funny situations. It's all so much fun. And work.

And some responsibility, too.

May our books never cause anyone to stumble away from the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If it does turn a reader off, are we guilty of causing a little one to stumble? Because then, Jesus says, we're better off having a millstone tied around the neck and cast into the sea.

And that is not my idea of the fun of writing.

Heaven-Thursday Translation

2009-03-26T08:47:00.018-05:00

That Wordless Wednesday picture (please scroll down to Wednesday. ) was taken during a comedy choir presentation, "Heaven."

For costumes, we wore anything we wanted, to represent ourselves, plus wings and haloes. Some were pretty wild. I wore my kilted skirt, sash and tam from Clan Carmichael.

We sang wonderful songs about--heaven--and told jokes in between. Such as: This Scottish woman's husband announced he was taking alllll his money to heaven with him when he died, and he hid it. After he died, she found it in the attic. "That old coot." She shook her head, laughing. "He should have hidden it in the basement."

Randy Alcorn wrote a wonderful book about Heaven.

During Christian Book Expo, he told me that once we know what the Bible says, we can speculate on the rest. He suggests we may be able to chat with Christians from other times and places.

For those of us who would love to travel more, that should be fascinating. I'd love to talk to artists in Renaissance Italy. And in Paris, the Impressionists.

And I'd really love to talk to the first-century Christians. I wonder how far we've come in 2000 years from living in their obedience and Holy Spirit power.

"Teaching them to do all things whatsoever I have commanded you...." "

Heal the sick, raise the dead, cast out devils..."

"Until the end of the age/cosmos/world." Wow. The power in the Great Commission. But that's a topic for another time.

My husband took that choir picture used in Wordless Wednesday. Nice camera angle just happened to place me under the cross. That's where I live my life--in the shadow of the cross. Not because I'm so good. But because of what Jesus did on the cross for me, I know I will go to Heaven forever.

Do you have this assurance? If not, please click on the red button in the right margin.

So, if I don't get to see you around here, maybe I'll see you in Heaven.

Leave a comment. Let me know what you decide. : )

Have a great Thursday--and a wonderful Forever.

(If you know who the artist is, please let me know.)

"IF MY PEOPLE..." God's Conditional Promise

2009-03-18T23:54:00.009-05:00

I just read the latest about AIG and I feel the frustration, to say the least, along with everyone else. So, I think this bears repeating:

We have a God who is "slow to anger," because He "remembers that we are dust."

But He does have His limits. He does promise to "scourge all that He receives." (Never mind, right now, what He promises to the others.)

That's why He writes this startling promise to His own followers:

If MY PEOPLE who are called by my name [like all those who follow Him and claim His name. In my case, Christ-ian. Christ follower.]

will humble themselves [as in, "Don't make me come down there and humble, or worse, humiliate you."]

and pray [like, "Spend time to sit and talk to me."]

and seek my face [like, "While you're talking, try listening, too--find out what I love. Try obedience, John 14:21, and see me move in your life. And find out what really bugs me. I make it clear in in Deuteronomy 18. Quit turning to the occult for amusement, for starters. I HATE it. Instead, 'shine like stars,' Philippians 2:14-16. 'Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.'" Acts 2:40]

and turn from their wicked ways [like, "I'm talking to you, too, Margo. I love you, you are one of mine, you are saved because your sins were nailed to the cross with Christ and your life is in Him. But as for our fellowship, I cannot look upon sin. You might not do big, horrible, scarlet sins. But the tiniest dingy gray sin still put Jesus on the cross."]

then [like, "You determine when."]

will I hear from Heaven ["I look forward to hearing from you all."]

and forgive your sin ["every last one, dingy gray or huge and scarlet--again, if you'll repent. And I'll work with you and help you."]

and HEAL YOUR LAND. II Chronicles 7:14

I leave that last line to others' interpretation.

On the one hand, I want us all to put God's ways first in our lives so He will heal our land. Bring back some integrity and truth--and a little courtesy and modesty. And reverence. And I believe, up to a point, He will. That's why I bring it up here.

On the other hand, I wonder if we have time for Him to fully heal our land. I read this website every few days: Rapture Ready . To me, things are falling into place.

My friends do not need to agree with me. But just what if I'm right?

What if this is the time? For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 1Peter 4:17

Some may need to push that red button in the right margin. We may be running out of time.

Wordless main character, not! "If MY PEOPLE...."

2009-03-16T13:33:00.015-05:00

My main character, Maggie, would not do well with Wordless Wednesday.

An emotional artist, she accepts the stereotype. She has deep feelings, and some of them pop out of her mouth and get her in trouble. When someone she loves dies in a tragic accident, she tells God to just leave her alone. Turning her back on Heaven, she strides into her house. And from the corner of her eye, she sees a dark shadow.

How many of us have ever felt anger with God? Moses and Jeremiah both did. And God understood and loved them anyway.

How many of us have turned our backs on God? The Prodigal did, and when he turned back to God, God received him home.

We have a God who is "slow to anger," because He "remembers that we are dust."

But He does have His limits. He does promise to "scourge all that He receives."

That's why He writes this startling promise to His own followers:

If MY PEOPLE who are called by my name [like all those who follow Him and claim His name. In my case, Christ-ian. Christ follower.]

will humble themselves [like, "Don't make me come down there and humble, or worse, humiliate you."]

and pray [like, "Spend time to sit and talk to me."]

and seek my face [like, "While you're talking, try listening, too--find out what I love--try obedience, John 14:21, and see me move in your life. And find out what really bugs me--as in Deuteronomy 18. Quit turning to the occult for amusement, for starters. I HATE it. Instead, 'shine like stars,' Philippians 2:14-16. 'Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.'" Acts 2:40]

and turn from their wicked ways [like, "I'm talking to you, too, Margo, and everyone else out there. I love you, you are one of mine, you are saved, but I cannot look upon sin. You might not do big, horrible, scarlet sins. But the tiniest dingy gray sin still put Jesus on the cross."]

then [like, "You determine when."]

will I hear from Heaven ["I look forward to hearing from you all."]

and forgive your sin ["every last one, dingy gray or huge and scarlet"]

and heal your land. II Chronicles 7:14

I leave that last line to others' interpretation.

On the one hand, I want us all to put God's ways first in our lives so He will heal our land. And I believe, up to a point, He will. That's why I bring it up here.

On the other hand, I wonder if we have time for Him to fully heal our land. I read this website every few days: Rapture Ready . To me, things are falling into place. Of course, my friends do not have to agree with me.

Maggie wouldn't. She has never heard of such things in her church. And she's focused on raising her child and on her career. But when her friend goes to Israel and flies in the Six Day War, some of these things loom larger than before. And Maggie begins to wonder if she made the right decision in turning her heart away from the Lord.

There is a little similarity between Maggie and me, such as our love of art, which is coincidental, and the root of our name. It has to do with what she learns about her name--that even when she rebelled, God had His hand on her all along.

And when her heart turns toward Him once more, He welcomes her home.

Wordless Wednesday

2009-03-11T00:37:00.001-05:00

Tomorrow is Wordless Wednesday

2009-03-10T15:03:00.001-05:00

This won't be easy. So I'm practicing....

POV and the Fine Art of Novel Writing

2009-03-06T21:39:00.003-06:00

It seems to me that while we want to use the craft of writing correctly, we should also remember that writing is one of the fine arts.

And we should balance the correctness of the craft of writing with the freedom of the fine art of writing.

Grammar is important for its own sake and for clarity of meaning, especially in practical matters.

I read an article in the news wherein a reporter's misplaced modifier had the mother of the murderer committing the murders. Minor detail. Not, LOL.

But where Point Of View--meaning, the person that the scene is about, and all his or her perceptions of the scene, and hers, only--is in question about whether or not we can know that a squirrel relishes his freedom, or if two victorious fighter jets soar in a ballet, from the pilots' point of view, or a man would know his bride is wearing chiffon--I think we should think about the *fine art*--and allow ourselves a little literary license.

Most of our readers will be women who appreciate a cute little squirrel's feelings, and a bridesmaid in chiffon, and have never heard of POV any more than we did before we started writing. They're not looking for it and wouldn't recognize the minor issues we discussed.

In painting, we have to know the rules about how to mix colors, or we end up with gray or brown. I love this Matisse, but I think it's a little muddy in color--especially the faces. Plus I think it needs more contrast in brightness, for instance. And I wish I had his talent, too.

But there are many painting styles. Not all good paintings must be as realistic as a photo, as we know.

I think we can stifle creativity with too many rules.

I think POV rules should go the way of the digital watch.

Not completely, of course. But the other is much prettier.

If time is a garden, let's yank those weeds!

2009-02-06T09:55:00.007-06:00

Writers have so much to do!

Women writers, especially, have the emotional pull of family needs. Then, we all have research, writers groups, crit groups, some necessary socializing in a lonely business, definitely, church activities to keep us going strong, and, oh, yes, writing!

And only twenty-four hours in a day.

How do we choose which to-dos to--do?

Oswald Chambers reminds us, "The good is the enemy of the best." But, carried too far, the best becomes the enemy of the good, if we let perfectionism get in the way.

One way to choose our priorities is to think of time as a garden. And we must pull the weeds in order to see our garden grow.

I read an article by Paula Eder on a business webpage about setting time boundaries using a simple visualization. She suggests we imagine that our day is a garden. We want our beautiful, colorful dreams to flourish there.

So we must pull the weeds.

We do this by setting boundaries.

Every "no" we say to something that does not further our goals--success in writing, peace in the home, time with a hobby (is that a cruelty joke?) time with God--is a "yes" to those very things. To those accomplishments, blooms that make our lives worthwhile.

Every "yes" we say to other things is a weed in our garden. And they lead to a lack of peace inside us.

I would add, some weeds are even attractive. New friends. Lunch dates. Church committees. Service opportunities that lead to experience and fellowship and satisfaction. We should be flexible and spontaneous enough to enjoy them.

But when they clutter our garden, hinder our goals and steal our peace, we should pull them without guilt.

We can ask God for discernment in this, because these, and some acts of mercy may be led by him for His purposes. He could be leading us into new relationships, new knowledge to enhance our lives and therefore, our writing.

Or into mercy for His mercy's sake. And mercy is beautiful in our gardens.

Web of fear--pun intended

2009-02-02T10:55:00.006-06:00

For what it's worth--not much--this is my 100th entry here.

Just read a news article online, of course, which says:

"I sit over my computer all day and feed my anxiety.

"The internet has created a global psyche. The web has mentally joined us at the hip, so we can no longer put our heads in the sand. If that sounds painfully contorted, it is because it is. Just as no country can decouple itself from the ailing global economy, none of us as individuals can decouple ourselves from the ailing global psyche. "

Yep, although always interested in Bible prophecy and current events, I never used to read the news this much before 9-11 and the proliferation of news sites. I do find politics and all fascinating.

If I weren't a Christian, I'd have terrible anxiety. As it is, I still fight some anxiety. If you want to pray specifically, the internet provides the specifics, all right. And the prayers come spontaneously, sometimes with wailing and gnashing of teeth.

But we are to remember 1 Peter 5:7, "Casting all of your cares upon Him, for He careth for you." And Matthew 10:29-30 NIV "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered."

Writing a few courteous and specific emails to our reps in Congress wouldn't hurt, either. They say write one topic at a time. And that one person's well-presented opinion probably represents ten thousand more just like it.

We should be guiding and chiding them, and often. I am not in the habit of doing this as often as I should, either. Men and women have died for our freedom to make ourselves known.

Unless government OF the PEOPLE, BY the PEOPLE and FOR the PEOPLE is going the way of the dodo bird. Our Constitution along with it.

It's interesting to note that in Hebrew, the letters are also numbers, that they don't have a w, they use a v, their v is also 6, and therefore, www is...666. The Mark of the Beast.

No, of course, the internet is not all bad. It provides wonderful ops for fun as well as for mischief.

It's also a venue of communication and unity around the globe.

Sort of like a reversal of the Tower of Babel.

I also think the www/666 thing is kind of a visual wake-up call about where we are on God's time clock. Signs of the Times are appearing quickly.

For a daily list of articles about events that seem to fulfill the times, go here.

Pray.

Then run outside and play!

He's nuts about ya, sis!

2009-01-15T09:49:00.014-06:00

I was just reading the newsletter from Mary DeMuth, and her article, Life's too important to be taken seriously. So, Lighten up.

I had to laugh--I'm too serious, too. (? Well, yes. )

I fret about little things, I fret about big things, when the main thing I should dwell on is what a pastor from Florida told me.

We were waiting to enter the house of the first prime minister of Israel, David ben Gurion. The September breezes were pleasant, and palms and the lawn and the little house glowed golden in the late afternoon sun as we sat at a picnic table with our group, waiting to enter.

(Talk about a serious man. Ben Gurion's office had shelves of books, and two desks, one covered with stacks of more books, and a new--or rather, renewed--nation to lead. I showed my photo of all the books to dh, but he was not impressed with my excuse for owning a million books, too.)

Anyway, we were talking about God. I knew I was saved, my sins forgiven, because I was submitted to God and had repented--change my mind--about living my own way instead of God's way.

I just wanted to be sure God wasn't holding me at arm's length for being His kid and still not doing everything right.

And this pastor brought tears to my eyes with a smile and these simple words:

He's nuts about ya, sis.

Isn't that great! If I can just remember that, next time I'm too hard on myself.

This is what my heroine, Maggie, could not grasp. God is love, she says, and when she goes through the fiery trial, she's shocked. She turns from the One who could deliver her. Her life spirals downward into the occult, her mood and her paintings turn darker and darker, fear and pain become her constant friend. But God never lets go of her. And her sunny disposition and her life are finally restored when she CTR--comes to realize--the Lord's nuts about her.

Kinda goes along with Liz Curtis

Higgs' Embrace Grace.

The Lord's nuts about ya, sis. You, too, bro. Lighten up.

Six people killed! er, raised from the dead!

2009-01-04T13:14:00.017-06:00

We are somewhat callous to the first part of that "headline." In these days, we easily believe it. But we are pretty much incredulous of the second part.

Yet, that's what I read happened in St. Augustine's church in Hippo. Six people were raised from the dead, as reported in City of God by Augustine, according to John Wesley in the book, The Holy Spirit and Power.

And this was long after the death of all the Apostles. And long after the completion of the New Testament.

So, why don't we see that today?

We do read reports of such from time to time. But how many of us have actually witnessed it?

I'd love to hear from you if you have.

And I'll rephrase the question. Why don't we see more of that today? Do we lack faith?

Jesus questioned whether or not He would find faith on the earth when He returned.

And that may be pretty soon.

We know faith is a gift of the Holy Spirit. And faithfulness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit.Maybe that's it--do we really welcome the Holy Spirit--receive Him and all His works, His gifts, His desires--as totally welcome in our hearts? And in our writing? Or do we just use Jesus as a fire escape and do the minimum to stay in fellowship with Him?

It may also be that we are in a time where the whole church has a problem. There is a church that Jesus wants to spit out of His mouth, it's so lukewarm. Oy. Could that be us?

Yes or no, this is worth a try: Let's all pray for Him to (continually) fill us and use us.

Maybe we'll even see people raised from the dead. Along with a lot of other things.

Habakkuk 3:2 (New International Version)

LORD, I have heard of your fame;
I stand in awe of your deeds, O LORD.
Renew them in our day,
in our time make them known;
in wrath remember mercy.

In the mighty name of our King of Kings and Lord of Lords, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

_My Wicked, Wicked Ways_

2008-12-31T13:36:00.006-06:00

The 1940s actor, Errol Flynn, gave this title to his bio. He was handsome, debonair, even swashbuckling in his adventure movies. With brawls, wives and mistresses, fortunes that came and went, he considered himself a charming rascal. Wicked.

I thought of this as, during my New Year's introspections, I considered how God talked about the wicked ways of His own people in the Old Testament.

Just the other day, I mentioned something related to this. Well, just this morning, I came across it again. In the New Testament. Galatians 5.

It's among the opposite of the Fruit of the Spirit, right beside, wow, hatred, sexual immorality and other detestable things: witchcraft.

Yes, we're made in His awesome image and have many of His traits--creativity being one, love being another.

But lately we're being drawn away from obedience and into something He detests.

When I consider what's going on in our country today--indeed, in all the world--my concern is the MY PEOPLE in 2 Chronicles 7:14.

God's people are embracing witchcraft and the occult with Harry Potter and Twilight. And it must break His heart.

Deuteronomy 18 and Galatians 5 both say that those practitioners will not enter the Kingdom of God.

But what happens when people already in God's Kingdom practice it? Or just wish they could? Or even just find their amusement and entertainment there? What happens to them?

On a personal level, whatever it is, I don't want it happening to me.

The Lord disciplines those He loves. He disciplines me enough already!

But the Chronicles passage also deals with your land. God promises that if His people will turn from their--our--wicked ways, He will heal our land.

Conversely, are the Wall Street problems part of God's lifting His protection from our land? Is He disciplining the United States and the rest of the world?

If so, wouldn't we rather see peace and prosperity again, than books and movies that makes what God calls detestable look cute, sexy and smart?

Or a book that misleads people right out of the Truth that gives eternal life--The Shack-- that says on page 110 (Jesus) is the best way to relate to God. He's not. Jesus, Himself, says He is the ONLY way to the Father.

Walter Martin says in The Kingdom of the Cults that if you miss who Jesus is, you have missed it all.

And again, and on a personal level: Between being amused and being used--in answered prayer and Power of the Holy Spirit--wouldn't we rather see our friends and loved ones healed of diseases and delivered from pain because we choose to walk close to God than be entertained by things God detests--as charming as they certainly may be?

And if we do find our amusement in detestable things, could that give the enemy permission to hassle us? I beleive so. But that's a topic for another day.

This very situation is one faced by my main character, Maggie. Crushed by a tragedy, she went into rebellion. Seeking answers, she delved into powers not from God. Her fun-loving, happy-go-lucky personality was lost in the darkness--for a season. And she was hassled by the enemy before she regained her joy of life.

Lord, please show us if there be any wicked way in us, and lead us into lives that please you. So you may forgive us for our disloyalty. And so we may see more of your power and glory and victory in our lives. And so you will heal our land!

Habakkuk 3:2 (New International Version)

LORD, I have heard of your fame;
I stand in awe of your deeds, O LORD.
Renew them in our day,
in our time make them known;
in wrath remember mercy.

In the mighty name of our King of Kings and Lord of Lords, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Now, I'm going to bake 7-Layer Cookies:

360 for 30 minutes

So easy and fast:

stick of butter --melt in bottom of 9x14 pan

Graham cracker crumbs -- 1 C spread over the butter

Sprinkle 1 C each:

semi-sweet chocolate chips
butterscotch chips
coconut

drizzle:
1 can condensed milk

top with:
about 1 1/4 C or two small pkgs chopped pecans or mixed nut topping

Bake at 360 for 30 minutes. Let cool and cut. Enjoy!

Happy New Year.

_Twilight_ of Loyalty to God?

2008-12-20T09:18:00.037-06:00

What do you think about the books and movie, Twilight?

(Click here:) Should Christian Teens Be Reading "Twilight?"

As with
Harry Potter ( 7-17-07 and 10-20-07) and The
Shack , there are mixed emotions about Twilight, as this article above attests.

It concludes:

So, What's the Verdict?

There really is no verdict here, just a conscious choice. Like anything we see in the world today, you have to make a choice you can live with. As Christians, we need to be mindful of what we put in our minds and hearts.

Some Christians have read and seen a lot of books on witchcraft, sex, violence, and more without it ever even denting their faith. However, a lot of other Christians are more vulnerable, and the smallest mention of something tempting can lure them away. You have to know where you are and what you can handle in order to choose wisely.

Well--how about--choose wisely NOT to go there, to things God hates, in the first place.

The article does mention Deuteronomy 18:9-14. We should take that passage seriously.

To me, it's a matter of obedience. It's a matter of holding God in awe and reverence and holy fear of His loving discipline.

And even more, it's a matter of love and loyalty to the One who loves and protects us and gave His life for us--and to us.

I wish I could say I never do anything wrong and that my faith is therefore perfect and strong. I pray for more love, more power to obey and to minister, and more faith. I wish I were a perfect example to emulate. I'm not. But we can all learn from each other, can't we? And this is something that I think is important to share.

It's hard for me to imagine the First Century Christians who had walked with Jesus and/or with the eyewitnesses of His amazing, giving life on earth, and the power of the Holy Spirit poured out at Pentecost, finding their entertainment in things God hates.

I just read in a book of John Wesley's sermons, The Holy Spirit and Power, that in Augustine of Hippo's church, SIX people were raised from the dead.

This was over two hundred years after the death of the last apostle.

His power did not diminish with the death of the last apostle, as some traditions teach.

The power of God through the Holy Spirit was never intended to diminish. If it has diminished, we can recall that Jesus could do few miracles in Nazareth because of *their* unbelief. He did manage to heal a few!

Wouldn't we love to see a few healings!

I submit that if we had more belief, we'd probably have more loyalty. And that if we practiced more loyalty, we'd also find ourselves filled with more belief.

I suspect we are in the Laodicean Church Age. That's the last church named in Revelation before the trumpet says "Come up here." That's a whole 'nother topic.

But if so, we have a challenge all around us. Jesus questions whether He would find faith on the earth when He returns.

I think the solution to less faith on the earth is to surround ourselves with friends and teachers who bring out that faith, to practice loyalty, and to pray to be (continually) filled with the Spirit.

And this plays out in part by not turning for entertainment to books about things God hates and tells us so for our own well-being.

Again, I'm no great example.

But given the choice, rather than read a "good" book, I'd rather see some loved ones healed....

In Withdrawal from a blessing

2008-12-15T11:37:00.006-06:00

I'm in withdrawal. Slept so late. It was all so much fun.

I'm talking about the Christmas musical in our church, "Sing Joy." You can find some of the songs on Youtube.

Awesome Christmas songs, many new ones.

In addition to the Worship Choir, we had three groups of singers--Dickens, '40s Swing and Christmas Classics. The musical used the whole choir of 80-100--

I'm very analytical, and I think about the emotions that I would feel if I sang in a pop-secular group, love songs and all. I know I'd enjoy it.

But singing here, songs about and to the One that returns--initiated--that love! What a blessing. It just gets better and better. Unlike my singing. LOL

The Holy Spirit surely visited the loft that night. I had chills during some of the songs, and often did close my eyes and close out the audience and just listen and sing to the One.

Merry Who-mas?

2008-12-11T11:19:00.004-06:00

I've about decided that when someone says to me, Happy Holidays, I'll say politely, Thank you. It *is* my happy holy day.

Let's all politely let merchants know how we feel about the use of Happy Holidays--or Merry Christmas. And let's let our dollars speak for us, too.

I know that money talks. Mine says Good-bye.

After a tragedy left her shaken, my heroine, Maggie, could not bear the emotions of the Christmas season. So, she and her best friend left New Orleans and spent Christmas in Paris. There, another life-changing even took place, one that left her happy and mystified. She found that she could not escape God and His love for her--and she could not escape herself.

Merry Christmas!

Character Situations: Men and Women--both confused!

2008-12-11T09:08:00.010-06:00

But you knew that, right? LOL

One of the fun things about writing is the research. The articles you collect. Information that may be useless to others is fodder for interesting character situations.

And it's probably best to file them under Character Situations. That way, when you die and people go through your stuff, they might understand why you collected all this weird information. You'd hate for them to think it's about you.

Unless they already think you're weird. And writers generally are, with little people talking in our heads all the time.

Anyway, I found some articles today that talk about flirting.

How men misunderstand when women are flirting.

What's more, and possibly more annoying, they misunderstand when women are not flirting!

Just being kind and friendly to someone you genuinely like in an innocent way makes a woman suspect. That's the adjective, suspect.

When a woman is trying to make a man interested, she also has these two facts to deal with: Some men want women to be obvious and make the first move. Some men want to be the one to make the first move. Okay, that helps a lot, too, LOL

This is why women are also confused.

Take a look, see what I mean. The comments are telling, also:

Click here: Why the Female Flirt is Wasting Her Time - or MEN ARE CONFUSED

At any rate, again, it's good fodder for your Character Situations file....

Gifts of the Holy Spirit and our writing

2008-10-30T12:09:00.004-05:00

I think the Lord is more ready to speak through our writing than we realize.

I just finished reading, Charismatic Gifts in the Early Church--An Exploration into the Gifts of the Spirit During the First Three Centuries of the Christian Church by Ronald A. N. Kydd. It's his doctoral thesis at St. Andrews, Edinburgh, Scotland.

He writes a sad conclusion: These three centuries saw dramatic changes in the Christian church. In the midst of all this, the gifts of the Spirit vanished. There came a point around A.D. 260 at which they no longer fitted in the highly-organized, well-educated, wealthy, socially powerful Christian communities. The Church did not lose its soul, but it did lose these special moments when God broke into the lives of men and women.

Well, up to a point, yes. Every congregation is different. And I know we all see God's hand in our lives.

But for the most part, the strong presence and moving of God as the first church saw it--those who walked with Jesus and the eyewitnesses--was gone.

Another point to consider: Some who study Bible prophecy look at the world's political alliances and see Ezekiel 37 & 38 looming.

If it's the case, that could put us in the last church era of the Laodicean church of Revelation 3. That's the bad news.

The good news is, that's the reason we don't see more of the Lord's hand in our world.

But however much we do see, we could see more, I think.

He is knocking at the door of this church! Revelation 3:20.

I said all that to say, Let's let Him in! LOL In His fullness of the Holy Spirit.

Missionaries today come back from foreign fields telling of the moving of the Holy Spirit in wonderful ways.

If we pray to "be (Greek--continually) filled with the Holy Spirit," Ephesians 5:18, we might be surprised at what He will do in our writing. (And in our lives.) It would be more than interesting to find out.

art and adverbs

2008-10-02T09:57:00.004-05:00

I was just thinking about art and adverbs! Weird? Not too.

I read someone's critique about how she may or may not want to use a certain adverb.

Well, of course, adverbs are a legitimate part of the tools of our trade. But, granted, we must be careful not to overuse them.

Same as in art. An artist has tools, and can't just attack a canvas creatively without an awareness of how to mix paints. Certain shades of red and green may be dazzling side-by-side, but if they overlap and become mixed, they can become a muddy brown or gray. We have to know a little about what we're doing if we're going to be satisfied with the result.

But I can't see rejecting a certain tool like an adverb because of overuse.

I can't imagine never painting with a certain color.

Having a Daniel moment....

2008-10-02T09:31:00.006-05:00

Praying right now a la Daniel 9:20 and 2 Chronicles 7:14.... praying & confessing my sin & the sin of my people:

In the mighty name of Jesus--Lord, this land was started as a city on a hill, by people who loved you.... We've strayed so far from their ideals--and Yours.

Please forgive our sins, our selfishness, our greed, our idolatry of ourselves and our own pleasures.

Use us to inspire others to love you and the simplicity that is in Christ, and the guidance of your living Word....

Put Your person in the White House, please don't bring us to our knees with a bad president...

We agree with you, "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord"....

Please, Lord, heal our land. Thank you.

"Where two or three agree...." Matt 18:19.

www in Hebrew is--a startling visual for today...

2008-09-30T09:15:00.012-05:00

Guess how you write www in Hebrew. 666. No kidding. I once took a class in Hebrew, for fun, and noticed this extremely interesting little detail.

Here's why: Like Roman numerals, Hebrew letters are also numbers. And unlike in English, Hebrew is read from left to right.

So, take a look at the chart and notice there is no w. If you wanted to write www.whatever etc. in Hebrew, theoretically, you would use the v.

Scroll way down to the numbers. You'll see that if you wrote vvv, you wrote the equivalent of--666.

Now, this article points out that that is not the same as six hundred and sixty and six. In Roman numerals, you wouldn't use III to write one hundred eleven.

All I know is, it's a very startling visual in these times when Jerusalem is a "burdensome stone" always in the news along with Persia, Babylon, Gog and Magog. (Iran, Iraq, and Russia.)

We live in interesting times. Knowledge increasing, people traveling, markets shuddering, sabers rattling. What all this means depends on your school of thought, and my friends are free to subscribe to their own.

And if I were ruler of the world, I would communicate with the world via the internet, wouldn't you? On the 666.

(Of course, the internet itself is neither good nor evil. It is used for much good and much evil.)

While we're not to obsess, but stay busy, still, there is the promise of a crown for those who long for His appearing.

Again, my friends are free to enjoy their own schools of thought. But I think it's too much a coincidence to be a coincidence.

What do you think?

While you're thinking, get ready!

God bless~

Total Praise When I Don't Know What to Do!

2008-09-27T19:10:00.003-05:00

When my character, Maggie, felt like God had betrayed her, she turned to darkness in her search for help. But her mother-in-law knew a secret--the secret of praise as she prayed for Maggie.

For praising the Lord in this bailout situation, the lying lamestream press, gridlock in Congress and all the problems in the world--I just love this song:

"When I Don't Know What to Do" by Drew Bounds.

And for the goodness of God and the beauty of His earth, and the sweetness of His love and the gift of love through people, and all sorts of blessings--I adore this song! "Total Praise"

The Lord bless our writing and use us for His glory and our joy.

Psst, want to get rich?

2008-09-16T09:35:00.005-05:00

Quoted from a favorite newsletter:

God has a prosperity theology! I'm not making this up! There are two specific things we can do and if we do them, God promises to prosper us. Are you ready?

Number one: Meditate on God's WordJoshua 1:8. God commanded Joshua, as he was leading the children of Israel into the Promised Land, to meditate on the Word of God day and night and promised him that if he did so, God would make his way prosperous and successful! Who knew? (Me: This is the only place success is used in the King James Version.)

Psalm 1:1-3. If our delight is in God's Word and we meditate on it day and night, then God says whatever we do will prosper!

Number two: Pray for the peace of Jerusalem
Psalm 122:6. God commands us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, and then promises that those who love Jerusalem (a signpost for Israel and her people) will prosper! Another aha! moment.

Do you pray for Israel? She's in sore need of our prayers today. She's surrounded on all sides by those who would like to see her people obliterated.
Do you understand that Israel is still the apple of God's eye and that He won't abide those who do her harm? ... By Heidi Sandler

******

One of my characters, David, goes to Israel to find his Jewish roots. He finds that and more in that beautiful, troubled land.

I want as much prosperity as God knows I can handle without getting distracted from Him. See

Proverbs 30:7-9.

Jan Markell wrote Gone the Golden Dream, which I enjoyed long ago and far away. So I was happy to find her website a few years later, and receive her newsletters. Check'em out.

Jan Markell's Olive Tree Ministries.

So, didn't God listen? "If MY people..."

2008-09-15T11:48:00.020-05:00

So, we rebuked the storm and spoke to the storm, (see below) and prayed it would go away, and still, we were hit with the storm. It could have been a lot worse. But we were hit.

Are we in a terrible weather cycle? Or part of the birth pangs of (click here:) Luke 21 with the sea roaring?

Or is God judging this country?

Because, not just those in the path of the storm, but the whole country suffers economically and many, emotionally, when we see this misery and destruction.

What is the answer? I'm not sure, but I'm surely paying attention to this:

"If *my people,* which are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked, ways, then will I hear from heaven and forgive their sin and heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14.

One other possibility:

Joel 3
The Nations Judged 1 "In those days and at that time,
when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem,
2 I will gather all nations
and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. [a]
There I will enter into judgment against them
concerning my inheritance, my people Israel,
for they scattered my people among the nations
and divided up my land.

May God forgive us.

Speaking TO the storms

2008-09-09T07:37:00.003-05:00

Praise because Gustav slowed down and didn't do much wind damage. Some cool air came in--the cool wind of the Spirit, perhaps? The whole RNC and millions of viewers prayed against that storm! (Not being partisan here, just Christian!)

Praise for a wonderful time, a week with cousins in my home. We really had fun, then they had a long drive home. Some got their AC back only today. And lost it again while the power company fixed light poles for a while.

Now, they wonder if they must leave again. So do Houstonians!

Beth Moore teaches that praying aloud exercises and results in more faith:

2 Corinthians 4:13--"We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak."

Let's do what Jesus did in Mark 4:39 and say out loud to the storms, "Peace, be still," in His powerful name.

Because He said in John 14:12, "Greater things
than I do, you can do, because I go to the Father."

It's probably, usually, about unity--imagine if every Spirit-filled Christian in the world spoke aloud to the storms! That's a lot of prayer power. Let's do it!

Let's say it aloud, right now, and every time we hear a weather report--and then, don't turn around and speak against our prayers, saying, "Oh, it's headed toward wherever."

Let's say it and believe for it in the mighty name of Jesus.

To the storm: "In the mighty name of Jesus, I say,
'Peace, be still!'"

Soaring on a song

2008-08-25T09:28:00.002-05:00

Last night we kicked off the new choir season. We invited new people, and our little church had 80in the choir loft. What a way to start the week.

My character, Maggie, marries a Navy pilot who sings. But when tragedy strikes, she wants to make her own kind of music before she can ever sing songs like these....

Click here and enjoy: More than Enough and Total Praise.

Three Kings in this city!

2008-08-05T22:22:00.013-05:00

In a different direction this weekend, went to Memphis, Tennessee, with my church choir, to tour Graceland and sing concerts in two churches.

Graceland was amazing. I have blogged about Elvis before, (click here )--a kind and ultra-talented man who took kind of an, um, distracted side trip from his Christian roots. But he always eschewed the title, "The King," saying, "There is only one King--Jesus."

We also visited the site of the assassination of Martin Luther King. There had been a strike of sanitation workers. The basic issue had been lack of timely paychecks, as I understand it. And you know the rest of the terrible story.

Then, the reason for the trip: We sang in two churches, in Memphis and Brownsville.

The response ministered back to us. The first church we sang in stood up during one of our songs, "Something Happens." Click here for an online performance I found.

Well, something happens with that song, all right, it'll knock your socks off, but it's the first time I sang in a choir that got that response and it was awesome to know I was part of something the Lord was using to really bless people.

And did they bless us back, with lasagne, Southern fried chicken, fresh vegetables, chocolate chip pecan pie, and so on.

Before the second service, we had prayer time and I asked that the Lord minister to us through His people again--with their response to the songs, I mean.

And they did. The second church stood and clapped during a third of the songs!

I mean, right in the middle of a song, if they liked its message, they'd stand up and clap. Like for "How Great Thou Art."

And click on "When I Don't Know What to Do." The solo in our version was sung by a young woman who came out of a very rough background, mom and sibs in jail, to graduate with honors and attend college now. She has never sung in a choir or anywhere else before. And in "Cry Holy," "Grace," and again in "Something Happens."

The pastor made us sing the fun "Hallelujah Anyhow" twice.

It was exhilarating in the spirit. And such freedom for the Spirit.

Makes you think the Lord meant every word in Psalm 149 and Psalm 150.

Kristy Dykes--Celebration of a Life of Inspiration

2008-07-24T14:54:00.004-05:00

What a great service!

That may sound too glib, because sending one's loved one on Home ahead of us is always hard.

But I hope that my homegoing will express joy and expectation the way this one did.

They showed a clip of Kristy when she first learned she had brain cancer, thanking the church for their gestures of love, and saying she just wanted to be in the center of God's will. That she believed in healing and always did, but that there are all kinds of healing.

Milton gave a beautiful euology. He held up a fat notebook of Kristy's writings and laughing, said "We'll start on page one."

Members of the family sang beautiful solos. Larry Ford, I think, sang, "I Bowed on my Knees and Cried 'Holy'" and the service ended with "How Great is our God."

If you would like to enjoy this service, click here.

And if you would like to understand more about how anyone could have peace and joy in spite of just losing a loved one, then scroll down and push the red button marked, "Ready?"

God bless!

Kristy emails about grief, 2006

2008-07-22T21:21:00.003-05:00

Wow, going through old files in my discarded computer, I just came across this email from Kristy to the loop, posted on May (I forget already) 2006. I'm sure she wouldn't mind a bit if I posted it here, with her good thoughts.

Greetings from Kristy Dykes in sunny Florida!

Somebody asked what to do when you've faced a trauma and can't seem to write, or you're feeling directionless, etc. I was touched by the responses. I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Wow, this loop is fantastic. Several things ministered to me, below. Thanks, ACFWers.

I saw Francine Rivers on TBN the other night and enjoyed hearing her story again. Great interview. She said she couldn't write for four years. Once she started writing again, she wrote REDEEMING LOVE! (Are you getting goose bumps like I am?)

1."God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them." Hebrews 6:10

2. So give yourself permission to grieve, and in grieving, pushing anything, making important decisions, is not wise.

3. All that said, remember that the battle you face isn't just an emotional or physical battle. It's rooted in the unseen. The enemy of your soul wants to prevent you from responding to the call of God. He certainly intends tosabotage or ambush any attempts to write for Him. It may be time tointentionally thwart the enemy's plans, to write to spite him (if that'seven theologically possible!), and to draw a hedge of prayer protection around yourself before even attempting to lay fingers to keyboard. Blank computer screen, be gone in the name of Jesus!

4. What Kristin B. said. She always says the right thing! On every subject.

5. Oh, and Laurie said to journal during this time.

Kristy Dykes, who's off to journal...

********

*Sigh,* that'll be some journal, now! Praise the Lord.

Kristy Dykes in Glory--"I Can Only Imagine"

2008-07-22T09:00:00.003-05:00

One of the sweetest people you could ever meet, Kristy Dykes, has gone on to be with the Lord.

"I can only imagine" the wonderful time Kristy is having, free of pain, dancing with Jesus.

For the rest of us, it's not quite as wonderful.

I wish I could be at the service. A few years ago, I emailed Kristy about writing, and a few days later, was surprised to find a brown manila envelope in my mailbox. She had sent me three of her books, to "show, don't tell me," how she did it. I was so happy when I finally met her at a conference.

I pray that the wonderful Holy Spirit do His good work as Comforter for all who love her.

Click here Kristy Dykes and here "I Can Only Imagine"

Uh-ohh, LOL

2008-07-19T23:10:00.001-05:00

Click here~

Wombs with a view!

2008-07-17T13:37:00.004-05:00

Click here to see the most adorable videos of babies in the womb.

And of course, everyone remembers this little hand gripping the surgeon's finger.

Jesus loves the little children,
All the children of the world!
Red and yellow, black and white,
Whether in or out of sight!
Jesus loves the little children of the world!

All dogs go to heaven~

2008-07-05T09:42:00.005-05:00

Diann Hunt's little dog is failing and she blogged about knowing it was time to put him down. I told her I hurt with her. I've been there several times.

The good news is, I believe we'll see our pets in heaven. The Bible says "creation waits" for glory.

Romans 8:18-20 (NIV)
Future Glory
18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope

I take that literally--all of God's creation.

My belief is that pets are like a class of angels. Why not? Look at the strange and wonderful critters in the Bible! Our pets don't sin, they just serve us and God by giving us love and give us pleasure, and then go to heaven. I'm convinced.

However, I was in Tokyo and saw only cars crossing that Rainbow Bridge, LOL

(Vets often send sympathy cards with a very touching poem about a rainbow bridge.)

I hated to give them up, but didn't want to keeping them suffering in their misery.

I figure that finally, *love lets go.*

Our little Shih Tsu was going blind and hard of hearing and when he cried out and his little back leg went stiff, we knew we had to let him go. So we took him to the vet and stayed with him while he left this world.

The assistant brought me scissors and I clipped the plume of his tail and brought it home. I don't even know where it is at the moment. I can't look at it.

He would walk around a corner of the hall and bump into one of those springy little doorstops and we would hear boiiiiing. Now, any time one of us does the same, I remember him.

Now, a few months later, we just got a new puppy. When Jocko died, we asked our other dog, "Do you miss Jocko?" The ears went up and it hurt my heart to know he did. I never asked him that again.

So we got another.

It's hard to think about it when we are losing one, but there are many other wonderful dogs out there waiting to bless us.

The Shack and John 14:6--excellent blog

2008-06-27T23:19:00.003-05:00

Barry Dean 4 Christ writes: Step back, take a deep breath, and weigh it against the Scriptures....

Dr. Albert Mohler dedicated his entire radio program to reviewing the book.... The book is being compared to “Pilgrim’s Progress” for it’s allegorical use. [but] the character Papa who is God (seen by Mac, the main character, as an African American woman) says

When we three spoke ourselves into existence as the son of God we became fully human.

This is a complete destruction of the biblical understanding of the Trinity.

The Godhead did not become human. On page 110 the character of Jesus does not say that I am the only way to Papa (God) but he does in fact say that I am the “best way” that any human can relate to Papa (God). ... [this] flies in the face of John 14:6.

I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me It is impossible to get past this verse in scripture. No one has access to the Father except those who follow Jesus Christ. Tim Challies states it in his review of “The Shack”, “the book has a quietly subversive quality to it”.

Throughout the book there is this kind of subversive strain teaching that new and fresh revelation is much more relevant and important than the kind of knowledge we gain in sermons or seminaries or Scripture.

Click here for the full article.

The Shack--"another jesus"?

2008-06-22T10:23:00.026-05:00

There are those who believe in what Reinhold Neibuhr described as:

“A God without wrath brought men without sin into a kingdom without judgment through the ministrations of a Christ without a cross.”

In other words, another Gospel, another Jesus, one watered-down and easy to swallow.

Does the popular book, The Shack, go against Paul's warning in 1 Corinthians 4:6 Do not go beyond what is written?

Jan Markell, whose Olive Tree Ministries I have trusted for years, states,

On page 110 Jesus says that He is perhaps not the way, truth, and life, but the BEST way to relate to the Father and Holy Spirit. Papa God, the African-American female, says she has many followers of many religions in different lands. This is not Orthodox Christianity, yet millions of Christian readers claim it is! Discernment has taken a summer vacation or perhaps a permanent vacation.

Mack asks "Papa" God, the female, about God's wrath. The answer is that she doesn't punish people for sin; rather she wants to cure sin. No mention of repentance, the shed blood, and all the things the new "seeker" environment wants to leave out in the church parking lot.

Yes, clearly, the “Jesus” of The Shack is not Jesus Christ of the Bible.

And God in a muu-muu and turban and cooking turnip greens and saying "sho 'nuff" to show that He has a wonderfully sweet side?

Nothing wrong with a warm, nuturing ethnic character like that. Nothing wrong with allegory in itself, as long as it doesn't misrepresent Scripture or go beyond what is written.

And, yes, I know God has a feminine side to His nature. Isaiah talks about Him comforting like a mother.

The book tries to make God more approachable to those who don't know Him or His love very well.

I can understand and cheer that motive with loud applause and kudos to the authors.

But that Papa is not God the Father, to me.

I think about Jesus at the funeral at Nain, where a widow had lost her only son and now had no man to help her. Jesus brought the son back to life. Our tender-hearted Lord was so moved by the woman's sorrow, He had to pause long enough to tell her, Don't cry.

This is the sweetness of our God in the flesh, Jesus Christ. I would urge people to share that passage instead of that book.

If anyone meets Him in a muu-muu first, well, I just hope The Shack isn't the only book they read!

And, our wonderful Holy Spirit, God who lives inside of us, is also a female and her name is Sarayu? Where does that name come from? Sarayu is a river in India. Please go here and click on this this one about Hindu spirits.

Why associate even obliquely, the blessed Holy Spirit with Hindu gods??? It just raises a red flag with me. It implies Universal Reconciliation, God brings everyone home, with or without the cross. What a waste!

Chuck Colson's column includes many links at the bottom. If his points aren't strong enough for you, he obviously just gets a check in his spirit.

It can seem overwhelming to know how to guard our hearts or to share the Truth.

From The Kingdom of the Cults tapes by the late Walter Martin, I learned a few quick, mind-boggling Bible passages that could apply to The Shack, and definitely to other things out there:

There are other gospels, other jesuses, other spirits. Paul is dismayed that Christians have received them:

2 Corinthians 11:3 But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.

Galatians 1:9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned! Whoa!

And to answer the error of the groups that tell us that works will qualify us for Heaven, that the goodness of our puny works is greater than God's hatred of sin and the complete work of the cross:

Galatians 3:1 You foolish Galatians! [Wow!] Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. 2I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? 3Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? 4Have you suffered so much for nothing—if it really was for nothing? 5Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?"

Regarding being entertained by and taking lightly the things that God hates, such as wizardry and talking to the dead--spiritism:

Deuteronomy 18:9 When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. 10 Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in [a] the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, 11 or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead.12 Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you. 13 You must be blameless before the LORD your God.

Hmm, God doesn't seem to be aware that enticing books on this subject also entice children to read~

Let's also consider the fact that God made us in His image and He adores us. He's not looking to condemn us, but help us into knowing and loving Him. Blameless in His eyes by coming to Him by Way of the cross.

And for those that have a new revelation for a new time, a new place, a new society, I fell in love with Jude verse 3: Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend (defend vigorously) for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.

I love that one so much because I once explored a cult that came knocking on my door, and I could have been led astray, myself. I am yes, eternally grateful that I found the Truth of the Word of God. Not that I have it all down perfectly, not that I am perfect, by any means. But having been pulled to safety, I just want to reach out to others in danger.

Most of us probably understand that we as writers have a huge responsibility.

Like it or not, we are sort of taking on the role as teachers.

Like it or not, Christian author just sounds a little authoritative.

Like it or not, this warning's attached:

James 3:1 Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.

Ack! If we get it right, that's one thing. But, as always, and perhaps, moreso, today:

2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.

Unsaved people who do not understand sin and salvation and the power of the blood of Christ (foreshadowed by thousands of years of sacrifices of doves, lambs and goats) look to us and our writing to at least represent the Truth that sets us free.

Saved people will look to us for confirmation, or at least, no contradiction. Safe to enjoy and share.

Not talking here about whether to use hymns or praise songs, sprinkling or immersion, or to drink or not, but the John 3:16-18 Gospel, itself, and the definitions of the Persons involved.

Walter Martin said again and again, Ask for definitions. Ask for definitions. Ask for definitions.

With God's help, and His definitions, we and our books won't lead readers astray, at which point, we recall, it would be better to have a millstone tied around our necks, as Jesus said, and be cast into the sea.

We live in the Post-Christian era, some say. Roger Ebert, liberal movie critic, even says we are spinning out of control. We certainly live in troubled times.

People don't know where to turn.

Some will turn to us and our books.

What an awesome responsibility!

Obviously, we want to comfort and strengthen and maybe lead them to the Lord.

But with the wrong definitions, we could lead some astray with another gospel, another jesus, another spirit.

I have to agree with that quote at the top:

This false teaching about a “God” who “dwells in, around, and through all things” is the kind of New Age leaven that, left unchallenged, could leaven the church into the New Age/New Spirituality of the proposed New World Religion. And while many people have expressed a great deal of emotional attachment to The Shack and its characters — this leaven alone contaminates the whole book.

Clearly, the “Jesus” of The Shack is not Jesus Christ of the Bible.

Others may disagree and enjoy the book. I love and respect my friends and they have that freedom. : )

But if this book really does present another Gospel--no sin--and another jesus--the best way instead of the only way--then my friend, Patty Carroll is not exaggerating when she calls the Shack "Shacking up with the Enemy."

I doubt that I'll ever read the book. I've read too many questionable reviews about images I just don't especially want in my mind and spirit. I try to heed the warning, "Guard your heart."

There will always be controversial books that skirt the truth. I don't need to read them all, even though conventional wisdom says I should, not to let others do my thinking for me, to be able to share the Truth with others, etc.

But I don't have to read every counterfeit in every bookstore along the pike to recognize the traits of a counterfeit trinity. I just need to know and share the priceless original Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

My typo on Kristy's blog

2008-06-13T10:24:00.003-05:00

Kristy's husband, Milton, wrote on Kristy's blog about how beautiful Kristy is, and he offered to put on her makeup. Her respons: "No way!" LOL http://christianlovestories.blogspot.com/

I wrote a comment:

*******

Margo Carmichael said...
"No way"? LOL

Maybe the thought of you putting Kristy's makeup on her reminds her of a certain youth camp skit:

The Beauty Demo.

A boy pretending to be a girl stands behind a table full of cosmetics--cold cream, face powder, lipstick, etc.--and someone behind him, partly behind a curtain, only arms exposed, applies the cosmetics to the "girl's" face as she earnestly describes the beauty process. Neither is able to see what the applyer is doing to the applyee and the whole thing is hilarious.

Thanks for the giggle

Yes, Kristy is beautiful. I was sitting at a table beside the restaurant doo in Nashville, I believe, at ACFW, when she popped in, and that was the first time I saw her and thought, "She is darling."

Prayers and blessings for you all today. : )

5:55 PM
************

I re-read that after it was published. Ack! I wrote another comment:

**********

Margo Carmichael said...
"Restaurant doo"???

Oh, wait, restaurant "door," of course. Silly me, too gentle on the r. Pardon my Southern accent.

Praying for Kristy's--and Kennedy's--brain tumors

2008-06-05T16:19:00.006-05:00

I am still praying for complete healing for Kristy Dykes--and now, Ted Kennedy--in this world, in this life, and that God would receive all the glory.

Unless and until the Holy Spirit tells me to do otherwise, I will look at the Word and not at the situation:

"With His stripes, we are/were healed," Isaiah 53:5, and Peter something.

I know that seems to hold out false hope to those that love her. Sometimes, I tell a family I stand in agreement with whatever they pray. I'm not sure what the Lord thinks about that, to tell you the truth.

I also adore this one:

Habakkuk 3:2
"LORD, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O LORD. Renew them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy."

And not just for the sake of just an experience, but so we may know Him better!!!

Why don't we see more healings? Especially those that really believe for them? I don't know. I have really believed for some in this life and seen their "graduation" instead.

I think it's the times we live in. Jesus in Matthew 13:58 did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

I just think we live in the powerless Laodicean Church age of Revelation 3, just before the Rapture in chapter four, when John hears a voice that says, Come up here.

Yes, those church ages can represent different aspects of the church in any age. But we cannot rule out literal ages through history.

And a lot of us believe we are seeing political alliances and all kinds of signs of the times leading to Ezekiel 37 and 38.... And that's another subject, I realize.

But it does apply to this subject of why aren't we seeing more healings, because if we are in the Laodicean church age, then much of church is "poor, wretched, miserable, blind and naked."

And if it's true, I am blind to some things, too. Don't know what, though, if I'm blind to them! Catch-22! Lord, please give me more revelation knowledge.

So, I acknowledge that I am no expert, no judge, just a fellow struggler. Straggler? Both, maybe.

Here's just a thought: In the Great Commission, Jesus told the apostles to "teach everyone all things whatsoever I have taught you." "until the end of the age." And in Matthew 10, He taught them, "Heal the sick, raise the dead, cast out devils...."

Are we seeing that in most of the church? Would those things be welcome? I think not.

I just know that it is the time that Jesus says what we usually use as a salvation verse: Revelation 3:20--"Look, I'm standing here, knocking at the door! If you'll just open the door, I'd love to come in and hang out with you." My paraphrase.

Jesus is not present in much of the Laodicean church! JESUS is not WELCOME in much of the Laodicean church!

I'd quote the Great Commission in Mark, but that would really scare the horses.

In I Corinthians 1:7 we're told not to lack any of the gifts while waiting for Jesus to return.

So, maybe if we all agree in prayer, the Holy Spirit will give a gift of healing for Kristy. ( I believe there's a difference between a gift and a ministry. I'm asking for a gift, a healing for Kristy. And for Ted Kennedy. )

Yes, please, Lord, in the mighty name of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, our Savior, our Healer, our Friend, our Jesus!

A Giggle on Wordless Wednesday

2008-06-04T14:40:00.001-05:00

( Click here )

Virginia Smith here today, with a double drawing! Maybe you'll win!

2008-05-15T20:33:00.021-05:00

Will Mayla Strong’s life ever resemble normal? Just as she settles into a great place with God, everything else falls apart. In the course of a single week she loses her job, wrecks any chance at a relationship with Pastor Paul, gets the cold shoulder from her friend Stuart, and learns that Lindsey—the teenage sister of her late friend Alex—needs a place to stay. What good is being a control freak if nobody will do what you tell them?

Taking advantage of her newfound “vacation time,” Mayla flees to her grandmother’s house in Florida. But one by one, her problems follow . . . literally. In this touching sequel to Just As I Am, quirky Mayla Strong comes face-to-face with the responsibilities and joys of friends and family. As she tries to help her loved ones, Mayla begins to realize that God has all the answers—the trick is letting go long enough for Him prove it. *********

Hi, Virginia, I received your beautiful new book, Sincerely, Mayla, two weeks ago, can't wait to get into it. Now that I'm back from vacation exploring Santa Fe and Albuquerque--and my feet are now as brown as Mayla's on that gorgeous cover, by the way--I'll have time to read her story. I'm delighted to post an interview with you.

Margo, thanks so much for allowing me to be a Guest Blogger here today. I appreciate the opportunity to talk about my newest book.

So, you have ten books under contract? Wow, good for you and God! I don't believe you were published at all, were you, when we all drove through Nashville two years ago, during conference, for the booksigning for Terry Burns and Kathryn Mackel, Randy Ingermanson and all?

When we met 2 years ago (it'll be 3 in September, actually!), I had a book contract but it hadn't be released. And at that conference in Nashville I signed with my agent and pitched what would become my second book to Steeple Hill. Things have snowballed since then. Kind of amazing, isn't it? When God is ready to move, He really moves!

He does! We serve an awesome God! So, tell us about Sincerely, Mayla.

Sincerely, Mayla is my fifth novel, but I actually wrote it several years ago, right after I finished Just As I Am. The main character, Mayla Strong, is so vivid and alive in my mind she just wouldn’t step quietly back into anonymity. The idea for Mayla’s external struggle – convincing Pastor Paul that he has feelings for her – came about during the editing process of Just As I Am.

Wait until I tell my daughter. Her husband's sister is about to be engaged to a Pastor Paul~

Well, in the first draft of that book, Mayla ran to the office of Salliesburg Christian Church for a private counseling session with Pastor Paul. One of my editors said that was inappropriate, so she advised me to place a secretary in the outer office and leave the door cracked open. Which I did.

LOL, wise move.

But I started thinking about the scrutiny a single pastor is subjected to in a conservative church. How can they ever form a lasting relationship with a woman if they’re not allowed to be alone with them? In other words, how can a single pastor ever become a married pastor? And then I thought, “What would Mayla say to that?” That made me laugh – she would be furious to be subjected to such “propriety”! I decided that would make for some funny scenes, and I was right.

But I didn’t want Sincerely, Mayla to be only about a Mayla-style romance. Just As I Am touched on some pretty hot contemporary topics, and I wanted to do the same in Mayla’s second book. I have a heart for crisis pregnancy centers, and in the months before I was ready to start working on Sincerely, Mayla, Focus on the Family began a campaign to purchase an ultrasound machine for every Pregnancy Resource Center in the country.

Wow. That is wonderful.

Yes. Some of the broadcasts really touched me, and I paid a visit to the Salt Lake City PRC. The tour I received during that visit gave me the information I needed to write one of my favorite chapters in Sincerely, Mayla.

Sounds intriguing!

Another thing I wanted to accomplish in Sincerely, Mayla was very personal. I wanted Mayla to face up to an issue I’ve seen crop up in multiple generations in my family: the tendency to manipulate others through martyr-type behavior and guilt dispensing. I’ve been on both the receiving and giving ends of that battle my whole life.

Me, too, from time to time.

But the Lord had been pointing out to me that I could put a stop to manipulating behavior in my own life. I often write from my own experiences – I emphasize the lessons the Lord teaches me by watching them play out in my characters. So that’s what I decided to do with Mayla.

Great. It would be hard not to.

All that sounds like this book is full of “lessons” and themes and messages. Honestly, I didn’t set out to write a book that would teach anybody anything. I never do. I strongly believe that fiction should entertain, not preach, so I hope all of my books are primarily entertaining. But because I am a Christian, and because Mayla is a Christian, elements of God’s grace show up naturally in the story. So if someone wants to learn a thing or two, they can. But mostly, I just hope they like the story!

I’d like to invite everyone to pop over to my website.

To celebrate this week’s blog tour of Sincerely, Mayla, I am giving away a set of Mayla books – Just As I Am and Sincerely, Mayla – to two lucky people on May 19th. I hope you’ll enter the drawing!

Again, Margo, thank you so much for inviting me to be your guest today!

Thank you for coming. Sounds like your books are full of double blessings, entertaining and addressing today's issues~ I can't wait to read them.

God bless.

Lazarus was dead! Are you?

2008-05-12T14:34:00.005-05:00

God can use you anyway! A friend just sent me this from The Daily Encourager . (It says "Author unknown." If you know the author, please let me know.)

So, be encouraged:

No Excuses

There are many reasons why God shouldn't have called you.
But don't worry. You're in good company . . .

Moses stuttered.
David's armor didn't fit.
John Mark was rejected by Paul.
Timothy had ulcers.
Hosea's wife was a prostitute.
Amos' only training was in the school of fig-tree pruning.
Jacob was a liar.
David had an affair.
Solomon was too rich.
Abraham was too old.
David was too young.
Peter was afraid of death.
Lazarus was dead.
John was self-righteous.
Naomi was a widow.
Paul was a murderer.
So was Moses.
Jonah ran from God.
Miriam was a gossip.
Gideon and Thomas both doubted.
Jeremiah was depressed and suicidal.
Elijah was burnt out.
John the Baptist was a loudmouth.
Martha was a worry-wart.
Mary was lazy.
Samson had long hair.
Noah got drunk.

Did I mention that Moses had a short fuse?
So did Peter, Paul -- well, lots of folks did.
But God doesn't require a job interview.
He doesn't look at financial gain or loss.
He's not prejudiced or partial,
not judging or grudging,
not sassy or brassy,
not deaf to our cry, not blind to our need.

As much as we try, God's gifts are free.

Satan says, "You're not worthy."
Jesus says, "So what?... I AM."

Satan looks back and sees our mistakes.
God looks back and sees the cross.

He doesn't calculate what you did last month or last year.
It's not even on the record.
Sure. There are lots of reasons why God shouldn't have called us.
But if we are in love with Him,
If we hunger for Him more than our next breath,
He'll use us - in spite of
who we are,
where we've been, or
what we look like.

"I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength" Philippians 4:13

We need a new punctuation mark~

2008-04-25T12:41:00.006-05:00

We need a mark for when we don't want to shout, but we want emphasis or humor. I think we need something to replace "LOL" or "< grin >."

I submit we need one more simple little diacritical mark, a pretty one, already available: The tilde~

It has uses in math, in editing, and in Spanish and 17th century French, and maybe others I'm not aware of.

But I haven't seen any case where it appears at the end of a sentence, so it would cause no confusion.

I would also submit a new name for the tilde when used for emphasis and humor, one that suggests a frisson of emotion: Strangely enough, I would submit "the frisson."

It's easy to reach at the upper left end of the keyboard.

And isn't it a pretty little flourish at the end of the sentence~

I mentioned it about a year ago, and I have been lax in my campaign. So, here's my slogan:

We need a new punctuation mark--
The "frisson" for when one is having a lark?

Or maybe not.

Anyway, a cheer and a plea for the frisson~

Margo's Moments--Spirit-filled suspense that touches the heart

God still likes it!

God's gifts and power for today?

1 John 3:2-3

There's nothing we can do! LOL

Crawfish tacos?

God is fun!

Father's Day discovery an ocean away

Pretzels and passivity, anyone?

"Welcome Holy Spirit" Pentecost Sunday's Comin' Concert

Housework is holy work

Dayenu! It would have been enough!

Healing for today

If Jesus needed this, I sure do!

"I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ"

"I had to exorcise a few!" a Southern Baptist missionary told me

HOW CAN THE CHURCH REVIVE? Well-

Not guilty!

Can you know for sure?

New Orleans, Florida, Tucson--places of the heart--at risk

"Welcome, Holy Spirit!"Concert Pentecost Sunday's comin'!

Jesus up, soldiers down? What's up with that?

Sunny walk, dark path--would we have rescued this boy?

Ever wonder if God loves you?

Divination for children--made easy....

When the Saints Go Marchin' In!

Wordless Wednesday

Between Sundays, choosing the things that last....

Death on your doorstep--besides the moths. LOL

Christmas mini-miracle sends me to church on an icy morning

Healing in the Gospels--is it for today?

Celtic Treasure by Liz Babbs--a lovely Christmas gift!

Writing Edgy Christian Fiction

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday, almost

"Twilight" of loyalty?

Havah, the Story of Eve by Tosca Lee

Be still and--Dance!

To put feet on our prayers, let's contact our reps.

Healed of CP

Closed--Too Wet & Too Wild

I wish Bibles would do this:

Mission for Wordless Wednesday

All dogs go to heaven!

Want to *really* thank a soldier?

How to delight our biggest fan.

Asking for what we need

Welcome, Holy Spirit! Concert

Obama: "America not a Christian nation." Congress: we'll see!

Obama: Margo Carmichael World's Greatest Mom!

Secret wisdom of God--can we know Him? Yes, we can

Pardon me, I think we dropped something.

Condolences to author Sara Mills

We--and our books--are the only Jesus some will ever see.

Heaven-Thursday Translation

"IF MY PEOPLE..." God's Conditional Promise

Wordless main character, not! "If MY PEOPLE...."

Wordless Wednesday

Tomorrow is Wordless Wednesday

POV and the *Fine Art* of Novel Writing

If time is a garden, let's yank those weeds!

Web of fear--pun intended

He's nuts about ya, sis!

Six people killed! er, raised from the dead!

_My Wicked, Wicked Ways_

_Twilight_ of Loyalty to God?

In Withdrawal from a blessing

Merry Who-mas?

Character Situations: Men and Women--both confused!

Gifts of the Holy Spirit and our writing

art and adverbs

Having a Daniel moment....

www in Hebrew is--a startling visual for today...

Total Praise When I Don't Know What to Do!

Psst, want to get rich?

So, didn't God listen? "If MY people..."

Speaking TO the storms

Soaring on a song

Three Kings in this city!

Kristy Dykes--Celebration of a Life of Inspiration

Want to really thank a soldier?

POV and the Fine Art of Novel Writing