Category Archives: Blog Posts

Tolerate and tolerance do not equate in today's world. God's command to preach the Truth of the Gospel is clear: do not add to or take away God's Word. If you fail to preach about hell and eternal separation from God, then there is no true love, respect, or need for the free gift of salvation. If you preach God is love, and there is no hell, then there is no fear of judgment—who needs God? 

God warns us as Christians from our Jewish beginnings through our Christian heritage not to add or take away anything to HIS Word. Scriptures contain the path to salvation-true salvation, the path to understanding God, gave us free will to worship Him-the one who created it all. You can't remove Romans 1 from understanding God's love or Galatians 5:19. It is our path to God- to understanding the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit- the one God, Father, Son, and Spirit. God says to spread the message with tolerance, love, and understanding of the lost. 

The Spirit draws and brings conviction to the lost, but we are commissioned to go and tell-not leave them in darkness or on the wrong path. 
Deuteronomy 4:2, Proverbs 30:5-6, and Revelation 22:18-19:

July 19, 2024
What do you MAKE of this? 
There is nothing that can separate us from God's love Romans 8:38-39. 
There is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, Romans 8:27-28. 
There is a Spirit that knows our weakness, who intercedes to pray, when we don't know how to pray with groaning too deep for words. Romans 8:26-27. 
There is hope that God causes all things to work together for our good, whether from evil-doers, haters, or demons, Romans 8:27-28. 
There is a God that we can call "Abba, Father!, Romans 8:15.
There is true freedom and peace that does not come from the world or the American Constitution, but from the law of the Spirit of life in Christ has freed you from the law of sin and death, Romans 8:2.
There is coming a day that even creation will be set free, Romans 8: 21.
There is Jesus, who was raised from the dead, who gave his life and indwells you (of your own free will) (Romans 8:11).
There is only Jesus. 

Can we see God's hand working through hard times? 
That lump of coal may be a hidden jewel among the trials- remember that dark colors absorb light, and outer pressure creates a precious jewel inside. Maybe these are the jewels in our crown that we lay at Jesus' feet.

JULY 12 CAPACITY to see
The CAPACITY to see beyond oneself and trust God's plan for your life is a challenge. It is full of unexpected events, trials to trust, and benefits of blessings. 
"The American dream is nothing compared to following God's plan for your life. The church of the next generation is the outcome of our life, individually and corporately, as we take a stand for Christ(Gideon Speaker)." 
Today, we need TRUTH with SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT as we take off our (western) spiritual blinders. As a christian with a westerner perspective, there things in scripture that I don't understand unless I look from with middle eastern perspective- (culturally, not from a Muslim, Hindu, etc. I've listened to preacher on YouTube like Voddie Bachman and Allen Nolan. Study for yourself to know the whole gospel story. God, the Father is not a Santa Clause. We are here to worship Him.)
Serving the Lord has challenges to give up what the naked eye sees and looking through your heart-eyes (Holy Spirit guidance) to know God's will.

June 21, 
Choice and our free will 
God acts through our prayers. 
Compassion for the lost
Concern about the possibility of hell for your neighbor
Confidence to speak the truth
Cooperation means to listen to the Holy Spirit
Caring manner is shown through kindness
Creative ways to spread the gospel will happen when you are prepared. 

July 5, Specificly seeing another person's point of view
I attended a local Gideon Faith Fund Rally today with a speaker from Slovakia, just below Ukraine. He told a story about the war many years ago and how two men ended up in jail. One man was a Muslim who read the Koran every day. One day, he asked the man beside him why he did not read something. The other man, an atheist, said I have nothing to read. 
The Muslim man said as he handed him a Gideon Bible, "Here, read this. Someone gave me this, and I don't believe in this stuff."  
The man began reading the Bible every day and was saved. His zeal for the Bible and Jesus led him to witness to the Muslim man who gave him the Bible and was saved. The former atheist, saved because a Muslim gave him a Bible, now heads up a Gideon ministry in Russia. 
Days are darkening in Russia. Christians are being watched and questioned. Please pray for him. 
We can no longer study scripture through a Western lens. Looking at today's war in Israel helps us to understand why God commanded the Israelite to wipe out certain groups of people. Hamas has no intentions of letting Israel live in peace. Grasping a bit of the Middle Eastern mindset puts a new lens on understanding the Old Testament and why specific actions were necessary to preserve the Jewish race. If not, they would not have existed. 
It is the same for us in the US. The live and let live philosophy has eroded our moral fabric to the point of putting porn books in school libraries, gender-altering surgeries, and abortion of the unborn to 28 days after birth. 
The blessings come by adhering to God's Word- which is a sword dividing good from evil. 

June 28, Same
Swimming with cousins and playing with friends, 
hoping summer will never end.
Hopscotch with sea shells, swinging high through the air, 
outside till dark and roaming without a care.
Farmer's market down the street loaded with snacks ready to eat. 
Family picnics with seed-spitting contests and fresh corn on the cob are simple ways to show how blessed we are. 


Reflecting over the years is like seeing through a rose-colored looking glass. I say rose-colored because as you (I) reflect, God's hand is sometimes evident and mysteriously absent. 
Remembering times spent with family and friends brings both laughter and tears. By weaving those same experiences for my children, I hope they can build cherished memories with their families someday. God is the same as He was yesterday, today, and tomorrow. God first established the family unit before communities, churches, cities, or countries. Looking back, I remember how much fun I had raising my kids. 

June 21, Choice
Compassion for the lost
Concern about the possibility of hell for your neighbor
Confidence to speak the truth
Cooperation means to listen to the Holy Spirit
Caring manner is shown through kindness
Creative ways to spread the gospel will happen when you are prepared. 

June 14, Cover/ Noahic Convenant 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NAzuNcs9Vs&t=8s
God will no longer intervene with man except through our prayers, and the end times. 
My son taught me a lesson that I did not understand. There are three ways we experience evil: 
1. By God's permission as with Job. Job showed all of heaven that man can and will honor God by faith.
2. There are demons that tempt man.
3. There are just evil people in this world who are full of greed, hate, self-serving, etc. 

So now when I look back and I don't see God's hand of restoration, it may be due to evil people in this world. My faith must hold true. 

June 7, FMF-Reverse
Seeing through the looking glass in reverse. 

Find clarity in 
a world of words with 
perspicacious zeal.     

In God's Word, 
seek perspicacious  
clarity.    

His mysteries
revealed by
the Holy Spirit.

I remember reading Hannah Hurnard's book, 'Hinds Feet on High Places and Mountain of Spices.' Both are an allegory of the Christian walk. Much-Afraid meets the Shepherd and journeys up the mountain to the high places under His guidance. She collects precious jewels along the way. But there comes a point when her load is too heavy, so she looks at each one and reflects on the lesson, the deeper the relationship with the shepherd, and her understanding of God's purpose for her. With a renewed spirit, she keeps them all and moves forward. 

Psalms 18:33 King James Version (KJV) - "He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, And setteth me upon my high places."
Habakkuk 3:19 The Lord God is my strength; and He will make my feet like hinds' feet, and He will make me to walk upon mine high places. 

Our direct link to God is through prayer. Looking back, can we see God's hand working through our trials and troubles? Do we cherish each lesson learned? When amid these trails and that jewel looks like a lump of coal, I remember that dark colors absorb light, and outer pressure creates a precious jewel on the inside. Maybe these are the jewels in our crown that we lay at Jesus' feet. 

(Noahic covenant)

June, May 31 through
Sometimes, hearing or reading something from another point of view brings clarity or the ability to see through a scheme. I am guilty of wanting to prove my worth and that I am valuable, too, so I fall prey to empty schemes. God's love is total approval, acceptance, and love. The insecurity, inadequacy, and inferior feelings come from the world's perspective, others, or my own. 


"The devil appeared to three monks and said to them: "If I gave you the power to change something in the past, what would you change?"
The first of them, with great apostolic fervor, replied: "I would like to prevent you from leading Adam and Eve to sin, so that humanity does not separate from God."
The second, a man full of mercy, said to him: "I will prevent you from straying from God and condemning you forever."
The third of them was the simplest and instead of answering the tempter, he knelt down, made the sign of the cross, and prayed: "Lord, deliver me from the temptation of what might have been and what was not."
The demon, screaming and trembling with pain, fled.
The other two were surprised and said to him: "Brother, why did you react like this?"
And he answered them: 

“First, we should never talk to the enemy.”
“Secondly, no one in the world has the power to change the past.”
“Third: Satan’s interest was not to prove our virtue, but to trap us in the past, so that we neglect the present, the only time God gives us His grace and we can cooperate with Him to fulfill His will.”

Of all the demons, the one that most holds men back and prevents them from being happy is “what could have been and was not.” The past is left to the mercy of God and the future to His providence. Only the present is in our hands. Live today loving God with all your heart.
(Modified from original text)
Ctto: Michael Acebedo Lopez"

spring in my steps
alacrity of purpose
wind at my back

Finding clarity
in a world of words,
perspicacity. 

In God's Word
seek perspicacious
clarity.

He has given us the Holy Spirit

When I first read last week's word, I thought of 'through the looking glass.' In Genesis, the names of each person gives us message of redemption. In the book of Daniel and the major and minor prophets, God's mystery are locked up in Revelation until now. The Bible is layered with meaning in its depths. God doesn't tell but knows we must discover it for ourselves. Then our heart is changed and truly belongs to Him. 

Nothing but what is needed:
There is nothing in the Bible that is not meant to be there. How is a name given? What is in a name? Is it arbitrary, a family name, a syllabic mess, or is it chose with a meaning? 
Adam means man, Seth means appointed, Enosh-mortal, Kenan-sorrow, Mahelil-blessed, Jarrod-shall come down, Enoch-teaching, Methuselah- means this death shall be judgment, Lamech-lamentation, and Noah means to bring comfort. 

The message is that Man appointed mortal sorrow, the blessed God shall come down teaching, and His death shall bring despairing comfort. 

God's Word is breathed out by the Holy Spirit, so it is nothing for the Holy Spirit to bring understanding so we can dive deep into knowing God. Nothingness is in man's empty philosophies. We will spend eternity with God and still marvel. 

more names with meaning-
Nathaniel means gift of God 
Daniel means God is my judge
Rhonda means Grand and Warrior- which is hard to live up to. 
Leigh means poem or song, glade or meadow
Bronte means bestower and thunder
Brown-son of strength
Daniel Charles Brown, God is my judge, strong-manly, and son of strength.
Katelin Bronte- pure thunder

May 21, 2024 How to write stories from a Christian POV 
For a fellow writer on how to write a children's christian picture book. I agree with fellow writer, Arree, it makes writing a Christian book even harder. Here are come comparative thoughts.

Recently, I watched a series called Signal, a Korean drama. One of the things I realized this morning was the message in this story. Backdrop: police and political corruption, people looking the other way or taking brides to benefit themselves. Micah 6:8, He has shown you, O man, what is good and what the Lord requires of you. 

I woke up early and began pondering different people in the Bible and their reactions to the challenges they face. Here is where your story lies: find the hidden truth, change it to today's issues, and have your character meet those challenges. He does not have to kill a giant, but he also faces the bully at school or his best friend trying to get him to do the wrong thing. 

For the character in the above series, it cost his life, which is the underlying truth of Christianity—exchange your worldly life and follow Christ, death to self, and submission to Christ, as stated in 2 Corinthians 5:17. 

An example is two godly women:Esther was beautiful, and Leah, Jacob's wife, whom he didn't choose, was ugly. Esther, who was afraid, saved her people, and Leah, who was heartbroken, was loved most by Jacob in later years. Now consider Jezebel, Delilah, Herod's wife; you can feel and see people who are like this, so narcissistic that they manipulate and destroy those around them. Jezebel tried to destroy Israel by introducing idolatry back into Israel. Ahab was too self-absorbed to care. 

Adam, Abraham, Jacob, Joseph—David, Samson, Gideon, and Nathan, who let Deborah lead Israel's army—these men failed drastically, yet saw it and took steps to correct their actions. (David's children: Three died; how David parented is not mentioned, but his kid's choices are.  I have to admit here I would have asked God to leave this part out of the Bible. I mean, who wants their dirty laundry aired for centuries? Parenting is hard. But his children still knew what was right from wrong. They were taught but chose not to follow God. Esther faced death, and Leah was ridiculed but still chose the right course of action. God put David's children's failures to show that it is our own choices. We overcome by trusting God.) Character, hook, conflict, failure, and resolve. 

Kirk and Alice Brown wrote a series of Christian books. I've passed these books on, so it took a bit of research to find their names. They didn't use Christian buzzwords but told stories kids deal with daily, like patience, loss, selfishness, etc.  They would be good mentor texts. 

I agree with fellow writer Arree; writing a Christian picture book is even more difficult. Yet, Arree's book Mixed teaches you how to love your neighbor as yourself. Ninja shows brotherly love by correcting his actions when he includes his sister in his Ninja games. Both show how individuals can change the people and circumstances around them. 

Marilyn Lashbrook's book, I Don't Want To, shows a defiant Jonah as a child. My son's favorite line was-- it was hot inside the fish, it was stinky in the fish, phewy. There were lots of onomatopoeia in her books that my four-year-old son loved. My son would stand up in bed and cross his arms like Jonah in the book. I think that is the catalyst for Trouble with Head Ants. 'ANTS' is an acronym for automatic negative thoughts or any naysaying, nervous, nasty, or not telling me what to do thoughts.  WITT is an anteater who uses his brain. He recycles negative thinking by spelling his name. WITT teaches kindergartners how to handle big emotions. 

It is like the retelling of The Three Pigs: The True Story of The 3 Little Pigs by A. Wolf to David Weiner retelling this story. We writers find another perspective of that story and write from a different POV. 

May 17 Finally

Finally, it has a different meaning than final. Finally means to attain a dream, a goal, or a wish. It is seeing the fruition of your work and efforts. Writing stories and poems about how God works in your life and then seeing them published or others read and understand—that rings with finally someone understands or relates. 

Is it your final goal to hear, 'Well done, my faithful servant?' When I finally stand before Jesus, hear those words, and lay everything at His feet, I hope to hear my heart sing. When I lay everything at his feet, I lay down my struggles, see God's hand in my life, and finally understand God's peace for me. 

May 10
Someday your will see the reality of your faith that is no longer temporary but is eternal, immutable, unwavering in God's ever presence. Jesus is returning one day soon. 
Faith in faith is temporary.
Faith in God is eternal.
Faith in your timing is temporary.
Faith in God's timing is immutable.
Faith in changing another person is temporary
Faith in God changing one's heart is permanent.
Faith in feeling is temporary.
Faith in God's Word is solid, a cornerstone.
Faith in my efforts is temporary
Faith in God's ability to accomplish his purpose is unchanging.  
God's word is solid, immutable, unchanging, eternal.

Why men hate-
Patience, a virtue often overlooked in a world of instant gratification, holds a significant place in the realm of faith. It's not a simple trait to acquire, but a complex skill that requires reason, forethought, and emotional stability, all intertwined with kindness, cooperation, and selflessness. It's a virtue that's not for the faint of heart or those with a me-first attitude, but one that's crucial for spiritual growth. 

Jesus called men from all walks of life. He was patient with Peter's headlong ways, Thomas' doubts, Judas' unbelief, and the Romans who gambled for his garments and hung Him on the cross. 

How do we have no patience for our fellow man who does not believe as we do? The world has gone so far as not to suffer the mention of Jesus' name. Don't be offended by their ridicule, sneering, and mocking of Jesus' name. 

I Peter 4:14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed because the Spirit of glory and God rests upon you.

John 15:25 But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: 'They hated me without reason.'

May 3 Some follies, when to play, when to let go, when to pray, when to rest

Good morning, Sunshine!
Taking in the day, no plans.
Boketto moments. 
--
Mångata reverie
a playful cadence,
lovers leap (Song of Solomon)

---- Some things to beware of
Impertinent chatter 
of a jaded woman
blissfully clueless. (Proverbs 5:3)

“The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down” (Proverbs 14:1).
----
We, too, walk every day beside 
the true Messiah,
unmoved by the truth.

---- Some things to know
Moments in nature
filled with wonderment and awe
touching the soul. Micah 6:8 God has shown you what is good. 
--
truth is a plumbline
It does not vary
or shape shift. 
God is revealing the mysteries of the end times, of the secrets of His Word, in a way that offers clarity to everyday life and freedom in our spirit to walk with Him.
--
Light narrows yet shines.
Truth displayed for all to see, 
God’s bountiful grace. 

Rapture for the church 
The last harvest, winter comes.
Weary souls find rest. 

John 8:12 Jesus said:I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.

----Some things to rest upon and in. 

Let go of the fight: Exodus 14:14 
"The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”

Let go of doubt, ask for help: Matthew 11:28
 "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

Let go of resentment: Colossians 3:15 
"And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful."

Let go of worry: 1 Peter 5:7 
"Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you"

Stillness comes in letting go. His word speaks as to how to let go. 
-----
Time is a fixed entity that is set for a season and is always moving forward. God cannot undo time. God's purposes are unchangeable and set for a season of salvation as a test to man's free will. (Hebrews 6:17-18) There is no variation or shifting of shadows for God's unchangeable plan. All things being possible for God ( Phil 4:13, Matt 19:26) is predicated on a few impossibilities concerning His nature. God cannot lie and therefore He is the plumb-line for the truth to be measured. God exists outside of time. He is the Alpha and Omega. Imagine God holding the ribbon of time, the beginning in one hand to the end in the other. He surveys all of time, simultaneously.
----- Some things to rest upon and in. 
God loves your soul like the soil loves the tree. 
God's Word is the soil where we firmly root our faith. 
The soil gives the tree all the space it needs to grow. 
God's will is His Word. 
It is not a road map but a relationship. 
God is more interested in what you become than what you do. 
Colossians 1:9. 

April
Every once in a while
inspiration hits and
a desire is lit.

Every once in a while
misery accompanies loss
heartache mellows the soul.

Every once in a while
memories comfort and
peace settles within.

Every once in a while
love overwhelms and
endurance is perfected. 
Romans 5 and James 1

What is so complicated about love? Love leads to kindness. Kindness leads to patience. Patience leads to self-control. Self-control to proven character. It is not that we get to pick and choose which fruit of the Spirit to exhibit on a given day. The Holy Spirit produces or yields the fruit (singular) of His Spirit to shine the light of Jesus. Christianity is unlike a cafeteria line where we choose what we like and ignore the rest. It is all or none. Jesus said we would know them by their fruits, actions, or proven works. Others will see the Jesus we know by our actions.
Romans 5:1-5 and James 1: 1-5 Galatians 5: 22-23 and Galatians 5: 5-6

Far: This is the last post for January. The post from 'proverbs27thlock' emphasizes living short and living long. Twenty-six days have passed, and what have I done for the Lord and others? What is my daily focus? With 339 days left this year, what is living long? (I recommend reading his post). I usually write my posts/ideas before reading others. 
I see how far away I am from accomplishing some of my goals. My writing is about revisions and getting to the final stages for submissions. But I have revised two stories that I think are submission ready. Community is about reaching out to international students, learning Korean, and inviting people to church- two opportunities this past week. 
Re-memorizing scriptures and a daily bible study laced with prayer. I was having trouble quoting a scripture I know from memory- yep, gotta use it or lose it. 
What affects my living short and long? Procrastination and distractions sometimes are the order for the day. I am like grasshoppers who forgets to look up for guidance.(Yes, there is a bible verse, can't remember where.) So begin the day by looking up and inviting God to order my steps. 

Say what are God's patterns in each season of life.
God designed each season of your life to bring the fruition of His will. Thereby, God reveals Himself uniquely to your spirit so that I can know the Father, the creator of this world. What would I say to the Father? I think of the Father as ominous and exacting, yet even in the Old Testament, I see kindness and willingness to listen and even change His mind. Kate used the word shutter to think this morning in her video. Grief does make one shutter. I did not have a kind earthly father, and after the divorce, I never saw him until I was an adult. So, I will admit to having a skewed perception of the Heavenly Father. The words Kate used to describe grief were enigmatic and illusive. I remembered the melancholy impression from childhood as I watched my grandson wishing his father was present. This image is not what God intended when He first designed the family unit. The father was to represent the heavenly Father by providing a safe place, protection, and security - a home filled with love and care. The heavenly Father is teaching me about Himself. He wants me to understand Him as the Father, someone I can come to and sit, talk, and listen to. 

What is God’s pattern of love in my life? What do I know, what have I seen, why are prayers unanswered, when do prodigals return, and how will things be restored. God did not save me to lose me in doubt and fear.

The Bible doesn't explain God, the Father; it declares Him. God is a spirit to be worshiped in spirit and truth. How can a spirit be known? Fact: Nothing preexisted God. The three in one spirit existed and, by His word, spoke the world into existence. Jesus is our visible manifestation of the Father; now we have His spirit within. Our Father wants us to have a relationship with Him.
The story of the prodigal son is about the Father and Israel's rejection of salvation for the Gentiles. The older brother is Israel. The younger brother is the Gentiles. The Father would have smothered them in unconditional love, but the older brother was unwilling. God, the Father, established Israel as a beacon to the world. Micah 6:8 says He has shown you what is good and what the Lord requires of you. The Father desires us to know Him and trust Him as Job did. 
The rich young ruler was willing to follow certain rules but he wasn't willing to love Jesus above his worldly possessions or his worldly POV
So, I need to look at my patterns of doubt, questioning God about unanswered prayers. In my depths of despair, do I still trust, like Job? Do I find rest in Him (Ps 23)? When do I rely on the Holy Spirit for guidance? My patterns are mine and with the help of the Holy Spirit, I have discernment to discover more about the Father.