Miranda A. Uyeh's Blog, page 23

I Am Caleb

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Caleb and Joshua were the only two spies out of the twelve sent into Canaan to return with a positive report despite what they’d witnessed. The other ten are historically known to have swayed the Israelites with their negative opinion, such that, it angered God enough to punish Israel by swearing that the adult generation would never taste the goodness of the Promised Land, but instead, would die in the desert.

What can we glean from this?

Know who you are, know God’s Word, and hold on tightly to the truth no matter what, because even after you’ve acknowledged and accepted God’s Word, bad company, given the time and right circumstances, could persuade you into believing something other than what you profess. Typically, it’s when you’re by yourself again—away from all the noise—that you realize the error in letting yourself be swayed by what you knew to be untrue. Sadly, this lack of show of strength and faith may result in decisions that you may not be able to come back from—like the Israelites who, by the time they’d realized their error in believing the ten spies, took up arms to fight the Canaanites against God’s instruction, and in the end still lost the battle and were refused the blessing of entering the Promised Land; their generation would perish in the desert.

Wherever you find yourself, there will always be people who hold opinions contrary to what Scripture teaches, and so subscribe to a culture and way of life that do not honor God. Make up your mind to know God, to study His Word, and to accept Him and His Word as trustworthy and incontestable; discover who God says you are (while Moses was called to be a prophet, Caleb and Joshua were called to be warriors), accept the destiny and path He has set you on, and hold fast to His statutes and principles, never wavering from them. Days will come when who you are and what you profess will be put to the test. While the Holy Spirit will remain faithful in whispering the truth and reminding you of who/whose you are, it is up to you to decide to not be ashamed of the truth that you stand for.

Be courageous even when it appears you’re standing alone in speaking the truth, like Caleb and Joshua who stood alone against the other ten. Do not let God’s Word depart from your mouth. Hold onto it and profess it in the face of lies. Study it and meditate on it day and night; there is a blessing for remaining steadfast in the Word of God, and God Himself will make you successful on your path to your destiny (Joshua 1:6-9). In due time, because you chose to stand by His Word, He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, and He will make the justice of your cause glow like the noonday sun (Psalm 37:5-6); all eyes will see this and many will acknowledge that God is good, and has been good to you. This was the reward of Caleb (and Joshua)!

[image error]About the Editor

Miranda A. Uyeh is the founder and editor of To Be A Person (TBAP), the author of Christian Romance/Suspense fiction, To Die Once: Child of Grace #1, a Mogul Global Ambassador, and a copywriter. She was a one-time shortlisted judge for the Inspy Awards in 2014 in the Contemporary Romance & Romance/Suspense Category.

When Miranda isn’t reviewing books/entertainment or hosting interviews on TBAP, she’s writing, reading for fun or relaxing with a good movie! When she gets bored with the world, she talks to God about it! To learn more about her book, To Die Once, her journey as an author and her other activities, you can follow her personal website. You can also connect with her on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and Google+.

*The article, I Am Caleb, first appeared on To Be A Person (TBAP) and is part of the I Am series.

Filed under: Article, Christianity, Inspirational, Personal Development, Personality, Spirituality, Stories Tagged: Christian Article Miranda A. Uyeh, I Am Caleb Article, Inspirational Article, TBAP Article

Movie Review ~ God’s Not Dead 2

[image error]About the Movie

From the college classroom of GOD’S NOT DEAD to the public square in GOD’S NOT DEAD 2, the name of Jesus is welcomed less and less with each passing day. If Christians don’t take a stand today, will we even have a choice tomorrow?

Welcome back to Hope Springs … home not only of Hadleigh University, but also Martin Luther King Jr. High School, where beloved teacher Grace Wesley helps students understand and enjoy history. Her love of teaching, her love for her students, and her love of life all come from the same place: her love of Christ.

So when Brooke, a hurting student grieving the loss of her brother, reaches out to Grace, their coffee-shop conversation naturally leads to Grace sharing the hope she finds in Christ.

When Brooke later asks an honest question about Jesus in the classroom, Grace’s reasoned response lands her in big trouble—almost before she even finishes giving her answer.

With the principal and superintendent joining forces with a zealous civil liberties group, Grace faces an epic court case that could cost her the career she loves and expel God from the classroom—and the public square—once and for all!

GOD’S NOT DEAD 2 is the highly anticipated sequel to the beloved Pure Flix movie from 2014 and features an all-star cast. Now in theaters, GOD’S NOT DEAD 2 has audiences standing proudly for what they believe … while they still can. Where will you stand?

Category

Religious/Christian

Genre

Legal Drama

Rating

4.5 Stars

Review

The second installment of the franchise, God’s Not Dead, highlights the strength of faith in the face of persecution, the reality of a spiritual battle that exists in our world between light and darkness—and the fact that we, the children of God, are affected by the consequence of this war—and the convicting power of the Holy Spirit that is always at work even in the midst of seeming chaos. God’s Not Dead 2 emphasizes what’s most important—the bottom line—which is the love of God (for God and people) that leads us to stand united as the body of Christ in the face of opposition.

Interestingly, the person of Jesus as a religious and historical figure was meticulously emphasized to a degree that is indisputable, even bringing clarity to the conflict that has perpetually risen because the gospels differ in their details, altogether making a beautiful display of faith built on an unshakable foundation.

Indeed, the God’s Not Dead franchise is worthy of any Christian’s movie collection!

Filed under: Christian Movies, Christianity, Entertainment, Faith Testimony, Inspirational, Movie Review, Spirituality, Stories Tagged: Christian Film, God's Not Dead 2 Movie, Inspirational Film, TBAP Movie Review

The Paradox Way Of Life

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As you grow in your Christian faith, you will come to place where you will raise questions that the answers may, in a terrifying way, appear to be in conflict with another truth in God’s Word. The fear of committing heresy or falling into some other sin may hinder you from further exploring these questions and where they may lead to. For instance, you dream and hope for more in life, but you also remember the part of Scripture that tells you to be content; you’re told to embrace the peace of God, but you cannot shake away the concerns you have toward issues you’ve witnessed in the world, or the awkward responsibility you feel toward solving them; you long to open your arms to the hurting and unbelieving world, but you’re reminded that bad company corrupts good character, etc. In your young faith, all these, and more, present a dilemma in your soul.

The good news is, these circumstances all raise good questions which when humbly submitted to God, the answers received will grow one’s faith in more ways than they could’ve ever imagined. In fact, it can be rightly said that it is the Holy Spirit who leads one to ask these questions so that the individual can receive revelations from God that will lead them into a deeper relationship with Him outside mere religious practices, and will also increase the yearning to do more for His kingdom. On the other hand, the repercussion of not confronting these questions can place one on a path to foolish legalism that leads to nowhere but further bondage of the individual and those within their sphere of influence. This, however, is no excuse to accommodate complacency where faith is concerned.

While there isn’t a step-by-step plan to grow one’s faith, the Holy Spirit is faithful in leading us to a path that we can safely call the Paradox Way of Life, where seemingly conflicting principles work together in harmony when tempered with God’s wisdom and grace, allowing us to successfully navigate our life in this place of paradox. This is why even though the Holy Spirit pours into your soul the ability to remain content in God, God still places on your heart desires that cause you to want to achieve more in line with your destiny, and gives you the courage to do so. This is why He teaches you to be still before Him and embrace His peace, but also allows your heart to be troubled by the injustice and depravity that you witness in the world, so that you’re stirred up enough to step forward and to do something about it—you learn the difference between worry and concern: While worry leads one to ignore faith and drown in fear, concern, on the other hand, leads you to courageously take up the responsibility of fighting wrong and injustice. This paradox is also the reason why wisdom teaches that, yes, bad company does corrupt good character, but by this same wisdom and His grace, you can open your arms to love a hurting and unbelieving world, but not be corrupted by it. So many other scenarios abound. But in all these things, the Word of God is not in conflict with itself as the world has come to believe. It is alive, and full of hope and love, and is able to instruct and lead us to achieve the seemingly impossible. This is what it means to live the Paradox Way of Life!

[image error]About the Editor

Miranda A. Uyeh is the founder and editor of To Be A Person (TBAP), the author of Christian Romance/Suspense fiction, To Die Once: Child of Grace #1, a Mogul Global Ambassador, and a copywriter. She was a one-time shortlisted judge for the Inspy Awards in 2014 in the Contemporary Romance & Romance/Suspense Category.

When Miranda isn’t reviewing books/entertainment or hosting interviews on TBAP, she’s writing, reading for fun or relaxing with a good movie! When she gets bored with the world, she talks to God about it! To learn more about her book, To Die Once, her journey as an author and her other activities, you can follow her personal website. You can also connect with her on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and Google+.

*The article, The Paradox Way of Life, first appeared on To Be A Person (TBAP).

Filed under: Article, Christianity, Inspirational, Personal Development, Spirituality Tagged: Christian Article, Inspirational Article, Miranda A. Uyeh, TBAP Article, The Paradox Way Of Life Article

Artist Scoop! ~ Interview with Music Artist, Chris Howland

Chris Howland has been in the music scene as a music producer, singer, and songwriter for over a decade. His story of salvation is one that is quite striking, and his honesty about his walk in the industry is inspiring. Chris has collaborated with artists like Dream Records’ Joel Vaughn, and also, Spencer Kane. He also has a new single out, Way Up. Chris took the time to discuss his personal journey with us today. Take a look below!

Miranda ~ Hello Chris! Delighted to have you visit TBAP today! Please tell us a bit about yourself.

Chris: Hey! So I’ll attempt to describe myself in a super brief way: I’m a Christian music producer from New Jersey. I’ve been married to my dear wife, Dani, for just over 2 years. She and I attend a lovely church down by the Jersey Shore called Grace Bible Church. God has been exceedingly good to me in providing me with a great wife, a great church, and the ability to make music as a bonus on top!

Miranda ~ Is there a special story on how you became a Christian? Please tell us!

Chris: This is a wild story. My Christian walk began in a cheap, drug- and alcohol-filled motel room at the Jersey Shore during prom weekend! Let me explain.

I had been raised in a Christian home and made a profession of faith at 5. But during my teen years, I didn’t show any evidence that I was actually a Christian. I pursued sin with very little restraint, all the while maintaining some vague acknowledgement that God was real, even though my sinful behavior did not reflect what I claimed to believe.

But in the depths of my sin, God suddenly made Himself very real to me during this one weekend. I went down to the Jersey Shore with a bunch of friends to do what teenagers do during prom weekend: party. We checked into a cheap motel and just went nuts drinking and smoking weed. I woke up the next day with a gross hangover and decided to take a walk to the store by myself. During this walk, God very simply began to gently confront me with the reality of who He was. My conscience was suddenly being stirred and awakened, and by the time I got back to the motel room, I felt compelled to hide myself away in the bathroom to pray.

Some very distinct things happened in that prayer. I felt sorrow for my sin, gratitude for His mercy, and love for God. I remember just saying the words, “I’m sorry,” “Thank You,” and, “I love You,” over and over again. As I prayed these simple prayers, I suddenly felt the overwhelming sense that God actually loved me. The thought of God actually loving me brought me to tears of joy like I had never known before. I stepped out of that bathroom as a different person. God had met with me, and life was never the same from that moment on. I came home from that prom weekend with a strong appetite to read my Bible and learn about God. He called me out of a dark place and began to really change my heart. In Mark 2:17, Jesus says, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Miranda ~ You’ve been fascinated with music since you were little. What led you to choose the Christian industry over the mainstream?

Chris: Well, I’ve always loved making and listening to electronic music, and after I got saved, it became clear to me that there really wasn’t a lot of Christian electronic music out there. So I really just wanted to make music in the kind of genres that I (and people like me) enjoyed, but with words that were edifying and coming from a Christian world-view.

Miranda ~ Your song, I Got You, what inspired the music and the lyrics?

Chris: I Got You happened in collaboration with Spencer Kane after many emails were exchanged! I had heard his voice and really loved it, so I reached out to see if he’d be interested in working on something. I sent him a few different instrumentals and songs that I had written, but nothing really stuck. So I had this one other instrumental idea that I was working on which didn’t have any lyrics yet, so I sent it over to him and we decided that he’d just start writing to that one from scratch. Some weeks passed by, and I almost thought the song wasn’t going to happen. But then he texted me with a rough voice demo of him singing some lyrics and it was like, “Ok, dude. This is awesome and totally worth the wait; let’s record this!” So we booked some studio time with an amazing engineer in Nashville named David Thulin. And several weeks later, the song was mixed and released.

Miranda ~ Songwriting that tells one’s story requires a degree of vulnerability. With this in mind, when do you know you’re ready to tell your story and write it into a song?

Chris: I think the fact that I’m a producer really influences the way I approach songwriting. I’ll usually start with creating the music first, and then I’ll just sit with the music and think, “What kind of lyrical theme would suit this music?” For me, the music occurs first, and then I just spend time singing and brainstorming on what kind of ideas this piece of music brings out of me. And honestly, a lot of the times I just send song ideas to vocalists and let them run with it for the lyrics! So the singer will be the storyteller, while I just give them the musical backdrop to articulate their own ideas.

Miranda ~ How has your perspective changed since joining the industry—any particular mind-shifting experience? How has this experience affected you personally? How has it drawn you closer to God?

Chris: God has used this season to expose a lot of sin in me. I’ve seen myself grow anxious trying to deliver, perform, and be “good enough” at making music. I’ve seen myself desire validation from others. I’ve seen how many bad motives creep in to being an artist, even in the Christian world. It’s been very sobering to see a glimpse into my own wicked heart. I’ve noticed that it’s very easy to be distracted by music—how selfish ambitions like to hide themselves under the disguise of “I’m just making music for God”…I can attempt to fool people into thinking I’m doing music for purely noble reasons, but God knows my true motives, and if I do this for applause—for self-glorification—then music is essentially a waste of my time and a snare to me. The words of Jesus have been magnified to me when He asked, “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” I try to apply that to myself in asking, “What does it profit me to succeed with music if my prayer life is being hindered by the amount of time I spend in the studio?” It’s just been eye-opening. The cares of this world can choke out the Word if we’re not careful. Woe to me if I love the musical gift, but neglect the very God who gave me the gift. Being in this industry has definitely forced me to examine myself more with regards to this.

Miranda ~ What has been your biggest struggle in your ministry and in the industry?

Chris: That’s really my main struggle, just making sure I don’t let myself lose focus and get carried away with trying to be “successful” in this industry. I have to try and habitually surrender my career to God. When my heart starts drifting off and being overly anxious about finishing up good music, I gotta just remember that it’s all in His hands, and that He wants my heart more than He wants my “results.”

Miranda ~ What do you have to say about the popular perception about the music industry in regards to money, hard work and fame?

Chris: I can only speak from my own limited experience, but what I can say is that, it’s been a massive amount of work, but not necessarily a massive amount of money…so anyone who is very invested in this line of work is likely doing it because they really love music, and believe that it has merit, which extends far beyond how much money or fame it can earn!

Miranda ~ Did your journey turn out the way you expected that it would?

Chris: Ten years ago, if you’d told me I’d STILL be making music, I don’t think I’d be surprised, because I love it enough to go ANOTHER ten years. So in that respect, my journey makes sense to me. But if you showed me all the other details of how it has unfolded, I think it would all definitely be way different than I expected a decade ago.

Miranda ~ What advice would you offer to a person who’s just starting out in the music industry?

Chris: I would say do NOT do this unless you are truly passionate about it. Be extremely patient. It’s going to take a long time. Don’t go alone. Get help and mentorship from someone who you respect. Get honest feedback from people who are better than you. And most importantly, I would echo Paul’s words in 1 Timothy 4:7, “Discipline yourself for the purpose of Godliness.” Develop a daily habit of prayer and reading the Bible. Music will demand a lot of your time and energy, but don’t let yourself get so busy that you fail to seek God. Jesus said, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

THIS OR THAT (THE FUN QUESTIONS!)

Coffee or Tea? Coffee, definitely.

Gym or Outdoor? Gym! I’m a gym rat

Album Review ~ Rococo By The Royal Royal

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Category

Religious/Christian

Genre

Contemporary/Rock

Release Date

September 22, 2017.

Rating

4.5 Stars

Review

Rococo softly but intently emphasizes praise and worship of God with heart and lyrics that show deep and intense surrender. The music is a beautiful harmonious arrangement that overall compliments the atmosphere of worship, so that a unique blend borne of pop, rock, and contemporary worship, which softly inspires the soul of a music lover that is a fan of all three genres.

Look out for track #3, Neon Sign; it is sure to uplift and entertainment, and when a number can do both, then it is quite impressive. Other great ones are God Who Saves, Everything, and Afterlife.

About The Royal Royal

The Royal Royal is comprised of Gabriel and Nathan Finocchio. The brothers began writing music in their father’s church in Ontario, Canada. Their songwriting skills inspired a unique and powerful worship experience, prompting them to pursue their vision to create a worship band. “Worship is this beautiful gateway into the presence of God,” explains Gabriel. “All we want our music to do is connect people to the Lord. What else is worship supposed to do?”

Filed under: Album Feature, Artist Feature, Entertainment, Inspirational, Music, Music/Album Review Tagged: Christian Music, Contemporary Worship, Inspirational Music, Music, Rock Music, Rococo Album, TBAP Music Review, The Royal Royal Band

I Am Deborah

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Israel was traditionally set up to have its men be the rulers on every level. It was unusual for Israel to follow the leadership of a woman. But with God’s anointing and favor, Deborah was called to be God’s prophetess, so much so that her anointing couldn’t be missed by Israel. Despite Israel’s laid down rules, she became their leader and they came to her to have their disputes decided under the Palm of Deborah—note that the tree was named after her.

In following her story, you’d discover that she was a straight shooter—never holding back what needed to be said, and was clearly a very confident woman, too. It was on this path that she led Israel to freedom and victory over their oppressor—quite an unusual trend for a woman at the time.

Have you, like Deborah, been called to follow a path less (or not) traveled by anyone of your particular quality? Do you fear rejection and possible hatred from the people that you’ve been called to serve?—

Are you a woman called to speak up where women are expected to be quiet and submissive, and comply with every- and any-?

Are you a man called to speak against an injustice done to women (or even children) in a place where your fellow men will jeer, laugh, and shake their head at you?

Are you an elite called to speak for the wrongly oppressed in a society where you could possibly lose your place and standing among your peers if you do so?

You’re not different from Deborah. Deborah could have decided to ignore her gift of prophecy when God met her with it. She could have neglected to speak up the first time a dispute came along that no one could decide, but the Holy Spirit had given her wisdom to; she could have been afraid and wondered how people would look at her for speaking where women were forbidden to do so. But taking that first fearful step many years ago was what finally gave her the place of a judge in Israel, and which eventually put her in a position to lead Israel out of captivity. Note that even she told Barak that if he didn’t go to war without her, it would be said that God granted Israel victory through the hand of a woman—as though such a thing at the time was a taboo! But thank God for Barak, who acknowledged that if God saw it fit to make Deborah a prophetess and judge over Israel, then it would also be befitting for her to lead Israel to overcome captivity as other judges before/after her did; by Barak’s reasoning, Deborah shouldn’t be denied the place of leadership in war that other judges before her had been given unquestioned, simply because she was a woman!

As God promised Joshua prosperity and success, and that He would be with Joshua wherever he went as long as Joshua didn’t let the Book of Law depart from his mouth, so God was with Deborah and granted her victory too; and so God will be with you if you trust and obey Him and take that first step into that unusual territory.

Just as Deborah’s gift and anointing was so great that the people considered her for a position that by gender she didn’t qualify for—if you submit to God’s will, training, and discipline, following the path that He’s placed you on—you, too, won’t be ignored for long where you’ve been sent. This was the case with Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela. If you continue in your calling, you will bring about a mighty revolution that will set people free through God’s Word and Truth, and your work will set a new pace for generations to come.

Remember to always trust God and obey. Don’t worry about the critics who sound like they know all and have much to say; people like that have been around since the beginning. They’ll only have as much power over you as you let them have; stay true to your calling. Don’t worry about the friends, family or comrades that will call you a sellout, traitor, or troublemaker. Just move forward in the direction that the Holy Spirit leads—step by step, place by place, moment by moment, day by day—until the very end, and you will see that the good Lord Himself will grant you victory as He did those before you. God bless you!

[image error]About the Editor

Miranda A. Uyeh is the founder and editor of To Be A Person (TBAP), the author of Christian Romance/Suspense fiction, To Die Once: Child of Grace #1, a Mogul Global Ambassador, and a copywriter. She was a one-time shortlisted judge for the Inspy Awards in 2014 in the Contemporary Romance & Romance/Suspense Category.

When Miranda isn’t reviewing books/entertainment or hosting interviews on TBAP, she’s writing, reading for fun or relaxing with a good movie! When she gets bored with the world, she talks to God about it! To learn more about her book, To Die Once, her journey as an author and her other activities, you can follow her personal website. You can also connect with her on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and Google+.

*The Article, I Am Deborah, first appeared on To Be A Person (TBAP), and is part of the I Am Series.

Filed under: Article, Christianity, Faith Testimony, Inspirational, Personal Development, Personality, Spirituality, Stories Tagged: Christian Article, I Am Deborah Article, Inspirational Article, Miranda A. Uyeh, TBAP Article

Interview With Physical Fitness Expert, Theresa Rowe

Theresa Rowe is a fitness instructor and a speaker, a wonderful woman who’s been through a lot and has an amazing story of God’s grace to tell! After surviving a lot of life’s traumas, she has come out on the brighter side much stronger, and with a heart and zeal to serve God and help women who feel lost in the world. She created the Shaped By Faith Fitness program, and has used it ever since as a platform to not only help women get back in shape, but as an opportunity to share the love and Word of God with struggling women. Follow our conversation below and learn more about this amazing warrior woman of God!

Miranda ~ Hello Theresa! Happy to have you on TBAP today. Could you please tell us a bit about yourself?

Theresa: Hi Miranda, thank you so much for this interview opportunity!

I live in Kentucky where the blue grass grows. Actually the grass is a beautiful dark green! My husband, Robin, and I live on a farm with cows and grown grain. Our home sits on 100 acres, and while we are not farmers, peace seems to grow where we live. We have seven children and eleven grandchildren. I have been teaching a smorgasbord of fitness classes for over thirty years, and I love to help people get in shape spiritually and physically. I host a radio show, teach lots of fitness classes, speak at women’s conferences and write a column for the local newspaper. I love to speak into the lives of women and help them discover who they are in Christ. God has molded and shaped me through struggles and hardships, always helping me stand tall in His strength! For instance, I was given up for adoption as a baby, born with a congenital heart defect, three holes in my heart, and had open heart surgery twice repairing the holes. Because of God, I am alive and well, and more than a conqueror in Him. I love sharing what God has done for me through fitness and my faith walk with Him. God is more than just enough; He is more than amazing! I just want to shout from the rooftops how great He truly is!

Miranda ~ What particularly led you into a personal relationship with Jesus? Also, in what way can you say your past has led you to become the better person that you are now?

Theresa: I had just moved back to Kentucky from Omaha, Nebraska, and was teaching fitness classes at a health facility. A lady in my class came up to me after class and said the Lord had instructed her to pray for me. Miranda, I had not been asked this question before, so it made me feel awkward and uncomfortable. I politely told this lady I had to leave to pick up my daughter from pre-school. A few hours later, this same lady showed up at my home. She kept knocking on my door and I did not want to answer. Finally, for fear she would wake up my daughter who was napping, I opened the door. There she stood standing in front of me with a gentle peace radiating from her. She went on to explain that the Lord had specifically told her to pray for me on this particular day. She said that God was going to heal me. Again, I was standing there feeling awkward and undone, but I kept up a strong appearance. As she reached for my hands to pray, I hesitated and stepped back. I didn’t want anyone touching me, and this was becoming too personal for me. Something within me, something greater than me, nudged me forward and we held hands. Miranda, as she touched my hands, something happened that is quite unexplainable, it felt like I was having a heart catheterization all over again. I felt a rush of warmth run through every part of my body, from the top of my head to the soles of my feet. This sensation got my attention. The lady left and I dropped down to my knees and asked God into my heart and changed in an instant. I was 26-years old. Everything about me wanted to soak in the presence of the Lord and know Him intimately.

Miranda ~ Who would you say your heart yearns to help—the broken-hearted, lost etc.? Why do you believe you’ve been called to this particular group of people?

Theresa: My heart yearns for the broken-hearted; those who have had hardships, trials and do not know how to move forward. I yearn to help women who do not know their identity in Christ Jesus. I want to help these women who were once physically fit, but now find themselves out of shape and out of hope. God met me right where I was, while teaching a fitness class many years ago. God pursued me and came knocking on my front door to heal, save and deliver me. I feel God has placed a high calling on my life to help women of all ages with their spiritual and physical health. If God can help me, He can help anyone! God rocked my world and changed my heart forever! I want to pay it forward and help as many women as God will allow.

Miranda ~ You’ve created workout routines that you eventually decided to share with other women. What inspired you to share them with the world?

Theresa: Many years ago, after accepting Jesus into my heart, He immediately gave me a vision. I saw myself sitting in a field of beautiful green grass demonstrating exercises. In the vision, I am flowing through each exercise with God showing me specific scriptures matching the exercise. Miranda, I know there is healing available to people as they move. When we place our faith in Jesus Christ and move towards a healthy lifestyle, God strengthens us in every part of our body. I call this whole person wellness, our spirits and bodies working together to make us healthier, holier, and living life in harmony with God.

Miranda ~ What particularly led you into the ministry of women and, what do you hope to achieve through this ministry?

Theresa: I was a young mother and married at the time to a soldier in the Air Force. We lived at Offutt Air Force base in Omaha, Nebraska. I started attending fitness classes to get myself back in shape and out of the house. At the time my daughter was a year old and we both needed something to do outside of our home. I had gained about 20 pounds since the birth of my daughter and knew I needed to get the weight off. I knew if I lost the weight my energy would increase. Through fitness classes, I met several nice women my own age. Even though I was not a Christian at the time, these friendships helped me with more than fitness. Living in a place so far from home can be very lonely and a little depressing. Attending classes helped me with these things. After becoming a Christian, my own experiences helped me recognize the importance of coming alongside one another, not just to be each other’s workout partner, but to encourage each other in the ways of the Lord. Iron sharpens Iron, so one friend sharpens another. Although I am sort of an introvert by nature, although you would never know this about me if you met me in person, God has helped me step out of my box to develop friendships. These friendships have been my prayer partners, accountability partners, and they have helped develop and shape me as a woman of faith.  My hope is that I can reach as many women as possible and help them develop a healthy relationship with Christ through fitness and my own personal journey experiences with God.

Miranda ~ How would you describe your journey so far in this ministry? Was it what you expected and, can you say this journey has drawn you closer to God and made you a better person?

Theresa: This journey has been an incredible ride, for sure. I could not have imagined it any other way. God always exceeds our expectations, and He has allowed this Kentucky girl to do some wonderfully cool things. In the newness of my faith, I wanted and expected to glorify God, but wondered how that looked teaching my fitness classes. But I knew, even as a new Christian, that in each class He would show me how to honor Him. In the beginning I was nervous praying in front of my fitness students, but placing my trust in God was all that was needed, and when I opened my mouth, the words came from my heart. From the moment I was transformed from the old to the new life, an energized new confidence and security rose up in me. It was this holy tenacity that still spurs me on today! In the early days of my ministry I saturated in His Word and this helped me move into my identity in Christ. The fire inside to share Jesus with others still burns red hot within me. Everyone needs hope, everyone needs to be renewed, and everyone needs to know they are loved and valued by God! As you can see, I get excited talking about Jesus, and waiting for God’s timing can be a challenge for me. Naturally, listening and staying obedient to His plan has been the key to expanding Shaped by Faith. But God has given me a good husband, who reminds me to be patient, and let God be God in His timing. God has given me the Shaped by Faith platform as a unique way to reach women. My failures and past mistakes have sharpened and molded me, preparing the way for brighter tomorrows. I know now these failures were steps to greater heights! God has truly shaped me by Faith. Shaped by Faith was created to shape bodies and hearts for His Kingdom purposes.

Miranda ~ Who are the people that have inspired you the most in life and in work, and, in what way have they done so?

Theresa: There is a running family joke about me saying, “If I had a little encouragement I could have been an actress, Olympic athlete, expert equestrian, you name it.” Because I did not experience encouragement as a child, I really value encouragement as an adult. With that said, the people who have stepped out of their comfort zone to speak truth and love into my life, along with those who have seen God’s potential in me, they are really special people. There is a small group of older ladies in our community who meet weekly to pray, read scriptures and praise God. They have been meeting regularly for over 40 years and they inspire me!  I want to be like them when I grow up! These ladies are in their eighties and they still travel and do missionary work in other countries. Also, my husband inspires me; He is my greatest fan and strictest critic. He challenges me to be all God has called me to be, nothing less, nothing more, and he encourages me to follow the dreams God has given me.

Miranda ~ What moment in your life (apart from when you gave your life to Christ) can you say changed your life forever? Did anything mind-shifting in particular inspire that moment?

Theresa: My second open heart surgery was transforming in so many ways. Even though I was 44 and an adult, and loved God with all my heart, it was hard to be empathetic to others who had gone through an injury or a surgery. I had always pulled myself up by the bootstraps and saw no reason for them not to do the same. Suck it up people. I remember being back teaching fitness classes a couple of weeks after my first open heart surgery and I wore that memory like a badge of honor and strength. Now it is twenty years later, and while I am in great physical condition, open heart surgery is a challenge on the body. It took twice as long to physically return to teaching classes, and that was teaching my senior students strength training as part of my rehabilitation program. With this surgery, God gave me a greater love and compassion for people going through injuries, surgeries, heart break, and sicknesses. I believe when the surgeon was repairing the three holes in my heart, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit were performing their own procedure, adding a greater measure of love into my heart.

Miranda ~ What are you most grateful for—generally/right now?

Theresa: God, my husband, and my family! My health!

Miranda ~ What advice would you give to any person seeking their way and place in life—someone, particularly, a woman wondering what she can offer the world?

Theresa: First, I would encourage her with the words of Jeremiah 29:11, “Do you know that God has great plans for you? They are plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a future and a hope!” I would remind her she is fearfully and wonderfully made, and that she has been created to do great things for the Lord! I would ask if she has prayed and asked God what He is calling her to do, and if she is taking action steps toward her destiny. I would encourage her to spend time alone with God praying, praising, and seeking His wisdom in her next steps. I would encourage her to not be afraid to step outside of her comfort zone, and take some risks, always moving forward in the strength and in the courage of the Lord! Remember, iron sharpens iron, seek out trustworthy and wise counselors for wisdom on your journey.

I remember a long time ago believing that “I was just a fitness instructor,” until God reminded me, “You have been Shaped by Faith!” With God, nothing offered in His behalf lacks significance.

This or That (The Fun Questions!)

Coffee, Tea or Mocha? Morning, Coffee; and Evenings, Hot Tea! Can I say both?

Dress or Pants? Comfy Blue Jeans

Book Review ~ Under The Shade Of The Banyan Tree by Angela Pisaturo

[image error]About the Book

Julia DeLuca had a six figure job, penthouse apartment overlooking Central Park, and a boyfriend who was climbing the corporate ladder.

So why was she unhappy?

Julia felt life had more to offer than prestige and fancy things; she needed to explore that possibility. But she had one major obstacle; her controlling father who did not hide his disappointment of her. In a bold move to find purpose, Julia leaves it all behind for a chance to serve in the missions of India.

A heart-warming saga of finding purpose, love and forgiveness set against the backdrop of India.

Category

Christian/Fiction

Genre

Contemporary Romance

Rating

2 Stars

Review

Under the Shade of the Banyan Tree has an easy and engaging flow to the reading experience, which helps carry a reader to the end. The first few pages showed some vagueness in some parts of its narrative and poor transition between some of the sub-scenes. Overall, there was also some inconsistency in the use of tenses and POVs. In some instances, there was lack/misuse of punctuation. And in the dialogue, there was an overuse of nouns (names of characters) where pronouns would have sufficed. Also, unnecessary repetition and over-description in some scenes ruined the general narrative.

The characters were generally immature/non-distinctive so that they didn’t uniquely stand out, which failed to add the flavor from character complexity needed to enrich a plot. The overall plot seemed to present an over-simplicity to life/decisions as well as issues of love and romance, and God and spirituality, making the story out of touch with reality in some ways.

While the writing itself was generally good, it could have been better. There were instances where adorable and comical quips added beauty to the writing. With the guidance of a copyeditor/line editor, Under the Shade of the Banyan Tree would have been perfect.

About the Author

Angela Pisaturo is a creative writing instructor in the Tampa Bay area. Her novels reflect the lives of wounded women and how they find their way back to wholeness through the grace of God. She studied writing at Jerry Jenkins Christian Writers Guild. She has written an inspirational column for EastLakeBlister.com, an article for Pet Supermarkets on pet therapy and an article on God’s love in nature for Creation Illustrated Magazine. She received the John Gardner Award, Honorable Mention for the best character description and also was one of the top fifteen in the Put Children First, 1st lines contest from Pockets Magazine.

Filed under: Author Feature, Book Feature, Book Review, Inspirational Tagged: Angela Pisaturo Author, Contemporary Romance, TBAP Book Review, Under The Shade Of The Banyan Tree Book

I Am Joshua (Part 2)

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When you receive a promise of destiny from God, there’s the tendency to rush off in zeal to get started and achieve it all quickly. You might even go ahead and prepare a plan and step-by-step process to get you to where you think you are going (and may even do so forgetting to consult God). You believe that your plan isn’t only fail-proofed, you’re sure that it will get you there without any pain or hitches, and hopefully, will include fame, wealth and bliss.

Turns out, God doesn’t necessarily work like that. He is a God of process—He chisels, molds, trims, and cuts our character in ways that could be painful, while teaching us to remain joyful in the midst of the storms in our life. By following Him, we learn the truth that destiny unfolds over time, and it is never in a hurry.

Joshua’s journey didn’t start the day he took over from Moses. It started with him learning the ropes as Moses apprentice, and he was so for a long time. In his later years, God told him that though he was old, there was still much left for him to do (Joshua 13:1-7). The lesson here, Joshua didn’t accomplish giving the land to the children of Israel in a short time. It took years.

In the case of Israel, the people were supposed to receive the Promised Land from God, but God released the entire land to them slowly. God told them that He Himself would drive out the inhabitants (Joshua 13:6), but He wouldn’t do it at once, otherwise, the wild animals would multiply in the open and vacant space of the land (Deuteronomy 7:19-23), which wouldn’t have been good for the Israelites.

In like manner, we, too, will walk the path of destiny one step at a time, with God unraveling only what we can handle, and not more, so that we wouldn’t get destroyed by the wild animals of the world. He will take His time to prepare us so that we will remain in the place of blessing and destiny until our work on earth is done.

[image error]About the Editor

Miranda A. Uyeh is the founder and editor of To Be A Person (TBAP), the author of Christian Romance/Suspense fiction, To Die Once: Child of Grace #1, a Mogul Global Ambassador, and a copywriter. She was a one-time shortlisted judge for the Inspy Awards in 2014 in the Contemporary Romance & Romance/Suspense Category.

When Miranda isn’t reviewing books/entertainment or hosting interviews on TBAP, she’s writing, reading for fun or relaxing with a good movie! When she gets bored with the world, she talks to God about it! To learn more about her book, To Die Once, her journey as an author and her other activities, you can follow her personal website. You can also connect with her on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and Google+.

*The article, I Am Joshua (Part 2) was first published on To Be A Person (TBAP), and is part of the I Am Series.

Filed under: Article, Christianity, Faith Testimony, Inspirational, Personal Development, Personality, Spirituality, Stories Tagged: Christian Article, I Am Joshua (Part 2) Article, Inspirational Article, Miranda A. Uyeh, TBAP Article

Book Review ~ Caregiver Defined By Michael Fortuna

[image error]About the Book

Winner of Today’s Caregiver Magazine 2017 Caregiver Friendly® Award.

“Think of this book as a casserole for caregivers, an awkward but sincere gift left on the doorstep that will make them feel more understood and validated.”

The humble casserole holds a special place in the world of empathy – when you don’t know exactly what to say to someone going through trying times, a casserole perfectly articulates your concern. It is in that spirit that Michael Fortuna wrote Caregiver Defined, a beautifully illustrated book that honors caregivers by defining them through a vocabulary of words that are associated with the care they provide, and the wide range of emotions connected to it.

Inspired by his own caregiving experience, but also aware that every caregiving encounter is unique and deeply personal, he devotes a single paragraph to each word, finding a meaningful way to relate it to the caregiver. The text is simple, thought-provoking and inspirational, and the illustrations by professional illustrator, Peg Lee, add a richness to the overall content.

You know whom the caregiver cares for, but who cares for the caregiver? Caregiver Defined will leave caregivers feeling honored for their work, and leave you with a sense of comfort, knowing you found a simple and sincere way to express your care.

Category

Christian/Non-fiction

Genre

Self-help/Motivational

Rating

4.5 Stars

Review

Caregiver Defined is funny, quirky, sensitive and sensible. The poetic and rhythmic flow of the words display the true hallmarks of caregivers that remain unknown by most people who haven’t shared the experience. It dishes out much wisdom and encouragement in creative and concise forms that not only inspire, but heal the sensitive reader in many ways. This book isn’t just for caregivers, but for anyone who longs to know how to love and give of themselves to the people in their lives in a way that builds them and their people up; it reminds the reader of what is most significant in life: love in its purest form performed selflessly, and not for any conceited gain—toward God and people. This book doesn’t just encourage and uplift caregivers, it inclines the reader to consider serving others more devotedly.

Interestingly, it doesn’t persuade by admonitions, instructions, or step-by-step procedures, but by enthusiastic words of encouragement softly and lovingly parceled out from a place of understanding and respect.

Caregiver Defined aims to squash the guilt that caregivers tend to feel because they worry that they never do enough, aren’t patient enough, or aren’t compassionate enough. It also testifies of how the good that caregivers do change the world around them even when they don’t notice that it does—by planting a seed of love and kindness in the hearts of observers and onlookers, so that it is clear that days/hours spent taking care of another are truly not wasted and meaningless after all.

[image error]About the Author

Michael Fortuna is a professional writer whose own caregiving experience as a young boy was the inspiration for this book. In addition to a career in advertising, he is also the author of a published novel as well as writer of a daily syndicated newspaper piece. He lives with his wife, Kathleen, in a small seaside town along the Massachusetts coast.

Filed under: Author Feature, Book Feature, Book Review, Inspirational, Non-fiction, Personal Development Tagged: Caregiver Defined Book, Christian Book, Inspirational Book, Michael Fortuna Author, Motivational Book, Self-help Book, TBAP Book Review