Devotionals from the Heart: How to have freedom from fear

Freedom from Fear
A devotional by Alexis Newlin

“For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear but you have reviewed the spirit of adoption as sons by whom we cry, Abba! Father!”
–Romans 8:15 (ESV)

Let me tell you about something I seriously hate: FEAR. It is by far the worst thing that is out there in this world. It’s running thick in this season in many people around us. It is the very enemy of our souls. Once it attaches itself to you, its bondage can be very difficult to break.

This is my story:

I spent the majority of my life bound up in fear. My mom was a believer but a worrier, and she often expressed her worries to us. She had many worries, mostly financial. There were many times we were facing homelessness, not having enough food, having the lights turned off. It was a high stress environment. Because of our family’s lack in my childhood, I vowed to never struggle financially as my mother did. I would never require help from others and I would do everything myself. I set out to be financially independent.

Everything I did in my life was based upon this fear: that I would not be able to take care of myself and have no one to depend on. There’s a lot of pride in this belief that it is up to me to provide for myself. I was a believer, but my actions stated that I did not believe or trust that God would take care of me.

With my way, I thought I was being safe. I thought I was free.

In reality, I was deceived. I had become a slave to my fear.

And sadly, like fear does, it flows into other things: fear of love, fear of losing loved ones, fear of losing control, fear of sickness, fears about what others think, etc. In my mind, if I didn’t have any of the above fears happen, I’d be okay. Life would be good.

Then my biggest fear happened: I lost my mother.

I ran to God, but I also started building a wall. I closed myself inside it. I vowed to not let anyone in for the fear of the pain of losing someone again.

The beautiful thing about God is, that once we are His children, He’ll only let you live in bondage for so long before He comes in and starts shaking things.

That’s exactly what He did to me. He brought a friend to kick a hole in my wall. Then another. And another. I started to venture out, to see what life could be like outside the walls of my self-protection. When scary things happened I would run back inside. Eventually, I would stay outside my walls longer and longer. I’d let more people in, start new friendships, try new things, find new adventures.

My walls were still there until one day, after I had another world rocking moment, God knocked my walls down. I felt exposed, vulnerable. God said, “It’s time to learn how to live free.”

My life has never been the same.

It hasn’t been easy. I still deal with fear daily. I just choose not to live by it. It no longer rules over my life. In fact, I do many things that I fear. But, I am doing them with God. He’s always there. He always will be. He loves me and as soon as I cry out to Him, He’s right there.

Once that truth is realized, there is so much freedom. We are not meant to live in fear. It is bondage. It’s a spirit of slavery and we are NOT slaves. We’re meant to be free, just like God says in the following verses from His Word (The Holy Bible):

“For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear but you have reviewed the spirit of adoption as sons by whom we cry, Abba! Father!”
–Romans 8:15 (ESV)

“for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”

– 2 Timothy 1:7 (ESV)

“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” – Galatians 5:1 (ESV)

In this current season where fear is running rampant and we’re questioning our mortality, remember this: God is bigger. He is bigger than our fears. Bigger than any virus. Bigger than our “what ifs.”

Run to Him. Trust that He cares for you. Choose to live in that freedom.

~*~
Author Bio:

Alexis is a 36-year-old lover of Jesus, loose leaf tea, roller coasters, writing stories and going on adventures. Originally from Marietta, GA, Alexis now resides in Fresno, CA. 

You can always find Alexis outdoors enjoying a walk in her neighborhood, scoping out the newest food truck, hanging out with friends or planning her next trip.

Her church, The Revival Center, and family mean the world to her. They have supported her through the loss of her mother and her own cancer diagnosis.

Alexis enjoys encouraging others by reminding them not to look at what they see, but to always look to God, who is working in the unseen.

Alexis currently writes for several online ministries and launched her first podcast – The Brave Podcast – in January 2020.

~*~
Connect with Alexis:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apeachincali/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/apeachincali
Podcast: http://thebravepodcast.buzzsprout.com
Website: www.apeachincali.com

Devotionals for the Heart: Taking a moment to reflect on God's Creation

Creation Sings
A devotional by Christa MacDonald

“The heavens declare the glory of God, the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” 

–Psalm 19:1 (NIV)

Not sure about you, but this week I think I finally reached peak media exhaustion. It seems as though the news cycle lately has been an unending supply of badness. I want to just say, “One thing at a time, please!” Like a lot of folks, I feel overloaded and overwhelmed.

If you’re an ‘80s kid like me, you may remember the comic strip “Bloom County.” When the news got to be too much for the characters they would take a “dandelion break” where they’d go off into a field and sit in a patch of dandelions. I loved that image so much that I used to draw little dandelion patches in my notebooks. It was a reminder to me that God’s creation was a place where I could go to find peace.

During college, at those times when it all got to be too much, I’d go to a beach near my campus where giant rocks formed a seawall of sorts. I’d climb to the top and lean into the wind with my arms outstretched. It seemed like leaning into Creation’s arms. At the time, I didn’t question why I was there or what I was getting from it. Now I understand that I was doing it to feel closer to God, to cast myself at Jesus’s feet. My faith was off in the weeds and seeking solace in God’s creation was a way to keep going and find my way back to the path.

In the verse above, the psalmist is reminding us that all of creation declares the glory of God. Romans 1:20 (NIV) says, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” Nature, the very earth, can’t help but preach God’s glory. It’s in every leaf, every creature, the air itself. That verse makes me think of the scientists whose journey to faith began by studying God’s creation and questioning their own atheism.

We all know that getting outside in the fresh air is good for us, but I’d suggest that for Christians, reflecting on the glory of God’s creation can do even more. It can call us out of our fear and anxiety and remind us just whose we are.

Think of the last time you saw a sunset so intense that the air around you seemed to have color. Or perhaps the ocean when a storm is brewing and the waves are high. For me, sitting in my back yard, leaning back and staring up at a clear, blue sky and seeing a pure white heron flying overhead is a soul-deep experience. For that matter, so is watching the progress of seedlings pushing through the dirt and stretching for the sun.

All of creation sings the praises of God. When things are getting grim, find a way to take a dandelion break. Get out in His creation and let it call your heart to praise. I pray that you also find peace and strength to keep your feet on the path, walking humbly with your God, to keep sharing the Gospel with this fallen world in the time and place that God has given you.

~*~
Author Bio:

Christa MacDonald is a 2017 ACFW Carol Award finalist for contemporary Christian fiction.

A native New Englander, she was inspired by her travels through the north woods of Maine to write The Broken Trail, which would become the first in the Sweet River Redemption series published by Mountain Brook Ink.

Christa's writing focuses on the real-life challenges of the modern world, love’s sometimes crooked path, and the redemptive power of Grace.

When not working or writing Christa can be found ferrying her kids around, reading, or attempting something crafty.

She and her husband live with their three kids, two cats, and one dog along the coast of New England. Connect with Christa at www.christamacdonald.com.

Romantic Reads: When He Found Me

Welcome my author friend Victoria Bylin to the blog today!

She's here to share an excerpt from her story When He Found Me.

Enjoy!

~*~

When He Found Me

A book written by Victoria Bylin 

Story excerpt from Chapter 3 

Kim waited for more, but MJ didn’t oblige. Being a single mom no longer carried a stigma, but Cody’s lack of a father embarrassed her. She hated not having the answer to the question he’d someday ask.

Who’s my father?

MJ didn’t have a good answer. She had gone to a party with Nicole and met a guy whose name was lost in a fog of rum and Coke. Disposing of her virginity had seemed like the best decision she ever made—until it happened. At that moment, she had felt violated, embarrassed, and alone. Shaking off the past, she focused on the business at hand. “Did you speak with the renter?”

“He didn’t return my call, but he’ll be here at two.”

MJ glanced at the clock. He’d be arriving any minute, and she wanted to neaten up. “Where the lady’s room?”

“Down the hall.”

MJ stood and called Cody. “Let’s make a pit stop.”

Her son scrambled over the carpeted blocks and together they went to take care of business. As she washed his hands and face, he squirmed and water splattered her tee shirt. Hoping it would dry quickly, she brushed her hair and dabbed on lipstick. She didn’t look like a landlord, but she knew how to be professional. She had done a good job managing SassyGirl. Too bad the chain went bankrupt. She could have taken accounting classes and moved into management.

Sighing, she inspected herself in the mirror, squared her shoulders, and reached for Cody’s damp hand. “Let’s go, kiddo.”

They arrived in the lobby just as the glass door swung wide and in walked a man with startling blue eyes.

Her mouth gaped.

His brows arched.

Yesterday when they met, stubble had covered his jaw. Today he was clean-shaven and dressed in a button-down oxford that matched his eyes. Khakis emphasized his long legs, and his dark blond hair was neatly combed away from his angular face. She couldn’t help but notice his broad shoulders and muscular arms, the way he stood tall with an air of confidence. He looked nothing like the middle-aged history teacher she’d been expecting, though she recalled the stiff way he picked up the coins she dropped.

Kim held out her hand. “Shane, it’s good to see you.”

So “S” stood for Shane.

He accepted Kim’s hand and greeted her, but his eyes darted back to MJ. They were full of questions and bright with undisguised pleasure.

Kim gazed at him with her made-up eyes while apologizing for what she called “a little mix-up.”

To MJ, the mix-up wasn’t little. She was prepared to negotiate with a stranger, not the man who bought the shoes on her feet. She wanted to thank him, of course. But she also wanted out of the negotiations about the house. S. Riley made her want to smile and flirt—and to forget she was facing a hysterectomy. She didn’t need that complication in her life and neither did Cody. She had to terminate the lease, but she was sorry about it. He’d been kind to her, and she was repaying him with a big inconvenience.

Kim moved on to the introductions. “Shane, this is MJ Townsend. She owns the house you rented.”

“We’ve met.” With a twinkle in his eyes, he offered his hand. “L is for Laundromat.”

She clasped his fingers, felt the warmth of his grip, and told her racing pulse to slow down. “S is for shoes. Thank you. It was a wonderful gift.”

His gaze dropped to her feet and her toes curled. He focused back on her face and smiled. “They fit.”

“Perfectly.”

He turned to Cody, who was staring up at him wide-eyed. S. Riley’s face relaxed into a smile. “You have on the cleats.”

“I like them best,” the boy answered.

“Me too.”

Kim interrupted. “So you two know each other?”

“A little,” Shane answered.

Kim waited, but neither of them explained further. With a wave of her hand, she indicated the sofa. “Let’s sit and I’ll clue Shane in to the problem.”

MJ needed to tell Kim she had changed her mind about the arrangement. She also had to get Cody settled again with the toy train. When Shane headed to the couch, she murmured to Kim, “I need to talk to you.”

“About what?”

“There’s a problem.”

Cody interrupted in a loud voice. “Mommy, why is that man here?”

She gripped his shoulder in an effort to steer him to the play area. “I’ll tell you later. It’s time to play with the train.”

The boy glared at her. “I don’t want to.” After three days of travel he was on the verge of a meltdown.

Irritation flickered in Kim’s eyes. “So what’s the problem?”

Cody pulled away from her. “I want to know now. Mommy, who is he?”

MJ gripped both of her son’s shoulders and lowered her chin. “Cody, you need to play with the toys while I take care of business.”

“No!”

“Hey, Cody.” The voice belonged to Shane Riley. “Where’s that train?”

His mouth agape, the boy stared at Shane. MJ had seen that expression before—in grocery stores when they saw families together, in church when a dad carried a child on his shoulders. Cody’s hunger for a father was a like baby’s desire for milk. No way could MJ let her son get close to Shane Riley. Cody would surely get his heart broken. Until she knew where she stood with a hysterectomy, she and Cody needed to keep their distance from men, especially men who were good-looking and kind.

~*~
Author Bio:

Victoria Bylin is the author of 18 traditionally published romances. 

Known for tackling difficult subjects with great compassion, she delights in stories that shine the spotlight of God’s love on ordinary men and women facing realistic challenges.

Writing has always been a part of Victoria’s life. As a child, she wrote hundreds of letters and scribbled in journals. As an adult, she worked as a freelance journalist and editor before taking on the challenge of fiction.

She had one goal when she started her first novel: to finish a book-length manuscript, good or bad. That first effort will never see the light of day, but it led to a second manuscript and a sale to Harlequin Historical. Since then, she has written westerns and contemporary romances for both mainstream and Christian publishers, with Together With You winning the 2016 Inspirational Readers Choice Award for Best Contemporary.

Writing is a joy and a challenge for Victoria, but faith, friends and family matter to her far more. She’s a wife, mom, proud grandmother, and a dog-mom to a wacky Jack Russell Terrier. Originally from California, she and her husband currently make their home in Lexington, Kentucky.

When she’s not writing, Victoria enjoys long walks, travel, and dark chocolate. 

~*~

Blurb for Victoria's book, When He Found Me:

Love Discovered . . . Hope Renewed

Once a strong Christian, third baseman Shane Riley lost his faith the night he injured his knee in a freak car accident. Determined to return to professional baseball and to find the sister he treated badly, Shane retreats to Refuge, Wyoming. There he meets Melissa June “MJ” Townsend, a single mom with an adorable son and a troubled heart.

MJ wants nothing to do with the handsome athlete—no doubt a womanizer considering the stories in the news. But when a mistake results in Shane renting her garage apartment, they become friends. That friendship blossoms into something deep and pure, leaving MJ with a painful secret to tell.

Even more complicated, MJ discovers an unexpected tie to Shane’s missing sister—a wounded woman facing a life-or-death decision of her own.

~*~
Review of When He Found Me, posted to Amazon.com by Tracey:

When He Found Me is one of those rare books that touched me to the core. It's an emotional love story on a number of levels, between a man and a woman, a brother and sister, a mother and child, but overall it's the story of God's love for all of us.

When He Found Me doesn't shy away from exposing the reality of modern day issues, alcohol and domestic abuse, unwed pregnancy and abortion, STI's and their treatment, but Bylin handles them all with a delicate hand of honesty and grace always pointing the way to where true healing can be found.

Her characters are real, flawed and broken in every way possible, physically, emotionally and spiritually. They endure the consequences of both their own choices and those of others, wondering where God is in the process. Bylin has expertly woven in the Gospel message amid all her characters life experiences, providing a truly fine example of sharing God's truth with a hurting world. Even the series title, Road to Refuge, has a depth and weight of meaning, as God is our Refuge.

There are plenty of lighthearted and funny moments that keep the story from feeling too heavy while dealing with very serious topics. Some of the funniest moments are Shane's salmon references, particularly "I'm no one special. Just a guy who envied salmon." It has to be read in context, but it's hilarious.

Victoria Bylin has written an important story for our times that will challenge the reader to more deeply contemplate what they believe about others, themselves and God. Simply put, When He Found Me is a stunning and powerful work of fiction from a persuasive and talented writer. I could not have loved it more!

~*~
Buy Victoria's book on Amazon

~*~
Connect with Victoria:
Website: https://www.victoriabylin.com/
Newsletter Sign-up: https://www.victoriabylin.com/contact.html
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Victoria.Bylin.Author/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/VictoriaBylin

Devotionals for the Heart: Unity

Bound in Unity
A devotional by Malinda Fugate

Key Scripture:

Romans 15:1-13 (NIV)

My soul is heavy as I look away from the headlines unfolding on Twitter and open a blank Word document to write. It feels like the world, already fragile from the strain of pandemic, is crumbling into pieces of division, violence, and unrest. My heart breaks for those who are hurting, helpless and angry at injustice. At times like these, when hope in humanity is frail, we know where to turn: the sovereign source of all strength, God our Father.

The Word contains so many encouragements of hope, including Romans 15:13: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” How refreshing this is! He provides more than merely a nugget of hope for us to survive. We are filled to overflowing by the Holy Spirit, and with accompanying gifts of joy and peace! I wanted to place these promising words in context, so my eyes wandered to the beginning of the chapter to see what Paul was thinking.

This letter to the Romans was written in a time of great divide between the Jews and the Gentiles. Centuries of conflict separated the people, but Christ was a game-changer. Salvation wasn’t only meant for the Jewish people; God’s love extends to all His children. The problem, however, is that the tumultuous history was not quickly forgotten. Paul had a few things to say to the divided believers in Rome, and as I read his words, they resonated for such a time is this.

“We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up.” (Romans 15:1-2)

We live in communities divided by race, economics, and history. Some groups experience benefits while others struggle through challenges daily. If we only focus on ourselves and remain blind to the plight of our neighbors, we are ignoring the commands of the Lord. Can we be brave enough to support our brothers and sister first, tending to their needs before addressing our own? Will we be the revolutionaries we are called to be and live as selflessly as Christ?

“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
(Romans 15:5-6)

We were never intended to be divided by race, economics, history, or any other factor. We were designed to be unified in Christ. This takes intention and effort. So often, we focus on more popular teachings of Jesus and ignore the difficult mandate to be together as one—despite our many differences. Yet, shouldn’t we work as diligently at unity as we do at honoring the Ten Commandments and caring for widows and orphans?

“Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.” (Romans 15:7) Some translations say welcome or receive each other. We are to care for one another as family and dear friends. This is more than just acknowledgement or regarding one another fondly. When we accept, welcome, and receive each other, we are actively concerned for the well-being of our neighbor and involved in their life. This, says Paul, brings praise to God. By blessing others, we bless the Lord!

It’s after this discussion of unity that Paul speaks of hope. God blesses us with hope in the gift of community, and when we stray from that togetherness, we miss out. As we are currently realizing, there is pain and discord when we ignore our brothers and sisters and focus solely on ourselves. We know better. We can do better.

We can seek the Lord together and welcome His healing to our communities. This takes intentional effort, but the Holy Spirit equips us to follow the way of Jesus.

And there we shall discover overflowing hope.

~*~
Author Bio:

Malinda Fugate writes from the heart.

Though she serves full time as the Children’s Education Director at a church in Southern California, she is also a crafter of words published in books. Her writing includes children's faith resources, commercial copywriting, and various faith-based stage and screenplays.

Malinda invites you to explore the various 3:16s in the Bible with her new book, The Other Three Sixteens (published by Ambassador International in May 2020).

She also invites you to read her previously published books: Bible Time for Active Kids, which is an activities-based devotional that is available for purchase on Amazon.com, and The Pen and the Sword: Connecting With the Word of God, which is an interactive creative writing journal.

Malinda earned a communications degree with a theatre emphasis from Azusa Pacific University, and then worked behind the scenes at the Los Angeles Salem radio stations, including The Fish and KKLA.

When she's not writing or working at church, Malinda might be creating art, reading, or exploring the many adventures to be found in the Los Angeles area. She lives by the beach with her pup, Yoshi. Visit Malinda online via https://www.malindafugate.com.

Interview with Emma Mae Jenkins (Part 2 of 2) about "Be Loved" (book)

Dear Reader Friends,

Today, as a continuation of yesterday's post, I have a special treat just for you! 

It is part two of the interview with Emma Mae Jenkins about her captivating nonfiction book, Be Loved. This is a pre-made interview created by the author's publisher. 

Please note that none of these words below are original words written by me
(Alexis A. Goring, founder of "God is Love" blog).

Enjoy your time with Emma Mae today!

~*~

Faith, Freedom and the Love of God

An interview with Emma Mae Jenkins, author of Be Loved

(Part 2 of 2)

…

A Message from the publisher (New Growth Press):

 

Being a teen is hard. Pressures to fit in, conform, and be the best push in from every direction, even from within. Yet, each and every person was uniquely created by a God who loves them. 

Emma Mae Jenkins, a young writer and social media influencer, wants to reach teens with exactly that message. She has inspired thousands of girls online with the freedom she has to be herself—a dearly loved child of God. In her first book, Be Loved, she invites readers to join her on a journey of life-changing faith and the freedom that comes from knowing the love of God.

She chronicles her own high school journey through starting a new school, navigating the typical pressures of school work and sports, going to prom, and even homecoming. Emma Mae faced each new challenge with the confidence that God was with her and was going to make her uniquely useful in the place he had prepared for her.

For Emma Mae, it all starts with her relationship with Jesus. Because she knows she is loved by him, she is free to be herself and to live out her faith no matter what the cost. As a young, passionate, and intimate lover of Jesus, Emma Mae's love for her Savior overflows unashamedly into her unconditional, fierce love for people.

In our interview with Emma Mae, we talk about her about her faith, the challenges she has faced, and the message she wants all teens to hear.

~*~

The Interview 

(continued from Saturday, June 13)

New Growth Press: Bullying is a major problem in schools today, in fact, you experienced your fair share as well. Why were you a target, and how did you handle it?

Emma Mae Jenkins: The bullying I experienced was online via social media, and it continues still in waves. I was and am because the One living in me was not understood, was not known. Sometimes people scoff at what they do not understand. It is no longer I who live, but Christ Who lives within in me and therefore, I cannot contain He Who is joy and peace and power and love and light. 

The people of the world would love me if I belonged to the world, but I am simply in the world, I am not of it. He said that if the world hates you, remember that they hated him first.

I handled it by surrendering it. When my heart is overwhelmed, God leads me to the rock that is higher than myself. I could not handle it on my own—I needed Him and always will. Through Him, it was handled, by me hiding His Word in my heart, trusting that He spoke over me before the world ever had an opportunity to. I had people in my life who walked with me and reminded me of truth. They continued to be the light of the world with me. We were not made to do life alone, so I needed my community. 

Through God’s eyes, I could simply see the people hating on me did not know how loved they were, so it was a beautiful chance to love them. God has said for me to love my enemies, pray for those who curse me, and bless those who persecute me. I can only do this when I know that He loved me first. When I begin to see myself the way that God sees me, I can then see others the way that He sees others too.

NGP: Why is it so important to start the day in prayer and in God’s word? How do you encourage teens to get into that routine, since most young people (and a lot of adults too) are not usually morning people?

EMJ: In Mark 1:35, Jesus rose very early in morning, went to a quiet place, and prayed. Jesus lived in such a way that we are called to live as He did. He set the example. In Matthew 6:33, God says to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, so this means that He is worthy of the first part of my day. How we begin our day determines the posture of our heart as the day goes on, so to be armed with His Word and encouraged in talking with Him in prayer sets myself up for success and deepens our relationship with Him.

As soon as I walk into the day, I know that there is an enemy who has a target on my back and is out to steal, to kill, and to destroy me. He is the father of lies and he is out to devour, so I am setting myself up for believing the lies and being attacked off guard when I do not prepare for battle by spending time in conversation with my Defender and hiding His Word that will not fail me in my heart.

I encourage everyone to cultivate this rhythm. We make time for what is most important to us, so if I truly am saying that God is most important to me, then spending time with Him is more important than the snooze button. It is more important than my feelings of tiredness or morning moodiness. He is simply more important, and the more I do it, the more I will grow in love with this time. Delighting in Him outweighs not being a “morning person.”

NGP: So much of life seems to revolve around being online. What are some tips for developing authentic relationships with those around us?

EMJ: Our generation is definitely immersed in a culture of technology, and there are so many beautiful things about it. I initially got an Instagram account for the purpose of staying in touch with my friends because I moved quite a bit growing up. 

Later, social media became a way to share the gospel with people all over the world whom I have never had the opportunity to meet. It is quite remarkable the impact that technology has provided.

Still, face to face, arms linked relationships are vital. Solomon said, “woe to the man who falls and has no one to pick him up,” and “just as iron sharpens iron, so does one man sharpen another.” James said that when we confess our sins to one another we will be healed. Paul said to continue to build up one another. 

Jesus said to love our neighbor as He loved us, and He prayed for us to be united. In the beginning, God said that it was not good for Adam to be alone. Our God is the God of relationships. We were made to be in relationship with Him and with one another.

Here are some tips for developing authentic relationships:
- Seek God first: When I seek His kingdom first, my relationships are going to reflect Him too.

- Be humble: It is important to consider others above ourselves and to have the heart posture of a servant when building relationships.

- Encourage others: Seek to build up your people. See the beauty in people and speak it OUT over them so that it may benefit them. Celebrate their victories and mourn with them when they are hurting.

- Be vulnerable: The level of vulnerability in what you share with whom comes from discernment the Spirit gives, but I cannot expect authentic relationships to go deep and bloom if I am not willing to be honest and vulnerable. I cannot expect deepening when I stay on the surface.

- Be intentional: In order for authentic relationships to be built, one must be intentional to work and invest into fostering that relationship. That may be sending an encouraging text, planning to get together for a coffee visit, or praying for one another.

NGP: What are some ways teens can be light in the lives of those they come in contact with at school? How can they be an encouragement to others?

EMJ: What we fill ourselves with is what we think about. What we think leads to how we act, and after a while that is who we become. As we think, so are we. Teens can make an impact in the lives of those they come into contact at school by choosing to be in the Word, being intentional about the music they listen, being thoughtful in regard to the shows they watch, and being purposeful in who they hang out with and allow to influence them.

Psalm 1:1-3 (ESV) says, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.”

This is basically saying that we are blessed, and we are a blessing when we are particular about who influences us and by meditating on the Word always. I am a light and an encouragement to others when I fill myself with His Word. I cannot expect myself to be like Jesus in the lives of people around me when I am not spending time with Him and am listening to things and watching things that are against His heart.

I am also a light and encouragement to others when I am around those who glorify Him. If I hang out with the foolish, I am going to become foolish. If I hang out with the wise, I am going to become wise. Spending time with friends who encourage and sharpen me will equip me and build me up to be a bold light in the darkness to the precious people that do not yet know Him. When I am intentional about who I let influence me, I can walk confidently in how I influence others.

NGP: What is the secret to not being discouraged and comparing yourself to others?

EMJ: The secret to being content in who you are and where you are is to rest in the truth of what God says about you. It sounds so simple and some say that is cliché, but to say that is to forget the power of His Word. 

Who He says you are is unchanging and never ending. Who He says you are is personal and on purpose. When we begin to see ourselves the way that He sees us, we will then also see others the way He sees others too. God made each of us to be original and reveal His heart in a unique way, so to compare ourselves to one another only leads to discouragement.

Begin to praise God for the beauty that you see in someone else. Celebrate them in ways that they do not even see, such as how you think about them. Ask the Lord to help you be confident in who He made you to be and to also rejoice in how beautiful He made others to be.

NGP: Why is it important for each of us to embrace the unique person that we are?

EMJ: God says we are His masterpiece, so when we embrace who He has made us to be, we are embracing who He Himself made in His image and said was very good. For us to embrace all that He purposefully knitted within us, is to also embrace all that He has for us and wants to deliver through us. 

When I am embrace who God says I am, I am able to lead others to realize the true beauty that God placed within them. I cannot lead from a place I have not been. In this example, I cannot lead others to be who God has called them to be if I myself am not daily surrendering to embrace being who He has called me to be as well.

God wants to be glorified through every part of who we are. He wants to be praised through the strengths and gifts He has entrusted us with. The weaknesses in us are what He sees as opportunities for His glory to shine through. To not embrace all that I am in Him is to miss out on a lot of beauty and excitement that He wants to reveal to me and through me.

It is so important because it glorifies Him for me to embrace the unique person that I am.

NGP: What is the main message you hope young women will take away from reading your book?

EMJ: I pray that young women will receive and respond to the message that God is pursuing their hearts. He desires to be in relationship with them personally, and from an overflow of this relationship, they may they live boldly and freely in Who He says they are. I hope they love others just as they themselves have been loved. May they be loved.

~*~
Author Bio:

Emma Mae Jenkins describes herself as a lover of Jesus and people. 

She is a social media influencer, writer, speaker, and YouTuber with the sole purpose of leading others into a relationship with Jesus, sharing this chain-breaking freedom, and being a vessel of God’s Word. She is excited to share with girls and young women about how much God loves them and has called each to a unique purpose for his glory.

Jenkins began chronicling her journey through high school on social media and in doing so has inspired thousands of young people to live their faith freely and with courage. She is currently a sophomore at Liberty University where she is majoring in Women’s Christian Leadership.

The founder of Son Seeker Ministries, Jenkins’s vision is to lead her generation into having a genuine relationship with Jesus. Her new release, Be Loved, is her first book.

During school breaks, Jenkins makes her way back home to northwest Arkansas where her parents and brother live.

Learn more at emmamaejenkins.com and follow her via social media.

~*~

Blurb for Emma Mae's book, Be Loved:

Emma Mae Jenkins, a young Christian writer, has inspired many with the freedom she has to be herself a dearly loved child of God. In her first book, Be Loved, she invites readers to join her on a journey of life-changing faith and the freedom that comes from knowing the love of God. 

 She chronicles her own high school journey through starting a new school, navigating the typical pressures of school work and sports, going to prom, and even homecoming. Emma Mae faced each new challenge with the confidence that God was with her and was going to make her uniquely useful in the place he had prepared for her.

For Emma Mae, it all starts with her relationship with Jesus Christ. Because she knows she is loved by him, she is free to be herself and to live out her faith no matter what the cost. As a young, passionate, and intimate lover of Jesus, Emma Mae's love for her holy Savior overflows unashamedly into her unconditional, fierce love for people.

Readers will experience the chain-breaking liberty of knowing the Lord's presence and the freedom to be unique. This full-color, hardback book includes pictures from Emma Mae's life, along with key Bible verses that God used to strengthen and guide her through the ups and downs of her high school years as a young Christian. Readers will learn to face the challenges of their student years with religion, courage, hope, and lifegiving love for others.

~*~

Buy Emma's book, Be Loved online via Amazon, Barnes and Noble, ChristianBook

~*~
Connect with Emma Mae:
Instagram (@1corinthians13_love) 

YouTube (Emma Mae Jenkins)
Facebook (@sonseeker.org) 

Twitter (@emmamaej99) 

Pinterest (emmamaejenkins)

~*~

Publisher info: New Growth Press publishes gospel-centered Christian books, small group, and children’s Bible resources for discipleship, biblical counseling, and missional ministry. For more information about Be Loved and other releases from New Growth Press, visit www.newgrowthpress.com.

Interview with Emma Mae Jenkins (Part 1 of 2) about her book "Be Loved"

     

Dear Reader Friends,

Today and tomorrow, I have a special treat just for you! 

It is a two-part interview with Emma Mae Jenkins about her captivating nonfiction book, Be Loved. This is a pre-made interview created by the author's publisher. 

Please note that none of these words below are original words written by me 

(Alexis A. Goring, founder of "God is Love" blog).

Enjoy your time with Emma Mae today!

~*~
Faith, Freedom and the Love of God: 
An interview with Emma Mae Jenkins, author of Be Loved

(Part 1 of 2)

…

A Message from the publisher (New Growth Press):

Being a teen is hard. Pressures to fit in, conform, and be the best push in from every direction, even from within. Yet, each and every person was uniquely created by a God who loves them. 

Emma Mae Jenkins, a young writer and social media influencer, wants to reach teens with exactly that message. She has inspired thousands of girls online with the freedom she has to be herself—a dearly loved child of God. In her first book, Be Loved, she invites readers to join her on a journey of life-changing faith and the freedom that comes from knowing the love of God.

She chronicles her own high school journey through starting a new school, navigating the typical pressures of school work and sports, going to prom, and even homecoming. Emma Mae faced each new challenge with the confidence that God was with her and was going to make her uniquely useful in the place he had prepared for her.

For Emma Mae, it all starts with her relationship with Jesus. Because she knows she is loved by him, she is free to be herself and to live out her faith no matter what the cost. As a young, passionate, and intimate lover of Jesus, Emma Mae's love for her Savior overflows unashamedly into her unconditional, fierce love for people.

In our interview with Emma Mae, we talk about her about her faith, the challenges she has faced, and the message she wants all teens to hear. 

~*~

The Interview:

New Growth Press: Be Loved chronicles your high school years. Junior high and high school are difficult years for everyone, but what are some of the challenges that made it particularly hard for you?

Emma Mae Jenkins: Walking through junior high and high school most definitely do have their difficulties as everyone is discovering who they are and making choices that truly do have a great impact on the future. For me, sometimes it was hard to have people respond to the joy that lives within me, the smile that I couldn’t help but share, and the voice that God has given me with confusion or laughter. 

This may seem small, but I really began to learn how to be who God had called me to be, even when the response was not the most inviting. It is really cool how we never actually know the beauty that God is growing within someone, so to plant the seed of a smile or to water someone’s soul with encouragement is to be obedient to the Father. The response of the person may not show what I would love to see, but I trust that God is doing in their heart what only He can do.

Moving during high school was also pretty tough. I was afraid of not making close friendships worried about what people were going to think of me. But God led me. His grace sustained me, and He gently reminded me that His love casts out all fear. 

Love is not self-seeking, so when I was worried about making friends and worried I was going to be thought of well, I was not operating out of love, but out of fear. I cannot love people that I fear. When His love is what I chose to abide in, I could not help but focus on how I could serve others.

NGP: You write that you tried to be gracious, kind and loving to others, but you didn’t treat yourself the same way. Why are we so hard on ourselves?

EMJ: We tend to be hard on ourselves when we misunderstand grace and misinterpret the voice of the Lord. For it is by grace we have been saved, through faith, and this is not by our own works (so that we cannot boast), but it is a gift from God. Grace is unmerited favor. It is a gift given to me that I do not deserve, so of course we are going to be hard on ourselves if we are living to earn something that cannot be earned.

My life is not a race to earn the love, attention and affirmation from God, but my life is a response of gratitude and obedience because Jesus died for me. This is why I work wholeheartedly. This is why I smile. This is why I don’t quit. This is why I write books and make videos, sing songs and post captions on social media. This is why, it is not to earn, but it is a response to His gift.

The voice of the Lord is a voice of peace and clarity and truth and order. He speaks to us in a way that does not bring us to shame but compels us to walk in the light as He is the light. 

When I am walking with a mentality of accusation, confusion, condemnation, chaos and defeat, I know that I am listening to the voice of the enemy, not of my God. Growing familiar with His voice requires time spent with Him. I am hard on myself in a way that brings me to shame when I am not listening and believing the voice of the Lord.

NGP: What’s so wrong about striving for perfection?

EMJ: To have the mentality of striving for perfection is to depend on ourselves to be enough for God to use us, love us, want us, etc. This completely disregards the beauty and power of why Jesus came. We cannot ever be good enough to get to God, that is why He came to us.

This does not mean that I stop working hard and doing my best. God says to live a life in a manner than is worthy of the gospel. He says to work out our salvation with fear and trembling as He gives us the power and the desire to do what is good and what is pleasing to Him. He says that whatever we do, we need to do it wholeheartedly because we are doing it for Him. He says to not grow weary of doing good. 

I am not saying that because I live in the works of Christ, I no longer have to be a hard worker. Not at all. But what I am saying is that I now work hard to glorify the Father, to bless His people, to show gratitude for His love for me. I no longer have to work hard to prove my worth because my worth is in Christ.

Many of us also strive for perfection in order to receive the approval of people. However, if you look at the life of Jesus, He truly was perfect, but there were still those who loved Him and others who hated Him. We are not here for the approval of people, but for God’s. It is only in Him that our worth and identity is solid and whole.

NGP: What are the first steps towards young people developing their own faith rather than the faith of their parents?

EMJ: I remember my dad simply telling me it was important that I personally know Jesus. So, the first step is to ask themselves if they know Him. Have you personally confessed with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that He from the grave? Do you seek Him first and spend time with Him apart from simply going to church with your family on Sunday? Do you pray apart from mealtimes at the table? These are questions that I would encourage anyone to ask themselves because a relationship with Jesus is something that no one, not even my parents, can have for me.

No one’s faith can be lived through the life of another. People will walk alongside me, encourage me, challenge me, and sharpen me in my faith, but they cannot be the source of it. My dad told me that he will not be standing with me, holding my hand when Jesus comes back, it would be only me and Jesus.

... to be continued with Part 2 of 2 on Sunday, June 14. 

~*~
Author Bio:

Emma Mae Jenkins describes herself as a lover of Jesus and people. 

She is a social media influencer, writer, speaker, and YouTuber with the sole purpose of leading others into a relationship with Jesus, sharing this chain-breaking freedom, and being a vessel of God’s Word. She is excited to share with girls and young women about how much God loves them and has called each to a unique purpose for his glory.

Jenkins began chronicling her journey through high school on social media and in doing so has inspired thousands of young people to live their faith freely and with courage. She is currently a sophomore at Liberty University where she is majoring in Women’s Christian Leadership.

The founder of Son Seeker Ministries, Jenkins’s vision is to lead her generation into having a genuine relationship with Jesus. Her new release, Be Loved, is her first book.

During school breaks, Jenkins makes her way back home to northwest Arkansas where her parents and brother live.

Learn more at emmamaejenkins.com and follow her via social media.

~*~

Blurb for Emma Mae's book, Be Loved:

Emma Mae Jenkins, a young Christian writer, has inspired many with the freedom she has to be herself a dearly loved child of God. In her first book, Be Loved, she invites readers to join her on a journey of life-changing faith and the freedom that comes from knowing the love of God.

She chronicles her own high school journey through starting a new school, navigating the typical pressures of school work and sports, going to prom, and even homecoming. Emma Mae faced each new challenge with the confidence that God was with her and was going to make her uniquely useful in the place he had prepared for her.

For Emma Mae, it all starts with her relationship with Jesus Christ. Because she knows she is loved by him, she is free to be herself and to live out her faith no matter what the cost. As a young, passionate, and intimate lover of Jesus, Emma Mae's love for her holy Savior overflows unashamedly into her unconditional, fierce love for people.

Readers will experience the chain-breaking liberty of knowing the Lord's presence and the freedom to be unique. This full-color, hardback book includes pictures from Emma Mae's life, along with key Bible verses that God used to strengthen and guide her through the ups and downs of her high school years as a young Christian. Readers will learn to face the challenges of their student years with religion, courage, hope, and lifegiving love for others.

~*~

Buy Emma's book, Be Loved online via Amazon, Barnes and Noble, ChristianBook

~*~
Connect with Emma Mae:
Instagram (@1corinthians13_love) 

YouTube (Emma Mae Jenkins)
Facebook (@sonseeker.org) 

Twitter (@emmamaej99) 

Pinterest (emmamaejenkins)

~*~

Publisher info: New Growth Press publishes gospel-centered Christian books, small group, and children’s Bible resources for discipleship, biblical counseling, and missional ministry. For more information about Be Loved and other releases from New Growth Press, visit www.newgrowthpress.com.

Devotionals for the Heart: Change

Change is on the horizon
A devotional by Chaplain Paul Anderson

Dorothy Law Nolte penned a poem in 1972 about how children learn. The poem is titled, “Children Learn What They Live.” 

I found it to be captivating and relevant to our modern times. For the purposes of this devotional, I’d like to share the full poem with you. This is what it says:

Children Learn What They Live

A poem by Dorothy Law Nolte, Ph.D.

If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.

If children live with hostility, they learn to fight.

If children live with fear, they learn to be apprehensive.

If children live with pity, they learn to feel sorry for themselves.

If children live with ridicule, they learn to feel shy.

If children live with jealousy, they learn to feel envy.

If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty.

If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence.

If children live with tolerance, they learn patience.

If children live with praise, they learn appreciation.

If children live with acceptance, they learn to love.

If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves.

If children live with recognition, they learn it is good to have a goal.

If children live with sharing, they learn generosity.

If children live with honesty, they learn truthfulness.

If children live with fairness, they learn justice.

If children live with kindness and consideration, they learn respect.

If children live with security, they learn to have faith in themselves and in those about them.

If children live with friendliness, they learn the world is a nice place in which to live.

Copyright © 1972 by Dorothy Law Nolte.

Most people learn best by watching and hearing. Surgeons learn their craft like carpenters and plumbers. “See one, do one, teach one” is a humorous saying. The same is true of employee/employer relationships. The corporate culture is visually instructive.

Visual learning is also true of mentees and mentors, privates and sergeants, lieutenants and generals. Too often, though, management is backward looking and focused on duplicating past successes. Too often, leadership leans forward, simply to hone effective techniques of management, motivation and in worst-case scenarios, manipulation.

In this way the cycle of culture becomes a narrowing vortex of perception that can become tribal, insecure and defensive. Pretty soon we no longer see what is around us, but what is within us. Anaïs Nin, a 20th century essayist memorably coined the phrase “We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are.” We see as we are, until some event shocks us into a blinding, new realization which demands that we rapidly adjust and ultimately change.

We are there. However, ideally, transformational leadership is a catalyst not merely a reaction.

Transforming a culture requires iconic, positive thought leaders who create new realities by casting infectious visions of things that never were but can be.

George Bernard Shaw said, “Some men see things as they are and say why? I dream things that never were and say why not.”

Jesus Christ was like that. He was a visionary leader who transformed an ancient culture in three years. In the past nine days, we have watched a transformation of the American spirit.

A new generation of young people has galvanized a movement that envisions and is demanding a new era of social justice.

Perhaps what we have seen is a fulfillment of a prophecy from the Old Testament prophet Joel who said in Joel 2:28 (KJV), “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.”

Perhaps, as in the second chapter of the Bible book of Acts, the Spirit of God is pouring out a 21st century Pentecost. Can you see the flames? Not the ones of riotous behavior, but the incandescence of brotherly love? Can you feel the passion of the people who are marching in advocacy of equal justice and reforms of the judicial system?

There is a movement going on. God is shifting the atmosphere in American culture. This movement is intergenerational and multi-ethnic. It has forced liberals and conservatives, military and civilian, Democrats and Republicans to agree that our society has reached a tipping point.

Changes are imminent. The B.C. (Before Covid-19) era has expired. New horizons, new perspectives and new initiatives are flowing like springs into a desert. May they converge and form a river of providential fulfillment that not only counts everybody but make everyone count.

Let’s be on the right side of this prophetic fulfillment.

Let’s embrace the changes and lionize the leaders rather than resist and demonize the ineffable.

~*~
Author Bio:

Chaplain Anderson served for 20 years as a U.S. Navy Chaplain. Over 26 years of active duty, he was promoted through the ranks from Seaman Apprentice (E2) to his final rank as Commander (O5) in the Chaplain’s Corps. 

Prior to his Naval career, Chaplain Anderson pastored in the Allegheny East and Potomac Conferences of Seventh-day Adventists. His undergraduate preparation for ministry was completed at Washington Adventist University in Takoma Park, Md.

He has subsequently earned four graduate degrees: a Master of Divinity from Andrews University in Michigan, a Master of Education in Counseling and Personnel Services from the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland and a Masters of Sacred Theology in Religion and Culture from Boston University. His Doctor of Ministry degree was conferred by Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C.

Chaplain Anderson also completed four units of Clinical Pastoral Education at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. He also holds certifications in Suicide Awareness and Prevention, Civil Mediation, Alternative Workplace Dispute Resolution, Temperament Analysis, Marriage Enrichment, Workforce Diversity, and is a certified Life Coach.