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The Power of Forgiveness

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The Power of Forgiveness
by Pamela Gauthier

There will be many times in this life that we will have the opportunity to be forgiven. The reason is that we, as human beings are imperfect. The word (im perfect) when placed together as one word (imperfect) is grammatically used as a past action not completed at the time in question. We are not perfect and are very capable of faltering.  We will also have the opportunity to forgive. It goes both ways. 

Many times it is through relationships that we are found in places so undesired. It may be thrust upon us through many interrupted ways. Our hearts may even become hardened through unsolved relational issues. As Christians, we are taught the ministry of reconciliation, beginning with our own need for forgiveness of sin, as we repent unto salvation.  The door is then opened for us to forgive others, so they also can receive healing, restoration, and forgiveness. Jesus said in Revelation 3:20 NLT, “Look I stand at the door and knock. If you open the door and hear my voice, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. 

In order to have forever relationships, we must learn to forgive and receive forgiveness. The story of Jacob and Laban ends with a covenant meal of forgiveness as they went separate ways. They ask that God would be a witness between them as they made peace. Jacob had worked for Laban twenty years. He was upset because his wages had been changed ten times. Laban also deceived Jacob during a marriage proposal. Jacob asked for one daughter’s hand in marriage (Rachel), yet received the other daughter’s hand in marriage (Leah), thus beginning a chain of lies, deception, bitterness, and hatred throughout the relationships. In all of this the Lord kept His promise, to Jacob. He instructed Jacob to take his family and leave. When Laban and Jacob settled their differences, they both could move on. 

Although this particular relationship ended with both men going in different directions, the point is that peace was made, and the Lord was part of their reconciliation. When we give our frustrations and differences to the Lord, He gives us the power to forgive.
Jacob also had another family situation   to deal with concerning his relationship with his brother Esau. This relationship was torn apart by Jacob’s own deception.

He deceived his brother by tricking him into giving up something of importance. This act led to Esau vowing to kill Jacob.  Jacob was so terrified of facing his brother after carrying this guilt for over twenty years that he came face-to-face with God because he feared for his life. 

Jacob learned the power of forgiveness when he faced his own need to be forgiven.  He was, in turn, able to be reconciled to his brother.  God saved his life and his destiny. “If any man be in Christ he is a new creature, old things are passed away, all things become new”, 2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV).

HeARTune Creations Poetry, LLC., is owned by Pamela Gauthier. Pamela is a writer and poet, who has been writing for over 20 years. She formally started her poetry as a business in October of 2013.

Her poetry has been at several boutiques and stores in the Baton Rouge area. Pamela is a native Baton Rougean, who has lived here all of her life. She is the wife of Ronnie Gauthier, and the mother of four: Mrs. Jamie Baham, Mrs. Jessica Chatman, Joshua and Joseph Gauthier. She is also the proud Grandmother of Five.

Pamela started her writing journey by writing poetry as a way to uplift the spirits of those in nursing homes and the like. This is still the goal today, to touch hearts and lives wherever encouragement is needed.

 

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Facing a New Beginning

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Facing a New Beginning
by Pamela Gauthier

Happy New Year! All of us like something new. Think of how excited we are when a new movie comes out, or starting a brand new relationship, or  a new job.  It’s the thrill of anticipation when we don’t know what to expect. A lot of times we dream or envision what we’d like to see. There is so much energy in a brand new start. It may be easy facing the beginning of something new, but it can also be challenging at the same time.

If we want to begin the new year successfully, it is all in how we prepare for it. The book of Nehemiah starts with  the rebuilding of a new temple wall. According to Nehemiah 2:4, the first thing Nehemiah was faced with was opposition. Nehemiah’s response to the opposition was, “the God of Heaven will help us to succeed”, Nehemiah 2:20(NLT).  When facing the beginning of anything new, we must first make a positive confession. 

As Nehemiah and his servants continued on this new project, they also faced mockery. The word of God said Nehemiah prayed. When we are faced with hindrances, in order to succeed at what we start, we must believe in the power of a God that cannot fail. 


The power of prayer will ensure that what we start will be met with completion. Many times what starts with something new and exciting can turn old quickly.  If we become discouraged with the progress, we sometimes have to change our strategy. It says that Nehemiah and the people were enthusiastic about the project of rebuilding.  Are we coming into the new year with renewed hope and vision, passionate to face a new beginning? The people that worked with Nehemiah were not only enthusiastic  but determined to complete the task at hand. 

When facing a new year many times we face problems from the past year that may cause us not to want to move on. We never want to allow fear, intimidation, or the regrets of past failures to hold us back. 


This is a cause for celebration to face a new year with great expectations.
In Nehemiah 8:6, the more opposition that Nehemiah faced, the more he was determined to carry out the work he started. 

It is important to note that when Nehemiah started  this work, he had nothing to start with but ashes. He had to pray and fast to even know how to begin. It took him only 52 days to complete his part of the work. So many problems had arisen to bring much discouragement to the situation.  
Nehemiah encouraged the people as they were nearing the end of rebuilding, that the “joy of the Lord was their strength”, Nehemiah 8:10b. This would help them overcome the fear of the future.

As we face this new upcoming decade, let us go on to be encouraged with hope and anticipation for a new and prosperous year.  We can be sure what we seek to accomplish will be met with great success. Happy New Year!!!

HeARTune Creations Poetry, LLC., is owned by Pamela Gauthier. Pamela is a writer and poet, who has been writing for over 20 years. She formally started her poetry as a business in October of 2013.

Her poetry has been at several boutiques and stores in the Baton Rouge area. Pamela is a native Baton Rougean, who has lived here all of her life. She is the wife of Ronnie Gauthier, and the mother of four: Mrs. Jamie Baham, Mrs. Jessica Chatman, Joshua and Joseph Gauthier. She is also the proud Grandmother of Five.

Pamela started her writing journey by writing poetry as a way to uplift the spirits of those in nursing homes and the like. This is still the goal today, to touch hearts and lives wherever encouragement is needed.

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Good News!

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Good News at The END…

Have you ever trained for a race? At first, you start with a high expectancy. You just know you’re going to win. There is much training and contemplation. A good bit of time is given to it day and night. Finally, the big day comes to put all the time and effort spent preparing to the test. Once you approach the finish line, the race is over.

The end of a year is approached with the same mind-set. A set of resolutions, goals, and a to-do list is placed before us. We are off to a good start, with such hope and expectancy. We run this race all through the year, and before you know it, we find ourselves at another years’ end and a year older. Where does all the time go? Do you feel like a winner, or do you end up somewhere lost in the hustle and bustle of it all? The calendar exposes us, and we feel that time has beat us again.

There is good news! It’s so good to know that we celebrate Christ(mas) at the end of every year. A time when we are reflecting and looking back and maybe feeling we haven’t measured up. We can be encouraged by words like Merry Christmas, Christ the Savior is born, or Away in a Manager. The end reminds us that there will be a new beginning and we can start again. The end also reminds us that we win. We win every time because Christ the Savior was born with us in mind. When we follow Christ’s will, our time will count for something.

In Luke 2, Mary, the mother of Jesus, ran out of time because of an unexpected situation. When the Roman Emperor Augustus decreed that a census needed to be taken, Joseph had to return to his own ancestral town to register for the census. Joseph was a descendant of David and had to return to Bethlehem. 


Joseph and Mary looked everywhere for a place to stay. There were no rooms available for them anywhere. Mary had to deliver her baby in a stable. This sure seems like the most unlikely place to deliver a baby. In the midst of preparing to have the Savior of the world, they ran out of time, and they ended up with the animals. It’s also amazing to find that there were three wise men looking to worship a King. They were told to follow a star to their destination. The King was found in a stable lying in a manger. God’s perfect place! God’s way and thoughts are always different from ours.

This is a beautiful ending. The shepherds, angels, Mary, Joseph, and baby were in the perfect will of God. 

As you contemplate the end of another year, don’t count yourself out. 

Celebrate the birthday of our Savior like the angels did long ago with, “Glory to God in the highest, and goodwill to His people on earth”.

HeARTune Creations Poetry, LLC., is owned by Pamela Gauthier. Pamela is a writer and poet, who has been writing for over 20 years. She formally started her poetry as a business in October of 2013.

Her poetry has been at several boutiques and stores in the Baton Rouge area. Pamela is a native Baton Rougean, who has lived here all of her life. She is the wife of Ronnie Gauthier, and the mother of four: Mrs. Jamie Baham, Mrs. Jessica Chatman, Joshua and Joseph Gauthier. She is also the proud Grandmother of Five.

Pamela started her writing journey by writing poetry as a way to uplift the spirits of those in nursing homes and the like. This is still the goal today, to touch hearts and lives wherever encouragement is needed.

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A Thanksgiving’s Rest

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A Thanksgiving’s Rest
by Pamela Gauthier

In this month of November, we will celebrate Thanksgiving. We will give thanks for God and Country, our families, good food, and many other things.  It is interesting to note that thanks have to be offered willingly.  It is a choice. In many situations, there may be times when we feel like we don’t have anything left to give. It can feel as if we have given our all, leaving us with an attitude of anything but being thankful. This is the perfect time to pull aside and be embraced by the loving arms of our Father.

In Mark 6:31 NLT, Jesus said to His disciples, “let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” The reason Jesus said this was because there were so many people coming and going, they didn’t even have time to eat. This is so familiar and relatable to us today. We can become so busy that we don’t even have time to grab a bite to eat.

I remember a time in my life that I was found in this same place. The “bu-si-ness”, of job, family, friends, and church  was overwhelming. These were all great things, but I was at my wit’s end, and my life was out-of-order. I felt so confused at this time. Jesus began to call me aside each day to a quiet rest in Him. This is where I learned to hear His voice on a regular basis, and began to feel much leading and direction. My first offering of thanks was to Him. The word “order” was born in my life. It just fit perfectly, and whatever didn’t fit and wasn’t priority had to go.

Although Jesus had taken His disciples away from the noise and distraction, the crowd still followed them. The disciples were troubled because they were in a remote place with no food. The disciples could not understand how 5000 people were going to be fed in the middle of nowhere. Many times this is how we feel when we can’t keep up with our schedules. We come to the place of not knowing what to do. This is when we have to trust God.

Jesus challenged His disciples by telling them to feed the crowd that followed them. The disciples realized they did not have the means to feed them. They only had five loaves and two fish and realized this was not enough. This place of impossibility taught them that Jesus was the only answer.  After Jesus offered the bread up to God and blessed it, He gave it to His disciples to feed the crowd. The disciples received the miracle of multiplication as each person was fed. They even had left-overs.

When we surrender to the quiet place of rest in Jesus, we can watch Him work the miraculous and re-order our lives for His Glory. It is there we find the joy of giving thanks, first to Him and then for others! Happy Thanksgiving!

HeARTune Creations Poetry, LLC., is owned by Pamela Gauthier. Pamela is a writer and poet, who has been writing for over 20 years. She formally started her poetry as a business in October of 2013.

Her poetry has been at several boutiques and stores in the Baton Rouge area. Pamela is a native Baton Rougean, who has lived here all of her life. She is the wife of Ronnie Gauthier, and the mother of four: Mrs. Jamie Baham, Mrs. Jessica Chatman, Joshua and Joseph Gauthier. She is also the proud Grandmother of Five.

Pamela started her writing journey by writing poetry as a way to uplift the spirits of those in nursing homes and the like. This is still the goal today, to touch hearts and lives wherever encouragement is needed.

 

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Do you have a “Recipe for Joy?”

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Recipe for Joy

“I will continue to rejoice. For I know that as you pray for me and the Spirit of Jesus Christ helps me, this will lead to my deliverance” (Philippians 1:18-19 NLT).

I love to cook.  As any chef will tell you, the key to a good dish is the proper ingredients.   Sometimes if I cook something good, I wonder what can I add to make it great?  God is known by many names but is seldom referred to as the “master chef.”  However, He provides all the ingredients we need to regain our joy.  

Sometimes in life things are simply falling apart and as men we try and try to put the pieces back together and get more and more tired and frustrated.  We cry out and ask, “Where is God?” when the fact is the He is right next to you waiting for you to trust in Him and let Him take the pieces of your old life and transform them into a new life that is centered in Him.    

We all reach a defining crossroad at times of great adversity.  Our options are to worry (depend on yourself) or worship (trust in God).  Paul modelled for us the value of choosing worship.  His ministry in Philippi was grueling.  When Paul went to this city to start a church, he was whipped, falsely arrested, thrown into prison, and survived an earthquake.  Despite these obstacles, Paul gave thanks.  “Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God” (Philippians 1:3).  Paul had learned the “secret of being content in any and every situation (Philippians 4:12).

Paul reveals several “ingredients” for strength for being joyful in tough times.  Paul says in Philippians 1:18-19, “I will continue to rejoice. For I know that as you pray for me and the Spirit of Jesus Christ helps me, this will lead to my deliverance.”   Paul keep his perspective on God and not his problems.  I like how Paul writes “For I know.” In times of trouble we fall back on what we know to be true.  Paul was falling back on the promises of God that he knew to be true.   

Paul knew that he had people praying for him.  He also knew that “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. (James 5:16).   Paul also acknowledges “The Helper” (John 14:16) and received support from the Holy Spirit.   The passage ends with “This will lead to my deliverance.” Paul had faith that God would work out his problem for good (Romans 8:28).

Paul had God’s perspective, the prayer of righteous men, the Holy Spirit, and faith.   Paul had all the necessary ingredients to “continue to rejoice.”  We also have the same ingredients.  So, do we choose to worship or worry during hard times?

Prayer: “Praise the Lord, my soul;all my inmost being, praise his holy name.  Praise the Lord, my soul,and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sinsand heals all your diseases,who redeems your life from the pitand crowns you with love and compassion,who satisfies your desires with good thingsso that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.  The Lord works righteousnessand justice for all the oppressed” (Psalm 103: 1-6).

Where is God?     https://www.todd-shupe.com/done-baton-rouges-todd-shupe-asks-the-great-question-where-is-god/

Pray     https://www.toddshupeblog.net/the-power-of-prayer/

Knew     https://www.toddshupebatonrouge.com/the-power-of-the-mind/

Holy Spirit    https://www.toddshupelsublog.com/do-we-realize-who-is-with-us/

Continue to rejoice    https://www.toddshupeblog.net/a-prayerful-life/

Todd Shupe is a Vice President with Arnold Forest Products Corp.  He is active in several ministries including his Christian blog ToddShupe.com. Todd is the President of the Baton Rouge District of United Methodist Men, Database Coordinator for Gulf South Men, and Board Member of the Kingdom Group. Todd is currently preparing to be a Men’s Ministry Specialist through the General Commission of United Methodist Men.

 

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Season’s Greetings!

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Seasons Greeting!
By Pamela Gauthier

Welcome Fall! After a long hot summer, we are all thankful and prayerful for a glimpse of a new season to come. That season, of course, would be fall. A crisp in the air, the falling of leaves bring a relieved sigh. We also aspire to feel that cool chill that spells out fall is here. A new season also brings new hope and vision. In fall it’s not too cold and not too hot . This is what we hope, anyway.

With the expectation of a hopeful fall, I pondered on seasons of life that come to us all. Seasons bring change, it gives us a chance to focus on what’s to come.
Genesis 8:22, says while the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer….will never cease. God made this promise after the flood, in which He destroyed every living thing, with the exception of Noah and his family. We see the rainbow in the sky today as a reminder that we serve a God that keeps His promise. This means God is faithful in every season.

Noah had witnessed massive destruction in his generation. He had been given the task to build an ark that would supposedly protect him and his family from destruction. Noah’s eyes had witnessed the terrible violence that plagued the land but he had chosen to follow the Lord. The Lord judged Noah as a righteous man. Noah obeyed God and built the ark.

Although Noah was a man that feared the Lord, this surely had to be a very challenging task placed before him. There were many questions he needed answered. God will ask us to trust Him by faith, even though it may seem to us that it may not make any sense. In my experience, it was having a child out of season and having to raise him at an older age. He was also diagnosed with a disability. Imagine having to care for a child out of the season of childbearing, not to mention him needing special care. Oftentimes we will never understand why God may be calling us into a season of unfamiliar territory for His own purposes. This can be overwhelming, and we can find ourselves paralyzed with a sense of uncertainty.

To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven, (Ecclesiastes 3:1 NKJV). This is very encouraging. It helps us to know that if God allows something into our lives, though many times it may come with hardship and pain, a new season is sure to follow. He determines the times and seasons of life. This takes the burden off of us. 1Peter 5:7 says, cast your cares upon him for he cares for you.

God remembered Noah and blessed his life after the flood. He never left him for one moment. The ark of protection kept him safe through it all. Jesus is our protection through every season that we face today. If we sow tears of sorrow for one season, we will reap tears of joy in the next! Seasons Greeting!

HeARTune Creations Poetry, LLC., is owned by Pamela Gauthier. Pamela is a writer and poet, who has been writing for over 20 years. She formally started her poetry as a business in October of 2013.

Her poetry has been at several boutiques and stores in the Baton Rouge area. Pamela is a native Baton Rougean, who has lived here all of her life. She is the wife of Ronnie Gauthier, and the mother of four: Mrs. Jamie Baham, Mrs. Jessica Chatman, Joshua and Joseph Gauthier. She is also the proud Grandmother of Five.

Pamela started her writing journey by writing poetry as a way to uplift the spirits of those in nursing homes and the like. This is still the goal today, to touch hearts and lives wherever encouragement is needed.

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Giving the Best Gift…. Love

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Giving the Best Gift….Love
by Pamela Gauthier

Matthew 6:24….Thy Kingdom come thy will be done…..

There are so many songs, names given, relationships started, all in the name of love. Why is love such a popular word?

What is love? It is kind, patient, does not demand its own way, never gives up, never loses faith, never loses hope, and endures through every circumstance 1 Corinthians 13. If we conquer this impossible feat, only done successfully through Christ’s love, we can conquer all.

To be honest, I’ve had relationships that were so unbelievably disappointing, which made me want to become an island to myself. How could I protect my feelings from never being hurt again? In the Lord’s Prayer there is one line that stands out, “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done”. God’s will is for us as believers to walk in love. If we’ve truly been crucified with Christ, then we don’t live according to our will. We fulfill the will of God to walk in love. God is love. Many times it seems unfair to love.

In the story of the Prodigal Son, Luke 15:11-24, the father gives his son his heart’s desire, his inheritance. He allows him to take this inheritance and start a new life, even though this was not the father’s will. He knew this was not what the son should do, but he allowed him to make his own decision.

In dealing with family members, it can be extremely difficult to accept circumstances that are not favorable to what we would like to see. Imagine the father’s grief as he released his son into the unknown world. This father teaches us a valuable lesson, God’s love for us. God gave up His only Son so we could be saved from judgment. Does God demand His own way? He does not demand it, but His love follows us and endures through every circumstance (Luke 15:4). If we receive His love given to us as a free gift, we have the power to love others. He has given us the biblical blueprint in which to do so.

The Prodigal Son in our story represents fallen humanity with its own ideas. We follow our own ways apart from God and in His loving mercy, we come to our senses and choose His ways again. It says, the son returned home broken and repentant, only to find himself placed in the arms of a loving and compassionate father (Luke 15:20). He was also met with a party, the finest robe, a ring and sandals. This represents being clothed in the Fathers love. His righteousness alone makes us right. It is undeserved but freely given.

When it is understood that we have been given a love that’s free, it takes the pressure off. How exciting to realize that we get to love. We give to others what has been given to us, a love that overcomes every obstacle. We can then boldly confess, “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done…….”

HeARTune Creations Poetry, LLC., is owned by Pamela Gauthier. Pamela is a writer and poet, who has been writing for over 20 years. She formally started her poetry as a business in October of 2013.

Her poetry has been at several boutiques and stores in the Baton Rouge area. Pamela is a native Baton Rougean, who has lived here all of her life. She is the wife of Ronnie Gauthier, and the mother of four: Mrs. Jamie Baham, Mrs. Jessica Chatman, Joshua and Joseph Gauthier. She is also the proud Grandmother of Five.

Pamela started her writing journey by writing poetry as a way to uplift the spirits of those in nursing homes and the like. This is still the goal today, to touch hearts and lives wherever encouragement is needed.

 

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A Leader and His Vision, Can you ‘see’ where you are going?

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A LEADER AND HIS VISION

Last week, Father Theodore Hesburgh (former President of Notre Dame University) reminded us of the crucial nature of a leader’s vision. He wrote:

 “Vision is the essence of leadership. Knowing where you want to go requires three things: Having a clear vision, articulating it well, and getting your team enthusiastic about sharing it. Above all, any leader must be consistent. As the Bible says, no one follows an uncertain trumpet.”

Nehemiah, an Old Testament Servant Leader, never blew an uncertain trumpet. Not when leadership was essential. His vision started with a gruesome report about his beloved Jerusalem. The city was under great distress—walls broken down, city gates burned to ashes, the sacred temple smashed, and few survivors, others deported to Babylon. Gruesome.

Nehemiah confesses the mess and the nation’s sin to God. “We have acted very wickedly toward you (Nehemiah 1:7). He was living in Susa, the capital city of Persia, serving in a royal position to King Artaxerxes.He asked permission from the king to take a leave of absence that he might return to the city of his ancestors. Permission granted. Once there, he hangs out touring Jerusalem, walking around, taking notes of the devastation, perhaps praying out loud, wondering what God has in mind.

In 2:17 of his book, Nehemiah rallies the civic and religious leaders along with the people and casts a powerful vision. “You see the bad situation WE are in. OUR city is wiped out. Come. Let US rebuild the wall of Jerusalem.” That’s the vision—a clear and compelling picture of the future. It was so clear and compelling (and passionate) it leaked out. The leaders and people bought it. “Let US arise and build!”

Chapter 3 looks like a Jewish telephone directory. It’s a list of names of who did what.  Everyone worked together—civic leaders, religious leaders, families, singles. EVERYONE. No one goofed off. No one took vacation time. No one worked alone. They were one team fulfilling the vision. Vision drove them to labor to fulfill the vision.

Catch this. In 6:15, “the wall was completed in 52 days.”  No engineers, no general contractors, no heavy-duty equipment, no gate companies specializing in gate repair. Just a leader’s vision and hard work.

In 6:16, “The enemies/nations surrounding us recognized THIS WAS THE WORK OF GOD.” 

Anyone said that of your work lately. IT’S THE WORLK OF GOD.

TEAMWORK BEGINS WITH A SERVANT LEADER’S VISION.

Fred Campbell lives in Ovilla, Texas, just south of Dallas. He pastored two independent Bible churches for 40 years. Currently, he is the president of Living Grace Ministries, a ministry committed to helping churches develop servant leaders, following the model of the Lord Jesus. Fred has traveled to 29 countries and 15 states to lead the workshop. He received his ThM from Dallas Theological Seminary and his D Min from Phoenix Seminary. Fred is married to Carolyn and has a married son and two grandchildren. His web site iswww.livinggraceministries,com and his email is fred@livingraceministries.com

Feature Story, Online edition!

Preparing for War, with Pamela Gauthier

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Preparing for War
by Pamela Gauthier

While preparing for our family vacation the report of a storm came across the television. The weather reported that a storm was located in the Gulf and had set its course for our City. If this were true it meant the cancelation of our vacation and disappointing my grandchildren. Needless to say, we were not happy. We prepare for this vacation every summer with great anticipation. Along with the report of the storm came the news of it possibly causing the same damage that occurred during the Great Flood of 2016. If this were not  bad enough it had already gained momentum to become a hurricane. We immediately stopped what we were doing and began to prepare for war.  We stocked our home with the proper goods and loaded up on sandbags.

As believers in Jesus Christ, we knew  that we must prepare spiritually also. The hurricane was moving at a slow pace and heading right for Baton Rouge.  I thought of Ephesians 6:13 (NLT) which says, put on every piece of God’s armor so we will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil, then after the battle you will be standing firm. 

In 2 Chronicles 2:20 during the time of King Jehoshaphat’s reign, he was faced with a vast army declaring war against the nation of Israel.  2 Chronicles 20:4 says, King Jehoshaphat was terrified by the news and begged the Lord for guidance.

I believe all of the believers came on one accord seeking the Lord’s help against Hurricane Barry. The eye of the storm was  aimed right toward us. 2 Chronicles 20:12 says, we are powerless  against the mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do but we are looking to you for help. This was the scripture King Jehoshaphat relied on for strength. The Lord responded to them by saying be not discouraged, and  be not afraid this battle is not yours but God’s. The Lord exposed the direction that the army was coming from. 

After reading this powerful example, of the faithfulness of God, during that time in Israel’s history, it’s encouraging to know, God is the same God yesterday today and forever, Hebrews 13:8. 
As we watched Hurricane Barry slowly take on a new direction, it was very clear that the Lord had gotten the victory as it was later reported that the storm had moved over slightly taking  on a new course. We had prepared for war but didn’t have to fight because God is King over the flood and He had prevailed.  The king in our story was told by the Lord  to tell the people, “Praise the Lord for His mercy endures forever”.  This is our battle position today. We lift our hands to God in surrender. We give Him the praise because His mercy endures forever. We know that  He alone has the answer to the problem. He wins the victory time after time, after time.

 

Feature Story, Online edition!

Miracle on VooDoo Mountain, by Susan Brown

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The Boudreaux Family, Saintil, Micha, Jessica, Megan, Josh and Gabby



Megan Boudreaux never expected to return to Haiti. When she volunteered for a brief trip with Our Lady of the Lake Foundation, she came home overwhelmed. “It was crazy, and I thought I could never live here,” she said. But she couldn’t get Haiti out of her mind…or out of her dreams. 

At age 24, she sold everything and planted her life in Haiti, the most economically deprived country in the Western hemisphere, and the site of a devastating magnitude 7.0 earthquake only a year earlier. Her new home in Gressier was ten miles from the earthquake’s epicenter. Nearby,  Bellevue Mountain, also known as Voodoo Mountain, inspired fear in local residents for the ongoing practice of animal sacrifice. That was 2011. 

Eight years later, the nonprofit she founded, Respire Haiti, provides schooling for 540 children, 60% of whom are former child slaves. Some 140 Haitian employees run the school, medical clinic, counseling service and micro-finance program for small business development. 

After a year’s respite in her native Lafayette, and the birth of their daughter, Megan and husband Josh Anderson fly back into Port-au-Prince this week. They plan to expand the micro-finance program, and eventually, start a church that welcomes people affected by economic distress, abandonment and child slavery. Their strategy is simple: commit to obey God, and be quiet and listen for his direction.  

As soon as she took the first step of obedience in 2011, Megan met a child who would define much of her ministry. “I didn’t have a plan, but the Lord just kept unfolding these little things,” she said. On Bellevue Mountain, she saw a bird and a little girl with a bunch of rocks in her hand. “She was throwing rocks at the bird because she was hungry, and she was going to eat the bird.” So, Megan bought food, teamed up with a friend who cooked local dishes and handed out meals from the back of a flatbed truck. 

Later, she observed that the same little girl was constantly busy with chores. One day, she followed her from the market to her tent-house where she faced piles of dishes to wash. Megan googled “Haiti” and “slaves.” She was stunned to learn that there were half a million Restaveks – child slaves – in Haiti.  

“They are basically domestic workers, kids that have been given to other families or kidnapped or taken from their home, and they just do all of the work,” Megan said. “That was the moment I remember looking at this little girl and going – she’s not in school. She’s six years old and she doesn’t even know how to hold a pencil.” The next logical step was to start a school. 

When Bellevue Mountain was selected as the school site, one of the women helping with paperwork burst into tears. “She said, ‘We have gone up on this mountain every single Sunday for 12 years to pray for you,” Megan said. “Bellevue Mountain used to be where they would do voodoo sacrificing and ceremonies, and now it’s just this beacon of light and hope.” The school, medical clinic and sports programs cover the mountain, and efforts to nurture families and provide seed money for entrepreneurs encourage families to keep their kids, rather than send them away to work or to orphanages.

“About 80% of the kids that live in the orphanages are poverty orphans which means they have parents, but the parents can’t take care of them,” Megan said. “What we’ve been doing with our programs is showing them it’s actually cheaper to keep a child with their family and sponsor their school, help them eat at school and get their needs met through school.” All of the children live with their families, caregivers or foster families, a situation that promotes better emotional and psychological well-being in children. 

Megan and Josh have welcomed three adoptive children into their own family, including Micha, the little girl she first met throwing rocks at a bird. Micha’s sister, Jessica – also a Restavek –  joined their family at age three. Their son, Saintil, was adopted after walking a day and a half over mountainous terrain to reach the school. 

At Respire Haiti, children attend Bible classes and have the opportunity to ask questions about the Christian faith. Despite a strong Catholic presence and work by other denominations, Christian beliefs are often absorbed into culture and tradition. “There’s a lot of clouded confusion and voodoo in that, as well, and it’s kind of picking apart what do people understand about Christianity and what do they believe about having a relationship with God,” Megan said.

“My encouragement is – you don’t know how, or when, or where God is going to use where you are now,” Megan said. She had struggled with the idea of finding her purpose after college. As a marketing professional for Cajun Industries, she learned about building construction. “I remember thinking Lord, why am I here? She said. “Now I look back and I’m like, of course, and I know what rebar we’re using, and I know how we’re supposed to build.”

Some 70-75% of the local buildings toppled during the 2010 earthquake and powerful aftershocks, and the threat of future earthquakes makes residents nervous. Respire’s structures are an exception. “We have an incredible guy who has designed all of our buildings. They’re engineered correctly and seismically up to code,” Megan said. “He trained local workers, so they know the placement of the rebar and the quality of the block and sand that they use.” Their construction standards are having a trickle-down effect on new home construction.

As needs become evident, God keeps providing. Donations from The Chapel on the Campus provided seed money for the ministry. Recently, a proposal to expand the school to add 7-9th grades came with a steep cost. Twelve hours later, two young men visited Respire Haiti with the goal of building an orphanage. But after learning about the program to keep kids with families, they felt God’s direction to pay the exact cost: $125-thousand for the four additional classrooms. 

Megan’s number one request is for prayer. “The spiritual warfare, it’s intense. There are a lot of attacks on myself, my husband, my ministry. That should be expected – we’re built on an old voodoo site.” Her second request is for financial support, especially through student sponsorships that cover uniforms, books, medical care and mental health care.

Respire Haiti is a 501c(3) nonprofit. For more information: www.respirehaiti.org or Respire Haiti, P.O. Box 52845, Lafayette, LA 70505-2845.  






Susan Brown began her career in radio news. She was news director for WJBO/WFMF radio and a journalism instructor at LSU. She holds master’s degrees from LSU and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminar, and served as a chaplain at Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women.

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Three ways to live your life on purpose….

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Three ways to live your life on purpose

Purpose; but how do I live a life of purpose? 

“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans” (Proverbs 16:3 NIV).

Planning is critical in life.  Financial planners help us get our financial matters in order and plan for retirement.  Doctors help us by establishing a wellness plan when we are sick.  Business leaders make plans to bring a profit to the shareholders.  Our pastors help us to make plans that will bring honor and glory to God.  We plan to accommodate our priorities.  A priority is a value, goal, relationship, or cause of leading importance in your life:  something for which you live, the shaping value, a commitment that has first claim on you and your resources. In practice we all have priorities, whether we are aware of them or not. They may be consciously chosen or set for us by circumstances. We all pattern our lives toward some end, center our lives around some loyalty or purpose, or base our security on some trusted power.

One of Henry David Thoreau’s most frequently quoted sayings is “The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.” I first learned of this by watching the 1989 film, Dead Poets Society.  Life without a purpose can lead to listlessness and even depression or “quiet desperation.” A life lived on purpose gives your life purpose, direction, and meaning. A person with a purpose is growing, moving toward wholeness and fulfillment. A life without purpose is aimless. 

Our purpose as disciples is to make disciples. Matthew 28 contains The Great Commission.  

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20).  

Each of us has been gifted with unique talents which we can use in our evangelism and ministry.  Our discipleship plan must discern the intersection of our gifts and interests.  This is the sweet spot for each individual ministry.  I encourage you to talk to your close friends to discern and/or confirm your gifts.  

Discernment of your ministry of discipleship is an enormous task.  Below are some ideas to consider in this regard.

  1. Be wise and listen to advice

Remember the lesson of Proverbs 12:15. Surround yourself with Godly people and the Holy Spirit will speak truth through them to you. Pray for discernment and recall the words of Matthew 11:15 when with your friends, “Whoever has ears, let them hear.” According to my good friend Rev. Ted Fine, “The church’s role is to build communities of disciples where social justice and the general welfare of the people are protected by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit at work in the Body.”  We are the church universal.  

  1. Give it to God

You are not God, and I am not God.  The Great Commission is a Godly task.  He does not expect for us to do this alone but with Him.  The Psalmist wrote in 51:10, “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”  A clean heart, a right spirit, and a dependence upon God’s providence and grace for assistance will help us to speak words and do works that bring honor to God.

  1. Patience

Luke 2 tells the story of the birth of Christ. The angels announced His birth to the shepherds who then went to see Jesus in the manger. Later, in the same chapter, Mary and Joseph took baby Jesus to the temple to give an offering to God for the birth of their child.  The Holy Spirit had revealed to a man named Simeon that he would not see death until he had seen the birth of the Messiah. The Bible does not indicate how long Simeon waited for the birth of Christ, but the fact that it says he would not die until he saw the Savior indicates that he waited some time.  Whatever the task is that God has called us to, we need to continue doing the work even if we don’t see the progress we would like to see.  

Your purpose as a Christian is the same as mine, to make disciples of Jesus Christ.  We are all called into ministry through our baptism and profession of faith in Jesus Christ.   Our ministry is a product of our gifts and talents and all ministry helps to equip the body of Christ.  Your purpose may or may not call you to pastoral ministry but be assured that your purpose is vital to the body of Christ.  

Prayer:  Dear God:  “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12 KJV).

Todd Shupe is a Vice President with Arnold Forest Products Corp.  He is active in several ministries including his Christian blog ToddShupe.com. Todd is the President of the Baton Rouge District of United Methodist Men, Database Coordinator for Gulf South Men, and Board Member of the Kingdom Group. Todd is currently preparing to be a Men’s Ministry Specialist through the General Commission of United Methodist Men.

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Is being part of a team or leadership part of your purpose? What makes a good team?

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WHAT MAKES A GOOD TEAM? Part of your purpose? Team-Vision-Attitude-Success-Vision? 

Ever notice how some of the great philosophies of life are etched on T-shirts? You might say they’re TRUTH ON A T. Here’s one. A bunch of guys are clinging to a rope for dear life . They’re scaling the side of a snow, ice-packed mountain with the words, “TEAM: 24 Guys Hanging on the Same Rope.” That’s it. That’s team attitude. If you don’t hang together, you’ll hang separately.

So you’re a leader, hopefully a servant leader relinquishing whatever it takes to serve. LIKE JESUS. How’s your team? JESUS HAD ONE. Do you have one or are you still hung up on the idea that leadership is a one-man show? It’s all about you?

We were designed to function in connected, interdependent relationships with other people. It began years ago when God said in Genesis 2:18, “It is not good for the man to be alone.” So He created for Adam a helper, someone suitable to him, i.e. a team member. Human beings (male and female) were created with a need to intertwine their lives with others.

We were made to be team players. A marriage is a team. A family is a team. A ball club is a team. A business is a team. A military unit is a team. A government office is a team, and so is a church and its individual ministries. Get the picture?

 What makes a good team? Why do some teams succeed and others fail? What’s the difference between effective and ineffective teams? Someone asked baseball philosopher Yogi Berra, “What makes a good manager?” He responded, “A great team.”  Spot on Yogi!

TEAMWORK BEGINS WITH A SERVANT LEADER’S VISION.

Vision is a clear and compelling picture of the future, which produces passion in the leader. It’s this passion people want to follow. VISION LEAKS OUT.

If you were to look down on your organization (business, church, ministry, team) five years from now, what would you like to see? Picture it in your mind.  Has God given you a clear picture for what you do? Would the others on your team agree? Is this their vision? Are you and your team passionate about the same vision?

 Everything starts with a vision God gives the leader, who shares it with the other leaders. Vision gives direction. If you don’t know where you’re going, you may wind up somewhere else. Vision keeps you on target.

 “Vision is the essence of leadership. Knowing where you want to go requires three things: Having a clear vision, articulating it well, and getting your team enthusiastic about sharing it. Above all, any leader must be consistent. As the Bible says, no one follows an uncertain trumpet.” 

Father Theodore Hesburgh, former President of Notre Dame University

Nehemiah never blew an uncertain trumpet. He was one of the great ones in the Old Testament Hall of Fame of Servant Leaders. We’ll look at his vision next time.

Fred Campbell lives in Ovilla, Texas, just south of Dallas. He pastored two independent Bible churches for 40 years. Currently, he is the president of Living Grace Ministries, a ministry committed to helping churches develop servant leaders, following the model of the Lord Jesus. Fred has traveled to 29 countries and 15 states to lead the workshop. He received his ThM from Dallas Theological Seminary and his D Min from Phoenix Seminary. Fred is married to Carolyn and has a married son and two grandchildren. His web site iswww.livinggraceministries,com and his email is fred@livingraceministries.com

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Teamwork, Servant Leadership

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TEAMWORK

I remember him well—my high school baseball coach, Robert Turnberger. He paid money to a sports reporter to spell his name correctly. In 1962, our team won the South Jersey Region 2 title under Coach T’s leadership. The school board nixed our going to state for some unknown reason. We knew we were the best and wanted to prove it

The ‘Hounds weren’t a mass collection of superstar athletes. The only “star” on the team was the team. Coach took what he had and built us into a winning unit. Everything we did we did as a team. We played as a team on the field and teamed together off the field.

We were a team and we were successful.

When servant leadership becomes your life, you discover leadership is a team effort, not a one-man show. No one person is as strong or as smart as all of us together. SERVANT LEADERS COMMIT THEMSELVES TO BUILDING AN EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM WITH A SHARED VISION, PURPOSE, AND METHODS.

Vision may be initiated by an individual (a pastor, coach, president, supervisor, manager) but vision is best fulfilled by a team which shares the vision. A leader’s vision is only as good as the team that fulfills it. Coach T shared a clear and compelling vision for us to be the best team in South Jersey in 1962 and we were. All of us bought into his vision and fulfilled it

God believes in teamwork.

The Trinity is a team: Father, Son, Holy Spirit

Exodus 18: Moses’ division of labor

The 12 Apostles

The Missionary Teams of Paul and Barnabas, Paul and Silas, Barnabas and John Mark.

Paul established leadership teams of elders and deacons after he planted churches.

How wise are Solomon’s words to servant leaders: “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up.” Ecclesiastes 4: 9, 10. 

SERVANT LEADERS DO ONLY WHAT THEY CAN DO AND THEY SERVE OTHERS TO HELP THEM DO WHAT ONLY THEY CAN DO.

Peter Drucker wrote:

“Effective leaders never say ‘I.’ They don’t think ‘I’. They think ‘we’; they think ‘team.’ They understand their job is to make the team function. They accept the responsibility and don’t sidestep it, but ‘we’ gets the credit.”

Coach T. would agree. So would the ‘Hounds. Do You?

Fred Campbell lives in Ovilla, Texas, just south of Dallas. He pastored two independent Bible churches for 40 years. Currently, he is the president of Living Grace Ministries, a ministry committed to helping churches develop servant leaders, following the model of the Lord Jesus. Fred has traveled to 29 countries and 15 states to lead the workshop. He received his ThM from Dallas Theological Seminary and his D Min from Phoenix Seminary. Fred is married to Carolyn and has a married son and two grandchildren. His web site iswww.livinggraceministries,com and his email is fred@livingraceministries.com

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Three Things No One Tells You About Discovering Your Purpose

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Books by Donna! 

 

By: Donna R. Patrick, Award Winning Author

Psalm 139:14 – I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.  

“Tricks are for kids.”  Remember that television commercial for Trix cereal?  Do you often see articles offering a trick to do this, or a trick to do that?  There is one trick to burn fat, another trick to have a successful marriage, and too many others to name.  The supposed simplicity of buying into the trick is to make whatever you’re trying to get done go faster with less work.  But I have discovered that there really are no tricks to discovering your purpose or making life better on your own terms.  

Having been a musician for three-fourths of my life, there was a time when all I did was play and teach new music with little regard for whether lives were being changed.  It was at The International Worship Institute that the shift came leading to the discovery of my purpose.  Knowing my purpose gave me a reason to get up in the morning, shaped my goals, and gave me a sense of direction.  It provided me a central, motivating theme for my life.  Your unique, God-given purpose is the reason you exist.  It is the vehicle through which you tap into your creativity, significance, and the greatness God placed inside of you. 

With a changed mind the music I selected was now influenced by the Holy Spirit’s active power in my life (Eph. 3:20).  It had become important to me to select music that God wanted, rather than what was most popular at the time.  My motivation was now to lead others straight into the presence of God through music.  Eventually God began to open up opportunities for me to organize, and teach in, worship conferences because it wasn’t just about the music anymore; it was about Christian education with an emphasis on biblical worship.  

I offer three very good reasons why it is important to know God’s purpose for your life:  

  1. So you don’t waste precious time doing things that God never meant for you to do. Yes, make plans, but ask for God’s guidance; 
  2. So you don’t miss being a blessing in someone else’s life.  God’s purpose for your life may not be just for you; and
  3. So you don’t begin life full and leave full – leave empty!  God has given all of us something to do that no one else can do as well.    

By now, you’re probably asking yourself, “But how can I know God’s purpose for my life?”   It all starts with knowing Jesus Christ and having a personal relationship with Him.  There are so many voices that would tell us where we belong, but seek Godly counsel (Psalm 1:1).  This very often means guarding our ear gate from those voices that don’t speak God’s truth.  He will show you who you are and where you belong when you ask Him. 

Donna Renay Patrick is an award-winning author of two praise and worship-themed devotionals; At All Times, and It’s In Your Praise. She also co-authored two other devotionals; one to encourage women in the workplace, and the other a stewardship-themed devotional called,The Perfect Seven. She is a musician, worship leader, transformational speaker, and host of The Donna Patrick Show, an internet-based segment on The Fishbowl Radio Network.  With ministry-focused guests, her show emphasizes the priority of worship in the 21st century church, and how to tap into next-level personal and corporate worship.

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A Night to Remember, “Then Jesus walked in…”

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A NIGHT TO REMEMBER

Darkness was setting in. The street they walked on through the city was dirty, like a dusty path. They knew someone would be at the house to wash their feet before dinner. Foot washing. A menial task. Only a slave, who had no choice, would stoop to wash someone’s feet. Real men don’t wash feet.

The group’s leader was unusually quiet that night. He had been for several weeks, like something was bothering Him, troubling Him. The others were too much into themselves to ask Him what it was or if they could help.

Arriving at the house, no foot washer greeted them. Weird. It was customary, like washing your hands, but the paid guy didn’t show. Also, it was customary for one of the guests to wash the feet of the others if there was no servant, but no one stepped forward. Maybe they thought:

“I’ll wash hands, not feet.”
“I’m not a servant. Foot washing is for the lower class.”
“I have a bad back. Doctor told me not to bend over.”

Ignoring the opportunity to serve, each hurried off to recline next to the host.

THEN JESUS WALKED IN. I wonder what He thought as He saw the dirty feet of His disciples. He may have remembered some sermons, challenges, teachings, His own example about serving. “Did it do any good?” When He sat down, did He think:

“My death is imminent; just a few more hours.”
“Will no one have the humility to wash even my feet?”
“Will no one serve Me?”

When no one made a move, Jesus made His. Quietly, as the others were eating, He slipped away from the table, pulled off His outer robe, wrapped a towel around His waist, poured water into a basin, then washed and dried the dirty feet of each disciple. No fanfare, no bells and whistles, no hype, no media, no texting, no twitter, no attention drawn to Himself.

Jesus made a decision to wash feet and we’re still talking about it today. The disciples were into themselves, not the needs of others. They looked for reasons to say no, unwilling to stoop down and serve, even the Lord Jesus.

One lesson for leaders is that it doesn’t take much to make an impression. Be on the lookout for opportunities to serve, to go the extra mile, to do the menial. It might turn out to be a really big deal that people remember and talk about.

Something else. Jesus even washed the feet of Judas. Would you wash the feet of one who betrays you, ridicules you, criticizes you, ignores you, speaks against you, dislikes you? Jesus did. Will you?

Fred Campbell lives in Ovilla, Texas, just south of Dallas. He pastored two independent Bible churches for 40 years. Currently, he is the president of Living Grace Ministries, a ministry committed to helping churches develop servant leaders, following the model of the Lord Jesus. Fred has traveled to 29 countries and 15 states to lead the workshop. He received his ThM from Dallas Theological Seminary and his D Min from Phoenix Seminary. Fred is married to Carolyn and has a married son and two grandchildren. His web site iswww.livinggraceministries,com and his email is fred@livingraceministries.com