Faithful Friday: In Honor Of the Olympics

 Welcome Back Readers~

Okay, so this past week worked out nothing as I planned. But you know what people say, “Men make plans, God laughs” or something like that. The truth is, I have been dealing with some stomach issues, and we have no idea what may be causing them; I don’t go out much, so it can’t be anything that’s going around. My mom wonders if it could be stress-related, having to post something three times a week. Honestly, I’m beginning to wonder myself. Still, I will keep going in the meantime - until I figure something out. In the end, I may try backing down to two times a week on the blog, so it would be helpful if you started thinking about which two themes you want me to keep. I will say it’s a lot to do keeping everything straight.

You probably have guessed there’s no special interview for today’s “Faithful Friday”-something has come up, and it is postponed again. But I promise you it is coming. In the meantime, I thought I’d do something in honor of the Olympics. For as long as I can remember, I have been fascinated with women’s gymnastics and swimming; their ability to tumble and fly through the air amazes me. If I were able, I have no doubt in my mind that I’d be in gymnastics myself. Still, the commitment it takes to go to the gym five times a week and practice the sport blows my mind. Having two nieces in swimming, I get a little glimpse into the kind of commitment and skill it takes.

I can’t imagine the kind of pressure the Women’s Gymnastics team was under Monday morning, having to cope without their team leader Simone Biles. Even still, the team was able to pull it together and win silver. A very nice performance. But I do feel for Simone and whatever she is feeling. I can’t imagine traveling to Tokyo to showcase your talent and have something happen to doubt yourself. Of course, many would say, “Simone should have gone ahead anyway.” But if you’re not yourself, doing stunts can be dangerous; you need focus and confidence. So I think she did the right thing in eliminating herself from the competition. In doing this, she not only saved herself from potential injury but kept her team’s overall score in mind - falls that would mean the deductions, and she wasn’t willing to risk it.

Still, I hope to see Simone Biles back in action sometime soon. The world of gymnastics won’t be the same without her. At any rate, I came across this article about gymnastics from a biblical perspective, and I thought I would share it with you. The amount of pressure these athletes are under is tremendous, but we must remember they are still just humans prone to the same mistakes as we are. No one is perfect; only God is. Here’s the article if you want to read it:

 

https://thinkchristian.net/the-imperfect-grace-of-olympic-gymnasts?utm_campaign=TC_GeneralCampaign&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=144159953&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8PN33aFoX9mLBdbi3ZxhTmogjZ0SGII7ofbkLEPL0fmOncsPDtcfG7n70Kf045MosIUDTToSR0X9HKL-YkeZnEaRpYOHp_YfsblPaAARnXz13e17Y&utm_content=144159953&utm_source=hs_email

Wisdom Wednesday: Esther's story

 Welcome to the addition of "Wisdom Wednesday".. Today we look at the story of Esther with a new perspective. Hopefully, you will realize there is wisdom in waiting for God's timing

Music Monday: Prize Worth Fighting For by Jimmie Kimmett

   Music Monday: Prize Worth Fighting For by Jimmie Kimmett

by Debbie

 Another weekend has come and gone. It’s that time again time to get back to work. For some of you, that’s easy because you enjoy your job and what you’re doing. For others, not so much.

Today’s song is specifically for those people who are questioning their jobs. They know they must provide for their family, but they’ve grown unhappy and unsatisfied with their position. They are tired of going through the motions and not being recognized for their good work. They want more.

Sadly, a lot of people feel this way. But I believe it’s because people are searching to satisfy a more profound need- a need for Jesus! God knows this; after all, he created us that way.

As Christians, it is easy to forget this and get caught up in the daily grind. However, we must never lose sight of our eternal purpose and ultimate reward awaiting us.

So whatever you are going through today, press on. Press on knowing that:

1.  God loves you; His love will see you through whatever this place may throw your way.
2.  God is worth every bit of suffering we experience on this earth; it is nothing like the suffering that Jesus experienced on the cross.
3. Our faith is based on nothing we did; it’s a free gift from God

 G – God’s

R – Riches

A – At

C – Christ’s

E – Expense

 

Jimmie’s music video “Prize Worth Fighting For” can be accessed here:

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGbQ90kYZrI

Faithful Friday: Nick V's story

  Welcome Back Readers~

Over the past couple of weeks, I have tried to post new and inspiring articles/blogs that pertain to the three distinct themes I have introduced over the summer. As you may recall, I mentioned the idea of highlighting real people (close friends) who are determined to make a difference in today’s society no matter what the cost. I still plan to continue the idea next week by interviewing someone you and I both know and love. Maybe if you’re lucky, I will post some hints about who it is and hold a game of some sort for the winner.

In the meantime, I do have something somewhat new planned for you on this “Faithful Friday.” Many of you already know I hold a special place in my heart for people with disabilities who refuse to let their limitations stop them from accomplishing their dreams. One such gentleman is Nick Vujicic; for those not familiar with his story, let me give you a quick summary. Born in Melbourne, Australia, in 1982, doctors had no idea that the birth would be nothing but extraordinary. Despite having three sonograms, nothing prepared them for what was to come. You see, there will boy was born without arms and legs. Doctors cannot come up with any medical reason for his disability; so the family did their best to cope- refusing to treat Nick any less than normal because of his limitations. They were determined to treat him just like any normal kid. School, however, was a different story. Nick was bullied because of his disability. As time went on, he began questioning his reason for living, even to the point of trying to take his own life at one point. But after visualizing his parents at his grave, Nick has second thoughts.

And look what God has done in his life. Today, Nick is a speaker, an avid advocate for anti-bullying campaigns, and writer of several books. He is a husband and father to two boys-having never gave  up the hope of being married someday

That being said, I came across this YouTube talk he did surely after being married that talked about this idea of faith and never giving up hope. I thought I would take a minute to share with you

youtube.com/watch?v=6P2nPI6CTlc 

 

Wisdom Wednesday: God's Providence

 In today's wisdom Wednesday, we take a look at the idea of God's providence in our lives.

Music Monday: There's A Place for Us by Carrie Underwood

  Music Monday: There's a Place For Us by Carrie Underwood

by Debbie

Have you ever felt out of place - like you don't belong here? Have you ever felt like it would be easier to give up? I guarantee you're not alone. That's part of the reason I love reading; reading can provide a sense of escape from the difficulties of this world and transport you to another world beyond your imagination. For example, CS Lewis' series  The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, so effortlessly presents this idea of a world beyond the walls of an ordinary wardrobe closet where strange half-man, half-animal characters exist, and a witch dwells, daring to threaten the world's very existence. I won't spoil the rest of the story for those who haven't read this series fully yet (I'll admit I'm one of them, but I have cheated and seen the movies) except to say this leads the children on a spectacular adventure. Not only that, but it stretches readers-both Christian & non-Christian alike to think about their faith in a new way.

When I first heard "There's a Place For Us" as part of the end credits on The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader in theaters, I couldn't help but tear up. That song explicitly described what I was feeling. I recently struggled with getting "laid off" of a position I loved helping to make sure technology remained accessible to people with disabilities. Unfortunately, the program was cut, leaving me no longer needed. But still, it left me wondering, "Okay, Lord. Now what??"

To be honest, I still wonder what could have been...

Several years later, I still wonder what God has up his sleeve with my writing. Of course, I want to make enough money to provide for myself in the future, Before I get a ton of emails, I realize writers don't make a lot of money. However, since I am disabled and limited in my abilities, writing is something I can do... actually, it is about the only thing I can do! Not to mention that the idea of making money by doing something I enjoy also appeals to me.

But then again, this place is not my home. If you’re Christian, this same goes for you; but unlike the world of make-believe, Heaven is real. One day, Jesus will return and gather his followers to Himself. On that day, my broken body will be made whole, and I will finally be at peace.

To listen to Carrie Underwood’s song, you can find it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwmbcLbiF5I

On a personal note, I would encourage you to see all the Chronicles of Narnia movies if you ever get the chance. For those that already are subscribed to Disney +, the movies are now available. They have been on my watchlist for a while now, and I have watched them more than twice Personally, I relate strongly to the character of Lucy because of her propensity to compare herself with others. At times, she is so sure of herself- others not so much. Still,  the character of Aslan reminds her that if she hadn’t have existed, her siblings would not have discovered Narnia.

I have chosen to include a couple of my favorite quotes from the movie. They are as follows:

"We have nothing if not belief,"-Voyage of the Dawn Treader

"It is my hope that by knowing me in this world, you may know me better in the next,"-Azlan, Voyage of the Dawn Treader

"Stop doubting your value; don't run from who you are."

- Voyage of the Dawn Treader

Now please watch the movies and send me a note letting me know who you relate to the most.

Faithful Friday: Modern Acts of Christianity In the Real World

Preparing for this week's edition of "Faithful Friday," it occurred to me that my readers may be wondering how I plan on sustaining these unique themes throughout the rest of the summer and beyond. I'm not quite sure of this myself. After all, how many articles on wisdom can one write from a biblical perspective? On the other hand, there are thousands of uplifting songs to choose from; the same is true “celebrity” Christians-that is, those that are willing to live out their faith daily in the public eye no matter what the cost. One such example is Joni Eareckson Tada. Many of you have heard me mention her in previous posts because of her strong commitment to helping disabled communities, especially in underprivileged countries. That being said, I thought I’d share with you a paper I wrote on this exact topic.  I wrote this paper as part of an assignment for my Biblical Studies class at Concordia University of Ann Arbor (CUAA). The title of my paper was: Modern Acts of Christianity In the Real World. In it, I wrote the following:

 "Throughout history, many religious leaders have questioned the divine authority of God and the presence of suffering in life.  This is especially true for it comes to answering the controversial issues involving faith and suffering. It is especially of interest to the disabled community because they question why a loving God would allow the pain of their disability. The Old Testament prophets believed that all physical and mental handicaps were a result of God's judgment and wrath. Others simply reasoned it was an outward symbol of a power struggle between the mind and spirit.  These conclusions all center on the mystery of God's power, His love and suffering in the world. 

 When Jesus encountered a blind man, his disciples asked, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" (John 9:2). Jesus answered them by explaining that his blindness was not the result of sin but was a way that God would be glorified. "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life" (John 9:3).  To be quite honest, I don't know completely why I was born with cerebral palsy. I guess I will never know until I am face to face with God in heaven, but I believe it was meant to be a way to witness the glory of God. God has granted me several positive examples of people with disabilities that I look up to as role models of Christianity. One is Joni Eareckson Tada.

 On July 30^th, 1967, Joni was severely injured in a diving accident. As a result, she was paralyzed from the neck down.  After the accident, the foundations of her faith were being tested. She had people caring for her 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The everyday freedoms that she took for granted had been taken away from her. Joni lost her ability to walk and also was unable to participate in activities that she had a passion for, like horseback riding and swimming. During the trying times, she found comfort in daily visits from Steve Estes. Steve was a family friend who was attending college to be a Youth Minister. He tried to encourage her by reading her Bible verses, such as James 4:7, "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." This refocused her into wanting to get back on track with God.

Joni now knew that everything had a purpose. She understood that everything was within God's hands and that God was in control despite the way things looked. Romans 8:28 reassured Joni of this, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."

In 1976 she wrote a book entitled "Joni." that detailed her struggle as she returned to faith in God's loving purpose after her accident. The book became so popular that it was made into a movie in 1979 and gained worldwide respect.  Joni got married on July 3^rd, 1982 to Ken Tada. Now, she is a role model of Christian faith and hope and provides inspiration to all those dealing with a disability. She has created a foundation called "Joni and Friends" which provides wheelchairs for disabled people all around the world. She has written a number books on faith, having a deeper relationship with God, and on heaven.

I think this situation is typical for modern Christianity because everyone goes through a phase where they doubt God in one form or another. In the end, this phase creates a stronger bond with our Lord and Savior and we know exactly where we stand with Him. He will never leave us nor forsake us; we are always in His care! It also illustrates to people how these everyday problems can create a strong Christian character and dependence on God.
        I believe it's people like Joni that show the world what true perseverance and dependence on God really means. It makes me want to strive for a deeper relationship with Him. Joni has even inspired me to become a Communications major. She has also inspired thousands of people around the world when she travels as a motivational speaker.

 I was blessed with the opportunity to meet Joni in person at one of her concerts in January 1986 in Westminster, MD.  I was impressed with her personal testimony about her struggle to overcome depression after her accident and her journey to dependence on God.  Her determination to spread God's message through song and art was truly inspirational.  After the concert, I had the opportunity to speak with her personally.  I was really young, but I know that she understands what it is like to have a physical disability and that is why I can relate to her. 

Although there are still many doubts about God and His purpose for physical suffering in today's world, I believe it is through this suffering that he is able to build true character, while showing His work in our lives. My encounter with Joni reinforced this for me. "

But what happened next with this paper is definitely a miracle-somewhere in between handing this paper to my teacher for a grade and posting something like this on the web for a class on a whim, one of Joni’s associates actually saw this and passed along the message to Joni herself… As a result, I received a package in my college PO Box a few months later from Joni herself; she had seen what I had written and taken the time to send me her latest devotional, “Diamonds In the Dust”; this was extremely special to me since she took the time to type down my address at school and mail the book to me. Not only that but I rarely got packages at school since I spent most weekends at home with family because I lived only 15 minutes away from campus.