Leaders, Followers...and Victory

“…the leaders led in Israel,…the people volunteered” (Judges 5:2, NASB).

            After a great victory, Deborah and Barak sang a song that included the above words. I find it significant that in reference to victory, they mentioned the leaders leading and the people volunteering, don’t you? I believe it’s a concept that would serve us well today.

            Whether in the local church, a social organization, or a family, leaders leading implies strength of conviction. It also provides safety for those who seek wisdom and guidance from their leaders. When followers feel secure with leadership, they will also feel free to volunteer whatever they may have to offer—time, talent, devotion—regardless of personal cost.

            When any organization operates under these guidelines, chances of victory are greatly increased. Of course, that premise works best when the leaders who are leading are submitted to the One who fought for Israel and enabled them to prevail. That same One fights for us today when our leaders are submitted to Him and leading accordingly, and the followers are selflessly volunteering whatever they have to offer in the cause.

            Conversely, those who consider themselves leaders and yet are “doing their own thing” instead of pursuing God’s heart and purposes are not truly leading at all. The followers will then be led astray and lose confidence in their leaders, therefore holding back on volunteering and giving their best. Ultimately, failure and defeat are sure to follow.

            Heeding the words of Deborah and Barak, may we as leaders truly lead as God directs us, and as followers commit to freely give our best in whatever trials or battles come our way. For we all follow a God who has promised to fight for us and to bring us to that place of complete victory.

Two Excellent Books from a Great Author

THROUGH THE TEARS (Book two of the SANDY COVE series)

Fairfield Lab, Portland, OR.  The return address seemed harmless enough.  But Michelle Baron knew that the information inside could change her life forever.

Keeping vigil at the hospital as her father clings to life in the aftermath of his failed suicide attempt, Michelle finds solace and hope by gazing at the newborns in the nursery.  But a subsequent painful journey through the maze of infertility leaves her and her husband struggling to hold their marriage together.

Will medical science provide their answers? Will they discover a road to parenthood through adoption?  And how will this issue impact their future?

Michelle clings to her faith as she navigates the unpredictable storms they encounter while they search for answers. Agreeing with her husband, Steve, that she should use this time to complete her teaching credential, she finds herself in a course with a professor who has an anti-Christian bias to his lectures. As she seeks support from like-minded students of faith, she becomes involved in a Campus Crusade for Christ outreach to the local family planning clinic. Faced with the infertility issues she and Steve are experiencing, she is devastated by the multitude of babies losing their chance at life through the abortions performed at the clinic.

Through the Tears ~ the second novel in the Sandy Cove series~ delivers a message of hope in the midst of longing and disappointment.

Praises for OUT OF A DREAM  (Book One in the SANDY COVE series)

Rosemary Hines weaves an intricate story, which immediately draws the reader into a relationship with her characters.

NANCY TUMBAS, English Professor, California State University Long Beach

Out of a Dream held my interest from the first chapter. I wanted to know what would happen to Michelle and had to keep reading. The story was interesting and realistic, with suspense and a touch of romance -- just the way I like it!

JAN MCCANTS, Administrative Assistant, Christian Liberty School

I felt compelled to keep reading, completely consumed by this tale of one girl’s search for truth.

MISTY STUTES, Graduate Student, Vanguard University

Hines quickly introduces you to characters that parallel people in our own lives. Shaped by traits that enhance the plausibility of the plot, you could swear that you’ve met them all before.

IRENE DUNLAP,

Co-author of Chicken Soup for the Kids’ Soul, Chicken Soup for the Preteen Soul,

and Christmas Treasure for Kids

The content, storyline, and character development in Out of a Dream are excellent. As a book reviewer for Calvary Chapel ministries, one thing is of utmost importance to me in recommending a book, especially a novel -- does it have ministry value? The answer for Rosemary’s book is an off-the-charts YES!

KATHY GILBERT,

Book Reviewer, Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa

Order copies here:  http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Out+of+a+Dream+by+rosemary+hines

God's Word Never Fails

“Not one thing has failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spoke concerning you. All have come to pass for you;

not one word of them has failed” (Joshua 23:14, NKJV).

            One of the things my late father taught me was the importance of keeping your word. If you made a promise to someone, you must do everything possible to follow through. That was such an important concept in my parents’ generation (and those previous) that a handshake was enough to seal an agreement.

            Times have changed, though, haven’t they? We sign multi-page contracts when we buy a house, a car—even a cell phone. And still we sometimes look for ways to break our contracts and renege on our promises.

            Aren’t you glad God isn’t like that? When He makes a promise, you can not only “take it to the bank,” you can rest the destiny of your very soul on it. When Joshua, like Moses before him, had led and served the Jewish people for many years and was approaching the time of his death, he found it important to remind them of the faithfulness of God’s promises, using God’s faithfulness in the past as an illustration: “Not one word of them [God’s words/promises] has failed.”

            I wish people could say that about me; sadly they can’t, though I hope I’m doing better at keeping my word as I grow and mature in the Lord. I also wish I could say that about the people closest to me—and most of the time, I can. But we humans aren’t as faithful as God, are we? There really is no one besides Him who can be counted on to fulfill His every word…all the time.

            Isn’t that amazing and comforting? We serve a God who says what He means and means what He says. Furthermore, He follows through on His word and makes sure his promises are fulfilled in the lives of His people. He is the only One we can depend on, no matter the worst attacks from the enemy of our souls, the dire circumstances of our lives, or the failings of our own character. No wonder the Prophet Isaiah declares to God, “You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You” (Isaiah 26:3, NKJV).

            If we will just remember to trust in the One who keeps His word and fulfills His promises in our lives, we won’t need to worry about loopholes and litigation to break contracts, for God will keep us in perfect peace.

Great New Book--and a Chance to Win a Gift Basket!

Not only do I have a great new book to tell you about today, but if you leave a comment you could win a gift basket. How cool is that???

Parables & Word Pictures is from my author friend Cheri Cowell. Here's a little info on it:

Book Description:

Parables and Word Pictures from the New Testament is a 13-week workbook-style study of 118 parables from Jesus, Paul, and the apostles. This comprehensive look at the New Testament parables will help readers develop an ear for the message they convey—that the Kingdom of God is both here and near. Through the study readers will be challenged to live faithful and holy “Kingdom lives” in a broken and unholy world. 

Of the thirteen weeks, the first nine explore the parables of Jesus in the four gospels; the next three look at the parables in Acts and those from Paul and the apostles. The study culminates in a look at what the author calls living parables,

with Jesus as the Parable of all parables. Through Him we come to know God the Father, and through Jesus we come to live as living parables in a world begging to “see God.” Living story-shaped lives allows others to see God in

us—this is Kingdom living.

The workbook includes a chart of parables in chronological order, a chart of parables alphabetically arranged in the four gospels, a chart showing the locations in Israel where the parables were taught, and an index of scriptures to make finding parables quick and easy. A Leader’s Guide is available.

Author Bio: 

Author, speaker, and sidewalk theologian, Cheri Cowell is passionate about discipleship and challenging the body of Christ to holiness of heart and life. As the author of Direction: Discernment for the Decisions of Your Life (Beacon Hill, 2007) and over 300 articles, Cheri’s love of story and the Holy Word shines through in her writing and teaching. In 2009 she was one of six journalists chosen for a tour of the Holy Land by the Israeli Ministry of Tourism, a blessing that only deepened the love of the parables Jesus told. Cheri is a graduate of Asbury Theological Seminary where she learned the Inductive Bible study method used in this study to encourage, challenge, and equip the body of Christ to live story-shaped lives. 

Preferred Ordering Link:

http://www.amazon.com/Principles-Testament-Parables-Pictures-Following/dp/0899573495/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1335897377&sr=8-1

Trailer Link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffcY35Vw2gE

Contents of Gift Basket (contest will run through July 6):

1. Parables and Word Pictures from the New Testament (workbook Bible study) by Cheri Cowell

2. Women of the Bible: Book One (workbook Bible study) by Barber, Rasnake, and Shepherd

3. Mocha on the Mount (Coffee Cup Bible study) by Sandra Glahn

4. Direction: Discernment for the Decisions of Your Life by Cheri Cowell

5. Direction Bible study workbook by Cheri Cowell

6. God: Knowing Him By His Names by Bill Bright

7. See For Yourself: Daily Devotionals (ebook DVD) by Cheri Cowell

8. Bible tabs

9. Bookmark

10. Bible highlighter

11. Hunter Green gift basket

 So leave a comment, get a copy of the book, and have a blessed June, dear friends!

Nikki Arana, one of my favorite authors, has just released a new novel that you will NOT want to miss! Here's a brief note about it:


When extremists murder Austia Donatelli’s student and then set their sights on her, she must untangle a web of deception to save herself, her underground ministry to Muslims in L.A., and the women she serves.


 Intrigued yet? You should be! Click on this link to order it. Warning: It might keep you up at night, but it will be worth the sleep you lose!

http://www.amazon.com/The-Next-Target-A-Novel/dp/0781404312/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1335567786&sr=1-1

Go...and Sin No More

“Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more” (John 8:11, NKJV).

            The story of how Jesus forgave the woman caught in adultery is an all-time favorite for many of us. We love that the Savior was merciful and compassionate, even turning the spotlight from the woman to her self-righteous accusers. But to focus on the Lord’s lack of condemnation to the exclusion of His admonition to “sin no more” is to misrepresent the truth and power of His words.

            A few decades ago I came across a popular book titled I’m Okay, You’re Okay, and it struck a chord of concern in me because the book was selling like crazy and readers were extolling the virtues of its anything-goes message. Some years later I had the privilege of working on Josh McDowell’s manuscript for his book The New Tolerance, in which he cautioned the Church not to get caught up in the world’s ever-increasing love affair with that “I’m okay, you’re okay” type of mantra. Josh rightly predicted that our society was well on its way to making tolerance the number-one virtue and intolerance the gravest sin. We now live in that culture, where the most oft-quoted (and misused) verse in the Bible is “Judge not, that you be not judged” (Matthew 7:1, NKJV). Though it is true we are not to judge others based on our own opinions or personal values, neither are we to toss out the absolutes of God’s Word in fear of being considered intolerant.

            The Scriptures are clear that murder, stealing, lying, adultery, and other behaviors contrary to the character of Christ are absolutely wrong. Period. Not because we say so but because God says so. To proclaim His Word is not judging; it is simply believing that what He says is True because, after all, He is Truth, and God cannot contradict His own nature and tell a lie.

            The Scriptures also instruct us to “[speak] the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15, NKJV). Certainly we need to proclaim God’s truth from a heart of love, desiring to see people saved and healed and set free, for truth without love causes terrible damage to the hearers. However, love without truth becomes license and allows people to remain in their sin and continue in their separation from God.

            And that is why Jesus so clearly said to the woman caught in adultery, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” He assured her that she did not have to live under condemnation, but He also admonished her to change her ways. “Sin no more,” He warned her, for if she truly understood His message and received His forgiveness, her life would be marked by repentance, an “about-face” from her previous walk away from God to one heading straight for His heart, a life epitomized by a desire to please her Lord and reject a life of sin.

            By all means may we refrain from imposing our opinions and personal values on others, but may we also love enough to speak the truth of God’s Word so others can turn from sin and enter into eternal life.

Touching True Story You Won't Want to Miss!

Lisa Keck is a friend of mine, as well as a colleague and dear sister in the Lord. Despite all that, I really didn't know her story until I read The Monday Came. What an inspiration! This is a must-read book, folks. Here, let me have Lisa tell you about it.

***

I smiled for the camera but by the time the photographer took our picture in 1990 my brother had been an alcoholic 8 years. Our relationship had been severed by childhood abuse long before that.  The day our father died was the first time Paul drank on a Monday and alone. After the funeral our mother asked when he was going to quit and he said, “When my father wakes up.” Then Monday Came is a story of tragedy and triumph. I relied on my faith to get me through the tough times. These are my memories and recollections of how God worked in my life to help me forgive the past so I could lead Paul back to Christ and the ultimate rehab center: Heaven.

About the Author:

Lisa Keck is a wife and mother of two. She loves stories of God's redemption and shares them on her blog, When My Father Wakes Up (www.owstowows.wordpress.com)

https://www.createspace.com/3766028