"BLESS YOU" - WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

“BLESS YOU” – WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

People say “Bless you” when someone sneezes. The practice originated in Rome when the bubonic plague was ravaging Europe. Sneezing was one of the plague's main symptoms, and Pope Gregory suggested that a tiny prayer in the form of saying, "God bless you" after a sneeze would protect the person from death. I decided to look up what the Bible says about blessing, and came to Mark 6:41. When Jesus “blessed” the loaves and fishes, “He looked up to heaven, and blessed.” Jesus lifted and blessed these loaves and fishes to do as God intended for them. Jesus was lifting the little bit of food for God to take it from there and do with it what He planned. In this case, His intent was to multiply it so that everyone had enough to eat.

At the time when I was studying what it meant to bless something, I was preparing for a new temporary job. I knew there would be extra stress on my body, my mind and my emotions. Everyone would be working long hours for over a month. It would be hard physical work with temperatures in the high 90s and above. People would be exhausted, nerves on edge and emotions touchy. I decided to use what I learned from Jesus, on the circumstances I was facing.

NUMBER 1 - BLESSING MY FELLOW WORKERS: God created every person with something marvelous in mind for them. So no matter what little they may seem to be doing toward that goal, we can give them a better chance by lifting them in prayer to God. Especially in this situation where the pressure was high, I couldn’t afford to be judgmental and accusatory. I was too tired to even trust my own thoughts, especially if they were negative. So I consciously would pray to God: “I bless so-and-so to be able to do Your perfect will for their life.” It was very freeing!

NUMBER 2 – BLESSING MY BODY: The job required going up the stairs in our Las Vegas 90-degree-plus heat several times a day. Then I’d need to get down on my knees to cut and staple. There was lots of bending to paint a large canvas on the floor, lots of lifting and working on my feet on the concrete floor 12 to 17 hours a day. Often my knee would want to act up. My friend Wendy let me borrow her knee brace and that helped. My back muscles would get angry and I definitely needed a blessing on my physical body. I would silently pray: “I bless my body to do as You intended it to do, God.” And it worked. I would feel some renewed strength and carry on, slowly at first, but I kept moving and I did well. The owner of the company was compelled one day to ask me how old I was. When I answered, he was astonished and said he was impressed and amazed at how I could work so hard at my age. That made me feel really good.

NUMBER 3 – BLESSING MY MOUTH: More than once, I got cranky and irritated with some of the workers. I wanted to blurt out some snide remark. The words were pushing forcibly right behind my lips. It was all I could do to keep them from busting through! This one guy we worked with had terrible work habits but I held my tongue. It wasn’t my place to correct him, so I just kept saying to God: “Bless him to do what You had in mind for him, and I bless my mouth to only say what You intend.” It worked. Do you have any idea how shocked I was that I could even do it? But was it worth it? Totally. I was free. I didn’t condemn him. I blessed him and gave him to God. It felt good.

There were so many awesome people I met at the job and I was happy to be a part of it. I was especially thankful to be so successful through the rigorous schedule, coming out stronger with a healthy body, sound mind, and better mouth!

I hope that you will be able to use these blessing keys in your life too.

Love, Carolyn

QUESTIONS AND EASY CHALLENGES

1. What did God do to the loaves and fishes when Jesus lifted them up and blessed them? What do you think God might do for you if you lift up your family members, friends or fellow workers to Him in prayer?

2. Do you think you might get some added strength or health if you lifted up your body to God and prayed that He helps your body to work as He intended for it to work?

3. When you’re in a stressful or rigorous schedule, what are some things you do to keep yourself well and stable?

4. What are some situations you’ve been in where you should have blessed your mouth to only say what the Lord intended?

CHRISTMAS 2019

CHRISTMAS 2019

“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5)

I love the simplicity of this old photograph by Eric Enstrom. It hangs on the wall across from where I sleep and reminds me that with Jesus in my heart and life, I can find God in even the most meager of situations.

Here is the expanded story of this man and this photograph. I hope it is as meaningful to you as it is to me. I WISH A MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OF YOU

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Back in the year of 1918, a bearded, saintly, old man, with foot-scrapers to sell, called on Eric Enstrom at his photography studio in the tiny mining town of Bovey, Minnesota.

From this chance encounter a world-famous photographic study was created. Today Enstrom’s picture Grace, showing the elderly peddler with head bowed in a mealtime prayer of thanksgiving, is known and loved throughout the world.

“There was something about the old gentleman’s face that immediately impressed me. I saw that he had a kind face… there weren’t any harsh lines in it,” Enstrom said in recalling the 1918 visit of Charles Wilden to his studio.

It happened that Enstrom, at that time, was preparing a portfolio of pictures to take with him to a convention of the Minnesota Photographer’s Association. “I wanted to take a picture that would show people that even though they had to do without many things because of the war they still had much to be thankful for,” Enstrom said.

On a small table, Enstrom placed a family book, some spectacles, a bowl of gruel, a loaf of bread, and a knife on the table. Then he had Wilden pose in a manner of prayer… praying with folded hands to his brow before partaking of a meager meal.

To bow his head in prayer seemed to be characteristic of the elderly visitor, Enstrom recalled, for he struck the pose very easily and naturally.

As soon as the negative was developed, Enstrom was sure he had something special… a picture that seemed to say, “This man doesn’t have much of earthly goods, but he has more than most people because he has a thankful heart.” That Enstrom’s camera had captured “something special” is an appraisal widely shared.

Love, Carolyn

"BE IT UNTO ME ACCORDING TO THY WORD"

“BE IT UNTO ME ACCORDING TO THY WORD”

In the story of Christmas, the angel Gabriel came to Mary and told her she would be having a child by a miracle of the Holy Spirit and this child would be Jesus, the son of God. Mary believed that if people would just stick with what God told them, His Word was always going to come to pass. “For with God nothing shall be impossible” (Luke 1:37).  She had heard of the miraculous things God did and totally believed that God’s Word was true. She believed that the Red Sea really did open up miraculously to let the Israelites cross over on dry land. She believed the story about the ax head that was lost, but then floated up out of the water, defying the natural laws of gravity (2 Kings 6:5-6). She believed what she heard about the Hebrews just looking at the brass serpent in the wilderness and getting healed of their snake bites (Num. 21:8-9).

So when the angel Gabriel told her that she was the one who would miraculously birth the Messiah, the son of God, the promised seed from the Bible, she believed it: “And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word” (Luke 1:38).

Peter also was taught to believe the records of the many miracles God did. And he, like Mary, believed beyond what looked impossible by natural laws. Peter literally stepped out of the boat, after hearing and believing just one word from Jesus: “Come” (Matt. 14: 29). Peter saw that Jesus was walking on top of the water, even as the ship was being tossed around by the waves. When Jesus said, “Come,” Peter figured Jesus meant it, so he dared to do it.

We all have verses that mean a lot to our heart. We can probably name a few right now. Those are the very ones the Lord has been trying to speak to us personally all along. If you’ve not done this before, you can take a slightly new approach to those favorite verses. Focus on the verse then be like Mary: Believe the miraculous and say, “Be it unto me according to thy Word.” And let’s be like Peter, walk out and expect it to work.

Love, Carolyn

(painting by Henry Ossawa Tanner 1898)

HONORING GOD AND EACH OTHER

HONORING GOD AND EACH OTHER

In Biblical times, wise men from the East came to honor Jesus, bringing Him gifts. These men watched and studied the skies and knew from the lineup of the planets and stars, that a great king had been born, a king worthy of honor. “And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh” (Matt. 2:11).

The shepherds honored the baby Jesus differently.  They were “abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night” (Luke 2:8). The angel of the Lord came and told them that they were in the right place at the right time and it was to them that this blessing had come.

How often are we going about our normal routines, endeavoring to do God’s will the best we can, and all of a sudden, we meet someone new who blesses our lives? Or we’re inspired to get in a certain grocery line and end up blessing a total stranger? We end up in the right place at the right time to either be blessed or be a blessing. Hebrews 13:2 even tells us we should “be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”

That’s what happened to the shepherds. They were in the hills by Bethlehem, and that’s where God wanted them. The angel of God found them and told them the good news. “And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.  And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2: 9-11).

This event brought “glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” (v.14). The shepherds went down into the city of Bethlehem to witness this for themselves.

The Bible doesn’t say anything about them honoring Jesus with physical gifts as the wise men did later on, but the shepherds honored Jesus by telling people what the angel told them and what they actually witnessed themselves. That’s how they honored God—by telling other people about the great things God did and was doing even now.

“And when they [the shepherds] had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.  And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them” (vv. 17,18 and 20).

Gift-giving originated with God. Right after God created Adam, He gave him a gift. “And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed. And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden and the tree of knowledge of good and evil” (Gen. 2: 8-9). 

The idea of honoring God and others came straight from our creator and has happily invaded all cultures of the world.

This Christmas, let’s think about honoring each other with our gifts and our respect. But most of all, let’s give some special attention to how we can honor God and our Savior, Christ the Lord.

Love, Carolyn

DON'T LET IMPATIENCE OVERWHELM YOU THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

DON’T LET IMPATIENCE OVERWHELM YOU THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

With Christmas right around the corner, I found myself with an overload of obligations, and not all were imposed by others—several were obligations I put on myself. In the past, I would have gotten severely stressed out, but not this time. I have a forgiving and kind best friend, Jane, and so when I made batches of cookies, I could leave more of a mess than normal, knowing I’d clean it all up later. In wrapping packages, I could leave the scissors, tissue paper and tape on the spare bed without worrying about it. I’ll put everything away later, and the house will get back to normal. I have learned from the Lord to trust myself and stay peaceful. I learned my lessons when Jane and I were missionaries in South Africa: Impatience is a thief.

Jane and I waited for the last bus out of downtown Johannesburg. We had just moved there from the States to do missionary work, so I had my passport with me in a large purse I carried at my side. It was dusk, and we were getting anxious to get back to our friends’ house before nightfall. The bus should have been there already.

I was starting to worry, “Did we miss it?” Jane answered, “I don’t think so, but maybe the buses don’t run regularly, so I don’t know.” We waited longer. We were the only ones waiting, which made it scarier because we didn’t have anyone to ask. What we did next was really foolish.

Impatience prompted us to move. We went down the street to another bus stop closer in the direction of home. We waited there impatiently until we couldn’t take it anymore and we moved down the street again. We did this three times, getting further and further away from the more populated area. The sun was going down, and we were getting more worried now—new country, unfamiliar ways, alone on an empty street, and no bus in sight. Then Jane spotted a young black African man coming our way.

He got about halfway down the block and bolted toward us. Jane had seen him, but all I saw was a blur.  She jumped in front of me, grabbed me with both arms around the middle, as I clutched my purse to my chest. The guy hesitated, then ran past us. He stopped and continued to walk slowly down the street as if nothing unusual had happened at all.

Jane gently loosened her grip on me, and I relaxed my clenched fists, but my heart was still racing, and we were both hyperventilating. When we settled down and started to breathe a little easier, in quivering voices, we begged God to get the bus there soon.

In just a few minutes, it pulled up—the very last bus leaving the city. For the next three years of living in Johannesburg, we stayed much more alert and aware of our surroundings and prayed about everything.

God wasn’t the one who told us to move down to the next bus stop. We should have just stayed where we were, but we let impatience drive us into trouble.

How many times have each of us acted impatiently, recklessly setting out in the direction of our own choosing, without really consulting the Lord? Proverbs 21:2 tells us: “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes.” But Luke 21:19 tells us: “In your patience possess ye your souls.” Patience stops to ask for the Lord’s input and acts deliberately, not foolishly.

My impatience nearly got my purse stolen, along with my money and passport. Impatience gets us to make mistakes, waste time, get into arguments, and so many other things that we’re sorry for later. Proverbs 20: 22 tells us: “Wait on the Lord, and he shall save thee.” One important way He saves us is to give us His wisdom. Don’t be fretful and hasty like we were. Wait on the Lord.

This incident was a marker in my life and changed me on the inside. The impatience we experience around the holidays may not be life-threatening, but it still exhibits the same characteristics, stealing our peace, our time, and our good nature. It can affect our health, our jobs, and our relationships, among other things. So let’s be cognizant of the sneaky devil and take a deep breath with the Lord. God can guide us through any stress with ease if we only ask and believe. Have a wonderful Christmas.

Love, Carolyn

PEANUT'S NEW SHIRT AND THE $100 BILL

PEANUT’S NEW SHIRT AND THE $100 BILL

Summer Storm: Lightning, thunder, wind, rain in sheets, and big drops. Fifteen minutes of torrential rain blowing hard in every direction, then done. That’s our typical summer storm here in Las Vegas. I came home from shopping, got out of my car and walked across the lawn toward the new water dish I put out for the wild birds. I wanted to see if the rain had filled it up. When I looked down, there in front of the dish was a neatly folded $100-dollar bill. My instinct made me look around quickly to see if anyone was looking for it, but there was no one around. I picked it up and put it into my pocket. I’ve picked up pennies and even quarters, but never a $100 bill. I smiled.

Someone must have lost it in the storm, but no one was coming around to claim it. And I found it just in time because a few minutes later my lawn guys came and they would have either found and kept the money, or chopped it up in a million little pieces in the lawnmower.

I tried to figure out why God would drop me the $100, but I couldn’t connect it to anything at all. I don’t believe in coincidence. Saying something is a coincidence is man’s attempt to explain away what he has no control over. I tried to tie it to some good deed, but everything I could think of fell flat, and the Lord wasn’t talking. It wasn’t until two days later that I understood.

I was buying dog food and bought Peanut, my little dog, a shirt just because I love the little guy and I thought he’d like it. Then it dawned on me that my $100 bill had come to me the same way. The Lord gave it to me just because He loves me, and He thought I’d like it. And He was right. I liked it a lot.

We receive God’s grace, not just because we are desperate, or because we pray so hard or any of those other religious things we do. We can pray and believe and fast and a lot of other things, but then there are the extra blessings God sends just because He wants to. He doesn’t have to wait for a holiday or birthday. Any day will do. It’s kind of like random acts of kindness; we have the opportunity to follow His example and drop a special blessing on someone every once in a while. It’s fun.

God told Moses: “I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy” (Exod. 33:19).

Keep it up, Lord! And thank you so much!

Love, Carolyn

QUESTIONS AND EASY CHALLENGES

1. Have you ever received a random gift when it wasn’t your birthday or a special occasion? Describe it. Why do you think you remember it?

2. Have you ever given a gift randomly to someone just because you love them?

3. How about giving a gift to someone you don’t know, just because the Lord Jesus loves them?

HONORING THE TRANSITION FROM CHILD TO YOUNG ADULT

HONORING THE TRANSITION FROM CHILD TO YOUNG ADULT

I went to my first Quinceañera last night. It has its cultural roots in Mesoamerica and is widely celebrated today throughout the Americas. Traditionally, it is a gift from the father to his daughter on her fifteenth birthday. As I was driving over to the event, I was thinking about how important it is for a teenage girl to be honored. And to be respected by her father first, but also by her mother, her family, and other adults, can be paramount to a young girl’s future. Teenage girls are fragile. What happens to a teen girl has a lasting effect. Her relationships with men in the future will show reflections of how her relationships went with her father, brothers, and other men in her teen life.

Boys go through changes when they become young men, and I believe they should be honored and recognized too.

I believe that events (big or small) that bring families together to take special notice and give honor to a child transitioning to adulthood can be instrumental in giving teens courage, confidence, and assurance of a good future, with the support of adults that have gone before.

I believe that there should be mention of God and the Lord Jesus as the sovereign guide of their future, and the Bible principles their ultimate standard for every decision.

“In Luke 2, the Bible gives us a short synopsis of Jesus’s transition. He had to go from being a child, a teen, and an adult, just like the rest of us.

“Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover.  And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast” (Luke 2:41-42).

At this feast, the Hebrews celebrated the great Exodus from Egypt, and how, when the angel of death slew the firstborn of all the Egyptians, he “passed over” the children of the Israelites. 

“And when they [Joseph and Mary] had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.

“And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions” (Luke 2:43-46).

Just like any teenager, Jesus found something that fascinated him and distracted his attention away from his parents. He must have thought it was much more interesting to hang out with the teachers than to stay with his parents.  

“And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers” (Luke 2: 47).  Here we see that the Jewish rabbis honored him. And isn’t that just the case sometimes? The parents can’t see how amazing their kids are, but other adults see and go on and on lavishing the kids with praise.

“And when they [the parents] saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, ‘Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.’

“And he said unto them, ‘How is it that ye sought me? Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?’  And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them” (Luke 2:48-50).

“And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.” Here we see that Jesus, as a teenager, was generally obedient to his parents, and that’s a great teaching lesson for teenagers. The other thing is that Mary thought about what was now happening in this transitional phase in her son’s life. She was taking time to really look at her son, not just as a child, but as he was turning into an adult.

We see in the next verse that Jesus truly was becoming a man. I don’t know if, in the Bible, any formal celebrations took place surrounding the time of transition. Jewish Bar Mitzvahs started in thirteenth-century France. What we know is that the Bible says that shortly after the incident in Jerusalem when Jesus was twelve years old, he was honored by God and by men.

“And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man” (Luke 2:41-52)

Parents, if you haven’t already done it, how about considering some kind of special event, even if small, to give your transitioning child some special honor, recognition, and assurance of support for whatever he or she may desire for the future. Every teen deserves the stability of not only an adult’s love but maybe even more, their respect and honor.

Love, Carolyn

PS: Thank you, Kim, for inviting me to your daughter’s Quinceañera. And Brianna, may your future always be as beautiful, encouraged, and strong in spirit as you were last night, in my eyes, and God’s as well. Love you, Carolyn

SHOUT??

SHOUT?

I was starting to get symptoms of a cold. The symptoms just kept getting worse, and the voice in my head said, “I’ve got a cold.” I hadn’t spoken anything out loud yet, and instantly I knew I needed to shout: “The Bible says that by Jesus’ stripes I was healed, so I’m healed!” My cold symptoms were gone overnight.

Sometimes we need to shout louder than the thoughts in our head—drown them out with a victory shout of God’s Word (the truth). For those of you who aren’t shouters, you can speak His truth in your most assertive “outside voice.” Authoritative self-talk or self-speak with God’s truths can have a powerful and positive effect on an apathetic, wandering, or bored mind. It can rescue and release us from being lazy, the victims of “maybe” or “I hope so.” And it can put a stop to confusion.

There’s a great example of this principle in John 11, where Jesus shouted to Lazarus to come forth from the grave. He had all kinds of negative words and thoughts coming at Him. The religious leaders were trying to shame Him in front of the people. Even Lazarus’ sisters were bothered by the fact that Jesus hadn’t come earlier, and they said so. It had been four days since he died, and friends had gathered to grieve. What did they think and speak when Jesus showed up late and told them the dead Lazarus was going to live?

Since the Bible tells us Jesus was tempted in every way that we’re tempted, His mind would have been bombarded by all kinds of negative thoughts. “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4:15). The discord of inaudible voices in the air was thick and raucous. I’ve been in situations where no one was speaking, but I could almost hear people’s negative thoughts and accusations, and I bet you’ve been in situations like that too.

But Jesus put His faith in what God told Him, and amid the confusion, He stood in front of the tomb, and “He cried with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!’ And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with grave clothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, ‘Loose him, and let him go’” (John 11:43-44).

We need to be assertive with the truth we speak to ourselves. We are not victims of our environments. Our faith isn’t insipid or limp, but “strong in the Lord and the power of His might” (Eph. 6:10).

There are many examples of shouting in the Bible. Like I was inspired to shout against the symptoms of a cold, God’s people have, at different times, been instructed and inspired to shout against an enemy. The results were amazing.

1 Samuel 17:52: “And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until they come to the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down.”

In Joshua 6, God gave specific instructions on how to take down Jericho. The instructions included a great shout:

“And the Lord said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valor.

“And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days.

“And the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets.

“And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him” (Josh. 6: 2-5).

“So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city” (vs. 20).

Psalm 47:1 says: “O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.” Many scriptures tell us about an attitude we can have when we shout. It’s more like shouting when your team wins than shouting at someone in anger. Zephaniah 3:14 reads: “Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.”

Psalm 5:11 tells us: “Let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.” Nehemiah 8:10 tells us: “The joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Psalm 32:11 says: “Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.” And Psalm 132:16 reads: “I will also clothe her priests with salvation: and her saints shall shout aloud for joy.”

No matter what situations you face today, or what kind of a mood you’re in, how about a big shout of victory and joy for the Lord? You can do it.

Jesus shouted louder and with more authority than the voices around Him; life returned to Lazarus. Against the thoughts in my head, I shouted God’s healing words to my cold symptoms; my good health returned to me. We are blessed to have the spiritual power of a shout available to us through Jesus Christ.

Love, Carolyn

QUESTIONS AND EASY CHALLENGES

1. Can you recall a time when people around you were so loud and the noise so raucous you could hardly think? What did it feel like? What did you do?

2. If you are a parent or a pet owner, have you ever gone outside to shout for your child or pet to come in? Do you recall any times your parents shouted for you to come inside? How did you react? Did it take two or three shouts sometimes?

3. Why do you think Jesus might have shouted to Lazarus?

4. Was Jesus ever tempted to get confused, negative, or distracted by too many thoughts or too much raucousness in the environment? How do we know that? Cite the scripture.

5. Give a couple of scripture references that talk about shouting for victory or shouting for joy.

6. When was the last time you shouted at a sports event or a concert? What did it feel like in your body? 

Right now, go someplace where you won’t disturb anyone and practice some shouting.

REMEMBERING

REMEMBERING

Learning to apply the Bible to everyday circumstances is a lifelong process. Sometimes we forget things we should remember, and we remember things we should be forgetting. I had that experience this weekend when I was making cookies. I haven’t made Christmas cookies in several years, but this year I got inspired by my work friend, Jaime.  We never know how God will work, but Jaime started a series of events that led me down an interesting and wonderful path.  

I started to look through my cookbooks for the gingerbread men cookies I wanted to make, but I found too many different recipes for the same type of cookies, and I hadn’t marked the recipe that made the tastiest ones. I didn’t really have a lot of extra time to experiment, so I picked one that I thought looked pretty good and went ahead with it. Well, the cookies turned out just okay, but not with the rich spicy taste that I wanted.

It’s like that with the Bible. In the Old Testament times, God was always telling people to remember about the time He rescued His people out of the oppression of Egypt. It would be good for us to go back at least once a year and read it as well. The whole story is in Exodus, chapter 5 through 15. God sent Moses to Pharaoh: “Say unto him, ‘Thus saith the Lord, Let my people go, that they may serve me’” (Ex. 8:1). Pharaoh was obstinate, and horrible plagues descended upon Egypt: locusts, flies, frogs, death to cattle and men, until Pharaoh finally gave in. But even then, as the Israelites were leaving, Pharaoh sent his army after them. God opened the waters for His people, and the waters crashed over the Egyptian soldiers. God performed miracle after miracle to save the Israelites.

God freed His people from oppression, and from that point on, He wanted them always to remember the good He did. However, being human, they forgot and had to be reminded. They didn’t take notice, didn’t mark it in their brains, kind of like I didn’t mark the good cookie recipe.

When we don’t take notice of the good things we had in the past, we struggle a bit when we are in similar situations. Had I marked my recipe, I wouldn’t be struggling today. Even though it’s taking more of my time and effort, I will get the good ones baked before I go back to work tomorrow.  

It works the same with applying the principles of God’s Word in our lives. Let’s try not to forget what He’s done for us in our larger family of believers, even way back to Old Testament times. And let’s not forget to mark those good things He did for us even in 2019, which has been a tough one for many of us. Let’s mark the good and remember that God is always good.

Love, Carolyn

PS: I’m still working hard on getting my WINGS vol. 2 in print. Thanks for your prayers, and thank you so much for reading my preach letters too.

My booklet with stories for the Holidays is free through Tuesday on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/WINGS-Journey-Earthly-Heavenly-Holiday-ebook/dp/B007COFX04/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1546193661&sr=8-1&keywords=wings+carolyn+molica

If you don’t get or want Amazon, I’ll send you a free copy via a PDF file or Word document. Send me your request at cjmolica@hotmail.com

FIRST AMERICAN THANKSGIVING

At Thanksgiving time, I like to go back and read about the Pilgrims who had the first official American Thanksgiving celebration with Squanto and his newly adopted Native American tribe. This was the Pilgrims’ second year in America. During their first year, half of the 102 Pilgrims died. Of the 50 who remained, only six or seven were strong enough to care for the others. But God had a plan for these people. A Native American man, Squanto, enter these Pilgrims’ lives to teach these new Americans how to survive.

The leader of the Pilgrims was William Bradford. He wrote about his experiences with Squanto. It’s in old English, but we can still understand it:

“They (as many as were able) began to plant ther corne, in which servise Squanto stood them in great stead, showing them both ye maner how to set it, and after how to dress & tend it. Also he tould them excepte they got fish & set with it (in these old grounds) it would come to nothing, and he showed them yt in ye midle of Aprill they should have store enough come up ye brooke, by which they begane to build, and taught them how to take it, and wher to get other provisions necessary for them; all which they found true by trial & experience.

“And thus they found ye Lord to be with them in all their ways, and to blesse their outgoings & incomings, for which let his holy name have ye praise for ever, to all posteritie.”

Bradford added: “Squanto… was a special instrument sent of God for their good beyond their expectation.”

Squanto was a willing teacher. He taught the Pilgrims how to find eels and trap deer. He showed them how to net birds, how to grind corn, and how to find berries. He taught them how to hunt raccoons, bears, otters, and beavers. He taught them how to fish in the bay and along the coast in the summer, and how to cut holes in the ice to catch pike, perch, and bream in the winter.

Squanto’s life itself was amazing; how God took bad circumstances and turned them into good for both Squanto and the Pilgrims. In 1605, a member of the Native American Patuxet tribe, Squanto was captured by an English explorer and taken to England where he learned to speak English. In 1614 Captain John Smith brought him back to America, but he was captured again and taken to Spain to be sold as a slave.  Local Catholic friars rescued him and introduced him to Christianity.

He went back to England and got on a ship to his native America. But when he got home, he found that all of his tribe had been killed by a plague. The sudden death of the whole tribe scared the neighboring tribes, and so they never went onto the property, making it available for the Pilgrims. Also because of the odd circumstances of the tribe’s annihilation, the other tribes didn’t attack the Pilgrims, and Squanto facilitated a peace treaty that lasted over 50 years.

With Squanto’s help, the Pilgrims’ second winter in America was far better than the first. William Bradford remembered the habit of the Dutch, who celebrated their freedom from the Spanish with a holiday every October. Bradford decreed a day to set aside so that all the Pilgrims might “after a more special manner, rejoice together.”

The Pilgrims gathered their food to feed the fifty of them, but Bradford sent Squanto to invite the chief of his tribe, who gladly came with 90 of his men, tripling the size of hungry mouths. The chief must have realized they needed more food, and he sent five of his men out. They came back with five deer and started celebrating. They ate deer, turkey, fish, lobster, eels, vegetables, cornbread, berries, pies and popcorn that the Native Americans showed the Pilgrims how to make.  They competed in games of wrestling, shooting, and running. The chief had such a good time he and his men stayed and celebrated for three days.

The first harvest feast of the Pilgrims was more than just a time to eat together. It was a whole celebration of God’s blessing. They had survived in this new land, and in their second year, they were beginning to succeed and grow.

Love, Carolyn

If you’d like to read more about this time in America, I recommend America’s Providential History by Mark Beliles and Stephen McDowell and William Bradford: Plymouth’s Faithful Pilgrim by Gary Schmidt.

CHARACTERISTICS THAT PERSONALIZE JESUS FOR YOU

CHARACTERISTICS THAT PERSONALIZE JESUS FOR YOU

When I travel, I take the time to consider the deeper truths of my life. My sister passed away in October, and as I was sitting in the airport on the way to see my mom and my niece, I had the clear revelation that my love for Jesus is more important to me than life itself. Then a week ago when I flew out for the Celebration of Life Memorial service, I was again sitting in the airport when I had the thought, “I love Jesus so much, if I died today, I would be happy.” And I immediately thought about my sister, who lifted her head and was looking up to heaven as she took her last breath. After years of struggling with Alzheimer’s, she was now happy and released.

When I got home, one of the first things I was inspired to do was make a list of some of Jesus’s characteristics—things that mean something special to me. I suggest you may want to make a list that’s personal to you. It didn’t start in this way, but as it turned out, I used letters of the alphabet to make my list. Of course, if English is not your first language, make your list in the language you use more often. Here’s my list. I wrote my list in one long spurt and at the time couldn’t think of anything for O or Z, so if you’ve got ideas let me know 😊.

A – ACTIVATOR OF AWESOME

B – BOSS OF BUILDERS

C – CORNERSTONE OF CONSTRUCTION

D – DIRECTOR OF DESTINY

E – ENABLER OF EVERYTHING GOOD

F – FOUNDATION OF FAITH

G – GLORY OF GALAXIES

H – HEIGHT OF HOLINESS

I – INGNIGHTER OF INQUIRY

J – JUDGE AND JURY

K – KING OF KINGS

L – LEADER OF LOVE

M – MASTER OF MIRACLES

N – NOBLEST OF NOBLE MEN

O –

P – PROPHET OF PEACE

Q – QUEST OF EVERY QUESTION

R – RIGHT VERSUS EVERY WRONG

S – SOLID OF EVERY SOLUTION

T – TEACHER OF THE TEACHABLE

U – UNITER OF UNIVERSES

V – VICTORY OF VISIONS

W – WONDER OF WONDERFULNESS

X – XCELLERATOR OF EXCELLENCE

Y – YESTERDAY, TODAY AND FOREVER

Z –

Love, Carolyn

This weekend through Tuesday, WINGS PART 4 is a FREE download on Amazon. I wrote these stories specifically addressing issues that come up at the end of any year.

https://www.amazon.com/WINGS-Journey-Faith-Earthly-Heavenly-ebook/dp/B007CNJ8I8/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1546194239&sr=8-6&keywords=WINGS%3A+A+JOURNEY+IN+FAITH

If you can’t get it free on Amazon, I can send you a PDF file. cjmolica@hotmail.com

PEANUT AND THE LAMB

PEANUT AND THE LAMB

My roommate Jane took a shortcut down the alleyway behind the paint store and found a little dog. His ribs were showing, and he was shaking. She stopped her car and got out to see if the dog would come to her. Instead, he crawled under her car. That’s when she called me.

She says I know dog talk and animals will come to me, so I got some dog food and water, and off I went. We both sat down on the cement in the alleyway and talked to the little dog quietly and offered him nourishment. He would take a small drink and a bite of food, then run back a little way, tail between his legs, and just look at us.

Finally, after half an hour of coaxing, he still wouldn’t come, so we called Animal Control because we didn’t know what else to do. But when we started toward our cars, the little guy sensed it was his last chance. He ran over and jumped into Jane’s arms. Then I put him in the front seat of my car, and he snuggled up under my arm.

About that time, a guy came down the alley. We told him what happened, and that we couldn’t keep the dog because of our aging cat, Snickers. He told us his name was Tony and said his landlady recently lost her dog and was looking for another. Tony thought our little alley dog would be perfect, so we made the arrangements in case we didn’t find the real owner.

Jane put up 40 signs to try to find the dog’s owner. We waited a week, and when no one called, we called Tony back and took the little one over. The dog stayed one night before we got a phone call saying they couldn’t keep him. It seems the landlady had territorial parrots that wanted nothing to do with a little dog. So, back he came to our house.

We called some friends associated with dog rescue groups, and they found two people who said they wanted the little guy. After the third week, they backed out, and now he’s ours. We bought him a bright blue-collar and some toys and named him Peanut. He loves to eat and is filling out nicely. We took him to a nearby vet and found out that Peanut had his “peanuts,” so we got him fixed, and now he and Snickers the cat, eat together and even play together.

This experience reminded me of the story Jesus told about the lost lamb:

Luke 15:3-7 “And he spake this parable unto them, saying, ‘What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?

‘And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.

‘I say unto you, that likewise, joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.’”

God loves every single one of us and doesn’t want anyone left alone and afraid. “Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows” (Luke 12:6-7).

John 3:16 tells us, “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

We took compassion on this little dog, looked after him, and are giving him a great home. How much more compassion does God have for us and for all those who He finds in the alleys of life, emaciated and scared, and just looking for the right home?

Love, Carolyn

WHAT WE LEARN FROM BABEL

WHAT WE LEARN FROM BABEL

I learned about the Illuminati back in the 70s, and just figured they’d always be around. But that doesn’t have to be true. There’s no place in the Bible that tells us Satan’s strongholds on the earth are everlasting. The Bible shows us that the opposite is true. What happened in Babel? And all through history, we’ve seen that kings and kingdoms rise, and then they fall. Egypt in Old Testament times was the greatest power on earth. Where is it now? Just because an entity has been around for many years, doesn’t mean it can’t fall apart. After all, powerful groups are made up of mortal men who are subject to the sicknesses, financial devastations, relationship disasters, and all the other ailments other human beings experience. God loves everyone and abundantly pardons anyone who repents, but when people purposefully get together to come against God’s born again Christians, we need to take action. God gives us a strategy in Genesis 11.

Nimrod made himself an enemy of God by organizing a plot to overtake God’s authority.

“And the Lord said, ‘Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language, and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.’

“So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build [stopped building] the city. Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth” (Gen. 11:5-9).

First, we learn from this passage that there is power in agreement, but that ‘agreement’ can be broken. When people agree, “nothing will be restrained from them.” God confused their language both physically and otherwise. They no longer spoke the same natural language, resulting in the inability to agree on anything. Nimrod’s plan was foiled.

In James 3:16, God gives us a truth we can use as a prayer tool to break up the plans of any anti-Christ group, or individual who comes against us in our righteous adventures with God. “For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.” We can pray that the spirit of Babel, and the evil spirits of envy and strife be rampant in the anti-Christ group or an individual. God says these two spirits bring confusion and every evil work. In Genesis, the group not only had to stop the big plan they had, but they were scattered. We also use this word referring to an individual being “scatter-brained.”

Jesus said: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; every city or house divided against itself shall not stand” (Matt. 12:25).

We see another great Old Testament example of how a group of three kings and their armies came against God’s people and were taken down by strife and division within their group: It’s found in 2 Chronicles 20.

“It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle.

“And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the Lord:

“And when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.

“For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another.

“And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped” (2 Chron. 20:1,4,22-24).

There are many other passages we can pray against an enemy of our God.  Psalm 7:15-16 is among them: “He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made. His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate [head].”

Another couple of passages that David used are in Psalm 69:23 and Psalm 37:14-15:

“Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; and make their loins continually to shake.”

“The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to stay such as be of upright conversation. Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.”

I know this stuff is a bit heavy, but sometimes we need to know about what we can do in the personal spiritual wars we face.

We never forget that when people turn away from God, He still loves them and wants them to turn back to Him. That’s why we continue to pray for them. God’s word to them (and us when we mess up) is: “Repent and live!” (Ez. 18:32). That has to be our first prayer for evildoers. But some will not repent. Instead, they continue to do evil, so I give you God’s written weapons to put into your arsenal for when you need them.

What does our God call us? “Thou art my battle axe and weapons of war: for with thee will I break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy kingdoms” (Jer. 51:20). Kingdoms are not just countries, but anyplace where one person or a group, make rules that other people have to follow. In other words, we have “kingdoms” in our schools, our cities, our social groups, our neighborhoods, our families, etc.

How powerful are we? Ephesians 2:6 says: God “hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus,” “to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God” (Eph.3:10). The Bible is our manual of life and God has given us the authority to use it.

Love, Carolyn