REBELLIOUS CAROLYN GETS A NEW NATURE IN CHRIST

My boss wanted me to paint on the sculpture’s hand but I wanted to finish what I was painting on the leg. My rebellious nature wanted me to argue and give the reason why my idea was better. But I didn’t say anything because something has changed.

That rebellious nature I’ve exhibited since a child has dissipated and I’ve watched myself take on a much more humble and yielding attitude. It’s like being outside myself looking at a totally different person. It has to be Jesus’ new nature in me because it’s certainly not the old Carolyn. I hardly recognized my new self.

On my last several jobs I found it easy to yield to my bosses and fellow workers. I’m more sensitive to their wishes. If they asked for a suggestion, I gave it, but I didn’t butt in with what I thought. And the thing is, I’m loving it. It’s fun and peaceful and rewarding and most of all, it’s not fake!

Only Jesus Christ could make that change in me so remarkable and permanent. And why it happened now instead of years ago, I can’t tell you. I’m just so pleased to see it.

I was a rebellious child, an even more rebellious teenager and it continued in my personality over the years. I think most people have issues with rebellion of one sort or another. It’s because rebellion was inherited from the first man, Adam, and it was passed down through generations in the blood.

But the birth of the second Adam, Jesus Christ (1 Cor 15:45), changed the nature of human blood for those who receive him.  Once Jesus was born, there was one man with uncontaminated, non-rebellious blood. That is a really big deal; no wonder a multitude of angels showed up and were rejoicing at His birth!

New blood and consequently a new nature was introduced on earth. Jesus didn’t get his blood from his mother, Mary, but from God. Jesus’ blood was not prone to disobedience, rebellion, pride, or other human failings.

When a person gets born again, they receive that new blood of Jesus. There are at least 19 million cells in one square inch of skin and each one is affected by blood. The pure life blood of Jesus effects every cell in us.

The old nature dies and Jesus’ nature takes over. Some things may change immediately, but others take time, but they will happen. Jesus’ meek nature was working in my blood for years until it just suddenly popped out as the new true me and I’m so much happier now. God says stay faithful. He knows that if we will continue to love Him, the gift of His son Jesus Christ will continue to bless us and change our very natures to be more like Him.

Love, Carolyn

A perfect gift for the holidays, WINGS: A Journey in Faith. It’s a compilation of short true narratives to entertain, inspire and enhance your spiritual growth. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Wings+Carolyn+Molica

WHEN WE PRAY

One of the preemie twins (weighing in at just a little over 4 lbs) was having open heart surgery. I texted back that I’d pray. Then I went on to check my other texts, posts and e-mails. A few minutes went by and I caught myself, “Carolyn, you need to pray NOW!” It’s way too easy these days to go through e-mails, social network posts, texts, etc. and take the messages in as mental information without really engaging and DOING something about them. When it comes to prayer we need to change this bad habit.

Prayer is a very powerful force that gets things done and it needs to be taken seriously. Mark 11:24 says that when we pray we are to believe – right then, not later, not pray and hope there will be an answer, not pray and wish, but focus enough when we pray – focus on the answer we want – the end result. When we pray, believe. We need to stay in pray until we are convinced, persuaded, and sure that God has heard and is answering.

Too much praying has been, “If it be your will.” If we spend time in the Bible, then we won’t have to say “if” all the time, because we will know what God’s will is.

When we pray for someone it’s a serious matter. It means something. It is not casual or frivolous. According to God’s written word, prayer can heal, get people delivered from devil spirits, alter weather conditions and many more things. It’s powerful and effective.

Jane and I prayed about the baby’s heart surgery. We already knew and believed what the Bible says about children being a blessing (Ps 127:3-5). We also believed in God’s ability to work through the surgeon’s hands. We knew that the parents were standing in faith for the little girl to live and grow strong. We knew that the Bible says if two agree in prayer, God will do it (Matt 18:19). So when we prayed together we were totally persuaded God would answer – and He did. She went through the surgery with flying colors, had a speedy recovery and all the tubes were taken out in only a few days.

Prayer works. The Lord willingly and lovingly answers our prayers. So the next time someone asks for prayer on something let’s pay attention, stop a few minutes and take the time to pray. And if we ask people to pray for us, we should expect to get results too.

Love, Carolyn

A perfect gift for the holidays, WINGS: A Journey in Faith –Volume1. It’s a compilation of short true narratives to entertain, inspire and enhance your spiritual growth. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Wings+Carolyn+Molica

OUR YOUTH IS RENEWED LIKE THE EAGLE'S

Today I turned 65. I’ve been blessed with great health. Partly it’s genetic, but a lot of my strength and youthfulness I attribute to quoting Psalm 103:5 every morning as I’m driving to work. It says, “He satisfies my mouth with good things so that my youth is renewed like the eagles.”

As the eagle goes through the different stages of its life, molting takes place and the new feathers are graciously provided. God created a way for this majestic bird to grow the necessary new beautiful feathers as it matures. We need the same thing, brand new feathers to keep us youthful and strong as we also mature.

In my opinion, this scripture is not only talking about God providing good physical food we can eat that can renew our youthfulness, but even more important is the bread of life God’s given us to eat—His living word. As we take the truths of the Bible into us and as we speak them out of our mouth, we get new insight, answers that weren’t there before, fresh understanding and youthful excitement.

I believe that taking delight in God’s Word, both the written word and the awesomeness of the Lord’s presence in our everyday lives keeps us strong and our youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Love, Carolyn

A perfect gift for the holidays, WINGS: A Journey in Faith –Volume1. It’s a compilation of short true narratives to entertain, inspire and enhance your spiritual growth. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Wings+Carolyn+Molica

STARS OFF DIFFICULT, ENDS UP GREAT

I knew it was going to be rough from the minute I got in my car to go to work. The sky was overcast – Las Vegas doesn’t like bad weather. I walked into the paint shop and was pierced with the kind of cold that goes right through you.

My task for the day was to come up with the colors and a technique for making a piece of Masonite look like beautiful mahogany. I was having trouble with the basecoat—too dull and not enough red in it. I worked at it and adjusted my color again and again. I had to match the live sample as closely as possible and it just wasn’t coming together.

I’d recently purchased new shoes and I was on a cement floor for 7 ½ hours. My legs hurt, my back hurt and I was worn out. Even the Motrin wasn’t working.

My attitude was as desperate and frayed as the nerves in my back.  My mind was spiraling, but I knew if I could make it through the day I’d be okay.

At the end of my work day I was mentally exhausted but I knew I wanted to go out to the local coffee shop and get some writing done. It would be too dangerous to sit down in my easy chair at home, so I quickly made myself a sandwich and scarfed it down. I kicked off my new work shoes, changed into comfortable clothes and took off for the coffee shop with my Bible and my notebook.

My favorite table in the back was open so I sat down. But before I started my writing, I got my Bible opened to read some scripture, desperately needing some refreshing after a tough day. I turned to Psalm 107:20, “He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.”

I read further. I could relate to verse 26. It described how I started my day:  “They go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.  They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit's end. Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble.”

The next part of the scripture didn’t happen until over 8 hours later. “And he bringeth them out of their distresses.  He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven” (vss. 28-30).

I was finally happily embracing the warmth of the low lighting in the coffee shop, drinking a cup of freshly brewed coffee and enjoying the peace of mind after a very stressful eight hours of difficulty.  

We all have days like that, but I’m so glad the Lord gets us through them. With the holidays on us, there’s plenty of situations to get stressed about, so my suggestion is that at the end of every day we take a few minutes to pray or read a scripture or two. It will really help.

Love, Carolyn

A perfect gift for the holidays, WINGS: A Journey in Faith –Volume1. It’s a compilation of short true narratives to entertain, inspire and enhance your spiritual growth. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Wings+Carolyn+Molica

UNDER HIS WING

Sometimes I just want to breathe a sigh of relief and be comforted. And that’s when I like to picture myself snuggled under God’s wing.

Psalm 91:4 says, “He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust.” I love to revel in that image. It brings peace to my mind and heart.

David said, “How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wing” (Ps 36:7). Almighty God is willing to put His powerful and protective wings over us because He loves us so much.

In another Psalm David prayed, “Hide me under the shadow of thy wings” (Ps 17:8). Under God’s wing nothing can hurt or harm us.

Ruth was a Moabite. When she lost her husband, her mother-in-law told her she should go back to her people. But Ruth wanted to stay and take care of her widowed mother-in-law. She decided, “Thy people shall be my people and thy God my God” (Ruth 1:16). Boaz saw Ruth’s meekness and said, “The Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust” (Ruth 2:12). I imagine Ruth was in some ways very alone in this new place and with new people, so it must have been a wonderful feeling that she could rely on and really feel comfort from God.

So if you’re like me or Ruth and sometimes feel like you need a break or some extra comfort, or you feel like David and just need to hide, you can picture yourself cozy under the wing of God.

Love, Carolyn

The perfect reading material for the holidays, WINGS: A Journey in Faith, a compilation of short true narratives to inspire and entertain. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Wings+Carolyn+Molica

THE DEVIL WILL NEVER CLICK THE "LIKE" BUTTON

I went into the Starbucks and sat down to read the Bible and write. I looked up and this creepy guy was staring at me from outside. I tried to ignore him, but every time I looked up, there he was with big googly eyes looking right at me! Yuk. I couldn’t concentrate on what I was doing so I moved out of his line of vision. But then he came inside and sat right in the big easy chair that focused right on me! I couldn’t get a thing done and wasn’t smart enough to just turn my back on him or get out of there. I lost that battle.

The next several times when I went to study and write, similar things happened with different people at different locations. I got wise to what the devil was doing. He always goes too far and I catch him and nail him. The devil is never on our side! And to those of you who are Facebook users, the devil never clicks the “like” button for you. We are in a constant war with him.

In the end we win, but in each battle we need God’s wisdom of what to do. A person in the military or any competitive sport knows that battles get fought and won by different strategies. Winners are people who can hold out mentally. Often, as in tennis, the competitors’ skills are equal, but the ultimate winner is the one who endures mentally.

Our strategy is the wisdom of God. So the next time you get attacked, don’t let it go on for too long like I did, but go to God right away and find out His strategy for the battle. “In all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us” (Rom 8:37).

Love, Carolyn

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GOD INTERVENED TO BRING AMERICA'S FIRST THANKSGIVING

Within the first year, half of the 102 Pilgrims who landed in America, died. Of the 50 who remained only 6 or 7 were strong enough to care for the others.

William Bradford was their leader. He survived the first devastating winter of 1620 and went on to serve as governor of Plymouth for 33 years. From his book, Of Plymouth Plantation, comes this amazing story of how God intervened for the Pilgrims’ survival in this new land:

“About ye 16. Of March a certaine Indian came bouldly amongst them, and spoke to them in broken English, which they could well understand, but marveled at it… He tould them also of another Indian whos name was Squanto, a native of this place, who had been in England & could speake better English then him selfe.

“Afterwards they (as many as were able) began to plant ther corne, in which servise Squanto stood them in great stead, showing them both ye maner how to set it, and after how to dress & tend it. Also he tould them excepte they got fish & set with it (in these old grounds) it would come to nothing, and he showed them yt in ye midle of Aprill they should have store enough come up ye brooke, by which they begane to build, and taught them how to take it, and wher to get other provisions necessary for them; all which they found true by trial & experience… And thus they found ye Lord to be with them in all their ways, and to blesse their outgoings & incomings, for which let his holy name have ye praise for ever, to all posteritie.”

Bradford added, “Squanto… was a special instrument sent of God for their good beyond their expectation.”

How God worked in Squanto’s life is really amazing. In 1605, a member of the Native American Patuxet tribe, Squanto was captured by an English explorer and taken to England where he learned to speak English. In 1614 Captain John Smith brought him back to America but he was captured again and taken to Spain to be sold as a slave.  Local Catholic friars rescued him and introduced him to Christianity.

He went back to England and got on a ship to his native America. But when he got home, he found that all of his tribe had been killed by a plague. The sudden death of the whole tribe scared the neighboring tribes and so they never went onto the property, making it available for the Pilgrims. Also because of the odd circumstances of the tribe’s annihilation, the other tribes didn’t attack the Pilgrims and Squanto facilitated a peace treaty that lasted over 50 years.

With Squanto’s help, the Pilgrims’ second winter was much better. To celebrate, Governor Bradford appointed a day of Thanksgiving and invited Squanto’s newly adopted tribe to come and give thanks to God with them. The chief and 90 of his men came and feasted. They ate deer, turkey, fish, lobster, eels, vegetables, corn bread, berries, pies and popcorn that the Native Americans showed the Pilgrims how to make.  They competed in games of wrestling, shooting and running. The chief had such a good time he and his men stayed and celebrated for three days.

This was the first official American Thanksgiving.

If you’d like to read more about this time in America I recommend America’s Providential History by Mark Beliles and Stephen McDowell and William Bradford: Plymouth’s Faithful Pilgrim by Gary Schmidt.

Love, Carolyn