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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.

Amy Duncan: Am I good enough?

Amy Duncan

Amy Duncan: Am I Good Enough?Absolutely Not!

God has many names that have been called upon for thousands of years. Elohay Selichot, the God Who is Ready to Forgive, is one of the names that we all can call him with such great meaning and awe. We all will reach a point in our lives when we must make a decision. Do we choose to accept the love that has been freely offered, or do we turn our back on the truth of the Cross?

If we wait until we change our lives, we will never make the right choice. We are not strong enough, good enough, or powerful enough to forgive our sins and make us righteous in the sight of God. Only the blood of Jesus Christ has the power to save and cleanse from all unrighteousness.

We can easily look at the life of Saul. He was an educated man, Roman citizen, and very respected in his culture by the Roman authorities at that time. He was responsible for the torture and murder of many early Christians.

However, the life of Saul was completely changed, and his path in life was altered, on the road to Damascus when the light of Christ blinded him in order to make him see truth. He then became ‘Paul’ and a dedicated man of God.

Elohay Selichot, the God Who is Ready to Forgive, took what the devil intended to use as harm, and turned it to good. He changed a murderer into a martyr. God took one of the darkest hearts of all time and used it’s voice to proclaim the gospel of Christ. Our God is mighty to save.

One can also look at the history of the children of Israel. Nehemiah 9:17 (NIV) states the following:

“They refused to listen and failed to remember the miracles you performed among them.  They became stiff-necked and in their rebellion appointed a leader in order to return to their slavery.  But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Therefore, you did not desert them.”

The children of Israel had a very long history and track record of hard hearts, poor memories, stubbornness, and rebellion. There was actually a time when they wanted to return to Egypt even after they saw the plagues, including the Angel of Death, and the hand of God wipe out the Egyptian army in a matter of minutes.

But God is a God of unconditional love. He is extremely patient. Jesus did not die for the “good man,” but for the “ungodly man,” which we all were at one time. Romans 5:6-8 (NIV) says the following:

“You see, at just the right time, when we were all still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.  Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.  But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while were still sinners Christ died for us.”

Jesus came to provide salvation not because we deserved this phenomenal gift, but because of his phenomenal love for each and every person upon this earth.

The Bible teaches us that through Adam we are sinful. But, by the sweet blood of Jesus, we become children of God. Through his blood, we are no longer ruined but rescued; no longer in sin, but made righteous in the sight of God; no longer bound to death, but have eternal life; and, we are no longer under the judgement of the law, but we are delivered due to his grace and mercy.

We must never forget that Jesus can bless a mess. He can take a cracked pot and allow his love to shine through the brokenness in order to prove his amazing faithfulness. He can take the worst among us and make them a mighty warrior in the awesome army of God. One’s past does not determine the goodness of God.

 We can never be bad enough to make God not love us. The conviction of the Holy Spirit can reach into any home, any gutter, any church, and any jail cell. God can take our most atrocious acts and use them to bring glory to him. He can turn the darkest of hearts into the brightest star.

So, are you and I good enough to deserve the love of the Most High? Absolutely not! But the good news is we don’t have to be. God’s love is enough.

Amy Oxenrider

Psalm 36:7 (NIV) “How precious is your unfailing love!  Both high and low among men fined refuge in the shadow of your wings.”

Much Love, Amy Duncan

Amy Duncan was raised in a conservative Christian home, being one of two children of Reverend Grant and Shelia Duncan. She and her sister were on the stage singing as soon as they were old enough to hold a microphone. This legacy continues to be passed on through Amy to her three sons.  

A former member of the ‘Riders, Amy continues to sing and has also taken on several speaking engagements. She continues her ministry through writing articles, speaking at revivals, conferences, and one-on-one counseling.  She has recently signed with Green Family Ministry Promotions and will be sharing the love of Christ wherever the doors may open.  

Amy has also signed with Holland Management Productions (HMP) as a model. Understanding that beauty is not standard, it is Amy’s desire to express to women that we are all created in the image of God and are beautiful in his sight.  

More on Amy Duncan HERE.

Katelyn Dyess: To The Girl

Katelyn Dyess

To The Girl Struggling With Forgiveness

And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in Heaven may forgive you your sins. (Mark 11:25)I know what it’s like to have hurt and bitterness in your heart. You feel like you shouldn’t forgive those who have wronged you. You feel like it’s impossible to forgive that person that hurt you so badly. I’ve been there. It’s not a good feeling. When I was at a youth camp one summer I went up to the altar because I needed to forgive some people in my life. The pastor’s wife that prayed over me that night told me to say out loud “I forgive ________.” It didn’t immediately heal me but it did help me to begin the process of forgiving those people in my life. God has called us to forgive those who have hurt us and wronged us.

Forgiving that person can help you move on and walk into a season of healing. So, I encourage you to just say out loud “I forgive _______.” It won’t heal you right away but it will help start the process.

I also encourage you to pray that God will help you forgive that person. Even journaling a letter to that person can help you get all of those feelings off of your chest. Forgiveness isn’t always easy but it is a start for healing. I hope this helps you start a journey of forgiveness, healing, letting go, and moving forward.

Thanks,
Katelyn

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8

A Message From Katelyn:

I’m a high school senior that lives in Meridian, MS. I want to show girls through my blog that they aren’t alone and that someone understands what they’re going through. I am excited about so many doors God has opened up for me. You can contact me at Katelyn-Dyess@comcast.net
I’d love to speak at your next youth event.

We are thrilled to have Katelyn Dyess on the SGNScoops website. Read more of Katelyn’s blogs To The Girl  HERE.

For more Gospel Music News, read the latest issue of the SGNScoops Magazine HERE.

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Sweetheart Stories: Jack and Vonda Armstrong

Jack and Vonda Armstrong

Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day and we are happy to present another love story in our series of Sweetheart Stories. For many years, the gospel music community had known Vonda Easley as the vivacious blonde southern belle with a big smile and country drawl. However, behind the smile was a lifetime of challenges and mountains that she had overcome. She was a single mom with two grown children, who had their own families and lives. Vonda is hard-working and generous, humorous and full of faith in a God who cares. Yet, she realized a couple of years ago that something was missing. Here’s Vonda to tell her story:

I must have said it over a thousand times, “It just isn’t in the cards for me to find someone that loves me enough to let me be me.” And I usually followed that statement up with, “They would want me to leave my home, and I will not ever do that.”

I met Jack Armstrong at a Bill Bailey Event in Bonifay, Florida. I remember thinking that he was one of the friendliest people I had ever met, but the last thing I was looking for at a gospel concert was romance. I was there to hear my kids, Josh and Ashley Franks, sing and cover the event for SGNScoops Magazine. However, my daughter and Penny Shelnut (Scoot’s wife) were at Ashley’s booth, already playing matchmaker. When they suggested we go out to eat after the concert, I was quick to let Ashley know that I knew what they were doing, and I was not interested. I told her there was something messed up with your child having to get you a date!

As the concert went on, Jack talked to me a little about radio promotion, and when I got home, he called and hired Hey Ya’ll Media, my radio promotions company, to work radio for his group, The Bibletones. (I often tease him that he married me so he wouldn’t have to pay me anymore.)

I believe that God set up a divine appointment for me that night to meet Jack. It still amazes me today how much he is like my Daddy. I felt safe when I was with my Dad, and I feel safe when I am with Jack. He makes me want to be a better person, and he supports me in all that I do.

True Love is unconditional. There are no expectations set. To love unconditional is difficult, and most people aren’t good at that. But true love really does love without trying to change the other person. I love you, Jack Armstrong. Thank you for loving me and letting me be me. And by the way, Home is wherever you are…….. V

Vonda and Jack Armstrong, III,  were married on October 21, 2018, at her daughter’s church, People’s Tabernacle Church, Savannah, Tennessee, and officiated by her son-in-law, Josh Franks. Standing up with the couple were Vonda’s grandchildren, Priscilla and Eli Franks. The couple fits together like hand-in-glove and Jack’s laidback personality complements Vonda’s vivacity.

Do you have a Sweetheart Story to share? Write to me at lorraine@sgnscoops.com.

Be sure to let everyone you love know how much you care this Valentine’s Day. And remember, God loved you enough to send Jesus Christ, his only son, to die on a cross so that he might have a relationship with you. Jesus went willingly because he knew it was the only way to bring you into his love. Please accept that love today. Want to know more? Write to me!

Eli Franks, Jack Armstrong, Vonda Easley Armstrong, Priscilla Franks

Top Row: Josh and Ashley Franks
Bottom Row: Eli Franks, Jack Armstrong, Vonda Easley Armstrong, Priscilla Franks

Kristina Cornell: No Other Name — Love

Kristina Cornell – Tell Them Ministries

No Other Name – LOVE

I am so blessed. My daughter, Isabella, and I, travel together in ministry, appropriately called “Tell Them Ministries,” because that is our passion. 

We go all over the country and share our stories, our songs, our hearts with wonderful people who know Jesus as their Savior, and to those who do not.  We love to encourage believers. We live to share the gospel with those who have never experienced the love of Jesus and of the Father.  

We hear amazingly painful stories of people who are just like us: fragile, scared. They feel lost and alone. They recall the unexpected death of a loved one or losing all of their resources, sometimes they describe hearing the doctor give them a diagnosis that is terminal, fatal. 

They share of abuse and neglect; how those things not only stole their joy, but the very essence of who they are. We hear how spirits are broken, souls are devastated, and lives are desperate.

Every single person, saved or unsaved, needs the love of God, the kind of love that we find in I Peter 4:8 “Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.” Love that is unconditional, that covers everything. Some of us have hurts so deep that without a love that in fact covers, there would not be enough.

In Romans 5:8 we find one of my favorite scriptures: “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” 

This moves me. It is important to read this for each word written in this verse. Let us dive into the Greek meanings of these words to get a clear picture of the enormous affirmation this shows. 

“God,” in this verse is directly linked with words like magistrate, supreme deity, exceedingly God. No question here, He wants us to be secure in that He is as high as you can go to make this judgement call, this decision. 

“Demonstrates,” means to set together, to introduce (favorably), intransitively stand near.

“Love,” aha! This is the word “agape,” meaning affection or benevolent, specifically, a love feast – a feast of charity, dear love.

“Toward,” means of place, time, or purpose, concerning, continual, plus far more exceeding. 

“Us,” meaning humankind, with an accusing tone.

“Christ”- the anointed that is the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus: Christ.

“Died,” meaning to be slain.

“For,”  instead of, exceedingly, abundantly.

“Us,” this time it is used as the plural (hemon) of the word “ego”, a Greek word meaning for “I” that is only expressed when being emphatic.  

To summarize: the magistrate, (top of the line, cannot go higher than this deity) stands near us (the accused, mere humans), sets us together with Himself in affection, benevolence, a feast of charity continually and far exceeding any other love.  While we were still in sin, the anointed Messiah, Jesus Christ, was slain in an exceeding, abundant way for us (yes even us, sinners). {I am weeping}

I Corinthians 13:4-8:  “4 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, 5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, 6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 [b]bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 [a} Love never fails;”

Every time “love” is used in this passage it is “agape:” meaning love that is affection or benevolence; specifically, a love feast – a feast of charity, dear love. I heard a teacher explain that if you really want to measure yourself against love, this kind of love, insert your name where the word “love” is used. 

Isabella and Kristina Cornell

Can you say this of yourself? For example, can I honestly say of myself: “Kristina is patient, Kristina is kind and not jealous; Kristina does not brag and is not arrogant, Kristina does not act unbecomingly; she does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, Kristina does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; Kristina bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Kristina never fails?”

A resounding no! I am not always patient; I am not always kind. Sometimes I act unbecomingly, I can be provoked.  I do not forget the wrongs done to me, easily. I cannot say that I always bear, believe, hope for, or endure all things. 

What a lesson this is to a believer. Jesus said four times in scripture for us to show His love to each other. And, please do not try to find a loophole and say that it is meant just for Christians, we only have to “love” fellow believers.  Remember the scripture in I Peter, “while we were sinners.”

This is what Jesus had to say:

• John 13:34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love (agapao – much love (agape) in social and moral sense) one another; as I have loved (agapao) you, that you also love (agapao) one another.
• John 13:35 “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love (agape) for one another.”
• John 15:12 “This is My commandment, that you love (agapao – much love (agape) in social and moral sense) one another as I have loved (agapao) you (for your sake, with an accusing tone).
• John 15:17 “These things I command you, that you love (agapao) one another.

Notice here, when Jesus was speaking about loving one another in a broad sense, the word “agapao” was used, denoting the same sort of love as “agape,” but broader because it is in a “social or moral sense.” This means beyond our circle.

In John 13:35, Jesus was talking to his disciples about love for each other and used the word “agape” because they were within the circle. Jesus’ love, His commandment to love, is not for the people that we like, or go to our church. 

He did not reserve His love or want us to reserve ours for people who look, talk, think, act just like us.

In fact, when we go a little further in the scripture we find in I John 4:8: “The one who does not love (agapao) does not know (absolutely know, be aware of, feel, have knowledge of, understand, can speak with resolve) God, for God is love (agape).

My final thought is Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 25.  The Judgment.

Matthew 25: 31-40: “But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left.

“Then the King (Jesus) will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared (made ready) for you from the foundation (conception) of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger (guest), and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’  Then the righteous (equitable in character) will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’

“The King, (Jesus) will answer and say to them (akin to the meaning of baffling wind), ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them..”

Pause here. “The extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them,” literally means, to band together to cast out, lighten the ship, purge, shoot out one who is Jesus’ own, a simpler version of Him. Then He says: “you did it to Me.”

Matthew 25:41-46 “Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’

“Then they (akin to the meaning of baffling wind) themselves also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not [e]take care of You?’  Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ These (man and woman equally) will go away (depart) into eternal punishment (torment), but the righteous (innocent, holy) into eternal life.”

There is no other name but the name of Jesus, the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, by whom we can learn the pleasure, the beauty, and the commandment of love.

As Isabella and I continue our travels, we will seek the least of these. We will be love.

By Kristina Cornell

Find out more about Kristina Cornell on Facebook HERE

For more Gospel music features read the latest SGNScoops Magazine HERE.

The Faces of Love

By Lorraine Walker

Love has many languages and also comes in many disguises. Among the faces of love are people like Mother Teresa, St. Francis of Assisi and Mary Magdalene. I’ve encountered some current faces of love that I wanted to share with you this month.

Stephen is a regular preacher who lives a regular life in a regular town. A few weeks ago, this town had an irregular snowstorm causing a lot of damage and loss of power. Stephen decided to shovel out the drive for the widow next door. He then headed to her neighbor’s house, owned by an 87-year-old lady who was also alone. Stephen shoveled her steps and walk, bringing her the mail that she had been unable to reach for several days. In the post was a check that the widow had been expecting for years, money that was desperately needed. She thanked Stephen and the Lord for giving her a good Christmas. She called him an ‘angel’ but Stephen said, ‘No, just a preacher with a shovel.’

William and Eunice have been married 70 years. The sweethearts have known each other all their lives, walking to school together, dating for a year and then marrying at 18 years of age. They pastored together for 50 years, raised a boy and girl, helped those in need and have been a blessing to all who have known them. Their road hasn’t been easy or carefree. Their son passed away twenty years ago. However, the years have been kind to this couple, their faces showing the results of lives well lived. William and Eunice radiate a love for God, for each other, and for those they meet.

I have a wonderful friend with a loving family and the gift of hospitality. In the last few years, she has undergone a battle that came close to taking her life several times. Walking through the wilderness of mental health issues, ‘Grace’ felt she had lost the love and presence of God in her life. Desperate and alone, she renounced the evil that had taken over her mind. Convinced there was no escaping an eternity of hell and separation from the Lord she loved, her days were a nightmare of voices, panic and terror.

Grace shared her story with a pastor and his wife. They spoke truth into her life, truth that was able to break the bonds that had ensnared her mind. Grace embraced this truth and realized that nothing could separate her from the love of God. She found that concentrating on the evil in her mind had kept her from running to the arms of her Savior. Her healing began on that day.

Today, through the love and mercy of a healing God, Grace is finding her way back to health. Her eyes radiate the peace and joy that once filled her life, but she is a changed person. Her thirst for more of God is greater than ever. She wants to know Him, to love Him with every fiber of her being. Grace had a calling on her life before entering the valley but now realizes that she is being refined as gold for the work that God has planned for her. Grace, in her desire to know more of God, exudes a love for Him that is powerful and humbling.

Love comes in many faces. I pray we seek to wear the face of the love of God in everything we do today.

By Lorraine Walker

First published as a Reality Check on SGM Radio website, February 2010.

For more Reality Check editions, click on to http://www.sgmradio.com