Visit Our Website at www.FaithOnEveryCorner.com for previous issues of our magazine. September 2022 Issue We don’t yet see things clearly. We’re squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won’t be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We’ll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us! 1 Corinthians 13:12 (The Message Bible) Cover Photo In Memory of William Michael Foley Photographer and dear friend.
COVER PHOTO In
INSIDE COVER
We wanted to dedicate this issue to Bill Foley, husband, father, photographer, teacher, and friend. Craig and I have been friends with the Foleys since 2005. We enjoyed their friendship and loved going on photo adventures with them in So. Cal. Bill was a pho tography teacher and loved to share his knowledge with anyone who had a camera. He had a big heart and won derful sense of humor. He is missed. We hope you enjoy looking at a few of his photos. We miss you Bill, we will see you again. (Photos used with permission from Linda Foley.) memory of William Michael Foley
FROMNOTE EDITORTHE
Karen and Craig Ruhl
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September is here, and the kids are back in school! It was a hot summer and we are looking forward to cooler fall weather when we do most of our road tripping. We lost a good friend in August and wanted to remember him through some of his photos. I will use his photos throughout the magazine. Please be in prayer for his loving wife Linda and his three children. We will all celebrate together one day and I am certain Bill will make us laugh then, Oncetoo. again, I want to thank our writers and readers. We continue to push on with this ministry as we honor God with stories, poetry, and photo graphs. Please be in prayer for God’s protection over our school children, teachers, and all school person nel through this school year. We pray for peace around the world as well. I hope you had a wonderful summer and enjoy September with all it brings. We love hearing from you, please drop us an email! We will be praying for all of you. Much love - may God bless you all. Karen Team@FaithOnEveryCorner.comRuhl
Good
Off
Wrong Associations:
Job’s Faithfulness
Desert
Word
Response
Special Time
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Peace and Comfort With God ... by Melissa Henderson ... page 8-9 Epistles ... by Andrea Marino ... page 10-11
More of Bill’s photos are featured inside the magazine. August Prayer by Craig and Karen Ruhl ... page 21
Quiet Time Rhymes ... by John Alexander ... page 6-7
Staying Focused
Table of Contents COVER AND INSIDE COVER BY PHOTOGRAPHER: William Michael Foley
Morning Coffee
Living
Anababy’s Message ... by Stacy Ann Hixon ... page 12-13 ... by Michael E. Wells ... page 14-15 The Beaten Path ... by Nicole Byrum ... page 16-17 In The ... by Yvonne M. Morgan ... page 18-19 ... by Jenny Wells ... page 20 ... by Craig and Karen Ruhl ... page 21 To The Of God ... by Dave Evans ... page 22-23 God’s ... Cindy Oriol ... page 24-25 Drops Of ... by Dr. Irene Surya ... page 26 On What Is ... by Craig Ruhl ... page 27 Dinah’s Story ... by Bola Ojieh ... page 28-29 ... by Sharon K. Connell ... pages 30-31
Time
Make
September Prayer
Pristine
Dew
We Will Never Forget
Reign In My Soul ... by Laurie Glass ... page 32 Road Trippin’ In Rural Hall, NC ... by Karen Ruhl ... page 34-37 Seeing, Loving ... by Mike Buchanan ... pages 38 Facing Down Goliath ... by Steve Carter ... page 40-41 Bookshelf - Book Reviews ... page 42-45 H.A.L.T. ... by Shara Bueler-Repka ... page 46-47 Love One Another ... by Karen Ruhl ... page 49 I’m All Shook Up! ... By Karen Ruhl ... page 50-51 A Tribute To Grandparents Raising Their Grandchildren ... by Rolanda Pyle ... page 52 Fall ... by Rolanda Pyle ... Page 53 Great And Precious Promises ... by Peter Caligiuri ... page 54 Walking Around Our Community ... by Peter Caligiuri ... page 55 God’s Daily Presence ... by Brenda McDaniel ... page 56 Close To The Lord ... by Brenda McDaniel ... page 57 Seek And You Will Find ... by Tracy Smoak ... page 58-59 What Are We Teaching The Children? ... by Esther Bandy ... page 60-61 The Padre ... Craig Ruhl ... page 62-63 MAGAZINE NAME &OR URL | 5PAGE 45
I like to savor days I live, Find satisfaction when I give, Find words to share from deep inside, A place where peace and joy abide. A quiet place for rhymes to form, A resting place when life brings storms, Provide me time to read and pray, To contemplate just what to say. I try to share with words I write, God’s perfect love, His peace, His Light.
Poems by John Alexander A Quiet Place
Some people like to rush about. They always take the fastest route. I much prefer a slower pace, I don’t consider life a race.
www.QuietTimeRhymes.comQuietTimeRhymes.comJohnBlessings,Alexander If you’d like to receive an email to let you know each time I post a new poem, just email me at john@quiettimerhymes.com and ask to be put on my email list.
The love of God found in His Word Must be absorbed and not just heard
Quiet Time Rhymes
By John Alexander I regret that in earlier years my time with the Lord sometimes took a back seat to other activities, espe cially during those times when I had so many demands on my time. I realize now that time with the Lord was what I needed most during the most demanding sea sons of my life. If I only knew then what I’ve come to know now. Time spent with the Lord in prayer, reading his Word, and listening with my heart is what truly brings peace. I’ve truly come to love those quiet early mornings with the Lord. As most of you probably know by now, I began jour naling by penning lyrical poems during my quiet time most mornings. I’ve included a few of them to share that convey what I’ve come to realize about that time spent with the Lord.
John Alexander lives in Frisco, Texas with his beautiful wife and his Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
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I need that time alone with You To start each day, however few. You wrote my life, from start to end. I live each page that you have penned. You know what day will be my last. I’ll switch from present tense to past. Until that day I’ll write your song, And sing your praises all day long.
Take Time I recommend some quiet time to let your soul find rest, To give your spirit time to seek the pathway for your quest.
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Sometimes a pathway looks the same, it’s easy to confuse. The spirit deep inside our soul can help us each discern, Discover what we’re meant to do, the lessons we must learn. We each have gifts, abilities, and talents we can share.
I thank you Lord for each new day, For time with you to read and pray.
I pray each day you take the time to pause, reflect, and pray, Discover all you’re meant to be and do along the way. Rest I come to You to find true rest. I read your Word, there is no test. My mind can focus on your Word, Until I know my heart has heard. You give me shelter from the storm. Inside, a quiet peace takes form.
Sometimes we run through life too fast, don’t take the time to seek The yearnings deep within our soul, that have no voice to speak.
Don’t let your talents go to waste, lay dormant, unaware. Discover who you are inside, you truly are unique.
You may find traits and realize, you’re more than you might think.
Photos by Karen Ruhl
The journey through life’s wilderness has many paths to choose.
Life is full of hurried times. On those days when the schedule is too full and I neglect to speak with God, I have learned that my body becomes tense and irritability comes. The minutes and hours on the clock fly by like lightning and I haven’t shared time with the Father. There have been days when noth ing seems to go the way I planned. Or unexpect ed stressful situations pop up out of nowhere and emotions are tense. In those times, I reflect and know that my focus has not been on Him. I’ve been self-centered while try ing to accomplish big and little tasks. Then... God. Although I may have experienced a day without sharing much time with God, I am forgiven. I go to Him in prayer and ask for His for giveness. Praising Him, thanking Him, and saying “I love You Lord” brings peace and comfort.
“What do you have going on today?” That is a com mon question my husband and I ask each other ev ery morning. My answer is usually “Lots of writing time. Reading from my stack of “to be read” books, household chores, mailing letters, watering the flowers, and many more activities on my list. I plan to call some folks, too.” My husband often answers, “Meetings today. Also, speaking with clients about mortgages, and at tending a business luncheon. Then, exercise class in the evening.” The fact is that we already know each other’s sched ule for the day. But we ask anyway. We show care and interest for each other. We’ve been married for over 43 years and still like to discuss our plans for the Oneday.ofthe most important parts of the day is prayer. Daily conversation with God is vital to deepening our relationship with Him. Most of my prayers be gin with praising the Father. “Thank You Lord for this glorious day,” or “Thank You Lord for loving us,” and “Thank You God for our wonderful family.” Ex pressing love and thanksgiving to God brings joy. Sometimes the prayers are for the healing of a loved one, reconciliation of a relationship that we heard was struggling, or wisdom in making deci sions. God listens to every word that is brought to Him in prayer. He never leaves our side. The Father knows every need, and He answers each prayer in His way and His timing. When thinking about all the activities that can dis tract us from sharing time with the Father, I am sad. Too often, the “to-do” list tries to interfere with the precious conversations the Lord is waiting to have with His children.
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Peace and Comfort With God
By Melissa Henderson Writer of inspirational
Click on the book covers to purchase Melissa’s books. When my relationship with God has been neglect ed, I find comfort knowing He has not forgotten me. God has been there in every moment. He has been waiting to share time with me. I am His beloved child. He waits patiently. If I stray, He searches and brings me back home to Him. Thank You, Father. As I write this message, the hummingbirds are visiting the feeder. Colorful butterflies are visiting the purple plumbago bushes, and bees are collect ing pollen from the purple petunias. The sound of children playing in the yard sprinkler causes me to smile. A light breeze is blowing the crepe myrtle trees back and forth. God has provided a glorious after Inoon.notice these things because I have shared time with God today. Reading the Bible and several devotions reminded me of the importance of Scripture. God’s Word is alive today. Tomorrow will be a new day. I plan to start the morn ing by praising the Father and sharing time with Him. How will you share time with Him? I pray you find the peace and comfort only God can provide. Blessings, Melissa Henderson 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 https://melissaghenderson.com/Readfacebook.com/melissa.henderson.9440https://www.herblogsat:
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Extraordinary, parallels the ups and downs in the course of life. We are all on a path, heading somewhere. Believers are to run with endurance the race set before them. (Hebrews 12:1). The metaphoric use of the word ‘race’ in this passage translates from the Hebrew/Greek into ‘life full of toil and conflict’.1 As you can imagine, David’s undertak ing is huge. In addition to physical pain is an emo tional upheaval. Long and lonely are the days, every night spent in recuperation. A comradery develops between David and a runner from Russia, although most of what transpires between them is more of a friendly competition, which is entertaining for them and for the viewer. Given the highly demanding, daily grind, the mov ie culminates in David concluding his strength is sapped. Seriously doubting having taken on such a challenge, thoughts surface of his wife and all the special times missed with her and his children over years in pursuit of what he loved doing. With sadness, questioning even his character as a believer in Christ, David decides to quit the race. Weariness, doubt, regret, and remorse are par for the course of life. There are days of confusion and much anxiety over failing to do something, or wish ing we would have done it differently. Here is where surrender meets the road. The question is, do we quit or lean into the Lord? Truly, we are surrounded by a great cloud of faithful witnesses. (Hebrews 12:1). God uses people from all walks of life to encourage us. The Russian runner is one, urging David on.
By Andrea Marino
The call of God upon a believer’s life is one of endur ance, to press on in faith and finish the course. Extraordinary is a true-life story about a Christian marathon runner. Previously failing to finish a cross-country race due to a heart problem, David takes the challenge on once more. A college profes sor in the fitness field, the movie highlights David’s inspiration upon the lives of his students. David is also portrayed as a model husband and father. But nobody’s life is flawless; and when the family learns of his plan to take part in another race from Califor nia to New York City, the storyline gets real. What’s more, David keeps a secret: one of his knees needs a replacement. I thought running nearly 3000 miles in a span of 60 days was crazy enough without a bum knee. Of course, David’s family is distraught based on the heart condition alone. And with a mindset fixed on the race, David’s marriage stumbles onto rocky Theground.movie,
Living Epistles
1Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible, Page 5281
Andrea is always ready to hear thoughts from her readers. Or you can email her at: rapture927@aol.com Email: rapture927@aol.com Facebook Blog: In the Way Everlasting
Click on the photo of the book to purchase from Amazon. Extraordinary does not suggest a careless disre gard for one’s physical being. What stands out in this movie is God, His incredible ability, sustaining us wherever we go and through it all. Joshua 1:9. Extraordinary is a story of our triumphant God. Af ter all, David was convinced from the beginning He wanted him to run this race. The long haul of faith is counting all things as loss, especially our own abilities, for the sake of knowing the Lord and His righteousness. (Philippians 3:4-9). Now, doesn’t the world need to see the God of the impossible, His children more than conquerors through faith in Jesus Christ. Romans 8:37. Mark 10:27.
Andrea is mom to four great kids and Gram my to four delightful grands. Passionate about Jesus, friends, and people, Andrea loves to share all He has taught her in life. When not writ ing, Andrea enjoys simple things, such as mu sic, heartwarming movies, reinventing recipes to be healthier, and cycling along one wooded road or other with the Lord. Please visit her Facebook blog: www.facebook.com/In-The-Way-Everlasthttps:// ing-1770074853062907
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Photo by Michael M. Foley
Anababy’s Mini-Lesson on Forgiveness
Pals, Just recently, I was feeling OH SO stressed! But then, I opened my Bible, and now I’m blessed! You see, I’ve been worried sick about ALL the big decisions in life I must make. I mean, with so many options, what are the BEST roads to take? After searching my Bible, I found a perfect verse. Reading this broke my stressed-out curse... “In our hearts, humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes our steps.” (Proverbs 16:9)
Love, Anababy P.S. Maybe God put something very special inside your heart. Praying about this is a perfect place to start! New Book Coming Soon!
So it seems that God actually encourages us to follow our HEART’s desire! And I can’t help but wonder what Princess Merida might think, who I greatly admire? Let’s see... Our fate lives within us; you only have to be brave enough to see it! ~Princess Merida Well geez! It seems that Merida kinda’ sorta’ agrees! So now I’m no longer stressed like I once was. Although I LOVE Princess Merida, it’s mainly be cause... the Bible is really what I need to confirm, all those big and small life lessons I must learn. Now, I understand that choosing the correct path is as simple as making a wish! All I must do is this: Set my HEART on what it is I wish to create. Then, just trust God as he guides my step to fate!
By Stacy Ann Hixon
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Join our fam on Instagram @loveanababy to meet Anababy’s little pals and learn all about her latest dolls and books.
Anababy’s Mini-LessonCross In our hearts, we plan our course, but the Lord establishes our steps. (Proverbs 16:9) Crown Follow your heart so all your dreams come true. Trust God to guide you. Crayon Feel free to share my messages with friends.
Also, visit www.anababyandpals.com to discover all of the surprises in store. Love you more!
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From Stacy: I love teaching little hearts through dolls, stories, and art! In a world consumed with external perfection, Anababy seeks to make a lasting connection. Anababy helps me do this because she is childlike, angelic, and maternal; all wrapped up into one little huggable bundle.
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Truth stands alone and is not propped up by orator or char latan. It is eternal through the ages, unchanging for all gen erations. It cannot be added to or taken away. Etched in stone and painted across the sky our world declares yes there is a Creator and with that, all who live are His cre ation. It is he who is the worst for disbelieving, hopelessly left adrift on the sea of circumstance with no remedy or Itsatisfaction.isashotin the dark, a roll of the dice and a flip of the coin without faith to believe, a heart to feel and an ear to hear the certain sound of that still small voice. It is not privileged life or selected talent that brings about this place of faith but as the Word of God declares, “All who come to God must first believe that He is God and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” God simply says if we will seek Him we will find Him.
-Michael Truth
No secret ritual or greeting, no enlightenment to attain or higher state of consciousness to achieve. No, it is the sim plicity of faith, acknowledging our need, seeking His pres ence to forgive, heal and restore that brings His Spirit to reveal truth, clarity of mind, purpose of heart, and salvation of the soul. It is the truth of the ages for all to believe, for purpose of life, and puts to rest our question of an afterlife.
One plants, another waters, but it is God who gives the in crease. We provide seeds, many of us water along the way, but God births it in the spirit of those who receive.
Michael E. Wells has a passion for writing letters of Christian encour agement. 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 set ting. 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.
Morning Coffee With Michael E. Wells
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So Help Me God
Life Life is made up of moments. Pieces of a mosaic that make up the whole. Available to all but found by the few. The pace of life often obscures the view. We look but do not see, listen but do not hear. Life is about a check in your spirit that says, “Remember this, this is meaningful.” I have found growing older is much about reflection. Age brings clarity to the Big Picture. Though the days may be long, our time is relatively short. Seventy-five trips around the sun are about it for most of us. Our temporary existence cries out for a sense of permanency. Most feel there must be more. Through oral tradition and ancient accounts, sages, scribes, and prophets have declared life does not end in the grave but continues. They reveal life is not accidental but purposeful, not random, but by design. All we see and all we know de mands an Originator, a Designer, a Creator. Over half the world’s population believes the Creator revealed Himself to a man 4000 years ago named Abraham. Today, the most followed religion believes He came in the flesh 2000 years later to reunite His creation in the man, Jesus the Christ, whom He also called His son.
And so we see life is made up of moments, times, sea sons, and eternity. Today, may you take a moment and sense the times and season you are in. May you re flect on the Big Picture and where you will place your eternity. This is the story of the greatest rescue mis sion in the history of mankind. Christ came to seek and to save...you.
A great follower of His wrote this concerning the Cre ator’s purpose, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17 NKJV)
It is important from time to time to review what we believe to be true. Are we following the truth of God or the traditions of men? There is only one ref erence book material. Many will tell you of others, but the apostle John writes, “I have written these words that you may believe in Jesus and in believ ing you may have life.” Very simple and straightfor ward. If our Christian life has become complicated and burdensome, we may need to review it. The gospel of John and his first letter to the church are foundational to our understanding of the re lationship God desires to have with us. Yes, a re view is in order. As with any journey, sometimes we pack more than we need to carry. We need to check our luggage. Though reports are made as to other religions gaining strength and followers, it is still Christianity that is the greatest in number and gathering more followers, and for good reason. Christianity is the faith of freedom. No other lib erates the soul and renews the mind. No other comforts the heart and rebirths the spirit. It is not governed by man, nor is it dispensed by him. Truly, it is a gift from God. One to be opened and en joyed, unencumbered by the rules and regulations others would dictate. It is the freedom to govern yourself in the sight of God according to His Word, which when opened we whisper, “I want the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me God.”
In preparation for our travels, my husband spent time looking through our 19-year-old beat-up pa per atlas, scouring Kansas for points of interest. He designed a route that took us through two stops before reaching Dodge City, our resting place for Saturday night. One of the two stops was the child hood home of Laura Ingalls Wilder. Our kids are fans of Little House on the Prairie, so this was a fasci nating stop! Although it was over one hundred de grees, we took in all the property had to offer. We even got to see the hand-dug well dug by Charles Ingalls and Mr. Edwards. Speaking of wells… Our second stop in Kansas was Greensburg. This tiny little town happens to be the home of the world’s largest hand-dug well—something my husband was excited to see! The well (located inside of a muse um) was impressive for sure. But the museum was also largely dedicated to the story of the town. In 2007, an EF5 tornado completely destroyed Greens burg. The entire town was flattened. The museum paid homage to the wreckage and subsequent re building of this resilient little town. by Nicole Byrum
This year’s family vacation found me, my husband, and our two kids (ages 11 and 13) on highways going west. After spending an amazing week in the Branson area with my husband’s side of the family, the four of us continued westward with Colorado as our goal desti Thenation.Centennial State did not disappoint! Colorado Springs was beautiful, and it was a thrill to drive to the top of Pikes Peak. This was our kids’ first glimpse of the Rocky Mountains, and it was a joy to watch them take it all in. We toured the Garden of the gods and took in the Colorado scenery from our campground. After a few days, we headed north to Rocky Mountain National Park. If you have never been there, I highly recommend going. It was spectacular! Truly a breath taking place. Yet for all the beauty and excitement of our days in Colorado, one of my favorite days was our day in Kan sas. Yes… you read that right! We left Branson early Saturday morning and spent nearly the entire day driving through what most people consider a ‘boring state’. While I agree there isn’t much going on except for farming, thankfully, my husband has a knack for keeping things interesting!
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Nicole is a licensed marriage and family thera pist with over 14 years of experience in commu nity 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. Click on book covers to purchase books on Amazon.
And now for my most favorite part. As we were slowly and reverently taking in the newspaper clippings and pictures of the utter destruction, we came to a display that instantly gave me chills. While going through the piles of debris, the volun teer found a ceramic figurine of the Last Supper. The heads of all the disciples had been destroyed, but Jesus was perfectly intact. Knowing who it be longed to, the volunteer placed the figurine on the curb where the owner’s home once stood. Howev er, they placed this note with it: When nothing is left but God, God is enough. What an unexpected reminder of that very simple and glorious truth! The gospel of John tells us that Jesus is the bread of life, the light of the world, the good shepherd, the resurrection, the true vine, the way, the truth, and the life. Truly, he who upholds all things by the power of his word is our all in all (Hebrews 1:3, Colossians 3:11). Though our trip was full of majestic sights and beyond gorgeous scenery, I will forever be thank ful for our day in Kansas. I praise God even now for graciously reminding us of His sufficiency and faithfulness as we traveled off the beaten path.
The Sahara Desert is impressive. When our mission work took us to Kenya, we flew over the Sahara of ten. It took the plane several hours to cross the mas sive expanse of the desert. I stared out of the plane window at the desert below for long periods. As I watched, I discovered I could see the sand dunes shifting with the winds. Occasionally, I saw a tiny vil lage among the vast emptiness. I wondered what life must be like in such an isolated spot. Where would I get my groceries, my water, and how would I get around? Still, it was an incredible sight to behold. The children of Israel wandered through parts of the Sahara Desert for forty years after they left Egypt. We find their story in Exodus in the Old Testament. It became a very trying time for Moses and all the people. Once I saw the Sahara from a plane, I could understand why. The situation worsened after they witnessed the miracles of the parting of the Red Sea, because they wandered for three days without find ing any water. Can you imagine walking in the desert for three days without water? “Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water.” (Exodus 15:22 NIV)
On one mission trip, we had a layover in Abu Dha bi, a city in the Sahara. As we landed, the pilot in formed us it was 120 degrees outside. As we stepped off the plane, the heat immediately felt oppressive, even though it was considered dry heat. So the first thing we purchased was bottled water. And, during the 20-hour layover, we never went anywhere with out a water bottle. Just like our water bottle supplied relief for us, God provided relief for the Israelites in the desert, which is why they survived. They would have perished without God’s provisions in the desert.
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Time In The Desert by Yvonne M. Morgan
On another mission trip, we planned a three-day layover in Cairo, Egypt, another city in the Sahara. First, seeing the pyramids and the historical places around town amazed me. Then, I looked across the landscape to see the Pyramids of Giza just beyond the trees and greenery of the city. Next, I saw the Nile River that fed the lush lands along its banks. The riv er brought life to the area. But what struck me most was that a mile beyond the river placed you back in the Sahara Desert again. It felt like someone drew a line to separate the desert from the fertile land. And the desert is constantly encroaching upon the good land. So, driving the desert back from the city is a constant battle.
Yvonne M Morgan, Christian author and https://yvonne-morgan.comspeaker
Click on the link below to find out more about Yvonne’s books!
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Turning Mountains into Molehills (2017)
Twitter:
Books:https://www.facebook.com/YMMauthor/Facebook:Website:@ymmauthorYvonne-Morgan.com
These times showed me a lot of similarities in our relationship with Christ. Christ is the river of life that feeds our soul. In our walk of faith, we can wander far away from that river and find ourselves lost in the desert. Sometimes, we can walk in the desert of sin for many years before we find our way back to Christ and His river of life. Those times in the des ert can be challenging, just like they were for Israel’s people. We experience extreme thirst, but we thirst for Christ. Sometimes, we experience hunger, but we hunger for the word of God. And other times, we experience isolation, but we long for a restored rela tionship with Jesus. Sometimes, we wander in the desert from our choic es as we pick the world’s ways instead of Christ’s. But occasionally, God gives us time in the desert to re flect and to provide us with a longing to go deeper into our relationship with Him. Either way, we need to take the time to look to the River of Life when we find ourselves in the desert. Then, return to the source and drink deep from His living waters that bring everlasting life. Just like Jesus told the woman at the well in John 4:13-14 (NIV), “Jesus answered, ‘Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.’” If this is a time in the desert for you, I pray God will show you the way out and restore your soul with His life-sustaining water.
Blog at Turningmountainsintomolehills.org
How long will it take to forget seeing the planes crash into the World Trade Towers?
It will take longer than before time began. For we as Americans will always stand. We will never forget them, we will never try. Our country does not forget the ones who die!
We did not forget the two World Wars. Yes, even Vietnam took more than one tour. Korea, Desert Storm, we fought for what was right. Our soldiers fought hard, fought with all their might. Our freedom reigns, and our flag flies high. We will never forget, we will never try. We are America; we are the red, white and the blue. We fight for the many, we fight for the few. It is what makes us strong; it helps us to carry on. We are United, we will defend. We will stand proud and strong to the end.
Now it is terrorists that we fear. For they are among us, they are near. You can’t tell who they are. They look like us. It makes you think, who can we trust?
Jenny Wells is retired and living in Pennsylvania with her husband. She is a great-grandmother and loves all her children. Much of her time is spent cross-stitching beautiful works of art that are dis played throughout their home. 11
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God has in the past blessed the U. S. A. He will in the future as long as we pray. We pray for guidance in all situations. Even now, pray for the war between nations. We will not forget them; we won’t forget this attack on our land. For we are the United States of America, United we stand.
Even though our hearts are broken in two. We know now what we must do. We stand again, hand in hand. To protect our families, our friends, and our land.
How long will it take to forget the crumbling of the Towers to the ground?
How long will it take to forget seeing people running for their lives?
How long will it take to forget watching TV for hours and hours?
How long will it take to see the number 911 and not think of Sept. 11?
How long will it take to forget the people running all around?
By Jenny wells
We Will Never Forget
How long will it take to forget hearing their cries?
How long will it take to forget two towers that reached for the heavens?
September Prayer
Heavenly Father, Lord, we come to you and ask that you watch over all of the children, teachers, and school personnel who are returning to school all over the world. We ask that you watch over all of them and keep the schools a safe place of learning and nurturing.
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Lord, it seems shallow to ask for peace in the world, but we certainly need it. We ask that you help all of us look for ways to be peaceful and help find those that are lost. We pray for those who suffer from illnesses, addiction, homelessness, and those who do not know you Amenyet.
By Craig and Karen Ruhl
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. Don’t we eagerly read an email, text, social media mes sage, or if anyone still writes them, a card or letter from a friend or loved one? But do we even read God’s Word? Or if, and when, we do, how do we respond? Is it with anticipation or expecta tion? Or do we merely plod our way through a mundane, perfunctory task?
If so, we must adjust our thinking and acknowledge just what it is we are reading—God’s Word, the words Al mighty God speaks to us through the pages of Scripture. And even in slogging through the genealogies, Leviti cal laws, and other tedious subject matter, we need to keep in mind that “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God…” It is all inspired, or literally, ‘God-breathed’. As one man aptly remarked, “All Scripture is God-breathed, and He doesn’t waste His breath.”
Response to the Word of God by Dave Evans
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Paul continued on to explain that God’s inspired Word “… is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,” If we allow it, God will use it to teach, reprove, correct and instruct us in right living. He will do this so, “that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16 NKJV)
Dave Evans recently retired from his career as an estimator for an electrical contractor, but still works part-time. He recently served as Body Care Pastor for a small church and previously taught at a local Bible College for several years. God led him to found and serve in several out reach 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 adminis tration/management.
And we need the Word of God as our spiritual nour ishment. God told the Israelites that He fed them manna in the wilderness so they might understand the spiritual principle, “… that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that pro ceeds from the mouth of the LORD.” (Deuteronomy 8:3c NKJV) Job understood this truth when he said, “I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth More than my necessary food.” (Job 23:12 NKJV)
God’s Word can revive and sustain us in times of af fliction and sorrow—“If I had not found encourage ment in your law, I would have died in my sorrow.” (Psalm 119:92 NET) Don’t you think our response to the Word of God should be like the response of the Thessalonians and like that of the Prince of Preachers who re marked, “To me the Bible is not God, but it is God’s voice, and I do not hear it without awe.”?
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And it lights the path before us as we traverse the darkness in our world. “Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105 NKJV)
God’s Word provides counsel for us—“Your testimo nies also are my delight And my counselors.” (Psalm 119:24 NKJV)
If we do not make time with Him, it is like a slap to His face! We do not think enough about Him that we can not even share a part of our day to communicate with Him. This is not how it should be. He loves every one of us so much that He sent His one and only be gotten Son, Jesus, to die on the cross and take away our sins. We are His children, and He is our affectionate Fa ther. I do not want to make Him grieve in any way and that is what I would be doing if I did not spend special and quality time with Him.
MAKE GOD’S SPECIAL TIME By Cindy Oriol
The Bible is the best book we can ever read. It holds the answers to all the questions we may ever ask. Seek deeply into it, making sure not to miss any of the words, and you will find the missing link you have been searching for. Reading it in total quietness is like communing face to face with God. I enjoy beginning my mornings by singing a hymn. I love finding one that sings praises to Him. Then I read several devotionals from Billy Graham, Sara Young, Joni Eareckson Tada, and others. They often pertain to what I am going through at the time. They are peaceful and very helpful. Finally, I open my Bible to see what scriptures will jump off the pages and teach me what God wants me to learn for the day. When we are going through our trials and tribula tions, we do not need to be afraid or feel as if we are alone. God will never leave us. We just need to wait patiently and see how He will deliver us through our problems. The movie ‘The Ten Commandments’ is a great il lustration for us to follow. The Israelites were being delivered by God from slavery, and Moses led them to the Red Sea. At first glance, it looked as if there was no way they could pass through. There were mountains on both sides and the Red Sea running through them, and Pharaoh’s army was in pursuit. The Israelites were terrified, but God parted the Red Sea so they could continue on their journey to the Promised Land. We too become afraid when our problems escalate and we feel as if everything is hopeless. But all we need to do is make time for God by reading our Bible, devotionals, and being grounded in a Bible Thestudy.storms of life can really bring us conflict if we al low them to. They will steal away our time with God, by causing us to become so busy wondering how we can solve our problems instead of giving them to God right away and leaving them in His capable hands.
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CLICK ON BOOK COVER TO PURCHASE
In Christian Love, Cindy Oriol Cindy Oriol is the author of “IF ONLY” and “ HAVING JOY IN THE MIDST OF THE STORM.” They were writ ten by the Holy Spirit and me to encourage anyone that is going through a storm in their life. No matter how many storms we have to endure as long as we hold tight to Jesus we can make it through anything.
“Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4 NIV)
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When I look back on the thirty-five-year-long prac tice and career He chose for me, I am grieved not from my career but from the many hours I worked each day taking care of my patients. I would rush home, cook supper, clean the dishes, take a hot bath to relax my muscles, and watch part of a tv program while conversing with my husband about our day. Fi nally, after I was so exhausted, I would crawl into bed with my Bible, read a few passages, and fall asleep before I finished a chapter. That was not spending quality time with Him. I was rushing it and trying to squeeze everything into the day. By doing this, I missed out on so many blessings of reading God’s breathed words to his prophets & disciples.
He wants us to come before Him on bended knees and talk to Him as if we were conversing with our earthly father. He already knows our every want and need. When we boldly come to the ‘throne of grace’ and lay everything before Him and we cry out, Abba, which in Aramaic means, Father. He is here to listen. We may not see Him, but He is here. “But I am the LORD your God who brought you out of Egypt. You shall acknowledge no God but me, no Savior except me.” (Hosea 13:4 NIV)
By Dr. Irene Surya
In the early morning hue Glistening in the viridescent grass With an aura, so majestic Lay the pristine drops of dew. The pristine dew of the Word Adorned by the Sun of righteousness Fills the heart, so precious At the break of dawn. The crystal droplets of the Word Cherished by a heart of gratitude Nourish a life, so valuable At the feet of the Lord. The tender prisms of the Word Trusted and obeyed wholeheartedly Make the simple, wise Adding beauty to life. The precious pearls of the Word Believed with faith and confidence Embellish a life, so hopeful And bejewel the heart with purity. The sparkling diamonds from His Word With His unfailing love, Fill the earth, so imperfect And endures forever and ever.
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Dr. Irene Surya has published a book of poems, In Solitude with God. Her poems have been published in various magazines. She has a pas sion for writing for the Lord and glorifying the Lord through her writings. She loves and serves the Lord with her husband. Click on book to purchase on Amazon.
Pristine Drops of Dew
I mentioned earlier that one aspect of my morning devo tion time is coffee. Okay, it is essential. This morning, as I was sipping, reading, and writing, I thought, “If He were to visit today, would Jesus have sat down with me for a cup of coffee and shared his teaching?” I think He would have, yes.
“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is com mon to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the tempta tion will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV)
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The phrase about idle hands being the devil’s workshop doesn’t have to hold true for those of us given to day dreaming or meditating as I like to refer to it, as long as we stay focused on good thoughts. Our problems begin when our minds wander and we allow outside influences to crowd out the positives and negativity to flow through. I think all of us often struggle with this phenomenon.
Staying Focused On What Is Good
There is a battle going on concerning the mental content we consume, and it is waged in heavenly places. Check out Ephesians 6:10-20 to learn more about this war and how we can protect ourselves. We can learn how to put on the ar mor of God and invoke those protections as we go through our daily lives. Remember, God has given us the power to overcome those outside influences that do us harm.
My morning devotion time comprises coffee, my Bible verse journal, and a few devotional materials, both emailed and in book form. The coffee is essential and I’ll get back to it in a minute or two. The devotional materials serve as starting points for me, giving some context and content for me to consider as I sip my coffee. My Bible verse journal provides a sensory enhancement, allowing me to see and feel the words as I write out some verses highlighted in the devo tionals. I also record my impressions of the verse and how it relates to my life. This combination helps me stay focused on reading God’s words. But, even with all the tools, I some times catch myself going through brief periods when my mind has strayed off course and I need to go back and re read a passage, sometimes several times. What causes this? Do I have control and can I change something to prevent it from happening? Our minds are miraculous, mysterious, and sometimes un ruly. That is how we were designed by our Creator. God also granted us, as humans, the concept of free choice. We have control over our minds, although it is often difficult to exe cute. Our modern-day society bombards us continually with noise, false teaching, vile suggestions, and alluring tempta tions. The mainstream media, internet content, social me dia, and commercials contribute to sensory overload. All this works to take our minds off the Lord and His promises and teaching. Since we have free choice and free will, it is up to us to filter out the negative and harmful input and only allow that which will benefit us and honor God.
By Craig Ruhl
We must not neglect or be distracted in our prayer time, either. It is so easy to be praying and have an interruption or intrusion occur. If this happens, go back and resume. God understands, and He is patient. Already knowing our hearts, He waits to hear from us directly. It is also useful to break up our prayers into shorter and more frequent moments. The Holy Spirit hears our groanings and gives words to our thoughts. “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groan ings which cannot be uttered (Romans 8:26 NKJV).
Coffee, as we know it today, was not yet a thing when Jesus walked the earth as a man. We know He shared food and wine with the people he met, and He knew the best places for a cool drink of water. He even knew how to instantly change water to wine. Just think what He could do to a cup of coffee! Do you know the Chock Full ‘o Nuts coffee brand being advertised as the ‘Heavenly Coffee’? They have noth ing on what the Lord could do with a cuppa. Well, welcome to my world and where my mind goes off to when I should remain focused and intent. But, in my defense, if coffee is considered ‘heavenly’ by millions around the world, how far off base could I be? Keep the faith, Craig “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, what ever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (Philippians 4:8 ESV)
“How are you this morning?”
Wrong Association: Dinah’s Story By Bola Ojieh
“Will you like a drink?” he asked, holding up one of the two cups of strange wine in his hands. She wanted to decline but was compelled under his intense gaze to take the drink, and she did so with a smile. He smiled back at her, and there was something about that smile that was unsettling. She sipped from the drink tentatively and was a lot more confident when she realized it didn’t taste so bad. The rest of the activities of that day happened in a blur. She woke up with a start and could feel sweat roll ing down her bare arms. BARE ARMS! Then she re alized that her whole body was bare under a blan ket. She realized yet again that a man lay beside her on a bed in a strange room. It was the Prince. He, too, woke up and grinned at her.
She looked left and right just to make sure her father or any of her brothers weren’t coming that way. She was the only girl amongst 13 children in a polyg amous home. The over-protectiveness she received from her father and brothers was getting on her nerves and she just wanted a moment of freedom with no one by the corner watching her every move to make sure she made no mistakes. Today is the day she had chosen to exercise that freedom. She would attend a party for the first time. She was invited by the city girls, who she thought were really nice and friendly. This is not her first invitation. She had been forbidden from honoring any of the others, but of this one, she told no one. Today was her golden opportunity, so she tiptoed carefully with her party dress wrapped in a cloth under her arm. The city girls bought it for her. Al though she thought it was quite revealing, but isn’t that what was in vogue? Who cares? Everybody at the party would probably be wearing the same type of clothing, she thought. There would be lots of food and wine and music, too. Those she would definitely enjoy, her invitees had said. The Prince of the coun try would be attending as well. She would love to see him. She felt so elated that she almost burst with excitement. Just then, she sighted her city friends waiting for her at the agreed meeting spot. They were so gorgeously dressed, only that they looked somewhat like… harlots. The party was heated, and there was so much ca rousing. She felt uncomfortable as she sat at a cor ner in the large party hall, wanting to leave, but she didn’t know her way back home. And her friends seemed to… blend so well into the riotous atmo sphere and were very busy chatting with several of the men. They were the life of the party. Then, she felt someone sit down beside her, and turning sharply; she saw it was the Prince himself. One of her friends had shown him to her earlier. He was so handsome and elegant, every girl’s dream. His mannerism seemed calculated.
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Bola Ojieh was born and raised in the Eastern part of Nigeria. She teaches in a secondary school and works closely with young people. She took an in terest in stories and writing early in life. After her salvation experience, she began writing stories that would glorify God and spread the Gospel. She has retold a few Biblical stories and other short stories centered on the youth and faith. She is married and lives in Nsukka, Nigeria with her husband.
Three days later, she was alone in a new chamber, her chamber, when she heard the sound of weep ing outside the house. It was loud and piercing. The sound of women in great distress and she knew her brothers must have come for her, but not without shedding some blood. Oh, how she wished she had never left her father’s house and gone to that insid ious party.
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“What am I doing here?” she asked, dreading the reply. “Did… did you touch me?” His face became serious. “Look, I’m sorry and I’m ready to marry you,” he said, sitting up. “I will go to your father today and ask for your hand in marriage.” She thought he was insane. He couldn’t be serious. Her brothers, she knew them, and she knew they would kill him. He can’t marry her, not after what he had done. “You can’t do that,” she said. “I can and I will,” he said, rising from the bed. “I will ask my father to go with me this moment.” Then he arose quickly and dressed to leave the room. She watched every one of his energetic movements and thought it wasn’t such a bad idea to marry him, but she knew her family would never agree. After he left, in came servants sent to attend to her. She felt sorry for herself. Her life was ruined. She should have listened to her father and brothers, now she had brought such shame and ridicule upon them and herself. She hadn’t meant things to turn out like this. She was to go quietly and come back quietly. No one was meant to discover this. She was sure the whole city knew about it now and her father… he must have heard it too and when her brothers return from the field, they would hear too. She cov ered her face with the palm of her hands in shame as the servants laid out a fresh change of clothes and prepared a shower for her. Her honor, her honor, was gone.
I***coined this story from Genesis 34. It perfectly pic tures the temptations that young people face today, the temptations to explore and try out life in a dif ferent world, especially without protective parents and relatives. Know this, young man or lady, that your association makes or mars you.
Do not associate with those who will take you away from the environment of God’s protection. You may live to regret it if you don’t take heed. Life in the city may not be as pleasant as it seems. The only way to avoid wrong association is to abide in Christ Jesus. Always remember this advice in Proverbs 1:10: “My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent.” (NKJV)
The horror she felt was indescribable. She wanted to scream and cry or hide in shame. Did she sleep in a man’s room overnight? Her father would definitely kill her. But wait…
In a way, Job’s questions to God reminded me of Jesus on the cross when Christ asked, “Why has Thou forsaken me?” Job is asking the same thing in essence. And he gets no answer… not right away.
Putting myself in Job’s shoes, am I as righteous as he was? Not hardly. But Job’s righteousness, even though it was true, was his stumbling block. The poor man became so frustrated in trying to figure out why God had allowed these things to happen that he exalted himself.
I see in the Bible is going through an guish. He’s lost everything: his income, his family, his health, and then his wife turns her back on him. Now his friends tell him he deserves what he’s going through. Let me repeat. The man was in anguish. He couldn’t figure out why. He had no idea God was testing him. It wasn’t because he’d done anything wrong. God was showing the devil how much Job loved the Creator of all the earth. And Job did.
Job had been a good man. He did everything to stay right with God, and God blessed him. The devil had permission to take it all away. God knew what Job would do, just as He knows everything we will do in our lives. Yet God gives us our free will and doesn’t stop us from doing anything we want.
During his discourses in the book, Job talks to and disputes with his friends and with God at the same time. If you read the account carefully, you’ll see that at times the things Job says cannot be him talking to his friends, but rather to God Himself. Can’t you just feel Job’s pain and struggle?
After a back-and-forth discussion between Job and his three peers, he has said things that the three of them can no longer dispute. At that point, a younger man, Elihu, steps up and says his piece. The Bible tells us that because he’s younger, Elihu held his peace. But when Job justified himself rath er than God and says he doesn’t deserve what’s happening to him, Elihu cannot hold his peace any longer. He wants to justify Job, but Job has elevat ed himself. Elihu warns Job not to put himself in the Shoes of God. Elihu goes into a long disserta tion about how great God is. He defends God for six chapters.
I’ve been reading through the book of Job, and no matter how many times I read the Bible from cover to cover, I always learn new things. I’m not sure how many times I’ve read through Job, (after the twen ty-forth time through the Bible since 1985, I stopped counting), but the more I read about this man, the more respect I have for what he had gone through. I love the verse in 16:2 where Job answers Eliphaz’s discourse. Job flat out tells him and Job’s other socalled friends (and I’m sure they were but had felt they knew more than Job), “… miserable comforters are ye all.” And they were, at that point. Have you ever gone through a tragedy in your life and had a friend tell you it befell you because of something you did wrong or because you weren’t living your life up to God’s standards? Thank God, I’ve never had someone do that to me. But I know others have. It’s devastating. And what most likely is not true. God puts us through hardships for many reasons. Rarely because we’ve done something Thewrong.Job
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Job’s Faithfulness by Sharon K. Connell
Click on photo to order Sharon’s books.
When Elihu finishes his discourse, God steps in. For the next two chapters, God asks Job where he was when the miraculous works of God were made. God lays out all that He’s done without Job’s assistance. Then God asks Job if he is going to instruct and re prove the Almighty. Whoa! What would you say to that? Nope… not me… no way, dear God. I imagine Job felt about two inches high right about then. In chapter forty, verse four, he says, “… I am vile; what shall I answer thee?…”
Another thing I come away with from the book of Job is that we are to judge between right and wrong, not other people, because of the problems they may be going through. We are to be compas sionate instead of finding fault. Do you have the faith of Job? Do I? Are we com passionate friends to those in need? Or are we like Job’s three judgmental friends? (All Scripture is from the King James Authorized 1611 Version)
In the end, Elihu does not receive any chastisement from God, like Job’s other three friends. When Job prayed for his friends, God turned things around.
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What I’ve always come away with from the book of Job is this. God knows what’s best for my life, no matter what He allows me to go through. If I’m living my life for my Savior, and I can’t see any where where I should improve, I am to accept what God causes to happen in my life and thank Him for it. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” No, it’s not easy, but I know the reward for doing that will be worth it all. Job’s was.
Not once had Job argued with Elihu during his say, and he certainly wasn’t about to contradict God.
Chapter forty-two, verse twelve, says God blessed Job more at his end than at his beginning. He was rewarded for his faithfulness… even though he stum bled a bit.
Then God turns his attention to Job’s three friends. Oh, boy. I’m glad I wasn’t in their shoes… or sandals. In chapter forty-two, God tells them to make a sacri fice. They are to take it to Job, who will offer it up to God because God will accept it from him. And then, Job will pray for them. I believe these men felt more like a centimeter tall instead of two inches.
Laurie Glass has a heart for encouraging others through her writing. She has had many poems and articles published in both print and online publications. Laurie is a contributing writer for Chronic Joy, a ministry for those affected by chronic ill ness and other health issues. In addition, she won the Open Medicine Foundation poetry contest in 2019.
In darkness, my abandoned soul feels overcome by floods of doubt. The fear of drowning stifles me. Hope hidden as I look about. The pounding droplets deafening. My thoughts unheard, yet hear a voice, “I’ll hold you up and heal your soul.” I trust in Him, I make the choice. I listen closely, hear Him say, “I’m near to you, just feel my breath. I know you feel alone, but I assure you that I never left.”
Reign In My Soul
His hand on mine, the storm subsides, sun shows itself, and peace is mine. Disturbed I ever doubted Him. Cling tightly now to the Divine. Tenacious now as I have learned regardless of how deep the pain, that He is my Umbrella true. Allow Him in my soul to reign.
By Laurie Glass
Secure in His protective watch. So near-at-hand, He lives inside. Allow no doubts, I trust in Him. Assured, I faithfully abide. The drops increase in number, size, gets darker, wind begins to blow. Take refuge in my Comforter. Secure, reliable, I know. Stand now amidst the raging storm, cyclonic wind, torrential rain. In depth of soul experience intense, excruciating pain.
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As clouds impose and hide the sun, the sky releases droplets fine. I reach for my Umbrella true. He shelters tender soul of mine.
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PAGE 3 Our road trip was to go to Farmington, NC (suggested to us by our good friend Trudy) to see what we could find to photograph. On the way, I always look on the internet for “things to do in the area.” I found directions for this train depot and off we went to explore. We were not disappointed.
Historic Train Depot and Museum Rural Hall, NC by Karen Ruhl
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We had such a warm reception, the volunteers were welcoming and ready to answer any ques tions. This is a multi-level train depot that was moved down the rails. It is sitting next to a work ing railroad line. While there, we went down the tracks a bit to the current depot and met a man who helps build and take care of the trains that are still active.
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You might wonder why Craig and I like trains.
Craig’s grandfather was a Structural Engineer, designing railroad bridges. He also invented a coupler for trains. My grandfather worked for the Reading Railroad. He moved from Cincinnati to Pennsylvania during the depression to be able to take care of his wife and children.
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I have always been fascinated by the big engines and their power. I shouldn’t say I like the graffiti on the cars, but I do love to take shots when I see them painted! I
To find out more, visit their website at Rural Hall Train Depot
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The circa 1888 Depot is filled with memorabilia, displays, railroad artifacts, and even an area with a wooden train layout, engines, and cars that the young children sit on the floor and play with while the adults tour the museum. Tables, chairs, train-themed coloring books, and crayons were nearby. Volunteers circulated to share history, explanations, and guidance. After touring the depot, we went back out to the side-yard, where tables and chairs were set up and ice cream was served. This is when we met Donna Jo’s husband, David, dressed in period conductors’ attire and very much looking and acting the part. David sat with us at one table and shared the history of the depot and how he and Donna Jo came to be involved with the nonprofit. Her father and mother, DJ and Alene Redding, rescued the Depot from demolition in 1980. They had the depot moved 200 feet from the original location and restored. They held the first open house in October 2013.
Rural Hall Historic Train Depot and Railroad Museum
By Craig Ruhl
When we pulled into the Rural Hall Historic Train Depot and Railroad Museum parking lot, the smiling face of Donna Jo Abernethy greeted us. She explained the volunteers were setting up the museum for an open house that day and they would soon welcome us in.
By Mike Buchanan
When you think you’re alone, He sees you. When you don’t want to be seen, He sees you.
Seeing, Loving
When you think it’s too late, He sees you. When you think there’s no hope, He sees you. When you make the same mistake for the 491st time, He sees you. When you think no one can love you, He sees you. He saw you before the foundation of the earth. He saw you while He was dying on the cross. He sees you now. He sees you. Every. Second. Of. Every. Day. It doesn’t end there. The Good News is He Loves you. He’s just waiting for you to love Him back. When you think you’re alone, He loves you. When you don’t want to be seen, He loves you. When you think it’s too late, He loves you. When you make the same mistake for the 491st time, He loves you. When you think no one can love you, He loves you. He loved you before you were born. He loved you enough to die for your sins. He loved you then. He loves you now. Every. Day. Of. The. Year. Will you receive that? Will you see how much He loves you?
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Mike Buchanan is an author and freelance writer. His love for writing and poetry, along with his passion to be of help to cancer patients, inspired him to author the book “Mountains of Hope: Surrounding the Valley of Cancer.” This inspirational book provides daily doses of encourage ment for those challenged by the disease. Mike is also a featured contributing writer for several Christian magazines. Mike and his wife, Darlene, live in Buckeye, Arizona.
Photographs by William Michael Foley
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Judging by Samuel’s writing, every Israeli soldier there had good eyesight and hearing because Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified. I’m sure they were all up for a fight, but not against someone three feet taller and wide as a minivan! I mean, think about it, doing something like that goes well beyond brave. In fact, it zipped on past stupid and leaned toward suicidal!
Steve may be contacted by email at: Msroadkill@bellsouth.net
Steve Carter lives in Tupelo, Mississippi. He is a Bible college graduate, military and hospice chaplain, and musician.
a taunting voice, he yelled across the valley to the ranks of Israel for them to send a man to fight to the death with him, one on one. Whoever came out of the fight alive would win the right for his army to make slaves of those backing the loser.
Philistines soon came up with a plan that, in their mind, could not fail. They had one soldier who they figured to be the toughest man to ever walk the face of the earth. They trotted him out with a challenge for their enemy in what amounted to a ‘winner take all’ fight. There is minor disagreement on exactly how big Goliath turned out to be, but one thing everyone agreed on is that boy was HUGE. We’ll go with over nine feet tall, and plenty wide, to describe this lifelong soldier. As is common with most people who believe them selves superior to us mere mortals, (think profes sional athletes or other ‘celebrities’), along with all that size and money comes a lot of swagger. Goliath apparently did not have a humble bone in his body when he came striding out alone to face the Israeli Witharmy.
This taunting could not have set well with King Saul or his army, as they were used to being feared. What ever effect it had, it did nothing to produce a cham pion for their cause. All this Philistine ‘trash talking’ had been going on for forty days when David, the youngest son of Jessie, walked into camp. Now David stayed busy. Besides working for King Saul, he watched over his father’s sheep and deliv ered food to his three brothers, who were in this army. Like the rest of the Israelis, pretty much all his siblings did after Goliath shouted insults at them, amounted to running away from him in great fear.
40 | MAGAZINE NAMEPAGE 40 As usual, the Philistines and Israelites were looking to fight it out. This time they were giving each oth er the ‘evil eye’ across the Valley of Elah, apparently waiting for the other side to do something aggres Thesive.
Facing Down Goliath By Steve Carter
David, not being one to retreat, asked about the reward waiting for the man who took out this ex tra-large Philistine. He intended to remove the ‘disgrace from Israel and saw no need to put it off! Apparently, David took a dim view of the uncircum cised Philistine. Who was he to defy the armies of the living God? Besides having a pretty good case of righteous indignation going on, the rewards offered by King Saul were nothing to sneeze at. The king’s daughter in marriage, ‘great wealth’ and no more taxes to be paid by our hero, soon had David fired up for putting the beat down on the big guy! King Saul soon heard of David’s plan and quickly told him to forget it. The common opinion being that David had no chance against the giant. David soon made Saul aware of the Bear and Lion he had killed after they tried to poach his daddy’s sheep. In his eyes, this oversized braggart would be like one of them, because he had defied the armies of the living God. After rejecting Saul’s armor, he put his faith in ‘the Lord who delivered me from them’ and started out across the valley. David stopped long enough to pick up “five smooth stones” to use in his slingshot and stalked toward Goliath with the confidence of God and His deliver ing power! Goliath went out to meet Israel’s answer to his blus ter and soon pulled up when he saw that the top of David’s head probably came up to his waist! Of course, as is the custom of bullies everywhere, the trash talk started again. He went on about how in sulting it was to send a boy to face him and listed all the terrible things waiting for David. All this meant nothing to that ‘boy’. It turned out that David knew how to talk the talk and wasted no time proclaim ing, “This day the Lord will hand you over to me and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head.” Time for talking being over, David ran toward Go liath, loaded a rock into his sling, fired away, and hit the big talker on the forehead. The stone sank deep and big and ugly fell face down on the ground. David knew a good opportunity when he saw one. He quickly ran up, grabbed the giant’s sword, and killed him with it, before cutting off his head! After snatching up his trophy by the hair, he held it high and carried it around for all to see.
I imagine nearly everyone has heard this story. There is much to ‘takeaway’ that is often missed. Let’s go over some of it. It’s not likely we’ll ever face anything the likes of Go liath. However, our giants are as big, just in other forms. Debt, rocky marriages, failing health, and re bellious children. All of these are tough, but when we lean on the same God as David, we will defeat the Whenenemy.faced with a problem that could be your un doing, don’t stand there shaking in fear with your knees knocking together. Be like David. After wrap ping yourself in an unwavering faith in God, look your tormentor in the eye and tell him what’s about to happen! Then pick up your weapon, run toward and destroy the enemy! And after gaining victory, don’t be shy about telling everyone how God has delivered you. Then walk away victorious.
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We have placed a copy of Living Water To Refresh Your Soul on the Faith On Every Corner bookshelf.
Team@FaithOnEveryCorner.com
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Living Water To Refresh Your Soul
Reviewed by: Karen Ruhl
Faith On Every Corner Bookshelf
By Tracy L. Smoak
We are looking for testimonials, acts of service, devotions, and articles of how you have witnessed God working in your life or the life of family and friends. Email for submission guidelines.
Call For Writers For Faith On Every Corner Magazine
I truly enjoyed reading Tracy’s devotional book. As a photographer, I also loved seeing the photos she chose to go with the scriptures. Each turn of the page will fill you with wonder as you look through her photos. Her prayers are thoughtful. I believe this would be a book that you could give to a person wanting to get to know Christ more. Tracy gives Faith Steps after each prayer. I highly recommend this book for your reading and as a delightful gift.
Click on book covers to learn more and purchase.
Faith On Every Corner Bookshelf
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Christ at the Coffee Shop
By Nathan Ingram
Reviewed by: Craig Ruhl The last story in this book is titled, Christ in the Common. That nicely sums up what it is all about. The author and I share the belief that a coffee shop is a common place where one may encounter God and witness His wonder through experiences and interaction with people. Not all the stories in this book take place in a coffee shop, but they are consistent in showing how God shows up in ev eryday events. Nathan Ingram has a knack for storytelling. His depiction of human interaction and life events and how they relate to scriptural teaching is enjoyable and relaxing. Reading this book felt like I was sitting across from the author, over a cup of coffee, as he told me of the people he had met and their personal tales of life. Each story leaves the reader excited to hear more. I recommend this book and am sure it will bless you as much as it did me. We have placed a copy of Christ at the Coffee Shop on our Faith On Every Corner Bookshelf.
Faith On Every Corner Bookshelf
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Reviewed by Craig Ruhl
Treasure in a Field By Sharon K. Connell
Fueled by an irresistible mystery concerning a buried for tune, Treasure in a Field moves along at a great pace. I like the excellent character development and attention to geographical detail Sharon Connell has provided in this story. Woven into the mystery is an ongoing love story, with a bit of family saga, secrets, and all the attendant drama. Throughout the book, Christian values and ethics are displayed and encouraged. Romance and suspense are happily joined in this great family-friendly read. We have read several other wonderful books written by Sharon Connell and encourage others to visit her website and join in the fun. We have placed a copy of Treasure in a Field on the Faith On Every Corner Bookshelf and strongly recommend it to our readers.
Reviewed by Craig and Karen Ruhl
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This is the third anthology we have read written by the Foothill Writers Group. We know several of the writers personally and have great respect for the group and their talents, especially the tales and knowledge of the area we live in that they share through their stories, poems, humor, and more. This volume is especially fun in that, along with sections filled with short stories, anecdotes, and tales, the group added poems, prayers, recipes, and a special treat called Road Trippin’ Around the Foothills. The Our Foothills series of anthologies is a wonderful read, not only for us local to the area, but it is especially interesting for those who have visited or are planning a visit to the Blue Ridge Mountains and the surrounding foothills. Wit and insight combined in bite-sized reading in the laid-back southern style. We have placed a copy of Our Foothills III on the Faith On Every Corner Bookshelf and highly recommend it to our readers.
Our Foothills III Another Anthology by the Foothill Writers
Faith On Every Corner Bookshelf
Like cold water on that hot flame, I realized God was confirming His word to me. My phone fairly flew across the counter as I shoved it away. I knew one twitch out of me would have sent that text flyin’. I love acronyms. Whoever thought of this memory-jogger was a genius. My husband, Bruce, and I were introduced to one of these creative gems at a youth Bible study. But like other pieces of useful information that get crowded out by life, I needed a reminder of this helpful acronym during a situation we faced. I figured it might come in handy for others too, so I’ll share it with y’all. So, here goes. H.A.L.T.: Halt if you are:
And everyone knows to never go near a grocery store with a growling stomach. (I’ll bet the junk food retailer’s stock sky rockets when we do!)
L: LONELY I made some pretty bonehead moves when I was lonely (I won’t elaborate).
H: HUNGRY Oh my. When I’m hungry, I fall into the ‘whatever’ mood category: ‘don’t care, just get it done’; ‘Let’s just get there’; or ‘I don’t care what we do, I just need a snack.’
However, I paused. I glanced over at Bruce who, not 15 minutes before, snapped, “That woman’s gonna push me too far!”
I read him my text, a part of me hoping for vali dation and the confirmation to hit that little green button. He looked around at me and, to my surprise, said calmly, “Don’t do anything in anger.”
This brings me to the following “situation we faced,” and thankfully, in this case, I listened and obeyed the Giver of self-control …
of self-control curbs emotion-driven reactions and can be a handy little tool to douse the spark that could cause a potential wildfire—a wild fire that destroys a lot of ground and a lot of people.
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T: TIRED I figure I’d better not do anything when I’m worn out. I may be convinced I’m coherent, but realize later… hmmmm, not so much. I’ve glanced at sent texts and emails and real ized: Yeah, should have waited.
*A: ANGRY: Stay tuned. I’ll come back to this one.
H.A.L.T. by Shara Bueler-RepkaAhealthydose
The wall our back was jammed against left indents in my shoulder blades. And the friend who could have helped us betrayed us. My hands shook as I pounded out a text message on my cell phone in response to one of her stunts.
My thumb hovered over the send button when that still small voice cut through the flame, “Don’t do anything in anger.” I knew this to be true, but I so wanted to fire off that text!
*A: ANGRY: I’ve left the ‘A’ part for last. Being lonely, tired, or hungry can drive us to make less than stellar decisions. But angry? This might be the worst decision-driving emotion ever. For it’s with anger words are spoken, actions are taken, and destinies determined that may never, except by the grace of God, ever be fixed.
God knows what He’s doing when He tells us to H.A.L.T. before we make a decision. Take a breath, pray, scarf an energy bar, or take a nap. Whatever it takes that’s moral and decent with no side effects, we need to do it. Nothing is worse than having to undo an unwise move. I’d rather not spend the en ergy to apologize, lament over an excessive grocery bill, or explain why I sounded like a dork. I’d like to act right the first time and avoid cleaning up a mess. So, the next time we face a challenge or a decision while we’re hungry, angry, lonely, or tired … and we will … join me in implementing H.A.L.T... Our lives will be much more peaceful and productive for it.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuf fering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV)
Shara Bueler-Repka is enjoying life as a singer/songwrit er/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 back country, and writing about God’s grace in their various adventures on the trail less traveled. I cooled down, grateful I didn’t send the text. The day before, as I was ranting and flinging manure across my horse’s stall into the bin, the Lord gave me a serious command: “Hold your peace. Ven geance is mine.” And then started chatting with me about forgiveness. It would not have been wise to ignite any fires with my text message. “Be angry, and do not sin: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil”
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Ephesians 4:26-27 NKJV)
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1. Love and pray for our families, friends, those we work with, and our neighbors 2. Share Jesus in our communities 3. Serve those in our communities Promote peace 5. Care for the environment 6. Be a good example to those around you 7. Stand up for social justice
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was mani fested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
Love One Another
By Karen Ruhl
Darkness will never overcome God’s light. 1 John 1:5 (NKJV) says, “This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.”
That special person who seems to shine, they have a relationship with our Savior. They have learned to trust in God’s word, pray, share, and love. They know John 3:16 by heart: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (NKJV)
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The answer is simple; they know Jesus. That person is not the source of the light, they are merely re flecting the light. Jesus is the true light. He shows us how to walk along the right path to God. What can we do to learn how to reflect His light?
Are you ready to reflect the love of Christ? I know I will work on it every day of my life. I am praying for all who read this. May you too be a reflection His light.
1 John 4:7-10 (NJKV)
First, we have to receive Christ Jesus as our Savior and begin to change our lives to be the person He wants us to be. Pray, receive Christ as your Savior, and repent. We can also reflect the light of Christ by doing:
4.
Have you ever met someone who just seems to shine from within? Someone whom you want to be around? Do you wonder what that person knows that you don’t?
So my testimony is a story. I hope you will take the time to read it and I pray you can relate and find some healing if you are burdened.
Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken. (Psalm 55:22 NKJV) How do I start? 2022 has been a challenging year so far. Craig’s health issues have been the num ber one priority this year. I must admit that I have let stress get to me, and I am still in a battle. I guess you can say—I’m all shook up!
If I have learned anything during this year, it is to trust in the Lord with all of my heart. I know He wants what is best for me—and you. I know He is the only one who will sustain us and help us through these times. I also know that He under stands that we have times when our burdens feel so heavy that we don’t always know how to get out of our own way.
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By Karen Ruhl
This is my personal testimony for this time
I’m All Shook Up!
The comfort I have comes from knowing that God is watching over me and He wants me to give him my burdens. “Come to me, all you who are weary and bur dened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30 NKJV)
Perhaps you can relate. But God has given us the instructions we need. His word is always true. Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken. (Psalm 55:22)
Most of us have read this verse and probably know it by heart. It is a good one to learn. I am in prayer throughout the day. I pray for Craig, for our son and his family, for our families, friends, community, and the world. I pray and lift my bur dens to my Heavenly Father. So what am I doing wrong? I all too often take the burden back.
My title is the name of a song, and so is Here I am to Worship. And this title could not be any more relevant to the way I feel. To bring things forward to now, Craig is doing great. We were both hum bled by the number of prayers coming our way. I praise God for all He has done in our lives.
MAGAZINE NAME &OR URL | 51PAGE 4 51 Craig’s health events of this year: ...Congestive heart failure
...Gastro-intestinal bleeding causing a heart attack
With these events came many visits to the Veter ans Hospital in Asheville, up the mountain a little over an hour from us. He was treated at three hospitals. He was in the hospital for almost two weeks with the bleeding and heart attack, and only two days for the aortic valve replacement. As you can imagine, we had many trips to the doctors, and I am so thankful for each one of them that treated Craig. My reaction is probably fairly common. I let fear get to me. I had thoughts of everything that could go wrong. I was tired from driving back and forth to the doctors and hospitals and was worn out by the time he had the heart attack. I asked friends and family to pray for Craig and hundreds did. What I should have done is ask for prayer for me as well. As I talked to others and they asked how Craig was doing, I was able to be positive most of the time. On the day of the heart attack, I could not stay confident.
One consolation is that my family and friends would pray for Craig and let me know they were praying for me as well. We both felt the prayers and saw them being fulfilled as Craig came through it all. It was nothing short of miraculous. I am writing this as my testimony because I pray that when you are in a difficult moment, you reach out and ask for prayer. We simply cannot handle all of this alone.
Here I Am To Worship
One thing I did was reach out to my church fam ily and my small group. Their prayers meant so much to both of us, and we will be eternally grateful. Thank you, Diane, Regina, and Paul for coming to the hospital. I love you all.
...Aortic valve replacement
If you are new to our magazine, you may not know that this is our ministry. We are working on our sixth year of publishing. There is not a day that goes by that we don’t thank God for giving us this wonderful opportunity. It is all about Him. So how should we worship? 1. Pray often and intentionally 2. Give thanks always 3. Love Others 4. Love Yourself 5. Have a sincere heart 6. Enjoy God’s creation 7. Forgive others as God has forgiven you Amazing Grace
My testimony is that, at times, I am very weak. I want to give my concerns, fears, and tears to God, but I still take them back at times. No one can do this alone, lean on Him. He is waiting.
If you have not given your life to Christ Jesus, but want to know more, you can always send us an email and we will help you get connected. The best thing you can do is read the Bible, find a local church that is Bible-based, and surround yourself with Christian friends.
All of us are sinners, and all of us need to repent and ask God for forgiveness. We all need to be surrounded by firm believers so when we need them, we can call on them.
By Rolanda T. Pyle
Just keep reminding yourself that they won’t stay this way. We know it has not been easy–often quite a heavy load And there have been many bumps along the road You’ve been misunderstood, labeled, and denied the services you need, Often criticized and not recognized for your labor or your good deed. But we honor you who have done so much To change the lives of children with your special touch. We thank you, grandparents. We thank you once; we thank you twice And know you are appreciated for the rest of your life. Thank you, grandparents.
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We take this time to celebrate you for all you’ve done, For caring for your granddaughter and your grandson. You took on this awesome task that no one else could do, Because no one loves and cares for your grandchild quite like you. You had the courage to start all over again.
Thank You
Raising your grandchildren at an age when You thought you might retire, travel and rest, But the children needed caregivers, and they needed the best. Some came to you in pampers and most in tears
Needing nurturing and someone who cares. Others came as toddlers, exploring the world on the run. You couldn’t believe this happened–after you thought that you were done. Still, others came at school age, when they needed guidance and direction. Science may have you baffled, but you are great at giving affection. And some of you have teenagers. Oh my, what can I say?
A Tribute to Grandparents Raising Their Grandchildren
of change And time to WeGreen,LoseBeautifulrearrangetreestheirleavesorange,rust,orbrownTheyallfalltothegroundthankGod,FallishereandAutumnisintheair!!!!
school It’s a
The
Rolanda’s website: http://www.rorosrainbowcommunications.com/ on the book photo to learn more or to purchase.
Click
By Rolanda T. Pyle
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crops The
cool Kids
more
is Done
sun Time
transition Time to focus on your mission It’s a
Summer No hot to gather temperature drops weather is back in time of time
All things wise and wonderful: The Lord God made them all.
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By Peter Caligiuri
“By which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world be cause of sinful desire.” (2 Peter 1:4 ESV)
That part has come at times when our backs have been up against the wall, like when we sat in my sister-in-law’s house waiting for the phone call from the hospital telling us whether she would live or die. During that time, we discovered a peace that is more than we could understand. The peace of God’s presence walked with us as we cleaned her house and sorted through old photographs. A peace that promised that our true life is hidden with Christ in God helped us get out of bed every morning and helped us sleep at night.
(Excerpt From - All Things Bright and Beautiful - by Cecil Alexander)
We used to keep a little box on our kitchen table that was shaped like a loaf of bread and labeled ‘Precious Promises’. I would occasionally pull one out, read it quickly, then slip it back into place. It was cute and made me think of God’s word, but I was missing the great and very precious part.
Great and Precious Promises
And then we were wonderfully surprised as God, in His kindness, granted Diane a reprieve. What seemed hopeless to Doctors the previous week had changed to enough improvement in Diane’s condition that she could come home. They called it a ‘Miraculous Recovery’. Though Diane lived just another six months, it was a miraculous six months and a time for us to be at peace because we had learned that God was listening. We knew that His answers came, not because of our perfect prayers, but because of His perfect promises, drawn from His heavenly promise box at our time of greatest need. How amazing are those promises, which are so much more wonderfully wise than ours!
Peter and his wife, Nancy, have been married for 48 years and have two sons, six lively grandsons, and one wonderful granddaughter. I love to serve in nursing home ministry and write devotionals, poetry, and songs. We live near Tampa, Florida, where we are members of Generations Christian Church.
Whenever it is not raining, I like to go for a morning walk. Since I just stay in our community, I try to choose a different route each day. Sometimes I meet dog walkers, bicyclists, or joggers, and we smile as we pass. Now, imagine that one of my fellow walkers decides to call 911 one morning because he hasn’t seen me and believes I am missing. The police race through our community and find me on another street. Red-faced with embarrassment, he apologizes to the officers and realizes that I simply do not always walk the same street that he does. Of course, this story is fictitious, but many of us are just like him. On Sundays, we who are Christians get up, go to church, smile at complete strangers, and sing praise to God. But on Monday we gulp down our coffee and rush off to work, or some other activity, with barely a moment for prayer. Though we may not be involved in some terrible sin, by mid-day, our minds are far from God. We feel a bit guilty for a minute, then the phone rings and one “urgent” thing after another fills our day. That night, as we lay our head on the pillow, it occurs to us that we haven’t seen Jesus around our neighborhood all day! In today’s verse, Micah tells us that God is never missing. Our problem is that God simply chose a dif ferent path than ours. He hasn’t left town, and in fact, He is just around the corner. All He asks is for us to make the choice to walk humbly by His side!
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By Peter Caligiuri
Walking Around Our Community
“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8 ESV)
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So, I ran into my own hard times, physical, mental, and emotional pain. But the Lord was always there to help me. He helped me realize how much I really needed His power and love. Sometimes you need to be humbled and broken to truly realize the Lord’s healing power. As I reached middle age, I started reading my Bible and praying daily—more often than in my younger days. I realized the peace, power, hope, faith, and love that prayers and Bible reading can give you. And the Lord became a dear friend and Savior to me, the One I can tell anything to and ask for anything that is within His will for my life. I am no longer alone in this world, but have a dear friend and Savior to walk with me daily. When I have his peace and strength, I can accomplish things I would have never dreamed possible. He works many miracles and gives blessings daily to me as a child of God. Nothing is impossible for our God or our Savior, Jesus Christ. So, always worship and thank Him with daily prayers and reading His Word!! And your life will always be, A Life Worth Living!
“I will both lay me down in peace and sleep: for thou, Lord only makest me dwell in safety. (Psalm 4:8 KJV)
When I was a younger woman, I was busy with life. Going to college, working, doing household chores, etc... Sometimes life got in the way of prayer and reading the Bible daily. But, when hard times or pain came into my life, I turned to God for peace and help. Through the years, He always answered my prayers. Not always the way I wanted them answered, but according to His will. My mother, when we were children, read the Bible to us every night, before bedtime. And as she got older, I would find her reading her Bible daily. She was an excellent example of what prayers and Bible reading daily can do in your life. It gave her strength in good and bad times. Times of illness, hardship, and loss. She taught us all the strength and power of prayers and God’s word.
God’s Daily Presence
By Brenda McDaniel
Brenda McDaniel is the author of My Angel My Hero with two more books soon to be published. She is from Roanoke, VA. She holds a B.S in Psychology and M.A. in Counseling. She has enjoyed writing poetry and short stories, even as a small child. Brenda says she is now living her dream come true!
Close To The Lord By Brenda McDaniel
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I see the Lord in the beauty of Rainbows And I do know, That my faith grows, Even when I’m low! He lifts my heart, When each day starts! I see the Lord in nature, and baby’s smiles, And my heart is happy, in just a little while! For more information or to purchase, click on the book cover.
With no earthly agent, I can only attribute this to God’s favor. In the stillness of a recent morning, I asked God if I was on the right path. Should I continue taking photographs of nature that bring joy, or was I hiding out in an “easy” place? The answer I heard from Him was, “Take the beauty to those who don’t have it.”
Funny thing is, I have no formal training as a pho tographer, so I knew whenever a picture turned out that it was a gift from God to be shared. The drought I feared turned out to be a season overflowing with blessings. This could be true for you, too. God wasn’t denying me anything. Instead, He transported me to a new setting to serve as a scribe of His goodness.
Seek And You Will Find
“For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water’ and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’” (Revelation 7:17 NIV)
One year after that discouraging day of packing up and closing my classroom after fifteen years of teaching, I received publishing contracts for two de votionals with my full-color pictures from Redemp tion Press, a contract from Ambassador International for a novel, and Guideposts accepted a devotional.
Equipped only with a cell phone camera, I trekked under concrete bridges before dawn swatting giant mosquitoes and dodged alligator tracks along white sandy shorelines to capture God’s beauty. On each field trip, God would slow me to notice a tranquil vista, then I would do my best to capture the image.
By Tracy L. Smoak
My life unraveled in the fall of 2021. I stepped away from a secure teaching position to care for a family member injured in an accident. With no sure income, I stalled from a fastpaced routine to one with lots of time on my hands. My five-year plan disintegrated, but God’s reassignment was unfolding. Wondering why God allowed many doors to slam shut, I asked Him, “What am I supposed to do now?” His answer surprised me. For the first time in years, I had the opportunity to sit uninterrupted with Him and reflect upon the Word. I had studied the Bible for years, and even led small-group studies, but days on end of quiet forced me to really listen. My dream always had been to write and publish a book, but somehow things never took off. With the new freedom, I com mitted to attending the Florida Christian Writers Conference and joined Word Weavers International. I wasn’t exhausted from being in a classroom all day with papers waiting to be graded at night. Instead, I spent weeks sending queries and drafting book proposals. Has your regular schedule derailed? If so, don’t despair. God may be transitioning you to a new assignment. In October at the conference, an acquisitions editor for Bold Vision offered a contract for a Bible study about encouragement. Elated, I returned home with renewed hope. Still, there was lots of waiting. To fill the hours, I took field trips to scenic areas around my home. As a native Floridian, I cherish the beautiful nature that includes 1,400 named bodies of water in Lake County. Fourteen lakes connect across the land and offer stunning views around every bend in this region of Cen tral Florida. 58
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I interpret that to mean continue creating and ask ing for His inspiration for art. Ironically, there are no guarantees. The publishing industry is challenging, even for veterans. Profit is unpredictable, particular ly for an untried voice. But my eyes are learning to see beyond physical constraints to spiritual opportunities. I am trusting God, stepping into unknown arenas, and asking for His guidance on how to proceed. He already has mapped out where I can flourish and bring love to others. He will do the same for you. My favorite Bible verse is, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7 NIV) May God bless your journey and help you see de tours as adventures where He will surprise you with His grace. Tracy L. Smoak lives in sunny Florida, where she writes to bring hope. Her first 30-day devotional, Living Water to Refresh Your Soul, features color im ages of tranquil waters. Redemption Press launches her second devotional, Arranged with Love, in Feb ruary 2023. That hardback showcases flowers and landscapes. Bold Vision publishes Refuge of Grace: Finding Your Safe Place in the spring of 2023. Am bassador International has contracted for her debut novel about a small town with women organizing to help victims of domestic violence. Tracy blogs week ly about finding hope at http://www.tracysmoak. com.
To learn more or to purchase Tracy’s book, click on the book cover photo.
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Remember the promise Jesus gave His disciples in John 14:26, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”
After(KJV) we receive Christ, the Holy Spirit seals us and helps us in many ways. He teaches us (John 14:26), helps us pray (Jude 1:20), and helps us abound in hope (Romans 15:13).
By Esther M. Bandy
WHAT ARE WE TEACHING ‘THE CHILDREN?
When we build on the solid rock of Christ, our faith will stand. We also see the importance of building on the right foundation in 1 Corinthians 3:11, “For other founda tion can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (KJV) Are we teaching children to build their faith on Christ or on religion? Are we just teaching them man’s rules and traditions about how to behave like Christians, or are we sharing the gospel so they can receive Christ and become Christians? Most Christian parents and churches teach children about Jesus. They teach Bible stories, Bible verses, and Christian songs. They teach what Christians should and shouldn’t do. However, many of them don’t ex plain the gospel, so children can understand it. These children grow up with heads full of knowledge about the Bible, but they don’t have a relationship with Christ. They know about God, but they don’t know Him. Some drift away from church because they’ve never received Christ. Before people receive Jesus, they don’t have the Holy Spirit, and they can’t understand spiritual truth. I Cor inthians 2:14 says, “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolish ness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (KJV)
When someone receives Jesus, he’s sealed by the Holy Spirit. Consider Ephesians 1:13, “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise…” (KJV)
As a child, I learned a song about why it was im portant to build a house on rock and not on sand. A house built on sand would wash away when the tide came in, but a house built on rock would stand. I didn’t know this song had a spiritual meaning then, but now I know. We must build our lives on the Lord Jesus Christ, the foundation of our faith. When we put our trust in tradition or religion, that’s like build ing on sand, and our faith is easily washed away.
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@EstherMBandyhttps://www.facebook.com/EstherMBandyesthermbandy.com
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5. If someone admits he’s a sinner and believes Jesus died for his sins and rose again, he can choose to believe in Jesus and pray to receive Christ as his Savior. “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)
The Holy Spirit also gives us spiritual fruit (Galatians 5:22-23) and spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:4). He even helps us understand the deep things of God. 1 Corinthians 2:10-11 says, “But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God…” (KJV)
1. God is our creator. He’s Holy, He’s Just, and He loves us. He won’t let sin in Heaven.
“… Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” (KJV) Nicodemus was an important teacher who knew the laws and traditions of his faith, but something was missing. Nicodemus needed the Holy Spirit. To be born again, we need to understand the gos pel, receive Jesus, and be sealed by the Holy Spirit.
When Esther Bandy was five, a neighbor taught a Good News Club. She head the gospel there, and she received the Lord Jesus Christ as her Savior. That was the most important day in her life. She later worked as a nurse, a missionary, a director with Child Evangelism Fellowship, and a Spanish teacher at a Christian school. Now, she’s an author. She has been published in two anthologies; Treasures of a Woman’s Heart and Triumph from Tragedy. Her debut middle grade novel, Under the Tanger ine Tree, was published in 2022.
“Don’t Ask Why, Ask What” was previously published in “Triumph from Tragedy”.
How can we explain the gospel to children? Teach them these important truths:
2. Sin is anything against God’s law. We’re born with a sin nature, a desire to do things our way instead of God’s way. At some point, we choose to sin. Because God loves us, He made a way we can be forgiven. Share examples of sin that children can understand.
3. Jesus is the perfect Son of God. He never sinned, but He willingly gave His blood, and He died to take the punishment for our sins. Three days later, Jesus overcame sin and death and came back to life. Because of what Jesus did, God offers us forgiveness as a gift. We must repent and re ceive Jesus to have this gift of salvation.
4. Teach the gospel and invite children to receive Christ. Be sure they understand the gospel. If they don’t admit they’ve sinned or don’t understand why Jesus died, they’re not ready to receive Christ.
The first thing Paul shared with the Corinthians was the gospel. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 says, “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also re ceived, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scrip tures:” (KJV)
Consider what Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3:3-6.
The Padre By
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“Well, yes, there happen to be quite a few pretty young ladies who attend the church, and I am sure many if not most will be at the festival,” The Padre answered without blinking an eye. “But I am going to warn you two—best behavior or I will have your hides and I mean it!” Dietz and I exchanged serious looks and kind of came to the same conclusion at the same time. Free food, ladies, music, ladies, games, fun, and of course, there would be ladies. We nodded agreement in perfect unison. I ventured, “Okay, Padre, we’re in and we’ll behave—we promise. It was 1969, and I was a newly minted Disbursing Clerk 2nd Class. On an early fall Sunday in Charleston, South Carolina, my shipmate, Petty Officer 2nd Class Dietz, and I were headed off the USS Everglades (AD24) for some quality time in town. There isn’t anything much more satisfying to a young sailor than a 12-hour shore liberty and the freedom to escape the daily routine of sea duty, even if for just a few hours. Your imagination would be correct if you suspect we envisioned a peri od of eating and drinking, as such was the life of most single enlisted men loose on the town. We thought we might include a movie or an hour or two at the underground casino playing stud poker and blackjack. Excitement was high as my buddy and I cleared the quarterdeck gangway and started making our way up the long dock to catch the shuttle into town. As we reached the canopied pickup/drop off area for the shuttle, we noticed another shipmate waving for us to join him. It was Petty Officer 1st Class Winston, who we all called The Padre. The Padre was a career sail or, a Personnelman, who also performed the duties of Career Counselor for the ship. As his nickname might imply, he had been a non-ordained pastor of a small church in his hometown in the backwoods of Georgia before joining the Navy. He helped the ship’s Chaplain with Sunday shipside services and pastoral duties, such as grief and marriage counseling. Jovial and well-liked by the crew, The Padre was also a no-nonsense Chris tian, and he liked to share his faith with all he met. Af ter we all shook hands, the three of us sat down to wait for transportation to downtown Charleston. The Padre quickly asked us what our plans for the day were. Dietz and I looked at each other and stuttered in unison, “We’ll probably just grab lunch and walk around town for a while.” I added, “Maybe we can see what is playing at the movie theater and check if there is a double feature.” Neither of us wanted to mention drinking, gambling, or carousing to The Padre. He usu ally had a quick comment or opinion to offer on those subjects. Craig Ruhl
Dietz turned the tables by asking The Padre where he was headed, hoping he wouldn’t ask to tag along with us.
I stared at the ground, not wanting to make eye con tact, trying to let Dietz open the response. I didn’t know how we were going to get out of this graceful ly. A day with church people didn’t sound like what I was up for. The shock surely registered on my face when Dietz answered, “Will there be any single ladies there?” Wow! I wasn’t expecting that, but it didn’t faze The Padre, not one bit.
“I have an invitation to a fall festival being held at the First Methodist Church in downtown. When I can, I help there as an assistant pastor. A family in their congregation owns some farm property not far away, and they offered to host the shindig.” He smiled at us and winked. “Hey, y’all should come along with me. I know that the church buses have plenty of room, and they told me to invite other sailors to come. They will have lots of good food, country music, and games. There is even going to be a hayride and a bonfire.”
“Glad you brought that up,” The Padre answered. “There will be an informal service at the farm to kick the day off, with a brief sermon, followed by some sharing of prayer requests and praise reports by the congregation. Right afterward, they’ll start the fes Itival.”offered,
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Oh, you probably wonder how we did with the la dies. I’ll just say that my liberty plans from then on included going to church in town whenever I had a Sunday liberty and a certain young lady and I saw many movies at the local theater during the remain ing 12 months I was on active duty.
Dietz asked, “Do we have to go to a church service first? I’m not much of a church person except at Christmas, Easter, and maybe a wedding or funeral.”
Being fall, the three of us were dressed in the pre scribed dress blue wool uniforms with white hats jauntily tilted, much like the character who is pic tured on a Cracker Jack box. They did not permit us to keep civilian clothes on board the ship and we didn’t keep a locker for that purpose in town, as some sailors did. We felt would stick out like sore thumbs, but silently hoped the females would take a liking to men in uniform. The shuttle to the church in town took about 30 minutes. Once there, The Pastor introduced us to the festival committee, and they welcomed us with handshakes and hugs. The sizeable crowd boarded several church buses and numerous station wagons for the next 30-minute drive to the farm.
“Well, my family belongs to the Method ist church back home, and I was active in the youth group there growing up.” The Padre assured us, “Y’all will fit in nicely and I think y’all will enjoy the day. We’ll be back aboard the ship well before our liberty ends.”
We had a grand time, ate way too much food, drank gallons of sweet tea and apple cider. There were two great bluegrass bands that took turns playing on the farm loading dock. The church even had a square dance caller, and many couples took to the dancing platform for a song or two. Games included horseshoes, bean bag toss (now called corn hole), bobbing for apples in a water tank, and the obliga tory foot races. By the time we loaded back onto the buses to return to town, we were exhausted, stuffed, and very glad we had followed The Padre to church.
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Scripture quotations marked (NKJV) taken from the New King James Version ® (NKJV ®). Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission, all rights reserved.
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Scripture quotations marked (CSB) taken from The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bi ble Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.
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