God’s Word — Page 25 — Woman to Woman Mentoring

TRUMPET BLAST . . . Remembering God’s Goodness!

Lest you think I’m blowing my own horn today, blowing the trumpets was an ordinance God gave in the Old Testament before going into battle and, “Also at your times of rejoicing—your appointed festivals and New Moon feasts—you are to sound the trumpets over your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, and they will be a memorial for you before your God. I am the Lord your God” (Num. 10:10).

So today, I’m blowing the trumpet and sounding the cymbals as I rejoice over the release of my “offering” tomorrow, February 9, 2016! This is a day I’ve been anticipating for almost 10 years …the release of Forsaken God?: Remembering the Goodness of God Our Culture Has Forgotten.

[Tweet “This is a day I’ve been anticipating for almost 10 years …the release of Forsaken God?: Remembering the Goodness of God Our Culture Has Forgotten.”]

Why did I have to wait 10 years? Because God’s timing is always perfect and He knew that today, our world would need this book like never before. Our culture is spiraling into an immoral abyss and it’s time for Christians to take a bold stand: A stand for what we believe, why we believe, and who we believe in—Jesus Christ!

[Tweet “Our culture is spiraling into an immoral abyss and it’s time for Christians to take a bold stand: “]

Satan worked long and hard to try to keep this book from being published. I had a short time to write it and encountered many hardships, but God prevailed. Then we went through 11 covers before we all agreed on the one you see here, which I love.

In today’s culture, Christians are always going to be going against the crowd—or at least they should be. Let me caution that if you don’t find yourself frequently going counter-culture, you may be vacillating in the middle between the culture and Christ. Doing the cultural splits is never comfortable, productive, effective, or redemptive.

[Tweet “If you don’t find yourself frequently going counter-culture, you may be vacillating in the middle between the culture and Christ. “]

Christians must stand firm and be all-in for Christ; there is no other way that is pleasing to God.

Today, I’m sharing with you the origins of Forsaken God?. The book’s Preface will explain my passion for helping Christians remember God’s goodness in their own life, so they can lead a lost world back to God.

“The only way for evil to triumph is for good men [and women] to do nothing!” —Edmund Burke

Let’s do something together to defeat evil! I’m praying that God will take Forsaken God? to the ends of the earth. My husband smiles knowingly when I say that, but I’m asking you to help me with a grassroots effort to do just that! I’m not looking for book sales, I’m praying for changed lives. I hope you’ll join me in a mission of remembering the goodness of our Great God and sharing those memories with a lost world to give them hope for a new future.

If we don’t remember what God has already done, we won’t believe what he is capable of doing in the future. Memory builds faith.–Forsaken God?

[Tweet “If we don’t remember what God has already done, we won’t believe what he is capable of doing in the future.”]

Ok, here’s the promised Preface to Forsaken God?:

PREFACE

I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. —Ps. 27:13

“We have sinned with our fathers … [and] … did not remember…” (Psalm 106:6-7). Then prod your memory and wake up immediately. Don’t say to yourself, “But God is not talking to me right now.” He ought to be. Remember whose you are and whom you serve. Encourage yourself to remember, and your affection for God will increase tenfold. Your mind will no longer be starved, but will be quick and enthusiastic, and your help will be inexpressibly bright”—Oswald Chambers

Our nation is ridiculed abroad and morally crumbling within. We are in trouble. We have turned our back on God. —Franklin Graham

God put this book on my heart at 5:45 P.M. (CT) May 31, 2006, while having dinner with dear friends Les and Pam Barnhart at Carrabba’s Italian Grill in Nashville, Tennessee. I had salmon (my favorite food) and they split a chicken Italian pizza. How can I remember this occasion so specifically, in such detail, and why is it important? Well, let me tell you the story ….

I was on business in Nashville where the Barnharts lived then, so we went out to dinner together. At one time, Les had worked for me in Southern California when I managed an insurance agency and since our families shared the same Christian faith, we developed a deep friendship, a kinship. We kept in touch over the years so it was a delight to have quality catch-up time with this godly couple.

During dinner, our conversation turned into a discussion of how quickly we forget God’s goodness when the next crisis arises. I pointed out how we readily criticize the Old Testament Israelites, who repeatedly forgot God’s goodness, but aren’t we the same today? We had just paid the bill and the receipt was lying on the table. As we discussed humanity’s historical pattern of forgetting God’s goodness, Les took the receipt, turned it over, and wrote on the back, “How Good is God? I Can’t Remember ….” Sliding the receipt across the table to me, he suggested, “This would be a great topic for a book!”

I took the receipt and put it in my purse for safekeeping. When I returned home, I started a folder labeled “How Good is God? I Can’t Remember …,” and clipped the dinner receipt to the front of the folder. I added to my folder Scriptures or articles reflecting the theme of forgetting God’s goodness or ways to remember his goodness. Over the years, the folder expanded with notes, Scriptures, and stories as I awaited God’s timing to write this book. Several times seemed right, but God knew I needed more research and experiences to share with you. God’s timing is always perfect—a vital aspect of his goodness to remember and never forget.

How Good is God? I Can’t Remember . . . evolved into the book you have in your hand—Forsaken God? Remembering the Goodness of God Our Culture Has Forgotten. I don’t expect that after reading Forsaken God?, your mind will retain God-incidences with the same clarity and detail as I remember the origins of this book. However, if you start saving important documents and mementoes, writing in a prayer and praise journal, taking pictures, sharing your stories and testimony, memorizing Scripture . . . you’ll be well on your way to remembering God’s goodness throughout your lifetime and passing memories on to the next generation. That’s what I’m praying for you. That’s what I think God meant at 5:45 P.M. (CT) on May 31, 2006 at Carrabba’s Italian Grill in Nashville during a meaningful discussion with fellow believers! That’s what I remember and will never forget, so…

I’ll write the book on your righteousness,

talk up your salvation the livelong day,

never run out of good things to write or say.

I come in the power of the Lord God,

I post signs marking his right-of-way.

—Ps. 71:15-16 The Message

You can see why I dedicated Forsaken God? to the godly couple I mentioned in the Preface: “Pam and Les Barnhart for inspiring the vision for this book and faithfully championing me.”

The Barnharts

Here’s How You Can Help Me Take This Book to the Ends of the Earth!

Order Forsaken God? from Amazon, Christianbook.com or my website.
Read and review on Amazon and Christianbook.com to encourage other readers. You can put the same comment on both sites of how the book spoke to you.
Share with your Bible study or small group, church, pastors, friends, family, book club . . . your sphere of influence. There are questions after each chapter for group discussion.
Take a picture with the book and post on Instagram and social media, like Facebook and twitter. My twitter name is @ahwministries. Or if you don’t like pictures, just post something about the book on social media.
If you have a blog, could I send you a guest blog post? Contact me please.
Pray with me for God to take Forsaken God? to the ends of the earth. Pray for Him to use His book to turn the pendulum back to a culture that respects, honors, and remembers the goodness of our Great Creator and Father of our nation and our world—God!

Any other ideas please contact me. I cherish your support and help.

Blog contains excerpts from Forsaken God? used with permission.

If you received this blog by email, comment here.

February 8, 2016

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Guns N’ Bibles

My husband and I give participants of our small groups, family, and friends a handout for Preparing for War from the armor of God in Ephesians 6:10-18. Periodically we’ll ask:

“So are you putting on the armor of God we told you about?”

Almost universally, the response is a shrugging of shoulders and “No, we’re not . . . .”

When we were first married, I studied spiritual warfare at Fuller Theological Seminary with Dr. Charles Kraft, and my husband went through a Neil Anderson course on spiritual warfare. God knew the spiritual battles we would incur in our years together, so He equipped us both with the understanding that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12).

God warns that the only way for Christians to fight this inevitable spiritual battle is to “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes” (Ephesians 6:10-11).

We are cautioned to “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8).

No Weapon Formed Against Us Can Prosper

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 2 Corinthians 10:3-4

This blog post is not about owning guns, but it is about Christians choosing a gun over the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God (Eph. 6:17).

Believers who fear man more then they fear Satan.
Believers who put more faith in a gun’s protection then faith in God’s protection.
Believers who pack a gun, but don’t unpack their Bibles.

[Tweet “Jesus didn’t protect himself with a rock, a sword, or a knife. “]

Jesus didn’t protect himself with a rock, a sword, or a knife. He fought evil with God’s Word, the sword of the Spirit, the only weapon He ever used. But sadly, today many of Jesus’ disciples know more about guns then they know how to use the only offensive weapon in the armor of God, the sword of the Spirit. They’re going out every day into the world spiritually naked without the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the Sword of the Spirit securely prayed in place (from Ephesians 6:10-18).

[Tweet “Satan gloats if he can get Christians focused on trying to defend and protect themselves more with man’s weapons than fighting him with God’s weapon, Satan wins.”]

And Satan gloats. If he can get Christians focused on trying to defend and protect themselves more with man’s weapons than fighting him with God’s weapon, Satan wins.

Do You Have a War Room?

Many saw the movie War Room and I’m sure were impressed with the power of prayer portrayed in this movie. But how many went home and set up a War Room? When I told my 7 year-old granddaughter the name of the movie, she wasn’t sure she wanted to watch it because she thought it would be a war movie. After our family watched it together, I asked her: “Do you know what a war room is now?”

Sienna: “A room where you pray,” she said confidently.

[Tweet “The mighty power of Jesus we have within us is not just fictional in a movie”]

Friends, I hope you realize the mighty power of Jesus we have within us is not just fictional in a movie. Miss Clara in War Room understood how to use that power. She stood up to the assailant demanding her purse at knife point and told him in the “name of Jesus” to put down his knife. And he did. But some will say that’s just in the movies. . . . Maybe not.

[Tweet “Let me share with you a real-life “Miss Clara” story that happened last week “]

Let me share with you a real-life “Miss Clara” story that happened last week to one of my Facebook Friends, Terri Gillespie. I asked Terri if I could share her story with you and she said absolutely.

*****************

Jan 10, 2016 on Terri Gillespie’s Facebook Post

Yesterday, at 1:26 pm I was robbed at gunpoint.

As I type these words, it still feels surreal. And as I process the event, I realize how easy it would be to turn this into a political issue, or a statement on the darkness of this world, but it was so much more than that.

First, what happened: My friend, Cathy and I were traveling back from our writing retreat at the Jersey shore. We decided to stop in Vineland, NJ for some lunch and shopping. We had a lovely experience with the young woman who helped us—she was a Christian and Zionist—and walked back to my car with our purchases.

My vehicle was packed with our bags and other packages from a weeklong retreat. Our clothes hung from the backseat carrack.

I couldn’t find my cell. I opened the back door on the driver’s side, placed my purse on top of a suitcase, and leaned over to search for it.

I asked Cathy to call my cell to see if it was in my purse. I felt something tapping me on my back and thought it was the clothes hangers. Finally, the phone rang in my purse, just as I felt the tapping again. I straightened and turned and there was a young man with a gun. He made sure I saw he had a gun. I remembered thinking two things. One: “Oh man!” Two: “Do glocks come in silver?”

He motioned toward my purse and whispered something. I hesitated, then reached for my little wallet. I remembered a scene from the movie War Room and I turned toward him and said, “Jesus loves you. He wouldn’t want you to do this.”

Cathy asked me if I had found my phone yet. I assured her I had. Thankfully, because of the curtain of clothing hanging, she had no idea what was going on. She only heard bits and pieces of my side of the conversation.

I pulled all the cash from my wallet—$12.00—and handed it to him. I apologized it wasn’t more. He rolled his eyes and asked for my car keys. I whispered, “You’re taking my car? You’re leaving us stranded?”

He motioned the gun toward Cathy and said he would kill her.

I said, “No, please. She just got over cancer. She almost died.” But, I handed him the keys.

I either repeated what I said, or I said that Jesus loved him. Perhaps, both. I tried making eye contact with him throughout. His gaze was mostly everywhere but on me. At this point, he looked briefly at me, then looked down. Cathy told me later that I kept saying Jesus loves you.

The young man handed me back the keys. He paused as though not sure what to do next. I thanked him and patted him on the shoulder and repeated one last time, “Jesus loves you.”

He turned and walked away.

Shaking, I shut the door, opened the driver’s side door, and started the car.

Cathy asked me if I was okay. I think I said something like, just a minute. Frankly, I was afraid that the young man would change his mind and return, so I wanted to get out of there.

Finally, I was able to tell Cathy what had just happened.

Cathy prayed as I drove back onto Highway 55. We thanked the Lord for His protection. We prayed for that young man that God would touch his heart and change his life from that moment on. We prayed for miles and miles. We talked, then prayed some more.

I was so grateful—am so grateful. Grateful for God’s protection of my friend and me. Grateful for the young man’s mercy and that in the midst of evil plans, he made the right choice to stop. Grateful that my friend did not have to see all this happening. Grateful to be able to go home and hug and kiss my husband.

*****************

Terri goes on to explain that she did report the crime, then she adds: “This morning when I first awoke, I remembered to forgive the young man and prayed again for his salvation and that his life would change for God’s glory. I’m sure there is more for Cathy and me to process and I would appreciate your prayers for us and our families as we do this; but please, as you pray, please remember this young man. Pray for him.”

When I asked Terri if she thought they would have all walked away unharmed if she had a gun, her answer was telling:

“Do I think the outcome would have been different had I been armed? Yes. And that’s why I was glad I wasn’t. It really forced me to be totally dependent upon the Lord.

Several Facebook comments:

“You were saved by using the Word of the Lord – may we always remember that they are mightier than any sword (or gun).”

“He was truly “disarmed” in the Spirit.”

Here’s a picture of my War Room. Let’s flood social media with pictures of our War Rooms and Sword of the Spirit.

My War Room

My Weapon, The Sword of the Spirit

We Have the Same Power!

A couple booked a wedding on our farm. Dale and I prayed that the Glory of the Lord would encounter them. I walked into the bedroom where the bride and bridesmaids were getting dressed and asked if I could pray a blessing over the wedding and marriage. The bride looked at her bridesmaids inquisitively. She said, “Sure.” They gathered close. I put my hands on the bride. I asked JESUS to encounter their hearts… At the first WORD of JESUS-tears streamed down their faces like I’ve never seen. There’s POWER in the NAME of JESUS! I prayed in boldness that the couples offspring would boldly declare Christ as Lord and be warriors for HIM. When the prayer was finished, she held her womb, with tears rolling and hugged me. One day EVERY knee will bow and EVERY tongue confess that He is LORD!I Don’t EVER be afraid to be bold with His NAME!—Facebook Post from Sharon Glasglow shared with permission

We hear songs like “There is Power in the Name of Jesus”, but how often do we tap into that power within us? The words from Jeremy Camp’s song, “Same Power,” ring so true for all Christians:

SAME POWER

I can see

Waters raging at my feet

I can feel

The breath of those surrounding me

I can hear

The sound of nations rising up

We will not be overtaken

We will not be overcome

I can walk

Down this dark and painful road

I can face

Every fear of the unknown

I can hear

All God’s children singing out

We will not be overtaken

We will not be overcome

The same power that rose Jesus from the grave

The same power that commands the dead to wake

Lives in us, lives in us

The same power that moves mountains when He speaks

The same power that can calm a raging sea

Lives in us, lives in us

He lives in us, lives in us

We have hope

That His promises are true

In His strength

There is nothing we can’t do

Yes, we know

There are greater things in store

We will not be overtaken

We will not be overcome

Greater is He that is living in me

He’s conquered our enemy

No power of darkness

No weapon prevails

We stand here in victory

[Tweet “We’ll probably never have a government that turns completely to God to guide our country, but that doesn’t mean that the body of Christ can’t join forces “]

Dear ones, I’m not so naive to think we will ever have a society without guns, but I am passionate about the number of empty War Rooms in the homes and hearts of fellow Christians. We may never have a government that turns completely to God to guide our country, but that doesn’t mean that the body of Christ can’t join forces in utilizing the greatest power that ever lived, and lives within each of us: the Name of Jesus Christ and the Word of God.

I leave you with these important questions to ponder:

Do you believe you have the “same power” that rose Jesus from the grave?
Are you ready and equipped to use the power of Jesus within you?
If so, I beg you to daily clothe yourselves and your children in the Armor of God and set up your Prayer War Rooms! Arm yourselves with God’s Word, the Bible, and be ready to go into action.

Your life and the lives of those you love could depend on it.

Here are links to two versions of Praying the Armor of God that I have on my website Prodigal Support page:

Simplified version of Putting on the Armor of God Daily

Armor of God Personalized and Expanded

If you received this post by email, leave a comment here.

Also a reminder that my new book Forsaken God?: Remembering the Goodness of God Our Culture Has Forgotten releases February 9th. Amazon is taking pre-orders now. Order today to be sure they don’t run out on the 9th.

January 18, 2016

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Christians Arise!

As many of you know, I have a new book releasing on February 9, 2016, Forsaken God?: Remembering the Goodness of God Our Culture Has Forgotten. In the book, I talk about how the Lord put this book on my heart nine years ago, and as I watch world events unfold, I understand why God waited for this book to release now. We’re all watching the outcome of a world that has forgotten God. While the culture tries to politicize moral issues, nothing will ever out trump God’s Word; but all of us will suffer the consequences of those who try to do just that.

I worry the most about the future of those who do not believe in Jesus, and the next generation, my grandchildren. Let me share with you a post I put on Facebook the morning after the horrendous attacks in Paris by Islamic terrorists this past Friday:

My grandkids knew nothing about the Paris attacks yesterday, but when I told them today was mommy and daddy’s 17th anniversary, 10 yr old Katelyn said: “They were married 3 yrs before The attack.” She meant 9/11. So many adults have become complacent and forgotten something we all said we would NEVER forget . . . a horrendous atrocity/tragedy on American soil. Yet Katelyn is marking personal history by it.

Then the kids went on to talk about ISIS and a rap song about Sandy Hook. That’s the world our children and grandchildren are growing up in as “normal.”

What are we doing to make this world safer for them? I am daily reminded of the timeliness of my Feb. release “Forsaken God?: Remembering the Goodness of God Our Culture Has Forgotten.” May we never forget but be forever vigilant and never rest until everyone we know, knows Jesus as their personal Savior!

[Tweet “This is our time as Christians to arise and tell the world about the hope that lives within us”]

This is our time as Christians to arise and tell the world about the hope that lives within us . . . just like we did after 9/11 . . . but not like the complacency that followed when everyone went back to “life as normal.” I have a chapter in my book Dear God, They Say It’s Cancer that talks about “‘Normal’ Isn’t Normal Anymore.” There’s no going back to “normal” after cancer or terrorists attacks. Terrorism may never be completely eliminated: that’s the new normal in our world today. And yet, much of the energy and effort of our government and culture focuses more on eliminating God than the evil’s of terrorism. Yet, without God, evil reigns.

[Tweet “Without God, the only thing left is evil.”]

But we Christians know the truth and we need to arise in unity and speak out, step out, and reach out as fast as we can to everyone in our sphere of influence who doesn’t know the Lord. We must not be reacting in anxiety and fear like the rest of the world, but tell others about the origin of our peace, Jesus Christ! Being a Christian isn’t just about our own salvation and maturity in Christ, it’s about the Great Commission that every Christian is called on to go and tell the Good News to a lost world.

[Tweet “Being a Christian isn’t just about our own salvation and maturity in Christ, it’s about the Great Commission that every Christian is called on to go and tell the Good News to a lost world. “]

Remember all the good God has done in your life and share that with someone today. Their eternal life depends on it!

Here’s the proposed back back cover of Forsaken God?. Does it challenge you?

Our morally deteriorating culture has forgotten God’s goodness to its own peril. Will the next generation even know God? The very survival of the Christian faith depends on creating a culture of God-memories that must start now!

Today’s culture is quickly forgetting the goodness and power of God. The Bible describes the potential destruction through all generations to people who forget God. The dangers are paramount. If we don’t remember what God already has done, we won’t believe what he is capable of doing in the future. Memory builds faith.

“Forsaken God?” explores biblical examples of forgetting God as God repeatedly pleads for his people to remember his mighty acts and deeds. As you read this captivating book, you will have an opportunity to recall your own memories of God and learn new ways to remember God’s goodness and the power of sharing those memories with the next generation. The author and other contributors share open and honest stories of forgetting God’s goodness and offer ways that help them to remember.

“’Forsaken God?’ isn’t a book propagating guilt, it is a how-to manual showing us practical as well as spiritual ways to restore the romance in our relationship with the Almighty.”
—Anita Agers Brooks, inspirational business/life coach, international speaker, and award-winning author of Getting Through What You Can’t Get Over and First Hired, Last Fired

“Thank you, Janet, for giving us what we need: not another self-help book, but a well-timed reminder of profound truth: God is good.”
—Jocelyn Green, author of Faith Deployed: Daily Encouragement for Military Wives

I hope you will help me get the word out about this book written to mobilize Christians and the church who might have . . .

You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent.–Revelation 2:4-5, 3:3

Forsaken God? is available right now for pre-orders on Amazon! There isn’t a picture yet of the cover on Amazon, but I’m excited to reveal the cover to you as we have just finalized it after much prayer.

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November 16, 2015

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I Will Not Be Ashamed!

The media would have you think that surveys are proving the Christian population is diminishing, but you know better than to believe everything you read and hear. We live in an era where liberals are intent on demoralizing, demeaning, and denouncing Christians and everything we stand for and believe. Their strongest tactic is trying to shame us and use the power of words and name calling to threaten us into backing down from our faith and God’s Word.

But I hope you stand with me and the apostle Paul who said to his mentee, Timothy:

So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord.

—2 Timothy 1:8 NLT

Vine’s definition of ashamed: “A strong feeling of shame preventing a person from doing something.”

If God wants us to do something and the Holy Spirit prompts us—regardless of how “politically incorrect” or unpopular it might be, we need to stand proud of our Lord and Savior and follow the Great Commission He left for us to live out. We need to stand together against the pressure of this world to shame us—no matter how many names they call us, laws they pass to quiet us, or how unpopular we become personally … our job as Christians is to speak and live the Gospel.

[Tweet “We need to stand together against the pressure of this world to shame us”]

**The Christian World is Not Shrinking**

[Tweet “The Christian World is Not Shrinking”]

Reality is that the true Christian population is not shrinking—Christians who would never back down in the face of adversity are actually increasing. What is shrinking is the gap between those who call themselves “Christian” hoping for a free ticket to heaven while following the world’s ways, and those who identify with Christ and are willing to follow Him wherever He leads, even if it means suffering for the Gospel, as Paul did.

Both Jesus and Paul were rivals to the accepted culture of their day and everything they did upset the social order. Why would we think it so strange when we encounter the same reaction and persecution?

Pseudo-Christians are looking for a gospel they’ll never find: one that allows them not to make waves and keep their faith “private.” As that becomes more impossible, their faith becomes weaker and they fall away. Those “so called” Christians become lesser in number.

But to those who have the courage to be unpopular for Christ no matter what—their faith becomes stronger and their stance against the wrongs of this world becomes bolder. Yes, praise God, the true Christian population is increasing. Again just like Paul tells Timothy, these Christians will:

With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News.⁹For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus. ¹⁰And now he has made all of this plain to us by the appearing of Christ Jesus, our Savior. He broke the power of death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the Good News.—2 Timothy 1:8-10

**There’s Only One Kind of Christian**

God shields every Christian who believes in living out the Bible—and only the Bible. A new term has caught my attention: “Bible-believing Christian.” I shake my head every time I hear it because there is no other kind of Christian. If you don’t believe the Bible is the inerrant Word of God, call yourself anything you want, but don’t call yourself a Christian because that’s blasphemy and heresy.

God ordains the steps of every Christian. We need to be using what He has given us in the time that we have here on Earth. God had a reason for saving us. So when we speak up for God, He gives our words power and He infuses us with courage. Holy people love God and others and tell the truth about God to everyone.

Liberals use the argument that Jesus loved everyone so Christians should love everyone’s sins. But they’re twisting the word “love” to mean what they want it to mean. To use “love” to justify sin is the exact opposite of what Jesus taught.

It’s true that Jesus loved the world and that’s why He died for everyone to have freedom from sin—sins that God hates. Jesus didn’t go to the cross so we could keep on sinning, but that we could live a life free from sin. That’s the true loving Gospel. Sharing the love of Christ and the Gospel with someone is the most loving thing you could do. Because …

²⁶If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, ²⁷but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.–Hebrews 10:25-27

Sin is Sin Even When Our Family is Doing It

[Tweet “Sin is Sin Even When Our Family is Doing It”]

I know firsthand that one of the hardest things as a parent is to watch our children choose to sin. I wrote a book about Praying for Your Prodigal Daughter so I know the heartbreak of feeling like you can’t do anything to stop them. But you can love them and pray for them. The most unloving thing you can do is enable them by overlooking their sin, indulging their sin, or trying to convince yourself that their sin isn’t really that bad. The most loving thing you can do is love them unconditionally, but don’t love their sin and help them turn their eyes to Jesus. Never give up on that quest!

Remember, every murderer is someone’s child, but that doesn’t make murder OK. Every alcoholic is someone’s child, but alcoholism is wrong. Every thief has parents, but stealing is a sin. If your child is indulging in alternate lifestyles, having sex outside of marriage, or experimenting with any transgenderism or homosexuality—it’s all sin. God doesn’t make any mistakes. He made girls as girls and boys as boys and he created girls to fall in love with boys, get married, and then have sex. The most loving thing you can do for your sinning child is to pray for him or her to seek Jesus, ask for forgiveness, change their sinful ways, and live a righteous life.

It’s painful and it takes courage, but my daughter is so glad that I loved her so much that I never gave up praying for her and today that’s our testimony together.

**Christianity is the Only All Inclusive Faith**

[Tweet “Christianity is the Only All Inclusive Faith”]

When the world says that Christians are “exclusive” that only shows ignorance of Christianity, the most “inclusive” religion in the world. Jesus is available to everyone. He died for everyone, but sadly, not everyone will accept His loving free invitation to eternal life with Him.

I leave you with a scenario that says it better than I can:

A young boyfriend and girlfriend were in a tragic accident and died. They’re looking down on the scene:

Girl to boy: “I have to leave you now.”
Boy: “I want to go with you wherever you’re going.”
Girl: “I’m going to be with God, but you didn’t accept him so you can’t come with me.”

Boy: “Did you know this?”

Girl: “Yes …”

Boy: “Then why didn’t you tell me?”
Girl: “I was afraid I would lose you.”

Who are you afraid of losing here on Earth, who someday you’ll have to say goodbye to forever? Don’t be ashamed to share the Gospel. Someone’s eternal life depends on it.

[Tweet “Don’t be ashamed to share the Gospel. Someone’s eternal life depends on it.”]

I derived parts of this blog from Pastor Brian Smith’s message at Crouch Community Church May 17, 2015. I wanted to say a huge “Amen” after every sentence. Thank you Pastor Brian for being a student of the Bible and preparing your congregation to be bold for Christ.

June 1, 2015

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Denzel Washington Tells New Grads: Put God First in Everything You Do!

You may have seen on the news or Facebook this past week that Denzel Washington gave a commencement speech at Dillard University in New Orleans, Louisiana. He opened his talk to the graduates with the quote in the picture above and told several humbling stories about himself, including only having a 1.7 GPA in college and his mother scolding him when he tried to take credit for his fame. She corrected him saying the prayers she and others had prayed for him led to his success:

“She said, ‘Boy, stop it right there, stop it right there, stop it right there!” he continued. “She said, ‘If you only knew how many people been praying for you.’ How many prayer groups she put together, how many prayer talks she gave, how many times she splashed me with holy water to save my sorry behind.”

Then Denzel made four points to the graduates:

[Tweet “Put God first in everything you do!” Denzel Washington”]

First: Put God first! Put God first in everything you do!

Second: Fail big … a dream without goals, is just a dream …

Third: You will never see a U-Haul behind a hearse …

Four: Say thank-you in advance for what is already yours.”

He concluded with, “Don’t aspire to make a living, aspire to make a difference.”

[Tweet “”Don’t aspire to make a living, aspire to make a difference.” Denzel Washington”]

Let’s look a moment at Denzel’s four points, which he said should be the basis for these young people’s lives as they go out into the world after college. They are the same four principles that should guide our lives too!

#1 Put God First in Everything You Do!

This commencement speech was given by an academy-award-winning actor who has always been open and vocal about his faith, and yet he has achieved stardom and recognition in a profession where God is often mocked, scorned, or discounted. Denzel Washington says that his being an actor was a gift from God. And he has used his gift for the most part wisely. I have questioned a few movies he made, but I’ve never questioned his professed faith.

I also noticed that I saw no cheap shots or ridicule of him by the media for the content of his speech. He obviously has gained respect from his colleagues and the press. It seems that Denzel has achieved this respect by never backing down about his faith, but letting his talent and God-given acting abilities speak for themselves.

[Tweet “That’s what it looks like to put God first in your life. “]

That’s what it looks like to put God first in your life. You never think about denying Christ or being embarrassed or hesitant to share your faith because it’s the most important thing in your life. When God is truly first in our life, thoughts, actions, and interactions all flow from Him. Then everything else falls into place—our family, jobs, ministry, service—all center around our relationship with God.

What does putting God first look like in your life?

[Tweet “A Dream without Goals, is Just a Dream”]

#2 A Dream without Goals, is Just a Dream

Denzel emphasized that God puts a passion or dream in your heart. That burning desire you have is God’s proof that it’s yours for the taking, but you have to claim it and act on it. Action requires setting goals to achieve your dream and discipline to act on those goals.

As an author, I often have people come up to me and tell me they’re sure they’re supposed to write a book. When I suggest some actions that would help achieve that goal, I can visibly see them pushing back. They want to write but not put in the effort it takes to achieve that dream. People also often ask if I always wanted to be an author and the truth is no I never set out to be an author. But when I felt God giving me the desire in my heart and I started taking the necessary steps, He opened one door after another. But I had to do my part and put in the time, effort, and work to set and achieve goals that would result in becoming a published author.

[Tweet ““Just because you’re doing a lot more, doesn’t mean you’re getting a lot more done!” Denzel Washington”]

Denzel pointed out that with all the techie devices we have today: “Just because you’re doing a lot more, doesn’t mean you’re getting a lot more done!” Can I hear an “Amen!”

What dreams has God given you that are waiting for you to set goals to achieve?

#3 You Will Never See a U-Haul Behind a Hearse

This is a point often made by Pastor Rick Warren. No one is taking anything with us when we die. Pastor Rick also says, “Do your given, while your livin’ so you’re knowin’ where it’s goin’. Denzel emphasized that it’s almost selfish to serve, because you the servant get such a blessing and great feeling. He was saying you’re blessed to be a blessing.

Washington also implored the graduates to try to “make a difference” during their careers, not just “make a living.”

How has God been using you to make a difference in this world?

#4 Say Thank-You in Advance for What is Already Yours

[Tweet “Put your slippers under your bed so you have to get on your knees in the morning! Denzel Washington”]

Denzel told the graduates: “I pray that you put your slippers way under your bed tonight, so that when you wake up in the morning you have to get on your knees to reach them. And while you’re down there, say thank you.”

What Makes You the Most Proud?

In a January 2008 interview with Oprah Winfrey, she asked Washington, “What makes you the most proud?” He said, “I’m careful about the word ‘proud.’ I’m happy to have read the Bible from cover to cover. I’m on my second go-round—I read one chapter a day. Right now I’m digging John. He just had dinner with Mary, and things are about to take a turn for the worse.”

Hmmm that sound like Denzel is doing just what I wrote about in last week’s blog post, “The Bread of Life–Everybody Needs It.” No matter where your life leads, you cannot thrive without the Word of God in your life daily helping you. Thank you Denzel Washington for sending these grads out into the world with the only message that ever leads to a meaningful life: Put God first in everything!

I would encourage you to watch the entire speech to the graduates. It’s only about ten minutes and you’ll be clapping and cheering right along with the graduates!

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May 18, 2015

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The Bread of Life–Every Body Needs It

Lately, bread has gotten a bad rap. Many have opted for gluten-free, wheat-free, flour-free, sugar-free sort-of-bread. Recently, my husband has had an undiagnosed mystery illness and received advice to eliminate white flour, yeast, sugar, and dairy products. Trying to find “bread” that he could eat was a challenge because my hubby wanted a sandwich or a bun for his turkey burger. At one point, he wrapped his turkey burger in a lettuce leaf, but I knew we were going to have to keep searching for “bread” that he could eat.

Bread has been the “staff of life” since the beginning of time and the foundation for the American diet. Even when money is tight, families still try to put bread on the table. As a culture, we love bread.

This is not Love Your Body Monday, so I’m not going to talk about the pros and cons of eating bread. But I do want to focus on the real Bread of Life we can’t eliminate or alter. Jesus said:

“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes has eternal life. Yes, I am the bread of life! Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness, but they all died. Anyone who eats the bread from heaven, however, will never die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh.” John 6: 47-51.

Feasting on the Bread of Life

[Tweet “Yes, Jesus is the “Bread” that provides a spiritually healthy earthly life and eternal life with Him”]

Yes, Jesus is the “Bread” that provides a spiritually healthy earthly life and eternal life with Him. But many have discounted the value of this life-giving Bread or never tasted of it. If you knew someone was starving, I know you would reach out and give him or her a loaf of bread to satisfy their physical hunger. So why not offer them the Bread of Life that will satisfy their spiritual hunger.

[Tweet “Many people today don’t realize they’re starving to death…”]

Many people today don’t realize they’re starving to death…they look well fed, drive nice cars, live in nice homes, have nice clothes, great jobs, a good family, seemingly the American dream … but that’s just what it is a dream that could be over in a moment. Nothing they can hold on to forever; certainly nothing they can take with them when they die.

Preaching to the Choir

You may be saying to yourself, OK Janet we all know this so why are you writing about it today?

Here’s why: People need the Lord—they’re starving right in front of us and we have the gift of life, but maybe we don’t know how to share it with them. It’s not quite as easy as handing someone a loaf of bread. Handing a Bible usually isn’t effective either unless we can help them understand what’s in it and why it’s life-changing.

And to be able to help them … we need to know what the Bible says ourselves.

Jesus is the Bread of Life and He is the Word made flesh:

In the beginning the Word already existed.
The Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
He existed in the beginning with God.

God created everything through him,
and nothing was created except through him.

The Word gave life to everything that was created,

and his life brought light to everyone.

The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness can never extinguish it.—John 1:1-5 NLT

We Have to Know Our Bible in Today’s Culture or We’ll Be the Ones Starving Spiritually

Today everything we as Christians believe and know to be true is coming under attack, including the Bible—especially the Bible. Many in the culture are trying to twist the Bible to mean what they want it to mean or are insisting that it doesn’t address issues of today. Of course, that means they don’t know the verse that says:

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.—Hebrew 13:8

You’ll be a casualty of the spiritual battle unfolding around us if you don’t know the only offensive weapon you have, the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God (Eph. 6:17).

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.—Hebrews 4:12

The only way to know God’s Word is to feed on it daily. Not just read it, but study the verses, know where to find them in your Bible, commit some to memory or at best a paraphrase. Mastering your Bible is not just a good idea when you have the time; it’s essential if you are to make wise, God-honoring decisions, and engage in discussions to support God’s ways for the world.

But you, friends, are well-warned. Be on guard lest you lose your footing and get swept off your feet by these lawless and loose-talking teachers. Grow in grace and understanding of our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Glory to the Master, now and forever! Yes!—2 Peter 3:17-18 The Message

Ways to Feed on the Bread of Life

Have a daily Bible reading plan and make time for it. You can’t afford not to. YouVersion.com has many choices. I like Walk Thru the Bible’s Daily Walk.
Get familiar with websites like Biblegateway.com. You can put in a word you remember from a Scripture or a phrase and it will give you a selection of Scriptures to choose from in different translations. I could not write without this free easy tool.
Take your Bible to church and engage with it during the sermon. Even if they put the Scriptures on a screen or in a handout, make notes and read them in your own Bible. Not interacting with your Bible at church is like watching someone else eat “bread” or show you pictures of “bread” or read to you about “bread” and expect it to nourish your body. After a while, you become malnourished if you don’t eat the bread yourself. You’ll become spiritually malnourished if you’re not feeding on the Bread of Life for yourself from you own Bible.
Know what the Bible says about the “hot topics” in today’s culture. For example, something I often hear is that Jesus never opposed homosexuality or gay marriage or that only the Old Testament bands homosexuality. Do you know how to counter that with the truth?
How much of what others say or you read online or on Facebook do you take as truth without running it by The Truth in your Bible? Does God’s Word substantiate the message? Most pastors will tell you not to even take their word for what they say, check it out yourself.
Know the context of a Scripture. Don’t get into a battle of Scriptures or take it out of context to make your point.

[Tweet “Some are loving their neighbors straight into hell instead of heaven. “]

For example, many today are only focusing on the Scriptures that say to “love your neighbor” but the rest of that verse is “as yourself.” “Love your neighbor as yourself?” Do you love your sin? Do you love yourself even more when you’re sinning? Of course not, so why love your neighbor’s sin? Some are loving their neighbors to death instead of eternal life–into hell instead of heaven. Those are the only two options when we die.

[Tweet “Do you love your sin? Do you love yourself even more when you’re sinning? Of course not, so why love your neighbor’s sin?”]

Aren’t you glad you’ve been forgiven and by grace can go to Jesus for forgiveness of your sins and have eternal life with Him? The way to love your neighbor as yourself is to love them enough to share with them what you, yourself have found, freedom from the grip of Satan through a relationship with Christ.

[Tweet “One of the devil’s tricks is to stop you from digging into your Bible and hiding it away in your heart.”]

I leave you with this thought: One of the devil’s tricks is to stop you from digging into your Bible and hiding it away in your heart. Satan knows that if you’re equipped with the Word of God in your heart and mind, he doesn’t have a chance of making headway in your life. But the reverse is true too—if you don’t know your Bible, you’re easy prey for Satan.

[Tweet “If you don’t know your Bible, you’re Satan’s easy prey.”]

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May 11, 2015

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Keys to Overcome the Troubles of this World

You may remember that today’s guest wrote a post in January, Love Your Body with a Healthy Heart. If you haven’t read that yet, you’ll want to do that right away. It’s so important to take care of our physical heart. Today Pamela Christian talks about how to have a spiritually healthy heart. Leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of Examine Your Faith.

Everywhere I go I find people who are barely holding on. The heavy burdens of their personal life circumstances weigh them down. Many of these precious people claim to be believers in Jesus Christ—the one whose very life, death and resurrection was given so that those who believe could have life and life more abundantly, (John 10:10). Jesus was very clear that in this life we will have troubles, but we are to take heart because He has overcome the world, (John 16:33). Why don’t we see more Christians exemplifying the victorious life Christ died to provide us?

God’s Love is Unconditional but His Promises Aren’t

[Tweet “God’s Love is Unconditional but His Promises Aren’t”]

Several years ago, through no error of our own, when my husband and I suffered the loss of all our material assets except our furniture, clothing, and one car, I learned a valuable lesson about God’s love and promises.

[Tweet “God’s love is unconditional and eternal. “]

God’s love is unconditional and eternal. We can’t do anything to earn it or stop it. God’s love is ever-present. However, God’s promises are a different matter. There are conditions of faith that we must meet before we can lay any claim to God’s promises.

Think about it: The Bible is very clear that God longs for everyone to come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. But only those who place their faith in Jesus—the Son of God and promised Redeemer—will be saved. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life,” (John3:16). The promise is eternal life. The condition to receive the promise is to believe in Jesus.

[Tweet “The Bible is very clear that God longs for everyone to come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.”]

Faith to Live By

From what turned out to be four long years of under and unemployment, and nearly being homeless on two separate occasions, I learned a great deal about faith. It’s not enough to believe that God exists. According to the Apostle James even the demons in hell believe in God, (James 2:19). Believing that God exists and placing our faith in Him are two entirely different matters.

Faith is something I’ve spent a great amount of time studying. In part because of what God reveals in Hebrews 11:6. Many people know the first part of the verse by heart:

“And without faith is it impossible to please him [God]…” (ESV)

But consider the rest of that passage:

“…for whoever would come near to God must [necessarily] believe that He exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him [out].” (AMP)

This passage challenges us to have faith that God exists, but also to have faith in His character, will, and intentions. His revealed promises are available if we have a deep desire to know Him personally for who He is, not for what He can do. Matthew 6:25-34 is very clear that we are to seek God first and foremost, then all the things we have need of will be given unto us.

To Know God

You may recall a popular sit-com where instead of saying “blah, blah, blah” to indicate unimportant continuation of thought or conversation, the characters said “yada, yada, yada.” I found it particularly interesting that yada is a Hebrew word that means to know (Strong’s 3045). And in some applications, it means to have a deep, abiding and personally experiential knowledge, referring to intimate knowledge. This same word used in Genesis states that Adam knew his wife and she conceived (Genesis 4:1). This gives us some tremendous insight about the intimate personal spiritual relationship we can have with God the Father, through faith in the Son, by the power of the Holy Spirit.

[Tweet “You can bet that in that very dark and exceedingly difficult time in my family’s life, I did all I could to know God. “]

You can bet that in that very dark and exceedingly difficult time in my family’s life, I did all I could to know God. He was the only one who could help us out of our dire circumstances. Convinced of this, I diligently sought God. I wanted to fully take hold of Him. Strangely, the specific things we needed to remedy our situation grew dim. Most important was for me to know God.

Essential Faith

Why don’t we see more Christians exemplifying the victorious life Christ died to provide us? I contend it’s because many haven’t yet become fully convinced of His truth. As I write in Examine Your Faith! Finding Truth in a World of Lies, the first book of my Faith to Live By book series: “Well-meaning people want to believe that all roads lead to the same God and heaven. But wanting something to be true is far different from truth lining up with reality. Unless you make an intentional effort to examine what you believe and why you believe, it’s quite possible you are living your life on the basis of a lie, and don’t know it.” This book is foundational in the quest to discover and enter into the victorious life. It explores essential faith.

Effective Faith

Another reason Christians don’t live God’s gift of the abundant life is because we haven’t embraced who we are in Christ—our identity with Christ’s imputed authority and power. My second book in the series, Renew Your Hope Remedy for Personal Breakthroughs, explores how “More than ever before, most people are finding it difficult to remain optimistic about their life and their future. So much has failed—marriage, family, and personal relations, the job and economic markets, government, education and even the Church. In whom or what can we find the hope and personal breakthrough we desperately need? Clearly, there is no hope in our natural existence. There never has been. That is why Christ came to this earth in the first place!”

Excellent Faith

Faith tested through trials of adversity is strengthened faith. Such faith is born through perseverance—not magically or instantaneously appearing, but developed. As Hellen Steiner Rice wrote, “Great faith that smiles is born of great trials.” Excellent faith is the topic for my third book planned in the series, Revive Your Life! Rest for Your Anxious Heart. You may have noticed that the three books in the Faith to Live By series address, faith, hope and love—the governing attributes necessary for God’s Kingdom to occur on earth as it is in heaven.

Keys to Overcome the Troubles of this World

In our very long trial of loss, that I share in more detail in my books and when I speak, I discovered that the keys for us to overcome even the most devastating troubles of this world are found in God’s Word—the Bible.

First, it requires essential faith—a faith in Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord. It’s not enough to know about Him as Savior. He must also be your Lord.
Second, it requires effective faith—a faith in God’s declarations of who you are by faith in Christ.
Third, it requires excellent faith—a faith confident in God’s love, plan and will, that God is who He says He is and He will do what He says He will do.

With a compassionate heart, I want everyone to discover and live the same life-giving truth I’ve been blessed to find. I hope you will let my journey of discovering truth and learning to overcome even the most devastating tragedies, based on the promises of God, help you do the same. Please consider getting my books, signing up for my complimentary bi-monthly ENewsletter where there are giveaways, and following me on Twitter, Facebook and visiting and commentating on my Blog.

Leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of Examine Your Faith.

Author’s Bio

For over twenty years, coast to coast, Pamela Christian has been helping people in matters of faith. Ministry for Pam began as Teaching Director for Community Bible study, followed by speaking at retreats and conferences, coast to coast. Expanding her ministry included hosting live Christian talk-radio in two major markets and work in commercial television. Pam has a certificate in apologetics from Biola University and membership with the International Society of Women in Apologetics and Christian Women in Media. Her fervent interests are faith, family, friends, and food, so you’ll often find her dotingly planning gatherings and cooking to bring all her passions together. She and her husband live in Orange County, CA, with their two grown children and families living nearby.

April 20, 2015

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Mamas Don’t Take Your Babies to Town

A River Runs Through Garden Valley, Idaho. Picture by Megan Griffith

If you’ve been following my Monday Morning Blog, you know that I’ve had guest bloggers for the past few weeks while I was on the rode speaking in San Diego, CA and Billings, Montana. In both Southern California and Montana, we combined business with fun and visited with friends and family. I trust you enjoyed the different guest bloggers and the wide variety of topics discussed—all with the theme of mentoring from their experience and expertise.

It’s great to be home and hard at work on a new book, How Good is God? I Can’t Remember . . . Creating a Culture of Memories. If you have a story of forgetting God’s past goodness, and or ways that help you remember His goodness, please contact me for guidelines.

You might be wondering what all this has to do with the title of today’s blog . . . nothing! I just want to say “Hey” and let you know where I’ve been and what I’m up to. But now, let me share with you something that is burdening my heart and does relate to this blog title.

Election Day—The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

This past Tuesday was election day, and I know many of you rejoiced with me when you saw how the conservatives came out in force and let their voice and vote for change in our government be heard. I went to bed thanking God that so many of us took a stand to put into office those we hope will honor and abide by the conservative moral agenda.

That was the good. The bad happened in my own little rural community in our “red” state. For several months, a liberal force was stirring up interest in taking steps to change Idaho law to allow legal gaming, otherwise known as gambling, in rural *Boise County where we live. There was a question on our ballots last week asking if we were for or against this effort. Of the six cities in rural Boise County, five voted to pursue changing the law and our little town of Garden Valley was one of the five. Only 220 votes differed in the total county vote, but enough to give the commissioners incentive to move forward.

As Dave and I traveled through Montana, a state that God created with such beauty and majesty where Dave and I almost moved, we again were saddened at how such an amazing state allowed the marring of its gorgeous landscape by garish and grotesque casino signs and billboards. Returning home, we now discover that our quiet picturesque community with a river running through it might suffer the same ill fate. Here is a picture of our precious town and the surrounding area. What do you think that’s going to look like with a glaring casino sign? Ugly!

God’s Beautiful Creation!

The Center of Town in Garden Valley, ID is Crouch

Does this look like a good fit for our little town? Naught!

But it’s not just the marring of God’s creation that’s heartbreaking; it’s the moral degradation that accompanies gambling. They don’t call Las Vegas “sin city” for nothing or coin the term “what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.” No, God sees all the drinking, smoking, loss of money, drugs, prostitution, vulgarity, and debauchery that takes place on the strip.

And here’s the saddest part—Satan loves to make sin look enticing, fun, and justifiable so why not make an area of sin—the Las Vegas strip—a “family fun place” where you can bring the kids. Who could find fault with water slides, carrousels, and play areas? Except their surrounded by smoke, excessive drinking, gambling and loss of money, corruption, and risqué shows. It’s like taking a family vacation in Sodom and Gomorrah and we know what God thought about that city.

Or try to justify that gambling and lotteries will bring in money for schools. Really? That’s how we want to fund our schools? There’s no right way to do the wrong thing! And believe me, the owners of these casinos make far more money than a school will ever see.

The Purpose of Gambling is to Make Losers

[Tweet “The Purpose of Gambling is to Make Losers”]

Don’t gamble on the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, hocking your house against a lucky chance. The time will come when you have to pay up; you’ll be left with nothing but the shirt on your back.

Proverbs 22:26-27 The Message

So back to our little town. The whole purpose of gambling is for the casino to make money—and the gambler to lose. Those big casino owners and backers are not philanthropist wanting to help the community and economy. They are business people wanting to make their fortune off all those gamblers sitting in casinos with blank looks on their faces feeding the slot machines or throwing down chips that represent their family’s sustenance.

Drinking, drugs, robbery, and crime accompany gambling when people lose money, which they will, and get angry or depressed and take it out on those around them or become a danger on the road when they get in their cars drunk, mad, and desperate. The adrenalin that flows during games of chance, gambling, quickly leads to addiction. Our quiet little town has all the potential to be inundated with, as the newspaper put it—a degradation of moral character.

[Tweet “The adrenalin that flows during games of chance, gambling, quickly leads to addiction.”]

**The Christian Perspective

The Bible calls for Christians to be good stewards of the finances that God has given us. Funding casinos is not being good stewards or storing up treasures in heaven. I don’t think a Christian would want to be sitting at a blackjack, craps, or poker table or a slot machine when Jesus returns.

[Tweet “A Christian would not want to be sitting at a blackjack, craps, or poker table or a slot machine when Jesus returns.”]

¹⁹“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

²²“Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light. ²³But when your eye is bad, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!

²⁴“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

⁸And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. ⁹Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.Matthew 6:19-24 NLT

Some might say, “Oh we go to Vegas, but we never gamble.” Every dime spent there is funding all that happens there. “We must act all the time as if it were day. Keep away from wild parties and do not be drunk. Keep yourself free from sex sins and bad actions” (Romans 13:13 NLV).

Or “It’s just entertainment with discretionary funds.” How could it be entertaining to throw money away with nothing to show for it? I would advise Christians with that kind of discretionary “throw away money” to consider sponsoring a child through a Christian organization like World Vision or helping your church building fund or giving your pastor a bonus. Store up your treasures in heaven.

¹⁷If a bird sees a trap being set,
it knows to stay away.
¹⁸But these people set an ambush for themselves;
they are trying to get themselves killed.
¹⁹Such is the fate of all who are greedy for money;
it robs them of life.Proverbs 1:17-19 (NLT)

[Tweet “Titus 2 men and women, should help the next generation learn to live a righteous and godly life and model that type of lifestyle.”]

Your job is to speak out on the things that make for solid doctrine. Guide older men into lives of temperance, dignity, and wisdom, into healthy faith, love, and endurance. Guide older women into lives of reverence so they end up as neither gossips nor drunks, but models of goodness. By looking at them, the younger women will know how to love their husbands and children, be virtuous and pure, keep a good house, be good wives. We don’t want anyone looking down on God’s Message because of their behavior. Also, guide the young men to live disciplined lives. (Titus 2:1-6, The Message)

Please pray for Garden Valley Idaho. There are still many more steps to change the laws of Idaho to legalize gambling in Boise County, and Garden Valley could opt out even if it passes. Pray that the 50 voters that exceeded the “nay” votes in Garden Valley open their eyes to the travesty this would be for our precious little town. Pray that some would come to know Jesus through the many discussions that will ensue. Pray for spiritual and physical protection for those of us who oppose legalized gambling in Boise County.

Pray for Las Vegas, the Christians who live there, and those who are ministering to the many lost souls on the strip.

Pray for those of us who live in Boise County and want to maintain the peaceful quality of life that drew us to this pristine paradise where we feel safe bringing our babies and grandbabies to town!

*Note: The city of Boise is in Ada County and is not in Boise County. Boise County is comprised of rural: Idaho City, Placerville, Garden Valley, Horseshoe Bend, Lowman, and Mores Creek.

**To read more on a Christan Perspective of gambling, here are two links or do a Google search:

http://www.gty.org/blog/B110522/is-gambling-ok-dont-bet-on-it
http://ag.org/top/Beliefs/position_papers/pp_downloads/pp_4186_gambling.pdf

Also consider that it was the Roman soldiers–Jesus’ killers–who gambled for his clothes, not His followers . . .

November 10, 2014

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Is Your Soul At Rest?

Our “Cabin” for Crouch Community Church Women’s Retreat

This past weekend our church had its annual women’s retreat in the beautiful setting of McCall, Idaho. We stayed in a retreat cabin on the lake and the weather was spectacular! We enjoyed early morning walks, kayaking, amazing meals out on the deck overlooking the lake, skits, karaoke, making new friends, and all the “slumber party” things we girls love to do.

But mostly we fellowshipped together, enjoyed worship time, the teaching of our speaker Phyllis Cook, and a Sunday morning devotional led by new friend, Athena Crowley. What a treat it was for me to just “be” and not have any specific role except to enjoy and refresh. I prayed that God would give me divine appointments and something to share with you today.

God is so faithful!

Divine Appointments

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Have you ever prayed for divine appointments? I think God loves it when we do because He can really show up big time and He gets all the glory. I’ve written before about praying for divine appointments and how God has answered them for me in amazing ways and He didn’t disappoint this weekend:

1. The retreat speaker, Phyllis Cook, and I had never met so when we started talking she asked my name. When I said “Janet Thompson,” her face lit up in recognition, “I have one of your books.” She went on to explain that while a friend of hers from Israel was visiting, she wanted to buy Phyllis a book for her ministry at Meridian First Baptist Church where Phyllis’ husband pastors. Phyllis and her friend went to the local Christian bookstore and the friend chose my book The Team That Jesus Built and bought it for Phyllis. Phyllis and I marveled that God brought us together and we took this picture for Phyllis to send to her friend in Israel.

Retreat speaker Phyllis Cook and me looking straight into the bright beautiful morning sun!

2. I felt God impressing on me to speak to a woman at the retreat, but I couldn’t find the appropriate time. The last morning, I said, God if You want me to do this You’re going to have to intervene. He did!

3. Our last meal, I sat next to a woman I had not met. We started chatting and I learned that she and her husband had just moved to Garden Valley in the summer. She heard about the retreat when they visited our church and decided to come. I invited her to our couples Bible study group and she was excited for them to join us.

4. I loved the gluten-free, honey, organic, pumpkin muffins that were on the snack table. Someone said that “Athena” made them. I had not met Athena, but as we started talking, she said, “Oh, you’re the author I was told to meet. Could I talk to you over dinner and discuss the book I’m writing?” We enjoyed a dinner of great food and “author” conversation.

Athena Crowley and me

Finding Rest for Your Soul

When I called home Friday night, hubby prayed that I would have a time of rest and refueling as I prepare for a very busy fall of speaking and writing.

In God’s perfect providence, Phyllis Cook, our retreat speaker, chose Matthew 11:28-30 as her topic for the weekend:

²⁸“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

The first night she talked about verse 28 as God’s invitation to rest, refreshment, and peace. Ahhh just what my husband had been praying for me.

The next morning, she helped us focus on verse 29 to find inner peace from Jesus’ example of gentleness, humbleness, forgiveness, and a servant attitude.

Her last session explored the paradox of taking on a yoke to find rest! Phyllis pointed out that Jesus’ yoke of humility is far lighter than trying to bear the yoke of pride and all of its manifestations.

[Tweet “Jesus’ yoke of humility is far lighter than trying to bear the yoke of pride and all of its manifestations.”]

Phyllis had us look at the yoke of pride. Are any of these weighing you down?

Complaining against God
Lack of gratitude
Anger, moodiness, impatience, rudeness
Perfectionism
Talking too much about yourself
Seeking independence or control—my way
Devastated by criticism
Defensiveness or blame-shifting
Not having close relationships
Competitiveness that always has to win or be first (I added to this to the her list)
Can you think of more?

Here’s how Phyllis explained Jesus’ yoke of humility. Do you see why it’s light?

Trusting God’s character
Not questioning God
Focus on Christ
Lots of prayer
Thankfulness
Willing to wait, long suffering
Good listener
Serving
Teachable spirit
Repentance, asking forgiveness
Close-relationships
Letting others win or go first (I added this to her list)
Can you think of more?

I was at peace all weekend and felt an incredible sense of rest in my soul and my spirit. Even when my mind wandered to all I had to do when I returned home . . . including writing this blog . . . I couldn’t conjure up a single moment of anxiety!

Arise and Go About His Work

My soul being at rest does not mean it’s time to stop speaking and writing. Contraire! It means I continue on About His Work with renewed energy and focus. Our Sunday morning devotional by Athena Crowley, the sweet woman I mentioned above who made the delicious pumpkin muffins, confirmed God’s call on my life . . . but this was not just a call to me. This was a call to every Christian!

Athena read Song of Solomon 2:10-13

My beloved spoke and said to me,
“Arise, my darling,
my beautiful one, come with me.
¹¹See! The winter is past;
the rains are over and gone.
¹²Flowers appear on the earth;
the season of singing has come,
the cooing of doves
is heard in our land.
¹³The fig tree forms its early fruit;
the blossoming vines spread their fragrance.
Arise, come, my darling;
my beautiful one, come with me.”

From this passage, Athena shared that we are to arise from our “winters” of:

Apathy
Depression
Our Own Interests

Because it’s springtime in our souls! God is calling His people into into a closer relationship with Him so that we can go out and share the light of His glory to others who need more of Him in their life . . . or don’t yet know Him.

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The world is full of so many who are stumbling in darkness. God calls every Christian to be His flashlight to help the lost find their way into the light of His glory. If our light is going to shine brightly, we need to refresh, renew, and refuel!

Is your soul at rest?

Can you choose humility over pride?

Are you ready to arise and be God’s flashlight?

If yes, then start praying now for those divine appointments where God will use you in a lost and lonely world.

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

September 15, 2014

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A Glimmer of Hope for Your Prodigal

“Moms, you know how it feels when you see any glimmer of hope in your prodigal.” —A praying mom

Moms of prodigals will identify with that glimmer of hope. I know I did.

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Praying Mother Alice’s Story

I recently received an email from a mom who had shared her story in Praying for Your Prodigal Daughter: Hope, Help, & Encouragement for Hurting Parents. On page 178 in the chapter “Confronting Our Own Mistakes,” Alice said:

*My daughter, Liz, has chosen to cut off her relationship with me. I made many wrong choices that hurt her. I’m so sorry and have apologized many times, but Liz refused to forgive me. I’m saddened by the wall she’s built to protect herself from being hurt emotionally again.

My guilt over Liz plagued me; I felt captive by her refusal to forgive me. I’ve beaten myself up for not being the perfect mother and not saying or doing the right things. Truth is I make mistakes all the time. I hurt people—not intentionally—but it happens when I’m thinking of myself and not of how my words and actions affect others. With God’s help, I’m working on changing that part of my character. In the meantime, I continue praying that God will soften Liz’s heart so she’ll be able to forgive me and any other person who has hurt her.—Alice

Alice sent me her heartbreaking story of the estrangement from her daughter eight years ago. I know many who identify with her pain and regret and the deep desire to restore her relationship with her daughter and to receive her daughter’s forgiveness.

Last week, I received an email from Alice with the subject line: Update on Prodigal Daughter “Liz.” Following is Alice’s update shared with her permission. I hope Alice’s openness and vulnerability encourages those of you who are still praying for a reunion with your prodigal.

The separation started 27 years ago when my “prodigal daughter” had completed college. She didn’t need my financial support or close personal connection anymore.

The separation gap widened four years ago when Liz told me she needed a break!

The break I imagined was time for her to sort things out that were plaguing her: divorce negotiations that dragged on, the decline of her dietician business with fewer clients, stress of raising a son as a single mom, and then there was “me.” I was the mother she felt was not there for her as a teenager when she was having major issues with her stepfather. It turned out that Liz wanted a permanent “break” from me.

My heart ached to see her and talk to her. That wasn’t an option open to me. What I could do during these past four years was to pray and wait until my daughter was ready to connect again. I prayed for a softening of Liz’s heart. I also prayed God would help me understand why my middle daughter wanted no part of my life.

As I wrote in my journal recently, I asked the LORD to give me a better understanding of what I was dealing with. He answered me with a clear example of my daughter as a person encased in ice—unable to move, feel love, or reach out for help. Liz was stuck in a frozen place where anger, resentments, and bitterness imbedded her mind and heart. She could not free herself.

[Tweet “I asked the LORD to give me a better understanding of what I was dealing with my prodigal.”]

My son sensed my pain of rejection and separation from Liz. Out of his compassion for me and the desire to have his nephew, Bobby, know his grandmother, he arranged a luncheon meeting at a restaurant this month to celebrate my 76^th birthday. As the date grew closer, I prayed more intently that I would keep the attention on my daughter, her son, and my other two grown children who were to attend. I wanted to let our get-together be all about them—not me.

On the day of the family meeting, I brought peace offerings. I baked my grandson’s favorite Christmas cookies and took several pages from a photo album that had elementary school pictures of my three children when they were Bobby’s age. It turned out to be an “ice-breaker.”

As we met, my heart pounded then rejoiced when Liz was friendly toward me and open to conversation. After lunch, as Liz and I made our way to the restroom, she said that her son, Bobby, wanted to see me more and she was sorry that it had not happened before. She invited me to come to her home this coming Christmas for a few days to bake cookies with her son. Words eluded me but my heart sang for joy.

It took my prayers, the efforts of my only son, and the desire of Liz’s little boy—my grandson—to spend time with me that brought about a change of Liz’s heart. “And a little child will lead them.” Isaiah 11:6

Never Stop Praying

You’ve heard me say it before, and I know it’s so hard to do when your heart is breaking and you don’t see any change in the situation, but never stop praying for your prodigal. Alice prayed for 27 years. I prayed for six years for my prodigal. Previous blogs from prodigal Alycia Neighbours related how long her parents prayed for her return: Never Stop Praying for Your Prodigal! and After the Party for the Returning Prodigal.

[Tweet “Many times prayer is the only thing you can do when everything else is out of your control.”]

As Alice said above, many times prayer is the only thing you can do when everything else is out of your control. In the chapter on Praying Biblically in Praying for Your Prodigal Daughter, Alice told how she prayed scripturally for her daughter, which is how I also prayed for my daughter. It’s simply personalizing and paraphrasing God’s Word as a prayer back to Him (See 40 Days of Praying Scripture for Your Prodigal on page 313). Here’s how Alice said she prayed Scripture:

*I’ve learned to pray for my daughter by praying back the Scriptures to God. For example, I pray Ezekiel 36:27-29 for Liz’s heart to soften and for her to return home: “God, give my daughter Liz a heart of flesh to replace her heart of stone toward spiritual things. Through Your Spirit, move her to follow Your decrees and carefully keep Your laws. Help Liz to return home. Allow her to live in the land You, God, gave to her spiritual forefathers; may she be Your child, may You be her God. Save her from all her uncleanness.”

What has helped you maintain a “glimmer of hope” while waiting for your prodigal to return?

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*Excerpts from Praying for Your Prodigal Daughter: Hope, Help, and Encouragement for Hurting Parents.

August 18, 2014

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PREFACE

No Weapon Formed Against Us Can Prosper

Do You Have a War Room?

We Have the Same Power!

The Christian World is Not Shrinking

There’s Only One Kind of Christian

Sin is Sin Even When Our Family is Doing It

Christianity is the Only All Inclusive Faith

#1 Put God First in Everything You Do!

#2 A Dream without Goals, is Just a Dream

#3 You Will Never See a U-Haul Behind a Hearse

#4 Say Thank-You in Advance for What is Already Yours

What Makes You the Most Proud?

Feasting on the Bread of Life

Preaching to the Choir

Jesus is the Bread of Life and He is the Word made flesh:

We Have to Know Our Bible in Today’s Culture or We’ll Be the Ones Starving Spiritually

Ways to Feed on the Bread of Life

God’s Love is Unconditional but His Promises Aren’t

Faith to Live By

To Know God

Essential Faith

Effective Faith

Excellent Faith

Keys to Overcome the Troubles of this World

Election Day—The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

The Purpose of Gambling is to Make Losers

**The Christian Perspective

Divine Appointments

Finding Rest for Your Soul

Arise and Go About His Work

Praying Mother Alice’s Story

Never Stop Praying

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