Exemplify Magazine- February 2010

exemplify magazine February 2010

God’s Extraordinary Love in Action

5

WAYS TO DEEPEN YOUR FAITH

Page 10 Time Clutter Challenge

CULTIVATING A SIMPLE HEART

embracing simplicity

february 2010

Welcome to the February issue of

Exemplify Magazine!

2 magazine September 2008

This month we are tackling the subject of simplicity with some love sprinkled in for Valentine’s Day good measure!

After taking the month of January to focus on our new website (have you seen it yet?) the team is thrilled to be back, ministering to you among the pages of Exemplify Magazine.

In this issue you will find a Time Clutter Challenge encouraging you to connect as a family, an invitation to simplify your marriage for the better and a powerful piece on the extraordinary love of God. I pray this month you will embrace a gentle simplicity. Enjoy the little things. I pray you would love your God- the author of laughter, quiet nights and snow-filled mornings - with an unmatched joy this month.

In King Jesus, Kristen Schiffman Deuteronomy 11:11-14 (New International Version) “But the land you are crossing the Jordan to take possession of is a land of mountains and valleys that drinks rain from heaven.

It is a land the LORD your God cares for the eyes of the LORD your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end. “

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www.inspiredheartsmedia.com

content

FEBRUARY 2010

018

010

features

SHERRIE MARLENE P.40 Judith Roberts interview Sherrie Marlene of Reach Magazine TV. MISSION POSSIBLE P.42 Author Deborah McCarragher shares about her book with a giveaway!

APOLOGETICS P.32 First column in this new series.

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042

036

040

departments

front

BOOK NOOK P.30 Deborah reviews

HOW TO DEEPEN FAITH P.22 5 steps to a deepened faith.

DEVOTIONAL P. 30 Is it well with my soul?

GOD’S EXTRAORDINARY LOVE P.36 Marsha Harwood shares an extraordinary call to be vessels of extraordinary love.

BIBLE STUDY P.14 Are we blinded by Babylon?

FICTION- RUTH P.44 Monhtly Biblical fiction written by Tara Rachel.

TIME CLUTTER CHALLENGE P.10 Can you connect better as a family?

May your unfailing love

rest upon us, O Lord,

even as we put our hope in you.

Psalm 33:22, NIV

ŠIrisNelson

Meet the Magazine Team Kristen Schiffman Founder & Ministry Director A New Yorker living in Texas, Kristen is just trying to make sense of sweet tea and A/C units. Together with her best friend & husband, Eric, she enjoys sketching out new ideas over Starbuck’s.

Kristen’s passion is equipping those in leadership to serve with excellence, encouraging women to get to know God through His Word and challenging women to live out their God-given purpose.

Andrea Mitchell Editor-in-Chief/Director of Web Content/Family Columnist Andrea Mitchell is a coffee drinking, Jesus-loving wife and stay-at-home mom of three in constant search of just the right mug for her brew. You can find her at her blog, UnderGraceOverCoffee.com where she shares the love she has found in Jesus, along with the caffeine-laden randomness that makes up the majority of her day. Grab your cup and come on over!

Christy McGraw Director of Social Networking/ Web Editor/Singles Columnist Christy is on a journey to becoming a woman after God’s own heart. She delights in books, photography, her family and her friends. Christy has a heart for young women and single women. She also loves emails! thesinglejourney@gmail.com

Christine Johnston Director of Communications Christine is a self professed “knitster” who loves watching a scarf come to life.

She is the mother of four children, three of whom are full grown and one still making her way through high school. She is married to her high school sweetheart and loves going on lunch dates with him during the week. Christine’s steady and sure faith in Christ, her value of justice and her compassion for that which Christ has compassion on daily shape her Titus 2 calling.

Tara Rachel Director of Ministry Support/ Fiction & Apologetics Column/ Web Editor Tara Rachel is a born-and-bred Southern girl who loves sweet tea, Jesus, and football - and not necessarily in that order. Visit her at Musings of a Future Pastor’s Wife, where she blogs about her day-to-day life as the wife of a seminary student/youth pastor and mom to a precious toddler girl, and the daily truths the Lord teaches her.

the team

Judith Roberts Interview Columnist Judith Roberts has been married to her college sweetheart for four years, and both she and her husband are active in their church. She is a college instructor pursuing her doctorate and hopes to mirror Jesus in her everyday life.

Kara Cox Devotional Columnist Kara is a single, thirtysomething follower of Christ who loves to laugh and makes others laugh in the process. She is devoted to all things Autumn and thinks that pumpkins, fallen leaves and fall TV premieres are a highlight of life. She would also like you to know she is the most extroverted introvert you will ever meet.

Wendy Miller How-To Columnist Wendy Miller is a butcher (of words as she edits her novels), a baker (of birthday cakes and treats for her beloved family members and friends), and a candlestick maker (not quite, but she enjoys crafts of all kinds). She appreciates the outdoors, writing and laughing with loved ones. Wendy’s mission statement is to a live a passionate life filled with compassion, grateful to be called daughter of the Most High God. Visit Wendy at thoughtsthatmove.blogspot.com/ or wendypainemiller.wordpress.com/.

Victoria Jenkins Bible Study Columnist Victoria began writing from Scripture out of the sheer inability to keep a good thing to herself--the exception being brownies, those she refuses to share. Soon after delving into her first Bible study, it became clear that God was building a ministry through this new-found love for His Word. Whether she is homeschooling, housewifing, or hiding from the laundry heap, God continues to grow Victoria through the ministry He set in motion...and she continues to hog all the brownies.

Jenifer Jernigan Marriage Columnist Jenifer makes her home in North Carolina with her husband of ten years, three children, and English black lab, Bella. On a typical day, if there is such a thing, you will find her sipping a cup of coffee, home schooling her children, and digging into the Word. A former pit-dweller who has been saved by God’s amazing grace, Jenifer has a burning passion to share with women of all ages His unconditional love, mercy, grace, and forgiveness.

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the team

Amy Bayliss Ministry Online Columnist Amy is a true Cajun princess who is on a mission to minister to women via the World Wide Web. She has a heart for encouraging and equipping women and she does so by utilizing many different venues. Writing, speaking, blogging, pioneering… visit her at amybayliss.com.

Alison Hunt Columnist Alison is a twenty-something single woman living in the now and hoping for the future. Based in North Florida, she an administrative assistant by day, and dreamer by night (literally). She can also be found reading under trees, Zumba-ing, spending time with family, and catching up with friends over coffee. Visit her blog at http://alisonlhunt.blogspot.com.

Brooke McGlothlin Columnist Lover of God and the man I’ve dreamed of since the 3rd grade...mommy of two little boys born just 23 months apart...CEO of the McGlothlin Home for Boys (my house)...passionate about life issues and finding Jesus in the everyday. Director of Clinical Services for a local Crisis Pregnancy Center with a BS in Psychology and MA in Counseling.

Deborah Boutwell Book Reviews Married for 23 years, 2 children (21 & 15 years of age), working outside the home in a Christian publishing house, serving in a small Southern Baptist church in various keys roles, hobbies include reading, writing, needle & thread handwork.

Iris Nelson Photographer Born and raised in Germany, Iris now resides with her husband Mark and Chihuahua Corky, in Arizona. Their grown son Daniel works as a software consultant in Arizona, living close by. Although the move from Germany to the US was not easy, God’s hand was evident. In Arizona, God called Iris back into His flock. Her ministries in the past included leading women Bible studies; leading worship once month with the contemporary praise team.

Iris enjoys encouraging women by sharing His Word through the devotional team-blog ‘Laced with Grace’ (www.lacedwithgrace.com), which she ‘birthed’ with a friend from California in 2006.

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“In simple humility, let our gardener, God, landscape you with the Word, making a salvationgarden of your life.” ©IrisNelson

James 1:19, The Message

family column 10 magazine February 2010

Are you connecting as a family?

The Time Clutter Challenge Written by Andrea Mitchell

Whenever I think of simplifying, my organized self immediately pictures decluttering. I am a classic “tosser” married to a classic, how do I say this lovingly, “hoarder”. I see nothing wrong in disposing of or giving away something I no longer have use for. My wonderful sweetheart, Kevin, on the other hand likes to keep things “just in case”. You know, just in case time suddenly goes back to 1985 and he’ll need to read about the latest happenings in Sports Illustrated.

As a tosser by nature, clutter is not an option for me. I hate it. It gets in the way, it’s messy, and cleaning it up takes time away from doing things I would much rather be doing.

(Although, to be fair to my husband, I’m pretty sure he has never had to replace anything he accidentally threw away in a fit of cleanliness!)

God has been working on my heart a lot lately in this whole area of simplifying as it pertains to my family. Not so much in trying to downsize things (who knew the hoarder gene was dominant!), but in trying to declutter our time.

Kevin and I have always believed in keeping our kids’ schedules manageable. We don’t overwhelm our children with too many activities – it’s actually a rule in our house that only one sport can be played by each child at a time.

Because they also have piano lessons one day a week, we feel this is sufficient activity for their lives. We want them to be able to enjoy their childhoods, not be stressed by them!

family column

However, when I sat down to think about this simplifying thing, I realized that a lot of little things were getting in the way of our family being able to spend quality time together. Things like the TV, computer, and the Wii are big time stealers in our house – and not just for the kids! There’s nothing necessarily wrong with these things, but they do have a tendency to take over, to clutter our time together.

I’m not about to get all radical and throw away my TV (what would I do if I missed The Office? Or Glee?!) or computer (that might put a big damper on my writing).

But God has been impressing on my heart for quite awhile that it’s time to set some limits. For the kids and for me.

You see, as soon as the TV or the computer go on, it’s like a powerful magnet, drawing all members of my family to their individual screens. What is meant to be just a half an hour of enjoying a favorite TV show quickly becomes two hours. And instead of eating together at the table, our dinner companions have become Spongebob and Patrick. Or what starts off as just a quick “let me check my work email” develops into an hour wasted on Facebook taking quizzes and liking people’s status updates.

I know my family isn’t the only one experiencing these issues. And so I wanted to take a look at how we can simplify this area of our lives – not so that we are merely being reactive and therefore building resentment in our homes, but more so we can honor God by our daily activities and in the process enjoy our families that much more.

First of all, it’s important that we are guarding our families against eating the bread of idleness. Watching one program for enjoyment isn’t necessarily being idle, but I would argue sitting in front of the TV for hours, mindlessly viewing whatever happens to be on is.

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Did you know that sooner or later, our idleness will show evidence of itself? Proverbs 24:30-34 in the Message paints a vivid picture of what happens when we allow laziness to take over: “One day I walked by the field of an old lazybones, and then passed the vineyard of a lout; They were overgrown with weeds, thick with thistles, all the fences broken down.

I took a long look and pondered what I saw; the fields preached me a sermon and I listened: ‘A nap here, a nap there, a day off here, a day off there, sit back, take it easy—do you know what comes next?

Just this: You can look forward to a dirtpoor life, with poverty as your permanent houseguest!’”

Now you may be thinking, “It’s just a little TV or computer. Watching another episode of Desperate Housewives isn’t going to land me in the poor house!”

Maybe not. But then again, what exactly are we missing out on with our families when we’re glued to a screen for hours on end? Will we not end up being poor in our relationships if we continually sacrifice our time with them?

Secondly, for those moments when we do choose to watch TV or play a video game, or hang out online, we need to ensure we are guarding our hearts and our minds and only allowing entrance to things that are beneficial to us and our families.

I know. That’s a tough one. Just typing that sentence convicted me more than I care to admit! But think about it –

February 2010 magazine 12

decluttering our time

if we are going to choose to spend some time participating in these activities with our families, shouldn’t they at least be good for us?

“So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life— your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.” (Romans 12:1-2, MSG) I realize this is often hard to do when you consider today’s programming. And yet that is exactly my point. Maybe by being more selective of what we are viewing we will just naturally finding ourselves in front of the television less and joining together as a family more.

Be sure to visit the Exemplify Family Channel!

Offering devotionals, family projects & much more.

My challenge to myself and my family this new year is this: to watch less TV, to spend less

time on the computer (non-school and/or work related, of course!), and more time connecting as a family. Instead of thinking it is too complicated to fit into our schedule, I’m willing to bet this process of decluttering our time will make family moments seem like second nature.

What

activities are cluttering up

your relationships?

How

can you

simplify in order to give and get the most from them?

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February 2010 magazine 13

bible study

Welcome to Exemplify’s monthly Bible study column. Our hope is that you will get interactive with these words, grab your Bible and join the conversation.

We want to be women who know the Lord and His Word is where we begin to uncover Who He is.

May this study move you closer to His heart.

Victoria (the author of this column) has such a heart for the women who read our magazine and for our God. I’d love for you to take some time to get to know her at her personal site, LetTheSonShine.org.

-Kristen Schiffman

blinded by babylon?

Don’t ask me how He does it, but God has been able to use one mathematical rule to teach my mathematically challenged mind all sorts of things. I still marvel at the fact that I remember anything involving math, but I am absolutely in awe of how the Lord will use any little thing to reach His children. Time and again, He reminds me that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line.

Why is this a recurrent theme in my life?

The natural and continual state of chaos that I allow to follow me around is constantly threatening to drag me under. It hassles my home, plagues my time in prayer, shreds my sense of worth, and rivals God for the reigns that belong to Him alone. When we permit anyone or anything to rule our life, we’ve given them our body, mind, and soul as well. Treasures meant for our King are instead lavished on activities, items, and idols.

Written by Victoria Jenkins

The fastest way to the feet of our Father is a straight line…and it’s a narrow line at that. All the clutter and busyness and sin we allow to linger just won’t fit, so we have to drop something and all too often it is the journey to the Throne that we leave behind.

monthly bible study © hbrinkman /sxc.hu

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C.S. Lewis said so much when he noted that, “All that is not eternal is eternally useless.”

>>>

February 2010 magazine 15

Our present-day Babylon blinds us and we’re all but brainwashed into believing that what happens in “Vegas” can really stay there. What we do is a reflection of who we are and that reality should demand our attention—our intention. Coasting just won’t do and keeping up with the Jones’ isn’t getting us anywhere.

Before I ramble further, I’d love for you to share your week with me. Jot down all of your plans for the next seven days. Don’t worry, I’m not going to ask you to drop anything…I won’t speak for God, though, He might have something else in mind. I won’t even ask you to sort them into wants and needs, or to arrange them by priority. In fact, I won’t be asking you to do anything but consider.

“Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!”

“Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these” (Luke 12:24 & 27, NRSV).

“Consider what God has done; who can straighten what he has made crooked? When times are good be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore a man cannot discover anything about his future” (Ecclesiastes 7:13-14, NIV).

It is human nature to want to establish our own plans; it is also our nature to walk away from the Lord’s plans… and with discouragingly little effort.

Don’t be discouraged. As the Bloodbought saints of the Living God, we are plucked from the mainstream and

and set aside for Holy use. We are given a whole new set of natural desires when we are given the eternal gift of salvation. Through God’s saving grace, we’re vessels of the Holy Spirit and He’s got a taste for the simpler things in life.

What simple things do you see the Holy Spirit desiring in your life?

Is God calling you only to be met with a busy signal?

Do

you feel that you simply don’t have

time for all the day’s demands?

Take heart, you don’t need to squeeze anything else into your overloaded schedule! Devotion to the Lord calls for removing obstacles, not adding them.

We need to simplify that which we allow the world to complicate. We need to focus on eternity, not merely the day at hand or the decade for that matter.

We can toil in this direction or that—or we can walk that straight line, leaving the clutter behind.that we leave behind.

Simplicity is found when we look at today through the Crimson-colored glasses of eternity. When Christ’s blood washed our sins away, we gained the scale of eternity that can only be seen through embracing His sacrifice and His life. When weighed against eternity the day can be seen for what it is, fleeting. Good or bad, the day will come to an end and that is cause for praise! In times of happiness we appreciate the day because it won’t last long, and in times of trial we see past the moment, knowing it will soon be gone. Whether in thanksgiving or relief, at the end of the day we can celebrate. Today pales in comparison to eternity, and God’s glory never fades.

Look to eternity and the rest will fall into line.

Okay, the obstacles and stumbling blocks that clutter our lives might not all fall away on their own, but they certainly won’t be as heavy to move.

God more than matches our dedication to His purpose. Which brings me to a touchy subject, but know that I am speaking out of love and that I am not immune to the struggles I address.

So often we speak of having too little time for devotion; I know I’m guilty of allowing that to seem true. In the past, I have bought into the notion that I couldn’t find time for spiritual things because I barely had time for the “necessities” in life. Please know that when I say this, I am saying it as much to myself as I am to you. Spiritual matters are all that matters. God will provide for His children and laundry will wait. Soccer can be skipped and must-see-tv can be missed.

I’m not saying to live irresponsibly, quite the opposite.

We’ve got to give responsibilities of the spirit priority over those of the world.

Jesus did.

Luke 5:16, 6:12, and 9:18 are recorded instances of Jesus praying in solitude and we’re told in Scripture that was His custom. How much more did the Messiah have to accomplish in any given day than any one of us?

With an approaching date with destiny, Jesus knew how finite His time on earth would be and still He stepped away from His busyness in order to be alone with the Lord.

We can do that.

childlike faith

Jesus has walked this very road of having work to do and loved ones to enjoy while also having a relationship with the Lord. We don’t have to find our way around; we need only follow His lead. Christ was looking to eternity in all things, but He never lost sight of the importance of the day.

Jesus was a simple man with a simple lifestyle to go along with His simple message of love. He came from simple beginnings, too. Don’t let this theme be lost on you, God is speaking in the repetition and if we listen we could save ourselves a lot of struggle.

Living simply allowed Jesus to minister to the lost and hurting while He walked the road God had established for Him. Opportunities to reach out in love weren’t interruptions to Christ’s journey. God moves in the moments. I can’t shake the conviction this truth places on my heart, ladies. Jesus never turned down the chance to point a wandering soul toward God and every minute of His time was filled with purpose.

How do you justify neglecting spiritual work in order to

meet the demands of the world?

What has Your all?

your time?

Your

thoughts?

Your

energy?

Among all the activities of the week, we lose sight of eternity. We lose sight of today and all it could hold in honor of the King of kings. No matter how much we may love the Lord, there is no amount of fruitless activity that will be pleasing in His sight. The status and wealth we gain while in this world aren’t the point of our faith.

Scripture says this of the true riches of our religion “a devout life does bring wealth, but it’s the rich simplicity of being yourself before God. Since we entered the world penniless and will leave it penniless, if we have bread on the table and shoes on our feet, that’s enough” (1 Timothy 6:6-8, MSG). The riches of our faith lie in the reward of being real with God. That’s enough. Actually, anything more is too much. He has simply wanted you from the start.

The Message translation of a conversation about heavenly status among the disciples of Jesus holds a treasure of simplicity. Matthew 18:1-5 tells says, “At about the same time, the disciples came to Jesus asking, “Who gets the highest rank in God’s kingdom? For an 17 magazine February 2010

answer Jesus called over a child, whom he stood in the middle of the room, and said, “I’m telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you’re not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in. Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God’s kingdom. What’s more, when you receive the childlike on my account, it’s the same as receiving me.” Can’t you just see the light bulb moment these men must have enjoyed in that moment? The important things in life come so clearly into view when we look into the heart of a child.

How

might you implement these childlike qualities into

your day and your faith in

• • • • • • • •

God?

AMAZEMENT WONDER TRUST LOYALTY JOY LOVE THANKFULNESS AMBITION

Pray each day this week for our Father to show you opportunities to be childlike before Him. Journal your discoveries and praise God for each moment He reveals the magnificence of simplicity to your hungry heart!

I know you want nothing more than to rest at the feet of our Almighty God. I pray that very thing for you. Let me just tell you {and me} again about the fastest way there.

It’s that straight line, sister. Drop the work you’ve created for yourself. Turn down those worldly opportunities knocking at your door. Forget about the riches of our Babylonian society and embrace the true, simple riches that Christ is piling up for you today. Don’t walk a tight wire, RUN that straight line Home! Spend sometime in prayer over both lists you’ve made with me today. God is waiting around to be gracious to you! Will you pencil Him in or choose to hand Him the pencil?

Luke 5:16, 6:12, and 9:18 are recorded instances of Jesus praying in solitude and we’re told in Scripture that was His custom. How much more did the Messiah have to accomplish in any given day than any one of us? With an approaching date with destiny, Jesus knew how finite

marriage column

A Simple Marriage

Written by Jenifer Jernigan

Simplicity in marriage. I must admit to you that when I saw this month’s topic, “simplifiying,” I was a tad taken aback as to what simplicity in marriage would look like and why one would even need to “simplify” their marriage.

That was until I sought after God’s counsel and the wise counsel of my hubs and dear friend.

Then, it hit me like a ton of bricks right between my blinded eyes. Every marriage could use a little simplifying at one point or another. “Why,” you ask, “and what in the world would “simplifying one’s marriage look like?” I’m so glad you asked.

Let’s not waste any time on the shore of this topic, rather, let’s dive right in.

Webster’s Dictionary defines simplify in the following way to make simple or simpler: as a : to reduce to basic essentials b : to diminish in scope or complexity c : to make more intelligible (http://www.merriam-webster.com).

Keeping this definition of simplify in mind let’s take a trip back to the Garden of Eden and look at the first union of man and woman. “ And the LORD God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them.

And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name. So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him.

And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place.

Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man.

And Adam said: “This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.” Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.” (Genesis 2:18-25, NKJV)

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union

God created Adam from the dust of the earth and Eve, He created from the very flesh of Adam. In every sense of the word, they were a part of one another; each one fashioned specifically to meet the needs of the other. Adam would provide for and lead his wife; Eve would be Adam’s helper, his companion- she would compliment him and aid him in the work God had called him to do.

Because of this very union, the institution of marriage was established for all times. A union that would call for one man and one woman to leave their childhood homes and cleave to one another for life. It was meant to be a very simple union comprised of these two individuals and God as their ultimate authority. What more would one need other than his/ her spouse and God? Simple enough right?

things began to get complicated...

Unfortunately, no. Things began to get complicated when Eve started looking outside her marriage for fulfillment and pleasure.

“Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’” Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.” (Genesis 3:1-6, NKJV) Hook line and sinker, Eve took the bait Satan dangled before her eyes. He toyed with her mind, causing her to doubt God; he boosted her self esteem telling her she would become like God if she ate of the fruit; and with the beauty of the fruit, he convinced her that it was good for food. Eve was deceived by Satan’s lies that God and her husband were not enough.

This very act of disobedience complicated the lives of Adam and Eve for eternity. Shame entered their marriage when they both realized their nakedness. They were both about to experience pain and toil like never before. The role of the husband being the head of his home would be challenged with woman’s desire to rule over him instead of submitting to his authority.

Yes, Adam and Eve’s relationship with one another became complicated and just plain hard, but more than that, their relationship with God as they knew it was severed. No longer were they able to walk with Him through the Garden during the cool of the day or chat with Him when their hearts desired to do so. Why? Because sin had complicated their relationship. Because of Eve’s desire to have more than what her husband and God had to offer her, her relationship with God was tainted. Not only was Eve’s relationship with God tainted, but all mankind’s relationship with God would be affected by this one act of disobedience.

What does this look like in our marriages today, this complication of the marital relationship? There are numerous areas in which we see this affecting our relationships in the here and now- other’s opinions, past hurts, pride, not willing to let go of grudges, etc. Let’s briefly look at those senses Satan appealed to when he deceived Eve in the Garden causing her life to go from the simple to the complicated.

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Satan caused Eve to doubt God (Genesis 3:1). Do you ever doubt your husband’s leading because you think your idea or plan is best? Maybe because of past hurts, you doubt your husband’s honesty and faithfulness in your marriage or maybe you doubt your own honesty and faithfulness. Doubting caused Eve to second guess God’s instruction to her; it caused her to place her faith in her own self instead of allowing God to be in control and trusting that His best was good enough.

Satan appealed to Eve’s sense of sight by showing her the beauty of the fruit and convincing her that it would be good for food (Genesis 3:6). Do you stand in the checkout line

at the grocery store looking at the covers of all the magazines wishing your body looked like the “perfect” bodies of those celebrities? Do you ever or have you ever found yourself comparing your husband to a friend’s spouse or former boyfriend of yours wishing your mate was more like him in looks and mannerisms?

Our eyes can lead us into a world of trouble if we allow them to.

I believe that’s why God instructs us in Psalm 119:37 to turn our eyes away from worthless things.

Satan boosted Eve’s self esteem by telling her she would become like God if she ate of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 3:4-5). Are you clinging to those compliments your boss gives you and now you go out of your way to make sure he notices you every day? Is your dress less than modest because it causes the heads of men to turn in your office? Deep down do you desire to be someone you are not and find yourself living a secretive life because it makes you “feel good” in the moment? Our self worth is so very important in the makeup of who we are and Satan knew he could get to Eve by telling her she could become like God if she would just take this one step forward.

Outside influences affected the marital relationship of Adam and Eve in huge ways complicating their interaction with one another and also complicating their interaction with God the Father. Those same influences can complicate our relationships with our spouse and with God. So, what do we do? How do we simplify our marriage relationships and rid our lives of those things that complicate and entangle us?

First and foremost, we must seek God above all else. He must be our number one priority. We must purpose in our minds to spend quality time with Him each and every day. By spending that time with God in prayer and in the reading of His Word our trust in Him will begin to grow more and more; our doubting of who He is and what He can do will be thrown out the window (Proverbs 3:5-6).

marriage column

we must cling to His Word We must replace the lies Satan tries to fill our minds with about who we are with the Truths of God’s Word. Instead of believing that God could never forgive all the horrible things we’ve done in the past, we must cling to His Word and believe that we are forgiven of ALL our sins and washed in the blood of the Lamb (Ephesians 1:7). Instead of believing that we aren’t worthy to be loved, we must believe that we are GREATLY loved by God (Colossians 3:12; Romans 1:7; I Thessalonians 1:4; Ephesians 2:4).

We can also simplify our marriages by riding them of the influences of others thoughts and opinions. God created marriage to be between one man, one woman, and Himself. Nothing more, nothing less. Wives are to submit to their husbands as husbands are to submit to God in the marital relationship; both are to be seeking after God with their whole hearts, following His leading and His plan for their lives- period.

A simple marriage. God, your man, and youwhat more does there need to be?

Join our Marriage Channel Editor, Marsha, for a monthly Q & A. Have a question ahout marriage?

Ask away!

20 magazine February 2010

ŠChristy McGraw 21 magazine September 2008

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September 2008 magazine 21

how-to column

How To Deepen Your Faith Written by Wendy Miller

This month I’m going to spring an acrostic on you. I don’t know anyone who has a personal bond with Jesus Christ who doesn’t long to draw deeper into that life-saving relationship. We want to get closer to God but sometimes the method of how to draw closer eludes us. Whether we are unintentionally lukewarm with God or we are blatantly not seeking Him as much as we’d like to, we crave our relationship with God to deepen. Sometimes it just feels like a matter of where to start. How do we begin to delve into our faith with more intensity? As you read my acrostic example, please know that we can do all things possible to be “right” with God, lifting Him up and seeking Him in many avenues of life, but no matter how hard we go at this relationship thing we are amiss to forget we have a conduit in this. We have an intercessor to help. As you read, allow the Holy Spirit to stir in you, reminding you of the dazzling beauty that results from a committed and intentional faith.

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Faith F = Find time If there is one lesson God has been teaching me it is how to manage my time. Please don’t kill me after I tell you what I’m about to share. This is the first period of my whole life where I am really grappling with balancing priorities. How I managed them with such finesse before, I’ll never know, but I’m flying around in a whirling dervish of distractions and unmet needs. I need a sign as I go throughout my day to state, YOU ARE HERE. But then someone would need to be racing around with that sign so I could see it as I travel, hop, skip and jump from place to place, project to project. I’ve learned an imperative lesson as I face this upheaval in my organized schedule. If I don’t find time for God, I lose time in everything else. Put simply, I’m convinced He doesn’t consistently bless the goings on of my day if I’m not giving Him the time of day. Think of how frustrating and sad it can feel when your spouse or a loved one hasn’t poured a lot of energy into you. That is how God must feel when we ignore Him and then some.

In order to deepen your faith, you need to be realistic about the time you invest in prayer and conversation with God. I’m a strong believer in worshipping God by using our gifts. But in this example I’m not referring to playing music, writing, or ice-skating for God. I’m talking about conversation. Silence before Him. Contemplation. Reflection. Confession.

Surrender. Restoration. Time reading His Word. Prayer. Securing time with God is the best way I know how to give Him room to move His Spirit within you.

The next moment is as much beyond our grasp, and as much in God’s care, as that a hundred years away. Care for the next minute is as foolish as care for a day in the next thousand years. In neither can we do anything, in both God is doing everything.

-C.S. Lewis

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A = Adoration It’s Christmas Eve service. You’re standing behind two siblings holding their lit candles threatening to go at each other, flailing the candles like swords.

You ache to laugh at the sight, a surge of heightened attention within you. Then the choir bellows out, “O Come let us Adore Him.” You think of those two children. You think of toddlers, babies and young children gathering at the feet of Jesus. I don’t know if you think of these things or if you think about adoring baby Jesus in a manger as the song is sung, but I think there’s more to the story of adoration. I believe God is inviting us to adore Him every time He splashes a rainbow across the sky. He wonders if we will adore Him when He plays out that “coincidence” in your life just so. God stirs adoration within us whenever someone shows us love. He is love. Every single good thing provides a reason for us to adore Him. Every good thing is from Him. Next time you are tempted to think adoring God is just for a crowd of children skipping at the feet of Jesus or for those singing about baby Jesus in a manger, remember He is inventing ways and orchestrating plans for us to adore Him every single second. Creation alone is cause enough for adoration. But His life and death given for us—I can think of nothing greater to adore.

I = Invest in God and others—Service I recall a particular time of my life where I felt low. I mean low, low—on the ground, crawling to get from day to day. I’d lost someone I loved and I felt certain I wasn’t going to recover from the loss. I knew of God’s love. I trusted He still loved me, but I felt nothing. I felt nothing. At the time I was leading a MOMS group at our church. After one of our meetings I got wind of a mom whose little girl needed to undergo an intense and frightening surgery. Something snapped inside me. (We know that something as the Holy Spirit.) I had to help this family. Within minutes I’d

phoned the mom to ensure she wanted help. Over the course of the next month I, along with a handful of other generous women from the group arranged for this family to have meals for over a month. Can I tell you how good that felt? Not a prideful, ‘look at what I did’ kind of good, but a release, ‘I got outside of myself’ fantastic! And little by little, day by day, I drew closer to God again. He did that. He moved His Spirit to move me. And I recovered and healed. I also let go of the anger I had toward God. Serving someone else amounted to a powerful way for me to deepen my faith.

T = Thanksgiving According to UNICEF there are 200 million children under the age of five in the developing world that suffer from chronic under-nutrition, causing one-third of deaths in children under five.

There is much to be thankful for. How many of us sit down for a family meal and pray a word of gratitude for our food? Many, probably. Here’s a harder question, how many of us are sincere in our word of thanks? I know some nights I’m spreading butter on bread already, passing the applesauce or diving for a fallen fork as I’m muttering grace. I don’t remind you of this to incite guilt. I remind you to encourage gratitude. There is much to be thankful for. If you have a family, give thanks.

If you have a car, give thanks. If you have your health, give thanks. If you have a computer, give thanks. If you have something to laugh about, give thanks. If you have hope, give thanks.

If you have faith, give thanks. If you have bread, give thanks.

Give thanks.

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how-to deepen your faith

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 H = Humility I am not God. You are not God. I could stop there, really. But I’ll humor us and write a little more on humility. God blesses when we choose to see things accurately. By seeing things accurately I mean seeing Him high and exalted and us as lowly sinners. Once we get that, He has so much room to move in us.

And His power and His works are far greater than anything we could ever do on our own.

His works are glorious, majestic, mighty and life-saving. Giving Him credit is merely demonstrating that our vision is clear, that we are free of spiritual cataracts. And when our vision is clear, we understand what a redeeming God we have. We understand the extent of what He did for us and the power He instills in us through the Holy Spirit. We understand why deepening our faith with Him is so appealing.

“And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even to death on the cross!” Philippians 2:8 “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s might hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” 1 Peter 5:6

Faith.

Find time.

Adore Him. Invest in God and others in service.

Thank Him. Humble yourself before Him and He will, He will lift you up.

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Cultivating a Simple Heart Written by Alison Hunt

I love the few weeks after New Years. They are filled with hope and excitement and the feeling that anything is possible. In the past, I have been a notorious New Year’s Resolution setter [with very little follow through].

You know the usual suspects. #1 – I will read my Bible every day. #2 – I will exercise four times a week. #3 – I will lose the remaining 10 pounds!

All of those resolutions are good, but remember that little problem I mentioned about completing my resolutions? Then in recent years I called them ‘New Year’s Goals’.

Let me be honest, even though my new year’s goals were better organized than the resolutions, the follow through still hasn’t been there. As I approached 2010 I knew things had to be different. I wanted things to be different. As I prayed about this God asked me to make a change.

That change was to have one goal for 2010: to have have a simple, undivided heart.

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I prayed and asked, “What does that mean, God? A simple heart?” I did not get an immediate answer, but friends, when the answer came, I wasn’t prepared. As I went about my daily life God began to point out my idols. Ouch, I know.

Guess what was the first thing…my Blackberry.

Did we all just collectively gasp? I think I actually said, “No, God not my Blackberry!” Y’all, that thing was in my hand at all times. It was the first thing I looked at in the morning (I had to see what happened on twitter while I slept!) and the last thing I looked at before I went to sleep.

It was distracting me at work and not to mention it was costing me more money than I care to share. Idol much? Yes, I think so too. As the days and weeks passed I was becoming more aware of the idols in my life. A simple heart is one that worships no other idols. It’s a heart that is molded to the Holy Spirit’s leading without question.

When I realized the gravity of the changes that would be required, I fell to my knees, but when I realized the intimacy I would gain with Jesus in return, I fell on my face before the Lord. It was too much and more than enough and everything I ever I wanted. BUT (and it’s a big ‘but’) I knew the process would not be one of easy choices. Simple does not always mean easy.

God was asking me to live differently than I ever have before, and I didn’t know if I could do it.

In fact, I knew it was something I could not do.

EZEKIEL 11:16-20 SAYS, “THEREFORE SAY: ‘THIS IS WHAT THE SOVEREIGN LORD SAYS: ALTHOUGH I SENT THEM FAR AWAY AMONG THE NATIONS AND SCATTERED THEM AMONG THE COUNTRIES, YET FOR A LITTLE WHILE I HAVE BEEN A SANCTUARY FOR THEM IN THE COUNTRIES WHERE THEY HAVE GONE.’ THIS IS WHAT THE SOVEREIGN LORD SAYS: I WILL GATHER YOU FROM THE NATIONS AND BRING YOU BACK FROM THE COUNTRIES WHERE YOU HAVE BEEN SCATTERED, AND I WILL GIVE YOU BACK THE LAND OF ISRAEL AGAIN.’ “THEY WILL RETURN TO IT AND REMOVE ALL ITS VILE IMAGES AND DETESTABLE IDOLS.I WILL GIVE THEM AN UNDIVIDED HEART AND PUT A NEW SPIRIT IN THEM; I WILL REMOVE FROM THEM THEIR HEART OF STONE AND GIVE THEM A HEART OF FLESH.THEN THEY WILL FOLLOW MY DECREES AND BE CAREFUL TO KEEP MY LAWS. THEY WILL BE MY PEOPLE, AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD.”

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See, I told you I could not do it. The Lord does the heart change. I just have to yield and give my stone of a heart as an offering for a heart that beats and lives focused on things above.

Even though this scripture is about the Jews being scattered and then restored to Israel it holds so many promises for the here and now.

A new spirit, a heart of flesh, we get to be his people AND he will be our God! That sounds like a pretty good deal to me.

My life has been a process of being sent out and being gathered in. Over the years I’ve asked the Lord to send me out and each time he did I was in a strange land. I asked to be there, I felt I had purpose to be there, and when the storms rolled through he was my sanctuary. Now is the time for me to always remain gathered in and connected to the Holy Spirit.

It is the time to remove the idols and ask the Lord give me an undivided heart, a simple heart of flesh that feels as Jesus feels and sees the world through his eyes. God loved me enough to let me explore and still protected me when I realized, again, that his way would have been less complicated than my own. Isaiah 55: 8-9 states “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” The only way I will be able to make the choice to 100% yield to the ways of God, is to be reliant on the new spirit, the Holy Spirit, that God gave me when he saved my soul. The rough times will still come, and the Lord will still be my sanctuary. However, my simple heart will already be fully focused on God. Grief and pain will be mixed equally with the hope of my Savior.

As I embark on my journey of a simple heart, my prayer for you is that you would wake every morning with fresh excitement that anything is possible. That you would answer when God calls because this life is so much sweeter with the intimacy of knowing him and your God knowing you. And, that when the Holy Spirit points out your idols, that you would destroy them and fill that space with more of Jesus. Finally, my friends, as Paul says in Romans 15:13, ‘May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit’.

Single.

Sassy.

Loved.

Visit Exemplify’s Singles Channel today @ http://exemplifyonline.com/singles/ 27 magazine February 2010

February 2010 magazine 27

I must learn to submit to the Truth. My four year old son, after getting caught in an act of disobedience, said to me, “Mommy, can’t we just stop believing that we have to obey?” Unfortunately, we can. But our choice to stop obeying has no impact whatsoever on the fact that God’s Word is true.

And the truth is that if we disobey, there will be consequences. The truth is not dependent on my choices, or my four year old’s. The truth stands even when we don’t stand behind it.

Do you believe that disobedience (sin) brings consequences? James 1:14 – 15 tells us that, …each

person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.

The Truth Stands Written by Brooke McGlothlin

One of the hallmarks of the Christian life is the moment we realize that every single part of the Word of God is true, and then choose to act on that truth. Grief, heartache, regret and disappointment could so often be spared if we lived out that choice every day. I know I can’t simplify my life much more. The tasks my hands are laid to each day – mothering two small children, loving a man whose schedule makes us struggle to be connected, working part-time in non-profit ministry, writing that feeds my soul in hopes of feeding another’s, Bible study, the quest to get back into shape, responsibilities at home – are the simplified version of my life. Much prayer and a heart for wisdom have brought me to this point. But finding joy in the doing of these things simply means that I must trust God at His Word.

As I look ahead, my desire is simply to believe that God’s Word is true…and in every situation, to choose to live out that Truth.

How is that possible?

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Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

Each time I choose anything but submission to God’s Word as Truth I choose the consequences of sin.

I must learn to choose God’s Truth over my emotions.

Several years ago, before children, my job required that I travel about an hour to and from a satellite office we were trying to open. I long ago developed a love for long road trips alone in the car. I love to turn the radio up and enjoy the music that makes my heart happy.

Especially because my husband and I do not share the same taste in music. I have a deep and abiding love for music from the 70s and 80s. He hates it. I know, I know…most people say that music skipped right over the 80s and moved into the 90s, but I honestly enjoy the fun, light-hearted nature of 80s music.

This particular day found me enjoying some of the best of the best of that time period. Sunroof open, windows down, breeze blowing my hair and sunshine warming my heart…singing like no one could hear me (come on now…you know what I’m talking about, right? I know I’m not the only one). And then a particular song came on. I recognized it immediately. And immediately I was whisked away to another time and place… and another man whose heart had once captured mine.

Memories of that love began to fill my mind and a feeling of deep loss etched its way into my emotions.

I could literally feel myself being sucked down into a place I didn’t want to go.

As quickly as the song came on, I felt a check in my spirit. My husband’s sweet face blew its way through my mind and the Lord spoke to my heart, “Chose to turn it off.” And I did. But my heart wanted to stay. Turning the channel was a physical act of the will and it was hard. But now, each time I hear that song or any other that reminds me of a relationship other than my marriage I turn the channel immediately. A choice to act on the Truth of God’s Word…a choice to protect my emotions and so protect my marriage.

Do you believe that you are not REQUIRED to be controlled by your feelings and emotions? There will be times when your heart tells you something is true that the Word of God says is false.

Jeremiah 17:9 says, The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick…

Each time I choose to listen to my heart over the Truth of God’s Word I choose the consequences of sin.

I have to choose to love God more than I love my sin. Sin is enticing…sometimes even beautiful. There has to be something attractive about it or we wouldn’t be so inclined to it. I love food.

And my tendency when hurt, stressed, disappointed, threatened or emotionally exhausted is to run to it for comfort. The past two years of my life have included the loss of a friend, the birth of a strong-willed child, a day of believing my husband’s life was in danger, the loss of two favorite uncles within a 10 month time span, a horrific wreck that nearly took the life of my grandmother and now watching her slip into the clutches of dementia, the nearloss of my cousin’s life to a ruptured appendix and a gripping feeling that tells me I have no control over anything. My response has been to throw my health out the window. Food has been my comfort of choice, my idol, and it now shows on my body.

Do you realize that even things that are good can become idols of your heart? Deuteronomy 6:5 says, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”

Each time I choose to love something else more than I love God I choose the consequences of sin.

I must embrace obedience even in the small things. Each time I choose something other than the Truth I communicate to God that Christ’s sacrifice on the cross means nothing. Jesus came to set us free from the power of sin and death. In the previously mentioned conversation with my four year old I was faced with a choice; to be mad and yell, “You have to obey because I SAY SO!!”, or to look for an opportunity to teach him. Our conversation ended like this:

“Sweetie, that’s exactly why we need Jesus. God sent Him to us because left to ourselves, none of us has the power to obey. The Truth is that if we disobey our lives won’t go well. But none of us will choose Truth unless there is Someone to help us overcome the sin in our hearts. We all want our own way. You, me, Daddy and your brother… we all need Jesus to help us want to obey. Let’s ask Him to do that in our hearts now.”

Do you believe that your response in the small things matters? It’s all about your heart. There is a direct line from your heart to your mouth. What resides in your heart will come out in the form of your behavior. And your behavior will always reveal what you really believe to be true.

What do those around you think you believe about God? Jesus said in Matthew 12:34, “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”

Every time I choose disobedience, even in the small things, I choose the consequences of sin.

Simply put…The Word of God is true.

Simply put…Our choice to obey His Truth matters…even when our emotions tell us something different.

Simply put…God want us to choose Him first over any other good thing.

Simply put…Your heart reveals what you truly believe.

This year I’m asking God to help me simplify. Not to let go of more “things” that clutter it up, but to rid my heart of those things contrary to His Truth that reside there and replace them with the faith to believe that what He says is True…and the strength to live out that Truth no matter what.

Join me?

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The Book Nook with Deborah Boutwell Jamie Carie pulls her setting for Wind Dancer directly from the history pages of America, using actual events and characters, such as George Rogers Clark, who fought the Illinois Campaign in 1778 to set the tone.

The story opens with a scout for Clark being chased through the woods by the Shawnee Indians, who are set on capturing the Glorious One, Samuel Holt, and claiming his blond locks as a prize. From that first scene, the reader is taken on an adventure that will have their heart pounding with the sound of the ponies’ hoof beats and the Indian drums, then breaking at the cruelty of a very realistic look at frontier life, and finally finding joy and peace even in the midst of adverse situations.

Isabelle, on a journey with her brother, Julian, and their guide, Quiet Fox, is no stranger to the woods or the handling of weapons. More at home outdoors than in, she is relishing in this adventure, sanctioned by her mother, to pick up a load of books from Kaskaskia.

When the handsome “trader” appears in the middle of a storm, she recognizes in him a familiarity that has her inviting him to journey with them, even though she has some misgivings about him.

Samuel finds that his heart is being taken captive by the spirited Isabelle, who dances in the moonlight a dance offering to God. Yet his soul is still held captive to memories that forced him to run from his family and his daughter four years earlier. Can he surrender to this woman/child that seems to know no fear?

“I am trusting you with the lives of many men, with dreams of glory and freedom. Don’t disappoint me.” Samuel finally confides in Julian his true purpose after they wake to find themselves deserted by their guide, under the attack of wild animals, without water, and at the mercy of strangers that believe that Samuel and Isabelle are traveling as a married couple.

Upon reaching Kaskaskia, Isabelle learns that during the night, the fort has been taken, without a single shot fired, by the Long Knives, lead by Clark. She then discovers the truth about Samuel. “She paused, looking into these two faces, bold and daring, sure and strong…and something else – something that told her this was important, that something vast and beyond her understanding was happening.” She swears her loyalty to this new freedom and heads back with Samuel and Julian to deliver the treasured books to her priest.

Samuel Holt has positioned himself in strategic areas to find out where sympathies lay toward America’s fight for complete freedom from the British. He sometimes finds that he must bend the truth a bit before revealing his true purpose; which he does when he encounters a small group traveling through the woods, being led by an Indian guide. He quickly realizes that he has miscalculated their strength when he finds himself at the end of However, freedom is not easily won the barrel of a rifle, being held with as- and they all find themselves captured surance by Isabelle Renoir.

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by the Shawnee. “Sunukkuhkau was watching him…This was not like looking into the face of death; this was looking into the face of hell.

And it was more terrifying than anything Samuel had yet experienced.”

Can they find freedom while in bonds? Only through God do they learn what true freedom is.

As I read through this wonderful book for the second time, I was captured by a secondary character that I had not noticed before, Hope, Isabelle’s mother. She is a blessing tucked into this story, of quiet strength, a mother’s love, and a woman desiring only God. “She was a warrior of prayer. A warrior in a realm more real than this flesh would prove to be, of that she was certain. And as God knew, she could carry this mission to anywhere on the earth, even in the shadow of her rainbow-seeking husband. No, especially in his shadow.”

This isn’t always an easy tale to read.

Isabelle’s heartbreak becomes your own. You cry out to God with her, you rejoice in her healing. Jamie doesn’t sugar coat the events that happened to people during clashes with the Indians during that time period. She accurately relates the stories without going into gory detail. She weaves a tale that shows God’s hand working in each life.

Jamie Carie has been steadily building her reputation as an author ever since her first novel, Snow Angel, was released in 2007, when she won National “Best Books” Award from USA Book News. I have been following Jamie with eager anticipation for each title to be released ever since.

I’ve not been disappointed, I don’t think you will be either.

devotional

is it well with my soul?

Written by Kara Cox

I have had a desperately challenging week. I’ve been hurt by people I love and I know I’ve hurt people I love in return. I’ve lost things I never thought I would lose and I’ve questioned things I once thought secure. I’ve struggled and fought and cried and pretty much worn myself out. At this moment none of these things is getting any better, even though everything in me is crying out for them to improve. And if I was the only one who ever felt this way I’d have good reason to feel sorry for myself. However I know that at some time or another we have all felt at some level what I’m feeling right now: hurt, disappointment, confusion, chaos. It’s just life. It’s not fair and it certainly isn’t easy. I don’t know where in the world we got the idea that it was. Right now, I’m blaming Hollywood, but check back with me next week and I’ll probably blame it on cosmetic companies or something else. Something vague and blamable. Is blamable even a word?

In light of some pretty devastating struggles this week the thing I’ve wished the most is that I could go back to a much more simple time.

Like childhood with it’s carefree, fun, easy days.

A time when bills weren’t due and then past due, days when the biggest concern was whether to ride bikes all afternoon or pretend I was Anne Shirley and my backyard was Avonlea. I wanna watch Little House on the Prairie and read Little Women and play dress up and write silly poems in my journal. I don’t want to deal with the crazy stuff my life has been pummeled with lately.

I want something easier, sweeter, more peaceful and less chaotic, something more light and less difficult. I want that simple life that doesn’t devastate me with loss, hurt and chaos. Is that even possible anymore?

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In the midst of all this I’ve been surprised by a still small voice. It’s not the voice of my long lost, carefree childhood. It’s the voice of my Savior. “Come to me all who are weary and burdened,” I hear him say.

Oh is that ever me right now, “and I will give you rest.” I’m listening now. Rest does sound good. “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.” (Matthew 11:28-30.)

No matter what your struggle is, Jesus’ invitation to lay down your heavy load is one of the sweetest this side of Salvation. The promise of rest and relationship is better than a chance to time travel back twenty or so years to a “more simple” time. It’s an opportunity to experience something real with Jesus. It’s something refreshing and life altering.

There could be no sweeter words for tougher times, could there friends? Because the truth is life is going to mess with you from time to time. It’s not easy walking through a fallen world without feeling like your about to fall apart yourself. But there is One who never leaves your side.

There is one whose invitation is free, sure and measureless. Crummy circumstances aside, I can know rest when I come to Jesus with the burden of out of control circumstances and life issues that seem unresolvable. “Cast all your cares upon Him, for he cares for you.”

I’ve decided the simple life isn’t what I thought it was. It isn’t childhood dreams and it isn’t Hollywood fairy tales. It’s a pure, real relationship with my burden bearer, Jesus. It’s coming to Him daily and taking up His yoke that is easy and His burden that is light. It doesn’t mean life doesn’t try to toss me around with devastating blows now and then. But it does mean my anchor is secure and I can say“It is well with my soul.”

February 2010 magazine 31

Apologetics Series: Meddlin’ Believers!

Written by Tara Rachel

How many of you used to watch Scooby Doo cartoons as a child? Do you remember the famous tagline from the end of the show? At the end of every episode, when the supersleuthing kids had the “bad guy” cornered and unmasked, he shook a belligerent fist at them and said, “And I would have gotten away with this, if it weren’t for you meddlin’ kids!”

Now I’d like to propose a question to you today: how many of you would like to become a “meddlin’ believer”?

Before you think I’ve completely lost my mind, let me explain...

I don’t have to tell you that we live in a world where the Word and things of God are under ferocious attack. We live in a culture today that is driven by a secular mindset. Religion is tossed aside a crutch for the weak and unintelligent. The primary argument against religion is that no one with any sense or a shred of intelligence would follow a religious system.

It’s a well-reasoned argument from the enemy’s camp, playing right into man’s desire to puff up and elevate himself.

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Of course, it’s also complete hogwash.

We see in 2 Corinthians 4:4 that this tactic isn’t exactly a new thing.

Paul warns the Corinthians, “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” The target of the enemy’s attack is the mind. Today we see him elevate the minds of those who hate God and maligning the intelligence of those who love God. Turn with me to Isaiah 1:18.

Look closely at the first part of the verse. What is it God invites His people to do with Him? __________________________ Incredible, isn’t it? The Lord of Creation, founder of heaven and earth, Savior and Righteous Judge – invites us to come reason with Him.

In the same verse where He promises to wash our sins away and make us white as snow, He assures us that to do so, we don’t have to check our brains at the door.

Ladies, our God is not afraid of the arguments coming against Him like arrows from every which way. He knows the voice of the serpent is tantalizing, that it appeals to our flesh. He is not afraid of questions we have; rather, I think it pleases Him to put the answers out there for us.

I imagine His smile when He looks down and sees His children learning more and more about Him, joyfully discovering all the treasures He has left for us to unearth.

I’d like to examine a few verses regarding knowledge. I pray that these will encourage you to see the seriousness of filling our minds with the truth of God. Read Hosea 4:6. What does God say is the result of the lack of knowledge in His people? ________________________

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The people of Hosea’s time were destroyed because of their lack of knowledge. Their disregard for the knowledge of God had serious spiritual repercussions. The Lord rejected their priests and forgot their children because they never saw fit to retain the knowledge of God. Read Proverbs 1:7. What does Solo-

mon say is the beginning of knowledge?

______________________

Our knowledge must be hedged within a proper reverence for God. Spiritual knowledge must begin and end with awe and worship of the Lord.

I love what Paul says in 2 Corinthians 4:6. “For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”

I am so excited you have decided to join us here at Exemplify on this journey. I personally believe the need for sound biblical knowledge is more needed now than perhaps ever before in history.

As we go through the evidence of, as I like to call it, the greatest defense ever written, I pray that you will be encouraged in your daily walk with the Lord. I pray that you will see yet another beautiful facet of our Father and His Word. I pray that your love for and belief in Jesus Christ will be magnified hundred-fold as you dig deeper and deeper into His life and His ministry. I pray your knowledge will spur you on to share the good news of Christ with others around you.

I saw a great quote on Facebook yesterday. A friend from college wrote, “I’m pretty sure the Word is out of season. Paul said we should preach it anyway.” Amen, brother.

And when we get to the end of this study, our ministry toolboxes considerably heavier than when we started and the lies of the evil one unmasked, I hope that the enemy will be sitting there, shaking his belligerent fist, whining, “And I would have gotten away with it, too, if it weren’t for you meddlin’ believers!”

***

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The cornerstone verse for this study is 1 Peter 3:15. Read it with me now and begin working to commit this verse to memory, if you haven’t already done so.

“But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.”

Peter lays out some instructions for us when it comes to defense of the Gospel (lit. apologia; a verbal defense, a reasoned statement or argument). I want to examine these before we jump into this study.

1. Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts.

There is no purpose – let me repeat, NO PURPOSE – in studying apologetics if Christ is not sanctified as the Lord of your heart. Apologetics can become a touchy subject, especially if these topics come up with nonbelievers. The flesh likes to rear its ugly head and “prove” itself, even when dealing with spiritual knowledge. Also when you really begin to see the errors of other belief systems in detail, if Christ is not sanctified in your heart, it is easy to become puffed up and prideful as a follower of the truth. The purpose of studying apologetics is not to prove ourselves right or others wrong, but to glorify Christ. This is so, so important and I firmly believe it is why Peter, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, put this before giving us permission to be on the defensive. As in all conversations, any conversation regarding apologetic topics must be yielded to the Lordship of Jesus Christ so that He receives full glory, which He is due.

2. Always be ready to make a defense to everyone that asks you about the hope that you have.

Peter is encouraging us to be prepared. We live in such a politically-correct society that nowadays Christians are silenced for the simple speaking out about their faith. Let me share a hard truth with you: the opposition is building their defense, and they are verbalizing it. If you don’t believe me, just turn on any television, radio, or open any news magazine and look at the direction our world is spinning. One of the best weapons of the enemy is to make us believe we should keep silent so not to stir the waters or offend anyone. Peter says always be ready. Who would you rather listen to?

3. Be gentle and reverent.

I think a corresponding verse for this would be Colossians 4:6, where Paul tells us to keep our conversations full of grace and seasoned with salt. Regardless of whether or not you agree with whomever you are speaking, honor Christ by keeping your speech gentle, respectful, loving,

*** It is physically impossible to study defense of Jesus, Christianity, and Christian doctrine without using the Bible, so the validity of the Bible is going to be our first stop on this journey. Over the next couple of months we will study how the Bible we hold in our hands came to be, as well as examine some common accusations against the validity and historical accuracy of the Word of God. Today I just want to cover some verses that I hope will be a refresher or encouragement to you. I have listed some verses, and after each one, I’d like for you to write in the blank the word(s) of the verse that describe the Word of God. Hebrews 4:12 __________________________ ______________________________ 1 Timothy 3:16 ________________________________ 1 John 1:1 ________________________________ 1 Peter 1:24-25 ________________________________ Living. Active. God-breathed. Word of Life. Stands forever.

Seeing these verses gives me goosebumps. They remind me of the power contained within the Word of God. This is not a dry, dead, dusty book we are dealing with. The Word of God is very, very much alive today.

Read 1 Thessalonians 2:13. What are two ways we can approach the Word of God? 1.

2.

Ladies, it is my prayer today that you fall into the latter category Paul mentions. That you accept the Word of God for what it is – His divine revelation to His people! And we see yet another active description of His Word. When we choose to believe it is from Him, it will perform its work in us!

Can you wrap your mind around that? It blows me away.

The God of Creation loved me (and you! and you! and you!) so much that He left His Word in our hands so that we have a direct copy of His heart and His thoughts. This is such a foreign concept in every other religion – a God who reaches down to His people. Praise Him that He would stoop to meet with us out of His love!

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Next month we will cover the background manuscripts for the Old and New Testaments, but I wanted to share these verses with you today to remind you exactly what we’re dealing with here. The very breath of God recorded for His people! Hallelujah!

I can testify that when I first began this study and my eyes were opened more and more to the perfect tapestry that is His Word, it came alive to me. It spoke to me in new ways. It settled into my brain, etched into my heart, flowed into my life. My friends, He wants that for you too! And it’s not something you have to seek and yearn for – His Word is so awesome it is its own catalyst to spark the flame in your life!

I hope you will join us here at Exemplify next month and for the remainder of this journey. I am looking forward to what the Lord is going to teach us together! *** Sources used in the study (feel free to check them out for yourselves!): How We Got the Bible by Neil Lightfoot Alleged Discrepancies of the Bible by John Haley The Tanakh – the Holy Scriptures by JPS (Jewish Bible) The Dead Sea Scrolls Bible by Martin Abegg, Peter Flint, and Eugene Ulrich The New Evidence that Demands a Verdict by Josh McDowell Works by Norman Geisler: Christian Apologetics When Skeptics Ask When Cultists Asks When Critics Ask

Love In Action

God’s Extraordinary Written by Marsha Harwood

© Wam1975 | Dreamstime.com 36 magazine September 2008

God’s EXTRAordinary = Baby Steps of the Physical and Spiritual Kind

Hunger Has a Name Recently, I saw the face of God. I wasn’t looking for Him when I saw Him and I never anticipated seeing Him where I found Him. No, it wasn’t in a photo of the Shroud of Turin, a gnarly tree trunk or even the shape of an imposing white cloud gracing the blue sky.

I found Him in the form of two hungry little Kenyan boys clutching a dead cow rib. Each so hungry they would eat raw or nearly raw meat from a cow that had just died due to the draught and famine.

Just a year ago I visited there and I hugged, laughed and played with these little boys. They didn’t have much, but they had porridge in their bowls. Now the pictures my daughter and son-inlaw had sent me reduced me to tears.

For me, hunger has a name. It’s Nanyu and her family. I know these precious people and pray for them daily. A day doesn’t go by that my life is not impacted by having met them. So when Travis called and told us that Nanyu lost her baby she was pregnant with because of malnutrition, my husband and I knew we had to get involved. The people have no food or resources and they walk one mile to get clean water from the source Travis was able to install for them.

My husband and I are just ordinary people with ordinary means. But the Lord in His extravagant abundance, lead us to share the need with other ordinary people. Then He added his EXTRA to our ordinary and He did some EXTRAordinary things through ordinary people.

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Along with a couple from our church who also graciously provided money, we sent money to feed Nanyu and her extended family for six weeks.

As soon as our son-in-law knew money was on its way, he went into town and spent $20, enough to buy food for one week for this large family. When he arrived with the bags of food, Nanyu was overjoyed and said this was the happiest day of this year! (In the picture, Nanyu is the woman on the right with her youngest on her back. Her Mother is in the middle.)

They have lost so much weight since I last saw them, and I thought they were skin and bones then! Her little 9 year old brother is sitting on the ground holding one of the bags. He has fluid that collects in his skull and withered limbs. Any “extra” money they get goes to having the fluid removed periodically.

For Nanyu, Jesus has a name and face. He looks like those who have reached out with compassion and are feeding her and her family. How humbling it is to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

For me, I saw the face of God in two of Nanyu’s children so hungry they would eat raw meat. Matthew 25:37-40 tells us that by feeding the hungry, we have directly ministered to Jesus Himself and blessed Him. “Then the righteous will answer Him, sayings, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink?

And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? And when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’” Matthew 25:3740 (NASB) We thought we had accomplished much in Jesus name with the limited resources we had.

But God quickly let us know these were just baby steps. We were only feeding one family and there were hundreds more in the village that were starving. He was desiring to expand our faith and move us into action.

God’s EXTRAordinary Sharing the Vision

God’s EXTRAordinary And a Little Child Shall Lead Them

Our daughter and son-in-law sent us pictures daily. The lush green savannah was parched and totally lifeless. Thousands of dead cattle and wildlife laid scattered as far as the eye could see.

The worst place was in the river, the main water source for the villagers, and it was almost dry. The pictures showed dead animals in the water and along the banks.

People were bathing, washing clothes and pots, and collecting water to take back to their huts all from this contaminated water source. Our son-inlaw and his workers were pulling dead animals out of the water nearly all day long. They were warning the people not to use the water for anything, but to use the clean water sources that they had installed for them to use.

Laura and Travis ministered continually to the needs of the village God has called them to.

They wept as the people began to die from anthrax, water borne diseases and starvation. They knew what they needed was a miracle to provide water and enough food to start a food pantry that would be able to feed the people in their church and other villagers.

The need was so great. It was bigger than any one of us could tackle alone. But God once again added His EXTRA to our ordinary.

Thanks to various forms of social media, we were able to share with others what was going on in Kenya. People’s hearts were stirred and within 10 days we raised thousands of dollars to be used for water systems and to stock the food pantry for several months.

Lives were spared and hearts were changed in their village. Every Sunday brought more and more people to church and more and more crying out for God to save them physically and spiritually. And He did. The people are not only becoming physically nourished, but a spiritual revival has taken place in their village as well. It’s now months later and people are still receiving Christ as their Savior and growing in the Lord.

But it wasn’t only there in Kenya that God was changing hearts and lives.

Lana is an ordinary 7 year old girl. She enjoys flowers, tea parties, baking, singing, dancing and anything pink. She flits and flutters through life filling her family and friends with kisses, cuddles and giggles, just like other little girls her age.

But in late September, this ordinary little girl did something extraordinary. She started a cookie business with her Mom called Mom & Me Baking Co .

You may be thinking that sounds pretty ordinary. Lots of 7 year olds start little businesses selling cookies, lemonade, taking care of pets, washing windows. And you’re right, but God did something special. He put His EXTRA with Lana’s ordinary and together, Lana is now doing something extraordinary for God. Lana saw a picture that broke her heart.

Children starving, going to bed hungry at night, and some of them were dying from eating dead cows.

There’s a draught and famine going on in Kenya Africa and people and live stock are dying every day. Most 7 year olds don’t even know where Kenya is, let alone even care about what is happening there. But Kenya is a very important part of Lana’s life and has been for almost 4 years. Her Aunt Laura and Uncle Travis and her 4 cousins Sarah (8), Summer(almost 6), Savannah (2) and Skylar (almost 7 months) are missionaries there.

Enter God’s EXTRA added to Lana’s ordinary.

Lana decided she wanted to do something to feed the starving people. A family of 9-12 can eat for $20 a week. Now her baking has an EXTRAordinary purpose and Kookies for Kenya was born. In four months time she has raised hundreds of dollars for the food pantry in that tiny village in Kenya. Little children her age and younger have food to eat everyday because an ordinary 7 year old girl allowed God to show His EXTRAordinary love in action.

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God’s EXTRAordinary Through Ordinary You Every day over 28,000 people die from starvation around the globe. Through the aid of various organizations 27,000 tons of food aid is distributed a day while we here in America waste 131,000 tons of food A DAY! The average American church member only gives $1.17 A YEAR to feed the hungry.

What would happen if each of us average, ordinary people were to say, “God, I want to partner with your EXTRA so I can show EXTRAordinary love to someone.” I would venture to say those numbers would change dramatically.

Children are going to bed hungry here in America, too. Did you know that $1 donated to your local food bank will provide about 3 meals?

God is inviting you to come alongside Him for the sake of His glory. Dare to do EXTRAordinary things for God. His EXTRA + your ordinary = EXTRAordinary!

“But whoever has the world’s goods, and beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.” 1 John 3:17,18 Lord, Open our eyes to see what EXTRAordinary things You have for each of us to do. The needs are great, but the laborers are few. Lord, use us ordinary people for Your honor and glory. And thank You for coming alongside my family, giving us a glimpse of what our ordinary can do for You. In Jesus Name, Amen.

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Update: Since this article was written, the Maasai people have had some rain but because the ground was so hard it caused some flooding. Some areas have begun to see patches of green, so the Sawyers are now offering seeds to the people in their village so they can plant gardens. Nearly all livestock is dead.

The needs are still great because of unsafe water, not enough food, dead animal carcasses and an increase in serious, life threatening illnesses caused by all this.

If you would like to help install safe water and help stock the food bank, or learn more about Travis and Laura Sawyer and their mission organization, please visit their blog. http:// thesawyerscoop.blogspot.com/

spotlight on...

Sherrie Marlene: Written by Judith Roberts

Reaching High Through Reach Magazine TV

Being a host at Reach Magazine TV, Sherrie Marlene is on the cutting edge of media entertainment, but her aims are high – as high as heaven, in fact.

Reach Magazine TV is a new program featuring Christian hip-hop music videos, entertainment, news and fashion. The show’s aim is to touch the lives of youth and inspire viewers to follow their dreams and always persevere through obstacles.

Sherrie, a Hesperia, Calif., native, said this is one show no one will want to miss.

“Filming is going great, we have been blessed to have the opportunity to film at the San Diego Zoo, Magic Fashion Trade Show in Las Vegas and Knott’s Berry Farm,” Sherrie said. “With every show, the viewers are left with an inspirational message about persevering, and overcoming. Also, with every show we incorporate our tagline, ‘Reach for your best, Reach for success, most importantly, Reach for God, because God is love and love is everything.’ Our hope is that we can leave viewers with substance.”

Besides being a host of Reach Magazine TV, Sherrie is also a wife, mother of two sons, and guardian of her two siblings. In a previous Q&A, Sherrie said her parents struggled with their marriage and various addictions, making her grow up early.

40 magazine February 2010

“My life situations gave me strength and maturity,” she said. “As a child, when you’re thrown into a situation that is out of the ordinary or threatening, you quickly learn your role. My role, being the oldest, was to care for and protect my younger siblings. As a result I gained maturity and became very domestic at a young age. Forced into a leadership role in my family molded me into being a leader outside of my family, so although my life experiences were not always the ideal situations, they have definitely contributed to the person I’ve become.”

Sometimes, though, such as with her the decision to become the guardian of her two siblings, the answer as to what was best was not always so easy to find. “(My husband and I) believe God should be the foundation all aspects of life,” Sherrie said. “I took on guardianship of my brother and sister after only being married for a year and a half; I was seven months pregnant with our first child. Although we were very much overwhelmed with the added responsibility with my brother, sister and new baby, we knew we had to trust God and have faith it would all work out. My husband, Dave, is a very patient and supportive man. Dave and I now have two children, both boys; their ages are four and almost two years old. Although we have two children, we are a happy family of six.”

Dave, Sherrie added, was a rock of support in her decision to join Reach Magazine TV as a host.

“Dave has always encouraged me to step out into what God has called me to be. When I was presented with the opportunity to become a host for a Christian TV show, for me, after praying about it, I felt like my life was put into perspective,” Sherrie said. “I felt so blessed to have an amazing opportunity to reach out to people, share my experiences, my challenges, be relatable, and through God, make a difference in people’s lives. For Dave, it was a ‘no brainier,’ as he says it; he just felt like this was clearly God.” One of her goals as a host, she added, was to show that teens – specifically teen girls – can learn that following Christ is the best option.

“What is so interesting about my passion for teen girls is I originally disliked them,” Sherrie said. “In my junior high and high school years I always felt teen girls — girls my own age at the time — were very obnoxious, conniving and catty. It wasn’t until after my sister came to live with me at her age of 13 that I began to see teenage girls through a different light.”

That realization, she added, came with mercy, understanding and love.

“Through my sister and her friends, I found that in most cases the obnoxious, conniving and cattiness were a result of hurt, brokenness and insecurity. My heart now goes out to young woman,” she said. “For me, there were a few things that helped me get through the difficult teen years. I made a decision early on as a teenager to do the right thing in whatever areas I had control over in my life. Although I struggled, like most teens, with peer pressure, through the power of God I was able to persevere. I thank God for the distractions he provided in my life like Wednesday night youth service, the school’s basketball team and writing poetry.

“Being on a routine helped me to stay focused and out of trouble. There is so much insight I would love to give to teens, but I’ll give the short version for now. My advice for all teenagers first and foremost is to seek and stay close to God. Regardless of your circumstance, God will never leave you. I also want to point out even though you may be in a situation that is beyond your control, you can still take control of you. Get to the place where you truly believe anything is possible through God, do your best, and God will open doors.”

Though filming has already started, a date, as of yet, for the premiere of Reach Magazine TV has not yet been announced. Visit www.reachmagazinetv.com to stay up-todate!

“Although faith based, our show is for everyone,” Sherrie said. “We want our viewers to be left with encouragement and motivation to be the best they can be. We have some exciting things planned for the beginning of 2010. We will be recognizing observances such as alcohol awareness, child abuse prevention, breast cancer awareness, and Physical Fitness and Sports month. So stay tuned and prepare to be ‘edutained,’ as we like to call it: educated through entertainment.”

———————————————————Reach Magazine TV will be aired throughout Southern California on a new television network called LA Media TV (http://lamediatv.net).

LA Media TV will premiere on DirecTV and Dish Network channel 20 in Ventura County, Los Angeles County, Orange County and throughout the Inland Empire and on digital channels 20.4, KNLA-Los Angeles 27, and KPALLancaster 38. Reach Magazine TV will also be available online. At time of press, Reach Magazine TV premiere date has been pushed back due to LA Media TV premier’s being postponed. Visit www.reachmagazinetv.com for details.

————————ALSO: Sherrie’s online!

Twitter @ http://twitter.com/sherrie_marlene Myspace @ http://www.myspace.com/sherriemarlene77 Facebook: search Sherrie Marlene and Reach Magazine TV

featured writer

Mission Possible One of my favorite things about Exemplify Magazine is the gifted women the Lord brings into my path. So many of you are living lives that glofirfy Christ in powerful ways!

One such woman is Deborah McCarragher. I’d love for you to take some time to get to know her.

She’s written a book Mission Possible specifically for women who are married to men they are trying to lead to Christ.

Mission Possible is a unique book in the Christian marketplace. It addresses a subject that is often overlooked and misunderstood. It is a candid look at my struggles and quest to reach my husband for Christ. I became a believer seven years into our marriage. It is written as I have lived it, and applies scripture and biblical context to each chapter. The book has bible study application questions at the end of each section, as well as three self-reflection points to help the reader “digest” what they have read. Mission Possible was nominated for Christian Small Publisher’s Assoc. Book of the Year Award for 2009.

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Tell us a little about your background, Deborah.

I grew up in a Navy family and moved frequently as a child.

I married my first husband right out of high school. That marriage ended in divorce four years later. I remarried in 1982 (to my current husband) and we’ll be married 28 years in January 2010. Seven years into our marriage, I gave my life to Jesus as Lord and Savior.

What inspired you to write this influential book?

I was involved with a local intercessory prayer group at the time, and was prompted by God during prayer to write down what He was conveying to me about my husband and his salvation. It was quite literally written while inspired, and without much effort on my part. I just typed on the computer as He led me to bible verses and topics to talk about. I remember writing down the names of the (7) chapters during prayer time on a tablet - just looking at them afterwards in awe. It was quite a moving experience.

What primary advice do you have for women who are married to “non-believing” husbands?

I think the most important advice is to have faith in Who God Is and His sovereignty. We can’t “prepackage” our spouse’s conversion experience, and God will always do what will bring Him the “most glory”. We also have to remember that we don’t wrestle against flesh and blood. Our spouse (if unsaved) isn’t governed by God’s Spirit - so we have to release them from that accountability. We must have faith that rests in God and not in our own understanding, or by sight!

What kinds of reactions has the book generated thus far?

I have had great reaction to my little book. Some women love it because it is not lengthy, and they can read it quickly - yet refer back to it over & over again. One woman emailed me a testimony that she was nearly ready to leave her husband, but after reading the book, felt that God was leading her to give her marriage another try. That was very humbling and gratifying for me. I just want to help women see that there is an alternative to being miserable in an unequally yoked marriage.

What’s the main message that you’d like readers to take away from it?

I would love readers to discover that God has a plan for each marriage that is in spiritual disunity. It involves us, but it is always done HIS WAY! I want readers to know that it is a process that evolves over time, that we must not put Him (God) in a box, but give Him room to move in our spouse’s life. They need to know that because we are not perfect and continue to sin, that satan will harass us (women) and try to influence us to believe that our “mission” is not possible - but with God, all things are possible!

Deborah is generously giving away a copy of her book to two of our readers! To enter, head on over to our Marriage Channel & leave a comment on the post entitled “Mission Possible” or simply tweet @exemplify that you’d like to enter! Winner will be announced in one week!

Any final thoughts you’d like to share?

Just that I know how difficult it is to be married to a spouse who doesn’t share your love and devotion to the Lord Jesus. I, like many of my readers, get frustrated and disillusioned, but I know God has perfect timing and our best interests at heart overall.

He wants our spouses to come to a saving knowledge of Him and embrace a future together that brings glory to Him. How can our readers learn more about you and contact you directly?

They can visit my website at www.Godmissionpossible.com or email me at deb@alabasterboxpublishing.com They can also visit my Blog page at www.

Godmissionpossible.blogspot.com. My book is available on my website at www.Godmissionpossible.com or at www.Amazon.com , and several other online retailers. I have my book available in (4) different forms: as a trade paperback, audio book on CD, downloadable MP-3 format, and as an E-Book.

Deborah began her journey of creative writing soon after coming to know Jesus as her personal savior in 1989. She uses her spiritual gifts of encouragement and teaching in her home church. She also enjoys in-depth bible study in her personal time, and is a small business owner of over twenty years. Her love of the Holy scripture and bible study are evident in her poetry and literary works. She and her husband attend Hibernia Baptist Church in Green Cove Springs, and reside in Fleming Island, Florida. Her primary goal is to share her personal testimony with others while bringing hope and practical help through her books.

fiction column

Written by Tara Rachel

“But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.” Ruth 1:15-17 (NIV

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I grieve.

I can barely remember a time when grief was not my constant companion.

I lay under the stars, a blanket pulled up to my chin. Tears seep from the corners of my eyes, chilling on my cheeks under the fierce wind.

Oh, the memories…

Sometimes I feel the slightest bit of warmth and imagine him lying, heavy with sleep, beside me. But when I reach out to him, there is nothing but cold emptiness filling the air beside me.

Sometimes I turn to tell him the latest thoughts of my mind, only to face my mother-in-law, sister-in-law, stranger, or worse – nothing.

Sometimes I hug myself, remembering every path his fingers every traced on my body and around my shoulders. But my arms are not long enough to effectively mimic his reach.

My life has been turned upside down. Everything I have known for the last decade has been ripped from me. And my heart has been ripped with it.

I blink the tears out of my eyes and imagine the stars spell his name: Kilion.

A sob rises up within me, causing my whole body to tremor with repressed grief. My eyes cast into a blurry blindness again, I roll over, clutching my linen wrap close to my chest and willing the ever-evasive sleep to come.

The morning sun burns through my eyelids, sticky and stinging from tears mingled with desert dust. I smell animal flesh roasting on a stone. I can hear the lap of the Lake of Salt as it slowly washes in and out. In and out.

Almost grudgingly, with little ripples.

Fiction: Ruth I walk through life as the lake ebbs. I am moving only because I have to, but not because I consciously choose to.

We are following the perimeter of the Lake of Salt, on the north side so as to avoid Edom and its warring people. One day we will reach Bethlehem. The home of my husband.

Or at least, where he once called home. My throat stings.

I pick through the sparse food passed to me.

I have lost so much weight. I find no pleasure in any of this life anymore. Part of me wishes I could just go on and die so I would reunite with him.

The thought unnerves me, as always. Because I just don’t know…

I glance over at Orpah, and at my mother-inlaw. Orpah has abandoned her food and is seated, staring out over the water. My mother-in-law sits with her head low, tears dripping off her nose into her lap. Both are silent.

We are a morose trio for sure.

I force myself to swallow the remainder of my food so not as to offend the young girl who prepared it for us. My thoughts wander… to Kilion… to this Bethlehem… to the Unknowable God who was so important to both of them… * * *

fiction: ruth

One of my first impressions of the Jews was their wretchedness when it came to racial relations.

Little did I know I was destined to marry a Jew. I remember when they started flooding into Moab, like vermin chased out of a dark corner by light. I heard rumors and whispers – their God had forsaken them. He had brought famine upon their land as a punishment for their disobedience. Of course, this was secondhand hearsay from my fellow Moabites.

No pious Jew would consider having a conversation with a Moabite, and especially any conversation that would malign the name of their God. This made my blood rage and boil. I found them arrogant and insolent – forced to take refuge in our land for sustenance when their own God shoved them out. And yet they refused to have any communion with us, as though we were lower than dogs.

I wanted them gone from our land.

And then I met Kilion.

I remember being struck by his beauty – his dark eyes, thick wavy brown hair, his skin the color of ripened olives. I fell in love with him at first sight. And he returned the sentiments.

We agreed to join in marriage.

He was an amazing man. A hard worker. He told me the most wonderful tales of his history, his people, and His God. His stories did not match the hearsay of my fellow Moabites.

Oh, and the abuse he took for my sake! So many of his fellow countrymen shunned him, called him a blasphemer and an unpardonable sinner. All because he chose to marry a non-Jew.

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This only made me love him more. He told me on more than one occasion he felt his God had a purpose for bringing us together.

And I believed him. I believed his God, who I didn’t know and didn’t understand, had reached out to me through one of His own. I felt special and loved.

And then… Kilion died. His God took him away.

So what am I supposed to think now? * * * We walk until the sun grows too hot, then take refuge for an afternoon lie-down under the shade of some low trees on the bank of the Lake of Salt. I try to calculate how far we have traveled and how many days out of Moab we are, but because of the sparse consciousness I have entertained over the past several days, I have no idea where we are or how far we’ve come or how far we have yet to go.

Orpah gathers her things and sits down as far away as she possibly can. She craves solitude.

She’s said little during this whole trip.

I hear Naomi talking softly to a member of our camp. Her voice was laced with bitterness as she spoke about her God. Kilion’s God. Her voice expresses the contempt and anguish and need for answers I feel racing around in my own head and heart.

Suddenly she stands and walks to me, taking my hand. She leads me over to Orpah, who rises slowly from her reclined position, confusion etched in her pale face. “I need to speak with you,” Naomi announced, her voice raspy and weak. There is no softness in her face, only the hard lines of grief and disappointment and disillusionment.

Tears slip from the corners of her eyes. “My beloved daughters,” she whispers, reaching out with one hand to cup my face and weave into Orpah’s fingers with the others. I place my hand over hers.

“How it pains me to say this, because I vow before Jehovah that you are all I have left. I beg of you, please, return to your mothers’ homes. I pray that Jehovah will show kindness to you, as you have shown to me and my sons. I pray that Jehovah will bless you greatly in another home with another husband.”

Her composure cracks, and a sob escapes from her chapped lips.

She leans over and kisses my cheek, the moisture clinging to hers mingling with my own tears. Beside me Orpah sits silently, tears tracking steadily down her cheeks. Naomi leans in and kisses her, and the tears pour faster, like an overturned pot.

Our grief is tangible, thick, choking us, cloaking us. It blacks out any light, any joy, any hope. The three of us sit, bound intimately by the greatest tragedies our hearts could ever fear.

My world spins. Naomi is all I have left, and now she too is leaving me? Perhaps I should just throw myself into the lake and end this misery once and for all.

My stomach lurches and I turn and vomit onto a patch of grass. I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand and straighten. Orpah is kneeling face down in the grass, sobbing.

“We are going back with you to your people,” I stammer. Though I am a stranger, I would rather be a stranger with companionship than a native and alone.

At my words Naomi’s face breaks again. My heart erupts over the anguish I am heaping onto my beloved mother-in-law. “Return home, my daughters. Why would you come with me? Am I going to have any more sons, who could become your husbands?”

Orpah shakes her head, and I feel a surge of anger at her defection.

Orpah’s agreement seems to bolster Naomi.

“Return home, my daughters,” she repeats. “I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was still hope for me—even if I had a husband tonight and then gave birth to sons – would you wait until they grew up?

Would you remain unmarried for them? No, my daughters. It is more bitter for me than for you, because the Jehovah’s hand has gone out against me!” At this she crumples, hugging herself as though a chill wind blows violently across her.

Orpah and I dash to her side, each hugging her and trying to comfort her through our own tears and anguish. Orpah meets my eyes with her own red-rimmed ones. “I will do as you say, Mother,” she whispers softly. “If it brings you comfort, I will do as you say.” She gives me a pointed look. I know what she is willing me to say.

Naomi clasps her hand and kisses it. “I love you so, Orpah.”

They both shift and look at me – Orpah, with fierce determination; Naomi, with sorrowful hope. And my heart rends within my chest as my mind battles to make a decision about something in which I wished I’d never had a choice.

I grab Naomi’s free hand and press it to my lips as I kneel before her. “I cannot leave you,” I breathe into her flesh.

Orpah exhales noisily through her nose, and I can sense her disapproval. Naomi slips her hand out of mine and brushes back the hair that has fallen forward onto my sweat-frosted forehead. “Look, Ruth, my love,” she began, her voice thick with emotion, “your sister is going back to her people and her gods. Go with her.”

Her people. Her gods. Plural.

But…

Kilion had his God. Naomi has the same God. Orpah has her gods.

Lord Jehovah… I am not a Jew…

But who do I have? My heart despairs at the impending loneliness and isolation.

I feel a rush, a sweeping wind, warm without the aid of the sun. And I hear a voice.

Ruth… Ruth, My love, I call you Friend.

Friend?

Ruth, listen to Me, My child. I am calling you out of the washbasin and into the land of plenty. Into My House of Bread. I beg you to come to Me, to My land, and allow Me to love You and provide for you in ways you cannot imagine.

I listen eagerly, relishing the voice that speaks soothing salve over my wounds.

Ruth, have you not heard Me? I have called you friend. Your lineage, your past does not matter to Me. Turn now to Me with your whole heart, and I will welcome you with waiting arms. And I will make beauty from your ashes. I will turn your mourning into dancing. Though your sorrow will last for the night, My joy comes with the morning.

Who do I have? I thought to myself as I fell into the arms of the God I thought unknowable but who knew me deeper than even Kilion.

I found myself surprised to discover the embrace of an unseen God not only equaled that of Kilion, but surpassed it. “Whom have I in heaven but You?” I whisper, my heart soaring with hope, an emotion almost foreign after being entrenched in grief for so long. “And on earth there is nothing I desire besides You.” I believe… I believe I am accepted in Your sight…

But the gods of Moab?

Leave them, Ruth, and don’t look back! Follow your mother-in-law, for despite what she believes I have not abandoned her nor turned My face from her afflictions. Why would you return to the confusion of many false gods when you can come to Me and live in the simplicity that is My presence, for I am the I Am, the God who Is. The tears are flowing again, but not for Naomi or Orpah, nor for myself or my lifeless husband. My tears flow out of the promise in the words of Jehovah. My life is confusion, a great destructive mess. I crave the peace He offers. I fear without it I cannot go on.

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I turn to Naomi, the fire in my heart spreading to my extremities and burning in my cheeks. “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay.” I swallow thickly, seeing the combined frustration and elation in Naomi’s eyes.

Go on, He speaks. Commit the rest of My promise.

I will, Jehovah Lord… I draw in my breath and continue my pact. “Your people will be my people and your God my God.” No longer her people, Lord. Our people. “Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried.

May Jehovah deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.”

Orpah rolls her eyes, but I only seek out Naomi. She wavers, her eyes rimmed with shimmering tears even as a smile breaks out across her lips. “So I cannot convince you?” she asks halfheartedly, gripping both of my hands in hers.

I shake my head firmly, squeezing her hands back. I don’t trust my voice to speak.

“Then there is nothing more to say.” And rather than abandon me in the shade of the grove, she reaches out and embraces me.

Joy explodes within me as I cling to my mother-in-law, the one who has stuck with me, supported me, and loved me. I have no doubt she prayed for me throughout my marriage to her son. And now, in her time of great need, I will return the favor. * * * We divide the camp, Orpah and several others returning to Moab. Naomi and I will continue on with a few travelers, not stopping until we have returned to the House of Bread, to the land of His promise.

We walk on, the Lake of Salt consistently to our left. Moments of doubt creep into my mind at times. What am I thinking, leaving everything familiar? Going to a land where I am a reviled foreigner, where I will have to start over from scratch? Leaving the grave of my husband and my people?

And as always the peace – the peace that removed my sorrow and allowed me to grieve with joy over my beloved husband – settles over me. And I know it is Jehovah and His Spirit, guiding and protecting me and calling me home to Him. He is not a God of confusion but peace.

I look to my mother-in-law, her back still bent over in grief. I ache for her. I find it strange that she – the one who knew of Jehovah before and after Moab – cannot seem to find her peace in Him, while I – a foreigner and stranger – have been called into His presence.

Accepted.

With a rush Kilion’s words come back to me.

I believe God has a purpose for our being together.

How right he was.

His first purpose for our being together was to draw me to Himself. Oh, how blessed He is that He called me!

As I survey my mother-in-law, still chained by bitterness and grief, I have a sense of what the second part of His purpose might be. To love and comfort her. To be His hands for her.

I smile as joy spreads through me, warming me deeper than the hottest rays of the sun. I wonder with awe what other purposes He will see fit to do in my life. He has promised beauty from my ashes. The scattered, windblown, charred, fragile ashes of my life.

He has brought them together in the simple beauty that is His love.