Meet Kimberley Payne, this month's featured guest

Kimberley Payne -- motivational speaker and author

The first Monday of every month, I love to introduce to my readers a guest Christian writer.  Today, Kimberley Payne is our guest. Her writings relate to raising a family, pursuing a healthy lifestyle, and everyday experiences focusing on building a relationship with God. Through her work, Kimberley hopes to inspire people to live their lives to glorify God. 

If you'd like to know more about Kimberley and her work, please visit her website at www.kimberleypayne.com.  Kimberley's books are available as e-books, so she will be giving away a kindle e-book download to one reader who leaves a comment and follows the directions at the bottom of the page.

"Those Closest to Us" is a devotion from her book, Where Life Meets Faith.  This collection of 52 devotional articles, which explore life challenges and building a relationship with God, is a tool for Christians seeking to develop a deeper faith walk.

 

Those Closest To Us 

I remember reading that you become most like the seven people you spend the greatest amount of time with each day. Ten years ago, I commuted to a job forty-five minutes away and spent eight hours with my co-workers. We had staff meetings together, enjoyed lunch together and even shared coffee breaks together. Outside of this, I lived with my husband and had a friend rooming with us in the basement. So these were the most influential people around me, and according to this study, these were the people I would become most like. 

This disturbed me somewhat because I did not respect some of these people. Some had values that I questioned and others had different lifestyles. Yet would I become like them? In the Bible it says, “A righteous man is cautious in friendship, but the way of the wicked leads them astray” (Proverbs 12:26 NIV). I can see the wisdom in this proverb. When I surround myself with Christian people who share my value system, they can urge me on to become a better person. If I esteem and respect those closest to me, I can aspire to be like them.  

I recently took that advice to heart and invited a woman I admire to be my mentor. She accepted and we have started a beautiful relationship. I respect her work as a writer, her values as a Christian, and her skills as a mother. There is much that I can learn from this woman. 

However, there is someone else that I can learn from. Someone who not only understands my sorrows and pains, but who overcame them.  Someone who walked the talk. Someone who was perfect. Jesus.

If I want to be more like Jesus every day, He must be one of the seven people around me daily. Of those seven, He really should be the one I spend the most time with. That’s not too difficult considering that I can call upon Him at any hour, anywhere, for anything. I can talk with Him in the wee hours of the morning or during coffee break or before I close my eyes for sleep. I can read about Him and write to Him. I can join others and study what He has to say in His Book. 

Consider with whom you spend the most time day in and day out. Now consider that these seven people will have the most influence on you. Have you chosen wisely? 

But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin (1 John 1:7NIV).



                                                  Jeanne Henriques ~ Collage of Life

Thank you Kimberley for sharing that devotion with us. It makes me more thoughtful about whom I want to spend my time. I hope readers will leave you a comment below.

In order to qualify for the random drawing of a kindle version of Where Life Meets Faith,  all you need to do is leave a comment with your email address so I can contact you if you win.  If you could take an extra minute more, it would be great if you would share on Facebook or Twitter. You can easily do that by clicking at the bottom of this page where you see those words. 

May God's peace and grace be with you.  Thank you for visiting Write Moments with God.

The Kingdom of God is at hand ~ How Will You Respond?

Sardis Methodist Church ~ the first church I attended as a child

Recently I read a chapter from a famous memoir—I won’t mention which one.  The author writes about his childhood experiences as a church-going.  Eventually, he stopped going completely because he never felt the excitement and peace that others exhibited.  He wrote that he never felt “saved”. 

This scenario has stayed on my mind. I’ve wanted to write something for you about this, but struggled with how to write it without sounding “preachy” or superficial.  I know I’m not a preacher;  I just read and study my Bible.  But please bear with me because I will not have peace until I write about this.

This story saddened and disturbed me because apparently intellectually this person believed in God and the Lord Jesus Christ.  He was a silent observer.  Our churches are full of silent observers.  I dare say, countless people sit silently observing in church services and never feel “saved”, never quite get what all the excitement is about. 

I want to make two crucial points which I think of as first steps toward God.

#1

Our emotions have no effect on the reality of God.

Our feelings have no effect on His sovereignty.

Whether I have the faith to move mountains, or I’m as weak as a newborn,

Whether I’m full of joy, or in the throes of sorrow,

God is God; He is still the Great I Am.

#2

We cannot let our emotions (our temperaments, our history/baggage) be a barrier to coming to Christ and accepting Him as our personal Lord and Savior.

God’s sovereignty requires a personal response from each of us.

It is our individual responsibility to actively respond to God’s word and His offer of salvation. 

So, I say, grab hold to Christ’s offer of salvation.  If you believe it, confess it with your mouth.  Ask God to soften your heart and enlighten your mind.  He will and you will be on the way with Him by your side and in your heart.   Please follow the link and read what the Apostle Paul had to say in Romans 10: 8-10.

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.  Romans 10:13

I leave you with Jesus’ words as recorded by Mark:

The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.  Mark 1:15

Google image of a Florida sunrise

My sincere thanks to you for visiting Write Moments with God.  Please feel free to leave your comments and add to the discussion.  If you think I have erred in my comments, please let me know.  I appreciate what you have to say.  May God's grace and peace be with you.

Where is My Treasure, My Heart?

The Church of the Most Holy Trinity ~ Augusta, Georgia

A story caught my eye on the internet today regarding a new study which found that “the majority of millionaires don’t consider themselves rich.”  Research also shows that “wealth is relative, especially in a world that is trying to keep up with the Jones’s.”  If you'd like to read more, you can find the article here: http://abcnews.go.com/Business/study-28-percent-millionaires-rich/story?id=19787629

Well, while there is certainly nothing wrong with having wealth and lots of it, the harm lies in becoming consumed in seeking the things of this world rather than the things of God--in pursuing self-serving and selfish gains rather than God’s will for our lives.  I believe it’s good to ask ourselves a few questions.

When is enough, enough?

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.  Matthew 6:21 (See Matt.6:19-24)

To shine the spotlight on our “treasure”, we might ask ourselves--

 Where do I spend most of my time, money, and energy? 

What is most on my mind and in my conversations? 

There you will find your treasure.

The following is an excerpt from my devotional, God, Me, and Sweet Iced Tea, which seems suitable for this mediation.

Jesus’ parable of the rich man is a parable for our times.  This man had so many possessions that he built bigger barns to hold them all—just like we buy bigger homes and put the extra in storage.  Self-satisfied, he said to himself,  Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry (Luke12:19).  The parable continues.  But God said to him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?  God calls the man a fool.  This is a warning to us not to lose sight of the condition of our souls while we seek the things of this world. 

Some people, in their eagerness to get rich, have wandered away from the faith and caused themselves a lot of pain (1 Tim. 6:10).  How do we guard ourselves and resist the temptation to become preoccupied with things?  Paul wrote to the Christians in Rome, Do not be conformed to this world, but continually be transformed by the renewing of your minds so that you may be able to determine what God’s will is—what is proper, pleasing, and perfect (Rom.12:2).

My Prayer:  Dear Father God, renew my mind so that I may understand Your will and purpose for my work and my possessions.  Help me to lay up treasures in heaven and to concern myself with my soul’s estate. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Backyard garden ~ Collage of Life

 

Thank you for visiting Write Moments with God.  I hope you will excuse me for failing to put up as many devotions as usual.  The summer season has been full of family related activities and out of town trips.  Thanks for your continued support.  I appreciate you so much.

Saying Grace ~ Come Boldly before the Throne of Grace



My grandchildren Cammie and Marcus bringing a birthday cake.

 

My grandson Marcus loves to say “Grace” before a meal.  Whether he’s at home, or at my house with a crowd of fifteen, he’s ready to lead.  We all hold  hands and bow our heads.

“God is great, God is good, Let us thank Him for our food, By His hands we are fed; Give us Lord our daily bread.” Amen.

He takes this very seriously—his attitude one of reverence.  We all take note.

And what is grace?  Surely more than a little prayer before a meal. 

The grace of God is a free gift, unmerited favor, and it comes to us by the Lord Jesus Christ.

For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.  John 1:14

And the greatest act of God’s grace is salvation.

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8

Abraham Lincoln said, “Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us.”

I know I'm not self-sufficient.  God forbid that I ever be too proud to pray, even a little child's prayer.  It is by His all sufficient grace that we live.

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.  Hebrews 4: 16



Gardenias from my garden.

 

 

Thank you so much for visiting Write Moments with God.  May His grace and peace be upon you.  Please feel free to write your comments below.  I love to hear from you. 

 

 







The Living God is Among Us and He's Lord of All the Earth

My daughter's knock-out roses in November, 2012.

I intended to write a meditation for you like I normally do—in 500 words or less—on the topic of our living God.  You might like to refer to Joshua 3:10-11 to see in context those wonderful declarations that I used for the title.  (I’ve linked it for you.)

But here’s the thing, my many words didn’t add a thing to the heart of the meditation. 

The fact is, life is more like an encounter in a lions’ den than a stroll down a primrose path, and we need to equip ourselves with a holy faith in the Lord of all the earth to make this journey victorious.

So here’s the bottom line.  It’s the question that the king called to Daniel when Daniel was still in the lion’s den.

O Daniel, servant of the living God, is your God, whom you serve continually, able to deliver you from the lions?  Daniel 6:20b (KJ2000)

Let’s ask ourselves that question.  Take out the name Daniel and fill in your own.

How we answer makes all the difference in how we live our lives.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.  Ephesians 3: 20-21 (NIV)

Photo courtesy of Eileen DeCamp

 

 





Thank you for visiting Write Moments with God.  You definitely sweeten my journey.  I pray that you have a wonderful day and you feel encouraged.  Our God is able!  If you would like, leave a comment below.  I appreciate what you have to say.

 

One Little Word Precious and Powerful ~ Plus the winner of my new devotional God, Me, and Sweet Iced Tea

Little girl running into her father's arms ~  Google image



The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous run into it, and is safe. Proverbs 18: 10.

A friend advised me the other day to speak the name of Jesus in times of need and to use the name of Jesus as the most powerful one word prayer.  Her suggestion led me to search the Scriptures and meditate on them.  I recalled the many hymns that extol His wonderful name and I searched through my hymnal to read them.  I’ve linked a couple of them for you.

His Name is Wonderful

There is No Name So Sweet on Earth 

Take the Name of Jesus with You

A Mighty Fortress in our God  

There is power in that Name to dispel the darkness.  We can sing about it.  Demons were cast out in His name. (See Mark3:38).

Martin Luther, in his hymn, “A Mighty Fortress is our God”,  said in referring to the prince of darkness, “one little word shall fell him,” and that is the name above every name.  (See Philippians 2:9-11)

The Name of the Lord signifies all that He is—His righteousness, integrity, mercy, grace, and loving-kindness.  We can run to Him when we feel any need, any danger, and be sheltered from the trials of life and safe from the attacks of the enemy.   In it is power to dispel the darkness.

We pray for His angels to protect us.  The Name of Jesus is even more powerful.

Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.  Hebrews 1:4

 “For there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12

So, I encourage you as the lyrics of the song suggests -- take the precious name of Jesus with you.  And don’t hesitate to speak His name in times of need.

 

 

Thank you all for visiting Write Moments with God.  If you would like, please consider leaving a comment below.

Congratulations to Betty Heath who was chosen by random drawing to receive a copy of my new devotional, God, Me, and Sweet Ice Tea: Experiencing God in the Midst of Everyday Moments.  I pray you will be blessed.

Rose Chandler Johnson, featured author ~ Plus monthly book giveaway

Lavender iced tea, lavender and roses ~ Eileen DeCamp
sent me this lovely photo to celebrate my book's release

And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. 1 John 1:4

It is my pleasure today to write to you about my new devotional journal, God, Me, and Sweet Iced Tea, which was just released from Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas.  It is my first book, so I wanted to take advantage of this monthly feature of Write Moments with God to showcase it.  I’m very pleased to be giving away a copy or two to one of you.  More about that at the end of the post.

The Lord is faithful.  Our timing and God’s time aren’t always the same, but we know God’s time is perfect.  And He hears our prayers.  Recently I stumbled across an old journal with an entry from 1979.  In a written prayer, I said to the Lord I wanted to write a book that was relevant and encouraging and that would point others to the heart of God.  I believe that the Lord put that desire in my heart, and that He has brought it to pass.  God, Me, and Sweet Iced Tea is a realization of that desire.  To me, that is exciting. 

The devotionals arrive!

God, Me, and Sweet Iced Tea is compiled of 52 one page meditations, followed by suggested Scriptures for additional reading, questions for reflection and journaling, a prayer, a “sweet tea moment of the day”, and a prayer focus. 

Elizabeth Musser, award winning Christian writer and author of The Swan House, says “Use it as a wonderful way to start the day off right—with God’s Word and friendly counsel from a woman whose soul knows.”

Ann Tatlock, two-time Christy award winner and author of Sweet Mercy, says it’s a “wonderful mix of spiritual insights and practical applications”.

In the South, nothing is more refreshing than a glass of sweet iced tea.  Nothing, that is, except experiencing God in those small, everyday moments.  This is a deeply personal collection of devotions designed to help readers experience new mercies every day.

I feel confident that if you enjoy Write Moments with God, you will love God, Me, and Sweet Iced Tea:  Experiencing God in the Midst of Everyday Moments.

God, Me, and Sweet Iced Tea

 

Click over to Amazon, if you'd like to have a look inside the book, and read the first devotional.

 

This week we are launching this devotional into the world.  I need your help.  Please tell your family and friends about it.  Thank you so much for visiting today.

 

Being confident of this very things, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6

 



 

 

Now, let me tell you how you can win your own copy of God, Me, and Sweet Iced Tea.  I'm making it an easy click, click.

 

 

1.  Please "LIKE" my Facebook author page.

 

www.facebook.com/rosechandlerjohnsonauthor

 

2.  Share about this blog post today on your own Facebook page so your friends will know about it and have an opportunity to participate as well.  You can do that by clicking at the bottom of the page or sharing my post when you go to my page to "like" it.

 

3. Leave a comment below and include your email address so that I can contact you if you are a winner.

 

Take these easy steps no later than Saturday, July 13th at 11:00.  The winner will be announced on Monday, July 15th.  If up to 20 readers participate, I will give away 2 copies.  Thanks again.  And thank you for blessing me by participating.