TRYING TO BE A GOOD CHRISTIAN WOMAN: April 2020

Thursday, April 30, 2020

NONFICTION BOOK REVIEW #2020-048 - Hearing The Voice of God: Discerning God's Voice From All The Other Voices (Hearing God Series Book 1)

RECOGNIZING THE LORD VOICE WHEN HE SPEAKS

How many times have we, in our time of need, reached out to G-d as ask him for his intervention to help us get through the crisis we’ve been facing. Quite a few, right. But then we get frustrated because we didn’t seem to get any sort of response to our pleas.

1 JOHN 3:1 [NKJV] states:

“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us because it did not know Him.”

And as His children, the Lord speaks to us to lead and guide us along the path the Lord has chosen for us to follow. The unfortunate thing about this is that many individuals are unaware when He does speak to them.

Scripture even talks about the Lord does speak to us in JOB 33:14-16 [NKJV]

[14] For God may speak in one way, or in another, Yet man does not perceive

It.

[15] In a dream, in a vision of the night, When deep sleep falls upon men, While slumbering on their beds,

[16] Then He opens the ears of men, And seals their instruction.

What the author, Pastor Sheldon D. Newton, is attempting to communicate to his readers concerning us recognizing when the Lord is actually attempting to speak to us and when he’s not, and avoiding voices that do not belong to the Lord.

This empowering short book wants its readers to come away with a closer relationship with the Lord, by recognizing when and how He is speaking to them. It is for this reason, I’ve given Pastor Shelton the 5 STARS he’s received from this reviewer of nonfiction Christian books.

Amazon Review/Buy link:

https://www.amazon.com/review/RTL4N6ITGUY9K

DAILY SCRIPTURE REFLECTION #88 - PSALM 50:15 [NKJV]

For today’s reflection, the topic is about the Lord listening to our pleas.

“Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.”

Let us say AMEN, and let us reflect on this today.

If you’re not a follower of this blog, please consider becoming one as we examine and discuss our faith together as “sisters” and “brothers” in the eyes of the Lord. If you care to leave a comment, feel free to do so.

Have a BLESSED DAY with whatever you’re going to be doing !!! 😊 😊 😊

Wednesday, April 29, 2020

DAILY SCRIPTURE REFLECTION #87 - PSALM 143:8 [NKJV]

For today’s reflection, the topic is about us putting our trust in the Lord.

“Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, For in You do I trust; Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, For I lift up my soul to You.”

Let us say AMEN, and let us reflect on this today.

Have a BLESSED DAY with whatever you’re going to be doing !!! 😊 😊 😊

Tuesday, April 28, 2020

DAILY SCRIPTURE REFLECTION #86 - DEUTERONOMY 3:22 [NKJV]

I’ve been on the front line since the morning regarding the COVID-19 virus, just got in exhausted, so sorry for the delay in my posting scripture reflection for today. I need to start writing my scripture offering the night before, scheduling it to post for the morning in the ET zone [New York]

For today’s reflection, the topic is about the Lord being our Savoir as He fights our battles for us.

“You must not fear them, for the LORD your God Himself fights for you.”

Let us say AMEN, and let us reflect on this today.

Have a BLESSED DAY with whatever you’re going to be doing !!! 😊 😊 😊

Monday, April 27, 2020

DAILY SCRIPTURE REFLECTION #85 - MARK 14:38 [NKJV]

Sorry for the delay in my posting scripture reflection for today; today has been a day for medical appointments for myself and my Dear OH.

For today’s reflection, the topic is about the Lord directing us being confronted by temptation.

“Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Let us say AMEN, and let us reflect on this today.

Have a BLESSED WEEK with whatever you’re going to be doing !!! 😊 😊 😊

Sunday, April 26, 2020

SUNDAY HYMN #11 - THE LORD IS MY LIGHT

There are several parts to every Church service individuals play witness to or participate in every week. There’s always the obligatory sermon given by the leader of that church’s congregation; there’s the communal reading aloud of scripture, and finally, there’s the what I feel is the most inspirational part of any Christian service, which is the congregation singing of a hymn or hymns.

Since the singing of a hymn is a captivating part of any service, I’ve decided to post one each Sunday. So you, my blog followers, can sing along with it in the privacy of your homes. If you’re not familiar with it, then just sit back and listen to the beauty of its words on this YouTube video, especially these days with the COVID-19 virus preventing us from doing this in our favorite church.

For my hymn offering for this week is the hymn/song: “The Lord is My Light”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNJCGEQPwk4&list=PLizk5KJCp4im9Q-EADcec11B7UWdkmCm8&index=11

I hope you’ll enjoy listening to it or singing along with it.

AMEN

TODAY'S SUPPLICATION TO THE LORD #15

Christians, especially those who are believers, should be praising the Lord each day by offering a prayer regardless of how brief it might be. With the harried lives we’re living, it’s not always that easy to formulate one, and many might be homebound for one reason or another, especially now with the COVID-19 prevent us from going to church, which why I’ve decided to offer a weekly suggestion [on Sundays] designed to suffice this need for them. If anyone desires to leave a comment regarding the prayer offering for today, please feel free to do so.

The Lord preceded all that was created,

The first He is though he never began.

He is the eternal Lord; every creature

Must declare His greatness and His kingship.

His abundant prophecy He granted

To the men of His choice and His glory.

And with that, let us all answer, AMEN

DAILY SCRIPTURE REFLECTION #84 - PSALM 37:23 [NKJV]

For today’s reflection, the topic is about the Lord directing us as to the path he wants us to follow.

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way.”

Let us say AMEN, and let us reflect on this today.

Have a BLESSED SUNDAY with your family praying together in the safety of your homes !!! 😊 😊 😊

Saturday, April 25, 2020

NONFICTION BOOK REVIEW #2020-047 - Talking with Your Kids about Jesus: 30 Conversations Every Christian Parent Must Have

THIS BOOK IS NOT ONLY FOR PARENTS TO TALK WITH THEIR CHILDREN ABOUT JESUS, IT’S FOR EVERYONE WANTING TO TALK ABOUT HIM

Every Christian parent knows the importance about teaching children about the Bible and about Jesus. The reason for this can be found several times in the Bible

DEUTERONOMY 11:19 {NKJV] tells us:

“You shall teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.”

ISAIAH 54:13 [KJV] tells us:

“All your children shall be taught by the LORD, And great shall be the peace of your children.”

And in PROVERBS 22:6 [NKJV] we read:

“Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.”

Christian parents these days with its ever-increasing secularism know that this will become a challenge for their children that they must overcome to have faith in the Lord. Knowing is not the problem for these parents, the problem comes when they need to talk to their children successfully regarding this.

The author, Natasha Crain, has written this book, for parents to gain the important self-confidence they’ll need when they talk about the Lord to their children. Chapter by chapter, page by page, Ms. Crain lays out a concise pathway to follow to teach their children about Jesus's identity, teachings, death, and resurrection. The book is geared to give parents a definitive guide with which to have conversations with their children regardless of their age by giving them a curriculum-based approach designed to give these children a meaningful learning experience. This is why, as a devotee of nonfiction Christian books, I’ve given Ms. Crain the 5 STARS she’s earned.

While I’ve given this author 5 STARS for her endeavor here, I’ve got a puzzlement as to why so many authors in coming up with a title for their books and writing their books, have repeatedly short-changed the intended audience for their books. And Ms. Crain has been one of them. While her intended audience are parents desiring to talk to their children about Jesus, there are scores of individuals would love to share their love for the Lord with others who are new to the Christian faith. Newcomers to the Christian faith are essentially children possessing no knowledge of it or of the Lord, Jesus; and they need to be talked with like a child; which is why I feel this book is a useful tool in talking to anyone about the subject matter of this book.

Amazon Review/Buy link:

https://www.amazon.com/review/R3I96L2E3ICI7S

DAILY SCRIPTURE REFLECTION #83 - EZEKIEL 36:26 [NKJV]

For today’s reflection, the topic is about the Lord reviving us with a new heart and a renew spirit.

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.”

Let us say AMEN, and let us reflect on this today.

Have a BLESSED WEEKEND with your family !!! 😊 😊 😊

DAILY SCRIPTURE REFLECTION #82 - EXODUS 15:11 [NKJV]

Please forgive my delay in this posting. On Thursday, I wound up posting my daily scripture reflection late, late in the evening. Yesterday, I wound up not posting at all. It’s not that I had been ailing; I was just plumb exhausted from helping out in the community in regards to the COVID-19 virus. As long as we’re healthy, each of us must do anything we can to help out those who are need of assistance, the kind of assistance the Lord can’t provide, but we can.

For yesterday, the topic would have been about us seeing the wonders of our Lord with our hearts.

“Who is like You, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, Fearful in praises, doing wonders?”

Let us say AMEN, and let us reflect on this today.

Have a BLESSED DAY with ALL that you do !!! 😊 😊 😊

Friday, April 24, 2020

NONFICTION BOOK REVIEW #2020-046 - Ninety Days to the God Habit: Breaking the Cycle of Mediocre Christianity

RETURNING TO THE GARDEN OF THE LORD

I read this book via an Amazon KINDLE Unlimited download.

With the ever-increasing harried lives most of us are being forced to live in, even those who had been faithful Christians fall victim to the requirements of such a lifestyle. They begin to drift further and further away in their relationships with the Lord. And as they do, they find excuses for not spending a few moments with Him even in silent meditation.

The longer that this continues, there's a higher chance of falling into an abyss of a lack of involvement with the Christian faith. Individuals can deteriorate to where they believe the Lord has ceased hearing their supplications in regards to their needs. Eventually they are like lost sheep who have drifted away from the Lord’s flock and can no longer find their way back to the Shepherd who had once looked over them. Everything becomes meaningless as the joy which once had been present being in this flock has drifted away into nothingness and mediocritcy.

What is needed is something to ignite the darkness that now exists in the lives of these lost Christians and their souls, and to light a pathway back to the Shepherd’s flock, breaking the devastating routine they’ve found themselves in. The author of this book, J. Traveler Pelton, in writing her book, seeks to provide this light, giving her readers a ladder of knowledge with which they’d be able to start climbing of their religious mediocritcy and onto a pathway of living a life that the Lord wants them to follow.

The return journey to the Lord is something which is not instantaneous, as her readers are like children, and need to be eased into it by setting up a daily schedule of keeping an appointment him the Lord each morning when they awake. Once settled into this routine readers are given a proven pathway to renew their loving relationship with the Lord, rejuvenate their devotion and to resuscitate their souls. And in the end they’ll be able to proclaim and begin to sing:

I come to the garden alone
While the dew is still on the roses
And the voice I hear, falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses
And he walks with me
And he talks with me
And he tells me I am His own
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known.

As well as singing “Amazing Grace.”

For wanting her readers to be able to return to the Shepherd’s flock and be fulfilled once more, being the voracious reviewer I am of nonfiction Christian books, I have to give Ms. Pelton the 5 STARS she richly deserves.

Amazon Review/Buy link:

https://www.amazon.com/review/R1RH6OM3NUVQ66

Thursday, April 23, 2020

DAILY SCRIPTURE REFLECTION #81 - DEUTERONOMY 31:6 NKJV]

Sorry for the late posting, but I've been out/about assisting others in the community in regards to the COVID-19 virus.

For today’s reflection, the topic is about us living without fear thanks to the Lord.

“Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”

Let us say AMEN, and let us reflect on this today.

Have a BLESSED DAY with ALL that you do !!! 😊 😊 😊

NONFICTION BOOK REVIEW #2020-045 - Soul Gardening: Reclaiming Spiritual Health After Experiencing Dysfunction

TIME TO RESOW THE GARDEN OF YOUR FAITH

Christians have a desire to ascend to a higher level in their lives, which is having a closer and more intimate relationship with the Lord. While the food we consume might feed our bodies, we need some spiritual food to feed our souls. We need to remember that ROMANS 14:17 [NKJV] reminds us:

“For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”

However, unfortunately there comes a time for some individuals that they wind up being besieged in moving closer to the Lord after they’ve suffered some sort of abnormality in their lives, like, perhaps even a flawed church society. Since there are different components which make us as we are as human being there are several components which comprise our spiritual well-being as Christians. And just as farmers sow different seeds to reap the different crops for their harvest.

Perhaps, the best way for those Christians who have on account of their situation have experienced a spiritual burnout in themselves and their faith is to start sowing the seeds of the faith in their gardens anew, carefully attending to it, in order to reclaim their spiritual well-being once more.

In writing this book the author, Josh Roberie, wants his readers to have a garden of faith again. He wants them to realize their individual path to a renewed faith by the utilization of 5 useful beliefs to traverse whatever has been blocking their advancement to their spiritual garden again.

Amazon Review/Buy link:

https://www.amazon.com/review/R1VLO0LG2Z1ZV8

Wednesday, April 22, 2020

DAILY SCRIPTURE REFLECTION #80 - PSALM 37-4

For today’s reflection, the topic is about the Lord fulfilling our heart’s desires.

“Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.”

Let us say AMEN, and let us reflect on this today.

Have a BLESSED DAY with ALL that you do !!! 😊 😊 😊

Tuesday, April 21, 2020

NONFICTION BOOK REVIEW #2020-044 - First One to the Cross: Wives’ Guide to a Winning Marriage

WINNING THE MARRIAGE GAME IS A DESIRE ALMOST ALL WOMEN WANT TO ACHIEVE IN THEIR LIVES

In her book author, Gwen Steinle desires for her readers [predominantly women] to acquire down-to-earth advice to guarantee that their marriages will be robust with the Lord's words. This book also offers a glimmer of hope for women who are suffering in a stressful marriage for an amicable resolution.

The Lord's presence is essential in the relationship between a husband and his wife. Some individuals allow their hearts to rule their minds when it comes to falling in love and blindly rush into marriage with that person. And sometimes, an individual's mind rules their hearts, and they rush into marriage because it's the proper thing to do; yet, there's no real love for that other person.

Given the vast multitudes of personalities that exist between men and women, two individuals can't mesh 100% correctly. There needs to be some compromise between the two, and within this compromising, couples on occasion might have incidents where anguish and disagreement rule the day. Unfortunately, there's no single book designed to give individuals detailed information about how something should be done when these incidences arise, save one; which is the book written by the Lord, the one who had created the institution of marriage.

According to the book's description, Ms. Steinle covers nine crucial aspects contributing to the quality of married life:

1. Unconditional Love (Who Luvs Ya Baby? )
2. Reverence (Let Go & Let God)
3. Humility (Who Me? )
4. Affirmation (What's Real Good? )
5. Expectations (En Guarde! In Your Thought Life)
6. Spiritual Warfare (Satan's Up to Something)
7. Virtue vs. Vice (Fruity or Foul? )
8. Romance (Takin' Care of Business vs. Marital Bliss)
9. Personal Growth (The Easy Way or the Hard Way).

In regards to marriage itself, I believe we need to look at EPHESIANS 5:28-33 [NKJV]:

28] So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself.

29] For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church.

30] For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones.
31] For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
32]This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
33] Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

In the end, anything that could help women to win the "marriage game" is a commodity that they need to possess, which is why I've given Ms. Steinle, 5 STARS for her endeavor here.

Amazon Review/Buy link:

https://www.amazon.com/review/R2VXGOQQ1RHNOC

NONFICTION BOOK REVIEW #2020-043 - A Little Light: Self Help Affirmations for times of hardship: Short but Sweet Affirmations meant to Empower & Inspire

GIVEN THE TIMES WE'RE LIVING IN NOW – THIS BOOK IS A BLESSING

I purchased a copy, which was free, and this is, of this short but inspiring book fraught with a month's worth of engagingly brief affirmations designed to galvanize and stimulate its readers in these COVID-19 virus ravaging times we're living in today.

Affirmations are a voice that reinforces the determination that Christians have in regards to their goals and hopes, and inherently gives them assurance and a feeling of being supported, specifically with the Lord's assistance.

In the Bible contains several verses that relate to affirmations, the rest one is PSALM 23:1-6 [ESV]

"A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. ..."

Another one is PSALM 119:105 [ESV]

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."

The best way to reap the most benefit out of this book readers must read one affirmation a day aloud as if you're proclaiming it to the world, and repeat doing this several times aloud, starting when you first wake up each morning.

For wanting to transform the lives of his readers during the times of their adversity, I've not hesitated in giving the author, Matt Buonocore, the 5 STARS he's garnered for his endeavor here in his book.

Amazon Review/Buy link:

https://www.amazon.com/review/R8ALPRGHWHFHN

NONFICTION BOOK REVIEW #2020-042 - The Healing Power of the Holy Communion: A 90-Day Devotional

PARTAKE IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE HOLY COMMUNION AND BE HEALED

I received a hardcover copy of this from the publisher through a giveaway they had on GoodReads, and the following is my honest opinion.

The Holy Communion as every Christian should know is what gives them life, especially when their faith in the Lord is concerned, for it is written in JOHN 6:53-58 [ESV]

“So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me. ...”

What the author of this devotional book, Pastor Joseph Prince, does within its pages is to give his readers an opportunity to achieve a new prospect as they make discoveries in their lives regarding the love the Lord has for them, and to walk along the path of restoration and completeness He desires for them to possess.

In the carefully orchestrated collection of inspiring scripture readings, followed by thoughts related to the selected scripture, and ending in a specific appropriated supplication to the Lord, the author desires for his readers to learn how the Communion meal deals with their meeting the Lord and acknowledging what He has done for them.

As readers increase their relationship with the Lord, they allow themselves to experience what He wants them to possess in regards to their health and His presence within their bodies and souls, which will cause them to obtain knowledge regarding the Holy Communion’s healing powers.

When this knowledge occurs, believers come to recognize this as the truth and what happens next can be found in MATTHEW 14:35 [ESV]

“And when the men of that place recognized him, they sent around to all that region and brought to him all who were sick.”

For wanting his readers to gain a spiritualistic understanding that even simple believers can begin to understand regarding the healing power of the holy communion, I’ve given Pastor Prince the 5 STARS he deserves to receive.

Amazon Review/Buy link:

https://www.amazon.com/review/R3RNPMC9W4I3P2

DAILY SCRIPTURE REFLECTION #79 - ISAIAH 40:11 [NKJV]

For today’s reflection, the topic is about us never feeling lost or wanting.

“He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, And carry them in His bosom, And gently lead those who are with young.”

Let us say AMEN, and let us reflect on this today.

Have a BLESSED DAY with ALL that you do !!! 😊 😊 😊

Monday, April 20, 2020

DAILY SCRIPTURE REFLECTION #78 - PSALM 30:8 [NKJV]

For today’s reflection, the topic is about our crying out to the Lord with our prayers.

“I cried out to You, O LORD; And to the LORD I made supplication:”

Let us say AMEN, and let us reflect on this today.

Have a BLESSED DAY with whatever you're going to be doing !!! 😊 😊 😊

Sunday, April 19, 2020

SUNDAY HYMN/SONG #10 - “O Sanctissima - Catholic Hymns, Songs of Praise.”

For my offering for this week is the hymn/song: “O Sanctissima - Catholic Hymns, Songs of Praise.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqSjIQBtuVY&list=PLizk5KJCp4im9Q-EADcec11B7UWdkmCm8&index=7

I hope you’ll enjoy listening to it or singing along with it.

AMEN

TODAY'S SUPPLICATION TO THE LORD #14

He is one, there is no other

To compare to Him, to place beside Him.

He is without a beginning, without an end;

Power and dominion belong to Him.

He is our God, our living Redeemer,

Our stronghold in times of distress.

He is our guide and our refuge,

Our share of bliss the day we call.

To him we entrust our spirit

When we sleep and when we wake.

As long as our soul is with our body

The Lord is with us, we are not afraid.

And with that, let us all answer, AMEN

DAILY SCRIPTURE REFLECTION #77 - PSALM 40:5 [NKJV]

For today’s reflection, the topic is about our Lord, the maker of wonders.

“Many, O LORD my God, are Your wonderful works Which You have done; And Your thoughts toward us Cannot be recounted to You in order; If I would declare and speak of them, They are more than can be numbered.”

Let us say AMEN, and let us reflect on this today.

Have a BLESSED WEEKEND your families !!! 😊 😊 😊