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White is A Color Too!

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Four liberal Democrat Congresswomen have deemed themselves “Women of Color” and the mainstream media has taken up the mantra. Their intent is to insinuate that if you disagree with the gibberish they spout then you’re “racist” because it’s their color you’re questioning and not the outrageous vile and anti-American comments coming out of their mouth and on social media.

They can’t call themselves “black” because they’re not all black, even though the original threesome has now added a fourth black freshman congresswoman to their hit squad, which they think now legitimizes better their racist accusations. Don’t think you can fool the American people with that sly trick, but she fits in quite well with the craziness of the other three.

[Tweet “The “squad” thinks that “women of color” will somehow deflect their own bigotry towards Jews and verbal attacks against anyone who disagrees with them”]

They think that “women of color” will somehow deflect their own bigotry towards Jews and verbal attacks against anyone who disagrees with them. As if playing the victim card will guard against any kind of push back because then not only are you racist, you’re misogynist if you criticize their actions and attitudes. There can be no other reason you would take issue with their socialist identity and ideological policies.

[Tweet “Notice men aren’t going around calling themselves “men of color.””]

Notice men aren’t going around calling themselves “men of color.”

[Tweet “I’ve got news for the hit squad; we’re all men and women of color! Who do you know that doesn’t have skin color?”]

Well I’ve got news for these four women; we’re all men and women of color! Who do you know that doesn’t have skin color? When given an option for a choice of “color” in online clothing selections, brown and black are not your only “color” choices, white is a color choice too. It’s a color. For those of you who are physics buffs, here’s another explanation in an article Are Black and White Colors?

It depends on how you want to define color. If color is solely the way physics describes it, the visible spectrum of light waves, then black and white are outcasts and don’t count as true, physical colors. Colors like white and pink are not present in the spectrum because they are the result of our eyes’ mixing wavelengths of light. White is what we see when all wavelengths of light are reflected off an object, while pink is a mix of the red and violet wavelengths. Black, on the other hand, is what our eyes see in a space that reflects very little light at all. That’s why, if you enter a room with the lights turned off, everything is dark and black. If you include in the definition of color, however, all of the ways in which human eyes process light and the lack of it, then black and white, as well as pink, earn their places in the crayon box.

But in life we don’t get a choice of the color of our skin and no one should be singled out over something they have no control over, nor should they try to use it to their advantage and hide behind it as these four women are doing.

Might I add a few more points before we look at what we can learn from these four women:

  1. We can agree that the term “colored” is racist when referring to a black person. I find it interesting and questionable that these four women have decided to reintroduce “color” back into the conversation of race and no one has called them on it. Instead, everyone is echoing the term they concocted and making it acceptable.
  2. They denounce Caucasians. Anyone who is “white” and disagrees with them is not only a racist but a “white supremacist,” or “white privileged.” In fear of the freshmen squad, even seasoned Democrat political pundits are apologizing because they’re white?! Not because they’re a socialist, advocating for open borders, taking away your health insurance and guns, raising taxes, letting felons out of jail or even vote, legalizing drugs, doing away with airplanes and cars, killing babies, and on and on…no because something they have no control over, the color of their skin, is an abomination!!!
  3. They are unapologetically anti-Semites while calling others Nazis.
  4. They play the race card when they don’t like something said about them, but hide behind the First Amendment when they say something offensive. And they’re not the only liberals doing this.
  5. They lie and liberals and the mainstream media make excuses, ignore, or spread the lies.

[Tweet “The so called “women of color” play the race card when they don’t like something said about them, but hide behind the First Amendment when they say something offensive.”]

So what can we learn from four freshmen Congresswomen who no one had heard of before the 2018 election but have managed to dangerously dominate the media and hijack the Democrat party towards the radical left.

They’ve figured out that people pay attention to you and listen—

  1. When you boldly and passionately profess your beliefs and don’t back down when questioned about their validity
  2. When you seize every opportunity to state your beliefs publically
  3. When you don’t apologize for your views
  4. When you push back against the norm

These four women are doing exactly these four things to try an make America into their own ideology that appears to be selfishly and systematically intent on demolishing American Democracy, American History, and the Constitutional freedoms we enjoy.

Why are we letting them dominate the conversation with lies when we know the Truth?!

What if we applied the above four points to courageously sharing our faith in Jesus. I guarantee people would be listening to us too if we—

  1. Boldly and passionately profess our beliefs and don’t back down when questioned about their validity
  2. Seize every opportunity to state our beliefs publically
  3. Don’t apologize for our views
  4. Push back against the cultural norm

[Tweet “No matter what the color of our skin, our heritage, our genealogy, as Christians we are new creations”]

No matter what the color of our skin, our heritage, our genealogy . . . as Christians we are new creations. One people—brothers and sisters in Christ—united in our faith. We believe that there is only one God and one way to heaven through His Son, Jesus Christ. And we won’t be silenced, intimidated, or threatened!

[Tweet “No matter what the color of our skin, our heritage, our genealogy . . . as Christians we are new creations”]

There are still so many in our world who need to hear that Christ died for the unsaved of every creed and nation–even those who blaspheme and oppose him now. God can change them and change their hearts. He is the God of the impossible. Don’t give up, don’t lose hope.

It’s time we take back our country for God — that’s the only “True Deal” that will save our country. It’s not new and it’s not green! 

Jesus Loves the Little Children

Jesus loves the little children
All the children of the world
Red, brown, yellow
Black and white
They are precious in His sight
Jesus loves the little children
Of the world

Jesus died for all the children
All the children of the world
Red, brown, yellow
Black and white
They are precious in His sight
Jesus died for all the children
Of the world.

Jesus rose for all the children
All the children of the world
Red, brown, yellow
Black and white
They are precious in His sight
Jesus rose for all the children
Of the world

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An insightful interview with Mark Levin and Dr. Charles Kessler: The left sees political correctness as ‘established religion’, shuns dissenters.

 

July 22, 2019
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What If God Erased “Offensive” Bible History?

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What if God Erased Offensive Bible History

Every day a part of our rich American history and heritage is torn down, renamed, demolished, disintegrated, and defamed–America’s founders, past presidents, originators of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and Declaration of Independence, warriors who led battles to free America and free the slaves, or someone or something that happens to offend “someone”–erased!

[Tweet “Every day a part of our rich American history and heritage is torn down, renamed, disintegrated, or defamed”]

Even during the 4th of July a former athlete tried to defame Betsy Ross who was a Quaker, twice a widow, who never owned slaves, designed and made an American flag representing the first 13 colonies . . . just because she lived during the time of slavery. He called the flag racist?! BTW, past-President Obama, who is black, displayed the Betsy Ross flag at his 2nd inauguration, but somehow Nike didn’t do their research. They listened to one man, yes one man who identifies as the resistance.

Nike went from patriotic to idiotic!!!

[Tweet “Nike went from patriotic to idiotic!!!”]

Slavery was a horrible abomination in early America. There’s no denying or justifying it, but we can’t change the past we can only learn from it. If the same “purests” eradicating our country’s history looked into the personal lives of every president since Washington, they would need to remove all of them and no one running for president could be elected today.

[Tweet “If these same “purest” eradicating our history were to look into the personal lives of every president since Washington, they would need to remove all of them”]

Every human has flaws, failures, mistakes, and wrong decisions because we’re fallible humans. And the people leading the charge to destroy and whitewash our history, also have baggage that would disqualify them by their own standards. Who is even qualified to set those standards?

[Tweet “We don’t honor people because they were perfect. No one would qualify for a tribute.”]

We don’t honor people because they were perfect. No one would qualify.

There was, and will only be, ONE perfect man who ever walked this earth. None has ever matched Jesus’s perfection, nor will there ever be another like Him, yet the resistance didn’t honor Him, they crucified him.

[Tweet “There was, and will only be, ONE perfect man who ever walked this earth. None has ever matched Jesus’s perfection, nor will there ever be another like Him, yet the resistance crucified him”]

History is always comprised of the good times and the bad times, but today many would tell you it was all bad and we must erase every memory—good and bad—in their biased opinion. Who exactly is making the decision to eradicate history and where are those who should be pushing back?

[Tweet “The Bible is the only Book you can truly believe because it is the inspired Word of God not manipulations by men.”]

The Bible is the only “history” Book you can truly believe because it is the inspired Word of God not the manipulations of men. God shares evil and good, wrong and right, painful and joyful history since the beginning of time.

 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

A friend recently wrote on Facebook:

“This is why I believe God inspired the Bible. If men had written it, all of their sins would’ve been left out. I see some people and political leaders, and some colleges trying to erase the horrible history of slavery of our nation, but as George Santayana said, ‘Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.’”

Let’s look at what the Bible might look like if God eliminated topics that might offend someone, which erroneously many churches are attempting to do today.

Adam and Eve wouldn’t be created as only two genders–male and female–and wouldn’t have married, establishing that marriage is solely between a man and woman and sex is for the confines of marriage.

The story of Moses leading the Israelite slaves to freedom couldn’t be told because his adopted mother had slaves and he was a murderer. The 10 Commandments that God spoke to Moses convicts and annoys too many people, so the Pentateuch written by Moses (the first five books of the Bible) must be erased.

Noah couldn’t keep the animals cooped up on the ark for 370 days. That offends animal rights groups

Abraham’s wife Sarah had an Egyptian slave, Hagar, so Abraham couldn’t be God’s choice to father the great nation of Israel.

Worshippers of Baal and Molech couldn’t be faulted for sacrificing their children—it was their reproductive right and choice!

David was a man after God’s own heart and a King who loved and served God. David wasn’t inclusive to other gods and he didn’t separate church and state. So gone with every book in the Bible that mentions him and most of the Psalms.

Solomon was too wealthy so exclude Proverbs, the Song of Solomon, and Ecclesiastes.

Paul preached incessantly and persistently about sin, no matter how many times he was imprisoned. He was judgemental.
“Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.

28 Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. 32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.” Romans 1:26-32.

So all 14 Books of the New Testament that Paul wrote must be deleted because someone will surely be offended by hearing their choices are sinful.

The Four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, tell the story of Jesus’s life and ministry. But Jesus had the audacity to say that He exclusively, not inclusively, was the only way to salvation, but everyone could be included if they believed that: “I [Jesus] am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

[Tweet “What parts of the Bible would remain if someone thought we shouldn’t know the truth about biblical history, creation, the fall of man?”]

What parts of the Bible would remain if someone thought we shouldn’t know the truth about biblical history, creation, the fall of man, the hope of salvation? The failings of some good people who God still used in mighty ways? And the death of His innocent Son so that everyone who believes in Jesus could be forgiven. The opportunity to learn from past history and the redemptive stories from the Bible help us become godly people who work at making our world a better place.

We can prevent the mistakes of the past from becoming our present and learn how to create a better future for our world and ourselves.

What if man and not God wrote the Bible? Probably the only remaining Book would be Judges where everyone did what was right in their own eyes. Ah yes, now that’s history our culture could identify with today.

Even now, just like with our American heritage, the secularists are trying to eliminate any replica of our Christian heritage. What they’ll never understand is that Jesus doesn’t live in symbols; He lives in a believer’s heart. They could take down every Cross and 10 Commandments and still they could never eliminate Jesus. They can’t erase American or biblical history as long as one generation continues to tell the next generation. One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts. Psalm 145:4

If not, our past mistakes in the world will sadly become our future. You see it right now, with Democrat pundits trying to convince free Americans that slavery to a socialist government is a good thing. Maybe that’s really the motive behind wiping out any memory or reminder of the evils of slavery so those who want control could again enslave free people.

[Tweet “Democrat pundits try to convince free Americans that slavery to a socialist government is a good thing. Maybe that’s really the motive behind wiping out any memory or relic reminder of the evils of slavery so those who want control could enslave free people yet calling it justice.”]

As Christians, we each have a past but we’ve given our lives to Jesus to create our future. We can’t try to whitewash or erase our own life history like it never happened, but we can learn from it and let God use it to help someone else when we share our testimony. We bravely remember where we’ve been, so we can help someone else not make our past their future.

[Tweet “As Christians, we each have a past but we’ve given our lives to Jesus to create our future”]

And that’s why God doesn’t whitewash or erase “offensive” parts of the Bible. It’s all there from Genesis to Revelation. It’s ugly what men and women can do when sin rules in their life, but life is beautiful with Jesus.

You might also enjoy my blog The 4th of July is for Proud Americans.

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

July 8, 2019
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Where Are the Christian Abolitionists?

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“Awareness without action is apathy.”

I heard Dr. Jeff Brodsky say this slogan when he was on The Mike Huckabee show on TBN as one of “Huck’s Heroes.” It’s the theme of Dr. Brodsky’s ministry Joy International: The purpose of JOY International® is to be involved in, or help to coordinate, the rescue, restoration, reintegration, and prevention of the commercial sexual exploitation of children domestically and internationally.

When I heard Dr. Brodsky say that phase, I ran to get a pen to write it down. I realized it’s the message God has also laid on my heart as I challenge every Christian to do more than be outraged on social media and in conversation about the atrocities in our society today, but instead to ask yourself what God wants you to do about it.

Yes, of course, we’re to pray, but I think God wants us to do more. He also wants us to pray about what we can do to make a difference. “Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works” (James 2:26 NLT).

If you follow my blogs, you know that I often ask the engaging question: What can you do? What are you doing? What does God want you to do?

One recent blog post challenged readers to do more than put a crying or angry emoji on Facebook, but to ask God what action He wanted you to take about the source of your anger or sadness: What to do With Our Anger Over Evil.

[Tweet “The great abolitionists of the past who took action to free the slaves for example, didn’t have social media to profess their anger over slavery. They did something about it.”]

The great abolitionists of the past who took action to free the slaves for example, didn’t have social media to profess their anger over slavery. They did something about it. They took risks and action. I wonder how long it would have taken for the abolishment of slavery if they could just sit in the comfort of their home and profess anger on social media, but didn’t feel the urge to get out of their chairs and advocate for complete freedom for everyone.

Abolitionism is nothing more or less than the Christian response to evils such as slavery or child sacrifice aka abortion, or child sex trafficking or _____________ fill in the blank. What is God tugging at your heart to get out of your comfort zone and to take action?

The root word of abolitionist is abolish which means: end, destroy, eliminate, eradicate, stop, extinguish, defeat, terminate, and stamp out.

Abolish is more than just making a difference or progress. It’s wiping out completely. 

I was encouraged to read an article “Human Trafficking Victims Call Upon Advocates for Care by Andrew Kepier and Perry Chiaramonte where they noted, “The problem has attracted swarms of advocates and activists dedicated to education, prevention and post-trafficing care for survivors.”

[Tweet “We are seeing progress in the fight against child sacrifice in abortion and sex trafficking, but we shouldn’t be satisfied until it’s abolished.”]

We are seeing progress in the fight against child sacrifice in abortion and sex trafficking of children, but we shouldn’t be satisfied until it’s abolished. Don’t you agree?

So I wonder who will rise above the rest as today’s abolitionists.

Who won’t stop taking action until every baby from conception through birth is rescued from slaughter and receives the God-given gift and right of life? And then the opportunity to live a life free of evil and abuse?

[Tweet “Who won’t stop taking action until every baby from conception is rescued from slaughter and receives life?”]

Who are Today's Abolitionists?

Dr. Brodsky is one of those brave abolitionists who has gone barefoot since July 9, 2010 to bring awareness to child sex slavery and vows to continue until it is abolished. He first took going barefoot as a one-year challenge when he saw so many children in impoverished countries with no shoes:

“After a serious conversation with God, I felt strongly impressed to go barefoot for 1 year in solidarity with these children and the many others who were trafficked or at high risk. Living at 8,990′ elevation in the mountains of Colorado, I knew it would be a challenge (especially during the cold winters), but I decided I would just be extremely careful as I knew I had to do this.”

Then God prompted him to do more:

“I’ve been barefoot ever since. I shared with my wife, family and friends (who thought I lost my mind), that if my going barefoot will motivate just 1 person per year to action in a way that helps me rescue even 1 more child a year, I would go barefoot the rest of my life.”

He continues:

“There are hundreds of organizations who are bringing awareness to the plight of sexually exploited children, but there are just a handful that are devoted to raising funds for the actual rescue of children out of their nightmare life.”

Again, as Jeff states, “Awareness is good, but awareness without action is apathy.”

Read more of his story and the ministry here on Joy International website.

[Tweet “The church has become a place of apathy, and I think that’s why our culture has regressed morally, spiritually, and socially”]

The church has become a place of apathy, and I think that’s why our culture has regressed morally, spiritually, and socially. Not all churches, but so many have failed to address the social and moral issues of our day that go against everything we know is righteous and godly.

Shane Idleman wrote an article discussing this in The Peril of Megachurches–Political Correctness in which he warns: ” . . . it’s sad to see many pastors concerned about offending their audience. After all, whoever has the most social media followers, campuses, or sermon downloads is the way to gauge success, right? Wrong. God judges faithfulness–faithfulness to His Word. Truth about marriage, abortion, socialism, and national security is often neglected, watered-down, or avoided altogether in the hope of not offending members. Please don’t misunderstand: many mega church pastors are doing great things. . .”

And this isn’t only found in megachurches. Smaller churches might try this to gain new members. The article also discusses why it’s important for pastors to be involved in politics as our founding fathers were both political and spiritual.

[Tweet “The fear of making those who are sinning uncomfortable has put many churches into politically correct mode rather than fearing God mode”]

The fear of making those who are sinning uncomfortable has put many churches into politically correct mode rather than fearing God mode. I wrote about that last week, Are Churches too Focused on God’s Love and Not the Fear of God.

Who Will be Today's Abolitionists?

God has asked me to use the writing and speaking gifts He gave me later in my life to challenge Christians and the church to be activists—movers, shakers, lightning rods, champions, advocates—and not apathetic. Some call that brave. I call it a committed Christian.

So I ask: Where does God want you to use your gifts as an abolitionist, advocate, and activist?

I know many of you are activists, advocates, and abolitionists right now. Tell us your story.

Ready set go!

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*Pictures from In His Image Ministries

June 17, 2019
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Eat Your Way to Health by Susan Neal

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I hope you had a blessed Memorial Day weekend as we honor and remember the veterans who died fighting for our freedoms that we enjoy today. We must continue to pray that no one takes away from us those freedoms of life, liberty, justice, and the pursuit of happiness for ALL human beings from the day of conception until the day we depart this earth for our eternal life. For Christians, that means Heaven; for those who have not made Jesus their Lord and Savior, it means an eternity of separation from Jesus. None of us want that for ourselves or anyone we know.

Since I hoped you would all be enjoying the holiday Monday and not on your computers or phones, I saved this informative blog to go out on Tuesday this week rather than my typical Monday Morning Blog.

Susan Neal is our guest blogger today as she gives us tips and reminders of how God designed our bodies to eat the food He created, not food man created in a factory. I know you’ll appreciate her personal testimony of how what we eat can maintain and restore health or destroy it.

You Can Eat Your Way to a Healthy Body

Are you living life to its fullest? Is your health or weight impeding you from serving God to the best of your ability?

[Tweet “Over 50 percent of Americans live with a chronic illness and 40 percent suffer from obesity.”]

Over 50 percent of Americans live with a chronic illness and 40 percent suffer from obesity. Jesus told us, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:10 NASB).

[Tweet “The decline in the health of Americans correlates with the food we eat.”]

The decline in the health of Americans correlates with the food we eat. Processed and fast foods are loaded with calories but lack nutrients. Often, we eat foods created by food manufacturers versus created by God.

Eat God’s Food

Let’s check out what God told us to eat.

“Then God said, ‘Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food’” (Genesis 1:29 NLT). A seed-bearing plant produces seeds we can plant again, such as grains and vegetables.

Fruits are so delicious they’re like God’s candy.

Instead of eating a dish of ice cream, eat a juicy strawberry, tangy green apple, or crunchy pomegranate. Fruits are not just juicy and sweet, but also provide the body with nutrients our bodies need to be healthy.

[Tweet “God created over a hundred different vegetables because the human body needs various nutrients.”]

God created over a hundred different vegetables because the human body needs various nutrients.

For example, spinach contains vitamins A and K, whereas broccoli is full of vitamin E. God gave us a variety to choose from to ensure we get the proper amounts of fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

Grains provide carbohydrates the body uses for energy.

We have an assortment of grains to choose from amaranth, barley, buckwheat, millet, oats, quinoa, rice, rye, wheat, and wild rice. Two grains I do not recommend are white rice and wheat, because of today’s processing methods with the nutrients stripped away; all others are beneficial.

Nuts are excellent sources of protein.

Again, God created numerous varieties to choose from including almond, Brazil, cashew, chestnut, hazelnut, macadamia, pecan, pistachio, pine, and walnut. Be sure to buy raw nuts because they contain more nutrition in their natural, raw form instead of roasted, salted, or sugar coated. Nuts are full of omega 3 oils, which are essential for brain function.

After the flood, God introduced meat into the human diet—another source of protein.

Seeds are full of trace minerals the human body needs, but in small amounts. God gave us chia, flax, hemp, poppy, pumpkin, sesame, and sunflower seeds.

[Tweet “Since God made us, he knows what our bodies require, and he provides it in different ways.”]

Since God made us, he knows what our bodies require, and he provides it in different ways. Today, many consume “food-like” substances packaged in colorful boxes and bags and laced with ingredients that get us hooked on tantalizing flavors.

[Tweet “Have you succumbed to eating the standard American diet?”]

Have you succumbed to eating the standard American diet?

Eight years ago, I lost my health. I could not serve God well. I fought nutritionally to get my health back and my weight under control. Did you know that you could improve your well-being simply by changing the foods you eat? I did and so can you.

Eat Your Way into a God healthy Body

Change Your Mindset

[Tweet “Changing your lifestyle begins with changing your mindset.”]

Changing your lifestyle begins with changing your mindset. Gain knowledge to understand that processed foods stripped of their God-given nutrients and enriched with synthetic vitamins, are not healthy for the human body. This includes all foods made from white flour.

Every time you sit down to eat, evaluate whether God created the food, like a baked potato, or a manufacturer created it, like potato chips. When you consume foods God created, your body and mind may heal from numerous ailments—mine did.

[Tweet “God knew what he was doing when he created nutrient-rich foods for us to consume.”]

God knew what he was doing when he created nutrient-rich foods for us to consume. They not only provide what our body needs, but they are delicious to enjoy as well.

[Tweet “When you take care of your body by eating God’s natural foods, as close to harvest as possible, you’re happier and healthier.”]

Jesus wants us to live an abundant life. When you take care of your body by eating God’s natural foods, as close to harvest as possible, you’re happier and healthier.

What is one change you can make to improve your eating habits?

 Susan Neal Bio

Susan Neal RN, MBA, MHS, lives her life with a passion to help others improve their health so they can serve God better. She is a Certified Health and Wellness Coach with the American Association of Christian Counselors. Her mission is to improve the health of the body of Christ. She is the author of six healthy living books including Healthy Living Journal and Healthy Living Series: 3 Books in 1. Her best-seller 7 Steps to Get Off Sugar and Carbohydrates, a Selah award winner, sold over 5000 copies in its first thirteen months. You can find her on SusanUNeal.com.

Janet’s Note: You might also enjoy my blog post on reading labels. I read every label of food I’m not buying fresh. If you don’t recognize an ingredient, or you do and know it’s not good for you, don’t put it in your temple.

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

May 28, 2019
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5 Examples of How to Join God in Bringing Good Out of Evil Intent

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How Does God Want Us to Bring Good Out of Evil?

I struggled with what to write this week. As I prayed, God kept bringing to mind two thoughts: Lying always backfires and evil is being exposed.

If you haven’t read my last two blog posts, I hope you will. I’ve received many encouraging comments that they might be the best I’ve ever written and to that I say, “To God be the Glory!” I honestly never know what He’s going to ask me to share with you. I pray and sit down at the computer and suddenly I have a blog post. I often read it later and am amazed at what I wrote. Only God.

10 Things You Can Do in a World Gone Mad!

How Not Mentoring Millennials Implodes a Political Party. What Can the Church Learn?

Everyone Knows The Difference Between Good and Evil

Since Satan enticed Adam and Eve to eat from the fruit of the Tree of Good and Evil in the Garden of Eden, humanity has known the difference between good and evil, truth and lies.

15 The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it.16 But the Lord God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden— 17 except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.” Genesis 2:15-17 (NLT)

Satan: “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:5

Everyone, even those who choose to do evil and lie, has a conscience. They know the difference between right and wrong . . . except maybe psychopaths

It’s a matter of whether we choose to make evil or good our guiding life force. Tell the truth or lie to our own advantage. You don’t have to be a Christian to make that choice. Even unbelievers can do good and be truthful.

[Tweet “Our choices between good and evil usually come down to whether we’re self-centered or other-centered.”]

Our choices between good and evil usually come down to whether we’re self-centered or other-centered. Caring only about our own selfish desires or caring more about others than ourselves. Again, you don’t have to be a Christian to make the choice to do good, but Christians should always make that choice.

When I hear politicians and pro-choice advocates expound that every woman should have a choice with her body, I want someone to challenge them with asking, “A choice to do what? Good or evil?”

Let’s look at 5 examples of how we can join God in bringing good out of evil intents.

1. Abortion

Many agree that abortion is evil, but until recently how many really did anything about it. Yes, there were annual walks for life and pro-life advocates, but few people, even Christians, let the murder of innocent babies keep them awake at night or invade their everyday life.

Then abortion went to the next level of infanticide and everyone started taking notice. When New York approved abortion up and through delivery and lit up the city in pink to celebrate this evil, the governor of Virginia told us in graphic terms that a baby who survives an abortion could be left to die, and Congress voted to legalize infanticide . . . suddenly we were kept up at night. We were appalled. We couldn’t ignore that 50 million innocent souls are tortured to death in their mommy’s tummy every year.

[Tweet “We can’t ignore that 50 million innocent souls are tortured to death in their mommy’s tummy every year.”]

Social media lit up with graphic pictures and descriptions of the atrocities of abortion. The mainstream liberal media, as usual, wouldn’t touch the topic, but FOX News did. You’d have to be a hermit today to not know what happens to babies during abortion.

So how could this publicity about the atrocities of abortion be used for good?

Pushing the envelope to late-term abortions and infanticide has now made abortion a topic of discussion and disgust.

There’s renewed hope and fervor for overturning Roe vs Wade. We must keep the momentum going when the publicity dies down.

We can’t become complacent again while murder of innocent babies happens in our own hometowns every single day!

Women who have long suffered with the guilt of abortion have an opportunity to use their story for good by sharing their testimonies and turning the bad in their life into good by helping to save more babies. We can pray for these mothers and share with them the forgiveness that comes through a relationship with Jesus Christ.

A young dad who had no say in the death of his own baby when his girlfriend chose abortion, has now brought an unprecedented legal case for the rights of fathers.

We can send a message to Congress that all newborn babies should be welcomed with warmth and care, and join thousands of Americans in a End Birth Day Abortion campaign.

End birthday abortion. Stop infaniticide.

[Tweet “See the movie Unplanned releasing March 29. Tell all your friends about this movie and encourage mothers to take their teenage daughters and sons.“]

Go see the movie Unplanned releasing March 29. The true story of former Planned Parenthood Director, Abby Johnson, who suddenly saw the evils of abortion and became a pro-life advocate. A former abortion doctor has a role in the movie also.

Tell all your friends about Unplanned and encourage mothers to take their teenage daughters and sons. The movie is by the same producers who made God’s Not Dead. It has an R rating only because Hollywood promotes abortion and they’re trying to discourage people from seeing it.

[Tweet “Only God could bring out the movie Unplanned at a time when abortion is in the national discussion. We can work with God in helping publicize it.”]

Only God could bring this movie out at a time when the atrocities of all abortion is the topic of national discourse. We can work with God in helping publicize Unplanned.

[Tweet “An evil world has made killing babies a political issue. Abortion is a criminal issue. Make it your spiritual issue“]

An evil world has made killing babies a political issue. Abortion is a criminal issue. Make it your spiritual issue.

God created each baby in His image with a unique fingerprint and DNA from the moment of conception. Let’s not be satisfied until the world acknowledges this truth.

As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. — Genesis 50:20 NASB

2. The Mueller Investigation

I know you’re saying, “How could that be used for good?” We’re all so sick of it and it has plagued our president since before he even took office. Now he’s vindicated!

But consider that if there had been no investigation, would we have ever known about the corruption of some in the FBI and Justice Department? Those evil men and women who chose to put their own political interests before the good of the country have been exposed.

And the lies, lies, and more lies of the mainstream liberal media and politicians during this investigation are now boomeranging on them as the Mueller report is released.

Let’s pray for a revival of honesty and truth in our government and that our country can begin to heal. Corruption would continue to be eradicated and God would be brought back into our schools. We would vote into office godly public officials. It starts with we the people!

“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.

Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes
    and clever in their own sight.

22 Woe to those . . . who acquit the guilty for a bribe,
    but deny justice to the innocent.”  Isaiah 5:20-21, 23

3. Democrat Presidential Candidates Running on a Platform of Socialism/Communism

I know again, how could this be good? It’s not. Socialism is evil, but the younger generation and school age kids aren’t being taught that in school. This is our chance to educate them on the evils of socialism, which leads to communism and a dictatorship.

[Tweet “We have a choice. Take action or stay silent while Democrat candidates lie about the freebies of socialism without exposing how it ruins countries.”]

Again, we have a choice. Take action or stay silent while these candidates lie about the freebies of socialism without exposing how it ruins countries and lives. Speak out against their platforms and mentor truth to the next generation. If you don’t, who will?

“For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.” 1 Peter 2:15

4. Suffering

It’s hard to find good in suffering. It’s painful. Dreadful. Costly. Debilitating. Destructive. And yet, it happens to most of us at some time in our life. We try to avoid it by taking good care of our bodies, eating healthy, exercising, and taking vitamins. But one day we can’t outrun the diagnosis that stops us in our tracks. We want to deny it, but we can’t.

While in the moment it seems all about us, maybe God actually wants us to use our suffering to help others.

When I first had breast cancer, I wanted to go through surgery and treatment and then move on with my life. The last thing I wanted to do was identify as a breast cancer survivor. Then God took hold of my heart and I wrote the book I wished I had going through my cancer journey, Dear God, They Say It’s Cancer: A Companion Guide for Women on the Breast Cancer Journey. I’ve had many women tell me it was like God and I were walking along beside them during their breast cancer.

I’ll never know how many women God has used to turn evil cancer into a blessing for other breast cancer sisters.

“Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church.” Colossians 1:24

5. Sin

No matter how good we try to be, the evils of sin enter our life often through our wrong choices. But here’s the Good News: at Calvary God traded evil for good. The horrible death of Jesus Christ by evil men, and His ultimate resurrection, ushered in the amazing opportunity of salvation for everyone who chooses to believe in Jesus and receive forgiveness for his or her sins.

23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 24 Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. 25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, 26 for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus. Romans 3:23-26 NLT

[Tweet “For believers, evil doesn’t have the last word in our life. No matter how evil the world becomes, we know that this world is not our final home.”]

For believers, evil doesn’t have the last word in our life. No matter how evil the world becomes, we know that this world is not our final home. We must share that Good News with everyone we know who might not be joining us in eternity.

The best way to exemplify the goodness of our Holy God is to let our Light shine in the midst of a dark unholy world.

“Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast to the word of life . . . .” Philippians 2:14-16

We each have a choice:

Stay silent about evil or expose it.

Turn our backs on evil or work with God to bring good out of it.

“Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.” Romans 12:21(NLT)

Will you share in the comments where you’ve worked with God to bring good out of what Satan meant for evil.

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

You might also enjoy a slide how I wrote for Crosswalk.com 10 Powerful Gifts to Pass to the Next Generation. 

March 25, 2019
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Words Matter

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Words Matter When You're Using Substitutes for Profanity

“Dude!” My thirteen-year-old granddaughter said to me. It caught me off guard and then we both laughed. It’s a word she and her peers use talking to each other. I think she says it so often, that it didn’t even connect she was talking to Grammie. I took it as a compliment that she considered me “one of the girls.”

But there are other words that I do take issue with and I take the time to explain to all the kids why they’re not acceptable or appropriate. The culture has substituted commonly used words for vulgar words, and when you look up the definitions, you learn that they have the same profane meaning.

I don’t want my grandsons and granddaughters to become accustomed to using these substitute profanity words, usually said in anger towards someone else or something they’ve done themselves that makes them mad. Or other times, they’re using what I call “lazy language” instead of expressing their feelings. And it’s not just kids. Christian adults do it too.

[Tweet “Nowhere in the Bible will you see God approving of us using worldly language. “]

Nowhere in the Bible will you see God approving of us using “worldly” language. In fact, he says we’re supposed to be in the world, but not of the world. (John 17:15-17) He wants us to be examples of how to deal with frustration or anger without resorting to profanity or words that mean the same thing.

You may think I’m over the top on this, but I don’t think living a pure and righteous life for the world to see—and teaching the next generation to do likewise—is going too far. God tells us to, “Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (2 Tim. 2:22).

Jesus warns, “For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.'” (Matt. 12:34). So whatever is in our heart, is what comes out of our mouth. If you hear yourself, or your kids, saying some of the following words, do a heart check. What caused the outburst? Why are you that angry? Why have the world’s euphemisms slipped into your . . . or their . . . vocabulary?

There will be some who will say that using these words are the only way to reach the next generation, and to that I would say . . . that’s a rationalization directly from Satan, not from God. Or Satan convinces you that if you don’t talk trash, kids will not think you’re relevant. Try and find one example of the Bible making that point. Instead, it says:

“But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea. What sorrow awaits the world, because it tempts people to sin. Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting.” Matthew 18:6-7 (NLT)

When Satan tempted Jesus in the desert, Jesus didn’t start cursing at him. Jesus used the Sword of the Spirit, The Word of God.

So I know you’ll be surprised to see some of these words in a blog from me, but it is disturbing how often we hear them causally used, even by Christians. I’m going to use xxx for the vile word. But sadly, I know like me, your mind will fill in the word.

I’ve looked up these definitions of commonly used offensive euphemisms or phrases.

For starters this is what euphemism means:

noun 
a mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be too harsh or blunt when referring to something unpleasant or embarrassing.
  1. “friggin’,” “frickin’,” or “freakin’”

“Frickin’ is a minced oath, because it has no real meaning of its own but is used because of its sound similarity with “fxxxing.” In other words, “fxxxing” has to be common before anyone would know what you were saying when you say “fricking.”

It was a vulgar word, not used in polite society, but not originally a swear word as such. Nowadays “frigging” is used as a euphemism for “fxxxing,” both the act and the word. It is a swear word but not an extreme one.”

I’m sorry, but there is no degree of swearing. Profanity is profanity. You notice how the definition says it was considered a vulgar word in the past but not now. The culture has normalized it, as well as the “F” word it replaces, and you hear these words used all the time.

  1. “Crap”—is usually said in anger or frustration. Or to describe something undesirable. When you look at the definitions below, it’s clear this has become a more “acceptable” word for another “four-letter” word. It could also mean describing clutter or useless items. Why not just say clutter or junk?

noun

  1. something of extremely poor quality
  2. excrement

verb: defecate.

Pretty disgusting!

Blasphemy 
noun
  1. “OMG”—This stands for “Oh my God” and is usually used as an exclamation not in reverence. It’s taking the Lord’s name in vain, unless used to praise the Lord. Like Satan did with Eve, he whispers in your ear, “Did God really say you shouldn’t say this?” Actually, yes, He did. Ex 20:7 “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.”
  2. “Jesus!” Or “Jesus Christ!” Yes our precious Lord and Savior’s name when said in frustration, anger, or to exclaim about something unbelievable, not respectful, is profane blasphemy. Recently, Tim Tebow a vocal Christian athlete displayed an amazing golf swing and someone yelled, “Jesus!” Tebow’s quick response, “loves you.”
    [Tweet “Tim Tebow a vocal Christian hit an amazing golf swing and someone yelled, “Jesus!” Tebow’s quick response, “loves you.””]

That’s exactly what we all want to become proficient at doing. Coming up with a response that’s not offensive or scolding, but let’s the other person know in a kind way it wasn’t appropriate.

As for our children and grandchildren, we want to remind them of Proverbs 8:8, “All the words of my mouth are just; none of them is crooked or perverse.” Like every area of raising children, train them in the way they should talk.

[Tweet “Like every area of raising children, train them in the way they should talk.”]

These are just a few words that matter and I’m sure you could come up with more.

What other word do you hear that are inappropriate for Christians?

Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips. Psalm 141:3

May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
    be pleasing in your sight,
    Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. Ps 19:14

You might also want to read my blog “Oh Be Careful Little Ears What You Hear.”

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

February 25, 2019
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In Today’s Culture, I Might Have Been Aborted

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In Today's Culture I Could've 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.

In Today's Culture, I Could Have Been Aborted

[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.

  1. 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.
  2. My daughter has three beautiful children. I love being a grandmother.
  3. I have a godly husband who is devoted to Jesus and to me. I love being a wife.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
14 Thank 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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Tell Me the Old, Old Story of Jesus and His Love

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Tell me the old old story of Jesus and His love in your testimony

Several weeks ago, Dave and I flew into Alamosa, CO. to keynote at the Southern Colorado Women’s Conference. We met a wonderful group of women, and I’m pictured above with the sweet women who worked so hard to make this annual conference possible. Dave and I had quite an adventure as we took an 8-seater tiny plane from Denver to Alamosa. Let’s just say my 6’4’ hubby had to bend in half to get to his seat. When we arrived, only his bag arrived with us!

Treasured memories. That’s a cedar chest in the center made by the pastor for his lovely wife Kay!

The theme of the conference was “Remembering the Goodness of God,” which the conference coordinator chose after reading my book, Forsaken God?: Remembering the Goodness of God Our Culture Has Forgotten. The decorations were amazing designed to help us remember our treasures. Dave has traveled with me to many conferences and retreats and he said he’d never seen such beautiful and detailed decor.

On Friday night, I gave my testimony, and then Saturday morning, I talked about eight of the twenty-three ways I share in Forsaken God? to remember God’s goodness in your life, starting with sharing your testimony. There’s no greater witness to God’s goodness than sharing what he has done in your life. No one can question your testimony because it’s your personal experience.

[Tweet “There’s no greater witness to God’s goodness than sharing what he has done in your life.”]

 We often start conversations with questions like:

  • How was your day?
  • What’s going on in your life?
  • How are you doing?

Or when meeting someone new:

  • Where do you live?
  • What do you do for a living?
  • What church do you attend?
  • Where did you and your husband meet?

But when is the last time you asked:

  • What is your spiritual journey?
  • What’s your salvation story?

When’s the last time you told someone about your spiritual/salvation story?

Many think the Great Commission is just for the disciples and pastors, but it’s for every follower and believer of Jesus Christ. You don’t have to be an evangelist to share your story.

[Tweet “There’s no greater witness to God’s goodness than sharing what he has done in your life.”]

God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age. (Matt. 28:18–20 The Message)

You and I are Christians today because those twelve disciples did just what Jesus instructed them to do. They shared the gospel they had experienced with anyone who would listen . . . and with many who didn’t listen.

We receive the Advocate—the Holy Spirit—when we become Christians and our charge is the same as the disciples: you must testify with everyone you meet.

You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven. (Matt. 5:14–16 The Message)

[Tweet “Your spiritual journey is your testimony that describes your life before you turned it over—or returned—to God”]

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’re a living example of how good God really is!

[Tweet “God can use every experience for His good and glory”]

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 to his goodness.

Ways to Remember God’s Goodness—Share Your Story—Make It Your Testimony

[Tweet “The most effective encouragement for trusting God in the present is remembering His Goodness in the past.”]

The most effective encouragement for trusting God in the present is remembering His Goodness in the past. As we mature spiritually, we move beyond just remembering God’s goodness for our own benefit and start retelling our testimony to help others.

Every time you give God the glory for something in your life, you testify to God’s goodness.

[Tweet “Sometimes God redeems your story by surrounding you with people who need to hear your past so it doesn’t become their future”]

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.

Being willing to share how God helped you through difficult times 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.

[Tweet “Revealing is the first step to healing.”]

Revealing is the first step to healing.

Your story doesn’t have to have a “happy ending” for you to share it. You give your testimony to show God’s faithfulness regardless of the circumstances, and to assure others they’re not alone or to stop someone else from making the same mistakes you did.

Every day you encounter opportunities to share your testimony, and every time you tell it, you’ll remember how good God has been to you. Let your loving heavenly Father guide you.

Sometimes you’ll only share a short snippet—less than three-minute—an “elevator testimony.” Other times, the whole story.

Tell me the Old Old STory of Jesus and His Love as your testimony

Women sharing their 3-minute testimony with each other.

Don’t dramatize how bad you were; characterize how good God is!

Your story becomes your testimony when the focus is on God, not on you.

[Tweet “Your story becomes your testimony when the focus is on God, not on you.”]

Don’t tell graphic details or 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.

If you haven’t written out your spiritual testimony, think of it in five parts:

  • Your life before Jesus.
  • How, when, why you realized you needed a Savior.
  • Making the commitment, or re-commitment, and surrendering your life to Jesus.
  • The change in your life since becoming a Christian.
  • What being a Christian means to you. How does knowing Jesus help you do life?

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, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. (1 Pet. 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 . . .

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

“And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.” —1 John 5:11–12

But as for me, how good it is to be near God!

I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter,

and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.

—Psalm 73:28 NLT

What testimony does God want you to share and who needs to hear it? Who needs to know the reason for your hope?

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*This blog uses excerpts from Forsaken God? Remembering the Goodness of God Our Culture Has Forgotten.

Remember the goodness of God so you don't forsake Him in your life.

 

October 22, 2018
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What is Your Holy Adventure? By DiAnn Mills

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Good afternoon! Did you miss my Monday Morning Blog yesterday? I was away this past long weekend for a wonderful holy adventure speaking at the Southern Colorado Women’s Conference held at Calvary Bible Chapel in Alamosa, Colorado. What a wonderful time of sharing with a group of beautiful women as we talked about Remembering God’s Goodness! You might recognize that they picked the topic from my book Forsaken God?: Remembering the Goodness of God Our Culture Has Forgotten. 

Dave and I arrived home from this trip Sunday night, and I was happily poured out for the Lord and in need of rest, so it’s a Tuesday Afternoon Blog this week. I hope you’ll enjoy our guest blogger and dear author friend of mine DiAnn Mills’ post today. DiAnn has a new book Burden of Proof releasing today and she’s graciously offered one of you a free book. I’ve loved all of DiAnn’s books, only problem they keep me up too late because I can’t put them down. Just leave a comment on this post to be entered into the drawing to take place this Friday.

Warning: there may not be a Monday Morning Blog next Monday, October 15, or it will be the next day again because  my new book Everyday Brave: Living Courageously as a Woman of Faith is due on the 15th! Yikes!!! I could use your prayers this week.

What is Your Holy Adventure? By DiAnn Mills

DiAnn Mills shares about having a Holy Adventure and her new book Burden of Proof.

Do you have a holy adventure that has touched your heart? Has there been a time in your life when all you had left was a fragile strand of faith in God and what you believed was His purpose for your life?

Did you face opposition and have nowhere to turn?

Were the skills needed to accomplish the fear far beyond your grasp?

Did mistakes become the norm and steps forward came with tremendous sacrifice?

Were tears a part of your daily routine?

Did you wrestle with giving up?

[Tweet “As Christians, if you haven’t had the experience of gut-wrenching fear of the future, and closing your eyes to everything but God—trust me, friends, you will.”]

As Christians, if you haven’t had the experience of gut-wrenching fear of the future, putting your trust in God, and closing your eyes to everything but God—trust me, friends, you will.

When I think I might be alone in whatever I’m going through, my thoughts go back to God. Our stories are never unique, and we can always find a biblical character who survived what seemed like the impossible.

[Tweet “Our stories are never unique, and we can always find a biblical character who survived what seemed like the impossible.”]

Abraham: How could he father a nation without a son from Sarah?

Moses: How could he lead his people out of Egypt with a speech problem and wanted for murder?

Joseph: How could he serve God in prison for a crime he didn’t commit and forsaken by his brothers?

David: How could he lead a nation when all he knew was shepherding?

Ruth: How could she find food for her and Naomi when she was a foreigner in a land that resented her?

Deborah: How could she lead soldiers into battle when she was a woman?

Mary: How could a virgin give birth to the Son of God?

Peter: How could he lead the disciples after Jesus’ resurrection when he’d denied Him three times?

Paul: How could he teach others to Jesus when he’d condoned the deaths and imprisonment of believers?

You and I: How can we follow Christ in a world that scoffs and persecutes Christians?

When facing the challenges of life, how can we move forward?

[Tweet “God is with us and for us. He knows the past, the present, and the future. With him all things are possible.”]

The answer is always the same. God is with us and for us. He knows the past, the present, and the future. With him all things are possible.

Psalm 27:1 ESV

The Lord is my light and my salvation;

whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life;

of whom shall I be afraid?

Psalm 41:13 ESV

For I, the Lord your God,
hold your right hand;
it is I who say to you, “Fear not,
I am the one who helps you.”

Our challenges in life are holy adventures, precious to God. Treasure them, grow from them, and never forget our God Who is in charge.

[Tweet “Our challenges in life are holy adventures, precious to God.”]

Let’s share our holy adventures? What is yours?

Remember DiAnn is offering one free copy of her new book Burden of Proof. Just make a comment below to enter the drawing.

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

DiAnn Mills gives us a holy Adventure in her new book Burden of Proof.

DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She combines unforgettable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels. DiAnn believes every breath of life is someone’s story, so why not capture those moments and create a thrilling adventure?

Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests. Firewall, the first book in her Houston: FBI series, was listed by Library Journal as one of the best Christian Fiction books of 2014.

DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. She is co-director of The Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference and The Mountainside Marketing Conference with social media specialist Edie Melson where she continues her passion of helping other writers be successful. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country.

DiAnn has been termed a coffee snob and roasts her own coffee beans. She’s an avid reader, loves to cook, and believes her grandchildren are the smartest kids in the universe. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas.

DiAnn is very active online and would love to connect with readers on: Facebook, Twitter, or any of the social media platforms listed at diannmills.com

October 9, 2018
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Why We Need Mentoring by Tammy Keene

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Tammy Keene is the leader of the mentoring ministry Touching Another Generation, TAG, at First Baptist Church of Riverview. I’m looking forward to meeting Tammy and speaking at her church in 2019. Tammy knows I’m on a book deadline and offered to write her thoughts on mentoring, and I welcomed them. This will be a two-part post, so check back next week for the conclusion. So here’s Tammy!

Why We Need Mentoring by Tammy Keene

Why We Need Mentoring by Tammy Kenne leadero of Touching Another Generation Mentoring Ministry

I have the privilege of leading my church’s women’s mentoring ministry, Touching Another Generation, TAG. We model our ministry after the Titus 2 woman, and our key verse is Psalm 145:4, “One generation shall praise your works to another and shall declare your mighty acts.”

In the past when I shared my testimony, I would begin with God’s call on my life in 2015. After reflecting on the blessings that I’ve received, God has illuminated another truth in my life, mentoring has been a lifelong process.

[Tweet “Mentoring is a lifelong process”]

Mentoring has enriched my life!

[Tweet “Mentoring is necessary for women”]

Mentoring is necessary for women, and I know that God uniquely designed me and gave me this passion for mentoring.

Janet Thompson’s Woman to Woman Mentoring Ministry DVD kit was an invaluable tool to create a mentoring ministry at my church. Her step-by-step approach provided the information necessary to launch and sustain our mentoring ministry. The kit provided me with a ready-made outline for our first Orientation Coffee and Kickoff Event including the following:

  • From Lucibel Van Atta’s book – Women Encouraging Women:

“Mentoring isn’t just another activity to scrunch into our already over-crowded calendars. It is a relationship, a commitment, a step of faith. A faith defined as giving God the opportunity to fulfill His promise through our lives. And this is indeed what pleases God, ‘And without faith it is impossible to please God’ (Hebrews 11:6).”

  • A Mentor is ‘someone close and trusted and experienced.’ Mentoring requires no special talent. All God asks is for us to take seriously the task of nurturing and building up other women.
  • As Christian women we are to share with another Christian woman how Christ has helped us through the joys and pains of our lives. We are to remind our younger sisters in Christ to go to Christ and let Him walk beside us, comfort us, and guide us.

[Tweet “Mentoring is an intentional relationship, sharing your faith journey with another woman”]

  • Mentoring is an intentional relationship, sharing your faith journey with another woman because women need women!
  • A mentor is someone who has experienced life and is willing to walk alongside of a sister in Christ.
  • A mentee is simply a spiritually younger woman willing to be mentored by an experienced sister in Christ. She may not have all of the answers but she is willing to walk alongside of you.                       

Mentoring is a two-way relationship!

[Tweet “Mentoring is a two-way relationship!”]

           Why mentoring?

  • It’s biblical.

God instructs women to model godly behavior for other women.

3 In the same way, older women are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not slaves to excessive drinking. They are to teach what is good, 4 so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands and to love their children, 5 to be self-controlled, pure, workers at home, kind, and in submission to their husbands, so that God’s word will not be slandered. Titus 2:3-5 (CSB)

The Apostle Paul provides specific instructions for teaching sound doctrine with a specific admonition to women. We’re responsible for training godly women, how else are they to learn what is expected of them?

           Why mentoring?

  • It’s a blessing. God will bless you through the relationship.

Her mouth speaks wisdom, and loving instruction is on her tongue. Proverbs 31:26 (CSB)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort.  Who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort also. 2 Corinthians 1:3-5

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy. Complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord of one mind. Philippians 2:1-2

[Tweet “Mentoring not only blesses us, but we are able to bless others.”]

Mentoring not only blesses us, but we are able to bless others.

A mentor in Janet Thompson’s book, Mentoring for All Seasons, stated: “Comfort with the same comfort we received from God in our difficult season. God puts people in our path going through something we’ve experienced and survived with his help and he expects us to reach out to them with the power of his love, healing, and forgiveness.” (p. 186).

And God is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8

          Why mentoring?

  • It builds you. God will use the mentoring relationship to build your confidence in yourself, but especially your confidence in His Word.

[Tweet “God will use the mentoring relationship to build your confidence in yourself, but especially your confidence in His Word.”]

Having a mature sister in Christ will help keep you focused on putting first things first, which will build your confidence. Character building is encouraged by having a godly woman walking beside you. When you’re in a mentoring relationship, you have another woman to share prayer requests and life challenges. Having a godly woman to walk alongside of you as you walk through life’s daily challenges is a blessing, but it also will illuminate the biblical foundation built through the relationship and the strengthening of your relationship with God.

In the fall of 2014, my husband and I learned that at the end of the year we both would lose our jobs. I know that God was teaching me to trust Him in all things, but especially with our careers. I reached out to my mentor Tisha and asked her to pray for wisdom and discernment with our job search.

As she faithfully prayed, I kept her updated with my search and interviews. It was the middle of January, she prayed that God would knock my socks off and He did. I had seven interviews scheduled in one week! I actually had to cancel one. Tisha was modeling a very important lesson, pray specifically and wait for God to show up! God answered our prayers and my husband and I both had new jobs by March.

How has mentoring blessed your life?

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

Tammy Keene is the founder and leader of Touching Another Generation Mentoring Ministry at First Baptist Church of Riverview. I love this picture of Tammy!

Tammy Keene writes about Why Mentoring Is Necessary

September 24, 2018
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