Amanda Stephan's Blog: God is Good, God is Great, page 38
October 23, 2012
1st Annual Book Swap Blog Hop & Get FREE books!
When our children were young, I was so excited to build a library for them. It was important to me to have many, many good, quality books they could read over and over again, so I dug in with gusto.
That's how I created monsters. Now, that library has grown so large, that we have totes upon totes of books stacked everywhere in this house. Attic? Check. Bookshelves in every available space in the house? Check. The boys room? Girls room? OUR room? Check, check, check. Don't even get me started on the school room. Oiy!
Nowadays, if you see a book on our overwhelmed shelves, it has earned its place there. It has passed muster and we want to keep it. And by we, that basically means our daughter and I. Because, well, my husband and son really aren't that into reading. (Now that you've been made aware of one of the skeletons in our closet...)
These books need homes. Desperately. At one time, they were indispensable. Now, either through growth, waning interest, or simply a lack of room, we are purging.
This is where you, dear readers & friends, get involved.
We're having a Book Swap Blog Hop ~> where you can request and get
FREE BOOKS!
When: November 1st - November 7th, 2012
Rules:
-Each blogger must include the Book Swap Blog Hop picture in their post
-Each blogger must include a list of books they are willing to swap and receive with their readers
(EX: I am willing to swap these books:
-title of book (any additional info)
I am looking for these books (if you don't have any of these books send me some you are willing to get rid of and maybe we can work something out):
-title of book (any additional info)
-Each blogger must include a way for the potential swappers to contact them
-Each blogger must post any important facts about the books they are swapping (i.e.-ARC, Paperback, Hardback, What book # in a series, etc.)
-Each book you want to swap must be in good condition
-Each blogger and swapper must pay shipping for any book they send out
-Clearly post which countries you will ship to
-Include the list of other blogs participating in this hop
-Each blogger must schedule their post to go up 12:00 AM November 1st. And end 12:00 AM November 8th.
-Your books that you are swapping must be family friendly! (no inappropriate cover)
-Likewise your blog must also be family friendly. (no dirty pictures!)
Join us for the fun by signing up at
The Maniacal Bookworm!
Oh. And please tell her, Amanda sent ya! ;)
www.BooksByAmanda.com
October 22, 2012
A Halloween Alternative
October is a somewhat difficult month for me.Oh yes, the Ohio trees are in the peak of beautiful color, the apple cider is sitting in the fridge ready to be drunk, and the crisp air makes for good sleeping at night; but everywhere I turn there are reminders of Halloween. I won't go into all the reasons of why I never celebrated Halloween as a child or why my husband and I don't celebrate it with our daughter, but instead I will share with you good folks the alternative to a Halloween celebration that I came up with this year.
Looking at God's magnificent handy work, all those beautiful trees I mentioned earlier, I had the idea that it would be exciting to cut out paper leaves and make an indoor treasure hunt. On the fronts of the leaves will be words that when put together will spell out the phrase God's Bounty, Your Harvest Prize, Is Ready For The Taking. The really fun part for me will be deciding where to hide the leaves around the house. Hopefully, the really fun part for Emily will be finding the leaves and collecting her paper lunch sack full of treats.It occurs to me as I type this post, that this idea would even be great for birthday parties or other celebrations. All one would have to do is change the words to match the occasion and change the leaves to anything from balloons to crosses. Anyways, Happy Harvest everyone!
So ends another episode of Kids Korner with me, Children's Author Aileen Stewart. Join me next week for another exciting episode same krazy time, same krazy channel. And feel free to drop by my personal blog Aileen's Thoughts any day of the week for even more on reading, writing, and life in general.
www.BooksByAmanda.com
October 21, 2012
Christian Devotional - The Sword
“Choose your weapon!”
These words usually precede some sort of duel, often shown in movies and such. The opponents then pick their preferred method of attack and proceed to see who will win the battle. Usually the person who has chosen the best weapon AND who is able to wield that weapon with the most skill and accuracy is the one who wins. As we’ve studies about the Armor of God, we’ve looked at all the defensive armor. Now, we’re going to take a look at the final piece, the offensive weapon of attack, the sword.
Ephesians 6:13-17 “Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God.”
As mentioned above for people who are getting ready to duel, there are two considerations when preparing for battle: the choice of weapon and the ability to use that weapon. When it comes to choosing the weapon, we really have only one real choice. God has given us the Sword of the Spirit. This is the Word of God. Our Bible, which contains the precious word of God is our weapon for not only defending ourselves, but for also attacking against the forces of the evil one. So how effective is this weapon? Hebrews 4:12 says “for the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of the soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
Bottom line: The Word of God is by far the most effective and precise weapon that we could ever imagine. The Greek word that is used in this verse in Hebrews refers to the accuracy of a surgical scalpel. Used correctly, the Bible can be as accurate and effective as surgical equipment in the hands of a master surgeon. However, just because someone has an effective scalpel doesn’t necessarily mean I want them to perform my surgery. I want to know that they can effectively use that weapon.
Not everyone is a master swordsman when it comes to using the Bible. The best example from the Bible would be Peter. In John 18:10, “Simon Peter then, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear.” Peter had a sword, but somehow, when he was in the moment looking at the situation, I have to believe he meant to defend His Savior with something more heroic than simply cutting off the slave’s ear. You can almost see this scene as slightly comical as Peter probably yells ferociously, grabs the sword and lifts it high, then swings, expecting to leave carnage in his wake as he opens up the way for Jesus to escape. He then looks up and he has only cut off someone’s ear, and not even the ear of one of the leaders. He took up a sword, but didn’t exactly use it with skill or accuracy.
Peter’s a fisherman, not a swordsman. I’m not even sure why he was carrying a sword. If we’re not careful, we as Christians can choose the right weapon, but just take it and start swinging it around with no skill or training. Bible verses get taken out of context, truth is shared without love and eventually people get butchered instead of the precise and skillful cuts of a surgeon. Used correctly and as it is intended, the Sword of the Spirit is as beneficial to people as life-saving surgery. Used incorrectly, the Bible can leave huge gaping wounds in the hearts of people.
Now, Peter learned to wield the sword of the Spirit extremely effective later in his life, and that should give all of us hope that we can learn to be master swordsmen (and swordswomen) who use the sword of the Spirit effectively and efficiently. To do this is really not hard, but it requires time and discipline. We must study the Word and become familiar with it and understand it. There are lots of ways to do this, whether it’s by listening to your minister teach from the Word, going through written Bible studies individually or in groups, or spending time reading the Bible and using trusted commentaries to help. We must practice using the Bible with others we trust. Surgeons don’t just read books and then all of a sudden show up in an operating room. They have various methods to practice their skills first. Even then their 10th surgery is typically better than their 1st, and their 100th is even better than that. Find some other believers that you can share with you will be honest with you and will encourage and challenge you.
Study and practice. Those are the keys to wielding the sword of the Spirit, the powerful weapon of God with skill and accuracy so that you can, not just defend yourself, but work to bring about God’s will for all those you are around.
So, choose your weapon. Then work to become a master at using this amazing weapon of God, the Bible.
Kristi Burchfiel, Christian devotional author and speaker
Living in the World – Living out the Word
Check out my website and daily devotions either on my blog or on my Facebook page
www.BooksByAmanda.com
These words usually precede some sort of duel, often shown in movies and such. The opponents then pick their preferred method of attack and proceed to see who will win the battle. Usually the person who has chosen the best weapon AND who is able to wield that weapon with the most skill and accuracy is the one who wins. As we’ve studies about the Armor of God, we’ve looked at all the defensive armor. Now, we’re going to take a look at the final piece, the offensive weapon of attack, the sword.
Ephesians 6:13-17 “Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God.”
As mentioned above for people who are getting ready to duel, there are two considerations when preparing for battle: the choice of weapon and the ability to use that weapon. When it comes to choosing the weapon, we really have only one real choice. God has given us the Sword of the Spirit. This is the Word of God. Our Bible, which contains the precious word of God is our weapon for not only defending ourselves, but for also attacking against the forces of the evil one. So how effective is this weapon? Hebrews 4:12 says “for the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of the soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
Bottom line: The Word of God is by far the most effective and precise weapon that we could ever imagine. The Greek word that is used in this verse in Hebrews refers to the accuracy of a surgical scalpel. Used correctly, the Bible can be as accurate and effective as surgical equipment in the hands of a master surgeon. However, just because someone has an effective scalpel doesn’t necessarily mean I want them to perform my surgery. I want to know that they can effectively use that weapon.
Not everyone is a master swordsman when it comes to using the Bible. The best example from the Bible would be Peter. In John 18:10, “Simon Peter then, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear.” Peter had a sword, but somehow, when he was in the moment looking at the situation, I have to believe he meant to defend His Savior with something more heroic than simply cutting off the slave’s ear. You can almost see this scene as slightly comical as Peter probably yells ferociously, grabs the sword and lifts it high, then swings, expecting to leave carnage in his wake as he opens up the way for Jesus to escape. He then looks up and he has only cut off someone’s ear, and not even the ear of one of the leaders. He took up a sword, but didn’t exactly use it with skill or accuracy.
Peter’s a fisherman, not a swordsman. I’m not even sure why he was carrying a sword. If we’re not careful, we as Christians can choose the right weapon, but just take it and start swinging it around with no skill or training. Bible verses get taken out of context, truth is shared without love and eventually people get butchered instead of the precise and skillful cuts of a surgeon. Used correctly and as it is intended, the Sword of the Spirit is as beneficial to people as life-saving surgery. Used incorrectly, the Bible can leave huge gaping wounds in the hearts of people.
Now, Peter learned to wield the sword of the Spirit extremely effective later in his life, and that should give all of us hope that we can learn to be master swordsmen (and swordswomen) who use the sword of the Spirit effectively and efficiently. To do this is really not hard, but it requires time and discipline. We must study the Word and become familiar with it and understand it. There are lots of ways to do this, whether it’s by listening to your minister teach from the Word, going through written Bible studies individually or in groups, or spending time reading the Bible and using trusted commentaries to help. We must practice using the Bible with others we trust. Surgeons don’t just read books and then all of a sudden show up in an operating room. They have various methods to practice their skills first. Even then their 10th surgery is typically better than their 1st, and their 100th is even better than that. Find some other believers that you can share with you will be honest with you and will encourage and challenge you.
Study and practice. Those are the keys to wielding the sword of the Spirit, the powerful weapon of God with skill and accuracy so that you can, not just defend yourself, but work to bring about God’s will for all those you are around.
So, choose your weapon. Then work to become a master at using this amazing weapon of God, the Bible.
Kristi Burchfiel, Christian devotional author and speaker
Living in the World – Living out the Word
Check out my website and daily devotions either on my blog or on my Facebook page
www.BooksByAmanda.com
October 17, 2012
A Little Bit Homesick!
Fall is my favorite time of year.
You can imagine my dismay when I realized there is no real fall in the state of Oklahoma. My heart nearly broke.
I instantly put out a plea on Facebook for my fellow Wisconsinites to post some beautiful fall pictures for me. I patiently waited.
Finally the pictures began to appear.
First, my sister-in-law sent me this one. Look at the variety of colors. Love it!
Then, my dear friend Barb sent me this one. I literally felt my heart lighten when I looked at this picture. I love the red leaves.
Finally, while she doesn’t live in Wisconsin, (Ohio has fall too) my fellow Sister-in-Cahoot Aileen sent me this one.
After drooling for what seemed like forever, I realized, I not only miss the trees turning, but I also miss home.
Some how over the course of time, I have come to look at Wisconsin as my home. I am homesick. I was not born there. Although I did spend a good part of my life in that cool state to the north. I suppose that happens to a person when their feet are firmly planted in one place for an extended period of time.
And that is a problem because we have a new home. Yes, we have made Oklahoma our new home. I do not know what will become my favorite thing about this state. Nor do I have any idea how long it will take. I can tell you that God has planted us here and therefore this is where we will reside.
If you have ever felt homesick then you know exactly what I am talking about.
Imagine with me if you will. We grow attached to imperfect people and imperfect things. We come to love lands that have been ravaged by the people living in them as well as by the elements. Can you imagine how Jesus felt when he left heaven? He must have loved us a whole lot. With that in mind, I guess moving from one state to another isn’t so bad!
Thanks for taking the time to grow with me this Wednesday
Darlene Shortridge
Author, Speaker, Singer
www.darleneshortridge.com
www.BooksByAmanda.com
You can imagine my dismay when I realized there is no real fall in the state of Oklahoma. My heart nearly broke.
I instantly put out a plea on Facebook for my fellow Wisconsinites to post some beautiful fall pictures for me. I patiently waited.
Finally the pictures began to appear.
First, my sister-in-law sent me this one. Look at the variety of colors. Love it!
Then, my dear friend Barb sent me this one. I literally felt my heart lighten when I looked at this picture. I love the red leaves.
Finally, while she doesn’t live in Wisconsin, (Ohio has fall too) my fellow Sister-in-Cahoot Aileen sent me this one.
After drooling for what seemed like forever, I realized, I not only miss the trees turning, but I also miss home.
Some how over the course of time, I have come to look at Wisconsin as my home. I am homesick. I was not born there. Although I did spend a good part of my life in that cool state to the north. I suppose that happens to a person when their feet are firmly planted in one place for an extended period of time.
And that is a problem because we have a new home. Yes, we have made Oklahoma our new home. I do not know what will become my favorite thing about this state. Nor do I have any idea how long it will take. I can tell you that God has planted us here and therefore this is where we will reside.
If you have ever felt homesick then you know exactly what I am talking about.
Imagine with me if you will. We grow attached to imperfect people and imperfect things. We come to love lands that have been ravaged by the people living in them as well as by the elements. Can you imagine how Jesus felt when he left heaven? He must have loved us a whole lot. With that in mind, I guess moving from one state to another isn’t so bad!
Thanks for taking the time to grow with me this Wednesday
Darlene Shortridge
Author, Speaker, Singer
www.darleneshortridge.com
www.BooksByAmanda.com
October 16, 2012
Temper Tantrums; Not Just for the Young
It was a cold, dreary night. The wind pounded against the windows. I could hear tiny pellets of rain smacking against the house and I slipped ever-so-gently into a peaceful slumber.
Without warning, the phone rang and rudely jarred me from sleep.
It was my husband.
Instantly awake, I grabbed the phone.
Please dear Lord, don't let anything be wrong. Let him be all right.
"Hey sweets, just wanted to let you know that house we were looking at? Someone put an offer in on it, and it looks like it was accepted."
Of course, at that time, I was so thankful there wasn't anything mortally wrong with him. I mean, come on. He's my best friend. So, I assured him it was fine, that it was God's answer to our combined prayers in regards to obtaining this house, and have a good night.
And I meant it. Every single word.
Until morning.
See, we thought we found the 'perfect' house. Model worthy. Granite countertops, trey ceilings, hardwood flooring, 1800 sq feet, double vanities in the master bath, bay window, *sigh*...must I go on?! And, to make things even better, it was affordable.
Yes please!
But now? Now that someone else is going to own what I'd set my heart on? It's like pouring gobs of salt on an open wound. And lemon juice. With more salt on top. Forget the cherry. Let's just punch the wound to mash in the salt and lemon juice just to make sure I got the point. Twice.
Look. I'll be honest with you. This morning, when it dawned bright and clear that God had once again said no to the very thing I wanted, I pouted. In fact, I was upset. Well, actually, it was more than upset. Try hurt, frustrated, miserable, teary-eyed and mad all mixed into one huge pity party, and you'll pretty much get an idea of what my morning was like.
(To my poor family: I'm sorry. From the deepest recesses of my heart, I truly am sorry.)
This morning, my attitude was so very foul, that I, (silently), fussed at God. Yes, I do this silently for a reason. The fewer people that think I'm crazy, the better.
And in fact, I pretty much asked Him to burn our house down so we could rebuild and have a nice house. Pretty nasty of me, isn't it? I know. I'm ashamed of it, but I do have a point. Stick with me for just a few more minutes and we'll get there.
And then, I started considering all those overwhelming details that seemed so very important. You know the ones. The poor-me, I have it soooo bad things.
Like drywall that needs repairing.
Landscaping that need to be finished.
Bugs to be sprayed for. (because I'm an 'ewwww, it's a bug!' freak.)
Wallpaper to be applied.
Painting that needs to be done.
Carpets that need to be cleaned.
A porch railing that needs to be finished.
A ceiling that needs to be finished.
As if all that weren't enough to send me to the pity-party-palace, I started dwelling on the things that weren't working.
Like our stove. Which, had we been able to purchase the other house, came with a nice, new, shiny stainless steel one.
A refrigerator that leaks.
And no garage.
Seriously. Having a man with no garage or pole barn is tough, and this morning, I thought it was the end of the world.
I had worked myself up into such a terrible pity mood, that I barely prayed loud enough for the kids to hear me during our morning devotionals. I even went so far as to 'wonder' to God if He liked telling me no.
Yep. It was that bad. I know, right? Stand back and watch for the lightening bolt!
And then a miracle happened. God sent a message through a friend of my husband's.
This wise person told the realtor's spouse (who is a mutual friend),
"They're good with their money and they don't do anything quickly without thinking everything through. They don't act impulsively and do something without praying and making sure that it's God's will."
Taking my husband aside, he asked how I was taking it. Of course, hubby didn't know I was having a major brat-fest because he was still at work, and he said, "She's disappointed, but she said that this obviously wasn't God's will and she's good with that."
Boys. They can be so naive. Come on ladies, we were talking granite countertops...this was no laughing matter anymore!
We had prayed and prayed and prayed that if it was God's will, that He would allow us to have this house. I had philosophized with the usual:
"God's bigger than that."
"He's the Creator of the Universe. What's a house?"
"If I can trust Him with my salvation, I can trust Him with a tiny house, right?"
"I felt peace when we last saw it."
My point in all this is, what happened to this attitude when God said no?
I didn't take it well. I didn't philosophize then.
No indeedy.
In fact, I threw a fit.
What a spoiled brat I am.
And I'm so ashamed of myself. Truly ashamed. Because after a few minutes of sulking and fussing at God, a thread of optimism started to shine through the darkness. The still small voice of God started pricking my heart.
God: Your husband has a job.
Me: I know, Lord, but still. I'm upset.
God: Your kids have a place to run and play.
Me: But this other house had the same amount of acreage, Lord.
God: I gave you a perfectly fine house.
Me: Yes, I know. But is it wrong for me to want something better with a garage?
God: Not at all.
(and this is the kicker...)
God: But what if there was something at that other place you wouldn't have been able to handle?
And my attitude vanished.
Because He's right.
I see only a small amount in the grand scheme of things. I only see this. Right. Now. Not so with God. He sees the whole picture. The eternal picture.
And that matters the most. Even more than granite countertops.
This is my attitude after I repented of my ugly attitude~
Me: My God is bigger than that.
God: Yes I am.
Me: But remember, Lord. If that house goes up for sale again or if it falls through, remember...
God: I'll keep it in mind.
Praise God He still loves us in spite of ourselves.
For further reading and growing, read Genesis 13:1-13; Genesis 19
www.BooksByAmanda.com
Without warning, the phone rang and rudely jarred me from sleep.
It was my husband.
Instantly awake, I grabbed the phone.
Please dear Lord, don't let anything be wrong. Let him be all right.
"Hey sweets, just wanted to let you know that house we were looking at? Someone put an offer in on it, and it looks like it was accepted."
Of course, at that time, I was so thankful there wasn't anything mortally wrong with him. I mean, come on. He's my best friend. So, I assured him it was fine, that it was God's answer to our combined prayers in regards to obtaining this house, and have a good night.
And I meant it. Every single word.
Until morning.
See, we thought we found the 'perfect' house. Model worthy. Granite countertops, trey ceilings, hardwood flooring, 1800 sq feet, double vanities in the master bath, bay window, *sigh*...must I go on?! And, to make things even better, it was affordable.
Yes please!
But now? Now that someone else is going to own what I'd set my heart on? It's like pouring gobs of salt on an open wound. And lemon juice. With more salt on top. Forget the cherry. Let's just punch the wound to mash in the salt and lemon juice just to make sure I got the point. Twice.
Look. I'll be honest with you. This morning, when it dawned bright and clear that God had once again said no to the very thing I wanted, I pouted. In fact, I was upset. Well, actually, it was more than upset. Try hurt, frustrated, miserable, teary-eyed and mad all mixed into one huge pity party, and you'll pretty much get an idea of what my morning was like.
(To my poor family: I'm sorry. From the deepest recesses of my heart, I truly am sorry.)
This morning, my attitude was so very foul, that I, (silently), fussed at God. Yes, I do this silently for a reason. The fewer people that think I'm crazy, the better.
And in fact, I pretty much asked Him to burn our house down so we could rebuild and have a nice house. Pretty nasty of me, isn't it? I know. I'm ashamed of it, but I do have a point. Stick with me for just a few more minutes and we'll get there.
And then, I started considering all those overwhelming details that seemed so very important. You know the ones. The poor-me, I have it soooo bad things.
Like drywall that needs repairing.
Landscaping that need to be finished.
Bugs to be sprayed for. (because I'm an 'ewwww, it's a bug!' freak.)
Wallpaper to be applied.
Painting that needs to be done.
Carpets that need to be cleaned.
A porch railing that needs to be finished.
A ceiling that needs to be finished.
As if all that weren't enough to send me to the pity-party-palace, I started dwelling on the things that weren't working.
Like our stove. Which, had we been able to purchase the other house, came with a nice, new, shiny stainless steel one.
A refrigerator that leaks.
And no garage.
Seriously. Having a man with no garage or pole barn is tough, and this morning, I thought it was the end of the world.
I had worked myself up into such a terrible pity mood, that I barely prayed loud enough for the kids to hear me during our morning devotionals. I even went so far as to 'wonder' to God if He liked telling me no.
Yep. It was that bad. I know, right? Stand back and watch for the lightening bolt!
And then a miracle happened. God sent a message through a friend of my husband's.
This wise person told the realtor's spouse (who is a mutual friend),
"They're good with their money and they don't do anything quickly without thinking everything through. They don't act impulsively and do something without praying and making sure that it's God's will."
Taking my husband aside, he asked how I was taking it. Of course, hubby didn't know I was having a major brat-fest because he was still at work, and he said, "She's disappointed, but she said that this obviously wasn't God's will and she's good with that."
Boys. They can be so naive. Come on ladies, we were talking granite countertops...this was no laughing matter anymore!
We had prayed and prayed and prayed that if it was God's will, that He would allow us to have this house. I had philosophized with the usual:
"God's bigger than that."
"He's the Creator of the Universe. What's a house?"
"If I can trust Him with my salvation, I can trust Him with a tiny house, right?"
"I felt peace when we last saw it."
My point in all this is, what happened to this attitude when God said no?
I didn't take it well. I didn't philosophize then.
No indeedy.
In fact, I threw a fit.
What a spoiled brat I am.
And I'm so ashamed of myself. Truly ashamed. Because after a few minutes of sulking and fussing at God, a thread of optimism started to shine through the darkness. The still small voice of God started pricking my heart.
God: Your husband has a job.
Me: I know, Lord, but still. I'm upset.
God: Your kids have a place to run and play.
Me: But this other house had the same amount of acreage, Lord.
God: I gave you a perfectly fine house.
Me: Yes, I know. But is it wrong for me to want something better with a garage?
God: Not at all.
(and this is the kicker...)
God: But what if there was something at that other place you wouldn't have been able to handle?
And my attitude vanished.
Because He's right.
I see only a small amount in the grand scheme of things. I only see this. Right. Now. Not so with God. He sees the whole picture. The eternal picture.
And that matters the most. Even more than granite countertops.
This is my attitude after I repented of my ugly attitude~
Me: My God is bigger than that.
God: Yes I am.
Me: But remember, Lord. If that house goes up for sale again or if it falls through, remember...
God: I'll keep it in mind.
Praise God He still loves us in spite of ourselves.
For further reading and growing, read Genesis 13:1-13; Genesis 19
www.BooksByAmanda.com
October 15, 2012
Ain't It Great From Three To Eight?
I am so glad that my seven year old daughter took after me and loves to read. She loves to read so much, in fact, that she has her own floor to ceiling bookshelf in her bedroom. She is also the type of person that gets really attached to her personal belongings; and despite outgrowing them, she hangs onto them. So if you were to come to our home and browse the books on her shelves you would find everything from bedtime stories like Goodnight Moon to chapter books for third to fifth grade. She did finally agree to let me get rid of the touch and feel baby books, so I guess that is something. Although she is really past reading books in the three to eight age
bracket, I know many of you still have children or grandchildren in this range; so with that in mind, here are four books worth considering. These books have both the mom and daughter seal of approval at our house!
My first book recommendation, The Miracle of Rain by Sherry Rossman, is a wonderful story for small children who might be afraid of rain storms. In The Miracle of Rain
you and your special moppet can follow the adventures of Nora and her
cat Molly as their friend Smickett the raccoon shows them that God has a
purpose for even the loudest and scariest of rain storms. See how Nora
is transformed from a fearful young girl into a fantastically happy one
who dances to the rhythm of the rain with all the other special forest
creatures.
My next recommendation is Ode to Icky by Maranda Russel. Ode to Icky
is a well written, funny story of a girl and her very, very, very
stinky cat; and it is chock full of amazing illustrations that bring the
story to life right before your very eyes. I read with interest,
wondering what the outcome of Candy's perfume experiment would be. The
only flaw I found with this book was that the ending left me wanting
more. I was left wondering what Candy felt and learned from the whole
stinky perfume incident. All things considered, a great book for young
ones seeking a good reading adventure.
My third recommendation for today is A King's Decree and the Brave Three
by Jacey Verdicchio. Jacey Verdicchio has taken the story of Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego and has simplified it for the very young.
Beautifully illustrated and Biblically accurate, A Kings Decree and the Brave Three
is an excellent book that also comes with a free audio book download
which allows the readers to listen to this lovely rhyming story as they
silently read along.
And last but certainly not least, I recommend a book by Ohio Author Melissa Ivey Staehli titled I Love You to the Moon. I Love You to the Moon
is a beautiful story of a parent's love for their child. The watercolor
style illustrations lend an added warmth to the catchy rhymes, and the
extra large print and simple sentences are perfect for beginning
readers. The size of the print made me want to point to each word as I
read, which strikes me as something a child would find useful when
learning to read.
So ends another episode of Kids Korner with me, Children's Author Aileen Stewart. Join me next week for another exciting episode same krazy time, same krazy channel. And feel free to drop by my personal blog Aileen's Thoughts any day of the week for even more on reading, writing, and life in general.
www.BooksByAmanda.com
bracket, I know many of you still have children or grandchildren in this range; so with that in mind, here are four books worth considering. These books have both the mom and daughter seal of approval at our house!
My first book recommendation, The Miracle of Rain by Sherry Rossman, is a wonderful story for small children who might be afraid of rain storms. In The Miracle of Rain
you and your special moppet can follow the adventures of Nora and her
cat Molly as their friend Smickett the raccoon shows them that God has a
purpose for even the loudest and scariest of rain storms. See how Nora
is transformed from a fearful young girl into a fantastically happy one
who dances to the rhythm of the rain with all the other special forest
creatures.
My next recommendation is Ode to Icky by Maranda Russel. Ode to Icky
is a well written, funny story of a girl and her very, very, very
stinky cat; and it is chock full of amazing illustrations that bring the
story to life right before your very eyes. I read with interest,
wondering what the outcome of Candy's perfume experiment would be. The
only flaw I found with this book was that the ending left me wanting
more. I was left wondering what Candy felt and learned from the whole
stinky perfume incident. All things considered, a great book for young
ones seeking a good reading adventure.
My third recommendation for today is A King's Decree and the Brave Three
by Jacey Verdicchio. Jacey Verdicchio has taken the story of Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego and has simplified it for the very young.
Beautifully illustrated and Biblically accurate, A Kings Decree and the Brave Three
is an excellent book that also comes with a free audio book download
which allows the readers to listen to this lovely rhyming story as they
silently read along.
And last but certainly not least, I recommend a book by Ohio Author Melissa Ivey Staehli titled I Love You to the Moon. I Love You to the Moon
is a beautiful story of a parent's love for their child. The watercolor
style illustrations lend an added warmth to the catchy rhymes, and the
extra large print and simple sentences are perfect for beginning
readers. The size of the print made me want to point to each word as I
read, which strikes me as something a child would find useful when
learning to read.
So ends another episode of Kids Korner with me, Children's Author Aileen Stewart. Join me next week for another exciting episode same krazy time, same krazy channel. And feel free to drop by my personal blog Aileen's Thoughts any day of the week for even more on reading, writing, and life in general.
www.BooksByAmanda.com
October 14, 2012
Christian Devotional - Helmet
What were you thinking!
If your childhood was anything like mine, your mom probably said this to you, too! As it happens, the thoughts that we have and our inner self-dialogue are actually extremely important as we seek to live the Christian life. The next to last piece of the Armor of God and the focus of our study today is the Helmet of Salvation.
Ephesians 6: 13-17a “Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation.”
The helmet guards our head and specifically, our mind. Many verses have been written about the need to guard our mind. Romans 12:2 talks about renewing our mind. Isaiah 26:3 encourages us to have a steadfast mind. Romans 8:7 discusses how the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God. 1 Corinthians 2:16 says we are to have the mind of Christ. The list goes on and on.
Why such emphasis on the mind and our thoughts? Because if we are going to do something wrong, the action doesn’t come first, the thought does. My husband tells a story from his college days where one of his professors gave the class this scenario: If you could steal $1,000,000 dollars and you would never be caught, you would never have to pay taxes on it, and you could use it however you like, how many of you would do it? Over half the class raised their hands. The teacher then stated, “All of you who raised their hands are thieves, you just haven’t found the right set of circumstances to act on your decision yet.”
It’s a harsh truth that we actually make a decision on how we will act in certain circumstances long before we actually do act. If you allow yourself an “out” in your thinking about something that you know is wrong, when you are presented with that temptation, you’ll act on it, guaranteed. Your mind is where that whole process starts.
This is why Paul tells us to guard our mind. What is our defense? The salvation of Jesus Christ. Paul goes into great detail about our deliverance from the bondage of sin through salvation in Jesus Christ in Romans 8, but one of the key verses is Romans 8:6, “For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.” If we are not specifically set on Jesus Christ, we are facing death.
Just because you have asked Jesus to save you and to be a part of your life doesn’t mean that your protection of the mind is over and that you can rest easy. On the contrary, often that’s when the attacks really start. I have had conversations back and forth with myself as I wrestled with a certain decision or idea, knowing what God would have me do, but still feeling the pull of what I knew was wrong. These are the most difficult of temptations, the most subtle, because you can start out hiding them from others and think that no one knows. But, if you lose the battle of your mind in a particular area, you’ve already chosen to sin and, like the example above, you’re just waiting for the right set of circumstances to act on it.
What are you thinking? Or perhaps the more important question: What should you be thinking in order to guard your mind today?
Kristi Burchfiel, Christian devotional author and speaker
Living in the World – Living out the Word
Check out my website and daily devotions either on my blog or on my Facebook page
**Check out my newest release: The Daily Devotional Series: Psalm, volume 3 now available on Smashwords and Amazon**www.BooksByAmanda.com
If your childhood was anything like mine, your mom probably said this to you, too! As it happens, the thoughts that we have and our inner self-dialogue are actually extremely important as we seek to live the Christian life. The next to last piece of the Armor of God and the focus of our study today is the Helmet of Salvation.
Ephesians 6: 13-17a “Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation.”
The helmet guards our head and specifically, our mind. Many verses have been written about the need to guard our mind. Romans 12:2 talks about renewing our mind. Isaiah 26:3 encourages us to have a steadfast mind. Romans 8:7 discusses how the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God. 1 Corinthians 2:16 says we are to have the mind of Christ. The list goes on and on.
Why such emphasis on the mind and our thoughts? Because if we are going to do something wrong, the action doesn’t come first, the thought does. My husband tells a story from his college days where one of his professors gave the class this scenario: If you could steal $1,000,000 dollars and you would never be caught, you would never have to pay taxes on it, and you could use it however you like, how many of you would do it? Over half the class raised their hands. The teacher then stated, “All of you who raised their hands are thieves, you just haven’t found the right set of circumstances to act on your decision yet.”
It’s a harsh truth that we actually make a decision on how we will act in certain circumstances long before we actually do act. If you allow yourself an “out” in your thinking about something that you know is wrong, when you are presented with that temptation, you’ll act on it, guaranteed. Your mind is where that whole process starts.
This is why Paul tells us to guard our mind. What is our defense? The salvation of Jesus Christ. Paul goes into great detail about our deliverance from the bondage of sin through salvation in Jesus Christ in Romans 8, but one of the key verses is Romans 8:6, “For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.” If we are not specifically set on Jesus Christ, we are facing death.
Just because you have asked Jesus to save you and to be a part of your life doesn’t mean that your protection of the mind is over and that you can rest easy. On the contrary, often that’s when the attacks really start. I have had conversations back and forth with myself as I wrestled with a certain decision or idea, knowing what God would have me do, but still feeling the pull of what I knew was wrong. These are the most difficult of temptations, the most subtle, because you can start out hiding them from others and think that no one knows. But, if you lose the battle of your mind in a particular area, you’ve already chosen to sin and, like the example above, you’re just waiting for the right set of circumstances to act on it.
What are you thinking? Or perhaps the more important question: What should you be thinking in order to guard your mind today?
Kristi Burchfiel, Christian devotional author and speaker
Living in the World – Living out the Word
Check out my website and daily devotions either on my blog or on my Facebook page
**Check out my newest release: The Daily Devotional Series: Psalm, volume 3 now available on Smashwords and Amazon**www.BooksByAmanda.com
October 11, 2012
Thoughts on Flashbacks
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary defines flashback as “an interruption of the chronological sequence (as of a film or literary work) of an event of earlier occurrence”.
In general, flashback allows the writer to share backstory. This can be done through memory or recollection, a diary or journal, dreams, or even whole scenes. While flashback is a commonly used device, it must be employed carefully. Too much flashback can stall the flow of forward action, which is necessary to keep readers interested.
I recently read an article by Pearl Luke that was particularly helpful. In this she lists both techniques and guidelines for effectively using flashbacks. You can read more about her advice here.
She addressed one technique I personally struggled with as a new writer. My writing is always in past tense. Avalin knew she had no choice. If there was a chance her parents were alive, she had to go. So when using flashback, I had to switch to perfect past tense. She had been only fifteen when they received the word her parents had perished in a plane crash. But if my flashback took more than a sentence or two, this tense became very cumbersome. Ms. Luke suggests when employing flashback, use perfect past tense at the very beginning of the recollection, then switch back to past tense.
What's your opinion? Do you appreciate flashbacks within the context of a story, or do you feel they slow down the action and make it sluggish?
Happy writing,
Karina Harris
www.karinaharrisauthor.com
www.BooksByAmanda.com
In general, flashback allows the writer to share backstory. This can be done through memory or recollection, a diary or journal, dreams, or even whole scenes. While flashback is a commonly used device, it must be employed carefully. Too much flashback can stall the flow of forward action, which is necessary to keep readers interested.
I recently read an article by Pearl Luke that was particularly helpful. In this she lists both techniques and guidelines for effectively using flashbacks. You can read more about her advice here.
She addressed one technique I personally struggled with as a new writer. My writing is always in past tense. Avalin knew she had no choice. If there was a chance her parents were alive, she had to go. So when using flashback, I had to switch to perfect past tense. She had been only fifteen when they received the word her parents had perished in a plane crash. But if my flashback took more than a sentence or two, this tense became very cumbersome. Ms. Luke suggests when employing flashback, use perfect past tense at the very beginning of the recollection, then switch back to past tense.
What's your opinion? Do you appreciate flashbacks within the context of a story, or do you feel they slow down the action and make it sluggish?
Happy writing,
Karina Harris
www.karinaharrisauthor.com
www.BooksByAmanda.com
October 9, 2012
Offense, Defense...Who Cares?
Offense. Defense.
It’s football season and we hear these two words circulating quite a bit. Who has the best defense? Who is protecting their quarterback the best? How about the offense? Who is scoring the most points? Is it the infamous Green Bay Packers? Or how about those Dallas Cowboys? My son would choose the Giants because they successfully removed the Packers from the playoffs last year and ever since our beloved Brett Favre has been absent from Green Bay, Jeremiah has decided that the Packers are no longer worthy of his undying devotion.
Let’s look at offense and defense in another light. Let us look at these two terms in relation to the protection of one’s self.
I am absolutely certain that we have all been offended at some time or another. Someone says something and we take those words to heart. Whether the person was intentionally aiming to dishearten us or whether the offense was perceived, matters not. We become the protector of our person and build up ammunition to rapidly fire back in defense. Because what accurately counters a strong offense? An equally strong defense.
As soon as the verbal attack has concluded, our quarterback steps into the pocket and fires a straight shooter into the arms of the receiver and we, as quarterbacks, stand back and see if our pass hit its mark.
In football, this behavior is absolutely necessary for survival. In real life it’s called self-preservation. And it’s completely unnecessary.
Often times this sparring back and forth is nothing but the need to show off our amazing knowledge and superiority. Who is she to tell us we don’t know something? Who does he think he is? Does he know how much knowledge I have in that subject? Does she realize how much experience I have? These are my credentials. How can she think she might know something I don’t?
I admit I have been caught up in these silly games at times in my life. I would like to believe I have outgrown the need to have the last word. Somewhere along the line, I have lost my desire to impress anyone with my knowledge or my intelligence. I simply don’t care. At 46 years of age, I am finally to the point where I know I’m not right all the time and I also know I have much to learn. I simply do not care to argue.
I have come to believe that a person can choose to be offended. Or they can instead examine the offensive words, determine if those words apply to their own life and either make changes if they apply, or disregard them if they do not. A person who is secure in who they are chooses to examine themselves and make changes accordingly.
A person who always feels the need to defend his/herself finds themselves lacking in some way. They feel the need to prove their worth. These people see themselves as witty and as a strong contender of the spoken word while others see their actions for what they truly are, a desperate attempt at being accepted and acknowledged. Having the approval of others is a goal they cling to.
The word of God tells us in 2 Timothy 2:23-24 to “Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil.
So, the next time you have the opportunity to play offense or defense with someone, think about the outcome and reconsider. You don’t need the approval of man, you only need to do as the Father has instructed.
Of course, I’m not talking football here. Go Green Bay!
Thanks for taking the time to grow with me this Wednesday!
Blessings,
Darlene Shortridge
Author of Until Forever and Forever Blessed
www.BooksByAmanda.com
It’s football season and we hear these two words circulating quite a bit. Who has the best defense? Who is protecting their quarterback the best? How about the offense? Who is scoring the most points? Is it the infamous Green Bay Packers? Or how about those Dallas Cowboys? My son would choose the Giants because they successfully removed the Packers from the playoffs last year and ever since our beloved Brett Favre has been absent from Green Bay, Jeremiah has decided that the Packers are no longer worthy of his undying devotion.
Let’s look at offense and defense in another light. Let us look at these two terms in relation to the protection of one’s self.
I am absolutely certain that we have all been offended at some time or another. Someone says something and we take those words to heart. Whether the person was intentionally aiming to dishearten us or whether the offense was perceived, matters not. We become the protector of our person and build up ammunition to rapidly fire back in defense. Because what accurately counters a strong offense? An equally strong defense.
As soon as the verbal attack has concluded, our quarterback steps into the pocket and fires a straight shooter into the arms of the receiver and we, as quarterbacks, stand back and see if our pass hit its mark.
In football, this behavior is absolutely necessary for survival. In real life it’s called self-preservation. And it’s completely unnecessary.
Often times this sparring back and forth is nothing but the need to show off our amazing knowledge and superiority. Who is she to tell us we don’t know something? Who does he think he is? Does he know how much knowledge I have in that subject? Does she realize how much experience I have? These are my credentials. How can she think she might know something I don’t?
I admit I have been caught up in these silly games at times in my life. I would like to believe I have outgrown the need to have the last word. Somewhere along the line, I have lost my desire to impress anyone with my knowledge or my intelligence. I simply don’t care. At 46 years of age, I am finally to the point where I know I’m not right all the time and I also know I have much to learn. I simply do not care to argue.
I have come to believe that a person can choose to be offended. Or they can instead examine the offensive words, determine if those words apply to their own life and either make changes if they apply, or disregard them if they do not. A person who is secure in who they are chooses to examine themselves and make changes accordingly.
A person who always feels the need to defend his/herself finds themselves lacking in some way. They feel the need to prove their worth. These people see themselves as witty and as a strong contender of the spoken word while others see their actions for what they truly are, a desperate attempt at being accepted and acknowledged. Having the approval of others is a goal they cling to.
The word of God tells us in 2 Timothy 2:23-24 to “Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil.
So, the next time you have the opportunity to play offense or defense with someone, think about the outcome and reconsider. You don’t need the approval of man, you only need to do as the Father has instructed.
Of course, I’m not talking football here. Go Green Bay!
Thanks for taking the time to grow with me this Wednesday!
Blessings,
Darlene Shortridge
Author of Until Forever and Forever Blessed
www.BooksByAmanda.com
Parallels from History
My hope does not rely on our government. This isn't meant as a political post, one way or the other. But, this is heavy on my heart and I must share.
I'm afraid. Horribly. Terribly. Afraid.
Not only am I afraid, but I'm disgusted. Outraged.
Why, you ask?
I read something that disturbed me greatly. Here's the link if you'd like to read it as well.
Crazed father tied daughter to tree and hacked her to death...
But even during my darkest musings, I have hope.
Because my hope doesn't rely on our government. It relies solely in my God.
But does God care about the affairs on mankind?
A long time ago, a country was born. A new nation that God had separated for His own glory. This country was Israel.
In Joshua 24:15, the great leader Joshua makes this statement: "...And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
...and the verses go on to say that Joshua delivers a strong message. A mighty message. A call to revival and submission to serve the One True God.
Israel's response?
Joshua 24:21 "And the people said unto Joshua, Nay; but we will serve the LORD."
But see, there was the small issue of lukewarm faith and dedication. Joshua knew these people. He'd led them since Moses had died. He'd spent every. single. day with these people. Living among them. Leading them to conquer their enemies and take the land God had promised them. And he says...
Joshua 24:22 - "And Joshua said unto the people, Ye are witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen you the LORD to serve him. And they said, we are witnesses."
And things looked great for a while. They really did serve the Lord. How do I know?
Joshua 24:31 - And Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that overlived Joshua, and which had known all the works of the LORD, that he had done for Israel.
(In no way am I judging or being negative toward Israel. Genesis 12:3 - And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. I love and support Israel. So bear with me for a little longer.)
Things were going well. The Israelites were prosperous. They were thriving. They were ... being disobedient to what the LORD had told them to do. They weren't driving out their enemies. They were allowing them to live in the land God had promised them.
Judges 2:1-3 - And an angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you. And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this? Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you.
How much better would life have been for these Israelites had they listened and obeyed the Lord? Now, let's make this personal.
How many things would be different in my life if I had just listened and obeyed God?
Now, let's apply the same question to America ~ what would be different if we, as a unified country, served, obeyed, and submitted to God?
Eleven years ago, America was attacked by Islamist terrorists.
Flags were being purchased by the truckloads.
They were being hung in windows of homes, on doors, cars, trucks, etc.
People that once had closed ears to God and His message were now open and thirsty to know Him. To learn about Him.
Churches were filled.
People sang about Christ and His wonderful grace for sinful mankind.
They rededicated their lives to Him.
They rejoiced.
There was a revival. And it was good.
Then a terrible tragedy occurred. We forgot that love for God. For each other. For our country. And we turned our backs on Him that extended grace and mercy to us as a nation.
Now, we have a leader who has stood against Israel time and time again.
And I'm afraid.
Not only because of Genesis 12:3 - I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curseth thee... but because of what happened to Israel in the following years after a Godly leader and the older generation had died.
Judges 2:10-13 - And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel. And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim: And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger. And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth.
They forsook the LORD.
I see so many parallels in our country to that of ancient Israel that I must repeat, I'm terrified.
Because when people rebel, there will be consequences.
When God finally punished ancient Israel, how'd He do it?
Judges 2:14 - And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies.
God used their enemies to get their attention.
I'm afraid.
Oh dear reader, won't you listen? Won't you learn with me from the past? Won't you please join me and pray for this great nation that once loved God with fervor and passion? Won't you hit your knees and beg Him for forgiveness and revival? We don't have the power to change the rules, the mandates that have come down to us through sinful mankind. We have something better. We have prayer and a mighty, all-powerful God that hears us when we pray.
This is my call to action.
I will pray for my beloved country and countrymen. That we will stand against wrong and stand for right. That we will make it a point to do what is right; not convenient.
What about you?
Amanda Stephan~Christian Author
BooksByAmanda.com
www.BooksByAmanda.com
I'm afraid. Horribly. Terribly. Afraid.
Not only am I afraid, but I'm disgusted. Outraged.
Why, you ask?
I read something that disturbed me greatly. Here's the link if you'd like to read it as well.
Crazed father tied daughter to tree and hacked her to death...
But even during my darkest musings, I have hope.
Because my hope doesn't rely on our government. It relies solely in my God.
But does God care about the affairs on mankind?
A long time ago, a country was born. A new nation that God had separated for His own glory. This country was Israel.
In Joshua 24:15, the great leader Joshua makes this statement: "...And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
...and the verses go on to say that Joshua delivers a strong message. A mighty message. A call to revival and submission to serve the One True God.
Israel's response?
Joshua 24:21 "And the people said unto Joshua, Nay; but we will serve the LORD."
But see, there was the small issue of lukewarm faith and dedication. Joshua knew these people. He'd led them since Moses had died. He'd spent every. single. day with these people. Living among them. Leading them to conquer their enemies and take the land God had promised them. And he says...
Joshua 24:22 - "And Joshua said unto the people, Ye are witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen you the LORD to serve him. And they said, we are witnesses."
And things looked great for a while. They really did serve the Lord. How do I know?
Joshua 24:31 - And Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that overlived Joshua, and which had known all the works of the LORD, that he had done for Israel.
(In no way am I judging or being negative toward Israel. Genesis 12:3 - And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. I love and support Israel. So bear with me for a little longer.)
Things were going well. The Israelites were prosperous. They were thriving. They were ... being disobedient to what the LORD had told them to do. They weren't driving out their enemies. They were allowing them to live in the land God had promised them.
Judges 2:1-3 - And an angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you. And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this? Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you.
How much better would life have been for these Israelites had they listened and obeyed the Lord? Now, let's make this personal.
How many things would be different in my life if I had just listened and obeyed God?
Now, let's apply the same question to America ~ what would be different if we, as a unified country, served, obeyed, and submitted to God?
Eleven years ago, America was attacked by Islamist terrorists.
Flags were being purchased by the truckloads.
They were being hung in windows of homes, on doors, cars, trucks, etc.
People that once had closed ears to God and His message were now open and thirsty to know Him. To learn about Him.
Churches were filled.
People sang about Christ and His wonderful grace for sinful mankind.
They rededicated their lives to Him.
They rejoiced.
There was a revival. And it was good.
Then a terrible tragedy occurred. We forgot that love for God. For each other. For our country. And we turned our backs on Him that extended grace and mercy to us as a nation.
Now, we have a leader who has stood against Israel time and time again.
And I'm afraid.
Not only because of Genesis 12:3 - I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curseth thee... but because of what happened to Israel in the following years after a Godly leader and the older generation had died.
Judges 2:10-13 - And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel. And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim: And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger. And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth.
They forsook the LORD.
I see so many parallels in our country to that of ancient Israel that I must repeat, I'm terrified.
Because when people rebel, there will be consequences.
When God finally punished ancient Israel, how'd He do it?
Judges 2:14 - And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies.
God used their enemies to get their attention.
I'm afraid.
Oh dear reader, won't you listen? Won't you learn with me from the past? Won't you please join me and pray for this great nation that once loved God with fervor and passion? Won't you hit your knees and beg Him for forgiveness and revival? We don't have the power to change the rules, the mandates that have come down to us through sinful mankind. We have something better. We have prayer and a mighty, all-powerful God that hears us when we pray.
This is my call to action.
I will pray for my beloved country and countrymen. That we will stand against wrong and stand for right. That we will make it a point to do what is right; not convenient.
What about you?
Amanda Stephan~Christian Author
BooksByAmanda.com
www.BooksByAmanda.com
God is Good, God is Great
A little of this, a little of that. I love doing many different things, but I'm going to share my love of good books, fun crafts, freebies, contests, and scrapbooking with this blog. Enjoy!
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- Amanda Stephan's profile
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