Eternal Viewpoint

2011-12-25T13:48:00.001-06:00

Merry Christmas! Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill to men! Love to you & yours from Darryl & Catrina Blount

My Grandmother's Legacy Remains

2011-12-21T20:29:00.000-06:00

My grandmother, Rosie Mctyere, passed away three years ago today, December 21. I remember that the news of her passing shocked me. She was only 90 years old, and ever since I was a little girl, I just knew she would outlive my entire family. Grandma had been strong and independent, seemingly in need of nothing but the Lord that she loved. The last few years of her life had been plagued by illness, but still she was Grandma, the one who told us what was on her mind and made us laugh. I really miss her, but sometimes I see her in my granddaughter. My Twinkie’s mannerisms are a lot like the great-great grandmother who was gone before she got here.

I was on my way to a Christmas Banquet the day Grandma passed. I had been asked to write and read a poem at the event, but for some reason I had not written anything. After I found out my gran was gone, I wrote the poem which follows. I don’t know what one thing has to do with the other, but somehow I have always felt like Grandma gave me these words. She loved the Lord with all her heart and she loved her family. She outlived all of her siblings, and took care of every family member that needed her. She was Grandma to her entire community in Niagara Falls, New York. My family rejoices in the knowledge that Grandma is enjoying the fellowship of the Savior she loved, and I, for one, look forward to seeing her again one day.

BORN TO DIE

I still celebrate Christmas

Not a generic holiday

Because I have to remember the reason

That we give such reverence to the season

Because the messiah was brought nigh

It was Jesus, the Savior, born to die

Imagine his virgin mother

Herself not more than a child

Chosen to incubate the one

Who men to God would reconcile

I wonder if she asked God why

Her firstborn child was born to die

Imagine his earthly father

Entrusted to raise the son of God

A child born like no other

In a place that seemed so odd

I wonder if it made him cry

To watch a child grow who was born to die

The shepherds heard heaven’s announcement

The glory of the heavenly choir

They worshiped him when they found him

Amidst a stable’s muck and mire

I wonder if the angels prophesied

This was the savior, from heaven, born to die

The magi followed the shining star

To find out the birthplace of the king afar

Bearing gifts they came with joy

To worship the heaven-sent baby boy

I wonder if they even realized

They worshiped a king, anointed and born to die

Now they don’t want to remember his name

To delete Christ the savior is the world’s chief aim

To replace him with “x” as if that is the same

And to turn those who worship him to shame

But the reason this season exists – I won’t lie

Is to remember the heaven-sent king, born to die

Poem to be published in the upcoming collection, “Observations of a Black Girl”

2011-10-23T07:48:00.001-05:00

Worship, wisdom, & wealth continues. Meet us at EWFC at 11:30 am, at 8240 Antoine, Suite 209, Houston, TX 77088.

2011-10-23T07:45:00.001-05:00

Worship, wisdom, and wealth continues with a powerful message on wisdom. Meet us at EWFC at 11:30 am. Visit http://ping.fm/auk2f for the address.

No Longer Bound

2011-07-04T09:08:00.000-05:00

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."

Galatians 5:1, NIV.

This verse is saying that whether or not to be entangled again is our option. I just want to encourage you not only to get free, but to STAY free! And if you are not free, then GET free! Once you get free, then STAY free! Christ came that we might be free, and once free, then free indeed. No need to be bound by sin anymore. We can walk in newness of life, released from the oppression of sin and Satan.

Today is America's day to celebrate independence from England, but it can also be your day to celebrate independence from sin!

One group sings about the day they got rid of their heavy load. Today can be your day. And once you are rid of it, why pick it up again?

Mary Kay Personal Beauty Profiler

2011-07-02T12:03:00.001-05:00

You can get your own personal beauty profile at www.marykay.com/cblount (my website)! It would be my pleasure to minister to your beauty needs. God made us body, soul, and spirit. It is our job to maintain all of those areas for His glory.

2011-05-18T23:52:00.000-05:00

2011-05-17T18:26:00.001-05:00

happy!

Glory to God!

2011-05-17T14:13:00.001-05:00

Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upon me: Lord, be thou my helper.Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever. Psalms 30:10-12 (KJV)

I just felt a release in my spirit to give glory to God for a moment. He is faithful and kind. I am thanking him for the recent opportunities that have come my way, for each of them has been a blessing and a learning experience. He is changing things for me and in me.

It is amazing to me how much information is out there for people if they just look for it. If you want to grow and expand your ministry or business, advance in your career, or just present yourself in an improved way, there is someone out there willing to show you how to do it.

Many times there is a cost involved, and that is what throws us off. But I have come to understand that we have to make wise investments in the greatest commodity we have: ourselves. On the other hand, we have to beware of wolves in sheep's clothing, whose foremost intent is to fleece people and leave them high and dry. There are a lot of them out there as well, and I thank God that I have not been taken in.

I am also giving God glory because the more I learn about what others are doing, the more I learn about myself and what I am capable of. This may come as a surprise to some, but sometimes it is hard to articulate who you are and what you can do. I hope that most of you reading this don't have that problem, but if you do, just admit it. Denial doesn't help in deliverance.

Thank God he is delivering me from the worst of all enemies: myself! The doubts and fears that I have given into over the years are slowly being replaced by the God-confidence he has always wanted us to have:

Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6 (KJV)

I pray today that you, too, will give glory to God for the progress you are making. It may not be at the pace you expected; you may not be at the level to which you are aspiring; but you are making progress. Let the Lord lead you, as the old song says, "All the way from earth to Heaven." He's a mighty good leader!

What Easter Means to Me

2011-04-22T22:11:00.000-05:00

Many years ago, I had to give a speech in Sunday School by this title. At that time, I did not know a lot about Easter, but I knew that it was a celebration of life. We used to sing about life - He rose from the dead! We were excited about Christ and all of the events surrounding the resurrection. It meant everything that the Blood had signed our names.

Of course, as kids we were also excited about candy and about dressing up in new clothes. The smaller we were, it seemed the bigger the Easter basket. My mom made Easter baskets for us until we were well into our teens.

When I was really small, I remember sitting in the kitchen, getting my hair pressed on the day before Easter. The importance of putting our best foot forward for the Lord was impressed upon us from our earliest days.

Now people have a very casual approach to God and to His presence. We come before him any way we please - and get mad if we feel He does not accept it. But back to Easter.

I am so glad that I understand the power of the Resurrection. Christ conquered death, hell, and the grave! He told His disciples that they would live because He lived (John 14:19). That promise extends all the way to us! Not only that, He promised to come back and receive his followers to Himself (John 14:2-3). The Blood did indeed sign our names - they are written in the Lamb's book of Life and will not be blotted out.

Every Easter is a reminder of the victory and the promises. I can sing with jubilation, "Because He lives, I can face tomorrow!" Whatever tomorrow brings, I know Jesus has it under control. He has conquered everything, even death - the great equalizer. What can conquer us when we are more than conquerors? Not a thing.

Gladly I will present my best for him on Resurrection Sunday - not to be the finest lady in the Easter Parade, but to represent the One who gave his very best for me. His life, laid down, and then taken up again. He rose, He rose, He rose from the dead!

God Is In Control

2011-04-05T23:39:00.000-05:00

2011-02-26T19:51:00.001-06:00

Listen to internet radio with EternalWordBroadcast on Blog Talk Radio

Celebrate Love

2011-02-13T21:59:00.000-06:00

I just want to encourage you to celebrate love - regardless of your marital status. So many times when one is single, they feel annoyed at holidays, such as Valentine's Day, that seem to emphasize their singleness or exalt marriage. What many singles may not realize is that sometimes married people are not excited about Valentine's Day either. It could be that the celebration has become a farce, as two people are more like cohabitants than loving spouses. For some, it may be another day of dashed dreams and unrealized expectations.

But we should all celebrate love because God loves us universally, without regard to whether or not we are attached to another person. His love motivated Him to give us all the very best He had. John 3:16 lets us know that the gift of eternal life was motivated by the love of God. Too many times we seek fulfillment through a person, not realizing that they cannot give us what we need - they do not have the capacity to satisfy our soul.

We have got to learn to extend grace to those around us - we are all imperfect - none of us is able to completely fulfill another person. While you are making a list of how those around you have fallen short of your expectations, keep in mind someone may be making the same list concerning you! And there's nothing wrong with that. In our humanity, we cannot meet all of another person's needs.

I'm not saying that if you are married you should not attempt to meet some of your spouse's needs; that is part of our obligation. But we cannot hold ourselves in an exalted position by virtue of the fact that we are married; it does not make us superior to those who are not. And those who are single should not begrudge or envy those who are married; each circumstance has its own unique privileges and perils. There are positives and negatives on both sides of that coin.

If we are going to celebrate love, really celebrate it, we must go beyond attaching love to a marital or familial status. We have to look at the source of love - God. The Bible tells us that God is love (1 John 4:7-8), and that because we are in Him we are obligated to also love one another.

Not only that, we are called to love ourselves. If you cannot celebrate another person, if you will not be celebrating with another person, please take some time and celebrate yourself. Your value is not tied up in a ring or a ceremony that may or may not have taken place. Your value is determined by the one who created you - and unless you're a twin, you were born single, and even twins don't come out at the same time. Every individual is of great price to God (Psalm 8).

I want to encourage you to see yourself through the eyes of love-motivated sacrifice - the eyes of God, and of Jesus Christ, who displayed the greatest love of all by laying down His life on our behalf. They love you, and I do too.

Happy Valentine's Day.

Wisdom Speaks from Proverbs 3

2010-12-06T12:20:00.000-06:00

Wisdom Speaks:

My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

(Proverbs 3:11-12 (KJV)

Love is a funny thing. Depending on the source of love, the object of love, it carries with it a wide variety of emotions. Love makes you feel – joy, happiness, excitement, nervousness, fear. Most of these emotions we welcome; some we do not care for at all. But there is one emotion, one feeling, that most of us despise. Unfortunately, it is the one that God uses to shape us into what he wants us to be.

According to Wisdom, love – real love - makes you feel pain. The thing we have to remember is that it is not needless pain. Love’s pain is for a purpose. Wisdom says that we are chastened because we are loved. The analogy here lets us know that God is to us as a father is to his children. It is he who is responsible for our upbringing, our provision, our protection. In his role as our father, he is also responsible for training us to walk upright.

When I was a child, I didn’t always have a father – my stepfather was around for a time – but I always had discipline. My mom firmly believed in applying the rod, the extension cord, the belt – well, you get the picture. Unfortunately I did not always appreciate her fervency. So I did what most children who despise discipline do – I ran away from home. But I found out that other people don’t treat you like your parents. They may let you go without discipline, but it’s really because they don’t have a vested interest in how you turn out.

Wisdom warns us not to get tired of the Lord’s discipline – don’t run away from God when you are chastised. Just take your punishment and get back in line – repent and change. Nobody you can run to will love you like your Father. He has a vested interest in your outcome – he wants to see you make something of yourself with all of the gifts and abilities he has placed inside you. He delights in you; therefore, he does what is necessary to keep you on the right track. We are loved so much that we are not allowed to ruin ourselves. Some people say there is no love stronger than a mother’s love – but I disagree. The Father’s love is stronger still.

Wisdom Speaks from Proverbs 2

2010-12-03T23:18:00.000-06:00

Wisdom Speaks:

1 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; 2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; 3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; 4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; 5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. 6 For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

Proverbs 2:1-6 (KJV).

There is a lot of meat in this passage, but I want to focus on the verse that sums it all up: verse 6. It lets us know that even in our earnest desire for wisdom and understanding, we can mess up if we go to the wrong source. Don’t get me wrong – wisdom does not just sit there waiting for you in an obvious place. It is something that must be sought after diligently. But again, it must be sought in the right place.

The scripture lets us know that the Lord gives wisdom. But it doesn’t come from his hand – it comes from his mouth. We can spend our time seeking the Lord without ever seeking wisdom because we are looking to tap into the wrong source.

We seek the Lord’s hand for provision, protection, healing, and deliverance. But it is his mouth that we must seek for wisdom. Wisdom comes only from the mouth of God – the word of God. You cannot have true wisdom without the word.

Wisdom says that when you are seeking God’s wisdom on an issue, you must look to the source – the word of God – the mouth of God – the express representative of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. Tabloids and television, magazines and novelties, cannot give you the wisdom of the Word. It cannot be found in celebrities or personalities.

True wisdom is given – by God’s mouth – sit at his feet, please. But while you’re there, please pay attention to his mouth. Get into God’s Word. Don’t just look; listen. Wisdom speaks, but it uses a mouth to do it.

Wisdom Speaks from Proverbs 1

2010-12-02T21:16:00.000-06:00

Wisdom Speaks: My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. (Proverbs 1:10).

This instruction is so simple, it seems that it shouldn’t even have to be given. But even as the writer was instructing his son, this simple direction is relevant to us today. “If sinners entice thee…”

As people of God, we have to be able to distinguish, and be distinguished from, sinners. It is important that we know whose advice to take, whose plans to buy into, whose decisions to uphold. You can tell by their activity. Sinners entice. They make bad look good – evil look righteous – ugly look pretty. They flatter and flirt until you see things their way. They are the people who will tell you, “Nobody else will know,” or “just do it this one time” or “what can it hurt?”

The writer says we have power over the enticement. We are admonished, “Consent thou not.” In other words, don’t give into suggestions that will take you outside the will of God. Run if you have to, pray if you have to, cry if you have to, but don’t consent. Do not give in to the enticer.

It is wonderful to know that we are the ones with the power. We can resist! The Bible tells us what will happen if we do.

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7 (KJV).

That is good news! But it only works if we follow the first part of the equation: submit to God. It is He who gives us the power to resist the devil and to withstand the ridicule of those who choose to live contrary to God’s ways. Enticers cannot withstand the power of a life truly submitted to God.

Something good to think about when someone other than Wisdom speaks.

2010-11-28T22:02:00.000-06:00

A friend shared this with me, and I thought I would share it with you:

This was first published in a book called "Ancient Prophets" written by Samuel Logan Brengle, an Indiana Methodist who joined The Salvation Army in the 1890's. Because of his desire for holiness and his call to teach, he became known as The Salvation Army's "Prophet of Holiness" and wrote several books on common everyday holy living. My prayer, is this can be used to help someone who is struggling.

AN OPEN LETTER TO A YOUNG MAN SEEKING SPIRITUAL HELP

My dear Comrade,

Your letter has just now reached me, and I hasten to reply.

You say: 'I have sought and found Holiness many times, but the longest I have been able to keep it was seven weeks,' and then you mention some besetting sin against which you have struggled for five years.

Let me ask, did you yield to this besetting sin? And then feeling condemned, did you come to the penitent-form seeking a Clean Heart? If so, you have probably made the great mistake so many make of claiming heart purity, when what you received was the peace of pardon. If I fall into sin, I must first confess my sin with a penitent heart and trust for pardon through reliance upon the Blood of Jesus, and if I do this the peace of pardon will fill my heart, but I must not mistake this for Sanctification.

When I am pardoned I am then called to consecrate my redeemed life to God, and when I wholly consecrate myself to Him who has loved me out of my sins, my guilt, my condemnation, I must trust Him to purify my whole being, to sanctify me wholly and fill me with the Holy Spirit. And if I believe, He can and will do the wonder work of grace in me. He will make me holy; He will perfect me in love; He will fill me with passion for His glory, so that I sing from my heart:

Take my love, my Lord, I pour At Thy feet, its treasure store;

Take my life and it shall be Ever, only, all for Thee.

And with joy I sing:

The Blood, the Blood is all my plea; Hallelujah! for it cleanses me.

You speak of keeping the Blessing seven weeks. How did you keep the Blessing so long? Was it not by walking with the Blesser? If your attention is fixed upon the Blessing instead of the Blesser; if you think of Holiness as separate from the Holy Spirit, you will lose all. If you fail to recognize, honour, love, trust, and obey the Blesser, you lose the Blessing, just as you lose the beauty of the rose when you turn your eyes from the rose, or the sweetness when you take away the honey, or the music when you lose the musician. Why and how did you lose the Blessing after seven weeks? Was it not because under stress of temptation you took your eyes off the Blesser? You forgot the sweet, sacred presence of the Blesser. and turning from Him you yielded to sin, or you doubted, and then the enemy robbed you of the Blessing. 'Watch and pray that you enter not into temptation.' When temptation came you should have said, 'Get behind me, Satan.' You should have resisted the Devil, and drawn nigh to God. The Blesser was there. The Holy Spirit was present. The infinitely loving Redeemer, with all His redemptive power, was with you, but you forgot Him, and so lost the Blessing.

You should have turned to Jesus in love and loyalty and trust, and said, 'O Lord, I am Thine; keep me! I trust Thee. I love Thee. I praise Thee, and I will not fear mine enemy.' If you had done this, you would not have lost the Blessing. Resist the Devil, and he will flee from thee. Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to thee.' That is the way, and I know of no other way of victory. In that way, and that way only, I have been getting victory for nearly half a century, and in that way you can get victory, and get it quickly, and get it always. Hallelujah

You are discouraged. You wonder if you can ever gain and keep the victory. You can, bless God! You can. The victory is at the door now. The Victor is at the door. Open and let Him in, and victory is yours. Drop on your knees now, just now, and tell Him all; then trust Him, thank Him, praise Him, whether or not you have any great feeling. Just keep on trusting, thanking, praising, and obeying Him, and peace and victory will come.

Keep your eyes on Jesus, and guard yourself against the beginnings of temptation and sin. Keep your mind pure. Fill it with clean thoughts, loving thoughts, and holy affections. Lift your thoughts above fleshly and low things to spiritual levels. Sing songs and make melody in your heart to the Lord.

Deal promptly and sternly with your eyes and your ears. Turn away your eyes from beholding evil, and your ears from listening to evil. Make a covenant with your eyes as did Job. Stand on guard at eyegate and eargate lest sin get into your heart through those gateways.

Sin does not leap upon us fully armed. It steals in through a look, a swift, silent suggestion or imagination, but love and loyalty to Jesus will make you watchful and swift to rise up and cast out the subtle enemy. Do this and you shall live, and live victoriously.

Often drop on your knees or lift your heart in secret prayer, and do not forget to mingle thanksgiving with your prayers. You do not praise God enough. Begin now. Thank Him now and praise Him, for He is worthy, and you are much behind in this sweet duty.

When you wake up in the morning ask Him for some verse of song to cheer you through the day, and find some verse of Scripture upon which to stay your mind. Finally, seek to pass some of your blessing on to some other soul, as the widow of Sarepta shared her bit of oil and handful of meal with Elijah and found it multiplying through the months of famine. So will you find your blessings multiplying as you share them with others.

May you be encouraged to share this with others as well.

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2010-11-22T21:08:00.000-06:00

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2010-11-06T11:39:00.001-05:00

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2010-10-15T19:24:00.001-05:00

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Alive and Well

2010-10-15T18:49:00.000-05:00

I just wanted you to know that I am alive and well. By alive, I mean that I have been quickened by the Spirit of the Lord. The circumstances of life have tried to triumph over me, tried to make me feel that my purpose was dead. But thanks be to God! He let me know that if I have the Spirit of God inside of me, I can be raised, even from the dead.

Romans 8:11 says, "But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you." This word lets us know that if we have been filled with the Spirit, the same power that raised Christ Jesus will also raise us. The power that raised Christ can pick you up even when the weight of the world is piled on top of you.

And not only am I alive, I am well! My soul is prospering. I am encouraged to move forward in the Lord, despite (or maybe because of) the challenges I have faced. The word of God gives us power to continue to make progress. Jesus said, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." He wants us to live life to the fullest extent.

My wish for you is the same as that expressed in 3 John 2: "Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers." Be encouraged to consider yourself alive and well no matter what is happening in your life. You can make it!

This Pursuit is Not Trivial 12

2010-10-11T13:58:00.000-05:00

Prayer Break

2010-09-28T04:09:00.000-05:00

Father, I am writing this in obedience to your command. I thank you for your covering over your people even when they are in the throes of sleep and dreams. Thank you for dispatching your angels to stand guard around us, protecting us from danger that is hidden, as well as that which is clear and present. Lord, I pray right now for those who are standing in the valley of decision, trying to decipher what they are to do. I ask you to give clear direction, release wisdom from on high, and send your warrior angels to deal with demonic resistance.

God, you are calling your people to arise and take authority over all the works of the enemy. Even now some of our coworkers are contemplating violence, living lives of quiet desperation. Lord, help us to see their need and address it by the power of the Spirit. There are some whose relationships are torn, and we have not mended them. Hearts are broken, and we have not applied the Balm of Gilead. Even in Your Kingdom, Lord, there are those who are in need of healing and restoration. Let your people arise to become an instrument of restoration. We know that you are allowing us to be tested and tried, we know that our hidden sin is being exposed, and we repent for harboring any thought, attitude, or action that is contrary to your will. We acknowledge that false religion is rampant, and that even the very elect is being deceived by watered-down forms of Christianity. Your word declares that many of us have zeal, but not according to knowledge. Your word also tells us that some of us have a form of godliness, but we have denied the very power that godliness provides. Help us to turn from our wicked ways. Heal our land. Forgive our sin. Help us to reclaim our children, and our children's children, for you. We declare that we will no longer sit idly by and speak negatively about our youth; rather, we will embrace them and teach them about you with purity and Godly sincerity. We will not shake our heads in despair over our situations - over challenges - over disappointments - over failures - but instead we will arise and praise you.

God we bless you for healing in our families, friends, and surroundings. We believe in prosperity of mind, body, soul, spirit, finances, homes, businesses, employers, ministries, churches, pastors, leaders - all that you desire to bless. Our prayer is collective - we believe, and we receive. We thank you, we honor you, we adore you, we trust you, Lord, we bless you! You are indeed the source of our strength. You are without a doubt the strength of our lives. Even now we lift our hands and bless you. We give you total praise. We thank you for sending your Son to die for us, and we thank you that he has risen from the dead. We thank you for the gift of eternal, abundant life. We thank you that both now - in this time - and in the life to come, you will restore all that has been taken from us by our enemies. Let God arise, and the enemy be scattered! And teach us, again, to fight together, warring on each other's behalf, for release and for increase. Let your prophets speak, and your anointing flow, until the glory of the Lord is revealed throughout the earth. In the powerful name of Jesus, we offer this prayer. Amen.

Wisdom Speaks from Proverbs 31

2010-08-31T19:52:00.000-05:00

Wisdom Speaks:

Pro 31:1 The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.
Pro 31:2 What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?

Even though there is the much-lauded description of the virtuous woman in Proverbs 31, the first two verses are my favorites. I love the acknowledgment of King Lemuel's mother, the mention of the fact that she taught him, prepared him to be a king. The Bible does not say when she taught him; it only tells us that she did. She acknowledged him as her son, but she did not stop there: she said "son of my womb," which implies that he was the product of her own body, not borne to her by anyone else. And finally, she calls him "son of my vows," which implies that he was born to a marriage which she honored and treasured. Our children may not have been born to such ideal circumstances. Perhaps you have not had a natural child. But you are still endued with the power to instruct kings. Be it your natural children or children of God who need help, you can honor your vows to God by instructing kings. Help them learn to exercise authority, to operate in wisdom, to use good judgment. If you read the next verses in Proverbs 31, you will see that King Lemuel's mother instructed him to avoid things that would taint his kingship. This is a valuable lesson that should be taught to all of God's kings and priests on the earth. Wisdom says that kings have to be prepared, taught how to be what they already are before it is manifested to the world. We used to have church mothers, called by many "mothers in Zion." They taught us holiness, whether we wanted to know about it or not. They prepared us to live in the kingdom of God. I submit you do not have to be elderly to fit the bill. Dispense wisdom to the kings in your sphere of influence. Many of them do not recognize who they are - who they should be. The next generation needs Godly mothers in order to learn how to become kings.

Wisdom Speaks from Proverbs 23

2010-08-23T20:29:00.000-05:00

Wisdom Speaks:

17 Do not let your heart envy sinners,
But be zealous for the fear of the LORD all the day;
18 For surely there is a hereafter,
And your hope will not be cut off.

Proverbs 23:17-18 (NKJV). Sometimes it seems very hard to keep things in perspective. It is far easier to be distracted by what appears to be the progress of someone around you, especially if they do not follow the Lord. Believers sometimes get frustrated, thinking that it is unfair that those who don't regard the Lord are having a better time of life than they are. But the truth is revealed in the Bible. Wisdom says it is better to be consistent in your zeal - in your fear of the Lord - knowing that you have an expectation that is far greater than anyone's temporary gain. There is a powerful promise - your hope will not be cut off. Keep in mind that the moment you are in is just that - a moment. It is not the end. I can't say it any better than the word, "For surely there is a hereafter." After this, I will still be here! And so will you.

Search Amazon.com for proverbs

Wisdom Speaks from Proverbs 21

2010-08-21T21:46:00.000-05:00

Wisdom Speaks:

The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.

Proverbs 21:1. This is good news for those of us who have matters resting in the hands of someone in authority over us. It is great that your affairs appear to rest in this "king's" hand, but it is greater still that that king's heart is in the Lord's hand. Now I ask you to consider, whose hand is bigger, stronger, more powerful? The King of Kings has authority over any king on the earth. Wisdom says that you should ask your Heavenly King for favor - trust Him to turn the heart of someone who seems to be reluctant to decide in your favor. Remember what wisdom said - your situation is just like the rivers of water which are controlled by God. He can turn things around at any time.Search Amazon.com for favor of god

Wisdom Speaks from Proverbs 19

2010-08-19T22:27:00.001-05:00

Wisdom speaks: "Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying." Proverbs 19:18. Does anybody else remember the days when we knew we were going to be physically chastised for wrongdoing? And the discipline session that started with,

"This hurts me more than it hurts you"?

You know I never believed that one! Or how about this:

"I'd rather beat you now than have the police beat you later."

Didn't understand that one either, that is, until I had a child of my own. What is happening nowadays? Parents are afraid to discipline their children. Even those as young as two or three are allowed to say and do whatever they want with no adverse consequences. No wonder they become spoiled and self-centered and place very little value on human life. Wisdom says that parents should instill discipline in their children before they get too old for change. While there is hope that they will become well-mannered citizens of society, we have to provide the loving guidance that discipline really is. It is not just punishment, although sometimes that is necessary. Discipline involves teaching. Who better to teach your child to become someone you can be truly proud of than you? It is hard sometimes, for we do not ever want to see our children hurt or deny them anything they desire. But we must have hope that our loving teaching and training will help them to fulfill the will of God in their lives. Thanks, Mom, for all those times you brought me back into line - you had hope! I just wish hope hadn't hurt so bad. :-)
Search Amazon.com for dare to discipline

Wisdom Speaks from Proverbs 18

2010-08-18T21:11:00.000-05:00

Wisdom Speaks: "The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe." Prov. 18:10. One of my favorite songs back in the day was "Who Can I Run To?" by the Jones Girls (yes, I'm that old). It was actually remade by a couple of times that I know of, the last by a gospel group, Ricky Dillard & New G. Their version finally answered the question - even though the Bible had the answer all the time. I can run to the Lord no matter what situation I am facing and so can you. His name, applied correctly, is a STRONG tower that no enemy can penetrate. Wisdom says learn to hide yourself in the name of the Lord. Run into it when life's issues are trying to overtake you. You will be safe.

My Scars Remind Me

2010-08-14T02:09:00.000-05:00

The other day I spent a long time looking at the bottom of my left foot. Yes, the bottom of my left foot. Not both feet, but the left in particular.

You see, the bottom of my left foot is quite different from the right. It is scarred - the result of a staph infection that left me on antibiotics for over a year. That foot hurt so bad when the infection first started that I could not stand on it. It got so bad that I had to have surgery to remove the skin. The infection was so serious that when the skin grew back, the infection came back with it.

But you really don't need all the details. What I was thinking of as I stared at the scars on my foot were the days that I went to work and church with a house shoe and bandages. The days that I sang on the praise team seated on a stool because I could not stand. The day that I cried because I was finally able to wear a shoe - a flip-flop - for the first time in months.

The scars remind me of the news report I saw that profiled a woman my exact age who died as a result of the same type of infection. The reports said she got it at a nail salon and the infection traveled to her heart and killed her.

And I love my scars. I love them because they remind me of God's faithfulness. They remind me that God's report takes precedence over what the "experts" say and think. The scars remind me how I was told that the infection would spread, but miraculously, it stayed confined to that one foot. The scars remind me, sometimes by hurting, that I am still alive despite what I went through.

And they will do the same for you. I was thinking that perhaps Thomas wanted to see Christ's nail-scarred hands because he knew that scars would prove that healing had taken place. You can only be scarred, after all, if a wound has healed.

Be encouraged to take some time to observe your own scars. They will remind you that even though you were wounded, you were also healed! You lived to fight another day. And you have the victory over what hurt you, because you are still here and the pain, the sickness, the disease, is gone.

Jesus' scars were for our healing (Isaiah 53; 2 Peter 2), but He is alive and lives forever! Our scars may be our witness to others of the healing power of Jesus.

So yes, I stared at my scars, but not really to be reminded of the pain. My scars are my reminder that God is able - that He is a healer - and that He delivered me! When things threaten to overwhelm me, when sickness comes upon me, I remember the scars - mine - and the stripes - Christ's. Both of them remind me that whatever I am going through is not permanent - it is only for a moment.

And I will live again. So will you.

2010-07-29T08:18:00.001-05:00

Fellowship with Walk by Faith Not by Sight Ministries on 7/30/10 7:30 pm. 3734 Mt. Pleasant, Houston. http://ping.fm/wdWXy

Pride, Step Aside!

2010-07-10T23:32:00.000-05:00

I have been thinking a lot lately about pride. It seems to me that this small word can actually describe a debilitating illness that keeps us stuck. Pride operates in our lives in a variety of ways, manifesting arrogance and self-exaltation. It convinces us that we are right no matter the circumstances, that our way is best as opposed to any other at all times. Pride convinces us to hold our position, choosing to throw away good relationships so that our pride can remain intact. Pride causes us to hold on to bad relationships because pride won't let us admit that they are toxic and draining us of life and vitality.

It is this pride - the extremity of pride - that keeps us from receiving all that we need from God, for pride hinders our ability to seek God.

Psalm 10:4 KJV - The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek [after God]: God [is] not in all his thoughts.

So why to do we hold on to pride? Mainly because pride appeals to our vanity - it makes us feel right, and that's what we want. We don't understand that pride is the enemy - a subtle enemy, but real. Pride cancels out humility - pride keeps us from submitting ourselves to anyone or anything. Pride makes us feel superior, but it hides from us the fact that will eventually become known to us: God resists the proud.

James 4:6 KJV - But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

1 Peter 5:5 KJV - Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all [of you] be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

That's what the Bible says. And who is strong enough to prevail when God is resisting them? No one. It is the truth. When you let pride direct you, you find yourself doomed to fail. The Word of God, the Bible, tells us that too.

Pro 16:18 KJV - Pride [goeth] before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

Pro 29:23 KJV - A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.

None of us want to fail, yet we let pride fool us into thinking that somehow we are so special that we will not meet that fate of those who have risen up against God. Against God? Yes. Pride causes us to seek our own way, and that is against God.

1 John 2:15-17 Love not the world, neither the things [that are] in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. {16} For all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. {17} And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

I am not writing this to condemn anyone. All of us have a little bit of pride, and that's not altogether bad. It's when our pride begins to override God's will and God's word that we are in trouble. I just want to encourage you to check yourself out. Are you holding on to relationships that don't please God because you can't admit that they are wrong? Are you denying the will of God for your life because you want a certain person to approve of you? Have you refused to apologize to someone because you don't want to give them the "upper hand"?

If these or any similar attributes are yours, it's time to tell pride to step aside! Confess to the Lord the reasons that you are holding on to pride and if you don't know what the reasons are, confess that also. Ask him to deliver you from pride's destructive influences. He is willing and able to help you return to reality. And it is better that you come to him voluntarily. Don't wait for him to humble you.

Luk 14:11 KJV - For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

I don't think any of us really want to go through God's humbling process, although often the adverse circumstances of our lives are just that. We have to guard against overarching pride by maintaining our love relationship with God. It is hard to be lifted up in self when you are continually lifting up the savior. Worship, prayer, and praise make pride step aside. Humble yourself before God today, so that in due time, the Lord can lift you up. When it's God's doing, you will be able to walk in confidence, not arrogance. I know that's my prayer.

Pride, step aside!

Time Brings About a Change (from August 2009 Reflections on Eternity)

2010-07-03T10:33:00.003-05:00

Right now I am thinking about the hymn that says, "time is filled with swift transition, none on earth unmoved can stand; build your hopes on things eternal, hold to God's unchanging hand."

It seems to me that one thing that is sure is that time will bring about a change. No matter what your current state, you can remain hopeful, because with the passage of time, things will change. Now I know that all change is not for the better, but still, even the worst circumstances can change and improve over time.

What troubles most of us, I think, is that we do not know how long it will take for the change we desire to take place. We watch so many television commercials - beloved "infomercials" that promise instant results - that we think everything should happen as quickly as promised on tv. But we fail to read the fine print on those ads that always states "results not typical."

This is the reality of life. Quick results - getting rich quick, quick weight loss, instant happiness - are not typical. Quick results are the exception, not the rule. The rule is that we have to learn to endure, which implies the passage of time in a situation.

I am instantly reminded of Job. In the middle of his distress he began to think about the end of his life and what was going to happen to him. You should take some time to read the 14th chapter of the Book of Job. In it you will find statements like these: "Man, who is born of woman, is short-lived and full of turmoil." (v. 1). "Since his days are determined, the number of his months is with You; and his limits You have set so that he cannot pass." (v. 5). And then he says, "If a man dies, will he live again? All the days of my struggle I will wait until my change comes." (v. 14).

Job knew that his deliverance was in the hands of God, and would be worked out in God's time.

In Psalm 90, a psalm attributed to Moses, the writer lets us know that God's time is dramatically different than ours. He writes, "For a thousand years in Your sight are like yesterday when it passes by, or as a watch in the night." (v. 4). What seems in our mind as an eternity is merely a drop in the bucket to God.

We have to learn to entrust ourselves to Him in such a way that we can endure the test of time. What does the song say? "Build your hopes on things eternal." This is our mandate in this dispensation, where things are not moving favorably in the economy and the national and political landscape is suspect. We must begin to turn to the Lord with a determination to wait for our change to come.

I want to encourage you to try to see God's perspective because to Him, your years of struggle have only been a moment of time that He is using to refine you and to birth His purposes in you.

The day of the Lord is surely coming. He will avenge you, uplift you, establish you. But in the meantime, He gives us a chance to make sure that we get things right with Him and truly put our faith and trust in Him. But don't take my word for it. Here's an expert on the subject:

"But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:8-9).

Time brings about a change. The Lord will perform His promises to you, but only in His time. Step out of your own timetable and into God's and watch Him move!

Overcome ANY Obstacle with 3 Simple Questions

2010-06-15T13:00:00.000-05:00

I thought this was worth sharing:

Overcome ANY Obstacle with 3 Simple Questions
by Jack Canfield

What stands between you and what you most desire?

Your answers might relate to a lack of money, time, support from family, or all of these. Obstacles can seem so numerous, so obvious, and so tough to change.

You can relate to obstacles in many ways. Typical responses are to explain them or resist them.

Both responses take a lot of time and energy. And both anchor you firmly in the past, keeping your focus on areas of your life that are not working.

To immediately generate alternatives, remember a simple analogy...

Imagine that you’re driving down a scenic highway. Suddenly you come to a huge rock in the middle of the road.

At this moment you have several options. You could try to explain how the rock ended up there. You could also go into resistance mode, complaining about the carelessness of highway construction or the lack of state funding for rock removal.

Or, you could bypass all this negativity and remove the obstacle from your life at once. Instead of explaining the rock or resisting it, just drive around it.

When faced with obstacles, people often respond with questions based on explanation and resistance, such as:

- Why am I so alone?
- Why does this always happen to me?
- Why am I such a failure?

However, you always have another option. You can ask questions that help you drive around any obstacle in your life.

Questions have uncanny power. Questions direct your attention— and along with it, how you think and how you feel. If you want to create different thoughts, feelings, and results into your life, then ask different questions.

Start now by skipping the why questions and begin asking what questions, such as:

1) What’s the lesson here?

There’s an old saying about learning from experience: Beware the person with twenty years of experience. This may consist of one year of learning and nineteen years of repetition.

The point is that experiences do not come prepackaged with empowering lessons. Everything hinges on how you interpret experiences, and your interpretations can change over the years. A single event can take you a step closer to emotional contraction or expansion. It all depends on how you interpret that event.

Psychologist Martin Seligman has made a career by studying how human beings interpret their experience. He notes that each of us has an explanatory style. People who chronically feel helpless tend to explain events in ways that are:

Permanent: “I always get confused when trying to learn something new.”
Personal: “I’m just no good at meeting people.”
Pervasive: “I’m just the kind of person who fails to follow through, no matter what kind of goals I set.”
Optimistic people use a different style. They explain events in ways that are:

Temporary: “When I feel confused, I ask questions that lead me to understanding.”
External: “I find it hard to talk to people in bars, so I invite them to quiet restaurants instead.”
Specific: “I find it challenging to meet long-term goals, so for now I will focus on achieving short-term objectives.”
You should interpret these obstacles as yield signs rather than stop signs.

These are signals that the world is expanding to accommodate your growth. Instead of resisting a challenge, just lean into it. Ask yourself: How can I interpret this event in a more powerful way? What’s a positive lesson that’s waiting here to be learned?

2) What’s great about having this problem?

There’s an easy answer to this question: “Nothing!” However, looking beyond that knee-jerk response can quickly open up your perspective.

Tony Robbins offers an example in his book Awakening the Giant Within. He recalls a time when he’d been on the road for nearly 100 days out of 120. Returning to his office, he found a stack of urgent memos and a list of 100 phone calls that he needed to personally return. Before making these discoveries, he was tired. Now he felt exhausted.

Tony managed to shift his internal state simply by asking: What’s great about having this problem? He then realized that just a few years ago he would have been grateful to get calls from twenty people—let alone one hundred people with national reputations.

This insight was enough to break his pattern of frustration. He found himself feeling grateful that so many people he loved and respected were willing to connect with him.

3) What’s my next action?

This question shines a spotlight on solutions. No matter what happens, you can choose what to say and do in response. Rather than manifesting resistance or explanation, you can choose your next action.

Successful people hold a bias for action. Add inspiration and intention to the mix, and you gain an unstoppable momentum.

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I'll be back in two weeks with another edition of Success Strategies. Until then, see how you can discover ways to immediately implement what you learned from today's message!

© 2010 Jack Canfield
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Are you "stuck" in this area?
Join me this summer at the Breakthrough to Success Retreat where we'll work together to overcome any unconscious blocks holding you back from your ideal life.http://www.breakthroughtosuccess.com

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You can, as long as you include this complete statement with it: Jack Canfield, America's #1 Success Coach, is founder of the billion-dollar book brand Chicken Soup for the Soul© and a leading authority on Peak Performance and Life Success. If you're ready to jump-start your life, make more money, and have more fun and joy in all that you do, get your FREE success tips from Jack Canfield now at: www.FreeSuccessStrategies.com

Excerpt - Surviving Your Season of Shame by C. M. Blount

2010-06-09T00:08:00.003-05:00

"Surviving Your Season of Shame" will be published soon! Look for it online. In the meantime, enjoy this excerpt:

Let Him be Crucified!

The prime example of purposeful shame is the Lord Jesus Christ. Can you imagine the scene in Jerusalem? If you’re having trouble, just indulge me for a moment:

The cry rang out from among the people, the same people Jesus healed, fed, and taught. Pilate was trying to release Him! Jesus knew this, yet He did or said nothing which would aid Pilate’s attempts. Pilate was under strain. His wife had told him not to bother with this man of righteousness. She said her dreams had been troubled because of Him!

Jesus just stood there, giving the most minimal, but powerful, answers to Pilate’s questions. Pilate knew he had to act – the people were thirsty for blood. But did it have to be this man’s blood? In a last-ditch effort to save the Galilean, Pilate addressed the people. Surely they would want to see the murderer Barabbas crucified rather than this man!

But alas, the people had another plan. The Bible tells us that when given the option of which prisoner should be released, they cried out for Barabbas. And when asked about Jesus, they shouted, “Let Him be crucified!” Pilate was stunned – he washed his hands of the whole affair after delivering a stern warning. Pilate told the Jews he would not be called into account for the blood of this man.

The Jews, however, responded with a statement that has puzzled me for some time. They said, “Let His blood be on us and on our children!” Why would they curse their children with the consequences of their actions? I still do not really understand, but I submit it is something to think about: are the seasons of shame our children experience brought about because of our actions? Maybe.

But that’s not the point. The point is Jesus knew he would be crucified. He explained to his disciples that he would be lifted up the same way Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness so that multitudes would be healed. Jesus knew that he had to die. It was the reason that he came into the world.

But such a death! He was humiliated – stripped, mocked, spit upon, beaten, and then crucified. He was publicly destroyed (from a human standpoint), but He understood that it was all for the purpose of reconciling man to God.

Does that mean that it was easy? No! It is not easy to bear the cross. It is not easy to fulfill God’s purposes. And knowing that it is God’s will does not necessarily allow you to breeze through the process. Jesus prayed! He truly prayed asking God to let this particular cup pass from Him if there was any other way God’s purpose could be accomplished.

But after He let God know how He felt about what He was going to have to go through, Jesus uttered a sentence that has become another part of my daily prayer, “Nevertheless, not my will, but thy will be done.” That is a hard prayer to pray, but if you can get to that stage, you can walk through your season of shame without batting an eye. As long as you know that what you are going through is to accomplish the will of God, you will be able to handle it.

The writer of Hebrews explains it this way, speaking of our Lord, “who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame….” What was the joy set before him? Simply, God’s will being done and man being reconciled to God.

Ask any church founder or pioneer, I’m sure they would tell you they had to learn to endure so that they could perform the task God laid on their hearts. Many of them were ridiculed, harassed, and abandoned by friends and family. But the conviction that they were moving in the direction of God’s purpose carried them through. He has not changed, He will do the same thing for you.

Have you given any thought to what people might learn about God by watching you walk through your season of shame? I know I didn’t – not at first. The revelation of that truth did not come to me until years later. And guess who it came from? My first husband. He told me years after our divorce that I had been a good wife and that I taught him how to hold his peace instead of arguing and fighting. It had never occurred to me during our trials that he was watching my reaction and learning from me. It turns out that what we went through made us both stronger and better. And it led me to the place where I am today, walking into my purpose with no fear of the past.

From Jesus’ example, we discover the high price that God was willing to pay for our redemption. Christ’s picture of sacrificial love should elevate our spirits and reveal to us just how much we are treasured by our creator. As one of my former pastors used to say, God took what He could not replace and traded it for what He could replace. He could have wiped us out, been done with us, divorced us if you will.

But through Hosea, Mary, Jesus, me, and you, people can learn that the love of God is richer, fuller, and deeper than any human love. Now that’s purpose!

Insomnia (an excerpt from "Go to Sleep" by Catrina Johnson-Bloun

2010-06-03T22:27:00.001-05:00

Insomnia–the inability to go to sleep, or to stay asleep for a full night of rest. This has plagued me for most of my adult life. It seems like a mixed bag of blessing and curse. Lack of sleep, sustained over a period of time, hinders you in a lot of ways. It breaks your concentration and impairs the body’s ability to repair itself.

On the other hand, my wakeful moments are sometimes my most brilliant. I write a lot of my poetry during the midnight hours. A few restless nights isn’t too bad, but I have realized that a sustained period without rest is not a good thing. Not only that, if your lack of rest is brought on by worry and fear, you are working outside of God’s plan for your life.

In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat—for he grants sleep to those he loves.

Psalm 127:2.

Not only that, the Lord Himself keeps watch over us, so there is no need for us to stay awake!

My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

Psalm 121:2-4.

Even though God does not slumber or sleep, He created in us a need to do just that. Sleep is needed so that the body can rest, replenish, and dream. I began to think about that. Many of us are exhausted and over-stressed. In our high-tech, fast-paced society we are always driven to do more and to see more. It is no wonder that we can’t turn off our minds when it is time to go to sleep. So how do we conquer this problem? If you watch television, you’ve surely seen the myriad of commercials advertising things designed to help people sleep. But are sleeping aids, as helpful as they are, the best answer? Perhaps we need to ask the Lord to help us sleep. That’s what I am learning to do. And I have learned that God desires sleep for us, and for our enemies. In fact, He uses our sleep, and our dreams, to accomplish his purposes in us.

In the creation which crowned the head of man, woman, the Bible says that God caused a “deep sleep” to come upon Adam.

So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.

Genesis 2:21-22.

This sleep was deep enough to allow God to take a rib from Adam and create Eve. This sleep was so deep that God was able to cut Adam open, extract the material that would fulfill his deepest need, and create that fulfillment without interruption and human intervention. Notice that God already had in Adam everything he needed to make Eve. All it took to pull it out was a good sleep. I dare you to go to sleep and let God go to work on you. There’s no telling what He might bring to you in the morning!

A Little Late for Mother's Day (from May 2010 Reflections on Eternity)

2010-05-31T10:56:00.001-05:00

To all my readers that are moms, Happy Belated Mother's Day! It is so hard to know what to get for mom or what to say that can adequately capture the depth of feeling you have for your mother. Mother is our first nurturer and teacher, the one who we learn about the world from. Mother is the first person who meets our every need and responds to our cries. I am thankful for my mother.

I know that not everyone feels this way, and it is sad that this is the case. But whatever the current circumstance, at some point, you had a mother. And even if all she did for you was bring you into the world, that was still a great sacrifice on her part.

This year I was particularly touched by the thought of life without my mother as I witnessed the mixture of joy and pain experienced by some of my friends whose mothers have gone - Hallelujah! - to heaven. There is a feeling of joy that the suffering of this world is done, and yet a sadness that her comfort and care are no longer a phone call or drive down the road away.

I want to encourage each of you to remember the good things about your mother and be sensitive to those missing theirs. And if you are a mother, please let your joyful experiences color your attitude toward your children instead of letting the negatives take control.

For God never promised us that every day of motherhood would be easy; he only entrusted us to be caretakers of his creation and to nurture lives that he ordained. This is a great responsibility but one that he knew you could handle. And if you have not been a mother in the natural sense of the word, I would encourage you to look for someone who has been placed in your life for nurturing. There are naturally and spiritually motherless people all around us. Some of them rejected their mother's counsel and advice and are now seeing its value for the first time.

Pray for them, and for me. My mom said to me on Mother's Day that I was not a hard child to raise. That's not the way I remember it, but it really did something to my spirit for her to say that. For a long time I felt guilty about things I had done that I know caused my mom unnecessary pain (such as getting pregnant at 13, skipping school, fighting, and much more). Not to mention that fact that she had five other children (including my child) to be concerned about while I was in my wild phase.

For her to bless me like she did, and to say to me that I turned out to be a good mother and that my daughter is being a good mother to her children, is tremendous. I will always remember that. And as I shared with my friends who have been sharing memories of their mothers, now resting in the arms of Christ and viewing the Holy City they lived to see, "I remember Mama in a happy way." Thanks, Pastor Shirley Cesar, I couldn't have said it better.

A little late, but somehow, I believe, right on time.

Can I Get a Witness?

No Matter What (from May 2010 Reflections on Eternity)

2010-05-28T19:00:00.001-05:00

One of the things people start thinking about during the spring and right before summer is gardening. I have seen many people going all out, adding color to their landscaping, sprucing up and fertilizing their lawns, and generally enjoying the rebirth of nature. It got me to thinking about the kingdom of God. Because in his kingdom, we are planted, rooted, grounded, and nurtured. And no matter what, we're gonna get cut.

Scripture bears this out:

John 15:1-8 (KJV)
1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

Notice the power in Christ's words. He teaches his disciples using an analogy that is familiar to all of the Jewish people: a vineyard. The people of God were likened to a vineyard in various places throught the Old Testament. But here the Lord reveals that HE is the true vine and that we, as his people, are merely branches. Then he gives a startling truth: no matter what, we're gonna get cut.

I don't know how this fits into the theology of those that believe that as Christians we should never experience pain. I don't know what they do with Jesus' teaching. But what he says is clear, and it works in natural gardening as well. Every plant must be cut, but the cutting is not always for the same purpose.

Those that do not bear fruit are cut completely away - some scholars say in the positive sense of being lifted up to a place where they can receive greater light, air, and water, bringing them to a state where they may be able to bear fruit.

Those that fruitful already are also cut, to the end that they may bear more fruit. This cutting entails thinning out the branches and leaves, scraping away fungus and parasites, insects and invaders, so that the fruitful branch is not sucked dry of all of its ability.

Wow! No matter what, you're gonna get cut. It is important for us to understand that not every painful experience is because we are unfruitful. Some things happen because we are bearing fruit. Why would a parasite latch on to something already dead? It attaches itself, rather, where it may receive life. And the Father, that divine vinedresser, cuts it away.

I want to encourage you to take a look at what is happening to you. Are you being cut, or is the Father cutting away something that is stealing life from you? If you are being cut away, look for the opening that offers the opportunity for you to be nourished back to health and fruitfulness. And if leeches and other hindrances are being cut away, trust the Lord to be able to distinguish good attachments from bad ones in your life. He is able to do it.

Our job is to abide in him during the process. To trust him and to immerse ourselves in the word of God. For it is the ointment that can be applied to every wound - the word can heal every place that we are cut. It is a powerful sedative that takes the pain out of every one of life's cutting moments. Jesus promised that if we abide in him, and his words abide in us, we can ask what we will. I believe that is because our will conforms to his will to the extent that we abide in his word. And he will not deny himself.

Just a thought on being a part of God's garden - the beauty that he looks at each day - the blooms that he inspects and displays with joy. It's a privileged position to be in, but it is not without pain.

Remember, no matter what - you're gonna get cut!
Can I Get a Witness?

2010-05-08T11:55:00.001-05:00

Atheists Lose Suit Against 'God' in Presidential Oath - http://ping.fm/csQ7G

2010-05-05T12:19:00.001-05:00

"Today I have time to do everything I need to do today." - Cec Murphey. Check out Mr. Murphey's info found at http://ping.fm/tov4C

2010-04-29T07:31:00.001-05:00

"Let the weak say, 'I am strong'." Joel 3:10. What you speak about, you bring about! Be careful what you say.

No Phone Zones & A Start on A New Career

2010-04-24T09:43:00.002-05:00

I am not a fan of Oprah, but I am passing on something I received that might be what you need to get started on your next career! I have several FabJob guides and they have given me tremendous insight into fields I have interest in. Getting one free is a treat. Here is the email I received the other day:

How you (and the people you care about) can get a free FabJob guide simply by agreeing to drive safely.

As a valued reader of the FabJob® Newsletter or member of the FabJob community of friends, we have a rewarding offer for you that includes a free FabJob e-book of your choice - if you act now.

Your free gift is your choice of any one FabJob® e-book! FabJob guides show readers how to start getting paid to do what they love NOW - without a degree, and regardless of bank account size. It's like having a good friend - who happens to be an expert in the career or business you want to break into - tell you their insider advice so you don't have to spend years struggling to get started.

Whether you want to be a Boutique Owner, Cake Decorator, Coffee House Owner, Event Planner, Fashion Designer, Florist, Home Stager, Image Consultant, Interior Decorator, Life Coach, Motivational Speaker, Personal Concierge, Personal Shopper, Pet Business Owner, Professional Organizer, Published Writer, Virtual Assistant, Wedding Planner or break into any of the more than 120 other dream careers at FabJob.com, you can have the FabJob e-book that will help you achieve your dream (up to $29.97 value, yours free!)

Now, here's how you can get your complimentary FabJob e-book... for doing one simple thing today....

We (Tag and Catherine Goulet, co-founders of FabJob.com), are joining forces to support Oprah Winfrey in making our roads safer and taking a stand against distracted driving by making cars a No Phone Zone! Oprah recently announced the first National "No Phone Zone" day, which will take place on Friday, April 30th. We would like to support this movement and encourage others to take a stand as well.

So, we're giving away free FabJob e-books to do just that. We have never done anything like this before, but safe driving is a cause we feel strongly about.

Each person that signs the "No Phone Zone" pledge and submits their signed copy to FabJob now (before April 30, 2010) will receive a complimentary FabJob e-book (electronic book).

How's that for a win-win? PLUS, we all win when our roads are safer!

So sign the "No Phone Zone" pledge today and send it to us and we'll send you the complimentary FabJob e-book of your choice!

All you have to do to get your free FabJob e-book is follow the simple steps below:

Go to www.FabJob.com to decide which guide you would like to receive for free.

Click on the link below and print a copy of Oprah's "No Phone Zone" pledge:

http://static.oprah.com/images/tows/nophone/no-phone-zone-pledge.pdf

Sign and date the "No Phone Zone" pledge AND write your email address and FabJob guide selection (in legible printing) anywhere on the white portion of the "No Phone Zone" pledge.

Either fax or email FabJob a signed copy of the "No Phone Zone" pledge (make sure you include your FabJob guide selection together with your email address on the signed "No Phone Zone" pledge) by Friday, April 30th, as follows:
If sending your "No Phone Zone" pledge by fax, please fax it to 1-(403) 201-7088

OR

If sending your "No Phone Zone" pledge by email, please scan the signed "No Phone Zone" pledge and then email it to NoPhoneZone@FabJob.com

After we receive your signed "No Phone Zone" pledge we will send you the complimentary FabJob e-book of your choice. Remember to include your e-book selection and email address on the white portion of your "No Phone Zone" pledge and make sure to send it in by Friday, April 30, 2010!!

We feel so strongly in supporting Oprah in this movement that we want you to pass this offer on to all of your friends, family and colleagues. Feel free to write about this free FabJob e-book offer in blogs or newsletters, on your Facebook or Myspace page, in your tweets, etc. Remember that the offer ends on Friday, April 30th though so you will have to act now!

Remember the way to get the free FabJob e-book of your choice is to sign the "No Phone Zone" pledge and get it sent over to us at FabJob (either by fax sent to (403) 201-7088 or by email sent to NoPhoneZone@FabJob.com) as soon as possible but no later than FRIDAY, APRIL 30th!

Join us now in supporting the movement towards safer driving!

Tag and Catherine Goulet
www.FabJob.com

P.S. Act now to receive your complimentary e-book of choice from www.FabJob.com!

P.P.S. The link to print your copy of the "No Phone Zone" pledge is:
http://static.oprah.com/images/tows/nophone/no-phone-zone-pledge.pdf

P.P.P.S. Remember to get as many of your friends and family involved as possible. Don't forget to tell your friends, partner, siblings, parents, grown children, and other loved ones about this offer and more importantly about the "No Phone Zone" pledge. Our goal is to get at least 1,000 people to sign and send us the "No Phone Zone" pledge and we will happily pass these on to Oprah and her staff. We appreciate you being part of the movement to make our roads safer.

Please forward this email offer to anyone else you think may enjoy it!

Shop for My Books on Lulu.com!

2010-04-23T13:00:00.005-05:00

In this storefront, you will find items that aren't yet available on Amazon.com.

Delayed is Not Denied

2010-04-22T21:45:00.000-05:00

Sometimes it seems to take so long for our dreams to come true that we get discouraged and begin to think that God has stamped "NO" all over our prayer requests. But I want to encourage you that God's timing is completely different from ours, and the fact that our blessing is delayed does not equal denied.

I am immediately reminded of Abram/Abraham, who was promised by God that he would become a great nation. (Genesis 12: 1-3). He received this promise when he was 75 years old.

At the time God promised him that his seed would outnumber the sand on the shore (Genesis 13:16), Abram didn't have a single child! Can you imagine how he felt? Promised millions, when he had none!

It would have been easier had his wife immediately become pregnant with a child. But that was not to be. Abram and Sarai (later named Sarah) traveled through many lands and remained childless year after year. Finally, after about 10 years, Sarai got fed up with waiting and came up with an alternative plan to get the child she so desperately wanted. In Genesis 16, Sarai talks Abram into moving into her plan rather than waiting on God. Have you ever done that? Has it ever seemed that maybe God forgot what he promised you, or has it been so long since you received the promise that you feel like it will never come to pass?

Don't forget - delayed is not denied! God takes us through a process of time in order to refine and purify us before placing His promises into our reality. We have to be careful not to move outside of God's plan for us. Abram and Sarai's alternate plan has been a source of contention ever since Ishmael was conceived. We cannot afford to get tired in the waiting process.

It was years later, when Abram was 99, that God decided the timing was right for the blessing. In Genesis 17, God re-established his covenant, changing both Abram and Sarai's names. God also reminded Abram (now Abraham) that it was through his wife Sarai (now Sarah) that the child that was promised would be born.

Here's something to ponder: Abraham got the news and it was too incredible! He thought (Genesis 17:17-18) that at their ages, it was just incredible. He even asked God to accept his "plan B" offspring in place of what had been promised to him years ago. But before you criticize Abraham, ask yourself how many times you've settled for less than God's best, and then asked God to bless it.

But that's not the point. The point is that when God spoke the original promise, he meant it. He did not put a time limit on when it would happen, he just promised that it would. What we have to do in the meantime (that time between the promise and its fulfillment), is maintain our faith and patience.

Faith and patience are the ingredients key to our possessing the promises of God (Hebrews 6:12). We have to be fully convinced that the God who made the promise is faithful to bring it to pass. Romans 4:20-21 puts it this way, speaking of Abraham: He did not waver in unbelief at God's promise, but he was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, because he was fully convinced that what He has promised He was also able to perform. (HCSB).

I pray that you are encouraged by this -- even though it may take a while for God's promises to come to pass, he has not forgotten you! Grab ahold to your faith! Gear up to ride out the entire process that God has designed for you, no matter how long it takes. Remember, delayed does not equal denied!

2010-04-16T12:26:00.001-05:00

Something to remember when life gets hard: "Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass." 1 Thessalonians 5:24, NASB

2010-04-09T13:29:00.001-05:00

Instead of putting others in their place, put yourself in others' place (John C. Maxwell).

2010-03-21T08:18:00.001-05:00

This is the day that the Lord has made! I am rejoicing in it and praising the Lord for the gift of salvation. My soul loves Jesus - bless His name!

2010-03-16T09:35:00.001-05:00

The March 2010 issue of Reflections on Eternity is available. Check it out: http://ping.fm/6eJQK

2010-03-15T21:01:00.001-05:00

'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, just to take him at his word! Just to rest upon his promise, just to know thus saith the Lord.

2010-03-11T22:31:00.001-06:00

Jesus, Jesus! How I trust him! How I've proved him o'er and o'er. Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! Oh for grace to trust him more.

2010-03-11T00:37:00.001-06:00

Praising God - He is the only one that never changes! I know that I can safely trust in him at all times. He is great! Hallelujah!

2010-03-05T22:00:00.001-06:00

About to go to sleep - I hope. But first I want to thank God for all of the awesome and anointed women of God I know. You know who you are.

2010-03-04T16:56:00.001-06:00

This is a very difficult time for me, but I will take on the challenge and see it through with the Lord's guidance, grace, and strength!

2010-03-01T09:05:00.001-06:00

I am excited about my God! I would rather follow the Lord than anything else in life.

2010-02-23T21:21:00.001-06:00

The Lord shows himself strong to those who trust him. I pray that you have placed your confidence in him. He never fails!

2010-02-19T22:34:00.001-06:00

I am grateful to God for my new author page on Amazon.com. Please visit http://ping.fm/Kj2IE I would appreciate it! God bless.

2010-02-17T22:07:00.001-06:00

As always, blessing God for His faithfulness. Things aren't ideal, but it's well with my soul right now. Sleep in peace, God's in control!

2010-02-16T22:52:00.001-06:00

Ending my day with a heart filled with praise. New ideas and opportunities are coming my way. I thank God for it!

2010-02-14T14:23:00.001-06:00

About to be on my way home to Texas from South Carolina! I love to travel, but there's no place like home at all!

2010-02-14T13:54:00.001-06:00

Visited Brookland Baptist Church in West Columbia, SC. Message was "Don't Doubt the Lord." Amen! That's good advice for all of us today.

Anointed Pace Sisters - When God Is In The Building

2010-02-05T11:49:00.001-06:00

What do you expect when God is in the building? Have you experienced the presence of God lately? Let's set the atmosphere for God to move!

2010-02-01T20:41:00.001-06:00

I feel a breakthrough coming your way!

2010-02-01T20:37:00.001-06:00

Give God praise! Hallelujah! He is worthy! There is no one else like Him in all of the earth. He has blessed you - bless him back!

2010-01-30T20:48:00.001-06:00

Wondering if people will wait until I'm dead to recognize my impact on their lives. Have I made an impact for God???

Commissioned - Will You Be Ready? 1988

2010-01-24T22:34:00.001-06:00

Here is a question that still needs to be answered. Will you be ready when Jesus comes? Rest assured He is returning. Pray and ask God to forgive you of your sins. He will do it. Repent - turn away from evil and press toward God.

2010-01-19T07:32:00.001-06:00

The love of God is deeper than any human love. I plan on diving into it today. Anybody wanna come with? 1 Corinthians 13:4-8; 1 John 4:7-8.

2010-01-04T10:50:00.001-06:00

Blessing the Lord for His goodness and His faithfulness!

2009-12-31T15:40:00.001-06:00

May the Lord Jesus Christ do a new and exciting work in you in the New Year! Love to you from Darryl & Catrina Blount

2009-12-25T18:01:00.003-06:00

oved ones ever closer to Him. Merry Christmas from Darryl & Catrina Blount!

2009-12-25T18:01:00.001-06:00

Glory to God in the highest! We celebrate the fact that God came near, manifesting himself in the person of Christ! May this season draw you and your l

Candy's Dead

2009-12-24T20:09:00.001-06:00

This is a powerful testimony of God's deliverance! You can experience it too.

Pastor Shelia Pittman

2009-12-24T19:55:00.001-06:00

You will love this video! Pastor Pittman is one of the most dynamic preachers in the whole wide world. An undiscovered dynamo, if you will.

2009-12-19T02:01:00.001-06:00

Just got home from a Holy Ghost service! Pastor Shelia Pittman preached about The Greatest Gift. Do you know Him??????

2009-12-09T18:54:00.001-06:00

In South Carolina enjoying class! One question for you: what important conversation do you keep avoiding? Step out and take care of it!

2009-12-01T22:01:00.001-06:00

December 2009 Reflections on Eternity available at http://ping.fm/U6hNj - enjoy! Merry Christmas!

2009-11-27T01:03:00.003-06:00

s and peace to you from Darryl & Catrina Blount

2009-11-27T01:03:00.001-06:00

Everyday is a day of Thanksgiving, but today we are most thankful for those God has given us to love. That includes you and your awesome family! Blessing

2009-11-20T16:47:00.001-06:00

Praising the Lord, Elohim, the one who is worthy to be praised! What or who do you ascribe worth to?

2009-11-03T19:30:00.001-06:00

I am considering a career in coaching. How about you? Go to for more info.

Freedom

2009-11-02T09:56:00.007-06:00

I am sitting here without the benefit of my extra eyes writing about freedom. Just because the topic popped into my head.

What is freedom? How do we know when we are truly free?

Some say that freedom is when you reach a certain age. Then, they say, you can do whatever you want to do. But is that true? Is there ever really a time in your life when you can do whatever you want? I haven’t found that time so far in my life. When you are a child, you do what the parent wants. When you are an adult, you do what the employer wants, or if you own your own business, you do what the business needs. When you are a parent, you do what the child needs (isn’t that something? I switched from wants to needs). It is the truth.

When you are not saved, you do what the devil wants. And the killing part is you think you’re free. Until you find out that you can’t just stop. Until you discover that you just can’t help it. That’s when you realize you are not free at all.

But once you come to Christ, you experience true freedom (Galatians 5:1). Jesus promised that he came that we might have abundant life (John 10:10). Does it mean that you are free to do whatever you want? Not really, but in a way. If you develop the desire to please God, you are totally free to do that. You are totally free to live without fear, without addiction, without bondage. You are free to come to the throne of God, free to worship the Lord.

The Bible teaches us that where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. (2 Corinthians 3:17). And what is liberty? It is freedom. Freedom from tyranny and oppression. As Patrick Henry, one of the founding fathers of America said, "[G]ive me liberty or give me death!" I don’t know if he knew what he was saying, but it is so true. Without liberty, there is death. Check it out in Romans chapter 8 – you will clearly see the contrast between life in the spirit (liberty) and life in the flesh (death).

Having said all that, I wonder why people choose to live death (sort of an oxymoron, isn’t it?). God told the Israelites to choose life so that they and their children might live (Deuteronomy 30:19). It is a choice. He even asks them why they would choose to die (Ezekiel 18:31).

In the same vein, I want to know why people choose to be down and depressed – concentrating on the negative things in life rather than the positive. I have discovered, and trust me; I have lost a lot in this life, that for everything you can name that you DON’T have, there is something you can think about that you DO have.

But, as usual, I digress. The subject is freedom. You have been given the opportunity for freedom when you have been exposed to the truth. Jesus said that you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free (John 8:32). Some versions state that the truth shall set you free. In other words, the truth is liberating. It breaks shackles and fetters and gives you the opportunity to come out of the box, to move out of the cage.

No one can ask questions better than God. He said, why would you die, O house of Israel? (Ezekiel 18:31; 33:11). And I believe the Spirit of God is impressing upon me the need to ask the same questions – why would you die?

Here is the answer – you don't have to. Choose life - that you and your children may live.

2009-10-29T17:10:00.001-05:00

I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. Romans 1:8

Just a Thought

2009-10-27T23:36:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I wonder who has time to read the thousands of blog posts that are made every day. I ask myself, "Who is going to read this stuff?" every time I get ready to write.

And then I realize I may never know. I may never know who is reading this blog, looking for insight and encouragement. I may never know who saw a video posted on this blog that helped them make it a little further down the road. I may never know who was changed by something they read. I may never know who was reminded that despite difficulties, all is not lost. Life goes on, and I may never know who I have touched.

At least not on this side of eternity. There are so many things that are simply unknown to us. So instead of thinking that what we do makes no difference, I encourage you to think that what you do may make all the difference in the world to someone you may never meet on this side of eternity.

One thing is sure: on the other side of eternity, you will know some things you cannot possibly know now. Like how your kind word to someone stopped them from taking their own life. Or how the dollar you gave someone on the street restored their faith in the goodness of mankind. You don't know now, but then, you will KNOW.

First Corinthians chapter 13 puts it this way in verse 12: For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.

Isn't that reassuring? One day we will know things just as fully, just as completely, as God knows us right now. And if I got this right, Jesus said that even the hairs on our heads are numbered. If God knows and cares about the minutest detail of our lives, why do we spend so much time worrying about what we don't know? Guess what? I don't know!

But I am confident that if I maintain a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, on the other side of eternity I will truly be a know it all. And the lives that I have touched, and the people that have touched my life, will be a complete and utter joy to me. Start today to invest in the things that you will only see clearly on the other side of eternity.

You will be glad you did.

JBA Custom Player

2009-10-19T10:49:00.001-05:00

2009-10-18T22:52:00.001-05:00

Be encouraged! You are closer to a miracle than you think.

2009-10-09T10:53:00.001-05:00

Celebrating birth of my granddaughter, Brielle Aaliyah, born 10/9/09 @ 8:03 am.

2009-10-03T17:41:00.001-05:00

Uncommon people face common problems everyday. The difference is in the response. What's your response gonna be?

2009-10-02T09:16:00.001-05:00

Reflections on Eternity - October 2009 now available for your edification at http://ping.fm/bZEnD Check it out!

2009-09-29T11:39:00.001-05:00

You are more important than you think! Reach out and give someone the gift of your presence today.

2009-09-14T15:21:00.001-05:00

In light of recent news stories, I am wondering if manners and good taste are things of the past. What do you think?

2009-09-11T16:23:00.001-05:00

Take courage! If you belong to the Lord, He will walk with you through all of life's hard trials and lead you to a place of victory!

2009-09-10T10:45:00.001-05:00

What is the greatest thing you can do today to move in the direction of your destiny?? Do that, before all else.

2009-09-07T20:42:00.001-05:00

Just returned from a mini-cation at the beach. Enjoyed the rest and rejuvenation. The water is so peaceful!

2009-09-05T10:34:00.001-05:00

Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord, that walketh in his ways. Psalm 128:1

2009-09-04T17:24:00.001-05:00

Praising God for the way things are and for the way they will one day be!

2009-09-02T12:39:00.001-05:00

Sept. 09 Reflections on Eternity Newsletter online NOW! Find it here: http://ping.fm/wBDJC You'll love it!

2009-08-30T22:39:00.001-05:00

Congrats to Bishop Richard L. Holman and Pastor Louise Holman of Ministers for Christ Christian Center in Houston on their Consecration.

2009-08-29T02:52:00.001-05:00

Thinking of new topics for my show at http://ping.fm/rhwjJ Any ideas? What's on your mind?

2009-08-28T22:44:00.001-05:00

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge..." Prov. 1:7 (NASB). Check out the blog post at http://ping.fm/rXam0

Beware of Internet Scams

2009-08-14T12:07:00.002-05:00

If you're like me, you conduct more and more of your business via the Internet. From simple information searches to that all-important hunt for employment, the Internet has become a way of life. Unfortunately, there are some individuals who will take advantage of others using this global communications tool. I am sharing the article below to raise awareness of common Internet schemes. Source information for the article is at the very end. Be safe when surfing!

Common Internet Scams - An Overview

Email and the Internet is a wonderful resource that has revolutionized the way humans communicate and access information. Unfortunately, it has also proven to be a fertile medium for the unscrupulous and the morally challenged. Scammers regularly use email in attempts to steal money or personal information from unsuspecting victims. Those inexperienced in the ways of the Internet are especially vulnerable to these scammers.

The good news is that it is not difficult to learn how to recognise scam attempts that arrive via email. Included below are descriptions of three of the most common types of email driven scams as well as some general indicators that should help you recognize scam emails.

Phisher Scams:

You may receive an email from a bank/online service provider/ financial institution that asks you to click a link and visit a website in order to provide personal information. Such an email is more than likely the type of Internet scam known as "phishing".

A phisher scam is one in which victims are tricked into providing personal information such as account numbers and passwords to what they believe to be a legitimate company or organization. In order to carry out this trick, the scammers often create a "look-a-like" website that is designed to resemble the target company's official website. Typically, emails are used as "bait" in order to get the potential victim to visit the bogus website. Be wary of any email that asks you to click on a link and provide sensitive personal information such as banking details. Information submitted on these bogus websites is harvested by the scammers and may then be used to steal funds from the user's accounts and/or steal the victim's identity.

Most legitimate companies would not request sensitive information from customers via email. DO NOT click on the links in these emails. DO NOT provide any information about yourself. If you have any doubts at all about the veracity of an email, contact the company directly.

For more information about Phisher scams, see:
http://www.hoax-slayer.com/phisher-scams.html

Nigerian Scams

You may receive an email/letter/fax that asks for your help to access a large sum of money in a foreign bank account. The message says that you will get a percentage of the funds in exchange for your help.

In all probability, the message is an example of the type of scam known as a Nigerian or "419" scam. The "large sum of money" does not exist. The messages are an opening gambit designed to draw potential victims deeper into the scam. Those who initiate a dialogue with the scammers by replying to the scam messages will eventually be asked for advance fees supposedly required to allow the deal to proceed. They may also become the victims of identity theft. The scammers use a variety of stories to explain why they need your help to access the funds.

For example:
* They may claim that political climate or legal issues preclude them from accessing funds in a foreign bank account.
* They may claim that your last name is the same as that of the deceased person who owned the account and suggest that you act as the Next of Kin of this person in order to gain access to the funds.
* They may claim that a rich merchant, who has a terminal illness, needs your help to distribute his or her wealth to charity.
If you receive one of these scam emails, it is important that you do not respond to it in any way. The scammers are likely to act upon any response from those they see as potential victims.

To find out more about Nigerian Scams, see:
http://www.hoax-slayer.com/nigerian-scams.html

Lottery Scams

You may receive an email/letter/fax that claims that you have won a great deal of money in an international lottery even though you have never bought a ticket. The email may claim that your email address was randomly chosen out of a large pool of addresses as a "winning entry". Such emails are almost certainly fraudulent. In some cases, the emails claim to be endorsed by well-known companies such as Microsoft or include links to legitimate lottery organization websites. Any relationships implied by these endorsements and links will be completely bogus.

There is no lottery and no prize. Those who initiate a dialogue with the scammers by replying to the messages will be first asked to provide a great deal of personal information. Eventually, they will be asked to send money, ostensibly to cover expenses associated with delivery of the supposed "winnings". They may also become the victims of identity theft. DO NOT respond to these messages. DO NOT supply any personal information what so ever to the scammers.

To find out more about Lottery Scams, see:
http://www.hoax-slayer.com/email-lottery-scams.html

General Scam Indicators:
The scams described above are some of the most common types of Internet fraud. However, these fraudsters are clever people who may use many variations of the above scams to achieve their nefarious ends.

In general, be wary of unsolicited emails that:
* Promise you money, jobs or prizes
* Ask for donations,
* Propose lucrative business deals,
* Ask you to provide sensitive personal information
* Ask you to follow a link to a website and log on to an account.

By taking the time to educate yourself about these common types of scam, and/or by sharing this information with others, you can make a valuable contribution to the war against Internet fraud.

Article by Brett Christensen:
http://www.hoax-slayer.com

You may freely use this information to help inform others. For details, see:
http://www.hoax-slayer.com/common-internet-scams.html

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