Sabina's Encounter: An African Film on Barrenness

By Dan Henrich
Special to ASSIST News Service

LOS ANGELES, CA (ANS) -- An old adage, "The Church in Africa is an inch deep and a mile wide" was the impetus for the writing and production of Sabina's Encounter, a dramatic film designed to help the average African deal with the socio-cultural pressures created by a woman's barrenness. Sabina's Encounter was a co-production of International Media Ministries and what is now known as Communication Resources International.

DVD cover

Originally planned to be the first of a series of films written and produced for distribution on Cinema Leo, the mobile cinema outreach of the African Inland Church, Sabina's Encounter is the first of its kind - a film with a story based on real life cultural issues.

The producers goal was to help Christians to understand critical issues of their culture and how to relate to them in the Christian faith, provide information about the causes of barrenness and remove the superstition that is often associated with it and teach basic spiritual issues to new and old believers who are still young in Christian growth, that they may grow and reach out to others.

The story is about Sabina, a childless woman in her late 20's. Her husband has visited a witchdoctor who tells him Sabina is a witch and worthless, and to send her away. The husband beats Sabina severely and sends her away. She arrives at her sister's house very depressed, nearly suicidal and hating the world and God.

Because of Sabina's shameful failure to conceive, the husband goes to a witchdoctor to try to fix it. The witchdoctor tells him Sabina is eating the babies he puts in her stomach and to send her away....

During a talk with a retired headmaster, the concept is presented that the wife is not the only cause of a childless family - a key misconception in African society. Sabina is depressed and bitter, seeking the peace the sister, Maria, has, although she thinks the answer in Christ is too simplistic.

A baby is found thrown into the pit latrine, and it is through this traumatic experience that Sabina realizes that it is not babies, not clothes, not a husband that gives peace. It is during this time that her sister leads her to the Lord.

Sabina's Encounter has been distributed in many countries in sub-Sahara Africa in English and more recently, Swahili and African French. More than 10 countries have aired this program on national TV.

Sabina's husband has told her he is going to get a new wife - one that will give him babies and Sabina's is telling him he can't divorce her...

It is estimated from reports received from various mission sources that more than 20 million people had viewed the film by December 2004 with over 500,000 decisions. This was based on audience data from the main cinema van distributors in Kenya, Tanzania and Ghana, as well as data from the national TV stations as to their audiences.

Sabina's Encounter was a co-production with Communication Resources International and International Media Ministries (Assemblies of God. The above the line budget was raised by CRI and International Media Ministries, who provided the below the line personnel and equipment through the post production and film transfer.

A focus group was set up of African's from several countries in Africa to determine what were the critical cultural issues that Christians struggled with and out of 52 topics, barrenness was number one. A panel of 16 men and woman was established and a team of writers was set up - one from Kenya, one from Cameroon and an American.

The choice of characters, location and music was also very important to the overall planning of the program. In fact, all of the music was original and was very important in reinforcing the theme as well as providing strategic bridges throughout the story.

Further testing of the film was made after it was created and critiqued, both by local people who watched it as well as professionals who analyzed it for content, technique and acting. Reports have come in from many sources - letters, calls, remarks after the projection of the film, that confirms its impact. Many TV stations that have used it over and over again on national and regional television.

Maria, a Christian tries to explain how Sabina can have peace in Christ even without a baby!

Sabina's Encounter is an example of an "evergreen" film. It recently was a Silver Honoree at the Kindomwood Film Festival in Atlanta. It was a Official Selection of the Gold Lion Film Festival in Swaziland - festival director stated that... "the audience was attentive and respectful of the film -- the story's resolution was realistic and that it was hard to do a faith based film without being didactic." This is quite a statement from the director of a large secular film festival!

The film is available in Kswahili, African French and Kenyan English. It continues to be shown on African TV stations. Because it deals with a well-researched felt-need, the film is "evergreen" and is used by many denominations both in outreach and as part of counseling sessions.

Sabina's Encounter is just being re-released on three cinema van networks in Africa - Cinema Challenge in Ghana, Sinema Leo in Tanzania and Cinema Leo in Kenya representing a "new" audience of over 700,000!

Sabina's Encounter can be previewed athttp://vimeo.com/9993539, it has a Facebook page, and a multi-language DVD can be purchased at https://www.createspace.com/306525.

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Dan Henrich is an educator and media consultant who has served in Africa and Asia conceiving and developing both film and web based communication programs. He currently lives in California and can be reached for consultation by clicking on the For More Information at http://www.comresources.org/. 

How a King's Concubine in Cameroon Became a Light to Her People

By Rev. Robert Adamou Pindzié
Edited by Mark Ellis

FOUMBAN, CAMEROON (ANS) -- She flashed like a lightning bolt out of the darkness with a brilliance that instantly lit up the court of King Njoya in Cameroon. Her light burned brightly, blazing a path down country lanes and city streets as a remarkable evangelist who proclaimed a new and living faith.

Lydia

Lydia Mengwelune was the second and most beautiful daughter born to a nobleman. In spite of her young age, she was given as a bride to Bankumbu, one of the king's leading military men. Since she had not yet reached the required age for marriage, she entered the harem of her fiancé.

The king discovered that Bankumbu was part of a group that was plotting against him. The king had him killed, even though he had served the king for a long time, and protected him from many attacks. In his anger, the king killed Bankumbu's mother and brother on the same day. The entire town of Foumban was terribly upset by this slaughter.

Lydia had barely overcome the pain and fear caused by this brutal act when another, even more violent tragedy struck. Her father was falsely accused of having killed his neighbor. The accusation came from a soothsayer who consulted the trapdoor spider, considered to have the power of revealing secrets.

Upon hearing of the matter, the king sentenced Lydia's father to hang immediately. As a result of that judgment and execution, Lydia's family was banished, and were liable to be sold to anyone, according to the king's wishes.

However, the Queen Mother intervened on the family's behalf so that Lydia's mother and her children, as well as all of their possessions, would come to no harm.

Lydia began to accompany her mother on visits to the palace. Having noticed Lydia's beauty and intelligence, the Queen Mother asked if she could keep her there and see to her education. Lydia's mother gratefully accepted.

Dancer to the king

While she lived at the palace, Lydia received all the benefits of being under the care of the Queen Mother. She was given clothing, shoes, finery, beauty oils - even a special diet. She lacked nothing. People began to admire Lydia's grace, courtesy and intelligence.

Since the king visited his mother every day, he soon saw the incredibly beautiful Lydia and began to love her in spite of the edict against such things within an extended family. Even with the power the king enjoyed, he could not marry her, as he would be accused of incest. Nonetheless, he was unable to resist her charms. For this reason, the Queen Mother advised him to make Lydia his concubine.

Note:  Rev. Robert Adamou Pindzié is a Project Luke Fellow, Faculté de Théologie Évangélique du Cameroun (FACTEC) The editor gratefully acknowledges the use of this material from the Dictionary of African Christian Biography

MORE

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Mark Ellis is a senior correspondent for ASSIST News Service and the founder of www.Godreports.com.  He is available to speak to groups about the plight of the church in restricted countries, to share stories and testimonies from the mission field, and to preach the gospel. mark@Godreports.com

The Way Back

By Jeremy Reynalds
Senior Correspondent for ASSIST News Service

ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO (ANS) -- Isabel paid a high price for her drug use: homelessness.

Isabel paid a high price for her drug use: homelessness.

She said, "I  was using marijuana and crack cocaine for about 20 years, and it took me down.  I had no control.  It took me to the streets where I kept losing jobs (and) apartments."

Isabel

Isabel said to " survive," she  turned to prostitution, not only to provide basic needs, but also to feed her addictions.

With no place to go and not knowing what to do,  Isabel kept putting herself in danger.

She said, "I felt like there was no way out.  I basically kept wandering the streets, not  eating for days and days at a time. "

That lifestyle of sadness and desperation continued until two years ago, when Isabel suffered a terrible attack.

 One day while returning from the store after buying something to eat, a  van pulled up beside her, with two young men who looked like they were about 19 or 20.  years old.  They asked Isabel if she knew where they could get some crack and she answered "Yes."

They opened the door and Isabel got in.  However, they never wanted any crack.  They trapped her in the back of their van, and one of the young men driving around while the other one kept raping her.  Then they would switch off. This unspeakable nightmare continued for 11 hours.

When her attackers finally released Isabel, it was a little after 5 am.  She was thrown out of the van, with no clothes, in the street.  However, she was able to get the van's license plate number. 

Isabel said she ran to a house where she saw some people outside, but had no idea where she was.
 
She said, "I started screaming and asked them for help, and told them I had been raped by two boys. "

The couple called 911,  and got a robe for Isabel. They stayed with her until the police and ambulance arrived.  Isabel said she doesn't remember what hospital they took her too, but she does recall they were nice and helped clean her up.

A hospital case manager  helped Isabel get in touch with her mother, with whom she stayed for about six months.

Isabel said she was clean during that time, but was still fighting her demons of addiction.  She left her mom's house after a conflict occurred between her and her mother's fiancé. She was back on the streets.

Isabel later learned that the  license plate number of the van was stolen. It actually belonged to a Cadillac. Sadly, her attackers were never caught.

Isabel recalled putting herself in danger on numerous occasions-sometimes daily-just to feed her unquenchable and cruel addiction. 

The negative consequences  spanned multiple years, and  included jail time for prostitution and possession of crack cocaine; the latter netting her a nine- month stint.

Every time one of these situations occurred, Isabel said she would spend time thinking about how she could not continue to live like that.  However, the crack addiction would eventually take hold once again, and she would find herself bartering jewelry, possessions in general, and even selling her body just to get that next hit.

Isabel would often sleep in the parks.  She recalled sleeping at one in particular for over six months during an Albuquerque winter.  She remembered it being cold,  snowing and rainy, but not much else, as she was still in a drug induced haze.

In March 2011, Isabel had moved into an  apartment with a roommate.  Due to their mutual addictions, they were evicted. That roommate was also physically abusing her.  Unfprtunately she was also Isabel's payee, taking money from her to support the addictions.

After being evicted, Isabel decided she had enough. While downtown, she heard some people talking about Joy Junction.  Isabel was interested and ended up getting on one of our vans for a ride to the shelter.

She remembered feeling scared as the van pulled on to our property.

Isabel said, "I felt ashamed I lost my apartment; ashamed about my addictions, ashamed about being a prostitute- ashamed about many thing.  I hoped that it was a place where I could rest my head and get some good food to eat-maybe  keep myself clean.  I hoped it was a place I could get help.  I hoped I could talk to someone about the problems I had and my addictions.  I wanted to change my life because I couldn't live on the streets anymore.  I couldn't handle the crack and the marijuana. I was tired of it all."

Just a few minutes later, Isabel was directed to the office and signed in for a bed. 

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Jeremy Reynalds is Senior Correspondent for the ASSIST News Service, a freelance writer and also the founder and CEO of Joy Junction, New Mexico's largest emergency homeless shelter,http://www.joyjunction.org He has a master's degree in communication from the University of New Mexico, and a Ph.D. in intercultural education from Biola University in Los Angeles. His newest book is "Homeless in the City." Additional details on "Homeless in the City" are available at http://www.homelessinthecity.com. Reynalds lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico. For more information contact: Jeremy Reynalds atjeremyreynalds@comcast.net.

The British Invasion.....of Joy Junction

By Jonathan Matheny
Special to ASSIST News Service

ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO (ANS) -- It started as a single person, coming from Britain, with dreams about "ministry" helping the homeless in America.

After a long journey, including being homeless, running a shelter in another city, and numerous trials, Jeremy Reynalds now runs the largest emergency shelter in New Mexico, Joy Junction.  Joy Junction is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, and is a bell weather for many organizations across the nation concerning the plight of the homeless.

Jeremy Reynalds

After 25 years, word of Joy Junction made it back to Reynalds' home via You Tube.

On July 11, a film crew of three from the British Broadcasting Corporation arrived in Albuquerque, New Mexico to film at Joy Junction.

Paul Mason, economics editor of BBC Newsnight, had embarked on a story highlighting the parallels of John Steinbeck's classic work "The Grapes of Wrath" and the current economic environment in the United States.  His goal was to point out the similarities between the Joad family in Steinbeck's work and the current homeless population.  Following a path similar to Steinbeck's, he started off in El Reno, Oklahoma, and would end in Bakersfield, California.

The British are coming

In a sport coat and casual dress, Reynalds met with Paul Mason and the BBC production team.  Three families from Joy Junction had been asked to tell their story and were eager to be interviewed.  It wasn't drugs, or alcohol or even domestic violence that made them homeless; it was the economy.

Reynalds said, "This is such a wonderful opportunity for Joy Junction and America's homeless population. 

Hopefully, this will bring to light the fact that homelessness has a very diverse population.  Homelessness is not synonymous with addiction."

Maurice and Roseangel Ortiz

As the BBC crew walked around Joy Junction's 52 acres, they were astounded by a few things.  It seemed to them that everyone was in good spirits.
The other thing that was immediately apparent was the number of children.

"The two fastest growing populations in the homeless community are families and veterans.  We see it every day.  And we see it just increasing", said Reynalds, when asked about what type of people they see.

Of the 300 people whom Joy Junction helps per night, 70-80 are children.  More than half the children will be attending the local elementary school.

With classic journalistic style, Paul Mason began to ask frank questions about what people thought the reason for such an economic problem.

He received answers like, "The government is spending money on war, not the economy."

Larry and Michelle Anatista

"We got a little stimulus, but that just made things better for a bit.   Where is the long-term solution?"

While filming the third interview, one of the BBC production people expressed a bit of his frustration; "It makes me so angry to see a country as rich as America, having such a large problem with homelessness."

The BBC crew left Joy Junction that first night at around 10:00 pm, after driving in from Oklahoma and filming for 3 hours.  "Let's regroup, because I am knackered" quipped Paul Mason.

The plan for the next morning was for Dr. Reynalds to show them around some of downtown Albuquerque's hotels where homeless individuals and families congregate.  Some of these hotels have numerous families that are staying there because they have no other choice.  Joy Junction's mobile lunch wagon, the Lifeline Of hope helps to provide for these families immediate needs, helping with the daily decision ".do I pay for food, or the room."

Hotels in a new light

Dr. Reynalds took the BBC crew to a section of Central Avenue, right off the highway, where there are a string of hotels advertising cheap room rates.

"These places fill up in the first two weeks, after benefit checks are paid and when they run out, they empty and people drift over to Joy Junction" Dr. Reynalds informs the crew.

"Now I see the cheap hotels in a new light.  This is where America's hidden homeless live" Paul Mason wrote in the final article "In Steinbeck's footsteps: America's middle-class underclass".

Paul Mason

Dr. Reynalds shared a few thoughts about the experience:

"It is so nice to see a news reporting agency like the BBC take an interest in the plight of the homeless.  Hopefully, this will help raise awareness, and encourage people to get involved in their own communities."

The BBC departed later that day, continuing their journey to Bakersfield, California by way of Phoenix, Arizona, with a whole new perspective on the United States and the underserved homeless population.

As they loaded up their equipment, and began to plot their course westward, you could see the difference in their faces.  It took less than 24 hours, spending time in the trenches of homelessness, for these foreigners to realize the magnitude of the situation.  It was an eye-opening experience for them, and one, I am sure, they will not soon forget.

The Newsnight story, "In Steinbeck's footsteps: America's middle-class underclass ", aired on July 28th on BBC Newsnight and BBC World News.

You can watch the televised article, in its entirety, at http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsnight.
 

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Jonathan Matheny is the Volunteer Coordinator for Joy Junction.

Christians Remember John Stott

John Stott, an avid bird watcher,
 was a pastor's pastor. He is now with
 the Lord he served for decades.

England (MNN) ― The Christian Church has lost one of its greatest leaders: John Stott. Uncle John, as many called him, went to be with his Lord on Wednesday, July 27th at 3:15 in London. He was 90 years old.

"The evangelical world has lost one of its greatest spokesmen, and I have lost one of my close personal friends and advisors," said Billy Graham, paying tribute to Stott in a press release.

Stott pastored the All Souls Church on the outskirts of London from 1950 to 1975.  It was the only church in which he served.

President of Cornerstone University Dr. Joseph Stowell says, "When you think of evangelism, you think of Billy Graham. When you think of preaching, writing, encouraging pastors, scholarship, exegesis, reliability, and moderation in the midst of crisis, you automatically think of John Stott."

Stowell says, "He could hold his own with the best of theologians, and yet he could speak a sermon in a church that would reach a whole cross-section of people who came off the streets of London to sit under his ministry."

As a pastor, Stott believed that a local church should be a primary agency of evangelism and that all its members should be involved.

While he was a friend of pastors, he was also beloved by young people.Stott spoke six times at Urbana, the world's largest student missions event between 1964 and 1979.

President of HCJB Global Wayne Pederson says Stott had an incredible impact on evangelism as chair of the Lausanne Theology and Education Group between 1974-1981. In 1974, "He was the main architect of the Lausanne Covenan. It's still being used today as the philosophy, theology and strategy for global evangelism."

Stott also spearheaded the drafting of the Manila Manifesto, a document produced by the second International Congress in 1989. It was an elaboration of the Lausanne Covenant.

Pederson says, "Many of us remember hearing his messages from Lausanne, where he poured out his love and his passion for Christ. I think his connection with Lausanne and the connection with the Urbana conferences--particularly with international students--is going to be the lasting hallmark of his life."

The World Evangelical Alliance says, "Although there are many of the 620 million evangelical Christians who have never heard of John Stott, almost without exception they will have been unconsciously changed through his presence in much of what they or their pastors have read from his pen. He will be greatly missed, but his ministry continues. The whole of the leadership of the WEA acknowledges with great thankfulness to God the legacy that John Stott has left behind to encourage and guide us."

Stott viewed his lifelong singleness as a gift from God. He wrote more than 50 books which have been translated into 65 languages. "Basic Christianity" was the best known, which has sold more than 2.5 million copies.

Stott also formed Langham Partnership International to see Majority World churches being equipped for mission and growing to maturity through the ministry of Christian leaders and pastors who sincerely believe, diligently study, faithfully expound and relevantly apply the Word of God.

While he was a great theologian and speaker, John Stott was also a kind, gentle man. Biographer Dudley-Smith wrote, "To those who know and meet him, respect and affection go hand-in-hand. The world-figure is lost in personal friendship, disarming interest, unfeigned humility--and a dash of mischievous humor and charm." By contrast, Stott thought of himself as "simply a beloved child of a heavenly Father; an unworthy servant of his friend and master, Jesus Christ; a sinner saved by grace to the glory and praise of God."

Stott died listening to Scripture and Handel's "Messiah."

Calling Things That Be Not As Though They Were

By: Frank Broom 

Calling things that be not as though they were is a principle in the Bible that a lot of people don't understand. And the reason people don't understand is because people only consider what they can pick up with their senses as being real. But, there is another realm that is just as real that you can't see as this realm you can see. Like Elisha and his servant when the Syrian army had them surrounded, the man of God's servant came out and saw the army that had them surrounded and paniced, but the man of God came out and said "Fear not for there is more that be with us than be with them." Now what the man of God said was not seen, but then he prayed that God would open the eyes of his servant and his eyes were opened and he saw the angels of God that were around them. Notice what was unseen was just as real as what was seen (2Kings 6:14-17).

How about the Shunamite woman who's son died, she laid her son in the man of God's bed and asked her husband to send her a young man and one of the asses so that she could see the man of God and when her husband asked her why was she going to see the man of God she said, "It shall be well", she was believing something outside of her senses. She had her faith in the man of God raising her child from the dead and as far as she was concerned it was as good as done. When she came to the man of God he sent his servant to ask her is it well with thee? Is it well with thy husband? Is it well with child? And she answered "It is well" (2Kings 4:26). And the man of God did raise her child from the dead. She could have broke down and cried "Why me God", but she chose to tap into something that was just as real if not more real than her circumstances.

How about Abraham, God told him neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but Abraham for a father of many nations have I made thee before it was a physical reality. God doesn't wait until something happens to call it done. God considers a thing done once He speaks, He calls the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:9,10). And if He considers it done so should you. The problem people have is that you are speaking contrary to what is seen, they only consider what their senses tell them. But, faith goes beyond the senses and considers what God says over what their senses tell them. And faith when released out of your mouth will bring into manifestation what is was released for. It is the substance of things hoped for like in the beginning it was through faith that the worlds were framed by the word of God (Hebrews 11:1,3). And faith will still create in this physical world. That's why Jesus said if you had faith as a seed...., because a seed works to create what you sowed for and faith creates what you released it to. A seed has to be released out of the ground for it to produce if it say in the earth it will never produce. And likewise your faith has to be released if it going to produce something in this physical world. So let your faith out and let it create.

Article Source: http://christian-topics.info

trueword.lifewithchrist.org/index.html

Three Short Devotional Stories of Faith

By: Author With Joy! 

1. You changed my mourning into dancing; you took off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness. With my whole being I sing endless praise to you. Oh God my God, forever will I give you thanks. Psalms 30:13 (New American Bible)

Angela is a Latin-American in her mid-forties who lived a very difficult life. Angela tried to commit suicide many times. It is amazing that she is still alive. She has much potential, even after being in the mental health system for many years. She has many questions about Jesus and has a hunger to know Him.. She knows He cares and that she will be loved and cherished, no matter what. When asked about her faith, Angela quickly responded, without Jesus, she wouldn’t be alive today. She encouraged me to start a non-denominational faith group in our program.

I contacted my supervisor and explained how I would not emphasize my own faith, but let members talk about theirs. I gave my supervisor an agenda of what I would cover, and the proposal received approval. Angela wanted to lead the group, and I encouraged her to do so. I talked with her before the group met, to explain how this would be a safe place for people to talk about their faith without judgement.She seemed enthusiastic, and shared her excitement with the group. Now since she has been the facilitator she has made no major suicide attempts. She mentioned to me that being able to share her faith and being with others has helped her feel understood. She feels like she fits into the world. She sees herself not as a “mental patient” but a woman of faith. She helped me realize spiritual wisdom can come from anybody at any time if we are open to the light of Christ.

Prayer

You have the light of Christ

within and around you

Shine your light for all to see!

2. “Jesus said, ‘I give praise to you, Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned, you have revealed them to the childlike.” Mathew Chapter 11: 25 (New American Bible)
‘

John was an African American man about 55 years of age. Due to his Schizophrenia it was difficult for him to express himself clearly. Each day he would have roses tucked in all of his pockets. They were many colors and he seemed to take pleasure in picking certain roses. Even thought they became wilted when he put them in his pocket, to him they were a priceless treasure. Each day John would come to me and say,” What color rose would you like today?” His face would show his eager anticipation of giving me this wonderful gift from his heart. Even though the flower would be wilted I always was go grateful that he would share his greatest treasure.

Unfortunately John passed away last year. I saw him the day before he died. Now it was my turn to give him a rose. I brought the brightest roses I could find. Even though he was in a coma I think somewhere is his subconscious mind he knew I was there. I told him I loved him and how much his roses meant to me. Then the most amazing thing happened. I sensed a bright light surrounding John and I felt peace and holiness.
John taught me to share my spiritual treasures and also give the best of myself to others – even if I feel like a wilted rose that day.

Prayer

When the night is dark

and the world seems to

be passing us by

There is a light which

can give us courage and hope

This light is filled with love

and comes from Jesus

We have this light within us

We can have joy, peace

understanding and forgiveness

He is waiting for us

Come to the wonderful

light of Jesus!

Let this Holy light

shine for all the see!

3. “The Lord raises up the needy from the dust, lifts the poor from the ash heap.” Psalm 113:7, (New American Bible)

I was working with adults who had profound disabilities. They weren’t able to feed themselves, walk, talk, or have the basic skills we take for granted. I provided assistance with feeding, changing diapers, activities, and going into the community. One of the people I assisted was Jean. Each morning when I saw Jean she would welcome me with a smile and her legs would move as if she was very excited, and then she would start laughing. There was never a day that she failed to welcome me with this greeting.

One day my supervisor called me in the office to tell me she had to let me go because of the budget. Of course I felt many emotions, including shock. I went out of the office feeling down and Jean was in the room. She looked at me as though she understood. Then with her usual smile she started laughing.

In spite of myself I couldn’t help but laugh with her. I looked at Jean clearly for the first time and became mindful of all the challenges she had yet every morning she seemed to be thankful and joyful for another day. I had lost a job, but I was still able to do many things she would never be capable of. She would always need someone to feed and change her diapers, yet she still smiled. Maybe physically she wasn’t able to talk, but spiritually she spoke volumes. I realized I have much to thank God for and to find at least one thing to smile and laugh at each day.

Prayer

How can I thank you?

Are their words?

Are their actions I can do?

I ponder many ideas and thoughts

on how to try and give you thanks

when really all you are wanting

is my heart. You don’t need a lot

of words or even a lot of planning

of how I can show my gratefulness

You just ask that I follow my heart

Article Source: http://christian-topics.info

Would love to write in magazines and publish a devotional with a traditional publisher. I have one book titled Finding the Light of Jesus which is published by CrossLink- a traditional published. I'v been published in thirteen peridicals and facilitate spiritual retreats and provide uplifting presentations to groups and churches. I am also currently writing for San Francisco Examiner in the spirituality section. You can read my articles at www.examiner.com/christian-living-in-sacramento/cindy-tuttle