November 2021
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6 NKJV
Visit Our Website at www.FaithOnEveryCorner.com for previous issues of our magazine.
COVER PHOTO BY RICHARD BROADBENT I am a retired letter carrier from Canada Post. Apart from about 12 years having lived in Alberta, the rest of my living was in Ontario Canada. A little over 2 1/2 years ago we moved to New Brunswick, Canada. I have been a photographer for about 10 years now, starting off with a Nikon pocket point-and-shoot camera. I progressively moved on up to my current Olympus camera. I also love iPhone photography. I am self-taught and I want to continue learning as much as I can. You can find Richard’s work on:
https://www.viewbug.com/member/richardbroadbent https://www.flickr.com/photos/7373390@N05/ https://youpic.com/RichardBroadbent https://www.facebook.com/BrianneBroadbent/
INSIDE COVER
NOTE FROM THE EDITOR Don’t you just love this time of year? The fall colors, the smells of a campfire, reflections that amaze us. We are so happy to be able to show award-winning Richard Broadbent’s photos to you. I asked him to send me the photos he wanted me to use, and he replied with’ “how about you pick the ones that speak to you?” Well, how can I do that when every one was amazing? I hope you enjoy the selection and check him out on his websites. November is also when we get together and celebrate Thanksgiving. Many of you will gather with your families and friends and have a huge meal that probably includes the famous turkey, stuffing, veggies, potatoes, biscuits, and don’t forget the pies. Craig and I will be praying for you all to have a wonderful family celebration.
Karen
and C
raig R
uhl
Now - I want to take this time to encourage you to think of every day as Thanksgiving. Every day, God shows us how special we are to Him. As I type this, I am looking out at my neighborhood, and I am so very thankful that God placed us here in North Carolina. He has moved us around in our lives, and as I became older, I could see why He placed us where we were. My prayer for you all is that you give your heart to Jesus, that you change your ways, be more thankful for everything you experience. I pray that when you pray, you feel the Holy Spirit and know that your prayers are heading to our God, our Father, our Savior. I love each of you, our family, our friends, our writers, and our readers. I pray that you are well and that you are thankful each day. Much love, may God bless you all. Karen Ruhl Team@FaithOnEveryCorner.com
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Table of Contents
COVER PHOTOGRAPHER: Richard Broadbent ... Cover & Inside Cover October Prayer by Tynea Lewis ... page 21 Happy Thanksgiving from The Ruhls ... page 76 Thanksgiving Thoughts and 3 Poems ... by John Alexander ... page 6-7 The Kid’s Table ... by Melissa Henderson ... page 8-9 All Things New ... Andrea Marino ... page 10-11 WooHoo! Thanksgiving! ... by Dr. Kathleen Oden ... page 12-13 Morning Coffee / A Thankful Heart & More... by Michael E. Wells ... page 14-15 The Richest Food ... by Nicole Byrum ... page 16-17 The Power Of Words ... by Yvonne M. Morgan... page 18-19 My Clean House ... by Gina Sewell ... page 20 November Prayer ... by Tynea Lewis ... page 21 Come And Dine / Answers To Prayers ... by Dave Evans ... page 22-23 Serving At Thanksgiving ... by Craig Ruhl ... page 24-25 God Gently Stooped Down and 2 Poems / ... by Peter Caligiuri ... page 26-27 Inspiration Comes In All Forms ... by Colette Shomaker ... page 28-29 Be Thankful ... by Rolanda Pyle ... page 30 My Clean House? ... by Gini Walker ... page 31 Peace In The Midst Of Problems ... by Julianna Gordon ... page 32 His Heliotrope ... by Cindy Evans ... page 33 Road Trippin’ - On Top Of The Mountain ...by Karen Ruhl ... Page 34-37 4PAGE | M4 AG A Z I N E N A M E 3
Delivering The Newspaper ... by Craig D. Lounsbrough ... page 38-39 Two Deaths ... by Ester Bandy ... page 40-41 Bookshelf ... Book Reviews ... page 42-45 Dayenu And Thank You ... by Mike Buchanan ... page 46-47 Honoring God Through Adversity (Part 1)... By Jeff Foster... page 48-49 I Ask ... By Vivian Satterwhite ... page 50 Tunnel Vision ... by Karen Ruhl ... page 52 Covenants Of God ... by Dr. Irene Surya ... page 53 A Time Of Thanksgiving ... by Sharon K. Connell ... page 54-55 Being Thankful In So Many Ways ... by Cindy Oriol ... page 56-57 Reaping the Benefit Of The Pain Of Friendship ... by Joseph Akinrinola ... page 58 Come to Me ... By Jim and Esther Bandy ... page 59
The Power Of Praise ... by Shara Bueler-Repka ... page 60-61 Thankful To Be ... by Diane Buie ... page 62 Devoted To God ... by Karen Ruhl ... page 63 If We Just Look ... by Meridith Tullous ... page 64-65 The Phone Call ... by Edward Tooley ... page 66-67 Myth Versus Reality ... Melody Foster ... page 68-69 What It Takes To Be A Life Changer ... by Tami Thorsen ... page 70-71 The Local Church ... by Joel Berry ... page 72-73 How God Has Worked In My Life ... By Christina Sinisi ... page 74-75 What Should I Be Thankful for This Year? ... By David Foucar ... page 78-79
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Poems by John Alexander
A Day Of Thanksgiving Autumn reminds me that winter is near. It’s time to prepare as some winters are long, Make sure that my faith is engaged and in gear. Sometimes there’s a winter that’s bitter and strong.
John Alexander lives in Frisco, Texas with his beautiful wife and his Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
Like squirrels who gather their food in the fall, I know that the winter will blast me once more. Surviving past winters will help me stand tall. Some winters are brutal and hard to ignore. Troubles like winters are just part of life. I pray that I’m ready, prepared when they come. I’m grateful for time to prepare for the strife. Lord, give me the strength that I’m not overcome.
Thanksgiving Thoughts By John Alexander I pray this Thanksgiving brings you joy. Whether spending time with friends and family, or just a quiet day alone, I pray you take time to focus on those things for which you are thankful. I pray those memories, past or present, bring you joy, regardless of your present circumstances. I pray this day of Thanksgiving will linger beyond just a day. I pray that as you find joy in your heart, you spread it to others, those with you now and those you meet in the future. I pray the poems I’ve shared are a blessing to you. Blessings,
Lord, give me the courage and the faith to endure, To trust in Your love, You are faithful and pure.
John QuietTimeRhymes.com
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A Thanksgiving Prayer
Nation Under God
We’re grateful, Lord, we’ve been so blessed, You comfort us in times of test, You give us peace when troubles flare, We know Your love, You’re always there.
In these days leading up to the day, we give thanks I pray we find peace in the chaos, not angst. I pray we find joy that can dry every tear, Put a song in our hearts that will drive out the fear.
We pray for those who’ve suffered loss, Laid heavy burdens at the cross. I pray Your love will lift them up, Refreshing waters fill their cup. We’re grateful, Lord, for loved ones near, Those cherished friends to us so dear. We pray for them, some near, some far, Lord, help them glow, shine like a star. I pray our gratitude this day Will linger, Lord, not fade away.
I pray that Thanksgiving and Christmas will bring A focus on others, a new song to sing. It’s not about politics, color, or race, But rather repenting and seeking God’s grace. It’s not about causes or slogans or signs, But curing our cancer and pray it’s benign. The cancer’s been spreading, attacking our heart. I pray that our nation won’t be torn apart. Addiction to power and greed can take hold, Relentless pursuit of what’s shiny and gold. I pray for a nation once more under God, Once more, walk the paths that our founders have trod.
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The Kid’s Table By Melissa Henderson
Next to the large dining room table and chairs were four seats positioned around a smaller table. The adults in the family sat at the big table. The younger people sat at the “kid’s table”. My nephews and I were the ones who found a seat at the “kid’s table” and waited for the adults to give us the okay to bring our plates to be filled with food. Since my nephews were close to my age, they were more like the brothers I never had. We waited. Sometimes we were patient and other times, we picked up our plates and tried to spin them. Our forks and spoons became instruments of music while we watched the adults choose the food they wanted to eat. Sweet potato casserole, green beans, collard greens, turkey, ham, corn pudding, rolls, and more were in abundance. The scents of the meal could be enjoyed from early in the morning when the cooking began. Now was the time to eat that delicious food. Bowls were passed from adult to adult. Glasses of iced tea were filled. The coffee pot was passed around for those folks who wanted that drink. My nephews and I waited. The clinking of serving spoons hitting the bottom of the dishes meant that some of the food was almost gone. No worries. There were more in the pots on the stove.
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Patience was not easy for children between the ages of five and nine. We wanted to have good manners, but waiting was hard. When the adults were ready, they motioned us over to the large table. With our plate in hand, we looked at the table and asked for the food we wanted to eat. “Can I have some sweet potatoes, please?” “No green beans for me.” “I don’t want turkey. I want ham.” I recall the voices and the laughter as each child carefully held their plate while the food was piled on. Trying not to drop anything, we walked slowly back to the “kid’s table”. There were times when some food ended up on the floor. Other times, we maneuvered our way without a single spill. Maybe now and then, a bit of gravy ended up on our shirts. That was okay. The stain would come out in the wash. We enjoyed eating the delicious food. We giggled as we shared funny stories and sounds. After finishing the meal and dessert, we were ready to go back outside to play. The year arrived when I noticed only three chairs at the “kid’s table”. I wondered why a chair was missing. Then I noticed an extra chair at the adult table. That chair was for me. I was old enough to sit with the adults. Feeling like something special was happening, I found my new seat and waited for the blessing to be spoken and the food to be passed from person to person. I was a big girl now and didn’t need to sit at the table with the younger kids.
Yet, when I looked at the table with my nephews, I could see the fun and laughter they were enjoying. Yes, the adults enjoyed laughter and great conversation. But things were not the same. My nephews were making funny sounds, laughing at jokes, and bouncing in their seats. I missed that fellowship and laughter. I decided to take my plate of food and go back to join in the fun with my nephews. The adult table would be there next Thanksgiving. For now, I wanted to be a kid. The Lord gives us joy and laughter every day. Something like sitting at the “kid’s table” offers the opportunity to share fellowship and laughter with the young people. Sitting at the adult table offers fellowship and laughter, too. The stories, jokes, and sounds may be different, but each word spoken and each giggle shared has the ability to bring us together. When the prayer was spoken before the meal, we all gave thanks for the food and the blessings of being together.
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
Whether you are at the table for kids or the table for adults, look for the joy in sharing time together with everyone. The Lord is at the “kid’s table” and He is at the adult table, too. The Lord has a place at His table for all of us. The invitation is open, and He is waiting. Have you accepted His invitation? Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. (1 Chronicles 16:34 NIV) Have you ever sat at the “kid’s table”? What special memories do you have from that time? Have a blessed Thanksgiving!
Click on the book covers to purchase Melissa’s books. We are proud owners of both books. Karen & Craig Ruhl
Melissa
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All Things New By Andrea Marino
There is an open door before us—a passageway into the new. What is behind and what lies ahead are the chapters of our lives. New things are exciting, but can also generate apprehension. No one can say for sure what the future holds. The Lord says not to let our hearts be troubled (John 14:1). At this time, however, I am writing with a troubled heart. My oldest daughter, her husband, and two of my grandchildren are preparing to move south. A mere thought of them thirteen hours away is overwhelming. My mind cannot process what life will be like with them no longer in ‘reach’. How do we navigate change? Change is inevitable and signifies an end to something. Endings usually generate sadness in me. The older I get, the more I resist change. Even if my past wasn’t perfect, there is comfort in the familiar, in the predictability of what I know. Facing this new door, I find myself triggered by things from the past. A song, a picture, a crayon or a DIY masterpiece from a loved one tugs at my heart, bringing on the tears. I enjoy the memories, at the same time feel an ache for what once was. “How short the days are long; How fast the days of slow go away.” These words from the song ‘Summer’ by Christine Dente center on a mother and her young daughter sharing a basically uneventful afternoon in the summer. I wish those kinds of days when time seems to stand still for you to simply enjoy the smallest marvels through a child’s eyes, would never end. Bittersweet are the years gone by. Where there
is an open door, the past must adjust. No going back for any of us. New and old, good and bad, our experiences weave a story, unique as whom God has created us to be (Psalm 139), and all for the purpose of taking part in His bigger story. How can I not be thankful for having been given such an opportunity? God’s faithfulness to me through the years is unmistakable. All that He is, all He has done, are things to hold on to forever. When my 11-year-old granddaughter expressed deep sadness over leaving the only home she has ever known, I cried along with her. I know what it’s like to move from a place drenched in memories of good times with family and good friends. I told my granddaughter, what we think is gone may not actually be gone. Our past remains part of us, adding depth to our lives, yet to unfold. With trust in the Lord, these chapter experiences will give strength to our character, gracing us with wisdom from above. When we are children, we reason in childish ways, often having been injured by what others do in conjunction with lies we unknowingly received. Thankfully, God has not left us in the dark. He has made a way for us to know the truth and incorporate truth into our hearts to own it. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and light unto my path.” (Psalm 119:105 KJV) I cannot say how. Still, I believe God is preserving our cherished memories so we can savor them throughout eternity. He holds every tear we shed in a bottle. (Psalm 56:8)
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Click on the photo of the book to purchase from Amazon.
Going through a time of mourning childhood, I remember appealing to my second daughter (age three) to please stop growing. “But mommy, I have to,” was her earnest response. With a sigh, I reassured her she did have to grow. One day, years later, still troubled about the loss of innocence in a world eager to steal child-like wonder and joy, the Lord simply and clearly said to me, “You are my child forever.” It was one of those standstill moments where I feasted upon the truth. One day, I will live forever free of the cares of this world. Now that is childhood perfected by a loving Father. “And He who sits on the throne said, Behold, I am making all things new,” Revelation 21:5 (KJV). I wish I could tell you my heart is no longer troubled over my latest situation. But that is something I will work on, which will require learning through the experience. What I can say with certainty is that with each and every open door before us, God is leading us to His place; a place called home. In my Father’s house, there are no more tears, no more sadness, no more goodbyes, and no more enemy. For the time being, I will rejoice in the hope I have through faith in Jesus, who gives me peace with God. (Romans 5:1,2)
With a yearning to uncover the secret to life, Andrea embarked on a journey to discover truth. The study of Psychology proved inadequate, while the forces of darkness began to make their presence known. The Hobble, from Ai to Bethel encompasses Andrea’s personal victory over fear and bondage to the enemy. Passionate in sharing God’s Good News about Jesus, the author desires to encourage people to never lose hope. Because we all ‘hobble’ before God in need of Him. When not writing, Andrea loves spending time with her children and grandchildren, and enjoys cycling on the open roads with her husband, David.
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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
WooHoo! Thanksgiving! By Dr. Kathleen B. Oden Thanksgiving is my favorite time of the year! The first thing that comes to my mind is pie, dressing, and turkey! In that order… lol! There is no way I can pick out what my favorite Thanksgiving food is because truly it is all good to me… lol! Mmmm! My mother was very into decorating this time of the year. She went all out, not only with decorations but also with cooking. My parents did not believe in traveling for the holidays. That was totally out of the question. However, they loved to have dinner parties and invite people over for cookouts. I am so thankful for those days and thinking back to that time brings back so many wonderful memories that make me grateful and thankful for my parents and all that they did and gave me. And that is the way the Lord wants us to be. Happy and thankful! Because things could be worse. Due to the fact that so many people have lost family members, children, and/or friends, in 2020 and even in 2021, stress, depression, and suicide are at an all-time high. But the Lord wants us to look up, return to Him so that He can comfort us. He wants us to be thankful for not only what He has given us but also for what we still have!
Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people. (1 Chronicles 16:8 KJV) THANK YOU, LORD By Dr. Kathleen B. Oden “Thank You Lord” “Thank You Lord” “Thank You Lord” I just can’t stop saying, “Thank You Lord.” As I rise up, I say, “Thank You Lord.” But, if the mailman brings bad news, It’s so hard to say, “Thank You Lord.” During my busy day, I often stop To say, “Thank You Lord.” But when someone is rude on the phone, It hurts to say, “Thank You Lord” And if someone takes my parking spot, I don’t feel like saying, “Thank You Lord”
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Sometimes I forget my shopping list, But, I just say ok, “Thank You Lord.” As I enjoy my lunch, it’s so easy to say, “Thank You Lord.” But wow, how time flies, my day almost gone, but “Thank You Lord.” And as evening draws nigh, I begin to sigh, a grateful whew!”Thank You Lord.” Time to go to bed, my day is all done. He blessed me so much, I must say at least one, “Thank You Lord.” But as I begin to kneel and remember all that He has done, I say, “Thank You Lord” “Thank You Lord” “Thank You Lord” Not just one! Meditating on the Lord, reading scriptures, and sipping tea is an excellent mood changer. Did you know that different teas have different medicinal benefits that are healthy for our bodies? That alone shows us not only the awesomeness of our Lord but also how He cares about our health and wellness! He wants us to have Shalom, which means peace, wholeness, completeness and so much more, in Hebrew. I pray that your Thanksgiving is full of Shalom this year! Take time to enjoy a cup of tea!
Drink Tea! Dr. Kathleen B. Oden
This winter, drink tea for the enjoyment, the taste, and the health benefits:
BLACK TEA: Can help with heart health, good gut bacteria, and burning fat EARL GREY TEA: Boosts the brain, lower anxiety, and reduces stress CHRYSANTHEMUM TEA: Can reduce cold & fever symptoms, it is anti-inflammatory and can help with Type 2 diabetes
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Morning Coffee With Michael E. Wells A Thankful Heart
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.
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“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever.” (Psalm 136:1 NIV) One of life’s most important lessons is that of being grateful. Out of humility and thankfulness comes contentment and fulfillment in life. Not in the sense of doing, but in being. The world measures success by accomplishments, but as we know, our lives can be full of activities on the outside and void in the sense of value on the inside. The Bible makes clear our mindset in life. It states we are to “love mercy, to do justly and to walk humbly with our God.” Simplicity in life’s purpose brings peace and contentment in a world of chaos and uncertainty. We are to “take joy in the God of our salvation.” It will take us to a state of mind and place of the heart where life makes sense and our efforts worthwhile. Truly you and God make a majority, you do not struggle alone. To have a thankful heart is not one who is pollyannic confronting problems, believing none exist but one who does not forget whose they are when life happens, for “God keeps those in perfect peace whose minds are stayed on Him.” Life is mind over matter. The mind of Christ over matters of the heart. King David writes, “I would have despaired unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” (Psalm 27:13 AMP) So believes a thankful heart. May yours be this morning.
Never Too Late As we look back on our lives, we will regret more what we did not do than what we did. Opportunities missed through neglect or complacency. Timidness or feeling inadequate could have won the day and caused you to lose a lifetime pursuit. But it is not too late. Not too late to still hear the call to be someone’s answer, to bring help, and be someone’s hope. Almost daily there are opportunities to meet needs, be they family, friends, or strangers. The older we get, the more we will look back on our lives, the choices made, paths taken, and those dismissed. Maybe some good ones and maybe some not, but that was then, and this is now. The question before us all is what will I do today. With the time I have left, what choices will I make? Today, be that one who takes a hand and meets a need. Someone who holds a heart while they grieve over a loss. Lasting impact does not have to come from long endeavors but can happen in a moment of compassion, forever etched on someone’s heart. It is not too late for you. Though you may have lived the greater part of your life, there are still 24 hours in a day given to us all equally. In time, may you look back at these days and say of them, “I made good choices, helped needy people, comforted lonely hearts, and made lasting friends. I put myself out there to be used by God and I was blessed for the doing.”
Thanksgiving and Forgiveness And so it begins, for all of us, the next few weeks will be the most joyous and the most stressful time of the whole year. We will have a longing in our hearts for those we seldom see and a sadness in our hearts for those we will never see again this side of heaven. It is a time to be thankful for the things and people we may have taken for granted. A time to forgive those who have mistreated us in the past, not because they deserve it but because of the forgiveness we have received from heaven when we did not deserve it either. It is a season of release from all that has held you back, all that keeps you from being who you should be. A time to remember what is important in this life. Life is a journey, not a destination. As we pass through, we touch countless lives for all eternity. Sometimes we need to remind ourselves that there is another life coming, one that can be touched by what we do in this one. We need to judge our actions in light of heaven. One day we will have a new body there and then, but today we can have a new heart here and now. A heart that desires to love and forgive, to comfort and care. A heart that has been touched by the One Who gave it. This season, release the hurt and heal the heart, forgive the wrong, and make it right. This time, may it be for good and for God. And if you have received that new heart, you can speak the greatest words of thanksgiving and forgiveness ever spoken when you say, “Thank you Jesus for forgiving me.”
With God, it is never too late. For He doesn’t need your gifts, talents, or abilities. God just needs your heart, soul, and availability.
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THE RICHEST FOOD
by Nicole Byrum I have always loved Thanksgiving. Not only do we celebrate my birthday at our family gatherings, but I love the feel of the whole day. One of my favorite Thanksgiving Day traditions is going for an early morning run. Sometimes this looks like an organized Turkey Trot and other times it looks like running with a few friends around our hometown. I firmly believe this tradition makes all the wonderful Thanksgiving food taste even better. The hungrier you are, the better the food seems to be. This was certainly true for me on July 13, 2014. The previous day I had completed my first half-ironman in Muncie, Indiana (a race consisting of a 1.2-mile open water swim, 56-mile bike ride, and 13.1-mile run.) To the glory of God, I finished safely and in a decent time! One might naturally assume I would be starving after all of that activity, but I ate less that afternoon and evening than I would on any other given day. I wasn’t all that surprised by my lack of appetite. At that point in my life, I had completed several marathons, so I knew the great hunger would not come immediately following the race—it would come the next day. And oh boy, it came! The problem was we spent the entire day after the race in a car driving to the east coast for vacation. Despite consuming an abundance of road-trip snacks (and whatever lunch food we ate that day), I was constantly hungry and had a headache. As evening approached, we came upon Penn Alps, a buffet restaurant in Maryland. Little did I know I was about to eat one of the greatest meals of my life! The only way I can describe this place is as the best church potluck imaginable: Ham, fried chicken, meatloaf, mashed potatoes, corn, green beans, rolls,
fruit, salad, and the pick of about any pie/cake you could think of! Needless to say, after that meal I was no longer hungry, and my headache was gone. I can think of no other meal that has been that satisfying. The endless supply of granola bars, trail mix, and bananas could not end my physical hunger. What was needed was something substantial, a meal full of all the proteins, carbs, and fats that my body needed in order to recover from the previous day’s efforts. In a similar way, our spiritual hunger can only be satisfied with that which is of true substance. The prophet Isaiah wrote these words of the Lord: “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare,” (Isaiah 55:1-2 ESV) In the New Testament, we learn who it is that brings true spiritual satisfaction—it is Jesus Christ, our Savior. Jesus identified himself as the bread and water of life in John 6:35, saying, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst,” (ESV). Filling our souls with the “empty calories” offered to us by the world will never satisfy us. We can only be spiritually full when we trust and rest in the Lord for our salvation.
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One last thought in this analogy: Just as food tastes better when hunger is abundant, so Jesus becomes sweeter to us when we are aware of our sin. As Christians, we are to bask in the joy of knowing we are children of God and revel in His amazing love. However, may we ever be mindful of our sin, which made a Savior necessary. How much deeper our joy when we remember that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). I’m already looking forward to all the wonderful foods that will be present at this year’s Thanksgiving meal. I know I will come hungry, anxiously ready to eat turkey, side dishes, and desserts until I am beyond full. And yet, I know that fullness will eventually fade. It is my prayer this article will serve as a reminder to myself and the reader on these two points on Thanksgiving Day: To let our pre-meal hunger remind us of our sin, of our great need for a Savior; and the fullness of the meal be a reminder that in our Savior we will be spiritually satisfied, never hungry or thirsty again.
Click on book cover to purchase on Amazon.
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.
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The Power Of Words by Yvonne M. Morgan
Elizabeth Barrett Browning Sonnet 43 begins with the well-known phrase, “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.” Then, the poem goes on to explain all the ways she encounters her love. The author has an elegant way with her words. It amazes me how her words can paint a beautiful picture that still impacts people many years later. Our words carry more weight than we realize. With our words, we can tear down, or we can build up. We use them to bless or to curse. Sometimes we hurl our words like stones to hurt someone or wrap the hearer in their love and warmth. And, in the worst situations, we use them to speak lies about someone. So, how are you using your words? Throughout Proverbs, we see verses about the power of our words. Here are a few of those verses: • Proverbs 15: 1 - “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but hard words stir up anger.” (NIV) • Proverbs 15:4 - “Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.” (NLT) • Proverbs 16:24 - “Kind words are like honey-sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.” (NLT) • Proverbs 18:4 - “The words of the mouth are deep waters, but the fountain of wisdom is a rushing stream.” (NIV) • Proverbs 25:18 - “Telling lies about others is as harmful as hitting them with an ax, wounding them with a sword, or shooting them with a sharp arrow.” (NLT)
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And, as we enter November, I think we should explore some positive words to help us show our thankfulness for things in our lives. We can use this list to remember and thank our Lord for all He has done for us. So, how do I thank thee? Let me count the ways: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
A is for an abundance of love B is for blessings of family and friends C is for our Christian community D is for each day of life E is for the food we eat F is for forgiveness G is for Grace H is for Holiness I is for Biblical instructions J is for Jesus K is for Kingdom of heaven L is for love of God and family M is for memories N is for neighbors O is for our occupations P is for the gift of prayer Q is for our quiet times R is for restoration to God S is for salvation T is for our talents and gifts U is for the universe V is for victory over the grave W is for the warmth of friendships X is for extra love during this holiday season Y is for the year gone by Z is for zeal for life
The Bible says that life and death are in the power of the tongue. (Proverbs 18:21) So, this month, let us commit to sprinkling uplifting words in our daily conversations. Words spoken with gentleness, peace, and self-control demonstrate love to those around us. And expressing words of thanks to God and family makes the world a better place. “Everything we do should be a result of our gratitude for what God has done for us.” Lauryn Hill Happy Thanksgiving and God Bless.
Daily Bible Study
Myanmar Orphanage The situation in the town surrounding our orphanage is dire. The military controls the town and has shut down all the schools and hospitals. And, the COVID cases are climbing. Please consider helping us as we provide for theses children. Donate at https://www.paypal.me/oreinc Yvonne M Morgan, Christian author and speaker https://yvonne-morgan.com Click on book cover to purchase. Blog at Turningmountainsintomolehills.org Twitter: @ymmauthor Website: Yvonne-Morgan.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YMMauthor/ Books: Turning Mountains into Molehills (2017) Rest in God Prayer Journal (9-2020) Faith, Hope, and Love in a Broken World (12-2020)
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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
Renewing The Spirit By Gina Sewell So many times, we allow the actions of others to depict the way we live our lives. The decisions we make become based upon the world’s idea of what we should do and not based on what the Father would have us do.
In the Bible, James says that such a person is double-minded and unstable in all his ways. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be unstable in my ways. I want to be of one mind and one heart and one spirit for the Lord.
I love the Lord and I want to live for Him, to be a light to shine for others, to help others, and speak only as Christ would have me speak. I know that I have done many things in my past that may not have exactly represented God… there was a period of time in my life that I even turned away from God because of things that happened that I could not understand, and I blamed Him.
Thank God, though, for His amazing grace that we can be forgiven. We can give Him all of our worries and anxieties. He loves us that much that he will take all of that from us and help transform us into whom we are meant to be.
But since I was born again, that has been the goal for me. I want to build a ministry of Christ’s disciples who bring others to Christ, who help the less fortunate, the lost, the abused, the addicted, and that has become the most important thing in my life. BUT… There is still more of the world living inside of me than I normally care to admit. Like, I’ll be happily driving along on the freeway, ok maybe not happily on the freeway, but I’m still having a good day, then someone cuts me off, and the moment that instantaneous fear strikes up inside me, so does immediate anger and the words sometimes start flying out of my mouth. Not very Christian words. 20 | M AG A Z I N E N A M E PAGE 3 20
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from your presence and do not take the Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and uphold me by your generous spirit. Then I will teach your transgressors your ways and sinners shall be converted to you.” (Psalm 51:10-13 NKJV) “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “no” to ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self controlled, upright, Godly lives in this present age.” (Titus 2: 11-12 NIV) Dear Heavenly Father, I ask that you forgive me for the words that I may say in anger and help me handle my anger in other ways, and then be able to let it go. Either resolve it or give it to you, Lord, but not hold on to it. Thank you for your Word, your love, and your amazing grace, Lord God. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
November Prayer By Tynea Lewis
Dear Heavenly Father,
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).
We pray for the people who are facing health concerns. Whether it’s something new or an ongoing condition, it is both scary and draining. It feels like there are more questions than answers right now, and all the unknowns are overwhelming. Things can change so quickly, from one day to the next and even from one hour to another. It is unknown if or when health will be restored. Even if healing doesn’t happen on this side of heaven, we will praise you. Lord, you are in control, and none of this catches you off guard. Help us to fully trust in you. Thank you for being with us in every trial we face. Thank you for being our strength and comfort when it feels like we can’t stand on our own. Lord, we ask for wisdom as each person seeks the treatment they need. We ask for doctors who care and will do what they can to help. But Lord, our hope is not found in them. Our hope is found in you. You are the ultimate healer. Help us trust in you and your plan and not turn away from you in bitterness, no matter what happens. Lord, we praise you in the middle of this storm. In Jesus’ name, amen!
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Come and Dine 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.
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The events surrounding the Crucifixion were past and Jesus had already appeared twice to the disciples after His resurrection. One day, as a number of disciples gathered together, Peter announced he was going fishing. Six others decided to join him, but after they had fished all night, they had nothing to show for their labors. As day was breaking, a solitary figure on the shore called out to them, inquiring if they had any meat. Upon hearing their negative response, He instructed them to cast the net on the other side of the boat. They did and caught a multitude of fish. Suddenly, John realized the figure on the shore was Jesus. Peter then hurriedly jumped in the water and swam to shore while the others guided the boat to land where a fire was burning with a meal of fish and bread prepared and waiting for them. Then, “Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine…” (John 21:12a KJV) All night long they had labored and now, after a new day had dawned, they were undoubtedly weary and hungry. And so, what a surprise it must have been when they realized it was the Resurrected Master who had invited them to come and dine with Him, to share a meal with Him, and to fellowship with Him. The one who invited them to come and dine was the same one who claimed— “I am the bread of life.” (John 6:48 NKJV) He is also the living water who will quench the thirst of all who drink. Jesus, the bread of life and the living water, gives and sustains life. And just as we need physical food to eat to nourish ourselves, we also must continually dine on Him as our spiritual bread and water to flourish.
Today the Master’s invitation to “come and dine” is tendered to each of us. The words of the old chorus express it well: Come and dine, the Master calleth, Come and dine; you may feast at Jesus’ table all the time; He who fed the multitude, Turned the water into wine, To the hungry calleth now, Come and dine. How do we respond each morning when he calls to us? Do we eagerly join Him around the fire and dine with Him? Do we long for fellowship with Him so we can eat the bread of life and drink the living water He offers? Can we say, like Job did, “… I have treasured the words of His mouth More than my necessary food.”? (Job 23:12 NKJV) The Master calls, the table is set, and He is ready. Will you come and dine with Him?
Answers To Prayers By Dave Evans
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;” (Philippians 4:6 NKJV) “Thy will be done…”, taught by Jesus as the model for prayer-and in the garden Jesus Himself prayed for the will of the Father to be done, not His own I come to the Father in prayer, making supplications and intercessions, letting my requests be made known to Him; waiting for three possible answers: “yes”, “no”, or “wait” … for the “yes” and “no” answers I am thankful and quite content to let the will of the Father be done, rather than insisting on my own— and for the “wait” answers, I continue in prayer, and watch in faith for future “yeses” or “no’s”. “Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;” (Colossians 4:2 NKJV)
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Serving At Thanksgiving By Craig Ruhl
I think that the only times I missed being with family at Thanksgiving or Christmas were while I was on active duty with the U.S. Navy. One of those times was Thanksgiving Day in 1968. There was a war going on in Southeast Asia. Although my duty assignment was not in the war zone, our military was at heightened alert levels. I was stationed aboard the USS Everglades (AD24), a large destroyer tender, with a home port of Charleston, SC. As we sit down to our Thanksgiving Day meals and reflect on all the things we must be thankful for, please find a place to include our men and women who will stand duty on that day in service to our country and our communities. In every area of our country and around the world, there are people in public service who daily stand their watch and assume the duty of protecting us. They are not exempt from their duty on holidays. They will be medical, emergency, fire, police, and military professionals. Included are those who will be scheduled to work their shift in utility and vital service industries, convenience businesses, and so many other workplaces that allow our economy and lifestyle to continue. Many who serve in our military will be deployed outside our country or, because of duty assignments, cannot be with their families during the holidays. While we all enjoy the blessings that God has granted us, someone has to stand the watch, stay the course, and protect all of us. Let’s remember them at Thanksgiving and Christmas with our prayers, respect, and thanks.
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This holiday season, we were wrapping up a several months-long cruise in the Mediterranean Sea. Our ship was a large repair ship and it was sitting at anchor in the port of Naples, Italy with two other U.S. Navy ships tied alongside. Our ship had a complement of over 800 sailors, officers and enlisted, and could transport additional troops if needed. The Navy is noted for its excellent food service. Our ship was a very large ship with an expansive kitchen and mess deck areas. The cooks always went all out for holiday meals, and this Thanksgiving was no exception. Food in the Navy is a 24/7 evolution. Think of your home kitchen on turkey day. Now imagine what it must be like to prepare and serve a full turkey dinner with all the trimmings for hundreds of hungry sailors and Marines. Our crew was scheduled to eat in three shifts so that, at all times, one-third of the crew was on duty and available if needed. The process of prepping, cooking, cleaning, and then doing it all over again was like a finely tuned ballet. Many professional chefs and restauranteurs received their start and early training as a Navy Ship’s Cook or as they are now called, Navy Culinary Specialist.
That Thanksgiving was loud, fun, and delicious. The special Thanksgiving dinner was duplicated on each of the ships next to us with the crews of each ship working in concert to ensure that the meals would be delicious and as much like home as possible. Leftovers were laid out on the serving line later in the evening for those who still had room for them. Our military family is not too much different from the one at home.
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.
The Thanksgiving Day meal I enjoyed while deployed to Italy in 1968 was special, but I am reminded that many of our service personnel don’t have the opportunity that I did. War zone meals are not able to be as elaborate as ours was. At that time, there was a war raging on the other side of the world and those involved took meals when and where they could. This season, please remember our friends and family members who may be away from home during this time protecting us and our way of life. The same goes for those at home, but who may not have the opportunity to be with their families due to work, illness, or other reasons. Pray for them all. On that ship, on that Thanksgiving Day, we gave thanks for our bounty and God’s grace and mercy. We prayed for everyone at home, too. USS Everglades AD24 – USS Bigelow DD942 – USS Norris DD859 (Naples Italy) Photo Credit - USS Everglades.org
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God Gently Stooped Down By Peter Caligiuri “Who is like the Lord our God, the One who sits enthroned on high, who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth?” (Psalm 113:5-6 NIV)
Peter and his wife, Nancy, have been married for 48 years and have two sons, six lively grandsons and one wonderful granddaughter! They live near Tampa Florida where they are members of Generations Christian Church. Peter’s blog is located at http://www.praise2worship.net/
On the sixth day in morning the Lord God stooped down Scooped clay from the earth to make man from the ground He bent down lower still to breathe life into him Then smiled to see man’s first day begin As they walked through the garden God showed him the trees The elephants, zebras and mountains, and seas But with all that God made Adam still was alone So God gently bent down to form Eve from his bones But when they saw fruit that God said not to take They ignored His command and death was awake Yet God wasn’t finished - He did not walk away He just waited and watched till His chosen day When at Bethlehem’s stable He gently stooped down And entered our world in the dark of that town Till on a hill and a cross God stooped lower still Took the nails and the thorns so we could be healed Then sadly His friends took Him down from the tree Placed Him in the tomb where no one could see Till on the third day God rolled back the stone And gave us new life as He gently stooped down
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My Morning Walk By Peter Caligiuri
When We Always Praise By Peter Caligiuri
Don’t weep for me if I’m not here Or worry where I’ve gone I’m just out on my morning walk Before the break of dawn
He sits upon the highest branch And gives His tune to God Through wind and rain in heat and snow He thinks it very odd
Up - up that narrow way I went And as far as I could see The blood-stained steps of Jesus Marked out the path for me
That anyone would only sing On quiet sunny days And miss all that God has in store When we always give Him praise
I felt the warm wind touch my face And I saw a garden blooming wild And the song of life it rang so clear Time to come home my child
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6 ESV)
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Inspiration Comes In All Forms By Colette Shomaker
We all need some inspiration from time to time. We are all told God can speak to us in mysterious ways. Not all the time are we paying attention. A racing mind, stress, work, family, and just plain blindness on our part can be reasons for not seeing God’s plans for us. I, for one, have seen more than what I think is my fair share of pain and heartache. I have suffered for over 30 years of physical pain due to multiple health issues. At times, it was very hard for me to get through the day. I tried everything I knew that might help. Doctor after doctor and I still had no relief. One day, however, my life was about to change. Anyone that knows me is quite familiar with the fact that I am a crazy cat lady. I absolutely love cats. They are so graceful and cunning. Stealthy hunters even if it is a toy mouse. I personally had rather been given a toy mouse than a real one. I had several kitties both inside and outside of my house. But this story is about an outside kitty. Her name is Sophie. She is one of those kitties that is so independent, and she dealt with you on her terms. I respected that of her, and I never forced the issue.
One day, I went out to feed my outside kitties and Sophie was not around as usual. I called for her and looked all around the yard and in the woods. I did this for several days, to no avail. About a week later, I looked out my backdoor and there was Sophie. She was in the food bowl, eating like she had before. Over the next several days, Sophie was either eating or curled up asleep somewhere in the sun. I thought nothing of it since she was such an aloof cat. But one day, I noticed that something was off with her. Upon closer inspection and against her desire, I found she had a broken front leg. I immediately took her into my den in the basement so she would be warm and safe. I called a veterinarian to take a look at her. I finally found one in Asheville. Sophie and I packed up and took a little road trip. As Sophie and I waited in the room for the Vet, Sophie turned into a different cat. She was so loving and playful. Remember, she was never that way before. This was a cat with an attitude that was now acting like the most loving cat ever. The Vet said there was no way he could put a cat down that was acting like that. Amputation was the course of action and surgery was scheduled. After the surgery, Sophie was a little touch and go for about two weeks. I had to buy her a shirt for a newborn baby to protect her stitches. I worried about this cat. I babied this cat. I put drops of water
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on her mouth just to get something into her. She was offered all kinds of food and treats I could come up with. I prayed so hard for this little girl to make it. With time, Sophie began to get better and gain strength. After many weeks, she was well on the road to recovery. Little did I know what this cat was going to do for me. Sophie was still weak and trying hard to learn to walk with just three legs. She would lie on the floor and watch the other cats play. She especially watched her sister from another litter play with a particular toy. This toy is a circular plastic toy with a ball in it. Sophie’s sister Cassie would play with this toy daily. I would watch Sophie and it was like I could hear the wheels turning in her head. She was trying to figure out how to play with this toy. After a few weeks and gaining more strength, Sophie lay on the floor and played with the toy. It absolutely brought tears to my eyes. I knew I had done the right thing for her. Over the next few months, Sophie transformed. She ran through the house faster than any cat. She played with her toys and with the other kitties. Trust me, they play pretty rough with one another. Needless to say, Sophie always came out on top. Yes, she had to do a lot of compensation due to being an amputee. Little Sophie didn’t let anything stop her from being a normal cat. As I watched her change and persist, it became an inspiration for me. If this little kitty could survive what she went through, I could make it as well. Sophie became my inspirational Angel. I feel it was God’s way of telling me that hope was not all lost and I, too, could overcome my problems. A couple of years have now passed. Sophie is still going strong. I, too, have gone through a transformation. Both of us are still working on being better than ever. Anytime I get a little discouraged, I will watch my little Sophie. She inspires me every day. I know God is with us and will give us the strength and means to persist and live the life He plans for us to have. Never give up hope. Sometimes when you least expect it and in the most unexpected ways, God will show us the way.
C. Colette Shomaker is a native of Lenoir, NC. She studied at Western Piedmont Community College and Lenoir-Rhyne. Her degree is in History with an emphasis on Art History. She has also attended Watercolor Classes with Joe Miller. Her mediums include oil, watercolor, acrylic, alcohol ink, drawing, photography, jewelry, and foremost, trout flies. Colette draws her inspirations from nature. Her artwork often reflects the bright colors, beautiful scenery, flora, and fauna that the natural world offers. One of Colette’s favorite activities while being outdoors is trout fishing. Tying trout flies, therefore, becomes a natural choice for her. Colette says her artwork reflects who she is, and she is the happiest when she is out experiencing nature. Her artwork is her way of bringing nature into her home. Art also provides a means of preserving the previous memories of her travels across the country. Tying trout flies is a prime example of functional art. She feels it is by far what she is best at, artistically speaking.
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Be Thankful
By Rolanda T. Pyle Sometimes life can bring tears to your eyes Yes, it can make you cry and have you sigh. Life can be so very rough Also, very, very tough! It seems like bad news comes in bunches And all we can do is roll with the punches Because we know there’s often a reason But most of all, for everything, there is a season. So we march on So we pray on So we trust and we praise Trusting and believing that God has control of all our days. So this Thanksgiving, we give thanks and praise For the good, the bad, and the ugly days. We are alive and God has brought us through it all And for those still going through trials, you too will soon stand tall. So give thanks, give praise and even sing Songs and hymns - rejoice and let the praises ring Out of your mouth and out of your heart. Thanksgiving is always a great time to start.
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My Clean House by Gini Walker
I recently saw a social media picture that brought a smile to my face. It was a black cat emerging from underneath a bed. It had spider webs all over its face. The cat wasn’t happy and the caption could have read: “My Humans! We need to talk!” Although I have never crawled underneath my bed, I have no doubt my face would have looked the same. Those hidden places in my home are disgusting to me when I see the dust, junk, and cobwebs. But those areas in my house that are visible to everyone receive attention, especially when company is coming. Sometimes as I scan each room, I think, “That will have to do” or “Oops, missed a spot.” Hidden cobwebs remind me of hidden issues in my heart. Psalm 44:21 (NAS) says, “… He knows the secrets of the heart.” And 1 Samuel 16:7 (NAS) reads in part, “… for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” Then in Ephesians, those thoughts and words from the heart are addressed: Ephesians 4:29 (NAS) reads, “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear.” And the specifics are stated in Ephesians 4:31 (NAS), “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you along with all malice.” God’s Holy Word leaves no doubt in my mind regarding how God feels about my thoughts, intentions, and desires. When I realize my Creator has chosen my heart as His home, reality brings me to pause and ponder my need for housecleaning. Just as I would be embarrassed if guests saw the filth under my bed, I am ashamed as I read those passages about God seeing my dirty heart. The good news is His compassion about my confessions. Psalm 103:11-14 (NAS) tells me, “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His loving kindness toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. Just as a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him. For He Himself knows our frame. He is mindful that we are but dust.”
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Peace In The Midst Of Problems By Juliana Gordon Losing a friend. Overwhelmed by debt. Sitting in an emergency room. Grieving at a funeral. Most of us have had at least one of these experiences, and if not, can add to this list with our own tragic circumstances. Reaching for one of my favorite Psalms, I look at Psalm 91 and struggle to understand these verses. “You will not be afraid of the terror by night, Or of the arrow that flies by day; Of the plague that stalks in darkness, Or of the destruction that devastates at noon. A thousand may fall at your side And ten thousand at your right hand, But it shall not approach you. You will only look on with your eyes And see the retaliation against the wicked. For you have made the Lord, my refuge, The Most High, your dwelling place. No evil will happen to you, Nor will any plague come near your tent.” (Psalm 91:5-10 NASB) A simple reading of it may make us think God is saying, “Nothing bad will happen to you, ever.” That is what we want to hope for in our lives, right? That we would become Christians, everything would be OK, we would eventually die in a non-tragic way, and then we are in heaven.
Yet we know we are going to have problems in this life. In the midst of telling us in John 16:33 (NIV) that there is peace in Him, Jesus tells us that “in this world you will have trouble.” Not every struggle will be solved in a way that makes it seem that no evil has happened to us. Plagues do come near our tent. How do we reconcile the truth in God’s Word with the troubles around us? Charles Spurgeon’s words on Psalm 91 from “The Treasury of David” tell us this.
“It is impossible that any ill should happen to the man who is beloved of the Lord; the most crushing calamities can only shorten his journey and hasten him to his reward. Ill to him is no ill, but only good in a mysterious form. Losses enrich him, sickness is his medicine, reproach is his honour, death is his gain. No evil in the strict sense of the word can happen to him, for everything is overruled for good. Happy is he who is in such a case. He is secure where others are in peril, he lives where others die.” Somewhere along the way, I bought into the “serve God and everything will go OK for you” philosophy. Some people preach it, to be sure; but it can be subtly woven into the most well-meaning of messages. It goes well with trying to earn our own salvation and it is an especially good companion to judging others. But God never said that living a Christian life meant a life of ease. He told us He had overcome the world (John 16:33), but He didn’t tell us our problems were going to vanish here on earth. Instead, we get the wisdom of Romans 8:28 (NASB).
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“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Psalm 91 is true, but so is John 16:33, as well as Romans 8:28. If we are truly abiding in Him, we do not fear the worst, for God will use it for our good. Spurgeon’s words reinforce this, “No evil in the strict sense of the word can happen to him, for everything is overruled for good.” Our awesome God can crush all the forces coming towards us. Or He can use the circumstances to mold us into who He wants us to be. In all of this, make Him your refuge. Whether or not the problem passes on by or stops and camps out in your life, His refuge will bring you peace. And remember to take heart! Because Jesus has overcome the world (John 16:33.)
Juliana Gordon studied creative writing at California State University at Northridge. She is a pastor’s wife and a freelance writer in Southern California. She has been married to her husband for over 25 years. You can find her at www.julianagordon.com or on Instagram at @julianagordonwriter.
His Heliotrope By Cindy J. Evans
The heliotrope plant grows in one-sided clusters that follow the sun—that is, its blossoms turn towards the sun. (From Better Homes and Gardens and the Merriam Webster dictionary.)
Lord, let me be a heliotrope, following the Son. Lord, let me grow in you, until my time has come. Like the plant following the light, let me follow You and burn bright. Plant me in your Word and may I always move Sonward. Cindy J. Evans is a published poet living in the greater Atlanta area and sunny south. She enjoys serving at a faith-based hospice agency, prayer walks, and date nights with her husband, most recently at a Christian movie.
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Roan Mountain Located on TN Hwy 143 at the base of the majestic 6,285 ft. Roan Mountain. Roan Mountain State Park encompasses more than 2,000 acres dominated by rich hardwood forest along rugged ridges. All photos are copyright 2021 to Karen Ruhl
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Karen-Ruhl.pixels.com
Road Trippin’ On Top Of The Mountain! by Karen Ruhl
This time of year is a favorite to so many of us with the leaves changing colors and the beautiful skies filled with white puffy clouds! It makes me want to take rides every day to see what God has in store for us to see. In Mid-October, we took a drive to Elk Park in North Carolina. We stopped at an overlook for Brown Mountain. Brown Mountain Overlook sits at an elevation of 2,844 ft. If you like stories, here is one for you. According to Cherokee legend, around 1200 A.D. a great battle was fought between the Cherokee and Catawba Indians at Brown Mountain and the mysterious lights are from the Indian maidens still searching for their men who died in battle. Many people have tried to explain the origin of the lights over the years. Oh boy, next! Look a sign ahead said Roan Mountain and it wasn’t far away, only 8 minutes. So, of course, we headed that way. Now what you need to know is that those white puffy clouds started to look like threatening storm clouds. We weren’t sure if we would drive up the mountain and end up in snow. From beside me, I heard Craig say, “Oh, let’s do it!” And so off we went.
Remember those clouds I mentioned? Well we found them, and the fog that came with them. We were not at the top of the mountain although I would say we were well over 5,000 feet. There were a few pull offs as we drove up, but they were packed with weekend visitors (great to see). We continued driving and went over the mountain in Tennessee and into North Carolina. If you get the opportunity, be sure to visit! Thanks for going on a virtual trip with us, we think of all of our readers as we drive around. If you like what you see, please share with others. May God bless you and your family.
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All photos are copyright to Karen Ruhl 2020, 2021 The small town of Elk Park was a wonderful find. Craig and I both love murals and Western North Carolina never disappoints us. Along the road, we saw this beautiful Mail Pouch Tobacco barn - they are getting harder to find. Craig and I both encourage you to take a ride, you don’t have to go far. Sometimes our drives are only an hour or so - but most are between 4-6 hours seeing so much of God’s beauty along the way.
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Delivering the Newspaper —Lessons in Thanksgiving By Craig D. Lounsbrough
I started delivering newspapers when I was a tender nine years of age. Had I been an adult looking at the nine-year-old that I was at the time, I probably wouldn’t have let myself take on the job at that age. In fact, I might have thought of such an idea as skirting the periphery of the insane. But with my parent’s blessing, I started delivering newspapers at nine. The Lessons Behind Hidden Doors I am forever thankful for the lessons I learned over those four years and thousands of newspapers. The lessons learned were as colorful and diverse as the people that taught them to me. I can recall old Mr. Hock with his cigar and bathrobe greeting me at his backdoor every Saturday morning. He always handed me a tip, gave me a hearty word of thanks, and vigorously shook my hand. It was the simple things that pleased Mr. Hock, like putting the paper in his door on a rainy day, or holding his paper when he and the Misses were gone on one of their many vacations. I am thankful that I learned that great things always lie in simple things. I am thankful that he taught me that life is not about the grand things that seize our attention and captivate our imaginations, but that life is about the little things that make the grand things possible. I am thankful that I learned that simplicity rewarded is life treasured in the most profound way. I am thankful for that lesson. 38 | M AG A Z I N E N A M E PAGE 38
Then there was Mrs. Ryan, who always gave me hefty bags of fruit and mints and nuts at Christmas with a twenty-dollar bill tucked in among the treasures for good measure. In the lathering humidity of those mid-western summers, she would come to the door with a chilled ice tea in hand. And in the biting winds of those Ohio winters, it would be steaming hot chocolate. I am thankful that I learned that giving is always and forever infinitely superior to getting. I am thankful that she taught me that in the giving we receive, and what we receive is the satisfaction of knowing that whatever we give is always bigger once we’ve given it away. I am thankful that she taught me that to be attuned to the needs of another attunes us to the world and that if I stay attuned only to my needs, I will always be a stranger to the world. I am thankful for that lesson. Right next door lived old Mrs. Tilly. She lived in a wee little house built at the close of the Civil War. She always vigorously motioned me through the front door and invited me back to the kitchen of that tiny house. Counting out her pennies on her old, worn Formica kitchen table, every week she’d meticulously count out fifty of them for a tip. I knew her finances were as emaciated and meager as was the décor in her house, but she gave me fifty cents each week, anyway. I am thankful that she taught me that sacrifice is non-negotiable, and that counting the cost of giving to another is foolishly assuming that we can put a price on sacrifice. I am thankful that I learned that giving to another is not determined by the limits of the resources that I possess. And I am thankful that I saw in life the joy that such giving brings, and how that joy handily dissipates any impoverishment that might be ours. I am thankful for that lesson.
Thankful for the Lessons Behind Hidden Doors It would completely be reasonable to say that life itself is a paper route of the greatest sort. And because it is, I am thankful for the many people along my route that allowed my journey to be a journey. I am thankful that these simple lessons taught by the simplest people changed my life for the entirety of my life, and I am thankful that they have allowed me to help others change their lives. During this Thanksgiving season, I am immensely thankful for the privilege to walk the paper route of life, and I’m just as thankful for all of these people along my route, for without them there simply would be no route and no journey. Indeed, I am thankful beyond words.
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. Craig spent two years broadcasting in Christian radio and has published both nationally and internationally. 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. Additionally, he has developed an extensive Social Media arm that reaches 500,000+ individuals each month with a wide variety of quotes, articles, blogs, and videos. Craig is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Colorado, a Certified Professional Life Coach, and an Ordained Minister. He is a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors. Finally, Craig completed the coursework toward a Doctor of Ministry degree in Marriage and Family Counseling at Denver Seminary. A full Vitae is available upon request. https://craiglpc.com/ mailto:craiglpc4@gmail.com
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Two Deaths By Esther M. Bandy
Have you ever sat at the bedside of someone who was dying? I have. When my beloved husband was dying of cancer, I was there, heartbroken at the thought of living the rest of my life on earth without him. But I was also thankful that when he left this earthly life, he’d be in heaven with Jesus. He’s there now. He’s no longer suffering, and he’s happier than he’s ever been. I’m thankful that one day I’ll be there too. When I was a hospice nurse, I cared for many death-imminent patients. I tried to keep them comfortable and help them and their families prepare as much as possible for death. Afterward, I pronounced my patient dead, notified the doctor, and comforted the family. Then I contacted the funeral home and prepared the body to be taken to the funeral home. Working as a hospice nurse was the most challenging, heartbreaking, and at times rewarding job in my nursing career. Sometimes I cared for people for months before they died. It was comforting to know that some made professions of faith in the Lord Jesus, and they looked forward to eternity with Christ. But it was heartbreaking that others rejected Christ. Many were afraid to die, and some were still searching for something to believe in. If they were willing to listen, I shared the gospel with them. It was a blessing when some received Christ before they died. One week, as I watched several patients pass from this world into eternity, I was struck by the differences between those who knew Jesus and clung to the hope of heaven and those who had rejected God’s gift of salvation. I thought about the contrast and wrote “Two Deaths.” 40 | M AG A Z I N E N A M E PAGE 40
Two Deaths One night, my patient died. In my notes, I wrote, “Attended death. Family members and nurse at bedside. Respirations ceased. Unable to obtain pulse or blood pressure. Pronounced at 3 a.m.” In my heart I know, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.” (Psalm 116:15 KJV) In my notes, I wrote, “Doctor and funeral home notified. Family members comforted.” With my lips I quote, “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 5:8 KJV) In my notes, I wrote, “Family members coping well.” My spirit sings, “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (1 Corinthians 15:55 KJV) Thank you, Lord, for the joy of knowing that my patient is your child and is with you forever. Another night, another patient died. In my notes, I wrote, “Attended death. Family members and nurse at bedside. Respirations ceased. Unable to obtain pulse or blood pressure. Pronounced at 6 p.m.” In my heart I know, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” (Hebrews 9:27 KJV)
In my notes, I wrote, “Doctor and funeral home notified. Attempted to comfort family.” I try to give comfort, but my mind repeats words that my lips dare not speak. “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:15 KJV) My heart cries out, “Oh God. Was his name written there?” In my notes, I wrote, “Family members grieving.” But my notes cannot explain the agony of hell. “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:36 KJV) The Bible makes it clear that those who trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior have their sins forgiven and will spend eternity with the Lord. Those who reject Christ will be separated from God forever.
Do you believe that you’ve sinned and that the Lord Jesus died for your sins and rose again? Are you willing to confess your sin to God and receive Christ as your Savior? Consider these verses from God’s Word. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:9-10 KJV) “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” (John 1:12 KJV)
Consider these words from the Lord Jesus Christ: “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. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:16-18 KJV) If you died today, would you go to heaven or hell? If you’ve already trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior, your sins are forgiven, and you have the wonderful promise of eternal life with the Lord. Will you thank God today and tell others what Christ has done for you? If you haven’t trusted in Christ, it’s not too late.
When Esther Bandy was five, she heard the gospel in a Good News Club and received the Lord Jesus Christ as her Savior. Since then, she’s worked as a nurse, a missionary, a local director with Child Evangelism Fellowship, and a Spanish teacher in a Christian school. Now she’s an author. Esther’s work was published in the anthology Treasures of a Woman’s Heart, and she’s a contributing author for the upcoming anthology Triumph from Tragedy. http://esthermbandy.com/ https://www.facebook.com/EstherMBandy
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Faith On Every Corner Bookshelf Beauty Beyond The Thorns By Darci J. Steiner Reviewed by Craig Ruhl Darci Steiner knows pain, hers is due to a fall, and a resulting nerve pain disorder and being re-injured years later. She has walked in faith through the injuries, medications, therapies, and life’s highs and lows. The author’s lifelong faith, determination, and thirst for knowledge of her physical condition have led her to a ministry to help others suffering from pain and disability. In her book, she weaves real-life situations with biblical passages and concludes that although we may be broken, by His wounds, Christ has already healed us. Beauty Beyond The Thorns is divided into 30 Chapters which allow the reader to use the book in a daily devotional style, allowing the messages to be absorbed slowly with time for reflection and study. There is a companion study guide available that would enhance using this book in a small group setting. Click on the book covers to purchase these book from Amazon.com.
This book provides wonderful encouragement and inspiration. We are blessed to place a copy on the Faith On Every Corner Bookshelf.
Left by Stefanie Hutcheson Reviewed By Karen Ruhl Have you ever read a book that drew you in at the opening paragraph and left you wanting more at the last one? That is how I felt reading “Left.” Your emotions will be tossed around a bit as the story takes you on a heartfelt trip with this couple. Can you imagine driving off while your husband was in the gas station? I know a good book when I can’t put it down. This is one of those books. I always want to tell more about the book, but I don’t like hearing about what I am going to read ... I just want it in my hands! And so, I suggest you click on the book and purchase it today. Stefanie’s readers have given her a 4.6-star rating - I give her a 5!
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Faith On Every Corner Bookshelf
The Great Turnaround Awakening Call For The Next Generation by Suzanne Weegmann Reviewed by Karen Ruhl Working through Chapter 2 in Chronicles, Suzanne Weegmann has written 40 devotionals about revelation and the story of Hezekiah; who brough his entire nation back to the Lord. Each day, there is a well written devotion that discusses scripture, additional prayer points for the day, and a page for you to keep notes. One of her readers wrote, “Using Susanne’s prayer points helped me to direct my prayers for my family, community, and nation.” The Great Turnaround shows that God gives a nation time to turnaround. It is definitely a thought-provoking book.
Click on book cover to purchase this book from Amazon.com.
We are pleased to have a copy of this book on our personal bookshelf.
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 guidelnes. Team@FaithOnEveryCorner.com M AG A Z I N E N A M E &O R PAGE URL |
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Faith On Every Corner Bookshelf
Meant for Her Intended for Her – Book 1 By Joy Avery Melville Reviewed by Karen Ruhl From the first page, you will be pulled into this well-developed story. The hardship Candi has endured is more than most of us could imagine, and yet she has relied on her faith. Going to the Michigan horse farm belonging to Candi’s brother, Cam, seems to be the best place for Candi to heal. As Dr. Patrick (Mack) MacKevon, a long-time friend of Cam’s, watches Candi as she works at regaining a sense of normal, his feelings develop as he prays for her. Will Candi be able to trust again? Read as this couple leans on God and prays together. This is Author Joy Avery Melville’s debut novel. Her characters are well developed. The story is tough at times as she heals, but she weaves in some humor, prayer, and focuses on Candi’s recovery. We are proud to have this book on our personal bookshelf.
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Click on the book covers to purchase these book from Amazon.com.
Faith On Every Corner Bookshelf
The book we are currently reading but not quite ready to finish and review are:
Grace Beyond the Border By Crystal Grant
Click on the book covers to purchase these book from Amazon.com.
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 guidelnes. Team@FaithOnEveryCorner.com
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Dayenu and Thank You by Mike Buchanan
There’s a word in the Hebrew language called dayenu. Roughly translated, it means it had been enough. I understand sometimes it’s translated in the Bible as enough for one particular day. I first became aware of it in a Joel Rosenberg series of books about 15 or 16 years ago. The essence of the use is to thank God for what He provides every day. The thought being, to my way of thinking, is He gives what He knows we need when He knows we need it. I think that the Hebrew phrase dayenu and our English thank you should be closely linked. Paul, in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (KJV), says, “Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” I think it might be worth noting, Paul says “in everything”, but not necessarily for everything. Although I think there are some things that might seem bad at the time, but that people may thank God for, that we might find strange.
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I’m reminded of the Ten Boom sisters in a Nazi concentration camp. Corrie’s sister, Betsie, was able to thank God for the fleas, much to her sister’s utter shock. Betsie’s reasoning was that with the fleas being there, the guards didn’t want to come in; therefore, the women could pray with each other. Maybe you were once in a relationship that you thought was the right one, and it ended sooner than you liked. Now you’re with the one the Lord meant for you, but you realize the only way it could have happened was for the other relationship to have ended. Before my wife and I met, I was in a relationship that I thought was “the one”, but I eventually realized it wasn’t. Three months before I met my wife, someone told me God was going to send a woman to me who would be immeasurably more than I could ask or imagine. They were right.
Perhaps, you’ve been dealt a devastating physical handicap, like Joni Eareckson Tada. She suffered fractured vertebrae which left her a quadriplegic. She was able to adapt and become an incredibly talented painter. Moreover, she’s also started a ministry for others who fight limitations in their bodies. These are just a few examples of dayenu. However, as you can see, God can use any situation for His Glory. He can give you reasons to be thankful. Maybe today, you don’t feel thankful. Let that be okay. David wrote most of the Psalms. Some of them are beautiful songs of worship. Some of them, well, they were different. They were cries of deep depression and despair. Your Father, God, knows how you feel, and He wants you to tell Him. Focus on the fact you had reasons to be thankful in the past, and realize you have reasons now even if you don’t see them and you will see more again in the future. Dayenu and thank you. The key is to remember we need to look unto Jesus, the author, and finisher of our faith. From our human standpoint, we’re in the middle of our autobiography. From Christ’s standpoint, He’s finished the biography, and He knows how it turns out. He knows all the things we will have to thank Him for when we see Him. Will we recognize those things now? I hope we do. Look at it this way. God didn’t need any of us, but He created mankind. Dayenu and thank you. We sinned, that is, we disobeyed the only rule He had for us at that point, and He still didn’t destroy the only two humans at that time. Dayenu and thank you. Centuries later, all man could do was think of evil. God saved Noah’s family and then He started mankind over. Dayenu and thank you.
Centuries later again, after more of mankind’s failure, God sent His Son, Jesus, to live a perfect life for us, yet He died for our sins. Dayenu and thank you. He then rose from the dead so we could have eternal life in heaven. DAYENU AND A BIG THANK YOU. I know life isn’t easy. Jesus said we would have great difficulty, but He said to take heart, for He had overcome the world (see John 16:33). We have so much to thank Him for already. Dayenu. Any of the things Jesus has done on a daily basis would have been enough. Dayenu. Thank Him for what He’s done and thank Him for what He’s going to do in your life in the future. If you’re reading this, and you haven’t had that first moment of thanking Him for dying for your sins, salvation, now could be the time for you. First, ask Him to forgive you for the things you’ve done that are wrong. Then, ask Him to be the Lord (the ruler) of your life. And then tell Him you want His Help to live the rest of your life for Him. It’s that simple. You are saved. If you do that, let someone else know. Find a church so they can help you grow in your new journey with Christ. Peace.
Mike Buchanan is a Christian writer and the author of the book Mountains of Hope Surrounding the Valley of Cancer. He uses his writing talents to further Jesus’ Gospel.
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Honoring God Through Adversity–Part One By Jeff Foster
Merriam Webster defines adversity this way; “a state or instance of serious or continued difficulty or misfortune.” It is further derived then from the Middle English adversite, which means “opposition, hostility, misfortune, hardship.” I think we all understand what adversity is after what we have seen in the world during the last few years. We have either lived it or felt it through someone we love. Adversities can either make us get serious about our prayer life or drive us further away from God, depending on our attitude. We all go through trials sometime in our life. Some folks, it seems, have much more than others. But we can be assured that God is able to use each trial we go through to increase our faith and ultimately bring glory to His son, Jesus. “Why do we even have these trials?” you may ask. Adversity comes about in our life from three different sources. First, God sometimes creates a trial to test our faith, such as when He commanded Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac. I can’t imagine placing any child on an altar to take its life as a willing sacrifice. Thankfully, God does not put trials on us greater than we are able to bear without providing a means of escape. God provided a substitute sacrifice for Abraham, a way to escape this trial because he was obedient to God’s command. And because of Abraham’s faith and obedience during this trial, we are still blessed today.
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“That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.” (Genesis 22:17-18 KJV) That’s us today. When we get to heaven, we need to tell Abraham how grateful we are that he was obedient in that trial. Second, adversities can come our way from attacks by someone else or even Satan himself, through no fault of our own. Job is a well-known example of this type of adversity. Poor old Job probably never knew while he was here on earth what caused his horrible trial. He also didn’t know that his story would be told for thousands of years to come. How often have we been comforted by Job’s story when we face things we don’t understand? Through his story, we can see the sovereignty of God. He reminds us that God is not taken by surprise by the circumstances that so easily upset us. God is fully in control of the situation and already has a plan for how He will use it to strengthen our faith if we simply stay steadfast in our obedience to Him.
The third way that adversities attack us is where I think we see God’s great mercy and grace most clearly. Sometimes we just bring on the adversities ourselves. We know that disobedience or rebellion will get us in trouble. But sometimes, we get a little too comfortable with our abilities and start making decisions, big and small, without seeking guidance from the Holy Spirit. We may be okay for a while, but eventually, we’ll make a wrong decision that gets us in trouble. Thankfully, God knew before the foundations of the world about our times of rebellion, our times of disobedience, our times of simply ignoring His divine guidance. Therefore, He made a plan to bring us through those times of self-inflicted adversities and make something beautiful out of the messes we make. The story of Jonah is an example of God using a rebellious and disobedient servant to show His power over the sea and a big fish. Even with Jonah’s bad attitude, God still used him to bring a wicked city to repentance. Adverse circumstances can sometimes make us want to throw up our hands and quit. If we allow them, struggles and trials can move us away from God. Many times, when problems arise, our instinct is to try to fix them. As Christians, though, we know we need to allow God to fix our problems. But then our sinful nature comes out again, and we tend to try to figure out how a problem should be fixed and then we pray for God to fix it our way. Anyone else besides me guilty on that one? That doesn’t ever really work out, does it? The problem with that way of thinking is that when we can’t see any way to fix a problem, then we don’t bother asking God because we don’t know how to tell Him how to fix it. That puts us in dangerous territory. Even if we do continue praying, we aren’t surrendering our all to Him and any prayer is hindered because we aren’t dealing with the trial. I know from painful
experience that God will let us just wallow there until we’re ready to surrender the problem to Him and trust Him to do whatever He wants to with it. When we do finally surrender, God first works on our hearts to root out our rebellious and prideful nature. Then He might change our circumstances, or more likely He makes us realize we are safe with Him no matter what trial we are in. The size of our adversity is insignificant compared to the size of our God. “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.” (James 1:2-3 ESV) Next month in Part Two, we will look at three benefits from the adversities we endure.
Jeff Foster and his wife Lorena live in Granite Falls, NC. As a mechanical engineer with many years of technical writing experience, he discovered his calling to devotional writing in 2018. He finds purpose in his writing by encouraging the saints and inspiring them to strive for a closer walk with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. His website was launched in April of this year www.seedsowing.org.
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Vivian Satterwhite lives in the lovely foothills of North Carolina, where she writes poetry and fiction. She has published a book of short stories, Sweet Tea in Autumn, and a collection of poems, Shadows of Other Rooms. Vivian can be contacted at viviansatterwhite.vs@gmail.com
I Ask
By Vivian Satterwhite of those who have no faith in One unseen doubters of an omniscient power— from where, then, comes the sense of sight? who transforms darkness into dawning hour? whose luminescence glows the harvest moon? whose radiance of love flows from the sun? whose voice is it that sighs a soft wind song through quiet forests when long day is done? when hope relinquishes to grim despair and aching hearts and faded dreams remain when life begins to seem not worth it all— who heals our souls and lets us live again?
Communion
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By Vivian Satterwhite black-suited servers white-gloved hands bearing silver trays remembrance soft-sung pale-bodied wafers gilded glasses, dark with sweet red wine of precious Blood redemption 50 | M AG A Z I N E N A M E PAGE 3 50
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 guidelnes. Team@FaithOnEveryCorner.com
Do you like taking Photos? As a photographer myself, I love to feature other people on our front cover. You don’t have to be a professional, I will even feature great cell phone shots. If you would like to learn more, please email me at Team@FaithOnEveryCorner.com - put Photography in your subject line. Blessings, Karen Ruhl
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Tunnel Vision By Karen Ruhl
Tunnel vision metaphorically denotes the reluctance to consider alternatives to one’s preferred line of thought.
“Taking the time to listen, to truly listen, to someone can truly communicate our love and respect even more than outspoken words.” I admit it, there are times when I wanted to get a point across and pushed my agenda more than I listened. I believe we can all be that way when we are passionate about something. I look back now and wonder if the person or people listening to me even considered my opinion or viewpoint. I had tunnel vision. I was focused on one thing and didn’t consider theirs. As I matured in my faith, I learned that letting someone else express their opinion or belief was not only important to them, but a way that God was teaching me about life. I learned to be a better listener and to truly consider what I was hearing. I also learned to pray over people’s ideas or beliefs. Through prayer, I believe I became a stronger person. My spiritual life strengthened as I prayed for others and asked God for wisdom and discernment on matters where I needed clarification. “To give prudence to the simple, To the young man knowledge and discretion—A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel (Proverbs 1:4-5 NKJV) I also learned that listening to others is an act of love. You can have totally different views, different beliefs, a different upbringing, and yet as you talk to each other and truly listen, you will learn what is on their heart. If we try to tell people what they should be doing instead of listening, they will know we don’t really care. If you take the time to listen, you may gain an opportunity to speak truth into their life. God listens to us because He loves us. He already knows us inside and out and yet He takes time to listen. His word tells us how to live life, and yet God knows that at times we will have questions. Have you ever stopped while you were praying and just felt his presence? Were you overwhelmed that the God of the universe was taking time to listen to you? In answers to your prayers, were you ever led to open your eyes and consider a different way? Maybe that was God taking you away from a tunnel vision moment. I took the photo above in one of the tunnels in The Great Smoky Mountains. If you look at the photo, notice you have limited or restricted sight. You can only see so far to the left or right and yet you can see the light. God shows you the light while you are in the tunnel and have limited vision. The next time you are with friends or in a conversation with a group, take off your tunnel vision, open your eyes, listen more than you talk, and pray that God shows you the light. Blessings to you all, Karen 52 | M AG A Z I N E N A M E PAGE 3 52
Covenants of God By Dr. Irene Surya
In an amazingly beautiful, pristine garden When sin entered the world, God’s plan of salvation was sketched out The promise of a Savior with Adam. With raindrops washing the nature bright With the landscape painted in verdant green The multi-hued rainbow curve symbolizes The covenant with Noah by God. Dr. Irene Surya has published a book of poems, In Solitude with God. Her poems have been published in various magazines. She loves and serves the Lord with her husband. She is a devout mother to her two daughters and has earned her doctorate in Engineering from a premium institution. Currently, she is working as a research analyst in a research company.
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Counting the millions of stars in the sky With faith as his stronghold Abraham became the father of all nations, The covenant that lasts to centuries. Holding the stone tablets in his hand Moses descended the mountain of Sinai, God gave him the law and the commandments, The covenant to the nation of Israel. From the tribe of Judah With a descendant always on the throne of David Jesus Christ, the King who reigns forever The messianic covenant with David. With the bread and the wine Symbolizing the body and blood of Jesus Christ redeemed man from sin The new covenant to the eternal inheritance.
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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. 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/
A Time for Thanksgiving by Sharon K. Connell What is Thanksgiving? Is it merely a holiday to you? Time off work? A huge family get-together where you eat so much you feel bloated by the end of the day? For some, it’s an excuse to party, overeat, and drink too much. Romans 1:21 (KJV) says, “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” Is that what our forefathers had in mind when they had their first Thanksgiving feast? No! They were thankful for being alive. Pure and simple. You’ll find various accounts of what happened after the first year the pilgrims made it to America, but remember, none of the people writing their opinions were there to witness that first feast of harvest. There were always good Christian people who celebrated the grace, mercy, and bounty of our Lord. And I’m positive some of them were among the first Europeans to come to America. They were thankful. What is your favorite way to celebrate Thanksgiving? It happens to be my favorite holiday of the year because it’s the only one that is based on thankfulness.
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. (Colossians 3:15 KJV) When Thanksgiving Day rolls around, I love to plan for a nice meal. I take advantage of the special day to use the best plates, glassware, and table service. Of course, we have turkey. Not because the pilgrims had it, which none of us can be sure of, but because it has become a tradition in this country. Not all tradition is bad. We have cranberry sauce, sage stuffing, sweet potatoes, and usually corn. Afterward, we enjoy pumpkin pie with ice cream or whipped cream and coffee. Lots of coffee. But regardless of what we eat, we always have in our minds our Lord and the gift he gave on Calvary. The number one reason to be thankful is that Jesus Christ took our place with His sacrifice on that old rugged cross. He paid for our sins, so we wouldn’t have to, and all He asks is that we accept the precious gift He’s given to us. Now there’s something to truly be thankful for every day of our lives.
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Click to order Sharon’s books. May I challenge all of you to give thanks to our Lord every day for His gift of salvation, the breath you breathe, the roof over your head, clothes on your back, your family and friends, for providing for you every day? There are so many more things you can be thankful for. You don’t have to wait for Thanksgiving Day. Our Lord God wants to hear from each and every one of us daily. Set aside a time for Him. Maybe a quiet time in the morning before your busy day starts. Perhaps before you retire for the day. Start a journal of thankfulness. Write down all the things you’re thankful for, and then give God the praise for them. It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High: (Psalm 92:1 KJV) Another way to give thanks to our Lord is to read a part of His Word daily. Never mind those who tell you to read a certain number of chapters, pages, or more daily. Read what you can read. Ask our Lord for wisdom while you read, even if it’s only a verse for the day. Then close your eyes and wait to hear from our Lord. It’s called communication, and it all starts with being thankful. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. (1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV)
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Being Thankful In So Many Different Ways By Cindy Oriol
Psalm 100:4 tells us to “enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.” NIV When you think of the meaning of thanksgiving what words come to mind?” For me, some of the words I can think of are being grateful, blessed because of the Lord’s abiding love for me, precious in his sight and Child of God. Some of my blessings are my wonderful soulmate for almost seventeen years, my beautiful girls, my precious grandchildren, my family and my extended brothers and sisters of Christ. Other ways I am thankful for are: After being in and out of a wheelchair for several years, I am finally out and using a cane, the healings of my pancreatic and spleen and breast cancers plus several other health issues.
I remember helping mom butter that big bird that weighed around twenty-six pounds. The butter was so slippery as she held it while I covered each part. I was so glad I used a paper towel to smear it on with. Once we were finished, we put it in our heavy metal roasting pan and into the oven. One by one of my large family of three brothers and one sister, plus mom and dad of course, started arriving. They liked to come earlier to help with the other preparations for the rest of the buffet. Mom was busy with the cranberry sauce. I loved watching the sauce slide out into one large cylinder onto her favorite tray with the decorations of cornucopias and then she would slice it. She was also well known in our family for her delicious fruit salad of grapes, apples, mixed fruit, pineapples, and peaches. Several of us girls divided the preparation of the other foods. I went looking in the china cabinet for mom’s large Corningware dish with blue flowers on it to put the mashed potatoes in. I also found her heavy glass platter with a large turkey stencil in the center.
Have you ever had a Thanksgiving that you will never forget? Mine was the year without the turkey. I stayed up most of the night with my mom, helping her make her home-made dressing. Earlier that day, she told me to lay out several pieces of bread so they When the potatoes were finished cooking and being could harden, just enough to be crunchy. This made mashed and while no one was looking, I added extra the stuffing hold together better. butter to them to make them taste creamier. The creamier the better.
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The turkey had been in the oven roasting for several hours when suddenly we smelled something burning from the kitchen. Mom grabbed her checkered red and black potholders and pulled open the oven door just a crack and saw that the turkey that we all had our mouths watering for was on fire. Black smoke was billowing out everywhere and our turkey, that had once been white at the beginning, was now charred coal black. Mom yelled to my dad that some of the grease had splashed onto the element and caused a fire. As soon as my brother opened the back door, my dad hurled that big, black bird into our backyard. I yelled, “It’s a drone, it’s a plane, no it’s a flying big, black bird.” We had literally just watched the most important part of our Thanksgiving meal fly out the door, soar through the sky, and then drop on the ground. I would give anything to be able to celebrate Thanksgiving with my parents now, but they have both gone to Heaven. I am surely blessed to have such a beautiful family. Thinking back on one of my husband’s and my favorite Thanksgivings was the year we were truly blessed by serving food to the homeless at a church downtown. Upon arriving there we weren’t really assigned to any particular job, so we just positioned ourselves in the back of the tables and began scooping up the food of turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, corn, sweet potatoes, dressing and of course my favorite, the cranberry sauce. To top off their meal, we gave them a drink and a large slice of cake. After the line began slowing down some, we both got a plate of food and sat down at a table next to a man from Africa. He began telling us about his struggles while living there. He was so happy to be living in the United States and was proud to be an American citizen. I loved listening to his stories. They were full of so much compassion and of fear.
We found out he was a man of God, so as we were all talking, John recited Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.” (NIV) And also, Philippians 4:13, “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” (NIV) We asked him if we could pray for him and he answered,” Actually, may I say the prayer?” It was so beautiful and meaningful. We could hear how much he loved God as he expressed his words. We remained at his table for a little while longer and then we excused ourselves and went home. Have you ever spent such a blessed day that you didn’t want it to end? That’s how it was for my husband and me. On our way home, I looked over at him and he had tears rolling down his cheeks. I almost missed seeing them because my eyes were blurry from crying as well. I reached over and grabbed his hand so gently and said, “I feel so blessed.” He repeated the same words to me. We were so overtaken with pure joy that the Lord had used us to be his servers. I read somewhere that if we don’t do the will of God, then we aren’t using the gifts that he has blessed us with. He put us here on earth to be his hands and feet to spread his “Great News” on how to live eternally with him by accepting his son “Jesus.” As a child while growing up, I was very shy, but now that I am a grown woman, nothing can or ever will stop me from telling others about Jesus. In John 14:6, Jesus tells us, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (NIV)
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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
Reaping the Benefit of the Pain of Friendship By Joseph Akinrinola To every relationship come both pain and gain. Whether it is a horizontal or vertical relationship or friendship, there is always something to gain and lose. Horizontal friendship is a relationship between people or groups of equal status, while vertical friendship is that of a relationship between people or groups of unequal status. In any case, each party in the relationship will have the pain to bear. At the same time, there is a gain or benefit to enjoy. However, to reap the benefit of the pain of a friendship depends on your disposition to such pain. I believe what happened to you is not as important as your reaction to it. While some build a wall with the stones of the pain in their relationship, others build a bridge for a better and fruitful relationship. Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. (Proverbs 27:17 KJV)
Look at sharpening your knife or cutlass. Both the grinder and the knife have something to gain and lose. For the gain, the knife becomes sharp while the grinder fulfills its purpose as a grinder. But note both the knife and the grinder loses a bit of their body. This is the painful part. The same principle applies to a fruitful relationship. Then, how do you reap the benefits of the pain of a relationship or friendship? 1. Surround yourself with people who will tell you the truth. You don’t truly love your child if you will shield him from the pain of injection if need be. You should have a few friends that will not mince words when you are wrong, as many who would not hurt your feelings. Equally, be ready to accept the truth. People tell you either what you want to hear or what you need to hear. King Ahab fits into this situation. (2 Chronicles 18:1-27) He had multitudes that will make him feel good and a person who will tell the raw truth. The only way to benefit from the hurts of friendship is to be ready to accept the truth.
Let us go over this scripture to dissect the benefits associated with pains in any relationship. This principle could apply to any relationship. Whether it is marriage, church, community, business, or social relationship there will always be gains and pain. Often 2. You should always be concerned about the result. it comes as rejection, disappointment, abuse, ungrate- The scriptures say, “Now no chastening for the presfulness, backstabbing, betrayer, etc. ent seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. (Hebrews 12:14 KJV) In any painful situation, look beyond the pain to the gain. “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) 58
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3. Accept friendship, pain as a learning process. We become mature through pain, failure, and disappointment. You wouldn’t have your bones and muscles strengthened without some rising and falling. David became an unusual mentor through the pain of betrayal and hatred of King Saul. He painstakingly mentored the debtors, disoriented, frustrated, and forsaken people who eventually became skilled warriors. (1 Samuel 22:2, 2 Samuel 8:23-39) Their life lessons we couldn’t have learned otherwise, if not through pain.
Come to Me
By Jim and Esther Bandy Searching for something the world could not give me, I stumbled on through the darkness each day. Then I heard the story of one who died for me, And when I listened, I heard the Lord say:
4. Friendship pain leads to self-discovery. One benefit of relationship pain is discovering your limits and weakness. Sometimes we do not realize how vulnerable we are until we face disappointment from our closest ally. You may not discover your full potential until those you rely on have failed you. Now you have no option but to face the challenge headlong. I relied on a few friends when I began a monthly church program for praise singers and equipment. They feature fully the first two months. In the third month, they never turned up. My daughter, because of that disappointment, stood in the gap as a chorus singer. Today, that friendship pain made her hone her singing skills. 5. Acknowledge the imperfection of all human beings. You are not likely to gain anything from the pain of a relationship if you do not accept all mortals are imperfect. That imperfection includes you. Have you disappointed anyone before? Sure, I have. In addition, I know you have failed a friend before. Therefore, if they felt bad when you didn’t live up to their expectation, then you can understand their feelings. Let me draw the curtain by saying, pain and disappointment are part of life. Therefore, mastering the art of a positive outlook on life experiences is germane to benefit from the pain of friendship.
“Come to me, I came to forgive you. Come to me, my mercies are great. Come to me, you make the decision. Come to me, before it’s too late.” I saw the blood as it poured from His body. Only His blood could wash my sins away. Lost and unworthy, I asked Him for mercy. I knelt before Him and heard the Lord say: “Come to me, I came to forgive you. Come to me, my mercies are great. Come to me, you make the decision. Come to me, before it’s too late.” Now as I follow the path He lights for me, I know the words that He told me are true. He is the Light, He’s my Lord and my Savior. I hear Him calling, He’s calling for you.
“Come to me, I came to forgive you. Come to me, my mercies are great. Come to me, you make the decision. Come to me, before it’s too late.”
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The Power Of Praise by Shara Bueler-Repka “Be exalted, O Lord, in Your own strength! We will sing and praise Your power.” (Psalm 21:13 NKJV) Nursing homes are never an easy place to be. Many times, they are the last destination for ones that have lived a fairly long life. Most residents are not in the minds they once knew, and all ail from one sickness or another. Bruce’s 93-year-old grandmother had been in a nursing home for quite some time. No longer able to stay with her family because of medical issues, she became a permanent resident. Bruce, my mother-in-law Betty, and I made our way to the secured area of the facility where she lived. She sat in her wheelchair, absently staring at the floor. As we approached her, she looked up, sheer delight spreading across her face. We hugged and kissed her, wheeling her into the little living room reserved for private family visits. Although happy to be sitting there together, our conversation started to get a bit strained. Grandma was hard of hearing, couldn’t talk very well, and suffered from memory loss. Long silences filled the gaps in our conversation. There had to be some way of communicating together. Suddenly, I felt the Lord impressing upon me to sing. However, I choked up with emotion as I fumbled around for a starting point. I sensed the impression again, urging me to continue.
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Pulling myself together, I asked, “Can we sing?” With great relief, all three of us plunged in, enthusiastically singing out the old familiar hymns: Amazing Grace; What A Friend We Have In Jesus; How Great Thou Art. Grandma’s face lit up and away she went! The strain was chased from her face as she sang with us at the top of her voice. The wheelchair seemed to melt away. We were all lifted up and out of that nursing home to a familiar and happy place where communication gaps and sickness don’t exist. For those moments, we enjoyed the same space and the same time. Intrigued, I watched her joyfully expounding on every word. She remembered the words! —words she had sung long ago that had been tucked away in silent rooms somewhere in the recesses of her mind. The melodies of those old hymns led her heart straight to those rooms, unlocking them like special keys to forgotten doors. Apparently, the singing from our little room wafted through the entire wing of the nursing home, and more than one heart was unlocked that day. The nurses still talk about it. God’s presence and joy had a profound effect on patients and staff alike.
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Praise in the form of music is powerful and transparent, walking through any wall that has been erected and unlocking every door that has been tightly shut. It knows no boundaries. “But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them; and suddenly there came a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened.” (Acts 16:25-26 NASB)
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. Join the fun and be encouraged on their website: www.ponyexpressministry.com, her blog: http://trail-tails.blogspot.com/, or come for a visit on Facebook or Faith Social.
Bruce, me, and Grandma Bennett Bruce & Shara Repka 122 County Road 1A Hallettsville, TX 77964 (979) 732-0974 info@ponyexpressministry.com
Bruce serenading the boys
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Thankful To Be By P. Diane Buie
I made it through the pain. All glory to God’s name. If I never see this time again, it will surely be the world’s end. I once was afraid of pain. But now, I dance in the rain. I see how Son shines through gray skies even if I have wet, blurred eyes. What a weight has been lifted. God’s strength I’ve been gifted. Now, blue skies I see. Free. God help me be. Grateful, God, to finally rest. Help me live what you deem is best. All praise goes to you. Great things you still do. Click on book cover to read more or purchase. You can reach Diane at pattydeeb@yahoo.com and https://gab.com/buierocks
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Thankful to be out of misery. Help me, God, your ways to always see. Ever grateful for all that you do. God, I’ll always bring praises to you.
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If We Just Look By Merideth Tullous My family was visiting Mainstay Farms, our favorite local pumpkin patch. The sun was shining onto my boys’ freshly face-painted faces while they ate cotton candy, climbed the treehouse, and shot apples out of a cannon.
Wait! What? Yes, that is correct. Almost all donkeys carry a cross on their back called a dorsal stripe. It is a cross shape in their fur. To those who have been raised around these animals, perhaps this fact is not as stunning as it was to me.
My youngest son, a mere 5 years of age, spotted the farms’ new Ferris wheel and bravely declared that he wished to ride. I glanced over to my eldest and he Immediately, I turned to my son and was prompted shook his head ‘no’ before I could even ask him if he, to say, “Wow, do you understand what that means?” too, wanted to brave the carnival ride. He looked at me inquisitively. I reminded him that a donkey carried our Savior into a city to begin the While my husband and youngest rose into the air, I path to the crucifixion. Immediately, I could see God took my other son into the pumpkin patch. One of working in him as we continued the conversation. the delightful workers began to educate us on all the different types of pumpkins (which we both found You see, God is still here with us every day if we just fun and fascinating). look. There are miracles and signs everywhere if we just open our eyes. As we wandered to the back of the patch, we spotted a sign “Fun Facts About Donkeys.” Some facts were If we just look… witty, and some were interesting. However, the last fact on the board was one I did not know and which We are approaching the holiday; the start of Christ’s prompted quite a beautiful conversation amidst the story is about to begin. And in the story, we see pumpkins. examples of how humans opened their eyes and looked. Mary looked at the angel when she was told she was with child. The wise men looked to the heavDid you know that almost all donkeys have a cross ens to find the manger. Their eyes were opened, but on their back? so were their hearts. God was a priority in their lives, and as such, God used them in mighty ways. 64 | M AG A Z I N E N A M E PAGE 23
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So as the tinsel flies, the trees sparkle, the presents pile up, and the calendar fills with holiday festivities, where will we look? Will we sleigh-ride right through the holiday? Will we glance up on Christmas Eve wondering where it all went, wishing we had spent more time reading the Bible or telling our children about The Christmas Story, wishing we had volunteered more, or helped a neighbor more, or invited a person to church...? As the book of Colossians so eloquently reminds us—we should look to the heavenly things. When we do this, God’s will for our life becomes so much clearer. He will show himself in even the most seemingly unlikely places—like a pumpkin patch! If we look to Jesus daily, our holiday will not feel empty but will be filled with joy, wonder, intentionality, and peace.
Merideth Tullous is an award-winning children’s author and speaker. Her Christmas book, A Gift To Remember (The Remembering Books) has just recently been awarded the Bronze medal at the Illumination Awards, being recognized in the children’s category of shining the light on Christian literature. Merideth is a mother, wife, fine arts educator, and works in a local school. Her most recent book, MOOSHEGAGA, was just published and was written to inspire children to pick up their pencils and find the joy in writing. www.meridethtullous.com
So, as we enter the festive holiday season, let us show the cross like the donkey. Each day, let us meditate on the greatest gift that was ever given. Let our eyes and hearts stay fixated on the miracle that happened that silent night and the miracle that is to come.
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Click on covers for more information or to purchase
The Phone Call By Edward Tooley The audience sat in silence when the speaker named John finished his message. The stillness was not the awkward type, but more of the stunned variety. It took a moment or two for the audience of about a thousand teenagers and faculty to regain focus. Then a smattering of clapping began and built until the room was filled with applause. I had a bird’s eye view of this event as I happened to be seated near the top of the auditorium.
Periodically, this community phone would ring asking for a particular student. Most of the time, the student in question was eagerly waiting by the phone and would immediately answer the call. On some occasions, the phone would ring waiting for someone to answer. John made it known that if you picked up a random call, you then would have to locate the person. This could take much valuable time and energy, so students normally avoided picking up these calls.
The students had gathered for a weekly chapel service. At these events, teachers were responsible for making sure students were on their best behavior. It was obvious from the beginning that this would not be difficult. The entire student body was engrossed with the speech right from the start.
One day while John was picking up his mail on a rather uneventful day, the phone rang. And you guessed it, no one was waiting to answer the phone. John ignored the rings until they stopped. He sat down in the lobby for a brief moment to read his mail when the phone rang again. This time John thought of sneaking out of the lobby and letting someone else answer it. He was not in the mood to go searching high and low for the person in question. John changed his mind at the last moment and picked up the phone. This is where the miracle begins. The caller asked for a student named Pete who happened to be living at the far end of the building. John reluctantly said he would go and alert the student that he had a call. John recalled that he moaned and groaned all the way to Pete’s room for making what he felt was a foolish decision. He finally arrived at Pete’s door and knocked.
So, what did John say that left us in such a daze? His message focused on how miracles can occur at the most unlikely times and places. John highlighted his message by recounting a story that happened while he was in college. He explained how the students in the dorm where he lived had to share one pay telephone located in the lobby. I guess you could call it a community phone. The story, of course, took place back in the day before cell phones. I noticed a few students reacting in disbelief as if this must have taken place hundreds of years ago, but back to the story. John pointed out there were times when a long line of students was waiting to make their nightly call. He got a chuckle from the crowd when he said that many of the calls were made to parents asking for much-needed money. 66 | M AG A Z I N E N A M E PAGE 3 23
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John knocked a few times with no answer. GREAT, he thought. If the student was not there, he would have to go all the way back to the lobby and inform the caller. For good measure, John knocked again and was just about to leave when the door opened abruptly. There stood Pete, a ginormous specimen of a man with a head full of unruly hair. He had a scowl on his face and seemed very displeased about being interrupted. In a rather disrespectful manner, Pete asked John, “what do you want?” John wanted to reply with a sarcastic remark but wisely decided against it, mainly because Pete was a behemoth of a man. John calmly replied as properly as he could that Pete had a phone call. Pete shut the door without even saying thanks. It was at this time that many of us in the audience thought John had finished his message. Some of the students had puzzled looks on their faces wondering what the point of his story was. But John was not finished. He only paused to take a deep breath, like he was still deeply impacted by what happened. He continued the story by mentioning that a few days had passed when a friend of Pete’s named Matt asked to speak with him. John thought nothing of it at the time but began to suspect something was up when Matt asked if they could talk in private. They found a quiet place where Matt broke the news. Matt first asked John if he remembered the day, he came to Pete’s room to inform him about a phone call. John, of course. remembered as he shook his head in affirmation. Matt went on to say that just before John arrived at Pete’s room, Pete was preparing to end his life. “In fact,” Matt said, “your knock on the door came just in the nick of time.” Pete ended up changing his mind thinking this interruption was a sign from God not to go through with it. Matt said that John’s interruption saved the life of his good friend. By this time, the auditorium was motionless. We sat there like statues, not wanting to make a sound to disrupt the moment. I think that some of us in attendance had to remind ourselves to breathe.
John was glad he was sitting down when Matt told him the news. He even mentioned that his hands began to shake. John thought for just a moment what the outcome would have been if he ignored the phone call and went about his daily business. These thoughts were interrupted when Matt finished saying that Pete was now home getting much-needed treatment and help. John completed his message by reminding students that even the smallest kindness to others can have a huge impact. Sometimes even a miracle will take place. When class began after chapel, it was obvious that John’s story made a major impression on the students. It had such a profound impact that I felt it necessary to set aside some class time to discuss the message. Some students shared personal stories involving an ordinary event that turned out extraordinary. Our discussion went on longer than I had planned, but it was obvious that it had more value and meaning than the lesson I had prepared. Students agreed that God performs miracles in a variety of ways. They agreed that there are no small miracles because it takes something much bigger than ourselves to make them happen. Miraculous events happen more often than we realize. If only we would be more vigilant in our surroundings, maybe we would witness more of these unexplainable occurrences. There is no doubt that hearing about or taking part in the miraculous truly has an indelible impact on our lives.
Edward Tooley has had numerous articles published about education, adolescence, parenting, creation, and Christian Living. His work has also been featured in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. Edward’s first book for children, Rounding Third and Headed for Home, is written in rhyme and is based on a true story of perseverance. Edward’s second book for children was just released and is a fictional account based on a true story of hope and a miracle. The Lighthouse/El Faro is a dual language book - both English and Spanish on the same page.
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MY TH VS REALITY “ I A M W E L L , H O W A R E YO U ? ” By Melody Foster
Should I tell the truth? How much can they handle? Will they think I am weak, or think I do not love Jesus enough? Am I allowed to be depressed? These questions pass through many Christian minds daily. Once, I was concerned that depression meant that I did not have enough faith or enough love for Jesus. I sat crying in the doctor’s office thinking about what a failure as a Christian I must be. How could my doctor think that I need medicine? I admit having chronic tiredness and overwhelming sadness makes me miserable. I could sleep for fifteen hours a day and still be tired. I cried tears that I did not understand because my life was full. I had a family, a church family, and a job. We had so many blessings. How could I have depression? I thought I should be able to do my job, my home, my children all with little help. All the while needing to serve at church and care for ailing family members. The younger me had no clue that depression could be a combination of physical issues and psychological stressors. That was me at twenty-seven years old. At forty-nine, my life is much better. I did not take the medication my doctor prescribed. It would be another fourteen years of struggling before I would try antidepressants.
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Losing my husband of twenty years in 2013 would push me to a place where I tried the medication. For three years, I took a medication that was too strong and had awful side effects. Finally, I mentioned it to my doctor. Not sure why I felt the need to suffer so long. The need to be strong did not serve me well. We tried a different medication in 2016 and I have been in a good place since. It would appear I found a “magic bullet.” No more heavy sadness, unless there was a reason, and feeling a range of emotions has brought much relief and joy to my life. I also earned a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. The program at Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA, taught me how to examine self and use critical thinking skills. Our program took us deep within ourselves. The program taught us we must face our triggers and trauma before it would be safe to counsel other people. After all, can you really take another person to a place you have never been? Jesus came to earth and experienced humanity firsthand. Now he sits as an intercessor for us, as mentioned in the Epistle to the Romans, with our heavenly father with the knowledge of our fleshly pangs, longings, and desires. (Romans 8:34)
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By Melody Foster Behaviors of Highly Resilient People
1. Become hard to offend.
I want to assure you Jesus met me where I was at, and he graciously worked with me on one thing at a time. I had trauma to deal with and blood tests revealed I did not have normal serotonin levels. The combination of these things meant that medication could help me, much like insulin helps a diabetic. Acceptance came slowly, but sometimes I try to ween off the medicine just to find that I still need it. I tend to think that because my coping skills have improved and my boundaries are healthier, maybe I can do life without medication. I beg you to be honest. Connect with Jesus and a community that loves Jesus. Many make the claim but learn how to see real followers by the way they love. Mental health still may feel a bit taboo, but Christian communities must step up and help. Today it starts with me and my story. Tell me yours.
One lesson in 1 Corinthians 13: 5 speaks about not being easily provoked or offended. The way others act does not have to change your mood or behavior. Expect rejection and mistakes. Not everyone is like-minded. One does not have to accept things said about them or let them into their heart. It is the power of choice. People who live entirely by emotional response will usually never find that deep abiding peace mentioned in Philippians 4: 6-7. Most of what people say or do is more about them than it is about you, anyway. 2. Challenge yourself. Emotional growth comes by stepping out of your comfort zone when an opportunity arises. Stop comparing yourself to others. Just worry about being a better person today than you were yesterday. Life is a journey and we hope to grow in maturity as we age. Find people you wish to become like and make time to spend with them. King Solomon wrote, “As iron sharpens iron, so one [person] sharpens another.” (Prov. 27:27)
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What it Takes to Be a Life-Changer By Tami Thorsen
“I’ve never played a game of paintball in my life!” I replied to a rather surprised youth pastor after he watched me, a skinny blonde girl, boldly explain to a group of husky teenage guys the game’s rules. This pastor was certain I had played the game a zillion times when, in reality, I had been told the rules on paper just minutes before the first intimidating group arrived to play!
As educators, mentors, coaches, etc. we must never be satisfied that those we serve can retell us content or details. We must commit to being a catalyst, enabling them to move from content-talking (knowledge) to content-playing (application) so that personal transformation becomes evident in their attitudes and behaviors as they live out what they know. This article shares a few insights I have gained from my early years of teaching in a classroom setting and my present learning, as I currently serve as a Gospel-driven life coach. I am eager for more experience to further apply these effectively in my present roles and ministries. This also is my prayer for anyone who reads this.
Honestly, I am scared to play the game, let alone handle the gun! I was merely another youth leader helping at a youth camp, and it just so happened they put me in charge of paintball. No one could see the trepidation I felt inside. From my confident explanation, others assumed I had paintball expertise To be truly effective teachers and, most importwhen, in reality, I could only talk about the game. I had no experience and no real courage for playing it. ant, life-changers, we must constantly evaluate the amount of time we spend on content (knowing lots (And I hope I never will!) of things) versus its application (putting what we This true story illustrates how we can know all about know into personal action). I used to spend many the truth and yet still live a lie. In essence, knowledge fun, yet grueling hours creating, preparing, and disdoes not guarantee life change, just as knowing con- playing the content of my lessons so they would be tent does not guarantee its transforming application. fun, vibrant, and memorable. Whether this presentation involved flashy visual aids, breathtaking bulletin boards, “on the edge of your seat” storytelling, or even attention-grabbing video clips, I reveled in how exciting my classroom or lesson itself appeared. However, I found as great as this sounds, master-teaching uses these mediums only as the vehicle on the road to application, which leads to transformation. In other words, the content we teach is just content if it makes no difference in the learners’ life. The missing ingredients: Personal Discovery and Personal Application. 70 | M AG A Z I N E N A M E PAGE 3 23
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Merely teaching content greatly limits the learning dynamic if it does not adhere to the method displayed in God’s Word, our standard, whether the content centers on health/wellness, math, science, the Bible, art, or some other subject. God, our Creator, designed us to be naturally excited to learn what helps us understand and navigate our own lives. If we personally do not believe we need the content/information, we will not be motivated to learn it, let alone have the desire to be changed by it. Jesus, our Master-Teacher/Coach, modeled this by the questions he asked: by drawing out, peeling back, and expanding the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Jesus was a catalyst in that his questions enabled people to see their own limiting beliefs, personal needs, desires, and motivations. In short, Jesus catalyzed personal discovery in others. He had a discerning spirit on how not to err on the side of direct telling, advising, and correcting. Sure, direct content-teaching was necessary for Jesus and necessary for you and me—at times, but not all the time. An integration of what is now termed “coaching” has a far more transformational effect. Coaching skills and mindsets which are integrated into the more natural skill and bent we have for telling, advising, correcting not only multiply the learning curve but greatly influence the transformational impact on a personal level and beyond! How exciting! Amazingly, I have seen this occur every single time I integrate coaching into my teaching, mentoring, and leadership roles. Those I coach experience greater personal value, confidence, joy, and motivation as coaching comes alongside the one you are serving, like a “lab partner” or a “hiking companion” rather than a “drill sergeant” or a “firehose” of information.
JCoaching is definitely an art. It is far more intricate than paintball. You can’t “fake” your way to being a coach. Like facilitating a paintball game, coaching is far easier said than done. It takes far more courage to ask a question than it does to offer up advice, release an answer or provide a solution. It takes more than knowing all the steps for a powerful coaching conversation; it takes a mindset and a heart-position of humility and courage to partner with another in the discovery process and let them decide how they want to move forward, applying the new insights and awareness in ways most valuable to them! Now that is what leads to transformation, not just regurgitation. So, how might this change the way you facilitate your next “round of paintball”? What is your next step? What support might you need?
Tami Thorsen is a Cedarville University education graduate, wife, mother of two, and career missionary under SIM USA. She team-taught the high school Bible classes with her husband at Carachipampa Christian School in Cochabamba, Bolivia South America from 2004-2012. Since 2016, Tami has been serving as a professional ICF ACC Gospel-driven catalyst life coach & licensed COACH Model trainer with Head2Heart Onward Coaching Ministries. www. head2heartonward.com
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T H E LO C A L C H U R C H — A GIFT OF GOD’S GRACE By Joel Berry
A young couple holding their two toddlers stood before the congregation, eager to affirm their commitment to teaching their children to love God and to walk in His ways. At the pastor’s request, the congregation rose to their feet. The pastor asked for their pledge to walk alongside this young family to support their efforts through prayer, faithful instruction, and fellowship of the community. As visitors that day, my wife, Cheri, and I remained seated while those standing enthusiastically responded, “We will!” I am thankful for the local church. United by the Holy Spirit through faith in Christ, believers encourage one another to walk in holiness, to grow in God’s grace, and to know God’s love. God created us to live in community, and the local fellowship of believers plays a vital role in our sanctification. Dietrich Bonhoeffer describes the physical presence of the church community as a gift of God’s grace, “a source of incomparable joy and strength to the believer.”
1 Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together (Minneapolis: Fortress, 2015), 3, Kindle. 72 | M AG A Z I N E N A M E PAGE 3 23
The local church has played a significant role in my spiritual formation throughout my life. Even now, I have fond memories of my childhood Sunday school teachers, flannelgraph Bible stories, and singing songs about Jesus. Faces and names of men and women who came alongside my parents to teach me the truth about God’s love are permanently etched in my memory. I grew up listening to my mom sing in the choir and observing my dad stand to pray when called upon during the church service. I competed with my friends in Bible knowledge drills and recited large portions of memorized Scripture verses to teachers and grandmothers who loved me enough to teach me the Bible. I spent many evenings at church during my teen years socializing with friends and absorbing biblical truth from faithful men and women who invested their time in my spiritual growth. I thank God for all of these people and their investment in my life. As newlyweds, and then as young parents, Cheri and I were blessed with spiritual role models in our church who demonstrated how to navigate the waters of marriage and parenting. We developed lifelong friendships within our church with peers who pursued holiness through their devotion to God. We grew in God’s grace and learned of His love through the ministry of the local church. I cannot imagine how different our lives would be without the influence of the local church, the visible representation of the body of Christ.
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With the rapid spread of the Covid-19 pandemic last year, churches were compelled to close their doors, and people were forced into isolation. Local churches, many of which had never even entertained the thought of offering their church services online, scrambled to produce live-streaming access to their Sunday services. Although the church could not gather physically, advanced technology offered a viable alternative of gathering virtually. But virtual community cannot replicate the impact of the physical church community. Cheri and I initially enjoyed the convenience of an online church. As empty-nesters, we felt no urgency to attend in person. We grew accustomed to sleeping a little later on Sundays, going to the gym, or running errands before coming home to stream the service on our Roku. But, as a few months turned to many, we soon realized how we missed being among other believers in worship. Yes, we benefitted from watching sermons online each week, but we missed the fellowship of the church community. With the passage of time, the novelty of online church lost its luster. What had once seemed a luxurious convenience became routine and boring. The arrival of the 2020 Christmas season prompted a few churches to open their doors, often with mask requirements and limited seating capacity. We managed to find seats for our family in a Christmas Eve service at a nearby church. We did not know anyone seated around us, but the experience of corporate worship on Christmas Eve refreshed our thirsty souls. The optimism of beginning a new year motivated more churches to open their doors. Cheri and I had the privilege of attending the Sunday church service with her family in Colorado. After many months absent from the physical presence of the church, our hearts rejoiced as we joined with the congregation in songs of worship. Like dry sponges, we soaked in the pastor’s encouragement for the new year as he taught from the Scriptures. We observed the Lord’s Supper with a renewed appreciation for such a blessed time of remembrance of our Savior, whose body was broken and whose blood was shed for the remission of sin. (continued)
The fellowship of believers engaged in the worship of our Lord and Savior rejuvenated our spirits. We came home eager to return to church—in person—where we can experience the joy of worship with other believers. The physical gathering of the church is vital to its effectiveness in ministry. The author of Hebrews expressed its importance in this way: “Let us be concerned about one another in order to promote love and good works, not staying away from our worship meetings, as some habitually do, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:24–25, HSCB) I thank the Lord for the local church—for its role in my spiritual development, and for the opportunity it provides to influence the growth of others. I am thankful that we are able to attend live services each week and enjoy the fellowship of other believers. The local church surely is a gift of God’s grace!
Joel Berry holds an M.A. in Biblical Studies from Dallas Theological Seminary. A CPA by profession, he serves in his local church as a spiritual mentor and small group leader. Through his writing, Joel desires to encourage believers to grow deep roots into Jesus Christ, enabling them to remain steadfast in their faith (Col 2:7). Joel and his wife, Cheri, have been married thirty-seven years and live in Roswell, GA. They have two wonderful sons and daughters-in-law. Read Joel’s Blog at https://www.outoftheblocksblog.com
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HOW GOD HAS WORKED IN MY LIFE By Christina Sinisi I have shared the testimony of how I came to accept Christ to very few and many at the same time. In my day job, I am a psychology professor at Charleston Southern University, a Baptist-affiliated university in Charleston, South Carolina. One of the courses I teach is Psychology of Religion. As part of the course, I ask students to choose among many journal topics and sometimes share deeply personal stories with me. To be fair, I share my story on the first day of class. At the same time, I soften parts of the story.
My first memory of church is being at Zion Hill Baptist and some other kids teased my youngest sister, calling her names, partially because we babied her and called her by a nickname ourselves. My mother got angry, and we never went back to that church. From there, we attended a Pentecostal church. The service was too different, and we were uncomfortable. Then, some neighbors invited us to the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ meeting. After several years, my mother recognized that she didn’t agree with all their beliefs and again we left.
Lately, I have been convicted that hiding the hard parts prevents the listener from knowing just how wonderful our Savior God has been in my life. I have done so to protect my family and maybe myself. I have left out parts of the story perhaps because I was a coward or maybe because I didn’t want people to feel sorry for me. Finally, I do so because I don’t want anyone to feel uncomfortable or burdened. But God deserves the credit.
Thrown into all this chaos was my young self. I was of above-average intelligence and loved to read, and no one knows where those characteristics came from, even though my sisters are more like me than not. Friends have argued that I was dropped into the nest by accident. Not that I am bragging, since those characteristics made everything worse. The other children in my backwoods elementary bullied me to the point of knocking me down on the asphalt playground and dislodging a tooth.
My earliest childhood memory is my father beating my sister and me because we hadn’t cleaned our plates. I don’t remember what the food was or why neither of us ate it or if the real problem was something else entirely, but I was four years old and that’s what I remember. An endless string of similar memories color the rest of my childhood, but it wasn’t just us kids. My father hit my mother. His mother hit my mother. They all hit us. My parents fought and broke up, got back together again, in the rich tradition of abusive relationships. 74 | M AG A Z I N E N A M E PAGE 3 23
All the above coalesced in a fifth-grade Bible class. Our public school in the 1970s hosted Mrs. Caldwell. She drove around the county teaching at all the elementary schools at an academic level—with maps and details. Looking back, I wish I could go back and undo what I did, but then again, I wouldn’t be who I am.
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I railed against a God who would allow all these bad things to converge on one scrawny girl. I asked to sit out because I didn’t know what I believed. And they let me! No papers for my parents to sign or permission to be granted. The teachers respected me and my needs—I only now realize how amazing that was. They let me sit in the auditorium by myself and read books. Somehow, I gained access to philosophers like Nietzsche and Kierkegaard. I read and I debated with these long-dead men. Then, my father hit my mother again, and she gathered us up and fled back home to her parents. Their home was only half an hour away, but the distance meant we attended an entirely different school for days, weeks, I can’t recall—I only know that when my father came to bring us home again, I hid on the back porch like a toddler. Of course, they found me, and of course, we went home. Of course, I returned to that fifth-grade class where I dreaded the idea of going out on that playground and facing those girls who taunted me and made my life miserable on top of misery. One of my most vivid memories is standing at those double doors, my hand on the push bar, with the edges of my vision dimming.
Christina Sinisi writes stories about families, both the broken and blessed. A member of American Christian Fiction Writers, her works include a semi-finalist in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Contest and the American Title IV Contest in which she appeared in the top ten in the Romantic Times magazine. Her published books include The Christmas Confusion and Sweet Summer, the first two books in the Summer Creek Series, and Christmas On Ocracoke. By day, she is a psychology professor and lives in the Lowcountry of South Carolina with her husband and two children, and cat, Chessie Mae.
Click on book cover to purchase.
Then. A feeling of peace and comfort and care came over me. While the voice wasn’t audible to anyone else, I heard this presence tell me that He had me, He would take care of me. In the end, the philosophers couldn’t stand against this love that carried me through—and still does to this day. I have doubted since that day; I have struggled against other hardships, but there is something about God speaking to you that stays. He is a God who stays when chaos swirls around you. He is a God who loves you when everyone around you makes you doubt you are worthy of love. He is the God who opened that door and gave me the strength to keep going. He can do the same for you. “What He opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.” (Revelation 3:7 NIV)
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Karen & Craig Ruhl
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W H AT S H O U L D I B E T H A N K F U L FOR THIS YEAR? By David Foucar
For most of us here in the United States, we enter November looking forward to the celebration of Thanksgiving. After all, who can resist the opportunity to enjoy the three Fs: food, family, and football? I love them all. We might disagree on some of the specifics, marshmallows or brown sugar on our yams, chunky cranberry sauce, or jellied pumpkin pie or apple. Maybe you get together with a big family or a small group of friends. It’s possible, it’s hard for me to imagine but, you may prefer watching the Thanksgiving Day Parade instead of football. Whatever the preferences, most of us look forward to the celebration. The roots of the Thanksgiving celebration begin even before the birth of our nation. Pilgrims celebrated what we consider the “First Thanksgiving” in October 1621. Later, we began officially celebrating as a nation with George Washington’s proclamation of 1789 and the tradition has continued, even though intermittently during some of our history, with the permanent observation set as the fourth Thursday in November established by an act of Congress in 1942.
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While we tend to think of Thanksgiving as an American holiday, its intended purpose was not to display national pride. Yes, I am thankful to live in the United States. Yes, I believe every American should be thankful for the freedoms they have. But, from its beginning, Thanksgiving was intended to recognize the source of all that we have to be thankful for, God Almighty Himself. George Washington’s proclamation recommended that we be devoted to “the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be.” Abraham Lincoln indicated that God’s bounties “are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come.” Woodrow Wilson said it is our custom “to turn in praise and thanksgiving to Almighty God for his manifold mercies and blessings to us.” Of course, it is not only our national forefathers who remind us to be thankful but, more importantly, the scripture instructs us to give thanks. James reminds us that “Every good and perfect gift is from above…” (James 1:17 NIV) and Paul instructs us “give thanks in all circumstances” and he continues “…for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV) We are to give thanks for every good thing we have because it is from God and we are to be thankful in every circumstance, whatever we have, and wherever we are. That, I have to say, is pretty all-encompassing. Even more than that, Paul tells us that being thankful is God’s will for us. A pretty big deal.
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Now, we have to admit, for most of us, the last year or two have had their challenges. Between a pandemic and political upheaval, the world around us seems to be going crazy. Add to that, many of us likely suffered personal losses and difficulties. So, what do we have to be thankful for exactly? Well, the answer is, a lot of things really. I don’t have time to delve into all of them and, besides, many of the things you may be thankful for are individual, only you know what they are. What I can talk about briefly are two things we can all be thankful for. Two things that encompass all circumstances and all situations. First, no matter what the circumstances, I can be grateful. I can give thanks that I am alive. I can give thanks that I have physical life. That I am breathing and that every breath is a gift from God. You see, God “…himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.” (Acts 17:25 NIV) And “In His hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.” (Job 12:10 NIV) Life itself is a gift, and it is a gift from God. Even on the most difficult day, it is a privilege to face each problem and every challenge because God has given us life and breath. The second of these two great things to be thankful for builds on the first because we can’t receive one without the other. Without the physical life that God has graciously given us, it would not be possible for us to receive eternal life. Yes, in addition to our physical life, we can and should always be thankful for eternal life, our salvation. “When the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.” (Titus 3:3 NIV) Amazing, right? I’ll admit, in the business of life, I sometimes lose sight of the one thing to be grateful for that stands above all the rest: God’s gift of eternal life bought by Jesus on my behalf.
So, this year, as we celebrate Thanksgiving, may I suggest we make it about more than food, family, and football (or watching parades if that’s your preference). Maybe you can, and I hope you do, make a long list on Thanksgiving of the things you have to give thanks to God for. My family, my job, my church, are just a few for me. As you list all that you should be thankful for, don’t forget the biggest: your physical life and God’s gift to you of eternal life.
Click on book cover to purchase. Dave Foucar has spent his career as a financial professional, but his heart has always been in ministry. He has spent decades in lay leadership teaching Sunday School, Bible Studies, and Small Groups for all ages. He has been a lead speaker and seminar leader at Couples Retreats, Men’s Retreats, and Family and Youth Camps. Dave has been married for thirty-five years to the love of his life, Debbie. They have three beautiful daughters. Dave’s first book, “What Do I Say When Asked About Jesus?” is a conversational approach to helping people answer questions about Jesus. Christians want to share their faith, or at least they should, but it is not always an easy task.
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