Beth Green's Blog - Posts Tagged "christian"
When a Christian hurts you...
I know we have all been there...we trust someone and they let us down. It is painful enough anytime; but for some reason, it hurts more if it is a fellow Christian.
My family has gone through some very tough times over the last few months. Financially, emotionally, and physically we have been challenged and stretched until we have almost broken at times. With the comfort of leaning on God, we have made it. I have to tell you, though, the betrayal by fellow believers has worn me down.
Within the past few years, I can name several incidents where my family has endured harsh and cruel treatment from fellow Christians. Ironically, some of the people who have treated us well have been non-believers. The actual details of these incidents really don't matter; but I can tell you that I was cut to the core with some of it and I had to keep reminding myself what we all know: Christian does not equal perfect. In fact, I believe that when someone gives their life to Christ, it is an acknowledgment from that person that they are a sinner and need the Grace of God to be forgiven. That knowledge is comforting; but let's be real: I was hurting and I didn't want to hear that.
One day while I was lamenting on some of the problems we were facing, I just curled up on my bed and had a heart to heart talk with God. I really think that He wants us to do that--he is our Heavenly Father. Why wouldn't He want us to come to Him (even in frustration).
Somewhere in that prayer/conversation that I was having, a peace washed over me and let me know that I was going to make it. I would love to tell you that everything was perfect after that; but it wasn't. It takes a daily effort to "seek ye first the kingdom of God" but remember the rest of the verse that says: "and all these things shall be added unto you." Matthew 6:33. So what are "all these things?". Back a couple of verses this refers to what we will eat, what we will drink, how will we be clothed.
I began to seek God and not worry about any of the little problems. I decided to let Him worry about the other people that had wronged me and let me concentrate on Him. I know I should have quoted the verse about praying for my enemy, etc; but I will be honest with you: that took a few more weeks of seeking God.
So, my point here? To let you know that if it has not happened to you yet, it probably will. Someone you are close to in the church will hurt you or disappoint you. I wish that I could say that Christians are now perfect (only someday in Heaven will that be true). For now, we are just sinners saved by Grace. Be patient and keep seeking God. He will never disappoint you.
My family has gone through some very tough times over the last few months. Financially, emotionally, and physically we have been challenged and stretched until we have almost broken at times. With the comfort of leaning on God, we have made it. I have to tell you, though, the betrayal by fellow believers has worn me down.
Within the past few years, I can name several incidents where my family has endured harsh and cruel treatment from fellow Christians. Ironically, some of the people who have treated us well have been non-believers. The actual details of these incidents really don't matter; but I can tell you that I was cut to the core with some of it and I had to keep reminding myself what we all know: Christian does not equal perfect. In fact, I believe that when someone gives their life to Christ, it is an acknowledgment from that person that they are a sinner and need the Grace of God to be forgiven. That knowledge is comforting; but let's be real: I was hurting and I didn't want to hear that.
One day while I was lamenting on some of the problems we were facing, I just curled up on my bed and had a heart to heart talk with God. I really think that He wants us to do that--he is our Heavenly Father. Why wouldn't He want us to come to Him (even in frustration).
Somewhere in that prayer/conversation that I was having, a peace washed over me and let me know that I was going to make it. I would love to tell you that everything was perfect after that; but it wasn't. It takes a daily effort to "seek ye first the kingdom of God" but remember the rest of the verse that says: "and all these things shall be added unto you." Matthew 6:33. So what are "all these things?". Back a couple of verses this refers to what we will eat, what we will drink, how will we be clothed.
I began to seek God and not worry about any of the little problems. I decided to let Him worry about the other people that had wronged me and let me concentrate on Him. I know I should have quoted the verse about praying for my enemy, etc; but I will be honest with you: that took a few more weeks of seeking God.
So, my point here? To let you know that if it has not happened to you yet, it probably will. Someone you are close to in the church will hurt you or disappoint you. I wish that I could say that Christians are now perfect (only someday in Heaven will that be true). For now, we are just sinners saved by Grace. Be patient and keep seeking God. He will never disappoint you.
Flat land
Psalms 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
So many people have described the Christian walk as a series of mountains and valleys. Sometimes you are on a spiritual “high” and thus on a mountaintop or on a spiritual “low” in a valley. I think that there are sometimes flat areas as well, like a long highway that seems to stretch on forever. On a mountaintop, it is much easier to worship and feel close to God; but in a valley it could be argued the same is also true because you are reduced to a raw and deeply penetrating hurt from which you need God’s help to survive. Maybe it is during these two times that God has shown you amazing Grace and Mercy. I know he has for me.
What about those long stretches of flat road? Have you ever found yourself traveling along with no immediate threats to your beliefs or no challenges to your life? My father-in-law is a retired preacher and he preached for over 40 years. One of his sayings was that “if the Devil isn’t after you, then maybe he’s already got you.” Well, I certainly don’t want to invite trouble but I have to tell you that when the Devil is after you, you will certainly know it.
Troubles come in many forms, whether directly from a spiritual attack or from the daily challenges of life. The stories in my own family have shown me so much about my need to seek God daily, no matter where I am on that road of life, whether it’s a mountain, a valley, or somewhere between. I’m positive that you could all tell stories in your own lives as well. Take a moment today analyze where you are right now. If you are in a valley, you most certainly know it. If you are on a mountaintop, you are probably aware of that as well. If you are not sure, I would bet you have found a nice flat area. Don’t let that road deceive you into drifting away from your Father in Heaven. You never know when you are going to hit a bump or curve that sends you right back into another valley. Building your relationship with him now will help you prepare for what lies ahead. He is always there…waiting for you.
So many people have described the Christian walk as a series of mountains and valleys. Sometimes you are on a spiritual “high” and thus on a mountaintop or on a spiritual “low” in a valley. I think that there are sometimes flat areas as well, like a long highway that seems to stretch on forever. On a mountaintop, it is much easier to worship and feel close to God; but in a valley it could be argued the same is also true because you are reduced to a raw and deeply penetrating hurt from which you need God’s help to survive. Maybe it is during these two times that God has shown you amazing Grace and Mercy. I know he has for me.
What about those long stretches of flat road? Have you ever found yourself traveling along with no immediate threats to your beliefs or no challenges to your life? My father-in-law is a retired preacher and he preached for over 40 years. One of his sayings was that “if the Devil isn’t after you, then maybe he’s already got you.” Well, I certainly don’t want to invite trouble but I have to tell you that when the Devil is after you, you will certainly know it.
Troubles come in many forms, whether directly from a spiritual attack or from the daily challenges of life. The stories in my own family have shown me so much about my need to seek God daily, no matter where I am on that road of life, whether it’s a mountain, a valley, or somewhere between. I’m positive that you could all tell stories in your own lives as well. Take a moment today analyze where you are right now. If you are in a valley, you most certainly know it. If you are on a mountaintop, you are probably aware of that as well. If you are not sure, I would bet you have found a nice flat area. Don’t let that road deceive you into drifting away from your Father in Heaven. You never know when you are going to hit a bump or curve that sends you right back into another valley. Building your relationship with him now will help you prepare for what lies ahead. He is always there…waiting for you.
Happy Easter!
Such a beautiful day to celebrate and rejoice! Here is something amazing that happened to us yesterday. We were down walking by the lake and admiring the sunset with all the amazing colors and how low the lake is right now. We knew a bald eagle had a nest nearby and out of nowhere, the eagle came across and attacked a hawk, then circled around us several times, hunting fish in the water and stretching its wings. I wish my phone could have captured it better; but we just stared at that beautiful creature as it soared above us. It reminded me of that Tim McGraw song Live Life Like You're Dying. Yesterday, we were able to just enjoy the majesty of God's creations in that lake and that beautiful bird. I hope you all have had a blessed day today and found a way to rejoice and reflect. Happy Easter and may the Lord bless you always.
Up and Down
On the highest mountain
I will lift my heart to the sky
From the lowest valley
Hear my cry
Those words come from a song by Bebo Norman called Holy is your name.
I love to hike. In fact, my husband and I will take trips to specific trials that we read about or want to experience. We have tried to instill this love of hiking in our children and for the most part it has worked.
There is nothing quite like standing on the top of a mountain and looking out over what you just climbed; but also taking in the beauty all around that God has created for us to enjoy. I love to "lift my heart to the sky" when I'm up there and I often have a difficult time leaving.
Coming down the mountain is difficult sometimes and can be the most dangerous part. It's dangerous because you're tired and fatigued; and you're confident and in a a great place but you're only half way through your journey when you reach a summit. Hikers get in some serious trouble if they don't calculate the descent into their entire experience.
Sometimes I think coming down off a spiritual high can be the same thing: it's dangerous. We are confident and sure we are in a great place and so busy taking it all in that we may miss a step on the descent and tumble down instead of stepping carefully along the way. We are meant to have highs and lows. As much as I think I prefer the mountaintops, it's in the valleys that I find a deeper and richer experience and draw closer to God than I ever thought possible.
Your journey is unique to you. I could never pretend to understand anyone else's circumstances unless I've lived them. For now, I chose to trust Him that my valleys will never be too low for me and that my mountaintops will be full of joy; but that journey up and down the trail is where life happens most of the time. Enjoy each step and trust Him to help you see it through.
I will lift my heart to the sky
From the lowest valley
Hear my cry
Those words come from a song by Bebo Norman called Holy is your name.
I love to hike. In fact, my husband and I will take trips to specific trials that we read about or want to experience. We have tried to instill this love of hiking in our children and for the most part it has worked.
There is nothing quite like standing on the top of a mountain and looking out over what you just climbed; but also taking in the beauty all around that God has created for us to enjoy. I love to "lift my heart to the sky" when I'm up there and I often have a difficult time leaving.
Coming down the mountain is difficult sometimes and can be the most dangerous part. It's dangerous because you're tired and fatigued; and you're confident and in a a great place but you're only half way through your journey when you reach a summit. Hikers get in some serious trouble if they don't calculate the descent into their entire experience.
Sometimes I think coming down off a spiritual high can be the same thing: it's dangerous. We are confident and sure we are in a great place and so busy taking it all in that we may miss a step on the descent and tumble down instead of stepping carefully along the way. We are meant to have highs and lows. As much as I think I prefer the mountaintops, it's in the valleys that I find a deeper and richer experience and draw closer to God than I ever thought possible.
Your journey is unique to you. I could never pretend to understand anyone else's circumstances unless I've lived them. For now, I chose to trust Him that my valleys will never be too low for me and that my mountaintops will be full of joy; but that journey up and down the trail is where life happens most of the time. Enjoy each step and trust Him to help you see it through.
New Book Title
Thank you to all who got involved in the short lived contest to guess the name of the new novel. It's very exciting for me to get to the last few stages of a novel. I feel God's hand on my thoughts as I write and I sincerely pray that this book will bless you in some way.
I've had some questions about the new novel and I'm trying to be a little mysterious smile emoticon I really want to bring you into the book and take you on a journey. If I tell you too much, I'm afraid the journey won't be as exciting.
A Rose For Jonathan was inspired by two very special children that I worked with specifically but also by all the incredible kids I've had the privilege to work with through the years. In particular, as a pediatric PT, I am blessed beyond measure to be able to help these children and their families and I cannot imagine a better job in the world. As I wrote this novel, I really wanted to not only emphasize the importance of organ donation but also the power we have through prayer and scripture (and especially when combining them together).
This new novel, Quiver, is a continuation of the story but is not a true sequel in the sense that the story now shifts to follow Jonathan. All the old characters make appearances, of course. Who could leave out the Martin sisters or Mr. Roberts? They were just too much fun to not include them. This time, I wanted to emphasize some new things...more to come on that!
Keep checking back in here for updates and the cover reveal. Since the title was guessed so quickly, I've decided to move the do the cover reveal on Friday, April 15. Keep in mind that sometimes we have to make a quick change in the end; but right now everyone is very happy with it!
Please share this post and help me build excitement for the new book release. It's almost ready for Beta reader stage and the release date will be set soon.
Thank you all for your support!
Beth
I've had some questions about the new novel and I'm trying to be a little mysterious smile emoticon I really want to bring you into the book and take you on a journey. If I tell you too much, I'm afraid the journey won't be as exciting.
A Rose For Jonathan was inspired by two very special children that I worked with specifically but also by all the incredible kids I've had the privilege to work with through the years. In particular, as a pediatric PT, I am blessed beyond measure to be able to help these children and their families and I cannot imagine a better job in the world. As I wrote this novel, I really wanted to not only emphasize the importance of organ donation but also the power we have through prayer and scripture (and especially when combining them together).
This new novel, Quiver, is a continuation of the story but is not a true sequel in the sense that the story now shifts to follow Jonathan. All the old characters make appearances, of course. Who could leave out the Martin sisters or Mr. Roberts? They were just too much fun to not include them. This time, I wanted to emphasize some new things...more to come on that!
Keep checking back in here for updates and the cover reveal. Since the title was guessed so quickly, I've decided to move the do the cover reveal on Friday, April 15. Keep in mind that sometimes we have to make a quick change in the end; but right now everyone is very happy with it!
Please share this post and help me build excitement for the new book release. It's almost ready for Beta reader stage and the release date will be set soon.
Thank you all for your support!
Beth
New Cover Reveal Tonight!
Don't miss the new cover reveal for
QUIVER
The new novel and a sequel to A Rose For Jonathan.
Cover is revealed tonight at 8:00 PM on Facebook @ The Green Author.
QUIVER
The new novel and a sequel to A Rose For Jonathan.
Cover is revealed tonight at 8:00 PM on Facebook @ The Green Author.
Angels
What do you think angels do?
We know that they are not what we become when we die--they are another of God's creations. We know many things that they do: some help minister to us when we are in need, some are messengers, and some are warriors. These amazing creatures are found throughout the Bible and many people have claimed experiences directly with them even in today's world.
I want to invite you to experience them in my novel A Rose For Jonathan. The book was written to give you a visual of how important prayer is in our lives. Take a moment to sample it and see if it's for you.
I've spoken to women's groups and churches about the book as well as appeared on TV and on several radio shows. The book has received the New Apple Independent Award for Excellence in Independent Publishing in the Religion/Spirituality category and it has also been given the Reader's Favorite Five Star Seal.
Hang on tight...the sequel is moving through the editing process.
Quiver will be available this summer: date TBA.
Beth Green
The Green Author
We know that they are not what we become when we die--they are another of God's creations. We know many things that they do: some help minister to us when we are in need, some are messengers, and some are warriors. These amazing creatures are found throughout the Bible and many people have claimed experiences directly with them even in today's world.
I want to invite you to experience them in my novel A Rose For Jonathan. The book was written to give you a visual of how important prayer is in our lives. Take a moment to sample it and see if it's for you.
I've spoken to women's groups and churches about the book as well as appeared on TV and on several radio shows. The book has received the New Apple Independent Award for Excellence in Independent Publishing in the Religion/Spirituality category and it has also been given the Reader's Favorite Five Star Seal.
Hang on tight...the sequel is moving through the editing process.
Quiver will be available this summer: date TBA.
Beth Green
The Green Author
Daughters
A List For My Four Daughters
1.) You were wanted and prayed for even before your eyes saw their first light.
2.) When you were born, I thought my heart would burst with love; and yet I love you so much more every day.
3.) I count my blessings to be your mother and I hope you will always know that I'm your number one fan no matter what you do!
4.) Whether you feel it or not, you are beautiful to me in every way. I pray every day that you will find a Christian man who appreciates you, loves you, and treats you with the respect and love that you deserve.
5.) I pray for you...more than you can ever know.
6.) Keep people around you who will help you become what you desire to become. If you surround yourself with those with little ambition, then you will lose yours.
7.) No matter where you go or what you do, I will be thinking about you. You are in my thoughts almost all the time.
8.) As you grow away from me, I feel a sweet sadness that I cannot explain. You will have to wait until you become a mother to feel it yourself.
9.) I marvel at your accomplishments and I cry for you when you hurt; but I can never take the credit for the amazing person that you are--you did that!
10.) If I could make life easy for you, I probably would not. The lumps you get along the way will help you. Even so, I will hurt with you, pray for you, and never stop loving you for as long as I live.
Your Mom
1.) You were wanted and prayed for even before your eyes saw their first light.
2.) When you were born, I thought my heart would burst with love; and yet I love you so much more every day.
3.) I count my blessings to be your mother and I hope you will always know that I'm your number one fan no matter what you do!
4.) Whether you feel it or not, you are beautiful to me in every way. I pray every day that you will find a Christian man who appreciates you, loves you, and treats you with the respect and love that you deserve.
5.) I pray for you...more than you can ever know.
6.) Keep people around you who will help you become what you desire to become. If you surround yourself with those with little ambition, then you will lose yours.
7.) No matter where you go or what you do, I will be thinking about you. You are in my thoughts almost all the time.
8.) As you grow away from me, I feel a sweet sadness that I cannot explain. You will have to wait until you become a mother to feel it yourself.
9.) I marvel at your accomplishments and I cry for you when you hurt; but I can never take the credit for the amazing person that you are--you did that!
10.) If I could make life easy for you, I probably would not. The lumps you get along the way will help you. Even so, I will hurt with you, pray for you, and never stop loving you for as long as I live.
Your Mom
A Father's Character
Character is defined as: the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual.
It takes a lot to stand strong in a world that pulls you in so many directions. Integrity, honesty, and strength all form a person's character. To lead a family as the male or to just be a man takes an incredible amount of good character in order to resist all of the temptations of the world.
I was fortunate to be raised by a man with incredible character. Anyone who knows my dad knows of his honesty, his integrity, and his strength. His character is strong and forthright. I was raised under that umbrella and taught right from wrong. I was taught to work hard and to be honest. Through his example and the loving guiding hand of my mom, I was raised in an unbelievably loving household.
I know how lucky I am.
I know how rare that is these days. I also know that God has seen to it to bless me once again with a man as my husband with that same incredible character. Anyone who knows my husband knows of his honesty, his integrity, and his strength. He is also an amazing husband and father. Happy Father's Day to all out there.
I challenge all men to live up to the character of the ultimate father. When I think of Father's Day I also think of God. I think of his never ending touch on my life and his guidance and love and strength.
When you think of God, you need to remember
His honesty,
His integrity,
and
His strength.
He is the ultimate example of good character. The Bible says that He is love. When looking for an example of the best character, look to Jesus.
You will never be lead wrong.
It takes a lot to stand strong in a world that pulls you in so many directions. Integrity, honesty, and strength all form a person's character. To lead a family as the male or to just be a man takes an incredible amount of good character in order to resist all of the temptations of the world.
I was fortunate to be raised by a man with incredible character. Anyone who knows my dad knows of his honesty, his integrity, and his strength. His character is strong and forthright. I was raised under that umbrella and taught right from wrong. I was taught to work hard and to be honest. Through his example and the loving guiding hand of my mom, I was raised in an unbelievably loving household.
I know how lucky I am.
I know how rare that is these days. I also know that God has seen to it to bless me once again with a man as my husband with that same incredible character. Anyone who knows my husband knows of his honesty, his integrity, and his strength. He is also an amazing husband and father. Happy Father's Day to all out there.
I challenge all men to live up to the character of the ultimate father. When I think of Father's Day I also think of God. I think of his never ending touch on my life and his guidance and love and strength.
When you think of God, you need to remember
His honesty,
His integrity,
and
His strength.
He is the ultimate example of good character. The Bible says that He is love. When looking for an example of the best character, look to Jesus.
You will never be lead wrong.
Award Winning Book---again!
So happy to announce that A Rose For Jonathan has won another award! This makes the third award for this book and I am more than humbled. Thank you to all who have encouraged me along the way!
The sequel, Quiver, is getting close to a release date...stay tuned!
The sequel, Quiver, is getting close to a release date...stay tuned!
