Monday, December 31, 2012

An Unparelled Peace

Here I go again, copying a lesson from my daily Bible study book, "Feature." I'm glad it's not copyrighted with a message stating that it cannot be copied because it has many good lessons.
            We live in a time where peace is scarce. Without jobs, unemployment running out, and people feeling desperate, hope and peace seem to be hiding in the depths of the ocean. Relationships are strained as finances become high wire balancing acts with the ends fraying rapidly. People begin to feel hopeless and worried, afraid that things will never get better. Alcohol and drug abuse often become easy escapes from the pressure, but the come-down only leaves those people feeling worse.
            Today, nations are seeking peace but failing to find it. Religions are looking for peace, yet it eludes them. Individuals are searching for various kinds of peace, but they lack peace more than ever before. Do you want real peace today and throughout this coming new year? It can only be found in Jesus Christ, the Living Word, and in the Bible, the written Word. Jesus promised His peace to those who would heed His Word and submit to the ministry of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter (John 14:26, 27). This peace is not available through the world. Only the genuine, perfect peace of God results in untroubled hearts and in the banishment of all fear. This peace can be ours even in the very midst of tribulation; we are to be filled with joy (not the same as happiness) at the assurance that our Lord has overcome the world (John 16:33). In these difficult days, Satan seeks to fill believers with fear regarding their overwhelming circumstances. But God's Word promises, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee" (Is. 26:3). Are we looking to Him when trials happen?
            It is important to realize that peace with God through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:1) is a prerequisite to experiencing  "the peace of God, which passeth all understanding" (Phil. 4:7). Also, we must not forget that this perfect peace is intrinsically coupled with prayer and thanksgiving—the only way to avoid anxiety (Phil. 4:6). We all need this divinely given grace in these troublesome times. If we truly want peace, we must remember that it cannot be obtained through determination or self-effort. With a yielded heart, we must "let the peace of God rule in our hearts" (Col. 3:15).

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Cast All Your Care Upon Him

Many of our problems stem from disagreements over small things. My Sunday School children argue over who's going to sit in the front seat or whether something was done on Sunday or Monday, etc. Have you ever noticed that the attitudes of children seem to mirror ours as adults? They learn from the adults in their lives. Yet, we are born sinners and no one has to teach us to get angry, to hate, to lie, cheat or steal. Our problems, James says, come from wanting things for our own pleasure so we can brag about our possessions or puff up our self-esteem. All of these lead to discontent and strife.

I Peter 5:5-9 says, "
1Pe 5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 1Pe 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 1Pe 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 1Pe 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 1Pe 5:9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
Satan wants you to be miserable. He wants you to have strife and not get along with people. This is just one of many passages in the Bible that give us instruction as to how to have peace. If we lovingly submit to the will of others (as long as it does not conflict with God's word), preferring their wishes to our own, we will have peace, contentment, and strong relationships. This life is not about us; it's about God and others.

If you would like a free bookmark, e-mail me at themarriagecounselor@yahoo.com with bookmark as the subject. I will not share your information with anyone else. May the Lord bless and keep you, make His face to shine upon you, and give you peace.



Tuesday, December 18, 2012

A New Poem

I received this poem in a Christmas card from a dear friend and felt compelled to share it with all of you. As you read this poem think of someone who may benefit from you with a helping hand or a word of encouragement. Don't forget to tell your family you love them, and please remember to thank them for loving you. "Thank you" are not very big words but most people greatly appreciate them. Please leave me a comment or suggestion. Thank you for reading this blog. May your life be filled with hope, joy, and comfort this blessed Christmas season.
Sincerely,
Aleta Kay

Twas the night before Christmas, he lived all alone,
in a one bedroom house made of plaster and stone.
I had come down the chimney with presents to give,
and to see just who in this home did live.
I looked all about, a strange sight I did see,
no tinsel, no presents, not even a tree.

No stocking by mantle, just boots filled with sand,
and on the wall pictures of far distant lands.
With medals and badges, awards of all kinds,
a sobering thought came to my mind.
For this house was different, so dark and so dreary,
the home of a soldier, now I could see clearly.

The soldier lay sleeping, silent, alone,
curled up on the floor in this one bedroom home.
The face was so gentle, the room in such disorder,
not how I pictured a United States soldier.
Was this the hero of whom I'd just read?
Curled up on a poncho, the floor for a bed?

I realized the families that I saw this night,
owed their lives to these soldiers who were willing to fight.
Soon round the world, the children would play,
and grownups would celebrate a bright Christmas day.
They all enjoyed freedom each month of the year,
because of the soldiers, like the one lying here.

I couldn't help wonder how many lay alone,
on a cold Christmas eve in a land far from home.
The very thought brought a tear to my eye,
I dropped to my knees and started to cry.
The soldier awakened and I heard a rough voice,
"Santa, don't cry, this life is my choice;

I fight for freedom, I don't ask for more,
my life is my God, my country, my corps."
The soldier rolled over and soon drifted to sleep,
I couldn't control it, I continued to weep.
I kept watch for hours, so silent and still,
and we both shivered from the cold evening's chill.

I didn't want to leave on that cold, dark night,
this guardian of honor so willing to fight.
Then the soldier rolled over, with a voice soft and pure,
whispered, "Carry on Santa, it's Christmas day, all is secure."
One look at my watch, and I knew he was right.
"Merry Christmas my friend, and to all a good night."
          By Lance Corporal James M. Schmidt

Friday, December 14, 2012

Shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School

The news today is unbelievably horrible. A young man at the age of 20 went to a local elementary school in Newtown, CT shot and killed 20 children and 6 adults. I cannot imagine the horror those people felt, nor the grief the families are experiencing tonight. Though I live in a state far from the event, still I feel the grief.  I am broken-hearted that anyone would have to go through such a nightmare.
     At times like this it seems an automatic response to blame God. I want you to know that it was not God who did this, but Satan, God's arch enemy. Satan has been a murderer from the beginning when he had Cain kill his brother, Abel, out of jealousy. Throughout history Satan has been killing children. Many ancient cultures would throw their children into the fire as an offering to their pagan gods. King Herod ordered all baby boys 2 years old and under killed when he found out Jesus Christ had been born. He knew the prophecy that said Jesus would be the King of the Jews and Herod didn't want that to happen.
     So in your grief, please lay the blame where it belongs. Satan will always have people to do his bidding. Most of the time they have no idea that they are being controlled by the supreme evil being. The only way I know to get through this kind of grief is to run to God's arms, repent of your own sin (because we are all sinners), invite him to be Lord of your life and ask Him to help ou through this most difficult time. Jesus said, "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly of heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls." He wants to comfort you and take your grief. He wants to help you through this. He's waiting with open arms. God bless.

"Mending Fences," my second novel

     April heard the sound of a child screaming and the soul-wrenching sob of, "Dear God, no!" escaped her lips at the same moment the brakes squealed and crunched metal. The glass April had been washing shattered on the floor. Please, God, don't let it be Cassie. Her heart seemed to pound in rhythm to her mind's cry. She would always remember the ticking clock seeming so loud and slow while her heart was trying to pound its way out of her chest. Her eyes noted the time as she raced out the door, unaware of the dishrag she still held. The clock showed six-twenty-three. They had just finished supper, all except Robert, who was away--again.

     This is the opening paragraph of my second novel, self-published and available as an e-book from amazon.com. Post a comment. let me know what you think.

"Vengeance," my first novel

     Drip. . . drip. . . plop. . . drip. . . plop. . . limestone droplets dripping on my head, dripping down my back, my face, my arms. Dripping, dripping, in this cold, clammy, dark place. Odious smell of vermin. Shrieks. Bats? Rats? Creeping things. Palpable darkness. Water running down the pit. I can hear it dropping to the bottom, a deep sound. Can't see my feet, can't see the walls, can't see my hand in front of my face. Screaming, screaming. Oh, my God, it's my own voice and I'll never get out of here!

     This is the opening to my first novel. The person in the above paragraph is the nemesis of the main character, Fawn Larson. Fawn is hald Native American and half white. She clings to her Native American faith while God is seeking her heart, wanting to give her inner peace. What will it take for God to get Fawn's attention?  Available in paperback from barnesandnoble.com


Did You Know You Were Lost?

     Luke 19:10 says, "For the son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." These are just a few of the words of Jesus the Christ, the son of the living God, in fact God in the flesh (read the gospel of John chapter one). The Bible teaches us that we are all sinners. We cannot be born a Christian. We are unable to save ourselves from our sinful nature. We all have gone astray, and turned everyone to his own way (Isaiah 53:6). Until we meet Jesus and ask Him to forgive us, we are lost in our sin and on our way to hell. BUT JESUS, GOD IN THE FLESH, LEFT HEAVEN TO COME AND SEEK YOU! He is trying to win your heart, to save you from your sin nature. Not that you will ever be perfect in this life but He will help you live right in the sight of God, that you may live in paradise with him when this life is over. He wants to be your best friend.
     What great love God has for you. You are special to him. He created you on purpose because he loves you, even when it seems no one else cares. I'm writing this because I care.

     If you would like a free bookmark, leave a comment on any of these posts. E-mail me your name and address (I will not share it with anyone) and I will send you a bookmark made just for you. You can choose a rainbow, butterfly, bird, house, or favorite poem (short, no more than 8 lines). You can also choose a favorite flower. I look forward to hearing from you.

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Those Were The Good Old Days!

I was reading my devotional materials this morning and the above was the title of one of them. This material is not copyrighted so I am going to copy it here. Consider Hebrews 10:32a which admonishes us to remember days gone by. Here's the story:
     A pastor and his wife took a day trip to the birthplace of Ulysses S. Grant, taking in his boyhood home and the one room school he attended. While there the pastor picked up the "Teacher's Rules" that they had to abide by back in those 19th Century southern Ohio school rooms. Here are just a few: Female teachers could not marry or even company with men while under contract. They had to be home by 8:00 p.m. They could not loiter at ice cream stores or ride in a carriage unless with her brother or father. They could not smoke, wear bright colors, dye their hair or wear skirts shorter than two inches above the ankle. Men teachers had to fill lamps, clean chimneys and haul water. They could only court one night a week or twice if they went to church. If he smoked, used liquor, went to pool halls or got shaved in a barbershop he would have to give reason for people not to suspect his worth and integrity. Oh, and after working five years, without fault, could get a raise of a quarter a week with the board's approval.  Copied from Baptist Bread, November/December 2012 issue.

This may seem ridiculous in our modern day but consider: teachers back then were not being accused of raping/molesting students; they were not engaged in pornography; and they didn't get in trouble for having affairs with students. The rules may have been severe, but which would you rather have--severity and integrity or hedonism and danger for your children? I Thessalonians 5:22 tells us to abstain from even the appearance of evil. Like it or not, people judge you by the actions and attitudes they see and you can't stop people from doing that. What kind of reputation do you have? What kind do you want?

If you leave a comment AND would like a custom made bookmark sent to you, e-mail me at aletak60@gmail.com. Put bookmark in the subject line and send me your mailing address. I will send you a bookmark and will not share your name or address with anyone. God bless.

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

The Perfect Gift

Have you ever seen the movie "The Christmas Box"? I love this movie. It puts things in perspective. Richard Thomas's character is working hard to provide a better life for his family. Great! Every woman wants a man who will be a good provider for his family. It builds trust and security, peace of mind. It's not just accepting responsibility, but embracing it! But the harder he works the more time he's away from his family. He's so intent on their future that he sacrifices the present.

Our world (not just the United States) begins planning for Christmas in October. We're already past Thanksgiving before it even arrives. I hear families bickering and complaining about having to spend so much time together as the holidays approach because THERE'S A SALE AND I'M GOING TO MISS IT! What???!!! Time out, folks! Why is a bigger, brighter, TV, or newest Kindle or Iphone or Ipad so important? Those are things and they don't love you back. They don't even care if they get used or not. They are tools, and if they are making your life more complicated, they are not doing their job.

Our gods have become today's technological wonders and tomorrow's old and inferior products. Wake up and see the stark whiteness behind the words! My favorite part of the movie is when Maureen O'Hara asks Richard Thomas if he knows what the first Christmas gift was. He's baffled by the question and says sort of half-sarcastically, "A tie?" She just looks at him. He says he'll think about it some more. Finally, at the end of the movie, he gets it. The very first Christmas gift was--can you guess? It was LOVE.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16.

I will send a custom made bookmark to everyone who responds to this page beginning Dec. 13, 2012. Just send me an e-mail to aletak60@gmail.com with "bookmark" in the subject line. I'll be using snail mail so leave your mailing address. I will not share it with anyone else.

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Don't Throw Away Your Old Toothbrush

     I have a couple of thoughts on this and they are not connected, to please bear with me. The first thought is a practical application. I keep two old toothbrushes on the back of my kitchen sink and one in the bathroom. The reason? In the kitchen, I use one to clean the beaters for my mixer because it's hard to get the ends clean with the dishrag. It also works on wire whisks. The other one is used to clean around the grout on the sink and the drains. The toothbrush in the bathroom is used to clean my combs. No more soaking and waiting for the combs to dry. I put a little soap on them, run warm water over them slowly and use the old toothbrush to get between the teeth of the comb. Done in two minutes! Then I just rinse off the soap.
     My second thought about toothbrushes is this: Consider what a small thing a toothbrush is. (I know that was a grammatically incorrect statement. Never end a sentence with a preposition.) The toothbrush is small and really doesn't do much. It only gets used two or three times a day, and then only for a short time. Yet it is a very important part of our lives (or should be). Think about the job it does. What would happen to your teeth if they were never brushed? What would happen to your breath and your gums? Your teeth would decay and rot away (which some will do anyway just due to wear and tear); your breath would be most foul, and your gums would get infected, and the infection would spread to the rest of your body.
     Do you ever feel insignificant, like your toothbrush? Do you sometimes wonder if you have any purpose or value? Rest assured, my friend, God holds you in high esteem. If you were the only person left on earth, Jesus still would have left heaven to die on a cruel cross, to take your penalty for your sins, and offer you eternal life. He is risen and He is still offering you eternal life. He leaves the decision up to you. If you want to know how to get to know Him, leave me a post. Actually, I'd like for my readers to leave me a post anyway. Let me know what you think. This is an open forum. All comments are welcome. We learn by discussion. Have a blessed day.

Thursday, December 6, 2012

And We All Fall Down

Holidays are often stressful for families. Great expectations abound and feelings of resentment and inadequacy bubble and boil like an over-full pan of gravy. We try to get our emotions under control and someone says something or looks at us in a way that makes us want to crawl in a hole and knock their head off at the same time. What can we do? Should we just keep to ourselves and deny the pleasure of the relatives we do get along with? What about their feelings? Sometimes it just gets to be overwhelming and despite our best intentions, we lapse into taking "just one drink," or "just one whatever." Only it doesn't stop with one.
I've never struggled with drug or alcohol addiction but I have friends and loved ones who have. I've watched the turmoil. I witnessed the guilt, repentence, doing better, and another fall cycle. I don't claim to have all of the answers but I serve a God who does.
God loves you right where you are. He wants to take your burdens, your frustrations, your heartaches, your failures. He wants to give you peace. He's waiting for you to ask Him. Once you've asked you have to let Him in. Colossians 3:15 says, "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts." It is a choice. You have to be quiet and let it come in. Savor it. Wallow in it. Thank God for giving you His peace.
Many times in the Bible we are told God will neve forsake His children. You can trust Him. He never changes. He is just and holy and forgiving. When you are weak He is strong. He promises that His grace is sufficient for you. He promised He will never tempt you beyond what you are able to handle but will always provide a way of escape. The important thing to remember is not to give yourself opportunity to fall. "Give no place to the devil. Don't provide opportunity for your flesh to win. When temptation hits turn around and run in the other direction.
If you do fall, don't beat yourself up. Ask God to forgive you. Then read Romans 8:1--there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. Just try again.
I hope this helps. God bless you and have a wonderful Christmas.