Robin Gilbert Luftig's Blog, page 33

A Book Review: The Art of Hard Conversations

[image error]Lori Roeleveld truly really hit a home run with The Art of Hard Conversations.

Statements like Truth is like tofu … it has its own nature and consistency, yet still takes on the flavor of the other elements with which it’s served. are peppered throughout Lori Roeleveld‘s latest book, “The Art of Hard Conversations.” In it, she shows us how to prepare for those hard conversations that need to be shared. She explains how to embrace the power of a question and how to approach possibly devastating situations with Christ-infused strength.

Chapter breakdowns are in-depth, easy to follow and incredibly [image error]respectful. You’ll learn how to gently pull a topic apart a to see all the intricate pieces so you can understand where your listener is coming from. No matter what your personality, the stories she shares will hit your heart.

And her use of scripture is spot-on! Get your highlighter ready. You’ll want to read and re-read this book.

Handling Your Time in a Valley

[image error]We all hit valleys once in a while. The worst part about being in a valley is if you have to deal with it on your own.

Like I said … the worst.

Check out Brandon J. Adams’ latest post on 5 Encouragements for the Long Road to Finding “Your People”.

Whatever stage of life you’re in, know that “your people ” are out there, ready to be found.

Thanks again, Brandon. Your insight really hits the mark.

 

Reaching the Nepali Bhutanese in Harrisburg, PA

[image error]Reaching other countries for Christ may not be as difficult as you think.

I recently had the privilege to write an article for One Christian Voice  Christian Magazine about Pastor Kevin Brown of Lighthouse Church in Harrisburg, PA about just that.  Thinking outside the box that we create for ourselves when it comes to serving in foreign missions.

The article also appeared in the Southern Jersey Once Christian Voice version of the magazine as well as the Philadelphia version.

I challenge you … think outside the box when it comes to reaching others for Christ.

That is … if you dare.

The Focus is Off

[image error]I’ve always enjoyed the story of the Prodigal Son. But its focus challenged me. My heart went to the son who stayed behind … the one who could not forgive his younger brother.  Brandon Adams writes about that in his latest blog, It’s Never Too Late to Come Back.

It’s important to remember that God loves us all … and offers forgiveness to all who seek it.

A new morning awaits … for all of us.

Mason Jar Blessings

[image error]Welcome, February!

Check out my article in the last Leading Hearts magazine. Begin your own mason jar full of blessings!

A Note from Google +

[image error]Here’s a note I received from WordPress. I’m confident it wasn’t sent from a prince in a foreign country. It asks for no money but offers instruction as to how to share blog posts to G suite followers.

Actions requested

You may want to ask your users to perform the actions below:

A new version of the Google+ Android app will be released on February 22, 2019. Your G Suite Android users will need to update the Google+ Android app before March 7, 2019, to continue using Google+ on their mobile devices. Old versions of the app will no longer be supported.
If your users own or moderate a community outside your domain and there are consumer contributions that they would like to keep, they should download and save them before April 2019. If they download the data now, they will get links to community posts. Starting early March 2019, they will also be able to download the author, body, and photos for every community post in a public community.
Google+ pages and events will be deleted for both G Suite and consumer users if there is content your users would like to keep, they should download and save it before April 2019. If they would like to keep their Google+ tagline, please have them download and save their Profile data.
Google+ gadgets in classic Google Sites will no longer work starting March 7, 2019, so you and your users may want to remove them. Google+ embeds in the new Google Sites will continue to work.
If your users opted in to the Google Play Services Public Beta Program, they may experience issues using Google apps like Gmail and Hangouts as we begin shutting down consumer Google+. To avoid any interruption in service, G Suite users can leave the Beta Program.

For more information, see this Help Center article, which may be updated periodically, or contact G Suite support and reference issue number 123433241.

Sincerely,

The G Suite Team

The Samaritan Woman and Seventh Man

[image error]It happened a long time ago. It started when a Samaritan woman met a guy and got married.

We don’t know much more than that. All we know is that they were married … and that marriage ended. Did her husband die or did he divorce her? Was she so hard to live with that this husband couldn’t take it any longer? We can only guess. But she was single again, then married. Again. And again. And again until she had five husbands.

Life went on for this Samaritan lady when she moved in with another man. Had he refused to marry her because of her reputation or was her character so difficult to be around he wouldn’t commit himself? Was she an old woman by now, bitter and worn? At least he allowed her to live there, cook for him and tend to his needs.

How many men do you suppose had hurt this woman? How many times do you think she had hoped her life would turn differently? As a little girl, do you think she had wished for the torment—the scorn—she came to receive? We don’t know the hows or whys surrounding her misfortune. We only know that more men had been in her life than was acceptable.

If you know the story (found in John 4), this Samaritan woman was already shunned because she was a Samaritan. Jews didn’t like them and the other women definitely wouldn’t give her the time of day. After all, she’d been married five times and was now living with another man. News like that travels fast in a small community. She had no way of hiding her shame.

This Samaritan woman felt the full condemnation of the community to the point of seeking ways to stay away from others. that’s why she went to the well in the heat of the day to collect water when nobody else was around. Risking her health was more welcomed than dealing with public shame and the torment she faced every time she dealt with other women there in the mornings.

But then she met another man—a seventh man. A Jew who was at the well needing a drink. And this man offered to give her living water, so she would never thirst again (John 4 10).

Why did she trust this seventh man? What was about him that gave her the courage to try one more time? He told her about her past without heaping her with shame. She even told him the truth–a truth that surely would have turned the head of most Jewish men–yet he still offered her a love she had never known. Then he honored her with telling her that he was the Messiah everyone had been waiting for. He gave this Samaritan woman love, acceptance and mercy.

What would it take for you to trust someone?

If you’ve never read the story of the Samaritan woman at the well, check it out (John 4:1-26). Try on the story for yourself and see if there’s anything in your life that would keep this man with Living Water from you.

 

Metchem’s Three-Day Revival

[image error]If you watch the news you’re probably getting depressed … frustrated … wondering if God has looked away. I can tell you, He’s alive and well. Look what He’s doing in Sierra Leone. Thank you, Mike Peper and your team for sharing how God’s hand is moving in your section of Africa.

Please follow Mike Peper’s ministry at  https://www.saltandlightforafrica.com/.

New Year Resolutions Are Over, Now What?

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You’re deep into January now. You set your jaw when the ball dropped welcoming the new year. You promised this year would be your year. This time you’d make it for sure. You made resolutions and have white-knuckled it for days now. But now you’re weary and losing hope.

[image error]Or you’re in ministry and watching those around you struggle with addictions that seem to own them. How do you help?

You’re in need of a Recovery Revival.

Stop struggling. Check out Jonathan Daughtery‘s blog, What Might Recover Revival Look Like. He shows how God takes white knuckles and turns them into praising hands.

Everyone is broken. Let’s not complicate a simple solution.

Embrace Who You Are

[image error]Check out my guest post with Sandra Allen Lovelace. There’s a life outside “the box” and that life has a purpose and is quite beautiful. You can rely on that. And also rely on God’s love and desire to fill your days with peace and joy.

Embrace who you are … you’re pretty awesome.

And don’t forget to sign up to receive posts from Sandra’s website.