July 29, 2011

Freed to Testify: A Biblical Biography of Mary Magdalene

'Freed to Testify,' Volume II in the Gripped for Glory ebook series, is now available for purchase through Smashwords. Formats offered include most electronic and mobile platforms.

As a biblical biography of one of the most celebrated disciples of the entire New Testament, 'Freed to Testify' explores the life and testimony of Mary Magdalene. In a culture where women were considered ignorant, second-class citizens, and wholly unreliable as legal witnesses, it is somewhat puzzling God would grant such prominence to a woman like Mary of Magdala. Yet from the pages of scripture she emerges as one of the most beautiful and faithful characters of the entire Bible. Scripture mentions her by name fourteen times, eight of which list her even before Mary, the mother of Jesus. In fact, Mary Magdalene appears in the canonical gospels more than any other female disciple. No other woman is portrayed with more devotion to Jesus and with good reason.

Mary spent much of her early life as a prisoner of Satan. Physically possessed and controlled by seven demons, she was mercilessly tormented day and night. But the time came when those same evil spirits of darkness encountered the One who had come into the world to destroy the works of their master. And by the power of the Incarnate Living God, those servants of Satan were driven out of Mary forever. Freed from hell's bondage, Mary made a decision many others had already made. Forsaking all, she would love and serve her Deliverer until the day she died.

During the following three years of Jesus earthly ministry Mary never left His side. In every scriptural mention she is portrayed as a close friend of Christ and a leader among His female disciples. Surrounding the events of the resurrection of Jesus, all four gospels place Mary Magdalene as the most prominent character. For her unwavering devotion, Mary was given the most honorable and joyful commission of all time: "Go quickly and tell the disciples He has risen!" Following her obedience, Mary of Magdala gained a position of notoriety throughout the early church as the first person to have seen the risen Lord. Hers is indeed a life worth exploring.

'Freed to Testify - A Biblical Biography of Mary Magdalene' includes biblical references, exciting dialogue, historical data, and questions for personal application, making it a great resource for bible study groups or personal spiritual growth

July 28, 2011

From Me to You


© rima urboniene - Fotolia.com

Isn't it nice to know that in a world where someone is always selling something, some things are still free? As a way of saying "Thank you" to the readers of Gripped For Glory, I'd like to offer you not one, but two free gifts. Both are redeemable without cost or personal effort. Interested?

Free Gift #1 - Two weeks free subscription to royalty free images by Fotolia.com for five blog readers. Through a coupon giveaway, five readers will be able to download three images per day for fourteen days for a total of 42 free images, no strings attached. After fourteen days, if you are not interested in continuing your relationship with Fotolia, all downloaded images are yours to keep and use, no questions asked. For fellow writers, this can save you money on the purchase of stock images now being required by so many online forums.  *For information on how to redeem a giveaway coupon, please see additional information listed at the end of this article.

Fotolia is a worldwide social marketplace offering the world's largest image bank and most affordable royalty free photos and illustrations for any medium, web or print. They currently boast more than thirteen million images, vectors and HD videos from designers and photographers around the globe. Fotolia images are displayed in some of the most well known agencies in the world. Their images are royalty free and can be used for all kinds of professional documents without limits on time or copies.

As a freelance writer and author, I have used Fotolia images for more than a year and have been very pleased with the quality and quantity of their images, as well as the pricing and licensing arrangements. I especially appreciate being able to filter out offensive images from my searches and the wide selection of sizes which can be expanded to fit any size or graphics program. Payment is quick and easy through the use of PayPal. Some photographs are offered for free, while pricing for others begins as low as $1.00.

Wondering why I made the decision to post this short promotional article on this blog? Quite honestly, it was a great way to save some money in this economy. But more importantly, it provided a great segue way to discuss the offering of my second free gift.

Free Gift #2 - Eternal Life! At this point some readers may say, "No thank you. I don't need or want eternal life. Goodbye!" But God says you do, and since He is God and you are not, don't you think it would be wise to at least listen to what He has to say about this matter?

The Bible says God has a wonderful plan for each and every person on planet earth. God loves you and wants you to experience His peace and life - abundantly and eternally.
"…we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Romans 5:1
"'For I know the plans I have for you,' says the LORD. 'They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.'" Jeremiah 29:11
"…I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." John 10:10b
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16

So why aren't most people enjoying God's abundant life? Even though God created mankind in His own image, He did not make us robots that would mechanically love and obey Him. He gave us a will and freedom of choice. The problem is people chose to disobey God and go their own willful ways. And we continue to make choices every single day to follow our own selfish desires instead of God's good desires. Such rebellion against God's ways is called "sin" and all sin results in a separation from God.
"For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23
"No one is righteous - not even one. No one truly wise; no one is seeking God. All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one. Their talk is foul, like the stench from an open grave. Their tongues are filled with lies. Snake venom drips from their lips. Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness. They rush to commit murder. Destruction and misery always follow them. They don't know where to find peace. They have no fear of God at all." Romans 3:10-18
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23

Through the ages, individuals have tried many ways to bridge the gap between man and God. Good works, religion, philosophy, morality are just some of the vehicles men have invented to try and find their way back to God. But the Bible teaches all such attempts are entirely unsuccessful.
"There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end, it leads to death." Proverbs 14:12
"But your iniquities have separated you from God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear." Isaiah 59:2

God says there is only one remedy for this problem of separation. Jesus Christ is the only answer. He died on the cross and rose from the grave, paying the penalty for our sin and bridging the gap between God and people once and for all time. God has provided the only way back to Him. He freely offers this reconciliation, but leaves the choice to accept His offer up to us. He will never force anyone to accept the sacrifice of His Son.
"…God is on one side and all people on the other side, and Christ Jesus, Himself man, is between them to bring them together…" I Timothy 2:5
"For Christ also has suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God…" I Peter 3:18a
"But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

Every person must individually make the decision to personally trust Jesus Christ and receive His offer. Salvation does not come through second-hand associations or some kind of cultural or racial birth right. You can't purchase it and you can't earn it. Salvation only comes through a personal decision to act upon God's offer and personally receive His invitation.
"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me." Revelation 3:20
"But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name." John 1:12
"…if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9

Even though you need to a coupon code in order to redeem your free Fotolia images, isn't it nice to know that no special codes are required for the redemption of your soul.  Jesus has already redeemed your life when He died on the cross and rose again. You don't need anyone to give you a secret code and you don't have to wait for any future giveaways in order to enjoy the benefits of God's free gift of eternal life. It can be yours today.

So how can you redeem your eternal salvation coupon? By sincerely praying a prayer to God something like this: "Lord Jesus Christ, I know I am a sinner and do not deserve eternal life. But I believe You died and rose from the grave to purchase a place for me in heaven. Lord Jesus, come into my life; take control of my life, forgive me of my sins and save me. I repent of my sins and now place my trust in You for my salvation. I accept your free gift of eternal life. Amen."

If you meant what you just said to God, Free Gift #2 is yours to enjoy forever. No hidden legalistic agendas; no additional religious strings attached. You can now enter today's date on your calendar as your redemption code. And under the date, enter these scriptural assurances of your new eternal life
"For whoever calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved." Romans 10:13
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8-9

Welcome to eternal life!

*HOW TO REDEEM YOUR FOTOLIA COUPON:
Select any one of the following five Fotolia codes and you will be taken to Fotolia's coupon redemption page at:   https://www.fotolia.com/stock-photos-for-bloggers . Once the page is open, follow the directions and begin selecting your free images. Once you have made your image selections and they have been added to your Shopping Cart, remember to select the "XXL" subscription as your size and payment option and not the "Credits." That way, you will not be charge for your free, giveaway coupon images. Promotional coupon codes are valid for fourteen consecutive days during which time you can download three images a day for a total of 42 images. If you enter a code that was previously redeemed and receive an invalid response, try another code. If all five codes prove to be invalid this means all coupons have already been redeemed.

Note: If you do not already have a Fotolia account, you will need to create an account in order to redeem the promotional coupon and download free images. If you already have a Fotolia account, the coupon codes will not work for your existing account.
Thank you for your support of Gripped for Glory. Happy Hunting!

May 4, 2011

Mother's Day: Remembering and honoring our moms


© Nicky Jacobs - Fotolia.com
Mother's Day is the day we honor our mothers. It is a day for remembering their sacrifices, for communicating our love and for blessing their lives as they have blessed ours. But for many, May 8th is also a day which conjures up a wide array of emotions and painful memories.

Perhaps growing up was difficult. Perhaps mom was not all you wanted or expected her to be. Perhaps she was not a significant presence in your life at all. Perhaps, you never even knew your mother.

One of the Ten Commandments is found in Deuteronomy 5:16, "Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God commanded you." The essence of this commandment remains consistent throughout scriptures. There are no exclusion clauses. God does not allow us to withhold giving honor to our mothers because of any real or imagined failure on their part.

It can be difficult to give honor when we have weighed our mothers in the balance and found them wanting. But the truth is, all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. There is none righteous, no not one. And if God's love has truly changed our hearts, we are not at liberty to disobey a direct commandment of the Lord. We are, however, able to ask for God’s help and strength to sincerely honor the woman who gave us life. And in doing so, we honor the Giver of Life.

So this Mother's Day if you find yourself estranged from your mother, why not ask God right now to do a miracle this year? Submit your past to Jesus. Ask Him to give you a new perspective on your upbringing and a new love for your mother, no matter what may have occurred. If you mean it, God will do it!

March 3, 2011

Christian support for parents following the loss of a child


Creator: artbylink


As the two mini vans drove past the iron gates into Sierra Hills Memorial Park in Fair Oaks a frigid, late winter drizzle made the morning seem all the more dreary. The cold misty air reminded the vehicle occupants of the harsh realities of death which suddenly engulfed the visitors. After taking a few wrong turns, the drivers found their destination and parked opposite the gravesite of baby Chloe.

Respectfully, three women and seven children under the age of eight quietly emerged from the vans. Clutching beanie babies, the children slowly walked towards the place where the body of their little friend had been laid to rest. Even though the site was already covered with similar mementoes, one by one each child laid their gifts of love on top of the small grave. Holding hands, the group lifted up short prayers asking the God of all comfort to comfort the still grieving parents. Then huddling close together, as much for warmth as for the photo shot, a picture was taken of the group standing behind the headstone to commemorate their visit. That evening the photo was emailed to the surviving parents.

It was the fifth anniversary of little Chloe’s death. The parents had moved out of town two years earlier and were no longer able to visit the burial site. Chloe’s mother felt guilty for not being able to visit the grave of her precious baby girl.  But when she received the email and photo, tearfully she called to express heart-felt gratitude for the ongoing support of such dear friends.

The cemetery trip that day required a little preparation and a bit of coordination. The beanie babies were a minimal expense. Yet this simple act of love was profoundly helpful in easing the guilt of a still grieving mother and assisting Chloe’s parents in continuing to commemorate their infant daughter’s short life. It was a poignant acknowledgement of the reality of one of life's most painful experiences. But it was also a compassionate assurance that despite the pain, with God’s help, life goes on. And Chloe’s parents, having not only survived the sorrow but saw their faith strengthened during the pain, would be the first to share with other grieving parents, “There may be many nights of weeping, but one day, joy will come again in the morning.” (From Psalms 30:5NKJ)

While still in the womb, it was discovered baby Chloe had no skull cap to protect her tiny brain. The parents were repeatedly counseled to abort their child, even up to the 26th week of Chloe’s developing life. The parents refused, instead wholly committing the life of their unborn child to the care of the Creator of life. Then they prayed.   

Chloe survived to full term but was not expected to survive the birthing process. She did. She was not expected to live past her first 24 hours of life, but she did. Family and friends remember Chloe’s courageous fight for survival which baffled the doctors for more than six weeks. Her survival thus far could only be attributed to the power of prayer. Then Chloe’s heavenly Father called her spirit back home.

According to a New York Times article, “Infant mortality has been declining in the United States. But 28,000 infants under the age of one still die every year.” Coping with any death is painful enough. But coping with the death of a child is enormously difficult, especially for surviving parents and family members. According to grief counselors, during times of crisis family members often turn back to their faith-based roots, seeking God for consolation as well as answers to the difficult questions about life and death which inevitably surface.

There is assistance for these families, as God has established many reputable Christian ministries which provide emotional support throughout the bereavement process. One such organization is Umbrella Ministries which offers informed, compassionate Biblical support to help parents deal with the loss of a child in the name of Jesus. Having their roots in Palm Springs, CA, Umbrella Ministries is rapidly expanding to other areas of Southern California. Their hope is to reach out to grieving parents throughout the entire state soon.

In a recent newsletter, Umbrella Ministries Founder, Daisy Catchings, reinforced the wisdom of the gift given to baby Chloe’s parents by reminding family and friends to continue celebrating the life of the deceased child and to not be afraid to mention the child by name. Such communications reinforce the dignity and preciousness of all human life.

Hannah’s Prayer Ministries is also an excellent resource for grieving parents. This international ministry provides Christian-based support and encouragement to married women around the world who are struggling with a variety of fertility challenges. Their services include bereavement counseling following early infant death. 

Another effective Christ-centered ministry is “Bereaved Moms Share”, which offers online assistance for Christian women who have lost an infant. Through their website, parents are able to remember their babies, encourage one another and share their hope in Christ that they will one day be united with their children in heaven.

All life is precious to God, especially the lives of children. Coping with the loss of a child is excruciatingly painful. Regardless of the length of life, honoring all life honors the Giver of Life. And finding creative ways to celebrate the life of a deceased child can go a long way towards helping grieving parents bear their loss and move through the stages of grief.

Christians may not have all the answers to all the questions asked by grieving parents. But believers can help commemorate life, provide the comfort of their physical presence during times of extreme sorrow, and share the knowledge of the ever-present God who comforts those who mourn. “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.I Thessalonians 4:14

For those who love Jesus there awaits a glorious reunion between the living and those who have gone to heaven before us. To grieving parents, this is a message of profound hope and comfort.


NOTE:
If you have experienced the loss of a child, there are many parents who desperately need to hear the message of hope and comfort only you can bring. Please, reach out and share your story for God’s glory.

January 31, 2011

A friend in need is a friend indeed!


Image: Courtesy of Suresh Ram / All Rights Reserved

Summary: The greatest love of all is demonstrated when someone is willing to lay aside personal agendas to help a friend in time of need.
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I’m not sure whether or not it was a “Senior Moment” or just plain carelessness that night. All I remember is feeling a sharp pain in my right foot and left side of face scrapping across the asphalt. I had tripped over a cement parking divider as I was walking from my car to enter a restaurant. I was on my way to meet a group of friends for coffee following our prayer meeting. But instead of coffee, pie and fellowship, God orchestrated a night of compassion, prayer and the ultimate sacrifices of a friend.

I don’t know exactly how long I lay on the pavement, bruised and bleeding in the dark. But at some point, a group of young ladies found me and ran inside the restaurant to get my friends. Within seconds, two sets of gentle hands were laid upon my body and intercession on my belalf was lifted up to the Lord. Bystanders, I call them, "Angels in Disguise," got blankets out of their cars to wrap around my shivering body, by this time in a state of shock.

The ambulance rushed me to the Emergency Room where my friends were already waiting. They stayed with me during the entire examination and treatment, never leaving my side. I could hear their verbal prayers continuing even when the medical staff was present. 

When the doctor finished his examination, he said, “Man oh man! You sure missed the bullet this time. There are no broken or fractured bones. You were lucky! You should go out and by a lotto ticket.” My friends laughed and kept trying to tell him, “It was Jesus, not luck,” but he wasn’t interested.

Even though it was already late into the night and Monday morning was just around the corner, my friends not only brought me home, but drove my car home as well. Then one of the dearest sister’s in Christ anyone could have decided to spend the night with me to continue caring for my needs. She went to the store and brought groceries, cooked enough food for the week, and stayed awake much of the night, fearing I might need further assistance.

The actions of these two women profoundly demonstrate the meaning of the Lord Jesus words in John 15:13, “…the greatest love is shown when people lay down their lives for their friends.” My friends had lives, jobs, plans, all of which they were willing to put aside, in order to minister God’s love in the form of urgent, practical service. I will never forget their kindness to me.

Have you ever had an occasion to experience such self-sacraficing love of a freind? If so, tell someone how grateful you are, not only to your friends, but to the God who gave them to you. Then, determine to be the kind of friend “willing to lay down your life for your friends.