Tag: Christian

Abundance

Posted in Inspiration, Life

I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 10:10

LightJesus didn’t show up out of the blue, and nothing about his time on earth was a cake walk. These cliché observations reflect random acts and living the high life. Christ came – and comes – at just the right time so we, frail and flawed humans, may live abundantly. Not next week, next year or when we get to Heaven, but now. So, what does that word “abundant” mean? Not being a theologian, I don’t recommend taking my thoughts as gospel, but I think it means making the most of who you are, where you are and what you are doing right now. You can never know what a difference you make by speaking a kind word, smiling instead of frowning, sharing instead of hoarding, laughing instead of crying, being faithful and having faith in the face of doubt.  Live abundantly and pass it on.

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I believe

Posted in essay, Inspiration

PrayerNow faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1

I believe. I believe despite anything that tries to erode my belief. Life happens, not always in the way I want it to. Humans build elaborate castles of expectation and dream impossible dreams, but in the end we do not know what will happen or how we will react. As a woman of faith, I build upon the foundation of God’s love so when things go sour – and in the world they will and do – I am grounded on the sure promise of God’s presence. “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (NIV Joshua 1:9) God knows the road ahead; I do not. Whether I ride on a wave of success, or am in the throes of distress, I have the certainty of this: God is with me through everything.

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I am a writer and I have a writing business. Contact me for free consultation about your writing needs. Write Stuff Writing Services

 

Easter

Posted in Inspiration

Cross

Jesus didn’t come into the world
to save the good
and decide who is bad.
He was not an obstacle-maker,
he was – and is – a bridge-builder,
the connection to salvation and freedom.
That’s the man who suffered and died,
rose again on the third day
and remains a guiding light for all.
Not just the believer,
but all who will see the way ahead
through the eyes of love and compassion.

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Tiny Tome #1

Posted in Books, Inspiration1 Comment

cover 6x9I write daily devotionals; it is part of my faith practice. The resulting brief essays are part meditation and part writing exercise. I have quite an accumulation and decided to select 31 for my first tiny tome digital book, Joy in the Morning, Words of Hope and Encouragement. Some are in prose form, some are written as poems.

The books will only be available on this site and in e-format. I hope you are inspired by Joy in the Morning, Words of Hope and Encouragement. Below is a sample.

 

Day 25
Temptation
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. ~ 1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV

Temptation is a beast. Not always a ravening beast, one that is evident and huge, jerking you around with relish; sometimes it is far more subtle, a gentle nudge here and there to compromise your values and your morals. C.S. Lewis in The Screwtape Letters pointed out the gradual slide into sin. “You are anxious to be able to report spectacular wickedness,” Screwtape says to Wormwood. “It does not matter how small the sins are provided that their cumulative effect is to edge the man away from the Light and out into the Nothing… Indeed, the safest road to Hell is the gradual one.”

God’s promise is the trump card. When we know the beast is at our doors, we know God is there ahead of it, ready to stand with us to overcome.

~§~

I will appreciate you downloading Joy in the Morning, Words of Hope and Encouragement, and tell me what you think of it. The next tiny tome will be a collection of short stories.

The revision of Future Imperfect, a story of the apocalyptic consequences of manipulating nature, will begin posting soon.

 

Everything in its time

Posted in Inspiration

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven… Ecclesiastes 3:1

pexels-photo-576926.jpeg

I await Your timing, Lord,
but in the waiting, let me share,
gift by gift, day by day
so others know Your love and care.

In the labyrinth of my days
this moment is all I know,
Everything in its time
shapes my life’s ebb and flow.

Must I wait for You
to plant the garden now?
Must I wait for You
to show me how?

Everything will come to be
in Your time and by Your will
as I live each moment
my purpose to fulfill.

Lord, grant that every day,
I let You define the pace
for how I use my gifts
to make this world a better place.

Please Follow, Like, Comment and Share this post. Your feedback is important. Thanks for reading One Roof Publishing, sharon@oneroofpublish.com.

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Mercy

Posted in Inspiration

“Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23 (NIV)

Mercy

When you are overwhelmed –
consumed by  temptation

loss,
fear,
faithlessness,
illness,
anger,
disillusionment,
disbelief,
depression –

the surprising, sometimes self-inflicted,
often unknowable events that cause you to ask,
“Why me? What did I do to deserve this?”

Pull the plug on that pool of negativity.
Drown the fire that would consume you
were it not for God’s incredible love,
evident in the empty cross,
the risen Christ.

His mercy is unfailing,
his presence absolute.

Please Follow, Like, Comment and Share this post. Your feedback is important. Thanks for reading One Roof Publishing. Contact Sharon by e-mail at sharon@oneroofpublish.com

Forgiven

Posted in Inspiration

Help us, God our Savior, for the glory of your name; deliver us and forgive our sins for your name’s sake. Psalm 79:9

Peace
We are going to stumble. We are going to stray.
We are going to try, to go our own way.
God does forgive as humbly we pray,
For guidance and wisdom every blessed day.

 

Please Follow, Like, Comment and Share this post. Your feedback is important to me. Thanks for reading One Roof Publishing Magazine. One Roof Publishing may be reached by e-mail at fsharon@msn.com.

Be Bold

Posted in Inspiration

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7

Mattress Mack helping outBe bold. Be bold with the talents you have been given. Be bold in prayer. Be bold in caring for other people. Be bold. We are given the strength and courage for every trial and every joy. Select what you choose to be bold about. Do what you do out of love. Discipline your life and your time to go about your bold acts with intention so the outcome helps others and makes the world a better place. Mattress Mack in Houston didn’t have to open his showroom to victims of hurricane Harvey, but he did. This is one selfless act that will live in the memory of everyone he helped and those who took a lesson from his generosity. This is a bold thing Jim McIngvale did, not because he had to, but because he wanted to. He not only opened his doors, he sent out box trucks that could get through high water and picked up about 200 stranded people. What do you do when something needs to be done? Figure out the best thing you are able to do, and do it.

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Photo of kids being kids at Mattress Mack’s showroom, taking a break from the devastation outside. Image from Mattress Mack’s twitter account.

Healing in forgiveness

Posted in Inspiration

SunriseAnd we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 1 John 4:16 (KJV)

Forgive and forget. The forget part is hard. We mull over disappointment, wrongs done to us, wrongs we have done to others. We slog through the murky depths of disappointment. Our focus finds its way to yesterday to the point we don’t give attention to the joys and opportunities of today. It isn’t easy to forget, but it is something we must do to make a difference for ourselves and for those around us. Fears keep us from so much. Anger nails us to the floor of discouragement. Let go and let God is not a panacea; it is faith come alive. He does not forget us. We are crafted with as much thought as the earth and sky. We are unique. Formed for a purpose. Given breath and life. Give back in the ways you can and leave behind anything that holds you back. It is healing; it is restorative; it is joyful.

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Photo: clipart.com

 

The Fence

Posted in Inspiration2 Comments

But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.  1 Samuel 16:7 (KJV)

The FenceLife is, what it is. God’s plan is outside our understanding. The book and movie “The Shack” made me think about the universality of God the Trinity. There is no separate lesson for the rich and the poor, the Middle Easterner or the Caucasian, the Black or the Asian. God loves everyone the same and everyone is welcome. We get into trouble when we start separating ourselves from the rest of the world, aligning our thinking with like-minded folks and begin to believe we’re more “in” with God than those who worship and think different.

There is a religion joke about the guy who dies and goes to Heaven. St. Peter is giving him a tour of the place and the new guy is duly impressed, everything is spectacular, far better than he could ever have imagined. In the tour, they keep going by a high fence with locked gates. The guy says to St. Peter, “I didn’t know there were fences in Heaven. What’s back there?” St. Peter smiles and shakes his head. “That’s where we keep the Catholics; they think they’re the only ones here.”

You could put just about any religion following the words “…where we keep the… ” When we believe we’re better than the next man, woman or faith practice at any level, we lose site of God’s message. God looks beyond the surface; God looks at our hearts.

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Image: clipart.com