#SaturdaySpotlight is on Ann C. Sullivan & Unsatisfied

Good Morning!

Welcome to the first Saturday Spotlight in June 2019! As you well know, I LOVE introducing brand new-to-me authors and sharing their books with you. Today is no exception. Please welcome Ann C. Sullivan to our spotlight.

Tell us a little about your book.....

You should be happy, right? Everyone else is. Unsatisfied: Finding Contentment in a Discontented World by Ann C. Sullivan (Abingdon Press, Feb. 2019).

Look at your friend’s perfect vacations on Facebook and smiling faces on Instagram. But, you feel unsatisfied and unhappy with your life. You struggle to find contentment even though you recognize that you are blessed. Ann C. Sullivan has been there. As an active speaker, she found herself scheduled to speak about contentment at a time she was struggling with her own depression. After going through the process to address her depression, she realized she had to rethink her idea of contentment, this thing she had been speaking about for years.

In Unsatisfied: Finding Contentment in a Discontented World, Sullivan sorts through the reasons for our frustrations – Drama, Judgement, Fear, and Comparison – and leads readers on a path to genuine contentment through Hope, Purpose, and Fulfillment. Unsatisfied dares readers to believe that God is closer than you think, sorts through the reasons for unhappiness and frustrations, helps define fulfillment, and leads readers to find genuine contentment.

Unsatisfied:

Unravels our cultural definition of fulfillment.
Identifies the empty spaces the comparison game leaves behind.
Connects the dots that lead to genuine contentment.

Unsatisfied by Ann C. Sullivan guides readers to find genuine contentment.

Praise for Unsatisfied

“In Unsatisfied: Finding Contentment in a Discontented World, Ann C. Sullivan accomplishes something I wish could be taught yet fear that it can’t: She writes an in-your-face book about a deeply difficult subject, yet she avoids preaching. Rather, Ann takes a come-alongside approach and shares her life, warts and all, revealing what she’s learned and how she’s grown—allowing us to apply the morals and principles for ourselves. It’s a work of art.” – Jerry B. Jenkins, Novelist & Biographer, The Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild

Sounds lovely, Ann. Please give us an excerpt....

Intro to Unsatisfied: Finding Contentment in a Discontented World

When I agreed to speak at a women’s conference out west on the topic of contentment, I had no idea I’d be battling depression. If I’d known, I would’ve cleared my calendar. 

Choosing a topic for a bunch of strangers is a tricky business even without depression. It gets even trickier when a coordinator wants me to announce my topic months before I’m ready to pick one.
I’ve actually received publicity brochures in the mail detailing my talks long before I’ve written them. I’ll read the descriptions and think, Hmm, I’d like to hear that. 

I love connecting with women, but let’s face it, when I land at their retreat, we’re typically strangers. I’ll stand at the podium and look out over the sea of unfamiliar faces and think, I wonder what they’re all retreating from. 

Would they tell me stories of cruddy jobs or cranky spouses? Would they tell me how tough it was just getting away for the weekend? Or would they tell me it’s a great day, and they’re ready to celebrate the good things in life, like caramel lattés and girlfriends. 

What, kids? 

One thing I can count on, though, wherever I’m booked to speak, the moment a topic is
chosen, I know I’m going to get worked over by it, just a bit. It’s God’s way of keeping me real and giving me something worthwhile to say to the strangers who are obviously not strangers to Him.

And it happens every time. If I’m speaking on the topic of contentment, I suddenly have none. If I’m speaking on discernment, I can’t figure anything out. If I’m asked to address the power of self-control, I become the kitchen magnet that reads, “Lead me not into temptation, I can find it myself.”

A few years ago, I was asked to speak at a moms’ event at a large contemporary church. While I sat at my computer trying to come up with some sort of outline that would inspire the young moms, my own kids were driving me crazy. All I could come up with was:

I. Don’t have any more kids. 
II. Quit while you’re ahead. 
III. Bigger kids, bigger problems.  (Let’s close in prayer.) 

Depression can show up very quickly, usually after a crisis. But for me, depression crept up almost imperceptibly, generously offering a front row seat to the world of discontentment. All the things that used to bring me pleasure suddenly offered none.

I’m not even sure I knew what hope was until I lost it. Before then, life was full of possibilities. 

Then one day, while he was home from college and grabbing the milk from the fridge, my son suddenly stopped and looked at me and said, “Mom, you gotta get a grip.”

 That’s when I realized I’d been crying for six months. Maybe I did have a problem.

Oh Wow! Ann, I can certainly relate! I'm sure most of  our readers can too! Thank you. We certainly with you the best of luck and God's blessings with your book!

 Now please give us your bio and other info.

Ann C. Sullivan is a celebrated author, international speaker, blogger, and freelance writer. Her articles have been included in Christianity Today and Relevant magazine. She graduated from Northern Illinois University where she studied education, history, and philosophy. Sullivan worked more than ten years coordinating women’s studies outside of Milwaukee before expanding her speaking to include the corporate world. She remains passionate about inspiring men and women in all areas of their lives.

Connect with Ann to chat or to book her to speak at your next event.

Website  Facebook

Purchase Unsatisfied on Amazon
Purchase Unsatisfied book on Abingdon
Purchase Permission to Doubt on Amazon

Hope you enjoyed today's post friends and that you'll check back weekly for Wednesday Words with Friends and Saturday Spotlight!

Until next time, take care and God bless.
PamT

#TuesdayTreasures with Heather Dixon

Good Morning!

I pray your Easter celebration was blessed and happy.

As always, it is my pleasure to bring to you a new-to-me author and today is no exception.

 

Brought to us by Prime Star Publicity, Heather M. Dixon is an author, speaker, and Bible teacher who understands living with a story that is not easy. Diagnosed with Vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, an incurable and terminal genetic disorder inherited from her mother, she has dealt with difficult circumstances. 

Heather is passionate about encouraging and equipping women to trust in God, face their greatest fears, and live with hope. Through her blog, TheRescuedLetters.com, speaking, and Bible studies, Heather helps women find the courage to live by faith, even when they don’t like their story.

It’s just a simple magnet. And truth be told, I don’t treasure the magnet itself. I treasure the sentiment behind it. I bought this magnet when I was trying to nurse my newborn son, only to learn that my body didn’t particularly take to nursing. But still, I was determined to care for him in this way for as long as the two of us could figure it out together. Stumbling through the kitchen during long nights with little sleep, a quick glance at this magnet on my refrigerator would remind me not to give up. 

It’s a sentiment that would carry me through many more challenging moments in my life like a miscarriage, the loss of many loved ones, and an incurable and devastating medical diagnosis. For my faith journey, the temptation to give up and walk away from wherever God calls me is often my greatest one. Maybe that's just my personal struggle or maybe it's a reflection of a larger problem in this broken world. The Bible tells us that we have an enemy who wants nothing more than to separate us from God. Sometimes all the enemy has to convince us to do is.... give up.

To change my habit of giving up, I had to adopt a habit of determination. But first, I would have to ask God to change my heart. Only Jesus can do that, but the good news is that He is remarkably good at it.

In my new Bible study, Determined: Living Like Jesus in Every Moment, a six-week study of Luke, I invite readers to embrace determined living as they intimately connect with the Savior who remained laser-focused on His mission to love the world. 

“Jesus had three years to fulfill His earthly mission,” says Heather M. Dixon, “He accomplished His purpose and lived fully with a determined mindset, one that was eternally focused. The blessing for us with that mindset is that it makes every present moment beautiful and valuable. That's the choice I want to embrace, living fully with a determined attitude.”

Imagine waking up every single day convinced that the 24 hours ahead of you are a precious gift to be used wisely. Imagine also, that you know exactly how to spend them to be a force for God’s good. 

How do you learn to experience this abundant life, fulfilling the plans God has for us? The answers are found in following the footsteps of the One who lived fully, because He was determined that we might do the same. 

In Determined: Living Like Jesus in Every Moment, a six-week Bible study of Luke, Heather M. Dixon, author, speaker, and Bible teacher, follows the life and ministry of Jesus and the choices He made on His way to the cross. This study connects readers with the Savior on His mission to love the world and gives them a model for intentional living that they can replicate to live each day to the fullest and make a difference for God’s kingdom.    

Excerpt:

“Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” (Hebrews 12:1)

I have a magnet hanging on my refrigerator with a popularized version of a quotation from Winston Churchill. It says, “Never, never, never give up.” I bought it when I was sleep-deprived and covered in spit up. I needed all the pep talks I could get in those days, although it wasn’t just because I had a newborn. I had a newborn that I couldn’t feed well. No one told me that nursing would be difficult. I am not exaggerating when I tell you it was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do.

There will be moments in our lives when we will have to clinch our jaw and determine to keep moving forward anyway. Our circumstances will be challenging, our bodies will be weary, and our hearts will be full of doubt. In those moments it will be unquestioningly easier to walk away.

You’ve probably experienced similar moments just in the past three weeks of our study together. Stay the course. Dig your heels in. Don’t give up. Why? Not because I am encouraging you to, but because this is the choice Jesus made. He determined to move forward anyway. His convictions were so strong that He never, never, never walked away from being obedient to God’s will. And at the heart of His convictions were you and me, and understanding of those moments when the world would prefer that we give up. Let’s show the world Jesus’ way instead and live determined.

The writer of Hebrews goes on to call us to follow His example:

“And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1b-2)

Determined: Living Like Jesus in Every Moment can be purchased directly from Abingdon and also at Amazon, B&N, Christian Book & Cokesbury

Sounds like a wonderful book, Heather! We certainly wish you the best of luck and God's blessings with it.

Thanks for joining us, friends and that you'll stop by often to see what's going on. Until next time, take care and God Bless.

PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Tom Donnan & One Door Between Us!

Good Morning from Homestead, FL!

Yep been travelling again and for now, visiting National Parks in Florida. Should be headed back toward Louisiana Monday or Tuesday, but today please welcome Tom Donnan back with a peek into his book, One Door Between Us.

Hot off the press, as it is said for new books, One Door Between Us is the Saturday Spotlight. It is more than a love story, it is what happens when Jesus enters into a family and blesses their lives. The story is written about real people in a fictional way. For this family, the supernatural side of our Christian God is displayed time and time again. Because of my experience in Revival, and person experience with God, I allow the reader to visualize what happens behind the veil and into the workings of the spiritual realm.

As an author, I would love to talk about my baby, this book. But then it would ruin it for you the reader. The twists and turns of living in the providence of God is truly an exciting story. Arielle, the main character, opens one door to love and one door to destiny.

Wow, Tom this sounds like a great book! Thanks for sharing.

Tom Donnan, Author of:

Healing the Nation

Spiritual House Cleaning

Pastors and the Presence of God

7:14 Angels on Assignment

One Door Between Us

Facebook Page: Healing the Nation Ministries

Healingthenation1776@gmail.com

Find all of my books at Amazon

Check out Tom's Tuesday Treasures and Thursday Thoughts posts and check back often for more!

Until next time take care and God bless.
PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Laura-Dawn Moule & Reflections of India

Good Morning!

Hope your March has started out well. It's rainy, chilly and plain nasty here in SW Louisiana. Haven't had much sunshine at all - well, a couple of days this week. Not near enough for me though. I am definitely a summer person!

Enough about me though.

Today's guest has visited before, sharing thoughts and treasures so please welcome Laura-Dawn back with an excerpt from her book, Reflections of India....

In this fascinating book, Reflections of India: The Spiritual Journey of a Beauty Queen, you will experience everything from the exhilaration of the world of beauty pageants to the emotional lows associated with the harsh realities of life for the desperately poor. May this emotionally-charged account of a young beauty queen’s experience working in the Bombay (now known as Mumbai) and Calcutta (now known as Kolkata) slums help you discover the hope and beauty that can be found in adversity and appreciate the haunting responsibility we all share to reach out to those in distress. 

Excerpt
The Vision of Bombay
O barren plains! O deserted land!
Gusts of wind sweep dust into your residents’ lungs.
The faded colours of the flowers reflect their illness.
The air smells of sickness and death.
The putrid lakes of water
        harbour deadly disease.
Trees reflect the staleness of the ground.
The ocean rules the land and washes up grey mucous upon
        its shores
        while the red sun sets in full splendour.

The dogs howl in the eve.
The birds are afflicted by anger
        as they struggle to eat one another.
Dead mice bear the imprints of feet that have
        trampled upon them.
Cries from the people and laments from the animals are
        simultaneous.
Flies crawl across the children’s faces,
        and lice crown their heads.
Crusted nasal drainage graces their lips,
        and infected lesions are displayed upon their earlobes.

Babies lying face down on the diseased pavements;
        children who cannot cry.
Babies hold babies without mothers near.
Naked little boys peer around ragged drapes.
Their eyes reflect the misery they behold.
Sad women and edematous-bellied babies gaze.
A helpless mother watches her baby slowly die of starvation.
He can no longer pick up the pebbles with which he
        used to play.
His rags now lie lifeless on the sidewalk.

Lepers and the blind walk alone.
Despairing old men sit on the filthy streets,
        their eyes mirror years of sorrow.
Heat. Sweat. Blood. Tears.
Withered faces watch without emotional response.
You smile; they stare.
The arthritic hands scrub clothes on the street;
        the gnarled fingers work hard without payment.
Their chests move in and out in futile efforts to prolong
        life for another day.

Chants lack the spirit of joyful song.
No hope.
The silent bells of the soul ring,
        summoning death to come and relieve them.
I look up to the sky to request help but to no avail;
        it remains deaf and unfeeling to what it sees beneath it.
The screeching trains have a lingering echo,
        leaving their victims behind within the bowels of the stations.
The rats are abundant, fattened from devouring flesh.

But then Hope beckons me to come close.
“Listen,” she says, “Look and see!
I come from the hands of the minister,
        the care bestowed upon the poor by those willing to be used.
Bring the light of life into the spirits of those you serve,
        and bring sparkle to the eyes of the helpless.
Pity them not, however,
        for the question is better asked, What have you done?”

Lovely, Laura-Dawn, THANKS for sharing!

Having a creative streak from an early age, Laura-Dawn first began writing poetry and recording her prophetic dreams as a young teenager. Her literary skills were honed during the time she spent acquiring her bachelor of arts degree in English literature at McGill University in Montreal. As her interest in theology grew, she went on to write exegeses of scripture while she studied for her master of arts degree in biblical studies at the University of Sheffield. Her fascination with eschatology has continued to flourish over the years and is readily apparent in her first book, Reflections of India – The Spiritual Journey of a Beauty Queen.

Find out more by visiting her Website. Purchase her book from Amazon in print or for Kindle!

Hope you enjoyed today's post and that you'll check back regularly for more Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight!

Until next time take care and God Bless.
PamT

#TuesdayTreasures with Tom Donnan

Good Morning!

Last month I introduced you to Tom Donnan when he shared thoughts with us. Please welcome him back to share something he treasures.

Welcome Tom!

Life
So often, life is lived in an ongoing stream of time. Death on the other hand sits on outside outer reaches of conscience thoughts like that of finding the edge of our universe. Knowing what really matters in life slips behind the veil of everyday events as we move from one day to the next. Odd, how we can live life and not really ever comprehend it. When I looked into the face of my own mortality and I was changed!

February 6th 2006 I had my second heart attack with no notice. They refer to it as the widow maker. It was 5:30 in the evening, I am working out on the treadmill at the health club and the chest pain began. By 6:30 pm I was dead. There are several main factors in me typing this today. First I did not waste time in seeking help. Second, it was not my time to go. I was laid out in the ambulance, paramedic feverously working on me when my heart stopped. It happened so fast I did not notice my status change, meaning one instant I was in the world and the next I was in the spiritual world. It is here God gave me a message in His deep masculine voice saying: “It is only while you are on earth that you can work for Jesus!”

In my left ear, a paramedic is telling me not to worry all my stats look great. I had no idea of what had just happened until three days later while I was in ICU. A doctor came in and asked how it felt to be back from the dead?  BAM! In the back of my mind, before this happened, I knew I was heaven bound. I invited Jesus to come into my heart and life on May 7th 1983 and I was born again. I did not count on being 54 and being with God so soon. I was only halfway through the universe at this point, the anticipated end of my life.

During my months of recovery I had all the time in the world to think about life. What matters the most? God, love, time and investing are important. Knowing God and living in His love and blessings in paramount. Relationships, children, grandchildren, siblings, extended family and people became the focus of my time and learning to invest in them. I have had an additional twelve years now. When I look into the eyes of my children I am grateful to God. Loving them is all that matters. When grandpa walks in the front door they know it is play time and the chase is on. It is a joy to figure out how many different ways to say I love you and esteem them. And, I share my relationship with God with others in hopes of leading them into knowing Him through His son Jesus Christ. I have learned, finding my way to being spiritually born into God’s family is the meaning of life (John 3:3-8).

I've got to tell you about mindset awareness. You know, those mind set decisions we make in our minds and then move on in life. Well, I remember driving past Calumet Harbor on the Bishop Ford express when a Mindset surfaced. Out of nowhere I felt in fullness this thought: “I never wanted to live here.” Meaning, while I was growing up, I told myself I would grow up and move to another place. However I fell in love and built a life in Chicagoland. Now as I am  driving, the full weight of my desire to live in another place of the country hit me like a freight train. Why it surfaced right there going sixty plus miles per hour, I don’t know.

Then, while I am in the ambulance, looking for the light, really, I was looking for the light and there wasn’t any. It gave me a false sense of security. Then, again, with the full emotional weight I felt, I have lived a good life! What? Where did that come from? I am not ready to go but if I do, I feel and  know I have lived a very good and blessed life.

A few years ago, my oldest sibling was diagnosed with stage three lung cancer. While she was going through the treatment, I felt with deep concern, it will only be me and one other sibling left if her treatments are unsuccessful. My sisters are a hidden foundation now that our parents have passed many years ago. We were once five, now we are only three with the possibility of being only two. To God’s glory, the treatments worked and she is in full remission. But, the hidden foundation of family was temporarily exposed and I was shocked how much it threatened me, possibly being alone in the near future.

The love I felt in marriage, for those twenty five years, was deep and powerful. The love with my heavenly father is deep and powerful. My quest in life is to make a difference and leave a spiritual legacy. I have now written five books all with a message on how to be saved, to grow closer to God and opening a window to heaven over our lives and loved ones.  God’s plan of salvation is simple, we have sinned, ask for forgiveness through Jesus' gift and invite Him into our hearts and lives and live for Him.

Tom Donnan
Author of: Healing the Nation
Spiritual House Cleaning
Pastors and the Presence of God
7:14 Angels on Assignment
One Door Between Us
Facebook: Healing the nation ministries
Authors page on Amazon.
Healingthenation1776@gmail.com

Oh wow, Tom what an incredible testimony! Thank you for sharing and YES, LIFE is one of the greatest treasures of all.

Hope you enjoyed Tom's post friends and that you'll check out his book and you'll check back here for more Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlights.

Until next time take care and God Bless.

PamT

#ThursdayThoughts with Laura-Dawn Moule

Good Morning!

Last month I introduced you to a new-to-me author when she shared treasures with us so please welcome Laura-Dawn Moule back to our blog!

Take it away, Laura.......

A silence fills the ballroom as the audience waits with nervous anticipation. Lovely, young hands hold a glittering tiara that reflects a fiery, iridescent light, one that promises to change someone’s destiny forever. The host’s deep voice finally speaks: “The winner is…” Another unbearable pause. Then, he calls your name! Thunderous applause wells up like tidal waves.  As you step forward, a beautiful woman who holds the stunning coronet walks towards you. With arms upraised, only a few seconds pass before you feel the weight of the dazzling crown on your head. You can’t see it, but there is an unfamiliar heaviness you’ve never experienced before. The crowd responds with simultaneous weeping, yelling, and cheering. You turn around to face the audience and take the exhilarating walk, waving at people who can’t take their eyes off you as the photographers snap away. The flashes of light seem to capture the immortality of the moment ^__ one that transcends time and place. You’ve fulfilled a fantasy for them. You are the fairy-tale princess of their childhood.

An already peaceful antechamber becomes even quieter as the much-anticipated meeting is moments away. Then finally, the door begins to open. A small stooped figure arrayed in a white sari meekly walks out. The deep lines of her face reflect a life of deprivation and sacrifice, while her grey eyes mirror fantastical stories of service. Her wimple is the whitest of white with three definitive blue bands that frame her glorious countenance. Her thin lips speak with authority in a distinct Albanian accent. She looks directly into your eyes and addresses you. You feel chosen. The echoes of the conversation in the sacred vestibule carry an eternal undertone that transcends time and place. She has fulfilled a fantasy for you. She is the fairy godmother of your childhood. 

Most of us are fascinated by fairytales. The yearning to hear about them or perhaps to even live them out ourselves stems from childhood when our parents read us the bedtime classics. They are beguiling because every character plays a specific role in a world where the battle between good and evil is an ever-present reality. At the end, good prevails and any enemy is destroyed. In Reflections of India: The Spiritual Journey of a Beauty Queen, you will read the moving story of my experience from the exciting world of beauty pageants to the harsh realities of life seen during the time I spent working with the desperately poor. From a crowning to a calling, my pursuit of the path less traveled provides a unique glimpse into my quest to find God in the most unexpected places. A chance meeting with one of the world’s greatest humanitarians inspires me to travel to India to work in the Bombay (Mumbai) and Calcutta (Kolkata) slums in an era during which my choice was considered unusual. To my surprise, I find beauty in the midst of great suffering. May the words contained in this book help you lift the veil so you can discover the fairytale that exists for you as you discover how you can play out a unique role in a troubled world that will one day come to its rightful conclusion (Revelation 20:1 – 22:21).

Laura-Dawn Moule

Wow, so true. Thanks Laura-Dawn!

 Having a creative streak from an early age, Laura-Dawn first began writing poetry and recording her prophetic dreams as a young teenager. Her literary skills were honed during the time she spent acquiring her bachelor of arts degree in English literature at McGill University in Montreal. As her interest in theology grew, she went on to write exegeses of scripture while she studied for her master of arts degree in biblical studies at the University of Sheffield. Her fascination with eschatology has continued to flourish over the years and is readily apparent in her first book, Reflections of India – The Spiritual Journey of a Beauty Queen.

Find out more by visiting her Website. Purchase her book from Amazon in print or for Kindle!

Hope you enjoyed today's post and that you'll check back regularly for more Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight!

Until next time take care and God Bless.
PamT

#ThursdayThoughts with Tom Donnan

Hello!

Well I'm sure you've noticed a slack in regular posts. I planned on doing this last year and was busier than usual, LOL so this year I'm not pushing to fill Every. Single. Spot. on this blog. Therefore, you'll see more and more Tuesdays/Thursdays open but Saturday Spotlights will continue!

I'm considering a new focus for Tues/Thurs...perhaps changing to a Wed post or...well I'm just not sure yet but I want to concentrate more on my writing and other life goals. Anyway, I'll keep you posted.

Meanwhile, please welcome new-to-me author, Tom Donnan, brought to us by Prime Star Publicity to share some thoughts with us! Take it away Tom....

This is a “Penny for my thoughts....."

I am very concerned about our Nation. When I watched the Kavanaugh hearings, I was in distress. Why? The divide I see between Americans is alarming. It was then I began to pray for a tsunami wave of the Holy Spirit to wash across America from Coast to Coast. I have been ministering with Pastor Phillip Corbett for the last ten years. We would minister in small Assembly of God church, or other Pentecostal denominational churches and see the power of God displayed. It is the healed, changed lives I enjoy seeing. People who wondered if they would ever get back to normal life are restored by God. Those delivered from strongholds get set free. You can see their eyes sparkle again, the weight of spiritual burdens lift off and love and hope return to their hearts and lives. It is one of the reasons I write. It is my hope of influencing people towards Father God. Our Nation needs healing. I pray for His love to flow through our hearts, one heart at a time.



Tom Donnan. Author of:

Healing the Nation
Spiritual House Cleaning
Pastors and the presence of God
7:14 Angels on Assignment
One Door Between Us     
I am on face book: Healing the Nation Ministries
Email me: Healingthenation1776@gmail.com

Find all of my books at Amazon.

Hope you enjoyed today's post and that you'll check back regularly to see what's happening on our blog!

Until next time take care and God Bless.
PamT

#TuesdayTreasures with Laura-Dawn Moule

Good Morning and Welcome to the 1st Tuesday Treasure post of 2019!

I remember when the year 2020 seemed SO FAR OFF and impossible to live that long LOL! Can you believe we're only 1 year away from it?

Amazing isn't it when we look back - only for a moment - and remember how innocent and naive we were as children.

Alas, we're all grown up now but my guest today, new-to-me author, Laura-Dawn Moule shares some of her treasures since childhood.

Welcome Laura-Dawn!

Since I was small, I loved drawing and painting. I’d draw stick people and enjoy finger painting in kindergarten. As a young teenager, my interest became centered on painting scenes that gave me a good feeling, such as people carrying gifts on their way to church on Christmas morning. As I got a little older, I became interested in depicting works of fantasy as a means of escape from the mundaneness of life. From a little angel with an entourage of dwarfs walking through a meadow to a child standing in the snow wondering how a star could have possibly struck him on the head to little mermaids playing in a river, I lost myself in a dream world. My focus then shifted to painting real objects that I found beautiful, such as statues and fountains I saw on my travels. I have housed most of them in an art room of sorts. These pieces are my treasures because they capture my unique perspective, and they bring a sense of nostalgia when I look at them as I recall what was going on in my life at the time. Their inimitable quality is something that can’t be purchased. I think treasures are deemed such because they are irreplaceable. No substitutes will do.

When thinking about the irreplaceable from a spiritual standpoint, I think about the message of the greatest of all artists -- Jesus. He is the Word who spoke everything into existence (John 1: 1-5) and as with any great work, His creation mirrors the essence of its artist. I believe that everything He made has provided us a glimpse into eternal matters to help guide us. For example, winter speaks to the inevitability of death while spring reminds us of the concept of resurrection because what was dead comes back to life. Watching footage of the sun’s surface helps us conceptualize what the lake of fire discussed in Scripture (Revelation 20:14) must be like. When we think about the fact that cosmologists are unable to find the end of the universe, we can appreciate the notion of eternity. Jesus’s teachings regarding the eternal life provide beautiful insight into how we are to live here on earth and how important it is to choose Him before we die. If you don’t believe Him, just look around.  

Having a creative streak from an early age, Laura-Dawn first began writing poetry and recording her prophetic dreams as a young teenager. Her literary skills were honed during the time she spent acquiring her bachelor of arts degree in English literature at McGill University in Montreal. As her interest in theology grew, she went on to write exegeses of scripture while she studied for her master of arts degree in biblical studies at the University of Sheffield. Her fascination with eschatology has continued to flourish over the years and is readily apparent in her first book, Reflections of India – The Spiritual Journey of a Beauty Queen.

Find out more by visiting her Website. Purchase her book from Amazon in print or for Kindle!

Hope you enjoyed today's post and that you'll check back regularly for more Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight!

Until next time take care and God Bless.
PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Bishop Ken & Pastor Sheila Giles

Good Morning Friends!

Our guests today have visited with us before....Bishop Ken & Pastor Sheila Giles have shared treasures and thoughts with us so please welcome them back.....

A Word from the Author

Prayer will become the highest priority in the lives of those who read this book. Especially, to those considering marriage, currently married and responsible for children. The book further communicates how God has created, through the covenant relationship of marriage, leadership roles that are established in spiritual unity. Also, this book highlights how the proper working of the husband and wife in their leadership roles secures the blessings of the Lord in the marriage, family and broader society.

The Leadership roles of the husband and wife are paramount to God's plan of blessings in the marriage, family, generations and broader society. Therefore, obedience to God and His word establishes God's order and facilitates the proper working and functioning of the marriage and family. Thus, establishing the peace, joy and increase the Lord has purposed in and through the marriage and family. Learn more in the newly released book: Prayer, Marriage and the Leadership Roles of the Husband and Wife, which can be obtained HERE.

Bishop Ken Giles and his wife Pastor Sheila Giles have decades of combined experience in Ministry and Christian Counseling. They both did undergraduate work at Prairie View A&M University Texas and were active in evangelistic work. Pastor Sheila Giles has served in church leadership for over two decades. She has a Master of Divinity from Houston Graduate School of Theology and is in the process of completing her Master of Business Administration (MBA) at Texas Woman's University.

Bishop Ken Giles began full-time ministry in 1993 as an inner-city Missions Leader in Dallas, Texas, while at Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship under Dr. Tony Evans. He later served there as Assistant Executive Director of their nonprofit corporation. In 1998, he returned to his hometown of Beaumont, Texas, and served as Pastor of Outreach at Cathedral of Faith Baptist Church and Executive Director of their nonprofit corporation. In 2000, Lincoln Bible Church was planted in the Beaumont/Port Arthur area and is now located in the Greater Houston Texas area where Bishop Ken Giles and his wife, Pastor Sheila Giles provide servant leadership.

Bishop Giles has a Master of Education Administration from Prairie View A&M University and a Master of Theology from Southeast Texas Theological Seminary. He is in the process of completing a dual doctorate in Christian Education and Theology from Kingsway Theological Seminary.

Hope you enjoyed today's post, friends and that you'll drop by each week for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time, take care and God Bless.
PamT

#TuesdayTreasures with Bishop Ken & Pastor Sheila Giles!

Good Morning!

Today's guests shared some thoughts with us last month, today let's see what Bishop Ken & Pastor Sheila treasure......

Truth (The Word of God) is the greatest treasure. Psalm 119:105 reveals that the Word of God is a lamp to the feet of mankind and a light to our path. God's word guides our life to the peace,  prosperity and protection He has reserved for us in all of life. Prayer: May we apply the Word of God to every area of our lives, that we may be blessed in all of life, especially the foundational institutions of marriage and family, in the name of Jesus the Christ, amen. Learn more in the newly released book: Prayer, Marriage and the Leadership Roles of the Husband and Wife, which can be obtained via this link: http://www.lbchouston.org/store/ebooks/prayer-marriage-and-the-leadership-roles-of-the-husband-and-wife-2

So true! The Word of God is always something to treasure! Thanks for sharing with us today.

Bishop Ken Giles and his wife Pastor Sheila Giles have decades of combined experience in Ministry and Christian Counseling. They both did undergraduate work at Prairie View A&M University Texas and were active in evangelistic work. Pastor Sheila Giles has served in church leadership for over two decades. She has a Master of Divinity from Houston Graduate School of Theology and is in the process of completing her Master of Business Administration (MBA) at Texas Woman's University.

Bishop Ken Giles began full-time ministry in 1993 as an inner-city Missions Leader in Dallas, Texas, while at Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship under Dr. Tony Evans. He later served there as Assistant Executive Director of their nonprofit corporation. In 1998, he returned to his hometown of Beaumont, Texas, and served as Pastor of Outreach at Cathedral of Faith Baptist Church and Executive Director of their nonprofit corporation. In 2000, Lincoln Bible Church was planted in the Beaumont/Port Arthur area and is now located in the Greater Houston Texas area where Bishop Ken Giles and his wife, Pastor Sheila Giles provide servant leadership.

Bishop Giles has a Master of Education Administration from Prairie View A&M University and a Master of Theology from Southeast Texas Theological Seminary. He is in the process of completing a dual doctorate in Christian Education and Theology from Kingsway Theological Seminary.

Thank you so much Bishop & Pastor Giles for sharing your treasures with us today. We wish you the best of luck and God's blessings on all you do!

Hope you enjoyed today's post, friends and that you'll drop by each week for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time, take care and God Bless.
PamT

#ThursdayThoughts with Bishop Ken & Pastor Sheila Giles

Good Morning and Welcome to the last Thursday in June!

Oh how time flies. Seems like just yesterday we were welcoming in the new year. Now, it's half over. Today we welcome a new author to our blog brought to us by PrimeStar Publicity.

Bishop Ken Giles and his wife Pastor Sheila Giles have decades of combined experience in Ministry and Christian Counseling. They both did undergraduate work at Prairie View A&M University Texas and were active in evangelistic work. Pastor Sheila Giles has served in church leadership for over two decades. She has a Master of Divinity from Houston Graduate School of Theology and is in the process of completing her Master of Business Administration (MBA) at Texas Woman's University.

Bishop Ken Giles began full-time ministry in 1993 as an inner-city Missions Leader in Dallas, Texas, while at Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship under Dr. Tony Evans. He later served there as Assistant Executive Director of their nonprofit corporation. In 1998, he returned to his hometown of Beaumont, Texas, and served as Pastor of Outreach at Cathedral of Faith Baptist Church and Executive Director of their nonprofit corporation. In 2000, Lincoln Bible Church was planted in the Beaumont/Port Arthur area and is now located in the Greater Houston Texas area where Bishop Ken Giles and his wife, Pastor Sheila Giles provide servant leadership.

Bishop Giles has a Master of Education Administration from Prairie View A&M University and a Master of Theology from Southeast Texas Theological Seminary. He is in the process of completing a dual doctorate in Christian Education and Theology from Kingsway Theological Seminary.

Welcome Bishop & Pastor Giles! We're excited to hear your thoughts today.....

The very essence of help is captured in Genesis 2:18, when the Lord purposed and arranged for the Man to have his corresponding part, in the person of the Woman, fashioned as his helper. Specifically, to assist him(man) in fulfilling his God-given purpose and vision(Genesis 2:15-17) for his life, their marriage and family. Per the Lord's design, the Woman is purposed to be helper to the man, in spiritual unity and oneness via the institution of Marriage as established by Him. That is why, according to Proverbs 18:22, the man who finds a wife, finds a good thing; and obtains favor from the Lord. Learn more in the newly released book: Prayer, Marriage and the Leadership Roles of the Husband and Wife, which can be obtained HERE.

Thank you so much Bishop & Pastor Giles for sharing your thoughts with us today. We wish you the best of luck and God's blessings on all you do!

Hope you enjoyed today's post, friends and that you'll drop by each week for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time, take care and God Bless.
PamT

#TuesdayTreasures Guest post by Gail Nordskog

Good Morning Friends!

Our guest today shared thoughts with us last month so let's see what she treasures....

A Day in the life of Gail Nordskog

I very much enjoy rising early.   5:30 a.m. is my favorite time no matter what the season is.

This started years ago when my children were young.   At the time I had 4 school age children who were full of chatter from the time they woke up until they fell asleep at night.

In order to start my day peacefully I found 5:30 gave me plenty of time to make a pot of coffee, snuggle with my puppy, read my Bible and Journal. 

I have pretty much kept that schedule all these years although I can sleep in a little longer.  I only have one school age daughter at home.   Kiana is now a junior in High School and my puppy is ten years old. Mitzi is joined by our 3- year-old Pomeranian, Foxi who faithfully follows the same routine with us.

Usually after an hour and 2 cups of coffee I will go outside to feed the Ducks.   We can have anywhere from 5 to 35+ ducks waiting to be fed.   We live in a harbor with a channel that leads to the Pacific Ocean behind our home.   These ducks are not native to ocean waters.  Most are mallards the other 5 are just farm yard type of ducks who are too fat to fly.  These are my favorite as they hang out here in the keys all year round. 

By now my husband is up and helping with the ducks and the dogs.   Jerry usually leaves for work these days between 9 and 10.   He is a man who does not see the word “retirement” in the Bible and has been in the Publishing Business for years.  Nordskog Publishing Inc. is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year.  My husband just celebrated his 79th birthday this year!   I am not going to tell you what birthday I just celebrated but I am grateful for another year!

I usually have several projects going on at the same time.  Filming and editing my TV program, Hearts of Purpose is a continual project.   The Interviews of most of the authors can be seen on my web-site, Heartsofpurpose.com.   I will be in studio 2X’s this week to help edit one of the shows.   I’ve just recently purchased my own professional video camera and have been able to film on location.  Our 20 year old son, Daniel is often available to help.

I try to get exercise in several days a week, meet with good friends for lunch and support our children and grandchildren in their school and sports activities.

Jerry likes to say we live a rich and full and bountiful life!   Yes, indeed we do!

Jerry and I have raised 6 children, four of our children were adopted from China.   We also enjoy spending time with our 7 grandchildren.

Wow, Gail sounds like you have much to treasure in your busy life!
Thanks for sharing with us.

Gail Grace Nordskog has established the “Gail Grace Nordskog Collection” to embolden readers to live their lives with a “heart of purpose” for God’s glory.

Gail has been involved in media for over two decades. She presently produces and hosts a program called Hearts of Purpose, that can be seen on her website, heartsofpurpose.com. Her book, Hearts of Purpose Volume 1: The Call brings you ten real-life stories about ten ordinary women doing extraordinary things for the Glory of God. As you read of how God called these women to service, you will be motivated to explore His call in your own life. Let this reading experience be an invitation for you to take a step closer to fulfilling your God given calling in Christ Jesus and can be found at Amazon.

Gail and Jerry Nordskog live in Ventura, California, where they have raised six children, four of whom were adopted from China.

Hope you enjoyed today's post friends and that you'll drop by Thursday as EA West shares some thoughts with us and then on Saturday I have 16 year old Jaylon Martin in the spotlight!

Until next time, take care and God Bless
PamT

#ThursdayThoughts with Gail Nordskog

Good Morning!

As with most of you I'm sure, we're really getting into the "busy" of the busiest season of the year. Except for 1 gift and wrapping, I've finished my Christmas shopping. Now it's just time to get the fun going and over with LOL!

Today's guest visited with us back in September, so please welcome Gail Nordskog back to our blog to share some thoughts with us.

Take it away, Gail.....

Why writing is a form of personal Therapy: 

My writing as a form of personal therapy began over 30 years ago. Sometime during the Jesus Movement in the late 1970’s I gave my life to Jesus.  I was given a gospel track called The Four Spiritual Laws.  God used that little track to open the eyes of my understanding and for me to surrender my life to Him.  I have never looked back.

Just because you become a Christian and partner with the Creator of the Universe, it does not mean you will begin to live an easy life.  In fact, it may be that all hell will break out against you to try to cause you to renounce your faith.   Or just simple, subtle temptations come to entice you to compromise your faith.

I learned quickly that prayer and praise are very powerful weapons in our arsenal as Christians.

2 Corinthians 10: 3-5: For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.

I joined a group of women who had a weekly prayer meeting.  Believers who pray God’s word fervently and faithfully are sometimes called Prayer Warriors.  These women were Prayer Warriors!

Do you remember the movie WAR ROOM, Miss Clara, played by actress Karen Abercrombie was a “simple” woman but a mighty woman of faith and prayer, A Prayer Warrior! 

I felt like Elizabeth (played by actress Priscilla Shirer) whose marriage and life in general was falling apart but God led her to Miss Clara who taught her how to pray.

I remembered receiving journals for Christmas and birthday gifts as a little girl.  They were usually pastel in color with a little key probably used to keep your little sister from reading all your hidden thoughts and telling your Mother.  I hadn’t had one in years but remembered while in a Christian book store they had a wide selection of prayer journals.

I wanted to begin to write down my prayers, the cries of my heart as well as the blessings received.  I wanted to be able to remember all the mighty works of God in my life and those I’ve prayed with and for over the years.
I have thousands of pages of journal writings over the years. Prayer Journaling IS my therapy.

If you have never tried journaling especially while praying, try it you’ll grow to love it, resulting in a more intimate relationship with our Lord.

Oh wow, Gail, you are so right! Writing has been a form of therapy for me and countless others. Thanks for sharing your story!

Gail Grace Nordskog has established the “Gail Grace Nordskog Collection” to embolden readers to live their lives with a “heart of purpose” for God’s glory.

Gail has been involved in media for over two decades. She presently produces and hosts a program called Hearts of Purpose, that can be seen on her website, heartsofpurpose.com. Her book, Hearts of Purpose Volume 1: The Call brings you ten real-life stories about ten ordinary women doing extraordinary things for the Glory of God. As you read of how God called these women to service, you will be motivated to explore His call in your own life. Let this reading experience be an invitation for you to take a step closer to fulfilling your God given calling in Christ Jesus and can be found at Amazon.

Gail and Jerry Nordskog live in Ventura, California, where they have raised six children, four of whom were adopted from China.

Thank you so much Gail for visiting with us today.

I hope you enjoyed our guest as much as I did, Friends and that you'll drop by each week for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time, take care and God bless.
PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Gail G. Nordskog & Hearts of Purpose!

Good Morning!

The weather is beautiful here in SWLA and SUCH a welcome change from the rain of a couple of weeks ago. In fact, the rain throughout most of the summer.

Today's guest is new to me and our blog and brought to us by PrimeStar Publicity.

Gail Grace Nordskog has established the “Gail Grace Nordskog Collection” to embolden readers to live their lives with a “heart of purpose” for God’s glory.

Gail has been involved in media for over two decades. She presently produces and hosts a program called Hearts of Purpose, that can be seen on her website, heartsofpurpose.com.

Gail and Jerry Nordskog live in Ventura, California, where they have raised six children, four of whom were adopted from China.

Nice to meet you, Gail, now tell us a little more about Hearts of Purpose Volume 1: The Call....

You have a call on your life. My desire is to encourage you to live life in fulfillment of that call. Following the example of Joan of Arc, you can be inspired to live out your purpose in first hearing from God and then taking your stand in following Him. Just as Joan of Arc could step forth in full confidence under the banner of her calling, so we too are under God’s banner as we step out to fulfill our purpose.

Hearts of Purpose brings you ten real-life stories about ten ordinary women doing extraordinary things for the Glory of God. As you read of how God called these women to service, you will be motivated to explore His call in your own life. Let this reading experience be an invitation for you to take a step closer to fulfilling your God given calling in Christ Jesus.

Here is the Introduction:

If you have surrendered your life to Jesus as your Lord and Savior, then you have a call on your life.

My desire is to encourage women to live life in fulfillment of that call.  The older I become the more I realize how precious each day is, and I know we can never get that day back.  Do not squander your days, dear sisters!

Following the example of Joan of Arc, who sought God on her knees, received a directive from Him, and then stood and followed His leading, you too can be inspired and equipped to live out your Hearts of Purpose, “The Call,” is guided by Song of Solomon 2:4, “His banner over me is love.” Just as Joan of Arc’s calling, so we too have the banner of God’s love over our lives.

Hearts of Purpose brings you ten real-life stories about ten ordinary women doing extraordinary things for the Glory of God. As you read of how God called these women to service, and how they stepped out of their comfort zones to respond to that call, you will be motivated to explore His call in your own life.

We invite you to use the discussion questions at the end of each chapter to stimulate thought and growth in your private reading, or in small-group discussions. Let this reading experience be an invitation for you to take a step your God-given calling in Christ Jesus.

— Gail Grace Nordskog

Wow...sounds like a great book! Thank you for sharing with us. Hearts of Purpose can be purchased at Amazon, Friends!

Hope you enjoyed today's spotlight and that you'll join us each week for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight!

Until next time, take care and God Bless.
PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Nikola Dimitrov & The Four in One Gospel of Jesus

Good Morning!

Our guest in the spotlight has been here before. Pastor Nikola Dimitrov has shared thoughts and treasures with us. Today we get another glimpse into his book, The Four in One Gospel of Jesus.....

Jesus is worthy to be studied, praised and worshipped, and fully and completely loved.

Ventura, CA – May 2017 -Pastor Nikola Dimitrov has been led of the Spirit to assemble this chronological version of The Four in One Gospel of Jesus, (Nordskog Publishing, Inc.) dedicating a full decade of scholarship and effort to this work. It is a reader-friendly His-Story (history) of the incarnation of Jesus in the order the events occurred, blending the four Biblical Gospel books that tell of the New Testament era, written by apostles Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. It is unique in its rigorous harmonizing and combining of texts, without any omissions from the original King James.

For anyone interested in learning of the life of Jesus Christ and His Good News in a natural, accessible way, this Four in One provides a harmony of the four Biblical Gospels rearranged into a single chronological narrative. Using the venerable King James Bible word for word, this faithful Gospel telling is perfect for seekers, new believers, and scholars alike.

This is a serious and thorough undertaking.  In 1979, Thomas Nelson republished a popular 19th century edition of Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Holy Bible, which included additional commentary by others, including a tabular harmony of the Gospels. The author carefully compared The Four in One Gospel of Jesus to the Matthew Henry harmony and found it to be a 99% match to that esteemed resource. This affirms our confidence in the accuracy of this work, and is due to the thoroughness of Pastor Dimitrov’s methods. The book is meticulously crafted, with detailed Scripture references that reveal the compiler’s process of interweaving the texts, and make it easy to refer to the original Scriptures.

Watch the Video!

In 1992 Nikola Dimitrov experienced a miraculous conversion, receiving Jesus as his Lord and Savior. Since 1995 he has been a full-time minister of the Gospel, serving as pastor, Bible teacher, preacher, and Christian educator. He started his first church in 1994, which is still standing today, and in 1998 he began his traveling ministry. Nikola is currently pastoring several church groups in Bourgas, Bulgaria and is frequently sought out as a speaker around the country. He also serves as a Bible teacher at the Apostolic Kingdom Institute in Stara Zagora, Bulgaria.

As editor-in-chief of Vetil Media Ministry, Nikola has translated and published more than thirty books into Bulgarian, as well as writing some himself. He then encourages his congregations to take responsibility in word and deed toward that end. As a translator, Nikola has also produced and distributed around the nation nearly 1000 Bulgarian versions of audio and video teachings by famous foreign preachers and teachers.

As part of a charity in Bulgaria, along with other volunteers, Nikola takes care of needy people from the minorities, distributing clothes, food, medicine, and school materials to children.

Nikola is married to Helen, and they have two lovely young-adult daughters, Annie (which means grace) and Mikaela (which means who is like God?). Both are part of Nikola and Helen’s ministry, serving in the area of music.

Hope you enjoyed today's spotlight and that you'll join me each week for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time take care and God Bless.
PamT

#ThursdayThoughts with Nikola Dimitrov

Good Morning!

Well I'm leaving Montana today headed to North Dakota. I'll be sharing more west coast vacation memories next week, but meanwhile, please welcome Nikola Dimitrov back to share some thoughts with us....

There are 4 Messianic "proof" miracles that Jesus did, which created an unusual uproar among the religious leaders. The Messianic proof miracles are those miracles Jesus did, that the religious system believed only the Messiah could do - these were "special miracles", and Jesus knew that, so, by doing them, He proved to them He was the Messiah:

1). Raised a man from the dead after 4 days (John 11:38-44).
38 Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.
39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.
40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.
42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.
43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

The religious old covenant system had a belief that a body could be raised from the dead UP TO 3 days after death, because the spirit lingers around the body, but on the 4th day, only the Messiah could do such a miracle. Jesus did this, and the religious leaders got so mad that they plotted to kill Lazarus (again!).

2). Heal a man born blind (John 9:1-12).
1 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.
2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
6 When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,
7 And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.
8 The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?
9 Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he.
10 Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened?
11 He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight.
12 Then said they unto him, Where is he? He said, I know not.

The old covenant religious system had a belief that if someone is born with a disease or deformation, that God would not heal that person. The child was believed to be the result of the sins of the parents. Jesus healed the man, and the religious leaders became enraged, and excommunicated the man from their synagogue! The man later found Jesus in secret and learned what had happened. Only the Messiah could heal a man born blind.

3). Healed leprosy (Luke 17). Under the old covenant, a Jew had never been healed of leprosy, according to Luke 4:27. Naaman, a Syrian was healed of leprosy when he dipped 7 times in the Jordan river, at the instruction of Elisha the prophet. Jesus told 10 leprous Jews to go show themselves to the priests and offer the required sacrifice (according to Leviticus 14). Now, we do not know the rest of the story, of what happened when or even if they went and showed themselves to the priests. In this story, one of them returned to worship Jesus and give glory to God, and Jesus stated that all 10 had been healed. Only the Messiah could have done such a miracle of healing of leprosy, not using Leviticus 14, but demonstrating the power of God. Jesus was confronting a system that was dying, and showing them a new and better (living) way.

4). Cast a demon from a man who was deaf and dumb (Matthew 9:32-34 and Luke 11:14).
32 As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil.
33 And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel.
34 But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils.

The Pharisees cast out demons by demanding the demon’s name. Well, if the man cannot hear or talk, then they cannot get the name from him. Only the Messiah could do such a miracle. Rather than admit He must have been the Messiah, they insulted Him by saying He cast out devils by the Prince of Devils. Hence, the blasphemy against the Spirit.

- - - - - -

For more about the way Jesus did things, please order a copy of The Four in One Gospel of Jesus - which shows each of the stories of Jesus in their fullness and in chronological order. For more information, please visit: www.thefourinonegospelofjesus.com  Watch the video HERE.

About the Author: In 1992 Nikola Dimitrov experienced a miraculous conversion, receiving Jesus as his Lord and Savior. Since 1995 he has been a full-time minister of the Gospel, serving as pastor, Bible teacher, preacher, and Christian educator. He started his first church in 1994, which is still standing today, and in 1998 he began his traveling ministry. Nikola is currently pastoring several church groups in Bourgas, Bulgaria and is frequently sought out as a speaker around the country. He also serves as a Bible teacher at the Apostolic Kingdom Institute in Stara Zagora, Bulgaria.

As editor-in-chief of Vetil Media Ministry, Nikola has translated and published more than thirty books into Bulgarian, as well as writing some himself. He then encourages his congregations to take responsibility in word and deed toward that end. As a translator, Nikola has also produced and distributed around the nation nearly 1000 Bulgarian versions of audio and video teachings by famous foreign preachers and teachers.

As part of a charity in Bulgaria, along with other volunteers, Nikola takes care of needy people from the minorities, distributing clothes, food, medicine, and school materials to children.

Nikola is married to Helen, and they have two lovely young-adult daughters, Annie (which means grace) and Mikaela (which means who is like God?). Both are part of Nikola and Helen’s ministry, serving in the area of music.