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Selena Day: Showing the love of God post pandemic

Selena Day: Showing the love of God post pandemic

I have been pondering on history as we walk into the future of post coronavirus shut down. I see so many differing views concerning the way we should do life in the future. 

I have heard many people sharing how, from now on, they will not be shaking hands with others, or will be keeping their distance, or not hugging. People with germ phobias have found the confidence to come out of the closet.  

I have made a choice not to judge anyone for their beliefs, whether they wear a mask or not, or whether they distance themselves or not. We cannot know the health concern of every individual.

Saying that, as we move forward, I am reminded of the vivid images from the 1980s, of Princess Diana walking into the AIDS wards of hospitals and sitting with the sick,  holding hands with those whom so many were afraid to be around because of the transmittance of the disease. At the time, the AIDS community was being likened to leprosy colonies. 

Those images of Princess Diana, this beautiful pristine woman, were impactful and made the world stop and re-evaluate the way it looked at those infected with this disease.  

I recently had a conversation with my parents, where they shared their memories of childhood when polio was a threat. They told us how those with the sickness were quarantined, but not those who were healthy. They couldn’t remember a time when our nation shut down due to illness. They had questions, but also, had trust. 

I don’t want to follow the dangerous path of conspiracy, for as I am writing this, I understand that many of you will filter the message of my words through your own comprehension of what truth is at this moment. 

As differing information is dispersed, I hope we will all question the motives within our hearts as to our own belief or disbelief of that information. To ask ourselves why, what, and how, while we ponder information we receive.

What are the motives and thoughts I have in my mind and heart? Do I want to be right, or do I want to walk in love? 

How am I responding to the information given to me? Am I taking it before my creator and asking him to direct my motives, steps, and actions? Am I filtering all the news that has been swirling through my life via television, social media, or word of mouth, through the water of God’s word? 

Why am I reacting the way I am to this information? Are my reactions based on fear, knowledge, or wisdom?  

As for me, I have put my trust in God. I have used this time to really ask questions concerning where we seem to be going as a nation and where God is leading us as the church. I have spent time praying for our elected officials and praying for my family.  

I have pressed into what God was saying and not assuming I know all the answers.  

Asking questions like: Is it wise or foolish to follow the majority and just take what has been told to us as fact? Or is it wise or unwise to question those leading us during this time? 

These are conversations I have been having recently with some in my life. The one thing I am most disturbed about during this time is the censorship of opposing thoughts, even the very wacky ones. Censorship tends to keep things in the dark. 

When voices, or ideas, are allowed to come into the light, the motives are usually revealed, and the darkness is exposed, and repentance happens. Repentance means to turn and go in the opposite direction.

So when a person has believed their whole life that something is true, but that truth has not been allowed to be filtered with true light, it will not be seen as false or distorted. Once it comes into the light and exposed to different questions of reality, truth is uncovered and understood more clearly. 

Let me give you an example through a story. As a child, I spent every summer going to the beaches of the Atlantic coast in Florida; my whole extended family would go, aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins. It has always been some of the happiest memories I carry. For a long time, I could not imagine any place more beautiful than the gray, hard-packed sand beaches along the Atlantic. 

As a teen, a friend of mine invited me to go to the Gulf Coast of Florida, sharing with me that it had the most beautiful beaches. The first time I went, we didn’t stay on the beach but had to drive a few minutes to get to the shore. My experience had always been to step out the door of our little motel and see the waves. 

My first experience with those beautiful white beaches was not a pleasant one. We stayed on the beach all day, and because it was my first time not being with my mother, I didn’t realize I needed to put on suntan lotion or sunscreen, and because of this, I got very burned. It was the worst sunburn of my life. 

Even though I had a wonderful time, I left that trip not feeling very impressed that this beach was better than my beloved Atlantic coast beach and not really caring that I should ever return. Thankfully, because so many others loved those beautiful beaches of the Gulf, I did go back, and as the light of the bright white sand enveloped my heart, I came to see the truth about those beautiful beaches of the gulf. 

The Atlantic side has a rugged beauty, and the memories there will always bring me joy. But as I have traveled around the world, for pristine beaches, and clear water, miles, and miles of it, the Gulf Coast has proven its beauty. In fact, the panhandle beaches of Florida are always listed on any documentary as most beautiful beaches in the world. My truth of beach beauty had to be exposed to the light, not just once, but several times, before my heart accepted what the world saw.

Wherever you are in your opinion of going forth, just remember that God is with each of us. If we go forward with love and compassion for one another, we will find that light will expose any darkness, and over time we will come out higher, more durable, and closer to our creator in all things.  

Selena Day

So, please forgive me in advance if I hug you. Please have grace with me if I lay my hands on you to pray for you. I believe in contact. But, if you do not, I will respect your choice and stand by your side in hope for the future.  

By Selena Day

www.journey4women.com

www.queenliving.org

Selena Day is a motivational speaker and is available to speak at your conference or event.  You may contact her at selenaday@me.com http://www.queenliving.org  http://facebook.com/queenismsbyselenaday. Photographs courtesy of Selena Day.

NAE Launches Campaign to ‘Bless Your Pastor’

NEWS PROVIDED BY
National Association of Evangelicals
July 17, 2019

WASHINGTON, July 17, 2019 /Christian Newswire/ — The National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) today launched a new national campaign to help congregations “show and share God’s love” for their pastors in creative and practical ways. The Bless Your Pastor (BlessYourPastor.org) campaign is part of a larger initiative to address financial challenges faced by pastors and is funded by a $1 million, 3-year grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.

The Bless Your Pastor campaign will encourage and equip churches to consider creative ways to bless their pastors and to take up a special appreciation offering for their pastors. Some churches may decide to extend this campaign to church staff members, in addition to their pastors.

Brian Kluth, national director of NAE Financial Health and spokesperson for Bless Your Pastor, said, “Having been a pastor myself, with three children and a wife who needed major medical treatments, I understand the financial struggles many pastors and their families face – and the tremendous difference it makes when a congregation shows their pastor they are there for them, all the way, sharing God’s love and blessings in practical ways.”

“Bless Your Pastor is about people in the church sharing their time, talents and treasures to creatively bless their pastors and church staff members,” Kluth said. “Some examples can be babysitting, doing car repairs, offering low or no cost medical and dental care, sharing a vacation home, and providing gift cards to the pastor and family.”

Churches that sign up for the Bless Your Pastor campaign at BlessYourPastor.orgwill receive a robust toolkit that will make it easy to launch and spark excitement for the campaign in their churches. The toolkit includes a list of “50 Creative Ways to Show God’s Love to Your Pastor;” a short training video for church boards and leadership teams; a timetable for organizing this behind-the-scenes effort; template letters and emails; social media graphics; and more.

According to national research from the NAE, LifeWay and InTrust, most pastors and their families operate with limited financial resources to meet their current and long-term needs:

• 90 percent of pastors feel financial pressure.
• 50 percent make less than $50,000 per year while serving their churches 50-60, or more, hours per week.
• Nearly 60 percent of pastors do not receive retirement or healthcare benefits from their churches.
• 3 out of 10 pastors have student loan debt averaging $36,000.

AUTISM AWARENESS: Help a Child with Special Needs at the Dentist

Dr. Greg Grillo speaks about Autism

Dental Care By Dr. Greg Grillo

Many people feel anxiety when it comes to going to the dentist. However, for children with special needs like autism spectrum disorder, the unfamiliar environment of a dental office can make going to the dentist much more difficult. I have been practicing family dentistry for 17 years and it is my goal to ensure that a patient is as comfortable as possible during their visit.

I wanted to highlight some ways to help children and patients with autism at the dentist. Here is a list of tips that my patients have used in the past to have successful dental appointments.

1. Ask Questions

Talking to your child’s dentist and asking questions that you may have is essential to the success of your child’s dental appointment. Some common questions that parents ask are:

    – Do you have any specialized training for caring with patients with special needs?

    – What accommodations can be made for my child?

    – Do you have any videos or books to help prepare for my child’s appointment?

These are just a few questions to get you started, but no question is a bad one, so ask your dentist anything that may be on your mind. Remember, that as a parent, you are in control of your child’s dentist appointment at all times. If at any time you feel uncomfortable or can sense your child becoming too overwhelmed, speak up.

2. Schedule Familiarization Appointments

Familiarization or desensitization appointments are scheduled prior to an actual dental appointment and are a great way for children with special needs like autism to see the dental office and meet the office and staff members. If your child struggles with sensory elements, scheduling one of these appointments could be very beneficial.

Most dentists are more than willing to schedule these as it’s their goal to ensure the comfort of their patients. Your child will be able to become familiar with this new environment before any work is done on their teeth. This will make it easier for them on the day of their actual appointment as they will have an idea of what to expect and recognize the staff members.

3. Use Visuals and Social Stories

Visuals can be used in a number of ways to help overcome sensory issues at the dentist. They can be used while preparing for your child’s dental appointment and at the appointment itself. Before the visit, you can create social stories about a dentist appointment that can allow your child to see what it may be like. You can also look up photos of your dentist and their office online which is another way for your child to make that visual connection of what the dentist appointment will be like.

Using visuals during your child’s appointment can be a great tool too. If your child has a favorite movie or TV show, consider bringing an iPad or portable DVD player to their visit to help distract them from what is happening in their math. Likewise, a favorite toy or fidget item can help be a great distraction from the work that the dentist is doing.

4. Reduce Wait Times

If your child is feeling anxious about the dentist, it’s important to reduce their time having to sit in the waiting room before their appointment. When you schedule their visit, schedule it at a time that is best for your child whether it be in the morning or afternoon. Talk to your dentist and their staff members ahead of time to see if your child can get their appointment started right away. If there is going to be any wait time, ask if your child can wait in the car. This can help ease some anxieties surrounded around their dental visit. Dentists are good about making accommodations unique to a child’s needs to feel free to ask for whatever will be best for your child.

5. Establish Dental Care Routines

Having a good dental care routine at home will help make your child’s dental appointment easier. Your child should be brushing and flossing every single day. This is a great way for them to become familiar with the feeling of toothbrushes and it’s an opportunity for you to teach them of the importance of dental care. Brushing and flossing can be a fun thing that you and your child can do together as it begins to become a habit in your child’s life. Another great way to practice good dental care is by eating a healthy, nutrient-rich diet. This is a great way for your child to try new foods and find ones that they enjoy best.

While the dentist office can be an overwhelming place with a lot of unfamiliar sensory elements, there are many ways you can work to make going to the dentist a positive experience Your dentist will be more than willing to work alongside you and your child to make them as comfortable as possible. Embrace the learning experience of taking your child to the dentist and while it may be challenging at first, successful dental visits are possible so never give up.

Dr. Greg Grillo, D.D.S., is the dental expert at Dentably, a website that answers concerns about special needs dentistry. You can find out more at www.emergencydentistsusa.com/dentably/ or https://autismjourney.org/author/dr-greg-grillo/

SGNScoops Magazine April 2019

By Dr. Greg Grillo, special to the SGNScoops Magazine. First published April 2019.

Read the May SGNScoops Magazine Online HERE

Read the April 2019 SGNScoops Magazine containing features relating to Autism Awareness HERE

Creekside Audience Asked to Give Back to Hurricane Michael Relief Collection

Creekside will be collecting donations for devastated areas such as Marianna, Fla. courtesy of Angela Marie Parker

Pigeon Forge, Tenn. (October 20th, 2018) — Creekside Gospel Music Convention has often given its audience a chance to give back to the community during Christian music festival. This year, Creekside is asking those who make the trek to Pigeon Forge, Tenn., for the four-day event Oct. 28 – Nov. 1, to think of their neighbors when they pack their suitcases.

Creekside 2018

By now everyone has heard the accounts, and viewed the photographs, of the devastation that Hurricane Michael left in its wake as it cut a swath through the coastal towns of the Florida Panhandle and the Gulf Coast.

Angela Parker of Mercy Rain

Angela Parker, of gospel artists Mercy Rain, grew up in one of the hard-hit areas of Florida, and is spearheading efforts to gather toiletries from the concert goers at Creekside. Items will then be shipped to the areas of need. Creekside attendees are asked to bring small items for donation to drop off at containers that will be available at each entrance.

Marianna, Fla. courtesy of Angela Marie Parker

“I just wanted to help them all and this is a way to help,” says Parker.

Suggested items include:

Food — small packages whenever possible, non-perishable.  Examples:

• Doritos
• Nature Valley Granola Bars
• Crystal Light drink mix
• Lance  Toast Chee  Peanut Butter Crackers
• Apple Sauce packs
• Lays Chips
• Mac and Cheese
• Cookies
• Anything  light-weight and boxed that can be mailed easily

Toiletries – personal sizes wherever possible. Examples:

• Toilet Paper
• Toothpaste
• Toothbrushes
• Soap
• Hand Sanitizer
• Paper Plates
• Paper Towels
• Deodorant
• Tampons & Pads
• Tissue
• Clorox wipes
• Baby wipes
• Diapers
• Formula (powder mix)
• Chapstick
• Sunscreen
• Hand Lotion
• Shampoo
• Conditioner

***Remember: Everything is going to be shipped, so the items need to be light-weight and easy to mail.

Rob Patz, director of Creekside, says, “I’m excited about Angela’s suggestion of this Hurricane Michael Relief Collection. It seems like a great way to give back to areas that have been hit so hard by the hurricane. I love it when our artists and audience can join together in reaching out a hand to others. In my opinion, it just confirms the fact that #WeAreFamily.”

For more information on this Hurricane Michael relief collection, please contact Angela Parker at angelamparker77@gmail.com.

Creekside Gospel Music Convention is a four-day event held annually at Pigeon Forge, Tenn., at the Smoky Mountain Convention Center. Daytime showcases, evening concerts, midnight prayer and special events are held daily. Come and experience the preaching of CT Townsend. Dr Jerry Goff will be honoring Arthur Rice of the Kingdom Heirs, and the 2018 Diamond Awards will also be held during this week of gospel music. For more information on Creekside, contact Creekside director, Rob Patz, at rob@sgnscoops.com.

Come to Creekside and discover why we say #WeAreFamily.

Autism Awareness Month: Faces of Autism

Autism Awareness Month: writer Angela Parker and her son, Christian

What Is Autism? 

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability of great complexity; signs appear during early childhood typically and affect a person’s ability to communicate, and interact with others. ASD is defined by a certain set of behaviors and is a “spectrum condition” that affects individuals differently and to varying degrees. There is no known single cause of autism, but increased awareness and early diagnosis/intervention and access to appropriate services/supports lead to significantly improved outcomes. Some of the behaviors associated with autism include delayed learning of language; difficulty making eye contact or holding a conversation; difficulty with executive functioning, which relates to reasoning and planning; narrow, intense interests; poor motor skills’ and sensory sensitivities. Again, a person on the spectrum might follow many of these behaviors or just a few, or many others besides. The diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder is applied based on analysis of all behaviors and their severity.

In 2016, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued their ADDM autism prevalence report. The report concluded that the prevalence of autism had risen to 1 in every 68 births in the United States – nearly twice as great as the 2004 rate of 1 in 125 – and almost 1 in 54 boys. The spotlight shining on autism as a result has opened opportunities for the nation to consider how to serve families facing a lifetime of supports for their children. In June 2014, researchers estimated the lifetime cost of caring for a child with autism is as great as $2.4 million. The Autism Society estimates that the United States is facing almost $90 billion annually in costs for autism. (http://www.autism-society.org/what-is/, April 20, 2018.)

Faces of Autism by Angela Parker

People often ask me, “What is Autism to you?”

Well, I’d have to say that Autism, to me, is a lot of different things. It’s been many things to me over the last 18 years. It has been tantrums, late nights, stimming (short for self-stimulatory behavior, behaviors that may include hand- flapping, rocking, spinning, or repetition of words and phrases), schedules, worried days, Individualized Education Program (IEP) Meetings, therapy sessions, repetition, behaviors, among many other things.

Autism Awareness Month: writer Angela Parker’s niece, Kylie

However, it has also been big smiles, goofy jokes, huge laughs, unexpected hugs, reaching goals that we thought were unattainable, unimaginable pride and more love than any mother could ever hold in her heart. I wouldn’t trade any of it for the world.

I never knew that my whole world would be surrounded by the most awesome kids, including my own son, niece and nephew.

I’ve been blessed to not only have a son with Autism, but also a niece and nephew. I believe that God only gives His most precious gifts to those He trusts the most. I keep asking God if He’s sure He trusts me so much.

The challenges began 18 years ago in January and haven’t stopped, but God has seen us through every step of the way. One of our latest struggles, for instance, was Algebra 1. Without it, my son, Christian, couldn’t graduate.

I worked as hard as I could with my son to get him through Algebra 1 so he could graduate, and now he’ll be graduating in December. I couldn’t be more pleased. This will be the most exciting moment of my life. Words can’t describe it.

Autism Awareness Month: writer Angela Parker’s nephew, Zach

My niece, Kylie, and nephew, Zach, also have an amazing mom that is an awesome Autism advocate for them. I love her for that. They have such a supporting mom. Not all Autism Spectral Disorder (ASD) kids have that luxury, unfortunately.

Two years ago I was blessed again to be able to start working with Developmentally Delayed children at a place called Early Autism Project. God blessed me with the ability to learn quickly on the job. Before I knew it, I was a Behavior Therapist working with some of the most amazing kids ever. The kids and the families loved having us there because they knew we were there to help.

So, when someone says “What is Autism?” I have to ask them if they mean scientifically or personally. Because the meanings are so different for me and a lot of other Autism caregivers.

By Angela Parker, special to SGNScoops website.

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Dr. Ravi Zacharias prays for the Nation on eve of Election

Dr. Ravi Zacharias

Nathan Kistler of Hope To The Hill in Washington DC has been publishing prays from many religious and political leaders for the last month, during a series entitled 30 Days Of Prayer for the Nation. Many of these we have shared with you here on SGNScoops website.

Today, Mr. Kistler writes, “We are so excited to bring this wonderful guest to you in Prayer today. Dr. Ravi Zacharias is the leading apologist for our faith today. When we approached him about

Nathan Kistler sings in Washington DC for Hope To The Hill.

doing a video for the #30daysofprayer, we were not sure if he would be able, but thankfully he did so quickly. Please join Dr. Zacharias in prayer for day 29, and join us here tomorrow on election for day 30.”

We need God in this land once again to move in a way only He can.
#pleasesharethis

Hope To The Hill.com

If you value prayer, please watch, pray along and share this video. If you have missed any of these videos, please visit and like the Hope To The Hill Facebook page to pray along and get updates on the prayer initiative. You can also visit the Hope To The Hill website for more information on this ministry.

Nathan Kistler

Join us tomorrow, here on SGN Scoops or on the Hope To The Hill Facebook page as we continue praying for the Nation and the Election.

You can contact Hope To The Hill at 202-770-7300 or email Nathan at Nathankistler@gmail.com. For more on Hope To The Hill, click on the website.

Nathan Kistler is a monthly columnist with SGNScoops magazine.

About Ravi Zacharias

Ravi Zacharias is a noted author and speaker who has been invited to present the claims of the Judeo-Christian worldview on university campuses, in halls of government, and numerous forums around the world for 44 years. He has addressed writers of the peace accord in South Africa, the president’s cabinet and parliament in Peru, military officers at the Lenin Military Academy and the Center for Geopolitical Strategy in Moscow as well as students at Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, and elsewhere.

Dr. Zacharias has twice spoken at the Annual Prayer Breakfast at the United Nations, which marks the opening day of the UN General Assembly, and has also addressed National Prayer Breakfasts at the seats of government in Ottawa, Canada, and London, England. As the 2008 Honorary Chairman of the National Day of Prayer, he gave addresses at the White House, the Pentagon, and The Cannon House.

He is the author of more than twenty books spanning the fields of theology, apologetics, comparative religions, and philosophy. For his lifetime of work, Dr. Zacharias has been conferred with seven honorary doctorates, most recently a Doctor of Public Service and a Doctor of Laws (2016). He hosts the international radio programs Let My People Think and Just Thinking and is Founder and President of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries. More here.

Bio courtesy of RZIM.org or http://rzim.org/about/ravi-zacharias/

Peggy Nienaber of Faith and Action on Day Seven of 30 Days of Prayer for the Nation

Nathan Kistler – 30 Days of Prayer. Peggy Nienaber Day 7

Nathan Kistler writes: We are honored to have my dear colleague and friend Peggy Nienaber (see her Facebook page) of  Faith & Action leading us in prayer for day 7 of the #30daysofprayer initiative. Please join Peggy in prayer and #pleasesharethis with your friends. We need God in America at this moment more than ever. Join us here at Hope To The Hill again tomorrow for another special prayer.

We need Christians who are willing to take a stand and not be ashamed of the Gospel. I,Nathan Kistler am the director at Hope To The Hill, and I ask that you take the challenge to pray for 30 days with us. For now however, please #watch, #pray, and #share

If you have missed day 1-7, please visit and like our page to pray along and get updates on days 7-30 of the prayer initiative. You can also visit us at the Hope To The Hill website for more information on our ministry.

Join us tomorrow, here on SGN Scoops or on the Hope To The Hill Facebook page as we continue each day for a total of 30 days, praying for the Nation, moving toward the election.

Did you miss Day One? Click here.

You can contact Hope To The Hill at 202-770-7300 or email Nathan at Nathankistler@gmail.com. For more on Hope To The Hill, click on the website.

Nathan Kistler is a monthly columnist with SGNScoops magazine.

Paul Broun: Day Five of Thirty Days of Prayer for the Nation

Day 5 of 30 days of Prayer. Paul Broun

We are truly honored to have one my closest friends leading us in prayer for day 5 of the #30daysofprayer initiative.

Former Rep. Paul Broun served in the United States Congress, and faithfully stood for the Constitution and what is right. I spent many days in his office praying for our nation and I’m truly honored to call him a friend.

Please join Paul as he #prays, and #share this video if you value #prayer.

Join us tomorrow, here on SGN Scoops or on the Hope To The Hill Facebook page as we continue each day for a total of 30 days, praying for the Nation, moving toward the election.

Did you miss Day One? Click here.

You can contact Hope To The Hill at 202-770-7300 or email Nathan at Nathankistler@gmail.com. For more on Hope To The Hill, click on the website.

Nathan Kistler is a monthly columnist with SGNScoops magazine.

See What God Is Doing: Williamsons Kenya Trip Update

Williamsons Kenya Trip Update

Williamsons Kenya Trip Update: Our first full day was a success! Around 200 people accepted Jesus today!

Matthew 9:37-38

37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Let’s All Help Drew in his Battle with Leukemia!

  Pray for Drew Bowman

Help Drew Battle Leukemia

SGN Scoops received this note from the mother of Drew Bowman asking for prayer:

Over the past five or six weeks Drew had been looking pale, having daily headaches and running low grade fevers. We had taken him to the doctor multiple times and had treated him for strep, migraines and had gotten him glasses. Nothing was helping. He was continuing to get more and more pale, and having worse headaches.

I made him an appointment for May 19th and insisted she order blood work. We had that done around 2 pm and at 4:30 pm his pediatrician called to tell me he was severely anemic and she would call me as soon as all other lab results were in.

The next morning at 11:45 we got the call that would change our world forever.  Dr. Barnett told us that we needed to have Drew at Texas Children’s hospital asap. I asked why and she said that the type of anemia she was hoping it was, it wasn’t. She called the type he had aplastic anemia. She said to prepare to be there, at a minimum, three days. She then said he would definitely be getting a blood transfusion and bone marrow aspiration. They needed to rule out any type of blood cancer.

The next few day I’m positive God carried us through. By the night of the 20th, we knew he had some form of leukemia. They did many tests including spinal taps and bone marrow biopsy and on the morning of the 22nd, they told us he had ALL Leukemia.

We are hoping our SGN Scoops family can be a blessing to The Bowman family. Pray for Drew and all the Bowman today.  Let’s help them battle Drew’s ALL Leukemia. http://www.gofundme.com/drewbear