February 2022 Issue
He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. -Psalm 91:4 (NIV) Visit Our Website at www.FaithOnEveryCorner.com for previous issues of our magazine.
COVER PHOTO BY MEL ANIE NEBBELING
The first time that I dabbled in photography was when I took a black-and-white class and learned to develop film during my sophomore year of college in the 1980s. I didn’t start learning about photography until about six years ago when my last daughter was three. It blessed me to have her after my first three children went off to college. Having raised my others, I knew how fast children grow and I wanted to capture and preserve as many of those precious moments as I could. I hired professional photographers several times a year, and one day I put the money that I was paying others toward buying my own equipment and learning photography myself. I would consider myself a “professional hobbyist photographer,” as I use professional equipment, but only take photos for memories for my family. Photography is also a creative outlet for me. I love vintage children’s fashion and enjoy combining it with my photography to create artistic images that take my viewers back in time. It is not my only style of photography, but it is my favorite genre. My preference is to take candid photos of my daughter having fun and just being a kid rather than posed shots of her. Candid photos capture the true essence of childhood and the moments as I would like to remember them. I am from East Lansing, Michigan - home of Michigan State University.
INSIDE COVER
NOTE FROM THE EDITOR Hello February - the month of love! Right? For many of our readers, celebrating Valentine’s Day is banned in their country. Public displays of affection are not allowed. I personally like Valentine’s Day, but I think we should show those we love how much we love and respect them every day. There are many scripture references about love in this issue. Let’s read through the magazine and share our love worldwide!
Karen
and C
raig R
uhl
January was a busy month for our family. We welcomed our second grandbaby, Damien, on January 4th. Our hearts immediately expanded past what we thought they could handle as GrandChloe carried him into our home and handed him to me to hold. It is amazing how one tiny little infant can change so much in a family. And yet, one tiny little infant changed and saved those who love Him and follow Him. As I sat holding Damien and looking at his little features, his fingers, the shape of his head, his little mouth, it made me think about Mary holding Jesus. I cannot even imagine what she was thinking, knowing the world was on His shoulders. If you know someone who wants to know more about Christ Jesus, introduce them to Him. Give them a Bible, invite them to church. And remember that little infant that brought salvation to the world. Once they hear that story, their lives will change forever. Amen. Yes, Amen! Much love - may God bless you all. Karen Ruhl Team@FaithOnEveryCorner.com
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Table of Contents
COVER PHOTOGRAPHER: MELANIE NEBBELING ... COVER AND INSIDE COVER February Prayer by Tynea Lewis ... page 21 Loving Others and Poems by John Alexander ... page 6-7 I Love You Phone Calls and Letters by Melissa Henderson ... page 8-9 Forever Beloved by Andrea Marino ... page 10-11 Whatever! by Dr. Kathleen Oden ... page 12-13 Morning Coffee by Michael E. Wells ... page 14-15 Giving Grace: The Language of Love by by Nicole Byrum ... page 16-17 The Eternal Love of Christ by Yvonne Morgan ... page 18-19 Forgiving Ourselves by Gina Sewell ... page 20 February Prayer by Tynea Lewis ... page 21 God Is In Control by Dave Evans ... page 22-23 Signs of the Times by Craig Ruhl ... page 24-25 For The Joy by Peter Caligiuri ... page 26 Feasting On The Unfamiliar by Steve Wilson ... page 27 Out of My Comfort Zone For His Glory by Annette Kam ... page 28-29 My Journey of Faith by Brenda McDaniel ... page 30 Your Will Be Done by Karen Ruhl ... page 31 No One Like You by Dave Evans ... page 32 The Priceless Pearl by Dr. Irene Surya ... page 33 Road Trippin’ by Karen Ruhl ... page 34-37 Love Is In The Air by Sharon K. Connell ... pages 38-39 Like A Child by Shara Bueler-Repka ... page 40 Pure Love by Karen Ruhl ... page 41 Bookshelf - book reviews ... page 42-43 That’s Why the Doctors Call us Patients by Rev. James L. Snyder... page 44-45
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Unexpected Expressions Of Love by Steve Wilson ... page 46-47 February - A Month To Remember by Cindy Oriol ... page 48-49 The Best Gift For The Church by Joseph Akinrinola ... pages 50-51 We Reap What We Sow Changing the Seeds by Craig D. Lounsbrough ... page 52-53 Not Separated From The Love Of God by P. Diane Buie ... page 54 Let Me by P. Diane Buie ... Page 55 The Most Amazing Love Story In History! by Jo Scheidt ... page 56-57 How To Keep Your 2022 Aligned to God’s Designs By Tami Thorsen ... page 58-59 From Unexpected Sadness, We Found Joy by Dan Nissley ... page 60-62 In Him Is No Darkness At All by Cindy J. Evans ... page 63 Don’t Ask Why, Ask What by Esther Bandy ... page 64-65 India Mission by Joseph Kishore ... page 66-67 Loving The Unloveable by Chrystal Gilkey ... page 68 I Know I Believe by Esther Bandy ... page 69 Season Affective Disorder by Melody Foster ... page 70-71 What Rededication Looks Like by Lynn Downham ... page 72-73 What’s Love God To Do With It by Paula Short ... page 74-75 Everyone Is Looking For Love by Esther Bandy ... page 76 Celebrating This New Year by Rolanda Pyle ... page 77 Resurrected To A New Life by Roman Bej ... page 78-79
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Poems by John Alexander
A Little Kindness With so many lonely, or hurting, or sad, I pray over time they find reasons for glad. I pray there is someone to speak a kind word, Someone to listen, acknowledge they’ve heard. John Alexander lives in Frisco, Texas with his beautiful wife and his Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
A kindness performed out of love from the heart Can begin someone’s journey to find a fresh start. Even a smile, just a touch, or a hug
Loving Others By John Alexander
Is better than turning away with a shrug.
Loving others begins with an attitude, a frame of mind. It starts with empathy, understanding, and compassion, and then translates into reaching out. It doesn’t always take a lot of time or effort. It can be as simple as a smile, a word of encouragement, or a note. Find your ways to be a blessing to others. It’s worth the effort. www.QuietTimeRhymes.com
A little compassion can go a long way Towards lifting the spirit of someone today. Don’t let opportunity slip through your hand. Perhaps a small favor, it needn’t be grand. I try to share kindness with words that I write, Words that I pray are reflecting God’s light.
Blessings, John
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Words Echo
Depth
The words we write or speak today
I cannot determine the length of my life,
Leave echoes that forever stay.
Nor have much control of the size of the strife.
They linger in the cosmic dust
My focus instead is the depth of my soul.
That forms the past, provides its thrust.
In the days that I live, that’s within my control.
Some words can hurt, bring hate or fear,
As I reach out to others, my soul can expand,
While others comfort, draw us near.
Find ways to touch others, extending my hand.
Why fill the air with words so dark,
Not all will respond but at least I can try.
When words can be a meadowlark?
On this journey through life, love’s not something we buy.
May words of comfort be the sound That echoes hope where grief is found.
A spring that is flowing from deep in the
May words of love cut through the hate.
ground,
Reach out, embrace, it’s not too late.
A love that’s refreshing, how soothing the sound.
I pray the words I write ring true,
I pray I share love from the depths of my heart,
Convey the love of God to you.
Reflecting the Lord who will never depart. I pray you find love in the words that I write, A sprinkle of wisdom, a dash of insight.
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“I Love You” Phone Calls And Letters By Melissa Henderson
Ring! Ring! Chirp! Chirp! Hello! Hello! Have you noticed the many different ringtones for phones? Cell phones offer a variety of sounds to alert someone of an incoming call. I’ve heard sounds of birds chirping, bongo drums beating loudly, and a simple beep beep bringing attention to incoming calls. Other alerts sound like train whistles. These notifications are important because we don’t want to miss a call. Of course, the unwanted sales pitch calls or wrong numbers may not be answered. But, when we are able to see that a loved one is calling or an important doctor’s office call is coming in, that is a different story. We want to be able to answer and communicate with the person who is trying to reach us. I am happy when the phone alerts me to a call, and I see the number of a family member or friend. Answering with a joyful, “Hello.” I wait for the person to speak. My sisters, Glenda and Carol, and I enjoy chatting with each other. We all live in different areas and can’t see each other every day. Phone calls are a special way of catching up on the latest family happenings and also sharing giggles.
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For as long as I can remember, we have ended each call with the precious words. “I love you.” No matter how often we chat, the conversation on the phone always ends with those important words, “I love you.” My husband, Alan, and I end each call with. “I love you.” Our family ends each call with those words. No matter the length or details of the conversation, we express love for each person. Special friends also close each conversation with those heartfelt words. “I love you.” Closing each call with words of love can bring smiles and joy to the giver and the receiver. Sharing loving words can brighten the day of everyone. Another way of showing love is by ending a handwritten letter or email with “I love you” or “Love.” Those words are saved for family and special friends. Think about the love God has for His creations. God’s love for us is shown in many ways. The morning sunrise and the evening sunset provide an opportunity to bask in His love. I feel the love of God through the laughter of children, especially our grandchildren. Unexpected moments of life, such as a hummingbird landing on a red hat or a butterfly slowly moving by the colorful plants in the garden, bring peace to a busy day.
Click on the book covers to purchase Melissa’s books.
Recently, four-year-old grandson Rowan cupped my face in his little hands. He looked me in the eye and said, “You’re my Mimi. I love you.” Yes, I had to hold back the tears of joy. I’m Mimi and I am loved. When I fail and make a mistake in life, God assures me through His presence that I am loved and forgiven. His “I love you” comes in many forms. He doesn’t have to send a letter or make a phone call. The love of God is forever and can be found in every moment. Have you told someone that you love them? Were the words at the end of a phone conversation, in person, or perhaps in a letter or text? Saying “I love you” can change the world.
Award-winning author Melissa Henderson writes inspirational messages laced with a bit of humor. With stories in books, magazines, devotionals and more, Melissa hopes to encourage readers. Melissa is the author of “Licky the Lizard” and “Grumpy the Gator”. Her passions are helping in community and church. Melissa is an Elder, Deacon and Stephen Minister. Follow Melissa on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and at http://www.melissaghenderson.com
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8 NIV) Love and prayers, Melissa Henderson
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Andrea loves spending time with her children and grandchildren, and enjoys cycling on the open roads with her husband, David.
Forever Beloved By Andrea Marino
Who do people say I am? Jesus posed the question to his disciples (Luke 9:18). By this time in His public ministry, many had witnessed the power of God in Jesus through various healings, loved ones raised back to life, multitudes fed with scant amounts of food, others delivered from demon-possession, to name a few. Just hearing about these extraordinary events would have been enough for me to want to know Jesus more. Not everyone, however, welcomed Him. Many were ‘gripped by fear’ because of the things He was doing (Luke 8:37). Unexplainable power and authority can generate anxiety. Add to it the ‘word on the street’ of Jesus being John the Baptist, possibly Elijah or some other ancient prophet come back to life and you can understand a reluctance to embrace this Man of God. “Then he (Jesus) asked them, ‘But who do you say I am?’ Peter replied, ‘You are the Messiah, sent from God!’” (Luke 9:20 NLT). The encounter with Jesus is profoundly personal, certainly not something anyone can convince another person of. God desires our relationship with Him to be on such a personal basis. A recent issue was raised on a social media page: Can a person believe in God and still not be saved? The possibility of being barred from entering the kingdom of heaven should give us all pause. Many responses were offered, from ‘even the demons believe’ to ‘not everyone who says Lord, Lord will enter the Kingdom’ (James 2:19, Mathew 7:21). At one time, I believed in God and yet did many wrong
things. In my ‘head knowledge’, I definitely held a reverence for God, and I also accepted the truth that God sent His son to die on a cross for the sins of the world. No one could convince me there wasn’t a supreme being, known as God, not even famous people in public places who were chanting God is dead. So, with curiosity and a certain fear I could wind up in hell, I began to explore the teachings of the Bible for myself. Wanting to please God, I did my best to do as He said. While frustrated more times than not in this ‘doing what I knew to do’, I was sure of having a good enough understanding of God when I was involved in a car accident at 17 years old. I told the nurse at the hospital if I had died I would have been in Heaven. The truth is, not until 2 years later did I grasp the truth about Jesus. He was, is, and forever will be God in flesh, the One Who hung on Calvary’s tree as payment for sin. Since God can see the end of a person’s life from the beginning, He knew I would choose Jesus. But the point is, God strives with us, individually, in our limited understanding while we yet believe only as demons believe (see Psalm 9:10). History bears evidence of God’s long-suffering resolve to reach people with truth so to have a relationship with them. This has nothing to do with what a person does; it has everything to do with what Jesus did for us. “I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.” (Jeremiah 31:3 NLT).
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Click on the photo of the book to purchase from Amazon.
Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” John 8:12 NKJV
The question is: what do we do about Jesus? In what capacity do we fear Him enough to want to know Him more? The Heart of the Father is for all people to have a desire to know His Son more and more (Jeremiah 24:7). I’m sure Peter and the disciples were overjoyed the Messiah had come to save them from the world of oppression. They had more to grasp, and God understood and helped them in their faith. The mindset of the flesh is hostile to God and does not submit to His laws. But the mindset of the Spirit brings life and peace (Romans 8:6,7). It is good to spend time reflecting on the day of our personal encounter with the living God, our eyes opening to Jesus. What a demonstration of love. “See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands.” (Isaiah 49:16 NLT).
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Dr. Kathleen B. Oden is an author, missionary, and Bible teacher. She has been the Administrator of God’s House of Refuge Church & School of Evangelism, for 25 years. Dr. Oden attained a Doctorate degree in Christian Theology in 2000. After a bad fall in 2014, she realized that she had to start eating healthy, in order to fully recover. She became a Certified Health Minister and a Certified Essential Oil Coach. She loves ministering to people and God gave her a health ministry called, Create AnewU Health Ministry. Her health ministry has opened the door for her to share what the WORD OF GOD has to say about eating healthy. Dr. Oden has published over 20 books through Amazon.com and several of them are about health and wellness. https://createanewuhealthministry.com
Whatever!
By Dr. Kathleen B. Oden Ok, we have survived! If you are reading this article, you survived “whatever” you may have encountered in 2020 and 2021. Now that is something to thank the Lord for and to celebrate! Amen! Hallelujah!!! We cannot take the grace, mercy, and compassion that the Lord has extended to us lightly. Whatever happened in 2020 and 2021, it is time to regroup and move forward. We might have some battle scars, feel a little stressed out, or had to come in on broken pieces like Paul in Acts 27:44, whatever, we are here! It is time to… “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” (1 Peter 5:6-7 KJV) It is time to use whatever means necessary to pick ourselves up, gain strength and stamina for this NEW year. We have things to do, places to go and people to see! RIGHT? Let’s cast our cares on the Lord and think about whatever is going well in our life! Amen!
More and more people are feeling stressed out and have not been able to move past it. However, when we think about all these good things, even stress has to go! We need to tell stress to talk to the hand… RIGHT? Whatever we have to do, we need to do it to move forward! One thing we can do is to create a go-to list of things to use to escape stress—like your favorite comedy movie, motivational speaker, music, etc. Whatever! You know what it takes for you to relax and chill out. One of my favs is drinking a cup of tea while watching a comedy movie. Did you know that God gave us laughter as a medicine for stress? “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.” (Proverbs 17:22 KJV) Sometimes we need to be reminded of just how awesome God made us and give Him thanks. Sell yourself to yourself. Remind yourself of what God thinks about you. YOU ARE AWESOME! “I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.” (PSALM 139:14 NASB)
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M AG A Z I N E N A M E
Health Maintenance Regime
Dr. Kathleen B. Oden
Try these easy tasty stress-relieving superfood smoothie recipes to perk up your mood:
Think about whatever God says about you when you start feeling overwhelmed and stressed out and remind yourself of all the wonderful things He has done, just for you! And don’t forget to check your diet. Sometimes we feel stressed out because we are not eating healthy. A quick way to change your mood is with superfoods. Did you know that there are foods that can change your mood? And better yet, a superfood smoothie! There is nothing like something yummy to put us in a good mood. Whatever you did to change your mood, don’t forget that God said, YOU ARE AWESOME!
AVOCADO MANGO SMOOTHIE • 1 banana • 1/2 cup frozen mango • 2 cups spinach • 1/4 avocado • 2 cups almond milk or water PEACHY KALE SMOOTHIE • 1 cup chopped kale • 1/2 cup frozen peaches • 1 scoop vanilla protein powder • 2 cups water BLUEBERRY OATS SMOOTHIE • 1 banana • 1/2 cup frozen blueberries • 1/4 cup rolled oats • 2 cups almond milk or water BERRY BANANA SMOOTHIE • 1 banana • 1 cup frozen berry blend • 2 cups almond milk or water
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Morning Coffee With Michael E. Wells THE SILENT KILLER
Michael E. Wells has a passion for writing letters of Christian encouragement. With poetic style and moving messages, the reader is often comforted and consoled, inspired, and refreshed. Since his retirement from Federal Service in 2006, most mornings are spent penning letters of the heart. Tucked away in the foothills of Pennsylvania, he leads an idyllic lifestyle in a pastoral setting. This backdrop helps to set both mood and message for his many writings. You can find his book, “Morning Coffee with Words For The Day” at Amazon.com.
It comes without warning, subtle in its approach. At times simply a distraction, a feeling of being out of step. Other times crippling in its display, even to the point of suicide. None of us are free from its temporary grip, but some are unable to ever lay it aside. Evil is its nature and devoid of all hope to those who are held under its sway. A master of manipulation and lies. He whispers fear when all is well and doubt when there is no cause. It can be triggered by a tragedy or by the smallest of events. Some by no event at all, but just a whisper in the mind, a faint voice that taunts a memory. It can cause one to be withdrawn to the point they only listen to that voice while blocking out all external interaction and becoming the living dead. What is this slayer of souls? It is depression. And what do we do as a society? We drug them so they may be further deadened to the voice of God. It is a cruel trick we play on those who would seek help. Although many do hear a voice, it is not one of love and compassion, on the contrary, it is usually one who speaks condemnation and despair. It is a stronghold, and a mindset broken through prayer and relationship. Depression comes in all shapes and sizes, all walks of life, rich or poor, healthy or sick, saved or lost, loved or rejected. It knows no bounds or limits, no respect to race or stature. It wars against all that is good to be expressed in the life of an individual. It slowly kills from the inside, without visual markings. It works much like an old song which, in part, reads, “Killing me softly with his words.” But the voice is a liar, sent for our destruction. We overcome the voice with the truth that we preach to ourselves. I am whom God says I am. I have what God says I have. I can do what God says I can do. I am only limited by the lack of my faith, only diminished by the lack of my hope, only isolated by the lack of my love. It is up to me to lay hold of faith, hope, and love. It is a dark tunnel that we must find our way out of. But with a desire to leave, there will come a new voice and a new light, however dim, that once approached will continually dawn into a new day, a new life, and a second chance. And if continually listened to, it will forever close your ears to the silent killer.
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VOICES
QUIET
It is almost a constant buzzing in our head, voices that become no more than noise. They drown out any hope of clear thought. Some noises are beyond our control, be it in the workplace, traveling, family gatherings, etc. But some are under our control and yet we allow it. We cause the voices to dominate our thinking, how we view things or how we see life in general.
If you have been able to quiet the noise, don’t stop until you hear a word. There is nothing like hearing a comforting word from God for yourself. Someone once said, “Five minutes with Jesus will do more for you than listening to fifty sermons.” It’s not that the Word of God is less important.
For the most part, the voices lie. I once wrote, “The world gives us unattainable goals, the flesh is never satisfied and the devil always seeks to deceive.” If we allow those voices in our lives, we will be of all people most miserable. We must take time to shut out the sounds around us to have clarity of thought. Close yourself off in a quiet room, take a walk in the woods or go for a ride with the radio off. Listen to your own thoughts, it might be refreshing and while you are listening, you may just hear the Voice of Someone who has been trying to get your attention. You might even walk away with a fresh outlook on life and when the voices of the world return I would suggest this train of thought, “Let the world keep its stuff, the flesh not have its way and remind the devil he’s a liar.” Life will be more enjoyable when there is only one Voice to listen to and contend with. Just be sure it is the right Voice.
The truth of the matter is that we need both the Word of God and the Voice of God to live a joyous and fruitful life. It is not an easy one to hear. The Prophet was told that God was not in the “whirlwind but in the whisper.” He is not in the clamor and chaos of the day but in the quiet and calm of the evening. That is why most do not hear the Voice. We don’t sit quietly and wait. Many times we read where Jesus separated Himself to be alone with the Father. If our heart is open to Him and we are sincere in wanting to hear from heaven, He will speak. If then we still cannot hear, I would remind you of His words, “I have not left you but you have separated from Me.” Maybe we need to have a long talk with Him before we sit quietly to hear from Him.
HIS VOICE “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” (Prov 23:7 NKJV) What a profound statement of truth that our thoughts rule our hearts. That is why in the letter to the Philippians Paul gives a list of things to think on, because left to ourselves we will think upon the wrong things and listen to the wrong voice. Paul said he had to discipline himself to do good because evil was present with him and yes, evil has a voice. It is the voice of depression. It speaks to us when we are alone and all is quiet. It speaks to all our fears, our past mistakes, our current situations, and the whatifs in life’s future. Some listen to the voice and their world becomes smaller and smaller until their one last attempt to break free often ends in tragedy.
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Nicole is a licensed marriage and family therapist with over 14 years of experience in community mental health. She is the author of Remade: Living Free a book written for women in recovery from substance abuse and unhealthy relationships. Nicole also maintains a blog at nicolebyrum.com as well as a podcast, 5 Minute Word. Both focus on topics related to faith and relationships. She lives in Northwest Ohio with her husband and two children. When she’s not writing, you can find her reading, running, or cooking.
GIVING GRACE:
T H E L A N G U A G E O F LO V E
by Nicole Byrum “If you can’t say anything nice, then don’t say anything at all!” I’m sure more than a few of us have benefited from this sage advice given by wise parents, grandparents, or friends. After all, it is for good reason that the brother of Jesus warns us that our tongue is a restless evil, full of deadly poison, untamed by any man (James 3:8). In light of this truth, I considered writing about the benefits of gentle speech, kind words, and of their sweetness to the soul. But as I read the NASB translation of Ephesians 4:29, a verse I knew which addressed our manner of speech, I was struck with a different thought. It occurred to me that the opposite of the above-mentioned advice also rings true: If you have something nice to say, have the courage to say it. The verse reads as follows: “Let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but if there is any good word for edification according to the need of the moment, say that, so that it will give grace to those who hear.”
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This verse gives us two positive rules for the words we should speak: that they be good for edification and that they be applicable to the need of the moment. Edifying words are words that build up, encourage, instruct, or improve— words that are helpful and useful. But not only that, these words are to be given according to the need of the moment, exercised with wisdom and discernment. The result? The recipient of our words receives a benefit or blessing. In a word, grace. What a wonderful privilege it is to demonstrate love through the gift of our words, to impart grace through our speech. It seems almost silly that we wouldn’t continuously speak words of love and encouragement, yet there are many reasons we hesitate to let these words fly freely from our lips. Perhaps we feel embarrassed or uncertain about how the receiver will respond. Maybe we feel awkward or anxious about stepping out of our comfort zone. Or, perhaps in our pride, we deny others the gift of our uplifting words.
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Click on book cover to purchase on Amazon.
As I type these words from the comfort of my couch, I can’t help but feel a discomfort - a more than twinge of conviction. The truth is, I often think of words that, if said, would be of help and encouragement to others. However, the reality is these words are not spoken with the same frequency with which they are thought. But as I meditate on this Scripture, I have renewed motivation to be intentional and courageous in speaking the words the Lord brings to mind. In this month of love, and all the months following, may it be for you as well. May we intentionally speak the language of love; the language of imparting grace with not just nice words, but edifying words. By doing so, we will not only build up our brothers and sisters in Christ, but we will be a light to those who are unsaved. I challenge you as well as myself: If you have something edifying to say, have the courage to say it.
WWW.FAITHONEVERYCORNER.COM WMW W.AFA E VEE&O RYCO M AG Z IINTEH O NN AM R URRNLE R|.CO12 17
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The Eternal Love Of Christ by Yvonne M. Morgan “Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?.” (Romans 8:35 NLT) Today’s Encouragement: Today’s verse contains quite the list of misfortunes that impacted the people of Jesus’ day. But, unfortunately, many of those same troubles are present in our world today. Our society experienced hurricanes, civil unrest, earthquakes, tsunamis, pandemics, and acts of terror within the last few years. And we don’t have to look far to find hungry or destitute people living on the edge of our society. At times, the troubles of the world invade my soul and threaten to swamp me in despair. But, as usual, God speaks to us through the Bible. He stands ready to encourage us and soothe our tormented souls with His words. Romans 8:35 asks us directly, “Does it mean God no longer loves us when troubles strike?” Not at all. Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. No person, no event, or situation will cause our Savior to stop loving us. So, when we feel worldly affairs start to weigh us down, we must remember our hope rests in Jesus and not in the circumstances of life. He loves us the same— yesterday, today, and forever.
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Valentine’s Day is coming soon, and many people rush out to buy gifts for their special Valentine’s. But, for some, it will be just another day. Loss, bitterness, and loneliness overshadow the celebration of love. But, even if all forms of earthly love leave you feeling empty, there is one love that never fails or harms us. That perfect love comes from our heavenly Father. His love is pure and eternal. So, let’s review some of the ways God loves us. • I love you so much; I sent my Son to die on the cross to save you from your sins and so we could spend eternity together. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 NIV) • I love you so much; I will adopt you as my sons and daughters, and you will inherit eternal life. “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” (1 John 3:1 NIV) • I love you so much; that my plans will give you hope and a future. I plan to show you the way to go, and we can work together to make a difference in the world. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV)
Having witnessed the power of prayer in her own life, Yvonne M Morgan shares stories of trusting the Lord and watching Christ in action. She loves to travel and spending time with her children and grandchildren. Apart from writing Christian nonfiction, Morgan writes for several magazines and • I love you so much; I know everything about you, and blogs. Her books provide great help to those who I care for every aspect of your life. “And even the very are struggling in their journey with Christ. hairs of your head are all numbered.” (Matthew10:30 NIV) Blog at Turningmountainsintomolehills.org • I love you so much; I will make sure everything works out for your benefit when you work for me. “And we Twitter: @ymmauthor know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according Website: Yvonne-Morgan.com to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28 NIV) • I love you so much; I will forgive you when you sin against me and return to me, or even when you don’t love me back. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8 NIV)
• And I love you so much; that I will teach you how to love others so that you can live in peace. “And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” (Colossians 3:14 NIV) God wants to be our Valentine by showing us all the ways He loves us. And He will never leave us or forsake us. Jesus represents the perfect image of love. So, on this Valentine’s Day, remember that nothing compares to this type of love, and no human can offer such love. If you want to read a good love story, check out the Bible. It is the most extraordinary love story ever told.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YMMauthor/ Books: Turning Mountains into Molehills (2017)
Yvonne M Morgan, Christian author and speaker
Pray: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for loving us no matter the situations we find ourselves in. Thank you for your faithfulness in loving us every day. Show us to look to you and your love when we feel scared by worldly events. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
https://yvonne-morgan.com
May the Lord Bless You and Keep You always. Yvonne M Morgan
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FORGIVING OURSELVES By Gina Sewell
As I was scrolling Facebook the other morning, I found one of those games they play on there. You know the ones... you use your birth month or the first letter of your name, or something like that, to find the beginning of your sentence and predictive text for the remainder. All in fun, right? Well, mine came out to three words—three words that really hit home with me. Those words were, I forgive myself. I know that we are supposed to forgive not only those who hurt us but ourselves as well. After all, if God can forgive us, who are we to hold a grudge? That being said, I found self-forgiveness to be one of my most difficult crosses to bear. When I saw those words, it was like God hit me over the head, so to speak. Is that what is holding me back from fulfilling God’s true purpose for me? Forgiveness is not a foreign word for me. After all, I had to forgive many people in my life. None were easy, the least of which was the drunk driver that hit my mom and left her in that awful state for all those years. That was definitely the most difficult. And that was only after the anger and hatred and unforgiveness had almost completely destroyed me. But I forgave eventually. So if I can forgive that, why can’t I forgive myself?
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So I delved into the Word and found some scripture that will enable us to see that God doesn’t want us to condemn ourselves any longer. After all, if God can forgive us, who are we not to forgive ourselves? “he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;” (Psalm 103:10-11 NIV) “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,” (Romans 8:1 NIV) Dear Heavenly Father, please help us all to forgive ourselves, as well as each other, just as you have forgiven us. We know there is no shame and no condemnation in Christ Jesus because we are all new creations. Please help us lay all those feelings down and start living our lives anew, free of the bondage of unforgiveness. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Gina Sewell is a mom and grandma who lives in the Dallas, Texas area, where she enjoys cooking and spending time with her family. She loves to write about Jesus and encourage others. Gina shares her journey on her website: http://www.ginabartonsewell.wordpress.com
FEBRUARY PRAYER By Tynea Lewis
Dear Heavenly Father, We ask that you help us love one another. Lord, there’s so much division in the world, and it’s easy for us to take sides. It’s easy for us to put others down to raise ourselves higher, but Lord, that breaks your heart. You do not want your children to be against each other.
Tynea Lewis is a teacher turned workfrom-home mom. She and her husband live in Pennsylvania with their two children, and they love spending time together at their family cabin. Tynea remembers loving to write as early as first grade. She has a heart for encouraging others in the midst of their messes. You can connect with her at her personal blog (www.tynea-lewis.com), on Instagram (@TyneaLewis), or Facebook (@TyneaLewisWriter).
Lord, help us see the people around us the way you do. We ask that we be given your eyes to see how much each person is loved by you. Please help us love them with that same care. You have uniquely created each person on this earth. Lord, we know we will not always agree with everyone, but we ask that our actions towards one another are respectful and filled with grace. When we interact with people in our lives, help us to be a true reflection of you. We know that we are your ambassadors. The way we treat others will affect people’s views of you. We don’t want to represent you in a bad light. We want our actions to show your loving nature. We want our actions to point people to you instead of turning them away. Lord, we confess that we do not always act in a way that is pleasing to you. Lord, we are so sorry, and we seek your forgiveness. Thank you for how much you love each one of us. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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GOD IS IN CONTROL by Dave Evans
“The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.” (Proverbs 21:1 NKJV)
Dave Evans recently retired from his career as an estimator for an electrical contractor, but still works part-time. He recently served as Body Care Pastor for a small church and previously taught at a local Bible College for several years. God led him to found and serve in several outreach ministries—a pet therapy ministry, visiting several skilled nursing facilities and retirement homes: a prayer booth on a local street corner to allow people in the community to stop by for prayer needs and an evangelism table, typically set up once a month at various malls or stores, which made Bibles, tracts, DVDs, and other Christian materials available free of charge to interested shoppers. Dave has a bachelor’s degree in business administration/management. As a writer, he has had many poems and articles published in various periodicals and books. And he’s been privileged to do volunteer work for a local police department.
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Much comfort can be derived from the doctrine of the sovereignty of God. When the world seems to be in chaos, when life doesn’t seem to make sense, Christians may take consolation in the fact that God is in control and He is doing all things according to the counsel and purposes of His own will. Charles Spurgeon expressed it like this: “Under the most adverse circumstances, in the most severe troubles, they (God’s children) believe that Sovereignty hath ordained their afflictions, that Sovereignty overrules them, and that Sovereignty will sanctify them all.” Often, we perceive things from a myopic and temporal perspective, not considering how God’s sovereignty enters the picture. Instead of trusting God, we then become discouraged, perhaps even fatalistic, in our thinking. But all the while, God, unseen by us, is working to accomplish His purposes, for His glory, and for our ultimate good. One example from the Old Testament may assist in our understanding of His sovereignty in action behind the scenes. Over 150 years before Cyrus, King of Persia, was born, God prompted Isaiah to prophesy, “Who says of Cyrus, ‘He is My shepherd, And he shall perform all My pleasure, Saying to Jerusalem, ‘You shall be built,’ And to the temple, ‘Your foundation shall be laid.’” (Isaiah 44:28 NKJV). Even before Cyrus came into the world, God called him by name and identified him as His shepherd, one who would do all of God’s pleasure in reference to the task of rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem after the Jews’ dispersion and captivity in Babylonia had ended.
Only a Sovereign God could foretell the future and make it happen just as He said. And it took place just that way in the first year of the reign of Cyrus when God stirred up Cyrus’ heart. “Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia…” (Ezra 1:1a NKJV).
It would then be under the reign of Cyrus, whom God designated “my shepherd”, that the exiles would be allowed to return and to rebuild the temple. Again, Jeremiah foretold God’s plans, “For thus says the LORD: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place.” (Jeremiah 29:10 NKJV).
Cyrus acknowledged that Jehovah God had commissioned him: “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: All the kingdoms of the earth the LORD God of heaven has given me. And He has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah.” (Ezra 1:2 NKJV). God was in control and working in the heart of this pagan king to move him to fulfill God’s purpose.
God was in control at all times, and He accomplished all His purposes and fulfilled all the prophecies He had made. All came to pass. Nothing of what He foretold failed!
Even before the first year of the reign of Cyrus, God’s hand was at work in other ways in order to implement this plan. God spoke through the prophet Jeremiah to predict that the kingdom of Judah, because of their disobedience to God, would be taken away into captivity in Babylon for seventy years by King Nebuchadnezzar, whom God called “my servant.” But Jeremiah went on to say, “Then it will come to pass, when seventy years are completed, that I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation, the land of the Chaldeans, for their iniquity,’ says the LORD; ‘and I will make it a perpetual desolation.” (Jeremiah 25:12 NKJV). Babylon would be judged and punished, making way for Cyrus and the Persian empire to overthrow the Babylonian Kingdom, and to come to power.
Christians today should be encouraged and comforted to know that God is still in control. Even when we are faced with trials, hardships, political upheaval, and all manner of adversities, God is sovereignly in control of everything. And He will accomplish all His plans. So, like the Israelites who would be exiled to a strange land and subjected to the dictates of foreign kings, we can find solace in the words God spoke to them, through Jeremiah after He foretold their return from captivity, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV). Our future and hope are safe and secure in the omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, and proficient hands of none other than Jehovah God.
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Craig Ruhl is the Managing Editor of Faith On Every Corner, he is also a Published Writer and handles the business side of Faith On Every Corner, LLC. Read more about Craig at www.FaithOnEveryCorner.com
Sign Of The Times By Craig Ruhl
Looking back from where we are in late January 2022, I can see the rocky path we all traveled these past few years. The pandemic, politics, social and economic upheaval, natural disasters, the list could go on and on, have contributed to unprecedented challenges for humanity. In the area where we live, and I am sure most of the United States, if not the world, one of the most prominent indications of the recent changes is the proliferation of help wanted signs posted in front of all classes of businesses. There is a reported severe shortage of employees needed to fill the many job openings available. This situation is effectively curtailing and even eliminating a wide range of businesses and industries. The gap between the numbers of workers needed and those who are able and willing to work seems vast. There are many reasons for this disparity and there seem to be no quick fixes—so much uncertainty in so many areas of our lives. As I think about what I described above, I am reminded that the headlines we see and hear in our daily newsfeeds and newscasts don’t address the most critical question humanity faces—where will you and I spend eternity? For too many of us, this is very real uncertainty. Today, just as there are not enough job seekers and too many job openings, there are far too many people in the world who have not been saved. The number of those who are willing and able to share the path to salvation does not meet the need.
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I am a saved Christian, filled with the Holy Spirit, in relationship with my Savior, Jesus Christ. I am confident that when my life on earth has ended, I will be in heaven with my Lord forever. This will happen when Jesus calls me home or when He returns and brings His kingdom here on earth. This assurance is my lifeline, my only hope in a world that has lost its way. Unfortunately, I am in the minority. So many people still need to learn about Jesus, confess Him as their savior, confess and repent of their sins, and follow Him into eternity. Over two thousand years ago, Jesus Christ walked the earth, teaching his disciples. During this time, He identified a genuine problem—the relationship between the people and God was not as it should be. The world He was witnessing was very broken and lost. The people, multitudes of them, direly needed hearing the Good News that Jesus Christ offered. Jesus taught and instructed his disciples on how to reach the lost, performing miracles and modeling how to live a godly life. He taught by His example as much as by His words. “Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.’” (Matthew 9:35-38 NKJV)
Where does this leave us? We first must recognize we are the laborers referred to in the previous verse. The harvest is the mass of unsaved people in the world today. Plenty of work is available, but not enough workers. We may not have a solution to the headlines of today, but we have been given the commission to go throughout the world and work for the Lord. “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’ Amen.” (Matthew 28:18-20 NKJV) We have also been given the power: “And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.” (Matthew 10:1 NKJV) Where do we go from here? There are no applications to file, interviews to be held, or committees to approve of us as disciples of Christ. The path is simple, but not easy. Billy Graham offered this prayer for salvation: “Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. In Your Name. Amen.”
If you have prayed similarly, you are deemed saved and are now a part of fulfilling the great commission. Here are a few points to remember as we work together in the harvest fields: • Teach using actions as well as words. Be the message you want to deliver. • Love others as you love yourself. • When necessary, correct with love and compassion, as Jesus did. • Be of service and in service. • Connect with fellow Christians for support and encouragement. • Seek out those who have not heard the message of salvation through Jesus Christ. • Encourage other believers to join you in your mission I acknowledge I am a disciple of Jesus—and you are or can be too. Please join us on this mission. In Prayer, Father, thank you for your gift of Jesus Christ, who died for our sins, that we may forever be joined with you. We want to be your devoted disciples and fulfill your great commission. Be with us as we work to spread your word to the unsaved and fulfill the mission you have set us on. We ask that you strengthen our resolve and grant us the fortitude to accomplish your will. Thank you, Lord. To you, all the glory. Amen.
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For The Joy
By Peter Caligiuri
“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2 KJV)
Peter Caligiuri has been writing since he was a teenager. Both short poems and devotionals have appeared in various periodicals such as Secret Place, Breakthrough Intercessor, and The Upper Room. Peter holds a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education/English from Western Connecticut State College. He also attended Elim Bible College. He is now retired and lives with his wife Nancy in New Port Richey, Florida where they are members of Generations Christian Church. Together they have two awesome sons, six lively grandsons, and one very special granddaughter! Peter’s blog is located at http://www. praise2worship.net/
Today’s verse tells us that the joy set before Jesus gave Him strength to endure the cross. For most of us, joy means big events like winning the super bowl, walking down the aisle at our wedding, or seeing the birth of our child. But in the darkness and cold, with His body weakened from blood loss and shock from the beatings, the whip, and the nails, Jesus remained. What visions of joy could have helped Him then? But maybe it wasn’t a big thing, but instead a long list of little things that gave Jesus strength on the cross. Little things, like pretending to be a gardener, until only Mary Magdalene remained at the tomb and then the leap of joy in her heart as He called her name, kept Jesus through His suffering. Small joys sustained Him, like hiding a smile while He walked with His disciples to Emmaus, listening to them argue over the wild reports the women gave about meeting angels at His tomb. Brief moments like the sudden change of expression on Thomas’ face as he saw the marks of the nails, and funny scenes like Pete jumping out of the boat when he saw His net filled with fish carried Jesus through the pain. All those little moments in billions of little hearts kept Jesus through the shame and torment of Calvary. One by one through the ages we see Him. We believe and in that joy that was set before Him, we become His. What a Savior! What a joy! What amazing love!
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F E A S T I N G O N T H E U N FA M I L I A R By Steve Wilson
Relationships are sometimes like peanut butter and tomato sandwiches. Sound crazy? Let me explain. Recently this wonderfully flavorful entrée was presented to me quite unexpectedly. I LOVE tomatoes and have never really rejected the opportunity to devour peanut butter, but this combination was a little out of my league in becoming adventuresome. Having been placed in a position of possibly insulting the bearer of unique cuisine, I found I had no other choice but to try just a morsel. The first bite presented itself with a familiar sweet smoothness of the peanut butter with the tanginess of the fresh, juicy, and very meaty tomato. Love at first taste! Why didn’t I try this sooner? Probably because this just didn’t seem very familiar to me. Sometimes we treat acquaintances and some relationships the same way. We always want to be around people that we are comfortable with and who make us feel good or important. In the process, we are cheating ourselves out of God-ordained experiences that could raise us to another level of wisdom and understanding. We are often found in situations with people who are “different” than we are. Our natural tendency is to shy away from anything or anyone that doesn’t fit our definition of “normal”. “I’m talking about even other believers, some possibly in our own churches. Like the unfamiliar food item, our brain starts to categorize and match this new acquaintance with our mental preference lists or biases. Many times we reject others or find ourselves rejected because of some of the following reasons: She/he is too short/tall, fat/ thin, good-looking/plain, white/black/red/yellow/ etc., talks too much/little, is illiterate/educated, poor/ wealthy, dirty/clean; the list goes on and on.
It doesn’t take very long before our prejudice is justified and we leave that person standing, never realizing or caring that God may have used that moment for His glory and possibly may have used you to minister to another. If Jesus had this same mindset, where would we be right now? The blind and crippled would have been passed by because, of course, they were damaged goods. Mary Magdalene would have also been rejected for being so vile and unclean. Even the twelve would have been overlooked for being mere fishermen and tax collectors, except maybe Dr. Luke. Get the point? We need to ask God for forgiveness for our ignorance, prejudice, and pride. And while we are on our faces, prostrate before Him, why don’t we ask Him for the strength to take risks in our relationships with others and to allow us to love others with His love, not ours. For we are all different and strange through our own eyes but we are all the same through His. Now, are you ready to take a big bite out of humanities’ banquet table? You might be surprised how much you enjoy the variety of God’s human creations. “Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.” (Psalm 34:8 (NIV)
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Annette loves helping people in all arenas of life where situations seem hopeless: whether physical, emotional, spiritual, or financial. She served as a postpartum nurse for 42 years at Kapiolani Medical Center in Honolulu and was also the founder of iFoG, a nonprofit organization serving fibromyalgia sufferers and offering them hope. Today, her mission is to educate the public with this message: although death is inevitable, by addressing certain specific needs, it need not be feared. Knowing this, she readily shares what she has learned and is eager to pass on this information to you. Annette lives in Waipahu, Hawaii and enjoys playing tennis and pickleball, reading her Bible, cooking gourmet meals, and visiting her daughter and six grandchildren in Indiana.
Out of My Comfort Zone For His Glory! By Annette Kam “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” (2 Corinthians 1: 3-4 NIV) Looking back at my life, I have found this to be so true. Spending two long months in the hospital as a teenager with a ruptured appendix propelled me to become a nurse. Suffering from fibromyalgia for over 15 years and then finding a protocol that reverses it led me to start a nonprofit that has helped hundreds of people around the nation. I truly believed this was my calling for the rest of my life. But God had other plans and last November led me to step down as President after 20 years. I have learned when God gives me a new mission, I am to obey and blessings will abound and joy is complete! But it is a journey of faith and opening up my eyes to, “Lord, what can I learn from what you are having me go through?” rather than, “Why are you doing this to me?” I was blindsided. No other word can fully explain the two years of heart-wrenching challenges I experienced which in hindsight could have been avoided had I been aware.
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In 2018, life was going well. I was retired and loving it. I was finally getting to do things on my bucket list. My in-laws were elderly but in good health even though my father in law was 99 and my mother-in-law was 89. In fact, dad, as I called him, had cooked dinner for my husband and me almost every Sunday night without fail since 1975—over 43 years! And he was still driving and learned the computer at age 92! And he was Mr. Organized. One Sunday after dinner, he took us aside and educated us on his secret safe and where to find the key for it. He showed us all the necessary legal paperwork needed when he passed. This included his will, trust, advanced directives, power of attorney, even his funeral plan, and more. I took notes and snapped photos on my iPhone and filed them feeling confident when that day came, we had all we needed. Dad fell in April 2018 and unexpectedly, 10 days later, passed away. Mom told me “You take care of everything” and I found it a privilege to do so, as I thought it wouldn’t be too difficult. After all, dad had prepared us for this day... or so I thought. The first sign things were not “in order” was when I went to get the key to the secret safe and what had been a single key on a key ring 16 years earlier now had over 20 keys, all unlabelled. It was frustrating having to try each key to get to the important paperwork. A minor inconvenience.
Then I couldn’t find his checkbook, followed days later by the telephone company refusing to fix mom’s landline phone because she was not listed on the bill and needed dad’s death certificate first, which we would not have for another month. It took 3 months and getting the Better Business Bureau involved to finally settle everything. All because something as simple as listing her as a second payee was not thought of earlier. This was just the beginning of over 115 things I wish I had known.
In December 2020, I launched “WAIT – Don’t Die Yet! A complete guide to all things no one really wants to think about (but everyone needs to know!) before, during, and after a loved one’s passing”. I included my story, which I prayed was compelling enough to make readers realize it really could happen to them and motivate them to take action now. It segues into an interactive free downloadable guidebook that instructs readers step by step on what to do.
As the months ticked by, it didn’t get easier. I would wake up and find out how many mundane things I would never think important ahead of time became overwhelmingly burdensome. Necessary phone calls lasted over an hour, as I had no direct phone numbers. As organized as dad was, I discovered his home and the duplex next to it that he rented had not been insured for 2 years. A gas leak was discovered when his tenant of over 15 years moved out and the gas company came to move the gas meter and discovered it. I cringe, thinking of what might have happened had the tenant not moved! There were so many incidences of God’s perfect timing and His protection. God protected us from spending over $117,000 renovating my in-law’s home by a phone call received only a half-hour before a crucial meeting that to this day changed our lives. As hard as things were, hidden blessings abounded as I opened up my eyes and saw God handle things. I could only stay afloat because of Him.
As I prayed to God how to reach the masses, I clearly heard Him tell me to make the ebook free. My heart is filled with joy as I see the fruits of my obedience! To date, over 5500 households in over 15 states have downloaded it by just requesting it at: www.annettekam.com
For 2 years, I filled a college-ruled notebook with notes to keep me organized. I didn’t realize having started this notebook, God was organizing my thoughts and planting a seed in my mind. I realized the knowledge I was gaining was invaluable. I shared my insight with friends who had spouses or parents who were ill and passing. I gave them a rudimentary list to help, and they all told me I needed to write a book, that the information I had needed to be shared. And so, in the middle of Covid lockdowns, stuck at home, and using money left by my in-laws, I wrote and published my book. God guided me every step of the way and allowed me to retain all rights to it.
God has also opened doors to do presentations to senior clubs, be on podcasts, and be included in senior publications, which includes our state’s #1 health care provider this spring. I look at the reviews on Amazon and receive personal emails of gratitude and I am in awe at how God is using me mightily and as a witness to Him as I included many “God whispers” scattered throughout my book.
Click on book cover to purchase.
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Brenda McDaniel is the author of My Angel My Hero with two more books soon to be published. She is from Roanoke, VA. She holds a B.S in Psychology and M.A. in Counseling. She has enjoyed writing poetry and short stories, even as a small child. Brenda says she is now living her dream come true!
My Journey Of Faith By Brenda McDaniel
As a child, my mother taught us about our Lord. She read us Bible verses regularly at bedtime. And sent us to Sunday school too. But, what really stayed in our hearts and minds as children was that our mother, Olga, lived her faith daily. She treated others as she would want to be treated— with kindness, love, and respect. She had an open and truly loving heart. When I reached my teenage years, it was confusing at times. Most kids experience a confusing world at this time of life, trying to deal with changes physically and emotionally and going through a variety of coming-of-age problems. What helped keep me grounded was my loving mom and my understanding, big brother Steven. But the most important person was my Savior Jesus Christ, who I accepted as a young child. I would lie on my bed at times crying and asking Him for help. A quiet peace and hope would fill my broken heart and mind. And He always gave me strength to go on. And our faith as a family helped us deal with the loss of our brother Allen. He was stillborn and broke all our hearts to lose him. This was the first time we, as children, dealt with the loss of a loved one. My father suffered from a mental illness since before we kids were born. Our faith also gave us the strength to deal with his illness and continue to love and try to help him, any way we possibly could. 30 | M AG A Z I N E N A M E PAGE 3 30
In middle age, I became disabled with an undiagnosed spinal injury. That caused severe nerve damage in various parts of my body, making me unable to work. Once again, my dreams seemed to be dashed and depression and sadness overcame me. But my sister’s sweet, loving daughters, Casey and Lauren, lifted my spirits. My sister Debbie allowed me to babysit them until they were school age. Later, I would pick them up after school and watch them till their parents were home. So the Lord continued blessing my life and my mother’s with these beautiful children. Even in painful circumstances, He always walks beside us. As an older woman, I took care of my aging parents, helping them through illness and recovery. I took care of the housework, cooked meals, etc. But eventually, more heartbreak and sadness appeared without warning. My mother, now in her eighties, was diagnosed with late-stage spinal and kidney cancer. That went undiagnosed for a long period. We found ourselves in shock and disbelief. I knew mom wanted to spend her last days of life at home, to be with her loving family. I and the caring, loving hospice nurses took good care of her. She was put her on heavy pain meds to relieve her suffering as much as possible. Mom constantly prayed to her Lord, whom she loved even as a child, to accept her into His kingdom. She died in peace after only a month in hospice. Our hearts were broken, bodies and minds exhausted. But we knew she was finally at true peace. And with her Savior, whom she loved all her life. We were still in shock but finally accepted her passing.
Your Will Be Done by Karen Ruhl
Click book cover to purchase. One night a few days after her passing, I was awakened by our cat running from mom’s room. And I saw mom in her hospital gown silently floating past my bedroom door. She did this twice, then I never saw her again. I wasn’t frightened, but this gave me deep peace. She wanted me to know that this world isn’t the ending. But death was only the beginning. That Heaven was real, and she was at peace with her Lord. A few days later, an angel in a brown hooded robe appeared, floating around our heater and I knew he came to take mom home to her heavenly home as I never saw her again after that night. I felt a strong feeling of peace and happiness. Knowing we would see her again very soon. I knew beyond a doubt Heaven was truly real and I was blessed and privileged to see two of God’s angels for the first time in my life. A couple of years later, my dad, Henry, passed away with heart disease at a hospice facility. He was too ill to take care of at home. So our family was dealt another heartache. He had missed mom so badly and now they are together once again. We knew he had fought the good fight against mental illness all his life. And he finally won that battle, too. I was depressed for a while, not knowing what my future was to be. Then I felt a call from our Lord. I kept feeling like He wanted me to write about my special loving parents. The Lord continues to allow me the privilege to write in many ways. I enjoy sharing His love with this hurting world. His many blessings and love are never-ending for those who love and trust him always and forever!! “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:” (2 Timothy 4:7 KJV)
I have been praying for many people to be touched by the healing hand of God, more so over the past two years than ever before. As I was praying recently, it occurred to me that I was saying “Your Will Be Done,” but wanted to know more about my prayer. When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, he taught them what we call the Lord’s prayer, saying, “Pray then like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Because God is the one who created the heavens and the earth, man, and everything else in it that has life, He is sovereign, and we are to submit to Him, not the other way around. It is His will we want in our lives. When we pray for the will of God to be done in and through our lives on earth, as it is in heaven, it means that we are willing to go through whatever might prevent that purpose from being accomplished. This is not always easy and yet, it should be comforting to know that whatever happens is the will of our Father in Heaven. Our prayer is that we want to be so aligned with the will and purpose of God that we ask God to empower us to accomplish it. When I want clarification of my thoughts, I often go to my study Bible and read what scholars say about the subject. It is a great way to get clarification. The next time you pray - ask for God’s will to be done and keep a journal of how he answered your prayers... Amen Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 1 John 5:14 NKJV
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No One Like You By Dave Evans
Dave Evans recently retired from his career as an estimator for an electrical contractor, but still works part-time. He recently served as Body Care Pastor for a small church and previously taught at a local Bible College for several years. God led him to found and serve in several outreach ministries—a pet therapy ministry, visiting several skilled nursing facilities and retirement homes: a prayer booth on a local street corner to allow people in the community to stop by for prayer needs and an evangelism table, typically set up once a month at various malls or stores, which made Bibles, tracts, DVDs, and other Christian materials available free of charge to interested shoppers. Dave has a bachelor’s degree in business administration/management. As a writer, he has had many poems and articles published in various periodicals and books. And he’s been privileged to do volunteer work for a local police department.
Early this morning, before dawn has awakened, I gaze above at black canopy studded with myriad diamonds brilliantly sparkling across the expanse How omnipotent the Hand that put them in their places, lit them with ever-burning light on display every night; so far away, yet so near-Your perfect craftsmanship In adoration my heart cries out, to Your Excellency-there is no one like You! “There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, Who rides the heavens to help you, And in His excellency on the clouds. (Deuteronomy 33:26 NKJV)
“For You, LORD, have made me glad through Your work; I will triumph in the works of Your hands.” (Psalm 92:4 NKJV)
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The Priceless Pearl By Dr. Irene Surya
In the palette of ocean deep Permeated not by the sun’s rays I saw a lustrous pearl Perfectly woven by the marine oyster. The life of the oyster Told a tale so vivid, To relate with the story, I could And learn lessons so profound.
Dr. Irene Surya has published a book of poems, In Solitude with God. Her poems have been published in various magazines. She has a passion for writing for the Lord and glorifying the Lord through her writings. She loves and serves the Lord with her husband.
Click on book to purchase on Amazon.
A grain of sand bruised its frame Tears of pain, silently shed Thought of ways to pull away But knew not of any. The tears, it wove Day in and out Endowed a pearl so precious To bestow an example of value. Trusting the Lord with my pain Could produce endurance Which develops character Leading to hope of the glory of God. The unfailing love of the Lord Is by my side As I walk life’s narrow path And turn my pain into a priceless pearl.
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I have to admit, I didn’t label this photo. I love taking photos of old and abandoned houses and buildings. I can almost see a large family sharing many memories in this home. All photos are copyright 2022 Karen Ruhl
Karen-Ruhl.pixels.com
The N.C. Coastal Reserve & National Estuarine Research Reserve
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Road Trippin’ February Flashback! by Karen Ruhl
Craig and I haven’t been able to get out for a road trip for February. I was contemplating what to do when Craig came up with February Flashback! He is so creative. The photos shown were all taken at various places in the month of February. We try to take trips for our birthdays - Craig’s birthday is February 4th Happy Birthday sweetheart! Our first visit to the Outer Banks in Noth Carolina. We will be going back this year. Enjoy.
This sunset was shot off of a boat heading home from Catalina Island. You can see the island and the waves from the boat. Catalina is a beautiful island and so much fun to visit for the day.
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Point Vincente Lighthouse Stands on the most southwesterly point of the Palos Verdes Peninsula, California
View out of the glass from the top of the lighthouse. The tower itself is 67 feet tall but the main beam of light marks Point Vicente from a height of 185 feet above the ocean.
All photos are copyright Karen Ruhl 2022
Camping along the coast in San Clemete, California
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The Blue Ridge Parkway - a must-see! Boone, North Carolina
Veteran’s Park, Sawmills, North Carolina
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Love Is In The Air by Sharon K. Connell February. The month of valentines and romance. As are so many other holidays we celebrate, the history of Valentine’s Day has many twists and turns. One cannot be sure where the custom of sending valentine cards came from or why we celebrate the day of love on February 14th, but that date has come to be one of the most celebrated all over the world. As a matter of fact, no matter who you ask, Valentine’s Day winds up being on the Top Ten list of holidays celebrated. It’s here to stay. Having a day of romance to remind people to love each other may seem strange. After all, shouldn’t we love each other all the time? But we don’t. Our world has become very selfish. God has a lot to say about love. In John 13:34, we read, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.” So, it’s a commandment. In Romans 12:10, Paul writes, “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;” Now that’s saying something. “Preferring one another.” In other words, we are to put others before ourselves. In the selfish world, we live in, I don’t see a lot of that going on. Do you? We Christians have an obligation to set an example for the world in how to love. 38 | M AG A Z I N E N A M E PAGE 38
“But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.” (1 Thessalonians 4:9) Yes, we are taught in God’s Word to love one another. “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.” (1 John 4:7) In 1 John 4:8, we are told that, “… God is love.” But how do we know that’s true? With all the sin, turmoil, crime, etc. going on in this world, sometimes it’s hard to focus on the love he’s shown. That’s where faith comes in. God knows the last chapter of this church age. He knows the last chapter of this world we call Earth. He knows the last chapter of the devil’s story in time. But the best way we know God is love is through I John 4:10, “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” Have you ever heard the gospel song, Written in Red? It’s one of my favorites. In the song, the inspirational vocalist Janet Paschal sings that God wrote His love in letters of crimson. Here is a link to one of my favorite recordings of the song: https://youtu.be/hcoBGEvmniM
Author, Sharon K. Connell lives in Houston, Texas from where she writes Christian Romance Suspense, containing a bit of mystery and as much humor as she can get into a story. She’s also written many award-winning short stories in a variety of genres. Sharon attended college in Illinois, graduated from the Pensacola Bible Institute in Florida, and holds a certificate in fiction writing from the International Writing Program through the University of Iowa.
Click on photo to order Sharon’s books.
The second verse to the song tells us that Jesus gave His all, and the message was easily read. How true. It’s all written for us in His Word. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 3:16 & 17)
She is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, Scribes Critique Group, Houston Writers Guild, and CyFair Writers. She is also the founder of the global Facebook Christian Writers & Readers group forum. Her monthly newsletter, Novel Thoughts, goes out every month to its subscribers in all parts of the world. Visit the offical website of Sharon K. Connell https://www.authorsharonkconnell.com/
And on Valentine’s Day, if you celebrate it, thank our Lord for His message of love written in red. Then you can truly appreciate love for others. Perhaps there’s someone you know who needs to hear about the wondrous love of Jesus. (All Scriptures quoted in this article are from the King James Bible 1611 AV)
And our Lord still tells us how much He loves us in the blessings He bestows daily. We are told to be content with food and raiment (1 Timothy 6:8), and yet how many of us have only food and raiment? He provides so much more. Which of us does not have a roof over our heads (although many in this world do not)? If we listed all the things we’ve been given, everything we have that we don’t absolutely need, and the blessings of good health, air to breathe, the beauty surrounding us, the loved ones we have, friends, beautiful sunsets, glorious flowers, majestic mountains, flowing streams, animals too many to number, and all the non-essential things God’s provided, we can easily see how much He loves us. We need to take time each day to thank our good Lord for all He’s done for us.
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Like A Child
by Shara Bueler-Repka We drove onto the farm and made our way around the silo and haystacks. Distracted by an issue I couldn’t seem to find answers to, I stared out the window in silence. As our horse-hay was loaded, I stepped out of the truck and chatted with the farmer’s wife. Her three-year-old granddaughter wandered over and plopped in the dirt at her feet. Suddenly, the little girl zoomed in for my attention. Her bright blue eyes danced as she told me about all the ways she played in the mud, the kind of birthday balloons she wanted on October “25fift,” and… would I like to come to her party? Her little legs kept in time with her chatter as they fanned wide half-circles in the soft dirt. Faded pink toenail polish peeked through the grains of sand. That beam of innocence dissipated the cloud I’d come in with. We came for a load of hay, but I left with so much more. As we hit the highway, I heard God’s voice in my spirit, “Like a child. Come to Me like a child.” Funny how God’s “still small voice” and interventions can almost be lost in the distractions of life. Suddenly, my problems didn’t seem all that big anymore. I felt a peculiar peace that all would be well even though I couldn’t see any details. Simple direction is exchanged for simple trust. My heavenly Father wanted me to approach Him with all the innocence of a little kid. No preconceived ideas. No self-righteous, religious rules. No fear. Just a belief in the love of a Father who has my very best interests at heart.
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The secret? Developing that relationship. The mystery of God’s true heart is solved as we experience Him: reading His Word; watching His creation; remembering His past interventions; recognizing His voice. And simply believing that He is Who He says He is and will care for us as His beloved children. Demands and distractions of life quite often send us down the path of self-reliance. “I’ve got this,” our actions tell God. And we don’t consult Him. We become stressed out, weighed down, and pulled apart. Life becomes more difficult and complicated than it was ever meant to be. When I think of Almighty God coming to us in the form of a child, lying in a feed trough with animals for roommates, humble and simple come to mind. He didn’t have to appear in this fashion, He just did. An example of how far He would go to show His love for us. As we drove back to the ranch, I gave my insurmountable issue to Him and let it go. Not long after, he brought healing to that particular situation in a way that, even now, makes me shake my head and smile at His creativity. Like a child. Come to Him like a child. “Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:4 NKJV)
Pony Express Ministry Shara Bueler-Repka is enjoying life as a singer/ songwriter/recording artist, freelance writer, and award-winning author. She and her husband, Bruce, live in their living quarters horse trailer and call “home” wherever their rig is parked. Their mail-base, however, is Hallettsville, Texas. She loves sharing God’s Word through music with her husband, riding their horses (aka The Boys) in the backcountry, and writing about God’s grace in their various adventures on the trail less traveled.
Pure Love By Karen Ruhl
There isn’t much more touching than having a baby take your hand and hold on to your finger. Our grandson, Damien, took Craig’s hand and wrapped his little 2-week old hand around it and fell asleep. I think he felt the love and was confident he was being taken care of. Isaiah 41:13 says, For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, Saying to you, “Fear not, I will help you.” Click book cover to learn more.
The next time you need to feel loved or that sense of security - wrap your fingers around God’s words and let Him bring you the peace that comes from knowing Him. Photo by Karen Ruhl
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Faith On Every Corner Bookshelf The Unannounced Christmas Visitor By Patrick Higgins Reviewed by Craig Ruhl
Click to purchase this book from Amazon.com.
I have read other books written by Patrick Higgins and was looking forward to reading this book during the Christmas season. Time slipped by, so I am a little late in reporting. The author has hit a home run with this seasonal tale. In his fictional story, the author has provided us not only with a fast-paced dialog but also with many thought-provoking questions. As we become immersed in the story, we are called to examine our faith and consider how we would react and interact in similar circumstances. The scriptural concepts woven throughout the book provide a firm foundation to support the storyline and our need to reach out to others less fortunate than ourselves. Especially at Christmastime, stories like this one need to be read in the home and shared with children and grandchildren and should be re-read through the years. This delightful book makes an excellent gift for loved ones. The staff of Faith On Every Corner is pleased to add this book to our bookshelf and highly recommend it to our readers.
Call For Writers For Faith On Every Corner Magazine We are looking for testimonials, acts of service, devotions, and articles of how you have witnessed God working in your life or the life of family and friends. Email for submission guidelines. Team@FaithOnEveryCorner.com 42 | M AG A Z I N E N A M E PAGE 3
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Faith On Every Corner Bookshelf Preyed Upon: Breaking Free From Therapist Abuse By Amy Nordhues Reviewed by Karen Ruhl
Click to purchase this book from Amazon.com.
Authentic accounts such as detailed in this book can be difficult to read and often that makes them even more necessary. Preyed Upon is Amy Nordhues’ memoir which details the events, struggles, and eventual escape from abuse at the hands of a sexual predator masquerading as a trusted mental health professional. To further compound the harm, the therapist was a self-professed Christian. Besides being a victim as an adult, Amy was also sexually abused during her childhood. This book is well written and logically chronicles events in the author’s life. It also provides insight into the predatory deception and manipulation that can occur from and through trusted medical and religious professionals. Amy shares how her Christian faith, which was a foundation for her ability to confront her abuser and successfully recover, continues to strengthen her. Her book is a blessing and will provide hope for other victims of abuse, and will help their families and friends understand the trauma of therapist or clergy abuse. We are pleased to add Preyed Upon: Breaking Free From Therapist Abuse to our Faith On Every Corner Bookshelf.
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That’s Why Doctors Call Us Patients By Rev. James L. Snyder
For the past month, I have been engaging with my eye doctor. I’ve had two cataracts removed, which isn’t a serious thing in itself. But what goes into this surgery is what baffles me.
On the first visit, I had to wear a mask, and it was no problem for me. If it makes other people feel happy, so be it. I’m just not real happy about wearing a mask.
I’ve often wondered why doctors call us patients. I have figured out that the doctors are not patient, so they expect us to be patient. I need to work on that.
As I was sitting waiting for my appointment, the lobby began filling up with new patients. An old guy sat next to me, and we nodded heads. I went back to what I was doing.
I had two cataract surgeries, two weeks apart. It took a whole month to go through the process. After the surgery, it’ll take another 4 to 6 weeks to get the proper glasses I need to read. Talk about being patient! However, needing this procedure, I had to take what came with it. I must say I am not more patient today than I was a month ago. The first time I went to the eye doctor, he scheduled me for a 9:15 appointment. No problem. The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage got me there 15 minutes ahead of time to make sure I wouldn’t be late. An hour later, I finally got in to see the doctor. I think he is, on the side, trying to develop patience in my life.
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In a few minutes, I begin to smell something rather disgusting. I didn’t want to look over at the guy next to me, but I did not smell that before he sat down, so I decided that I could not take that stench any longer. I got up to get a drink of water prepared for us, washed my hands, and then sat in another place. And of course, within a minute or two, another man walked in and sat two chairs away from me. They had it set up so you could not sit next to somebody. I smiled and nodded my head, then went back to reading. In a relatively short time, I began smelling that odor, and it seemed to worsen as I sat there. I don’t like to make a fuss or embarrass anybody, so I sat there as long as I could.
Then I got up to get another drink of water, washed my hands, and walked across the room to another seat. This time, an older woman came in and sat two seats away. Again, I nodded my head, smiled, and went back to reading. Then I smelled that smell again. This was getting to be rather ridiculous. I can understand some old man smelling that bad, but I was a little confused as to why this woman smelled like that. At this point, I didn’t know what to do. I got up two times before, and the third time draws attention to yourself. I was wearing a mask, and so I couldn’t figure out how I could smell anything through that mask. It’s supposed to protect me from outside particles, whatever that means. Then I got to thinking if my mask can’t protect me from the outside stench, what makes me think it can protect me from some floating germs?
I prayed a quick prayer, and before I could say “amen,” the doctor walks in. I tried keeping my mouth closed as much as possible, hoping that a closed mouth and several masks would work. The doctor finished his surgery, and just as he was going out the door, he turned and looked at me and said, “Are you sure you didn’t have any breakfast? Smells like you ate garbage this morning.” My patience deflated right there. “Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain” (James 5:7 KJV) Patience doesn’t come easy, but it does have a wonderful reward attached to it.
As I was thinking, a terrible thought rumbled in my head. This thought cannot be true, I said to myself. But what if this stench is not coming from the outside, but rather from the inside of my mask? That idea was preposterous, and I wanted to throw it out as quickly as possible. But you know how it is; a thought will haunt you until you pay attention to it. Cautiously, I pulled my mask down, took a deep smell of my breath, and almost passed out. That stench was my breath. The problem was that my mouth was in close proximity to my eyes which the doctor was going to be working on. Something had to be done before the doctor called me in. As I was thinking of this, the nurse walked into the room, called my name, and took me into the surgical room. My prayer at the time was that all of these masks worn by myself, the nurse, and particularly the doctor, would actually work. I did not want the stench to go out from my mask to enter the doctor’s mask working on me.
The Rev. Snyder is an award-winning author whose writings have appeared in over eighty periodicals, including GUIDEPOSTS. In Pursuit of God: The Life of A.W. Tozer, Snyder’s first book, won the Reader’s Choice Award in 1992 by Christianity Today. Snyder has authored and edited 30 books altogether. James L. Snyder was given an honorary doctorate degree (Doctor of Letters) by Trinity College in Florida. His weekly humor column, Out To Pastor, is syndicated to over 325 weekly newspapers. Through 45 years of ministry, he and his wife Martha have been involved in three church-planting projects before their current ministry at the Family of God Fellowship in Ocala, Florida. The Snyders have three children, nine grandchildren, and one great-grandson. www.jamessnyderministries.com
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UNEXPECTED EXPRESSIONS O F LO V E By Steve Wilson
We have a rather strange anomaly at our house. You see, written out on our expansive driveway are the words, “I LOVE YOU”. Normally, you can’t see the affectionate message because it is virtually invisible to the naked eye… unless it rains. After a downpour, the hidden message comes to life. I can only conjecture that the desperate scribe was in an adequately sized “dog house” at the time, the size of which would sufficiently house a Saint Bernard. In his hurried act of desperation, he scribbled these words with the only thing he had at the time… I’m going to guess perhaps a chrome wheel cleaner. I chuckle to myself every time I see it because it reminds me how unexpected expressions of love are displayed in our everyday lives and many times we are just too busy to see it, or maybe express it? (Of course, I could also be chuckling to myself because I wasn’t the one in the doghouse…) A second, much more recent example occurred on Mother’s Day. I like to get my wife a little something for Mother’s Day and strive to make it a little special. Let’s face it guys, where would we be on Father’s Day if we didn’t have our wives as mothers, right? And if we didn’t honor them with a little something, we would probably be writing “I LOVE YOU” on our own driveways, anything to get out of that proverbial doghouse. Anyway, I had picked up a gift and had planned to make her breakfast. I had also noticed the daisies dotting the horse pasture, blowing in the breeze. I schemed to get up early on Sunday morning, sneak out the door and cut some of the daisies and put them in a vase just as something special. 46 | M AG A Z I N E N A M E PAGE 3 46
What I didn’t expect was her reaction when she saw the flowers. Jenny exclaimed, “You picked me daisies!!” with an excited look and misty eyes. My expression was one of surprise and confusion; I couldn’t figure out the response I received. I later asked her about it and she explained that I went out of my way for a simple expression of love and it meant much more to her than going to the local Walmart for a bunch of flowers. (Hmmm, I wonder what will be growing out there in August for her birthday?) You see, it doesn’t necessarily need to be a large material item to express “I love you!” or “I really appreciate you!” Sometimes it only takes you being present in the moment. God also showed His love for us in different, unexpected ways. One of those expressions can be seen after a thunderstorm, a beautiful rainbow. And before the symbol of the rainbow was used and abused as a symbol for sexual immorality, it was THE symbol from God as a covenant between Himself and man. Genesis 9:12-17 (NIV) says, “And God said, ‘This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.’” “So God said to Noah, ‘This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth.’”
Even though God had destroyed the earth by water because there was so much evil on this earth, He still loved us enough to make a covenant between himself and all life on earth. To this day, that is exactly what I think about when I have the privilege of seeing a rainbow in the sky; a promise kept and a really cool expression of love.
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
Another unexpected and ultimate expression of God’s love for us has to do with our redemption. Romans 5:8 (NIV) states—“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” And while I still can’t quite grasp that kind of love, I have to accept it as a gift I can never repay. John 3:16 (NIV) explains—“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” The cross, once a symbol of death, has become a beacon of life for ANYONE who believes in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, who confesses their sins and becomes a new creation. Simply speaking, this is the kind of love that sets the standard for all of us to follow.
“Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”
So as you go on with your ordinary lives, take note of all of the unexpected expressions of love that surround you. Participate in expressing that love as much as you can. You definitely don’t want to be that guy (or gal) making a run to Walmart to purchase that chrome wheel cleaner so you can scribble a desperate message of love across your driveway. If you need some help with expressions of love, try reading 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 (NIV) reflected below; it is known as the LOVE chapter and for good reason. “If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.”
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
A healthcare Business Analyst by trade, Steve Wilson is a retired husband, father and grandfather who loves to see and write about finding God in the everyday. Originally from Ohio, he and his wife Jenny now live in Granite Falls, North Carolina. In his spare time, Steve enjoys reflective writing, dabbling in stained glass and, of course, spending time with their daughter and her family. www.lifesimplyspoken.com
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Cindy Oriol is the author of “IF ONLY” and “ HAVING JOY IN THE MIDST OF THE STORM.” They were written by the Holy Spirit and me to encourage anyone that is going through a storm in their life. No matter how many storms we have to endure as long as we hold tight to “Jesus “ we can make it through anything.
February - A Month To Remember By Cindy Oriol
The month of February holds both happy and sad memories for me. My dad was born in February. He was my world until I met Jesus. Growing up, he was so special, not only to me but to everyone he came in contact with. Everywhere he went, he was the life of the party. My relatives were always coaching him to get up and sing. He loved to entertain and was very good at it. I used to love watching my mom and him jitterbug. They were so great together and I know if there was ever a trophy being handed out to the best couple, they would have won hands down. Whenever I would hear the band sing “Colour My World” by the group Chicago, I would grab him by the arm and say, “Come on daddy, this is our song.” I would lead him out onto the dance floor and because I was little, I would place my feet on the top of his feet as we glided across the floor, singing our song. Daddy held such a special place in my heart. I was certainly daddy’s little girl. He was always there for me and I could talk to him about anything. Growing up, I was bullied outside the home. I was deeply hurt, had lost all my self-esteem, and felt no self-worth. It sickened Daddy to see me so down on myself when I was called hateful names, but he would cheer me up by telling me I was beautiful. Not only was I bullied mentally, but also physically. I was beaten up several times while walking home from school. When this happened, my dad started to pick me up after school. Leaning on my father helped me through some very difficult times.
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As a child, you think you will have your parents around forever, but then, as you get older, you know that is not the truth. I will never forget the day my dad died of a massive heart attack. Sometimes it feels as if time has stopped and I am rehearsing his death all over again. I am so thankful that the words “I love you” were the last we had said to one another. Daddy was 52 years old when he died. I felt my world caving in around me, feeling such a loss that I went into a depressive state of mind. But the more I prayed to the Lord, the better I became, and I began to live again. Each year when February 21 comes around, I sing the song “Happy Birthday” and remember the great times growing up when I was daddy’s little girl. February is very special to me for another reason. The 12th of the month marks the date that the Lord blessed me to marry my soulmate, John. When he proposed to me at Christmas time, I was ecstatic because I was marrying the man of my dreams. I heard the Lord say, “Here is the one you have been praying for, to go on mission trips with and serve me every way you can.” John’s birthday falls on the 13th and the following day is Valentine’s Day. The card shop loves to see me enter through their front entrance and head straight to the cards. My dad never had the pleasure of meeting him, but I know for certain he would have approved. It would have been great to have my two favorite men like each other but, the only one that counts is the Lord and he had already approved.
February 22 marks the day our beautiful granddaughter, Zoey, was born. Zoey’s birth was fearful to us all. During labor, every time our daughter Michelle would try to push, her heart rate would begin to plunge and she would have to stop. This went on for several hours until the doctor said that it was too dangerous and Zoey would have to be born by cesarean birth. We found out later that her umbilical cord was wrapped around her neck and that was causing her heart rate to drop. All children are miracles, but she is our miracle. She is so adorable and has the sweetest, childish voice. Grandma loves her so much. We all do.
And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. 1 John 4:16 NKJV
One scripture verse that helped us through that night was Genesis 26:24 (NIV), “That night the LORD appeared to him and said, ‘I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bless you and will increase the number of your descendants for the sake of my servant Abraham.’” I am so happy that we have God to take away our fears and to know that He is with us and will never leave means everything to me.
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I am Joseph, an author, blogger, and content writer from Nigeria. In the field of writing, I deliver unique, grammatically correct, and plagiarism-free content. Currently, I work with three online firms specializing in motivation, human capacity development, lifestyle, relationship, and spiritual writings. You can find Joseph on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/2228667160717043
The Best Gift For The Church By Joseph Akinrinola God created us differently. He equally endowed us with a unique gift. Because varieties make the world beautiful, God gave the Church a different type of gift. The essence is for the recipient and others to benefit from it so the church will be healthy. That makes the complete process a win-win for everybody. Now, which of the gift is best for the church? “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:11-13 NIV) Let us start by defining what a gift is. A gift is something you are freely given, not because you earn it. You are not paying for it either. It means you have no control of the type or size of the gift as the recipient. It is at the discretion of the giver. In another way, Christ gave gifts to the Church according to His will. If you understand that, it means whatever gift you are exhibiting in the Church is not yours, but Christ that gave it to you. All gifts are also good enough to fulfill your purpose. Apart from the fivefold ministry, Jesus gave other gifts. For example, we have gifts of healing, miracle, faith, administration, etc. Whichever way, the purpose is to edify the Church.
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Now, which of those gifts is the best for the Church? We would understand when we follow the analogy of the body of Christ as our physical body. Which of the body part is the best? I think all. Some are visible and some are internal. Some works of the internal organs are not obvious until they are backed up. In the Church, some gifts are upfront, but some function backstage. It is not the size or the popularity of a gift that makes it important but fulfilling its role. The unhealthy competition we see in the Church is the feeling that one gift is superior to the other. Sometimes some leaders are naïve to celebrate some gifts above others. However, all gifts are important in the giver’s presence. What makes your gift the best in the Church is your conviction. The following are the parameters you used to celebrate your gift. One, it was Christ that gave it to you. Though you could desire a gift and work at it, God has the final decision if you will get it. Two, your gift will be the best if you use it. The one talent that was buried in the parable of the unprofitable servant did not benefit the servant, others, or the master. The citywide crusade will not yield results if we do not have the unseen people working behind. That is the way to see your gift.
This year, do not sit ideal complaining. Put your gift and talent to use. It will amaze you the level of impact it will make in the Church. It is not the biggest cable in the electrical wiring that prevents the system from working. Most times, it is a small fuse wire. It is disconnected or blown. One zero you add to a figure will change the value of a financial transaction. You don’t even need a special, new, or costly pen to sign a bill into law. It does not take a bucket of acid to cause food poisoning. A drop is enough. That is how significant your gift is. See your gift as part of a production line. Each harmonized brings out the product. All that John the Baptist did to fulfill his ministry was introduce Jesus to the world. Ananias was through with his assignment after praying for Saul. I cannot remember his name elsewhere in the Bible. That little maid in the house of Naman could do nothing about the leprosy of her master. The best she did to help him was to introduce him to Elisha. Do you know what came out of that minor effort? One, the ministry of Elisha, was further confirmed. Two, the King had the rest of mind. Three, Naman was healed. Four, I am sure her master will reward her well. In addition, Jehovah, God, was glorified. Can you see how important your gift is in the church? Instead of jealousy and envy, celebrate what God gave you. Don’t forget God should celebrate you for being faithful in the small duty than for many praises of men without God’s approval. Let me close with this. There is no limit to what we could achieve as a Church if we do not mind who gets the credit. Jesus recruited disciples because he would not achieve much as a person. Today, the church leaders are trusting in you to use your small gift, so together they would achieve the glorious task committed to them. The only purpose of all gifts, whether big or small, is to bring us to the unity of faith. Can Christ count on you to achieve that?
Joseph Akinrinola lives in Lagos, Nigeria, with his wife and four adorable children. He served with the Gospel Faith Mission International for over three decades. Besides, he is a Sunday school coach, an author, a blogger, and a freelance. He has served in Sunday school for over three decades. His friends and students call him “Mr. Sunday school”. Joseph has published five books with two classics titled “Effective Sunday School Management Made Simple” and “Effective Sunday School Teacher.” While with the Gospel Faith Mission International, he was a regional coordinator. He oversees the activities of the Sunday school in over a hundred and twenty churches. Then, he sat on the extended board of his Sunday school writing the weekly and daily devotionals read by over 2 million readers globally. Currently, he is the pastor of a new church, the Levites Chapel International, Lagos, Nigeria. His passion is to reach young people with the Bible truth about relationships, Christian lifestyle, and personal development. This informs the creation of his blog, www.thewisdombase.com. In addition, he writes for online and international magazines. He is a member of Amnesty International.
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We Reep What We Sow Changing The Seeds
By Craig D. Lounsbrough, M. Div., LPC
We reap what we sow. In other words, what we do is never free of an outcome that will be shaped by what we do. The ‘cause-and-effect’ of life is such that what we do will always cause an outcome that is fashioned directly by what we do. Despite the fact that we often think (or would prefer to think) that what we do is somehow isolated to the action or the choice itself, by doing something we have, in fact, set the stage for a future outcome that will reflect whatever the action or choice was that we made. We reap what we sow. And that is an immovable reality. The Consequences of Our Sowing And if we look around us, what we see today will tell us, quite clearly, the stuff that we sowed yesterday. The events of today grew out of the choices of yesterday. We can complain about the world today. We can bemoan our lot in life, or we can find ourselves becoming deeply hopeless and darkly dismayed about the state of our culture. We can grieve deeply over tragedies that seem to befall us at every turn and that leave us drowning in an agony so consuming that we don’t have time to heal before the next one befalls us. We can be utterly stunned at the nature of events and the course of the culture, having believed that such things were leagues beyond the scope of reality… but here they are. The headlines are strewn with news so dark that it sometimes seems nearly apocalyptic and we sit teetering on some abyss that our choices delivered us to. But does not our surprise reveal our ignorance, because the fact of the matter is, we reap what we sow? 52 | M AG A Z I N E N A M E PAGE 3 52
The Price of Denial Have we been so oblivious as to somehow think that this would not be the case? And are we so adamant about wanting to preserve our so-called ‘rights’ to engage in whatever destructive behavior that we choose to engage in that we altogether deny the cause-and-effect of those choices? Will we pretend that we are somehow above such an immovable reality? Will we delude ourselves with the belief that we have a license to do whatever we want, and that we somehow have obtained the power to grant ourselves a free pass from the consequences of doing what we want? Are we foolish enough to believe that we can indulge in the most rogue and base passions imaginable, and do so in some sort of perfect isolation? The Games That We Play Or do we actually accept the fact that we will reap what we sow, but that in time what we reap will somehow magically become better, despite the fact that it was, and will continue to be sown from the same exact stuff from which we’ve reaped the bad stuff? Or have we been sufficiently fooled by those who would declare that what we’ve reaped was actually that of others who have liberally sown our cherished and rather admirable efforts with toxic seeds designed to undermine our efforts, and it is their seeds which we have reaped? Let’s not be fooled, for we’ve been fooled for far too long already. We reap what we sow.
Changing the Seeds And so maybe we should look at what we’re sowing. Honestly. Frankly. With great pause and even greater thought. And maybe we should think about what the things that we’re sowing are going to result in. And maybe we need to refuse to live in denial of that painful and frequently disappointing reality. Maybe we should understand that while we might like to believe that we will reap something good from compromised seeds, that is not the case, nor will it ever be, despite how much sowing we might do. And maybe, just maybe, we should start sowing something different. Something very different. Something radically different. Maybe it’s time for a change of seeds, a real change, an honest change. Maybe it’s time to sow something better because we cannot afford to continue to reap things that are this bad. “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:7-9 NIV)
Craig’s background includes over thirty years of experience as a counselor in a variety of treatment settings including psychiatric hospitals, schools for the blind, organizations for the physically handicapped, churches, and outpatient settings. He also possesses ten years of experience in pastoral ministry. To date, he has published six books and has had a large number of other works published in a wide variety of magazines. Craig founded an outpatient practice that provides counseling, coaching, and consulting services to individuals, marriages, families, various businesses as well as church and ministry organizations. Craig is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Colorado, a Certified Professional Life Coach, and an Ordained Minister. https://craiglpc.com/ mailto:craiglpc4@gmail.com
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You can reach Diane at pattydeeb@yahoo. com and https://gab.com/buierocks. She is also on LinkedIn at https://www. linkedin.com/in/diane-buie-851017228 Her book What If Birds Could Talk is available at https://www.lulu.com/en/us/shop/p-dianebuie/what-if-birds-could-talk/paperback/ product-1z7wr6k2.html?page=1&pageSize=4
Not Separated From The Love Of God By P. Diane Buie
When I reflect on the month of February (in any year), I always think of Valentine’s Day and how society seems to overly value dating, couples, and marriage on this day. There is nothing wrong with that. Being in a relationship, from a Christ-centered and Bible-based point of view, is a blessed thing that God stated in the book of Genesis as being” good!” It’s just that when one is a Christian single, one is still not married and is not dating regularly, one has to find a peace with all the flowers, chocolates, spa gifting, romantic cards, meals and so many other things that married couples do to celebrate their commitment and love to each other on Valentine’s Day. Valentine’s Day is just for lovers, right?! So, as a Christian single, I am barred from really enjoying this day, right? Many years ago, almost twenty, in fact; I had such a moment when I took time to cry out to God about my singleness. His reply came in the form of a poem/prayer that I have kept to this very day. I share it here in hopes that God, His Word, and Spirit might encourage the hearts of other singles who still seek and pray for marriage and/or to date a future mate. I share this poem even in the hopes that married couples might be blessed too by reading this poem and the scriptures that helped inspire it. Even though I am aging every year (I am over 50 now); I still find God’s peace when Valentine’s Day rolls around. This poem He gave me still gives me joy despite never having some answers to prayer about family and marriage being granted in the affirmative. Maybe His words to me in this poem can offer you whatever you may need God to be in this season of another February in yet, another year, in yet another Valentine’s Day where we can choose to celebrate God’s love for all of us. We can celebrate that God’s love is far greater and better than the love that is usually depicted on Valentine’s Day. As believers, we have a hope that outshines any celebration on this earth; we are loved by the God who created the universe, and His love is for those who choose to love Him. As Paul wrote in the biblical book of Romans (chapter 8, verse 39): “... nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is I Christ Jesus...” (KJV). So, with God, our marital status does not keep us from truly enjoying love on any day, but especially on Valentine’s Day, His love gives us far greater joy.
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Let Me
by P. Diane Buie
God, I need to know you more I this desperate hour. My life is changing and I need a strong tower. I have unpaid bills and truck repairs, too. There are an awful lot of things in my life still to do. I feel helpless and powerless to fulfill it all, I say. I need someone in life to forever stay. I want to get married and to share this great load. But to find someone quick is not easy and I just cannot kiss a toad! So what’s the answer to my heart’s cry? What’s the answer to all that I need? God hears my sighs and in His gentle reply, “Marry me and be My bride! Let me be the groom that gushes at you with loving pride! Let me kiss your face with touches and so soft, hear my voice that speaks to you oft! Let me love and care for your every want, whim, and need. Let me love you, dear. Look, I died for you on this tree. I can see every laugh and tear you cry. Let me love you; your every desire I will satisfy.” With words such as these, how can I resist? My worries and woes just need to desist! So, with hope and a laugh, I will simply agree! Yes, Lord, your beautiful bride I will be!
“For your maker is your husband the Lord Almighty is His name the Holy One of Israel is your redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth.” (Isaiah 54:5 NIV) “true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in Truth, these are the kinds of worshipers the Father seeks.” (John 4:23 NIV) Written 3/3/04 Reaffirmed November 21, 2014 Reaffirmed January 4, 2022
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The Most Amazing Love Story In History! By Jo Scheidt
When we say God is love, what does that mean?
WHO:
How we love each other is often the way we see God. Or, how our earthly dad’s love is how we envision God. Whether you have the model dad or he’s a bit rough around the edges, both have flaws that our heavenly Father does not.
• God is everything, but zooming in on love, it is crucial to realize God doesn’t just love us (action verb); He IS love (noun). • Saying God IS love is hard for us to stop and think about or figure out what that really means. For example… • My husband is comedic but I can’t say he’s comedy because he can also be serious. With God, you can say He is love because He is never something else (say, anger). • But, wait a minute! Doesn’t God get angry? Yes. But His anger comes from a place of love. It is much like when you get angry with your child—it’s because you love them and don’t want to see them get hurt. God gets angry with sinfulness and injustice because He hates to see His children trapped in a web. • Check out this verse where He’s chastising Jerusalem. But HEAR the LOVE:
We often stop at the thought that we know God loves us infinitely more than we can understand. We read it and keep on going because we’re satisfied with understanding the surface meaning. Truth be told, our heads would explode if we fully could grasp the meaning of God’s love for us. But we can at least pause and take a look at some of the factors that go into this concept. Let’s examine what love is by remembering Who God is and what He’s done for us.
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!” (Luke 13:34 ESV)
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WHAT HE DID: • Jesus, the perfect Son of God, came to earth as a baby that needed HELP. • For eternity before that, He needed nothing and nobody. • Jesus took the nails for us here on earth! Imagine God being mocked by lowly people! Unfortunately, my voice would have probably been one of them yelling, “Crucify!” I would have been just as lost as everyone else. It makes me tear up just thinking about it. • When we see Him in heaven, He will still be scarred—never to return to what He used to be! An earthly example would be if you donated a kidney to help save someone’s life, you would always only have one kidney left. • He did that so we could be in a right relationship with the Father. Folks, that’s what Love is! Even when you examine these points, it’s still difficult to wrap your head around God being Love. I am a mother. I am not Mother. See what I mean? When you think of all Jesus gave up for us, how can we question His love? He will never dislike or hate you. You can’t do anything that would make Him change His mind about you. HE LOVES YOU! PERIOD. The next time the world sings another “What is Love, Anyway…” song, tell them about the exquisite, never-ending, Love Story. ~ Happy Valentine’s Day!
Jo Scheidt helps women to deeply connect with God through journaling and planning so they can live a more joyful and victorious Christian life. She writes scriptural insights and shares them on https://www. facebook.com/RealWithGodPage. Follow her on Facebook, and visit her website for free resources to help you with YOUR times with God at www.realwithgod.com.
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Tami Thorsen is originally from Waterloo, Iowa, and currently lives in Rock Hill with her husband as both their son and daughter attend Cedarville University. Her family served as SIM missionaries in Bolivia for eight years, teaching Bible classes at the SIM mission high school. Before this, Tami served alongside her husband as he ministered for ten years as student pastor at Center Street Baptist Church in Marshalltown, Iowa. Tami has been coaching clients for over 5 years and is an ACC ICF Certified LifeCoach/Trainer. Tami is passionate to pass her valuable coaching skills and mindset on to others who desire their leadership to be the most effective it can be for God’s glory. She offers faith-based 1:1 or group life-coaching journeys &/or Life-coaching-training learning/implementation workshops. www.head2heartonward.com
How to Keep Your 2022 Aligned to God’s Design By Tami Thorsen A “Well-Cared-For” NEW Year Requires a ReNEWED “Well-Cared-For” Mindset All of us have been gifted by our Designer with a brand-NEW year—2022! May this article freshly remind us how God, who personally designed our heart, mind, soul, and body, also made us need His constant help to live 2022 with true freedom, joy, and impact. Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes; and I will keep it to the end. Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart. (Psalms 119:33-34 ESV) This Scripture points out something basic, yet something humanly difficult to apply: To actively care well for something/someone entails one to be well taught (both in head-knowledge and life-application) regarding that “something/someone.” “Jesus replied, ‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’” (Matthew 22:37 NLT) As a bit of explanation, you can also read this as ‘care for and submit’. If we desire to love/care well for our soul… If we desire to love/care well for God’s Word to have its work in us… then we clearly need OUTSIDE help.
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As Proverbs 9:10 says, this help is not possible to gain from within ourselves alone: “Fear of the LORD is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.” (Proverbs 9:10 NLT) To help understand this verse, we can substitute the words ‘Awe’and ‘submission’ for ‘fear’. • God designed us to BE dependent on Him for our everything. • God alone is the Transformer of our hearts to BEcome more and more as He designed us. • Part of His design of us is that we were made with the ability to individually choose. We can choose to cooperate with Him and His ways or we can choose to reject Him for our own ways. Jesus carefully explains these exact points above in John 15:5-7(NLT), “ I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” Our Creator designed us in such a way that when we live aligned to His design, we will experience that which our hearts, minds, souls were wired not only to crave for but also to be satisfied with. What is it we were designed to crave? How were we designed to be truly satisfied?
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To know our God and be known by Him in an unconditional, secure, loving, and personal relationship and to flourish in heart, mind, soul, and body as we daily, moment by moment, cooperate with His help. Teach me your decrees, O LORD; I will keep them to the end. Give me understanding and I will obey your instructions; I will put them into practice with all my heart. (Psalm 119:33-34) The prayer in Psalm 119:33-34 describes the kind of continual mindset and heart posture we need to have before Our God, Our Designer. This prayer declares both our desperate need for help from our Divine Aligner AND our personal need to cooperate with our Designer by constantly relinquishing our own will and desires in order that they become more and more aligned to His Design (His will, His desires) for us. Let’s pause and prayerfully reflect/consider two questions: 1. How have we been truly caring well for our heart, soul, and mind? 2. What posture do we have as we come to God’s Word so we may understand what He says about our soul: how he created it and designed it to live, grow, flourish, and make a Christ-like impact? I personally confess that I struggle with relinquishing my ideas, my plans, my schedule, my timing, and even the control I think I have in a situation/relationship. Do you as well? Do you, like me, all too often think your ideas and timing are better than his, which sometimes seems so slow, irrelevant, or “out-of-date”? I needed this reminder: If I care well about my heart, mind, soul, and body, then I need further understanding of how I am designed to have a daily “well-caring” posture. And Who better to learn from than my very own personal Creator-Designer?
I needed this NEW CHANGE: As I spend time meditating on His Word throughout my days this NEW year, that I would envelop my meditation with a reNEWed allegiance to cooperate with His Ways by simple, child-like TRUST & OBEDIENCE as I call on Him to give me further understanding of Him, myself, and others, by His Word. How about you? Start ANEW, by making a fresh re-beginning with your personal, loving Designer with these 2 Action Steps: 1. Personally ACKNOWLEDGE your need for God’s help to continually grow in knowing and understanding your God-given design for life, love, and satisfying fulfillment. Make this action specific to you. What will this “acknowledgment” look like? Sound like? What personal plan could you commit to so this “acknowledging” is a daily wholehearted declaration versus a haphazard nod in His direction? How will you know you have personally acknowledged His help? (Proverbs 3:5-6) 2. Humbly commit to COOPERATE with your Designer as He unfolds the richness of your design, which He calls a masterpiece! (Ephesians 2:10) Make this action specific to you What will this “cooperation” look like throughout your day? What changes in your thinking, your attitude, your relationships, your daily activities might you expect as you commit to cooperate with your Designer? What type of accountability would best help you stay on track? What a blessed way to BEGIN the NEW year! Don’t take my word for it, take HIS: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:8-10 NIV) M AG A Z I N E N A M E &O R U R L
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From Unexpected Sadness, We Found Joy By Dan Nissley
My wife Paige and I found ourselves grief-stricken following the death of our spouses. I had been married forty-seven years and Paige forty years and we lived eight hundred fifty miles apart, she was in Florida and me in Pennsylvania. Having been very much an amateur photographer for many years, I hoped to develop my hobby once I retired. Following the death of my wife, my two adult children encouraged me to make the long-planned trip to South Africa for a wildlife photo safari ‘to clear my head’. Before my wife’s passing, she had suggested I find another photographer to join me because she wasn’t sure she could physically tolerate bouncing around in a safari vehicle for two weeks looking for wildlife to shoot with our cameras. So, I made a phone call to my nephew who immediately said yes! Meanwhile, Paige was living in north Florida working in the Human Resources department of a large grocery marketing company. Obviously, being eight hundred fifty miles apart, we were not aware the other person existed. In hindsight, we can now see God’s hand at work in bringing us together. Anyone who has embarked on this journey following the death of a spouse suddenly becomes very aware of the lonely hours that used to be filled by interacting with a spouse whether it was small talk about your day or conversations about what’s happening in the lives of children or grandchildren.
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Paige was the first to establish an account on a dating website called ChristianMingle and after a few months, she was not impressed with the results and consequently decided if God wanted her to find married love again He would need to plop him down on her lap. Similarly, I was in Pennsylvania and not very impressed with the contacts I had made. This is not to say there was anything wrong with the character of the individuals we had been in contact with. Both of us were praying for guidance and none seemed to have God’s checkmark beside their name indicating ‘this is the one’. Before canceling my subscription, I decided to look beyond the 150-200-mile radius search I had established. That is when I read Paige’s profile and was impressed with her expression of faith. I obviously did not tell her at the time, but the thought crossed my mind that ‘this might be the one’. It was unnerving for both of us the first time we met in person. It happened at the airport in Jacksonville and knowing we were seeing the online person we had come to appreciate generated a degree of nervousness. Both of us had a deep sense God was at work in a special way. The process of meeting each other’s children and grandchildren, as well as our siblings, involved travel to Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Ohio, and all of them gave their blessing, which was huge for us. It’s been a wonderful five-plus years since we were married under a sprawling Southern Oak tree in Florida with my son officiating. Paige’s two daughters along with my daughter were attendants. In addition, it was a real blessing to have two of my late wife’s siblings present for the wedding.
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Paige and I love to photograph the beauty of God’s creation. We have had the privilege of making three trips to Kenya, which also included one visit to Tanzania, and two years ago we visited South Africa and the Aurora Christian School, which is a school for ‘shanty town’ kids near Johannesburg. Whether it’s taking pictures of birds at our backyard feeders or lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, rhinos, and hippos on the African continent we know God created and cares about all creatures both large and small, and we are convinced He cares about us in ways we find difficult to comprehend. We didn’t set out for our photography hobby to become an intentional ministry, but we hope people might be blessed, as we are when we attempt to capture and share the beauty of His creation. Dan & Paige Nissley www.OnTheRoadFotos.com
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In Him Is No Darkness At All By Cindy J. Evans
"No one could see anyone else or move about for three days. Yet all the Israelites had light in the places where they lived." (Exodus 10:23 NIV)
I was reading about the Egyptians and the plagues, how God made it dark for them for three days... but the Israelites had light and could see and God blessed His children supernaturally. It made me think of this world and its darkness and people living in spiritual blindness... but God graciously gives us light for our journey and illuminates our ways in His care and mercy. So thankful we can have light even in dark times, that even in the night, the stars and moon still shine... and that we can look to God to give us vision because He is light and He loves His children!
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Don’t Ask Why, Ask What By Esther M. Bandy
I struggled to move my hand, but I couldn’t. Mosquitos continued to bite me through the mosquito net. I tried to call out to my husband. If he moved my hand, the mosquitos would stop biting. But he was in another room, and my voice was merely a whisper. I was alone. Then I remembered. The Lord was with me. “Lord, please help me, or send Jim to help.” A few minutes later, my husband arrived. “Honey, do you need anything?” I said a silent thank you to God and told Jim about the mosquitos. After he moved my hand, he fixed me tea and held the cup while I drank. I didn’t understand why my strange attacks kept happening. We were missionaries in Mexico, and we’d been doing outdoor evangelistic ministry, but after spending time outside, I’d get sick. I often had headaches and abdominal pain, and sometimes vomiting and weakness. At times, I was too weak to get out of bed or move my body. “Why, Lord? What’s wrong with me? Please heal me.” I gradually improved from that attack, but the intermittent problems happened more often. I’d had mild attacks before moving to Mexico, but my doctors had found nothing wrong with me. In Mexico, the attacks had gotten worse.
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I knew God could heal me, so we kept praying. We loved the Mexican people and the ministry God had given us. We longed to stay there and continue serving the Lord. Still, I looked forward to our next border trip. Every six months, we traveled to Texas to renew our visas. While there, we’d visit the churches that prayed for us and supported us financially. If we had health problems, we’d see the doctor. I made plans to find different doctors on our next trip. I hoped they’d find out what was wrong with me. In the meantime, I’d limit my time in the sun. In Texas, I explained my symptoms to my new doctor, and he ordered numerous tests. On my follow-up visit, I was hoping he’d tell me what was wrong. We listened as he shared the results of my tests and gave me his diagnosis. “I can’t find anything wrong with you. Your problem is in your mind. Live your life and focus on the positive.” Was he right? Were my problems just my imagination? We returned to Mexico, and I was determined to be positive and do whatever we wanted to do without worrying about my health. I was going to stay well. Unfortunately, I had even more attacks. Some included difficulty breathing, and I was often confined to bed for days. This was not my imagination, so I became even more careful to avoid the sun.
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On our next border trip, I saw another doctor. His diagnosis? “I don’t know what’s wrong with you, but you need to stay out of the sun. I’m going to write to your mission board and tell them you need to leave Mexico if you want to live.” I was devastated, but my husband and I agreed. Our son was only twelve, and we didn’t want him to grow up without a mother. I was also getting too sick to be much help on the mission field. After four years, we were leaving Mexico. We studied climate charts, then moved to Rochester, NY. They needed a CEF director, so we became directors, and we taught Spanish at a Christian school. I still had symptoms and visited more doctors. After ten years of searching for answers, I was finally diagnosed with a type of porphyria that affects the skin and the nervous system. Two years later, I was disabled and mostly homebound. Eventually, we had to cover the windows in our home with black plastic to block out the sunlight. I asked God, “Why is this happening to me?” I longed to serve the Lord, but I was in and out of the hospital and often too sick to get out of bed. I searched the Bible and listened to preachers, hoping for answers. In a powerful message, David Ring said, “Don’t ask why, ask what.”
Eventually, I remembered that as a second-grader, I wanted to be a nurse, a missionary, a teacher, and a writer. I’d done the first three, and it was time to write. I still struggle with health problems, but I’m thankful for the opportunity to serve the Lord through writing. God’s plan is perfect. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28 KJV)
When Esther Bandy was five, a neighbor taught a Good News Club. She head the gospel there, and she received the Lord Jesus Christ as her Savior. That was the most important day in her life. She later worked as a nurse, a missionary, a director with Child Evangelism Fellowship, and a Spanish teacher at a Christian school. Now, she’s an author. She has been published in two anthologies; Treasures of a Woman’s Heart and Triumph from Tragedy. Her debut middle grade novel, Under the Tangerine Tree, was published in 2022. “Don’t Ask Why, Ask What” was previously published in “Triumph from Tragedy”. esthermbandy.com https://www.facebook.com/EstherMBandy @EstherMBandy
Instead of asking God why this was happening, I began asking, “Lord, what do you want me to do now?” I realized that God’s plan and His purpose for me were more important than my temporary pain. I studied the Bible and memorized scripture. The Bible blessed me and strengthened me. Psalm 119:71 (KJV) says, “It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.” Click on book cover to purchase from Amazon. M AG A Z I N E N A M E &O R U R L
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Note from Publisher of Faith On Every Corner. I met Joseph on Faith Social, a social media site. He is faithful in praying for his ministry and has never asked me for anything other than prayer. I wanted to share his ministry with you and have you pray for them. Thank you Joseph for sending me your story and contact information. May God continue to bless your ministry. - Karen Ruhl Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ. Greetings in Jesus’ name. I am Joseph Kishore, Missionary from India.
And Our work includes helping the orphan children and old widows with shelter, food, blankets, and clothing, whenever we have sufficient funds to do so. Please go through the pictures here to see more of the gospel work we are doing for God’s praise, honor, and glory. We hope you will gain a greater understanding of who we are and what we are doing and that you will be blessed with the information we have shared. We need your kind love, encouragement, support, and prayers for the Lord’s work we are doing here.
We are praying for you. We have heard about your great work in Nations for God’s glory. We are serving among Tribal people in India. All these tribal races are illiterates and poor among the poor and living far away from civilized society and living with pathetic conditions having no proper food at right time and no good hygienic status. By the grace of God, we have reached them and preached the Gospel of salvation, and brought them into the If you are looking for Missionary trips, we welcome kingdom of God. you to India and do the Gospel work and medical camps for the poor church members and orphan Since Hope Tribal Missions operates as a nonprofit kids in our churches. Your visit will do great help to faith ministry, it is dependent on the Lord as He bring many lost souls to Christ and give hope to supplies. God has used us to reach many people many orphan kids and old widows in our churches. in different places. Many souls have been saved If you want to know how you can be a part of this in our mission outreach. We have experienced the glorious work of the Lord please do not hesitate tremendous presence of God. Souls have been to hit me up at ukishoregnt@gmail.com and I will saved, restored. share all the information with you. Our mission Work is being dedicated by our team for Hope Tribal Missions established for the glory of God to preach the Gospel to the lost and to provide benevolent services among orphan children, old widows, and the poor, elderly, sick, and destitute in India. We have devoted our lives to preaching and teaching the gospel and caring for the needy saints in the churches we serve. We have worked diligently to reach and proclaim the gospel to the unreached people here in India in many villages and remote tribal areas inside the dense and dangerous tiger reserve forest areas. 66 | M AG A Z I N E N A M E PAGE 66
We truly hope you enjoy and are blessed with our work, We look forward to hearing from you! Thank you so much. In His Service, Our Contact information. Hope Tribal Missions India. Email:ukishoregnt@gmail.com. Uppalapati Kishore. Markapur, Prakasam District,AP, India.523316. GOD BLESS YOU.
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A Texas girl born and raised, Chrystal Gilkey resides in Arkansas, with her husband, three children, and two cats. A published author, Chrystal writes to encourage and strengthen people’s faith in God. Connect with her at chrystaljgilkey.com or find her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn @chrystaljgilkey
Loving The Unlovable By Chrystal Gilkey
“For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.” Luke 6:32-35 (KJV)
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It was a teaching year like no other—the absolute worst class I ever had. The students were wild animals, and I was their circus ringmaster. How in the world was I supposed to tame them and teach them? For this particular class, rules were optional and authority was an absurdity. Their language and behavior would have made a sailor blush. Did I mention these students were kindergartners? Every day, I felt like I had come through a war zone. It came to a point I’m embarrassed to say that I didn’t really like any of my students anymore, and to be honest—I struggled to love them. My love for them ran out after the first week of school. They had become almost unlovable to me. I begged God to show His love through me because I had no love of my own for them. “Lord, please let your love shine through me today. Just let them see your love through me.” Those prayers were what got me and my students through that school year. They never knew quite how to respond when my reaction to them was in a firm, quiet gentleness, and trust me, that only came from the Lord. The following school year the vice-principal cornered me and asked me what I did with that class because they were giving their current teacher fits. I’m not sure my prayer approach was quite the classroom strategy she was looking for.
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I Know I Believe Click on book cover to purchase book. Several years later, I came across missionary Margaret Laird’s story in her autobiography, They Called Me Mama. If anybody could be deemed unlovable, the hostile cannibals she and her family ministered to would be top of the list. This woman truly loved the unlovable. One of the first events she witnessed was watching villagers dance on a mass grave of 300 women. They had been married to a chief who had recently died. His wives had been buried alive. When I heard this woman’s testimony, I was so convicted. It is easy to love those around us who are kind—to show love to the students that try hard to please us. It is much more of a challenge to love those who scoff, scorn, and scathe us. We love God because He first loved us. (1 John 4:19) That is how we must love. We must humbly love first, both in our words and actions, regardless of who the receiver is. I think of myself, the reprobate sinner that I am, and thank the Lord of Heaven for loving the unlovable first—for loving me. “I thank God that He has taught me to let Him love people through me.”--Margaret Laird
by Esther M. Bandy
Some folks say there’s nothing to believe in. Some folks say there’s nothing that’s really true. I just thank you, God, because I know That I believe in You. I know I believe what your Word tells me to. I know I believe in You. Yesterday’s beliefs are often forgotten. Some say things are true one day, the next they’re not. Some say scientific facts are now untrue. But, God, I believe in You. I know I believe what your Word tells me to. I know I believe in You. People say the future is insecure. Everything is changing. That’s for sure. They have nothing they believe in. But I do. My God, I believe in You. I know I believe what your Word tells me to. I know I believe in You. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” (2 Timothy 3:16 KJV)
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Seasonal Affective Disorder By Melody Foster
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is associated with the shorter days we experience as the seasons change. The changes in mood can appear during late fall and last until the days get longer during late spring. SAD is a subcategory of Major Depressive Disorder where people feel pervasive sadness, hopelessness, tiredness most of the time, and loss of interest in activities usually enjoyed. SAD happens when we are exposed to less natural light. The body’s circadian rhythm (our internal clock), mood-regulating hormones such as serotonin (the feel-good hormone), and melatonin (for sleep) seem to be affected by natural light. Shorter days for people who work indoors all day means little to no exposure to natural light which our bodies need to function properly. People with Major Depressive Disorder who suffer from SAD may notice more distressive symptoms, for example, thinking about not wanting to live or feeling worthless while about 20 percent of the rest of the population notice milder changes in mood and sleeping patterns. People notice feeling lethargic, unable to concentrate, low mood, sleeping too much, or feelings of despair when they are not receiving enough natural light. SAD has been known to increase craving carbohydrates, overeating, and weight gain in some people. Light therapy is recommended by doctors, along with counseling, to help alleviate symptoms in people suffering with SAD. More distressed people may require the aid of an antidepressant to go along with the other modes of therapy. Techno70 | M AG A Z I N E N A M E PAGE 3 23
logical developments in lamps that produce rays similar to natural light have been providing relief for people who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder. Bringing sun lamps into your home certainly can’t hurt anything and may be a mood booster for everyone. Finding the right price point for your budget can be easy in today’s market. One may spend around $40 on one or up to several hundred dollars. Once you decide to have a lamp, it is recommended to use the lamp for twenty to thirty minutes daily. Using the lamp at the same time of the day also is good for the regulation of the body’s time clock. An article in Sleep Health spoke about light therapy in populations with brain injuries, Alzheimer’s, and dementia. This is another issue for discussion, but dementia patients using sun lamps in their home were found in the article on this research to have reduced agitation, less night wandering (Figueiro, M.G., Hunter, C.M., Higgins,P. et al, 2015). If you find yourself having symptoms of SAD, please try light therapy and reach out to a doctor or counselor for additional guidance. Reference Figueroa, M.G., Hunter, C.M., Higgins, P., Hornbeck, T., Jones, G.E., Plitnick,B., Bronson, J., & Rea, M.S. (2015). Tailored Lighting Intervention for Persons with Dementia and Caregivers Living at Home. Sleep Health, 1(4), 322-330.
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Melody P. Foser is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor & Life Coach with Hope Flows Today She can be reached at melodypfoster@yahoo.com
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W H AT R E D E D I C AT I O N LO O K S L I K E By Lynn Downham
We have one pastor at our church who always asks, “But what is the Lord doing in your life right now?” Those who have been saved and know the Lord have our testimonies of when we were saved and all the many times we have seen Him work in our lives in amazing ways since then, but I am always challenged by our pastor’s query to make sure that I am seeking Him daily and looking for those footprints that are evidence of His presence in my life right now. It is all too easy to be distracted by the busyness of our respective lives, but I found myself “out of step” recently and had a most welcome “wake-up call” from above and it just happened to fall on my birthday.
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I was born three days after Christmas and this particular December 28th I was Bible in hand in the morning wondering where I should read. I was not in a study in a particular book, except that I’ve been reading a lot in Revelation—who hasn’t? I am not a big believer in just letting your Bible “fall open” and that is the Lord speaking to you, however, this morning the book opened right to Haggai and I found myself reading the description of the text that precedes the chapters in study Bibles. Even the description seemed to be admonishing me as I read, “...years after the process is begun, the people have yet to finish the project, for their personal affairs have interfered with God’s business.” Uh-oh. It speaks of “spiritual lethargy” and “...they became preoccupied with their own building projects,” and “excuses for neglecting the house of the Lord.” Um, they’re talking about rebuilding the temple, but I know who is talking to me. By this time I can’t wait to read the actual scripture in the chapter. In reading the whole Bible I could not have remembered a single word of Haggai although I did remember the diagram in the description showing Zerubbabel linking the lines of David and Nathan in the Messianic line because that diagram is included in the book The Jewish Roots of Christianity which accompanies the Tree of Life print.
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Haggai 1:2-5 reorders my priorities and gets me back on track, meaning back to completing the 2nd Tree of Life which will bear the Hebrew transliteration of the names of the Messianic line from Adam to Jesus through Matthew. Some call it the Christline. I have mentioned this tree and project before but see, I got distracted just like we all probably do. Since the 28th I have been back at work on the picture which has sat on my easel for a year while I did everything else but work on it, the Lord’s house. Oh, I read my Bible and prayed without ceasing and went to church and Youth and taught our daughter about the Lord as I should, but I did not work on THIS project and it tortured me. I am happy to say, “Yes, Lord, I hear you” and the drawing is complete, now putting the lines for the names so room is left for them and then will paint and then the calligraphy, which someone else may do because my right hand shakes now. Here is the tree today and Lord willing you will see it next painted and I charge you, dear readers, to keep me to my word that I do not disappoint our King further! Thank you, Lord, for your Word which continually guides us on the paths You would have us walk. I love you all, Lynn
“Thus speaks the LORD of hosts, saying: ‘This people says, “The time has not come, the time that the LORD’s house should be built.” ’ ” Then the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet, saying, “Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?” Now therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts: “Consider your ways! (Haggai 1:2-5 NKJV)
Lynn Story Downham is a fourth generation artist who returned to North Carolina in 2014 after twenty-six years on the Florida panhandle. Her seventh family tree commission was for a “family tree for Jesus.” Twenty years later she is a born-again believer with a best-selling print, a beautiful family and a passion for sharing Christ through her art. Find out more on Facebook by looking up “Lynn Story Downham’s Art” or “Lynn Downham Jesus Tree.”
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Paula considers herself an ordinary Christian woman traversing through the wilderness of an everyday mess. She is a retired Social Worker with a BSW who lives in Western Pennsylvania with her emotional support dog, a spoiled rotten amusing beagle named Little Girl. She has two adult daughters off doing their own thing. Please visit her blog at: https://simplycoffeeandjesus.com/
W H AT ’ S LO V E G OT TO D O W I T H I T ?
By Paula Short
Admit it; you sang the title when you read it. It’s okay, so did I when I thought of it. Tina Turner sings that love is a second-hand emotion, and who needs it because hearts become broken. Every February, couples, lovers, and friends alike gear up to affirm their love and friendship for one another on Valentine’s Day. Dinner reservations are made, jewelry and gifts bought, chocolates and Hallmark cards sent. Some may go dancing, to a movie or spend a quiet evening at home. And wine may accompany the evening. According to The National Retail Foundation, Americans spent nearly $20 billion in 2019. And Hallmark says a whopping 145 million Valentine’s Day cards are exchanged each year. One 2013 Huffington Post article revealed their survey findings that nearly 6 million people get engaged on Valentine’s day. If we want to get down to the heart of the matter, over two thousand years ago, a man came to love us all in a way that we can not love each other. God the Father sent His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, to us; He humbly became one of us. He related to us and we to Him.
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God knew we were going to mess up right from the start and He already had the plan of our salvation made—to send Jesus, who knew no sin to be sin, our sin, to be a sacrifice and die a physical death, to take our punishment upon himself. His blood bought us our salvation. Jesus showed His love for us by serving, blessing, and showing grace. Jesus served and demonstrated His love for others by healing the sick and raising the dead. He taught us through parables so we could understand. He gave his life, forgave our sins, gave hope to us, the hopeless, and fed thousands. He fed the poor, threw out demons, gave new life, and embraced people that society condemned. He served, loved, taught, and washed His disciple’s feet. Jesus is the most extraordinary love story ever told. Why? Simply put, love. John 3:16 tells us that God loves us so unbelievably much that He sent Jesus His only son so that those who believe in Him will not be destroyed. He loves us so much He wants to give us eternal life, living water so that we can be with Him forever.
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Jesus modeled love for us and how to love. Let’s look at eight ways we can show love. • Forgiveness. Show the same kind of mercy and grace that has been shown to us. • Come alongside someone right where they are. In their moment of need, extending the same grace and mercy shown to us. • Compassion. When someone is hurting, our responsibility as followers of Christ is to show them kindness, healing, relief and offer them aid. • Rejoice and mourn with others. Share their joys and sorrows, laugh and cry with them. • Listen without judging. Put down your devices and give your undivided attention. • Offer encouragement and build another up. • Offer a warm smile, a genuine hello and welcome them like friends instead of strangers. • Pray for others. Scripture is full of people praying, and Jesus interceded and prayed to His Father on behalf of others. Friend, love has a name, and it is Jesus. And His love has everything to do with it. With Him in our lives, there’s no second-hand emotion here. And our hearts will not be broken.
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Everyone Is Looking For Love By Esther M. Bandy
Everyone is looking for love. Everyone is looking for a love that’s true. Everyone is looking; I hope they find God’s great love for all mankind. Halleluiah! Jesus Christ is love. Halleluiah! My Lord is love. Jesus gave His life for me and you, Then He rose again just like He said He’d do. He conquered Satan for all men, So we could be free from sin. Go tell everyone! Go tell all the people! God sent His only Son to save us all from evil. Jesus said He’s coming back again, Then He’ll take us up to heaven to be with him. We’ll be raptured, praise His name! All God’s children will proclaim, Halleluiah! Jesus Christ is love. Halleluiah! My Lord is love. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8 KJV) “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4 KJV) “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth....” (Romans 1:16 KJV) 76 | M AG A Z I N E N A M E PAGE 3 23
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Celebrating This New Year By Rolanda T. Pyle
As another old year has come to pass I look back over my life and gasp... Because God has brought me through many ups and downs I have memories of smiles, laughs, tears, and frowns. I give God praise as the memories flood my mind Because He has been right with me, time after time. There were those lonely days as a child feeling abandoned by her mother And the good fun days with my father, aunts, uncles, cousins, sister, and brothers. There are schools that I loved and teachers I adored. Then there were times when I struggled with math and science and was bored. I always loved to read, so the library was one of my favorite places The books that I read had me travel to other lands and spaces. I also reflect on those relationships that didn’t work And caused me a lot of pain, rejection, and hurt Then there are memories of my churches God’s Battalion, ACTS, Love Fellowship, and Times Square Where I learned to love, serve, evangelize, and go to God in prayer. And I will always be thankful for opportunities to travel overseas and to 36 states! So yes, this new year reminds me of the blessings of my fate. So here I am at an age that I never thought I would make. Due to all the health issues and sicknesses that I couldn’t shake. But it is the Lord who has brought me through each and every stage Infancy, childhood, adolescence, young adult, and middle age. So, I celebrate life with you, on this New Year’s day And I’m glad you are here and appreciate you in every way.
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Resurrected To A New Life By Roman Bej
Boom! Boom! That was the sound of the top of the building being pulled down and crashing to the ground. Seconds later, a cloud of dust and dirt rose into the air. Floors shook in the surrounding buildings and the people walking the streets said that “it felt like an earthquake”. These are some typical reactions to a building being demolished - it always draws a crowd. Whether by cables, a wrecking ball, or implosion, watching a large building falling to the ground is an awesome sight. Destruction of an older building may be necessary as it may have leaking pipes, mold, deteriorated framing, damaged wiring, cracked foundations, etc. Of course, renovation is also a possibility. However, with renovations, some problems may still be overlooked. Opening up walls, for example, can reveal pest/ termite infestations, leaking pipes, mold, deteriorated framing, damaged wiring, cracked foundations, etc. Also, older buildings often have interior layouts that are difficult to rearrange for modern uses.
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It’s safe to say that, except for cost considerations, demolition is a better choice than renovation. By demolishing a building, an architect can start from scratch and make sure that everything is new with the most contemporary floor plans. Office layouts with mobile sit-stand desks and ceiling-mounted power sources distributed throughout the building can be made available. Amenities, such as a hospitality bar that serves bagels and coffee, a game room, many open lounge areas, bicycle storage, showers, and quiet zones, can be scattered throughout the floor plan. In many instances, Christians are referred to as buildings in the bible. “For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked.” (2 Corinthians 5:1-3 NIV) “Don’t you know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?” (1 Corinthians 3:16 NIV)
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The reason that a building needs to be demolished is to erect a beautiful new one in its place. It’s the same with ourselves. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV) Just as it is necessary for a building to be demolished to be made new, it is necessary for us to die so that we can be resurrected and live a new life.
Our death and resurrection have a past and future reality; a spiritual and physical one. In the past, we were spiritually crucified and died with Christ to a newness of life. In the future, we will one day die and be physically resurrected to receive a glorified body. However, in this life, the cancer of sin needs to be dealt with. Without being crucified and resurrected to a newness of life, we’d never be able to live the kind of life that we are called to live.
“And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,” (Ephesians 2:6 NIV) “having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead” (Colossians 2:12 NIV) As a surgeon operates on a patient and removes the cancer, Jesus Christ removes our old self, our sinful nature, and releases us from our bondage to sin. The cancer of sin is now done away with. Jesus Christ ripped the cancer out when he died on the cross, and through that sacrifice, we’ve been released from sin and grafted into the kingdom of God.
Roman Bej is a lifelong Christian who was raised in the Catholic Church but is now a non-denominational Christian. He attends several churches. He was a contributor to Victory Herald (a monthly e-zine), has had articles published in the Christian Journal, Believers Bay, Eternal Ink, Gem, Halo, and Success/Victory News. He has a strong passion for stimulating others to think about God and to reflect on biblical concepts. An independent thinker, Mr. Bej challenges readers to question what they may have heard in churches or read in other books.
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