Life as a Christian Woman

Ah, wouldn’t it be wonderful if when you became a Christian, accepting Christ into your life, the hard part was over? What if you could just sit back and wait for Heaven?

But that is not the way God has intended thing for us. In fact, one of the paradoxes of life as a believer is that once you begin your walk with God, the work is just beginning! God’s gifts to us require labor on our part.

Look, the Lord you God has set the land before you; go up and possess it, as the Lord God of your fathers has spoken to you; do not fear or be discouraged. Deuteronomy 1:21

When God told the Israelites He was going to “give” them the Promised Land, they were pumped. What a great gift! But with that gift came wars to achieve their goal. While they may have assumed that God was going to fight the battles for them, the reality was that they had to fight for it.

But they weren’t alone or unarmed. God was with them, leading them. They had to fight the battle, earn the victory, but with God by their side, victory was assured… as long as they followed Him.

When we become Christians, we must continue the work of growing in Him. God could give us the knowledge, the unabashed desire to spend hours in prayer and fearlessly present the Gospel. But instead He chose to have us work hard, to daily prove our love for Him and our desire to be with Him fully.

The path won’t be easy, the world will attempt to crowd out God in your mind. But He is there with you.

What do you do when your Christian spirit goes numb, disappears? I don’t mean a crisis of faith. Your faith is still strong, but something is missing in your soul.

It happens to all of us. It sneaks up on us and catches us unaware. Suddenly we realize that we feel apart from God, despite our constant search for Him.

Mother Teresa, who spent her life in God’s service, felt separated from Him so deeply that she wrote her mentors letters that begged for answers. She felt lonely and alone. It appears from her letters that her period of pain began shortly after her mission in the slums of Calcutta in 1948 (a mission she had begged, pleaded and nagged her superiors for over a period of years). As she dove into the underbelly of the world, a darkness overtook her spirit, a darkness that lasted through most of her ministry

In a book entitled Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light (Doubleday), she expresses through letters to her superiors, confessors and spiritual confidants that she is suffering from God’s perceived silence.

Jesus has a very special love for you. As for me, the silence and the emptiness is so great that I look and do not see, listen and do not hear.
— Mother Teresa to the Rev. Michael Van Der Peet, September 1979

Many non-Christians have called Mother Teresa’s agony proof that there is no god. But note that she says that Jesus has a special love for the reverend. She is not denying in any way God’s existence, but longs to hear His voice.

A feeling a separation from God does not negate His existence. The Catholic Church has long had a term for this period in one’s faith-walk, called the “Dark Night of the Soul.” St. John of the Cross coined the phrase in the 1500’s, and it describes a period of darkness within the faith… not from outside, not from unbelief, but from within the faith.

We all face this at one time or another, on varying scales. In my own period of doubt and hurt, I struggled to see the light that Christ brings us. The light was still there, but my vision was blocked. A friend of mine likes to say that when we feel set apart from God, we need to check our compass and make sure that we are not so enmeshed in the horizontal (this world) that we are missing the vertical (God in His Heaven).

We are human. We will have these “dark nights.” But even in our darkest hour, our Holy Father is there. Even when we feel empty and alone, the Holy Spirit is in us. When we become so mired in the sins of the world that we feel there is no way out, Christ is sitting by the Father, interceding on our behalf.

The final words of the Great Commission, from Matthew 28:16-20, says it all, and are the words where we find our comfort in these times:

And lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.
Matthew 28:20b

South Carolina is proposing a license plate that says, “I Believe” with a Christian cross and stained glass window on it. But not everyone is happy about it, including some Christians.

In fact, a group called Americans United for Separation of Church and State, based in Washington, D.C., has filed suit in Federal Court to stop the plate from seeing the light of day. The suit was filed on behalf of two Christian pastors, a humanist pastor, a rabbi, and the Hindu American Foundation.

Retired Methodist minister Rev. Thomas Summers, who has joined the lawsuit, believes that the plate provokes discrimination.

“I think this license plate really is divisive and creates the type of religious discord I’ve devoted my life to healing,” according to Summers.

Rev. Robert Knight feels the plate “cheapens” Christianity. “As an evangelical Christian, I don’t think civil religion enhances the Christian religion. It compromises it,” Knight said. “That’s the fundamental irony. It’s very shallow from a Christian standpoint.”

This has created a firestorm in South Carolina. Some decry “bumper theology” while others believe this is a blow for Christians against those who have sought to remove God from virtually every area of life.

The case is based on the fact that the bill is moving through the state house. However, in South Carolina, any group can create a specialty plate, as long as they have 400 prepaid orders, or collect a $4,000 deposit.

My opinion? Drop the bill and I guarantee the churches in the state will come up with the money. What will those who are so offended by the license plate do then? Demand a repeal of the state law?

Probably.

What I don’t get is the high and mighty attitude of the theologians in the AUSCS who are so violently against the plates. No, I don’t think that having a Christian license plate is going to save the world, but if a Christian wants to have one, who cares? How can this plate be offensive?

The real problem I have here is that free speech seems to apply more and more to others, and less and less to Christians. When I read headlines from around the world about the persecution of those who merely want to meet in fellowship, I can hardly believe it. But now those headlines are coming from western Europe, England, Australia. Preachers in parts of London are being warned that their sermons and outreach can be construed as a hate crime.

So what was once unthinkable is now becoming reality, right here in our own backyards.

I guess I sound like an alarmist. I don’t mean to be. But I do think that our rights are being taken away without so much as a whimper. And when we do speak up, we are branded “fundamentalists.”

No, folks, we are just Christians.

There is a wonderful website that I have stumbled across, and I think many of you will enjoy it as much as I have… but be warned, it can be addicting!

The site is called freerice.com. A word appears on the screen, along with four definitions. You click on the one you think is correct, and if it is right, you have just earned 20 grains of rice. The game constantly adjusts itself to your skill level, so it gets progressively harder (or easier!). And it grades you as you go, giving you a vocabulary level. Each correct answer adds another 20 grains of rice to your total.

Sponsor banners appear at the bottom of the screen, and the money generated by those banners ultimately is used to buy the rice. So, by playing the game, you raise money that pays for the rice donated to hungry people.

Free rice is not a registered non-profit, but is run entirely for free and makes no money. All money collected by the site goes directly to the United Nations World Food Program. The WFP is the world’s largest food assistance agency, and also helps people learn to become self-reliant so that they can escape the culture of hunger permanently. Food is purchased locally, which supports local farmers and the community. Click WFP to learn more about the organization.

About 25,000 people die each day from hunger, according to the U.N. The rice that you can donate will make such a difference in lives around the world. It is a gift of life.

And remember, while you are earning 20 grains of rice at a time, there are thousands of others playing as well, and the numbers add up. In the first five months of it’s existence, freerice.com generated enough rice to feed one million people!

As of June 1, more than 35 BILLION grains of rice have been donated!

I am sure that you will enjoy this site as much as I do. And for those of you on facebook, you can put the application on your profile and invite your friends to play, as well.

Please pass the word about this great website. I’m going to add it to my blog roll, and I hope those of you with blogs will do the same.

By now you have seen the photos of the Best and Worst Dressed of the Grammys, heard that Amy Winehouse swept the awards, and maybe even searched the entertainment sites for the “worst post-Grammy party behavior.” But a lot of people are not even aware that the Grammy Awards also have a gospel category. In case you can’t find it anywhere else, here the winners of the Grammys Gospel category:

Best Gospel Performance (Tie)

Blessed and Highly Favored The Clark Sisters (shown in photo)
Never Gonna Break My Faith Aretha Franklin and Mary J. Blige

Best Gospel Song

Blessed and Highly Favored Karen Clark-Sheard, songwriter (The Clark Sisters)

Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album

Before the Daylight’s Shot Ashley Cleveland

Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album

A Deeper Level Israel and New Breed (shown in photo: Israel Houghton)

Best Southern, Country, or Bluegrass Gospel Album

Salt of the Earth Ricky Skaggs & The Whites

Best Traditional Gospel Album

Live - One Last Time The Clark Sisters

Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album

Free to Worship Fred Hammond

Find all the music from the Gospel Grammy Winners and Nominees

Source: GRAMMY.com
Image Source: WireImage.com

grammy awards, gospel grammy winners, grammys gospel, Aretha Franklin grammys, Clark Sisters, 2008 gospel grammy awards

Announcing the newest project from published writer and award-winning poet April Gilford: Living for Christ, Serving Our Country: Christian Women in the Military.

After being contacted by a reader searching for information, it became clear that very little information is available from Christian sources specific to women serving in the military. This project hopes to fill at least part of that gap by giving military women the opportunity to tell their own stories of how faith, God, and/or other Christians helped them deal with situations particular to military service.

Have you faced temptations while stationed away from your family? Have you found strength through faith to deal with difficult situations? Has God led you through you through the healing process after engaging in combat or being wounded? Tell your story so others may be inspired to continue in service to their country while living for Christ.

Living for Christ, Serving Our Country: Christian Women in the Military is a book to uplift, sustain and inspire women in any branch of the armed services, and from any country. Tell your own story, or pass along stories of your relatives who may have served in previous wars or battlefronts. Separation, temptation, fear, doubt; pride, self-worth, determination, accomplishment; these are all emotions and situations faced by women in military service. Help others bring their best to their military service by sharing your inspiring story.

For full writer’s guidelines, please e-mail April@aprilfreelance.com or use the contact form on this site. For more information, visit Aprilfreelance.com.

Copyright 2007. April Gilford. All rights reserved. Links to this project are welcomed.

christian women, military women, christian women in military, military writers, write inspirational stories

Starting on Monday, we will begin taking a look at the women in the New Testament. There were many women who played very important parts not only in Jesus’ ministry, but also in the days of the early church following His death and resurrection.

We learn in the Bible about specific women and their deeds. We also learn about some of the prevailing views of women in general and what their place should be. At times, there seems to be contradiction in the things taught about women and the stories shared of the historical women and their deeds.

I want us to take an indepth look together at the stories and teachings in the Bible and the interpretations by Biblical scholars. There have been many theories put forth over the last 2000 years. We will also look at both the words and actions of Jesus concerning women, and how they were rather radical for His time on earth.

I am asking you to do a little homework before Monday and read back over the passages in the New Testament concerning women. You are already very familiar with Mary the mother of Jesus, and Mary and Martha. But there are many others you may not remember, such as Tabitha and Priscilla. Finally, there is the female imagery used throughout the book of Revelations.

Please share your own thoughts and comments as we go through this topic. If you have any questions you would like to look into further, feel free to let me know either by leaving a comment or using the contact link in the “About” section. I will do my best to answer them if I can or direct you to a resource. I may post some of these questions and answers from time to time, so be sure to let me know if you prefer your question to be answered privately.

I’m excited about taking this in-depth look at the Biblical teachings on women. I hope you’ll join me each day. The whole purpose of me starting this site was to help you and me discover what it means to be a Christian woman. I hope to learn from your experiences and studies as much as my own.

I have written before on women from the Old Testament. If you missed them, you may be interested in also taking a look at Shiphrah and Puah: Hebrew Midwives, Blessed Liars and What is a Jezebel?

christian women, New Testament women, Biblical women, women in the Bible

For those of you who may be getting a pop-up ad when visiting this site, please accept my sincere apologies. I just became aware of the issue and have asked the 451 Network to look into it.

Please know that I do not endorse pop-ups on this site, and certainly not ones inappropriate in content. I hope this can be fixed soon.

UPDATE: I have been informed that the pop-up was a brief test by 451Press to work out server load issues. It should be resolved Tuesday.

Our special guest today is Christian author Lori Wagner. Lori’s latest book, Quilting Patches of Life, promises to bless your life with the wonders of God’s grace, mercy, and the personal relationship offered to each of us. Lori will be answering questions and comments today from 12:00 - 2:30 p.m. EST. If you wish to “talk” with Lori, click on the “comments” link at the bottom of the post or scroll down to “Leave a Reply”. One commenter will be chosen at random to win a copy of the book. Lori explains about the book and her reasons for writing it in today’s guest post. (more…)

Life as a Christian Woman will be hosting Christian author Lori Wagner on Friday, November 2, 2007. Lori will be “live” on the site from 12:00 - 2:30 p.m. EST to talk about her latest book, Quilting Patches of Life. She will be answering questions and comments from readers, and one lucky commenter will win a free copy of the book. The book is a collection of stories from around the world and looks at the many ways God speaks to his people.

Everyone is offered a personal relationship with the Lord, and each person’s relationship is different. We all have a testimony of how the Lord has impacted our life. By reading other’s stories, we begin to really know the awesome mercy and grace of God and the all-encompassing salvation of Jesus Christ. When I talk to God from my brick home in the United States surrounded by books and furniture and a pantry of food, my conversation is not the same as that of a hungry mother trying to keep three children alive in a carboard-and-burlap hut on the sidewalks of Bombay. But I know God is there with those mothers just as He is with me. And her story is important.

In addition to Lori’s writing, she also serves on the National Day of Prayer Task Force. If you missed Tuesday’s post, she wrote about her recent attendance at the Coordinator’s Conference. Please join author Lori Wagner tomorrow and learn about her writing, her work, and her own Life as a Christian Woman. After the “Question and Answer” session is over at 2:30 p.m. EST, one reader will be selected at random to win a free copy of the book.

Order Quilting Patches of Life for yourself or give one as a gift.

free, books, giveaways, christian, christian authors, christian books, christian new releases

We have a special guest writer today, Christian author and founder of AffirmingFaith.com Lori Wagner. I have written about Lori before when I featured her newest book, Quilting Patches of Life. Since that post, I have had the pleasure of getting to know her through e-mails. In addition to her writing, she is on the National Day of Prayer Task Force and recently attended the Coordinator’s Conference. Today, she is sharing her conference experience with us and the importance of continuing participation in the National Day of Prayer. She has also agreed to a virtual book tour and will appear on this site Friday, November 2, 2007, to discuss her book and to answer questions and comments from readers. Please be sure to join us on Friday to talk with Lori about her work for the Lord and her will to follow His calling in her life.

“Wow!” A Report from the National Day of Prayer Coordinator’s Conference
Lori Wagner, Detroit Metro Area Coordinator

Most people have heard of the National Day of Prayer but have no idea how much work goes on behind the scenes organizing and facilitating events. Beyond the observances, held the first Thursday of May each year, is an army of volunteers. Defined, an army is a “large body of persons trained and armed for war,” and with the aid of the small staff of the national committee headed by Mrs. Shirley Dobson, the National Day of Prayer Task Force hosts an annual conference to “train and arm” coordinators from across the nation.

(more…)

Quilting Patches of Lifeis the newest book from Christian author Lori Wagner. The collection of inspirational stories is from real men and women from around the world and looks at the many ways God speaks to His people. Wagner is the founder of Affirming Faith and a member of the Faith Apostalic Church in Troy, Michigan. She also is also active in the National Day of Prayer Task Force, Faithwriters, the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and the International Thespian Society. Her latest book was just released in October 2007.

The book explores the connection of all the seasons and events of our lives — how the Lord quilts the fragments of our days into a lovely creation — a unique, functional work of warmth, beauty and purpose. The cheery days, the dark days, the boring beige days, God allows them all into our lives for a purpose.

(more…)

I want to apologize for my hiatus the last few days. It was necessary to rest my shoulder, and seems to have done some good. I still don’t know exactly what is wrong with it. I had an MRI last week, but do not go back to the doctor until October 2. However, the period of lowered activity has helped and I intend to pick back up my posts. Thanks for hanging in there with me. Look for a regular post later today.

Some people get their morning pick-me-up from a cup of coffee, but eventually the caffeine kick fades and leaves little benefit behind. But what if a more meaningful form of morning sustenance was available? It Is Written Television has set out to change the way people start their mornings by offering viewers a three-minute online spiritual boost. This new daily devotional program, called “A Better Way to Live,” is now available Monday - Friday through the It Is Written website and iTunes.

“A Better Way to Live” features 3-4 minute messages during which It Is Written’s speaker/director, Pastor Shawn Boonstra, focuses on one passage from the Bible and applies it to daily living.

“It Is Written developed this new program with busy people in mind,” said Boonstra. “We hope that, on a daily basis, it will help people handle the stresses of daily life, as well as deepen their relationship with God.” For more than half a century, It Is Written has been a weekly television broadcast, sharing the gospel around the world. Now this Bible-based television program is more accessible than ever, as new programming is available six times per week with the half-hour program airing on television stations across the nation every weekend, and the new “A Better Way to Live” devotionals available online during the workweek.

The best part is that it is available on demand. “A Better Way to Live” is different than any other program It Is Written has ever produced, because the exclusive online program is ready for the viewer wherever and whenever they want to see it.

To view the program, visit: http://www.itiswritten.com/betterway

To download daily programs or subscribe and receive them every day through iTunes, visit: http://www.itiswritten.com/podcasts

About It Is Written

It Is Written has been one of America’s most popular weekly religious television programs since its first broadcast in 1956. Led by speaker/director Shawn Boonstra, this donor-supported, non-profit ministry reaches millions of people through its weekly telecast, online Bible studies, spiritual resources and live events. To learn more, visit http://www.itiswritten.com

SOURCE: It Is Written Television; PR Newswire

christianity, religion, devotional, christian press release, It Is Written television, iPod

For this prayer list update, I am asking for prayers for myself. After months of shoulder pain, it has finally gotten to the point that I can’t use my arm much so I have decided to see a doctor. I have arthritis, and that may be the culprit in my shoulder. I had x-rays taken today, and I have an appointment with an orthopedist next Monday. Please bear with me while I have this taken care of, as it is really beginning to put a crimp in my typing style. I will keep up as best I can.

In the meantime, if any of my readers have a story you would like to tell or a subject you would like to talk about, please feel free to e-mail an entry to me. I will post it as a guest blog, with appropriate links. I do retain the right to turn down anything that I think others may find offensive or otherwise inappropriate for this site. In the rare event I choose not to accept an entry, I will explain my reasons and try to suggest alternatives for you.

Keep me in your prayers for quick healing, please. For someone who makes a living typing all day, this shoulder problem is rather worrying. Thanks!