David L. Winters's Blog, page 6

Need Some Enemies Scattered?

Psalm 68: 1-31 May God arise, may his enemies be scattered;     may his foes flee before him. 2 May you blow them away like smoke—     as wax melts before the fire,     may the wicked perish before God. 3 But may the righteous be glad     and rejoice before God;     may they be happy and joyful.Spiritual Warfare Back in the day, it seemed most Christians understood that we are in a battle. Not only is it a temporal battle for our livelihood, our family's welfare and our happiness, the battle is a spiritual one for everything we hold dear. Being uninformed of the spiritual goings on around us doesn't make the fight any less real. "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Ephesians 6:12You and I, as believers have authority invested in us by God. As His Church on Earth and His Ambassadors to the unsaved, we are responsible to bind those forces that come against God's work and threaten His People. If we recognize it, we need to take time to come against it in Jesus' name. Likewise, we have incredible opportunities to pray about everything-releasing God's Will into every situation that comes to our attention.Not About UsLife isn't just about us. The Lord doesn't need my help to diagnose the problems of those in my world, but he chooses us to love them and pray for His healing, His Will and His love to take over lives and situations. When I see an addiction at work, God wants me to bind the work of the destroyer that is behind the addiction. When we see families torn apart, He wants us to bind the spirits behind the pride and disobedience. When we see sickness and pain, He wants us to pray His healing power into the situation. We don't have to accept responsibility for the result, that's up to Him. Our role is just to pray, believe and move on to the next situation. Free will, choices, unbelief can hinder results of our prayers, but if we stay at it faithfully, we will see many of God's breakthroughs for our friends, co-workers, families and institutions.PeaceWe can live in peace if we keep our minds on Jesus. I am praying for all who read this that God will bring His peace to you right now as you fight the spiritual battles around you. Please pray this for me too, and your loved ones as well. "And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7

Salting it Up!

Almost everyone enjoys flavorful foods. A little spice saves the blandest of dishes and rewards the chef with praise and return patronage.God feels the same way about His people. Matthew 5: 13-16 tells us that we are to be salt and light to His world. 13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. 14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 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. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."How do we do this in a Country that has started to gnash itself apart with political bickering? The temptation is to become lukewarm, mamby-pamby Christians.Last Saturday, the Gaithersburg Book Festival landed me smack in the middle of our modern world. As I set up my table with the two Christian books I've written, two other Christian writers introduced themselves. It was great to feel their fellowship around me.Also nearby was a cult that was giving away copies of the Bagavad Gita and trying to entice festival-goers to learn more about meditation. Yet another group labeled JW turned out to be the Jehovah's Witnesses.God rather clearly showed me in my spirit that we are in a battle. If we don't show up or don't bring our faith with us, others with dangerous beliefs are still going out to battle. By ceding them the territory, we are doing the opposite of what Jesus is talking about in Matthew 5.Pray that God will strengthen us with His Spirit to recognize and take advantage of the opportunities to share the Gospel, to pray for hurting people and be salt and light to a dying world.++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++When you support Christian books, music and movies, you are helping to spread the light of the Gospel. Most of us have bought a fair amount of secular art and entertainment in our lifetime. When you buy, you are enabling the artist to produce more of the same - whether it be for God's Glory or man's. Energize and nourish your favorite writers and artists who are currently in the fight and you just might find yourself encouraged by what you read, hear and see.If you haven't done so, check out my new book, Driver Confessional. It is available on my website and anywhere fine books are sold.

Would Love to See You!

I will be out and about in May and June promoting Driver Confessional. A Christian ride-share driver takes his faith to work, setting riders at ease with his Italian good looks and conversational manner. On a particularly dark night, a mysterious woman spills the beans, landing Antonio and his whole band of friends and family in hot water. Antonio and his police detective brother must solve the mystery before their lives are shattered.Buy the book on thiswebsiteand have it autographed. Or buy it onAmazon.comand save a few bucks.Would love to see you. If you are a book club with five or more members, I am happy to call into your discussion of any of my books. Let me know when you plan to meet and would like to discuss my book. We will coordinate on a date that works for your group and me. Contact me atdlw@sabbaticalofthemind.net.This Saturday, I will be at theGaithersburg Book Festival. Here is theirlinkwith the particulars. Come an see me in Area A. There will be books for sale, swag and lots of hugs. Over 100 authors, including many you may know will be signing at the event.My schedule for the next several months.Gaithersburg Book Festival           May 20, 2017        Gaithersburg, MDNext Generation Indie Awards     May 31, 2017        Harvard ClubNew York, NYWheaton Writer's Conference     June 14-15             Wheaton CollegeWheaton, ILUnite 2017                                      June 28-29             Cincinnati, OHChristian Booksellers

What I Learned From Ubering

The day I retired from Federal service (12/31/16), a new adventure called my name. I decided to begin Ubering.At first, Ubering was a way to get my best friend a $350 bonus for signing me up and getting me to drive 50 trips. Soon, it became a fun diversion from the suddenness of not working. As a part-time driver, there was complete flexibility to begin working when  convenient and to quit when the spirit moved me.Within a couple of weeks, it was obvious that all these experiences must somehow become a book. Although Sabbatical of the MInd, my first book, wasn't  even edited yet, it was obvious that the colorful people and interesting experiences of Ubering demanded a second book..Driver Confessional was released on May 1. It is available at thiswebsite, on-line at most major retailers includingAmazonand in select Christian bookstores.I decided to weave a murder mystery between the stories of the Uber rides. Believe me, there were some lessons learned in driving people around while earning less than $10/hour. Some passengers went to the White House and one went to a crack house. Political bigwigs sat in the same backseat as maids going from one cleaning job to another.Praying before every session and before each ride, God showed up on more than one occasion to comfort a troubled heart, counsel a wounded schoolgirl and pray with a patient on her way to the hospital. It just reinforced what we all know: our work is our ministry. It is the way God intended for us to take care of His world. For more of what I learned, check out the story of Antonio, part-time ride-share driver and law student. The confession of a mysterious woman lead him and his police officer brother into a web of secrets, lies and hidden evidence. Can he unravel it all before everyone he loves is in danger?BIG, EXCITING NEWS! My first book, Sabbatical of the Mind: The Journey from Anxiety to Peace won two Finalist Medals from the Next Generation Indies Book Awards. One award was for Best Non-Fiction E-Book and the other was for Best Christian Non-Fiction Book. The best part is that the exposure of the awards reception at the Harvard Club in New York City may lead to God's Word within the book reaching a wider audience.

Spring De-stressing

What says springtime louder than flowers? New growth reminds us that good things remain in our lives. Though the Winter can be rough, there is relief if we hold on.Even in this year when the East Coast enjoyed a relatively mild Winter, I was very eager for Spring. A few crocuses eventually led to jonquils and finally the much-beloved tulips rose and bloomed. My heart absolutely did flips of joy as I walked around my neighborhood and enjoyed the beauty of this new season.If you are still in the fight, trying to overcome in a stressed-out World, be encouraged with these words of hope. "Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God." 1 John 5:5. If you believe in Christ, that Spirit of an overcomer is already within you. Let it control your heart and mind. Spend time in prayer and Bible reading each day. As we walk in the Spirit, we won't fulfill the lust of flesh.Get out and talk a prayer walk today. Your neighborhood needs it. Your office's neighborhood needs it. You need it.This is a very busy week for me, but I wanted to take time to encourage you and wish you the very best of the new season. I've been out and about with my new book (see below.) I would love to see you in Dayton, OH this weekend. Check out myevents pageto get the times and places of the appearances. If you haven't picked up Driver Confessional, please do. It will help immensely in my climb to become a successful Christian author.Check out my new book, Driver Confessional. It is the story of a Christian ride-share driver whose life is thrown into danger by the confession of a mysterious passenger. Antonio and his police officer brother must solve a murder mystery before international terrorists destroy everything he holds dear.Buy on my websiteBuy on Amazon

Dancing and Mourning

In Bible times, people often expressed their joy through dancing. King David was rebuked by his wife for taking off his kingly robes and dancing in praise to his God, Jehovah. He didn't care because the joy of the Lord was overwhelming and he cared more about praising God than pleasing his wife's prideful side.Life deals us many blows. Currently, I'm facilitating a GriefShare group at my church. It is an excellent non-denominational program that walks people through their individual journey with grief over the loss of a loved one. The program uses the stories of many people (including a few famous Christians) to share the ways God helps us in our difficult times.Walking with people through their seasons of grief is teaching me the importance of enjoying the happy special moments of life. It is so important that we laugh, dance, rejoice and savor the good times in our lives. There will be plenty of difficulty and trouble. That's just how life on Earth goes. But every day is not a sad day. Most days have some good and some bad. As Christians, our charge is to rejoice with those who are having happy times and mourn with those who are facing life's challenges.Find something wonderful about today and dance a little: literally or figuratively.

Cuddly Bunnies and Fuzzy Birds

One of the sweetest pets I have known was a fluffy salmon-colored cockatoo. Bruno showed curiosity and love to everyone she met. (She was named before the owner definitively knew her sex.)Bruno liked to be with people more than any other activity, including eating. She had a rich vocabulary usually used to persuade her human handlers to give her what she wanted. Loud screeching in the morning or evening meant "Where is my flock?" or "Come get me out of this cage." When she wanted a bathroom break, "Got to go bye-bye." My favorite was "Are you my honey, honey?" This was a signal she wanted to cuddle her head on your neck.The bird used various looks and motions as well. Spreading out a wing meant "please scratch me under my wing." Staring at specific food items usually meant "I would like a bit of that banana" or "how about a nut for Bruno?"There were many times when I would arrive home and feel totally worn out from the day. One look from that bird would re-energize me and make me glad to be home. Her unconditional love and unmistakable joy at seeing me washed away a lot of cares. Stereo-typically, she loved to get on my shoulder and ride around the house while I did routine chores, made dinner, etc.When Bruno passed away unexpectedly one Winter, it was a soul-crushing blow. I bawled like a child when they brought me that ball of fluff all wrapped up in a blanket. Wisely, the animal hospital had a grieving room where it was safe to accept the stark truth that a beloved pet had gone on to their reward.It is comforting to know that we have a God made flesh who cried like we do. At the sight of human mourning, John 11:35 tells us "Jesus wept." Though he knew that he was about to resurrect the body at this particular wake, he felt so much compassion for his friends that he cried. Sometimes, we need someone to help us through our grief.Capital Baptist Church in Annandale, Virginia is about to embark on another 13-week session of Griefshare. This amazing program includes videos featuring prominent Christians talking about their losses, workbooks and small-group discussion. It is for anyone who has lost someone dear. If you are grieving and would benefit from such a program, please consider joining us if you live in the Washington, D.C. area. We will meet on Wednesday nights at 7p beginning January 25. I will be co-leading the group with Anna Innes. Send me an e-mail for more details about sign up.If you are not in the Washington area, there are locations around the Country offering this program. I've been through Griefshare and it helped me immensely. Click below for the Griefshare website to learn more or find a group near you.

The Real Christmas Love

From Matthew Chapter 2"8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told."LoveFew people over the age of five would knowingly trade the love of parents, siblings, a spouse, a friend or a co-worker for a great $35 present from Target. But sometimes we do. When we spend too much time running around buying presents, it is easy to forget to just hug the people next to us.Some express their love by searching all over the city for just the right gift, wrapping it beautifully with care and presenting it with much ado. That's nice, but spending several hours with children baking cookies probably makes more of a lasting impression.In that way, God's gifts are not always in line with our earthly expectations. In Israel all those years ago, the people were looking for a Messiah with sterling credentials, God-like appearance and wealthy parents. Instead, the got a normal baby in a manger. Worse yet, it was announced by one of the least admired groups: the shepherds.Bathrobes?While the wardrobe for shepherds works well in the Church Christmas play (bathrobe), God chose them to say something to us. No matter your station in life or how your life is going, God loves you. Yes you, with your warts and mistakes and inferior bank account. He chose you to tell His story to the World.Make sure to put people ahead of things this Christmas. They need us. We need them. And God was born in a manger and died just for us and just for them.

Today Only Free Ebook

Faithful blog readers,Today only, Sabbatical of the Mind: The Journey from Anxiety to Peace is free for Kindle on Amazon.com. Click below to check it out:

Anxiety and Christmas

The holidays trigger emotions for just about everyone. Some are good, some not special. Loneliness and fear can pull us down into anxiety and distress.The Answers - FellowshipFortunately, our Creator knew from the beginning (Genesis) that it was not good for us to be alone all the time. By planning time with others, Christmas, New Years and every other end of year holiday have the potential to be enjoyable feasts of fellowship rather than deserts of alone time.Be the party. While you may not be in a position to invite fifty persons to your home, you can certainly round up a few others and go out to a meal, meet for a movie or join each other at a special Church service. By organizing the event, you have the opportunity to minister to others who may be feeling apprehensive, wishing they had plans or just wish someone would invite them to do something.The Answers - FinancialMany people put themselves into very stressful situations by encouraging their families to have large gift exchanges. While it can be fun to give and receive gifts, make sure that the giving is mutual, enjoyable and within your budget. Don't tie yourself up financially for months into the New Year just to play the big shot at your family's gift exchange. Suggest drawing names or at least limiting the cost for adult gifts to a reasonable amount.The Answers - Disarm Emotional BoobytrapsFirst Christmases after a death, divorce or other family tragedy can be filled with landmines. Think ahead about the seating at the dinner table (maybe have a buffet instead of sitting in the familiar seating arrangement.) Change up the order of events to include the Christmas Story from the Bible or a passage from an inspirational Christmas tale instead of focusing things of the past. Find new positive or fun activities to do with the children that send everyone's thoughts into the now instead of the past. Some families even choose to do a destination Christmas far from home, just to avoid that first year without the loved one.The Answers - SpiritualChristmas is about the birth of Jesus. If we have been struggling spiritually, this is a good time to spend personal Bible Study time and prayer getting re-acquainted with Christ. He wants to be involved in every part of our life. Plan your 2017 in light of what you think Christ is asking you to do for His Kingdom. Jesus is the best companion ever and He wants to spend time with each of us.The Answers - PhysicalOne of the best things we can do to brighten our holidays is to put our health near the top of our priorities. If you belong to a gym, commit to regular exercise and perhaps even increase your normal routine to become better during the holidays. Don't overeat. Wouldn't it make you feel amazing to actually lose five pounds through the holidays instead of putting weight on? Walking can be relaxing and healthful, but not at a crowded mall will people pushing and shoving. Find a beautiful area and perhaps take a friend to walk with you.Praying for you, my readers, that your holidays will be some of the best ever. Love someone who really needs it this year.