by Cathy Baker | Faith |
If forced to get rid of all but five of my writing books, The Creative Call, An Artist’s Response to the Call of the Spirit would be one of five.
It’s a practical and insightful workbook with eight weeks of material, plus a bonus retreat guide for group or individual use. Janice Elsheimer helps writers learn how to recognize, develop, and respond to God’s creative call as we grow in our relationship with Him.
Did you know…J. S. Bach regularly inscribed the beginning of his scores with the letters J.J., which stood for the Latin “Jesu, Juva,” or “Jesus, help.” At the end of a composition, he often wrote S.D.G. for “Soli Deo Gloria,” or “To God alone the glory.”
With Scripture, wise quotes, and tidbits of Bach-type stories peppered throughout the book there were many “Wow!” moments, to say the least.
Yep. It’s a keeper and a favorite for sure.
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”
“How are you?”
“I’m fine.”
The dialogue between myself and a young woman sitting beside me at church on Sunday continues to swirl about in my mind and conscience.
Neither of us were fine that morning.
Tears were wiped from her face more than once while her husband gently patted her leg. My pain wasn’t as obvious but it was still there. And yet we both put on our fake-o happy faces and took the easy way out.
Fake-o:1 Transparency:0
I’m not saying we should spill our hearts to anyone and everyone, but if I could have a do-over, my response would be I’m struggling this morning and I’d appreciate your prayers.
Only hours later, God graciously gave me that opportunity and this time I didn’t scram to find my mask. Instead, I shared openly with the women in our life group. As it turned out, my transparency prompted another woman to share a similar struggle. We closed in prayer, opening wide the channels of our souls to receive God’s restoration power.
Fake-o:0 Transparency: God only knows
No doubt about it. The cost of transparency is high. It can be messy, scary, and risky — but its rewards will be measured throughout eternity.
How will you choose transparency over fake-o today?
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
It’s great to be sharing snippets from our Sunday’s service at Summit Upstate once again.
There is one dilemma, however. Jason’s sermon was so riveting that I forgot to take notes for a good part of the service. Yes, it was that good. My snippets-attempt doesn’t do the sermon justice, but here goes:
- If you know Jesus, you have a grace story unfolding through your life—and each one is unique.
Ways to become more intentional in sharing our own story:
- Pray. When’s the last time we prayed for someone lost without Christ?
- Cultivate friendships with people who don’t know Jesus. Live intentionally. Watch to see who God will bring across your path today and be prepared to share.
- Repeat. Don’t grow weary in well doing. Keep going. After all, God is the one drawing people, not you.
- Embrace the uniqueness of your story. Stop wishing you had another person’s grace story!
A
lot of people say the Church is no longer relevant — that we need to
be hipper or trendier for people to want to come and camp out at the
Church’s door. It’s not about making God “cooler” — it’s about the
Church living intentionally.
It’s
arrogant of us to think God has become irrelevant and that it’s our job
to make Him relevant. -Jason Malone (I’d say this is tweet-worthy,
wouldn’t you?)
To hear the sermon in its entirety, please visit Summit’s site. Jason’s sermon should be posted by Tuesday/Wednesday.
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
I skimp on some things but two splurges bring an immediate worth-every-penny kind of smile to my face:
Mrs. Meyer’s Honeysuckle Liquid Dish Soap
One drop fills a sink with fragrant bubbles that last over an hour.
Simply divine! No sweet chemical smell here.
(Target, $3.99 – one tiny droplet!)
Mrs. Meyer’s Fabric Softener, Lavender Scented
I save this splurge for blankets, towels, and my favorite sweaters.
A soft, not overly sweet, scent.
(Target, $7.99 – half cap per load)
So, what splurge brings an immediate worth-every-penny kind of smile to your face?
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
On this Halloween night, pray.
Seven years ago, I received a call from a woman in a class I was teaching at the time. She asked if she could stop by and talk for awhile. I didn’t know her but the heaviness of spirit she carried was obvious.
Sitting face to face, her tears fell hard, almost heaving, as she went on to share the origin of her weight for 30+ years. As a young child, her parents forced her to participate in Satanic rituals every Halloween night. Babies and children were sacrificed in deep basements—here, in our city.
The more details she shared, the sicker I felt. An unspeakable oppression hovered. We moved to our front porch to catch clean air and fresh mercy. We prayed and she drove away.
Although we’ve since lost touch, she wrote me several years ago sharing how she’d become active in her church, praising God for removing her night terrors and replacing them with the reality of freedom, grace, and mercy.
Needless to say, I will never view Halloween the same—and I hope I’m not alone. She was convinced that human sacrifices still take place every October 31st, and of course we know the enemy’s forces have not diminished — so now, I pray for the innocent on this night, and I ask you to join me.
“Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.” 1 John 4
