PREVIEW OF A CHAPTER IN UPCOMING BOOK

LOOKING BEYOND OURSELVES 

This chapter includes

TUNING MY HEART 

"Casting out Fear, 

Defeat and Doubt.".

Fear   ....the fear becomes laced with 

lashing words in order to push the 

person as far away from them as 

possible so they could breathe. 

This fear not only cripples them, 

but it cripples others they come in 

contact with them. 

Defeat   ....... defeated over words said, 

that the person speaking to them 

was uninformed,  Even if they had 

done something wrong, the Lord does 

not intend for them to dig a pit and throw 

themselves into it and keep piling the dirt

on.  He wants to offer forgiveness, bring 

cleansing and invite them to come and 

sit at the table and feast with him. 

He surely doesn't want them in the pit 

over something someone misunderstood 

about them, yet most of the time that is why 

we end up in this pit of defeat.

Doubt    ........cause doubt to tremble, run 

and hide. Have a genuine pursuit of 

faith. In order to do this you must.........

When you find you have separated 

yourself from your fears, defeats and 

doubts, may your faith cry from the 

mountain top, as the song writer said, 

“My Faith has Found a Resting Place.” 

May freedom be found in 

"Looking Beyond Ourselves."

My faith has found a resting place

Not in the device or creed.

I trust the everlasting one

His wounds for me shall plead.

I need no other argument

I need no other plea.

It is enough that Jesus died

And that he died for me.

Enough for me that Jesus saves
This ends my fear and doubt
A sinful soul I come to Him
He'll never cast me out

I need no other argument

I need no other plea.

It is enough that Jesus died

And that he died for me.

SEEK THE LORD CONTINUALLY

Photo by Julie Dozier

Sing unto him, sing psalms unto 

him, talk ye of all his wondrous 

works. Glory ye in his holy name: 

let the heart of them rejoice that 

seek the LORD.  Seek the LORD 

and his strength, seek his face 

continually.  Remember his marvellous 

works that he hath done, his wonders, 

and the judgments of his mouth;

I Chronicles 16:8-11

THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS HIS TREASURE

Photo provided by Julie Dozier

Come near, ye nations, to hear; and 

hearken, ye people: let the earth 

hear, and all that is therein; the 

world, and all things that come 

forth of it.  For the indignation 

of the LORD is upon all nations, 

and his fury upon all their armies: 

he hath utterly destroyed them, 

he hath delivered them to the 

slaughter.  Their slain also shall 

be cast out, and their stink shall 

come up out of their carcases, 

and the mountains shall be 

melted with their blood.  And 

all the host of heaven shall be 

dissolved, and the heavens 

shall be rolled together as a 

scroll: and all their host shall 

fall down, as the leaf falleth 

off from the vine, and as a 

falling fig from the fig tree.

For my sword shall be bathed 

in heaven: behold, it shall 

come down upon Idumea, and 

upon the people of my curse, to 

judgment.  The sword of the LORD 

is filled with blood, it is made fat 

with fatness, and with the blood 

of lambs and goats, with the fat of 

the kidneys of rams: for the LORD 

hath a sacrifice in Bozrah, and a 

great slaughter in the land of Idumea.

And the unicorns shall come down 

with them, and the bullocks with the 

bulls; and their land shall be soaked 

with blood, and their dust made fat 

with fatness.  For it is the day of the 

LORD’S vengeance, and the year 

of recompences for the controversy 

of Zion.  And the streams thereof 

shall be turned into pitch, and the 

dust thereof into brimstone, and the 

land thereof shall become burning 

pitch.  It shall not be quenched 

night nor day; the smoke thereof 

shall go up for ever: from generation 

to generation it shall lie waste; none 

shall pass through it for ever and ever.  

But the cormorant and the bittern shall 

possess it; the owl also and the raven 

shall dwell in it: and he shall stretch 

out upon it the line of confusion, 

and the stones of emptiness. They shall 

call the nobles thereof to the kingdom, 

but none shall be there, and all her princes 

shall be nothing.  And thorns shall come 

up in her palaces, nettles and brambles 

in the fortresses thereof: and it shall be 

an habitation of dragons, and a court for 

owls. The wild beasts of the desert shall 

also meet with the wild beasts of the island, 

and the satyr shall cry to his fellow; the 

screech owl also shall rest there, and find 

for herself a place of rest.  There shall 

the great owl make her nest, and lay, and 

hatch, and gather under her shadow: there 

shall the vultures also be gathered, every 

one with her mate. Seek ye out of the book 

of the LORD, and read: no one of these 

shall fail, none shall want her mate: for my 

mouth it hath commanded, and his spirit it 

hath gathered them.  And he hath cast the 

lot for them, and his hand hath divided it 

unto them by line: they shall possess it for 

ever, from generation to generation shall 

they dwell therein.

DELIVER ME IN THY RIGHTEOUSNESS

Photo provided by Patricia Ziegler

In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; 

let me never be ashamed: deliver me 

in thy righteousness. Bow down thine 

ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou 

my strong rock, for an house of defence 

to save me. For thou art my rock and my 

fortress; therefore for thy name’s sake lead 

me, and guide me. Pull me out of the net 

that they have laid privily for me: for thou art 

my strength. Into thine hand I commit my 

spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God 

of truth. I have hated them that regard lying 

vanities: but I trust in the LORD. I will be 

glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast 

considered my trouble; thou hast known my
soul in adversities; And hast not shut me up
into the hand of the enemy: thou hast set my
feet in a large room. Have mercy upon me, O
LORD, for I am in trouble: mine eye is
consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my
belly.  For my life is spent with grief, and my
years with sighing: my strength faileth because
of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed. I
was a reproach among all mine enemies, but
especially among my neighbours, and a fear to
mine acquaintance: they that did see me
without fled from me. I am forgotten as a dead
man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel.
For I have heard the slander of many: fear
was on every side: while they took counsel
together against me, they devised to take
away my life.  But I trusted in thee,
O LORD: I said, Thou art my God. My times 

are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of
mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.
 Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save
me for thy mercies’ sake. Let me not be
ashamed, O LORD; for I have called upon thee:
let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be
silent in the grave. Let the lying lips be put
to silence; which speak grievous things
proudly and contemptuously against the
righteous. Oh how great is thy goodness,
which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee;
which thou hast wrought for them that trust
in thee before the sons of men! Thou shalt hide 

them in the secret of thy presence from the 

pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly 

in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.

Blessed be the LORD: for he hath shewed 

me his marvellous kindness in a strong city.

For I said in my haste, I am cut off 

from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou 

heardest the voice of my supplications when 

I cried unto thee. O love the LORD, all ye his 

saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful, 

and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer. Be of 

good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, 

all ye that hope in the LORD.

Psalm 31

SUICIDE AND STRUGGLES WITH LIFE

Photo provided by Patricia Ziegler

Do you ever feel so weighed down from 

all the trials and struggles in life?  

Living in this day and age, of multiple 

electronic deivces, adds additional

struggles to our lives.  I speak to many who

feel as if they are carrying the weight of 

the world on their shoulders.  Between

the battles of marriage, family relationships,

and raising children in this day in age when

everything is accessible for themselves, their 

mates  and their  children to indulge in, it becomes 

a real battle to to survive.  

Our pastor, Lash Banks reminds us often 

to focus on the Savior and glance at our 

problems.  In doing so, we are able to keep 

the right perspective on life.   

As being a child effected by this topic 

I chose to post a statement my 

niece posted today, as I felt she did a 

great job saying what everyone struggling

with this topic should hear. 

Words by Emily Carruth

I've seen a lot of posts about suicide.

It's a serious issue.

Suicide is a loss. It's a disease. It's 

heart wrenching. It's an end to what 

could have been a new beginning. 

It's an imbalance in the brain. It's 

a way to end all good and bad. 

It's something that effects everyone 

around you. It's not a decision 

made out of spite. It's not a 

decision made lightly. It's not an 

open discussion. It's not a revenge 

tactic. It's not a personal or 

impersonal gain. It's a reality and 

there are so many out there who 

constantly have that state of mind. 

It's hurt and a wish to be free from 

all the hate and self consciousness. 

It's a powerful message. It effects 

generations. It's a battle within ones 

self. If you or someone you know has 

had these thoughts and are going 

through this please, I urge you, 

find someone you can trust 

to help you through it. Your 

mind may be set, and you may feel 

like you can't take anymore. Death 

will never solve your problems. It 

only stops your dreams from coming 

true. There is so much more to life than 

what is happening in yours right now. 

You aren't battling this alone. Find 

a friend to talk to. Talk to me. Love 

yourself. Regardless of what anyone 

has said or thought about you, know 

your worth and who you are! It will 

get better and you will find peace and 

comfort but first you have to give it a 

chance. Keep moving forward. Keep 

your head held high and strive 

for happiness. Don't settle in the 

negativity for it only creates a 

comfort zone you don't want. Make 

yourself get up. Love who you are 

and who you will become!

So today, your trial may be, just trying

to survive.  If so, read James 1:2-12

My brethren, count it all joy when 

ye fall into divers temptations;

Knowing this, that the trying of 

your faith worketh patience.

But let patience have her perfect work, 

that ye may be perfect and entire, 

wanting nothing.  If any of you lack 

wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth 

to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; 

and it shall be given him.  But let him ask 

in faith, nothing wavering. For he that 

wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven 

with the wind and tossed.  For let not that 

man think that he shall receive any thing 

of the Lord.  A double minded man is 

unstable in all his ways.  Let the brother 

of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:  

But the rich, in that he is made low: because 

as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.

For the sun is no sooner risen with a 

burning heat, but it withereth the grass, 

and the flower thereof falleth, and the 

grace of the fashion of it perisheth: 

so also shall the rich man fade away in 

his ways.  Blessed is the man that 

endureth temptation: for when 

he is tried, he shall receive the crown 

of life, which the Lord hath promised 

to them that love him.

PROSPERITY OF ADVERSITY

Photo by Patricia Ziegler

HIS WAYS PAST FINDING OUT

Photo provided by Tara Cook Bruce

O the depth of the riches both of the 

wisdom and knowledge of God! how 

unsearchable are his judgments, 

and his ways past finding out!

For who hath known the mind 

of the Lord? or who hath been 

his counsellor?  Or who hath first 

given to him, and it shall be 

recompensed unto him again?

For of him, and through him, and 

to him, are all things: to whom be 

glory for ever. Amen.  I beseech you 

therefore, brethren, by the mercies of 

God, that ye present your bodies a 

living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto 

God, which is your reasonable service.  

And be not conformed to this world: 

but be ye transformed by the renewing 

of your mind, that ye may prove what 

is that good, and acceptable, and 

perfect, will of God.

Romans 11:33 - 12:2