“The Casting of Crowns” Is Published

Not only teens and young adults will enjoy reading my first book, as the protagonist is a young adult, but the adults I had read it before publication also loved it.  The following is a blurb.

Carissa is a young, serious, college student.  When the New World Order takes control of the college, banning her major, Christian Religious Studies, Carissa is stunned.  The government is now controlled by the Pope and the United States President.

Some people are comfortable with this, believing the promises of world peace and harmonious religious unity.  Carissa will not be pushed around.  She joins a Bible study even though it is outlawed.  Carissa, her housemate Sally, and Bible study leader Alex become champions in winning souls for Christ.  Constant danger surrounds the Bible groups efforts.

Carissa falls in love with John, while she develops a growing relationship with Jesus.

She faces a daunting decision that will forever change her life.  THE CASTING OF CROWNS points the reader, along with Carissa, to Bible truths, and prompts each to consider his or her everlasting destiny as the signs of the times point to the soon Second Coming of Christ.

THE CASTING OF CROWNS, in both paperback and ebook, is available online at Amazon and online at Barnes and Noble.  Also, coming to a bookstore near you.    

CALLED TO HOLINESS

Receive freedom and liberty

Abide with God

Block Satan’s lies

He’ll deceive the mind

Constrict the body

Offer you the world

With a partial release

If you side with him

 

Shouldn’t I walk with Jesus

Some sense an easy way

Out of trouble

Ask Satan to give you

What you really want

Carnal pleasure that covers pain

Success for a lifetime

Fame you deserve

No matter the cost

 

What does Jesus require

Obedience, sacrifice, discipline

Not much of a life, you imagine

Turning aside

Departing from the Law

So what’s so wrong

With little sins, you reason

Most of us tell little lies

Desire what God has forbidden

Neglect the needy

Continue to swear

It’s no big deal, you say

Just camp on the fringe

Of the wicked a while

Have some fun

Explore heavenly pastures later

Nobody’s perfect

God will understand

 

But listen

God calls us to holiness

He created us

Loves us

And demands loyalty

We are to worship

Only Him

Not the idols of this world

 

God gifted us a heart

With a longing for Him

Only in relationship with God

Is there a ticket

To eternal life

Acceptance of Jesus’ sacrifice

On Calvary

And in the transforming

Nature of His love

Lies our freedom from condemnation

By the law

For He presents us

Sin free before the Father

Because He has assigned us

His righteousness

 

A MEMORIAL

Sometimes war is a death sentence

For soldiers defending our country

With the honor and glory given them

By our country should they fall

These men and women

Regard not heavily

This likelihood

Many put their faith in God

To protect them

Soldiers groomed by training

Impressed by duty

Go to war to protect

Our way of life

Freedom

We bow our heads

Before God today

To honor our fallen

Soldiers who peered into the future

Saw our country preserved

The rights of our citizens intact

We say a solemn “Thank you”

To these American heroes

May they rest in the Lord

 

 Photo by Brett Sayles on Pexels.com

 

 

 

 

BOUND FOR GLORY

 

Christ is my Redeemer

I come to Him when tears won’t flow

He always listens

Lifting my soul

I sense his response

It infuses my mind

He touches my heart

Healing me

I reach out to others, unafraid

I know this transformation

Is part of His plan

He sees in me

A helper in kind

To those who’ve lost their way

He’s given me rare gifts

Of patience and kindness

When someone stumbles

And doom seems sure

I go to Him

For strength and guidance

As many other Christians do

For our work is specific

Bringing others to Life in Christ

A safe place on rough seas

For our Captain is the Lord Jesus

On this ship bound for glory

Our election sure

We praise His name

THE GREATEST LOVE

Christ was born to save mankind

From the eternal death we all deserve

He looked beyond our sin-tainted selves

All of humanity’s failed attempts

To keep God’s law

Christ offered Himself

The Lamb of God

To be spit upon

Railed against

Scourged nearly to death

Tried like a criminal

Although He is purer than gold

The people jeered Him

They were of mob mentality

Who didn’t know what they were doing

They had allowed Satan to take control

Crucify Him!  Crucify Him!  they cried

They set Him on the road to Calvary

No human would be acceptable

As a sacrifice before the Father

Christ bore all sin

He felt the scourge of God

As He hung on the cross

Till His breath expired

Christ was laid in the tomb

By a devoted follower

His tomb was sealed

With a heavy stone

Put under centurion guard

Our King of Kings

Could not be held

By the bonds of death

He rose on the third day

Jesus Christ has conquered sin

He’s vanquished death

 Defeated Satan

Christ has given us newness of life

If we would but accept it

BLESSED BY GOD

“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us that we should be called children of God” (1 Jn 3:1)

We are able to receive God’s spiritual blessings only if we show love for one another and try to please God by obeying His Ten Commandments.

As children of God we are prompted by Christ to abide in Him, that we may have a fruitful life and inherit eternal life.

God gives us rewards–material and spiritual along the way, even though we still have to struggle through difficult times in our life’s journey.

God loves everyone, but his deepest blessings are contingent on our obedience to Him and our love for each other.

One may observe blessings going to the wicked as well.  These are not God-sent, though, and they are merely riches or opportunities for the wicked to increase their riches and their wicked ways.  And riches are not known to bring happiness or spiritual blessings.  “Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked” (Prov 10:6).

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (Jn 3:16).  God has gone all out in demonstrating His love for us.  Jesus died on the cruel Cross for all of us.  We are all precious to Him.  He bids all to come to Him, confess our sins, accept Him as our Lord and Savior, and follow Him.

In communing with Jesus daily, He teaches us to love fully.  None will be saved who don’t extend love to each other.  “We know that we have passed from death to life,  because we love the brethren” (1 Jn 3:14).

As children of God we try to lean toward pleasing God, but because of our fallen natures inherited from Adam and Eve, we are not strong enough on our own to avoid all sin.  Christ instructs us to abide in Him.  “I am the vine, you are the branches.  He who abides in Me and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (Jn 15:5).

God longs to bless us. His command for us to love one another is not a hard thing.  A life lived in love for others allows for rich relationships and great satisfaction and joy.

God will allow us to mature in spiritual health and happiness if we obey His Commandments.

As children of God, we are immensely loved by God.  When we please God consistently and abide in Christ, we demonstrate to Him that we want to spend eternity with Him.

—Quotes from Scripture taken from NKJV—      

RANDOM FACES

Random faces in the crowd

Seek not Christ

Nor venture where He is found

Worn expressions

Ragged clothes

Drape these people

Drenched in hopelessness

The forlorn among us

No longer thirst

To belong to society

Who knows how to reach them?

A humble group

Led by the Spirit of God

Seeking not fame nor recognition

But fine with working in the shadows

Bringing the light of Christ

To the broken souls of men and women

Patiently seeking a positive response

Laboring as Jesus did

Not thinking of self

But investing in the lives

Of those who’ve forgotten

How to be whole

Praying

Laboring

Seeking a breakthrough

Only possible while reflecting Christ

For He alone can offer wholeness

To a broken soul

 

PROCLAIMING CHRIST’S BIRTH — Hark! the Herald Angels Sing

Hark! the herald angels sing,                                                                                                           “Glory to the newborn King;                                                                                                            Peace on earth and mercy mild,                                                                                                        God and sinners reconciled!”                                                                                                              Joyful all ye nations rise,                                                                                                                      Join the triumph of the skies;                                                                                                        With th’angelic host proclaim,                                                                                                          “Christ is born in Bethlehem!”                                                                                                            Hark! the herald angels sing,                                                                                                                “Glory to the newborn King.”

Christ by highest heaven adored,                                                                                                        Christ the everlasting Lord;                                                                                                                  In the manger born a king,                                                                                                                  While adoring angels sing,                                                                                                                    “Peace on earth, to men goodwill;”                                                                                                    Bid the trembling soul be still,                                                                                                            Christ on earth has come to dwell,                                                                                                      Jesus, our Immanuel!                                                                                                                            Hark! the herald angels sing,                                                                                                              “Glory to the newborn King.”

Hail! the heaven-born Prince of Peace!                                                                                              Hail! the Sun of Righteousness!                                                                                                          Life and light to all He brings,                                                                                                              Risen with healing in His wings.                                                                                                          Mild He lays His glory by,                                                                                                                      Born that man no more may die,                                                                                                        Born to raise the sons of earth,                                                                                                            Born to give them second birth.                                                                                                          Hark!  the herald angels sing,                                                                                                              “Glory to the newborn King.”

Lyrics from Luke 2:14 and                                                                                                                    Charles Wesley, 1739

 

 

A CHRISTMAS GIFT

Jesus was born to save the world

He left His Kingly throne in heaven

Was born of a virgin in Bethlehem

Angelic beings announced His birth

While shepherds tarried

To worship the Prince of Peace

God’s people slept

Heeding none of the signs

Recorded in Scripture

Held clearly in sight

Those filled with the Spirit

Anticipating a Savior

Knew Him on sight

In the temple

Simeon saw the glorious salvation

God has prepared in Christ Jesus

Anna, a prophetess, bore witness to Christ

To those in Jerusalem seeking redemption

Today we prepare to receive the Christ Child

His presence, a gift

From an all loving God

Accept Him

Embrace Him

Let love for Him blossom

Till the world seems dim

And you want only to share Him

For heaven awaits

When He comes again

As Conqueror and King

To take His own home

EIGHT GREAT TIPS FOR A HAPPY MARRIAGE

God intended for married couples to be happy.  He created woman to be a helpmate for man.  Many couples today encounter obstacles to happiness in their relationship.  Some of these obstacles are easily resolved.  Others fester, become chronic, and can destroy a relationship.

While some marital conflicts require counseling to be resolved, others can be remedied or prevented through proven techniques.  I will present eight personally acquired and tested techniques that keep a marriage relationship healthy.

Tip #1  Show an interest in spouse’s activities                                                                   

Your spouse has developmental needs outside the marriage.  Allow him or her to participate in healthy interests outside the marriage.  You don’t want to smother the one you love.  You want to encourage personal growth.  Take an active interest in your spouse’s activities.  Ask open-ended questions.  You’ll be communicating your love for your spouse.

Tip #2  In relationship — act and speak out of love

When occasions arise for potential conflict, hold back pride and try to react with love.  Don’t let self dominate, demanding to have your way.  Put your spouses needs ahead of you wants.

Overlook the habits of your spouse that inconvenience you.  Voice your annoyance to your spouse.  You may want to propose a creative solution.  Always remember, your spouse is never going to be perfect, not even to please you.

Tip #3  Build spouse up, never criticize 

The one you married thinks the world of you.  When you criticize, part of their world starts crashing down.  Your spouse needs love and acceptance from you.  Compliments or kind suggestions for improvement are more palatable. Encouragement helps maintain your spouse’s self worth and readiness to cope with the world.

Tip #4  Own your feelings, don’t blame spouse for them

During an argument, report your feelings, but don’t blame your spouse for making you feel that way.  Own your feelings.  They originated with you.

Be resolved to communicate your distress with the goal of problem solving the issue at hand.  Being vindictive by placing the blame on your spouse is not productive.

Tip #5  Don’t assume things

You are not a mind reader.  You cannot assume your spouse did or said something for a particular reason.  Ask instead of assuming.  The reason he or she spoke or acted was probably innocuous and had nothing to do with hurting you.  If your spouse isn’t readily available, put the issue on hold and get on with your life.

Tip #6  Be slow to anger

Expressing unrestrained anger is destructive to a marriage relationship.  Find a way to deal with your anger, to diffuse it.  Do something to take your mind off the situation — something physical or something you enjoy.  Later, return with a tempered attitude.  Express your feelings calmly and directly.

Perhaps you can propose a solution to the problem within your relationship.  Remain calm so that your spouse will likely not feel threatened or retaliate with anger.  You want to create an environment conducive to problem solving.

Tip #7  Talk over issues, considering options

Married couples will develop issues that need to be resolved.  While discussing an issue with your spouse, remain calm.  Stay in touch with the love you have for your spouse, even though it may be diminished by the issue.

Be resolute in seeking solutions.  Try to be creative in considering options agreeable to both of you.

Seek help from a marriage counselor if you can’t resolve the issues yourselves.

Tip #8  Make a date with spouse once a week

The honeymoon’s over.  You’ve lost that excitement within your marriage.  You have less time to spend with your spouse.  Try this.  Make a date with your spouse once a week.  Take turns figuring out something to do.

Do something fresh, something you don’t usually do.  Even an hour or two spent together doing the unconventional can jump start or maintain your relationship.  The key here is to concentrate on doing something your spouse would love to do, and particularly with you.

In conclusion, God established marriage in the Garden of Eden and intends for happy, long lasting unions.  I hope this post will help you experience a happy marriage with longevity.

Please feel free to comment, especially on any techniques you’ve found which contribute to a happy marriage.