Something to Think About: The Lord Hears

When the righteous cry for help the LORD hears, and rescues them from all their troubles.

Psalm 34: 17 (NRSV).

The Lord hears. No matter how broken the prayer, how strained or faint the cry, the LORD hears. Most of us can look back to times when our spirits were in such deep distress, we were at a loss for words. Sometimes we just said, “Jesus” over and over again because our lips could not formulate sentences from the relentless torrent of words crashing through our thoughts. What a comfort to know the LORD hears.

Not only does he hear but he makes sense of the groans and sighs and the prayers that hiccups and stops, and the stammering words slowly trailing off into silence. He knows the words we wish to utter before we figure out speech is necessary. Not only so, God knew we would be faced with whatever it is that now leaves us stymied. Beloved, not only did God know the end form the very beginning of time, he also had a plan in mind of exactly what to do for you.

So he hears, he understands and he rescues the righteous from all their troubles. “Wait a minute,” you say.  “Many times the situation does not change after I pray. How can the Bible then say God saves me from my troubles?” Well there is salvation and there is salvation. God saves his people in many ways.  A few of these are changing the circumstances, changer the person in the circumstance, changing the person as a result of the circumstances, removing the problem all together, sending help within the trial, changing consequences resulting from the circumstance — and I am sure by now you can think of several ways God demonstrates he hears, rescues and saves.

So whether this moment finds you speechless or just without the right words to express your need, whether you think or speak or mutter a disjointed collection of words, God promises to hear the righteous. And we know he is faithful to deliver all those who trust in him.

My heavenly Father, I ask you to search my heart and my thoughts right now. See the words I cannot express, hear my prayer as I lift my spirit to you. Father, I ask you to hear and rescue me from my troubles according to the promise of your Word. Amen.

Smokeless is not Safe

To a confirmed people watcher an airport provides an endless variety of fellow humans in all manner of dress and duress. With two whole hours to kill before my next flight and not in a particular reading frame of mind, I decided to go “character gathering” by simply observing the people around me. My eyes soon lighted on a handsome, blond young man (everybody looks young these days) who looked about late twenties, devouring the pages of a war thriller as ravenously as the pack of overpriced Combos. Hardly raising his head he demolished the snack and washed it down with an even pricier brand of spring water.

Expecting him to now morph into the pages, my curiosity peaked as he reached into his pocket removed a flat tin about the size of a cough lozenge container, and began flicking and turning the tin with a rhythm and thoroughness obviously born of considerable practice. I thought, Snuff? Then immediately, naw. Too young, too handsome, too obviously smart. Wrong. He twisted the lid from the tin, dipped a pincer full, made the deadly pouch between teeth and lower lip, and clamped his mouth shut. His only movement before boarding time was to spit brown, tobacco juice in his empty Fiji Spring water bottle.

Once the whole aesthetics receded to the background I started thinking about tobacco ads or more specifically ads on quitting smoking. What do they all have in common? Smoke. So without a doubt, one could easily infer once there is no smoke there is equally no danger or significantly less in choosing other forms of tobacco consumption. Nothing could be further from the truth. This is not a research paper so a quick click to Webmd.com provided all the information needed. 

Here are a few of the highlights.

“Smokeless tobacco products include chewing tobacco, snus, and snuff. Although these products are less harmful than smoking cigarettes, they are just as addictive as cigarettes and do have serious health risks.

White, leathery patches (leukoplakia) that form on the inside of the cheek or on the gum. These patches can turn into cancer of the mouth (oral cancer), involving the lip, tongue, or cheek.

Dental problems, such as abrasion of teeth, gum recessions, and periodontal bone loss.

An increased risk of pancreatic cancer.

Nicotine from smokeless tobacco can lead to nicotine dependence. This can make quitting smokeless tobacco just as hard as quitting cigarettes.”

He who dies slowly, or differently – still dies. Smokeless is not safe.

Just Sharing

For some reason last week took off at an amazing pace leaving us vainly struggling to keep up. But what a week it’s been! First we are preparing to go to Florida this weekend to celebrate the Christening of our grandson and my husband was also preparing for a week of convention at Trinity Pentecostal Church of God, 1109 Burke Ave in the Bronx. Friday the 11^th was youth rally in Bridgeport, our church, so of course we had to be there. Saturday night the 12^th we were in New Jersey at their ingathering rally, and today of course, in convention. One of the today’s highlights was spending time with our cousin Aunt Yvonne whom we have not seen in years. She is so much like Mom — which means she kills the fatted calf at the drop of a hat.

All of this only makes us grateful for the connections we have, both spiritual and familial. It also highlights how mush as humans we depend on the care and loving support of those around us. Not just in bad times but on an everyday basis. Which reminds me of a book given to me last week called, “We Carry Each Other” by Eric and Sharon Langshur. It talks about all the simple things we all can do to help others get through the tough times in life.

This week don’t wait for a book, or a special teaching or even tough times, to show love and appreciation or lend your strength to someone. Smile, laugh, listen to someone share a funny story. It does not sound like much but you may be the only person in days or even longer to give some lonely person a sense of significance. Get down to a child’s level to give them a hug and watch their eyes light up.

And if you need detailed strategies how to care and share at a deeper level there is help at www.carepages.com.

A part of #Leading #Effectively in your sphere of influence is learning how to be the most to the lost and the least. Have a safe and productive week!

Hospice: A Caring Decision?

If you have ever been in the position as the sole or primary decision maker in the matter of healthcare for a loved one, you are no doubt aware of the tangled emotions that can ensue. While it’s easy to get clinical and say if a person is 99 years old and has conditions a, b, and c then the family should just “let go” the realities are anything but simple. There may be the matter of promises made to care for the relative or parent at home. The caregiver may be ailing but feel a sense of responsibility or truly believe no one else can provide the care that is needed. Finances may be another determinant i.e. the social security check is a part of the overall household budget and placing the person in an institution would create a considerable gap. Last, there may be no money at all: neither to hire additional help to provide the caregiver with needed respite nor to pay for placement in a nursing home or similar facility.

When a number of these factors converge and end of life issues also come into play, hospice may be the best solution. Unfortunately, for all the literature and the attempts at explanation, hospice remains a fearful mystery to those who would most benefit from the service. Even some doctors are apt to think hospice is equivalent to sending a patient home to die. Consequently, there are physicians who will under no circumstance agree to a hospice consult for their patient. I do not now or have I ever worked for hospice. But Vitas, one of the nation’s largest providers, gives a pretty clear explanation of what their services entail.

In one of their newer publications Vitas asks: If you or your loved one were facing a life-limiting illness, would you know what options are available to you and your family? It then goes on to describe hospice as a treatment modality offering aggressive treatment of physical and emotional pain associated with end of life care. This is also known as palliative care i.e. to provide comfort measures instead of the treatment extremes necessary in some cases, when a cure is being pursued. Perhaps most surprising is the statistics citing that as much as 75% of all Americans, given the choice, would prefer to die at home in familiar surroundings. Hospice allows that option when a cure is no longer possible.

When should one consider hospice? As much as months before death is imminent — people have been known to be on hospice for as much as a year before end of life. The care team may include doctors, nurses, hospice aides, social workers, chaplain, bereavement specialist and volunteers. Most importantly, Medicare, Medicaid and most insurance policies provide for hospice care, at no extra cost to the patient or family. Doctors make home visits and nurses are often provided around the clock for crisis care. Finally, hospice care is not complicated and is usually tailored to the patient and family’s need. Who qualifies for service? Anyone of any age with any life limiting illness, can receive hospice care. In addition, care does not end with the death of the patient as bereavement support for the family may continue for more than a year.

These days I am talking a lot about #not #giving #up which is not the same as not needing help. The trick is learning the facts, using available resources, and realizing whatever your challenge, you are #not #alone.

Caring Connections

I had a call yesterday from the wife of a retired pastor in Canada. As we talked she mentioned a small outreach she started that she calls a card ministry. This lady sends greeting cards with encouraging notes to pastors who may be struggling or just in need of a reminder someone cares about them — personally. Why?

In the words of my friend, “Many pastors out there are hurting and need someone to reach out to them.” I know that. In fact, I have known for years. And that is the whole premise of my book #Leading #Effectively When Everything Says Quit. 

Given the state of our world and the pressures under which many pastors serve, it’s surprising hardly anything is being said about caring for the shepherds. Could it be we, the church, are ashamed to talk about our imperfections? The Bible talks about weakness and as a result, we all know the way to become strong in the Lord.

Think for a moment what would have happened if Jesus had spent his days rallying around the people who already believed and were focused on him as Messiah? Just in case we missed it Jesus told those who questioned his habit of hanging out with the down and outers that those who are well do not need a doctor. In other words, though nothing attracts like success, the leaders and pastors and people in your circle who are at the top of their game are not necessarily the ones most in need of your time and energies. Turn instead to the one struggling to get a leg up or to come out from under.

But to get back to my friend. She talked about the calls she has received since her card ministry started. Words like, “just in time,” “thanks for caring” and “I needed that” are quite common. I guess you know the next gift these pastors receive will be a card inside the book Leading Effectively. The message cannot be repeated too often. When we are broken to the point where quitting seems to be the only haven, we are simply at the place where God can more easily shape us into vessels for his greater honor and glory.

Is there someone you know who needs this message?

A Friend Like No Other

She walked slowly, uncertainly in direct contrast to the people hurrying, coming and going around her. As I drew abreast I heard a most definite sniff and so turned to ask if she was okay. Hardly pausing, she answered, “It’s my sister. Her baby just died.” For brief moments I matched her pace as fresh tears filled her eyes. What does one say in such a case?

“I am sorry, so sorry for your loss,” I responded. “This must be so hard for her …”

“Nine months and now this ... all the preparation …”

“Yes, I can only imagine how hard going home to the nursery is going to be. I am so sorry. I know this is going to be painful for your family.”

Not much more to be said. We walked on in silence for a minute or two before exchanging smiles, a pat on the shoulder, muffled thanks, and parting at the foot of the stairs.

I quickly sent up a prayer for the grieving mother and her family and fervently hoped there would be someone among them who knew the comfort Jesus brings.

What a friend WE (believers, those in a relationship with the Savior) have in Jesus! And how often we take that for granted. At our lowest ebb we can still rest assured somewhere hidden in the worst tragedy, are the ingredients to work things out for our good. Now I am not saying God causes horrid things to happen in order to bring good. Rather, he takes the bad that either comes to tempt us or the reverses that occur because we are still children of the Fall, and cancels the damage. In the end, every situation has redemptive value.

Much of this I don’t fully understand. Like you I am getting on-the-job-training. But every so often, the 20/20 look back happens. I am suddenly able to see the hand of God orchestrating every note of deliverance just when I thought the music in my life had faded for good.

You may have physical death in your family or a series of emotional deaths, each with their payload of grief. God is able, is with you, and promises “all [your] sins and griefs to bear.” Use your privilege as a child of the King, and take “everything to God in prayer.”

NEW RELEASE

Please join me in celebrating the release of Leading Effectively When Everything Says Quit. Just got my copies today. The book is available at Snowfallpress.com, will be on Amazon.com very shortly in book and Kindle format. Ask me about direct purchases and volume discounts ... laurenmyers339@gmail.com

https://www.facebook.com/lauren.myers.3994/posts/10201742254815636

Problems and Solutions - By Cec Murphy

Below is an excerpt from Cec Murphy's September Newsletter. He is someone I admire tremendously and I hope you too will be encouraged by his wisdom.

"Once we get through the next two months, things will be easy for us," I said to my wife four months before graduating with my master's degree. I owed money to the university, but by careful management we would have paid everything before graduation. The financial strain would be gone.

And it was. For a few weeks. Then our older daughter, Wanda, needed braces. Shirley's Dodge called for unexpected repairs, and we were cautiously budgeting our dollars again.

I wonder how many of us have made similar statements: "Once we get past this predicament" or "Just as soon as I start my new job." I'm too embarrassed to admit how often I said such words. I believed them, and in my naïveté I was sure life would go smoothly after that. After all, haven't we all heard, "For every problem there is a solution"?

Don't we like to believe that once we surmount this issue, things will flow smoothly? A few months ago, our pastor, Owen Stepp, twisted that by saying, "For every solution, there is a problem." That is, every resolution opens the door for a new quandary.

We do well to remember both sayings. That way we focus on the immediate difficulty while preparing ourselves for the problem that follows. Is it possible that God created life to work that way? First, we face a hardship, cry out for help, work through it, and relax. Then we have to encounter the problems that arose from the solution.

For example, when I left the pastorate to write full time, I found my solution for overcrowded days and nights was not quite enough sleep. I confronted new issues in my adjustment to lead the solitary life. I solved one problem only to have to stare at a new dilemma that required a resolution.

Isn't that how life functions? Accepting the two statements pushes us to work for the present obstacle and know we'll have other issues ahead. As a serious Christian, I believe I need those problems-to-solutions to keep me aware of my need for divine help and a greater dependency on God's faithfulness.

 

For every problem there is a solution;

 

For every solution there is a problem.

Both of them keep us growing.

Healthy Hearts Thrive on Mediterranean Diet

 

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By Diane Sparacino, Staff Writer

Americans have heard it many times before – the Italians, Spaniards and Greeks apparently have healthful living figured out, especially when it comes to healthy eating. And what’s not to love? Nutritious, natural foods are high in fiber, vitamins and antioxidants. Fresh produce, fish and olive oil are not only delicious, but heart-healthy alternatives to the fatty, sugary, over-processed foods that have become staples of the Western diet. 

As countless studies and nutritional experts have repeatedly told us – we would be on the right track if we just exercised more and learned to eat like Mediterranean folks have for centuries. Yet we’re stuck in our bad habits, and cases of diabetes, heart disease, stroke and obesity continue to rise at an alarming rate. Now, there’s yet another reason to listen.

In February 2013, The New England Journal of Medicine published a study out of Spain, “Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease with a Mediterranean Diet.” The study looked at the ”traditional Mediterranean diet,” which researchers characterized as “a high intake of olive oil, fruit, nuts, vegetables, and cereals; a moderate intake of fish and poultry; a low intake of dairy products, red meat, processed meats, and sweets; and wine in moderation, consumed with meals” (Estruch, R. et al, 2013).

What is different with this study is its scope. Considered the lengthiest, most scientific study on the Mediterranean diet, researchers enrolled close to 7,500 people and followed them for nearly five years. The participants were 43% male (55-80 years) and 57% female (60-80 years). Subjects had “high cardiovascular risk” (but did not have heart disease at the time of selection), and were randomly assigned to one of three diets: A Mediterranean diet including extra-virgin olive oil; a Mediterranean diet including mixed nuts, and a third “control group” was advised only to reduce their dietary fat. All three groups participated in “quarterly individual and group educational sessions” (Estruch, R. et al, 2013).

The researchers found that the high intake of produce, fish, legumes, nuts and olive oil, coupled with low overall consumption of meat and meat products appeared to be associated with better survival rates in their subjects. “In this trial, an energy-unrestricted Mediterranean diet supplemented with either extra-virgin olive oil or nuts resulted in an absolute risk reduction of approximately 3 major cardiovascular events per 1,000 person-years, for a relative risk reduction of approximately 30%, among high-risk persons who were initially free of cardiovascular disease,” they stated. “Perhaps there is a synergy among the nutrient-rich foods included in the Mediterranean diet that fosters favorable changes in intermediate pathways of cardiometabolic risk, such as blood lipids, insulin sensitivity, resistance to oxidation, inflammation, and vasoreactivity” (Estruch, R. et al, 2013).

Since the Mediterranean region encompasses several cultural and geographical areas, the broad term “Mediterranean Diet” can be a confusing one. According to Oldways Preservation Trust (a nonprofit food and nutrition education organization), traditional Mediterranean meals typically feature foods grown and harvested in areas surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. In 1993, Oldways teamed up with the European Office of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Harvard School of Public Health to present the classic Mediterranean Diet and the accompanying Mediterranean Diet Food Pyramid to illustrate their point (Oldways, 2013).

The Mediterranean Diet Pyramid was initially based on the traditional eating patterns found in 1960s Greece, Crete and Southern Italy. Today it is widely considered the “gold standard” representation of the traditional Mediterranean diet among healthcare professionals, consumers and educators (Oldways, 2013).

The Mediterranean Diet Pyramid recommends the daily consumption of 10 servings of plant-based foods that are locally-grown and minimally-processed. The pyramid limits total fat consumption to less than 35% and recommends olive oil instead of butter, low amounts of cheese, yogurt; fish or poultry ( twice per week); and up to seven eggs per week . Fresh fruit is suggested as a daily dessert and red meat is limited to a few times per month. In addition, regular physical activity, one glass of red wine per day, the use of herbs/spices in place of salt, and plenty of drinking water are strongly recommended (Oldways, 2013).


Along with lifestyle changes including exercise and avoiding tobacco smoke (including secondhand smoke), the American Heart Association (AHA) has long encouraged a “heart-healthy diet,” chiefly comprised of fruits and vegetables, high-fiber foods, whole grains. They also endorse fish (at least two times/week), lean meats and poultry and fat free dairy products (AHA, 2013).

Several courses about stroke and cardiovascular health can be found at RN.com. Click here for: Acute Coronary Syndrome, Stroke Prevention and Recognition and Acute Ischemic Stroke Management. For more on the Mediterranean Diet Pyramid and heart-healthy menu ideas, click here.


References:

American Heart Association [AHA]. (2013). Coronary Artery Disease - Coronary Heart Disease. Retrieved from
http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/More/MyHeartandStrokeNews/Coronary-Artery-Disease---Coronary-Heart-Disease_UCM_436416_Article.jsp

Estruch, R., Ros, E., Salas-Salvadó, J., Covas, M.I., Corella, D., et al. (2013). Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease with a Mediterranean Diet. The New England Journal of Medicine [NEJM]. Retrieved from http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1200303?query=featured_home&#t=article


Oldways Preservation Trust. (2013). Mediterranean Diet Pyramid. Oldwayspt.org. Retrieved from http://oldwayspt.org/resources/heritage-pyramids/mediterranean-pyramid/overview

ABOUT THAT INTERVIEW ...

7 Questions to Ask in Every Interview

By Catherine ConlanABOUT THTA
Monster Contributing Writer

At the end of every job interview, the interviewer will probably ask if you have any questions. What you ask can tell them a lot about you as a candidate and whether you’d be a good fit.

Try to ask at least a few of these seven questions at any interview you have.

• How do you celebrate accomplishments and achievements here? This question can help you determine whether your values match up with the company’s, says Sabrina Ali, a career counselor for under-40 professionals and executives. “If you value being told to add an extra day on to your holiday next week for a job well done, but what the culture offers are words like ‘good job’ or a team drink after work, then work is going to feel like more work.
   
• From your perspective, what does success look like or mean in this role? It’s important to remember that a job well done might look different to different people, Ali says. “Ideally what you do and how you do it are a match to what they are looking at as they rely on your role for their success, but often this is not the case,” she explains. “What defines a job well done doesn't need to be a secret.” By asking, you can figure out whether you’ll be able to sustainably give what the job demands.
   
• Could you describe your perfect candidate for this role? The answer to this question is revealing, says career coach Cheryl Palmer. “Once the interviewer articulates for you what the perfect candidate looks like, you can then either reiterate your qualifications for the position or add anything that you did not mention before that directly relates to how your background positions you as the perfect candidate.” It’s a great way to end an interview on a strong note.
   
• What are your top priorities for the person in this position during the first 30 days? When you ask this questions, Palmer says, you’ll be able to figure out what the company’s immediate needs are. In addition, if you do get the job, you’ll know what to focus on so you can reinforce the fact that they made a good hire.
   
• When it comes to work, what keeps you awake at night? This question shows you’re not afraid of a challenge, says Adam Grunwerg of Graduates.co.uk. “You’re focused on making a contribution to the business and helping your boss to succeed,” Grunwerg says. “It’s is a powerful message to be giving, which will make you appear more employable.”
   
• Are there any shortcomings in my application or interview that I could address now?This is a “bold question, but it shows you welcome critical feedback,” says Grunwerg. By giving them an opportunity to raise any concerns that might stand in the way of hiring you, “you can address any weaknesses in your application that you were not aware of, increasing your chance of closing the deal and landing the job.”
   
• What values do you see in your company’s leadership that have contributed to your success? Periscope Employee Engagement Director Tara Meyers says this question gets at two things: “How well does the interviewer know and understand the leadership of the company, and how does the interviewer view success?” The answer can give you an insight into the company’s culture and what motivates and drives employees. “Success through career advancement or development varies greatly at different companies, so it's essential that growth expectations are aligned between the applicant and the company in order to reduce turnover,” she explains.

Dr. Bill Denton Talks about ...

Friends and Friendship by Dr. Bill Denton   A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. (Proverbs 17:17)     You can always tell a real friend: when you’ve made a fool of yourself, he doesn’t feel you’ve done a permanent job. (Laurence J. Peter)     A lot of people go through life with only a few friends. It seems that some have less than that. They have no one on whom they can call in good times or bad. There is no one with whom to bounce ideas around, or to talk about deep and troubling subjects. They have no one to call in times of need or difficulty. They are at the mercy of life, standing alone.     Others seem to have a multitude of friends. Wherever they go, people know them, and like to be around them. Should trouble strike, their biggest hesitation might be over which friend to call. They know exactly the person with whom to discuss the topics of inquiry and debate. Life is full of entertaining and invigorating relationships because it is full of friends.     There ought to be a course in school on friendship. Of course, some people are perfectly happy to operate with fewer friends. They might rather have a few deep and loyal friends, than many superficial ones. Others thrive best when friends are everywhere and numerous. It is not so much the number of friends that is important as is the possession of friends, period. Friendship is a blessing...     Friendship is a blessing, and a friend is the channel through whom great emotional, spiritual, and sometimes even physical blessings flow. Friends can cheer us when we’re sorrowful or depressed. Friends can challenge us when we allow ourselves to get beyond our reasonable boundaries. Friends can motivate us when we’re ready to give in, and they can provide for us when life falls apart. They are there when all is well, and we want someone with whom to share life’s pleasant and memorable moments. We often just want them around to have a good time, to laugh, to act silly, to enjoy some mutually liked activity. In how many ways have friends enriched our lives and made us feel loved, accepted, respected and cared for? Probably, too many to list, and the list grows daily.     It is safe to say that when God created the world and all the majestic things in it, when he streaked the heavens with radiant color and the earth with grand mountains and awe-inspiring canyons, when he painted the plains with waving grasses and erected noble forests of towering trees, he outdid it all by creating friends. Why not take a moment or two and thank someone today for being a friend to you?

Ghost Story

'Duppy' still torments Rose Hall family

SANTA CRUZ, St Elizabeth -- The Junction Fire Department have confirmed that yesterday (Thursday)  fire personnel responded to a fire at an unfinished house close to the so-called haunted house that was gutted on June 5.

A fireman told the Observer by telephone that he and his colleagues responded to a fire call from Rose Hall, south east St Elizabeth at about midday, Thursday. He said that on arrival the fire team found ‘smouldering’ and ‘blackened” items including the frame of a bed, bedding and sheets outside the house. He said he also saw evidence of a broken window.

The fireman said occupants of the house appeared to be among those who lived at the neighbouring house which was destroyed by fire last week. A distraught family member who telephoned the Observer late Thursday said the latest fire followed the same pattern of others which had tormented her and her relatives since April, culminating in last week’s destruction of their house.

She claimed they had moved into the unfinished house next door and occupied one room and a bathroom following last week’s catastrophic fire. She claimed that close to midday, Thursday, occupants heard a window "break" and then saw fire consuming items including bedding and furniture. Householders used water from their rainwater catchment tank to put out the blaze and then threw the damaged items on the “outside”.

The woman who insists she does not want to be named in the media, said family members were at their wit’s end, and simply wanted their recent experiences to stop. “We need help,” she told the Jamaica Observer. “We need somebody to come and tell us a wha a gwaan and try put a stop to it… we can’t live like this…,” she said. She claimed family members had also received death threats by telephone.

Since April 20, family members and neighbours have reported strange happenings at the house which was eventually destroyed. They speak of unexplained “stoning” of householders and mysterious fires which damaged furniture, bedding and settee chairs prior to last week’s major disaster. Family members and residents say they believe the family is being “terrorised” by “duppies” (ghosts) at the behest of others who mean the family harm.

The Junction police who are investigating the destruction of the house have sent samples to the Forensic Laboratory in Kingston to help determine the cause of the fire. Member of Parliament for South East St Elizabeth, Richard Parchment says arrangements are being made to provide emergency housing for the displaced family.

 

- - Garfied Myers (could be a cousin)!

 

 

Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/-Duppy--still-torments-Rose-Hall-family#ixzz2aU2G28b4

Just for Fun

This evening I had a delightful conversation with my daughter Lo Lauren Myers who unblushingly confirmed, I am the last person to find out almost everything on TV is also Online – for free. Ruptured my bubble a bit but could not really diminish the joy of watching Fox News and Diane Sawyer, Antiques Road Show and Inspector Morse from the comfort of my bed.  You see only the bedroom of my Connecticut apartment has AC. On a day like today when Stamford is hotter than Miami, the living room verges on the upper reaches of the hot as blazes spectrum. So aside from furtive dashes to the kitchen and powder room, I live in the bedroom.

Rechelle Blakemore Gonzalez and Tressy St. Fleur can now be proud that I finally used the “ Tango” they downloaded to my phone several months ago. What a joy to see my grandson “walk” around with the help of his handy, dandy, cutting edge ambulatory device. I chuckle watching Lo get her workout and Anthony is not even independently mobile yet. This, is going to be fun!

Last, if you enjoy crushed ice and love watermelon,you simply must have frozen watermelon bites for snack, or in my case, desert. Crunch, slurp, Yum! Besides, us must eats da watermelon, yes suh! (I am so not explaining that).

Last #2 — preacher, what can I say? Anyway, talked with Pastor Junior Edsil Myers and all is well, great testimony of God’s greatness throughout the convention. I am hoping he brings me bammy, hand-bun, and cassava pone from St. Elizabeth. Diet enhancers, you understand. LOL, out lot loud like Monk.

Stay cool, stay hydrated and most of all, stay blessed. Special shout out to Alexis Yanaros hale, Stella Muyriel, Elaine Wright Colvin (I see Washington is quite hot as well), Becky Blanton and Betsy Lumsden Smith. Love in Christ my sisters, elect and chosen.

In addition to food, locals received blankets, tarps, and raincoats to keep them warm and dry. (Image, caption courtesy GFA)

India (MNN) ― Nearly 6000 people are missing in northern India due to last month's flooding, the government said Monday. It's a significant jump from last week's 4,500.
"Personally, I think the 6,000 number they're saying is not even accurate. I think it is way more than that," says KP Yohannan with Gospel for Asia.
GFA's Compassion Services teams are on the ground bringing help and hope.
"They said the number of people missing are thousands more than what we are hearing," Yohannan says. What could be causing such a variance in the reports?
"You know, it's not like the United States. Many of these countries do not want to let out the real crisis information," Yohannan states.
"Eventually, in a few months' time, maybe more and more news will come out [indicating] this was much bigger than we realized."
It's not typical for the government to work alongside Gospel for Asia. But right now, officials are flying GFA workers into remote areas to deliver relief aid.
"Unlike some other times in the past, the local government is very much involved in helping, and we are very, very happy and grateful," says Yohannan. "The government officials actually are locating their government helicopters to our missionaries and workers to bring in help: food and clothes and all kinds of things.
"Without that, our people could not get into some places; there was no way."
Yohannan says flood survivors need more than physical relief like food and shelter. They need someone to talk to, someone to listen and provide counsel, hope, prayer. And that's exactly what GFA teams are doing.
"It's very, very complex when you think about the primitiveness because they lost everything," he states. "That is the condition of literally hundreds of thousands of people at this time.
"It will be another six months or a year work to bring any kind of normality…for these suffering people," Yohannan continues. "This kind of situations only compels us to be more active toward praying and bringing help."
Although GFA is doing all they can, the need is bigger than their supply.
"We need financial help, if people will designate, and every penny of that will go toward helping these people," states Yohannan. "The need is a thousand times bigger than we are able to do…but I am glad that through this, many will experience the love of Christ."
Click here to lend a hand. Most importantly, pray.
"Pray that through all this, somehow people will find hope. Our task is [to] continue to share the love of Christ and point people to Christ, who is the only hope," Yohannan says.
"Pray that many will turn their hearts to the Lord, even during this sorrowful time."
http://www.mnnonline.org/article/18763

Ministry In Fiji

Dear Family & Friends,

Warm greetings from Lautoka, Fiji in the name of our Saviour Jesus Christ! By God’s grace I arrived here on the 26^th of June 2013. Our trip so far has been filled with blessings from above.

Our team has had divine appointments through which we have had the privilege of meeting various people on the streets of Fiji – loving them and sharing Christ with them. 40% of the Fijian population is Indian, so I feel just at home! Both the Indians as well as the Fijians are such warm and welcoming people. We purchased a couple of Fijiansulus[similar to lungis in India] as it is the traditional attire of the land.

 

On our second night, we were invited by the security guard of our hotel, Tuks, to visit his village. We excitedly accepted the invitation.So the next day, we took a half hour ride in the local bus with Tuks to his village Vitogo. We were taken around the village which was so beautiful and nostalgic for me because the village looked so similar to my father’s villageIntur, back in Andhra Pradesh, India! We were introduced to the friendly Fijians of the village and visited the village school, Vitogo District School. We spent time interacting with the kids and loving them. Us visiting this village opened up a door for future ministry. We asked them if we could serve their village in any way, and they said we could at the school. This was so thrilling because back in Kona, when we asked God what kind of work He wanted us to do in Fiji, one of the things He told me was “schools”! And here we were, with an opportunity to work in the Vitogo District School, starting this Wednesday!

This SundayJune 30^th, we were invited to a Fijian fellowship called New Life Church. Towards the end, they had a time of ministry where the sick and weary were prayed for. The pastor invited some of us to come up and join him in ministering, and I was one of them. I had never ever done this before. Of course I have prayed for people in the past and seen healing before my eyes, but what I saw and experienced on this morning was something I can barely put into words. There were a few people that came up to me for prayer, but among them was a Fijian lady, Elira, who had a severe pain in her neck and chest. I lay my hands on her shoulder and began praying for her. It was a simple prayer. Basically what I said was, “Father thank you for sending your son Jesus to die for your dear daughter. Holy Spirit, I ask that you breathe over her neck and chest right now and enable her to feel Your love flow through her body.” At that, I felt a strange power and suddenly the lady fell over. It was the first time I saw the Holy Spirit move that way. She was on the floor for a while before she got up and walked away with joy. After the service, she came up to me and blessed me saying “Praise God He healed me from my pains!” After Elira, a few others came up for prayer, and among them was Rohini, an Indian dwarf lady. Rohini was experiencing intense pain in her bones. I prayed pretty much the same prayer, but this time while I was praying I got a word from the Lord for her. He told me that He dearly loved her despite her past and despite the negative she’s heard from numerous ones. So I told her that God was telling me this, and it seemed to have brought so much life to her eyes and reassured her of how much the Father loves her. Then, upon asking the Holy Spirit to fill her heart with His love, she too was overpowered and fell back. I did not get a chance to see Rohini after the service, so I don’t know if she was healed, but I have faith that she is!

God is moving mightily among this land and He is using us, His instruments from Kona to fan the flame of revival that is already so strong here in Fiji. The experience I had on Sunday was neither something that I have ever come across, nor something that I expected. But the Lord just showed me that He is the same God of the Bible – always has been and always will be.

Please continue to pray for our team as we have a huge revival conference coming up next week from July 8^th to July 13^th here in Lautoka. The conference involves training and teaching for Christians in the morning and revival meetings for the lost and unsaved in the evenings. It will be conducted by Circuit Riders, an evangelism training organization and we will be assisting them in the teaching and meetings. I will be helping the international team in praise and worship. This will be the first time I will be leading thousands of people in praise, adoration and worship of Jesus. Also pray for God to sustain us with perfect health of mind, body and spirit.

I am ever grateful to you for remembering me in your prayers. I love you dearly with the love of Christ. God bless you!

In His service,

Dan Symonds

Oh, What a Friend!

 

She walked slowly, uncertainly in direct contrast to the people hurrying, coming and going around her. As I drew abreast I heard a most definite sniff and so turned to ask if she was okay. Hardly pausing, she answered, “It’s my sister. Her baby just died.” For brief moments I matched her pace as fresh tears filled her eyes. What does one say in such a case?

“I am sorry, so sorry for your loss,” I responded. “This must be so hard for her …”

“Nine months and now this ... all the preparation …”

“Yes, I can only imagine how hard going home to the nursery is going to be. I am so sorry. I know this is going to be painful for your family.”

Not much more to be said. We walked on in silence for a minute or two before exchanging smiles, a pat on the shoulder, muffled thanks, and parting at the foot of the stairs.

I quickly sent up a prayer for the grieving mother and her family and fervently hoped there would be someone among them who knew the comfort Jesus brings.

What a friend WE (believers, those in a relationship with the Savior) have in Jesus! And how often we take that for granted. At our lowest ebb we can still rest assured somewhere hidden in the worst tragedy, are the ingredients to work things out for our good. Now I am not saying God causes horrid things to happen in order to bring good. Rather, he takes the bad that either comes to tempt us or the reverses that occur because we are still children of the Fall, and cancels the damage. In the end, every situation has redemptive value.

Much of this I don’t fully understand. Like you I am getting on-the-job-training. But every so often, the 20/20 look back happens. I am suddenly able to see the hand of God orchestrating every note of deliverance just when I thought the music in my life had faded for good.

You may have physical death in your family or a series of emotional deaths, each with their payload of grief. God is able, is with you, and promises “all [your] sins and griefs to bear.” Use your privilege as a child of the King, and take “everything to God in prayer.”

Life in the Vine

 

Text John 15: 4-6

 

Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned (NIV).

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing . 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered ; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned  (KJV).

Remain united to me, and I will remain united to you. A branch cannot bear fruit by itself; it can do so only if it remains in the vine. In the same way you cannot bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 "I am the vine, and you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will bear much fruit; for you can do nothing without me. 6 Those who do not remain in me are thrown out like a branch and dry up; such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire, where they are burned (The Message).

A.    Christ emphatically states fruit bearing is a process that cannot be accomplished through the dictates of culture or simply doing one’s own thing.

 Abide in me, and I in you; as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, &c.--As all spiritual fruitfulness had been ascribed to the mutual inhabitation, and living, active interpenetration (so to speak) of Christ and His disciples, so here the keeping up of this vital connection is made essential to continued fruitfulness.

5. without me--apart, or vitally disconnected from Me.
ye can do nothing--spiritually, acceptably.

6. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch . . . withered . . . cast into the fire . . . burned--The one proper use of the vine is to bear fruit; failing this, it is good for one other thing--fuel. (See Ezekiel 15:1-5 ). How awfully striking the figure, in this view of it![1]

Fruit – Most frequently “fruit” is the total results from any specific action or disposition. The fruit produced may be evil (Matt 3:10; 7:15-20; 12: 33; Luke 6:43-44a; Romans 7:5), but more often good(Psalm 104:13; Matt. 3:8, Jams 3:17). John 15:1-16 illustrate how God produces life among men. In like fashion disciples are urged to “bear fruit.  [2]

2. As Gentiles we are grafted into Israel, the real olive tree. In actuality, in Christ we are grafted into more than a nation, we have become part of Christ himself – primary grafting. Christ will do a secondary grafting, a tertiary – or a whatever number if we ever find ourselves separated from our source. “Graft – Rom.11:17-24, A slip of cultivated plant is inserted (grafted) into the stock of a common one. Paul used the figure to illustrate how Gentile believers have been grafted into the stock of faithless Israel, but he warned the new branch could be cut away if proven faithless.”[3]

 3. Christ calls us all to allow the Holy Spirit to bear fruits through us. “22 But the Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 humility, and self-control (Good News). Fruit bearing is not personal effort. Rather it is the life of Christ expressed through us, as we remain connected to him.

We therefore conclude even believers who find themselves disconnected do not have to die. Christ says, “come” and whoever comes to him he will not turn away. Separated believers can turn to Christ and live again.

 

God's Mysterious Ways

God is taking us in a wide circle all the way back to the people we knew, grew up with, or led in the past - I mean like 30 plus years past. The best thing about it is that we are all still in church, still seeking the depths of the knowledge of God.

Here in Connecticut, we have the choice to worship with friends in New York, New Jersey, as well as Hartford or Bridgeport, CT. One could call this one of the perks of being a Travel Nurse. I promise to do two pieces: The Trouble with Travel and The Triumphs of Travel Nursing and believe me there are plenty of both.

Certainly the trouble would include just the wear and tear of moving stuff so frequently and the need to jump in with both feet into a new environment every twelve weeks or so. Triumph is the novelty - new people, places and experiences. Traveling on someone else's dime  for the most part and having the choice to do what you love where you want to ...

Battle of Wills

My friend and I just got through talking about the battle of the wills, Ours vs. Gods. Every child of God comes to a point where there is a struggle between our desires or inclinations and the directions God and circumstances point. When this happens we experience tension, discouragement, unhappiness, and a nagging, gnawing, anxiety.

I don't have a particularly original solution. But I can honestly say from experience, the only thing I know to do is hang on to my faith - with both hands. The way I see it, if I practice just trusting God and plodding on, eventually light breaks and there is clarity.
If I go running off in one direction because the one I am on looks less than attractive, I stand a good chance of making my situation worse.

How often do we think of Jesus' own battle with his will vs. that of the Father's? Whether from the human or God standpoint, the cross was no walk in the park. Still, Jesus did everyday what he came to do and in the final lap of the journey said "not my will, but thine be done."
My will or desire is not for uncertainty in any part of my life, but God may want to teach me faith; lack may be a means to teach me about my Source...and we could go on.

So we pray:
Take my will and make it thine it shall be no longer mine
Take my heart it is thine own, it shall be thy royal throne

The Power of Hope

Whether you are flipping burgers, lecturing to graduate students, or staring at a blank computer screen willing words to spring forth, one single thing keeps life moving forward. Hope.
Without hope there is truly no payday.
Hope is the substance of dreams, the cool water slaking our thirst through the often barren areas of life. It's the blanket that keeps the hungry warm, and the dying comforted.
Hope ease the aches of the battered covers the shame of the violated and crowns the despised with honor. Hope walks the corridors of a benighted world and sees all - and nothing but the light ahead of a coming glorious kingdom.
Still, hope is not some ephemeral warm fuzzies or a mystic wish anchored on nothing, that some how comes through
Real hope, prevailing hope hangs on the only One who sees beyond the veil and declares He works all for our good.

Oh, my soul, why are you so discouraged? HOPE in God.

THOUGHTS ON PRAYER TEXT: ST. MARK 11:20-24

Our prayer is not based on a timetable but faith in God.
What is a timetable? A schedule, a listing of times when certain events are expected to take place.
The answer to your prayer in not necessarily in the morning like the drying up of the fig tree,
but there is an order to the activity of faith… there is a process. There are elements at work
 When we begin to pray a whole lot of activity begins to take place in the heavenlies.
When we pray according to the laws of the kingdom it creates a favorable atmosphere for for our prayer to be answered.
1. THERE MUST BE A PROMISE
For faith to be valid it must have a promise upon which it can anchor.
Heb. 6:13-19 which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast.
The anchor of the seaman is cast downwards into the deep; but the Christian’s is thrown upwards into heaven.
2. THERE MUST BE A PETITION
St. Luke 11:9-10 the invitation of Jesus gives us the fullest certainty that all such prayer (Ask, seek, knock) is heard and will be answered.
3. THERE MUST BE FAITH
Faith is not something you trust in, but it is something you trust with. Faith is not a law but a principle.
Faith in not the destination but the vehicle you use to get to God
There are many times when a miracle will be required TO GET YOU YOUR ANSWER.
4. THERE WILL BE OPPOSITION FROM SATAN
Man has an enemy, the devil, who strongly resists prayers getting through to God.
Daniel 10 Tells us how Satan opposed Daniel’s answer getting to him in a timely manner.
We are at war against Satan, we are fighting to keep what we have and to get back what Satan has stolen from us.
5. THERE IS THE FULFILLMENT OR ANSWER TO PRAYER Mark 11:24. Whatever you desire when you pray, believe that you receive it, and you shall have it.

Add your own discoveries to this outline as you keep on praying the prayer of faith.

The Hard Questions

"...the difficult questions we would ask of God will only be answered when we are willing to give significant time and energy to seeking God's face. A quick prayer of "Why God, why?! and then return to business as usual will not suffice. Instead, God invites us to come into his presence for extended conversations, during which God imparts himself and his perspective to us. No question is too hard for God, no feeling hidden from him - but God can only deal with those things we openly bring before him for his healing and help.
Humility with regard to the limitations of human understanding where God is concerned is necessary. More to the point, it is ultimately not understanding, but presence - the companionship and love of God - that we need most in our deep questioning." Commentary on 2 Esdras, pages 1434-1436, The Renovare Bible .

Then I answered and said, "How long? When will these things be? Why are our years few and evil? He answered me and said, "Do not be in a greater hurry than the Most High. You, indeed, are in a hurry for yourself, but the Highest is in a hurry on behalf of many. (The Apocryphal Writings, 2 Esdras 4:33-34).

From me: God is not threatened when we ask the hard questions but he is glorified when we trust him. If you have never doubted, questioned, or stopped in your tracks for lack of clear directions, it's  because you only came to Christ 10 seconds ago. But remember,  He who called us to serve him is faithful. Today challenge yourself to reciprocate, and be faithful to Him even if the answers you think you must have never comes in this lifetime.

Waiting in perfect trust ...

Lauren

To You Health!

On January 5th my daughter Lauren Lo Myers sent me the end of year “Windfall” challenge which I promptly posted on my FB page. I was surprised to see how many people took us up on that and are now saving dollar amounts corresponding to the week number of January 2013 (hope you deposited your three dollars). Let’s not be too legalistic with this though. How about finding ways to set aside more than we “have to?”
Here’s what I mean. We want to walk in health, we pray for healing while clinging to habits that are proven to be death to us. Sodas, excessive caffeine, cookies, chocolate (hurts me to say that), cigarettes – you get the idea. Then there are legitimate expenses we may not be managing as well as we could. By that I mean spending $150 for groceries then buying lunch and breakfast every day at work. What’s wrong with that picture? Pack your lunch while you are making dinner – from your dinner.  Buy enough fruits, cereals, yogurt, whatever you eat for breakfast, and take your stuff with you. It will work out so much cheaper. Next step? Add some extra cash to your stash!
 Skip the soda or drink half as many cans as you used to.  I f you can’t give up sodas cold turkey buy your brand when you food shop instead of a can from the cafeteria at a $1 to $1.75 each time.  Listen, Starbucks has heavens know how much money. How many days a week you want to buy that $4-6 dollars worth of dressed up coffee? Think what a difference it could make to your fund 11 months and some weeks from now!
For sure God blesses us when we tithe and put him first in all aspects of life. One of those blessings we receive is wisdom. God says my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.  Let’s be wise this year not just for our health and finances but as a witness to the world.

Have a wonderful week!

Do You? Seriously?

Jeremiah 29:11 is arguably one of the most widely quoted verses in today's Christian repertoire. Yet, most of us panic the moment the reins are yanked from our protesting grasp and we find ourselves going at high speed to who knows where. But that's the whole point. God has the plan and therefore the path; we are not out of control, or adrift, at lose ends, or any of those wonderfully descriptive ways we express being completely lost.

As we barely clear the first few hurdles of 2013 we may still be looking backwards asking, "what just happened?" The goals of 2012 never quite made it from the starting block or halfway down the track, tripped and fell to rise no more. To make matters worse everything around us, so far, only suggests more of the same. Hold up!!! God has a plan that involves hope and a future. He may not be sharing details with you at the moment but do you trust him?

Here's something very old, very "King James" but worth our time and attention.

Lead Kindly Light Hymn

Lead, kindly Light, amid th’encircling gloom, lead Thou me on!
The night is dark, and I am far from home; lead Thou me on!
Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene; one step enough for me.

I was not ever thus, nor prayed that Thou shouldst lead me on;
I loved to choose and see my path; but now lead Thou me on!
I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears,
Pride ruled my will. Remember not past years!

So long Thy power hath blest me, sure it still will lead me on.
O’er moor and fen, o’er crag and torrent, till the night is gone,
And with the morn those angel faces smile, which I
Have loved long since, and lost awhile!

"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."