Spiritual Heartbeats

Ashes to Ashes

2011-12-02T08:53:00.000-08:00

Death and dying are usually not Christian topics we rush to get down on paper, published, or read. Why? I think the reason is it’s such a blunt reminder we’re mortal and each of us must die at some point (unless Christ returns first, of course). For the young it may seem distant and surreal, for the middle-aged it is a responsibility for aging family members and parents, for those who are already past middle-age, it makes us homesick for heaven.

Homesick for heaven, you ask? Absolutely! The longer you’ve lived, the more turmoil and trials you have faced in your faith walk. At the same time, you know God is with you spiritually teaching you to live victoriously in spite of “Satan’s Survivor Show” better known as life.

Imminently, I’m facing my last parent’s final hours. My mother is 90 years old and now in a hospice facility. I pray for her pain to be lessened. I pray for God’s angels to minister to her. I pray for my brother who has been her caregiver and housemate for the past decade. I pray for fewer tears and clearer thinking. But I feel all muddled and messy inside, Lord. It’s a time to search my soul and cry out for "the peace that passes all understanding". It’s a season to ask for forgiveness for things done and undone for my mother.

One thing I do know, I witnessed to her shortly after my father died last century. Clinging to this special memory helps me to hope, to hurt less, to heal. God in His grace and His time will allow her to pass into eternity.

Ashes to ashes and dust to dust we are physically, but spiritually we leave our place at the table of time. Please pass the Salt and Light in this fleeting world.

"But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they [unbelievers] fear; do not be frightened. But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord." I Peter 3:14 and 15 (NIV)

Blessings and Agape,

Linda B. Greer

K.Macias Interview: Deliver Me From Evil

2011-09-26T17:12:00.000-07:00

Kathi Macias has done it again and broached a topic for a novel not many would dare to write on: Human Trafficking. Deliver Me from Evil is particularly focused on children in the sexual slave trade arena. This book is a difficult one to read, and I am sure it was difficult for Kathi to write it. Since this is such a serious topic, my questions to her are pretty serious, so I would rate this page only to be viewed by people 18 years or older:

What motivated you to write on the topic of human bondage and degradation in sexual trafficking?

I’ve always been a “social issues” person, even before I became a Christian at the age of 26, so it was natural that I would continue in that bent as a believer and an author. However, it was actually my publisher, Andrea Mullins of New Hope, who first suggested I consider the topic for my next fiction series. The more I researched and read about it, the more I realized how desperately this topic needs to be exposed in every possible venue and genre. Hence, my fiction series on human trafficking was written.

There is the possibility of a romance between one of the sex slaves and a nice kid in your novel. Why did you decide not to allow some closure in your novel?

The possibility is certainly there, yes, but because it’s the first of a three-book series, I wanted to stretch the relationship development over a period of time, particularly since a preacher’s son and a young woman trapped in sexual bondage for years have little in common on which to build a relationship—at least in the beginning.

Having been through a murder trial, I know the court system is grossly understaffed for public defenders in most states. It takes years for cases to go to trial. Justice is no longer swift and sure, and I wonder if these criminals get bail. Do the victims, who are key witnesses, go into protective custody or have identity and location changes pre-trial? Isn't this part of the issue, too?

Each case is different because each is individually handled. But you are absolutely right about the drawn-out legal system which, on occasions, allows criminals to go free strictly by default. The issue of the trials of those involved in book one will be addressed in book two.

The value placed on life varies by culture. In the U.S. there is some legal recourse. In the case of the regions like China or Indonesia, there probably would never be charges of murder for deaths of any sex slaves. Care to comment on this dichotomy?

This is absolutely true. This varies from culture to culture. Thailand, for instance, has a high rate of sexual slavery, including children, and it’s common knowledge that many officials are bought off and turn a blind eye to this crime. It is rare that someone trapped in this lifestyle in such a country or culture ever escapes, at least not alive.

What statistics can you provide for the annual number of missing children under age 18 versus the number of children under 18 estimated to be kidnapped and victims of human trafficking in the U.S. alone? Have these statistics increased in the past 5 years and, if so, can you give data on this change?

This may not answer your specific question directly, but the most recent government studies (released in August 2011) give a conservative estimate of 100,000 to 300,000 minors held in captivity in the US right now. Whatever the exact number—which could easily be more—it’s unacceptable. I have also heard the estimate that approximately 100,000 women over the age of 18 are brought into the US as sex slaves each year. The most commonly accepted worldwide estimate of all persons held in modern-day slavery—whether for sex, unpaid labor, or involuntary organ donations—is 27 million.

If someone wanted to be an advocate for change in awareness and increased convictions of criminals in human trafficking, what groups are the best equipped to be agents of change on a national level or regional level?

There are so many, but here are links to some of the most prominent:
http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/www_usn_2.nsf/vw-dynamic-index/8081a4079639d55a802573e000530965?opendocument (Salvation Army)

http://breakingchains.ning.com/ (Breaking Chains)

http://www.ijm.org/ (International Justice Mission)

http://www.newhopedigital.com/index.php/2011/09/dillon-burroughs-aftercare-for-trafficking-victims-in-the-us/ (Dillon Burroughs and Charles Powell, Not in My Town)

I find it astonishing that girls under age 11 could survive the internal damage and bleeding that would probably occur after intercourse with a man. Yet, you say in your novel that many are brought into this sordid industry at half that age. What happens to the ones who die from this assault on their bodies?

Sadly, many do die, whether from the immediate damage or disease and neglect. Few live long into adulthood.

As soon as you mentioned the green eyes of a teen kidnapped off the beach, I thought for sure it was one the protagonists. Did you intend to have your readers fearful of this or did you change your mind and decide to let this be another victim with similar features? If it were me, I think this character would have been a cousin to the preachers kids to make the plot climax more powerful.

No, I never considered that. As a novelist I just wanted to be sure the girls being held in captivity were clearly distinguishable from one another.

9. Dr. Edna Ellison and I are seeking short story or poetry submissions from parents of missing or murdered children for a Christian anthology/Bible study book. If you get any responses from readers of this novel who fit this profile, would you be willing to share those contacts with us? There's virtually nothing for healing of wounded Christian parents described in your book that is written from a Christian worldview.

What a wonderful idea! I would certainly be more than happy to share that information at any time, so long as it is not confidential in some way.

Thank you for writing this book, Kathi. It is a subject rarely addressed in our "land of the free and home of the brave". I hope it becomes part of a movement in the U.S. to stop the war of terror on our children. It made my spiritual heartbeats pound with the injustice to these children. I can only ponder on this Holy Scripture: "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14)

For more information about our author, Kathi Macias, please refer to these websites:

www.kathimacias.com www.thetitus2women.com kathieasywritermacias.blogspot.com

As always, Blessings and Agape,

Dr. Linda B. Greer

People of the Book by Kathi Macias

2011-09-04T16:28:00.000-07:00

I was pleased to be asked to read and interview Kathi for her current book on the battle of the minds of Islamic youth to believe in the Karan or to grab hold of their friend and Saviour, Isa (Jesus in our language). First, let me give you a brief bio on Kathi Macias (pronounced with a soft ''c").

Kathi is a mulit-award winning writer who has authored more than 30 books and has ghostwritten several others.Her novel Red Ink was recenlty named Golden Scroll's Novel of the Year! It is also a finalist for a Carol Award from ACFW. A former newspaper columnist and string reporter, Kathi has taught creative and business writing in various venues and has been a guest on many radio and TV programs. She is also a popular speaker at churches, women's clubs and retreats, and writers'conferences. She won the 2008 Member of the Year award from AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association). Kathi "Easy Writer" Macias lives in Homeland, CA, with her husband, Al, where the two of them spend fun times cruising in Al's "new" 2005 sunburst orange Corvette.

1) People of the Book takes place in both a home in Washington state and in the homes of two Muslim sisters who are married with children in Saudi Arabia. The Saudis are one of the strictest Islamic countries in the Middle East. Where did you get your information about the private life for Muslim women in Saudi Arabia to write this book?

This was indeed a major challenge. I did the initial research for the book (as I did for the others in the series) online, but then I tried to take the second step of communicating with someone in the country itself to work with me on details. I ran into a brick wall. Though I connected with some women at a Saudi women’s blog, they were unwilling to take the chance to work with me. They explained that if caught, the consequences would be too great. That, of course, only confirmed my decision to move forward. I prayed for a solution, and then one day about a week later I was teaching at a writers’ conference on the topic of research. I mentioned the problem I was having with this particular book, and after the class a lovely young woman came up to me and said, “I lived nearly my entire life in Saudi Arabia until moving to the States a couple of years ago. I would love to help you. It has long been my prayer to be the ‘voice of the voiceless” in the Saudi Kingdom. I will help any way I can.” And she did, offering me insight I might never have discovered otherwise. Her help was invaluable.

2) Sounds like God's timing was perfect for your writing. Some of this book takes place in the public streets and shops of Riyadh where the women walk unaccompanied by a male family member. I thought this was strictly not allowed in Saudi Arabian culture, even during Ramadan. Could you explain why you chose to have characters apparently compromising their Islamic customs? Was it for the sake of the plot?

My Saudi friend explained to me that there is a lot of variation within the Muslim tradition, even in Saudi Arabia, and this practice is not uncommon there. Because the two families I write about in the book are loving and caring, even allowing their daughters Internet access (a surprisingly common occurrence in the Saudi Kingdom), it seemed appropriate that the women in the story would be allowed (key word: allowed, having obtained permission from their husbands/father) to walk the streets and shop without male companions. Of course, driving for women is strictly against the law, as you may have seen in the news recently when one woman courageously launched a protest by not only driving but videotaping herself in the process and placing the video on YouTube. She was promptly arrested, though a handful of women vowed to support her by staging a “drive in.” Men immediately swore to stop all cars driven by women and beat the drivers. Apparently that put quite a damper on the event.

3) You chose a middle class Arabian family. The young man, Kareem, feels he will have no trouble finding a wife. However, the betrothal of a woman is done to create alliances with families with power and money. Kareem has little chance of finding a wife who will marry lower than her place of influence, and therefore Kareem is certain not be able to marry up the ladder of success. Can you explain why Kareem feels he's such a good "catch"?

Though the family is middle-class, there is mention in the book that the father owns a small business. Kareem is also quite arrogant and full of himself—and handsome. He seems confident that his parents will arrange a good marriage for him and that any woman they pick would be overwhelmed with joy at the thought of being his bride.

4) When I was in the Middle East about a decade ago, Ramadan occurred in the winter around Christmas. Has the Arabic calendar changed this holiday to the summertime for some reason? It would mean the fasting period would be longer than in winter and heat would be a problem for cooking large evening meals.

It is true that the Ramadan observance sometimes falls in cooler months, but the last few have been during hot weather. My friend said she remembers more Ramadan festivals occurring during hot weather than cold.

5) No mention was made of servants in the Islamic homes. Even middle class Arabs would get a maid for cleaning and some cooking. Can you discuss this detail?

I felt we could go either way on this. True, many families have servants but my friend’s family did not, though they too were middle-class. I wanted to keep the number of characters involved to a minimum, so opted not to include them.

6) Why does the Arabic family in Washington state that converted to Christianity not have any other Muslim friends who have also left their homelands to be worshippers of Jesus? Do you have any statistics on how many have migrated to the US because of fear of persecution and death in their home countries?

I don’t have those statistics, no, and it’s true that—like other cultures—immigrants from Muslim countries often congregate once they arrive in a new country. However, since family friends were not a necessary integral part of the story, I again opted not to include them in order to keep characters to a workable level.

7) Suicided is a sure ticket to hell according to Muslim thinking. One of the muslim characters in your book leaves this world by drinking poison. Is there a reason you chose this shameful method of death?

I actually made this choice on purpose to call into question what I’ve been told happens so often when the customs/teachings of Islam come into such obvious conflict with emotions and close relations. My friend from Saudi Arabia said this actually happens quite often, particularly in situations such as the one in my book.

8) Saudi is so strict that even foreign European or American women must wear the black abya and shayla to cover themselves in public. It seems very unusual for any of the Saudi women to be allowed use of the Internet without direct male supervision in your story. Please explain how your younger characters would realistically be allowed to do this so freely in the privacy of their bedrooms.

This is actually only true in some families. I struggled with how to reach these young people within the Kingdom with the Gospel, but was told by several sources that not only is Isa (Jesus) appearing to many Muslims in dreams and visions, the Internet is also being used for that purpose. My friend Dolly said she regularly used the Internet during her late teens and early twenties while she lived in the Saudi Kingdom, and that many of her friends had that same privilege. I was thrilled to learn that, as it answered my dilemma about how to connect those otherwise isolated girls to the outside world.

9) What is the best take-away you want your readers to have after they finish People of the Book?

I pray, as in all the books in this Extreme Devotion series, that readers not only come away with a fresh appreciation for their own freedoms of worship, but also with an understanding that the command in Hebrews 13 to “remember those in chains as if in prison with them” is a serious admonition. We are to pray for and support our Christian brothers and sisters around the world, particularly those who suffer for the faith, as if we were suffering right there with them. And that requires action.

As for People of the Book specifically, I believe the message is that God’s Word is alive and powerful and can reach anyone anywhere…and change hearts and lives forever. Here's a direct link to the book at Amazon.com:

http://www.amazon.com/People-Extreme-Devotion-Kathi-Macias/dp/1596692820/ref=sr_1_8?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1311360087&sr=1-8

Thanks so much, Kathi, for taking the time to answer these questions, especially since you've had your hands full these last few months, both professionally and personally. I look forward to your next releases and hope we can "talk" again about them as well. Your spiritual heartbeats and desire to write as a believer seem to be "for such a time as this."

Blessings and Agape,
Linda B. Greer

When the Body Remains but the Mind is Ebbing Away

2011-07-02T13:03:00.000-07:00

Whether you call it dementia or Alzheimer's Disease, it means your loved one is lost inside their own mind and is losing bits of memories each moment, each day, until the body goes to be with the Lord. If you are a caregiver for such a person, I strongly urge you to read Cec Murphy's new gift book, When Someone You Love No Longer Remembers.

As I read it, I kept thinking about the old camp song that goes, "This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine." You stand in darkness of jumbled thoughts and lost connections, and you need your caregiver to be that little light to shine for you. Cec has taken a series of true life stories of caregivers and offered hope to those who are watching as a husband or wife drifts away. Eventually the only peace one can find is by serving the loved one lost in dementia as you would Jesus Christ. "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me'". (Matthew 25: 40, NIV)

Each story is filled with heartfelt emotion, sadness, but also hope in a future life with Christ where all will be well. The book also stresses your needs as a caregiver in staying healthy, keeping your spiritual heartbeats sound with your own prayer life, and proactively asking for help and visitors to your home. There are great suggestions in the epilogues for dealing with your fatigue, dealing with visitors, and doing exercise with your loved one. Imperatives include being part of a caregiver support group and even starting one in your area if needed.

Many of these intimate stories share the need to stay calm and help the spouse to avoid agitation. Looking at the serene beach landscapes and pastel colors of each page was enough to calm me without reading a word. Michael Sparks did a sensitive and wonderful job of illustrating this unique gift book by Cec Murphy.

Blessings and Agape,

Linda B. Greer

Day is Done, Gone the Sun...

2011-05-30T21:38:00.000-07:00

Taps is what they call it. It's one of the most forlorn pieces for trumpet played at all military funerals. Many times over the last decade, wives, mothers, sisters, brothers, and other family members have stared in disbelief as the flag draping the coffin is ceremonially removed and folded at the graveside. It is then handed to the closest relative of the deceased veteran.

From personal experience, it is little comfort to hold a tri-folded red, white, and blue bundle as you walk back to your car, the first in the caravan leaving the cemetary. Your life has just been irrevocably altered by the death of your loved one. Your whole future had rested with this person and their life. Where do you start to rebuild your life, now dessimated by this perniciously painful turn in your path?

You pull out your tissues, weeping once again, wondering why God allowed this to happen. Two small girls are holding on to your black skirt, following your every move. They seem worried about the future, too. How can you help them when you can't even balance a checkbook, remember your last address, connect the dots of your scattered household goods across the globe?

God puts you in a dark hole and then waits, watches, and weeps, too. He wants to know if you will search for Him, see His light, and seek his hand to climb out of the pit. You know you ought to, but instead, you remain in the darkness stunned and wounded. You stop singing. You stop laughing. You want to stop breathing and die, too.

But somehow, with the passage of time, life stops spinning around in this pit. You do look up and reach for the God of the universe to place you in a new home, to feed your little lambs, to give you an income. And friends come alongside you never knew before and love you like they'd known you all their lives--true and blessed gifts from the Father. Part of your heart has been torn away, but He sends friends to stop the hemorhaging.

Take time to remember, freedom comes at a very high price. Lives leave this earth everyday trying to quell the waves of terrorists who stalk the globe in the name of Jihad. Praise God we are one important step closer to unraveling the tangled web emanating from Osama Bin Laden's nerve center. Someday the world will be safe again and random acts of violence on innocent people will cease. Someday the King will return and gather His own and the dead in Christ will rise. Someday...soon croons your spiritual heartbeat.

In Remembrance of All Who Died Serving Our Country,

Linda B. Greer

Blessed Savior, Blessed Peace

2011-04-09T14:08:00.000-07:00

There is nothing like the peace of God in your life, especially at moments when normally you would be tense or extremely uncomfortable. I had such a moment last weekend, and it was so touching. It has been on my mind to pray about a certain matter in my life for some time, and to see God answer it in such a beautiful way with such angelic peace has moved me to an epiphanal lampost on my journey.

Isn't it wonderful to know God does still work through our prayers? He listens. He heeds our pleas for help. He answers the needy and the humble. "Ask and you shall receive. Seek and you shall find." On and on the Bible urges us to call on the Almighty Father for the peace we seek from the world's burdens.

How often have you struggled to solve problems on your own and settled for a muddled mess? Too many times for me to count are those doggedly persistent times of "just making it through one more day". If we want "the peace that passes all understanding" and defies our predicaments, then we must seek it from the one who bestows this unbelievable peace, this incredible calmness for life's calamities.

When I survey the cross of Jesus, I know peace with God was made a reality for every man, woman, and child. It was His precious head, with equatorial thorns instead of a real crown, bowed in humility with the stain of the world's sin, making peace possible at a powerful price. Can we ever calculate the cruelty? Would we ever knowingly wound the very person who won eternal life for all of us? Should we bow with shame for lack of sharing His name and message?

Oh, for glory's sake, do not waste time in hate, but melt your heart of stone and lay it on Him like a well-deserved laurel. Take time this Easter to re-anoint yourself for His purpose in your life. Carry His peace in your pocket wherever you go. Sprinkle it into the lives of those you love (or don't love yet) and watch it grow, like a rose in your fertile fellowship garden.

Loving the Lord and Blessing You with Agape,

Linda B. Greer

Valentine's Day Invitation

2011-02-08T13:51:00.000-08:00

Dear Friend and Fellow Writer,
Can you spare some change and send a Valentine to someone whose life-mate passed away within these last 12 months? I'm sure you know someone in your neighborhood, in your church, or elsewhere in your circle of contacts. Instead of wishing for a Valentine sweetheart or a special gift from your own spouse, show you care about someone else and remember them this holiday. How blessed you can be by giving instead of getting!          "In everthing I did, I showed you ...we must help the weak remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' " (Acts 20:35 NIV)
In words given to the prophet, Ezekiel, promising God's re-gathering of his wayward Israeites, it says:
          "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh." (Ezek. 36:26 NIV)
If you wish to be blessed on this Valentine's Day, why not seek after this "heart of flesh" and destroy the selfish and godless parts of your heart that are like stone, stubborn and stiff.
Hear what the Old Testament has this to say about a gift of love. Gifts of love are motivated by the One who epitomizes love, Jesus Christ. A true gift of love expects nothing in return.
          "A gift opens the way for the giver and ushers him into the presence of the great." (Prov. 18:16 NIV) "...but the righteous give without sparing." (Prov. 21:26b NIV)
Give your heart to God and give your love to those who need to be loved this Valentine's Day. I would have been married for 30 years on this Valentine's Day if my husband were still alive. My daughter at age 20 was nearing the end of her pregnancy with a little girl when she was murdered on Valentine's Day 8 years ago. I would selfishly give any gift I could to have all three of these precious people back on earth, but I know God has given them the best Valentine's gift of all--eternal life with him in heaven.
          " 'I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.' " (John 10:28 NIV)
Blessings and Agape,
Linda B. Greer

A Friend in the Storm

2011-01-25T08:11:00.000-08:00

Cheryl Ricker writes poetry from her soul. It's amazing and encouraging to see such beauty come through her blessed hands. Her recent collection, A Friend in the Storm, deserves an award. It captures the very essence of God's love for us through the toughest of trials in our lives and we see through His eyes how precious we are. I had the pleasure of interviewing Cheryl and the following is a taste of her work.

1. Which poem in your collection, A Friend in the Storm, is your favorite? Why?

I have two favorite poems. You can read them and then my explanation of why they're my faves.

"Why?"

Why would a God who loves so strong
allow this blow of senseless wrong
enwrap me in this shock of pain
that tries to snuff what's kept me sane?

With failing strength, I'm struck down low,
so where's this peace supposed to flow?
Inside this hole where dreaming dies
beneath bare groans and screaming cries.

"Why" is my favorite because it's the premise of A Friend in the Storm. Whenever I talk to

about Christ, they always seem to ask this question. By echoing their feelings, I open them up to hearing Christ's loving, patient, Scriptural answers.

"You"

You're forever on My mind
and in your presence I rejoice;
Singing out your name with angels,
all your sweetness fills My voice.

Keeping loved ones in My keeping,
I embrace a constant calm.
Whole and holy, I will hold you,
ever-after in My palm.

"You" ties for my favorite poem because God's love is the ultimate comfort. He's crazy about us. Zeph 3:17 says "He rejoices over us with singing." It was fun to capture that in a poem.

2. How long did it take to create these beautiful and insightful poems?

I was still trying to find my voice as I was writing them, so each poem took several hours to write, if you count all the editing time.

3.Tell us about the motivation you had in writing this book?

It started by accident. In 2005 I went to a Mothers of Preschoolers meeting. As we were going around a circle introducing ourselves, I learned that one of the ladies, Chantale, had stage four lung cancer.

After a few weeks of getting to know Chantale, she invited me to meet with her regularly in her home. I was honored but nervous because I didn’t know what I would say.

Then God reminded me I could write her comfort poetry. Some people bring casseroles. I could bring poetry. It turned out Chantale loved it. She said it gave her peace, so I kept writing.

One day she asked if I’d read some of my poetry at her funeral. I hadn’t realized we were so close to the end…

It was difficult, but I got up and shared my little word pictures of hope.

A month after she died, I attended a writer’s conference where I was encouraged to put my poems into a gift book along with quotes and Scriptures. That’s how “A Friend In the Storm” began… five years and a thousand revisions ago.

4. Your POV is that of Christ, taking you out of the picture altogether. What inspired you to do this unique presentation of verse?

I chose Christ's POV because He wants to be our friend in the storm. The book is His description

and invitation. He offers comforts like no other. No else can say, “I’ve been there. I understand exactly how you feel.”

5. Did you write your poetry at odd times of the day or night?

Yes, just ask my husband! I write during a lot of nights when he has a cold because... well, I can't sleep with his snoring. Funny guy that he is, he claims he's contributing to my fine sense of rhythm!6. Do you sense your verses came directly from God's heart and the Holy Spirit through your pen and onto paper? (I assume you write a rough draft on paper before typing.)

I love that question because so many people think that you just have to put your pen to the paper and let the Lord... take over. I definitely sense that I'm partnering with God. I ask for His direction and leading. I draw from my many years of walking with Him and studying the Bible. But writing's a lot of blood, sweat and tears. Ok, maybe not the blood, but definitely a lot of sweat and tears!

7. Would you ever consider entering a collection of your poems into a literary contest? If you have already won any awards, please tellme what they are.

Contests are great! In high school I won first place in the Canadian Author and Bookman magazine. That's actually what first got me really pumped about poetry. My other awards weren't in literary contests, though. I won an award from the Creative Writing department of York University in Canada; and I also won the Mount Hermon Christian Writer's Poetry Award.

8. Did the publisher design the artwork and colors for A Friend in the Storm or did you have significant input in that part of the process of publication?

I gave my editor at Zondervan all my picture ideas... so that might have helped with their inspirations for the artwork, but it was really all them. They picked the colors, the design, everything. Looking back, I'm glad they did, because I love what they did!

9. Would you ever consider co-authoring a poetry collection with another Christian poet?

Hmmm... To be honest, I've never thought of that before. I think it would be difficult. I could more easily see myself co-authoring a novel with another Christian writer. I'm great on the detail end of things; so if some great, bestselling author out there feels led to help join in with me... sure... I'll accept that. :)

10. Do you have a new publication coming soon that I can showcase for you on the Spiritual Heartbeats blog?

No, not yet. I've been busy connecting with friends and fans on my website, blog, and "A Friend in the Storm" Facebook page. "A Friend in the Storm" has opened some pretty neat ministry doors. There are a lot of hurting people out there who need the healing truth that God freely offers them.

__________________________

Cheryl Ricker's book can be viewed at this web site. Thanks so much for sharing from your spiritual heartbeats to minister to all of us going through storms in our lives!

www.AFriendInTheStorm.com

Blessings and Agape,

Linda B. Greer

Red Ink: Interview about Kathi Macias' New Book

2010-12-28T16:33:00.000-08:00

I had the privilege to read Kathi's latest publication, a multi-faceted book about the struggle between good and evil in the lives of believers on opposite sides of the globe. It was a detailed read incorporating many characters and scenes. Here are the questions and answers Kathi so graciously responded to despite her busy schedule.

Were you ever a missionary in China and do you speak some Chinese?

No on both questions, but my editor could answer yes to both. I did the initial research online, as I do for all my fiction works, and then my editor, Randy, at New Hope, helped me bring it to life with some personal touches. I also had another reader who was a former missionary to China who did the same thing, which was a huge help.

How much time did you spend researching the socio-political aspects of present day
China as regards Christianity and the true underground church of believers
in Jesus Christ as background for Red Ink?

Tons of time! Of course, I was already somewhat familiar with it, as I follow closely the lives of persecuted believers around the globe, particularly Li Ying, a Christian magazine editor who is currently serving a ten-year prison sentence in China for publishing/distributing Christian materials. She was the inspiration for Red Ink.

How much of Maggie is a self-portrait of you as a teenager?

Maybe the headstrong and naïve element, as that was definitely my personality. Beyond that, very little. But I’ve raised/survived a rebellious teenager of my own, so I’m no stranger to the issues and problems involved in all that.

Do you have an elder relative who is a prayer warrior currently residing in a
nursing home/assisted living facility? If not, how did you get your insight
into the life of such characters?

No, but my mom was involved in that sort of ministry for many years. Now she lives with us and is nearly 90, and I’m her primary caretaker, so I do have quite a bit of experience with the elderly. (In fact, I’m fast approaching that honored position myself!)

The first answered prayer for Zhen-Li comes almost halfway into the book when there
is a natural disaster at the prison. As far as pacing is concerned, was this
intentional on your part as a writer?

Absolutely. I wanted the characters and multi-faceted stories well established and tension built first, with readers well invested in the outcome. Most readers tell me they were actively praying for the characters by that point, even though they kept reminding themselves they weren’t real. I wanted the readers to be in a place where escape seemed impossible so they could see the power of praying to the God of the impossible.

Mei is an interesting supporting role to the protagonist. Was this part of your initial
plot or did this come as an inspiration as you wrote Red Ink?

As so many secondary characters and even sub-plots in my stories, the need for them just sort of appears as the main story unfolds. I’m not much of an outliner, I’m afraid, particularly in fiction. I have a starting and an ending point, and little idea of how to get from one to the other until
I get my main characters developed and give them enough leeway to set the pace. Mei captivated me! I absolutely love her contribution to the story.

Changing heads (POV) in each chapter is a challenge for any writer. How did you handle this?

I actually find it easier than trying to stay with the same one or two main characters throughout. I’m afraid I get tired of staying in one character’s skin for too long and want to go check on the others to see what they’re doing. So long as whatever is going on with all of them continues to
move the story forward, it seems to work well.

I was particularly interested in Zhen-Li's mother's attitude when she had no one
left in her home. Was this also a God-inspired addition to the plot?

Yes, this also came to light as the story progressed and seemed to fill the perfect hole that had developed in my plot. I am always excited to watch God do that sort of thing in the weaving together of lives, whether fictional or real!

How did you arrive at the title for your novel? It seems to represent a dual message to me--the red ink in some Bibles that are the words of Jesus, but also the fact that you are writing about China's traditional color as the blood-letting of tortured believers.

Yes, absolutely true in both cases! Originally, because I based the story on the true life of Li Ying, a Chinese Christian magazine editor who is currently serving a ten-year sentence for printing Christian materials and distributing them, particularly to children, Red Ink represented both the Communist government and Li Ying’s work for which they persecuted her. But as I worked my way through the book, I realized it applied even more to the words and blood of Jesus.

How did you get the inspiration to tie up all the threads of your plot in your marvelous ending?

Again, I knew how I wanted to end it but was clueless how to make that happen. I can only give credit to the One who calls and equips me to do the work of the ministry—in this case, writing books. I commit the work of my hands and the thoughts of my mind to Him each day and ask that at the end of that day I might be found faithful. Then I sit down and start writing. I am as amazed as anyone else at the results!

Thanks, Kathi, for an amazing Christian fiction giving us a glimpse at the struggles to live out Chrisitan faith in a Communist country. May our spiritual heartbeats empathize with their pain and persecution in our prayers for their survival and perseverance.

Blessings and Agape,
Linda B. Greer

Need Your Help for Writers with a Story to Tell

2010-10-31T11:02:00.000-07:00

Call for Short Stories or Poetry from Parents of Murdered Children
Dr. Edna Ellison and Dr. Linda Greer are doing a compilation for a ministry book for parents of murdered children. We are requesting short stories of 1000 words or less or short poems of 20 lines maximum from parents who have had a child murdered (age 22 or younger). We would like parents to include a key Bible verse used to gain strength and hope for this crisis in their lives. Please try to focus on the initial grief, the healing process and the hope found in God, rather than great details of the loss of your child. Please do not submit stories on missing children.

We hope you will network with your friends on facebook, twitter, digg and any other social networking you have in place to reach writers across our country and beyond. Your efforts to help find people willing to write about their heartache will be much appreciated.

Although we regret we can’t offer a fee for your work, we can give you one free copy of the final work when it is published and a discount on any other books you choose to purchase. Please use alternate names for persons in your work for your protection or pseudonyms as authors or poets. Send Word documents in Times New Roman, double-spaced. Attach a separate cover sheet including your real name, address, email, and telephone numbers. Please attach your documents in an email with “POMC” in the subject line to drgreer@charter.net . In the email body please indicate if it is a poem or a short story. The deadline for submissions is Dec. 1, 2010.

Blessings and Agape,Linda B. Greer

Spiritual Heartbeats has the Word on "Hatteras Girl" and a FREE BOOK!

2010-10-11T15:50:00.000-07:00

It's my pleasure to introduce Alice Wisler's newest book, Hatteras Girl. It's an easy read, well-paced and set, not surprisingly, on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Currently, Alice has a #1 best-selling religious fiction (online at http://amazon.com/ for free) she published prior to this book. It's Kindle friendly and entitled Rain Song. Congratulations, Alice!

I asked Alice these questions about Hatteras Girl, and here were her responses (in purple). FYI, Alice's book is a free giveaway to one of you lucky readers who sends a post to this blog about her interview and her book.

1) What inspired you to write Hatteras Girl, a Christian romance novel about a soon-to-be 30 year-old Korean-American single woman?
I love the coastal regions of North Carolina and enjoy staying in bed and breakfasts. I decided to give Jackie, the main character, a desire to run her own B&B. Her desire stems from childhood, the notion being that we all have childhood dreams. Sometimes in our adults years, they get to come true.

2) How much of the main character's story is a self-portrait?
I suppose in a way, if it weren't so much work, I'd like to own my own bed and breakfast. In that sense, it is a self-portrait. Also, I was single until I was 27 and had many well-meaning folk want to introduce me to eligible men. Some were creepy!

3) Why did you choose the Outer Banks as the setting?
I choose the Outer Banks for its serenity and beauty. I love vacationing there.

4) Why did the protagonist wait so long to get her nickname and give one to Buck since they were children growing up together?
Although Buck and Jackie, the main character, grew up together, keep in mind that Buck and Jackie were never friends as children. Jackie's baby brother and Buck were friends. It is not until Buck and Jackie are older and are both in Hatteras, that their friendship forms. Jackie teases Buck about a high school
incident and gives him the name, Jellyfish Boy. Buck sees that as a grown woman, Jackie is now the epitome of the region--sunny and bright. He gives her the name Hatteras Girl (the title of the novel).

5) The moral of the story is an old one: "All that glitters is not gold". How do you think you have put a new twist on this old proverb?
"All that glitters is not gold" coincides with another theme that the women in Sheerly's salon talk about. That is, that a woman wants a man who desires only her and sees only her. Jackie has to learn this the hard way.

6) Is this book appropriate for upper high school reading?
Absolutely! All my novels are rated G and have been read by many middle school, high school and college students. Even men confess they enjoy my stories!

7) What ms do you have in progress, and can you give us a sneak peek?
My fourth novel, A Wedding Invitation, will be released in October 2011 by Bethany House. This story has a Philippines refugee camp and Winston Salem, NC connection. It deals with bringing people from our past into our present in spite of circumstances.

8) I know you are also active in doing one day seminars entitled "Writing the Heartache". Would you elaborate on the activities of such a workshop and the outcomes? (Use altered names if necessary.) Is there a website for this?
My Writing the Heartache workshops are wonderful. The all-day workshop is filled with talking about grief and loss and how to effectively write from the pain of divorce, death, broken relationships and many other turmoils of life. Attendees have been grateful for a day to focus on caring for themselves as they write from the assigned lessons. We write poetry, essays, letters, from photographs, and for publication. We share, read our work, hug, and cry. The bonds that form after these seminars are amazing! The website is here to learn more about the all-day workshops: http://www.alicewisler.com/workshops.htm

9) Linda Gilden and Candy Arrington, both great writers in their own genres, are the leaders of our Writing 4 Him Christian writers' group here in Spartanburg, SC. What would you say if you wanted to persuade them to bring such a workshop to Spartanburg?

To sweet Linda and Candy I would say that the testimonies I have received from the workshops have been awesome. Participants have discovered the value that comes from writing through pain. I offer a survey at the beginning of the seminars and one at the end. The positive feedback makes me smile and once again, believe that honest writing is healthy, healing and hopeful! I have seen it work in my life (especially after the death of my four year old, Daniel) and in the lives of others! I also teach online courses that last five weeks. That website is here: http://www.alicewisler.com/too.htm

Thanks, Linda!

Alice Wisler

Alice, you are most welcome. Come back again anytime for a book interview and giveaway! But let me leave our readers with a spiritual heartbeat from His Word for their reflection:

"I am your servant; give me discernment that I may understand your statutes. It is time for you to act, O Lord; your law is being broken. Because I love your commands more than gold, more than pure gold, and because I consider all your precepts right, I hate every wrong path." (Psalm 119: 125-128, NIV)

Blessings and Agape,
Linda B. Greer

Death Comes Softly

2010-10-03T15:24:00.000-07:00

I have only two aunts as my mom came from a small family. One was my mom's brother, Jack, married to my Aunt Shirley, and one was her sister, Lois, married to my Uncle George. Last month my Aunt Lois went to heaven--sofly, quietly, and with only her Savior by her side. Her immediate family had been hovering over her for most of the week. They came immediately
when they got the call.

Her two children, Deby and George, Jr., were the two cousins I knew best as a child when I was growing up. Lois' husband, Uncle George, was my favorite uncle, too. My mom spoke every week to my Aunt Lois, up to the end of her life on earth. They would always talk about the latest pinocle game on Saturdays with my Uncle Jack and Aunt Shirley. It was guys against gals every week.

Sadly, none of my three brothers, nor my mother, were able to attend Aunt Lois' funeral. By the spur of the Spirit, I decided to go in my mother's place because of her frailty and lack of good mobility. I had not been to her roots in Decatur, IL in 35 years! It had been too long since seeing my mom's family and my cousins. Time has a way of getting by on all of us. I certainly didn't like the circumstances bringing me back, but, oh, how sweet to be amongst loving and caring family members.

For the first time, I was able to meet the many dozens of cousins and remaining siblings and in-laws of Lois' husband, George. It was amazing how many of them still farmed, lived, and worked in the Decatur-Moroa area of the flat plains of central Illinois. The beige field corn was almost ready to harvest and the soybeans were right behind. The sky above was never bigger, bluer or more beautiful.

For some reason I was especially touched by my Aunt's death. I guess because it seemed so sudden to me, even though I knew she was using an oxygen tank for the last several years. I was also touched to think about Lois and Jack and their spouses being there for me when my young husband died tragicly in 1988 and again when my elder daugher of twenty and the little girl she was carrying were murdered in 2003. It was a long drive from Illinois each time, but being with me despite their aches and pains spoke volumes.

My Aunt Lois was a petite woman of few words, but when she spoke she expected you to listen. She wasn't apt to show a lot of mushy emotion--she was hardy mid-western stock. She'd lived frugally in the same house with George, Sr. for 67 years. How many of us can say that today in our transient society?

One thing I will always remember were the times my birth family of six kids and two parents would visit for holidays. In that little brick house in Decatur with unfinished basement, the parents would sleep upstairs in bedrooms, and all the cousins got the army cots in the basement. We ate in shifts of 3 in the tiny kitchen. Aunt Lois' home-made waffles were the best I ever ate. She was a renowned cook in her community up until she no longer had the strength to stand and bake her wonderful recipes.

As a reminder of her and her husband's family, I brought back two recipes donated by folks I had just met for the first time. All the relatives and friends had two meals together--one after the evening viewing. We caravaned to an old farmhouse in Uncle George's family for 3 generations, and one after the mid-day funeral at the church where George and Lois faithfully attended. I felt a lot of love and laughter despite the loss of my beloved aunt.

I came away wishing I had been born a Wentworth instead of a Bartlett. Funny thing, my mom had dated one of Uncle George's brothers when Lois and George were both young and a hot item. So there was a fork in the road that made a world of difference in my life!

What fork in life's road are you at today? Think and pray diligently before stepping out on one or the other of your paths. Glean all you can from God's Holy Spirit about the effects it will have on, not only you, but your family and any children and grandchildren you may have.

As the Apostle James said in Chapter 1:5-6a,

"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God,
who gives generously to all without finding fault,

and it will be given to him. But when he asks,
he must believe and not doubt..."

Now re-read the scripture, put your name in place of the pronouns, and place your trust in the spiritual heartbeats you hear from Him.

Blessings and Agape,

Linda B. Greer

New Book Project: Call for Submissions for Anthology for Hurting Parents

2010-09-02T14:53:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends and Writers,

Here is a writing opportunity for a very special group of Christian parents--any who have had children murdered, age 22 and younger. If you haven't personally experienced this, perhaps you know someone who has and could help them write their heartache and healing journey or compose a poem expressing their faith in God, despite the loss.

Any parent who has buried a murdered child can sometimes feel God has looked the other way while their child died. Some parents go through a spiritual desert trying to find answers. Below is the scripture that came to mind as I wrote this posting.

"There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him:

haughty eyes,
a lying tongue,
hands that shed innocent blood,
a heart that devises wicked schemes,
feet that are quick to rush into evil,
a false witness who pours out lies,
and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers." (NIV Proverbs 6:16-19)

These sins can be found in any murderer, but how many of these traits are in the rest of us? Praise God for Jesus and His way to forgiveness on the cross of His holy and "innocent blood".

Call for Short Stories or Poetry from Parents of Murdered Children

Dr. Edna Ellison and Dr. Linda Greer are doing a compilation for a ministry book for parents of murdered children. We are requesting short stories of 1000 words or less or short poems of 20 lines maximum from parents who have had a child murdered (age 22 or younger). We would like parents to include a key Bible verse used to gain strength and hope for this crisis in their lives. Please try to focus on the initial grief, the healing process and the hope found in God, rather than great details of the loss of your child. Please do not submit stories on missing children.

Blessings and Agape,
Linda B. Greer

Guest Blogger, K. Dawn Byrd, on Scheduling Time for Writing

2010-08-07T07:23:00.000-07:00

I asked authoress, K. Dawn Byrd, to give us some insight on how to consistently write when you are working on a novel. Her challenge was to compete with a fellow writer in one month for a goal of 50,000 words. She divided by 30 to set a daily goal of about 1,700 words. In addition, K. Dawn has a full-time job and is still writing novels. Two thumbs up for a lady who knows how to budget her time well! Be sure to read her bio at the end of her commentary and check out her links to her blog and other sites.
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Thanks for hosting me. You asked me to talk about how I budget time and keep my writing schedule consistent. It's not easy because in addition to writing, I work a full-time job and also do a lot of on-call on weekends with my job, which means that if I don't make time for writing, it just doesn't happen.

The trick for me is to write something every day. I've learned that sometimes when I really don't feel like writing, the muse kicks in and the words flow as quickly as my fingers can pound them out. Personally, writing something every day keeps me close to the story.

For those of you who haven't participated in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), I highly recommend it. Every year in November, thousands take the challenge to write 50,000 words in a month. Last year, was my first year and during that month, I wrote Queen of Hearts, my April 2010 release from Desert Breeze Publishing.

NaNoWriMo taught me to write on a schedule. I knew I had to write 1,667 words per day to meet the 50,000 word challenge. Exceeding this daily goal from time to time made it possible to take a couple of days off here and there. I'd like to take this challenge three times this year. That will allow me edit and complete three novels. Sure, I'll have to add 10,000-20,000 more words to each one, but I'll have nine months to increase word count and edit.

One of the most important things I learned from NaNoWriMo was not to look back. There's no time to back up and edit or you won't meet your goal. The important thing is to get down the words. So what if they stink? The time to edit is after you've met the 50,000 word challenge.

I'm challenging you to set your own personal goal. It's even more fun with a friend. So, pick a month, set a goal and get to work. It'll change the way you write forever.
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Bio:
K. Dawn Byrd is an author of inspirational romance. Queen of Hearts, a WWII romantic suspense released in April and was Desert Breeze Publishing's bestselling novel for the month. Killing Time, a contemporary romantic suspense released August 1 this year, is also with Desert Breeze Publishing.

She is an avid blogger and gives away several books per week on her blog, most of which are signed by the authors. She's also the moderator of the popular Facebook group, Christian Fiction Gathering (http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=128209963444 )

When not working, blogging, reading or writing, K. Dawn Byrd enjoys spending time with her husband of 14 years, walking their dogs beside a gorgeous lake near her home, and plotting the next story waiting to be told.
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K. Dawn Byrd's Links:

Blog: http://www.kdawnbyrd.blogspot.com/

Publisher: http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-103/k-dawn-byrd-killing/Detail.bok (there will be links at this site to purchase from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, the Sony ebook store and others)

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ncljBid61g

Thanks for sharing with us, K. Dawn! You've given us a lot to think about and pray about in our writing journey for the Lord. It reminds of the scripture in Colossians 3: 23-24, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward." (NIV)

Blessings and Agape,
Linda B. Greer

I'll Never Be the Same!

2010-08-01T18:42:00.000-07:00

I had the most meaningful retreat with about 70 other women of the Upstate yesterday and Friday (7-30 and 7-31) at Anderson University. It was sponsored by the SC Southern Baptist Convention. There are two more of these prayer retreats scheduled later this year in the Midlands and the Lowlands. If you have a chance to go, I urge you to register for "Women who Request by Prayer" on the Southern Baptist Convention site for South Carolina (www.scbaptist.org/women). It is a wonderful weekend of prayer time, speakers, and inspirational music. Just having time alone with God and other women seeking to deepen their walk with Jesus was beautiful, terrible, and touching.

I went early by 6 hours (fibro-fogged again), but it must have been a divine appointment as I was able to fellowship with the staff/volunteer committee, the special speakers, and prayer breakout leaders ahead of schedule. Their prayer room was an incredibly deep and emotional break-out time.

Just before entering I could hear the quiet, quavering voice of a sister behind me. She was reading aloud the introduction banner about 3 steps behind. I turned and knew in my spirit she had need. We hugged, she wept, I spoke a prayer of comfort as I leaned head to head and hugged her close.

As we parted, I realized she was one of the organizers of the event! I had heard her pray early in the weekend and thought she was an untroubled and blessed woman. I realized, everyone is not there yet, but working out his or her salvation daily. I kissed her cheek, turned to enter the specially lit poster prayer room. My spirit harkened to her whispered words, "I love you. I don't even know your name, but I love you. Thank you so much." I take no credit for the words, the love, but only give the Holy Spirit glory and Jehovah-jireh applause for those moments.

There were many sweet times of sharing and loving on the sisters who came. I will never be the same.The drive home was through misty eyes and contemplative memories. I made a covenant with my God. I will turn the TV off when my dogs go to bed and spend the rest of the evening testifying, praying, reading His Word, and listening for spiritual heartbeats of His will.

Will you join me in gleaning precious hours of eternal significance from now until God takes you home?

Blessings and Agape,
Linda B. Greer

Life in the Slow Lane--but When?

2010-06-19T19:19:00.000-07:00

Summer time and the livin' is easy, right? For some of us it's true, for others we're wound tighter than a raucous raccoon tuned into the familiar clank of an outside trash pail, ready to pounce on his dinner.

Recently, I realized I was in a spiritual rut because of busy-ness, so I signed up for a two-day prayer conference this summer. I have about 12 different unfinished projects around the house, tutoring and testing for clients, and plenty of gardening awaiting; but I yearned to have time for God and me alone sans distractions.

The Almighty is patient and has long forbearance with us sinners " 'The Lord, the Lord, is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin.' " (Exodus 34:6-7). For that, I am truly grateful. Every time I think I can contemplate His Word, the devil snatches the moment away with a nasty weed for plucking, or a limp plant requiring water, or a panting dog needing affection and food.

It's so easy to get focused on the smallness of the immediate and put the greatness of the eternal on hold for long periods. When this happens, I get dry as a bone and rattled, like King David, don't you? "My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught at the voice of the enemy, at the stares of the wicked; for they bring down suffering upon me and revile me in their anger." (Ps. 55: 2-3) You look back on your calendar and wonder, Why was I unprepared when Satan attacked me through others unkind actions and angry words? Did anything I do this month have eternal significance for the cause of Christ?

I am reminded by God's Spirit: "A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control." (Proverbs 29:11) If others have lost their summer cool, I must accept there's a little fool in all of us and press on.

Some brethren and sistren have the discipline to rise early in the morning and have quiet time with the Lord. Suffering with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndromes make me groggy and physically unwilling to get out of bed in the early morning. I have tried bedtime, but once again I fall asleep midway through a passage. I'm praying to be convicted by the Holy Spirit for my lack of due diligence. Disconnecting my cable TV might give me a breakthrough . Can I give up my movie addiction and never again watch Bergman and Boggie in "Casablanca"?

Time pressure is a constant companion for most of us. Oh, for the luxuries of our Lord's days when people dropped their fishing nets and followed Jesus for three years. Imagine being so free from obligations to leave everything behind and go for a long trek with Him. Every word from his mouth was like gold, every parable like rubies, every miracle like diamonds. The richness of just a look into his eyes could mesmerize the vilest of mankind.

This week a very new infant from our neighborhood left for heaven. Last week a friend my age from a prior church left suddenly, too. Both went to be with Jesus. How I envy the fullness of eternity they now have to worship the Lamb of God. No email or cell phone to answer, no address to write on a form, no social security number to memorize. And don't forget--no house or yard work, no car repairs, no business meetings, and no paying bills. I get a headache just thinking about all this ruckus here on earth.

Someday, Lord, you will be the centerpiece of my life and my All in All. I can barely wait for the world's worrisome weight to be ripped from me. "Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face." (I Corinthians 13: 12) As Amy Grant sang it, "In a little while we'll be with the Father, can't you see Him smile? In a little while we'll be home forever...in a while."

Blessings and Agape,
Linda B. Greer

I AM THAT I AM

2010-04-13T16:58:00.000-07:00

I have added a favorite music video from my old church down in central Florida. If you right click on the partial view of it on the right side of my blog, you can choose to see it within U-tube and access the whole screen. You can also go to this link: I AM music video. This is a wonderful segway to some great lessons about the spectacular "I AM".

When God uttered these words to Moses (Exodus 3:14), it was a confirmation of God's endless and totally inexplicable being as the all-sufficient one. As it turns out, this was part of Moses' directive to go back to the Israelites with His marching orders, a rallying point to allow the Israelites to flee Egypt and their oppression under Pharoah. In essence, it was the royal seal of divine God to validate Moses' mission.

Often times, when God is allowing our lives to be put in jeopardy and danger, we need reassurance, just like the Israelites and Moses. We must reach deep into our souls, remember His promises and their fulfillment in Biblical history, in our own personal Christian journey, and in the lives of today's faithful followers. Were you ever the recipient of a miracle? Was a prayer answered in an extraordinary way? Did God lead in His direction for a special purpose in your life? Recount the ways God has demonstrated his "I AM" character.

I have featured a link to a very candid Christian book about child sexual abuse. Mary DeMuth had the courage to call out to God in those thin places during her years as a child and after becoming a godly woman. I know for a fact there are many female babyboomers who had similar experiences of abuse as children, but who have kept silent their entire lives because of the shame and stigma of being sexually abused. What a wonderful breakthrough in Christian literature to have Mary's book available to us now, decades after our own secret heartbreaks and anguish.

Even more wonderful is knowing a God so all-sufficient he transforms abused girls and women and creates from within a purity white as freshly fallen snow. The great "I AM" is capable, confident, and creative in the ways he heals us from the wounds of the world. Victims of rape, sexual assault, sodomy, and other sex crimes have recourse to be made whole and clean once again by crying out to "I AM".

May you go to "I AM" with your brokeness and be blessed by His holiness. Regain the wholeness of your soul, your self-esteem, and your sanity. His justice will prevail over those who abused us, and all will be accounted for. God eternally has the final word. Your spiritual heartbeats know this to be true.

Blessings and Agape,
Dr. Linda B. Greer

God’s Blessings Be Upon You

2010-03-31T14:45:00.000-07:00

May you lift your gaze to the heavens and hunger for the Lord, your God.

May your help come from Him, the Maker of all creation.

May He not let your feet slip outside of His Holy ways.

May He keep you safe day and night, for He never rests.

May He encompass you as you go out and come in.

May the Lord be your shade by day so the sun will not harm you.

May He be your shelter when the moon shimmers by night.

May He protect you with His mighty hand and watch over you – now and forevermore.

I borrowed the above from a Sunday School notice. It seemed to cover every aspect of our lives concerning God's interplay with our own. How often do we ask for specific prayer answers but not for the incomprehensible covering of our Almighty God's Blessings? Surely we believe in living within the will of God, but do we ask for the blessings to coincide with our efforts to be holy?

As Easter weekend approaches, what blessing do you long for most in your life? Do you wish to fully comprehend the extent of Christ's suffering and share in his suffering for the sake of our Lord? Probably not. Who of us wants to ask for more pain and tribulation? The mysterious oxymoron in life is suffering was the birthing of our salvation and peace with God. It was also the doorway to His Blessings.
If we, as Christians, never suffer we miss the whole point of the crucifixtion and the joy of Christ's resurrection into embodied glory. Give thanks to God for your trials. Give thanks to God for your suffering. Give thanks to God for tears shed in the dark of night. He is our Father, Abba. He wants good to come out of what the world sees as bad. That is the tranforming power of the Holy Spirit through our faith in Christ, Our Risen Savior! May your spiritual heartbeats echo the message of the gospel within your soul this week. (John 3: 16-21)

May God be with each of you this Easter Season,

Linda B. Greer

Lasting Memories and Loving Comfort

2010-02-28T13:21:00.000-08:00

Dear Fellow Writers, Publishing Friends, and Good Friends,

After over two years of hustling in the writing world, I have finally earned my first small paycheck for a short story about dogs as part of an anthology to be published by Lonnie Hull DuPont. Oh, my! I guess it will cover the cost for all the paper I have used or thrown away trying to become an accomplished writer. Thanks be to God for His gracious gifts.

I had a wonderful time this past Friday at the First Presbyterian Church of Clinton (pronounced as Clinnon) with Dr. Edna Ellison who spoke to ladies from various area churches on "Putting God First in Your Life". I also made a closer acquaintance with two friends from our common writing group in Spartanburg, Blessed Temple and Dianna. We laughed ourselves into tears on our voyage.

Edna was gracious enough to let me have a small end of her long publications table, and I actually got 4 orders for Susan T. Osborn's anthology Too Soon to Say Goodbye. The women who came to my end of the table were recounting very recent suicides in their circle of friends. I was glad to be able to offer some comfort and a well-written book for them to give to the victims of suicide in their community.

Suicide is becoming an all too often end to lives these days. How sad to suddenly lose a loved one to such a hurtful death. It is an especially deep wound when there is no note left, and you are wondering, "Why did this happen? What could I have done? Were there signs I missed on life's roadway?"

I know, as a contributor to this anthology from my husband's sudden suicide in the Army oveseas, it took me at least three years of recovery to function. I still had two young daughters we brought into the world to mother.

Everyone takes their own path and time to grieve a suicide. Their spiritual heartbeats are weak, irregular, and pining to find God through a valley of tears. Putting time limits on a mourning person just adds to their weight of grief.

Another word of advice to well-meaning friends: When someone has told you their young relative or spouse has died, please don't ask what happened. The surviving members of the family don't know the answer to a suicide and may never know for sure this side of eternity. Offer the mourning person Christian comraderie, your ears, and your prayers. And give them lots of hugs, too!

Blessings and Agape,

Linda B. Greer

Sharing the Burden of Over Five Million Citizens

2010-02-17T20:00:00.000-08:00

The Bible tells us not only to be concerned with our own problems, but to share the burdens of our brothers and sisters in Christ and do good to those of us in God's family. There is always time for sowing good seeds. (Galatians 6: 2-10). For over two years I have volunteered in Spartanburg as a support group leader for the National Fibromyalgia Association. The NFA is one of the largest world-wide groups to assist and educate the public, medical professionals, and people afflicted with Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) and/or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), the most common comorbidity to FMS.

I had suffered chronically for about 10 years before proper diagnosis and couldn't make sense of the fatigue and achiness I would feel. Even my orthopedic doctor, a graduate of UNC-CH, misdiagnosed me as having tennis elbow with my first bout of FMS. In 2001, at the Pain Clinic at Duke University Hospital in Durham, NC, I heard the diagnosis of Fibromyalgia for the first time. It relieved me knowing there was a name for all the symptoms I was having.

When I returned to my home in Florida, our support group was a real life saver for me as my symptoms escalated with the murder of my elder of two daughters in 2003. I was already a widow of 15 years at the time. I was unable to provide a godly father figure for my children. As each year ticked away and they grew up without their own daddy, I acutely grieved the hole in their lives.

After moving to South Carolina as an empty nester, I started a group because there was none. We meet monthly to share and care about each other and have a light lunch together. You can probably imagine how difficult it is to encourage people who don't feel good to dress, drive, and come to a meeting in my home, but I believe it is a necessary part of getting some social, spiritual, and medical networking done.

The Spartanburg Christian FMS/CFS Support Group is a tiny part of a community of chronic pain sufferers nationwide and deserves your support, especially since doing so is free! You can even forward this link to others.

This is the link:

http://www.igive.com/welcome/warm_reg_promo.cfm?c=52094

The igive team has made many improvements to their search engine recently, so they want lots of people to try it out and put it to the test. If you keep on searching or shopping after testing it out, so much the better for the Spartanburg Christian FMS/CFS Support Group .

The details:

- Offer is $1 for every new member to igive, active between noon, February 24, 2010 and 11:59 a.m., Februrary 25, 2010 (Chicago time). Make sure you select Spartanburg Christian FMS/CFS Support Group as receipient.

- New members only (never have been an iGive member previously). All the normal rules of membership, searching, and purchasing apply; our site has the details. Real people only, who sign themselves up. It's not fair to sign your pets up, the new member has to sign him or herself up.

- Once they've given away $5,000 to all causes combined, the offer ends.

- The special link is important. No link, no $1.

- Visiting a store via iGive is crucial.

That's it. Don't forget to try the search portal (http://isearch.igive.com/) as well as checking out over 700 stores online. You may need to login or register first (personally, as an iGive member).

Blessings and Agape,

Dr. Linda B. Greer

Every Dog Has Her Day

2010-02-04T17:37:00.000-08:00

A first for me in this life--my name in print and my first short story published in a book! My story, "A Different Kind of Family", was published recently in the anthology: Too Soon to Say Goodbye, ed. Susan T. Osborn et al., Baptist WMU publishers. It's a great ministry for suicide victims and survivors including Holy Scriptures, true stories, Christian counseling snippets, poetry, and thoughtful chapter questions.

I received my complimentary copy in the mail last week and jumped around like a three-year-old with a chocolate chip cookie fresh from the oven. It was a benchmark day for my writing. Clearly, it was also a call to better writing. I saw many ways to improve on the story since submitting it about a year ago.

Someday the spiritual heartbeat of my short story will be interlaced into the romance novel I'm writing entitled: Forsaken but not Forgotten. Dear readers, pray for me to get back into writing jockey mode soon. I haven't touched the draft since before the holidays and here it is almost Valentine's Day. Also pray for acquiring an agent to spur me on (pun fully intended).

I have the plot line worked out, but those are just the bones of a novel, the kind of material you see on the inside flap of the book cover. Flesh, personna, and voice are still needed, the meat of the matter in writing a book. I have the imagination to create, but need the discipline to write...write...write beyond chapter ten.

I've even bought books on how to write better, currenty in need of a dustcloth. I'm pathetic. I have a freind who needs to write a series of short stories (Life on the Funny Farm?). She's further behind than I am, so somehow I feel comforted in a cock-eyed way.

If you want a discounted copy of Too Soon to Say Goodbye for someone needing Christian comfort from loss of a loved one by suicide or for someone who has attempted suicide, email me at drgreer@charter.net for info. It's a great book and a much needed addition to Christian world view literature on an agonizing and acutely touchy topic.

Blessings and Agape,
Linda B. Greer

New Year, New You?

2010-01-10T20:53:00.000-08:00

Is this the year your spiritual heartbeats will thump with your highest joy for His utmost glory? Will you resolve to have a special time and place for reading God's Word each day? Will you sign up for your first mission trip? Will your prayer life blossom like a beautiful magnolia, large and fragrant?

I know we all make and usually break our New Year's resolutions. But some promises to ourselves are bigger than ourselves. If you were to increase your time in prayer and Bible reading by twice, would that be a great sacrifice? How can you do such a thing when the urgency of the banal calls? Dishes need washing, clothes need folding, errands need running, your workplace needs you on time regularly, homes need cleaning, and meals need to be made and eaten.

Even though we are part of the microwave generation, some things are just too important to breeze through in seconds or moments. Think about the vow that a priest makes: to be chaste, to be poor, and to obey God. As future citizens of God's kingdom, we must peel away the non-essential parts of our lives and dig down to the foundations of our soul to find the peace and joy only God can give us.

In order to be closer to God, perhaps you could peel away some of the obstacles between you and the lover of your soul, the one who makes your heart soar with undeserved love, mercy, and grace. Here are some of my own personal obstacles:

too much TV watching
too much email to manage, read, delete
too much junk snail mail
too much time wasted looking at online bargains for things I want but don't need
too many dogs that need attention, food, snacks
too much time doing my make-up and hair (vanity, vanity!)
Disorganization at my desk, especially for my business cards

You may have an extremely different set of obstacles or perhaps one like mine. In the big picture, what will we leave behind as a legacy of how we spent the time God gave us on earth? Will it be one that includes great God conversations or the flotsom and jetsom of life?

Blessings and Agape for the New Year,
L. B. Greer

Christmas and the Christ Child

2009-12-11T13:03:00.000-08:00

Take your imagination back about 2000 years ago to a small village called Bethlehem. There are two weary travelers, in love and expecting a very special firstborn. The road has been rocky, and shelter has been scarce. Their food supply has dwindled and their sad faces are evident at every innkeepers' doorway when each refuses to give them a room.

Finally, one innkeeper is beseeched for the sake of Mary's condition to give them a place in the straw beside the stock in the man's small stable carved out of the stone hills around Bethlehem. Joseph looks at Mary with as much encouragement as he can muster at this paultry offer of shelter. She smiles back and nods as if to say, "It's OK, Joseph. It's not your fault the inns are full."

They enter this manure and straw shelter and make a space amongst the beasts. Joseph helps Mary gently off the donkey. The animal is too tired to eat the straw and lays down to sleep after taking in some water from the trough. Mary's labor pains are coming more frequently now.

Joseph has helped to birth lambs and goats, but never a baby. He prays to the Father the delivery of His Son will go well. Mary's birthing cries are heard on high in the heavens and the angels begin their journey down to the stable and to the shepherds. These lonely and wayfaring men on earth are gazing into the night skies around Bethlehem at a remarkable star God has moved into their small corner of the world. The flocks of their beloved sheep are asleep close by.

Mary makes her last and final push to give birh. Joseph brings out the baby, clears his mouth of mucous with his finger, and holds him by his feet to spank his first breaths of this world's air into his nostrils and mouth. He cuts the umbilical cord and puts this small and holy being up to Mary's waiting breast. There are tears of joy for both these young lovers as Jesus nurses. Joseph plumps up the straw and lies down beside Mary to encircle her and the child with his arm. He nods off to sleep.

And so, "unto us a child is born and unto us a Son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end...The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this." (Isaiah 9:6-7)

Isaiah's words are given peering hundreds of years into the future for this momentous birth; and we stand amazed in the presence of the Holy Spirit, gazing back thousands of years to the grandeur of God's design. The Everlasting Father's desire for man to be justified by faith in the baby who became a man on mission to fulfill God's prophetic words has just begun. The Messiah has come, and our spiritual heartbeats are enlivened by this miracle!

Sleep in heavenly peace, little child of God. Sleep in heavenly peace.

Feeling Like a Fried Turkey?

2009-11-21T19:43:00.000-08:00

Dear Saints in the Faith,

It's that happy time of year again when families argue over whose going where on what holiday and at what time. Grandma's too far away to visit, but she wouldn't leave her doctors anyway, not even for a free plane ticket. Uncle Brad is upset for hearing the truth a long time coming, Uncle Jeff wants to crawl into his usual cave of paranoia, and Uncle Rick could care less what happens to any of us as he has his wife and his mothern-in-law to care for. As one pundant said, "You can't pick your family, but you sure can pick your friends."

On this Thanksgiving, I am most thankful for my friends because they actually keep in touch with me and show they care. I'm invited over to a friend's home for this very family-oriented holiday. No more feeling like a fried turkey for me, no sir! I am going to have a blast even if the hostess doesn't stuff the turkey with Prozac to help things along. My part in all this is the mashed potatoes and the cranberry sauce. Wow, what a relief after decades of doing a huge dinner for my own family!

As it happens, I plan wearing my loosest jeans and sloppiest sweatshirt to make lots of room for food and good belly laughs, thus concealing midriff girth jiggling beneath loose clothing. When you're a guest, there are no worries. I can leave home with my bed unmade, my dirty breakfast dishes still in the sink, and the laundry half finished without a second thought. Ahhhh!

I imagine Mary's sister Martha, after she was scolded by the Master not to concern herself with the things of this world, feeling the weight of preparation taken off her shoulders, too. She could knock around in that first century kitchen with as much gusto or as little as she wanted, just so long as the meal eventually got served. People who were her guests didn't care. She probably kicked back on a kitchen stool and sipped a glass of wine before resuming her cooking. Maybe she even put a little of what she was consuming into the stew--who knew what she was tossing together? Maybe she had a food fight with a few of her maids and laughed herself silly?

Praise the Good Lord for laughter, it is such good medicine (Proverbs). I hope you laugh over at least one thing this Thanksgiving. Laugh because all you can afford is grilled cheese and tomato soup, laugh if you have to fast until Friday after Thanksgiving for your next check (turkey will be marked down along with all those thematic cakes and cookies), or laugh simply because God said it was good.

"Joy to the world, the Lord has come!" If he hasn't come to your home lately through laughter, let it deck the halls instead of holly.

Blessings and Agape as always,
L.B. Greer

When the Moon is Coming Up and the Son is Going Down

2009-10-14T12:28:00.000-07:00

What is your first gut reaction to bad news? Do you have a group pity party? Do you try to console the one who is most affected with kind words? The challenge is to say nothing or at least very little. Just listening is perhaps the most important act of love. Those of us with verbose personalities will find this almost an impossible task, but even the Holy Spirit can tame the loosest of tongues.

Recently, I was with a group of friends sharing a meal. There were eight of us at the table, and one person monopolized the whole meal’s conversation. I was disappointed not to get to know the other six people in the group. I wish I could have found the politically correct way to get the woman to give it a rest for the sake of all the others. To be sure, the seven of us were being kind listeners.

This week I got bad news from my daughter. I asked her on the phone how she and the baby she was carrying were doing? Since she’s the only nuclear family I have left on this earth, she’s important to me. She said, “I lost the baby, Mom. It was an unusual condition and happens in about one out of a thousand pregnancies.” My heart was pricked. The words ripped another hope away from my sense of family.

She then said, “I have also broken off my wedding engagement.” I was stunned into silence. I let her tell me "how great it is to be back to just me and Andrew and to be so free". I said, “I’m sorry about your baby and about your fiancé. He seemed like such a nice guy.” It turns out he wasn’t so nice, and she elaborated.

I have to give her credit for not marrying because he wasn’t the kind of match she wanted, but I do hope she won’t remain a single mom forever. My preschool grandson is precious, and I believe he deserves a dad on a full-time basis; and my daughter needs to have the love of an excellent Christian husband. So I pray. And I pray some more. I pray until God is weary of me knocking on the Gates of Heaven with my intercessory missives. It seems life now is upside down with the moon above the sun. The son-in-love I hoped to have soon is going down into my daughter’s list of “thrown-to-the-curb” men in her life of twenty-four years.

I searched the scriptures for the exact words to weld onto my spiritual heartbeats after I hung up the phone from my daughter’s call. This scripture spoke intimately to a widow with one adult child.

"I will wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope. My soul waits for the Lord, more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning."

--Psalm 130: 5-6.

I will wait with hope for a bright morning, a day of fulfillment of my hopes as God is my witness.

Can you wait upon the Lord, too? Can you keep the watch for those you love and your hope at the same time? I pray you can, my dear sisters and brothers in Christ.

Blessings and Agape from L. B. Greer as always.

Are you Growing or Just Going?

2009-10-03T08:23:00.000-07:00

In the mind spinning and hectic pace of our lives, there are times when we need to jump off the six lane highway. Retreat means something negative when you are in a war. But when your enemy is time pressure, “retreat” is a positive term of refreshment and rest. Praise God for retreats with other Christians, but an extra hurrah goes for retreats with Christian women.

This weekend I sojourned to such a place. A special retreat for writers of Christian media happens each year in October in a private cabin in the North Carolina Mountains. Many of the women have been coming for all six of the retreats thus far. As a result we’ve melded into a sisterhood of Christian writers. We keep in touch throughout the year by email or blogging. Our accomplishments in publications and our lives’ highs and lows are celebrated and prayed over. We’re family.

During the retreat we had the blessings of a live-in chef extraordinaire, and a loving hostess who provided extra toiletries and accommodated for any special needs. The paramount blessing was being cocooned inside the grandeur of God’s creation. What is it about these Appalachian Mountains that puts our hearts and lives into perspective? Is the air clearer, the sky bluer, the birds more joyful in song? Whatever it is, life is at a pace of ease allowing our minds to unlock secrets and satisfy the thirsting soul for drops of love from Heaven.

This past weekend we have shared from our hearts and souls through our writing, our reading, our devotions and all the great meal conversations. I had one of the best roommates ever. It seems we have lived very similar lives and experienced much of the same heartaches within a half century. Our friendship reached a higher level and now we have promised to be accountable to each other within a small critique group birthed out of our retreat. “What a friend we have in Jesus, all our joys and griefs to share…”

Can you find a time in your own life where you can retreat for several days without your own biological family? I think this is critical for your soul and spirit to grow immeasurably. It broadens your network of friends in Christ. It opens your heart to the trials and dreams of others. Lastly, it spreads a sense of awe about God and his ability to give you such wonderful gifts in this life. Makes me want to shout—Hallelujah! I see a glimpse of heaven here on earth.

"But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen." NIV, 2 Peter 3: 18

Inching My Way into Christian Writing

2009-08-31T14:50:00.000-07:00

Who would have thought when I was diagnosed with two chronic and incurable diseases about 10 years ago I could have an article published on coping with them? Who would have thought that very article would reach millions both nationally and internationally? God is good. God is faithful. And God is sometimes very surprising!

This past weekend I attended yet another Writing Workshop to hone my skills as a Christian writer and blogger. Even though doing these activities wipes my energy level out for at least two days, and I "make like a rock"; it is what is needed to keep me writing and telling others about life with Christ. For who can bear the thought of life without the hope He alone can offer? (John 3:16-17)

I am reminded so many times of the scripture song from a monk years ago about Mathew Chapter 11, verses 28 to 29. We must take up Christ's yoke, for it is easy and His burden is light. What a conundrum! When we, as Christians, are under the worst of circumstances and trials, Jesus says: take up my yoke, my burden, don't worry my little child.

I have already gotten an email from a fellow vertically ill (FMS) woman in Myrtle Beach--the very location where we were having our Writers' Workshop. She felt that God wanted her to email me although nothing about my faith was allowed in the article. Divine providence? I checked my email after I returned to the Upstate. If I can point her to this blog site for comfort and assurance, to her Savior, Jesus Christ, and to the Almighty Father who reigns supreme, my spiritual heartbeats will target those of God.

When was the last time you really spent time praising God? He lives within the praises of His people. Praise Him now for both the good and the difficult things in your life. He needs to know you are aware of His acts in all aspects of your life. There are no coincidences, only Divine Appointments. He's waiting for your appointment with Him right now.

Blessings from and to all the "vertically ill" everywhere,

Dr. Linda B. Greer

"Living Single with FMS: Advice from a Ten Year Veteran", Fibromyalgia Network e-newsletter, August, 2009

Heartbeat of a Summer Time Slacker

2009-07-06T16:05:00.000-07:00

What is it about summer that makes us change our routines--even our daily quiet time with God? I feel pulled in a multitude of directions during this season. There's more yard work to be done, more dust coming in from the constant swing and bang of the dogie door, and more friends and family I want to see.

Of course, if you garden, then there are hoses to set and reset, higher water bills to pay, and huge mosquito bites to treat, too. If West Nile Virus doesn't kill me, then God, who I seem to have swept away with the porch dust, may strike me dead.

How can I recapture my need to need Him? Perhaps I haven't totally lost touch with God, just changed the way I sense and worship Him.

After all, curled on a porch sofa and listening to His rain and thunder during a storm is a form of quiet worship and thanksgiving. Mowing the grass and trimming the hedges He's allowed to grow, reminds me of the spiritual pruning we all need in our walk of faith. Observing daily in my bird baths, feathered creatures who relish the water and preen themselves, is a picture of the cleansing forgiveness we each need daily to clean our souls.

Surprise! God is all around me this summer, linking life forms and growth to my spiritual heartbeats--and all this time I thought I had lost Him. Our recent family gathering in celebration of Independence Day evoked thoughts of lives sacrificed for a strong moral compass in a new land in North America over 225 years ago. It was a reminder of how much our freedom to worship collectively has cost our countrymen--past, present and future.

I was host to a special boy for Independence Day. His father bravely walked his African family away from Christian persecution in Liberia to live for many years in refugee camps in Ghana and the Ivory Coast. Then one day, God answered this father's prayers for passage to the United States of America. Winston is living proof of God at work to liberate persecuted Christians in our world.

Where will God pop up in your summer time plans? He's possibly just a heartbeat away if you open up your eyes and ears.

Independence vs. Dependence Day

2009-06-18T09:22:00.000-07:00

Our country was founded on the belief that God has endowed us with some unalienable rights. We know these well from our Declaration of Independence. However, the writers of this grand and old document never intended our independence to be declared against God, but rather against an unjust British government.

Our need for God as Christians is as ever-present as our need to breathe oxygen. It reminds me of the old hymn I Need Thee Every Hour because we can never be whole and righteous here on earth. Our soul's cry is ever-constant to have Christ's blood covering of grace and forgiveness to protect us from an unjust enemy.

I recently finished reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan. This book should light a fire under any coach potato Christian who accepts God's tremendous love but rarely returns it. I am particularly convicted of the need to love two sets of callous and unapproachable neighbors. As God would have it, they are unchurched and flabby at best in their spiritual walk with God as far as I can discern.

How can I love thee? Let me count the ways:

Pray daily for my attitude and for their full salvation and discipleship in Christ.

Promote love with random acts of kindness anonymously.

Compliment them with sincerity of heart when possible.

Thank them for keeping up their front yards (even if their back yards are a mess).

Keep being friendly toward their pets and/or children.

Invite them to church after our friendship is established.

Give them cards and gifts at Christmas and Easter and expect nothing in return.

Find out when they have birthdays and send a Christian greeting card.

Above all else, let their meanness toward you not invoke a spirit of revenge or bitterness (that's your human sin nature crying out--so tell it to be quiet in Jesus' name).

Perhaps you have a similar situation in your neighborhood. Just remember, Jesus encountered no true welcome as the Messiah in his own home town, and neither should we expect to be liked by everyone. Be grateful for the neighbors who do believe in Jesus and are kind to you, but don't forget to love those who despise you. They need your love more than anyone.

Have a wonderful Independence Day and say a prayer for all those who have fought to keep our country free. Ask the Father to humble you into loving in new, outstanding, and courageous ways, as Francis Chan would say.

This Is Not the Life I Planned!

2009-06-14T14:00:00.000-07:00

How many times in your life have you breached a veritable Waterloo spiritually and said under your breath, "God, this is not the way my life was supposed to be." If you are a believer in Christ you've heard the platitude, "All things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose."(Roms. 8:28)

I declare--He has tested that scripture in my life more times than I wish to count. Right now my struggle is with my one remaining nuclear family member, my daughter D. She lives north of Atlanta and is the mother of my only grandson, A., who just turned 4 years old in mid-May. (He gets his blue eyes and blond hair from me, of course.)

Now school is out, and as I wait in the grocery lines, or other stores, I strike up conversations with folks. Invariably someone is bragging about their grand kids being with them for a few weeks this summer. My reply is always, "You're so lucky. I hardly get to see my grandson." One gentlemen said he had been keeping his grand kids since they were age one. He looked about 75 years old and had a big grin on his face. (Envious green crept across mine.)

Quite frankly, I am at the point of tears in being denied access for even a long weekend with my grandson. I pray God will soften my daughter's concrete core. She is 24, and I blurted out just yesterday on the phone, "You know, I'm not going to live forever. I want to see my grandson." D. delivered the usual vague, noncommittal reply, "We'll see." Hmmm.....

Understand, the paternal grandparents see A. every week and sometimes he stays for entire weeks when he is too sick for daycare or D. goes on a trip. To take this kind of unequal treatment any way but personally would be ludicrous. When D. is asked why, she clams up and just says, "You're crazy." What kind of answer is that?

Didn't see him for Easter or get a card. Didn't see him on Mother's Day or get a card. Didn't see him for his birthday or get an invitation down. As a sole parent due to "premature" death of my husband, by all rights I should at least get acknowledged for Father's Day; but "we'll see."

Everyone told me that grand parenting would be the best part of my life. I sure wish it would start. I'm irritated at being excluded from most of the fun and changes the first few years in A's life. In a few more years I am going to be into another decade--one that is definitely not middle-aged. When the grandson gets old enough to drive, I may be in a nursing home for God's sake!

Pray for me,

Lonely in Spartanburg

Let's Not Weary of Doing Good

2009-05-12T10:16:00.000-07:00

That is a pretty tall order from the book of Galations (6:9) if you suffer from a chronic pain condition such as Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue, or Rheumatoid Arthritis. Since today (5/12) is National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day, it’s appropriate to examine believers who suffer each and every day of their lives. The apostle, Paul, entreats all of us to never weary of doing good. So how do you follow his commandment when you’re in pain constantly?

If there is one thing that saps your energy and motivation more than constant body-wide pain, I don’t know about it. It’s a dangerously self-absorbing condition, too. You begin to think, “How can I minister to others when I can barely take care of myself?”

How would you answer God if He asked you about your weariness in doing good? Would you say, “Lord, you understand why I am mostly home bound, don’t go on mission trips, or attend church regularly”? Would you say, “Until you heal me, Lord, I can’t be of use to the Kingdom of God”? Would you say, “I’ll just wait until the medical profession comes up with a cure before I become your good and faithful servant”?

All of these responses leave out the most extravagant gift of service you can give to any person—prayer! No matter where you are or in what condition or circumstances, a believer’s spiritual heartbeats can always turn his/her heart toward prayer.

I recently saw on a church marquee these words, “If you are having trouble standing, fall to your knees.” How often we excuse our absence from God’s good works by omitting prayer. As Americans we are somehow conditioned to think delivering a meal, manual labor, or a trip to needy believers is required. Our heavenly Father is much more pleased with personal communion than any work we might do.

Stop today and think about praying for your neighbors, your church members, your church pastors and staff, your city officials, your state governing body and their assistants, and your national leaders and Cabinet members. Nothing great in the history of God and man was ever accomplished without the fervent prayer of at least one believer. In many instances, whole bodies of believers were asked to fast and pray.

List now from memory some of the extravagant and seemingly impossible prayers recorded in the Bible that resulted in God’s power being displayed. Remember, even a feeble and frightened person can pray.

Meditate on Christ’s prayer of anguish in the Garden of Gethsemane as he sweat drops of blood from the strain of knowing his torture and death were near at hand. In Christ’s most painful, last moments on the cross, He was still talking with His Father in heaven. Yes, it is a tall order to simultaneously suffer and supplicate for others.

The Ultimate Lily Pad

2009-04-26T14:00:00.000-07:00

Throughout our secular, pre-Christian lives, we leapfrog from one person to the next searching for a safe arm to lean upon. When we realize that no one is trustworthy totally, we begin to search for the real truth. When we find that truth in God’s word and our Living Savior, we surrender to the one place where all our trust can snuggly reside. Jesus is the “ultimate lily pad”.

A person said to me recently, "You need to smile more." It was the mirror image of a joyless Christian he saw. I knew it was the devil's second best kill thrill subtracting joy from my life, so I have decided to smile frequently just to spite Satan's efforts. My soul is secured for eternity with Christ, but my joy will forever be the manifestation of this fact. My spiritual heartbeats of joy must orchestrate the tempo of my life to be a better witness and to glorify God.

"Victoy in Jesus, my Savior forever" was not written by a pouty-faced wet blanket, so why do we allow the devil to rob us of our joy? One way is allowing circumstances to be our focus instead of our position within the body of Christ as one of His beloved. Another way is to associate constantly with people who have lost their own Christian joy. Lastly, receding from church, declining fellowhip with like-minded followers of Christ, and eliminating prayer can also bring a halt to our joy.

The human heart can be fooled into thinking death might be better than life, since no more trials and tears need to be born. Even as I see my own life framed by the deaths of so many immediate family members, I see the fallacy of this thinking. If God hasn't chosen to remove me from this world, then His will is for my life to continue and to be of service glorifying Him. We don't decide on death unless we have despaired and turned our back on God in a moment of weakness--a moment the devil relished.

Most of us know of someone, in a moment of weakness, who despaired and turned his/her back on God and His power to revive. We know those who have believed that suicide was a way to escape the tears and turbulence of this life. Long before this person died, the devil was leaking his acid of self-hate into the believer's weakest point of armor. It was killing the believer's joy, the devil's second-best coup to denigrate the name of Christ.

The lily pad is a great image of our position to God and Satan in this life. It lays atop the water, floating and facing toward heaven. It blooms in its appointed season. If it is dragged under by some weight, it dies in dark waters. It goes dormant without the warmth of the sun. So it is with believers--we balance delicately between heaven and earth, attached to the murky waters of life and sometimes tangled up by the weight of difficult circumstances. When we allow the Son to shine into our souls, we blossom and become something beautiful for God and others to see.

My challenge for you is to be aware of joyfulness versus joylessness. Decide which kind of Christian you wish to be for your Savior. Smile toward heaven and others or frown into the darkness of this world--it's your choice.

Here's smiling at you!
L. B. Greer

What Did You Expect?

2009-03-28T13:56:00.000-07:00

When you left home and sojourned on your adult pathway, what did you expect? As Christians, Jesus never promised us blue skies and a bowl of cherries for our life here on earth. With every ounce of his blood, body, and breath, He suffered to teach us how to suffer. I Peter 2:21 says "To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps."

Did He whine about his lot in life? Did He blame somebody else? Did He refuse to do God's will because it was too painful? The answer to all these questions is a redundant and resounding "No".

Now examine your own answers to these questions. Where do you stand in being Christ-like in your sufferings? I know I have often whined about my life and tried to blame others. I know I am resistant to do God's will at times because it hurts my pride. What a puny Christian I am!

When He returns to call us home, I pray Jesus will look beyond my faults and see my need. We all need Him. Not one of us is an unblemished lamb. Sometimes we try to appear unblemished to those we wish to impress, but as we grow in our walk we must be more transparent and more touched by our frailties.

If it weren't for Christ, where would this poor soul be? I say "Amen" to the great "I am" giving me a purpose and a plan for my life"--and it's not to whine or blame. The Bible says His Name is Wonderful, Magnificent, Almighty, All-powerful,... You fill in your own favorite praise names for the "author and finisher of our faith".

My spiritual heartbeats begin to soar as I count His blessings and His forbearance in my life. He is my portion, my shield, my cornerstone, my husband, and my first love always. I hope Christ is all that and more to each of you today.

The Prayer of Surrender

2009-03-17T19:03:00.000-07:00

Have you had a really frustrating day with your computer where you were tempted to throw it from a second story window to the pavement? Today was that day for me.

For the last 3 days I have not been able to find my email or my bookmarks. Furthermore all the icons and fonts were extra large as if I were a visually challenged person. However, this evening I prayed earnestly that whatever God's will was for my life, I would accept it--even if I didn't understand. I surely did not understand what craziness was going on with my laptop.

Once more after putting my three sweet little doggies to bed, I decided to unplug power to my ISP modem, wait reverently for those 30 seconds, replug, and then reboot my laptop. All I can say is that God performed a miracle and gave me back tons of emails and file folders and bookmarks...and my sanity as well.

So, if you ever need prayer over your techie equipment, I will be there for you! I empathize emphatically. Just send me an email to drgreer@charter.net and I will respond.

My spiritual heartbeats can't wait to see what prayer God will answer next. Right now, I could sure use some help putting together a chain saw. I have a huge fallen limb from the snow storm in early March waiting to be converted to firewood.

Remember, dear ones, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Phillipians 4:4-7) "Anything" includes laptops and messed up software, praise God.

End of Semester Blues?

2009-03-17T18:17:00.000-07:00

Time to get all the help you can. I am still in business and do private 1-on-1 tutoring for Elementary through Adult learners. My subjects have now expanded into Anatomy and Physiology, Math, Statistics, Geometry, Chemistry, and Physics.

I also recommend that if you a.re finishing your 11th grade, this summer is the best time to take coaching from Academics Upward Tutoring

The Infinite Change of Passage

2009-03-08T11:09:00.001-07:00

It was sunny and in the high 60’s when the plane took off from the burgeoning green of Florida. I had just been blessed with about four days of a Christian writers’ conference. As the plane approached and descended to the GSP airport, there was a whitewash of all landscape below lying under a half foot of snow. How opposite the weather can be in less than two hours of flying. Alas, change is inevitable in the landscape of our lives as well.

Can you remember back to your youth and the dreams you had? What did you want to be when you grew up? What did you say when your parents or extended family asked about your future? It is unlikely you said: “I want to be a light unto the world and salt unto the earth.”

After all is said and done, however, this job description becomes a universal tuning fork for those of us who believe in the spiritual heartbeats of a child of God. Each time I hear of one more soul entering eternity, the question of whether this person met God’s job description arises poignantly. This week one neighbor who suffered with cancer and also the sister of a dear Christian writer went to reside with Jesus. My mind grapples with this moment of transition; within a few heartbeats I reverently whisper, “You, child of God--how blessed you are to escape this sin-stained world.”

Whatever mirth, whatever pleasure, and whatever adrenaline rush we may experience in this life, it must pale tremendously to the one last heartbeat within our passage of leaving this world and entering God’s realm of infinite glory. It is the last mystery we must contemplate on ground zero.

Along with our future, we must also realize that we leave a legacy to those still trapped in earthly bodies. What will your legacy be? Will you be known for your spiritual fruit, your sense of humor, or your duty and honor to your country? Some of us may have flashbacks to some traumatic events that dramatically changed our life’s pathways forever. Did we learn God’s lessons in these or did we blindly put one boot in front of the other and trudge on aimlessly?

I hope and pray that at the end of your days, you can say “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Phillipians 4:13)

...And Beauty Fills My Soul

2009-02-10T13:57:00.000-08:00

Eight years ago my life was a mess. I had just returned from an unsuccessful teaching job in the Persian Gulf area, my home in Florida was still under rental contract, and it was mid-Fall term for my high schooler, Dixie. My elder daughter, April, was pregnant out of wedlock, and I was trying desperately to get full-time work at a college or university. State budget cut-backs left the market lean in North Carolina where my younger daughter and I moved from overseas to be near April and to welcome my first grandchild into the world.

Dixie and I moved into a moderately sized ranch home for rent with a garage for the new US car I had just bought. I was blessed by God to get some adjunct work at the local community college for the Spring Term during mostly day-time hours so I could be home for Dixie to make a good dinner.

Our overseas shipment from the Middle East took 4 months to arrive by ship and required a rental truck and a trip to Charlotte to pick it up and bring it back to central North Carolina. When we first got to the US and rented the house, we made a mad dash with a friend, his truck, and rented trailer to get beds and basics from Florida storage until the shipped goods arrived. For the first few months, it was the bleakest home I had lived in for 25 years.

During that brief period of about 8 months in North Carolina, my granddaughter arrived early by one month and needed Neonatal Intensive Care at Chapel Hill. The paramedic drove Ashton by ambulance over an hour from where I and my daughters were living. It was a bittersweet blessing, for little Ashton was bound to be adopted out from birth.

April, Dixie, and I were able to visit her over 10 days while she was still in the hospital. It was just enough time to fall in love with the little baby, pray her into good health, and then give her to her adoptive parents living somewhere in the North Carolina Piedmont. We had a little "handing over" ceremony in the hospital's chapel that broke a number of hearts, not the least of which was April's.

Two years later, April was again far along into another pregnancy with the same man, but did not live to give birth to her little girl. She was murdered on Valentine's Day by her live-in of the last three years. I would find out at the trial over 2 years later it was a brutal murder, dismemberment, and a horrible burial in a trash can underwater--she was missing for over two months before she and the baby girl inside her were found on Easter Monday washed ashore after God's excessive Spring rains.

I yearned to have contact with Ashton during this belated trial and hold on to something good and real from April's life. One day during the two months of an excrutiating and exhausting murder trial, I received my first letter from Ashton's adoptive parents. I read it over and over. I wept over and over. The last living link to my deceased daughter was out of my reach for no less than sixteen more years and there was nothing I could do but pray and keep sending gifts and letters through the adoption agency.

As a grandmother to Ashton, I did pray. I prayed her life would turn out so much better and brighter and happier than her mother's life. I prayed she would receive the Lord early in her life, and He would help her to navigate through the dangers and pitfalls of this world. I prayed for her parents to love and discipline her with fairness and kindness. But part of my prayers were always a little selfish. I prayed that God would break the wall of silence that fell between me and Ashton's parents.

Four years later, God who is "my rock and my fortress and my deliverer"(Psalms 18:2) was able to break that wall, and I now have in my possession a second letter thanking me for the Christmas gifts from this past year. There were many details about Ashton and her personality and spiritual gifts. Beauty filled my soul with joyful elation as I read the letter. I kept whispering "Thank you, Jesus; thank you, Jesus; thank you, Jesus..."

The beautiful smile on my face was from thankful heartbeats of a grandmother who had seen God be my rock when I doubted I would ever hear about Ashton again. It was on my face from protective heartbeats of a grandmother who prayed for God's fortress to surround Ashton and her new family. It was on my face from knowing Ashton had been delivered by her own profession of faith in July, 2008. Ashton was seven years old then and I realized April also gave her life to Jesus when she was seven--a divine coincidence of mother and child.

Even if I never see her physically this side of eternity, I will see Ashton forever and ever in heaven. "Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe; Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow." I am striving evermore eagerly to be nearer to God and farther from the hollowness of this world.

What beauty has filled your soul recently? Sing praises to God for He is our rock, our fortress, and our deliverer!

Yoke of Faith or Frustration?

2009-02-05T13:37:00.000-08:00

In the closing verses of Matthew Chapter 11, Christ tells us to take His yoke because it is easy and His burden is light. How many of us on a daily basis can say we feel unburdened and lighthearted? It all depends on our perspective, doesn't it?

Take for example the people of Zimbabwe. Recently our church hosted several missionaries home on furlough to assist in our Global Missions emphasis. My Sunday School class was honored with our key speaker for Sunday worship and also for a cozy Saturday evening potluck where we could converse with Greg about his mission home, Zimbabwe.

Greg and his wife have been on mission to see lives given to Christ in Zimbabwe for 21 years, but Greg also grew up in the country with his missionary parents. He speaks the native tongue perfectly. I am sure that Zimbabwe feels more like home to him than anywhere in the US.

I learned from Greg how burdensome survival has become in the past 8 years for the people of Zimbabwe. A very corrupt and selfish regime has been in control and has stripped the country of its resources and money to the point where only the most powerful people live well. Most of the energy of the population is spent in survival mode.

Four million Zimbabwe residents have moved out of the country to neighboring countries to have a better life and to send money back to relatives still caught in a pathetic and poverty stricken lifestyle. The currency in Zimbabwe is worthless and inflation is 1600% compared to the years of prosperity in the 1990's. White farmers have been driven out of their working farms and homes to sate the greed of the militia involved in the overthrow of the last government. Now the farms across the country produce nothing and are in shambles.

And yet, God has seen fit to bless the native people with missionaries who bring people out of the bondage of Satan and his crafty and wicked ways. Hundreds have given up up the idol worship of the ancestral ways. Greg testified to some very dramatic conversions where the presence of evil spirits in a person were driven out and the freedom felt by the new believer was exhilarating and cause for joyous song and dance for all the witnesses.

What can we glean from such circumstances? On the one hand, the outward Yoke of life has not changed one iota, but inwardly in the spirit their is the beginning of "a future with hope" as it says in Jeremiah, Chapter 29:11. Every believer can view the world as it is or the world as it will become under Christ's Lordship. In the former you will only have a heavy yoke of frustration, but in the latter your heartbeat will be light and easy.

You are the Potter, I am the Clay...

2009-01-25T18:13:00.000-08:00

Change my heart, oh God; Make me ever new!
Change my heart, oh God; Make me more like you.

Why is this one of my favorite Christian choruses? Is it because it is a chorus pleading for change through God's power each day? Yes, that is its beauty! If I ever get to the place where I am no longer pliable clay in the hands of my Heavenly Father, then I can no longer become the woman he wants me to be.

Having practiced "throwing a pot" for the first time well into middle age, this chorus captured even more of my attention. In order to prepare the clay before it is ever put on the potter's wheel, it undergoes rigorous pounding and slamming to release unwanted air that will ruin the pot and perhaps crack it in the kiln.

Just as the air must be eliminated before molding, our self-sufficient attitude must be eliminated so we can yield to God's authority over our lives. Until we can admit that Christ is God's eternal and unequivocal portal into the kingdom of faith, we are useless raw mud, stiff-necked and proud.

Perhaps that is the route you, too, have taken before surrendering to God. I know that I had to undergo some very hurtful experiences and brokenness up through young womanhood before I could be the kind of mud ready for God's pottery wheel.

Even so, the spinning and application of lubricating Holy Spirit water is necessary to properly throw the readied mud. Have you just been set on the potter's wheel and are still waiting for His Hands? Have you been spun and reshaped over and over? Do you believe you are in the final stages before the kiln?

Regardless of where you are in your formation of who God wants you to be, remember that there have been thousands before you on that same wheel and in that same kiln. Remember Meshach, Shadrach, and Abednigo? Their kiln experience certainly cemented and authenticated their faith in a Living God.

My hope for you, as you become more pliable for God and thus more useful, is this: Do it with willing and joyful heartbeats and without fear of what God is creating--it's all good.

Are You My Neighbor?

2009-01-15T07:37:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends,

I recently submitted a devotional to The Upper Room with this title. It is a question we subconsciously ask ourselves each time we meet a new person.

Within these four words, a great deal is implied. We are asking many questions between the lines. Will you become a close friend or just an acquaintance? Will you be someone I can trust, even confide in? Will you come to my home one day as a welcomed guest or I to yours? Will you pray for me and I for you? Will I be able to ask for your help someday? Will our friendship become a key part of my future growth spiritually, socially, and/or psychologically? When I die, will you be someone who will mourn my passage out of this sin-stained world?

When we meet fellow Christian writers, more questions arise. When I have something published, will you be one who will rejoice with me or envy me? If I need you to honestly critique my writing, will you give me an honest analysis?

Perhaps I read too much into this question "Are you my neighbor?", but I know that Christ's parable of the Good Samaritan was not addressing people who lived next door to each other. They were "two very different ships passing in the night". This is the society and mixing bowl of cultures in which we live. But the Samaritan had merciful heartbeats for the injured and robbed person. Out of his own time and money, he cared for this stranger he just met, never expecting anything in return.

Christ died and I believe he did it all for our sakes, never expecting anything in return. How could we possibly return all that He gave us with his last heartbeat on the cross? It was all that Heaven had to offer,an inheritance outside the realm of the real and natural.

What kind of neighbor are you? What kind of neighbor do you wish to become in this New Year?

L.B. Greer

Can You Hear it Yet, Doc?

2009-01-06T20:20:00.000-08:00

Do you remember when you were first pregnant as a couple? It was the first sound of the child within through the stethoscope that made your first memorable moment as a family. And so it is with God, when you first accept His Love and He inclines His ear to your sinner's prayer of belief. God hears your first spiritual heartbeat, faint, but oh how joyful your Father is when He hears it for the very first time! He exclaims, "Hello, My child" and calls you by name.

As a Christian and as a writer, I know that our spiritual heartbeats are not always strong and loud. Sometimes the noise of the world crowds out the sound, even though God is still inclining His ear and waiting to hear from our heart. It is in those moments that we realize how far we have wandered from His Stethoscope--His Spiritual Will for our lives.

If you have passed the half century mark, then you know that your heart must be strong and consistent in order to stay alive in a world that would kill your very soul at every corner and every turn. The experiences of life that are painful will either drive us toward God or away from Him.

Consider drawing close to Him today and staying there until finally your heartbeat is enveloped into the rhythm of His heartbeat. Nothing could be more peaceful or rewarding this side of eternity, I am certain.

Hoping your New Year will develop in You
New Ways to walk to the Tune of His Heartbeat,

Dr. L.B. Greer