Ruby summer 2015 by RUBY magazine

Ruby for Women Summer, 2015 “A voice for every Christian woman”

“Her worth is far above rubies . . .” Proverbs 31:10

Ruby for Women A voice for every Christian woman Summer, 2015 www.rubyforwomen.com

We all have been eagerly anticipating summer! Now it has arrived and here at Ruby for Women, we continue to reach out to women all over the world with God’s words of hope, inspiration, and encouragement. We strive to offer a place where every Christian woman has the opportunity to tell her story. Won’t you join us on this journey of discovery and share your story with us soon? We would love to hear from you! Contact us at editor@rubyforwomen.com

Senior Editor: Nina Newton Assistant Editor: Beth Brubaker Devotions: Lynn Mosher Poet-in-Residence: Keith Wallis Feature Writers, Katherine Corrigan, Sharon L. Patterson, Carol Peterson, Gloria Doty, Yvonne Carson, Miriam Jacob, Michelle Lazurek, Nells Wasilewski, Heather King, Lanette Kissel, Donna B. Comeaux, Melissa Zelniker-Presser, Jean Ann Williams, Gayle Veitenheimer, Alisha Ritchie, Kathleen Katt Luce, Mia DeBruyne, Dorothy Kurchak, Nancy LaGree, Connie Arnold, Cindy J. Evans, Ifeoma Samuel, Kim Lengling

In This Issue . . . Page

Title

The Glamorous Life of a WAHM Nina Newton, Sr. Editor

Footprints in the Mud: Treading the Uneven Pathway Beth Brubaker, Asst. Editor

Back in School at Fifty Gayle Veitenheimer

Knock, Knock Alisha Ritchie

Husbands love Your Wives Kathleen Katt Luce

Summer Craft Projects with Vintage Buttons Vintage mama

Calla Lily Zantedeschia Dorothy Kurchak

Hitori Number Puzzle Beth Brubaker

Testimony Keith Wallis

On the Edge Keith Wallis

Carol’s Book Club Carol Peterson

Page 5

Page 8

Page 12

Page 19

Ruby for Women is an online Christian women’s magazine that offers words of hope, inspiration, and encouragement to women everywhere. Knowing that every woman has a story to tell, we seek to give a “voice to every Christian woman,” from all walks of life, of every age, from all around the world. For advertising inquiries, please contact Nina Newton at editor@rubyforwomen.com If you would like to share your story with Ruby for Women, please email our Assistant Editor, Beth Brubaker at bethaatruby@aol.com Also, please visit our blog at www.rubyforwomen.com where you can connect with other Christian women. 1 Ruby for Women 2731 W 700 N Columbia City, IN 46725 editor@rubyforwomen.com

Page 21

Page

Title Lying

54 Donna B. Comeaux

Blessings Nancy LaGree

Page 29

Title Remember Lot’s Wife Cindy J. Evans

The Old Silo Nells Wasilewski

Beauty by the Ages Sharon L. Patterson

The “Good” Scissors Alisha Ritchie

Resurrection of Time Michelle Lazurek

Tasty Tomato Recipes

Memories of Long Ago Summers Gloria Doty

Women of Worth Yvonne Carson

Having a Heart for God Tracy Fox

Serving While Starving Ifeoma Samuel

Quote Maze Puzzle Beth Brubaker

Beauty and the Butterfly Mia DeBruyne

Page 35

Butterfly Coloring Page Mom’s Network Community

Jungle Warfare by Christopher A. Cunningham Book Review by Miriam Jacob

A Line in the Sand Lanette Kissel

Surrounded by His Footprints Lanette Kissel

Kids’ Corner Carol Peterson

Summer Craft Projects Craft Ideas.com

At the Beach Hidden Word Puzzle Beth Brubaker

“War is ugly, but flowers still grow there” Kim Lengling

Because . . . . Sharon L. Patterson

Choices Beth Brubaker

Spiritual Paralysis Donna B. Comeaux

Victim of Grace by Robin Jones Gunn Book Review by Miriam Jacob

A Few Nuggets from the Storehouse . . . . Sharon L. Patterson

You’ll Get Through This by Max Lucado Book Review by Miriam Jacob

My 30 Days Journey Ifeoma Samuel

Page 43

Sunday Morning & Another Cruise Ship Kathleen Katt Luce

Page 57

Page 41

Page 55

Page 45

Page 70

Page 73

It Can Be Done Anonymous

God’s Mercies after Suicide Jean Ann Williams

“I think you need a treat” Sharon L. Patterson

Hitori Number Puzzle and Quote Maze Puzzle Answer Keys

Still Waving Lynn Mosher

At the Beach Word Search Answer Key

Meet the Ruby Writers

Credits and Copyrights

An Ordinary Day Connie Arnold

Page 51

Ruby for Women Magazine and Blog You have a story to tell and we want to hear it! God has given a voice to every Christian woman and we celebrate YOUR voice. Please visit us at the

Ruby for Women blog and share your story with us! * Inspirational posts * Featured bloggers * FREE seasonal online magazine * Crafts, recipes, poetry, and stories We would love to hear from you! www.rubyforwomen.com

The Glamorous Life of a WAHM Nina Newton, Sr. Editor

I have always loved the stories of Beatrix Potter about tiny woodland creatures who live in sweet little homes in the forest. Stories about Peter Rabbit, Mrs. Tiggywinkle, Squirrel Nutkin, Tom Kitten, Mrs. Tittle-mouse, Jemima Puddle-Duck, Benjamin Bunny, Samuel Whiskers and all the rest of her charming menagerie captured my imagination for many years. After reading about these sweet, adorable little creatures for so many years, and following their misadventures, mischief, and the triumphs over chaos in the stories by Ms. Potter, it of course came as quite a shocking discovery when I encountered one of these tiny terrors in real life. In the Beatrix Potter stories, with their gorgeous watercolor paintings and illustrations, you might be led to believe that a harmless mouse, just like Mrs. Tittlemouse, goes toddling around with her broom and dustpan, a dust cloth tucked up in her apron, swatting at nasty old spiders and tossing them out of windows. That’s because in the Story of Mrs. Tittle-Mouse she does exactly that. She is a most fastidious housekeeper, and spends her days sweeping out cobwebs, chasing out lady bugs, and as previously mentioned, tossing dirty, dangerous spiders out her window. I always envisioned Mrs. Tittle-mouse in her pretty calico dress with a spotless white pinafore tied around her waist, bustling around her tiny home in a bank under a hedge, muttering under her breath something about, “if they would just wipe the mud off their feet when they come in after school.” Her broom was not only her perpetual tool of tidiness but it could instantaneously become her weapon against any and every potential threat of a mess. But in the real world . . . . a cute little mouse is, in fact, really, really smelly, nasty, dirty, and . . . . did I mention, stinky? The other day I had everything planned, organized, and scheduled and I intended to have a very productive day. But when I went to the kitchen that morning to make coffee, I could smell something rather unpleasant.

Since I had just cleaned my kitchen and washed the floor on Saturday, I was a bit annoyed. Perhaps one of the kids dumped something stinky in the trash can, I thought That was too much to think about right at the moment, so I made my coffee and started my day. When the girls came out to the kitchen for breakfast, one of them announced, “Yuck! It smells like a dead body in here!” Which I knew but I kept hoping it would go away. No such luck. So, right in the middle all that planning, organization, and scheduling, I had to deal with what I thought must be a DEAD MOUSE! I instead of working my plan, I ended up pulling everything out of the cupboards under my kitchen counter. All of the pots and pans, cookie sheets, and cleaning supplies. I pulled out the shelf paper and tossed it all in the trash can (along with tiny bits of evidence that there had been, in fact, a mouse in the house recently). I then timidly poked my head into the cupboard to see if I could find the body of Mrs. Tittle-mouse back in a corner. Nothing. But WOW did it sure smell bad in there! So then I got out the shop vac to sweep up any remaining evidence. As I was vacuuming out the corners of the cupboards, the vacuum hose got stuck on the side of the wall. Thinking I had vacuumed up a tiny dead body of dear old Mrs. Tittle-mouse, I screamed and dropped the vacuum. I never found a dead mouse, but with all that evidence, there must be a dead body somewhere under the house. If that’s what happened, I feel bad for Mrs. Tittlemouse, but I am no longer deceived by the stories of her being such a sweet little tidy mouse. She is stinky and dirty, and I’m glad she is gone. It is amazing how much chaos can be made by such a tiny woodland creature. A mouse does 4not belong in MY house but in the woods, in a bank under a hedge, or in a rotten old tree stump but NOT in my kitchen!

Footprints in the Mud Treading the Uneven Pathway by Beth Brubaker by Beth Brubaker, Assistant Editor Why doesn’t God give us all a smooth path to walk on? Why is our Christian walk filled with potholes, road blocks, and puppy poo? Being a Christian shouldn’t be hard; after all, we are under His protection - so why isn’t the road smooth as glass? Is He trying to make the walk a little harder for His believers? Yes, He is! Think about exercise. Do you gain more muscle moving your arms up and down, or when you’re lifting weights? Do you increase stamina by biking on even ground or going up a hill? Resistance is what we use to bulk ourselves up, slim ourselves down, and get in shape. Without resistance, there would be no strong muscles! That’s why God doesn’t always give us a smooth path. He wants us to develop our spiritual muscle. He wants us strong in Him to resist temptations, get through the tough times, and dodge the poo the devil puts in our way. But it’s up to us to tread that path, get those muscles pumping, and get to where God wants us to go. We need to pray, worship, and trust that He knows what He’s doing. It’s hard sometimes. I know. I’ve been there. I’m there now. And sometimes the path can be very daunting. Let’s compare the path to one of my struggles, losing weight. In the beginning I was large and not in charge. I didn’t exercise and had no desire to fight temptation. Life was easy, at least until I needed to get somewhere. Walking for long distances was a trial, and most times I quit halfway there. I just wasn’t ready for such a trip. My legs hurt, my lungs craved air, and I was sweating like a racehorse. I changed my eating habits and included exercise. Two months later I’m still large- but I’m in charge. I’m lighter, and can now go further than before without breathing heavy or my legs hurting. I can handle more. I can do more. And because I’m stronger, I want to do more. Going farther isn’t a trial anymore- it’s a challenge that I’m ready to meet! When I stretch those spiritual muscles, the same thing happens. I want to do more, and be more for God’s glory! And in turn, there will be new obstacles to overcome so I can grow even further. Oh, He does give us a patch here and there where it’s smooth- and those are the times we should cherish- because they don’t happen often. But when trials come, and obstacles need defeating, I know that I can handle them through Him. And if I can’t, I just look down to see that one set of footprints - that’s when He’s helping me climb that spiritual rope ladder to success! 5

Back in School at Fifty by Gayle Veitenheimer I’m back in school at fifty. Buying books. Doing homework. Going through research papers with a fine-tooth comb. I’m loving it! As our second child completes his masters, I’m beginning mine. I’m on the five-year plan. My last year of grad school will overlap our youngest child’s first year of undergrad. This online stuff? Genius. My brain doesn’t click as quickly as it did twenty-five years ago. I love being able to stop the lecture video and catch up. A meticulous note taker, I’d be toast in a classroom, but I love learning, and it’s a joy—even the paragraph by paragraph synthetic chart of—drum roll—Leviticus. School has brought change. My free time has disappeared. It’s kind of like bringing home your firstborn and wondering what you used to do before they arrived. The family pitches in on the housework. My husband checks my papers for typos and watches required chapel assignments with me. God makes a way for the homework, housework, and work work—my three part time jobs. Often it’s stressful, but it’s a good stress. I’m following God’s calling. School is a privilege. If you’re on the bubble and thinking of going back, I challenge you to pray.   

Pray about what degree. Pray about what school. Pray about timing.

God has a plan and will be faithful to reveal it to you. Once you get your green light, go for it—even if it means a five-year plan. At fifty, five years is nothing.

Gayle Veitenheimer is a writer, speaker, athlete, wife, and mom. Her mission is to write great stories and to encourage you and yours to live your best and not miss a thing. “I love adventure and a good book. When I’m not writing, I’m working out—running, swimming, and biking which is my sanity break. I also love to hang out with my family, which consists of one terrific guy, four fun kids, and a very relaxed white Lab. I’m a Navy mom, a Baylor mom (Sic’em Bears!), a dance mom, and a sport-of-the-season mom.” 6

Knock, Knock by Alisha Ritchie “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7 NIV I’m 38 years old and I admit that I’m a major chicken when it comes to opening the door to someone I don’t know. Yes, I know it sounds silly but it’s true. When I’m home alone and the doorbell rings, I just cringe. “Who could that be? Is it someone I know? What do they want?” are some of the questions that flood my mind. Fear of the unknown unsettles my soul and makes my palms sweat. I peer out the kitchen window trying to get a glimpse of the visitor. Sometimes I crawl on my hands and knees to get a better view of the front porch without being detected. Absolutely ridiculous, I know, but I just can’t help it. I’ve always been and always will be a major chicken when it comes to opening doors. When thinking about this fear, I’m reminded of Scripture that refers to believers knocking on the door. In Matthew we read, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” In this passage of Scripture, we are promised that if we knock, the door will be opened for us. God is not standing on the other side of the door, petrified to let us in, like me. Excitedly, He welcomes us with open arms, and a warm hug. He invites us to commune with Him and desires to share His intimate thoughts and feelings with us. He is waiting for us, on the other side of the door, ready to reveal more of Himself as we spend time in His presence. So be persistent in knocking on God’s door. He wants us to seek Him with our whole heart, and in the process, bless us with increased faith, focus, and determination. He will always be there to open the door for you, welcoming you into His presence with a warm embrace.

Visit Beth Brubaker at Footprints in the Mud to read her humorous, inspirational posts.

Husbands Love Your Wives by Kathleen Katt Luce It has been said that a man’s love for his wife can be seen in his tenderness toward her. We were sitting by the lake enjoying the surrounding beauty. Nearby was a young family with four children. The dad was playing in the water with the younger three while his pregnant wife was wading along the shore with their oldest son, about 11. Suddenly the oldest son had an idea. He wanted to row his mother out on the lake in the rowboat. We watched them set out—he rowing his mother while his dad waved goodbye. When they reached the center of the lake we noticed the boy stand up and dive in the water. He then began swimming back to shore leaving his pregnant mother alone in the boat! She picked up the oars and began rowing. Her husband saw what happened and I overheard him tell their daughter to watch the two younger ones. He dived in and swam out to the boat and pushed it to shore. Perhaps his wife would have been fine rowing the boat back to shore herself. But her husband was taking no chances. She smiled at him as he gently took her hand and helped her out of the boat. I thought to myself, “What a sweet picture of a man’s tenderness toward his wife.” Nor did I hear him scold the oldest son for abandoning his mother. But I did see him talking privately with his son while the boy nodded apologetically. Later we noticed the family praying together before eating their picnic lunch. I thought to myself, “There’s a man who loves his wife and honors God. How blessed they are! Husbands love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. Ephesians 5:25

Visit Heather King at Room to Breathe to read her inspirational posts.

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After the garden is planted, and the flower beds are weeded, the lawn is mowed, and the back porch has been swept off, it is a perfect time to take a break in the heat of a summer day and work on a craft project. So many of our readers love to do DIY craft projects, and lots of our readers also have sewing projects in process, so we thought that a feature on craft ideas featuring vintage buttons would be fun! In every issue of Ruby for Women we bring you some of the best craft and DIY projects we can find from our travels around the crafty blogosphere. Here are a few fun ideas that we found for summer!

DIY Vintage Button Necklace from Instructables This gorgeous necklace was created from ribbon, fabric, and vintage buttons. It is super simple to make, and is beautiful enough to wear with any summer outfit. It could be made in bright colors, too, to wear with a fun, casual outfit, or designed with all white and ivory buttons for a bridal accessory. This DIY project is so versatile, you could even make a few of these with the kids or grandkids! For more ideas for DIY creations using vintage buttons, visit the Instructables website. 12

Vintage Button Embellished Throw Pillow from All About You Create your own unique style and make some of these throw pillows embellished with vintage buttons. You could do a complete set of pillows for your couch or your bed using a monochromatic scheme like this white-on-white design. Or you could do a few in a riot of bright summer colors for your porch or deck. You can find more inspiration for summer craft and home dĂŠcor projects at All About You.

Vintage Buttons on Burlap Wall Hanging from Dress it up Crafts

Make this wall hanging for any season of the year with a simple burlap background over an artistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s canvas. Paint on a simple tree outline and add your vintage buttons! For spring and summer you could use buttons in bright shades of green and yellow, and add a touch of color with pink, blue, purple, orange, or red. For autumn this project would be beautiful using shades of greens, browns, oranges, and scarlet to represent the seasonal changes in the leaves. And this would be so pretty in the winter time with a black tree silhouette on a white background, with vintage buttons all in shades of white, cream, ivory, gold, silver, and pearl.

Vintage Button Cuff Bracelet from Tatters to Treasures Unique, hand-crafted cuff bracelet can be created from your vintage button jar, a bit of fabric and lace, and a little time. This cuff bracelet also includes a vintage watch face, nestled in the midst of white, ivory, pearl, and gold tone buttons. 13

Vintage Button Bouquet found on Indulgy Wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t this be a fun theme for a summer wedding? Vintage button bouquets and brooch bouquets are not only beautiful and unique to each bride, but they will last a lifetime. Make your own wedding memories with one or a whole bunch of vintage button bouquets! Visit Indulgy for more vintage button inspiration.

Vintage Button Frame found on Pinterest pinned by Cher Blashley This stunning frame could be used either for a mirror or for a photograph. Either way, it would be an absolutely gorgeous gift, or with a vintage photograph it would make a lovely memento for a loved one.

Vintage Button Embellished Lamp Shade from Vintage Mamaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cottage Tired of plain, old boring white lampshades? Grab your glue gun, a few vintage buttons, some fabric scraps and bits of lace and ribbon, and decorate your boring lampshades! This one was created using a length of tassel trim, some wide burlap ribbon scraps, ivory ribbon and lace scraps, and vintage buttons in shades of brown and gold. Just glue the trim around the bottom, glue on a few fabric scraps and ribbons, top with a vintage button and voila! Not so boring lampshade! 14

Calla Lily Zantedeschia by Aunt Dots This is a plant I just had to buy when I saw it at the market! There are three bulbs and each one is growing vigorously. There are currently ten blossoms! I’ve always loved the beauty and simplicity of the calla lily. They can grow from 16 to 36 inches tall depending on conditions. When the weather is warm outside, no more frosts and at least 50 degrees here in Michigan, they can be planted outside. They like sunshine, but they also need some shade from the hotter afternoon sun. When the plant is actively growing they like to be quite wet, but well drained. I’ll be planting the lily in my pond garden. Since it is a moisture loving plant, I’ll place it at the edge of the pond. At the end of summer I will reduce watering to induce dormancy. After a light frost dig up the rhizome and remove the stems and any foliage. Carefully wash the rhizome in warm water to remove any soil. Dust with a fungicide, then set it in a warm and dry area so the rhizome can dry. Once it’s dry, place it in a paper bag and place the bag in a dark location at 4050 degrees until it’s time to replant. I’ve ordered perennials for the pond garden and some for the “outback,” the back yard where there is sand and dryness. I received a catalog from High Country Gardens and they offer plants for dry areas. I do get frustrated with my outback, but this new catalog will help me with selecting plants suitable for dryness. With all my various gardens from sun with good soil, partial shade, full shade and full sun with poor soil, I can have quite a variety of plants. My friend, Debbie, is going to help me paint the doll house, previously a 7x7 shed, in the back yard. We’re going to paint it soft yellow with orchid accents - it is currently tan. The new colors will really make it stand out. I’ll show you the results when it’s done. And, of course, I’ll have to plant yellow and orchid plants there to compliment it. Oh what fun gardening can be! Thank you Father, for my home and the privilege of working with your creations.

In Christ, Aunt Dots

Visit Lynn Mosher on her blog to read her daily devotional and inspirational posts.

Hitori Number Puzzle by Beth Brubaker Fill in the squares so there are no duplicate numbers in any row or column.

Answer key on page 79

Discover more of Paulineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Christian fantasy books on her website, Pauline Creeden

Testimony by Keith Wallis Pink and grey and blue, hither and yon, course on course, like a dusty palette in an abandoned studio. Bricks, sculpted daily by the coarse wind on its untamed journey, reveal their wounds. As if bored by their decades they yawn and grimace as the shadows voyage across their brows. Or they smile rebellious in their revelation. Yet stand they do, in defiance of element, testimony to a past which remains. 17

On the Edge by Keith Wallis On the edge, enclosed in solitude, water, a cat, lapping at my feet, the day grows to maturity. The complaint of gulls mobs a buzzard overhead, a moorhen scuttles across the lake like an over-wound clockwork toy. Nature carries on as if I were not there. But I am here my chest rises and falls with the inevitability of breath. And here I bring my joys and sorrows, my bucket of worries, the aches of heart and body. I have no harp to lay down. I do not bring voice to the poem that writes itself on the edge enclosed in solitude. 18

Book Reviews by Carol Peterson, Author Daughter of Joy by Kathleen Morgan When I read Daughter of Joy, my thinking was that I’d do a little book review for my readers here. And, in fact, I enjoyed reading this book very much. But what I loved most about this book was one little line from smackdab in the middle of the story. Abigail Stanton, the heroine in this first book of the Brides of Culdee Creek series by Kathleen Morgan, recently lost both her husband and her young son. She struggles to maintain her independence—and her faith—in the hard life of the 1800′s Colorado highlands. At one point, Abigail suffers through a succession of crises. The notion of being born again suddenly takes on new meaning for her. Yes, she was born again when she accepted Jesus, she says, but she comes to realize that the phrase has another meaning in her life. Every time Jesus brings us through a crisis or a trial, Abagail realizes we have a new opportunity to be reborn in Him. We have an opportunity to start over again with our new understanding and our new ability learned through our deepened faith in Christ. When I read through that chapter in the book, I set down my Kindle and processed it for a few minutes. I nodded and smiled because, although God doesn’t give us do-overs, He does give us second, third and fifty-third chances—opportunities to do things differently or better; chances to be reborn in our understanding again. And again. And again. Thank you, Jesus, for that. And congratulations to Kathleen Morgan on a nice series. Daughter of Joy is now available from Ruby’s Reading Corner. 19

Florian’s Gate by Davis Bunn Florian’s Gate is a story of international intrigue and how circumstances continue to affect generations after they initially occurred. The book takes us into one family’s history and international antiquity business as our main character, Jeffrey Sinclair begins working with his reclusive uncle, buying and selling high end antiques. As Sinclair learns more about antiques, his uncle relinquishes more business control to him and reveals more about the sources of the exquisite antiques he purchases. Through that, we readers learn about the suffering during World War II and how lives that were affected then continue to suffer to this day. We also learn how God has been at work through it all. We get to watch Jeffrey Sinclair grow in his faith as he also grows in his knowledge of antiques and his understanding of his uncle’s life. Florian’s Gate is now available from Ruby’s Reading Corner. Both of these books were unanimous thumbs-up for our book club. Have you read either of them? Will you? Join our book club by clicking the big red button. Then share with us what you think. Carol also writes a With Faith like Hers Bible study series. When we understand the ways in which our character or circumstances are similar to women in Scripture, we get a glimpse of how God might see us as He saw His daughters of old. Available are I am Eve, I am Esther and I am Ruth. I am Mary will be released winter 2014 for a Christmas study of Jesus’ mother. From Honor Bound Books and available at Amazon.com as well as from Ruby’s Reading Corner. Carol is a member of the Ruby Blogger Team, and she can also be found at www.carolpetersonauthor.com

Lying by Donna B. Comeaux

Colossians 3:9-10 Proverbs 12:22 Revelations 21:8 Lying is a living death. An infectious sin spreading from embellishments to full-blown cover-ups. It has many forms. Manipulation. Silence. Disguise. Rejection. Blame. Lies seep through the ears of people, young and old, and coax them to mimic ungodly behavior until they are convinced their lies have gone undetected. One clear reason for our lies is thisâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; "God, I don't trust you!" In moments of confrontation, we never consider God's unending love. We don't think twice about His grace. Contemplating a positive outcome from the truth becomes preposterous. Not once do we account for the pain and sorrow we are about to inflict on our loved ones. It's our lie. It won't hurt anyone. And it surely won't hurt me. This lie will help me get through this crisis then I'll tell the truth when things ease up. Isn't that what we tell ourselves?

How long did it take you to come up with that story? What harm will come of it? We can't seem to keep our lies to ourselves, can we? We have to infect others with them. You think because Adam and Eve experienced lies in the garden that we are somehow in different circumstances thousands of years later? Marriage is complicated. In your first years, you are so much in love that you overlook each other's flaws. Then as the pressure of work and family and church weigh on you, the two of you venture out of each other's arms and try to find self-worth through other means. In the beginning, you talked about everything. You shared dreams. You acted silly. You took time to have picnics, go bicycling, kick leaves on cool fall mornings. Now you worry more about what lawn care service to use, the kennel to groom your pet, the best schools to send your children, and if or when you'll ever see your grandchildren again. Somewhere in between those years, things got all messed up. One thing too many went unattended.

We can sometimes get all caught up in discussions over the degrees of our lies. "White lies" is what we call them. Placing lies in categories of importance. Disguising our lies as matters of convenience.

Ten years later, you secretly wonder who that person is lying next to you. Often, you wonder if you know who you are.

"Tell the teacher the cat got out. That you won't be late again. Now, go on. Hurry."

21 Sometimes we let things go because nothing we've said or done to this point has ever done any good.

Women hide the truth about how much money they spent on their teenager's prom dress. Men hide new and expensive fishing tackle in a dark corner of the garage.

Freedom from the slavery of sin comes at a price. What's the price? Confession.

Women make a cunning choice to squeeeeeze a new pair of shoes out of the grocery money. Men buy new golf clubs and pay green fees they can't afford. Women invite guests, set elaborate tables, and give false impressions. Men square their shoulders and belt out their latest accomplishments, along with bright ideas not their own. You try to stop the madness, but no matter how many times you begin again, you keep falling in the same muddy ditch. You swear to tell the truth. Only thing is, no one knows what that is. Not even you. You try to get the truth out, but something inside you switches before you can catch it. If you make attempts to correct yourself midstream, you fear everyone will think you're lying all over again. How do we begin to confess that we are not who we appear to be? Must I tell everyone that my lies led me to other sins? I can't do that. The world will crucify me. Oooh, you are so right. The world will indeed crucify you. But if you gain the whole world and lose your soul for appearance sake, what have you gained?

There is something spiritual and powerful about confession. Just a few weeks ago, I lay sick in bed on our wedding anniversary. Food poisoning. I was bedridden for a week. One day during that week, I sent my husband to the store to get 7-Up and beef broth. He went missing for over an hour. Why so long? He blamed it on construction. Thing is, there is no construction on that roadway. I questioned him again and he said it was traffic. Why would he lie about something so insignificant? Listen to what he had to say: "I didn't want you to think that my being at the store was more important than you." My dear husband is going through a period of brokenness over a great many things. To be circumcised and broken is to be vulnerable. All of us must go to God in our weakness and allow him to break us in every area of our being. But it won't happen without confession. Most people feel afraid of disappointing us. They tell "white lies" in hopes to ease their fears. Sometimes lies are told because we are selfish. Regardless, each time we lie, no matter how long the lie lasts, it gets easier to lie again, and again, and again. When I spoke to a young mother the following week, I was shocked that she shared a similar story. I thought, no way this young mother felt my weariness and helplessness over daily, petty lies. Had this young mother overhead my conversation with my husband? Not possible. We live in two 22 different states.

At some point, your family unit will become miserable, angry, frustrated, and dysfunctional. Husbands and wives have not only lived frustrating lives, but have also made the lives of those around them feel hopeless. No one is happy. Everyone is in bondage. It's as if someone has locked you away and left you forever seeking what you can't possibly find in darkness.

Then I began to wonder. How many women are going through this? How many men are just as frustrated with their wives? Too often we suffer in silence. We are afraid of making something out of nothing. If that's true, then why do things go wrong because of these meaningless lies? And are they meaningless? Inevitably, either you're stifling anger because of his lies, or he's enraged by yours. Some of us lie in hopes of avoiding arguments. No matter why we lie, it never justifies our fearlessness before the Holy One. We must come to grips with the fact that our relationship with God is the most important we will ever have. Because of our connection to the Father, we must come to understand that our lies began first in HIS presence. Like the lies told in the Garden of Eden, they give us a moment of pleasure, but they will cut our family tree off at its roots. You not only walk a path of destruction, but you become a leader to others walking on the same path. Adam and Eve's sin was not theirs alone. Their family paid a price for their disobedience. Can you see how Adam and Eve's sin infected their family unit and passed from one generation to the next? Men and women forget their lies are being heard by their children, co-workers, parents, friends, and relatives. We don't count the cost of our influence on others. When others see that we've gotten by with our lies, they repeat the behavior. Don't let children fool you. What they hear with their little ears today is reenacted tomorrow.

Today, men and women are still fighting for equal rights and partnerships as originally established in the Garden of Eden. The only way to regain this status is for each of us to be obedient and seek God's favor. God has to be our priority. Confessing and calling sin by name is the most exposed way to confront our failures. Nothing can successfully take the place of confession. For too long, honesty has become a farfetched commodity on a hot market of selfishness. We have a hard time opening our mouths and confessing truth. Before long, we are living worldly lives. Before long, the world is mocking us, mocking Jesus Christ, mocking the Holy One. We are called to be a holy people, a royal priesthood, to be found blameless. And yet, we live day-to-day with lies on our tongues. By living this way, we quench the Holy Spirit and deny God sees all, hears all, and is moved by our choices. No matter where you are, God sees you. While you and I are ashamed of Hollywood celebrities posing nude, we give no thought to the tales we've told in the presence of God. We belong to the holy family of God and he feels more sorrow over our sin than that of the world. How do you think God feels about your lies? If you've never posed that question, it's time for all of us to ponder it a while. He's not happy. For from the beginning, His spirit grieved when Adam and Eve didn't think He was enough for them. And yet he keeps chasing after us through his everlasting love. He seeks us when we don't give 23 him a thought. He speaks truth while we cover ourselves in more lies.

Lies are ingrained in our daily behavior. So much so, that we wear them like a pair of old shoes. We must begin by confessing our sins one to another until the weight of our sins are so heavy that we are compelled to pour out our pain to God. Occasionally, we rattle off confessions like a grocery list. But when confessions have time to marinate, the truth becomes more vivid, more detailed. When we take off the cloak of darkness and bend down in our nakedness, we hurt. When your confessions begin to flow, you are wrapped in severe spiritual pain while a circumcision takes place. At times, you will be inconsolable. And there, amid all the sorrow, is where God is doing his mighty work. As you continue to pour out your heart and sorrow, regret and sin, he continues to replenish you with forgiveness, love, and freedom.

Prayer: God, please do to me whatever you must in order to break me. Break every part of me. In my brokenness, please reach inside me and restore me. Refresh my spirit, oh God. Straighten my feeble knees and help me stand in truth. Strip me of my need to impress the world. Make my paths straight. Make your ways, my ways. Help my yes to be yes, my no to be no. I beg you, oh Lord, make me fully aware that you see all things, know all things, hear all things. If I crawl under a rock, you are there. If I mumble under my breath, you hear. Create in me a clean heart, oh God. With tears I cry out, "Create in me a clean heart, Oh God." Amen.

Your constant prayers begin as confessions, but over time they become prayers of thanksgiving. Your newfound freedom is indescribable. What's happening to you doesn't seem real. But it is. You know it is. You feel the change. Soon, you'll see the change. That's because God has met you at your brokenness and healed you with his power. There are no quick fixes. No easy answers. No twenty-four-hour remedy. No "take an aspirin and call me in the morning" antidotes. Confessions and healings are a messy combination. We kneel in mire and shame. God steps into our smelly mess and raises us, clean and free. Husbands and wives spend years lying to one another. Pointing fingers. Blaming. Cursing. Manipulating. They've spent a longer lifetime lying to God. How do we sleep at night knowing that we've lied not only to our spouse, but to our God? Will we ever allow ourselves to be vulnerable so God can perform a mighty work in us? It's time to let God free us from the sin of lying. Allow God to circumcise your heart with truth. You're tired. I'm tired. Let's place the sin of lying at the feet of Jesus. Then sit back and see what his mighty hands will do with us.

Study: Romans 2:17-29; Romans 8:18-27; Hebrews 12:12; Warnings Against Refusing God Hebrews 12:14-29; People pleasers - Proverbs 29:25; John 7:13; Galatians 1:10; and Galatians 5:7-12.

For more insight, see Jeff Walling's video entitled "Broken" dated September 23, 2012, at this website: http://www.prcoc.org/media/sermons. Choose Media then search Jeff Walling and choose the 09/23/12 video. 24 (NOTE: My husband's struggles are published here with his permission.)

More FREE printable calendars from www.imom.com

Blessings by Nancy E. LaGree Birds that fill the morning air with songs of great delight, golden rays of sunshine, twinkling stars at night, soft clouds floating across the sky, the dawning of each new day, raindrops falling on a thirsty earth, flowers in bright array, a smile from a passing stranger, children’s’ laughter in the air, the caring touch of a loved one, lifting that burden you bear. These are just some of the blessings, raining down on us from above, each one a gentle reminder, of God’s Unending Love. 26

by Sharon L. Patterson As summer approaches, I thought I would pass on some practical information you might enjoy. These are things I have learned in my 67 years of facing the mirror of change and age and 20 years of owning a small beauty business. It has been both a joy and a blessing to share tidbits of beauty maintenance for the canvas of our skin. The Three Stages of Life: 1.) Youth 2.) Middle Age 3.) ‘You haven’t changed a bit!’ Facing the facts: In our 20s 1. We have overactive sebaceous glands that lead to breakout 2. We need to keep skin fresh and clean 3. We need to use sunscreen 4. No need for pricey skin care In our 30s 1. We have cell turnover 2. Sun damage emerges 3. Texture changes 4. Fine lines around the eyes 5. Possible beginnings of rosacea

6. Can have breakout if creams are heavily infused with oil 7. Begin to need a light night cream 8. Exfoliation is needed 9. Eye gels and eye creams are good to use

In our 40s 1. Our skin becomes drier 2. Our skin has a rougher texture 3. Elasticity changes 4. We need thicker night creams 5. Eye creams are a must as is moisturization

In our 50s and beyond . . . 1. Fluctuating hormones 2. We have dryness and the return of breakouts 3. Wrinkles emerge around the eyes and mouth 4. We have a changing jaw line 5. Continue to use eye cream

6. Time to add neck creams 7. Use magnification to apply makeup: blend, blend, and blend 8. Shine is fine but iridescence shows creepiness27 9. Don’t forget that sunscreen!

Points to ponder…absolutes for every age 1. Eye cream 2. Concealer Liquid foundation: apply concealer over foundation Powder foundation: apply under foundation

3. Sunscreen 4. Exfoliation 5. Proper moisturization (even for very oily skin!)

Must haves…Underwear for the skin! 1. Eye enhancer . . . No creases in the shadow! 2. Lip Enhancer . . . No creeping of lipstick into the wrinkles around the mouth

3. Eye cream 4. Lip liner 5. Sun screen

Mistakes I have seen most often… 1. Foundation shade is too dark and leaves a tell-tale line 2. Undefined lips 3. Unkempt brows 4. Not using moisturizer and sun screen

5. Unblended shadow 6. Needs updating - Visit your local beauty counter at your favorite department store. They love to help you update. But none of these are fatal…all are fixable!

Fun fixes 1. Eye gel in the frig for a refreshing puffiness fix 2. Highlighter on the cheeks and chin give a glow in the moonlight! 3. Line the inside of the eye with a light pink…makes the whites of your eyes look whiter 4. Spray an eyebrow brush with hairspray before brushing your brows…they will stay! 5. The quickest way to beautiful skin is a 10 minute mask…while you shave…same day as trash day makes it easy to remember And the order of application is… “What works deepest in the skin goes on first!” 1. Serums 2. Gels 3. Lotions 4. Creams I hope you find something that will be a practical addition to your beauty journey! 28

The Resurrection of Time by Michelle Lazurek

My nana loved clocks. I would often watch television over at Nana’s house and the chimes of her small wooden clock would ring in a new program each hour. Bong... Bong… Bong… I remember that clock as I remember Nana. Its gentle chimes prepared me for what was to come; a reminder that time was looming—waiting for me to take hold of it. “It’s time to come to church,” Nana would say before we climbed in the car and hurried down the driveway to Sunday morning mass. Those chimes beckoned me to the living room for reading, to the table for supper and the bedroom to bid the day adieu. Often I fell asleep at Nana’s house, the chimes lulling me to a gentle, dreamful sleep. The small wooden clock became a permanent fixture in Nana’s home for years. Then, one day as a teen, I noticed something. The clock was losing time. First five minutes, then ten, then twenty. It was a slow fade, each minute escaping into the unknown with no warning, no one to acknowledge its existence. Nana sent it out to the clock doctor to have it fixed, hoping to stop time from escaping. But each time the clock returned, the problem remained. Minutes were escaping and there was no way to stop them. Time has a funny way of doing that now and then. As I got older, the problem worsened. Then one day, time stood still. The clock stopped. It is unfixable, the clock doctor said. Nana stopped fixing it after that. The clock still remained at Nana’s house, stuck, frozen on that eleventh hour. The chimes were heard no more; no longer beckoned me to come. The clock had lost its will to live. And soon after, so did Nana. Time stood still once again. Recently, I made one last attempt at unfreezing time. I took Nana's clock to a different clock doctor, one that specializes in making up for lost time. 29

The clock works just fine, the new doctor said. My heart filled with joy as I took the special key and wound the clock ever so gently and its bushings sprung back to life. My finger gingerly moved the hands off of the eleventh hour to its new hour. Twelve thirty—time for a new beginning. Time resumed once again. But time wasn’t the only thing that was resurrected that day. It had been eighteen years since I heard those chimes. As I write this, the wooden clock's chimes beckon not I, but my children, with a sound foreign but intriguing to them. The children ask, “What’s that sound?” I tell them it is the sound of time rewinding, minutes once lost but now found, beckoning us once again. When I listen closely, I hear the gentle sound of my Nana, calling for me to take hold of time, because one day time will stop for me too. But until then, time beckons me and it beckons you, too. Bong… Bong… Bong…

Visit Michelle on her blog to read more of her inspiring and encouraging posts.

Memories of Long Ago Summers by Gloria Doty I was born and raised ‘in the country’ in northeast Indiana. I lived with my parents, my sister and my maternal grandmother. Our house was on a gravel road; we didn’t have a telephone and my mother didn’t drive. All those things could add up to the most boring existence on earth for a kid with an entire summer stretching before them. But it wasn’t. I totally enjoyed my summers. I was the ‘baby’ so I never had to do much of anything as far as work or chores. I’d plead with my grandmother to be allowed to help her peel apples, (I wanted to see if I could peel an entire apple in one long strip) or if I could cut the long pale yellow rows of sweet corn off the cobs, her answer was always the same: “No, I’ll do it. You go play.” Now that I’m grown and have 5 children and 13 grandchildren, I think what she was really thinking was: “I don’t have time to teach you how or to bind up your cuts when the knife slips. I can do it so much faster without your help.” On extremely hot days, Mom would put water in a large wash tub and set it in the sun to warm. That was my swimming pool. I played with the many barn cats and the dog. Occasionally, I was allowed to gather the eggs. I made dolls from the hollyhock flowers and had pretend conversations with them. I made pies and cakes in my sandbox. I had a wooden swing attached with ropes to a large tree limb. I’d ‘swing and sing’ for hours, all the while talking to my imaginary friends. We had only one neighboring house on our mile stretch of road. There were no children living there; only 3 elderly unmarried siblings. I would walk to the mailbox with Mary, one of the sisters, each afternoon. Our mailboxes were at the crossroad, which was a bit of a jaunt from our house. I still like to get the mail, even though now I only have to open my door and go down the steps. Friday evenings, we usually visited one of my cousin’s houses. We played hide and seek and ate hand-cranked homemade ice cream. 31

Each summer my cousin Kathy, who lived in a town several hours away, would stay at my house for 2 weeks and then I would stay at her house for 2 weeks. Mom always furnished the “grown-up” clothes for us to play house with our dolls. My parents took a 2-week vacation each summer. It was a much anticipated adventure. I visited 38 of the (then) 48 states by the time I was 10 years old. Those were wonderful trips, even though the car was not airconditioned and there were no interstates. I actually got to see and absorb the changing countryside. I only wore shoes to the store on Saturday and church on Sunday. The rest of the summer I was barefoot and happy about it. There were no ‘nightly baths.’ Mom would run water into a bucket (straight from the well equals very cold) and I rinsed the dirt off my feet before I went in for the night. I caught fireflies in jars and watched them light. I always turned them loose before I went inside. I read stacks of books I brought home from the library each Saturday. My children were involved in baseball, softball, 4-H, and camp. They were always incredulous when I would describe my summers; they couldn’t believe I didn’t die of boredom. I didn’t, obviously. I developed a healthy imagination and strong reading skills. I’m not suggesting children should go back to my childhood way of life. That is impossible. Perhaps I missed some things, but I was happy and healthy…and content.

Having a Heart for God – 365 Days of the One Minute Bible Study by Tracy Fox Having a Heart for God is a daily devotional for busy adults seeking to be inspired by God’s word on a daily basis while learning about the Bible. The devotional’s entries are “best of” selections taken from the successful “One Minute Bible Study” e-mail devotional already popular with thousands of readers. Written in a chronological 365-day format, each devotional contains a Scripture reading, explanation/application, reflection question for the reader to ponder, and a relevant quote from a prominent source. s to educate men and women on the biblical principles and strategies that can be used daily. Each study is thoughtfully researched and broken down into bite-size, inspirational and applicable biblical truth. is that readers will be both educated about the Bible and inspired by God’s Word daily. The result will be more peace, more purpose and more connection to God’s will for your life. Amazon review: “This is the most authentically heartfelt, best-researched, practical and well-written devotional I have ever read! It's truly a blessing.” "Tracy Fox loves God and loves to help people engage with Him through His Word, pretty winning combo if you ask me!" - Lisa Harper, Author and Women of Faith Speaker

Tracy Baumer Fox has been teaching the Bible and its lifechanging principles for over 10 years. In addition to forming her company, Having A Heart For God, Tracy also is a published columnist, founder of The Darien Lenten Luncheon, and an NYU fulltime professional, certified Life Coach. For more information, contact Tracy Fox at 203 856-2906

Quote Maze Puzzle by Beth Brubaker Find the entire quote by starting on the outer edge of the box and follow the letters up, down, left or right. No diagonal lines please! Fill in the lines below:

Answer key is on page 79

Tracy Fox, Life Coach and author, at Having a Heart for God. 34

Beauty and the Butterfly by Mia DeBruyne

Over the prairie hovered a pale yellow butterfly, “Why am I so simple? I wish I was a vivid color with fabulous beauty like the flowers.” Deep in the forest a tiny red rosebud stretched into the morning sunlight. “How I long to bloom into a red rose…if only a butterfly will drink of my nectar then my petals will open.” As the flowers of the prairie bloomed, the butterfly decided, “I will ask the beautiful creatures of the prairie how they got that way. Maybe they will teach me how to be lively and colorful too.” The butterfly flittered across the prairie grass. “Look, the purple Blazingstar, the most beautiful flower of the prairie! Purple flower, purple Blazingstar! How did you become such a pretty purple flower?”

“Yes, I am going to be interesting and pretty like the Blazingstar!” “I know a shortcut for you. Come follow me,” said the spider with a sneer. The butterfly followed the fuzzy black spider through the prairie grass, around a rock, and into a sticky white web. “Here it is. This will make you pretty,” said the fuzzy black spider as he wound a web around the butterfly. “I cannot breathe,” gasped the butterfly. “Stop now!” “No, a bit more,” said the spider oblivious to the shimmering snake slithering behind him.

“I was born this way,” said the Blazingstar.

“Look, behind you is a snake!” screamed the butterfly.

“Do you think I could become pretty and purple like you?” asked the butterfly.

“You are fooling me. There is no snake. You just don’t want to be my dinner!”

“If you go down into the dirt really deep then you might become a flower like me.”

“Your dinner!” cried the butterfly.

“Thank you,” said the butterfly diving into the ground. “Ouch!” A fuzzy black spider creeping along the prairie ground asked the butterfly, “What are you doing little butterfly?” “I want to be a pretty purple flower like the Blazingstar. So I am going to bury myself in the dirt!” “Oh, that is very interesting,” said the spider.

“Yes, little butterfly, I plan to eat you for my dinner.” “I will not be your dinner,” said the butterfly. “But, somebody is going to enjoy dinner very soon!” “Yessss, I am here for my dinner. One little butterfly and one big fuzzy spider, I like spiders for dinner the bessst,” said the snake swallowing the spider and slithering away. Left alone the butterfly cried, “Now what shall I do? I am stuck in this web. My wings are all crinkled. I’m 35 not even sure I can fly…”

A wise old hummingbird heard the butterfly crying. “Look, a poor little butterfly is caught in a web.” Hearing a strange buzzing sound from above, the butterfly looked up and yelled, “Look, a hummingbird! Help hummingbird! Will you please free me from this spider web?” “Yes, I think I can help you,” said the hummingbird as its wings created a strong breeze blowing the sticky spider web to pieces. “Now wiggle free! You need to work hard but you can get out!” “I’m stuck!” cried the butterfly. “Keep trying,” said the hummingbird. Strands of the spider web began to fall away. “I am free!” shouted the butterfly flapping its wings. But the spider web left many black stripes on the butterfly’s wings. “How did you get stuck in that spider’s web?” asked the wise hummingbird.

White welts formed along the outside edge of the butterfly’s wings from the hornet’s stings. “Fields filled with fruit are not for me!” said the butterfly flying away. The pale yellow butterfly, tarnished with black stripes and sprinkled with white spots, grew weary and discouraged, “I will never become a colorful creature of the prairie.” The shadows of the night grew tall and colors of the rainbow splashed across the sky. The glimmer of lightning bugs radiated through the night. Meanwhile, deep in the forest the tiny red rosebud waited patiently. She was still hoping for a butterfly to drink of her nectar so her petals may open to the brilliant sunshine. Seeking refuge for the night in the safety of the forest, the weary butterfly quietly thought, “Look, a tiny red rosebud. What a lovely smell. I will rest here.”

“I wanted to be interesting and colorful like the pretty purple flowers. But, you are very interesting too,” said the butterfly. “Your wings move so fast. You have shimmering iridescent colors unlike any I have seen before. I want to be like you.” “If you want to be like me, you need to drink nectar from the colorful flowers of the prairie,” said the hummingbird. “Thank you!” said the butterfly rushing away in search of the fruitful nectar. “Look, beautiful apple trees bursting with pink flowers! This must be an orchard. It smells so good here. I would like to be pink and sweet smelling like them.” But the sweet smelling apple blossoms already had creatures who called the orchard home. Hornets swarmed around the butterfly. “Ouch!” cried the pale butterfly. “Ouch, Ouch!” again and again stinging pain pelted the butterfly’s wings. “Why do you sting me?” asked the butterfly. “You are in our home! You are drinking of our nectar! You are not welcome here! We want you to leave!” replied the swarm of hornets in unison. “I will leave! Please stop stinging me,” cried the butterfly.

The rosebud could not believe her good fortune. “Hello, beautiful butterfly! Thank you for coming to visit me. Please drink some of my nourishing nectar.” “Thank you little rose for sharing your nectar. I am so very thirsty,” said the butterfly. Suddenly, the pale yellow butterfly flushed with a deep orange glow. “I don’t need to be purple, or interesting,” said the butterfly to the rose. “I am perfect just the way I am, and so are you.” The fruitful nectar of the friendly red rose transformed the pale yellow butterfly into the vibrant 36 orange creature of the prairie known today as the Monarch Butterfly.

Butterfly Coloring Page used by permission of the Moms Network Community, where you can find more coloring pages and other resources for moms.

Jungle Warfare by Christopher A. Cunningham Book Review by Miriam Jacob Christians are warriors in constant warfare who are called to persevere in spite of what comes their way. Here is a valuable lesson to be tackled head-on, at first hand. The best of all champions know beyond the shadow of a doubt that true Christians are winners who never quit. They are called to run the race of life and to run, fully expecting to win the prize. In Jungle Warfare, Christopher Cunningham reveals how to fight and win the battle of faith in the jungle of life with God's Word as our field manual. Christians battle a deadly spiritual enemy who schemes, plots and prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking whom to devour. They are called to fight on a physical and spiritual front simultaneously, on the most challenging terrain. Christians fight with Jesus Christ as their Commander-inChief. They are perfectly confident in the knowledge that He has already won the battles they will face. Christians feel the presence of God's Holy Spirit as He leads them through the jungle of life in the presence of their enemies. Christians are called to muster up the courage and strength to face the hardest of times and still retain their basic integrity, sense of duty and love of freedom in the basic principles of the Christian faith. Christians will possess a peace that passes all understanding and navigate through the jungles of life with the One who knows the way. Every Christian is a soldier. Christian soldiers are prayer warriors and members of a team of believers worldwide. They serve the people of the world and live out the Christian values. They always place their calling first, don't accept defeat and never quit. They are Good Samaritans, well-trained and disciplined, mentally and physically tough, proficient in any warrior tasks they might have to face. God enabled Christopher Cunningham to recapture his passion for Him and for His life's work. God lit a flame inside him that inspired him to thttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifrain others, to humble himself and to know that God is in complete control. Christopher Cunningham writes that "God's love is a wonderful, unyielding, unwavering, unconditional, unselfish, and uncanny love called 'agape,' best characterized by its unconditional and sacrificial nature." In the jungle of life, God's unconditional love is our compass. When all else fails, love wins!

Miriam Jacob is a member of the Ruby Book Review Team. You can read more of her book reviews on her blog, Miriam Jacobâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Portfolio. 38

A Line in the Sand by Lanette Kissel Lord, You have drawn a line in the sand, a line between evil and good, a line I am not allowed to cross. Yet I don’t always do as I should. Lord, You stand on this side of the line. And You offer me such loving care. But on the other side stands the tempter. His trap is baited, waiting to ensnare. It seems Satan is beckoning to me. His lure is beginning to entice. Please, Lord, come and rescue me, so I don’t fall prey to his clever device. I’m still on Your side, Lord. But my toes are touching the line. I feel I’m teetering on the brink, torn between evil and the divine. Instead of one step forward, help me to take two steps back. Lend me Your competent strength so I can stand against Satan’s attack. I know there will be times when You will have to stay my foot again. But two steps back are not enough. I would really rather take ten. You have come through As You always do. I have just taken ten, And I can only say…Amen.

Surrounded by His Footprints by Lanette Kissel It would seem I have an invisible companion, the One who holds me in the palm of His hand. It appears I’m not making this journey alone. Someone makes prints beside mine in the sand. When I begin to gaze upon His footprint, I have to wonder what size it will be. Will it be the footprint of a giant, or more the size of you and me? Just what will I see as I look down? Will His print be toe to toe with mine? Or will there be times I cannot see both because the prints appear to intertwine? At times His footprints are in front of me and He is gently taking the lead, knowing that I’m feeling lost and confused and that His guidance is what I most need. And when my life seems to be going smoothly, He steps beside me, setting the pace, so I can maintain my rhythm and flow as I attempt to run this earthly race. When I am frozen in my tracks, and find myself paralyzed with fright, it is then He stands behind me. His gentle nudge frees me from my plight. There are times when my load is too heavy and I feel I’ve reached the end of my rope. Those are the times He’s had to carry me till I could find enough strength to cope. When I glance around me in any direction, I am certain that I will see that I’m surrounded by His footprints. For He will always be there with me. 40

Sunday Morning & another Cruise Ship by Kathleen Katt Luce

It was a Princess Cruise. I approached the cruise director asking permission to lead an interdenominational Bible study and/or prayer meeting. He was enthusiastic! He said I could do it Sunday morning and he would give me the theater. I thought to myself, Hmm…the theater is more room than I need. Oh well, I suppose I could gather the usual 20-40 people over in a corner. Sunday morning I arrived ten minutes early and was shocked at what I saw. Each theater entrance had a table with a stack of hymnals; The theater itself was filling up! The stage had been converted to an altar with a large gold cross, electric candles and a podium. I picked up a hymnal and walked down the center aisle, praying like crazy. I greeted those in front and tried to act confident. I knew my little study in Colossians was not going to cut it. I stepped to the podium and suggested we open our hymnals to Amazing Grace—a song familiar to both Protestants and Catholics. We sang it a cappella. Next I opened in prayer. Then I introduced myself. “I am not a pastor, nor a minister. I’m simply a guest, as you are. However, for several years I have been a volunteer chaplain in our county jail.” For some reason, that comment brought a peal of laughter. I was winging it, but the Lord was leading. I decided then to continue with the jail theme: “Let me ask you a question that I often ask inmates. That is, “Who is Jesus Christ to you, personally?” People from all over the theater began calling out answers. I repeated the answers as I heard them and told them these are the same types of answers I often hear from inmates: “Jesus was a great teacher. Jesus was the ultimate role model. Jesus was a good person, a historical figure. He was the Son of God.” These are all true statements, but they don’t answer my question, “Who is Jesus to you, personally?” There were two couples sitting together down in the front that called out, “My personal Lord and Savior!” I instantly felt a connection with them. Somehow I knew they were praying for me. Later I discovered I was right. 41

I said, “When inmates tell me, ‘Jesus is my personal Savior. He is everything to me,’ then they are letting me know that Jesus Christ has personally impacted their lives.” “Another question I might ask is, ‘If you were to die today, do you know where you’d go?’ Often inmates say they are pretty confident they’d go to heaven because a few years ago they “prayed a prayer and got saved.” It doesn’t seem to concern them that they have continued to live a life of sin. “Recently an inmate said, ‘I think I deserve heaven because I’m a good person. I’ve never really done anything wrong.’ I wanted to say ‘HELLO! Do you know where you are?’” Somehow I filled 35 minutes and the response from passengers amazed me. Several actually requested we do it again mid-week! The cruise director was pleased. Since then I have led several onboard church services—adding altar calls. But now I come with a prepared message—it makes it much easier! Wherever we go there are people who need the Lord. God wants to use us to be His light to a lost world. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16

Kids’ Korner by Carol Peterson What could be cooler than books about history? Books about history and trains! Patricia Newman’s Jingle the Brass is one of those books that encourages kids to love learning about history. It takes you back to the time when working on the railroad was like living in a different world— almost with a language of its own. We follow the boss hogger (engineer) as he gets the train ready and heads out on the rails. Michael Chesworth’s pictures match the text perfectly and accent the story’s movement and flow. "Climb aboard and ride the point!" Step back in time to Ruby's rail-yard hash house and put on the nosebag with the boss hogger. He'll tell you he likes his eggs with headlights, but if you want scrambled, just order wreck on the main line. Follow him as he and his ashcat warm up engine number 417 at the roundhouse, give her a drink at the water tower, and then hitch her up to a jigger. Then jingle the brass and ride the point. Soon the rods will be flashing, because now you're railroading! Rhythmic text and busy, detail-filled pictures make learning train lingo loads of fun in this picture book that transports readers back to the heyday of steam locomotion. JINGLE THE BRASS is published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2004; ISBN: 0-374-33679-2. You can learn more about Patricia Newman and her other books at patriciamnewman.com. Here are some activities for kids related to Jingle the Brass. Not only do they extend the learning from the story, they’re fun, too.

PRE-READING ACTIVITIES TO ACTIVATE PRIOR KNOWLEDGE (for all ages) 1) Talk about the different people who work on a train. What are their jobs? Why are they important? Examples: Engineer, fireman, brakeman, track worker, conductor, dispatcher. 2) Find out how much kids know about the functions of different railroad cars. Examples: locomotive, hopper, refrigerator car, caboose, engine, oil can, livestock car. 3) Discuss why trains are important. Hypothesize how a locomotive hooks up to the rest of the train and how two locomotives might share one track. 43

RAIL TALK ACTIVITY (grades 3 and up) Match the words from the Regular Words column with the words from the Railroad Words column.

Regular Words:

Railroad Words:

•

coal

•

black diamonds

•

cowboys

•

clover pickers

•

head-on crash

•

cornfield meet

•

restaurant

•

hash house

•

sunny-side up eggs

•

eggs with headlights

•

engine

•

hog

•

ring the bell

•

jingle the brass

•

pocket watch

•

ticker

•

milk

•

whitewash

•

police

•

bulls

Summer Craft Projects from Craft Ideas We recently discovered the Craft Ideas website and all of the amazing craft and DIY project ideas they have available to their readers. After exchanging a few emails with the owners of the Craft Ideas website, we were given permission to share some of their seasonal craft tutorials with the readers of Ruby for Women. So, here are lots of great ideas for your summer crafting projects! Be sure to stop by and visit the Craft Ideas website, and donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget to tell them that Ruby sent you!

Natural Seashell Wreath If you have been to the sea or ocean on holiday, then you know how hard it is to resist collecting seashells and other objects scattered around the beach. With all of the different and pretty shells available, it is like finding treasure. Kids especially love to collect these things in their buckets as souvenirs from their trip. When you get home, you do not want to throw away these vacation tokens but sometimes do not know what to do with them. Why not make a wreath such as the above one to decoratively display them. This craft is so easy and is a lovely reminder of the trip long after the vacation is over. Find the complete tutorial for the Natural Seashell Wreath on the Craft Ideas website.

Beach in a Glass If you cannot go to the beach, then bring the beach home to you. Collected seashells and driftwood from previous vacations on the coast were used for this project. Find the complete tutorial for this lovely Beach in a Glass home dĂŠcor project on the Craft Ideas website. 45

Tea Light Candle Centerpiece with Seashells This beautiful summer home dĂŠcor project is super simple, quick, and easy to make. Collected seashells from the last beach vacation can be used as embellishments for this lovely centerpiece, add a scoop of sand to a clear glass container, nestle a tiny tea light in the center of the shells, and set your sparkling candles on your porch or deck to light up a summer night. Find the complete tutorial for the Tea Light Candle Centerpiece with Seashells on the Craft Ideas website.

Kitchen Canvas Wall Hanging How fun is this??? This adorable kitchen motif wall hanging can be made using paper napkins or paper towels! What a great idea for adding a pop of color to your kitchen. An easy way to create new wall decorations for any room in the house is by applying paper napkins to stretched canvas pictures. Here an extra step was taken to create an antique looking picture by adding a crackling medium to the canvas. You can find the complete tutorial for the Kitchen Canvas Wall Hanging on the Craft Ideas website.

Glittery Patriotic Stars If you are planning an Independence Day barbecue and need quick decorations for the occasion, create these glittery stars to hang on your trees and shrubs. When the sun shines, these will sparkle and look so festive for the day. Another quick and easy summer craft to bring creativity to your summer days, from the Craft Ideas website. For the complete tutorial for the Glittery Patriotic Stars project, visit the Craft Ideas website. 46

It Can Be Done (author unknown) The ones who miss all the fun are those who say “It can’t be done.” In solemn pride they stand aloof and greet each venture with reproof. Had they the power they’d deface the history of the human race. We’d have no radio or motor cars, no street lamps lit by electric stars, no telegraph, nor telephone, we’d linger in the age of stone. The world would sleep if things were run by those who say “It can’t be done!”

“I Think You Need A Treat!” Sweetness in the Journey with Dementia by Sharon L. Patterson “I think you need a treat,” my father-in-law announced, a Texas-sized smile stretched sweetly across his face. That signaled he was ready for one of his favorite things in the entire world- ice cream. I helped him to the car and off we went for our treat. We brought him to our home shortly after the death of his beloved Betty Jo, his wife of 54 years because his dementia and Parkinson’s required medical tests that could be performed at a facility near our home. Our daily routine included a procedure followed by a trip for ice cream. Betty Jo had been his caretaker for the last seven years. As my father-in-law’s dementia worsened, he believed there were “two Betty Jo’s”- the loving one and the one who was always chiding him concerning his medication. He loved the nice Betty Jo and requested the other one might be suited somewhere besides his home. Possibly my mother-in-law suffered more emotionally over that because her devoted care and love were unquestionable. We made the three hour trip every weekend possible in order to give Betty Jo some much needed rest. The strain of being watchful night and day, wrestling with constant repetition on every aspect of my father-in-law’s activities, wore on her greatly. She continued in her incredible way to care for ever-increasing responsibilities concerning his mental and physical condition. Her tiredness etched ever deeper around her eyes each time we came to visit. My husband is one of three very remarkable brothers. Each contributed to the care of their father. We daughter-in-laws found our niche in what that meant as well.

Ron, the oldest, who worked the night shift, tended their physical property; Larry, my husband’s twin took care of the financial oversight. I cannot recall hearing complaints as to who was doing whatever. Every family member grew in flexibility and patience…and in expanded waste lines as we answered the declarative, “I think you need an icecream!” with a bowlful of action. We acquired new talents we never expected: surveillance at night when my father-in-law thought it was morning and he needed to go to work, although he had been retired for a number of years. Sometimes, he just wanted to get into the car he no longer could drive, turn on the radio and listen to a favorite country-western song. My husband would get in the car and gently refocus his Dad’s thoughts from work to the song on the radio. Content when the song ended, my father was coaxed back to bed. Then we all went back to sleep. The most significant thing we learned in the journey with dementia was to treat my father-in-law with the same respect we had done before all the diminishing effects from dementia. Maintaining his dignity as father, husband, and grandfather was easy from our heart’s standpoint. The physical and mental challenges required much more determined constraints and artful maneuvering. This dear man was highly respected in every venue in life. The community, his neighborhood, and St. Luke’s United Methodist Church produced constant accolades no matter my father-in-law’s fading mental faculties. 49

How painful to watch the man who was a jack- ofall- trades suddenly forget how to perform the simplest of tasks. Until we added new kitchen cabinets four years ago, the cup hooks my fatherin-law put in our original ones drew a poignant sigh, every time I opened the doors to get a coffee cup. When we first moved from Arlington to Austin twenty-three years ago, my father-in-law spent an entire week with us doing many projects from putting in cup hooks to installing ceiling fans. As his dementia progressed, he did develop new habits we did not always understand and yet they were projects to him. He began to secure his valuables such as his wallet with rubber bands…we still chuckle with a tender respect when we see any object wrapped with a multitude of rubber bands. Humor helped us in our arduous journey with his dementia: respect guided us in all things and, always, patience was the umbrella over all our dealings. As the patriarch of the devoted Patterson clan, my father-in-law modeled each of these traits to family, co-workers, friends-even those who were neither kind nor fair to him. Our family chest always held these significant tools to use when needed…which was often. Despite my engineer brother-in-law’s precise medicine chart, it was necessary to repeat directions again and again when we came for the weekend. Patience was mandatory, not optional. It was not easy for us, but how much more so for my mother-in-law: seeing her sweetheart, her strong husband become more and more forgetful and childlike simply broke her heart. Although saddened at her unexpected death two years before my father-in-law’s, we saw God’s mercy. We knew it would have totally devastated her to move him from the home they had shared for more than 50 years into the medically-assisted home that would ultimately take care of him when we no longer could.

What she would have found almost impossible to decide took three sons, their wives and eight grandchildren to do. We moved past our sadness over his condition to enjoy every lucid moment we could. Often, while he was still physically able, we took him out for his favorite treat. It turned out to be a sweet time for all of us. We deliberately decided to honor and respect him even as the role of parent-child reversed. He needed his sons to do for him what he once had done for them when they were little. To them it was privileged service, not a list of indignant tasks. I failed to mention our greatest help-more than a family who pitched in at all levels; more than the humor, respect and patience we grew in as we exercised them; it was prayer at every bend in the road that aided us most. When it was time to tell him about Betty Jo’s death, we asked for the right words. When it was time to leave his house, we sought God’s guidance concerning the best care facility. As we prayed over each decision, we watched the needed door open. No doubt an imperfect journey as we visit its memories, we are still astounded with the answers that came at precise moments. Were there times of confusion, apprehension, a sense of helplessness as we watched the dementia advance? Yes, but we chose to move out of those torments as quickly as possible. The painful experiences and insecure emotions are very real things, but stronger than any one of them is the bridge to sanity, understanding and help that faith brought us to. As my husband and I grow older and he occasionally reaches for a rubber band to tie something together, or I forget the end of a point I was so sure of moments before, there just might be a need for a very familiar Patterson family tradition. If you listen closely, you might hear one of us say 50 through toothy Texas grin, “I think you need a treat!” Ice cream anyone?

Still Waving by Lynn Mosher Still waving… As the British launched the Battle of Baltimore at nearby Fort McHenry, Francis Scott Key was detained by enemy troops on a ship eight miles out, watching the brutal battle and waiting. Though it was raining and the firing created a lot of smoke, Key saw the “rocket’s red glare” and “the bombs bursting in air.” All through the harrowing night, anxiety filled all the people, as they nervously waited the answer to one question: who won? It was only at dawn’s early light that Key saw the red, white, and blue, the star-spangled banner, flying high over Fort McHenry. And then, the words flowed... Oh, say can you see by the dawn’s early light . . .

What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming?

Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight, O’er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming? 51

And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air,

Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.

Oh, say does that Star - Spangled Banner yet wave O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave? The fourth verse is worthy of recognizing... Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand Between their loved home and the war’s desolation! Blest with victory and peace, may the heav’n rescued land Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation. Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just, And this be our motto: “In God is our trust.” And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave! Still waving... Happy Independence Day...from our home to yours... 52

An Ordinary Day by Connie Arnold An ordinary day – Is that your day today? Do you feel there’s nothing special To be found along your way? It seems more of the sameness That you lived yesterday, No fun or happiness, Only work, no time for play. Just take a quiet moment, Breathe out a little sigh, Reflect on the life you’re living As you sometimes wonder why Today seems rather dull and low, You long for a joyful high. Aim your eyes outside the window, Raise them toward the sky. Find solace in the knowledge God loves and cares for you. In highs and lows and in betweens, God’s love will see you through. Lifted from your valleys, From tedious plainness too, With faith allow God’s light to shine, Add love to all you do.

Remember Lot's Wife by Cindy J. Evans I was bemoaning the good ol' days gone by with remorse, regret and a sigh, wishing they weren't over, wondering on the loss and why... Then I felt God speak to my heart, those days are past and done, you need to look forward, you need to press on... Remember Lot's wife when she looked behind, it was only to her demise and only death did she find. Forget what's past, you need to move ahead! There are better plans for your future I have for you instead! "Remember Lot's wife." (Luke 17:32, KJV)

The Old Silo by Nells Wasilewski The old silo stood in the middle of an abandoned field. It leaned heavily to the left. Wild flowers grew in the interior, and peeked through surface cracks to steal sunlight. The old structure reminded me of a lady in our church choir. She too leaned heavily to the left and walked with a cane. She sat beside me in choir. Our choir was excellent, and I could not read music. I confided in this lady who had a beautiful alto voice, and knew all about music. I had a good ear and noticed that she would lean close and sing a little louder so I could hear the alto part. A few weeks later, she told me she would record the alto part of the anthem so I could practice. She did so every week for over a year. She gave me confidence and taught me to listen and hear the alto, but the best part was that she became one of my dearest friends. God's love works in mysterious ways. God sent me a friend to encourage me to use my voice for his glory. My friend may have looked worn out, but like the old silo, she had beautiful things springing from inside. God often sends the right person to tell us and teach us what he knows we need. Ephesians 4:29 (NIV) 29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Prayer: Merciful Father, give us the zeal to be ready to serve you, showing our love to you by helping others. I pray in Jesusâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; name, amen. To serve rather than be served. 55

The “Good” Scissors by Alisha Ritchie “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17 NIV I grew up with a crafty mom. She was always into something. Whether it was cross stitch, sewing, or ceramics, you could always count on her to create something special. Living with a crafty mom comes along with a certain set of rules- the most important rule being, “Do not use the ‘good’ scissors for anything other than fabric.”

One way for me to stay spiritually sharp and focused is to surround myself with believers who will encourage me on my faith journey. I’m blessed with a community of wonderful people who inspire me daily to grow spiritually. Those same people are also there to share in the hard times of life, to give wisdom and advice. Positive influences in my life not only have a great impact on me but also on the kingdom of God.

The “good” scissors were specially sharpened and much more expensive than plain scissors. You didn’t use the special scissors to cut paper or plastic because that would dull the blade tremendously and make them useless.

I’m learning to be intentional with setting aside time to be alone with God. Through devotions, Bible reading, and prayer, I concentrate more on growing my relationship with the Lord. Journaling thoughts, prayer requests, and praises prove to motivate me to focus on how God is working in my life on a daily basis.

So when I had a school project to make or wanted to cut pictures of my current teen crush out of magazines, I had to use the regular scissors. That was my mom’s rule and I tried my best to abide by it.

Enjoying time in God’s beautiful creation of nature gives me a chance to reflect on how truly awesome He is. These peaceful times outdoors force me to slow down and revel in beauty that only He can create.

Thinking back on it now, mom packed a lot of wisdom in that one rule. Perhaps she was preparing me for my spiritual walk with God and I didn’t even know it at the time.

All these things help me to feel closer to God, which in turn, file my blade into something that can be used by Him, for Him.

The Lord wants me to continually stay spiritually sharp. He desires my spiritual blade to be keen so my faith does not become dull.

Make it a point today to seek God intentionally. Pray that your spiritual blade can be sharpened and renewed for the purpose God has set out before you.

Just like mom’s good scissors, my spiritual walk can become useless to God if I’m not persistent in keeping it as razor-sharp as possible.

Be thankful for friends and family God has placed in your life to build you up and provide inspiration for your daily walk with the Lord.

The Bible says in Proverbs, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”

Find joy in knowing that even if your blade gets a little blunt from time to time, God can help you 56 become the “good scissors” again.

Tasty Tomato Recipes for Summer from Vintage Mama

Summer Tomato, Onion, and Cucumber Salad Perfect for your next family picnic! The combination of tomatoes, onions, and fresh garden-grown cucumbers is just right for a summer day. Find the recipe at ihavenet.com

Simple Summer Pasta Salad Great combination! Pasta, fresh tomatoes, spinach, and sweet peppers on a skewer ready to go on the grill. Find this and other great summer tomato recipes at Babble.

No-Bake Stuffed Tomatoes Bright red fresh summer tomatoes are stuffed with a combination of Quinoa, onions, avocado, feta cheese, and spices. You can find this recipe on VegHotPot. 57

Spicy Quinoa, Cucumber and Tomato Salad With Quinoa becoming a staple for many families who are seeking alternatives to wheat products, this salad is just one more option for using this versatile food. Combine your Quinoa with some chopped fresh cucumber and tomato, add spices to taste, and you’ve got a quick and easy side dish for summer.

Fresh Tomato Feta Pizza Pizza anyone? This combination of fresh tomatoes and Feta cheese makes a great summer pizza. And if the olives aren’t your favorite, you can leave them off! Fresh tomatoes are so versatile and so abundant during the summer months, this is definitely a dish your family will love for your next family get-together or just for a week night supper. More tomato recipes can be found at My Recipes.

Summer Tomato Salad Here’s a summer salad that will be a show-stopper at your next picnic or church carry-in dinner! Not only is this a quick, easy, and simple salad to make, it is filled with summer veggies AND it is beautiful, too! Add a pop of color to your summer dinner table with this pretty and yummy Summer Tomato Salad. More recipes are available from All Recipes.

Fresh Tomato Mozzarella Salad There’s just something about fresh tomatoes combined with cheese that is appealing to just about everyone. This salad combines fresh tomatoes with Mozzarella cheese for a dish that is delicious, bright and colorful, and a perfect side dish for your next summer picnic. More summer salad recipes can be found at Food.com 58

Women of Worth by Yvonne Carson Many women, including myself, experience feelings of low self-worth. We erroneously believe the lie that weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not good enough and often judge our successes or failures based on what other women have achieved. We look at them and see success, attractiveness, popularity, and the like and we compare ourselves to them. The problem with this mindset is that we always see ourselves coming up short. We then look at ourselves as flawed or inadequate in comparison to whomever weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re comparing ourselves to at the moment. What this ends up doing is causing deep-seated feelings of resentment, low self-esteem, anger, frustration, and can even lead to depression. Then we are so focused on what someone else is doing and achieving, it does not leave us any time or room to work on ourselves and live our own individual lives for the glory of God or live in divine purpose He has designed for our lives. We were not made by God to look like anyone else nor did God intend for us to base our lives off of what others are doing. Every woman is uniquely and wonderfully made by God, born to stand out and not fit in to be like any other woman, no matter how successful or attractive we believe she is. We are all beautiful in the eyes of God, our Maker. We are not our eyes, hair, nose, lips, hips, thighs; you are NOT your body! We are not our successes or failures, our position or job title or where we live, etc. You are a woman of worth! This is shallow thinking and totally diminishes the work of God. We have been made in the image and likeness of Almighty God! The REAL you is spirit like our Heavenly Father who made you. When we really get the revelation of this truth, we will never suffer with an identity crisis or compare ourselves any other human being. Outward appearance does not define who we are as women. If we use the outward appearance as a barometer for our lives, we will always fall short and suffer with feelings of unworthiness, because there will always be someone who is more successful and attractive than we are. God made us in different shapes and sizes and colors. 59

Each of us have a different assignment or calling or mission (whatever you choose to call it) so we cannot base our existence on what we see other women doing and what we perceive as success and attractiveness. If we focus on our uniqueness and learn how to accept and love ourselves as God loves us, it would totally eliminate any feelings of unworthiness; this will cease to be an issue in our lives. When we focus on the wrong things, it leads us to think wrongly, believe the lies of the enemy and the world, and act in ways that devalue us. It will also empower us to show up in the world authentically, expressing who we really are from the inside out. So what people see is the real you/me and not the masked you/me, pretending to be like some other woman we may have seen on television or magazines or on our jobs, or in our churches. People long to have relationships and encounters with people who are genuine; they are tired of the phonies and pretenders! We are worthy as women and human beings! God never made anything that did not have meaning, purpose, and significance in life and that includes you and me. One of the main reasons, I believe, women suffer with feelings of unworthiness or low self-worth is because we fail to tap into the love of God and who we are in Christ. The other thing that has contributed to our feelings of worthlessness is our past childhood experiences. Many of us, not all women, have experienced childhood sexual, physical, emotional, verbal, and spiritual abuse, which caused them to think negatively about themselves. For others, it may have been abandonment, their parents divorcing; rejection from significant people in their lives may have caused them to feel unworthy of love, success, happiness, etc. Some of us may have felt a sense of worth as children growing up, but as we entered into adulthood and experienced life as an adult, we developed feelings of unworthiness. Maybe you cheated on your boyfriend or husband, failed to achieve your dreams and goals, felt unloved and rejected by family and friends, betrayed by someone you trusted and these experiences caused you to believe something was wrong with you, and you did not deserve to be blessed or fulfilled in some way. If that describes you, it is a lie; you are worthy. The truth is God has already blessed us from the beginning of time and fulfillment will come when we discover our unique lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s purpose and begin to walk it out in our daily lives. Regardless of the situation that caused us to feel we are unworthy, we must face these lies and dismantle them one by one and replace them with the truth of Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Word and what He has said about us. Not even our experiences determine our worthiness as women. No matter what we have done or what others may have done to us, we are and always will be women of worth.

Serving while Starving by Ifeoma Samuel How can I serve and not be starved: Prayer: There is no effective ministry without praying. Sometimes pray at unusual hours. Let your free time be put to good use. Pray without ceasing. 1Thessalonians 5:17 It was a big Thanksgiving at the church with lots of kids to manage. As a Sunday school teacher, I need to serve my kids with lunch. I was very hungry to the extent that I lost my appetite while ensuring all are fed. I almost fainted on that fateful Thanksgiving Day before I grabbed something to eat. This experience reminds me how empty we start to feel when we don’t sneak out time to enjoy God’s presence. A good leader “serves others first before herself” To serve others as a Godly woman, God gives you the heart to pour out your love into the lives of those around you. It is not unusual to forget how important it is to nourish your spiritual tank while discharging your duties. We become too engrossed in the activity and leave our spiritual tanks drained and empty. God is concerned with the prosperity of our souls. Our soul is of more value to him than all the activity we do for him. Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. 3 John 1:2 A “Martha-at-heart,” it is time to curl up at the Master’s feet and eat your manna. Take a break and fill up your own plate. This was a mystery Mary understood. We need to be in God’s presence at all times. All the work we do are beautiful but not at the expense of his loving presence.

Bible Study: can you give what you don’t have? Use devotionals and other bible study methods that suit you and comply faithfully. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Psalm119:105 Fasting: prepare your session with fasting and prayers. Is not this the fast that I have chosen? To loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Isaiah 58:6 Take time-off: Jesus occasionally retreated into the wilderness to seek God’s presence. Plan your time in blocks of weeks or months. During your time off, engage in prayers and fasting. Breaks allow you to gain direction and instruction from God. And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. Matthew 14:23 Fellowship with others: Sharing your experiences and prayer requests with other fellowship members is a way to keep you on your toes. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. Hebrews 10:25 So I am learning to withdraw and fill up my tank too. Reflective Question: Are you serving on an empty tank? 61 Prayer prompt: Lord Jesus, fill up my spiritual tank in Jesus Name.

At the Beach Hidden Word Search Puzzle by Beth Brubaker Find the hidden words within the grid of letters.

Answer Key on page 80

“War is ugly, but flowers still grow there” by Kim Lengling, Embracing Our Veterans This statement was shared with me on a recent spring evening. I found myself talking with my friend and brother veteran, Robert (Bob) Preston. Bob is a Vietnam Veteran. He joined and served in the United Stated Marine Corp from September 1964 to January 1969. Marine Corp Basic training took place at Paris Island, South Carolina. Upon completion of Basic Training, Bob moved on to Camp Geiger for advanced infantry training and then on to US Naval Air Station Sanford, Florida. While at the Naval Station, Bob served in the Marine Barracks Unit as part of a security detachment. His duty involved; roving patrols, gate guard duty, funeral services, and traffic control in conjunction with Naval base police.

“We boarded the USS McGoffin and 30 days later we did a beach landing south of DeNang and ended up at Hill 327.” Hill 327 was a radar installation just west of DeNang. “The Air Force had a big base on top, we (Marines) were at the bottom. We manned a POW (Prisoner of War) Camp, the Marine Corp Brig and a Dog Platoon. That was our base of operation. Most of my tour of duty was in the northern part of South Vietnam, what we called the ‘I-Corp area.’ It was a volatile area.” Bob did share some “generalities” of the area. “The POW camp was for captured insurgents. We carried anywhere from 20-60 prisoners at a time until they were processed. The Marine Corp Brig is just what it sounds like, a holding place, a jail if you will, for Marines who got into some sort of scrape. It was mostly a transition area, time to pay for their crimes and then head back to their units.” “There was also a large contingent of dogs and their handlers. The dogs did all kinds of things from bomb sweeps for dignitaries to booby trap sweeps. We called them the Bomb Dogs.” “The dogs were there when we arrived. There was a company called First Military Police Battalion. They were there a year before we arrived helped us to transition in as they rotated out. We picked up part of their dogs.”

From the Naval Station Bob moved on to Camp Pendleton, San Mateo California for combat MP (Military Police) School and remained there for approximately 7 months. “While in California, part of us were sent to Vietnamese language school, some went to traffic control, some to accident investigation and some of us did regular patrol training. Soon after training, we (Marines) boarded as a unit and headed to Vietnam.

“We used the dogs for all kinds of stuff, such as combat patrols, searching for weapons caches, people hiding, all manner of things. Those dogs were the Scout Dogs. I gotta tell ya, those dogs saved a lot of marines and were extremely helpful. I remember one dog found a weapons cache of over 750 weapons.” I wanted to learn more about the dogs and their handlers as I had not educated myself much on that aspect of the Vietnam War, nor knew any dog 63 handlers from that era, so naturally I asked Bob how he ended up being a dog handler.

“I did not receive “official” dog handling training, but I did end up having a dog. I actually had 2 dogs. The first dog I had would not work at night. There is a lot of transition when someone gets a dog. Learning each other’s ways and learning to trust each other. This dog, he just wouldn’t work at night. I later found out that his previous handler had been shot at night, so the dog no longer wanted to or would work at night. I was provided another dog and he was very good, an excellent working dog. His name was Boo.” “One problem that I encountered with my dog was in trying to teach other people how to work with him. People didn’t understand what the dog was trying to tell them with his body language and the people weren’t willing to accept him at first. It took some time.” Bob did witness dogs that were hurt during their tour of duty. “A dog becomes as close to you as anyone else, maybe more so. They are extremely loyal. When you lose a dog, it is just like losing a buddy. It hurts. Bad.” “I will say that I always slept well with Boo around. He would lay down with us and stay alert almost all night. The nights we weren’t working, he would lay right down and sleep with us.”

Bob was in Vietnam for 14 ½ months, which counted as 2 tours. The average tour of duty for the Marines during that time was 9 to 11 months. “I extended my tour to stay there.” Bob eventually returned stateside in 1968. “I was kind of scrambled when I came home. I can share that I had a terrible experience at the Los Angeles Airport upon returning home and ended up in a confrontation with some people. That was my return home; not welcomed, and I did not take that too well.” Bob was home for 30 days, received orders and was shipped to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba as part of a Security Unit. “The Marines had a security unit due to one of Castro’s generals getting hold of some rockets which were apparently aimed at the naval base. It was a bit tense, but nothing outrageous.” After his tour in Cuba, Bob returned stateside to Camp Lejeune and “mustered out”. Another aspect of that time in history came to light during our talk and Bob shared a “human interest story” that he recalled. “This happened when I was stationed in Florida. I had reported to my duty station and I was asked if I had a problem sharing billet with a black person. I replied no, that I never had any problem with black people.”

Bob made it a point to remind me, “Remember Kim, this was 1965 and racial segregation was still enforced in certain places. So there we were, just two guys, to my way of thinking, living together and getting to know each other.” One night my roommate said to me “I got something I want to show you down town.” So we walked down town. He took me to the bus station. He pointed out that there was still a “White only” restroom and a “White only” water fountain.” “The “Blacks Only” water fountain was around the corner outside of a building. It was just a water spigot, on a piece of pipe turned in the air, anyone using it would get wet while they turned it on and it would just flow all over the ground. The restrooms for “Blacks Only” were equally primitive. I asked why he had brought me there and he simply said ‘because you treat me different than most.’ That was my first experience with racism. I didn’t care for it then and I don’t care for it now. There was no seeing “color” between us. We were just two people, we were friends. Period.” As Bob and I continued to talk, I pointed out things I know of him. He is a past Commander of Veterans of the Vietnam War, Post 52 and currently holds a position on the Board of Directors. He is very active with and supports Project Support Our Troops, Vittles For Vets, Soup For Troops and the weekly Saturday Night Dinners, he is a past Color Guard/Honor Guard Captain and still participates in those duties. I asked what drives him to want to help and work with our veteran family and community. “I wasn’t very active for many years. Then something brought my attention to the fact that there were a lot of veterans not getting the help they needed, Post 52 shined a light on that for me. I became more and more involved and plan to continue to be involved.” I know for myself, Kim Lengling that I give of myself and my time for Project Support Our Troops and a non-profit Embracing Our Veterans. I have a passion for helping those in need and to pay it forward.

What does Bob personally get from helping others? “It makes me feel better to know that I helped my fellow man. Two things I’ve always done; if I am traveling and I see someone in uniform, I always try to buy their lunch or dinner. If we can’t take care of our fellow man, we are in serious trouble. I choose to take care of the veterans.” When asked if he had envisioned himself being heavily involved in veteran issues and helping those in need. Bob shared, “The thing that really started me beating the drum was the agent orange issue. Now I have plans to train to become a Veteran Service Officer for our Post with the training being provided through the VA. Once trained, it will be a volunteer position. Just another way to help veterans.” “In addition, I’ve given presentations at many area schools. I try to tell the kids how things were from my perspective and encourage them to do something for their country, to work for something other than a paycheck. Do SOMETHING to support and help people other than themselves.” “One last thing I want to share. What the media doesn’t typically share are the good things that happen in a combat zone. Heck, in Vietnam, our corpsman set up medical aide tents in the villages and treated, in some months, a 1000 people. We built schools and dug water wells for the native people of those countries. War is ugly, but flowers still grow there. The cost of war is horrendous, don’t get me wrong, but there are rewards as well.” As always, when wrapping up our talk, I ask each person “knowing what you know now, would you do it again?” Bob’s Answer was emphatic. “Absolutely. That experience made me who I am and I wouldn’t change that.” May God Bless America and those who have and will defend her. Kim Lengling is a local author and Co-Chair of Project Support Our Troops and Co-Founder of Embracing Our Veterans. She can be reached at embracingourveterans@gmail.com

Because . . . by Sharon L. Patterson I can rise above the difficulties of life Because… He arose! I can offer hope beyond strife Because… He arose! I can rejoice even in loss Because… He arose! I can give though precious the cost Because… He arose! I can see the miraculous here Because… He arose! I can choose faith over fear Because… He arose!

Choices (Haiku) by Beth Brubaker I make life choices Standing on a precipice. I can fall or fly.

Spiritual Paralysis by Donna B. Comeaux

Ever woke up one day in a daze? Nothing moved you. The children are in the background screaming, "Momma, Lisa let the ferret out. We can't get him back in the cage."

Spiritual Paralysis. Spiritualâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; What? What's that?

Somewhere in the house, you hear, "You put him back. Now! He's not your hamster. He's mine."

It's what happens to me when I've let so much of life's traffic barge through my barricades. My shields are broken.

One of the bedroom walls vibrate after someone shouts and slams the door, "Get out of my room! You moron!"

My stop signs have a hole in them. My caution lights have faded. Green lights are beaming everywhere and through everything.

On a good day, a normal day, you're smack dab in the middle of it all. But today is different. You're not feeling any of it.

There's not a thing wrong with my ability to reason, but I don't want to make decisions. My hearing functions quite well, yet I can't hear a thing.

The husband pecks you on the cheek, but it's such a ritual that you lean toward him then recoil before you realize his lips never touched you.

There's a deafening noise all about me and no matter how hard I try, I can't locate that blasted off switch.

The telephone rings, you pick it up, you mumble something, anything to satisfy the caller. Before you know it, you have to excuse yourself. "Can I call you back? No. I'm alright. I just need a minute."

I don't have a clue how I got here, but I'm standing in the midst of chaos and I don't know what's going on around me.

After a hard day at the office, your husband tries to carry on a conversation. You notice he's babbling about the same disgruntled worker over the same old issues. You nod at appropriate times as you bite the inside of your lip, biting harder on your need to say, "Please, SHUT UP!" When Sunday finally arrives, somewhere in the back of your mind you think maybe hearing spiritual songs will awaken something inside you. Surely, a good sermon is all you need. But you leave feeling just as unmoved as you went in. What's going on?

Before long it's as if someone has pricked me with a numbing solution and all my insides have gone dead. My heart is pumping. Sometimes, I can feel it. But the blood circulating through my veins is mixed with something spiritually unhealthy and my heart rate is going down . . . down . . . down. It's pectin. No, that's not right. It's sin. Despair, perhaps. Maybe, restlessness. Whatever it is, I wonder how long will it take for everything to stop. Now, before you go throwing out words like "depression," I challenge you to think deeper than that. Much deeper. 67 What if what's wrong with me is as simple as sitting still and giving thanks?

I sat down and asked myself why in the world wasn't I feeling anything, and yet feeling everything. I have a great husband. Our two sons are doing well. The grandchildren are fantastic. I tried to blame my mood on the rain. That was it. But we needed the rain. The land was parched. Grass fires had increased. Crops weren't doing well. I mumbled a prayer of thanks for the rain so farmers might earn a living and people can eat. In that moment, it dawned on me; I had never missed a meal. With all the furloughs and governmental issues going on throughout the country, my dear husband had a job.

If I hide under a rock or am thrown into the depths of hell, you are there. (Psalm 139) Where can I go where you will not find me? (II Corinthians 4:16-18) Though I am a sinful wretch, you forgive me. When in deep despair, you send me ministering angels. What have you not done for me, oh Lord? When my sobbing is finally complete and God's peace is all over me, I realize God has done it again—forgiven and healed me. Filled with the Holy Spirit and at a loss for words, I begin to sing.

I began to cry when I thought about our two sons. How they had turned out to be fine young men of God in the midst of all the sin lurking around them. It chilled me to think that my youngest son, who has confessed sin in his life within the last few months, stood firm in the Lord and allowed God to break and heal him as a hedge of protection surrounded him. I'm speechless over my eldest son who has recommitted his life to God after God addressed sin in his life. I broke out into a loud sob when I thought of how patient God is with me; putting up with my displaced anger and tolerating my impatience. Gently leading me down a path of forgiveness—forgiving others, as well as asking for forgiveness. Like ancient rabbis, I wanted to tear my clothes at some of the secret thoughts I harbored against others. Through it all, God loves me and has never forsaken me. That makes me weak. What would I do without you, Lord Jesus? How would I survive? Who else loves me so unconditionally? After many tears I professed—God is my God. You are the Holy One.

Then I begin to move. I clean. I cook. I listen. My patience with my husband goes unabated. Writing becomes easier. At first I hadn't noticed, but now I do—I'm smiling. I'm happy. The joy of the Lord has replaced my spiritual paralysis. Amazing what prayers of thanksgiving will do for the soul. Let's examine the following scriptures: Philippians 4:6-8 — 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praise-worthy—think about such 68 things.

When you replace your anxieties with thanksgiving and praise,  Your anxieties ease  You realize the opportunities you have before you to pour out your requests to God and in HIM you find relief  God's peace guards your heart and mind  Thinking about whatever is lovely, admirable, excellent and praise-worthy pulls you away from your trouble Colossians 3:15 — 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 

Expressing words of thanks lessens thoughts of trouble Don't fight the Holy Spirit with complaints and disgruntled behavior; Let Christ's peace rule over you



Are you withholding your praise? Luke 19:37-40 — 37When he (Jesus) came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: 38'Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!' 39Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, 'Teacher, rebuke your disciples!' 40I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out. There's a stone banging against your heart and trying to cry out. It's competing with your need to remain in despair. No matter how hard you rub your chest or rock back and forth, pain and that strange numbness won't go away.

I Thessalonians 5:18 — 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 

The spiritual act of praising God for all things places your emphasis on Him and His greatness. You are no longer focused on yourself. Praise is for and all about Him.

For years, it's been all about you. It's about how you feel and how people have hurt you. It's amazing how so much focus on ourselves can spiritually paralyze us. Everyone confronts trouble at one time or another. You're not alone. It's not if trouble will come, but when. It's not what you can do about it, but who will you seek to help you. God is near. He's waiting for your surrender. It's a whisper away. Won't you tell him where it hurts? 69 Note: All scriptures taken from the NIV translation.

Victim of Grace by Robin Jones Gunn Book Review by Miriam Jacob In Victim of Grace Robin Jones Gunn candidly opens up her heart as she deftly interweaves the experiences of her life with scenes from biblical characters to tell a most compelling tale of God's amazing grace and goodness. When we are caught up in the dire and distressing circumstances of life, we are actually victims of God's grace and not victims of life's stormy vicissitudes. Robin's well-crafted stories unlock hidden places in our hearts and renew our souls in a fresh new way as she vividly portrays the dark valleys she has stumbled through to come out victoriously on the mountaintops of life. God's extravagant kindness and love is not limited to the Bible. He wants to anoint us as victims of grace. Here is the profound wisdom and amazing insight of a godly woman who walks intimately with her Lord. In a book that is clearly God-haunted, her unflinching and hopeful life story is filled with poignant heartache and rare beauty, honestly recounted on the pages of her life. It makes us want to "know Jesus more clearly, love Him more dearly and follow him more nearly, day by day." In every moment of each new day, Robin experiences the love of God fall afresh upon her in the most unexpected ways. His love flows in extraordinary abundance and she is totally powerless to stop Him. Even in the worst of situations, His goodness prevails. God is a relentless Lover and she is a victim of grace. "It's all grace. Grace upon grace. God's extravagant grace." God's ways are mysterious, his timing is not ours, and He accomplishes His glorious plans in our lives, even when our circumstances are far from perfect, and in spite of the difficult situations in our lives. We are not alone, even when it is painful. God is with us and He walks with us through our pain. Robin explains that when God recorded the lives of people in the Bible, He didn't airbrush them and make them surreal. He showed them exactly as they were - real, flawed and human. God loved them deeply. He fashioned them by His own hand and knew each one of them by heart. As the afternoon rain fell in misty drops, Robin watched the fluid grace gently cover, nourish, cleanse and restore everything in sight. Her thoughts ran deep. God gives and gives and gives. His generosity is unending and endless. God bestows His unmerited grace and favour upon ordinary people. Robin gathered her free-fall stories and strung them together, like pearls on a string, alongside stories of women in the Bible. Eventually it came full circle. God's goodness prevails, even when we cannot see the end of the story. We must trust in the greatness of God. "His Will is good and acceptable and perfect." Victim of Grace by Robin Jones Gunn is available from Rubyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Reading Corner. 70

A Few Nuggets from the Storehouse… by Sharon L. Patterson

God has deposited a love of brief words that convey the light of His Wisdom. Here are some of the nuggets from my storehouse to you… “The greatest thing you will ever do To love God. The greatest thing you will ever be The love of God to others.” “Peace rests Ambition strives Love never fails.” “The chief evidence of loving God is obedience.” “Good judgment is always goodBad judgment is always bad.” “Pleasing God is not hard when we obey him out of love, not duty.” “Life is too short for long dissertations.” “Not pride in who we are but in whose we are.” “We are not immortal but we are eternal. Our final destination is more significant than our present circumstances.” “We gain reputation from men’s response to what we do: We gain favor of God in response to what we let Him do through us.” “Telling all that I know will not take long: Telling about the God whom I know will take the rest of my life.” “Humility is the strongest position on earth and the most admired from heaven.”

“There are positive falls: 1. Lift up the fallen 2. Fall on your knees in prayer” “Truth comes with revelations: Lies come with explanations.” “Give me truth: I can stand on it, be at peace with it, be encouraged by it, and lay down my life for it.” “Difficult people-don’t pray until you can stand themPray until you love them. “God’s love is never lost on anyone.” “If we are made in the image of God, then why do we act like the devil so often?” “May we tire in good labor and may we be tireless in consistent faith.” “Being still takes characterBeing lazy takes nothing at all.” “It is better to choose love than to be right.” “Faith is built on trust’s cornerstone.” “It is simple to be a good friend: speak the truth when asked and cover faults with love.” “Grace - the intangible tangible.” “If you answer the call of responsibility, you will not fall prey to the whispers of foolishness.” “The greatest thing I can say to my children is “yes” and mean it as well as “no” and mean it. They will never struggle with mixed signals.” I hope that you enjoyed these…if you quote them, please give the source.

You’ll Get Through This by Max Lucado Book Review by Miriam Jacob In You'll Get Through This, Max Lucado sounds a clarion call as he blows a trumpet of victory through the shattered ruins of Joseph's life and portrays his amazing transformation from the Coat-Wearer and Dreamer of Dreams, who was thrown into the dungeons, and sent to prison where he survived and thrived, to ascend to the palace and become the second-most powerful man of his time. Like all of Max Lucado's books, this one is a work of art that reveals profound truths to inspire us. Here is biblical truth at its best, as it digs deep into turbulent times, and captures the still small voice of God in all its glory and grace. Max skillfully weaves Joseph's story of faithful endurance, perseverance and steadfastness into our own, exhorting us to lean on God's promises, as He leads us through our trials into a bright new day. God leads us up the mountain of adversity and down into the valley of grace. No matter how bleak our own dreary circumstances are, God's love is greater still, as He flexes his glorious might to display His transcendent glory. Our trials teach us about the sweetness of Christ and the fragrance of His grace. God gently guides us through our troubles to find out our true calling in His divine plan and purpose for our lives. You’ll Get Through This by Max Lucado is available from Ruby’s Reading Corner.

My 30 days Journey to a Fulfilled Life: You are a loner without God by Ifeoma Samuel The question "Are you living a fulfilled life?” gets us worked up and drifts in our thoughts. We all have dreams and aspirations. When it all comes together is when we stop chasing and start living that fulfilled life we desire. The author, Ifeoma Samuel, in this inspirational devotional takes her reader honestly through the various aspects of life. She carefully offers practical activities, prayer and 'food for thought' sections that will ignite your desire to live a fulfilled life. Filled with Biblical Perspective and Godly Wisdom the book is a fantastic devotional to help you understand and live a fulfilling life. 73

Selfish Ambition A novel by Donna B. Comeaux

Shortly after Sherelle Lindsey transmits her dissertation to Journalism Department heads at the American University in Cairo (“AUC”), a bomb blasts through her classroom. When she awakes, she’s frantic to know who’s captured her. To her surprise, Army Special Forces and Major Laurence “Lennie” Williams are responsible for saving her. How does she thank this wounded soldier? Betrayal. Twisted by aspirations to become managing editor of a Washington, D.C. newspaper, Sherelle struggles to come clean. For Major Williams, rescuing someone from the throes of danger is not only his job, but the adrenaline rush he needs to survive his lonely life. When he’s wounded and loses his wings to this lovely beauty, it doesn’t take long to know he’s in love. Though Lennie can’t explain it, he unequivocally believes God has sent Sherelle to save him instead of the other way around. But can he convince her of that? Or has he misinterpreted God's plan? Simply put, Selfish Ambition is a young couple’s fight to find meaning in life. Selfish Ambition by Donna B. Comeaux is available on the Ruby74 for Women blog.

God’s Mercies after Suicide: Blessings Woven through a Mother’s Heart by Jean Ann Williams

“When our children die, we want their lives to have mattered. We long for the world to know they were here.” ~ Jean Ann Williams God’s Mercies after Suicide: Blessings Woven through a Mother’s Heart is a devotional intended for mothers who’ve lost children to suicide. This book is a friendly, approachable, inviting book that helps mothers feel welcome and at ease, and to allow them a peaceful time to reflect on their loss and the child they miss. Each chapter has three sections. The devotional begins with Scripture and then the author tells the story of her loss, and then ends in a prayer. The second part is of the author’s anecdotes and memories of her son. They are short and sweet, with a dramatic style rather than a how-to. The author shares moments in her child’s life and recalls how she felt to see the different stages of growth and challenges he faced in life. The concluding part to each chapter is a journal page for the readers to write their memories of their child. It allows them space for memories and grieving, a prayer of praise, and a Scripture of encouragement. When a mother has lost a child, there are times when it’s hard to mingle with other people. Each chapter in God’s Mercies after Suicide can be read and journaled in within the privacy of a mother’s home, giving her a bit of hope and rest for another day. The book is distinctive in that it combines coping with the pain of loss while encouraging mothers to search for their own blessings. The book reaches out from its pages and wraps mothers in the warmth and love of their heavenly Father. It has been stated by sufferers of loss to suicide that the topic of suicide is taboo, and that the survivors feel they’ve been isolated from the normal hum of life. In truth, the ones left behind after the suicide do have a valid point. Included in the preface of the book is this paragraph: “I’ve written these devotions for those mothers who have shared the deep heartache of a child’s suicide. Through my writing, I believe God wants me to share from my heart to theirs, by encouraging them and giving them ways to cope. Mothers can have hope and a due measure of peace after a suicide. God has helped me, and He wants to help other mothers. The loss is horrific, but God is faithful. He brought me through this dark time, and He wants to do the same for all mothers.” Mothers of loss from suicide face separate concerns—concerns that are not taught nor thought about when they become parents. No one wants to consider that they’ll give birth to a child who could die by suicide. The mothers who endure this type of pain need a resource that considers their exclusive struggles and offers honest help from one mother to another—not in a step-by-step format but in story form, which draws the reader into a world they may know all too well.

From the Preface to

God’s Mercies after Suicide: Blessings Woven through a Mother’s Heart Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? —Isaiah 43:18-19 I had a dream. I dreamed the nightmare never happened. Our son Joshua never passed on to the hereafter. He married and had children. Then I woke, and knew the dream was only that—a dream. We live with our reality. I’ve written these devotions for those of you who have shared the deep heartache of a child’s suicide. Through my writing, I believe God wants me to share from my heart to yours, by encouraging you and giving you ways to cope. You can have hope and peace after a suicide. God has helped me and He wants to help you. The loss is horrific, but God is faithful. He brought me through this dark time, and He wants to do the same for you. A yearning to write this story came five years into my journey of loss. I sensed a dawn of courage within myself, but I haven’t come this far in a blink, nor on my own. Although I knew I’d lose my nerve, only to gain it back time and again before I completed my story, I also knew I’d have the help from Lord God, and the folks He sends my way. Am I full of courage? Yes! Yes, I shout, with God’s hand upon me. God, when I falter, I pray You will renew my strength. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Jean Ann Williams began her writing career in 1994 by reading a stack of books on the craft of writing. Since then, Jean Ann has published over 100 articles and short stories on the topics of Christianity, health, travel, friendship, relationships, family life, Sunday school take-home papers, and the loss of her son by suicide. She has two completed and professionally edited books, Just Claire and God’s Mercies after Suicide: Blessings Woven through a Mother’s Heart, for which she is seeking representation. In her free time, Jean Ann enjoys reading and reviewing books and mentoring young writers for the next generation. Jean Ann lives with her husband of forty-four years, Jim, on a one acre goat farm with a flock of hens. In 2013, she took up archery and hunts big game for food with her custom-fitted bow for short people. To learn more about Jean Ann Williams visit her on Face Book, Twitter, and her blogs Love Truth and Jean Ann Williams: Author. Cover photo by James D. Williams 76

Visit Jean Ann Williams on her blog, Love Truth: Hope after Suicide, to read about her journey through grief following the suicide of her son, Joshua.

Carol Peterson writes to educate, entertain and inspire. Her books for the classroom (grades 4-7), supplement curriculum—math, social studies, history and science. Available on Amazon.com or ABC-CLIO.com and from Ruby’s Reading Corner.

Visit Katherine’s Corner for monthly giveaways, weekly blog hops, recipes, and crafts 78

Hitori Number Puzzle Answer Key by Beth Brubaker

Quote Maze Puzzle Answer Key by Beth Brubaker

Trying to squash a rumor is like trying to unring a bell! 79

At the Beach Hidden Word Search Puzzle Answer Key by Beth Brubaker

Stop by Ruby’s Reading Corner the next time you are shopping online for books . . . . every book purchased from Ruby’s Reading Corner helps support the ministry of Ruby for Women. 81

Visit Donna Comeaux at her blog, A Writer First, to read her inspirational posts and short stories.

You are invited . . . . Are you a writer? Do you love to cook or craft? You are invited to submit your stories, articles, poems, book reviews, recipes or crafts for publication in the AUTUMN, 2015 issue of Ruby for Women. DEADLINE FOR AUTUMN SUBMISSIONS IS AUGUST 1, 2015. Please send your submissions to bethatruby@aol.com For advertising inquiries, please email editor@rubyforwomen.com

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Rubyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Reading Corner helps support the ministry of Ruby for Women 82

Discover your own creative expression with eBook patterns and tutorials from Vintage Mama’s Cottage

Create your own handcrafted, one-of-a-kind, heirloom quality “wearable-art” garments for your little ones.

A River of Small Stones by Keith Wallis A beautiful and inspirational book of poetry, perfect for gift-giving for every season of the year! Poems written as “small stones,” polished moments of paying proper attention to life Available at www.ariverofstones.blogspot.com

By Still Waters by Keith Wallis A celebration of life; poems and associated photographs of faith and experience. The light touch of a poet rejoicing in creation. Read more: http://wordsculptures-keith.blogspot.com/p/by-stillwaters.html

“poems from the pit” by Keith Wallis The words and photographs offer a view that there is beauty even in the ‘detritus’ left behind by industry and the litter discarded by the thoughtless. The poems are all inspired by his photographs but may be a little oblique – often showing a train of thought rather than a description. Sample can be viewed at: http://www.blurb.com/user/store/wordsculptor where you’ll also find his other books.

Meet the Ruby for Women Writers Aunt Dots, Master Gardener Aunt Dots has been writing for Ruby for Women since the very beginning. Her love for gardening started early in her life: “I believe I got my love for growing flowers from my mother. She had a large flower garden with annuals and dahlias. I had my first flower garden after I married and we lived in a garden apartment.” She now has perennial gardens, rose gardens, grape vines, asparagus, currants, gooseberries, walnut trees, apple trees, and hazelnut trees. In the winter months, Aunt Dots sews, making quilts that she has donated to a Mennonite Relief auction. Miriam Jacob is an author and poet in cyberspace, having published a series of E-Books at Lulu.com. She is a book reviewer at CHRISTIAN BOOK DISTRIBUTORS, BARNES AND NOBLE, GOOGLE BOOKS and HARPER COLLINS CHRISTIAN PUBLISHING (BookLook Bloggers). She writes reviews for Christian books, in the categories of literary fiction, non-fiction, poetry and politics. Her articles and book reviews are published on her blog: “AUTHORS FOR CHRIST” Miriam is a member of the Ruby Book Review Team.

Lynn Mosher, Devotions

Since the year 2000, Lynn Mosher has lived with fibromyalgia and other physical conditions. During this time, the Lord placed the desire in her heart to write for Him. Now, armed with God’s purpose for her life and a new passion, she reaches out to others to encourage and comfort them through her writing, giving God all the glory. She lives with her husband in their empty nest in Kentucky. On occasion, their three offspring, who have flown the coop, come to visit, accompanied by a son-in-law and three granddaughters. Visit Lynn at her blog, at http://lynnmosher.com

Katherine Corrigan, Recipes and Crafts Katherine is a blogger at Katherine’s Corner, an artist, designer, tea drinker and hug giver. She has been a contributor to Ruby for Women for five years. She is originally from England. But she has lived in the USA since 1975. She holds a rare dual citizenship with the UK and the USA and is a proud citizen of both. She greets each day with grace, dignity and gratitude. Thanking God for her strength as she continues to encourage others and moves forward despite her physical challenges. She is happily married and has five grandchildren. After 30 years of working in the medical field and managing other people’s businesses Katherine has her own online shop and graphics business. She never hesitates to contribute to Ruby for Women. She says, “Being part of Ruby for Women is like getting a big hug every day.” Blog http://KatherinesCorner.com Blog Graphics at http://BlogArtByKatherine.com Shop http://KeepsakesByKatherine.etsy.com

Heather King is a wife to a wonderful husband and a mom to three beautiful girls. A former English teacher, she now lives a life of doing dishes, folding laundry, finding lost toys and mending scraped knees. She treks to the grocery store more times a week than she’d like and struggles to keep up with chores, appointments and the to-do list that refreshes itself day after day. In addition to all that, she’s the worship leader at her church in Virginia, a Bible study teacher and women’s ministry leader. You can find her blogging about these times with God at her devotional site: Room To Breathe: http://heathercking.wordpress.com/

Lanette Kissel lives in southern Indiana with her adopted Yorkie-Poo, Benjy. She enjoys singing in her huge choir at Crossroads Christian Church. She has been a freelance writer of Christian/Inspirational poetry for twelve years. Recently, she has been writing Inspirational articles and essays, as well as devotions. Her work has appeared in: Mature Living Magazine, Purpose, Live, The War Cry, The Lutheran Journal, The Catholic Yearbook, Silver Wings, Inspired Women Magazine, and others.

Jean Ann Williams is a writer and the author of God's Mercies after Suicide: Blessings Woven through a Mother's Heart, a devotional book written following the death of her son, Joshua. You can connect with Jean Ann on one of her blogs: http://joshua-mom.blogspot.com/ http://jeanannwilliams.blogspot.com/

Carol Peterson, Author My mission as a writer is to educate, entertain and inspire–children, their teachers and parents, other writers, and readers of all genres. As a children’s writer I try to “Make Learning Fun” by helping busy teachers address curriculum accountability standards, and encouraging other writers to do the same. You can connect with Carol at her blog, Carol Peterson, Author Carol is a member of the Ruby Book Review Team.

Rhea B. Riddle was born in Kentucky, in a little town on the Ohio River at the time of the famous flood of 1937, which may have contributed to her sense of drama, and to an amplified love of life. She has penned and published many articles and stories on several current e-zine sites. Her world view is view influenced by gentle traditions and strong Christian values. She hopes to lure you with current life adventures as well as past ones (completely truthful and otherwise) often drawing you to a time of “rewound” living!

Gloria Doty: I am a mother of 5 and grandmother of 13. I have owned a catering business, and a Grade A goat dairy. I have managed a restaurant, worked in retail and was Dir. of Children’s’ Ministries for a large church for 10 years. I have been writing since I was in third grade. I currently write 2 blogs about my youngest daughter, Kalisha, and our journey together through the world of mild mental retardation, autism and Aspergers. One blog is written for www.MOMS.FortWayne.com and is titled “Not Different Enough”. The other blog is www.gettingitright-occasionally.blogspot.com I write freelance articles for magazines and am a contributor to two devotional publications: Living the Gospel Life and Hope-Full Living. I do not believe it is possible to make it through a day without faith and a sense of humor, even in the darkest times and I try to always reflect that in my writing.

Melissa Zelniker-Presser lives with her wonderful husband Shlomi and their three children Avery, Collin and Meadow in South Florida. Melissa was born and raised in a Jewish home and later found Jesus at the age of 35. Shlomi, an Israeli Jew, was not far behind, finding the Lord shortly thereafter. Both Melissa and Shlomi are practicing attorneys in the criminal justice field. Their journey is one of brokenness, mercy and redemption. You can read her blog posts at Work for the Cause Not the Applause.

Connie Chandler lives in a Hobbit Hole in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where she teaches and serves in international refugee ministry. She loves studying the Bible, trying new things, listening to stories, going on adventures, and drinking hot tea. She sits in a wheelchair because she has a disability that weakens her muscles but not her spirit. She shares the stories of God’s strength and faithfulness in her life on her blog: conniesbowlofcherries.blogspot.com.

Mia DeBruyne is an active-contemplative woman minister with a MA in Theology and a MS in Environmental Engineering. She is a wife and mother, a hospital chaplain, and an author/artist who makes her home in Oklahoma. She seeks to inspire other women to shine for our God, Abba the Father.

Donna Comeaux resides in Tulsa, Oklahoma with her husband, Glenn. Together, they have two children and five grandchildren. She draws inspiration from her life, the life of others, the news, and her wild and vivid imagination. She is a freelance writer and has written several poems for funerals and weddings, and is in the process of editing her first completed family saga, White Castle. She wrote her second novel, Taken by Choice, and a short story, Selfish Ambition, in 2014. 87

Sharon Patterson, retired educator, career military wife, and leader in women's ministry, has written inspirational encouragement in various forms from greeting cards to short stories, poetry, and Bible studies for over thirty years. She has authored three books: A Soldier's Strength from the Psalms (2007); Healing for the Holes in Our Souls(2008); and Where Is Happy?(2011). She is a contributing author for Chicken Soup for the Soul: A Book of Miracles and Chicken Soup for the Soul: Answered Prayer; also Gettin' Old Ain't for Wimps (Karen O'Connor,2004) and Special Strength for Special Parents (Nina Fuller, 2006). She and her husband Garry live in Round Rock, Texas. They have three sons and five grandchildren.

Christie Browning has more than 20 years of writing, developmental coaching and teaching experience. She is a four-time Hoosier State Press Association Award winner with two first-place designations for her editorial feature stories. Originally from Tennessee, Christie now resides in Indiana. www.revisionmagazine.net

Michelle S. Lazurek has been a pastor's wife for over twelve years. Whether it is through writing counseling material, organizing ladies retreats or mentoring women in her church, Michelle considers each day an opportunity to find her place in God's story. In 2007, Michelle and her husband Joe planted Praxis Church. Michelle holds a Master's degree in Counseling and Human Relations from Liberty University. She has two beautiful children: Caleb and Leah. Michelle provides tips for busy writers on her blog The Writersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Tapestry: Where Writing and Life Intertwine http://www.michellelazurek.com

Alisha Ritchie is a wife, mother of two wonderful children, Physical Therapy Assistant by profession, and dedicated church member and Sunday School teacher. She resides in the small town of Stanfield, North Carolina, where she enjoys writing, spending time with her children, and ministering to others through her work and small group Bible studies. You can read other devotions she has written on www.christiandevotions.us.

Kathleen Katt Luce is a registered nurse, married, the mother of two and grandmother of seven. It brings her great joy to share Christ with the lost and lonely. Over the years she's learned a great deal while facilitating Bible studies. She's found herself on college and university campuses, the beach, the streets, the hospital, the jail and the facility for incarcerated teens, sharing Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s message of love. She is also an online missionary with Global Media Outreach. She has seen countless lives transformed when people turn away from sin and turn to Jesus. The changes God makes are real and lasting. She writes a blog: www.kathleensfaithwalk.com 88

Ifeoma Samuel is privileged to be a Woman after God’s heart and is happily married to her sweet heart Obiora Samuel. She is the author of the new book My 30 Days Journey To a Fulfilled Life. You can find her blogging regularly at Purposeful and Meaningful You can also connect with her on Pinterest, Google+ and on Facebook.

Cindy J. Evans is a published poet living in the greater Atlanta area after having relocated from Indianapolis. She enjoys writing, doing temp work at various Christian companies, date nights with her husband and inspirational movies.

Connie Arnold lives in North Carolina with her husband, Tom. They have two children and three grandchildren. In dealing with lupus, fibromyalgia and other difficulties she has trusted in the Lord and shares her inspirational poetry to offer encouragement, hope and comfort to others who are suffering. She is the author of Peaceful Moments of Love and Light devotional, A Symphony of Seasons, Abundant Comfort and Grace, Abiding Hope and Love, and Beautiful Moments of Joy and Peace, as well as three children’s books, Animal Sound Mix-up, Count 123 With Me, and Olive and the Great Flood. You can visit Connie at her website, www.conniearnold.webs.com or blog, www.conniearnold.blogspot.com

Nells Wasilewski lives in a small southern town, seventy miles southeast of Nashville, Tennessee. After retiring, she began pursuing her lifelong dream of writing. Her writing has been greatly influenced by her faith in Jesus Christ, personal, experience and nature. She has been writing poems, prose and stories all her life. Nells has recently started writing devotionals. Her work has appeared in Haiku Journal, Barefoot Review, Three Line Poetry, Poetry Quarterly, 50 Haikus, Dual Coast Magazine, High Coupe Journal, Ancient Paths, Tanka Journal, Hedgerow and Penned from the Heart. http://www.nellswasilewski.weebly.com https://nellswasilewski.blogspot.com

Nancy LaGree

“I live at a Baptist church camp out in the country. Winters are solitary and beautiful. Summers are filled with children laughing, playing, singing, and hearing God’s Word. I have been writing 89 for several years, and I also enjoy painting, reading, and singing. I attend a warm and wonderful church nearby and have a great church family. To God be the glory.”

Keith Wallis, Poet-in-Residence Keith Wallis is an English poet. He is a senior part of the leadership team of Houghton Regis Baptist church. An engineering designer by trade, he brings an eye for detail as well as faith into his poetry. As well as being ‘poet in residence’ at Ruby magazine, he is a moderator at ChristianWriters.com. His blog of ekphrasic poetry is: http://wordsculptures-keith.blogspot.com/ where you’ll also find links to his books and his other blogs. Married to Val in 1970, he has two sons and three grandsons. The eldest grandson is disabled and cannot communicate verbally. Though not an ‘academic’ (school was a disaster!) he was always fond of writing. He began submitting work for publication in the 1980’s after being encouraged by a community writer in residence.

Beth Brubaker, Assistant Editor Beth is a humorist poet and songwriter, and her day jobs include homemaking, writing, and paper and fabric arts. Beth has been a Christian since her early twenties, and has been married to her "Knight In Dented Armor" since 1997. She is the mother of two teenage children and two cats (she still hasn't told the cats they were adopted...Shh!) Her oldest child has Aspergers, which helps her see things a little differently through his eyes. Beth's passion is the written word, and is developing ways of sharing her brand of humor with the world through poems, songs and stories. She enjoys sharing her struggles and experiences with others, to encourage them to find their own passions and attain what they want out of life- and to find joy and humor along the way. Don't miss Beth's columns and puzzles in every issue of Ruby for Women! You can read Beth's posts on her blog Footprints in the Mud at http://footprintsinthemudblog.blogspot.com or emails her at bethatruby@aol.com.

Nina Newton, Sr. Editor When all of my four older children were in school, I returned to college as a “non-traditional student.” Eventually, I earned degrees in Classics and Philosophy, and a graduate degree in Medieval Studies: History of Theology. After teaching at a small community college in Michigan for seven years, my husband and I were blessed with the adoption of our two beautiful daughters, Gracie and Annie. Gracie is 14 years old and Annie is 12. They were both born in China, and we were able to travel to China two times to bring our daughters home. We live in northern Indiana in a small farming community where I work on Ruby for Women in my home office. I have recently had the opportunity to offer my handmade and refashioned garments and accessories in a local boutique under the creative name of “Vintage Mama’s Cottage.” My personal blog is at www.mamaslittletreasures.com 90

Credits and Copyrights All stories and articles are copyright by the authors. All pictures and images are copyright by the authors and / or have been purchased, used by permission or are in the public domain. If any pictures or images have been used inadvertently, and they do not belong in this publication, please email us and we will immediately remove them. Nothing in this issue of Ruby for Women may be reproduced, copied, or shared without the permission of the author. Advertising information is available by contacting us at editor@rubyforwomen.com Questions? Email Nina @ editor@rubyforwomen.com or Beth @ bethatruby@aol.com Ruby for Women is published by rubyforwomen.com All submission inquiries should be directed to Nina Newton, Sr. Editor Ruby for Women editor@rubyforwomen.com or Beth Brubaker, Assistant Editor bethatruby@aol.com Advertising inquiries should be directed to editor@rubyforwomen.com Creative Consultant, Katherine Corrigan of Blog Art by Katherine http://katherinescorner.com/blog-art/

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