Faith, Friends...and Chocolate!: Mother's Day Giveaway Post: Eileen

Faith, Friends...and Chocolate!: Mother's Day Giveaway Post: Eileen: Journey to Judah by Eileen Rife To celebrate Mother

It's All About the Cross!

 A song writer once wrote, "Nothing in my hand I bring, only to Thy Cross I cling."

Hallelujah, what a Savior! 

I've been listening to the song, "It's All About the Cross" as sung by The Ball Brothers off and on all day, ever since a friend posted the clip on her FB wall. 

Wow and double wow!

What a mix of emotion--tears, joy, shouts!

Because of the empty tomb, I live!

And that makes all the difference . . .

The question's been perking in my mind . . .

What in my life today will show others Jesus lives?

Listen to the following powerful song sung by The Ball Brothers.

"It's All About the Cross" as sung by The Ball Brothers

ACFW March Virtual Book Party!

Join me and other ACFW authors this Friday, March 18 for a virtual book party! Event begins at 1:30. I will be discussing my novel, Masquerade (formerly Laughing with Lily), at 2:00. Same suspenseful love story with a brand new cover and title!

A long-buried secret. An unexpected encounter. A quest for answers. Celeste Tatem, a special-education teacher, couldn't be more in love with her husband, Joe. But a haunting memory threatens their relationship. When Joe dies in a factory explosion, she sinks into depression. It will take the arrival of a new student, Lily, and her delightful honesty and joy at life's little things to awaken Celeste to hope. When Don, an old flame from college, reenters Celeste's world, the flickers of love stir once again, and startling questions arise. Questions that threaten to rip the veneer off of her carefully guarded secret. Then the most unexpected thing of all happens . . . . A story of love and forgiveness in the most unexpected places.

TWO FREE EBOOKS  to two participants during my 30 minute discussion. Leave a comment on one of my posts for a chance to win!

The link to the online FaceBook event is provided below. Can't wait to visit with you this Friday as we talk about relevant issues presented in Masquerade and the story behind the story! If you have a heart for those suffering in the aftermath of abortion, you won't want to miss this discussion. 

ACFW March Virtual Book Party

Friday, March 18, starts at 1:30

Life Lessons from Art

In a recent art class, I picked up techniques to help me draw better. But I also picked up a few life lessons in the process. 

My instructor insisted that his number one challenge in teaching art is getting his students to really see what they are drawing. To observe the visible, tangible item and apply the brain/hand connection on paper.

As a writer of eternal themes, I share a similar challenge, but in reverse: helping readers see the invisible--what God has revealed about Himself through His creation, His Word (the Bible), and His Son (Jesus Christ).

As with drawing, sometimes brain blockers exist, hindering one's ability to see. Really see. Damaged love receptors can distort one's view of who God really is--an eternal being full of love, grace, and truth. 

Yet the physical world around us, the Bible, and Jesus testify to the truth.

For those with spirit eyes to see . . .

Life Lesson 1: My instructor taught me to identify my light source so that I know where to apply specific shading. Jesus is my spiritual Light source. He is truth and the revealer of truth. 

Life Lesson 2: My instructor taught me how to use horizontal/vertical lines to draw a figure. When he stood in the center of the classroom with outstretched arms it reminded me of Christ's death on the cross as payment for my sin and provision for my forgiveness. 

Life Lesson 3: My instructor taught me how to use one/two point perspective. This technique reminded me that Christ and His Word is the reference point which provides proper perspective for shaping my life. 

Life Lesson 4: My instructor taught me how to draw with ink. This reminded me of the old hymn, "The Love of God" penned by Frederick M. Lehman in 1917. 

Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade,
To write the love of God above,
Would drain the ocean dry.
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.

(View the full hymn and story behind the hymn)

I'm amazed, awed really, that no matter the discipline, God is there, revealing Himself--the Designer of all things beautiful, chief of which is a redeemed soul!

The Masquerade of Abortion

I was a senior in high school when the Supreme Court lowered the gavel, dooming unborn babies to death and moms to further hurt and confusion. 

Since that time 44 years ago, I've been a strong advocate for life, at all stages. 

God provides clear direction on how we should view the harming of babies and mothers. 

"Vindicate the weak and fatherless;

Do justice to the afflicted and destitute.

Rescue the weak and needy;

Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked" (Psalm 82:3-4)

In this passage, the writer notes that God judged in the midst of His judges, who, by the way, had abused their privileges. "How long will you judge unjustly, and show partiality to the wicked?" God poses to these wayward rulers.  

Strikingly relevant to our day, don't you think? Ungodly judges who should be serving the interests of the Most High God have capitulated to the cries of the wicked rather than listened to the cries of innocent babies. 

And the masquerade goes on . . . 

In the form of Planned Parenthood, who according to a CSN report net $1.21 billion in its organizational fiscal year ending on June 30, 2013 with approximately 45% of that revenue--$540.6 million--provided by taxpayer-funded government health services grants. In the same report, Planned Parenthood reported that they performed 327,166 abortions from September 30, 2011 to September 30, 2012. And it only gets worse . . . the CSN report mentions Planned Parenthood's celebration of "the NBC series Parenthood depicting 'the first abortion on a major network entertainment program in years.'" (http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/barbara-boland/planned-parenthood-got-5406-million-government-grants-fy-2013)

And PP thinks this stuff is good, that's it's doing women/kids a favor (while they line their pocketbooks). This deception brings to mind the biblical admonition: Woe to those who call evil good.

How God weeps over this blatant disrespect for life created in His image (Genesis 1:26-27; Psalm 139:13-16). Indeed, when we set out to destroy human life, we slap God in the face.

A pregnant woman duped by Planned Parenthood into believing a lie--that what she carries is simply a blob of tissue easily discarded--often times does not realize the gravity of her decision to terminate her pregnancy.

The help she seeks in the form of Planned Parenthood provides a smokescreen, covering the truth . . .

That her baby's heart is beating by the 8th day of gestation
That by 8 weeks, all her baby's organs are functioning
That by 9 weeks, her baby has individual fingerprints
That by 10 weeks, her baby can feel pain
That by 12 weeks, her baby can smile 
Prenatal Development

Not only is the woman deceived about the true nature of her baby's development, but she is also deceived about her recovery after an abortion. The harsh and untimely termination of a pregnancy can have serious ramifications on a woman's health, physically and emotionally.

The organization Prolife Across America reports that "94% of women regret their decision to abort."  (https://prolifeacrossamerica.org/baby-developmental-facts/)

For my fictional character, Celeste, in Masquerade, both physical and emotional pain keep her locked up in secrecy. Her husband, Joe, wants a baby, but he doesn't know about his wife's past abortion nor that it has rendered her infertile.

Just when she works up the courage to tell him about the abortion, tragedy strikes, changing the landscape of their relationship and future together.

Until the unexpected happens . . .

My goal in writing Masquerade (formerly Laughing with Lily) is to encourage women who've experienced abortion to seek healing from God, to receive His forgiveness and move forward with their lives. I also want to encourage others who haven't experienced an abortion to extend grace to those who have.

How many women sit in our church pews who've put their masks neatly in place for fear someone will discover they've had an abortion? They already experience pain from the past, and now think they will experience the further pain of rejection if found out.

As with so many of my stories, my desire is to lead the reader on a path of healing, wherever s/he may be in life, to build awareness and move to action where/when needed.

A portion of proceeds from Masquerade goes to support my local crisis pregnancy center, (http://blueridgewoman.org/), who has been reaching out to hurting women with physical, emotional, and spiritual help for over 30 years. They have witnessed many women turn their lives over to Christ, as well as many babies rescued from Planned Parenthood.

Blue Ridge Women's Center

Would you help me spread the word about my novel, Masquerade? My prayer is that through story I might assist hurting women in their quest for God's healing in the aftermath of abortion.

Thank you, faithful readers, for your support of my writing ministry!

Masquerade on Amazon

Masquerade on Kindle

The Christmas Child

My grandson, Ethan (4), cupped my chin in his hands, looked into my eyes, and said, "God wants to do great things with little children."

He reminded me of this statement two or three times throughout our Grandma/Ethan date. I couldn't help but giggle.

On reflection, I realize how powerful a line my young grandson delivered. For isn't that the very heart of Christmas?

God wants to do great things through a Child.

And so He did. 

God came down in human flesh, clothed as a baby . . . as one of us. Humble beginnings in a manger. Feeling the same soaked diapers we experience, the same hungry stomach gnawing, the same loneliness, sadness, grief.

In order to identify with mankind. With you. With me.

To know how we feel, in every way . . . physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually. He became one of us. 

And then He died, for us. Because He could. Since He was also fully God, He was the only One who could bear our sin, offering redemption through His blood.

Oh, glorious Christmas Child! The One who invites each of us to become little children in the attitudes of our heart. To be humble enough to admit our sin, draw near to Him, and accept His gift.

The ultimate Christmas gift from one Child to another.

~~

Eileen Rife, author of Second Chance, invites women to discover who they are in Christ and what part they play in His amazing story! The article above is taken from a newly-released devotional titled, Penned from the Heart, compiled by Marilyn Nutter. www.eileenrife.com, www.eileen-rife.blogspot.com,

Why Did He Die, Grandma?

Five-year-old Hannah and I colored a picture at the kitchen table. "Remind me, Grandma, why did Jesus die?"

I paused, overwhelmed for a moment by the sincerity and gravity of her question.

Through threatening tears, I managed to respond. "Because He loved us."

 

"To pay for our sin," her older sister sitting on the other side of me added. 

Seemingly satisfied by the answers, Hannah hummed as she picked up a yellow crayon. 

But Hannah's question continued to roll around in my mind. 

 

Remind me. 

We all need that reminder of why Jesus died. That God would become man in order to identify with and deliver us, to understand our hurts, our sorrows, our sickness, our sin.

The perfect God-man.

Emmanuel. God with us. Born in a lowly manger. Crucified on a cruel cross. Buried in a tomb.

 

Can you hear the musical crescendo?

 

Then with a blast of forever victory, rose from the grave!

 

A living Savior!

 

Guaranteeing eternal life to all who will believe and receive Him!

 

Remind me.  

 

Yes, Lord, remind me every day of why You came, died, and rose again for me. Help me live with gratitude for what You have done to secure my forever salvation. Help me not to hoard this amazing grace, but to share it with others!