Find God: Cry out to the Lord

May 15, 2012 By Leave a Comment

By Deborah Lovett:

When you are in pain, do you cry out to the Lord?

 

If my own daughter or son cries, I am there–on top of the situation, doing whatever I can to subdue their pain, their troubles, or their confusion. I can be a maniac when it comes to my children!

When they cry, however, if they do so silently I am not able to help them.  If you are hurting, be willing to ask God for help.

I believe God is asking us to cry out loud to Him, on our knees, believing in faith, and waiting in patient expectation. When we “cry silently” to Him, He knows, because He is all knowing, but I believe we open up the heavens when we cry aloud. When we cry out loud, it says “I am not too proud to cry, I need your help, I can’t do this on my own.”

It is a humbling thought to think of ourselves finding God by crying out to Him, the God of the Universe. But that is exactly what these Psalms suggest we do over and over:

You CAN ask God to listen:

Psalm 88:1-2 “O Lord, the God who saves me, day and night I cry out before you. May my prayer come before you, turn your ear to my cry.”

Psalm 17:1 “Hear, O Lord, my righteous plea; listen to my cry. Give ear to my prayer– it does not rise from deceitful lips.”

Psalm 5:2-3 “Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.”

He DOES hear your cry:

Psalm 118:5 “In my anguish I cried to the Lord, and he answered by setting me free.”

Psalm 6:9-10 “The Lord has heard my cry for mercy; the Lord accepts my prayer. All my enemies will be ashamed and dismayed; they will turn back in sudden disgrace.”

There is Power in the Name of Jesus! Cry out to Him today! And remember as you do: He loves you unconditionally, and is very near to you today. Find God by crying out to HIM!

James 1:2-3 “Consider it pure joy my brothers whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.”

©Deborah Lovett 2012.  Deborah the author of two books and a contagious speaker for Women’s Events who spreads faith to those she comes in contact with. Find Deborah athttp://www.deborahlovett.com.

Cry out to the Lord your pain, AND cry out your praise!

See this video by E4StudentMinistry:

Also see this great video on YouTube:  Jesus Culture – We Cry Out – Kim Walker:  http://youtu.be/OBMSw9-oySA and a video by Third Day: Cry Out to Jesus: http://youtu.be/JmVxRl5bc4Y

 

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Find God after Abortion with the Film ‘The Choice’

May 9, 2012 By Leave a Comment

By Dianne E. Butts:

How can you find God after abortion?  The book Deliver Me and the short film ‘The Choice’ offer hope.

 

Bring up the subject of abortion and discussions get heated. Pro-lifers fight for the unborn. Pro-choicers fight for “a women’s right to choose.” (My short film, embedded below, reveals a different kind of choice.) In the melee, people who are forgotten are those who made the choice, experienced abortion, and now live with that choice. They often suffer multiple symptoms including believing God will never forgive them. But I discovered some find God after abortion.

In my book Deliver Me: Hope, Help, & Healing through True Stories of Unplanned Pregnancy, I talked with many women (and men) about their decision to have an abortion. Most of them told me that afterwards they struggled with nightmares, depression, fear, promiscuity, anger, anxiety, guilt, alcohol dependency, drug abuse, or suicidal thoughts or attempts. These symptoms can increase around the anniversary of the abortion, the date when the child would have been born, and holidays like Mother’s Day.

These and other symptoms collectively are called Post Abortion Syndrome (PAS).

In February, I participated in the 168 Film Project, which is a speed filmmaking contest to make a short film (11 minutes max) based on an assigned Bible verse in 168 hours (1 week). This year for the first time I headed up my own film team as Producer, Director, and Writer.

This year’s contest theme was “Promises” (from God) and my team was assigned Romans 10:11-13:

 “As the Scripture says, ‘Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.’ For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile —the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’”

As I prayed about what story we would make into a film that week, I thought of a story in my book Deliver Me called “The Choice” by Chris Jackman, a singer/songwriter. Chris told me in the years following her abortion she deeply regretted her choice, thought God would never forgive her, and found herself numerous times with a razor to her wrist trying to work up the courage to end her torment. Eventually, at the suggestion of a Christian bookstore owner, Chris wrote and recorded an entire CD about her experience called “The Choice.”

Whether because of shame, guilt, or fear of being found out, many women (and men) live with a hidden secret: they’ve lost a child to abortion. They live with the agony of what they’ve done and the fear that they have committed the one sin God will never forgive. That’s a lie. Don’t listen to the lies anymore. God will forgive you. He loves you.

This Mother’s Day, I want to recognize all those mothers and fathers who have lost a child to abortion. As my Mother’s Day gift to you, here is my film ‘The Choice’. My prayer is that it will find its way to the women and men who need its message of love and hope and forgiveness, and that you will find God after abortion.

The Choice – HD

(Film run time, 10 minutes. Includes the original song The Choice, by Chris Jackman, part of a biographical music story on CD about her abortion recovery journey.)

© Dianne E. Butts. Dianne is a freelance writer, author, and screenwriter. Her latest book, Deliver Me for those in an unplanned pregnancy or with one in their past, just won a “Book of the Year” award. Her next book, Grandparenting through Obstacles: Overcoming Family Challenges to Reach Your Grandchildren for Christ, is due out mid-August, 2012, from Pix-N-Pens Publishing. Her first book Dear America has just been republished for Kindle. Follow her writing at www.DeliverMeBook.blogspot.com

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Finding God in Surviving Bullying

May 3, 2012 By Leave a Comment
By Linda Evans Shepherd

Finding God in Surviving Bullying

Bullying is a deep problem in our society, where kids, teens, and even adults are belittled, harassed and tormented for social, economic, physical, religious, and other reasons. Though being bullied can be emotionally devastating, it can be survived.

Below are several stories of famous celebs who not only survived being bullied, but overcame it. At the end of their stories, I’ll share tips on finding God in surviving bullying plus a trailer for the movie Bully.

Photo of Miley Cyrus (Wikipedia.com)

According to the antibullyingblog, when Miley Cyrus was a pre-teen in Tennessee there was an “Anti-Miley Club” at her school full of “big, tough girls” who bullied her.

Cyrus was once locked in a bathroom during class: “They shoved me in. I was trapped. I banged on the door until my fists hurt. Nobody came.”

Other incidents included challenging Cyrus to a fight, which only ended when the principal stepped in. And when Cyrus wasn’t being physically abused, she was being teased. Classmates told her, “Your dad’s a one-hit wonder. You’ll never amount to anything — just like him.” Fortunately for her, Cyrus did not listen to nay-sayers, scoring the role of “Hannah Montana” and a ticket to fame and fortune.

Lady Gaga (Wikipedia.com)

Miley is not the only celeb who experienced the bully-treatment.  At a recent Monster Ball concert in New York, Lady Gaga said:

“I use to get really bullied at school…one time I got thrown in the trash. I went to the pizzeria around the corner. And you know, it was meant to be a joke, right? But these guys that some of my friends were friends with, were also friends with these other girls who really didn’t like me very much.

So the guys were like, let me put you in the trash where you belong. So they picked me up in my school skirt and they put me in the trash. I was looking up at them and trying to laugh…to act like it didn’t bother me because I didn’t want to show a sign of weakness. But really, I was holding back the tears so hard because I was so embarrassed that I was in the trash can. So I want to say to you that I am living proof that if anyone ever puts you in a (bleep) trash can, you can get the (bleep) out.”

Bill Clinton from Wikipedia.com

Even United States Presidents endured bullying. In fact, President Bill Clinton was bullied in junior high for being a “fat band boy” with bad taste in clothes, also mentioned in the antibullying blog article.

Their taunting culminated in an incident at a junior high dance: one older student teased Clinton about his carpenter’s jeans, and even hit Clinton in the jaw. But Clinton did not give the bully what he wanted, choosing to stand his ground rather than fight back or back down. Clinton shares in his memoir, My Life, “I had learned that I could take a hit and that there’s more than one way to stand against aggression.” He survived the incident, and his status as a band geek paid off, with Clinton becoming a talented and celebrated saxophone player in addition to his life in public service.

If you are being bullied, check out these tips suggested by Kids Health:

  • Ignore the bully and walk away.
  • Hold the anger.
  • Don’t get physical.
  • Practice confidence.
  • Take charge of your life.
  • Talk about it.
  • Find your (true) friends.

How to Find God in Surviving Bullying

Some of these tips are easier to achieve than others. But I think the biggest thing you can do is to decide, I will not believe the lies the bullies use to hurt me, I will trust God.

We serve a God who sees us loved, precious, redeemed, valuable and beautiful, who sent his own son to die in our place.

Try praying this prayer from my article, I am Getting Bullied from ThinkingAboutSuicide.com:

Dear Lord,

I break the lying words that people are saying about me, in the power and authority of the name and blood of Jesus. I ask that you replace those words with loving words you use to describe me; precious, loved, beautiful, smart, full of promise, a miracle, and wonderful. Give me your power, strength and truth to believe your words instead of the lies. Please block and cancel lying words and any thoughts of suicide – in the power and authority of the name and blood of Jesus. Thank you for giving me a hope and a future. In Jesus name, Amen.

So you see, it’s possible to find God in surviving bullying. Check out the new Bully movie as well as Paul Coughlin on how to Bully-proof your kids from CBN.com:

To discover more about how to have a relationship with God, go to GodTest.com.

©Linda Evans Shepherd. Linda is the President of Right to the Heart ministries, publisher of Finding God Daily, and pens many of our articles.  She’s also the author of over 30 books and a national speaker.

 

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Finding God When Disappointed by Christians: Hypocrites?

April 27, 2012 By 2 Comments

By Dianne E. Butts:

3 Things to Remember when Christians Disappoint Us

Have you been wounded by a Christian, or read in the media about the failings of  professing Christians and decided they must be  hypocrites?

Have you then used that as an excuse to not believe in Christ yourself?

Well, do bear in mind:

1. Inevitably, professing Christians will disappoint us, because we all fail at times. Christians are supposed to live their lives striving to do what is right. But sometimes the failings of Christians are huge, which not only makes other Christians look bad but can also desperately wound others.

Know this, though: the Bible is filled with stories of God’s people failing: Moses killed a man and buried him in the sand, not knowing someone was watching. King David had an adulterous relationship and committed murder in an attempt to cover it up. Of course Christians shouldn’t do the terrible things Moses and David  did. The Bible is full of stories about terrible mistakes people made: not to endorse those mistakes, but to chronicle actual historical events and reveal repentance, forgiveness and redemption.

It is the grace of God and His forgiveness that saves us, not our bad (or good) behavior. (See the video embedded below!)

2. Still, God can use people who do bad things. Moses still led the people of Israel out of Egypt and built the tabernacle, one of the greatest object lessons that explains God. King David still fathered the bloodline that led to Messiah, as God promised would happen. David drew the plans and financed the Temple (the permanent version of Moses’ object-lesson Tabernacle) that his son, Solomon would build.

Have you ever done a bad thing? God can still use you for good, if you will begin now to cooperate with Him.

3. To not follow Jesus, because of  bad things some Jesus-followers do, will deprive YOU. When we stand before Jesus on Judgement Day (and there will be a Judgement Day!), telling God you rejected Him because you heard about a professing Christian who groped women, or was accused of not being honest in financial dealings, or made other even more terrible choices won’t fly. God will judge you on what you do. You won’t be able to use any other failing people you justify as hypocrites as your excuse.

Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. Romans 14:13 (Bible, New International Version)

Are you confused about the relationship between works (good deeds we do) and faith, and how that affects your salvation? Here is an excellent short film from Igniter Media that explains it well, and creatively too!

You Do The Math, from Igniter Media.

Downloads and DVDs are available at http://www.ignitermedia.com.

 ©Dianne E. Butts. Dianne has over 275 articles and short fiction in more than fifty publications. She is a regular contributor to Finding God Daily. You can find Dianne’s blog HERE.

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Find God in an Interview with Rick Warren (Saddleback Church) on ABC

April 26, 2012 By 1 Comment

By Dianne E. Butts:

 

A few weeks ago on Easter, Jake Tapper, sitting in for George Stephanopoulos on ABC’s “This Week,” talked with Pastor Rick Warren about the Christian faith, politics, and more. You may find God in this interview with Rick Warren on ABC (embedded below).

Rick Warren is pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California, and author of The Purpose Driven Life: What On Earth Am I Here For? which has sold more than 30 million copies and been translated into more than 50 languages.

When asked about when he has felt unable to trust God, Warren said, “I think a lot of times God takes away your feelings so you have to depend on faith. And faith is kind of like a tide: it rolls in, it rolls out. You keep on going.”

On Mitt Romney’s Mormonism: A ChristianPost.com article recapped Warren’s thoughts: “The ‘key sticking point,’ for many Christians regarding whether Mormons share their faith is the trinity, according to Warren. ‘That’s the historic doctrine of the Church. That God is three-in-one. Not three Gods. One God in Father, son and Holy Spirit. Mormonism denies that.’”

Warren gave the invocation at President Obama’s inauguration.  Tapper asked what’s the state of the union spiritually? Warren said the coarsening of our culture and the loss of civility in our civilization concern him most.

On politics, the Christian Post.com article said Warren “believes in the separation of church and state, but does not believe in the separation of faith and politics.”

“Faith is simply a worldview,” Warren said in the interview. “Everybody has a world view. So we’re saying that only those with religious worldviews aren’t welcome at the table? …I’m in favor of everybody being able to come to the table with a worldview. I do not believe in imposing what I believe on everybody else.”

About  Tim Tebow? “The fact that Tebow would get criticized for kneeling and praying? I could give you 15, or 50, other things you should be more worried about in that coliseum than a kid kneeling down to thank God that he played good.”

Asked by a viewer via Twitter if Warren believes faith in Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven, the pastor said, “I do believe that… Jesus said, ‘I am the way. He didn’t say, ‘I’m one of the ways… I don’t think any of us deserve to go to heaven. I think the only way any of us get into heaven is God’s grace… The fact is, it’s available to everybody.”

Listen to the whole interview. You may find God in this  interview with Rick Warren.

Rick Warren from Saddleback Church on ‘This Week With George Stephanopoulos’ interviewed by Jake Tapper

Video interview:

© Dianne E. Butts. Dianne is a freelance writer, author, and screenwriter. Her latest book is Deliver Me, for those in an unplanned pregnancy or with one in their past, just won a “Book of the Year” award. Her first book Dear America has just been republished for Kindle. Follow her writing at www.DeliverMeBook.blogspot.com

 

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Find God While Drinking Coffee: Help Rwandan Genocide Survivors

April 24, 2012 By Leave a Comment

By Dianne Neal Matthews:

While spending a week with my daughter and her family, I decided to visit the church they attend instead of going to my former one. Little did I know that I would find God while drinking coffee that morning. As soon as I stepped through the doors, I saw a familiar face.

My friend Fred and I chatted as he tended the coffee bar. When my son asked him what brand coffee the church used, Fred told us the fascinating story behind a company called Land of a Thousand Hills.

In April 1994, Rwanda (an African country half the size of the state of Maryland) suffered one of history’s most atrocious genocides. In only 100 days, almost one million ethnic Tutsi and moderate Hutu sympathizers were killed by extremist Hutu militia. In the aftermath of civil war, Rwanda made a commitment to national restoration. The government asked the church to guide the country toward reconciliation and called on the outside world to support them as it looked to heal and eradicate poverty, disease, and illiteracy.

After the genocide, I visited Rwanda for the first time. I asked the local priest in the village of Bukonya how Americans could help his country rebuild. He replied, “sell our coffee.”  In that moment the Bukonya blend was born. Jonathan D. Golden (From landofathousandhills.com)

In 2001, Jonathan Golden, founder of Land of a Thousand Hills, recognized a tangible opportunity to impact the lives of the Rwandan people. He started a coffee company that pays a fair wage to the farmers of Rwanda, helps them with basic needs, and offers a quality product to coffee drinkers. The introduction of this concept to the healing fields of Rwanda opened the door for formerly warring countrymen to not only rebuild their homesteads, but to work together toward lasting peace. A commitment to excellence in coffee has brought dignity and hope to a nation that history suggested would never recover.

 Help Rwandan Genocide Survivors

Through Land of a Thousand Hills  (on Twitter as @1000HillsCoffee) you can enjoy your coffee while also offering help to these African communities. The company’s website promises, “When you buy Land of a Thousand Hills, you are receiving coffee that is 100% Arabica, fairly traded, and roasted fresh. Your excellent morning cup is offering hope to these developing coffee communities with each purchase.” Thus the company’s tagline: Drink Coffee. Do Good.™ Thanks to Land of a Thousand Hills, many people are find God while drinking coffee at church.

In this short video, watch images from Rwanda and the coffee workers accompanied by moving music:

 ©Dianne Neal Matthews. Dianne is a freelance writer and the author of The One Year Women of the Bible (Tyndale House Publishers) and three other daily devotional books. Visit her at www.DianneNealMatthews.com or @DianneNMatthews.

 

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Finding God in Aid to Children: Kony 2012 Controversy

April 20, 2012 By 4 Comments

By Laurie Winslow Sargent:

Finding God in Aid to Children Despite the Kony 2012 Controversy

Seven years ago I became aware of  a movement against a man named Joseph Kony and his Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) upon seeing a film produced by Invisible Children.

The images in the film stuck with me for years; masses of Ugandan children hiding and sleeping in bunkers at night for fear of being kidnapped, then those who were captured, forced to commit  murder. It was painful to see interviews with children who had been victimized before finally being rescued.

On March 5, 2012, film director Jason Russel uploaded Kony 2012 to YouTube to increase public awareness through social media on the plight of these children. (See the video below.) Three days later, the video had 50 million views and as of today it has been viewed a phenomenal 87,945,716 times.

Meanwhile, as typical on the Internet, many impulsive viewers posted harsh and vulgar comments about Russel, including accusations about lack of financial accountability. Russel emphatically disputed these claims in a video interview (see below) and he also posted online Invisible Children financial annual reports.

Russel has also been accused of not keeping current with the LRA activity (countries affected), yet below the Kony 2012 YouTube video, he included the message, ”You can learn more about Invisible Children’s recovery efforts in the post-conflict regions of northern Uganda AND their work with communities currently affected in D.R.Congo, Central African Republic and South Sudan at: http://www.invisiblechildren.com/programs.html. ” Additionally, there is also a link connecting to Real Time Reports on LRA Activity in the D.R.Congo, Central African Republic and South Sudan.

Sadly, within two weeks of posting Kony 2012 online, Russel suffered a temporary mental breakdown attributed to stress and severe dehydration and was hospitalized (not arrested) for exhibiting disturbing public behavior.

According to a Reuters article by By Dan Whitcomb and Cynthia Johnston, Ben Keesey (Invisible Children CEO) stated:

“The past two weeks have taken a severe emotional toll on all of us, Jason especially, and that toll manifested itself in an unfortunate incident yesterday,”  and “Jason’s passion and his work have done so much to help so many, and we are devastated to see him dealing with this personal health issue.”

The full impact of the Kony 2012 video remains to be seen. Yet when my own teen daughter told me about it with tears in her eyes, I knew that video must have sensitized millions of  young people to the needs of terrorized children in other countries.

More Help from Samaritan’s Purse

Samaritan’s Purse is another organization that has provided emergency aid to thousands affected by the LRA. Here’s a quote from Franklin Graham (son of the Rev. Billy Graham) in the April 2012 newsletter I received in the mail today, with the article: Combating Kony’s Reign of Terror: “Samaritan’s Purse is no stranger to Kony. For more than a decade, we have been ministering to the victims of his atrocities in Uganda, South Sudan, and Democratic Republic of the Congo.” Samaritan’s Purse continues to provide food, clean water, shelter and help for victimized children.

The Samaritan’s Purse online version of the article added: “Kony claims to be a spirit medium who communicates with the Holy Spirit and with angels he knows by name. He mixes elements of Christianity, voodooism, and tribal beliefs into a twisted belief system that condones murder, rape, child abduction, and slavery to achieve his goals.”

What a terrible crime it is, not only for Kony to commit such atrocities but to also tarnish Christianity and to take our Lord’s name in vain.  Please pray that despite the Kony 2012 controversy, many children will find help. Pray as well for the Russel family.

©Laurie Winslow Sargent. Laurie has been a magazine article writer and book author since 1988. You can visit her on Twitter as @LaurieSargent and at her website, www.lauriewinslowsargent.com.

Kony 2012

Invisible Children CEO Responds to ‘Kony 2012′ Criticism

 

UPDATED VIDEO  (Added April 21 to Finding God Daily)

KONY 2012: Part II – Beyond Famous plus Cover the Night call to action:

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Find God in Prophecies of Chaotic Weather

April 19, 2012 By Leave a Comment

By Dianne E. Butts:

Finding God in Chaotic Weather: Image by Salvatore Vuono

It’s April and storm season, the time for violent weather. If we look into Scripture, it’s possible we can find God in prophecies of chaotic weather.

In Luke 21:25-26, Jesus was talking about the Signs that would come before His second coming when He comes to judge the world. He said,

“There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken.”

Some people think this Bible verse could refer to increased intensity in chaotic weather patterns on earth.

We’ve certainly seen a lot of intense weather in the United States in recent years. The National Weather Service sent out strong warnings prior to and during the weekend of April 14 – 15, 2012. And tornadoes did form across the Midwest, tearing up towns like Woodward, Oklahoma.

The largest tornado outbreak ever recorded occurred just a year ago.  According to Wikipedia, the 2011 Super Outbreak, occurred from April 25 to 28, 2011 when destructive tornadoes hit Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Virginia.

The Wikipedia article says, regarding that 2011 outbreak, “In total, 353 tornadoes were confirmed by the National Weather Service in 21 states from Texas to New York and even isolated tornadoes in Canada. Widespread and destructive tornadoes occurred on each day of the outbreak, with April 27 being among the most prolific and destructive tornado days in United States history with a record 208 tornadoes touching down that day. Four of the tornadoes were destructive enough to be rated EF5 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, which is the highest ranking possible; typically these tornadoes are only recorded about once each year or less.”

The number killed as a result of those tornadoes: 346 people.

Less than a month later, on Sunday afternoon, May 22, 2011, Joplin, Missouri, was struck by an EF5 multiple-vortex tornado. “It was part of a larger late-May tornado outbreak sequence and reached a maximum width of in excess of 1 mile (1.6 km) during its path through the southern part of the city,” Wikipedia says. The number of deaths directly linked to the tornado: 160.

Jesus also mentioned “the roaring and tossing of the sea.” If you’re curious about earthquakes and tsunamis, I wrote about those in these two articles: “Find God in Prophecy about Earthquakes” and “Signs of the End Times? – Earthquakes and Tsunamis.”

Throughout the Bible we can see that, because of His great love for all people, God always sends warnings before He sends His judgments (which are disasters meant to put a stop to or slow down increased sin. His ultimate judgment will be His second coming.). But people don’t always listen. They say, “It’s not God. It’s global warming.” Do you think God is warning us through tornadoes and other disasters? If yes, are you listening? If you are, then you might find God in prophecies of chaotic weather.

© Dianne E. Butts. Dianne is a freelance writer, author, and screenwriter. Her latest book is Deliver Me is for those in an unplanned pregnancy or with one in their past, and just won “Book of the Year” at Christian Small Publisher’s Association. Her first book Dear America is now available on Kindle. Follow her writing at www.DeliverMeBook.blogspot.com.

April 2012 Tornado Videos

At TornadoVideos.net, see: Update from the April 14, 2012 tornado outbreak.)

Also see this video below, showing what an amazing creator we have:

From YouTube: Top 20 Amazing Weather Phenomena

 

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Finding God in the Art of Thomas Kinkade the Painter of Light

April 18, 2012 By 1 Comment

By Dianne E. Butts  with Laurie Winslow Sargent:

Thomas Kinkade the Painter of Light

He died suddenly, at the age of 54, on Friday, April 6. For decades people have been finding God in the art of Thomas Kinkade, the famed “Painter of Light.”

Thomas Kinkade’s paintings of cottages, serene landscapes and garden scenes, and biblical themes became extremely popular. His work was reprinted on a wide variety of items including collectibles, stationery and greeting cards, and wall hangings.

He was especially known for his use of light and highlights in his paintings. According to articles in the Los Angeles Times, “Millions of his paintings and prints hang in homes around the world.” Kinkade said he was “the most collected living artist,” according to another LA Times article.

Many art critics ruthlessly criticized Kinkade’s artwork, according to the LA Times article, Thomas Kinkade — loved by many, loathed by art critics, by David Ng. Yet  Ng states that Jeffrey Vallance, who was in the minority, “told The Times that he had respect for Kinkade: ‘He expresses what he believes and puts that in his art. That is not the trend in the high-art world at the moment, the idea that you can express things spiritually and be taken seriously.’”

This referred to Kinkade’s profession of Christian faith. Unfortunately, Kinkade’s life may not have been as idyllic as his paintings, as some people have accused him of making unwise choices that negatively affected others.

We will address this issue in a future post: Finding God Even When Christians Disappoint. Sadly, this can be a stumbling block for those seeking faith and should not keep them from finding a beautiful relationship with Christ.

A family movie about Kinkade’s early life (teen years) was made, titled Thomas Kinkade’s Christmas Cottage ) According to IMDb the film is about how “the artist was motivated to begin his career after discovering his mother was in danger of losing their family home.”  This movie also shows young Thomas’ relationship with another artist he learned from, played by Peter O’Toole.  (You can see the movie trailer below.)

Besides his wife, Kinkade is survived by their four daughters, Merritt, Chandler, Winsor, and Everett. His family believes he died of natural causes, however Kinkade’s pending autopsy report will determine the exact cause of death.

His friend and former business partner, Ken Raasch (reported by L.A. Now) said “He lived life to the fullest… He was a very eclectic character, an amazing artist who was not a stereotypical man in any sense. He created his own mold, I’d say, and I think we were all blessed because of that.”

Regardless of his critics or personal failings, many people find peace in his paintings as well as divine light, and so many are finding God in Thomas Kinkade, “Painter of Light”

© Dianne E. Butts. Dianne is a freelance writer, author, and screenwriter. Her latest book Deliver Me is for those in an unplanned pregnancy or with one in their past. Her first book Dear America has just been republished for Kindle. Follow her writing at www.DeliverMeBook.blogspot.com

 

Thomas Kinkade’s The Christmas Cottage Trailer

News video: Thomas Kinkade’s death

Thomas Kinkade – About My Paintings

This video is about how the artist hid “N” in his paintings to honor his wife Nanette.

 

 

 

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Find God on the 100th Anniversary of the Sinking of the Titanic

April 15, 2012 By 1 Comment

By Dianne Neal Matthews:

Deeper and deeper I sink into the mire; I ­can’t find a foothold. Psalm 69:2

Photo of the Titanic from Wikimedia Commons

This week marks the anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, the largest, most luxurious ocean liner of its time.

On April 14, 1912, during its first voyage from England to New York City and only five days into the trip, the British steamer sideswiped an iceberg around 11:40 p.m.

Two and a half hours later–at 2:20 a.m. on April 15th–the ship that many called “unsinkable” broke apart and sank. The ship carried enough lifeboats for ­only half of its 2,200 passengers and crew. Approximately 1,500 people lost their lives.

As we recall the disastrous sinking of the Titanic, there are a few spiritual lessons in which we can find God:

One night, ­Jesus walked on water, and his disciple Peter wanted to join him. Peter left the boat and was doing fine until he looked around at the high waves. Then he became terrified and started to sink (Matthew 14:25-30).

Like Peter, we may be accomplishing great things with God’s help until we look around at our frightening circumstances. Then our faith starts to waver, and we get more than a sinking feeling.

At other times, we may start to look at our successes and ignore the need to safeguard our spiritual growth. We may start to feel unsinkable, like the Titanic. But there are always hidden dangers that can wreck our witness and ministry. The ­only way to safely navigate life is to keep our eyes on ­Jesus, not on self or on the circumstances around us. If we find God in the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic and learn this lesson, we can be sure He will help us complete our voyage.

For more information about the Titanic, you can read an article with The Washington Post, about an  interview with Robert Ballard, the man who led the expedition that discovered the ship’s wreck., and his obsession with the Titanic.

Also, history buffs and home-schoolers may learn something new from this video on YouTube, with newsreel footage from that time period:

Titanic and Survivors–Genuine 1912 Footage

 

 © Dianne Neal Matthews (www.DianneNealMatthews.com). Dianne is a freelance writer and the author of four daily devotional books. This article is adapted from her book, The One Year on This Day (Tyndale House).

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Finding God: Help for the Compulsive Gambler

April 10, 2012 By Leave a Comment

By Karen O’Connor:

Help for the Compulsive Gambler

 

“It only takes a dollar and a dream.” For many men and women that’s all they need to read on a poster or on the Internet to lead them to the nearest casino or web site. From there, thousands begin a slow descent into compulsive gambling.

Some however, actually find God while gambling because they wake up to the destruction they’re causing themselves and their loved ones.

When Lydia’s husband of 44 years passed away, he left her set for life financially. She joined a senior club in her community and signed up for a bus trip to a gaming hall.

“That was the beginning of the end for me,” she admitted. “I enjoyed the feeling of watching the wheel spin and the dice fall in my favor––at least part of the time. It was enough to bring me back.”

Lydia continued her gambling pattern until she went through $200,000 before seeking help on the counsel of her son.

According to Dr. Robert Perkinson , clinical director of Keystone Treatment Center (keystonetreatment.com) in South Dakota, compulsive gambling “is called the hidden illness since there is no smell on the breath nor stumbling of steps or speech.”

Dr. Perkinson focuses on three steps to recovery at his treatment center. He claims people need to:

• get honest about their addiction

• go to Gamblers Anonymous meetings and participate with others

• get on a spiritual path to God.

“Ninety percent of addicts who take these actions stay clean,” he said.

Perkinson also made the point that “many people know God’s teachings, but they are helpless to live by them, because of the addictive nature of gambling. Addiction stands in your way of God,” he said resolutely.

But those who find God through gambling and subsequent treatment discover that only He can release and save them: restoring them to sanity and serenity.

©Karen O’Connor. Karen is an author, writing mentor, and frequent contributor to the Finding God Daily blog. Visit Karen on the web at www.karenoconnor.com.

Here’s a YouTube video with one man’s story (audio) about the destruction caused by his being a compulsive gambler and how he found help:

Do you have a story to share about how gambling hurt you or your loved ones? Or something to share about how God helped you or someone else recover from this addiction?  We’d love to hear your thoughts on this. Click the link by the title: Leave a Comment.

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How to Pray? Be Specific and Find God

April 9, 2012 By Leave a Comment

By Dianne E. Butts:

 How to Pray?

Believe in Prayer and Find God!

Do you pray? Have you ever asked God for anything? What happened? Did He answer, or did He leave you wondering why all you got was silence?

If you’re frustrated with your prayers (or with God’s answers to them), I’d like to suggest you pray specifically.

At times I’d been frustrated because I kept hearing of my friends getting amazing answers to their prayers, but when I prayed, I got nothing. Then one day it occurred to me that the problem may not be God’s answers (or lack of them). The problem might be my prayers.

I took a good look at my prayers and I realized my prayers were so vague I wouldn’t recognize God’s answers even if He had sent one! After all, if I ask Him to “bless” me or “bless” someone I love, what will that look like when the answer comes?

I decided I needed to get more intentional about my praying, which meant getting more specific.

Here is a story about Jesus in the Bible from Matthew 20:29-34.

“As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, ‘Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!’

“The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, ‘Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!’

“Jesus stopped and called them. ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ he asked.

“‘Lord,’ they answered, ‘we want our sight.’

“Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.”

Those two men wanted something specific from Jesus, but their request at first was vague. When they really thought about what they wanted from Him and asked specifically, their faith was rewarded. What, specifically, do you want from God? What would you like Him to do for you? Is what you want within His will, meaning it doesn’t violate His good and pure personality? If yes, then get specific and ask Him.

Of course there can also be drawbacks to praying specifically. I wrote an article about the pitfalls of praying specifically, which includes having wrong motives, manipulating His answers, or not accepting His answers. You can find the others in the short article “Re-energize Your Prayer Life.”

If you really give some thought to what you want from God (within His good will), and then if you work at asking Him specifically for what it is you need, you just might find you’re receiving real, solid answers to your prayers.

How to pray? Be specific!

Here are five more tips about praying from author and our blog founder, Linda Evans Shepherd, talking about a passage in her book, When You Can’t Find God: How to Ignite the Power of Prayer.

©Dianne E. Butts. Dianne is a freelance writer, author, and screenwriter. Her latest book is Deliver Me is for those in an unplanned pregnancy or with one in their past. Her first book Dear America has just been republished for Kindle. Follow her writing at www.DeliverMeBook.blogspot.com


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Finding God in Failure

April 5, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Finding God in Failure

By Karen O’Connor:

Finding God in Failure

When it comes to making mistakes, some days I go to the head of the class. My failures have run the gamut from marital problems to blunders with money, friendships, parenting, and work choices.

I’m thankful, however, that finding God in failure is how I get through the day. I recover from my problems and get back on the right path, because the Lord is faithful.

 

 

 Know, therefore, that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God,

Keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who

Love him and keep his commands (Deuteronomy 7:9 the Bible).

I know that the God who created the Universe is for me and for each one of his people. That keeps me going, believing and knowing that I am never out of options as long as I stay close to my Lord. As Reverend Robert Schuller has said:

“If there exists no possibility of failure, then victory is meaningless.”

And if we never failed we’d never reach out and find God in our failure or recover from it.

Joyce Meyer’s sermon on YouTube about refusing to be trapped in bad times is a great way to turn things around when you feel like a failure.

Karen O’Connor is an author, writing mentor, and frequent contributor to the Finding God Daily blog. Visit Karen on the web at www.karenoconnor.com.

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Find God After Abortion in the Good Friday Esther Call

April 4, 2012 By Leave a Comment

By Dianne E. Butts:

Queen Esther put her life on the line to save her fellow Israelites and her nation. A group of women is hoping to have a similar impact on their American countrymen and nation. From March 17 to Good Friday, which is April 6, 2012, thirty-nine young women will walk a 21-day, 250-mile trek in Texas. As they walk and pray, these women hope they will find God after abortion in the Good Friday Esther Call.

Why?

They are walking “from the nation’s largest Planned Parenthood Center, located in Houston, Texas, to the courthouse in Dallas where Roe v Wade was born” according to the Back to Life Movement web site.

These 39 women, one for each year abortion has been legal in the United States, “will leave everything behind to embark on the symbolic journey depicting America’s tragic path of abortion, taking a radical stand for life as they share their personal stories of how abortion has impacted each of their lives” the site says.

The Esther Call culminates with events at the Dallas Convention Center on April 5 and 6. April 6th is Good Friday, the day that commemorates Jesus dying on the cross for the atonement of all people who will accept Him. Activities include a teaching of the book of Esther in the Bible, worship, a Good Friday Communion Service, and “TheCall Solemn Assembly” according to TheCall web site. Registration is free, but required.

According to the TheCall web site, the walkers and pray-ers will claim the promise of Joshua 1:3 to “reclaim” America as they walk between these two key abortion landmarks.

 Joshua 1:3 promises, “I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.”

Through their own stories, their 250-mile walk, and their events at the Dallas Convention Center, these women hope other women will find God after abortion in the Good Friday Esther Call.

©Dianne E. Butts. Dianne is a freelance writer, author, and screenwriter. Her latest book is Deliver Me (http://bit.ly/sWWaZR) is for those in an unplanned pregnancy or with one in their past. Her first book Dear America (http://amzn.to/DearAmerica) has just been republished for Kindle. Follow her writing at www.DeliverMeBook.blogspot.com

 

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Finding God in a Thorn Bush

April 3, 2012 By 1 Comment

By Deborah Lovett:

Finding God in Thorns in Life

One day several years ago in early spring, my daughter took our 135 pound golden retriever, “Frappy” on a walk. About an hour later, my son and I started looking for them, although we were rather skeptical of such a long walk.  Crissy knew she had piano lessons to attend. We had no idea that we would be finding God in a thorn bush that day.

As we screamed for her, we saw and heard nothing. . . until finally a ragged, crying, muddy daughter appeared. “What happened?” I asked. “Are you all right?” She sobbed and I held her tight as she unraveled her story. Her walk had been going fine, then suddenly:

“Frappy darted for the neighbor’s field, and the neighbor’s dog!”

(That dog looks like a very mean and ferocious wolf, I might add.)

“I ran after him. The two growling dogs were at each other’s throats!”

Now you need to understand, Crissy loves (and I do mean loves) her dog! She sprang toward them and found herself smack dab in the middle of a huge block of thorn bushes! Which explains the crying. As I hugged her, and after making sure the dogs were separated and safe, I reminded her of how important it is for us to always watch where we are going. But, I also told her that in a couple of days, those same thorn bushes that hurt her today, will bring great joy to her through their fragrance, color and beauty. They were wild roses bushes, a sight to behold when in bloom.

I wonder what your thorn bush may be today? Is it one you walked right into while following someone else, or perhaps you were not looking where you were going?  Have you gotten off the spiritual path God intends for you? When is the last time you looked?

Thorns can bring us closer to God, no matter if they are self-induced, other- induced, or God induced. All things or ‘thorns’ work to the good of those who love God. Some thorns can be sharper than others.

I personally have been learning not to overreact when I run into a thorn bush, but to look for God in it, to rely on His faithfulness through it with prayer and thanksgiving. It seems to me that I have more peace when I take this approach.

Be encouraged in your struggles, pains, hardships and sufferings today. God cares for you, is watching you, understands and loves you.

Remember Jesus bore the ultimate crown of thorns upon His Kingly head when He died for us at Calvary. He understands and has compassion. Now that is truly finding God in thorns.

If you want to do a little personal Bible study on this topic, you can read click and read 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 at www.biblegateway.com.

See too, this YouTube video: The Last Painting produced by Igniter Media, with painter Mike Lewis. Christ endured so much pain and suffering for us. He understands what human suffering feels like. Yet he also had a grand purpose in his own suffering: to bring us eternal life.

Igniter Media produces high quality mini movies for use by pastors and others who want to share the gospel. Find out more about them at www.ingitermedia.com.

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Finding God in Suffering and Loss

April 2, 2012 By Leave a Comment

By Karen O’Connor:

Finding God in Suffering and Loss

An older friend of mine is facing a huge challenge right now—physically and emotionally. Everything is up for grabs. Her health is weak, her husband is failing, and her family lives far away. I’m sad seeing her situation, and I help as I’m able. But at the same time I believe in the possibility of her finding God in suffering and loss, because He is right there for her and for everyone going through similar circumstances.

 

But he was pierced for our transgressions,

he was crushed for our iniquities;

the punishment that brought us peace was on him,

and by his wounds we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5 in the Bible)

At such times, however, many people turn away from God, wondering how he could allow such pain. We are not puppets or robots. We are human beings who are subject to the ups and downs of life on earth. Stuff happens! We all experience the unexpected and unwanted.

The important thing to know is that God carries us through and promises life eternal to those who stand with him. I found comfort and peace and answers to human suffering in this article: Why does God allow innocent people to suffer? adapted from The Bible Has the Answer, by Henry Morris and Martin Clark, published by Master Books, 1987.

Finding God in suffering and loss may seem unlikely when you are in pain, but He is indeed there for you.

For more encouragement, view this inspiring YouTube video:

Why God Allows Pain and Suffering–Lee Strobel

 ©Karen O’Connor. Karen is an author, writing mentor, and frequent contributor to the Finding God Daily blog. Visit Karen on the web at www.karenoconnor.com

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Finding God in Prison Ministry

March 27, 2012 By Leave a Comment

By Karen O’Connor:

sakhorn38 / FreeDigitalPhotos.netThe only prison I’ve ever visited was Alcatraz. That was long after it housed inmates, but I was intrigued by this historic place and wished that somehow I could be a light for people currently incarcerated. A couple of years later, I received an invitation to be a correspondent/friend for female prisoners through Garden Path Ministries in Canyon Lake, California. Within months of writing the women assigned to me, I was finding God in a prison ministry. This ministry is devoted to sharing the Gospel through a unique Bible study program created by founder Rosalie Campbell.

“You have no idea what a terrible place this is,” wrote one woman. “If I didn’t have Jesus to hang on to I wouldn’t make it.” Another told of how much she missed her three children in the care of her mother while she finished her prison sentence. And an older woman, who had been in and out of jail for drug abuse, finally gave in and gave her life to Christ—her only hope. She finished the course, having never completed anything in her life before.

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18-19, NIV Bible)

I have been a volunteer for the past seven years. I look forward to continuing, because not only are the women turning their hearts to Christ in prison, I am finding God in prison ministry. I too, am set free.

Karen O’Connor is an author, writing mentor, and frequent contributor to Finding God Daily. Visit Karen on the web at www.karenoconnor.com.

Take a look at this YouTube of Susan Burton, 2010 CNN Hero Nominee, for her work helping to restore former female prisoners to the community.

 

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Find God in Prison After a Deadly DUI

March 21, 2012 By 2 Comments

By Dianne E. Butts

Suat Eman / FreeDigitalPhotos.netAccording to the web site of the Colorado State Patrol, “Crashes involving alcohol and drugs have twice the number of injuries and deaths as crashes without alcohol and drug involvement. They usually involve higher speeds, and often both the driver and any passengers are not wearing seatbelts.” What if you were the cause of a DUI (Driving Under the Influence of alcohol) crash? What if you killed someone? Nobody could find God in prison after a deadly DUI crash. Right?

Meet Kenneth Jones. He had landed his dream job—a sports anchor on a TV station in Macon, Georgia. He was married and he and his wife moved to Macon for him to pursue this dream job.

Then in August 2003, after drinking until five in the morning, Kenneth drove a friend home. Instead of spending the night at the friend’s house as planned, Kenneth decided to drive himself home.

He fell asleep at the wheel. He crossed the center line and hit another car head-on. The driver of the other car died immediately.

Kenneth woke up in a hospital and learned he had taken someone’s life.

Kenneth was sentenced to seven years in prison. While in prison, he lost his dream career. He lost his marriage.

After years in prison, when he was put in transitional housing, he roomed with seven other guys most of whom were believers in Jesus Christ. Kenneth began reading the Bible and soon gave his life to the Lord Jesus Christ. He learned of the love and grace God has for us and that what God wants most is to have a relationship with us.

Jesus made a significant difference in Kenneth’s life even while he was still in prison. He remembers talking with some of the other men about how the prison they were in was just a physical prison. “There are so many people outside of these walls that are walking around in prison even though they are free,” Kenneth said.  “Even though we are in these walls and in prison, in our hearts and in our minds, we can be free.”

Some people who have loved God have been in prison. Joseph, in the Old Testament, was wrongly put in prison. In the New Testament, John the Baptist and the Apostle Peter  were both imprisoned because of their faith in Jesus. God loves all people—even those who have been in prison or are in prison right now.

Kenneth Jones says what he’s learned through all of this is that, “God is a God of restoration, reconciliation, and redemption. And that there is always hope in Jesus.”

Whether you’re in a physical prison of walls, in a spiritual prison caused by your own sin, or another kind of prison, if Kenneth Jones can find God in prison after a deadly DUI, you can find God, too. You can be free.

See Kenneth Jones tell his story here in this video:

 ©Dianne E. Butts. Dianne is a freelance writer, author, and screenwriter. Her brother was killed by a DUI driver in 1977 and she wrote about that experience in her first book Dear America http://amzn.to/DearAmerica (now on Kindle). She will be writing about how her brother’s death affected her and what she learned about grief on the new “Thinking About Suicide” site that premieres March 21, 2012. www.DeliverMeBook.blogspot.com

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Find God in Helping the Homeless

March 18, 2012 By Leave a Comment

By Karen O’Connor

 At church this weekend the outreach pastor announced Project Homeless Connect: “a one-day event that provides housing support, and quality of life resources to homeless individuals.” This is an opportunity for anyone to find God in helping the homeless. Dentists will provide dental care. Hairstylists will give haircuts. And children and adults will receive basic supplies, food, and medicine.

This announcement led me to the letter from James in the Bible, chapter 2:2-4:

Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes,

and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in.  If you show special attention

to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say

to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,”  have you

not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

During this season of tough economic times, great numbers of people are sleeping under bridges and on benches, going without proper nourishment, and afraid of what the next day will bring. There may be little any of us can do to resolve the big issue of homelessness, but each of us can do a little thing.  One helpful article that describes ways to do that is  How to Help the Homeless: 4 Ways to Help the Homeless in Your Community by

I hope you’ll join me in taking one action this week and in doing so find God in helping the homeless. Please view this helpful You Tube video from Sleepless San Diego, on “5 Ways to Really Help Someone Who is Homeless.”

 

Karen O’Connor is an author, writing mentor, and frequent contributor to our Finding God Daily blog. Visit Karen on the web at www.karenoconnor.com

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Finding God in the October Baby Movie

March 17, 2012 By Leave a Comment

By Dianne E. Butts:

What happens when a baby survives an attempted abortion? Some people are finding God in the October Baby movie, which tackles that issue.

“October Baby is the story of 19-year-old Hannah, who finds out she is adopted and is the survivor of an attempted abortion,” according to an article in the Christian Booksellers Association’s monthly newsletter (CBAnews.org) about the movie’s premiere this month. The screenplay was co-written by Jon Erwin and Theresa Preston. Jon and his brother Andrew have won multiple Dove Awards for music videos featuring  contemporary Christian artists including Michael W. Smith and Casting Crowns. This is their first feature film.

The film, which premiers in theaters nationwide March 23, 2012, is distributed by Provident Films (Courageous, Fireproof) and Samuel Goldwyn Films (Fireproof, Amazing Grace, Facing the Giants).

October Baby stars newcomer Rachel Hendrix as Hannah and features John Schneider (Smallville, The Dukes of Hazzard). According to the October Baby movie web site, the producers “have assigned 10% of the profits of the movie to the Every Life is Beautiful Fund, which will distribute funds to frontline organization helping women facing crisis pregnancies, life-affirming adoption agencies, and those caring for orphans.”

According to the article at  CBAnews.org, when Hannah “finds out she is adopted and is the survivor of an attempted abortion…she goes on a road trip to find answers, locate her birth mother and, ultimately, discover how powerful forgiveness can be.”

October Baby apparently will also have its share of laughs. Well-known speaker and abortion-survivor Gianna Jessen commented, “I laughed so hard, and cried so hard, and healed.”

The CBA article states that “October Baby offers viewers an enjoyable, entertaining, intensely human film about friends hitting the road together and finding more than they bargained for: adventure, romance, truth…and the power to forgive… October Baby honestly and evenhandedly invites audiences to explore their own views of life’s value and the importance of their choices.”

You can find the theater nearest you where the movie is playing on the October Baby web site: octoberbabymovie.net. You can also view a short trailer there. A longer trailer is below.

Why not invite your friends and make it a fun night out? Your friends may end up finding God in the October Baby movie.

©Dianne E. Butts. Dianne is a freelance writer, screenwriter, and author. You can visit Dianne at www.DianneEButts.com and on Twitter as @DianneEButts.

Also hear a bit from the producers of this movie, plus see an interview with Gianna Jessen who was born alive after her mother attempted to abort her. Gianna is a gifted speaker and musician and prolife advocate and has spoken at many congressional hearings in defense of the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act.

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