From Hectic to Holy

The current corona virus crisis has a lot of people frazzled and short tempered. Occasionally, that includes me too. I miss my Bible study sisters. I miss going to church services. I miss going out for barbecue on Friday nights. I miss hugging people. I miss a lot of things. I’m sure you do too.

One of my friends emailed me saying she thought she’d get more rest during this “self isolation” period we’re going through, but she’s more tired than ever. Author Chris Hodges in his book The Daniel Dilemma says that “real rest doesn’t come from simply resting; it comes when your soul is connected to God’s power.” He points out how calm Daniel in the Old testament is–along with his chums Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego—even though they were taken captive, separated from their families and lived tumultuous times—the slaves of high- strung pagan kings in palaces full of debauchery.

The subtitle of the book is How to Stand Firm and Love Well in a Culture of Compromise. I have been reading short sections of the book each day during this Coronaggedon and have found it uplifting and encouraging. I am learning to rest in His Grace and Truth—despite these tumultuous times.  Yes, the author points out that even when we trust in God, will still wrestle with loss, disappointment and doubts and painful emotions, but as he says, “I’d rather have hope in what an all powerful God can do than certainty in what I am limited to do.”

God bless you.

Stay well.

Keep the Faith.

Shirley

An award-winning writer and frequent conference speaker, Shirley Raye Redmond is the author of Courageous World Changers: 50 True Stories of Daring Women of God (Harvest House). She holds an M.A. in literature and has been married to her husband Bill for over forty years. They live in New Mexico where she is prayer chairman for her local Community Bible Study (CBS). Touch base at shirleyrayeredmond.com or Facebook.

                    

Courageous WorldChangers: 50 True Stories of Daring Women of God is currently on sale from Harvest House. Get free shipping with promo code STAY HOME.

Birds of a Feather

Visiting Nassau’s Ardastra Gardens was one of the highlights of our Bahamas vacation. My husband and I laughed as we watched the world famous marching flamingos circle the performance ring. With their long spindly legs and graceful S-shaped necks, the birds obeyed the commands of their “drill sergeant.” Around the ring they marched, puffing out their chests. When the “sergeant” blew his whistle, the birds would do a quick about face and head the other way. They were hilarious. After the show we learned that this particular generation of birds hadn’t been trained at all. Decades ago, the owner of the gardens had trained a few flamingos, as part of an experiment. Now the younger birds mimic the older birds, and so it has continued for generations of the garden’s flamingos. It reminded me of that game follow the leader we used to play as children. Even as adults we still follow leaders, don’t we? Pastors and their wives, mentors, teachers, supervisors at work, and others. Are we choosing to follow people who are worthy to be followed? Keep in mind that others are watching and following us—our children and grandchildren and neighbors, for instance. Are we leading them as we should? Not all leaders do so—consider Adolph Hitler and Mao Zedong, for example. Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”  (Matthew 16:24--NIV) Jesus calls us to follow him too. He will not lead us astray. Nor will he suddenly order us to do a spiritual about face. He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. 

An award-winning writer and frequent conference speaker, Shirley Raye Redmond is the author of Courageous World Changers: 50 True Stories of Daring Women of God (Harvest House). She holds an M.A. in literature and has been married to her husband Bill for over forty years. They live in New Mexico where she is prayer chairman for her local Community Bible Study (CBS). Touch bases at shirleyrayeredmond.com or Facebook.

Are You a Servant or a Servaholic?

Do you have a servant’s heart?

Don’t be too quick to answer YES! Consider this: Do you become resentful or impatient when asked to perform a service for others? Do you feel that any of the required tasks are beneath your dignity? Are you reluctant to perform small favors for those outside of your church family? Will you want credit or recognition for each task you perform? If so you may be more of a servaholic than a servant-leader.

God’s Word calls us right into the tension between self-love and self-denial. Jesus assumes that we love and care for ourselves to some degree (Matthew 22:39) but he also calls us to radically die to our own desires (Matthew 16:24).

How are we to navigate this paradox? To what degree should we care for ourselves—and why is it important to do so? Can we live out Jesus’ call to self-denial while also living a healthy, balanced life? The tension between self-love and self-denial is not easy to sort out. How do you care for yourself—body and soul—in God-honoring ways? What do you see as the right balance between self-love and self-denial?

The bottom line in servant leadership isn’t how far we advance ourselves, but how far we advance others. We must do the things that God would have us do. This can only be achieved INTENTIONALLY.

Serve joyfully, not out of compulsion or for a desire to be significant in the eyes of others. Serve as Jesus would have you serve.   

An award-winning writer and frequent conference speaker, Shirley Raye Redmond is the author of three inspirational novels, as well as two dozen children’s books, including LEWIS & CLARK: A PRAIRIE DOG FOR THE PRESIDENT (Random House), which was a Children’s Book of the Month Club selection. Her book, Courageous World Changers: 50 True Stories of Women of God will be released by Harvest House in January. Touch bases at shirleyrayeredmond.com or Facebook

God’s Sweet Whisper of Comfort

If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast…when I awake, I am still with you. Psalm 139:9-10, 18

I had almost reached my interstate exit that morning. Two more minutes, and I would’ve been on the off ramp, headed to the college to deliver my first oral presentation in more than two decades. I had sweated this moment the whole semester! Now the day had arrived, and I couldn’t imagine anything more terrifying than standing in front of all my classmates and speaking.

Until…

Ahead of me and to my left, a car started spinning. Cars in my lane came to an immediate stop. I narrowly missed hitting the bumper in front of me by inches. I wish I could say the same for the truck and car directly behind me. The crashing impact reverberated in my mind for weeks afterwards. But for the next forty-five minutes, I sat on the side of the interstate waiting for my turn to talk to the police. This was definitely worse than public speaking.

We have a way of thinking about what we perceive to be our biggest challenge, and then life happens. Often nothing goes as planned and tragedies happen—or conversely, unexpected blessings flow our way. Either way, God is in the midst of both to comfort and encourage us.

If we’re not intentional about our relationship with God through prayer and Bible study, it’s difficult to rest in the faith that he’ll come through for us. Even worse, life’s curve balls can make us cynical. After all, why plan anything if life can derail at any moment? But the bigger picture shows that God is in every moment, often ahead of us, waiting to offer assurance of his presence.

My wreck and the aftermath of insurance claims, my car being totaled, dealing with bureaucracy and then car shopping, reaffirmed to me that God’s sweet whisper of comfort is a necessity. I remind myself every time I go through a challenge that, like the Psalmist said, every day when I awake, I am still with God! He hasn’t left. And he’ll always be there to see me through the day’s challenges.

Can you think of a better promise to cling to than that? 

Laura Hodges Poole is a Christian writer with dozens of articles, devotions, and short stories to her credit. She is the author of five books and contributor to two others, all available on Amazon.  Laura is a 2019 Selah Awards finalist, the 2016 ACWC Badge of Honor winner, a 2014 ACFW Genesis semi-finalist, and a 2012 RWA Emily finalist. As an editor and member of The Christian PEN, she enjoys mentoring and helping other writers polish their work. When she’s not writing, you might find her hiking, playing the piano, or being crafty. A mother of two, Laura lives in South Carolina with her husband and son. 

Website: https://laurahodgespoole.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Laura_Poole

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/#!/LauraHodgesPoole

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/lhpoole/

Photo courtesy of Pixabay.com. 

The Candy Cane's Story

The simple little candy cane

Has a wonderful story to tell.

The story of our Savior’s love___

Perhaps you know it well.

Long ago on a wintry night

A star shone in the sky.

And angels came to sing the song

Of praise to God on high.

They sang their song where shepherds

Guarded flocks near a babbling brook.

And you can see in the candy cane,

The sign of the shepherd’s crook.

The red stripes stand for the Savior’s blood

Which was shed for you and me,

As He paid the price for all our sin

When He died on Calvary.

The white part of the candy cane

Shows the purity God imparts

To each new believer when he invites

The Lord Jesus into his heart.

Now turn your candy cane upside-down,

It forms the letter “J”,

Which stands for the name of Jesus Christ

Who was born on Christmas Day.

Ó Copyright 2001, Norma Gail Thurston Holtman, December 1998

About the author:

Norma Gail’s debut contemporary Christian romance, Land of My Dreams, won the 2016 Bookvana Religious Fiction Award. A women’s Bible study leader for over 21 years, her devotionals and poetry have appeared at ChristianDevotions.us, the Stitches Thru Time blog, and in “The Secret Place.” She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Romance Writers of America, Historical Writers of America, and the Women’s Fiction Writers Association. Norma is a former RN who lives in the mountains of New Mexico with her husband of 41 years. They have two adult children. If you’re interested in connecting with her, you’re to follow her blog, or join her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, Goodreads, or Amazon. 

When God Speaks through Silence

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9a

Four and a half months trapped in a silent world with no hope of finding my way out. I tried to speak and no sound came out. I couldn’t whisper, couldn’t even call my husband. But God often speaks through silence.

The doctors found nothing, even with a laryngoscopy. One told me to force myself to talk normally and get over it! How’s that for encouragement and professional advice? I was losing hope.

Months passed. And God’s silence, as well as my own, dragged on. A notepad accompanied me everywhere, including the bank. My kids were away at college, so I learned to text message. E-mail was the preferred method of communication.

I had a Bible study to lead, a busy life with major commitments. Every woman in the Bible study had a chance to lead. I sat with my notepad and wrote notes if necessary. Several women discovered they possessed and undiscovered gift. We learned new ways to be vessels used by God through being emptied of ourselves. He didn’t need my voice.

God spoke through my silence, but He also spoke into my silence. I prayed like seldom before without the distraction of phones and conversations. My inner spiritual life soared. God frequently gives object lessons to make us conscious of areas where we need to grow.

Eventually God led me to a speech pathologist at our local university hospital. Her laryngoscopy revealed what no one else had seen, a condition treatable through therapy. She thought twelve weeks. I spoke the first time. God will not allow us to suffer one moment longer than necessary.

What situation in your life seems hopeless? What frightens you? Everything God allows in our lives is to be used for our benefit and His glory.

When we take our focus off the obvious and look for what God is saying, He will reveal His all-sufficient strength. Roadblocks in life are a prompting to seek God and His plans to thrive through trials and grow. When we give it to Jesus, He will never let us down.

© Copyright, Norma Gail Thurston Holtman, July 26, 2011, July 20, 2017

About the author:

Norma Gail is the author of the contemporary Christian romance, Land of My Dreams, winner of the 2016 Bookvana Religious Fiction Award. A women’s Bible study leader for over 21 years, her devotionals and poetry have appeared at ChristianDevotions.us, the Stitches Thru Time blog, and in “The Secret Place.” She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Romance Writers of America, Historical Writers of America, and the Women’s Fiction Writers Association. Norma is a former RN who lives in the mountains of New Mexico with her husband of 41 years. They have two adult children.

Connect with Norma:

Website: www.normagail.org

Amazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/Norma-Gail/e/B00ILHXBAK/

Book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQbZIoC_JSE

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorNormaGail

Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+NormaGailwrites

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/normagailth/boards/ 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7874459

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Norma_Gail

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/norma-gail-thurston-holtman/42/71a/3b2

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/normagailwrites/

Book Links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Land-My-Dreams-Norma-Gail/dp/1941103170

Empty Nests and Letting Go

Empty nests these days are usually born of going off to college. The young man doesn’t leave his parents’ home to go off with his wife as the rest of this verse suggests:

“…For this cause shall a man leave father and mother…” Matthew 19:5A

So through the ages, it’s changed from God’s way. The father doesn’t keep teaching his son or decide when he’s ready to marry. For that matter, a father doesn’t have much say over anything after the son turns eighteen these days. Have you wondered about that? Why the Bible says it? The concept almost feels foreign we’ve strayed so far into the traditions of men.

In January this year, our “empty nest” became a reality—the first time Ron and I have been just us together in the house since we were nineteen and brought home our firstborn son. We’re both 67 now, and the phenomenon is greatly appreciated and enjoyed. 

We stretched out our own family, having baby Russell when oldest Matt was thirteen. The older three did leave our house to marry—not that we had a big say in the ‘who’ they married. Sign of the times.

The before Russ went off to college, we took in four grandsons—brothers age six, four, three, and newborn straight home from the hospital. We were 52 then and thought it was temporary. 

Twelve years later, Matthew Ross #1 of our "second set of four" graduated high school and went off to college. Soon brother #2 left with our blessing, the other granddaddy broke his hip and Gregory said he could be a help to them. Brother #3 left in rebellion, got tired of rules and evidently didn’t think his data should be limited…go figure. #4, at fourteen the only brother still with us, wanted the opportunity to live with his parents and be closer to the brothers who are living with maternal grandparents about three hours away.

Though it’s nice to think I’ll have no more teachers’ meetings, open houses, or sports practices to pick up sweaty little fellers, I miss them, too. I didn’t have much time to miss my baby Russell when he left; sorta felt like we pushed him out of the nest bringing in his four little nephews. The most difficult is not knowing what they’re doing, that they’re on their own, making their own decisions. I pray they make good ones.

It’s time for O’Pa and me to exercise out trust in the Lord. It’s hard to let go, though. Maybe because today’s society doesn’t wait until they are going to cleave to a wife. A young man can get into so much trouble out on their own in those years, and that makes it harder on parents (or grandparents), but we can trust the Lord! He is able to keep our children.

“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6  

In DAUGHTERS OF THE HEART, book five of my Texas Romance family saga, Henry Buckmeyer is dealing with his daughters coming of age. It wasn’t any easier back in the 1800s for a father, I suppose; though his youngest three girls did put stock in his wisdom. (genre) historical, western Christian romance; 1853-1854) 

Jacket copy: God’s perfect plan is oft so hard to determine.

   In his life, Henry Buckmeyer has never been so beside himself. His little girls are so young, just babies, too young. He hates the whole idea of men coming to take them away and is inclined to shoot every one of them, but praise God for a level-headed, loving wife and step-mother who helps keep him sane amidst the female chaos. Packed with fun, romance, deception, action, heartbreak and tears, this delightful Christian novel keeps the twists and turns coming.

   Will the Buckmeyer home ever be settled and peaceful again? Will any of his daughters find true love…a man he'll approve and to whom he can give his blessing?

GIVEAWAY: Today and through Thursday of this week, the ebook is free! 
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I hope you’ll enjoy the story!

And if you’re losing your youngest this year, experiencing an empty nest,

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

BIO: Award winning, best-selling author Caryl McAdoo currently writes four series: the historical Christian ‘Texas Romance’; a contemporary ‘Red River Romance’; The Generations, her Biblical fiction and a mid-grade The King’s Highway. The prolific, bestselling novelist loves singing new songs the Lord gives her and painting. In 2008, she and her high school sweetheart-husband Ron moved from the DFW area—home for fifty+ years—to the woods of Red River County. Caryl counts four children and seventeen grandsugars life’s biggest blessings believing all good things come from God. Praying her story gives God glory, she hopes each one will also minister His love, mercy, and grace to its readers. Caryl and Ron live in Clarksville, the county seat, in the far northeast corner of the Lone Star State.

   

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The Bridegroom and His Bride

As a young man marries a young woman, so will your Builder marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you. Isaiah 62:5

Joy. Love. Uncontained excitement. A new name. A new home. Beginnings, long awaited, hoped for, believed. The promise of forever. Preparing for the wedding of my nephew, thinking on the death of two dear friends, reminds me that one day all who call Jesus their Lord will attend a glorious wedding. We will be the bride.

The groom’s eyes glow as he beholds his bride, joyful and radiant as she starts down the aisle. Hopes and dreams about their new life stretch out before them. And the guests celebrate. Clothed in their best, their finest jewelry, with joyful smiles, they watch, a few with tears, always with prayers.

For those who belong to the Jesus, His Church, He waits with the light of love glowing in His eyes, His hand outstretched. As a bride takes the name of her husband, believers will bear the new name Jesus gives forever. Revelation 2: 17 says, “[He] will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.”

My dear mother-in-law longed for that day, ready long before it came, her heart eager to meet her Lord and behold His face. Earthly partings contain sorrow. We don’t know when we will meet our loved ones again. But when all true believers are gathered in heaven, nothing will ever separate them from their Lord or their loved ones again.

One that day, they will meet Jesus, the perfect Lamb of God, and be joined with the Bridegroom forever. And He will rejoice over them. Now is the time of preparation. The heart of the bride must be ready, longing to please her Lord, beating faster when she hears His name, for she will be His forever.

Matthew 25 tells of five foolish virgins whose lamps ran out of oil. They fell asleep and missed the coming of the bridegroom. They failed to hear his call, as one day Jesus will call all who belong to Him.

We must make certain our hearts are ready, that we are awake, prepared, and waiting for His call.

“Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” (Revelation 19:9)

© Copyright by Norma Gail Thurston Holtman, March 16, 2017

About the author:

Norma Gail is the author of the contemporary Christian romance, Land of My Dreams, winner of the 2016 Bookvana Religious Fiction Award. A women’s Bible study leader for over 21 years, her devotionals and poetry have appeared at ChristianDevotions.us, the Stitches Thru Time blog, and in “The Secret Place.” She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America. Norma is a former RN who lives in the mountains of New Mexico with her husband of 40 years. They have two adult children.

Connect with Norma:

Website: www.normagail.org

Amazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/Norma-Gail/e/B00ILHXBAK/

Book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQbZIoC_JSE

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorNormaGail

Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+NormaGailwrites

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/normagailth/boards/ 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7874459

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Norma_Gail

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/norma-gail-thurston-holtman/42/71a/3b2

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/normagailwrites/

Book Links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Land-My-Dreams-Norma-Gail/dp/1941103170

A Song in the Night

I remembered my songs in the night. Psalm 77:6

I could not remember the last day without pain. A week of small trials, following a prolonged period of physical pain and sleeplessness made me feel trapped, as if the sun would never shine again.

When a painful condition is unseen, others doubt and are quick to accuse. It is all too frequent for people to condemn the sufferer rather than console. The widow receives comfort for a while, and then life is expected to move on. Too often, the innocent spouse receives as much judgment as the guilty. The surgical patient receives more sympathy than the sufferer of an invisible disability.

A bird perched upon a dead tree outside my window, singing as a blanket of fog wrapped me in the silence of unrelenting hurt created a powerful picture. God is as close in the throes of misery and sorrow, as in the sunshine, but it is more difficult to run to Him when surrounded by blackness and thorns.

God spoke to Job in the midst of the storm and to Elijah in a still small voice after the tumult had passed. God answers when I call to Him. He does not leave me alone in the dark, hopeless, and afraid. When it appears He has abandoned, God whispers the comfort of His presence. I only have to sit still to hear. God rarely shouts His answers. He prefers the quiet solitude of our hearts to speak His most gracious words of comfort and peace. He desires me to lean my head on His chest, leaving my burdens at His feet.

It is not chance that Jesus was called the “Man of Sorrows.” He knows my own unique pain. He will not leave me desolate. He will bring balm for my aching soul as He sent the ravens to feed Elijah at Cherith, and angels to Jesus in the wilderness. When the times of pain and darkness come, I must remember the times God has given me songs in the night, adopted children in the midst of infertility, certainty of heaven in the midst of crushing grief.

Look for Him in the darkness. Call to God from the fog of pain. He may not take away the circumstances, but He is faithful to provide healing balm and restore singing to an aching heart.

After A Long Night

What will it be like

When in Your presence I stand,

When I reach out for You

And touch Your hand?

What will it be like

When Your face I see,

When I feel Your presence

Surrounding me?

I long for the day

When all pain is gone,

When my joy and my task

Is to sing Your song.

How will I feel

When I’ve been set free—

From the pain and struggle

That now enslave me?

I long for the day

When I see Your face,

When all of my sickness

Is healed by Your grace.

You are my strength

While I walk this sod,

But, Oh, what peace

To behold my God!

There will come a day

When I understand,

And behold my scars

Upon Your hands.

When I get lost

In the fog of pain,

I cry out for Your presence,

I plead in Your Name.

You are always there,

You never delay.

But still, in my heart,

I will long for that day

When all earthly pain

And sorrow are gone,

At last and forever,

I will be at home.

© Copyright Norma Gail Thurston Holtman

About the author:

Norma Gail’s debut contemporary Christian romance, Land of My Dreams, set in Scotland and New Mexico is the winner of the 2016 Bookvana Religious Fiction Award. She led weekly women’s Bible studies for 21 years. Her devotionals, poetry have appeared at ChristianDevotions.us, the Stitches Thru Time blog, and in “The Secret Place.” She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, FaithWriters, Romance Writers of America, and the New Mexico Christian Novelists. She is a former RN who lives in the mountains of New Mexico with her husband of 40 years. They have two adult children.

Connect with Norma:

www.normagail.org

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorNormaGail

https://plus.google.com/b/102717101441594679714/+Normagail/about/p/pub

http://pinterest.com/normagailth/boards/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7874459.Norma_Gail

http://www.linkedin.com/pub/norma-gail-thurston-holtman/42/71a/3b2

https://twitter.com/Norma_Gail

Book links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Land-My-Dreams-Norma-Gail/dp/1941103170/ or

Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas: http://store.lpcbooks.com/product/land-of-my-dreams/