Why Should We Care About Israel?

 

by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta

We just passed the third anniversary of the horrific, cowardly attack on Israel by Hamas on October 7, 2023.

Some may ask, “Why should we care about Israel? Why does it matter to us what happens over there?”

As Christians, we are connected to Israel. Our Christian heritage began in Israel. We are all one in Christ (for those that believe). If you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Galatians 3:29 NKJV)

Jesus died to break down the dividing wall of Jew and Gentile (Ephesians 14:14-17), but that doesn’t mean the present-day church has replaced Israel. Jesus came to save the entire world (John 3:16).

Those who bless and love Israel will be blessed in return (Genesis 12:3). Not because God loves them more than He does anyone else, but because Israel is where Jesus came from. To curse Israel is to curse God’s Son.

But you know what? In the middle of this bad news, the Bible says Israel will prevail. They will not be pushed into the sea as their enemy so desires. No matter how bad it gets or looks, the land of the Bible will continue until Jesus comes back.

Here are 5 ways we can pray for Israel:

6 Benefits of Living a Holy Life

 

by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta

Holiness is viewed by the world around us as an undesirable trait.

The reason for this is because they don’t understand what holiness means. To unbelievers, holiness means being a boring, never-doing-anything-fun type of person.

According to Strong’s #H6944 holiness means, hallowed, consecrated, dedicated.[i]

Ascribe to Yahweh the glory due His name; worship Yahweh in the splendor of His holiness. (Psalm 29:2 HCSB)

One of the dictionary definitions of holy is having a spiritually pure quality.

The secular environment focuses on health, appearance, and pursuit of youth. Billions of dollars are spent year after year on cosmetics, exercise equipment, gym memberships, health food and vitamins.  Nature programs push taking care of the earth to the point of defying the planet.

Yet this same group of people think nothing of what goes into their minds. Movies, books, articles, conversations, and attitudes that permeate culture can poison souls.

Why does the world want to be pollution free in the physical, but ignore the pollution that enters minds and emotions?

Must I Forgive More Than Once?

 

Blog By Barbara Latta Guest Post by Debbie Wilson

This week we are honored to hear from Debbie Wilson as she launches her new book, Big Hurt, Bigger God. The link to order is at the end of the post as well as Debbie's website where you can enjoy more inspiring articles. 

Please welcome Debbie!

Must I Forgive More Than Once?

A cartoon in the New Yorker magazine showed an exasperated father saying to his prodigal son, “This is the fourth time we’ve killed the fatted calf.” God does that over and over in our lifetime.

—Bruce Larson, Setting Men Free

At the beginning of my senior year of high school, my parents let me drive our carpool to school. This was our first parent-free commute. My neighbor climbed in the passenger side, and I set off to pick up the others.

As I turned the corner, my schoolbooks slid across the bench seat of our Oldsmobile into my friend. When I reached for them, I inadvertently turned into a parked car. Besides the humiliation of smashing my parents’ and a stranger’s cars before I’d even left my neighborhood, I banged my lip on the steering wheel.

Daddy called our family doctor to stitch it. My wound continued to ooze clear fluid for at least twenty-four hours. That weekend a swollen red lip accessorized the white tulle gown I wore to our senior ring dance.

Deep emotional wounds, like physical wounds, must be cleaned to heal properly. Forgiveness is God’s tool to clean our wounds.

A deep wound stings more than a surface scratch when tended. And an oozing wound, like my lip, requires repeated cleanings.

How often do we clean our wounds? As often as they weep.

4 Remedies to Conquer Rejection

 

by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta

“Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me!” This often-taunted phrase is a lie. Words can hurt worse than a physical injury and last much longer. 

Bullying has always been around, but it seems more prevalent now than ever before. Children are exposed to torment from others and this can cause emotional scars that can take years to heal if not dealt with properly. Too many kids have even committed suicide because of what others have said or done to them.

We, as parents, grandparents, and friends can help our children and students by teaching them how valuable they are, and how much they are loved by God.

What is the Depth of Redemption?

 This week for Christmas in July, I am sharing an excerpt from my book, Redemption, the Heartbeat of Christmas, What the Birth of Christ Means to the World. The book is available on Amazon. I hope this reminder of what Jesus did for us will speak to your heart, as God did to mine. 

What is the Depth of Redemption? by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta

In church, we hear a lot about redemption. Sometimes we hear the word so much we lose the depth of its meaning.

What is the depth of redemption? We can better understand how deep Jesus’ sacrifice was for us by thinking about a person in prison.

Those of us who have not experienced the despair of imprisonment can’t fully understand the feelings of this punishment. My husband and I were confined to two weeks of quarantine when a we arrived in a foreign country during the Covid pandemic.

We lived for two weeks in an Army barracks with only thirty minutes of fresh outside air per day.

Days dragged on minute by minute, hour by hour.

We walked ten feet from one wall to the other to stretch our legs.

We looked out the window at the scenic air conditioner unit below our floor.

Packaged food appeared at mealtime.

The next day repeated the same boredom, the same meals, the same hard mattresses. As bad as this felt, we were released after our required time ended. The day we left with our luggage blessed us with a small taste of freedom.

Our experience had no comparison to life in a penitentiary.

A Prayer for America

 

by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta

We celebrated the 250^th birthday of the Declaration of Independence last week in a spectacular display of fireworks, music, military drills, and speeches.

America has never seen an event like what Washington, D.C. displayed before.

Our history has been maligned over the decades until students and even adults are not aware of what the liberty they enjoy cost others. We need to protect this freedom from forms of tyranny like socialism and communism. We do this by remaining strong in biblical values, voting accordingly, and praying for America.

What can heal our land?

What Can Our Ancestors Teach Us About History? - Guest Post by Dr. Rebecca Price Janney

 

by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta 

This week's post is by Dr. Rebecca Price Janney. She has written a six-book series set in the Revolutionary War period of America. The main character in all these books is actually an ancestor of hers. As a person whose favorite part of history is this Revolutionary period, I learned a lot about some of the battles and hardships our founding fathers experienced. Travel back in time through these books and you will have more to appreciate as we celebrate our 250th birthday. She has also written two books about the Great Awakening in the early 1900's in Korea and the Korean War. Since we lived in Korea for two years, I found these novels fascinating. I think you will too! Welcome, Rebecca. Links to her books are at the end of the post.

             Four years ago, I got to address a group of newly-naturalized citizens from around the world. Most of them were with family members and wore big smiles to go with their American flags. What could I say to encourage and welcome them? Since I believe my family’s story reflects “the American dream,” I went with some of the details before bringing my journey to bear upon theirs.

3 Biblical Remedies for Guilt and Shame

 

 by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta

Even since Adam and Eve took one bite of fruit humans have dealt with guilt and shame.

God warned them.

Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die. (Genesis 2:16-17 NKJV)

Up until that time they had only known good. Then a serpent’s words carried more weight to their minds than what their Creator told them.

The temptation to know everything sucked Adam and Eve into the trap.

Through mercy, God brought the skins of a slain animal to cover the guilt. The couple was forgiven.

But the shame continued. Their minds probably ran away with the accusations that came from the mouth of their tempter. “You are bad.” “Look at what you did.” “The human race is doomed because of you.”

This is what the devil does. He tempts and then when we give in, he accuses and condemns us.

What is the difference between guilt and shame?

How Can We Know and Do God's Will?

 

 by Barbara Latta

Sometimes we as believers struggle with wondering if we are following God’s will for our lives.

What if you discovered a resource that contained encouragement, Scriptural direction, and connection with other Christians that was offered at no cost to you?

Lighthouse Bible Studies publishes a digital magazine, Refresh, three times per year. The theme for the Spring issue is "Knowing and Doing God’s Will." Twenty-four authors share articles that help us follow God in every aspect of our lives and is offered in two parts.

 It’s free to sign up and receive this wonderful publication by email. Subscribe here 

Refresh Part 1

Refresh Part 2

Here are some examples and quotes from the Spring issue:

 

5 Parenting Lessons from Biblical Mothers

by Barbara Latta

I have joined a group of authors and bloggers by sharing free downloads to enrich your spiritual life. If you would like to have this bundle of freebies, click this link: https://jenniferthayerknight.com/seeds-of-faith/ before May 10.

 Mother’s Day is a time to honor and remember our mothers for their love and sacrifice throughout the years. As mothers ourselves, our children will be bringing gifts to honor us. 

When our offspring show us love, their words are appreciated more than we can express.

  But sometimes thoughts of all the mistakes we have made while raising our children attack us. This is when we need to rely on God’s Word and know He forgives us. 

He doesn’t want us to look back in regret. When we focus on training our children in the fear of the Lord, He blesses our efforts. 

We can learn 5 parenting lessons from these biblical mothers. 

5 Ways to Remain Joyful in the Journey Even When It’s Hard

 

5 ways to remain joyful in the journey

5 Ways to Remain Joyful in the Journey Even When It’s Hard

Life happens. We all endure hardships in our lives and trying times can be overwhelming. God tells us to always remain joyful (Philippians 4:4). But how do we do that when circumstances weigh heavily upon our shoulders and each step we take may seem like we are going uphill against a pile of rocks?

The answer to every problem we face is grounded in the word of God and this is no different. We also need to see joy as different from happiness. Joy is the deep abiding presence of God. He is with us no matter what. Our emotions may fluctuate, but the Lord is always there to strengthen us and remind us of His love. Joy is the assurance of faith.

 Here are 5 ways we can stay joyful in the journey of life no matter what obstacles comes our way:

1. Put God first. When we let God control our lives, we reap the blessing of His hand. His peace, comfort and joy will be allowed to permeate our souls, as well as having our needs met.  

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you (Matthew 6:33 NKJV).

2. Focus on the positive. Difficult and tragic situations can make life seem impossible to bear, but continually dwelling on how bad things are only brings depression.

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things (Philippians 4:8).

3. Do something for others. The best way to take our minds off our problems is to help someone else who is going through bad times.

Let each of you look not only for his own interest, but also for the interests of others (Philippians 2:4).

4. Pray. Staying in contact with our heavenly Father opens the door for Him to give us the answer to what we are seeking.

Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation. Give heed to the voice of my cry, my King and my God, for to You I will pray. My voice you shall hear in the morning, O Lord; In the morning I will direct it to You, and I will look up (Psalm 5:1-3).

5. Take one day at a time. When we try to figure things out on our own, we can become confused which leads to wrong decisions. Trusting God with each new day and listening to His direction will give answers we never could have found on our own.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths (Proverbs 3:4-5).

Jesus tells us difficult times will come, not because He sends them, but because we have an enemy who wants to destroy us. But he also commands His followers to be of good cheer because He has overcome the world (John 16:33).

With the overcomer on our side, we can’t lose, but it’s up to us to stay connected to Him so that His power can transform any situation we encounter.

Join the conversation and share other verses you stand on to remain joyful in the journey.

5 ways to stay joyful in the journey of life (click to share on X)

 

 

The Pre-Incarnate Christ and His Body's Eternal Change

 

The Pre-Incarnate Christ and His Body's Eternal Change

by Barbara Latta

This is a chapter from my book, Redemption, the Heartbeat of Christmas, What the Birth of Christ Means to the World. This book is not only about Christmas, it is about why Jesus appeared as He did.  Jesus was born so He could die and rise from the dead. He was born so we could have Easter.

The Word of God became flesh for us, but that change also affected Him. 

Age changes us. Because of our Eden ancestors our bodies degenerate. We do all we can to physically young. Nips and tucks, creams and lotions, hair dyes and make-up provide temporary fixes. 

But we can also change for the better mentally and emotionally when we learn from our youthful experiences. We can grow in wisdom.

Every day after we are born our bodies start to deteriorate. We don’t see the effects of this change right away because babies and children’s bodies don’t reflect wrinkles and sags. 

The result of sin is in our DNA. Thankfully these aging physical changes are not eternal. One day we will receive an immortal, age-immune body but for now we must live with the fallen flesh we inherited.

What about the physical body of Jesus? He exchanged His heavenly form for a limited physical body, yet His had no fallen nature. His substance altered when He left the presence of the Father to live on earth.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14).

Jesus existed in eternity past as the Word of God (John 1:1). He was there at the creation of the world. In the Old Testament, He showed up as the Angel of the Lord. He visited Abraham and Sarah, Hagar talked with Him in the desert, He wrestled with Jacob, and He stood before Joshua with a drawn sword.

He was forever with God and is God, yet He was willing to lay aside the benefits of deity to become a human.

7 Lessons From the Book of Nehemiah to Help Us Fulfill Our Assignment on Earth

 

by Barbara Latta

Do you ever get confused about your purpose in life? What assignment do you feel God wants you to accomplish?

Well, our first desire should be to glorify God in all we do (1 Corinthians 10:31). As we give Him the glory, we can learn a lot from Nehemiah about fulfilling the objective God has called us to achieve.

For example, I feel called to write. I didn’t pursue this plan in my younger years, but I never had a settled feeling until I started to seek this goal. Each of us has reason to be here. Until we discover that calling, we will not be fulfilled.

These 7 lessons can help you define your purpose in life.

What the World Needs Now is Love

 

by Barbara Latta

There’s an old song that states, “What the world needs now is love, sweet love.” The truth is the world doesn’t just need love now; the world has always needed love.

The political fireballs burning now spit sparks across the land. Opinions fly based on which news cast was watched.  We can debate these happenings without a solution until the blaze burns hotter because governments can’t transform a person’s heart.

While programs and laws can help bring temporary change, only the Lord God Almighty, who created the heavens, the earth, and humanity has the answer.

And the answer is repentance and humility toward Him. Violence stems from hatred, and hatred is born from a soul that is separated from God.

We throw the word love around like it’s a catch phrase for all kinds of feelings. We love our families, our dog, chocolate, or our car. Each of these have a different attachment to our lives, but we reference them with the same word.

What is real love?

Change Your Thinking About Goals and Resolutions to Achieve Better Success

 

by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta

Do you get a little frustrated or discouraged each January when you read blogs and articles about new ways to enhance your life? We may feel as if it didn’t do any good last year, so why bother to set a new goal.

Our emotions can grow downtrodden when we view change through the lens of what other people are doing and have accomplished. Photos of toned exercise gurus, AI models, and organizational queens draw us to compare and know we can never reach the pinnacle of success we see.

But we shouldn’t depend upon another human or a robot image to be our savior. The only time we are called to emulate another person is if they are following Christ. And even then, we should use discernment, as Christian people still fail at times.

Our goal or resolution list can be one that provides encouragement and success rather than depression and failure. Whatever you wish to accomplish this year, support that goal with God’s Holy Word. Failure comes when we put pressure on ourselves for change. Most resolutions people make are based on behavior modification which is determined by our own willpower. We can grow weary of trying.

Rather than concentrating on what WE need to do to improve the way we live, we can focus on what JESUS already did for us.

Maybe It's Time to Pause

 

This week we are honored to hear from Jeanne Doyon. I met Jeanne a few years ago through several writing websites we both participate in. Her writing has been a great blessing to me. She shares about pausing to refresh yourself in the Lord. What better way to start a new year than to let go of the hectic schedules of the holiday season. Links to her website and other teaching are in her bio. Please take the time to visit these resources and you can be inspired to find refreshment for your soul. 

Maybe it's Time to Pause.

@jeannedoyon

@barbaralatta

            Were your holidays harried? Life feeling a little out of control? Too many distractions and not enough brain cells? Can you relate? With the holidays behind us and the new year before us, I'm hoping for some space to refresh my spirit. This past year was challenging for me too. The winter season is the perfect time to recharge and reflect. Maybe it's time to pause.

            Here in New England, winter is beautiful yet very stark. Daylight retreats by 4:00. The trees are gray and bare against the blue sky. We bundle up in coats, scarves, gloves, and hats just to get the mail. Travel becomes discretionary depending on the road conditions. Yet the crisp beauty is unmatched when freshly fallen snow clings to tree branches and glistens like diamonds across the yard.

            To me, winter is the perfect time to enjoy my home while watching snow fall. It's a natural slow-down my body needs while looking forward to porch time and my gardens. Because in the stillness, I can hear God's voice a bit easier. My heart can pause. My mind rest. Renewal comes.

            God's order of creation rotates through budding life, growth, fading strength, and dormancy. The good news is, even in the sleepiness of winter, new life is coming.

Why is Jesus Called the Only Begotten Son of God?

 by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta

Why is Jesus called the only begotten Son of God? Because He is the only one who was born from a miraculous conception to a virgin. He was begotten from God, His parent, and formed in the womb of Mary by the Holy Spirit. No one else has ever been or ever will be born in this way. 

Jesus was born as the only begotten Son of God so He could be our redeemer. No one else could pay for our sin.

He came as the heartbeat, the central theme, of Christmas.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

These Scriptures also tell us that Jesus was and is the Begotten Son of God:

Lessons From Linus That Show Us What Christmas is All About

 Lessons from Linus That Show Us What Christmas is All About

by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta

I love Charlie Brown. Maybe because I can identify with his feelings of inadequacy sometimes. But I also love his tenacity. He keeps going even when his emotions knock him down.

When he picked a scraggly sapling as a Christmas tree and placed it on top of Schroeder’s piano, pine needles trickled down with tinkling sound effects reflecting the sad state of his choice.

 Do you remember how the children reacted? They moaned, groaned, and complained about this not-so- beautiful symbol of the holiday.

After Charlie left the building with the sad little tree, he placed it in front of Snoopy’s doghouse. The other children soon followed.

Do you remember what Linus did? He said, “I never thought it was such a bad tree. All it needs is a little love.” He then separated himself from his security blanket and placed it around the base of the evergreen.

These lessons from Linus can show us what Christmas is all about.

A Gratitude Acrostic to Direct Our Minds Toward Heavenly Blessings

 

by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta

As we enter this time of national Thanksgiving, our hearts turn to reasons to be thankful. Of course, we should be thankful every day because we have been blessed by God beyond what we could ever imagine.

We have been given everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). But these gifts are not automatic. It is our responsibility to accept what Jesus died to give us and live in the victory He won. As you meditate on what these verses can mean to your life, ask the Holy Spirit to give you insight and application for every problem you may encounter. We can be thankful IN (not for) all things when we know the Lord will never leave us or forsake us.

Here is an acrostic to direct us to Scriptures that guide our minds toward heavenly blessings and gratitude from our heavenly Father.

Autumn Can Show Us How to Let Go of Our Comfort Zone

 

by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta

Each fall season, Ken and I, along with some friends, take a motorcycle trip to the mountains to view the spectacular color of God’s artistry among the trees.

From year to year the color varies dependent on the weather conditions of summer. But they are always a reminder of the creative power of our Lord. Pictures do not capture the brilliance of nature’s paintbrush. The shimmery golds, dazzling oranges, and fiery reds feed our eyes and minds with the amazing creative power of our Lord.

These leaves eventually detach and fall to the ground. The crunchy tree material drifts in spirals to the forest floor to decay and become part of the soil that will nourish new seeds in the spring. The beauty served a purpose for a time, but only lasts for a season.

What can autumn teach us about letting go of our comfort zone? Like the trees release their leaves, we can learn to release our own desires in favor of God’s desires.  

We can grow attached to accomplishments or places of knowledge with God. We may want to stay where it is comfortable. We don’t want to let go of what is familiar. But to expand and receive new levels of inspiration, we must follow the Creator’s leading.

We should periodically examine our lifestyles and find out if we have adopted some routines that may not be healthy. We may have developed eating habits that we aren’t conscious of, attitudes that are not holy, or lack of diligence in some of our work.

This is the time to step out in faith and obey the Lord’s leading for a direction we may not have been before.

To live in our identity in Christ means we live like He did. We follow His teachings through His commandments. Sometimes we may feel as if this is an impossible task. But He doesn’t expect us to do this through our own power.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV)

What kind of habits did Jesus live by?

He knew when to draw away from other people to be alone with His Father.

Prayer and Bible study can draw us closer to our Savior. We can hear His voice clearly when we take the time to listen.

Regular church attendance brings us into fellowship with other believers.

Falling leaves can remind us to let go of the past, live in the present, and pray about the future. Our heavenly Father always has new revelation, knowledge, and assignments for us as we seek to follow His will. (click to share on X)

What do falling leaves remind you of? Join the conversation