This Stage Of Publishing

Photo by Andrey Grushnikov on Pexels.com

Welcome to another Musing with the Lord, dear readers. I have found myself stymied and a bit frustrated lately. Of course, life is getting busy, and I tend to really get ahead of God’s timing.

When I haven’t had a time with many books selling at one venue, the thought began to form that maybe I need books for my event in mid-August. Remember, on Saturday, August 12th, I will have a book table at Henderson Heritage Day on the historical society’s lawn, Henderson, NY, from 9-3PM.

Photo by Victoria Borodinova on Pexels.com

It was made clear to me today, thinking back to the individual sales/gifting I’ve done, that this book belongs to its originator, Father God. He inspired it by the Holy Spirit moving on me to write, just like the men of old who wrote the original Scriptures. What a privilege!

This book has led me to so many Kairos moments. Divine appointments straight from Father God to His children. It has opened unexpected opportunities when I least expect it. I just have to continue to keep my books in my vehicle, prepared wherever I travel. So if you see me, ask for my book and I can speedily produce a copy and sign it for you.

I love blessing people by gifting or donating, but if you can pay the $16.00 I ask, it will be sown into the audio version I’m working on, as well as my next book. Oh, and a tithe of the books I sell goes to the ACF Church building fund. Our church is bursting at the seams on Sunday mornings, so an expansion plan is in the works!

This is a book I just finished reading that impacted me. Brian Johnson, husband to Jenn Jonson, is the son of Bill and Benny Johnson, pastors at Bethel Church in Redding CA. Brian had his first encounter with an evil presence and anxiety at seven years old. His parents helped him learn how Scripture, prayers, and worship are how you battle anxiety and evil influence.

In his 30s, Brian experienced a panic attack that sent him to the hospital. As the EMTs worked on him and prepped him to leave the house, he made sure his three children could see him and told them, “This is when God becomes real kids!” After about six months of intense battle, God broke through and set him on a new path of intimacy. I recommend this book to anyone who’s life is touched with anxiety. God is faithful, and He is enough!

This book set me on a new path as well. My 100-day devotionals I told you about have been put aside for a bit. The morning after I finished Brian Johnson’s book, I woke up with the intro from Josh Turner’s song, “Would You Go With Me?”In my thoughts. I found the song on my phone and lay back, letting the Father invite me into His arms. This led to Brian Doerksen’s “Arms Of Love”/ I sing a simple song of love… then Charity Gayle singing “I speak Jesus”, followed with “There Was Jesus”, “Is He Worthy?” and “Holy Water”.

I said, “Yes, Lord, I will go with you.” I sing a simple song of love to my Jesus, my precious Savior, resting in his arms of love. I speak Jesus over every need I have and proclaim that Jesus, you were there every time I needed you. Yes! Jesus, You are worthy! Jesus, Your forgiveness is like sweet, sweet honey on my lips! I journal’s all of this and sense the Spirit wanting me to print the lyrics of these songs and meditate on what He’s saying to me.

Today, I journaled about a Kairos moment with a woman staying at the motel I was cleaning. Of course, it began with her sitting outside her room, reading. I took the chance to offer her a Christian memoir I’ve recently published. This led to a ministry session after I finished work. I had called my friend Pam before I went to work to see if we could do something this afternoon, but she was busy. Well, the woman at the motel is also named Pam! See how we make plans, but God has better ones for us?

Shalom to you all until we connect again. May the God of peace fill you with all hope as you trust in Him. May you overflow with love for those around you. Walk in peace and forgiveness as you follow Jesus. Amen.

Iran’s Great Awakening

Have you heard? God is moving in Iran! Being faithful to His word, the oppressive life in Iran is pushing people into the arms of Jesus. Dr. Hormoz Shariat and his wife are founders of Iran Alive Ministries. In the March 2023 issue of Today’s Christian Living magazine, I read an interview with Dr. Shariat. I was moved to donate to the ministry, which is broadcasting the gospel 24/7 into Iran, and revival is happening! Faithful to this organization’s promise, that after I donated, they gifted me Dr. Shariat’s book, Iran’s Great Awakening How God is Using a Muslim Convert to Spark Revival. Joel Rosenberg, who wrote the foreword to the book, begins with: “I consider Hormoz Shariat to be the Billy Graham of Iran.” In this book, you will read about the Doctor’s salvation experience and he walks you through the promises the Lord has given Iran, also known as Elam.

Check out https://iranalive.org/

Did you know God gave a similar promise to Iran as He gave to Israel? He promised Abraham that both Isaac and Ishmael would be blessed and prosper. In Genesis chapter 17, at the point where God had changed Abram’s name to Abraham, and Sari to Sarah, he laughed that they would have a child at such an advanced age, so Abraham asked the Lord to bless Ishmael. This is what He replied:

Genesis 17:19 Then God said: “No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him. 

20 And as for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall beget twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. 21 But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this set time next year.” 

Jeremiah 49:34 The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet against Elam, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, saying, 35 “Thus says the Lord of hosts:

‘Behold, I will break the bow of Elam, (Iran)
The foremost of their might.
36 Against Elam I will bring the four winds
From the four quarters of heaven,
And scatter them toward all those winds;
There shall be no nations where the outcasts of Elam will not go.

39 ‘But it shall come to pass in the latter days:
I will bring back the captives of Elam,’ says the Lord.”

And what did God say about Israel, about the Jewish people?

“Hear the word of the Lord, O nations,
And declare it in the isles afar off, and say,
‘He who scattered Israel will gather him,
And keep him as a shepherd does his flock.’

11 For the Lord has redeemed Jacob,
And ransomed him from the hand of one stronger than he.
12 Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion,
Streaming to the goodness of the Lord—

So, the children of Isaac and the children of Ishmael are both part of God’s plan. He has scattered them among all the nations, as they have gravely sinned and turned their backs on the Lord. He has a plan to bring them back into the Land God provided for them, after they’ve been used to bless all nations that they’ve taken up residence in. Both clans are coming to the Lord in numbers these days!

I hope you are experiencing the new era of revival and renewal, the current move of the Lord that is drawing people into the fold. In our area, churches, including ours, are dealing with buildings bursting at the seams. Some of the influxes of people are moving from other churches, but we also have many coming to salvation and prodigals returning to the fold. I am tithing on the books I’m selling, donating it to Airport Christian Fellowship Church’s Building Fund. Thank you to all who are buying my new book, Musings Along Life’s Journey. So far, I have sold 34, and given/gifted 32 books. Two of them were given to faithful waitresses at Cracker Barrel this morning during our breakfast!

I am donating two gift baskets with a crocheted lap robe, a clip-on book reading light… and whatever else the Lord prompts me to put in with a signed copy of my book, to the Beaver Camp Auction. The hybrid auction begins on-line June 1-8, with the on-site auction June 10th (viewing on Friday evening) at the Lewis County Fairgrounds, Lowville, NY. You can find full info at:

https://beavercamp.org/get-involved/annual-benefit-auction

Save the dates: Friday June 9th, and Saturday June 10th.

I will be at the auction, and you may buy a book from me if you see me!

Also, Saturday, August 12th, Henderson Heritage Day, I will be at a table on the Heritage Society lawn. https://hendersonnyhistoricalsociety.com/

I am at ACF Church in Dexter before/after church service, 6 PM Saturdays and 10 AM Sundays. https://www.airportchristianfellowship.org/

I celebrated my 60th birthday in Ottawa with 11 women from Henderson Garden Club. We enjoyed the beautiful tulips, the Byway Market, and toured the Senate that’s temporarily housed in the old train station on the Rideau River. The capital buildings and the statues are lovely. Mamma Teresa’s Italian restaurant and Roast & Curries Indian restaurant were two of our delicious dinner destinations in the Capital area. If you get the chance, I hope you get to experience the Ottawa Capital area yourself soon!