Woman to Woman Mentoring — Woman to Woman Mentoring

Why God Created Fathers and Two Grieving Fathers!

Next Sunday is Father’s Day when we honor fathers, stepfathers, grandfathers, great grandfathers and maybe men who have been like a father to us. I’ve observed that sometimes we make more of a celebration on Mother’s Day than Father’s Day. Does that happen in your family?

Sadly, many families are fatherless and Father’s Day can be a painful time. More than 20 million children live in a home without the physical presence of a father. Millions more have dads who are physically present, but emotionally absent. It’s been said that if classified as a disease, fatherlessness would be an epidemic worthy of attention as a national emergency.

My father was a California Highway Patrolman killed with his own gun when I was ten. My mother never remarried, so Father’s Day was always tough for me growing up. But I divorced when my own daughter was only two-years-old and I didn’t remarry until she was nineteen and headed for college. So both of us were raised in single parent households without a father. We were one of the statistics.

God’s Plan for Fathers in Families

Spiritual and Emotional Purpose

Fathers are created and commanded to share God’s love with their children, offering care, guidance, and protection from harm while helping children navigate life’s choices and challenges. They serve as a living example of God’s authority, provision, and protection, showing children how to balance strength with gentleness.

Fathers should be the first heroes a child knows, influencing their emotional, moral, and spiritual development.

My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights. Pr. 3:11-12

To Reflect God’s Character

God is described as the perfect Father —a loving, merciful, just, and faithful disciplinarian. Fathers on earth are called to imitate this love and discipline, showing patience, kindness, and correction that builds character imitating God’s character.

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? ⁸If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. ⁹Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! ¹⁰They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. ¹¹No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Heb. 12:7-11

Practical and Relational Roles

God envisioned fathers to be providers and protectors, performing both practical and nurturing tasks. They’re expected to care for the family, make important decisions, and support their children in everyday life—from teaching skills to offering comfort and encouragement. Their presence helps children feel secure and valued, while their guidance and measured discipline shapes character and resilience.

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Eph. 6:4

Identity and Development

Fathers play a crucial role in helping children understand their identity, particularly in terms of gender and personal development. Boys often look to their fathers for a model of masculinity, while girls rely on fathers to affirm their femininity and sense of self. This influence helps children grow into confident, well-rounded individuals secure in how God created them.

If we had more fathers taking on this role in their families, there would be far less identity and gender confusion among children.

The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him. Pr. 23:24

Biblical and Kingdom Perspective

From a biblical standpoint, God calls men to fatherhood as part of His plan for building and managing a family, reflecting His kingdom principles on Earth. Fatherhood is a responsibility that mirrors God’s governance, teaching men to lead, nurture, and cultivate a loving household while preparing their children for life and spiritual growth. Raising children to be progressively independent of their parents and permanently dependent on God.

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. Pr. 22:6

Summary

In essence, God made fathers to protect, provide, guide, discipline, and inspire, combining strength with love, authority and discipline with care, and practical support with emotional presence. Fathers should be a role model in the family, shaping children’s lives and reflecting God’s character in tangible ways that children can follow in their own lives.

Specifically to boys fathers are created to be the role model of masculinity, leadership, and spiritual as well as physical strength. A father of girls is to be the role model of the kind of husband she should one day seek who treats her with kindness, respect, and reflects godly life principles.
As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him. Ps. 103:13

The Father of Lies!

Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. ⁴⁴You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. ⁴⁵Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! John 8:43-45

I described earlier the ideal plan God had for fathers and families. But because of the fall when sin and evil entered the world in the Garden of Eden, our culture often follows Satan the father of lies resulting in abusive, abandoning, or absent fathers.

Maybe you had a father like that and it’s hard to think of God as a Heavenly Father. Please know that God is a loving caring Father who wants to help you carry your burdens.

God is Our Heavenly Father

The Bible Wisdom Hub has a great discussion of God, the Father, in the Bible. Here’s an overview and would make a great Bible study.

The term “Father” is mentioned numerous times throughout the Bible, carrying various meanings and connotations depending on the context in which it is used. In the Old Testament, “Father” often refers to God as the creator and sustainer of all things, emphasizing His authority, care, and love for His people. The paternal imagery is particularly prominent in the Psalms and the Prophetic books, where God is portrayed as a caring and protective Father to His chosen people.

In the New Testament, the term “Father” takes on a new dimension with the introduction of Jesus as the Son of God. Jesus frequently addresses God as “Father” in his teachings and prayers, highlighting the intimate relationship between believers and their heavenly Father. This relational aspect of God as Father is central to Christian faith, emphasizing the idea of God’s paternal love, mercy, and provision for His children.

The concept of God as Father is further developed in the writings of the apostles, particularly in the letters of Paul and John. Paul speaks of believers being adopted as sons and daughters of God through faith in Christ, emphasizing the spiritual kinship and inheritance that Christians have as children of God. John, in his Gospel and epistles, emphasizes the Father’s love for His children and the importance of living in harmony with God’s will as obedient children.

In the New Testament alone, Jesus referred to God as “Father” around 165 times. This emphasizes the importance of the father-son relationship between Jesus and God in Christian theology. The term “Father” is mentioned over 1536 times in the Old Testament, reflecting the significance of this relational aspect of God’s identity and His role in the lives of believers.

Whether as the Creator and sustainer of all things in the Old Testament or as the loving and merciful Father in the New Testament, the concept of God as Father serves as a foundational theme throughout the biblical narrative, shaping the understanding of God’s character and the believer’s identity as His children.

Overall, the theme of God as a loving and caring father is prevalent throughout the Bible, emphasizing the intimate relationship between God and His people.

My Earthly and Heavenly Father

In the opening, I mentioned that my beloved father was murdered. The next year, I was invited to a church youth camp where the Pastor’s wife and my camp counselor sat on my cot and said, “We know you’ve lost your earthly father. Would you like a Heavenly Father who will never leave you or forsake you?” They helped me work through my grief and brought something good out of tragedy as I accepted the LORD as my Savior. After all these years, I can still remember that moment of God becoming my Heavenly Father.

I pray that when I go to heaven, I will again be reunited with my earthly father, but I am so grateful that my Heavenly Father watches over me and guides me through my mistakes and victories, heartaches and celebrations, and literally led me to the godly man I married 33 years ago who became a stepfather to my daughter.

One of our grandsons had personalized bookmarks at every place setting at his wedding. On my husband’s bookmark our grandson wrote, “You must’ve been a great father to raise my awesome dad!”

Two Grieving Father’s Stories!

“𝘈𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯 𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥, 𝘐’𝘮 𝘰𝘬𝘢𝘺. 𝘐𝘵 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘮𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘦. 𝘋𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘵. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘮𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘦.”

Jeff Metcalf, father of Austin and his identical twin Hunter, spoke publicly after Karmelo Anthony was convicted of stabbing Austin to death at a Frisco, Texas track meet in April 2025. Austin was 17. What Metcalf said in the interview was not about the sentence or the verdict.

𝐈𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐤𝐞𝐩𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞.

Almost a decade ago, Jeff Metcalf was diagnosed with cancer. Doctors did not expect him to survive. “𝘛𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘺𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘭𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘨𝘰. 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘮𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘺, 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪g𝘩𝘵. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘺𝘴, 𝘐 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘤𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘨𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘯.”

𝐇𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐢𝐭. 𝐇𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐝. 𝐇𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐝𝐨𝐦, 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰, 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝.

At a press conference after the murder, Austin’s dad tried to extend a Christian olive branch to the Anthony’s to say he forgave Karmelo and offered to pray with the family, but the Anthonys had the police remove him. The person who lost his son was then harassed, swatted 6 times, and the victim of DARVO, Deny Accuse Reverse Victim and Offender.

Watch this Christian father, Jeff Metcalf, speak to Rob Schmitt on Newsmax after the trial and contrast him with how the father of Karmelo Anthony is reacting.

Here is wise advice from a black man to black fathers, but it applies to every father and parent…

“Dear Black Americans wondering what to tell your sons after what happened to Karmelo Anthony:

This is what you tell them:

Do not be like Karmelo Anthony.

Do not bring a knife to school.

Do not bring a knife to a track meet.

Do not fight at school.

Do not bully, threaten, or provoke other students.

Stay out of trouble and walk away when you can.

Teach your sons to respect people of every race. Do not teach them to hate white people because of their skin color or because of things that happened in the past that today’s white children had nothing to do with.

Teach them self-control, accountability, and the value of human life. Being angry does not give anyone the right to pull out a weapon.

A school fight should never end with one child dead and another spending years behind bars.

Stop making excuses after tragedy happens. Start teaching our children how to avoid the tragedy in the first place.”—Terrence K. Williams, black comedian being quite serious.

One father will be visiting his son’s grave on Father’s Day, and one father will be visiting his son in jail. It didn’t have to be this way.

“The world needs more kind people in it. And if you can’t find one, then be one.” Jeff Metcalf

PS: There won’t be a Monday Morning blog next week as I’ll be spending time with our son who is coming to visit us for Father’s Day. Have a blessed Father’s Day. Remember to honor and celebrate your Heavenly Father EVERYDAY!

Please leave a comment here and I’ll reply.

June 15, 2026

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Easter Is the Perfect Time to Share Your Testimony!

As I was thinking about how to honor Jesus this Holy Week prior to Easter, the Lord clearly told me it’s by encouraging my readers to not only share the reason for Easter, but also what Easter means to each of us personally. Our born-again testimony.

¹⁰Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens,

“It has come at last—
    salvation and power
and the Kingdom of our God,
    and the authority of his Christ.
For the accuser of our brothers and sisters
    has been thrown down to earth—
the one who accuses them
    before our God day and night.
¹¹And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb
    and by their testimony.
And they did not love their lives so much
    that they were afraid to die. Revelation 12:10-11

Ten times in the Book of Revelation, John refers to the importance and power of our testimony. In 1 John 5:11, John explains our testimony: “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.”

I have some questions for you to consider . . .

–When was the last time you shared your testimony?

–How did surrendering your life to Jesus change your life?

–What’s your born-again experience?

–What sets our faith in Jesus Christ apart from any other religion in the world?

–What does the cross and resurrection mean to each of you personally?

Why Must You Be Born Again to Become a Christian?

Jesus said to Nicodemus, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”

“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”

⁵Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. ⁶Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. ⁷You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ ⁸The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

⁹“How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.

¹⁰“You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? ¹¹Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony.” John 3:3-10

¹¹Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. ¹²I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? ¹³No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. ¹⁴Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, ¹⁵that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” John 3:11-15.

Next, we have the verse so many of us have memorized since childhood.

¹⁶For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. ¹⁸Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. John 3:16-18

Those of us who are born again can become complacent about the power of our testimony. As Revelation 2:4 warns, we’ve forgotten our first love when we were so excited to tell everyone about the most important thing that’s ever happened in our life. Yes, above marriage, becoming parents, fame, fortune, position, possessions . . . Nothing compares to salvation and eternal life. Yet, it’s often our best-kept secret.

Just like Nicodemus, people may find it hard to believe our born-again testimony, but it should never mean we don’t tell it anyway. It also means that everyone who calls themselves a Christian must have a testimony.

–No one is a Christian since birth.

–No one becomes a Christian because they were born into a Christian home or had Christian parents.

–Being baptized doesn’t make you a Christian.

–Going to church every Sunday, doesn’t make you a Christian.

–Serving in Christian ministry, singing in the choir, fasting, reading the Bible every day, while all good things, does NOT make you a Christian.

–Believing in Jesus doesn’t make you a Christian. Even Satan believes in Jesus.

—Becoming a Christian means being born-again.

—Accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior believing that He died on the Cross and rose in three days to offer eternal life to everyone who believes and asks for forgiveness of their sins is a free will spiritual act of surrender, repentance, and forgiveness that only Jesus offers. No one can make this decision for you, and no one can force you to make it.

–Becoming a Christian is between the Lord and you.

—When you surrender your life and heart to Jesus, the Holy Spirit comes into your heart, mind, and soul. You’re supernaturally born again!

You might’ve asked Jesus to come into your heart in the silence of your home or in a stadium full of people. Maybe praying for salvation in church or with a relative, friend or mentor, or watching a sermon on television or reading a tract or the Bible. It doesn’t matter where you are or whether someone led you in a prayer.

For some people this is a quiet sacred moment, and others feel the ground moving under their feet. Some will weep. Some will laugh. Some may break out into song. Some know a change took place, but there wasn’t lightening or a noticeable outward sign, it was all within your spirit. That’s because God made us each unique with different personalities and responses, but every Christian has a testimony of accepting Jesus’ free invitation of salvation.

⁵Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

⁶Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ⁷If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” John 14:5-6

My Born Again Testimony

Every time I speak at a conference or women’s retreat, I share my testimony. I also have “My Testimony” on my website with the heading “Born Again” and a picture of the summer camp I was at when I gave my life to Christ.

Like many of you, I also experienced backsliding years. I share that story on my website also and in many of my books of rededicating my life to Christ and being called into full-time ministry and writing.

Share Your Story—Make It Your Testimony

In Forsaken God? Remembering the Goodness of God Our Culture Has Forgotten, I stress the importance of remembering and sharing our testimony. Here are a few excerpts from chapter Twenty-Three, “Remember His Commission.”

“Your spiritual journey is your testimony that describes your life before you turned it over—or returned—to God and how you’ve transformed into a new creation in Christ.”

“You may not think you have a testimony if you’ve been a Christian most of your life and life has gone smoothly for you. Well, that smooth life didn’t just happen. God has been walking beside you guiding your life every step of the way. That’s your testimony to others who worry about losing something by turning their lives over to God. You are a living example of how good God really is!

But if you have a hidden past you’ve been too embarrassed to talk about, now is the time to deal with those buried hurts and hang-ups. . . God can use every experience for good, but not if we don’t let him. The Bible tells us “the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23), so hidden sin holds us in a death grip that silently destroys us spiritually, and often physically, from the inside out. Exposed sin loses its power. We don’t have to waste energy and emotion worrying about others discovering our past. We can ‘thank God we’ve started listening to a new master, one whose commands set us free to live openly in his freedom’ (personalized from Rom. 6:18 The Message).

Think back to an experience where you know it had to be God who rescued you and how you might make that a testimony of his goodness . . .Every time you give God the glory for something in your life, you testify to God’s goodness. Your salvation testimony shares your life before Jesus, how he changed your heart, and how he spiritually saved your life. God has given you a story to share for his glory, so seize every opportunity to praise him and encourage others. I like this saying: sometimes God redeems your story by surrounding you with people who need to hear your past so it doesn’t become their future. When we don’t share our story, we don’t share his story.

You must be willing to share how God helped you through difficult times, and that requires vulnerability, approachability, and responsibility. It’s your witness to his faithfulness. It’s the opportunity to give purpose to a crisis. Otherwise, you might spend your life feeling sorry for yourself—living as a victim instead of victorious. Revealing is the first step to healing.

Your story becomes your testimony when the focus is on God and not on you. Don’t tell graphic details of anything to make someone else or you uncomfortable. It’s not a tell-all, and it’s not a time to tell someone else’s story. Stick to details that pertain to you. Don’t dramatize how bad you were; characterize how good God is!

If you haven’t written out your spiritual testimony here are some tips. Think of it in five parts:

Your life before Jesus.
How, when, why you realized you needed a Savior.
Making the commitment, or recommitment, and surrendering your life to Jesus.
The change in your life since becoming a Christian.
What being a Christian means to you.

In Psalm 71:15, the psalmist admits he’s not sure if what he says will help, but he’ll tell his story and let God choose how to use it: “My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds, of your saving acts all day long—though I know not how to relate them all.” Some people may reject or rebuff your testimony. That’s not a sign to stop telling it; you plant a seed, and God does the watering. Peter reminds us always to be ready to share our testimony.

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, ¹⁶keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 1 Peter 3:15-16

So don’t worry about how God will use your testimony, or how someone will receive it. Just be willing to speak up when you feel the prompting of the Holy Spirit, and He’ll use it for God’s purpose. Sometimes it will be in a spiritual setting, other times when you least expect it. Be ready to share with or within . . .

Church
Bible study group or small group
Mentoring relationships
Others going through something similar
Conversations acknowledging God’s goodness in your daily life
Social media
Blogs
Unbelievers or skeptics
Support groups
Where else?”

Your Testimony Is Your Witness That Jesus Christ Lives!

Where does God want you to share your testimony this Easter, or anytime, and who needs to hear it?

Who needs to know the reason for your hope?

If you’re reading this blog and have never asked Jesus to come into your heart and been born again, here’s a prayer to pray if you’re ready now.

Salvation Prayer

Dear Jesus, I know I have sinned in my life and I want to tell you how sorry I am and I want to repent and change my ways. I ask you now to forgive me and cleanse me of those sins. Jesus, I want you to come into my heart and take residence there. I believe you are the Son of God and that you died on the cross to pay the price for my sins and then rose again in three days to offer me eternal life. Please fill me with the Holy Spirit and your love. Lord, I give you my life—make me a new creation in you. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

If you prayed the Salvation Prayer: Welcome to the family of God! God just wiped away your past sins and gave you a clean slate. You have been born again into a new life in Christ. Congratulations! Celebrate and tell others about the decision you just made to become a follower of Jesus Christ—it’s your testimony. You’re ready to grow and mature spiritually. Happy first Easter as a new believer.

To all my readers I leave with you this message from the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 1:4-9:

I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. ⁵For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge— ⁶God thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you. ⁷Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. ⁸He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Note: As I’m writing this blog on Sunday 3/29/2026, President Trump has released a copy of a letter sent to him by Reverend Franklin Graham. I share it below as confirmation of everything I’ve written in this blog about how we become Christians.

In my blog last week, We’re One Nation Under God NOT Allah!, I said that the Christian faith is the only religion with a living spiritual Savior who died and rose again to offer us eternal life with Him. Jesus lives within the heart and soul of every Christian believer!

Please leave a comment here. I appreciate hearing your thoughts on my blogs.

March 30, 2026

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The Millimeter Miracle!

I had planned to take this week off from writing my Monday Morning Blog, but after the attempted assassination of President Trump while we were on vacation last week, and Biden pulling out of the presidential race, I feel I can’t wait another week to share what the Lord’s been revealing to me.

Like so many other history-making events in the past, I’ll never forget where I was when my texts started blowing up with the news of the horrific, satanic, cowardly attempt to take President Trump’s life. Dave and I were enjoying a meet-and-greet party at our son’s house in North Carolina where we were meeting our grandson’s bride-to-be and her family the night before their wedding the next day. We were surrounded by family members and friends we hadn’t seen in years and looking forward to seeing our new six-month-old great-grandbaby and her mommy, neither of which we had met yet. It was a joyful gathering and then the conversation turned to President Trump’s harrowing experience as new details filled all our phones.

There was relief that Trump would be ok, but sadness to learn that a rally attender was murdered while shielding his wife and two daughters from the bullets and two others were critically injured. How did this happen? Why did this happen? As I write this blog, we still don’t have those answers and I wonder if we ever will.

Why have so many Democrats, liberals, media pundits, and progressives, including the Biden Administration, tried to silence and gag Donald J. Trump and his supporters during this presidential campaign? Why are they so afraid of a fair political fight? They’ve tried to intimidate him, falsely impeach him, imprison him, take him off the ballot, and now eliminate him? I think it’s because . . .

Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. John 3:20

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1 John 1:7

They’re afraid that Trump will uncover and expose the evil, selfish, corrupt deeds they’ve undemocratically imposed on the American people in order to destroy America for personal and political gain, greed, and power. I don’t care who they nominate to replace Biden, the Democrat political platform and agenda is demonic and evil. Those who subscribe to it have been deceived by lies.

Trump doesn’t even need to reveal their lies and demonic platform. God is doing it for him. For example, all Trump had to do was show up at the debate, and Biden showed the world the great four-year cover up that he is not capable of leading America. Someone else is obviously running the White House and every person and media pundit who swore he was capable, was lying. Most of us who are paying attention already knew that. Now, with the dark deceit and deception exposed to the light, it can’t be denied. Just as when light hits cockroaches, they’re all scrambling for cover and cover up.

Speaking To The ‘Never-Trumpers’

I’m sure some in my broad mailing list don’t like President Trump. You are still talking about the mean tweets, even though he hasn’t been on Twitter, now X, for four years. It’s hard for you to admit that life was so much better during his administration because you don’t like him personally. I don’t know all your issues, but here are some that I’ve heard from Never Trumpers:

Trump’s been divorced and married three times. Well Reagan was divorced and married twice. Did you hold that against him? I’ve been divorced and married twice too. Do you hold that against me? I know God hates divorce, but He also gave us free will and some of us, or our spouses, made poor choices in our earlier years. I was unequally yoked because I didn’t have wise mentoring as a young college grad. I’ve asked God for forgiveness and received God’s grace to marry my husband of thirty-two years, Dave, and become a Christian author, speaker, and director of Woman to Woman Mentoring and About His Work Ministries.
Things Trump’s said and done in the past. When I looked at a list of things Never-Trumpers claimed he said or did, most of them have been debunked, even though the media and Democrats continue to tout the misquotes and lies. King David actually raped another man’s wife and when he impregnated her, he had her husband killed. Yet, God called David a man after his own heart and used David in the lineage of Jesus Christ. David had consequences like the loss of the son he and Bathsheba conceived, but then God gave them Solomon. Many of us find solace in reading King David’s Psalms, which are a favorite part of our beloved Bible. God can turn our past into purpose, and I do believe that’s what he’s going to do with President Trump.
Trump’s Language. I’ll admit I cringe a lot too, or at least I did. But in his 90-minute Republican National Convention (RNC) speech, he didn’t say one cuss word!! He mentioned that a few months ago Franklin Graham had asked him to not use foul language and he said, “the last four or five times I’ve been good.” So, he knows and he’s trying! Trump also said, “I humbly ask for your vote.” He used the word humble at least twice and when he gave tribute to the fireman who was killed by one of the assassin’s bullets, Trump quoted, ^“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.” 1 John 3:16

I say to every “never-Trumper,” he who has never sinned, go ahead and throw the first verbal barb. But oh yeah, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) We’re voting for a platform, not a personality!

A Changed Man Still in the Fight

Near-death experiences change you forever. When I had my first diagnosis of breast cancer, I wasn’t sure if I would live or die. But I experienced a serenity of either being with the Lord for eternity, or if God spared me, knowing He had a purpose for my life that I had not yet tapped into. Obviously, I lived and actually lived through two more breast cancer scares. It changes you. In the Introduction to my book Dear God, They Say It’s Cancer, I wrote: “I continuously seek a new term to describe the ordeal because I’m more than just a “survivor”; I’m also a “winner”! You see, there is a spiritual battle going on around us—a battle for our souls, our hearts, and our minds—and God does not want us merely to survive this battle. He assures us that with His help we will be victorious. Wounded but not defeated. Not just surviving, implying we barely make it, but energized by running the race, staying the course, and fighting the good fight. Somehow, some way, we will be better women because of this experience.

I don’t feel I just survived’ rather, I believe God had a purpose and a plan in my breast cancer. He wanted my heart to break for every woman going through this. He intended for me to write this book and speak freely so others also might find purpose in their breast cancer.”

If you heard President Trump’s RNC speech, you heard him describe in detail the events of his near assassination. He said that might be the last time we hear him talk about it because it’s just too painful to recall. I wrote exactly that in Dear God, They Say It’s Cancer: “It took me months to write the first words of this book. I wanted so badly for you to have it in your hands, but every time I thought about putting my journey into words, it seemed too painful. Finally, I cried out to God to release what was holding me back and discovered that freeing power came when I wrote through the pain and despite the pain.”

Many of us have prayed for President Trump for years, and yes, we always pray that he will grow closer in his relationship with God. Escaping a near death experience will do that for you.

In President Trump’s case, the bullet missed blowing off the side of his face by ¼ inch, even closer than a millimeter, as he tilted his head to look at a graphic on the screen. His son, Eric, said his father’s Guardian Angel protected him. He usually shows that graphic towards the end of his speech, but in Buttler, Pennsylvania, he went off script and asked to show it just before the bullets started flying. When he showed the graphic at the RNC, he mentioned he never got to see it in Buttler, but it providentially saved his life turning to look at it. A Millimeter Miracle!

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. Gen 50:20

Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. Phil. 1:12

Following are some direct quotes from President Trump the week following the attempted assassination.

On Truth Social, Trump acknowledged it was divine providence that spared him and an act of God: “Thank you to everyone for your thoughts and prayers yesterday, as it was God alone who prevented the unthinkable from happening. We will FEAR NOT, but instead remain resilient in our Faith and Defiant in the face of Wickedness. Our love goes out to the other victims and their families. We pray for the recovery of those who were wounded, and hold in our hearts thememory of the citizen who was so horribly killed.”
“It was God who helped me!”
“It changes your attitude, your viewpoint on life. Honestly, you appreciate God even more!”
“I’m not supposed to be here tonight, and yet, I stand here before you in this arena only by the grace of Almighty God who had other plans!”
Referring to when he dropped down after sensing something flying by his right ear and bringing his hand down full of blood knowing it was a bullet: “The amazing thing is I felt safe. I felt serene because I had God on my side.”
“None of us knows God’s plan for us. If I learned anything from last Saturday (July 13^th), every moment we have on earth is a gift from God.”

To that, I, Janet, say Amen.

Pray for Former President and Republican Presidential Nominee Donald J. Trump’s Spiritual Transformation, Growth, and Reliance on God!

“I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, in order that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.” 1 Timothy 2:1-2 (NASB)

Twice in the last week, I’ve heard President Trump mention how his father took him to Yankee Stadium to hear Reverend Billy Graham. He’s remembering his spiritual roots. We must keep praying for President Trump because he can’t help but experience some PTSD from such a traumatic experience. Since he knows and acknowledges that it was God who saved him for such a time as this, our prayers can help him overcome any negative feelings as we celebrate with him a victory over an evil attempt to take him down.

I don’t know why God chose to use adulterer and murderer King David, or secular King Cyrus (Chr. 36-22-23, Ezra 1:1-2), and I don’t know why God’s using Donald J. Trump to make America great again. But I do believe God has called him and will protect him and use him to save America physically, globally, economically, and spiritually. When you consider the many evil attempts to discredit and destroy Trump, yet he still prevails, I think we need to agree with Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who was President Trump’s Press Secretary and now the youngest governor in the United States and the first female governor of Arkansas, when she said at the RNC:

President Trump’s immediate reaction to the assassination attempt was captured in the iconic picture of him standing amongst Secret Service agents under the American flag with his fist in the air and blood streaming down his face, telling us to not give up or give in but to “Fight, Fight, Fight!”

We too must not lose heart, give up, or give in! However God leads you in the next four months to fight the spiritual and political battle, we can turn this all into good. We can help bring back civility, love for fellow man, and most importantly our dependence on, respect for, and love of God our Great Creator, Provider, and Ruler!

For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. Phil. 2:13

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Rom. 8:28

Join the Fight for this Election Write Now! Join the My Faith Votes 2024 Presidential Election Letter Writing Campaign to encourage registered Christian voters in swing states to vote on November 5. We’re on a mission to motivate and equip Christians to Pray Think Vote in every election.

I’m sure you have some thoughts about this blog. Please leave a comment here and I’ll reply.

July 22, 2024

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The Power of One Person to Make a Difference

How often have you, as have I, said, “I’m only one person. What difference could I make?” The Bible and history is full of brave ordinary people who stepped out of their comfort zone to make a difference.

As men and women of faith, we know if God calls us to take a stand, we can rest assured He will stand with us. I learned this truth when answering His call to start Woman to Woman Mentoring Ministry almost thirty years ago, and it’s still a vibrant ministry in churches today.

In past blogs, you’ve read how I also inadvertently became the spokesperson for championing others to join me in protecting children from obscene and pornographic material in our public library. That meant not only writing letters and emails, but also physically appearing at library board meetings, meeting with the librarian, and voicing my concerns not just once, but for as long as it takes.

Initially, I just wanted to post on a community Facebook page from the comfort of my office and fill out the library forms to have obscene material removed. But if I was really going to make a difference, I had to appear in person. Inconvenience my schedule and take the slings and slanders of those opposing removal of the books. Currently, a law is pending in Idaho Legislature that backs my position. I’m sure it will require me going back to the board to be sure they enforce it.

In today’s blog, I want to share the story of Trent Saxton, who I only met a week ago thanks to my cousin Karen in California who is a member of an American Conservative Facebook group that Trent started. When Karen sent me Trent’s post, she prefaced it with, “A new law to be passed in your state by a Californian who moved to Idaho.” That sparked my interest since we live in Idaho!

Here’s Trent’s story of discovering the need to change an existing law in his new home state of Idaho and doing something about it.

Dear Idahoans,

I recently purchased a new 2024 GMC so my old Toyota plates will be placed on my new truck. In Idaho, you must purchase another set of new plates (silly) in order to sell your used automobile. Understandably, a prospective buyer can’t test drive your used vehicle without metal plates on the car.

I wanted to change this law to paper permits with a 30–60-day grace period. This allows time to sell your car without having to re-register the car and buy new metal plates. I contacted customer service specialist Mary Miller, a 21-year veteran at the DMV, on January 18th and told her I wanted to change the law…LOL. She was a little hesitant to pass me on to her supervisor, motor vehicle supervisor, Kimbra Asqueta.

Again, I told her what I wanted to do. So, Kimbra sent me to the County Assessor, Brian Stender. All of this took a matter of ten minutes. Brian agreed with me that this law should be changed to a 30-60 day “grace period,” without having to purchase new plates. After you sell your car, those plates end up in a landfill. To change the law, would require going through the legislative process in the Capitol. The next day, I contacted my State Senator, Tammy Nichols. She helped me receive a “purple slip” (to write a Bill) and Sen. Chris Trakel carried the Bill to the Senate. They both helped sponsor the Bill S-1282.

Brian Stender and I walked the halls of the Capitol looking for support. All this took place in a matter of six weeks! It’s a NO BRAINER BILL! Most of all, it’s non-partisan. It helps everyone in the state equally.

The Bill passed at the Senate committee level, 34-0-1, one Senator was absent from the committee. Next, it moved to the House of Representatives for their committee hearings. Representative Clay Handy carried the “Bill” in the House on March 12 and it passed 69-0-1. Another absentee! Governor Little signed the bill into law, which goes into effect July 1, 2024!

This law will save YOU money and save DMV time and effort in the entire state. Most, if not all, forty-four County Assessors throughout the state are in support of my Bill. They see the common-sense issue and it’s a win-win. I have spent hours walking the halls of the Capitol meeting with your representatives to change this into an easier, more efficient law for all Idahoans.

Who says the little guy can’t make a difference when you are determined and have the support of your elected officials.

___________________

My Follow-Up Interview with Trent about His Political Success Story

When I read Trent’s story, I was immediately impressed with one man’s determination to right a wrong. He saw a problem and took it upon himself to do something about it by investing his time and energy. I contacted Trent to see if I could share his inspirational story and asked him a few more questions.

What prompted you to go through this political process?

Trent: I wanted to change that law in the State of Idaho. It amends section 49-523 of Idaho DMV Code to revise a provision regarding temporary vehicle registration permits for owners. Makes a whole lot of sense, saves time and money, and stops the metal plates from being thrown into landfills. It’s a no brainer Bill…LOL should’ve been written this way years ago. The County Assessors love it and so do DMV workers.

I started this process Jan 18, 2024, and it was over by March 7, 2024. On that same day, I had a stent placed in my heart…nice gift for a 74-year-old. Ha! All Glory to God and determination.

Where did you live in California and how long have you lived in Idaho?

Trent: Placerville for 30 years (former Mayor) and then Portola, CA. north of Lake Tahoe 60 miles. I moved here two and a half years ago.

Why did you move from California?

Trent: Taxes, politics, regulations, laws, all the reasons most Californians move out of California.

How did you pick Middleton to live in Idaho?

Trent: Purely by accident. Never been here before. I liked the rural atmosphere (which is now changing).

When you say you walked the halls of the Capitol, who were you talking to and what was that process like? Were the people you talked to receptive?

Trent: Everyone was receptive because “many” were unaware that they either had broken that law or were about to break it. They never thought it was an issue to drive and show someone else their used car just to sell it!

You have a beautiful Capitol building in Idaho. The Senate is to the West and the House is to the East. I simply met Senators in their offices and gave my 3-minute sales pitch. I started by saying, “Did you know you had to buy plates for a car you were going to sell?” I would get a blank look followed by a, “No, you don’t?!” answer and then I had them in the palm of my hand. The rest was easy after that! It was not a hard sell and many just said, “I’ll support you.” I said thanks and left them immediately.

What is your profession?

Trent: DC, Doctor of Chiropractic in private practice and formerly an Instructor at the Southern California University of Health Sciences (LACC) and Occupational Health, C.E.

What prompted you to start the American Conservative Facebook page?

I started American Conservatives five years ago in response to politics in my California county and the Trump campaign in 2020.

Can I ask, are you a Christian, Trent?

Trent: I would like to think that I am. I fall short, I am sure, so I ask for His forgiveness all the time. I attend a nondenominational church. I do not like “religion” as a whole. I have studied many religions, but there is only one God. I believe that Jesus Christ was sent to earth as the Son of God, that He died for all mankind’s sins, He arose into Heaven, and will return (not soon enough) one day like a thief in the night.

Trent and his wife have been married thirty-four years.

Where Does the Bible Say Christians Shouldn’t Get Involved In Politics?

The Bible actually tells us to occupy every area of the culture and gives us numerous examples of biblical men and women stepping into the political arena to make a difference and in many cases, to save lives physically and spiritually. And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. Luke 19:13 KJV

In my book, Everyday Brave: Living Courageously As a Woman of Faith, I feature 50—yes you read that right—50 brave biblical women and 28 current day women who took a stand in the public square to make a difference in their world.

You’re probably familiar with the story of Esther in the Book of Esther, who with prayer and fasting agreed to step out of her comfortable plush life as queen into the cunning world of politics to save her people, the Jews. What if Esther had let the Jews, including herself, be annihilated? Who can forget her brave declaration, “If I perish, I perish!” Most of us aren’t going to have to die to make a difference. But like Trent, myself, and many of you, we will have to make sacrifices of energy and time to venture into the unknown to make a difference.
Deborah left her comfortable meeting place under the shade of the “Palm of Deborah,” where she settled the people’s disputes, to go into battle as a co-commander with Barack. She literally explained God’s battle plan to the military leader. (Judges 4-5)
There were 48 other lesser-known women in the Bible too who took a brave stand to make a difference in their culture.

The list of men in the Bible who went into the political arena is also long. Just to name a few . . .

Joseph was promoted to the highest political position in the country, only second to Pharaoh, and saved his own family and the entire community from famine. Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the entire land of Egypt.” ⁴²Then Pharaoh removed his signet ring from his hand and placed it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in fine linen clothing and hung a gold chain around his neck. ⁴³Then he had Joseph ride in the chariot reserved for his second-in-command. And wherever Joseph went, the command was shouted, “Kneel down!” So Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of all Egypt. ⁴⁴And Pharaoh said to him, “I am Pharaoh, but no one will lift a hand or foot in the entire land of Egypt without your approval.” Gen. 41:41-44 NLT
Daniel stayed true to his faith as he too accepted a high position in government. Then the king appointed Daniel to a high position and gave him many valuable gifts. He made Daniel ruler over the whole province of Babylon, as well as chief over all his wise men. Dan. 2:48
David was a king, the highest political position in the land.
Paul was always confronting and contesting the political powers.
The temple guard and Sadducees tried to stop Peter and John from preaching about Jesus. But when “they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.” They told them to stop preaching, “But Peter and John replied, ‘Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.’” (Acts 4:13, 17, 19-20)
Jesus never shied away from confronting unjust political leaders and laws.

I’m sure you can think of even more examples in the Bible of men and women engaging in politics and the culture. Today, Politics has become its own religion, while we sit in our pews and let babies be killed, children mutilated, or trans ideology inoculate the brains of children and adults. Where in the Bible does God call us to sit by and do nothing?

The church is letting this happen on our watch, but like Esther (Esther 4:14), we were born for such a time as this! Believers are alive right NOW in this crazy world to bring God back into our culture, our families, our churches, even politics. The other side will take as much ground as we submit to them.

“God calls us to fight until He returns . . . God made us to stand with courage . . . Bring your faith into every area of the public square and those who are telling you not to . . . are wrong!”—Eric Metaxas

We need more people in our churches like Trent who saw an obvious problem and went through the political process of correcting it because he could! And so can we.

“Now, more than ever before, the people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless, and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness, and corruption. If it be intelligent, brave, and pure, it is because the people demand these high qualities to represent them in the national legislature …. If the next centennial does not find us a great nation . . . it will be because those who represent the enterprise, the culture, and the morality of the nation do not aid in controlling the political forces.”—President James Garfield

“The people who know their God will be strong and take action.” Daniel 11:32

The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deut. 31:8

Join me and other believers around the nation on Monday mornings to pray together via zoom. A powerful way to start the week praying with like-minded believers! My Faith Votes keeps action partners updated on what’s happening in the nation that effects religious freedom, sanctity of life, strengthening and protection of the family, and care for the needy. Go to MyFaithVotes to sign up.

Many states like Idaho have our own MyFaithVotes weekly morning pray time via zoom, and you can check that out on the MyFaithVotes website. If you’re in Idaho, contact me to join us on Tuesday mornings.

If you haven’t seen the movie Letter to the American Church, you can watch it for free on Friday, April 12^th. For details and to register go to www.myfaithvotes.org/LTAC. To bring the movie to your church www.Lettertotheamericanchurch.com.

If you didn’t read last week’s blog, we all must be prepared to give an answer. How to Respond When Labeled a ‘Christian Nationalist’!

Please leave a comment here. I always reply!

March 25, 2024

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ONE WOMAN’S JOURNEY TO BECOMING HIS BELOVED!

This week, I want to introduce to you one of my writing mentees, Cherie Denna, and her journey to writing and publishing her new book Beloved Outcast–A True Story: The Quest for True Belonging.

When I was first asked to mentor a Memoir Writing Clinic at Mt. Hermon Christian Writer’s Conference, I have to admit I was intimidated and hesitant. I loved Mt. Hermon and had attended for 10-years, each year learning more about the art of writing and was honored to have the opportunity to be on the teaching staff. It’s where my first trade book, Dear God, They Say It’s Cancer: A Companion Guide for Women on the Breast Cancer Journey, was discovered and published by Howard Books, now a division of Simon & Schuster, with future published books to follow.

Mentoring is my passion and various aspects of my life story run through all my books, but I had never actually written my own memoir. I knew God was asking me to step out of my comfort zone and take on this new challenge. I researched how to teach and mentor on memoir writing, which is really just telling your God story while applying writing skills and techniques.

Five mentees were assigned to my Memoir Writing Mentoring Clinic and four of those future authors who had never written before are now either published or in the process of being published. I’m so proud of all of them. I knew when I heard Cherie Denna’s traumatic, heart wrenching, and powerful story of God rescuing her by His grace and mercy, her memoir would be compelling and glorifying to God.

I thought the best way to introduce Cherie and her story would be to share with you the Foreward below that I wrote for Beloved Outcast: The Quest for True Belonging, which just released February 14, 2024. Her editor decided not to have a foreward in the book, so it wasn’t included, but parts were used as endorsements.

Foreward by Janet Thompson for Beloved Outcast

I first met Cherie when she enrolled in a Memoir Writing Mentoring Clinic I was facilitating at Mt. Hermon Christian Writers’ Conference in Felton, California. As the five participants took turns sharing their stories, I knew Cherie had a unique story that needed telling, as did the others. It was an exciting time brainstorming and sharing ideas of how to communicate their amazing life experiences for the enjoyment and wonderment of future readers.

Cherie’s vibrant smile, kindness, gentleness, and obvious love for the Lord was a testimony of God’s healing forgiveness and redemption as she often through tears and embarrassment told us some of the devastating and demoralizing times in the life of a child born into the world of outlaw biker gangs. I can only imagine the internal turmoil she encountered reliving those experiences in writing Beloved Outcast: The Quest for True Belonging, but I’m so glad she took the time to carefully, skillfully, and honestly take the reader through the raw and raunchy times that repeatedly drew her back into a life she knew so well, yet earnestly wanted to escape.

Beloved Outcast had me turning the pages to see how Cherie would overcome the challenges and struggles of her inherited and familiar biker blood. Even though I knew her story, I didn’t know the details that she shares on these pages with honesty, humbleness, and ultimately, holiness.

Cherie’s book is more than just a tell-all of a traumatic childhood that influenced bad decisions and addictions throughout her earlier life, it’s the story for anyone who wants to break free of the strongholds of the past and become a new creation in Christ to live with purpose the life He has planned for all of us.

It’s a story of hope, perseverance, love, and determination to create a better life for herself and her child with the realization that all things are possible through Christ who gives you strength to go on when you want to give in and quit. It’s also a story of God’s second chances. How He never gives up on His children who seek to experience the life of serenity and peace they so desperately desire and ultimately find in a relationship with Jesus.

Forgiveness played a big role in Cherie’s life starting with forgiving herself, which only came through realizing and accepting God’s forgiveness of her sins and past. The freedom of her soul that she experienced allowed her to ask forgiveness of those she’d hurt and forgive those who hurt her.

Beloved Outcast skillfully shares the journey and quest for true belonging that Cherie thought she might never find. You’ll probably need some Kleenex as you’re captivated and encouraged by this remarkable tale that reminds us that God never gives up seeking and saving the lost.

I can see the scenes of Beloved Outcast someday in a movie of intrigue, pain, trauma, survival, love, rescue, relapse, and eventually complete surrender to the One who offers a secure and safe home in the family of God to all those who feel outcast and unworthy.

Well done Cherie Denna! I’m privileged and honored to be your cheerleader and mentor in sharing your incredible story of your quest and discovery of true belonging in identity in Christ, not in your past.

BECOMING HIS BELOVED By Cherie Denna

Thank you, Janet, for that wonderful introduction. I want to express my deep gratitude to you for supporting my story from its inception to the moment my book was finally brought into the world five years later. I must say, joining you and your readers here is definitely a standout moment in this publishing journey.

The choice to change the title of the book was another standout moment that caught everyone off guard. When I first began journaling and blogging around fifteen years ago, I chose “Biker Blood” as the book title. My story does “take the reader through the raw and raunchy times”, as Janet pointed out in her endorsement of the book. I prayed for a name for my story that would resonate with a large audience while accurately depicting who I am today, all in honor of God and all He has done. When I landed on “Beloved Outcast,” I felt the weight of the stigmatized theme lift away.

Writing my story was a challenging endeavor, but also a significant achievement for me. This is my intimate tale of fleeing from a life enmeshed in a family of organized crime. We’re talking The Godfather meets Sons of Anarchy meets The Chosen. Why would I delve into decades of trauma? The idea of revealing family secrets goes against everything I’ve been taught as a member of the Sicilian mafia and outlaw biker gangs, where trust is reserved exclusively for those within our inner circle.

My ‘why’ for writing my story shifted when the Lord whispered to me in a dream, “Tell them.” I woke from the dream and read the entire book of Romans. When I read chapter 10, I found the verse the Lord had for me. But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? Romans 10:14-15 NLT

I could not let go of this directive from the Holy Spirit. Putting my writing on the back burner, I felt convicted in my heart to share the Gospel message, as a witness to the radical and miraculous rebranding of my soul.

The Lord’s pursuit of us knows no bounds, reaching us in countless ways. Jesus reaches into the depth of our hell on earth to make His love known. Even as a prodigal after coming to Christ fifteen years earlier, He never left me. But I had to come to the end of myself before I could see it. Living as a recluse while shacking up with a dangerous man woke me to the reality that Satan indeed came to steal, kill, and destroy everything good in my life, just as it says in John 10:10, The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows]. (AMP)

The enemy sent imposters to derail and distract me, and even silence me. Imposters manifest in our emotions, our spiritual life, and in our physical inner circle. Their goal is to distort the truth of who we are, to whom we belong, and prevent us from walking out God’s assignment on our life. And I struggled with a severe case of ‘imposter syndrome’!

Full understanding of our true calling and identity as His Beloved comes when we shed the masks of shame, guilt, and unforgiveness, and adopt the life of God’s beloved. This does not happen overnight. Becoming His Beloved is a beautiful lifelong journey.

In this world of groups, tribes, clubs, affiliations, parties, and denominations, we tend to sacrifice pieces of ourselves at the altar of belonging. If we continue to sacrifice ourselves, we will never know true belonging as God’s Beloved.

“He predestined and lovingly planned for us to be adopted to Himself as [His own] children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the kind intention and good pleasure of His will— to the praise of His glorious grace and favor, which He so freely bestowed on us in the Beloved [His Son, Jesus Christ].” Ephesians 1:5-6 AMP

Get To Know Cherie Denna

CHERIE DENNA’ mission is to empower individuals to find a deep sense of belonging and belovedness in Jesus Christ in their everyday lives. Drawing from her extensive experience in women’s ministry, relapse prevention, prayer counseling, and recovery, Cherie inspires audiences to rid their lives of emotional, spiritual, and physical imposters.

Her newly released debut book, Beloved Outcast: The Quest for True Belonging, is a must-read for those trapped in seemingly inescapable circumstances who desire a victorious life of freedom. With raw authenticity, Cherie’s platform reveals the realities of living on the fringes of society, generational dysfunction, enmeshed in organized crime and the outlaw biker culture, all while following God’s call to spread the Gospel.

One of her greatest joys is to witness the power of God’s truth come alive through freedom, spiritual deliverance, and healing. Cherie’s raw testimonies of living with Complex PTSD offer hope for a future filled with peace, purpose, and belonging.

She continues to impact the world through writing, speaking, women’s ministry, and guiding individuals on the tactical steps of sharing their hard stories through storytelling and testimony. You can find Cherie soaking in “seahabilitation” at the beach with Jesus or on an RV adventure with her purpose-mate husband. She loves frothed coffee dates.

Join the Everyday Belonging Movement at www.cheriedenna.com. Follow Cherie on socials @cheriedenna.

Leave a comment here for me or Cherie about her powerful story.

March 11, 2024

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God Is Up to Something Big!

I’m back! For those of you who follow my Monday Morning Blog, I announced at the beginning of March that I would be taking a brief sabbatical while my hubby had his second knee replacement surgery. I know some of you have been praying for us and we’re so grateful for all the prayers and the help we received from family, our church family, and friends.

It’s a difficult surgery, as any of you who’ve experienced it knows; you practically need to learn to walk again with a new prosthetic knee. I’m happy to report that Dave’s doing well, progressing with physical therapy, and diligently doing his exercises and recumbent bike riding at home.

So much has been taking place in the world, it’s been hard for me not to chime in, but I’ve been in a season of caregiving for hubby and praying for our country’s leaders who are being led by the devil and not by the Lord!!

Your Testimony is Your Best Witness

On April 24, I celebrated a milestone moment in my own testimony. I want to share a bit of it with you here to confirm what God can and will do for anyone who truly surrenders his or her life to God.

In the summer of 1992, I rededicated my life to the Lord at a Harvest Crusade led by Pastor Greg Laurie at the then Anaheim Stadium, in Anaheim California. I’d been a Christian since I was eleven but backslid horribly in my thirties and early forties as a single parent for seventeen years. At that life-altering crusade, Pastor Laurie asked, “Are you ready to die tonight?”

I knew I wasn’t and when he gave the invitation for those who wanted to give their life to Christ or rededicate their life I joined hundreds down on the stadium field. I told the Lord, “This prodigal is returning to you completely. I surrender all of my life to you Lord. No turning back!” I had no idea how seriously the Lord would take my words, or what would be ahead of me, but I was ready to follow Jesus with my entire life, heart, and soul.

On December 19,1992, just a few months after the Harvest Crusade, I married my godly husband Dave, who I had just broken up with prior to the Crusade; but I heard the Lord say to me that night, “You asked for a godly man and I gave him to you, now rededicate yourself to him too!”

When we’d only been married a year and I still had a fulltime career, I started attending Fuller Theological Seminary obtaining a Masters of Arts in Christian Leadership, with an emphasis on equipping the laity. Within three years after I rededicated my life to Christ, I left my business career and started the Woman to Woman Mentoring Ministry, which is still a vibrant biblically based ministry in many churches today and new churches are continually starting the ministry with the resources I wrote twenty-five years ago!

Five years after the Harvest Crusade, I began a writing ministry and speaking ministry, “About His Work Ministries. I had NEVER written a book before, but God has since used me to write twenty-one books and Bible studies for His glory!

So when I heard that Greg Laurie was bringing Harvest Crusade to Boise, fairly near where we now live in Idaho, that was exciting. The first attempt at the Boise Crusade was in 2020 but it was canceled because of Covid. Now in April 2022 Pastor Greg and Harvest Crusade was coming to Boise!

As I reminisced about my first Harvest Crusade in 1992, I realized that Dave and I would be celebrating our thirtieth anniversary this December so the 2022 Harvest Crusade in Boise would also be my 30-year anniversary of rededicating my life to Jesus. I knew I had to attend. Dave wasn’t up to it yet, but our church was taking a bus since we’re about 1 ½ hours from the Crusade, so I took the bus and met my daughter and son-in-law there.

I wasn’t disappointed. I was encouraged and inspired yet again! When Greg came to the point in the program that touched my heart 30 years ago where he invited people who wanted to make Jesus their Lord and Savior, people were up out of their seats and flooding the auditorium floor. There were so many people coming down the second night, the fire marshal had them stop coming but they stood in the aisles. Here are the glorious responses from that weekend. Praise God revival is happening in Boise and I got to see it firsthand.

God is Springing Up Revival Throughout Our Country!

On the Thursday and Friday nights prior to the Saturday and Sunday Boise Crusade, Flashpoint Live held an event at the Mabee Center in Tulsa Oklahoma. If you’re not familiar with Flashpoint on the Victory channel on Tuesday and Thursday nights, here’s a link to check it out. Dave and I watch this program to get a Christian perspective on today’s news and to give us hope when it feels like our country is hopeless.

But the point I want to make is that Flashpoint experienced the same overflow of attendance of 10,000 people and 1650 responding to make a first-time decision or recommitment for a Christ-centered life. Again, just like in Boise, the stands started emptying as people poured down to the floor, which became so full some had to remain standing in the aisles.

Two seemingly unrelated events and yet so related in sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

People are hungry for something to provide peace and purpose in their life as we watch the world crumble all around us. Only Jesus has that power! Only Jesus has the answers! Not the government flailing in the dark as they become more and more the minions of the Devil. Their evil deeds are unveiled daily, but never fear. God sees it all and will react at the perfect time.

Our job is to continue sharing the light of the Gospel by telling whoever will listen what God has done in our own life. You don’t have to be an evangelist like Greg Laurie or Mario Murillo or Franklin Graham. You just need to live boldly and bravely for Christ in all your actions, deeds, and words.

Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Matt. 9:37

I love this quote from Mario Murillo in his blog To Save Freedom: “You are constantly hearing the religious empty suits telling you to stay out of the political arena. But if we lose freedom, you will rue the day that you ever listened to their fake morality. You are not a “Christian Nationalist.” You are a sincere Christian who opposes evil, no matter what camouflage it wears or how it rebrands itself.”

So when was the last time you shared your testimony, or what God is doing in your life now, with someone who needs encouragement and hope? Maybe you need to remember it for your own encouragement! Let’s join God in taking revival to the nation!

Billy Graham said in his book Till Armageddon, “The will of God will never take us where the grace of God cannot sustain us!”

Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous. Psalm 112:4

You can read more of my story of being a prodigal raising a prodigal in my book Praying for Your Prodigal Daughter: Hope, Help & Encouragement for Hurting Parents.

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

May 2, 2022

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Do You Need a Pardon?

Pardons were in the news last week as President Trump pardoned and commuted sentences of several prisoners. Speaking at a graduation ceremony for Hope for Prisoners, President Trump said that he “loves” finding those treated unfairly by the criminal justice system and offering them pardons.

The discussion of pardons started me thinking about how God has pardoned every Christian. Since Romans 3:23 reminds us that, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Christians are the recipients of unmerited grace and mercy.

In my Bible Study Face-to-Face with Euodia and Syntyche: From Conflict to Community, I describe it this way:

Justice is getting what you deserve.
Mercy is not getting everything you deserve.
Grace is getting what you don’t deserve.

Mercy is showing more love and kindness to a person than he or she expects or deserves. Undeserved pardon! Grace is undeserved forgiveness.

It’s so easy to look at the transgressions of others and say they deserved the punishment rendered, and often they do. But what about Christians who had their debt pardoned and paid for by Jesus who unjustly endured the brutal cross for us? He took the punishment that we deserved. That’s mercy! That’s grace!

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, ²in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh^[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. ⁴But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. Ephesians 2:1-5

All we had to do for a pardon was confess our sins to Jesus, ask for forgiveness, and repent! Our dark sins became white as snow. Erased! The Bible says that God has forgiven and forgotten and will never bring them up to us again.

“Come now, let us settle the matter,”
says the Lord.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson,
they shall be like wool. Isaiah 1:18

Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. Acts 3:19 (NLT)

¹⁵And the Holy Spirit also testifies that this is so. For he says,

¹⁶“This is the new covenant I will make
with my people on that day,^[^a^] says the Lord:
I will put my laws in their hearts,
and I will write them on their minds.”^[^b^]

¹⁷Then he says,

“I will never again remember
their sins and lawless deeds.” Hebrews 10:15-17 (NLT)

What a gift! How did we deserve such a pardon? We didn’t! Yet, how often do we take our pardon for granted. Almost like we did deserve it. How often do we remember the price and penalty that Jesus paid for our release from the punishment due us? I would suggest, not often enough.

We may not have been in a cold, dark, prison cell, but we were in a cold, dark spiritual hellhole. Satan had us shackled to him in sin and shame. Then Jesus entered into our life and set us free. But Satan never gives up. He’s always trying to lure us back. We can never forget the cost of our pardon.

“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” 1 Peter 2:24

Sin Has Consequences

Just like with all pardoned prisoners, there will always be consequences of our sins that we will have to bear ourselves and assume the responsibility. God told the Israelites who refused to follow His lead, “You will bear the consequences of your sin . . .” (Numbers 14:34 HCSB)

As Christians, we must ask for Jesus’ help and strength to make restitution for our sinful behavior when possible. If we broke the civic law, or God’s law, we’ll pay the penalty. The scars will be with us, and possibly with others, for life. Often our actions negatively affected someone else. That’s on us. Jesus forgives us when we repent of our sins, but we may need to forgive others or seek their forgiveness and they might not grant it. The hurt is too deep. The debt too high.

But President Trump also told the crowd of 29 graduates from Hope for Prisoners, “the best part of your life is just beginning.” “Today we declare that you are made by God for a great and noble purpose. You are valued members of our American family and we are determined to help you succeed,” the president said.

And that’s what the Lord says to us too:

Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. Micah 7:18

My Second Pardon

In Praying for Your Prodigal Daughter, I share my testimony of accepting Jesus into my life at eleven, but as an adult I backslid into a sinful life for seventeen years while raising my daughter. I was a prodigal raising a prodigal. I can’t change those years, but when I rededicated my life back to Christ, He gave me another pardon I did not deserve. Praise God, He is the God of endless pardons. I was a changed person—a new creation in Christ.

Like President Trump told the released prisoners, God did have a great and noble purpose for my life as He used me to start the Woman to Woman Mentoring Ministry and write and speak for Him.

But there were consequences to my wayward years. I had to ask my daughter for forgiveness, and while she didn’t understand what that meant at the time, she does now. I prayed and begged God daily to open her eyes to the life she could have with Christ. After six years of a mother’s prayers, she accepted Christ as her Savior.

No matter what you’ve done in your past, or are currently doing, Jesus waits eagerly to mercifully forgive you and restore your life for a great and noble purpose. All you need to do is ask Him for a pardon.

Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. Isaiah 55:7

________________________

God has put on my heart that my next writing project will focus on the loneliness epidemic in our culture. If you have a story of seasons of loneliness, or you’ve helped someone through their loneliness, I would love to hear your story. Please contact me or email at [email protected].

February 24, 2020

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Why Aren’t All Christians Extending Grace and Forgiveness to Trump?

A post that I wrote during the 2016 election is trending on my website and I know why! It’s just as applicable before this coming election as it was four years ago. Sadly, not much has changed with some Christians opposing President Trump, even in light of all he’s done to fulfill his promises that he would:

Be Pro-life and put action behind his words, even speaking at the recent March for Life and repeatedly confirming that “Every child is a sacred gift from Almighty God.”
Support and restore religious freedoms
Move the Capitol of Israel to Jerusalem and insure that America remains a strong ally of Israel
Choose three pro-life conservative Supreme Court justices and replace hundreds of liberal federal judges with conservatives.

At this year’s State of the Union address, President Trump publically affirmed:

“My administration is also defending religious liberty, and that includes the constitutional right to pray in public schools,” Trump continued. “In America, we don’t punish prayer. We don’t tear down crosses. We don’t ban symbols of faith. We don’t muzzle preachers and pastors. “In America, we celebrate faith. We cherish religion. We lift our voices in prayer, and we raise our sights to the glory of God.”

At the National Prayer Breakfast on February 6, 2020, the day after he was acquitted from a partisan hoax impeachment, he said, “Faith keeps us free. Prayer makes us strong. God gives us grace.”

At that same prayer breakfast Arthur Brooks, author of Love Your Enemies, was the speaker along with President Trump who responded to Brooks “I’m trying to learn. It’s not easy. When they impeach you for nothing it’s hard to like them. I’m doing my best.”

Yet many Christians are still refusing to grant President Trump grace and forgiveness.

So I’m reposting below my blog from October 17, 2016, “Why Aren’t All Christians Extending Grace and Forgiveness to Trump?” I think you’ll agree, except for Hillary being the opponent, I could’ve written it today!

What Does It Mean to be A Forgiven Christian?

I’ve been thinking a lot this week about what it means to be a saved, forgiven Christian, granted grace and mercy when I was so undeserving. Our Couples’ Group is studying Pastor Tony Evan’s Victory in Spiritual Warfare and he used a term I’d never heard before: “unsaved, saved person.” I realized that was another term for backsliding, which I did for seventeen years—saved at a youth camp at the age of eleven when I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior, and then living an ungodly life from my late twenties until early forties, a backslidden believer. Saved but living like an unsaved person, until I rededicated my life. I write about this time in most of my books—it’s my testimony—of how God redeemed me and has used me About His Work since the day I gave my life fully back to Him.

God forgave me for my sins as a “born again” young girl on fire for the Lord, and He never withheld His love or protection, even as He watched me do things that broke His heart and were so unworthy of someone who knew better. It was as if for seventeen years, I had blinders on, until Pastor Greg Laurie asked at a Harvest Crusade if I was ready to die that night. I wasn’t. God had been gently bringing His prodigal back to Him, as I had recently turned my dating life over to God and was dating the man He had picked to become my husband.

I’m so grateful I was attending Saddleback Church, which welcomes sinners and seekers and offers restoration, hope, and forgiveness for those who are willing to repent, ask for forgiveness, turn from their wayward ways, and follow Jesus’s biblical ways. I married my godly husband Dave, blended our two families, graduated from Fuller Theological Seminary, quit my secular job, and started the Woman to Woman Mentoring Ministry as a rededicated, divorced, remarried woman. I always was shown love, grace, mercy, support, and encouragement at seminary and Saddleback Church.

I felt so unqualified and ill equipped, but my church gave me the tools I needed, as I took a huge prayerful step of faith. I was the least likely woman to start such a ministry . . . many churches might not have let me serve. But I said, “OK” when God called me to “Feed my sheep,” and He did the rest. As a result, twenty years later, Woman to Woman Mentoring is an international ministry blessing thousands of women in Titus 2 mentoring relationships.

Dr. Charles Stanley’s wrote in “Faith Barriers,” In Touch Magazine October 13, 2016:

When we are called to serve, our strength, skill, and wisdom do not matter. Rather, it is the Lord who does the work through us. He doesn’t seek out the most qualified person for a particular job, but instead calls men and women who are willing to surrender themselves to Him. When His strength works through their weakness, it is obvious that only God could have achieved the result.

A Disturbing Lack of Forgiveness Among Evangelicals

Trump has always said that as a child he was a saved Presbyterian, but I think, like me, he probably became an “unsaved, saved” backsliding Christian. Michael Anthony on Godfactor.com shares part of an interview with Dr. James Dobson about Trump’s recent salvation this past summer. Dr. Dobson has seen a change in Trump and only God knows the condition of his heart, which is true for all of us. Anthony also explains how we all mature in our faith at different degrees: some are like microwaves—the change is instantaneous–others are like crockpots.

Anthony and Dobson both called for prayer for the new “baby Christian” Trump, but I’ve not seen or heard much prayer for Trump, who represents the conservative political agenda in this election. Instead, I’ve seen more stone throwing and rock slinging at him from evangelicals for his past transgressions, right along with the progressive liberals. Many Christians, who are so distressed when called “deplorables” and “haters” by the liberals, have themselves called Trump terrible, unkind, slanderous names.

I can only wonder how many new believers would last if we treated them all that way? And why are Christians doing that, when evangelism is all about sharing the forgiveness of sin and grace of Jesus Christ?

In a political move, tapes of vial things Trump said over eleven years ago became public and many Christians and prominent ministry leaders reacted as if he said them yesterday. I’ve seen video clips of him surrounded by the many Christians he has on staff as he prayed for forgiveness and he asked publicly for forgiveness during the debate. Yet many Christians are unwilling to grant him forgiveness. Why?

If he is saved, God forgave him and wiped the slate clean from all the things he did before, just like He did for you and me when we became Christians. God forgives when we mess up and ask for forgiveness, but many evangelicals pulled their support and backlashed Trump, refusing to show any grace or mercy.

[Tweet “Letting Trump’s past transgressions divide us, another score for Satan. “]

How would any of us feel if our past sins haunted us as new believers? Badmouthing Trump and not looking at the real issues in this election, is just what Satan wants us to do. Letting Trump’s past transgressions divide us, another score for Satan.

Trump is a flawed man, as has been, and will be, every president, but he’s the first one I’ve seen who actually chose a born-again Vice President who told his testimony in the VP debate. He has Christians like Ben Carson on his team mentoring him, who see the bigger picture of the Supreme Court picks who will make decisions that will affect our religious freedoms for the next thirty years! Which will determine whether we as evangelicals can voice our faith publicly in the future in a blog post like this!

With men like that surrounding him, if not saved, he’s certainly a seeker, and aren’t we as evangelicals supposed to help draw seekers to Christ?

We Need a Refresher in Forgiveness

Christians are forgiven by the grace of God, and we need to extend that same grace and forgiveness to others, including Donald Trump: “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.” Ephesians 1:7

Yes, that would apply to Hillary too, but so far, she has only made excuses for her bad behavior, justifies supporting the things God detests, and puts political spins on her lies. Her agenda is anti-Christian and anti-God. I haven’t seen her sincerely ask forgiveness for anything, but she does need prayer to repent. Wouldn’t that be a wondrous miracle of this election!

4 FORGIVENESS MYTHS

MYTH #1: Forgiveness must be quick like God’s forgiveness

TRUTH: Forgiveness is a process

MYTH #2: If I forgive, that means that the offense was “ok.”

TRUTH: Forgiveness doesn’t turn sin into good. Sin is always wrong.

MYTH #3: If I forgive the person gets off the hook.

TRUTH: Sin always has consequences.

Trump and every Christian can relate to and apply 1 Timothy 1:12-16, Paul’s own words about himself:

“I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.”

[Tweet “Let’s start showing grace, mercy, forgiveness, and pouring out prayer for Trump.”]

Let’s start showing grace, mercy, forgiveness, and pouring out prayer for Trump. He is the candidate for the conservative platform. This election is not about a person, it is about the platform, but God cares about every person’s eternal life. Instead of helping to feed the media beast, let’s pray for a flawed man who is being:

made publicly accountable for past sins
humiliated and humbled
attacked and assailed
refined, renewed, and reformed

He could just be the unlikely person who becomes the future leader of America and allows us to put God back in the public square for generations to come. God could do that!

My last paragraph in that 2016 blog was almost prophetic. President Trump did become the leader of America and he is putting God back in the public square and just recently signed an executive order to allow prayer back in schools!

I hope I didn’t confuse you, but I wasn’t being disrespectful in the 2016 blog by using “Trump” instead of President Trump, but as of that writing, he had not won the election.

To read a passage where Jesus saw the good in someone who wanted to serve, but the religious Pharisees only saw her as a sinner read Luke 7:36-50.

I would encourage you to also read this excellent article (2020) How Can You Follow Jesus and Support Donald Trump?

February 10, 2020

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Stepping Out in Faith to Mentor

You might have noticed there wasn’t a Monday Morning Blog last week. That was operator error. I had a guest blogger, but I didn’t hit “schedule” and so it only went out on social media but not to my email followers. It was such a great post that I wanted to resend it to all of you.

The reason I had scheduled a guest blogger was because last weekend I was speaking at First Baptist Church Riverview, Florida on the topic of Stepping Out in Faith. You can see me speaking and some of the ladies in attendance in the opening pictures, and Tammy Keene the founder of the Glory Conference and me finally meeting after two years of planning this conference, which was so blessed by the Lord. I told the story of how I stepped out in faith to start Woman to Woman Mentoring and then offered 10 Steps to Know You’re Stepping Out in Faith with God. I’ll share those 10 steps in a future blog.

But for today, I’d like you to read Andrea Chatelain’s post below because she talks about some of the reasons we might not think we’re equipped to mentor and how to overcome those insecurities.

Throw Out Insecurity and Cast Your Net

By Andrea Chatelain

I was a shell of a woman. Broken over miscarriages and lonely in faith, I called the one friend I had and asked her to gather some gals. We bought the shortest Bible study available, and strangers gathered in my living room. I had no idea what I was doing. Why had God prompted me to open my house and my heart to others when I felt so unqualified, imperfect, and weary? Truth is, He can work great things out of our vulnerability if we’ll be bold enough to follow.

[Tweet “God can work great things out of our vulnerability if we’ll be bold enough to follow.”]

Being a mentor starts with this motto: Throw out insecurity and cast your net.

Before Jesus’ disciples followed Him, many were fishermen. They spent their days casting out a net because they knew there were fish in the water–even if they weren’t biting. Some days the disciples hauled in so many fish the boat was overflowing, other times there wasn’t much to show for their efforts.

But they kept throwing their nets.

Then Jesus invited them to catch something better. “And He said to them, follow Me and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19 ESV

To do the important work of mentoring others, bringing them up in love and truth, we have to believe two things: 1. God chose us fully aware of our shortcomings. 2. The outcome is in His control as we follow His lead.

If we examine the first disciples, Christ didn’t always choose the most qualified. He called those willing to follow and throw their net. And the same is true of us.

[Tweet “God has chosen each of us to cast our nets right where we are and mentor others in love and truth not because we are awesome, but because He is awesome.”]

God has chosen each of us to cast our nets right where we are and mentor others in love and truth not because we are awesome, but because He is awesome. Believing that perfection isn’t required to lead others emboldens us to step out of our comfort zone and do the sometimes intimidating job of mentoring. So we throw off insecurity and say yes to every crazy idea God gives us knowing it’s not about what we have to give, but about trusting the One who’s leading us.

[Tweet “To boldly say yes when God calls us to mentor or disciple others, we must also trust Him with the outcome.”]

To boldly say yes when God calls us to mentor or disciple others, we must also trust Him with the outcome. In the past, I didn’t open myself up to mentoring because I was simply afraid no one would show up, or that the group wouldn’t be successful. I believed the outcome of my leadership was all on me. And that left me paralyzed.

I was frozen in fear and insecurity thinking it was necessary to possess all the answers for the women I mentored. But when I changed my mindset, having faith God called me to that post, He provided me with strength and wisdom through His Holy Spirit, and the pressure subsided. And even if it didn’t turn out the way I expected, I learned to trust that was part of God’s plan too.

So no, I’ve never been a perfect leader, and I doubt I ever will be, but God showed up each week to that Bible study as I committed to love and serve others. As I continue to cast my net despite my fears and insecurities, God has built friendships, grown my faith, and healed my heart.

Who is God calling you to reach out to? What fear is holding you back?

[Tweet “Trust that God knows exactly who you are, your weakness and strengths, and wants to use you to encourage and mentor others.”]

Trust that God knows exactly who you are, your weakness and strengths, and wants to use you to encourage and mentor others. He will be glorified as you faithfully say yes!

If you’re looking at the following picture and wondering why I have stuffed animal sheep on the stage with me, read a little about my Feed My Sheep Story and my testimony.

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

May 13, 2019

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In Today’s Culture, I Might Have Been Aborted

“I wouldn’t have had you if I knew I would be passing on health issues to you!” My mom said to me.

As states are rapid-fire passing abortion laws that allow babies to be aborted for any “health” reason, even up through and after delivery, my mother’s words echo in my mind. I was just a young girl and I tried to frame her words in love. But I wondered then, as I do now, why wouldn’t she want me? Were her words coming from a point of regret or concern about my future? She’s gone now and I never asked.

[Tweet “Ultrasounds have made strides in helping to determine when a heart starts beating as new parent’s excitedly watch the development of their baby in mommy’s tummy.”]

Ultrasounds have made strides in helping to determine when a heart starts beating as new parents excitedly watch the development of their baby in mommy’s tummy. There are so many benefits of ultrasounds, especially in letting hesitant mommy’s know their baby is not just tissue or a fetus, but a kicking, smiling, yawning, sleeping, squirming baby boy or girl.

Ultrasounds and amniocentesis also detect early developmental issues. Often a baby’s life can be saved by intrauterine surgery or detecting that the mommy needs to be on bedrest.

[Tweet “Before ultrasounds detecting problems babies would have a chance at life. Today doctors encourage fearful parents to abort “and try again.””]

But these same tests can detect problems that can’t be treated until the baby is born, or maybe not treatable ever.

Before intrauterine technology, those babies would have a chance at life. Today doctors might encourage fearful parents to “abort and try again.” Even though we read story after story of the doctor and the tests being wrong and a beautiful baby boy or girl surprises everyone. A baby almost killed because he or she might not be perfect.

I would’ve been one of those imperfect babies.

Today’s technology could probably detect that I would have a spine with severe debilitating congenital scoliosis. Doctors might have told my first-time parents that without treatment I would be deformed and why not “get rid of me and try again for a better baby next time.” But my mom was pregnant before ultrasounds. Parents had to anxiously wait until their baby was born to even know if they were having a boy or a girl. So I lived.

But as I grew, my mother continually told me to stand up straight and had me standing for hours with my back against the wall hoping my spine would straighten on its own. But it only got worse until doctors told her if I didn’t have surgery to put a metal rod down my spine or be put in traction and wear a plaster cast from just under my ears to my hip bones until I finished growing, my left arm would eventually drag the ground. There was no way to correct the S-shaped curvature, only stop it from getting any worse and I would endure a lifetime of back pain.

She probably repeated in her mind, “I shouldn’t have had you.”

In Today's Culture, I Could've Been Aborted Because I had a deformed spine

At Christmas with my younger sister. The plaster cast you see around my neck went all the way down to my hip bones. I’m bracing myself with my left hand because I could barely sit up.

Or maybe she would’ve started experiencing many of her “health issues,” and when she became pregnant, she didn’t want to pass them on to me. I would be better off not being born. Aborted.

When I had breast cancer three times after she was gone, had she been alive, she might have said again, “I shouldn’t have had you.”

But praise God . . . she did have me.

[Tweet “God had a plan for me like He has for every one of His creations and none of us are perfect.”]

God had a plan for me like He has for every one of His creations and none of us are perfect.

Mothers often express in delight, “My baby is perfect as they count ten toes and fingers, four limbs, two eyes, two ears, one nose and a mouth, but no one really knows what awaits each of us. And that’s a good thing. If we knew a two-year old was going to get cancer, would we not want to have those two precious years with our child? What about if doctors could predict asthma or allergies? Would those be considered enough “health issues” to abort?

Now that they can detect Down’s Syndrome and cleft palates, should those darling children not have a chance at life? Savagely, doctor’s give parents that choice today.

[Tweet “Every life has a purpose, and while we’d like our life to be pure joy and happiness, we’re all going to have challenges.”]

Every life has a purpose, and while we’d like our life to be pure joy and happiness, we’re all going to have challenges. God’s plan is for all His children to be a part of human history for however long or short our time on earth or how imperfect our bodies or minds.

It’s not our call to play God.

[Tweet “It is not our call to play God.”]

Here’s some ways God has used my less than perfect body.

I had a beautiful baby girl, who could’ve possibly had scoliosis, but she doesn’t. I tried so hard to have her while I struggled with infertility and not once did I ever think, “Maybe God doesn’t want me to have a baby.” I love being a mother.
My daughter has three beautiful children. I love being a grandmother.
I have a godly husband who is devoted to Jesus and to me. I love being a wife.
I had the opportunity to start the Woman to Woman Mentoring Ministry over twenty years ago and only God knows the number of women throughout the world who have been, and continue to be, blessed by mentoring relationships. I love being About His Work.
At the age of 50, I became an author! September 2019 will be the release of my twentieth Christian nonfiction book, all written to the glory of God. I love being an author.
I’ve had the opportunity to speak and encourage women throughout the United States and Canada about how to live a life for Christ. I love speaking and mentoring.

It’s true I’ve had, and continue to have, many health issues, but I’m so glad my mother did choose to give me life.

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.

Psalm 139:13-14

In a recent post Don’t Just Cry About It, Do Something, I said one of the things we can do is put a face to the inhumanity of abortion by telling our stories. I’m sure all of you have a story to tell too of someone, maybe you, who might’ve been aborted today. Share with us your story in the comments and tell someone else today! You might just be saving an unborn life.

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

*Opening picture is from the Christian Conservative

February 18, 2019

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God’s Plan for Fathers in Families

Spiritual and Emotional Purpose

To Reflect God’s Character

Practical and Relational Roles

Identity and Development

Biblical and Kingdom Perspective

Summary

The Father of Lies!

God is Our Heavenly Father

My Earthly and Heavenly Father

Two Grieving Father’s Stories!

Why Must You Be Born Again to Become a Christian?

My Born Again Testimony

Share Your Story—Make It Your Testimony

Your Testimony Is Your Witness That Jesus Christ Lives!

Speaking To The ‘Never-Trumpers’

A Changed Man Still in the Fight

Pray for Former President and Republican Presidential Nominee Donald J. Trump’s Spiritual Transformation, Growth, and Reliance on God!

My Follow-Up Interview with Trent about His Political Success Story

Where Does the Bible Say Christians Shouldn’t Get Involved In Politics?

Foreward by Janet Thompson for Beloved Outcast

BECOMING HIS BELOVED By Cherie Denna

Get To Know Cherie Denna

Your Testimony is Your Best Witness

God is Springing Up Revival Throughout Our Country!

Sin Has Consequences

My Second Pardon

What Does It Mean to be A Forgiven Christian?

A Disturbing Lack of Forgiveness Among Evangelicals

We Need a Refresher in Forgiveness

You might have noticed there wasn’t a Monday Morning Blog last week. That was operator error. I had a guest blogger, but I didn’t hit “schedule” and so it only went out on social media but not to my email followers. It was such a great post that I wanted to resend it to all of you.

Throw Out Insecurity and Cast Your Net

By Andrea Chatelain

Here’s some ways God has used my less than perfect body.

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