Children are a Heritage and Blessing from God: Champion Them
Children are a heritage and blessing. However, our society tends to view this gift of God as precious only if it suits convenience.
2MefromHim Devotionals
Children are a Heritage and Blessing from God: Champion Them
Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him … Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. Psalm 127:3-5
Children are Heritage not to be Despised
Matthew 18:10 says, “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.” As a nation, the abortion rate proves that we despise our little ones. Only 1 in 6 voters in the United States makes pro-life issues central to their voting choice. To me, that is a crime.
As early as Leviticus, God warned Israel against offering their children to Molech, the Canaanite god associated with child sacrifice. Anyone doing so was to be stoned to death.
Only 1 in 6 voters in the United States makes pro-life issues central to their voting choice. #achildnotachoice #prolife #vote2020 Share on XChildren are a Heritage to Protect
I went through nursing school in the mid-70s, after Roe vs. Wade made abortion legal. As a student nurse, my class saw a baby, the victim of a saline-induced abortion, die on a towel in a cold, soiled-utility room. We could not offer it comfort or warmth.
Does it horrify you that I had to watch that? We should be horrified by the unspeakable cruelty that can be done to a child. This isn’t the 12th century. Science enables us to look into the womb of a pregnant woman and see her child moving, sucking its thumb, responding to touch and sound. We can see the miracle of life from conception to birth with special cameras. The heartbeat is detectible at around 6 weeks.
should be horrified by the unspeakable cruelty that can be done to a child. #prolife #hope #truth Share on XChildren are a Heritage from Conception
Jeremiah 1:5 says, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” God had a purpose and plan for Jeremiah before he was born. He has a plan for you too. According to Psalm 139:13, 16, God knits each of us together in our mother’s womb. He sees and knows each human being and has a plan for every day of our lives.
God created male and female in His own image. It is God’s breath that gives life to me and to you, whether or not you believe it. Isaiah calls man the work of God’s hands. He admonishes us not to neglect or forget the helpless, the poor, and the fatherless.
God admonishes us not to neglect or forget the helpless, the poor, and the fatherless. #prolife #children #Godislove Share on XWe Must Protect our Heritage
The Book of James says, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”
The God of heaven and earth asks us to make a choice. He says, “This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live….” (Deuteronomy 30:19)
Will you use your vote to champion life?
Will you use your vote to champion life? #vote2020 #prolife #truth Share on X© Norma Gail Holtman, October 19, 2020
About the author:
Norma Gail writes Fiction to Refresh Your Spirit. Her contemporary novels, Land of My Dreams, which won the 2016 Bookvana Religious Fiction Award, and Within Golden Bands (released May 19, 2020), explore the theme of women whose faith triumphs over trials. A women’s Bible study leader for over 21 years, her devotionals and poetry have appeared at ChristianDevotions.us, the Stitches Thru Time blog, Inspire a Fire, and in “The Secret Place.” She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Romance Writers of America, Historical Writers of America, and the Women’s Fiction Writers Association. Norma is a former RN who lives in the mountains of New Mexico with her husband of 44 years. They have two adult children. To connect with her, you can follow her blog, or join her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, Goodreads, BookBub, or Amazon.
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Looking Back – Twenty-five Years Without My Dad
Looking back, on 25 years since my dad’s death, I wonder where the years have gone, marvel at how much I still miss him, and give thanks to God for carrying me through.
Looking Back – Twenty-five Years Without My Dad
2MefromHim
Whoever fears the Lord has a secure fortress, and for their children it will be a refuge. Proverbs 14:26
Whoever fears the Lord has a secure fortress, and for their children it will be a refuge. Proverbs 14:26 #Godislove #fortress #children Share on X
When I was very little and afraid of the storm,
My father would hold me, so I felt safe and warm.
Silly songs, funny stories, and wild games we would play—
The fun and his love chased the bad things away.
The lightning and thunder were never so bad
When I was held safe in the arms of my dad.
As I grew older and the problems grew more large,
The gentle, patient answers still came straight from his heart.
There was no more important thing he ever had to do
Than take time to show— the important thing was you.
He never gave anyone less than his best,
No matter what the need was, his commitment stood the test.
No matter what the need was, his commitment stood the test. #memories #dad #Godisgood Share on X
When lightning struck our house one night,
Shattering the darkness with its brilliant light—
Hobbling on crutches from a broken leg,
He soon had us laughing from the jokes that he made.
Once certain that all would soon be well—
He soon had another great story to tell.
Many things set my father apart,
Not the least of which was his great, loving heart.
People who came to my father in need
Always left knowing they had a friend indeed.
He did much to further the Father’s plan
By the generosity of his giant hands.
My father rose each morning to meet with his Lord.
He loved Him and served Him and cherished His word.
He was a man of great strength—yet gentle and kind
Because he loved the Lord Jesus with heart, soul, and mind.
He would say that if anything set him apart,
It was the presence of the Savior, who lived in his heart.
My father rose each morning to meet with his Lord. #dads #prayer #example Share on X
Then the lightning once again appeared,
Something all in the family but my father feared.
He, rather than seeing something to fear—
Said it showed the protection of God very clear.
For all in the house were both safe and sound
And only slight damage to the house was found.
As the years passed by, the family grew,
The sons-in-law came, and the grandchildren, too.
Each one he loved in a unique special way,
And faithfully, for each one, he daily would pray—
Upon our family, God’s blessings were poured,
Because each day my father spent time with his Lord.
It could have been just a regular day,
But our heavenly Father didn’t see it that way.
A man going fishing—just and ordinary man—
But our heavenly Father had another plan.
Ordinary things, when you live for the Lord,
Can often have bearing on eternal reward.
Once more, God’s lightning entered our lives,
And on fiery wings, bore my father home, through the skies.
The look on his face showed amazement, they said,
And confirmed for us all that he was not really dead.
He had gotten his first glimpse of his heavenly home,
And he knew that our Lord would not leave us alone.
The lessons that he taught us through the life that he lived;
And the Lord that he gave all the love he could give;
Are still here inside us—though he’s gone from our sight
Across that wide river— the River of Life.
He’s sitting there watching—he knows we will come;
And from his side, it really won’t be very long.
If we could just see—each event in our lives—
Is meant just to show us, God is loving and wise.
The traits that I loved in my father, you see,
Are all of the things God will be—just for me.
And so when I long for Daddy’s face—just to see,
I’ll look up to heaven—where two fathers wait for me.
He fills His hands with lightning and commands it to strike its mark. Job 36:32
God is loving and wise. #fathers #children #teachablemoments Share on X
Written June 14, 1996. In loving memory of my daddy, Lyle E. Thurston, who died when he was struck by lightning while fly-fishing on the San Juan River, in the “Quality Waters” below Navajo Dam near Farmington, New Mexico on September 29, 1995.
© Copyright by Norma Gail Thurston Holtman. All Rights Reserved. Do not use without express written permission of the author.
About the author –
Norma Gail writes Fiction to Refresh Your Spirit. Her contemporary novels, Land of My Dreams, which won the 2016 Bookvana Religious Fiction Award, and Within Golden Bands (released May 19, 2020), explore the theme of women whose faith triumphs over trials. A women’s Bible study leader for over 21 years, her devotionals and poetry have appeared at ChristianDevotions.us, the Stitches Thru Time blog, Inspire a Fire, and in “The Secret Place.” She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Romance Writers of America, Historical Writers of America, and the Women’s Fiction Writers Association. Norma is a former RN who lives in the mountains of New Mexico with her husband of 44 years. They have two adult children. To connect with her, you can follow her blog, or join her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, Goodreads, BookBub, or Amazon.
Sometimes Life is Full of Mountains to be Climbed
Sometimes life is full of mountains to be climbed. Life in the year 2020 seems to have more mountains than usual.
Sometimes Life is Full of Mountains to Be Climbed
2MefromHim Devotionals
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5, 6
Sometimes life is full of mountains to be climbed. Life in the year 2020 seems to have more mountains than usual.
Whatever mountains you’re facing, the answer is the same, take it to the Lord. You’ll probably still have to climb the mountain but the Good Shepherd, who is sure of foot and knows all the pathways will be there to climb it with you.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5, 6 #trust #hope #guidance Share on XSometimes Life Looks Great From the Top of the Mountain
In 2003, we had just completed homeschooling our son. He would head off to college in the fall. Our daughter, the starting goalkeeper for her high school soccer team, looked forward to her senior year. She already knew she would continue her career at a small, Division II university. I had accepted the opportunity to begin the first weekly women’s Bible studies at our small church. It was thrilling to have the opportunity to put 14 years of Bible Study Fellowship training into practice and develop my own leadership team for both morning and evening Bible studies. Everything in life was good.
Sometimes life is full of mountains to be climbed. #life #trials #challenges Share on XSometimes Life Reveals a New Mountain Beyond the One Just Conquered
During a routine physical, my primary care doctor discovered a small nodule on my thyroid gland. Since I was born in Las Vegas, Nevada during the above-ground nuclear testing of the 1950s, I knew immediately that it would be cancer. My aunt, who lived in Nevada at the time I was born, had experienced thyroid cancer twice. Having just completed treatment for another ongoing medical condition, I was hoping for freedom from doctors for a while. Fear of the cancer wasn’t a concern. I knew that thyroid cancer was very treatable. However, the timing of the surgery interfered with the start dates for the Bible study and my ability to attend all of our daughter’s soccer games, both in and out of town. It was a mountain I didn’t want to climb.
As I prayed the next morning, the Lord graciously gave me a poem to put the events of my life into perspective. Whenever I read it, I remember how God brought me through a tough year and buoyed me with hope through many challenges. During that period of my life, as in the year 2020, God’s design was to cause me to look to Him for strength, seek His will, and give me His perspective.
I’m tired and weary, and I need a rest, but, dear Lord, I know that You always know best. #COVID #Godislove #victory Share on XOne More Mountain
I’m tired and weary, and I need a rest,
But, dear Lord, I know that You always know best.
When I’m battle-weary and feel alone,
When I beg for bread but it seems like a stone.
I know there is something You are working in me—
There is something new You have to show me.
There is something I haven’t become just yet,
There is some other challenge I’ve not ever met.
You’ve carried me through so many before—
Lord, help me now to face one more.
When I look in the mirror, I want to see
A reflection of You looking back at me.
So once more, Lord, pick me up and let’s go—
So, I never forget how I need you so.
And I have the feeling that when this one is through,
I’ll see, just beyond, there is something else new.
So, thank You, Lord, for not forgetting me,
For never letting me rest till it’s You that I see.
Sometimes Life Doesn’t Go According to Plan
Sometimes life doesn’t go according to plan. The older I get, the more I realize that is the norm. We all face mountains but we don’t have to face them alone.
Whatever mountain you face, there is hope and help. Seek God with all your heart. Don’t trust your understanding of the situation but seek God’s way to the top of the mountain. He will make your paths straight and make you sure-footed. He will not allow you to stumble and fall. He will lead you through the trials and bring you to the summit with new blessings and an improved perspective on life in this crazy world.
God will lead you through the trials and bring you to the summit with new blessings and an improved perspective on life. #life #Godisgood #perspective Share on XPoem, Copyright Norma Gail Holtman August 15, 2003
Copyright, Norma Gail Holtman, July 29, 2020
Read MoreGod’s Unique Plan: A Mother’s Day Retrospect
God’s unique plan for each life is what I celebrate on Mother’s Day. Two special women hold my eternal gratitude …
God’s Unique Plan: A Mother’s Day Retrospect
A 2MefromHim Devotional
“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.” Isaiah 49:15, 16
God’s Unique Plan for Each Life
God’s unique plan for each life is what I celebrate on Mother’s Day. Though the observance comes once a year, two special women hold my eternal gratitude—the birthmothers of my adopted children. Without them, my life would be much poorer. I honor them throughout the year.
I honor my children's birth mothers throughout the year for the gift they gave... #MothersDay #birthmothers #adoption Share on XAs an adoptive mother, I participate in an eternal and loving plan of God. I witness the miracle of my children’s unique genetic makeup influenced by non-biological parents chosen by the Father. With no blood between us, we are family.
God has a Unique Plan for Each Person
Our world no longer cares if unmarried women raise their children. Unfortunately, the idea of adoption isn’t always greeted in a positive way. Radical movements have convinced women it’s kinder to kill a child than offer a life with two loving parents. However, our Creator values each unique life he designs.
Adoption is so special to God that he uses it to describe his relationship with believers... #Godislove #adoption #salvation Share on XThe recent outcry against abortion accompanies technology which reveals babies moving, stretching, and sucking their thumbs. Psalm 139 says, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made…” The psalmist goes on to speak of God’s handiwork as he forms a child and plans each life from the moment of conception.
Psalm 139:16 reveals God’s unique plan for each life. “…All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” What comfort to know that despite the circumstances of someone’s birth, no one is an accident to God. No one was unplanned. From eternity, God created each person for his purpose.
From eternity, God created each person for his purpose... #God #prolife #purpose Share on XGod’s Unique Plan Includes Adoption
God likens his relationship with believers to that of an adopted child, “the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’” (Romans 8:15) Paul uses adoption multiple times to explain the intimate relationship of the Christian to the Almighty God.
Mother’s Day lives in my heart as a memorial to the courageous and unselfish choice of two young women. My children are a unique creation of God, who granted them two loving mothers. Adoption is a reminder that we should cherish each and every life. To be a mother is a privilege to never take for granted.
Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Isaiah 49:15 #children #blessing #love Share on X© Norma Gail Holtman, May 9, 2020
About the author:
Norma Gail writes Fiction to Refresh Your Spirit. Her contemporary novels, Land of My Dreams, which won the 2016 Bookvana Religious Fiction Award, and Within Golden Bands (releasing May 19, 2020), explore the theme of women whose faith triumphs over trials. A women’s Bible study leader for over 21 years, her devotionals and poetry have appeared at ChristianDevotions.us, the Stitches Thru Time blog, Inspire a Fire, and in “The Secret Place.” She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Romance Writers of America, Historical Writers of America, and the Women’s Fiction Writers Association. Norma is a former RN who lives in the mountains of New Mexico with her husband of 44 years. They have two adult children. To connect with her, you can follow her blog, or join her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, Goodreads, BookBub, or Amazon.
But God: Giving Thanks When Life Seems Cruel
Giving thanks when life seems to have dealt you a cruel hand is hard. Being with family and friends can exacerbate the situation rather than helping. However, the author and controller of our circumstances is God, not man. This Thanksgiving, concentrate on the “but God’s” and give thanks no matter what your situation and help others to do so as well.
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