Women on the Wall

"So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart." Nehemiah 4:6, NIV

Today we face a crisis of conviction. As the heart of our country is beginning to mend, we see there are a lot of places on "the wall" that have been neglecting. We must help those in our country see that God is the author of all life and that this is a Christian nation.

Each of us has different talents and gifts from God that we can use to rebuild the wall and gates. We must stand by the gates and be watchful as we rebuild this country by restoring our government, our educational system, our family system, and our judicial system. Additionally, we need to restore the entertainment industry in order to allow more Christian viewpoints into movies, television, and music.

As a Christian nation we have been given an incredible gift, but it has been allowed to go into disrepair.
So, if we as women on the wall take our place we can help restore it through our God given gifts, working to  restore our nation.

Thank you Jesus for our nation.

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear them from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." II Chronicles 7:14, NIV

Watch a video on with David Barton
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlfEdJNn15E

© 2010 MLMichaels

Relationships

Relationships are one of the most difficult aspects of life for me to build. I have certain fears that keep me away from building deep relationships with people, even ones I dearly care about.

These fears have also affected my relationship with my Lord and Savior. As I wrote about in a previous blog entitled Romans Road, I mentioned how I struggled with fears and anxieties because of my "I can do everything by myself" spirit.  Struggling inside with legalism and performance, I would bypass relationships for ensuring I had checked off all the things I was supposed to do for the day.

As I continue down my Romans Road learning how to build new relationships away from the legalism I was so comfortable with, I find it uncomfortable still to make connections with my Christian friends.

As I walk away from my life of performance, I find this new territory freightening at best. I am certain the Lord will come along side me, instruct me, chatise me, and encourage me along the way to help me learn how to grow in relationships.

Blessings.

© 2010 MLMichaels

Breaking Commitments

I generally make commitments to myself, including health goals, education goals, and writing deadlines. Although I try to attempt every commitment and follow through with the greatest effort, I usually will break a commitment to myself before I will ever break a commitment to others.

I wonder as women why we believe that our commitment to quiet meditation to God should be broken because there is some other area that needs our attention. The first part of my day where I focus on God and His word to me, should be an unwavering expectation in my life. But at times, I admit, I break my commitment in order to meet someone else's expectation of me.

How do you break commitments to yourself?

© 2010 MLMichaels

The Skin Map by Stephen R Lawhead

The Skin Map by Stephen R. Lawhead is a sci-fi, fictional novel set in a time warp of adventure. Lawhead is the author of several acclaimed historical fiction book epics. The Skin Map is the first book in the Bright Empires novel series, that tells the story of Kit Livingstone a man stepping through time to solve mystical mysteries while searching for his present day girlfriend Wilhelmina. My expectation of the book was to marry biblical references with sci-fi action. I was partly disappointed. I enjoyed impressions of the book, including the relational value of each character and how the characters evolved over the space of time in the novel. My expectation wasn't met because I was looking for how the characters could solve the problems presented to them in the novel through a biblical standard.

The novel is wonderfully researched and detailed with historical references. The Skin Map is well written in that the novel grabbed my attention from the beginning and I became caught up in the novels story line. I DO recommend this book for those who love sci-fi and historical fiction novels! But this wasn't the right novel for a reader like me.

Stars 2 out of 5


Thomas Nelson Publishers provided this book for free as a part of BookSneeze.com book review blogger program.

© 2010 MLMichaels

Non Sequitur

I think I have mastered the concept, non sequitur. A funny word meaning something that doesn't follow. I have made it an unintentional habit in my life to blurt out oddities out of turn that seem funny to me, but leave others puzzled. As I write and talk I am usually caught up in the meanderings in my mind. I have a tendency to wander. Thankfully the Lord has given me enough quirkiness in my life that I can find most things amusing, like waiting in line at the DMV or paying my taxes. Although these two things are not exciting at all a writer usually sees a story in it and proceeds accordingly.

I use non sequitur sometimes in my writing to make people pause and go back to reread a passage. Usually the reader will shake their head and provide a non-verbal "what?" to the passage. I also have used it mistakenly when I have jumped back into writing a story after I have put it down. Re-reading the previous text is always a good idea before beginning a new paragraph in the story.

© 2010 MLMichaels

The End of Summer

I posted this on HighCallingBlogs.com.
There is a wonderful story there about the end of summer called "Beach Music" by Laura Boggess. She is a gifted writer!

Big yellow buses and the fresh smell of leather sneakers and pencil cases all paint the picture of a changing season. The marching bands with instruments in hand are ready to cheer on the crisp, clean air of fall. Children in adult haircuts grasping pictures of their summer vacations to share with the class, all are ready with a raised hand. There are the kids with packets full of colorful Kodak moments. And those too, who found their summer in the backyard with a lawn chair and a good book. Gone are the days at the ball park with gum stuck to their shoe and the smell of fresh cut grass and a hot dog with mustard. It's all changing. As it does...

© 2010 MLMichaels

Romans Road

Romans 5:1, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”

For many years, even after I became a Christian, I believed it was necessary to justify my past sinful behavior. I didn't understand what justification was at the time and felt the responsibility of my salvation was on me. I just didn't understand. I was determined to use religion to justify my sinful behavior and turned to religious perfection as proof of my justification and salvation. I was wrong. I spent years in a give up, try- hard cycle that kept me from true freedom and peace with God.

I learned from Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary that to justify means "to pronounce free from guilt or blame; to absolve". Having tried to justify my past sins,  I tried to pronounce myself free and absolved of my own sins through my religious work. Of course this too, is a sin.

Essentially, by justifying my own behavior through religious perfection I was claiming myself sinless, but self-justified. The exhaustion and fear that resulted from my self-justified, I can do it myself attitude, kept me from peace and strangled me in exhaustion, fear, and anxiety, which caused panic attacks and more fear.  Because I wrongly believed I was in charge of my own justification, my thoughts produced the fear of death. My religious behavior was heavy on working and giving the appearance of salvation, and light on face to face Jesus time in my bible or in prayer.

Discovering that justification for sins can also be hidden in the "I blame my parents" for who I am argument can keep a Christian trapped in self-justification. As a part of Generation X, that made coffee houses, finding them self, and parent blaming a spectator sport, I learned this argument because it was easier to blame my parents to justify the things I wanted to do in my life than to truly seek true forgiveness and justification through faith in Jesus Christ.
But, a Christian only experiences freedom from self-justification when they realize the burden of peace with God doesn't rely on them, but on Jesus Christ. You can't image the relief in my spirit when I was able to grasp true justification through faith. When I learned to put my faith in what He did on the cross, recognizing that He is the only road to the Father, I stopped working at living my life and started living to serve my King with my life.

I discovered two verses that changed my life.

* Because, "if we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our  sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."- I John 1: 8-9, NIV

* "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." -Romans 8:38, NIV

I  feared mostly that God was going to separate himself from me because I wasn't sure if I could really trust Jesus to do the work that He promised He was going to do, and that is to save me and bring me into peace with God. When I stepped out of my role of playing God and justifying myself through religious, worldly behavior, and into the role of being a saved servant of Jesus Christ, I discovered peace for the first time.

Every where I read in the bible I looked for Jesus in the verse.

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. -Phil. 4:7, NIV

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.- John 14: 27, NIV

I see now that fear and anxiety can creep back into my life when I spend little time in the bible daily reminding myself of Jesus' promise. It is a fearful thing to put your life in the hands of someone else.
On my Romans Road I am learning to trust Jesus by daily walking with Him, remembering, studying, and memorizing that "nothing will be able to separate [me] ... from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" -Romans 8:38, NIV [because I have been] "justified by faith, [and I] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:” -Romans 5:1, NIV

Amen.

© 2010 MLMichaels

Bringing it all together

Writing is a fickle thing. Some days the brain is immersed in beautiful phrases and other days the brain just won't budge. I experience both frequently, although not at the same time. I am always interested in the beauty of writing and the technique that allows a writer to pen a masterpiece. I am thankful to God when he allows me the beautiful phrases, but when those smudgy days come and my thoughts can't bring it all together, I rely on prayer to bring Him back into focus. Prayer focuses my thoughts completely on God while I am trying to write.

Often I have sat down at the computer with loads of worries and obligations on my mind. Not a writer's best! Focusing my mind and heart of Jesus Christ releases my worldly worries and creates a clear heart to begin writing about him. The results are always positive. He wants to be the focus of my writing. He is the reason I write.

How is your focus today? Are you writing about your King, or have you veered off the way?

Lord help us today to find you in our writing. Simply, we want you to be our focus. We love you and want to give you the glory! Amen.

© 2010 MLMichaels

The Richest Foods

"My soul will be satisfied as with the richest foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you." (Psalm 63:5, NIV)

When I read that verse I was over- joyed. Thinking that with Jesus my soul will be satisfied with the richest food made my stomach grumble. I like food! Too much food can be a recipe for disaster so I temper my love of certain foods by taking a daily stroll on my treadmill (aka. the hamster).

But speaking with family the other day, I rehearsed some things I think I already knew about myself, but it is nice to know. I enjoy giving my time for others and using my gifts to further the kingdom. I like writing and feel that I will continue writing about my Lord and Savior until my fingers just won't write or type. But there are other gifts, too. Fortunately or unfortunately they revolve around food. Because I enjoy cooking and eating a good meal I too hate to see others go without. We know that Jesus is food for our soul, but those who go without actual food may not see it the same way. So here are a few ways that I use my love of food to serve God.

* Serving meals in the church
* Be a part of a homeless meal program
* Deliver meals to people's home through a program
* Having a food and fun fellowship at church
* Dropping off a meal to someone's home whose had surgery

Of course this list is not exhaustive and could be updated with many more ideas. But I think the point has been made. I generally keep a few super easy recipes on hand that I can cook up and have ready in case someone in the church or down the block had an emergency.

God Bless you as you look around your life and begin to or continue to serve others!

© 2010 MLMichaels

The Fourth Commandment for Writers

"The moral law of God transcends all nations and civilizations because it reflects the eternal, unchanging character of God and is rooted in His creation order. The doctrine of the Sabbath itself is found in Genesis and is based on the fact that God created the world in six literal, 24-hour days and rested on the seventh. Insofar as it may be relevant, submissions are to reflect an appreciation and support for both God’s revealed law and His creation revelation. Favorable implicit or explicit portrayals of evolutionary philosophy are contrary to the goals of this film festival."1

I believe this commandment for writing is self-explanatory. God is the creator of the universe and therefore should be reflected in such manner in our writing.

But a new statistic may change your view on what people believe about God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. In his book, Living With Confidence in a Chaotic World by Dr. David Jeremiah, he writes "...three quarters of American Christians believe God is the 'all powerful, all-knowing Creator of the Universe who rules the world'".... The problems come when the subject turns to Jesus, Satan, and the Holy Spirit. Thirty-nine percent believe Jesus sinned during His time on earth, and 58 percent of Christians do not believe that the Holy Spirit is a living being. Strangely, nearly 60 percent don't believe Satan is real, while 64 percent believe that demons can affect us.... Consider also that one out of every three Christians believes the Bible and the Koran teach the same truths."2

These are troubling statistics. Christians and non-Christians need to read about the truth. Therefore, as writers we must be 100 percent certain that what we are writing is biblical and accurate. We should represent God as the author of all life.

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." (Genesis 1:1, NIV)

We should recognize Jesus Christ as the Son of God.

"He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end." (Luke 1:32-33, NIV)

The Holy Spirit is a real being that lives in the hearts of saved Christians.

"Again Jesus said, 'Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.' And with that he breathed on them and said, 'Receive the Holy Spirit.'" (John 20:21-22, NIV)

Satan, unfortunately, is real because this has been documented biblically.

"Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals that Lord God had made." (Genesis 3:1, NIV)

It is also poignant to reflect here that Satan was created, he is not on any level with God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.

We should not reflect in our writing any correlation between the Bible and the koran. They reflect two very different messages.
God is God the Father Almighty, and Allah is not God.

Let us reflect biblical truths in our writing!

© 2010 MLMichaels


1 - San Antonio Christian Film Festival.(2004-2010). The Ten
Commandments of Submitting for the Jubliee Awards as cited
by Objectives and Guidelines at saiccf.org.
http://www.saicff.org/festival/competition/guidelines.
Retrieved August 13, 2010.

2-"Most America Christians Do Not Believe that Satan or the Holy Spirit Exist," Barna Research Group Update, 13 April 2009. www.barna.org/barna-update/article/12-faithspirituality/260-most-american-christians-do-not-believe-that-satan-or-the-holy-spirit-exis, as cited by Jeremiah, David, Dr.(2009). Living With Confidence in a Chaotic World. Thomas Nelson, Inc. Nashville, TN.

Living With Confidence In A Chaotic World by Dr. David Jeremiah

Living With Confidence In A Chaotic World by Dr. David Jeremiah is the follow up to his previous best selling book, What in the World Is Going On. Dr. Jeremiah provides ten biblical ways to stay focused while the world around us is in chaos. The tens C's of being confident include, staying calm, staying connected, and staying committed. This is a crucial book for Christians to read and share with family members as we continue to see the signs of Christ's return. This book reflects biblical prophecy in an accurate forthright manner, detailing how the incidences we see around us are bringing us closer to our redemption. With rampant fear and anxiety about finances, housing, jobs, and more, we can often add to the problem by not keeping a calm heart. With true and heart felt stories about real people who have put their trust in Jesus Christ during terrible times, it is very relate able to any circumstance. This book is a reminder to Christians to remember who we are in Jesus Christ and that He as the creator of the universe, is aware of every occurring circumstance.

Stars 5 out of 5

© 2010 MLMichaels

A Writer's Ideas

I am often asked by my friends how I come up with story ideas. The process of ironing out a story born from a simple idea is wonderful. Often times people who are around me do not even know that they have provided a story idea just by talking to me.

I have created story lines from the seemingly oddest places. I have heard people talking on a airplane and realized something in what they said could be considered for a story. An idea can be tucked away in my idea file box for years until the other parts of the idea "arrive".

Currently I am working on a story that was birthed many years ago, but the pieces that I had then would not allow me to finish it. So I clipped the ideas together and filed them away for another day. When I was looking through my files I saw the idea and pulled it and begin milling the idea. Milling is my word for putting the characters and story together.

With characters and story lines, I keep a file of pictures that I cut out of magazines and ideas. I have types that I can mix and match, cutting hair off of one in my mind to fit the face of another. And then visually I see the character and then write about him or her. Sometimes that character just appears, displaying confidence and moxie. Other times I have to draw out the personality of a character and that is how they are portrayed in the story; someone who needs others around her for approval. Story lines can be written on a piece of anything. And like I stated before can come from anywhere. I have napkins, hotel paper, paper towels, and sides of boxes with scribbling of an idea. They are sweet reminders of where I was when I thought of the idea.

With all of these ideas what good are they if you are not published. I was once told that if you think that you are a writer then you are. But its important to distinguish between wanting to be one and actually being one. I asked how I would know.
A writer doesn't have to be published to be a writer, they just have to had created something they are proud of and could display if they were published. A writer wanting to be one is generally someone who attends writing classes and other conferences, but rarely if ever creates anything. Let's distinguish. Writer's can go to classes and conferences, they just need to use what they learned in the creation of a story.

So create your story ideas, go to classes and conferences, and write so that when the day comes you will be prepared to be published.

God Bless!

© 2010 MLMichaels

Holding Pattern

As a child I thought time was slow. Christmas could not arrive fast enough. The excitement about seeing presents under the tree was unbearable. Through my early twenties I noticed life speeding up. I don't remember how I turned thirty, but when the day arrived I was in shock. I look at pictures of my mother at my age and I think today how beautiful she was and still is. But something new has happened for me, time has slowed down again. I have no wish to return to my youth, even though I feel youthful most days, but I feel as if I am waiting. My sister mentioned to me the other day about feeling like she was in a "holding pattern". I agreed with her and told her how funny that was for her to say "holding patten" because a few years ago I had scribbled those words on a note pad. Yes, I feel like I am in a holding pattern. Like a pilot waiting for clearance to land the plane, I feel like I am circling in the air waiting.
The Lord sees to it that we wait on Him.

I remember a bible verse and song from middle school church, "But those wait on the Lord, shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like an eagle, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not be faint." (Isaiah 40:31, NKJV). I remember that clearly because at summer camp an eagle flew high above the cliffs where our outdoor church looked out into the mountains.

If you are like me you may bear the scars of not waiting on the Lord. I honestly admit I have walked, well ran, ahead of God because I was tired of waiting on Him. In my impatience He had to stop me where I was, crying, wailing, and screaming, to bring me back to Him. Its better to wait. Although the holding pattern can be lonely and boring, there is peace in it. Running ahead of our Lord can cause sin, frustration, and pain. And there is no peace there.


© 2010 MLMichaels

The earth is the Lord's

The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. (Psalm 24:1; NIV)

Often I am struck by the goodness of the Lord even when it does not seem apparent. I struggle daily with the memory of who I was and the evidence of my faith in the Lord now. Working out my faith through my writing is one way to create a record of my change. Am I more like Christ today than I was yesterday. How do I know? I belong to Him because I am a part of everything in the world that is the Lord's. And because I have evidence of my change I believe I belong to Christ.

Prompt:
What evidence do you see today that helps you to know that you are becoming more like Christ? Write that evidence.

© 2010 MLMichaels

Fearless by Max Lucado

Fearless by Max Lucado is an extraordinary book. Anyone who knows me personally knows what this book means to me. This is a different kind of book. With news stories and headlines breaking with catastrophe after catastrophe, I often wonder how we are going to survive. But, Max Lucado provides a biblical answer for every possible life scenario that we could image. He reminds us that Jesus was afraid, but lived His life here of earth fearlessly as an example to us. With humor and passion Lucado helps the reader see the answer to a life full of fear. He boldly tackles the fear of death, fear of doubt, and fear of the future among other topics in the book. Fearless helps to remind Christians that we do not need to be afraid if we have put our faith in Jesus Christ. Knowing that the world will continue to be full of stressful moments that can lead to fear, its important to remember daily Christ's promises. This short, easy read is packed with heart warming stories and relate-able lessons that will help a fearful heart find hope. With a study guide at the end, the book can be used during personal devotion time or with a group. I recommend readers to read it again and again!


Stars 5 out of 5

© 2010 MLMichaels

Telling of all you wonderful deeds

I wash my hands in innocence, and go about your altar, O Lord, proclaiming aloud your praise and telling of all your wonderful deeds. (Psalm 27:6-7, NIV)

The only reason I would ever be able to wash my hands in innocence is because of Jesus Christ. Because of His death on the cross I am innocent. And because I am now innocent, I can enter His courts with praise. With my words I will praise Jesus.

Today, thank Jesus for your innocence. That your sins are washed clean; as white as snow.

© 2010 MLMichaels

eat pray love Jesus

A new movie coming out next week with Julia Roberts depicts the life of a woman who eats her way through one city, prays through another, and falls in love in yet another. She leads this seemingly fantastic journey on a quest to find herself. I have not read the book or seen the movie, but of course caught the story on Oprah several years ago. I am not angry at Oprah or this woman for writing about her life journey and sharing it with all of us, but this journey seems routine.
The 90's were made of stories like this.

I just have to wonder as a Christian woman where are the stories and journeys in search of Jesus.

The selfless journey of faith. The hope-filled journey into finding Jesus.

I would love to see more movies about real Christians finding Jesus. I would love to eat my way through Italy for spiritual learning too, but often times finding Jesus means being persecuted or killed, famished and starved. The headlines of Christians being martyred for leaving other faiths don't make it to the evening news.

I don't like the idea that to become a better human being means rejecting Christianity. I don't know if this woman rejected Christianity, but the thought that reaching a higher consciousness in life means rejecting the author of all life is absurd to me.

Are we praising people who reject Christianity?

And if they accept other religions including atheism, are they not rejecting Jesus anyway? Would I be a better person in life if I was a buddhist? I might be more accepted by the world, but I would have lost my salvation and will spend eternity in hell. There's that word that no one wants to talk about. E- gads friends.

Love. No one more than me loves the thought of being in love. Its a wonderful feeling with the butterflies and the misty heady feeling we get thinking of them. But to divorce someone because you are unhappy in your marriage is not the answer. It is an answer, but maybe not the one God intended for us all.

God bless this woman for finding her dream life. She appears to be happy and hopeful about her life and that's all we can wish for her.

But I'm not dreaming about this life. As Christians we dream about our life to come. Being able to see Jesus everyday without interruption of sin, fear, and anxiety. Bills, taxes, and the daily news grind vanish in a instant. We get to serve Jesus daily, speak with loved ones we've missed for so long, and get answers to questions that have bothered us for years.

So am I saying that there is only one way to God? Yes.

Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well." (John 14:6-7, NIV) Just because people don't believe what the bible says, doesn't negate what it says.

Unlike this woman, I am not looking to create my own heaven on earth. I think I will wait and let Jesus create my heaven.

© 2010 MLMichaels

New Born Hearts

"I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!" (John 3:3-5, NIV)

A wonderful picture came to me while reading a book this week. It made reference to being reborn. The image brought me to the new born ward in a hospital where babies are wheeled out and put in the nursery for viewing. I imaged (stay with me) angels carrying bundled new born hearts, reborn into heaven. A host of angels pushing tiny beds of brand new souls while others looked on rejoicing. "Here's Mr. Riley, 59 on earth, a new soul in heaven, auwwww..." We know that the angels rejoice in heaven when a new soul is won to Jesus. I wonder how many new souls are being rejoiced over today.

© 2010 MLMichaels

Cast of Characters by Max Lucado

Cast of Characters by Max Lucado is an interesting read of stories written from several of his other books. This compilation made into a new book is a thoughtful book about the characters we read in the bible. It is an excellent source for new Christians trying to get a broad picture of the people of the bible. It offers some indepth knowledge about characters and scenes from the bible. For mature Christians it is a gentle reminder of why we are Christians, where we have come from and where we are going. Each chapter provides a short snippet about each character and overall is an easy read. With lots of bible verses and a section for questions and discussion, it is ideal for a comprehensive bible study group.

Stars: 3 out of 5

© 2010 MLMichaels