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Here's what you could win:
1 (ONE) winner will receive an autographed copy of my release, The Life of a Lily, inside of a gift bag/basket containing these items: cucumber melon body lotion with bath sponge, a Celtic Knot and Cross Charm Watch, "And You Will Know the Truth” Bracelet, “Guardian Angel” Bracelet, a Decorative Heart Box & Charm Key Chain, and a Expect Miracles Bookmark, all courtesy of Everything That's Lily LLC!
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Winners will be chosen randomly and will be contacted via email. Thanks for your support and continued blessings!
Watch Your Life Bloom
Welcome to the Official Blog of Author Dr. Lily L. Ratliff Jenkins, of the inspirational Memoir, The Life of a Lily: Growing in His Strength, Blooming in His Love, and many other writings.
Thanks for coming by to sit awhile and reflecting along with me on everything biblical. On this blog, feel free to share your thoughts and feelings about the various topics I present. They all do come from the heart and are meant for us to ponder, be enlightened, laugh, cry, and ultimately give God all of the praise.
You will hopefully find resources on everything from writing tips to creating your own memoir, how to journal, becoming better Christians and how to walk in your callings, destinies, and witty inventions that we have deep inside of us but sometimes don't quite know how to tap into and walk in. But GOD! It is in his wisdom along with an open mind that we will get through this together. Amen! So I welcome you my brothers and sisters!
Thanks for coming by to sit awhile and reflecting along with me on everything biblical. On this blog, feel free to share your thoughts and feelings about the various topics I present. They all do come from the heart and are meant for us to ponder, be enlightened, laugh, cry, and ultimately give God all of the praise.
You will hopefully find resources on everything from writing tips to creating your own memoir, how to journal, becoming better Christians and how to walk in your callings, destinies, and witty inventions that we have deep inside of us but sometimes don't quite know how to tap into and walk in. But GOD! It is in his wisdom along with an open mind that we will get through this together. Amen! So I welcome you my brothers and sisters!
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Feature Article in Inspired Women Magazine
If you are looking for a testimony of one woman's own date rape tragedy and how she overcame it, please click on the banner that will take you to my story in Inspired Women Magazine. It contains a never before told account of my college dormitory experience that I now share with other young women that I'm sure will also bless your spirit.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
You Are Worth It
Enjoy this inspirational food-for-thought, that one of my dear friends, Pastor Natalie Francisco, sent out as a motivational tool for all of her friends to jump start our day! http://www.nataliefrancisco.com/. Thanks Natalie!
YOU ARE WORTH IT
You are worth the trouble and effort required to make your life the best it can possibly be. There is so very much you have to express, to give, to experience and to contribute to the magnificent fabric of life. You are worth the discomfort and frustration that you’ll regularly need to get through. You are worth the pain that the world will sometimes offer.
For within you is the capacity for great joy and astounding achievement. Within you are beautiful and worthy dreams that long to be fulfilled. You are one of a kind and you are filled with a driving purpose. You are worth whatever it takes to give that special purpose a lasting and meaningful expression. Yes, the disappointments, inconveniences, pains, problems and annoyances will surely and steadily come. Yet they are indeed quite trivial compared to the precious possibilities that live within you. Make whatever efforts necessary, endure whatever setbacks you must, move forward through whatever challenges may come along. For there is no question that you are worth it.
— Ralph Marston
YOU ARE WORTH IT
You are worth the trouble and effort required to make your life the best it can possibly be. There is so very much you have to express, to give, to experience and to contribute to the magnificent fabric of life. You are worth the discomfort and frustration that you’ll regularly need to get through. You are worth the pain that the world will sometimes offer.
For within you is the capacity for great joy and astounding achievement. Within you are beautiful and worthy dreams that long to be fulfilled. You are one of a kind and you are filled with a driving purpose. You are worth whatever it takes to give that special purpose a lasting and meaningful expression. Yes, the disappointments, inconveniences, pains, problems and annoyances will surely and steadily come. Yet they are indeed quite trivial compared to the precious possibilities that live within you. Make whatever efforts necessary, endure whatever setbacks you must, move forward through whatever challenges may come along. For there is no question that you are worth it.
— Ralph Marston
Monday, January 19, 2009
Set Yourself Free
Set yourself free from anything that might hinder you in becoming the person you want to be. Free yourself from the uncertainties about your abilities or the worth of your dreams, from the fears that you may not be able to achieve them or that they won’t be what you wanted.
Set yourself free from the past. The good things from yesterday are still yours in memory; the things you want to forget you will, for tomorrow is only a sunrise away. Free yourself from regret or guilt, and promise to live this day as fully as you can.
Set yourself free from the expectations of others, and never feel guilty or embarrassed if you do not live up to their standards. You are most important to yourself; live by what you feel is best and right for you. Others will come to respect your integrity and honesty.
Set yourself free to simply be yourself, and you will soar higher than you’ve ever dreamed.
by: Edmund O’Neill
Set yourself free from the past. The good things from yesterday are still yours in memory; the things you want to forget you will, for tomorrow is only a sunrise away. Free yourself from regret or guilt, and promise to live this day as fully as you can.
Set yourself free from the expectations of others, and never feel guilty or embarrassed if you do not live up to their standards. You are most important to yourself; live by what you feel is best and right for you. Others will come to respect your integrity and honesty.
Set yourself free to simply be yourself, and you will soar higher than you’ve ever dreamed.
by: Edmund O’Neill
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Moving Past Your Pain
Thank you Jesus! Hallelujah!!!! You talking about God being right on time in the lives of His People!! I tell you, there are times in your life when you are going through and you embark upon a word that will quench your spirit at just the right moment-confirming what you knew God was trying to tell you! Well I’ve got to say that the word is here TODAY! Not only for me, but for you!
People always want to know how to get past painful experiences in your lives. I speak upon this topic alot because of course, firsthand, I’ve been through it. But this brother by the name of Rev. James C. Matthews, says it best. It gave me a whole other perspective of what it truly means to walk away from your past. I thank God for this new revelation in my life and I pay that it blesses your spirit! Please be sure to comment about it as the Lord allows!
“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14)
Often, people who develop a snapshot perspective of life lose their identity in the event or situation. They define who they are by that moment in time instead of who they are as a person. I can remember meeting a man who was in his late 40s. When introducing me to this person, my friend first let me know that this man once played for a well-known professional sports team. It was only after this introduction that his name was communicated to me. In the eyes of his associates, this man was defined by a moment that had come and gone. When I asked the gentlemen what he was doing now, he appeared ashamed of his station in life. He had a respectable job, but in his eyes and those he associated with, it was not comparable to his former moment of glory.
In another instance, my wife and I met a young woman at a ministry event who was a survivor of Hurricane Katrina and had settled down in Dallas. When she introduced herself, she told me her name but had preceded this by commenting, “I’m from Katrina.” When my wife and I were driving home from the engagement, she commented that every time this woman introduced herself to someone, she commented that she was “from Katrina.” I’ve seen the same thing happen to people who have physical handicaps, been abused, divorced, incarcerated, or homeless. They’ve allowed their circumstances or an event to define and prescribe what their expectations in life can or should be.
You are more than a moment! You are a motion picture that is not defined by a snapshot or one frame of the picture. If you refuse to allow your past to define your future, you will discover that life has much more to offer you than a memory.
The above devotional is excerpted from Pastor J.C. Matthew’s new book “Your Situation Is Not Your Destination.”
Pastor James C. (J.C.) Matthews is the founder and Senior Pastor of the multi-cultural non-denominational Dunamis Life Ministries of Dallas, Texas. Pastor Matthews is known for his love of God’s Word, unusual wisdom, passionate preaching style and gift of practically applying scripture to everyday. He is the author of the Saved but Stuck: 30 Days to Personal Revival”. “I’ll Come… When I Get Myself Together” and “My Situation Is Not My Destination - Only Preparation”. J.C. Matthews lives in the Dallas / Ft. Worth Texas area with his wife Gena and four children.
© Pastor J.C. Matthews all rights reserved.
Source: http://www.streamingfaith.com/
People always want to know how to get past painful experiences in your lives. I speak upon this topic alot because of course, firsthand, I’ve been through it. But this brother by the name of Rev. James C. Matthews, says it best. It gave me a whole other perspective of what it truly means to walk away from your past. I thank God for this new revelation in my life and I pay that it blesses your spirit! Please be sure to comment about it as the Lord allows!
In His Love,
Moving Beyond the Moment
Rev. James C. Matthews
“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14)
Sometimes the things that hinder us from moving forward in our journey aren’t always bad things. It is possible to become hostage to our past by trying to relive something that has come and gone. This can take the form of trying to relive past achievements, relationships, or defining moments in our lives. We’ve all met people like this. In their wallet or purse they carry pictures or newspaper clippings of a past relationship or climactic moment in their lives. They speak of the past in the present tense, as if these events happened yesterday. It is healthy to celebrate our past moments in life, but it is unhealthy to become stuck in a moment and miss the rest of life. Life is a motion picture not a snapshot. It is always moving and stands still for no one.
Those who have a snapshot perspective of life can be easily identified by their conversation. They always talk about the past and how things used to be, or they dwell on what someone did to them years ago. It’s almost as if they stopped living once that moment transpired. Although they can easily recall in detail a particular moment in time that occurred years ago, they cannot clearly articulate their plans for the future.Often, people who develop a snapshot perspective of life lose their identity in the event or situation. They define who they are by that moment in time instead of who they are as a person. I can remember meeting a man who was in his late 40s. When introducing me to this person, my friend first let me know that this man once played for a well-known professional sports team. It was only after this introduction that his name was communicated to me. In the eyes of his associates, this man was defined by a moment that had come and gone. When I asked the gentlemen what he was doing now, he appeared ashamed of his station in life. He had a respectable job, but in his eyes and those he associated with, it was not comparable to his former moment of glory.
In another instance, my wife and I met a young woman at a ministry event who was a survivor of Hurricane Katrina and had settled down in Dallas. When she introduced herself, she told me her name but had preceded this by commenting, “I’m from Katrina.” When my wife and I were driving home from the engagement, she commented that every time this woman introduced herself to someone, she commented that she was “from Katrina.” I’ve seen the same thing happen to people who have physical handicaps, been abused, divorced, incarcerated, or homeless. They’ve allowed their circumstances or an event to define and prescribe what their expectations in life can or should be.
You are more than a moment! You are a motion picture that is not defined by a snapshot or one frame of the picture. If you refuse to allow your past to define your future, you will discover that life has much more to offer you than a memory.
The above devotional is excerpted from Pastor J.C. Matthew’s new book “Your Situation Is Not Your Destination.”
Pastor James C. (J.C.) Matthews is the founder and Senior Pastor of the multi-cultural non-denominational Dunamis Life Ministries of Dallas, Texas. Pastor Matthews is known for his love of God’s Word, unusual wisdom, passionate preaching style and gift of practically applying scripture to everyday. He is the author of the Saved but Stuck: 30 Days to Personal Revival”. “I’ll Come… When I Get Myself Together” and “My Situation Is Not My Destination - Only Preparation”. J.C. Matthews lives in the Dallas / Ft. Worth Texas area with his wife Gena and four children.
© Pastor J.C. Matthews all rights reserved.
Source: http://www.streamingfaith.com/
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Scandalous Stumbling Blocks
Lord PLEASE forgive us for our scandalous stumbling blocks. We so need you to wash us, make us whole, and continously keep us mindful of our allegance to you, knowing that everything that we do as Christians should honor you. Please grant us your grace and forgiveness and help us to want nothing but to please you. Transform us by the renewing of our minds Lord, and keep us in your care, this day! Amen!
Scandalous Stumbling Blocks
READ Matthew 18:5-9
“But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea.”
Matthew 18:6
If you were reading this passage in the Greek original of Matthew, you’d notice the frequent occurrence of words beginning with skandal-. The verb skandalize in and the noun skandalon appear three times each in this short passage. The verb skandalize in is translated here as “cause to sin”; the noun skandalon as “temptation” or “temptation to sin.” Literally, a skandalon, from which we get the English word “scandal,” was a “cause of offense” or “stumbling block.” To “scandalize” someone meant to offend, or, in Christian usage, to cause someone to stumble into sin.
Matthew 18:5-9 warns us against “scandalous stumbling blocks.” We should be sure not to lead others into sin, while also watching that we do not stumble ourselves. With typical Semitic hyperbole, Jesus underscores his point by saying that we should cut off the part of our body that causes us to sin.
We live in a day that minimizes the reality of sin. Actions once considered sinful are excused by our society as personal choices. Even the church has often been swept along in the tide of moral relativism. How easily we Christians can excuse or ignore our own sinful behavior!
This passage from Matthew calls us up short. It reminds us that our actions really do matter to God and that sinful actions are greatly to be avoided. Thus we are led, not only to examine our behavior realistically, but also to seek God’s grace both for forgiveness and for the ability to live a God-honoring life.
QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: How do you regard the sin in your life? Do you take it seriously? Do you minimize it? Do you let it sink you into the mire of shame? Do you confess and live in the freedom of Christ?
PRAYER: Dear Lord, today I’m impressed by how little we are scandalized by sin. Oh, I suppose that certain public sins by public people might grab our attention for a moment as we look down our noses at the offender. But how easily we neglect our own sin. We get caught up in rationalization. Or we wallow in cheap grace. Or we simply give ourselves a free pass, as if sin really doesn’t matter.
Help us, Lord, to take sin as seriously as you do. After all, it was our sin that made the cross necessary. Give us eyes to see ourselves clearly. Give us the courage to name our sins before you, confessing honestly and specifically. Help us, Lord, to receive your forgiveness with joy and to live in the freedom you have earned for us by your death and resurrection. Amen.
Mark D. Roberts, as Senior Director and Scholar-in-Residence for Laity Lodge, is an advisor and frequent contributor to TheHighCalling.org. A Presbyterian pastor, Mark earned his Ph.D. in New Testament from Harvard University. He has written six books, including No Holds Barred: Wrestling with God in Prayer (WaterBrook, 2005). He blogs daily at http://www.markdroberts.com/.
Scandalous Stumbling Blocks
READ Matthew 18:5-9
“But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea.”
Matthew 18:6
If you were reading this passage in the Greek original of Matthew, you’d notice the frequent occurrence of words beginning with skandal-. The verb skandalize in and the noun skandalon appear three times each in this short passage. The verb skandalize in is translated here as “cause to sin”; the noun skandalon as “temptation” or “temptation to sin.” Literally, a skandalon, from which we get the English word “scandal,” was a “cause of offense” or “stumbling block.” To “scandalize” someone meant to offend, or, in Christian usage, to cause someone to stumble into sin.
Matthew 18:5-9 warns us against “scandalous stumbling blocks.” We should be sure not to lead others into sin, while also watching that we do not stumble ourselves. With typical Semitic hyperbole, Jesus underscores his point by saying that we should cut off the part of our body that causes us to sin.
We live in a day that minimizes the reality of sin. Actions once considered sinful are excused by our society as personal choices. Even the church has often been swept along in the tide of moral relativism. How easily we Christians can excuse or ignore our own sinful behavior!
This passage from Matthew calls us up short. It reminds us that our actions really do matter to God and that sinful actions are greatly to be avoided. Thus we are led, not only to examine our behavior realistically, but also to seek God’s grace both for forgiveness and for the ability to live a God-honoring life.
QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: How do you regard the sin in your life? Do you take it seriously? Do you minimize it? Do you let it sink you into the mire of shame? Do you confess and live in the freedom of Christ?
PRAYER: Dear Lord, today I’m impressed by how little we are scandalized by sin. Oh, I suppose that certain public sins by public people might grab our attention for a moment as we look down our noses at the offender. But how easily we neglect our own sin. We get caught up in rationalization. Or we wallow in cheap grace. Or we simply give ourselves a free pass, as if sin really doesn’t matter.
Help us, Lord, to take sin as seriously as you do. After all, it was our sin that made the cross necessary. Give us eyes to see ourselves clearly. Give us the courage to name our sins before you, confessing honestly and specifically. Help us, Lord, to receive your forgiveness with joy and to live in the freedom you have earned for us by your death and resurrection. Amen.
Mark D. Roberts, as Senior Director and Scholar-in-Residence for Laity Lodge, is an advisor and frequent contributor to TheHighCalling.org. A Presbyterian pastor, Mark earned his Ph.D. in New Testament from Harvard University. He has written six books, including No Holds Barred: Wrestling with God in Prayer (WaterBrook, 2005). He blogs daily at http://www.markdroberts.com/.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
The Treasure
The Treasureby Alice Gray as printed in “More Stories for the Heart”
The cheerful girl with bouncy golden curls was almost five. Waiting with her mother at the checkout stand, she saw them: a circle of glistening white pearls in a pink foil box. “Oh please, Mommy. Can I have them? Please, mommy, please!”
Quickly the mother checked the back of the little foil box and then looked back into the pleading blue eyes of her little girl’s upturned face. “A dollar ninety-five. That’s almost $2.00 If you really want them, I’ll think of some extra chores for you and in no time you can save enough money to buy them for yourself. Your birthday’s only a week away and you might get another crisp dollar bill from Grandma.”
As soon as Jenny got home, she emptied her penny bank and counted out 17 pennies. After dinner, she did more than her share of chores and she went to the neighbor and asked Mrs. McJames if she could pick dandelions for ten cents. On her birthday, Grandma did give her another new dollar bill and at last she had enough money to buy the necklace.
Jenny loved her pearls. They made her feel dressed up and grown up. She wore them everywhere–Sunday school, kindergarten, even to bed. The only time she took them off was when she went swimming or had a bubble bath. Mother said if they got wet, they might turn her neck green.Jenny had a very loving daddy and every night when she was ready for bed, he would stop whatever he was doing and come upstairs to read her a story. One night when he finished the story, he asked Jenny, “Do you love me?”
“Oh yes, Daddy. You know that I love you.”
“Then give me your pearls.”
“Oh, Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have Princess–the white horse from my collection. The one with the pink tail. Remember, Daddy? The one you gave me. She’s my favorite.”
“That’s okay, Honey. Daddy loves you. Good night.” And he brushed her cheek with a kiss.
About a week later, after the story time, Jenny’s daddy asked again, “Do you love me?”
“Daddy, you know I love you.”
“Then give me your pearls.”
“Oh Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have my babydoll. The brand new one I got for my birthday. She is so beautiful and you can have the yellow blanket that matches her sleeper.”
“That’s okay. Sleep well. God bless you, little one. Daddy loves you.” And as always, he brushed her cheek with a gentle kiss.
A few nights later when her daddy came in, Jenny was sitting on her bed with her legs crossed Indian-style. As he came close, he noticed her chin was trembling and one silent tear rolled down her cheek.
“What is it, Jenny? What’s the matter?”
Jenny didn’t say anything but lifted her little hand up to her daddy. And when she opened it, there was her little pearl necklace. With a little quiver, she finally said, “Here, Daddy. It’s for you.”
With tears gathering in his own eyes, Jenny’s kind daddy reached out with one hand to take the dime-store necklace, and with the other hand he reached into his pocket and pulled out a blue velvet case with a strand of genuine pearls and gave them to Jenny. He had had them all the time. He was just waiting for her to give up the dime-store stuff so he could give her genuine treasure.
So like our heavenly Father.
What are you hanging on to?
(FROM LILY: Give everything you need to over to the Lord, for it is with the Lord, you will find true Treasure! Thank you Jesus!)
The cheerful girl with bouncy golden curls was almost five. Waiting with her mother at the checkout stand, she saw them: a circle of glistening white pearls in a pink foil box. “Oh please, Mommy. Can I have them? Please, mommy, please!”
Quickly the mother checked the back of the little foil box and then looked back into the pleading blue eyes of her little girl’s upturned face. “A dollar ninety-five. That’s almost $2.00 If you really want them, I’ll think of some extra chores for you and in no time you can save enough money to buy them for yourself. Your birthday’s only a week away and you might get another crisp dollar bill from Grandma.”
As soon as Jenny got home, she emptied her penny bank and counted out 17 pennies. After dinner, she did more than her share of chores and she went to the neighbor and asked Mrs. McJames if she could pick dandelions for ten cents. On her birthday, Grandma did give her another new dollar bill and at last she had enough money to buy the necklace.
Jenny loved her pearls. They made her feel dressed up and grown up. She wore them everywhere–Sunday school, kindergarten, even to bed. The only time she took them off was when she went swimming or had a bubble bath. Mother said if they got wet, they might turn her neck green.Jenny had a very loving daddy and every night when she was ready for bed, he would stop whatever he was doing and come upstairs to read her a story. One night when he finished the story, he asked Jenny, “Do you love me?”
“Oh yes, Daddy. You know that I love you.”
“Then give me your pearls.”
“Oh, Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have Princess–the white horse from my collection. The one with the pink tail. Remember, Daddy? The one you gave me. She’s my favorite.”
“That’s okay, Honey. Daddy loves you. Good night.” And he brushed her cheek with a kiss.
About a week later, after the story time, Jenny’s daddy asked again, “Do you love me?”
“Daddy, you know I love you.”
“Then give me your pearls.”
“Oh Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have my babydoll. The brand new one I got for my birthday. She is so beautiful and you can have the yellow blanket that matches her sleeper.”
“That’s okay. Sleep well. God bless you, little one. Daddy loves you.” And as always, he brushed her cheek with a gentle kiss.
A few nights later when her daddy came in, Jenny was sitting on her bed with her legs crossed Indian-style. As he came close, he noticed her chin was trembling and one silent tear rolled down her cheek.
“What is it, Jenny? What’s the matter?”
Jenny didn’t say anything but lifted her little hand up to her daddy. And when she opened it, there was her little pearl necklace. With a little quiver, she finally said, “Here, Daddy. It’s for you.”
With tears gathering in his own eyes, Jenny’s kind daddy reached out with one hand to take the dime-store necklace, and with the other hand he reached into his pocket and pulled out a blue velvet case with a strand of genuine pearls and gave them to Jenny. He had had them all the time. He was just waiting for her to give up the dime-store stuff so he could give her genuine treasure.
So like our heavenly Father.
What are you hanging on to?
(FROM LILY: Give everything you need to over to the Lord, for it is with the Lord, you will find true Treasure! Thank you Jesus!)
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