tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7797191203369091962024-03-14T03:04:17.705-05:00So here's the thing...Not so rambling thoughts of
a Christian Fiction Writer--
by ginger takamiyagingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02782975427792980948noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-779719120336909196.post-32759507801037020602010-12-07T17:14:00.001-06:002010-12-07T17:31:56.397-06:00To Commemorate Pearl Harbor<div style="font-size: small; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">(For my father, Bill, who was raised in upstate New York and died before seeing me publish one thing. To my Father-in-law Hideo who was actually in the cane fields when the Zero's flew over and to my husband who took this small-town girl and landed her on an island with such beauty, you have to see it to believe it.)<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><b>NOTE: I did my best to tell the historical events accurately. Please forgive me if something is off.</b></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="font-size: small; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfYjN8q7cRJtnWuebPaS9euk3wywARWV0R0JMk1YnUAoukHFQ0V6NKARBaUzhzgyY5-sRtFscJUj_UVZfgMDRkgmA99J0okByPluCF3ks2JtkF5JfzzjeqIXBO9OqGGtI-WAuJY-Qbajo_/s1600/USSNavada10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfYjN8q7cRJtnWuebPaS9euk3wywARWV0R0JMk1YnUAoukHFQ0V6NKARBaUzhzgyY5-sRtFscJUj_UVZfgMDRkgmA99J0okByPluCF3ks2JtkF5JfzzjeqIXBO9OqGGtI-WAuJY-Qbajo_/s1600/USSNavada10.jpg" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 20px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-size: small; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
“Grampa let me help you with that tie.”<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<br />
James said the name as if the ‘pa’ in Grandpa was almost an afterthought. That’s the way they’d always said it in Rochester. Probably said it the same way in the entire state of New York.<br />
<br />
“What, I can’t fix my own tie?” Grandpa shoved James’s hands away from his neck and turned toward the bathroom mirror. “Why you ever did such a thing, to get married to this—”<br />
<br />
“Her name is Tomika, Grampa, and though she may look Japanese, she’s as American as—”<br />
<br />
“Apple pie, yea, yea.” Grandpa gave his tie a final tug. “If this is what you want, then I won’t say nothing. But if you ask me, if she looks Japanese and talks Japanese—”<br />
<br />
“Grampa, she was raised in Hawaii, she can’t help her accent. That’s the way everyone talks there.”<br />
<br />
“You call that English?" Grandpa's held out his hand as if begging for a dime.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>"My grandmother, God rest her soul, was from Germany and she spoke with less of an accent then your so-called American girl.”<br />
<br />
James took a deep breath, filling his lungs with the rose-scented air freshener hiding on the back of the toilet under a crocheted doily doll. “All I know is if you go and make a scene in front of her mother... All I’m saying is don’t make a scene.”<br />
<br />
The door creaked open and a beautiful, dark-haired woman poked her head through the crack. “James. You gonna make da kine toas-? Auntie and Mamma is waiting, yeah. Oh nice tie Grandpa Levine.”<br />
<br />
Grandpa’s grunt sounded more like a non-committing bullfrog.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="font-size: small; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: small; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">“I’ll make the toast in a minute, Tomi. Grampa was just giving me some last minute advice.”<br />
<br />
“Okie-dokie, then.”<br />
<br />
The door shut.<br />
<br />
“See what I’m saying?” Grandpa shoved his hands toward the door. “That was English?”<br />
<br />
“Gramps, I can’t stay in here all day arguing. It’s done. We’re married already. Move on.”<br />
<br />
“Wait ‘till my old shipmates here this. They’ll roll over in their graves.” Grandpa’s wagging finger moved closer to his face. James wrapped his own fingers around them. “Pearl Harbor was not so long ago.”<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<br />
“Grampa.” James released Grandpa’s hand. “She’s from Pearl.”<br />
<br />
“I’m telling you in those days… What?”<br />
<br />
“Tomika’s family is from Maui and moved to Oahu after the war. Her own father was in the cane fields when the Zero’s flew over his head for pete’s sake.”<br />
<br />
“What? Her father was on the Island. And I should know this how?”<br />
<br />
James dusted imaginary lint off his grandfather’s shoulders. “If you had been listening to the stories her Auntie was telling, instead of grousing in the corner, you would have learned a lot of things about Tomika’s family.”<br />
<br />
Grandpa’s wrinkled mouth creaked open as if on rusty hinges.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="font-size: small; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: small; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">“Her grandparents were not allowed to even fight for their own country, forced into the holding camps on the mainland. They lost their home. Their market. Their way of life. You remember those stories don’t you Grampa? Encampments. Tula Lake. Executive Order 9066? The Masaru family was treated like traitors and yet here they are…completely un-embittered at the people responsible for their hardship.” James released his breath. “You can go on holding grudges Grampa, but she’s the one here with all the rights to them.”<br />
<br />
James turned away, his hand on the knob when he felt a gentle tug on his arm. “Wait a minute. Just…just hold on. Give me a moment.”<br />
<br />
“What else is there to say, Grampa?”<br />
<br />
Grandpa released him and went to sit on the edge of the bathtub. His shoulders slumped forward as he laced his fingers together. “I had just finished my last rounds at 07:55 before we were to change over. I saw the rising sun emblem on the tip of the Zero moments before I saw my first blast. The sky filled with black smoke, bullet-like tubes dropped like rain, submerging everything into an inferno.”<br />
<br />
James moved toward the toilet and slowly crouched on the lid.<br />
<br />
“We were ordered to get underway.” Grandpa slid his hands down his thighs and capped over his knees. “We tried to make it out of the channel but were hit by one of the bombs. Unable to make it to open water, we ran the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Nevada</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>aground on Hospital Pointe. Couldn’t take the chance of blocking the fleet’s escape. Abandon ship was called. Oil covered the surface of the water, men jumped overboard despite the flames.” Grandpa held his arm up. James remembered the terrible scares. “We kept swimming.”<br />
<br />
Grandpa looked up, tears clouded his eyes.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<br />
“I watched them jump from the rails. I heard the screams of men on fire. I held the hand of a shipmate that would never walk again. I closed the eyes of a man who would never see his newborn son.”<br />
<br />
Grandpa continued, his throat sounding tighter. “To say Tomika and her family has the right to be offended…so maybe it’s true. We’ve all lived through tribulations of other’s making. I guess…I forgot what that was like.”<br />
<br />
“Grampa, I—”<br />
<br />
Grandpa held his hand up then covered James’s left knee with it. “You’re right, Jimmy. I had no right. This was supposed to be a day full of love and celebration, not hashing the past. Especially a past I thought I had given up.”<br />
<br />
James covered Grandpa’s hand with his own. “Maybe December seventh was a poor choice for getting married, huh?”<br />
<br />
Grandpa smiled then patted his hand before standing. “Maybe it was the best day in the world for it. Gives me a new reason to look toward it now.”<br />
<br />
James stood up and went into his Grandpa’s open arms. The bands that wrapped round him still held the strength of a young man and a love that reached beyond the pain.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>“I love you Grampa.”<br />
<br />
“Same to you, James.”<br />
<br />
Grandpa released him and James reached for the tissue box near the vanity. He wiped his eyes while Grandpa pulled out his own kerchief. “Tomika’s waiting for the toast, Grandpa. We’d better go join them.”<br />
<br />
Grandpa blew into his handkerchief. “Yea, yea.”<br />
<br />
James tossed the tissue into the trash then straightened his jacket.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>“How do I look?”<br />
<br />
“Like the man who pulled me from the burning bay. Like an angel.”<br />
<br />
“Ahh, don’t let Tomika hear you talking like that. She might get jealous.” James patted Grandpa’s back as he walked out the door in front of him.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Ready to face his new comrades.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div>gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02782975427792980948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-779719120336909196.post-89925973714998839672010-12-03T21:58:00.002-06:002010-12-03T22:25:57.687-06:00Looking for Guest.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7FaEoqwEUcRZtjgm4C9u3wJynAChR_uZzEx1XkF0_SoZ2iQF1EdFaoMRopb66tbreJQr-D7vccrew1f67Ialtcsd3RBw6fKLqffYiK4Nzt8noG_IHHTywhvilzo8hySNGqls4w9PbyhAT/s1600/GingerandSusieWarren.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7FaEoqwEUcRZtjgm4C9u3wJynAChR_uZzEx1XkF0_SoZ2iQF1EdFaoMRopb66tbreJQr-D7vccrew1f67Ialtcsd3RBw6fKLqffYiK4Nzt8noG_IHHTywhvilzo8hySNGqls4w9PbyhAT/s320/GingerandSusieWarren.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
This is a picture of me and my mentor, Susan May Warren, at the ACFW this year. She is holding the Mentor of the Year award and boy does she deserve it! She is one of the best instructors I have ever had the privilege to learn from. If you have an opportunity to attend one of her retreats, do yourself a favor and GO! Here's a link to her <a href="http://www.mybooktherapy.com/index2.php/book-therapy-retreats/">Deep Thinkers retreat in Florida </a>this March.<br />
<br />
<br />
Okay. So here's the thing. I'm looking for guest bloggers to come on from time to time. Send me a comment if you would like to try this out.<br />
<br />
Merry Christmas!gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02782975427792980948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-779719120336909196.post-37037832113493234082010-11-23T20:11:00.000-06:002010-11-23T20:11:00.319-06:00Christmas Food Court Flash Mob, Hallelujah Chorus - Must See!<iframe width="480" height="295" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/SXh7JR9oKVE?fs=1" frameborder="0"></iframe>gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02782975427792980948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-779719120336909196.post-40880520115870151452010-09-22T10:20:00.000-05:002010-09-22T10:20:15.761-05:00Golden Nuggets from ACFWTim Downs stood at the podium in his two piece suit, delivering a stone-cold truth that will change my life forever. "The man with one talent went and hid his in the ground... his master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant..."<br />
The parable of the talents, found in Matthew 25, is familiar to most of us, but I doubt that many have ever looked at it the way Tim taught it.<br />
The Master intended his servants to invest their talents. <br />
Now we all know that the scripture is referring to talent as money, but as Tim pointed out, the word <i>talent</i> is a double entendre (meant to be understood in two ways). The talent also refers to our lives.<br />
Each man took what the Master gave them and invested. All accept the man with the one. He hid his and when the Master returned, he had this to say of the man who refused to invest: <i>'You wicked, lazy servant!</i>(Matthew 25:26)<br />
Tim reminded us that, "There is no failing when you invest. None that invested his talents were put to shame. The one that didn't was the evil one!"<br />
So here's the thing. You know that <i>writing talent</i> that you've been wondering whether you should do anything with or not? Let me spell it out in plain English for you. DO SOMETHING WITH IT! <br />
God is not going to put you to shame for trying or even trying and failing. You will, however, be put to shame if you do nothing. So come on, do something. Write for your church bulletin. Write notes of encouragement to your friends or enemies for that matter. Start that short story or novel or how about a non-fiction book on how to serve God or perhaps an article? The method does not matter, just pick up a pen and write something. Then share it. <br />
<br />
Oh come on now, you didn't think the Lord would just have you write something and then bury it, did you? That's what the evil servant did. If you don't share it then it's not investing it.<br />
<br />
Think about this for a bit. That humility you think you have inside you, the one that says, "Oh no, I'm not good enough." is really pride rearing its ugly head. Don't fall for it. If God can use the mouth of a donkey, He can use you and me just fine. So come on. <br />
<br />
I want to hear from you. How have you stepped out? I'm looking forward to hearing from you. And remember... you CAN do it!<br />
gingergingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02782975427792980948noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-779719120336909196.post-79931291525932810992010-05-12T09:29:00.001-05:002010-05-12T09:30:06.500-05:00Giving Blood--And I Didn't Get a ShirtSo I went to give blood this weekend with Handsome. He didn't want to go by himself. Good hubby that. Always tries to take someone with him. So this time it was me.<br />
<br />
The first time I tried to give blood, It didn't go so well. Vein took a powder. The second time and all went just peachy. So I felt reasonably confident in my chances this time as well. <br />
<br />
I did all the usual Q&A and slid onto the cart. "Left or right arm is best for you?" <br />
<br />
"Umm, doesn't matter."<br />
<br />
Now that I think of it, maybe it does.<br />
<br />
So they swabbed my left arm and away we went. The stick was a quick sharp pain that lasted all of a micro second. The blood flowed bright red into the bag. "Oh wait."<br />
(isn't that artery blood?)The phlebotomist fished around with the needle until the proper dark-red blood began to fill the bag...and then stopped.<br />
<br />
Yup, just stopped. Just like <i>*snap*</i> that.<br />
<br />
They called over the older phlebotomist, who proceeded to turn and maneuver the needle in my arm. "Is your arm getting sore?"<br />
<br />
I should have gritted my teeth when I said "No."<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, Handsome sat across from me squeezing the ball in his hand and grinning at me while his bag filled.<br />
<br />
"Hmm, seems to have slowed down," said the older phlebotomist. "No, wait." This went on for several seconds while two other phlebotomist tried to decide if it was flowing or not. Finally the older one said, "No it's gone. Well, thanks for trying Mrs. Takamiya. I'm sorry, but you'll probably have a lovely bruise."<br />
<br />
"Don't worry," I said. "I'm a writer. I'll come up with a great story to regale all those kids who are going to admire my <i>lovely bruise</i>. It will involve a dark alley and a phlebotomist."<br />
<br />
I'm not sure anyone smiled, except Handsome. <br />
<br />
Out came the needle and up went my arm. I held it there a minute or so as she went to get a bandage. Soon after, I joined Handsome at the snack table. He was cramming the ham and cheese sandwiches down his throat along with Chocolate Chip cookies and bottled water. Handsome took a breath, "Too bad they don't have shirts this time." <br />
<br />
"What? I don't even get a shirt?"<br />
<br />
I watched him eat his third Chocolate chip cookie as I ate a bag of pretzels. I grabbed a tiny juice to take home to my daughter and told Handsome it was time to go.<br />
<br />
Out of three attempts to give blood, I've only been successful once. That one success will keep me going back. A <i>little</i> encouragement is all it takes for a person like me to do something slightly crazy. Too much encouragement, however, and we will do something completely insane, like...give birth 5 times.<br />
<br />
Do you have any bloodletting stories? Share them here!gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02782975427792980948noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-779719120336909196.post-39919303585678844192010-04-16T15:07:00.000-05:002010-04-16T15:07:54.885-05:00Stabbed in the Heart and Letting GoIf someone stabs you in the heart will it stop beating? <br />
Certainly it would depend on where the blow landed. For me, it landed smack in the middle, leaving me bleeding all over. <br />
<br />
Of course I'm speaking metaphorically.<br />
<br />
I come from, and married into, a family that knows how to celebrate everything: birthdays, anniversaries, commissioning, graduations, etc. For example, for my oldest son's graduation, we had a luau. Appropriate for him as he was born in Hawaii along with my hubby and second son. We certainly had food galore and people talked about it even three years later. Therefore, when my second son was ready to graduate, I thought I might repeat our last success, catering to his differing tastes of course.<br />
<br />
We decided to have finger foods with a dessert bar designed to knock your socks off. The cost was half of what we spent on #1's graduation but no less spectacular. I designed the centerpieces that I would make, wire trees with origami and the two graduate’s photos. (My son goes to a private school. There are only two graduates this year as in most years). After I finalized my designs, I set about buying the supplies. My first stop was to the dollar store to pick up cheap ceramic flowerpots. <br />
<i>Don't get those.</i><br />
Yeah, I heard that too.<br />
So I moseyed on out of the store and over to the Home Depot to get the wire.<br />
<i>Don't get that.</i><br />
Hmmm. Now I was beginning to get curious as to what the Lord knew that I didn't.<br />
<br />
Well forget the ridiculousness of the question and just go with it.<br />
<br />
Tuesday I got to school and the principal wanted to speak to me. The principal had told me last week that she wanted to get together this week to go over details of the graduation. I knew there was something out of place. Usually when someone tells me they want to talk with me about something, they mean they have something to say that I won't like.<br />
Sure enough, as my grandmother would say, they did.<br />
"The leadership has decided that if you want to have more than just cake and punch, you must find other arrangements. Due to wear and tear we cannot allow you to use the facilities."<br />
<br />
That was stab number one.<br />
<br />
Now I understand how some of you feel, and I did too. I understood, and would not argue the new rule, but to tell me just 4 weeks before graduation without a hope to find a new place to rent was truly a stabbing blow.<br />
I also learned that the other graduates family did not want to have a party at all, but was perfectly happy with cake and punch.<br />
Now you have to know with my family, cake and punch is insulting as a party alternative.<br />
Second stab.<br />
By this time, I was bleeding all over.<br />
I was angry and hurt and insulted that this would happen to me.<br />
Oh I wanted to give everyone of them a piece of my mind, but knew I could not "Be angry and sin not," if I did.<br />
So I ranted at my hubby, instead.<br />
To make a very long story short, I had a decision to make. Yes, it is extremely important to my family that we celebrate our son's lifetime achievement. Equally important was to let our family and friends know how much we loved and appreciated them by providing a wonderful time. However, the other graduating party was not cut from the same cloth. They are very happy with cake and punch.<br />
I had to pray for a couple of hours, even a couple of days, to keep from sinning in my anger and hurting someone, but God moved in. He reminded me of the day He told us to resign my husband’s commission in the U.S. Navy. You see my husband was not ready to make that move and my pushing him to make it because “God said,” was harming our relationship. I didn’t know what do to until the Lord graciously came into my bedroom one night and said "Ginger, it is better to be in UNITY than it is to be RIGHT."<br />
<br />
So we are having cake and punch for my son's graduation...and taking him on a family trip to Chicago to see a wonderful gymnastic competition he really wanted to see.<br />
<br />
An acceptable compromise.<br />
<br />
Tell me about your "Letting go," experience.gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02782975427792980948noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-779719120336909196.post-16350028411227041922010-02-23T13:26:00.004-06:002010-02-23T13:55:16.420-06:00Writers' Conference<br><br><br /><font face="times new roman" font size="3">I just got back from the Writing for the Soul conference in Denver, Colorado this week. It was a blast! For those of you that went, a little reminder, don't forget to send out your thank you's to all the editors, agents, mentors etc. that you met with. Even the ones who said, "No thank you."<br /><br />For those who did not go, see link above to find out when the next CWGC is next year. max Lucado was there and inspired us to keep writing. Or start writing in your church bulletin if you have to. That's how Max started, and people's lives were touched.<br /><br />Phil Vischer reminded us that "When God gives you a dream and the dream dies, He's just trying to see who's more important to you." He also asked us if we carried the ambitions of what we wanted to do for God in our hearts. He said if we did then let them die on the alter. "When you do this, you will finally be fit for Him to use."<br /><br />Phil also talked about fruits of the Spirit. That they are not an obligation but things that come out of a Christian naturally as they walk with God.<br /><br />The last thing Phil reminded us about was that Noah actually walked with God for 500 years before God ever called him to build the ark. Hear that? Noah walked with God for 500 years. Walked. 500 years. Then God called him. Got it?<br /><br /><br /><br />Jim Watkins talked about "I have a dream." He gave Joseph as a reference to those that have dreams. <br />1. The dream is received-Write a mission statement. Write your dream.<br />Joseph ran around talking about the dream he had of his brothers and parents bowing to him. <br /><br />2. The dreamer is refined--Joseph was a tattler and braggart, wearing his nice coat all over the place, even to the dirty sheep fields. But God stripped Joseph of his coat...the symbol of his dream. See that? The symbol of his dream, not the dream.<br /><br />3.The dream needs to be re-sized--Joseph's brothers did bow down but the bowing was not the final end of that dream. It was the saving of a nation and the line of the Messiah.<br /><br />4. The Dream is revealed--Imagine an unknown multitude bowing before Christ and thousands of people are there because of your dream.<br /><br />Kendra Smiley reminded us to make our "Next right choice." She also said, "Worry consumes priceless energy. Worry is a lack of faith. Preparation can eliminate worry."<br /><br />Kendra talked to us about the song that God has placed in each of our hearts. She said, "When you sing the song that God placed inside of you, you are in fact glorifying God." <br /><br />Nice huh?<br /><br />Let me leave you with this scripture today:<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Colosians 1:29 To this end I (Paul) labor, struggling with all His (God's) energy, which so powerfully works in me. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Tell me, what are you laboring in or worrying about?<br /></span><br /></font /font>gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02782975427792980948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-779719120336909196.post-6433396204552090272010-02-09T14:46:00.007-06:002010-02-12T13:18:16.574-06:00God Didn't Move<br><br><font face="times new roman" font size="4"> I had this amazing experience not long ago that took me completely off guard. I really wanted to share it with you. <br /><br />I had been praying for months for God to help me in an area of my life I could never seem to get victory over. <br /><br />I remember telling one of my dear friends that if I could take a knife and open myself up and find the thing, I would dig it out no matter how painful. The only problem? It was not a physical place and I didn't know it's name. <br /><br />One Friday I sat down with a woman I had previously not liked. I knew that as my sister-in-the-Lord, I had to work on my feelings. After all, God put us in the same Church and that meant a fellow worker. <br /><br />I had been working on a relationship with this lady and had just gotten to the place where I liked her. We got on the subject of my problem then she proceeded to relay a story about <span style="font-style:italic;">her</span> life that sounded eerily like my own. <br /><br />I never knew these things about her. Mostly because I never wanted to know.<br /><br /> In the midst of this, she told me about a dream she had and how the lady in her dream prayed over her, putting a name to this thing inside her...I got it. I knew it was the same thing that was inside of me.<br /><br />Through the process of prayer with this now dear friend, I felt God do surgery on me. I knew I was healed.<br /><br />Later when I reflected on this incident, I noticed two things that were key. First, this woman that I didn't even like before, held the key to my healing. Secondly, God was the only one who could do it. Then when He did, He stayed with me. He didn't move. He didn't walk away.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">So here are two things I'd like you to take home from this.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">1. Be careful who you reject, they may hold the key to your healing.<br /><br />2. When God was done with healing me, He didn't move. God never walks away from us. He is ALWAYS there and He is NEVER too busy.<br /></span><br /></font /font><br />How about you? Do you see yourself in any of these circumstances? Tell me about it.gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02782975427792980948noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-779719120336909196.post-77477839083532312262010-02-04T18:45:00.004-06:002010-12-07T17:01:55.814-06:00Pearl Harbor<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 10.0pt;">(For my father, Bill, who was raised in upstate New York and died before seeing me publish one thing. To my Father-in-law Hideo who was actually in the cane fields when the Zero's flew over and to my husband who took this small-town girl and landed her on an island with such beauty, you have to see it to believe it.)<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><b>NOTE: I did my best to tell the historical events accurately. Please forgive me if something is off.</b></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> <div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
“Grampa let me help you with that tie.”<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<br />
James said the name as if the ‘pa’ in Grandpa was almost an afterthought. That’s the way they’d always said it in Rochester. Probably said it the same way in the entire state of New York.<br />
<br />
“What, I can’t fix my own tie?” Grandpa shoved James’s hands away from his neck and turned toward the bathroom mirror. “Why you ever did such a thing, to get married to this—”<br />
<br />
“Her name is Tomika, Grampa, and though she may look Japanese, she’s as American as—”<br />
<br />
“Apple pie, yea, yea.” Grandpa gave his tie a final tug. “If this is what you want, I won’t say nothing. But if you ask me, if she looks Japanese and talks Japanese—”<br />
<br />
“Grampa, she was raised in Hawaii, she can’t help her accent. That’s the way everyone talks there.”<br />
<br />
“You call that English?" Grandpa's held out his hand as if begging for a dime.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>"My grandmother, God rest her soul, was from Germany and she spoke with less of an accent then your so-called American girl.”<br />
<br />
James took a deep breath, filling his lungs with the rose-scented air freshener hiding on the back of the toilet under a crocheted doily doll. “All I know is if you go and make a scene in front of her mother... All I’m saying is don’t make a scene.”<br />
<br />
The door creaked open and his beautiful, dark-haired wife poked her head through the crack. “James. You gonna make da kine toas-? Auntie and Mamma is waiting, yeah. Oh nice tie Grandpa Levine.”<br />
<br />
Grandpa’s grunt sounded more like a non-committing bullfrog. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">“I’ll make the toast in a minute, Tomi. Grampa was just giving me some last minute advice.”<br />
<br />
“Okie-dokie, then.”<br />
<br />
The door shut.<br />
<br />
“See what I’m saying?” Grandpa shoved his hands toward the door. “That was English?”<br />
<br />
“Gramps, I can’t stay in here all day arguing. It’s done. We’re married already. Move on.”<br />
<br />
“Wait ‘till my old shipmates here this. They’ll roll over in their graves.” Grandpa’s wagging finger moved closer to his face. James wrapped his own fingers around them. “Pearl Harbor was not so long ago.”<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<br />
“Grampa.” James released Grandpa’s hand. “She’s from Pearl.”<br />
<br />
“I’m telling you in those days… What?”<br />
<br />
“Tomika’s family is from Maui and moved to Oahu after the war. Her own father was in the cane fields when the Zero’s flew over his head for pete’s sake.”<br />
<br />
“What? Her father was on the Island. And I should know this how?”<br />
<br />
James dusted imaginary lint off his grandfather’s shoulders. “If you had been listening to the stories her Auntie was telling, instead of grousing in the corner, you would have learned a lot of things about Tomika’s family.”<br />
<br />
Grandpa’s wrinkled mouth creaked open as if on rusty hinges<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">“Her grandparents were not allowed to even fight for their own country, forced into the holding camps on the mainland. They lost their home. Their market. Their way of life. You remember those stories don’t you Grampa? Encampments. Tula Lake. Executive Order 9066? The Masaru family was treated like traitors and yet here they are…completely un-embittered at the people responsible for their hardship.” James released his breath. “You can go on holding grudges Grampa, but she’s the one here with all the rights to them.”<br />
<br />
James turned away, his hand on the knob when he felt a gentle tug on his arm. “Wait a minute. Just…just hold on. Give me a moment.”<br />
<br />
“What else is there to say, Grampa?”<br />
<br />
Grandpa released him and went to sit on the edge of the bathtub. His shoulders slumped forward as he laced his fingers together. “I had just finished my last rounds at 07:55 before we were to change over. I saw the rising sun emblem on the tip of the Zero moments before I saw my first blast. The sky filled with black smoke, bullet-like tubes dropped like rain, submerging everything into an inferno.”<br />
<br />
James moved toward the toilet and slowly crouched on the lid.<br />
<br />
“We were ordered to get underway.” Grandpa slid his hands down his thighs and capped over his knees. “We tried to make it out of the channel but were hit by one of the bombs. Unable to make it to open water, we ran the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Nevada</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>aground on Hospital Pointe. Couldn’t take the chance of blocking the fleet’s escape. Abandon ship was called. Oil covered the surface of the water, men jumped overboard despite the flames.” Grandpa held his arm up. James remembered the terrible scares. “We kept swimming.”<br />
<br />
Grandpa looked up, tears clouded his eyes.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<br />
“I watched them jump from the rails. I heard the screams of men on fire. I held the hand of a shipmate that would never walk again. I closed the eyes of a man who would never see his newborn son.”<br />
<br />
Grandpa continued, his throat sounding tighter. “To say Tomika and her family has the right to be offended…so maybe it’s true. We’ve all lived through tribulations of other’s making. I guess…I forgot what that was like.”<br />
<br />
“Grampa, I—”<br />
<br />
Grandpa held his hand up then covered James’s left knee with it. “You’re right, Jimmy. I had no right. This was supposed to be a day full of love and celebration, not hashing the past. Especially a past I thought I had given up.”<br />
<br />
James covered Grandpa’s hand with his own. “Maybe December seventh was a poor choice for getting married, huh?”<br />
<br />
Grandpa smiled then patted his hand before standing. “Maybe it was the best day in the world for it. Gives me a new reason to look toward it now.”<br />
<br />
James stood up and went into his Grandpa’s open arms. The bands that wrapped round him still held the strength of a young man and a love that reached beyond the pain.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>“I love you Grampa.”<br />
<br />
“Same to you, James.”<br />
<br />
Grandpa released him and James reached for the tissue box near the vanity. He wiped his eyes while Grandpa pulled out his own kerchief. “Tomika’s waiting for the toast, Grandpa. We’d better go join them.”<br />
<br />
Grandpa blew into his handkerchief. “Yea, yea.”<br />
<br />
James tossed the tissue into the trash then straightened his jacket.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>“How do I look?”<br />
<br />
“Like the man who pulled me from the burning bay. Like an angel.”<br />
<br />
“Ahh, don’t let Tomika hear you talking like that. She might get jealous.” James patted Grandpa’s back as he walked out the door in front of him.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Ready to face his new comrades.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div></span>gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02782975427792980948noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-779719120336909196.post-5456806622421910432010-01-13T09:18:00.002-06:002010-01-13T09:30:10.776-06:00Feed Them!During my Bible study this morning I ran across this scripture:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Mat 14:15 </span> <span style="font-style:italic;">As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a remote place, and it's already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food." </span><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Mat 14:16 </span> <span style="font-style:italic;">Jesus replied, "They do not need to go away. <u>You give them something to eat."</span></u><br /><br />So many times as writers, we forget that God has given us something to share. We think that we need to send people to the pastor or elders or someone "more spiritual" than we are. <br /><br />The Bible says to always be ready to give an answer. (1 Peter 3:15) <br />Jesus said <b>"Don't send them away, <span style="font-style:italic;">You</span> give them something to eat."</b><br /><br />Jesus blessed what they had (the fishes and loaves) and the disciples were able to feed the 5000. <br /><br />God will bless your words, you just have to be willing to write them for His glory and trust Him. He's faithful. Then the people will be fed.<br /><br />Be encouraged today that God is with you. You can do this!<br /><br />Just a thought.<br /><br />How about you? Do you have any thoughts?gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02782975427792980948noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-779719120336909196.post-50839658575707539172010-01-08T09:24:00.003-06:002010-01-08T09:33:38.981-06:00Launching into Twitter click here!Well CRM finally launched into twitter yesterday, with great response! Of course it was a long overdue move but when you are understaffed and overworked, you tend to leave somethings on the back-burner a bit too long.<br /><br />I know some of you "stalkers" out there have some great ideas about blogging, the romance magazine and even twitter and facebook, I just wish you would come out of the shadows and let your voice be heard ;0) <br /><br />For all of my readers and stalkers I want to say thank you for the honor of your time and energy. It really does not go unnoticed or unappreciated! You are a group of wonderful supporters. God bless you for your kindness.<br /><br />Click the title to follow CRM on twitter.<br /><br />Thanks again!!!gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02782975427792980948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-779719120336909196.post-80269042592649143372009-12-26T11:57:00.003-06:002009-12-26T12:00:05.471-06:00Follow up on Jesus the MessiahI received a comment that I felt I should answer in my blog:<br /><br />I hope my post did not come off as anything but "in love" or in anyway lacking respect. I believe I stated at the opening that I was "challenged" and therefore answered. <br /><br />The Bible strictly says to "Be ready to give an answer for the hope that lies within you to those who ask." 1 Peter 3:17<br /><br />It does go on to say, however, to do this in gentleness and respect.<br /><br />Great words to remember, indeed.<br /><br />Did my words change the man's opinion? Probably not, but then again, that is not my job. My job is to be ready to give an answer. Which I did, both on my blog and direct conversation.<br /><br />Thanks to all for your comments both on and offline.gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02782975427792980948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-779719120336909196.post-498285900370969272009-12-12T12:08:00.008-06:002009-12-26T11:56:59.095-06:00Jesus--The MessiahTo those who are wondering, I was challenged to provide proof of Jesus' Messianic identity. Please indulge me. ~grt<br /><br /><br />Psa 145:18 The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. <br /><br />I like what the Psalm says. He is nigh unto ALL that CALL upon HIM in TRUTH.<br /><br />Most people who debate do so with the arrogant assumption that they are correct in their viewpoint. “Well of course,” one might say. “Why else would you debate?”<br /><br />I believe that way too. But not in the sense that EVERYTHING I say or believe is 100% correct. That takes a lot of arrogance to believe that. Now there are some essentials that are not up for debate. For instance, I know there is only one God! No debate. That’s an essential. So we agree on that point, hopefully.<br /><br />My intention is not to try to get you to believe me, it is to try to get you to seek out the TRUTH. Oh I know you think you already know the truth, but the fact is, until you have searched out both claims of a party, an investigator cannot say he has solved a case. He must first look at the evidence before he can consider the case to be closed. <br /><br />There are about 191 prophecies in the Old Testament about Messiah. A staggering number to be sure. So let’s see How Jesus measure’s up.<br /><br /><br />First we must recognize that the New Testament books are authentic and contain true eyewitness accounts of what these men experienced. Before we can go further, we must certainly recognize the New Testament as an ancient text. We have copies and fragments of this collection of books dating back to 100AD (See also Codex Sinaiticus and Codex Vaticus.) These men that scribed these books into other copies, were Jewish scribes who adhered to the stringent rules of scribing. (i.e. finding even two slight mistakes was grounds for destroying the document etc.) So these documents have been kept in their original wording from the time they were first penned by the authors or author’s scribes. <br /><br /><br />Let’s briefly look at the men making these claims of Y’shua’s or Jesus’s Messiah status:<br /><br />Matthew—Disciple or follower of Y’shua or Jesus (as He is called in the Greek)<br />Mark—Colleague of Peter (a disciple of Jesus)<br />Luke—Historian, confidant of Apostle Paul (a Pharisee) and contemporary of Jesus<br />John—Disciple of Jesus<br /><br /><br /><br />By the way and once again, the probability of one person fulfilling just 8 of these prophecies is 1 chance in 100 million Billion<br /><br /><br />Here are a few misunderstood prophecies in the Jewish belief system:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">He must be a member of the tribe of Judah</span> - "The staff shall not depart from Judah, nor the scepter from between his feet..." (Genesis 49:10) <br />To be a member of the tribe of Judah, the person must have a biological father who is a member of the tribe of Judah. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Q.</span> How could He have been born from a Virgin if he had a biological father? So which prophecy will you take literally? The virgin birth or the biological father?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">A.</span> The Virgin because He was the son (not by blood but by name) of the tribe of Judah.<br /><br /><br />VIRGIN BIRTH PROPHESIED:<br /><br /><br />Isa 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. <br /><br />FULFILLMENT:<br />Mat 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. <br />Mat 1:24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: <br />Mat 1:25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS. <br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">He must be a direct male descendant of King David and King Solomon, his son</span> - "And when your days (David) are fulfilled, and you shall sleep with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who shall issue from your bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will make firm the throne of his kingdom forever..." (2 Samuel 7:12 - 13) <br />The genealogy of the New Testament is inconsistent. While it gives two accounts of the genealogy of Joseph, it states clearly that he is not the biological father of Jesus. One of the genealogies is through Nathan and not Solomon altogether! <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">A.</span> The Genealogy as set in the book of Matthew and Luke were obliged to be copied from the book of the authentic records of genealogies as stated by Matthew Henry:<br /><br />It is well for us that our salvation doth not depend upon our being able to solve all these difficulties, nor is the divine authority of the gospels at all weakened by them; for the evangelists are not supposed to write these genealogies either of their own knowledge or by divine inspiration. They must copy them out of the authentic records of the genealogies among the Jews, the heralds' books, which therefore they were obliged to follow; and in them they found <span style="font-weight:bold;">the pedigree of Jacob, the father of Joseph, to be as it is set down in Matthew</span>; and <span style="font-weight:bold;">the pedigree of Heli, the father of Mary, to be as it is set down here in Luke.</span><br /><br /><br />The following is taken from Ron Rhodes who is more eloquent than I am.<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Seven increasingly detailed “circles of certainty” include:</span><br />1. Messiah’s humanity (Genesis 3:15).<br />2. Messiah’s Jewishness (Genesis 12:1-3; 28:10-15).<br />3. Messiah’s tribe (Genesis 49:10).<br />4. Messiah’s family (2 Samuel 7:16; Jeremiah 23:5-6).<br />5. Messiah’s birthplace (Micah 5:2).<br />6. Messiah’s life, reception, and death (Isaiah 52:13; 53).<br />7. Chronology of Messiah’s appearing (Daniel 9:24-26).<br />Let us look at these in a little more detail.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Circle 1: The Circle of the Messiah’s Humanity</span><br />Scripture says that the Messiah had to become a human being. This circle is obviously a very large circle.<br />The Messiah’s humanity is prophetically spoken of in Genesis 3:15, when God is pronouncing judgment against the serpent following the fall of Adam and Eve:<br />And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.2<br />The word “offspring” refers to descendants. The Messiah would be a descendant of the woman — that is, He would be a human being. We find this fulfilled in Galatians 4:4-5:<br />But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Circle 2: The Circle of the Messiah’s Jewishness</span><br />Scripture says that the Messiah had to be Jewish — that is, He had to be a descendant of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This narrows the circle considerably. Of all human beings who have ever lived, only Jewish human beings would qualify.<br />Genesis 12:1-3, this is where God makes a covenant with Abraham:<br />The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”<br />See Also: Genesis 28:10-15:<br />Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Haran. When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. There above it stood the LORD, and he said: “I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”<br />These Bible passages indicate that the promised seed (in Genesis 3:15) was to come through the line of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Circle 3: The Circle of the Messiah’s Tribal Identity</span><br />The circle gets even narrower when one demonstrates that the Messiah had to come from the tribe of Judah. This is shown in Genesis 49:10:<br />The sceptre will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs and the obedience of the nations is his.<br />Here Jacob is on his deathbed. Before he dies, he affirms that the sceptre (of the ruling Messiah) would be from the tribe of Judah.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Circle 4: The Circle of the Messiah’s Family</span><br />Scripture tells us that the Messiah had to be from David’s family. This narrows the circle still further. We see this affirmed in 2 Samuel 7:16:<br />Your [i.e., David’s] house and your kingdom shall endure for ever before me; your throne shall be established for ever.<br />We also read in Jeremiah 23:5-6:<br />“The days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness.”<br />Clearly the ruling Messiah had to come from the family of David.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Circle 5: The Circle of the Messiah’s Birthplace</span><br />Scripture clearly prophesies that the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem. This narrows the circle of possible candidates for the Messiah tremendously. Micah 5:2 tells us:<br />“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”<br />So far we have seen that the Messiah had to become a human being, had to be a Jew, had to be from the tribe of Judah and the family of David, and He must be born in Bethlehem (a small, insignificant city in ancient times). Failure to fulfill any one of these conditions disqualifies a person as a possible candidate.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Circle 6: The Circle of the Messiah’s Manner of Life, Rejection, and Death</span><br />Regarding the Messiah’s manner of life, rejection, and death, Isaiah 53. Note the following excerpts:<br />Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. (Isa. 53:1-4).<br /> He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken. He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. (Isa. 53:7-9).<br />Note from these verses that: (1) The Messiah was to be despised and rejected by His fellow Jews. (2) He would be put to death following a judicial proceeding. (3) He would be guiltless. Obviously these facts about the Messiah narrow the circle still further.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Circle 7: The Circle of Chronology</span><br />See: Daniel 9:24-26:<br />Seventy ‘sevens’ are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy.<br /><br /> Know and understand this: From the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven ‘sevens,’ and sixty-two ‘sevens.’ It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble. After the sixty-two ‘sevens,’ the Anointed One will be cut off and will have nothing. The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed.<br />Regarding this passage, note the following facts: (1) The city would be rebuilt, as would the Temple. (2) The Messiah would come. (3) The Messiah would be “cut off” (die) but not for Himself. (4) The city and the Temple would be destroyed. Note especially that the Messiah had to come and die prior to the destruction of the second temple, which occurred in A.D. 70. <br />Clearly, this narrows the circle of potential candidates incredibly. Is there anyone who has fulfilled all these conditions? Is there anyone who was a human being, a Jew, from the tribe of Judah and the family of David, born in Bethlehem, was despised and rejected by the Jewish people, died as a result of a judicial proceeding, was guiltless, and came and died before the destruction of the second temple in A.D. 70? Yes there was, and His name was Jesus!<br />MESSIANIC PROPHECIES FULFILLED IN CHRIST<br /><br />From the Book of Genesis to the Book of Malachi, the Old Testament abounds with anticipations of the coming Messiah. Numerous predictions—fulfilled to the “crossing of the t” and the “dotting of the i” in the New Testament—relate to His birth, life, ministry, death, resurrection, and glory.<br />Some liberal scholars have attempted to argue that these prophecies were made after Jesus lived, not before. They have suggested that the books of the Old Testament were written close to the time of Christ and that the messianic prophecies were merely Christian inventions. But to make this type of claim is to completely ignore the historical evidence. Indeed, Norman Geisler and Ron Brooks point out:<br />Even the most liberal critics admit that the prophetic books were completed some 400 years before Christ, and the Book of Daniel by about 167 B.C. Though there is good evidence to date most of these books much earlier (some of the Psalms and earlier prophets were in the eighth and ninth centuries B.C.), what difference would it make? It is just as hard to predict an event 200 years in the future as it is to predict one that is 800 years in the future. Both feats would require nothing less than divine knowledge.4<br /><br />God’s ability to foretell future events is one thing that separates Him from all the false gods. Addressing the polytheism of Isaiah’s time, God said:<br />• “Who then is like me? Let him proclaim it. Let him declare and lay out before me what has happened since I established my ancient people, and what is yet to come—yes, let him foretell what will come” (Isa. 44:7).<br />• “Do not tremble, do not be afraid. Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago? You are my witnesses. Is there any God besides me? No, there is no other Rock; I know not one” (Isa. 44:8).<br />• “…Who foretold this long ago, who declared it from the distant past? Was it not I, the LORD? And there is no God apart from me…” (Isa. 45:21).<br />• “I foretold the former things long ago, my mouth announced them and I made them known; then suddenly I acted, and they came to pass.... Therefore I told you these things long ago; before they happened I announced them to you so that you could not say, ‘My idols did them; my wooden image and metal god ordained them’” (Isa. 48:3, 5).<br /><br />Of course, anyone can make predictions—that is easy. But having them fulfilled is another story altogether. “The more statements you make about the future and the greater the detail, the better the chances are that you will be proven wrong.”5 But God was never wrong; all the messianic prophecies in the Old Testament were fulfilled specifically and precisely in the person of Jesus Christ.<br />Jesus often indicated to listeners that He was the specific fulfillment of messianic prophecy. For example, He made the following comments on different occasions:<br />• “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them” (Matt. 5:17).<br />• “But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled” (Matt. 26:56).<br />• “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms” (Luke 24:44).<br />• “You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life” (John 5:39-40).<br />• “If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?” (John 5:46-47).<br />• “Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, and he began by saying to them, ‘Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing’” (Luke 4:20-21).<br /> <br /><br /><br><br />Topic OT Prophecy NT Fulfillment Christ<br /><br />Seed of woman Genesis 3:15 Galatians 4:4<br />Line of Abraham Genesis 12:2 Matthew 1:1<br />Line of Jacob Numbers 24:17 Luke 3:23, 34<br />Line of Judah Genesis 49:10 Matthew 1:2<br />Line of Jesse Isaiah 11:1 Luke 3:23, 32<br />Line of David 2 Samuel 7:12-16 Matthew 1:1<br />Virgin Birth Isaiah 7:14 Matthew 1:23<br />Birthplace: Bethlehem Micah 5:2 Matthew 2:6<br />Forerunner: John Isaiah 40:3; Malachi 3:1, Matthew 3:3<br />Escape into Egypt Hosea 11:1 Matthew 2:14<br />Herod kills children Jeremiah 31:15 Matthew 2:16<br />King Psalm 2:6 Matthew 21:5<br />Prophet Deut 18:15-18 Acts 3:22-23<br />Priest Psalm 110:4 Hebrews 5:6-10<br />Judge Isaiah 33:22 John 5:30<br />Called “Lord” Psalm 110:1 Luke 2:11<br />Called “Immanuel” Isaiah 7:14 Matthew 1:23<br />Anointed by Holy Spirit Isaiah 11:2 Matthew 3:16-17<br />Zeal for God Psalm 69:9 John 2:15-17<br />Ministry in Galilee Isaiah 9:1-2 Matthew 4:12-16<br />Ministry of miracles Isaiah 35:5-6 Matthew 9:35<br />Bore world’s sins Psalm 22:1 Matthew 27:46<br />Ridiculed Psalm 22:7-8 Matthew 27:39, 43<br />Stumbling stone to Jew Psalm 118:22 1 Peter 2:7<br />Rejected by own people Isaiah 53:3 John 7:5, 48<br />Light to Gentiles Isaiah 60:3 Acts 13:47-48<br />Taught parables Psalm 78:2 Matthew 13:34<br />Cleansed the temple Malachi 3:1 Matthew 21:12<br />Sold for 30 shekels Zechariah 11:12 Matthew 26:15<br />Forsaken by disciples Zechariah 13:7 Mark 14:50<br />Silent before accusers Isaiah 53:7 Matthew 27:12-19<br />Hands and feet pierced Psalm 22:16 John 20:25<br />Heart broken Psalm 22:14 John 19:34<br />Crucified with thieves Isaiah 53:12 Matthew 27:38<br />No bones broken Psalm 22:17 John 19:33-36<br />Soldiers gambled Psalm 22:18 John 19:24<br />Suffered thirst on cross Psalm 69:21 John 19:28<br />Vinegar offered Psalm 69:21 Matthew 27:34<br />Christ’s prayer Psalm 22:24 Matthew 26:39<br />Disfigured Isaiah 52:14 John 19:1<br />Scourging and death Isaiah 53:5 John 19:1, 18<br />His “forsaken” cry Psalm 22:1 Matthew 27:46<br />Committed self to God Psalm 31:5 Luke 23:46<br />Rich man’s tomb Isaiah 53:9 Matthew 27:57-60<br />Resurrection Psalm 16:10; 22:22 Matthew 28:6<br />Ascension Psalm 68:18 Luke 24:50-53<br />Right hand of God Psalm 110:1 Hebrews 1:3<br /> <br /><br /><p class="DrawerItemBodyText" style="margin: 2pt 0in 4pt; tab-stops: .25in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,geneva;"><span style="font-size: small;">Any reasonable person who examines these Old Testament prophecies in an objective manner must conclude that Jesus was the promised Messiah. “If these messianic prophecies were written hundreds of years before they occurred, and if they could never have been foreseen and depended upon factors outside human control for their fulfillment, and if all of these prophecies perfectly fit the person and life of Jesus Christ, then Jesus had to be the Messiah.”<sup>6</sup></span></span></span></p><br /><p class="DrawerItemBodyText" style="margin: 2pt 0in 4pt;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,geneva;"><span style="font-size: small;">Indeed, Christ on three different occasions directly claimed in so many words to be the “Christ.” (Note that the word <em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Christ</em> is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew word <em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Messiah</em>.) For example, in John 4:25 Jesus encountered a Samaritan woman who said to Him, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming….” To which Jesus replied, “I who speak to you am he” (v. 26). Later, Jesus referred to Himself in the third person, in His high priestly prayer to the Father, as “Jesus Christ, whom you have sent” (John 17:3). In Mark 14:61-62, we find the high priest asking Jesus, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?”—to which Jesus declared unequivocally, “I am….”</span></span></p><br /><br /><p class="DrawerItemBodyText" style="margin: 2pt 0in 4pt;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,geneva;"><span style="font-size: small;">Others also recognized that Jesus was the prophesied Messiah. In response to Jesus’ inquiry concerning His disciples’ understanding of Him, Peter confessed: “You are the Christ…” (Matt. 16:16). When Jesus said to Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” Martha answered, “Yes, Lord.... I believe that you are the Christ…” (John 11:25-27).</span></span></p><br /><p class="DrawerItemBodyText" style="margin: 2pt 0in 4pt; tab-stops: .25in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,geneva;"><span style="font-size: small;">Some may ask why Jesus didn’t explicitly claim more often to be the prophesied Messiah. Bible scholar Robert L. Reymond offers us some keen insights in answering this question:</span></span></p><br /><br /><p class="DrawerItemExtract" style="margin: 2pt 0.5in 4pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,geneva;"><span style="font-size: small;">Jews of the first century regarded the Messiah primarily as Israel’s national deliverer from the yoke of Gentile oppression....Had Jesus employed uncritically the current popular term as a description of Himself and His mission before divesting it of its one-sided associations and infusing it with its richer, full-orbed Old Testament meaning, which included the work of the Messiah as the Suffering Servant of Isaiah, His mission would have been gravely misunderstood and His efforts to instruct the people even more difficult. Consequently, the evidence suggests that He acknowledged He was the ‘Christ’ only where there was little or no danger of His claim being politicized — as in the case of the Samaritan woman, in private conversation with His disciples (at the same time, demanding that they tell no one that He was the Messiah), in semi-private prayer, or before the Sanhedrin when silence no longer mattered or served His purpose.<span style="vertical-align: baseline;"><sup><span style="mso-prop-change: 'John Peters' 20050217T0858;">7</span></sup></span></span></span></span></p><br /><p class="DrawerItemBodyText" style="margin: 2pt 0in 4pt;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,geneva;"><span style="font-size: small;">Even if Jesus had never verbally claimed to be the prophesied Messiah, the very fact that He was the precise fulfillment of virtually hundreds of messianic prophecies cannot be dismissed, as some liberal critics have attempted. The odds against one person fulfilling all these prophecies are astronomical; indeed, it is impossible to calculate. But fulfill these prophecies, <em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Jesus did</em>—and then He added proof upon proof regarding His identity by the many astounding miracles He performed. Truly, Jesus is the Messiah.</span></span></p><br /><p class="AuthorByline" style="text-indent: -0.25in; margin: 6pt 0in 12pt 0.5in; tab-stops: list .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,geneva;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Palatino Linotype'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Palatino Linotype';"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">—</span> </span></span><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ron Rhodes</span></em></span></span></p><br /><p class="NotesTitle" style="margin: auto 0in auto 9pt;"><strong><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,geneva;"><span style="font-size: small;">NOTES</span></span></strong></p><br /><br /><p class="MsoEndnoteText" style="text-indent: -0.25in; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,geneva;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'Palatino Linotype'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Palatino Linotype';"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">1.</span> </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">Stuart Dauermann, n.p., n.d.</span></span></span></p><br /><p class="MsoEndnoteText" style="text-indent: -0.25in; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; tab-stops: .25in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,geneva;"><span style="font-size: small;">2.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Scripture quotations are from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1984 by the International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. The “NIV” and “New International Version” trademarks are registered in the United States Patent Trademark Office by International Bible Society. Use of either trademark requires the permission of International Bible Society.</span></span></p><br /><br /><p class="MsoEndnoteText" style="text-indent: -0.25in; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,geneva;"><span style="font-size: small;">3. <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Ron Rhodes, <em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Christ Before the Manger: The Life and Times of the Preincarnate Christ</em> (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1992), 233-237.</span></span></p><br /><p class="MsoEndnoteText" style="text-indent: -0.25in; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,geneva;"><span style="font-size: small;">4. <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Norman Geisler and Ron Brooks, <em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">When Skeptics Ask</em> (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1990), 115.</span></span></p><br /><p class="MsoEndnoteText" style="text-indent: -0.25in; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,geneva;"><span style="font-size: small;">5. <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>John Ankerberg, John Weldon, and Walter C. Kaiser, <em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Case for Jesus the Messiah</em> (Chattanooga: The John Ankerberg Evangelistic Association, 1989), 16.</span></span></p><br /><br /><p class="MsoEndnoteText" style="text-indent: -0.25in; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,geneva;"><span style="font-size: small;">6. <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Ibid., 94.</span></span></p><br /><p class="MsoEndnoteText" style="text-indent: -0.25in; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,geneva;"><span style="font-size: small;">7.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Robert L. Reymond, <em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Jesus, Divine Messiah: The New Testament Witness</em> (Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing, 1990), 47.</span></span></p><p><br /><b>To view the PDF of this article, click <a href="http://www.equip.org/PDF/DJ630.pdf">here</a>.</b><br /></p>gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02782975427792980948noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-779719120336909196.post-27978070167121922352009-11-28T11:49:00.005-06:002009-12-06T18:33:17.882-06:00Groupie HubbiesToday I got to thinking about something. Hubbies. You know those male humans we are married to. Groupie Hubbies are the husbands married to artist wives. The painter, singer, writer etc. They are the behind-the-scene support to the women up front. Like Sarah Palin's hubby, Todd.<br /><br />These hubbies get very little credit and almost no publicity. Yet they stand tirelessly behind-the-scenes lifting the wife to the heights for which her career demands. For this reason I would like to say "Thank you," to you wonderful spouses who make our unusual lives possible.<br /><br />I thank God for my hubby, Patrick who when asked if I can attend a conference or retreat, says "Yes, go ahead. I'll drive you." <br /><br />I think it takes a special man to be married to a writer wife. After all, it can take several years to write and sell a book. And most of that between time is filled with rejection and supposed <span style="font-style:italic;">proof</span> that you're not a writer...at least to the untrained eye.<br /><br />The statistics say that from a time a writer begins to truly take their writing seriously, to publication there is a span of twelve years and a drawer full of rejection slips.<br /><br />Now those of you who just got discouraged, DON'T! Just understand that your career, like most career's is a journey. One in which you have the privilege to share with someone who supports you. <br /><br />Remember, this post is about hubbies.<br /><br /><br />So let's be thankful for all of our hubbies who actually get it and the hubbies who are learning to get it. Because that takes time too.<br /><br />Do you have a Groupie Hubby? <br /><br /><a href="http://thegreatchristmasbowl.blogspot.com/2009/07/latest-news-from-big-lake-gazette.html"><img alt="Christmas Outreach Tea with Susan May Warren on December 5th" width="125" src="http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd78/rs_designs/christmas-tea-button2.jpg" height="240" title="Christmas Outreach Tea with Susan May Warren on December 5th"/></a>gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02782975427792980948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-779719120336909196.post-19083758889859439242009-11-17T12:03:00.003-06:002009-11-17T12:58:27.492-06:00That's a Big Mountain!So I sat in again on another one of those online forum discussions. You know the kind, where a professional author come's on and tells you how they made it to the top. <br /><br />Yeah, I hate those too. They end up making me see more of the mountains I have to climb.<br /><br />Then why do I participate in them?<br /><br />Knowledge.<br /><br />When it comes to the journey towards publication, not everyone likes to know about the mountains. Some people <i>like</i> it when the mountain sneaks up on them. That way if they mess up, it's the mountain's fault right?<br /><br />When you think about all the mountains out there in the writing world you just want to quit. You think <i>I don't want to face another mountain.</i><br /><br />As for me, I look at the mountain sometimes and say, "Lord, how much longer do I have to <i>look</i> at that thing?"<br /><br />Then of course the Lord says, "You're not suppose to look at it, you're suppose to climb it."<br /><br />I have to admit, I wish I were more like Caleb who said, "Now therefore, give me this mountain!" (Joshua 14:6-14)<br /><br />Hmm. Thinking. Climb the mountain. Where do I start?<br /><br />You start right where you're at! That's the great thing about mountain climbing.<br /><br /><ul><li>If you want to write, but haven't had much experience yet, you take classes, go to writer's conferences, join a critique group, forums, social networks and read a lot of books! </li></ul><ul><li>If your submissions, queries, manuscripts etc. are always getting rejected, you take classes, go to writer's conferences, join a critique group, forums, social networks and read a lot of books!</li></ul><ul><li>Then when you get more and more positive feed back...you blog!<br /></li></ul>You get the idea?<br /><br /><br />I say it so much on this blog but it bears repeating. <i>Nothing worth doing is ever easy.</i> Writing is hard work and there are Philistines out there waiting to dis, crush and otherwise destroy your dreams. You can't let them.<br /><br />If you do nothing else today do this: pray, "God, I submit my writing to you today, it's Yours. Lead me along straight paths and let me bring glory to Your name. I give it up. I give it to You. Take it and lead me." Mean it! Now do one last thing...<br /><br />...Just take one more step. Tomorrow's mountain will wait.<br /><br /><br /><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div>gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02782975427792980948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-779719120336909196.post-38707601474963926072009-11-03T09:28:00.004-06:002009-11-03T09:56:49.332-06:00StoryCrafter's Retreat...Worth it!I just came back from Minnesota and a new kind of writer's conference. It's called a Storycrafter's retreat hosted by a wonderful author by the name of Susan May Warren.<br /><br />I got there a bit early and found Susan already hard at work preparing for our arrival. Susan greeted my like an old friend. I certainly felt welcomed.<br /><br />I had met Susan at a writers conference in the Quad cities in Iowa earlier in March. I found her both giving and pleasant as well as knowledgeable. Yea, hello, bestselling author Susan May Warren. She might know a thing or two. Anyway...<br /><br />At this retreat, Susan had us answering so many questions about our characters and storyworld that you could not help but walk away with a novel to write. She prodded us to go further into our protagonist's psyche as well as our villain's. She drew out things like, "What is your hero's greatest fear?" and "What is the worst possible thing you can do to your heroine at this time?"<br />Powerful questions which led to incredible answers.<br /><br />Susan reminded us that we could write our novels if we knew how to ask the right questions. I listened to my twelve companions read their first chapters at the end of the conference and felt completely blown away at the caliber of writing in that small room. The depth that these women learned to plunge was both fascinating and humbling. I certainly was among some amazing writers and I felt a bit intimidated. I did not stay that way, however as the women also listened to my story and gave me constructive criticism and encouragement...we call it <i>being under the light of grace</i>. I felt my courage grow as I looked around the room and saw the smiles from these women and the words, "You can do it, ginger," coming from their gracious lips.<br /><br />Well, needless to say, we twelve women walked away with the tools to start, continue and finish our novels. And all this is due to three incredible women: Susan May Warren, Jennifer Anderson and Lisa Jordan.<br /><br />Thank you ladies for the gift of Storycrafting. My writing is forever changed.<br /><br />For those of you wondering which writer's conference to attend this year. Consider Susan May Warren's Storycrafter's Retreat. There are two scheduled in 2010 so far: February in Florida and May in Washington state. Click the title link above for more details...You won't be disappointed!<br /><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div>gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02782975427792980948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-779719120336909196.post-30871635456716547552009-10-21T17:39:00.007-05:002009-10-21T18:42:29.405-05:00A Ten Foot Pole<i><b>Discouragement</b>--The act of disheartening, or depriving of courage; the act of deterring or dissuading from an undertaking; the act of depressing confidence</i>--Websters 1820 Dictionary<br /><br />There's a voice in each of us that slanders our gifting or call. It tells us we'll never make it or the mountain is too high. It's a well honed voice crafted to such perfection that it's wielding never misses. It's called Discouragement.<br /><br />It comes on the wings of a rejection letter or harsh critique from a trusted co-laborer. Or it comes slithering up from our own vain imaginations to keep us from taking the chance once again and putting ourselves out there.<br /><br />From time to time this beast will wrap itself so tightly around our courage that we can't seem to function in even the most routine and mundane situations. And that's when we begin to question our gift.<br /><br />The enemy of your soul would love nothing better than to neutralize you where you stand. To nullify your God-given calling. To strip you of everything God intended you to be.<br /><br />Don't fall for it!<br /><br />Sometimes you need to beat discouragement off with more than a large stick. Sometimes you need a ten foot pole, which is the only kind of stick I would touch it with.<br /><br />2Corinthians 10:5 NIV Has this to say about our thought life.<br /><br /><i>We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.</i><br /><br />Take those thoughts, that tell you things contrary to what God has already said about you, captive.<br /><br />You have been called to a holy calling. You have gotten this far. Take a look behind you. Remember when writing was only a dream? Now here you are, putting words onto paper electronically or otherwise. Some of you have attended conferences, joined critique groups, received rejection letters.<br /><br />Praise God, you climbed a mountain!<br /><br />Writing is hard and anyone who tells you different doesn't write for a living. It's just as hard for writers to write as it is for mechanics to fix cars, doctors to diagnose patients and teachers to teach a classroom of kids. It's work and nothing less.<br /><br />James 4:7 tells us this:<br />Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.<br /><br />So beat down that Discouragement, stop your whining and get back to work...YOU CAN DO IT!!! Because you refuse to give up.<input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div>gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02782975427792980948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-779719120336909196.post-17249990897408329192009-09-21T13:06:00.003-05:002009-09-21T13:37:20.663-05:00My Pain, My TeacherSomeone said recently, "you stub your little toe and the whole body responds to it's cry." That's something we all know to be true. Did you also know that if you did not have pain, you could die? Pain tells us when something is wrong. Perhaps that's why people look at it in such a negative light. <br /><br />Pain--something wrong, comfort--something good, but that's not always true. Let's look at this just a bit. <br /><br />Have you ever touched something hot, completely unaware and burned yourself? Of course we all have done that. The pain told you to remove your hand or other body part before you incurred serious injury. Pain sets boundaries for our body and tells us when something is wrong.<br /><br />Now let's relate that to our spiritual walk. I remember one year when my sister and her husband had come up for Christmas. We were all sitting around having breakfast when I made a humorous yet biting remark toward my husband. I was far more sarcastic in those days than I am now. Well my husband didn't really take notice of it, having been married to me for years. My sister, on the other hand, called me out on that and told me that it wasn't right to treat my husband with such lack of respect even in jest. It cut straight to my heart to have her do that and I vanished into another room...another closet to be precise, to cry.<br /><br />I remember standing in that closet crying and praying that God would make me feel better...would take away the pain of what my sister had just done. In the middle of my whining for relief, God broke in a made me very much aware that He was not interested in me <i>feeling</i> better, He was interested in me <i>changing.</i><br /><br />I have never forgotten that moment and each time the correction of the Lord comes either by Him directly or through another person, I remind myself. <i>"He's not interested in me feeling better, He's interested in me changing."</i><br /><br />Now don't get me wrong, of course God is interested in our feelings, but not at the expense of us remaining in our sins. Jesus brought stern corrections many times. Not because he wanted to hurt the feelings of the person, but to affect change in the individual.<br /><br />Take some time and think about it. What painful things are going on in your life right now? Is God trying to use that painful situation to show you where He wants you to change? Go take a moment and ask Him. Chances are He is. <br /><br />God will not waste our pain...it's far too precious and costly to waste.gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02782975427792980948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-779719120336909196.post-43365596746473131032009-08-19T13:22:00.008-05:002009-09-30T12:42:47.283-05:00Reaching Our PrizeAs a writer with a website as well as blog, twitter and facebook...not to mention forum accounts, I admit to one thing...I am a cyber-stalker. <br /><br />I weave in and out of other author's and writer's websites and blogs, sneak into forum discussions and visit facebook pages and read tweets. All this in a "lurking" sort of way. While doing this, I often ask myself, "what are you looking for?" and most of the time I haven't a clue.<br /><br />Today was my first day back to work full-time and I began my usual ritual of web-stalking. This time, when I asked myself the ususal "what are you looking for" kind of question, my answer surprised me. "I'm looking for an easier way to do this." <br /><br />An easier way?<br /><br />Authors talk about their journeys all the time. I read about their struggles to get their work into print or even to get an editor to take a look at them. I've read about the mistakes they've made and the glorious triumphs they now enjoy and sometimes, I admit, to getting a bit overwhelmed.<br /><br />I've watched the movies of true-life dramas where men beat the odds to gain the prize. I can't tell you how many times I walked away feeling like "Of course they won, what else could they do." Completely taking for granted that what they did, truly was against the odds. Taking for granted the work and pain they went through to get there. <br /><br />The life of a writer is hard, but when you think of what it took your neighbor to become an engineer or a doctor or lawyer or perhaps a teacher, carpenter or electrician, you'll realize that nothing worth doing is easy.<br /><br />My brother-in-law is a construction worker. He puts in long hours in snow, rain and sun every season. It took him years to develop his craft, and now he's an artist when it comes to building. Oh, I don't mean he builds amazing buildings or anything like that. But, just let him build you a kitchen or bathroom and I guarantee, you'll see God in the details!<br /><br />We have been called to write. There are struggles in everything we do. We learn and grow along with those struggles. We work on our craft, hone our skills and wear out our shoe leather, voices and fingers. We are running a race as it were, pressing toward the mark. God has set the pace for us. He has placed our feet upon the path-of-our-journey and commanded us to "walk and not faint." He is there to pick us up when we fall and guide us when we cannot see. All for this purpose...to bring Him glory. <br /><br />I am reminded of what He says about us: "...For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future..." Jeremiah 29:11 <br /><br />"Plans to give you hope and a future." That helps me when I forget that He has plans for me. He called me to this and it is He who has the plan and because of this, I have hope.<br /><br />How about you?gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02782975427792980948noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-779719120336909196.post-30444631655958025622009-07-28T15:14:00.006-05:002009-07-31T10:11:24.749-05:00Jealous...Me?When you spend enough time on twitter or any other forum frequented by writers...blogger for instance, you'll read entries enough to spark all levels of magnitude of thoughts. Jealousy for one. <br /><br />Many writers, myself included, like to share what's new on their writing journey. Sometimes that sharing edges on bragging and sometimes it's simply excitement from an overflowing heart. Whatever nudges a writer to share, one of the most unavoidable outcomes in readers hearts will be jealousy.<br /><br />It's hard to be a struggling author and even harder at times to see everyone else around you receive some measure of success. We forget sometimes that we are writing for the glory of God. We feel that the Lord has forgotten us and that somehow, without our knowing how, we have messed up. Just like in our old school days, we've lost our place in the <i>writing line of success</i> and now must move to the back and wait our turn once again.<br /><br />If you are a writer feeling these things, please don't be discouraged. <b>The Lord has not forgotten you or the call He has placed on your life.</b> This is, however a perfect time to examine your own heart and ask the Lord to:<br><br /><br /> <i>Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.</i><b> Psalm 139:23-24 NIV</b><br> <br /><br /> After that, though, relax. Keep writing, keep blogging and submitting to all kinds of writing venues. Eventually you will reap if you faint not:<br /><br /><i>Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.</i> <b>Galatians 6:9 NIV</b><br /><br />And it will be at just the right time.gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02782975427792980948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-779719120336909196.post-24708233414559946402009-07-22T12:05:00.001-05:002011-02-22T21:37:52.548-06:00Today, I Will Breathe for GodI spent my time in prayer, worship and Bible study this morning and found myself wondering about the wellbeing of one of the friends I pray for regularly. <br />
<br />
Heather. <br />
<br />
What was she up to this week? How were things going in her family? I knew I could catch up with her just by visiting her Facebook profile, so I did. <br />
<br />
On the page were several comments from friends sending their condolences to Heather over the passing of her friend, Liz. I scrolled down the page to try to find out what had happened to Liz and finally ended up on another blog. There I found Liz's husband journaling about her battle with cancer. And yesterday, he blogged about her passing away just moments before the post. <br />
<br />
I found a lump in my throat immediately over the news. This man had just lost his dear wife and now would raise their two young children without her. "Oh, God, she was only 37.” So many thoughts troubled my mind. He lost his wife! Even though I did not know Liz, her husband’s words cut straight to my heart and caused me to take a very close look at myself. <br />
<br />
Today I know he both feels sadness and relief that she will suffer no longer. But today, he also faces the rest of his life making decisions without his helpmate.<br />
<br />
I think about my own husband at this time. How many times have I been so fed up with some of his idiosyncrasies that I’ve gone off to be angry by myself. How many times have I taken his presence in my life and his love for granted? I know far too many to count. <br />
<br />
Here in my life, my five healthy children surround me, my husband is away working at his job and I sit in a warm dry house. My legs will carry me to the many errands I will need to run and my hands will type words today that I hope will change another person's life. My voice will whisper things of love to my family and perhaps tell a story or two into the waiting silence. I will bow my heart in prayer and it will beat for me every moment. My ears will hear the sound of laughter coming from the yard filled with healthy, playful children. I have a favorite collection of candles my children will ask me to burn this afternoon and I will breathe deeply and remember the flowers that bloomed once to create their scent. I will eat dinner later on and it will be delicious. I may even watch the stars come out. Then, when my day is done, I will lay my head down in my warm, soft bed and rest well tonight. <br />
<br />
Life will go on for me and tomorrow I will have another opportunity to thank God. I pray that God will help me to savor every moment, in the time that He has allotted me, and that I will bring glory to His name.<br />
<br />
<br />
Father in Heaven...let me never forget everything You have done for me. Let me breathe for Your glory today and by the way…Thank you.gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02782975427792980948noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-779719120336909196.post-57914776208501056072009-07-13T18:04:00.000-05:002009-07-16T22:20:12.871-05:00Reaping the Kind of Prayer You've SewnI sat in church last week listening to a very special prayer request for the wife of one of our pastor's. She has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Our sister church is hurting over this news but they have not given in to despair, they have chosen to fight!<br /><br />I listened and marveled as our own pastor spoke on the difference between a sympathy prayer and a prayer of faith. Sympathy prayers are those kind we pray because we feel sorry for the individual, and want to "do something" to make them feel better. The Prayer of faith, the Bible says in James 5:15 shall save the sick.<br /><br />The pastor also talked about the kind of actions that is required on our part for any type of healing to take place...from the crippled man whose friends cut a hole in the ceiling and let him down in the midst of the meeting, to the blind man who called out to Jesus as he passed by. Healing requires something of us.<br /><br />I thought about those "sympathy" prayers I had prayed in the past and I also thought about the people who had received them. Then the scripture came to me about "reap what you sew." Then I thought: Have I sewn the kind of prayer that I would want to reap should I find my self in dire straits?<br /><br />I ask myself this question now each time someone asks me to pray. "Ginger are you praying for this person the same way you would want them to pray for you?" When the answer is no, I stop and put myself in their shoes and then I pray again.<br /><br /><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div>gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02782975427792980948noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-779719120336909196.post-17436131619953321652009-07-01T18:12:00.001-05:002009-07-01T18:45:41.412-05:00Abortion and the ChurchOkay so, I was not going to blog anymore due to having a website that takes a bunch of time. But...now I have more time and realized that blogging is really a good idea. So here it is.<br /><br />I've been working on a new novel that is based on the short story I wrote exclusively for Christian Romance Magazine. When I finished the story, I felt that it was not quite done. I needed to explore so much more than I was able to put in a 50 page short story. You can read the story here:<br /><br />http://www.christianromancemagazine.com/pure-romance.html<br /><br />Ode to Grace explores such a powerful subject that I thought no SS could do it justice. For instance, I did not even get to explore how women are ostracized by the church after having an abortion, even if it happened years before when they were not even Christian. Certainly I am not suggesting that we just let anyone creep in and out of the church as they desire. Especially those that would support such a life style decision. However, I am also not supporting the whole "shun" tactic either. People who desire <span style="font-style: italic;">true repentance</span> (and there's the difference) should be supported and loved through their journey. <br /><br />One subject I was allowed to deal with to a fuller degree, was the path of a caregiver who had been thrown into the middle of someone else's decision. That is one of the most brutal realities left over from abortion. <br /><br />I've read stories and interviewed women so much in the past 2 months that I feel like I am almost an expert...not quite. So many common threads, not the least of which is the devistation left behind in the heart and soul of a woman who felt she had no other choice.<br /><br />Please be compassionate...these women truly believe they had no other choice. <br /><br />Who can fully know the psyche of someone backed into a corner, pressured by others to make the <span style="font-style: italic;">right</span> decision.<br /><br />I am Pro-life. I will always be Pro-life. But I will not turn someone away who desires true repentence. Who is reaching out to the Christ that lives in me. May God have mercy if I ever do.<br /><br />If you are a post-abortive woman, or man for that matter, please don't give up. There are people who will love you regardless of whether they understand or can relate. The Christ who died for you is calling out to you. He's waiting to help you, whether people do or not.<br /><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div>gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02782975427792980948noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-779719120336909196.post-44257446000041508432008-11-18T18:30:00.000-06:002008-11-18T18:39:44.848-06:00Writers conferenceI just got back from the HACWN writers conference in Kansas City this weekend. It was another conference full of lots of info about what the publishing industry is up to and how the writer can beat the odds. Thomas Nelson is cutting their titles this year from 700 down to 400 and other publishers reported changes as well. Mostly we see "business as usual, but we're being cautious." A lot of the talk was about self-publishing but there is a sticky line between who should and should not do it. Example: If you speak regularly in front of hundreds of people through out the year, you may want to consider self-publishing. If not, write your best manuscript and make friends with book stores and go for the royalty publisher. Actually, make friends with the bookstores anyway. A good book to read for helping to market your book whether you go for royalty or self-publishing is Carmen Leal's <span style="font-style: italic;">You Can Market Your Book</span>. Also <span style="font-style: italic;">Gurella Marketing for the Writer</span> is another one you can purchase from Amazon.com. <br /><br />Just some thoughts.gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02782975427792980948noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-779719120336909196.post-70915747208758761212008-07-08T17:00:00.000-05:002008-07-08T17:33:57.739-05:00A Sticky WitnessDarth, my second son, is a gymnast/martial artist. Whenever he visits my mother, who lives next to an elementary school, he likes to swing on this high metal bar they installed for the kiddies.<br /><br />There is this move both male and female gymnasts use in their bar routines called a <em>giant</em>. It's where the gymnast swings all the way around the bar with his two hands and in some cases, just one. It's a sight to see on the playground and that's where the problem lies.<br /><br />Whenever Darth goes out to work on his "bar routine," he has to look both ways to make sure no one is watching, because people tend to stop and ask him questions. Darth, being the shy 16year old that he is, doesn't like people stopping. So whenever someone comes around (about every 3-5 minuets or so) Darth goes back inside.<br /><br />One day, after nearly two hours of this, my mother took notice and asked, "Darth, what are you doing?" He explained his aversion to people watching him and his fear of them asking him questions. My mother than said, "Darth, if you don't speak to people, how are you ever going to tell them about Jesus?"<br /><br />"Post-it notes," he replied and headed back outside to swing on the bar once again--the coast was clear.gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02782975427792980948noreply@blogger.com0