The Linchpin of Loyalty: With God or the Super Bowl, Hanging Together Wins the Game
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Tag Archives: God
Divine Encounters
Divine Encounters
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Divine encounters come and go. Sometimes we act on them; other times we allow them to pass us by without even giving them a second thought. God places people in our lives with His purposes in mind. It is through people we encounter the opportunities to see God orchestrating our circumstances. A divine encounter might be a majestic incredible moment or it might just be a simple everyday activity like opening the door for someone or giving them your seat on the bus. No matter what, each time we are obedient to his appointments we are opening ourselves up to more appointments. In Mark 4:24 Jesus states, “For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” The more we take advantage of small opportunities to be used by God, the more He will entrust to us. It works similar to credit cards. The more you pay your bills on time, the more credit you might be able to get. If you don’t pay your bills on time, there is less chance for a larger credit limit.
Tweet ThisUsing a Biblical example, let’s look at an incident in David’s life where one ‘unnamed man’ was placed in David’s life for a specific purpose. In 1 Samuel 30, the Philistines rejected David. David’s wives were captured by the Amalekites. Great distress filled David because the people spoke of stoning him, but God miraculously strengthened his soul. David asked God if he should pursue the Amalekites, and God answered, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake and shall surely rescue.” While the Amalekites were dancing and drinking because of the great spoil they just received from the Philistines, David took 400 men to defeat the Amalekites. In a “divine encounter,” David’s men found “an Egyptian in the open country and brought him to David.” David asked him where he was from and he replied, “I am a young man of Egypt, a servant to an Amalekite, and my master left me behind because I fell sick three days ago.” In God’s orchestration, this one man led David to the “rejoicing men” and David’s band of men struck them down! David rescued his wives and his men regained all their losses. God took this one sick man whose master let him stay behind to be the instrument for David’s men to defeat the Amalekites. Some may say this happened by chance, but I believe it was a divine encounter.
Yesterday, I was in a FedEx store for the sole purpose for FedEx to cut the spines off two books and hole-punch the rough draft of a new book I am writing. When the clerk brought out my completed work order, a woman who was standing at the counter next to me, saw the covers on my books and commented on how pretty they were. She noticed that they were Christian books, so she probably felt comfortable asking me if I had a smartphone figuring I might be a nice person. This lady had just stopped by the Fed-Ex store to ask for directions to the Attorney General’s Child Support Building. She had been driving around for 2 hours trying to locate it without success. I assumed she wanted me to find out the location of the office was with my phone. So, after I paid for my order, we moved over to an unoccupied counter and I looked up the directions for her. We introduced ourselves and I proceeded to call the Child Support Office. While being on hold listening to the Child Support Office’s recording requesting me to push Number 1 for this; Number 2 for this; Number 3 for this, and more, Terri was sharing about all her family problems — moving to Texas, her son, and other miscellaneous concerns. I really couldn’t concentrate on all she was saying between being on the telephone and trying to listen to her. But here was a perfect stranger sharing her life with another perfect stranger in a FedEx store. As I was helping her find directions, I knew this was a divine encounter. I gave Terri detailed instructions on how to get to her destinations, which she really needed as the major street she needed to go down was closed, due to Houston’s torrential floods in April 2016. I gave her my Greene Pastures business card and asked her to call me to let me know she arrived at the Child Support office. I haven’t heard from her, but she does have my number.
The point is that God orchestrates even little encounters (some call them divine appointments) in our lives. We may or may not even know why these encounters occur, but God does.
- What are the chances I’d be ministering to a lady who happened to be in a FedEx store just looking for directions?
- What are the chances I knew that the exact route she needed to take had been flooded and was closed? [Remember, this is Houston, Texas with a population of 4.5 million people.]
- What are the chances that I had been to the building she was looking for a few years ago with a friend?
I will not look upon this simple chance meeting as a random meeting. It was a God-orchestrated event to fulfill His purpose.
- I could have ignored her at the counter.
- I could have cut the conversation short and gone on my way!
- I could not have cared.
- I could have missed the opportunity to pray for this lady.
Only God knows the purpose. Maybe she just needed to know someone cares, maybe she just needed directions, maybe she just needed to know there are some good people in life, or maybe it was just that we were supposed to exchange pleasantries. I would love to know what her thoughts were about our encounter, but I probably won’t ever know. But, that’s okay. I know God was guiding me to be nice to this woman. God can use one person or a multitude of people to create divine appointments. To use an everyday cliché, we may be the only Jesus someone sees. And visa versa, they might be the Jesus we need to see.
I decided to look over my prayer requests over the past week. They included:
- Show me what is missing in my ministry;
- Lord, let me stop and smell the roses; and
- Give me creativity in my next blog.
Through this encounter at FedEx, all of these requests were answered — In His time and in His way.
Have you had a divine encounter you would like to share? If not, I trust you will keep your eyes open for your upcoming “FedEx” experience!
Bible Verses:
Be prepared for divine encounters.
Then the Lord said to Moses, “I am about to come to you in a thick cloud in order that the people will hear me talking with you so that they will always trust you.” Moses told the Lord what the people said, and the Lord said to Moses: “Go to the people and take today and tomorrow to make them holy. Have them wash their clothes. Be ready for the third day, because on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai for all the people to see.” Exodus 19:9-11
Divine encounters can change your life.
But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Acts 9:1-5 ESV
Prayer:
Oh Heavenly Father, thank you for being in my life. Thank you ahead of time for the divine appointments you have already planned for me to encounter. I pray that my eyes will recognize how you desire to work in my life. Use me Lord. I love you so much. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
God Bless.
Glorious Friendship
Glorious Friendship
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Have you ever received a GLORIOUS email or letter from a friend? I love it when I get either a beautiful letter (snail mail type letter) or a touching email from a friend.
One Saturday morning, I received an early morning email from a friend saying she had the day free if we wanted to get together. I had told her there was something the Lord wanted me to talk to her about. Understandably, she perceived it as something she did not want to hear. In fact, she said, “Let’s get it over with!”
Even so, plans were made. My husband was going to be gone. She came over and as I usually do when I am with this friend, I make a list of everything we need to cover to be sure we don’t miss any vitally important conversational topics. Yes, I am a list maker — mainly because I don’t want to forget anything I want to talk about.
My friend came. Sitting on my two couches was not intimate enough, so we ended up on the floor leaning against a couch, chatting, sharing family pictures on my computer, and going through the list. She was pleasantly surprised that what I wanted to share with her was not what she was expecting to hear, but she was willing to come expecting a Word from God through me. She did get a Word from God, but not the one she was dreading me to share with her.
We laughed; we were serious; we ate chocolate cake and drank hot “British” tea. We hugged. We parted.
After an entire afternoon of chatting, laughing, and catching up with my friend, the next day I received the following email from her.
Thanks a million for yesterday, ’twas an awesome mother-daughter roll up-your-sleeves and sit on the floor fun day catching up & chowing down a great chocolate cake. We should have one more before you hop home for Christmas. Enjoy a lovely week.
That is what friends are for. To share, to encourage, to love, to give, to receive, to laugh, to be serious with, and to have fun with.
Make time for your friends. Enjoy those times with your friends and be grateful for them. And, if you don’t have friends like that, I pray that you will be able to have the courage to invite someone to share life with you.
In God’s goodness, I turned to my Bible reading plan today. And, guess what? My reading was about the deep friendship David and Jonathan embraced in the Old Testament. As I read 1 Samuel 18-20, I gleaned some dynamic traits found in true friendship.
Characteristics of a Good Friend
- The souls of friends are knit together; 1 Samuel 18:1
- Friends love each other like themselves. 1 Samuel 18:3
- Friends are generous towards each other. 1 Samuel 18:4
- Friends delight in each other. 1 Samuel 19: 1-4
- Friends protect each other from harm. 1 Samuel 20:9
- Friends help each other discern what is best [for each other] and then share it with them. 1 Samuel 20:12-31a
- Friends desire to spend time together. 1 Samuel 20:13b
- Anticipate through the course of a close friendship, others may be jealous of the friendship. 1 Samuel 18:6-16
Bible Verses:
And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him. Colossians 3:12-14
Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24
Prayer:
O Gracious Heavenly Father, I need a real friend — someone I can share my feelings, my past, and my future desires with. I am asking you to give me that kind of friend. I need someone who I can email, call, and visit with without judging me. Let me be the kind of friend I need to be to the friends you bestow upon me. God, you are all-powerful. I know you can move friends around the world just for me if you want to. I love you and I am waiting for the blessings of friendship. In Jesus’ Holy Name. Amen.
God Bless.
God Answers Our Prayers
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Have you ever read Christian articles about how you should pray, why you should pray, and to whom you should pray? I have. I’ve even written articles on some of those topics myself. But today I want to share a beautiful testimony that doesn’t just share the how, why, and who of praying. The following testimony is a reminder that prayer really works in our everyday lives and with our everyday problems IF WE LET HIM.
My niece recently shared about how God was recently at work in her life, how it came about, and how she eventually experienced the Lord’s presence and blessing.
“This is my ONE year anniversary with Company B!
I’d like to share a little about my Christian journey over the past few years. I am sharing because my relationship with the Lord has always been very private and personal, and I am working on sharing more about how God has been working in my life. Here it goes!!!
On January 2, 2015, after an excellent Christmas break filled with great food [cooked by my stepmother] and precious time with my sister, I was preparing to leave my parents central Texas home for Albuquerque, New Mexico. Since I had been living and working in New Mexico for the past 3 years, I was accustomed to the long drive. It has always been an extremely boring drive through the long stretch of highway through west Texas.
Weather reports indicated there was a massive snow storm headed for where I was headed! But, my stubborn personality reared its ugly head and I decided to push through and head back home to Albuquerque. My driving route included taking 1-10 to El Paso; then 1-25 straight up to Albuquerque. Little did I know that this trip would change my life forever! Once I passed El Paso and was heading home on I-25, it started snowing really BAD. I found myself skidding, swerving, and hanging on to my steering wheel for dear life. Many vehicles had already veered off the road and I was fearful I might soon be one of them. Then in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico*, I beheld a scene I never thought I would see. I witnessed an 18-wheeler flip over about 200 yards in front of me. Luckily, I was safe and pulled over to the side of the freeway. However I pulled out my phone and called 911 immediately. I gave the emergency dispatcher the mile marker of our location. When the ambulance and fire department showed up, I was free to go. I stayed around long enough to see that the driver of that 18-wheeler was safe and unharmed. I was shaking and sobbing though this entire ordeal.
I felt the devil’s presence on that West Texas road. I was crying and screaming for the Lord to get me home safely. I uttered everything a Christian says when they are scared and fearful.
“I will never defy you again.”
“I will never sin again.”
“I will do anything if YOU get me out of this dreadful weather and home again.”
Well, sixteen hours later I made it back to my small comfy apartment — a little shaken — but all in one piece. And all I could hear was God saying,
“Your time is over here in New Mexico!”
I immediately put in my request for a transfer with Company A. And guess what? I was denied a transfer not once, but twice!
After that in my quiet time, the Lord spoke again.
“This is not the company for you, and I want you to start a job search and pray about this for 60 days.”
The Lord came to speak to me through hints, Bible verses, glimpses, and a quiet revelation of His will.
Whenever I have something going on, I usually have a strict 60 day prayer time. During this time, ALL I do is pray on that one topic. Well about 30 days into the 60 days I had 3 job interviews lined up in my hometown! I interviewed with each company. And about 60 days after I started praying, I accepted an offer with Company B!
I packed up all my belongings and moved within a week.
You see, before my Christmas break, I had been crying every day in New Mexico. I was miserable and I needed relief. The desire of my heart was to stop being miserable. I wanted to move closer to my family and leave New Mexico. But, it took a snow storm and an 18-wheeler to get my attention. I started right then to seriously call out to God in a big way.
I truly believe it was the power of prayer that got me to where I am today. And, I am so grateful for all those who had been praying and supportive in my journey.”
Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Mark 11:24
How God Answers Our Prayers
- Recognize God may create a situation where we are “forced” to call upon Him;
- Get right with God;
- Make your requests known to God in prayer;
- Commit to follow His path;
- Meditate on His Word;
- Act upon His leadings and prompts;
- Get counseling if needed;
- Keep listening;
- Make a decision;
- If you still don’t know what to do, start over with this list until the answer comes.
What steps do you take when praying over a particular situation? Please comment!
Bible Verses:
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! Psalm 51:2
Give attention to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to you do I pray. Psalm 5:2
Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. Psalm 37:5
Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. Jeremiah 29:12
The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord. Proverbs 16:33
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7
Prayer:
Mighty God, I thank you for giving me the privilege of calling upon your name. You know my many thoughts, desires, and problems. I bring them to you right now in faith. I trust that you know what is best for me in all situations. Give me you insight and confirmation that I am in your will. I love you and I am depending on you for my life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen
*Truth or Consequences” is a spa city and the county seat of Sierra County,New Mexico, United States. In 2012, the population was 6,411. It is commonly known within New Mexico as T or C. It has frequently been noted on lists of unusual place names. Wikipedia
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Obey, Call Upon, and Confirm Your Relationship with God
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To walk with God, we must love him, obey him, call upon his name, confirm our relationship with him, and know that he loves us. Yes, we all fail when we try to follow God, but his love, constant concern, and abounding love for us is ever present. In Abram, we see a man who loved God, obeyed God, confirmed his love for God through his actions, and allowed God to pour his love out towards him in order to complete the purpose that the Lord had in store for him. It is the same with us. When we obey the Lord, in even the smallest detail, we find ourselves desiring more and more of his presence. It is then and only then, we can find peace knowing that he cares for us and he will prove his love for us through the many ways he confirms his relationship to us.
Abram Obeyed
Some verses in the Bible just strike us when we read them. As I was reading Genesis 12, three words just hit me over the head. Referring to Abram walking with God, the words simply said,
So Abram went . . . Genesis 12:4
Abraham grew up as a child in the heavily populated city of Ur (Southern Iraq now) and moved with his father to the land of Haran. It was in Haran that the Lord asked Abram to take his family and go to the land he would show him. Abram obeyed. His move was like moving from New York City to the small “ghost town” of Pennington, Texas. It would appear to many people as a pretty risky proposition at least “business-wise.” But He obeyed and took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, his livestock, and all his servants with him.
Abram Calls Upon the Name of the LORD
When Abram journeyed from location to location, he called upon the Lord. We see him calling on God in Schechem and again near Bethel.
Then the Lord appeared to Abram in Genesis 12:7-8 and said,
To your offspring I will give this land. So he built there an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him. From there he moved to the hill country on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. And there he built an altar to the Lord and called upon the name of the Lord.
Abram had a habit of calling upon God. We see this again in Genesis 13:4b
And he journeyed on from the Negeb as far as Bethel to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, to the place where he had made an altar at the first. And there Abram called upon the name of the Lord.
We call upon God in times of peace and in times of desperation. We do that because we need him. But he also wants us to call on him. It is through our dependence on God, we gain more faith, trust, and love towards him and our fellow man.
When we call upon the Lord . . .
- We should seek him with all our heart, soul, and mind and with all our strength. Mark 12:30
- We should call upon the Lord with a pure heart. 2 Timothy 2:22
- We should call upon the Lord for as long as we live. Psalm 116:2
- We must admit that we need Him. Acts 17:27
Abram Confirms his Relationship with the LORD
As Abram continues his journey, he goes down to Egypt to sojourn there. In Egypt, life goes on. During this time, Abram doesn’t appear to be the shining star that we like to think he was. He didn’t trust God fully and when he was about to enter Egypt, he told Sarai to lie about their relationship. He said,
Say you are my sister, that it may go well with me because of you, and that my life may be spared for your sake.
Abram was caught in his deceit, but life went on. He left Egypt and went with Sarai, Lot, and all he owned into Negeb, then into Bethel to where his tent had been at the beginning. It was there that Abram called upon the name of the LORD.
Later, Abram soon realized that his possessions were so great that he and Lot needed to split up. He said to Lot in Genesis 13:8,
Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, for we are kinsmen.
The two went their own ways, and God spoke to Abram and settled him by the oaks of Mamre and there he built an altar to the LORD. Abram’s life continued. He rescued Lot, was blessed by Melchizedek, defeated the King of Sodom, and confirmed his faith in God when the King of Sodom asked him to give back his people but take the goods for himself. Abram verbally confirmed his relationship with God in Genesis 14:22.
I have lifted my hand to the LORD, GOD Most High Possessor of heaven and earth.
While we might not build a physical altar to the Lord, there are ways we can confirm our relationship with the Lord.
To confirm our relationship with God, we need to . . .
- Ask the Lord to forgive our wrongdoings/sins. Romans 3:23
- Trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and accept Him as Lord and Savior. Ephesians 2:8-9
- Understand that our own works and efforts can’t get us into the right relationship with the Lord. Titus 3:5
- Confirm our relationship with the Lord through our daily prayers and obedience to His holy Word. Philippians 4:6
God Confirms his Relationship to Abram
In Genesis 15:1, shortly after confirming his relationship and speaking publically about his relationship with the Lord, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision:
Fear not Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.
The reward God was talking about was the covenant God made to Abram that his “offspring would inherit the land from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates, the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites and the Jebusites.” Genesis 15:19.
Life continued and Abram aged. The Lord soon changed his name to Abraham. But, even before that, Abraham trusted and believed wholeheartedly that the Lord God Almighty was blessing him with an amazing inheritance.
God confirms his relationship with us by . . .
- Giving us His Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
- Allowing us to become a new creation through Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17-19
- Assuring us of eternal life. Matthew 7:21-23; Matthew 6:33
Abraham walked with God as we do – through ups and downs, trials and blessings! Just as he grew, we also grow and mature. He is always by our side, calling us to obey him because He knows the right plan for our lives. He wants to show that to us so we can live a Godly fulfilling life. And as we continue on in our Christian life, let’s follow Abram’s example of obedience, calling upon him, and confirming our relationship to him.
Yes, we will fail sometimes, but life goes on. When we do fail, He is there to pick us up. When we honor God by remaining in this cycle of obeying, calling, and confirming, we can receive God’s vision, direction, and blessings upon our life. He really does want the best for us.
God Bless You.
Bible Verses:
Be careful to obey all these words that I command you, that it may go well with you and with your children after you forever, when you do what is good and right in the sight of the Lord your God. Deuteronomy 12:28
I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God; incline your ear to me; hear my words. Psalm 17:6
I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, to keep your righteous rules. Psalm 119:106
Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, I love you and I want to obey you with my entire heart. Help me to call upon you in every area of my life. I truly want to uphold the words in your Holy Word. I want to proclaim your truths to others. Thank you for loving me and confirming your love for me in such a caring and special way. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Family Traditions for the Christmas Season
Family traditions are a treasure during the Christmas season.It is amazing what you find when you start cleaning out files (I am speaking of file folders – the old manila ones that we used to use religiously). I pulled out these files from the garage that I haven’t looked at for 20+ years. One of the items I found was a list of family Christmas traditions that I typed up (with a real typewriter) in
It is amazing what you find when you start cleaning out files (I am speaking of file folders – the old manila ones that we used to use religiously). I pulled out these files from the garage that I haven’t looked at for 20+ years. One of the items I found was a list of family Christmas traditions that I typed up (with a real typewriter) in December, 1989 for our Sunday School Class at First Baptist Church, Humble, TX.
So, knowing that Christmas is around the corner, I am going to share family traditions with you now in hopes that maybe, just maybe, you will find one or two Christmas traditions to start in your family.
1. Read Christmas books and bedtime stories around the tree. It is best if you cuddle up in a blanket too.
2. Give each child a Christmas ornament annually, so that when they leave home, they will have their own childhood ornaments to take with them as they start their family.
3. Have a birthday party for Jesus. Let your children invite some friends over for a Jesus birthday party. Serve cake and ice-cream, sing Happy Birthday to Jesus, blow out candle, etc. Give out Christian party treats. Each child could bring a Christmas book to exchange.
4. Tie Christmas bows on your pets.
5. Show videos of past Christmases.
6. If you put Christmas apples (or fruit) on the tree, talk about the fall of Adam.
7. Go Christmas caroling with the family. But, be safe!
8. Have a Christmas photo taken each year of the entire family together. Over the years, you can see how much you all have matured/aged. LOL.
9.Old-Fashioned – Make separate photo albums for your Christmas photos. Date each yearly section of photos. Then during the Christmas season, leave the albums out so all the family members can look and recall previous Christmases.
New-Fashioned – Save Christmas photos on separate flash drives and have them scroll on a photo picture frame during the Christmas season.
10. On Christmas Eve, give everyone a new pair of pajamas to wear that evening. That way, everyone has a nice new pair of pajamas on for the pictures on Christmas morning. You can vary the themes each year. One year we had all camo pajamas; another all college-wear.
11. Drive around and look at the lights in your neighborhood. Take a widow or elderly neighbor or church member with you.
12. Use an Advent wreath or an Advent calendar.
13. Save your previous year Christmas cards for art projects.
14. Purchase a plastic manger, including all the Biblical characters, so that even the youngest member of the family can play with it. Keep it accessible throughout the holiday season.
15. Read Luke 2:1-20 (The Christmas Story) on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning. If you have an old family Bible, it is a great time to use it.
16. Bring a meal and/or gifts to a needy family.
17. Give favor coupons as gifts wrapped in Christmas boxes. Ex. Good for one free babysitting night.
18. Decide on one family to have over for dinner and/or desserts.
19. Start a Christmas diary. Write down a description of your holiday season each year. Be sure to note all the cute or unusual comments the children make.
20. Light candles for your Christmas Eve or Christmas dinner.
21. Have a Christmas bulb hunt – similar to an Easter egg hunt. Then, let each child hang the bulbs they find on the tree.
22. Have a cookie exchange party. Each person who is invited brings 4 dozen “homemade” cookies. Then, after some fellowship time, each person takes home 4 dozen different cookies from all the varieties brought. The host makes more cookies so cookies can be eaten at the party.
23. Make a birthday cake for Jesus. Allow each member of the family to participate in decorating it.
24. Wrap each child or grandchild’s gift with a different designed paper. Tell them what their wrapping paper looks like. They will enjoy the anticipation seeing the various gifts awaiting them.
25. Merry Christmas.
c2013 Patti Greene
Merry Christmas Everyone!
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www.PattiGreene.com
Social Media and God
Dealing with social media and time for God?
It is tough to blog, tweet, Facetime, Facebook, Goodreads, e-mail, Skype, post, Pinterest, Instagram, etc. and etc., when all you want to do is sit down, study your Bible, pray, and get going doing other things. Now, it isn’t that I don’t like all the Social Media sites. I love them, but WOW, they can be way too time-consuming.
Coming Soon – Summer, 2014
[These books are being reprinted in 2016 under the following titles respectively]:Awaken Me: Growing Deeper in Bible Study and Prayer / Anchor Me: Laying a Foundation in Bible Study and Prayer
On this journey of SOCIAL MEDIAing, where do you begin without wiping out anything else of importance in your life? If you have any ideas, please email me here.
As you can see, I am basically just trying to figure out how to have time to do everything in my life. I have been involved in social media for a while, but I never really took the plunge to really expand. I want to expand, but I just want it to happen on its own! I am learning that isn’t going to happen. There are techniques, research, emails, friends, new friends, and connections that have to be made. Add in the time spent reading books so you can post on Goodreads, writing a new book, keeping up with new media, searching Pinterest, and for those who have an outside job, OH MY! How do you do it?
But, as I have pondered all this, I have realized that God is the one right beside me when I am writing books and guiding me along the way, so why shouldn’t I use that same “Holy Spirit” strength in guiding me with my new hobby of SOCIAL MEDIAing!
Today, I have decided to let Him go on this journey with me. I don’t have the wisdom, knowledge, or time to do it on my own. Every tip shared with me, I am going to look at as a prodding from Him. I will evaluate it, maybe act on it, or maybe put it aside for another day. And, I will listen for His still small voice telling me “Enough is enough for today.”
Honestly, it can be overwhelming. Why would I want to please God in every other area of my life, but leave Him out of my Social MEDIAing?
So, starting TODAY…Hear me friends, I am making a commitment to follow His leads, His promptings, His suggestions, and His will regarding how much time I spend each day Social MEDIAing. I will put God first in my life and pray for His will in all I do – including the daunting and fun task of social MEDIAing.
NOTE: I am putting this in writing, so please help me to be accountable to my new found SOCIAL MEDIA commitment
Bible Verses:
Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. Matthew 6:33
Prayer:
Lord, please let me responsible with all my social media sites. Let me glorify you. Show me how to follow you more closely in everything I do. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Bible Gateway Blogger Grid (BG²) is an international network of independent bloggers who meaningfully blog—and who are serious—about matters relating to the Bible. Follow the members on Twitter using our BG² List.
www.PattiGreene.com
My Housekeeper
I love my housekeeper.
Yesterday I received a Facebook post from my good friend Glory. It was simple and easy to read, but so powerful. It simply said, “Become friends with people who aren’t your age. Hang out with people whose first language isn’t the same as yours. Get to know someone who doesn’t come from your social class. This is how you see the world. This is how you grow.” I do not know the source of this statement, but knowing my friend who posted it, I feel sure she meant that this is how you grow as a Christian.
As an USA expat living in Lagos, Nigeria, I have now seen poverty, unbelievable health problems, corruption, and the tears of people reaching out to God for help. But, I have also seen the calm sweet spirit of those who love Jesus and want to be obedient to Him no matter what life has brought them.
In Nigeria, most expats have housekeepers, cooks, and drivers. I am no exception. Yesterday, I told my housekeeper to show up, but that she was not going to clean for me, because I wanted to take her out for a birthday lunch. I decided to take her to a simple place next to our flat where we could walk to and not spend too much time.
I was ready to go. Mary (not her real name) showed up in a nice, lovely suit for the occasion. I was just wearing my regular old jeans that I had worn the past two days. I was gently jolted into reminding myself that this lunch was a very special occasion for her. We arrived at the restaurant. Remember, it is Nigeria. We had to proceed through a scanner and have our purses checked before being allowed entrance. The table in the main restaurant was covered with a bright white tablecloth adorned with a lovely folded cloth napkin. I ordered a steak and French fries. She ordered a hamburger and French fries. She ate her French fries with a fork. We laughed. I told her that in America, we eat our French fries with our fingers. I made her order a dessert since it was her birthday. She ordered an apple pie to go. She wanted to share her special occasion by bringing something home to her husband and son. Throughout the meal, we shared our lives. She told me about her tribal wedding and her white wedding. She asked me if I drove a car. She was shocked that someone from the USA didn’t have a driver to drive them everywhere. She doesn’t drive. You see, there is no opportunity here for her to ever own a car. She takes multiple buses to get home after cleaning my flat – sometimes taking up to three hours to get home.
One day I asked her what she really wanted if I could bring her one thing back from the U.S. Her answer wasn’t fancy clothes, toys for her son, or needed medicine. She wanted a new watch. Hers wasn’t keeping time correctly, so she wanted a new watch, so she wouldn’t be late to work.
The lunch ended. We walked back to my flat. She left. I sat down and I thanked God for an opportunity to share with someone who was not my age, someone I had to ask to repeat what she said when she jumped into her tribal dialect, and someone who definitely was not from my social class.
Then, later that night, when I read the post from my friend, I could totally relate to it, because I had just experienced it and lived it this very same day.
While my housekeeper thanked me for my kindness towards her, I thanked God for the blessing I had just received.
Bible Verses:
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” Colossians 3:12
“I will make them and the places around my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in its season; there shall be showers of blessing.” Ezekiel 34:26
Six hours after I posted this blog, I received a message from Mary that I want to share. It is written exactly as she wrote it.
“Gudeven mum. I am very happy and appreciated for what u did for me .may almighty God reward u and bless ur family in jesus amen.I love u mum .thanks Mary.”
Bible Gateway Blogger Grid (BG²) is an international network of independent bloggers who meaningfully blog—and who are serious—about matters relating to the Bible. Follow the members on Twitter using our BG² List.
www.PattiGreene.com
Depression by Glory C. Odemene / Dedicated to Robin McLaurin Williams
Have you ever met someone and you instantly knew you liked that person. You just clicked! That happened to me not long ago – I met Glory and we instantly bonded. We have a lot in common, but we also knew we had a lot of differences. But, what’s this got to do with depression? Let’s see!
As I was putting the final touches on my recently released devotional book, God, It’s Me: 181 Days for Young Adults to Become Passionate About Prayer and Bible Study, I prepared myself to ask Glory if I could use some of her poetry excerpts in my own book. I made up a folder showing her exactly how her poetry would be used in the book along with her excerpts that I matched to my already chosen pictures. You know, after 18 years of being a librarian, I felt like I knew how possessive writers/authors/poets could be about their work, so I was understandably nervous when I asked her that one Sunday morning at church at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel in Lagos, Nigeria. While I was anticipating a possible “No” or a “Let me think about it,” I remember Glory’s big, brown eyes opening as wide as a raccoon. She was amazed that I was even asking her at all. She immediately said, “YES!” I was thrilled.
You see, Glory is the type of person who writes for the Lord. She gives him the credit and all the “glory.” She even encourages people to share her God-inspired poems.
It is in this spirit, I am sharing Glory’s most recent poem titled Depression. It is written for all who have or will ever encounter depression in their lives. As you read this poem you will see that the catalyst for this poem was the recent passing away of the well-loved comedian Robin Williams.
—————————————————-
Depression
by Glory C. Odemene
Dedicated to Robin McLaurin Williams
Out there, it’s labeled bane of geniuses, cross of the consummate
Price for being bequeathed with exceptional talents: folks jump
As judges on the reckless wagon driven by this accomplished
Fellow who should know enough to be a role model but that also
Is an affliction; perpetual pressure to always smile, act nice and right
But hello this is reality not Broadway! Yet he contends crushing guilt
In lonesome cell whose innards scream, “Turkey!” at a dignitary.
Drained of joys for stellar feats, the global champion is whipped
A wimp in his own universe and unknown to the all-knowing world
The remote control is beyond his reach: he can’t predict how
His channels switch; no idea when dark days descend or duration
Of his sentence in that gloomy jail where struggle and strive all he
May, it seems he never can wear out that awful, unwanted skin.
Triggers range from tragedies to nothing, the sun suddenly goes south
In the middle of his day and like rag, the jewel is tossed into a hole.
He may appear surrounded and smiling but within he’s achingly alone
Flailing like a drowning man whose gasps show up as deviations on
The chart of trendy expectations. He grapples whatever his hands
Can find, seeking a reason, a means, to hope or not. A kind word
Could be the lifeline that keeps his head above, respiring when he
Would have been expiring, if aid’s arrival proves timely.
A bland-cold stare, mere rebuff that ignores his silent cries
Of desperation are sharp enough to cut that rope of hope.
It is not about privileges, positions, and possessions
It is a dreadful suit he wears all his life. Though glamor shields it
He yet feels it in those places where no other can see or tell.
Desperate for escape, he courts drugs, marries alcohol
Even changing locations appeal but fleeting thrills wane too soon
And he wakes to the revulsion of complicated addictions.
Experts and the ignorant diagnose and prescribe, tagging it
With tongue twisting labels that promise him no ease so alone
He either silently battles the monsters until end pays him a visit
Or he goes the way of bizarre and the world is shocked, more
By its perennial indifference than the fruits of his queerness.
The least to do today is exit the judges’ hub, extend kindness
To all you meet: you don’t know the monsters they are battling:
Just one word, one move, can make that difference between life
And death: everyone you meet is in warfare, your vote counts.
© Glory C. Odemene, 2014
(Dedicated to Robin McLaurin Williams)
Glory’s Comments:
I remember growing up. I used to have dark days. It carried labels like, “Melancholy,” “Depression,” among others. It is considered the blight of the talented and a norm. You didn’t have much choice but to live with it. And I did for many years until the LORD broke through and delivered me. Sometimes, it just happens and down you sink. At others, it may be just a look you are not comfortable with, an unkind comment, or even being ignored, that triggers it. You have no control over when it descends and how long it lasts. Until you wake up one day and the sun is up, and following that lead, you crawl out to discover that all around is cheery once again.
Recently, I went through tragedies and instead of the typical accusers that make you feel wretched despite your achievements or tend to strangle you with guilt for errors, I was invaded and besieged by fears. They showed up in everything, every time, and everywhere I turned. I looked like I do every day, smiled as usual but deep down were cries no ears could hear. My world was crumbling but to everyone else, I was the same. God helped me walk through without hitting that dreaded bottom. It has been 14 years now and counting and I have never set my foot in that pit of a prison.
We are often so consumed by our personal pursuits that we become inured to the travails of those around us. Just like love and encouragement have helped many conquer their battles, our indifference and insensitivity can complicate matters for the weak. If only we can learn to stop and think again before we shoot. Imagine how much difference that will make in a world where the broken are trampled on every day? From experience, I know of only one cure that delivers without side effects, no relapse, and not at bank-breaking cost: Jesus: And whoever the Son sets free, is free indeed.
Glory!
Please feel free to forward/share this blog with your friends and family. And, we would love you to comment!
To read more of Glory’s poetry excerpts, check out . . . http://amzn.to/1o4cm8x
Bible Gateway Blogger Grid (BG²) is an international network of independent bloggers who meaningfully blog—and who are serious—about matters relating to the Bible. Follow the members on Twitter using our BG² List.
www.PattiGreene.com
A Bitter-Sweet Moment
When I drove up to the house, I saw “the package” on the doorstep. I knew it was the “long-awaited” Fed-Ex package from my publisher CrossBooks. After months and months of working so hard on my first book ‘Awaken Me: A Devotional Prayer Journal’ I just wanted to spend time treasuring and savoring the first glance through my first published book. So, I quickly took the groceries out of the car, and put them on the counter. The last thing I was expecting was a bitter-sweet moment!
So with a skip in my step, I turned the corner to go to the front door to get my “treasured” package. It was then I encountered a horrific scene – a scene so horrific that instantly I felt a big ‘ol Texas pit right in the middle of my abdomen and I found myself immediately doubled over in pain.
In the hallway, I found that my knick-knack curio shelf had fallen down. And there, shattered in the hallway, was my grandmother’s entire shoe collection, my especially treasured cup and saucer sets given to me by Aunt Mary, and the only treasured gift recently given to me when my Aunt Terry passed away. Along with all those memories were the shoe collection my husband, parents, and children, had given me over the years – cute shoes – gifts I have loved.
Items on this shelf had to be special to make the cut to the shelf. Lovely heirlooms –ALL SHATTERED. I wanted to cry. But, between being shocked and not feeling well, I just found the closest couch and sat down for a few minutes still holding my abdomen.
As I gained composure, I tip-toed over the sacred mess and I opened the door to get the Fed Ex package. The mature, sensible thought that ran briefly through my mind was “out with the old, and in with the new” – basically, the “things happen mentality!”
I stumbled back to the old gray couch with my box in hand. I wasn’t feeling the way I thought I would be when I visualized this moment. It wasn’t even close. After all the hard work on the book, I anticipated a jittery, glow from above, Holy Spirit type moment. Instead, I experienced a dull, flat sensation along with only a slight sliver of anticipation.
When I opened the package, the cover was gorgeous. A smile crossed my face. I browsed though the book, and then decided to take some photos and do a little writing about the conflicting life scenario I just encountered.
On the one hand, I am experiencing sadness, but then on the other hand, I am experiencing happiness. Honestly though – right now I don’t think I have the strength to clean up and sift through the memory mess. Maybe one or two or even three memories will make the cut as to remaining a heirloom. I hope so.
I think I am in the midst of what people call a “bittersweet” moment! I am not sure I have had such a vivid, contrasting dichotomy packed in such a short period of time before.
I don’t have a bucket list. But, if I did, I would be crossing off “bittersweet moment” now. But, since no such list exists, I think I should go and put my groceries away, take a nap, and sort through the rubble later.
Who knows maybe GOD just wrote my first blog. He is good, isn’t He?
September 14th, 2014
For almost a year and a half, I kept all my broken pieces in a nice, little gift bag. I put the bag on the same bookshelf that I keep my most treasured stack of Shutterfly memory albums. But, one day, I was browsing my neighborhood’s newly created site that post things for sale, and low and behold I saw an ad that intrigued me.
A lady named “Mary” was offering to make designer crosses for people.
I promptly contacted Mary to see if she had ever made crosses using china pieces. She hadn’t, but she said she would try. And try she did. She worked meticulously creating a cross to preserve my family memories. I really had no idea what to expect. And, Mary admitted that she was a little nervous and worried that I might not like what she had done.
But yesterday, I was working at a craft fair in Cy-Fair where she brought me a box with my cross in it. Mary had wrapped the cross in some beautiful purplish-violet tissue paper. As I contemplated pushing the tissue paper aside, I pre-decided to act excited no matter what because I did not want to hurt Mary’s feelings. I was very apprehensive but hopeful.
But, WOW! As soon as I saw Mary’s creation, I loved it. I started pointing out things, i.e. “This was my Aunt Mary’s dish.” “This was my grandmother Jess’ shoe. It just brought back so many fond memories of people that the Lord had placed in my life over the years.
While I am only talking about broken china and glass memory pieces, sometimes our lives take an unexpected turn, i.e. a tragic event occurs, our health deteriorates, or our family breaks up. When these things happen, it is time to reflect and discern what to do next. It may mean “sitting on a shelf” for a while; it may mean actively rearranging your spiritual life; or it may mean deciding to do the next best thing.
Mary took my broken memories and eventually turned them into a beautiful mosaic cross. God will take the shattered and sharp pieces of our lives and mold them and us into a beautiful creation if we allow Him to. It may take time, but don’t throw away or despise your life experiences. Let God take whatever they are and allow Him to mold you through those experiences into the person He wants you to be.
Now, I can not only look back and be grateful, but I can also look forward and trust that the next time I feel broken and shattered, like my knick-knack pieces, I can trust that the Lord sees the big picture and that in His time, those pieces can be molded together to make something beautiful for His purpose.
Thanks Mary for letting God use you to bless me!
If you have any jewelry or cross needs, let Mary know. She is awesome. You can contact her below or see some of her wares at her Etsy Store DEJAVU143!
The LORD gave another message to Jeremiah. He said, “Go down to the potter’s shop, and I will speak to you there.” So I did as he told me and found the potter working at his wheel. But the jar he was making did not turn out as he had hoped, so he crushed it into a lump of clay again and started over. Then the LORD gave me this message: “O Israel, can I not do to you as this potter has done to his clay? As the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand.
Jeremiah 18:1-6 (New Living Translation)
Bible Gateway Blogger Grid (BG²) is an international network of independent bloggers who meaningfully blog—and who are serious—about matters relating to the Bible. Follow the members on Twitter using our BG² List.
www.PattiGreene.com