GOD DOESN'T CONDEMN SUICIDE VICTIMS TO HELL

Suicide – The Catholic Church says suicide victims don’t go to heaven. I don’t believe that. It’s not in God’s Word.

I had a thought. Was it that particular decree that kept those poor abused boys from killing themselves? To tell them that suicide would keep them from heaven would keep them alive, concealing the secret and making them continually available to those who were possessed by demons to abuse.

Edicts begun in tragic sin only perpetuate more evil.

I’ve known two people who committed suicide. Both were wonderful, deeply sensitive people with tender loving hearts, but troubled by hypocrisy in the world and the unresolved deeply troubling circumstances of their lives.

I do not believe they go to hell for not being able to handle the overwhelming attacks Satan put on their minds and I am not ashamed to say I absolutely hate Satan for what he did to my friends.

I can’t bring them back. And try as we may, I am beginning to see that some of the most devastating trials we may have in this life are things that no matter how much praying we do or how much money we put out in order to fix things, we can’t change the outcome.

I believe with all my heart 1 Peter 1:23 that says we are “born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God.”

In John 3:3-4 Jesus tells Nicodemus “a man must be born again.” The word “again” is the same word for “from above.” Then Nicodemus asked, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?”

“Jesus answered, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (vs.5). Being born of Spirit is being born from above with the incorruptible spiritual seed of Christ, “which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col 1:27).

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (vss. 16-17).

Even if a person believed in Jesus and accepted him as Lord when they were only a child and after that they stayed away from Him their whole life, the Bible has already told us the seed in them is incorruptible.

No bodily death, no matter how it happens, can destroy what God promised to do when someone even for one moment decided to believe God’s spiritual truth about Jesus.

“For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away. But the word of the Lord endureth for ever.”

“And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you” (1 Peter 1:24-25).

Not one of the Lord’s precious children is ever left behind.

Love, Carolyn

(painting by Henry Ossawa Tanner)

Thanks for your prayers regarding WINGS Volume 2! It’s coming along great. Check out the stories in Volume 1. You’ll be inspired and comforted to know more of God’s truths to help you in daily life situations. http://www.amazon.com/gp/search?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&index=aps&keywords=WINGS%20Carolyn%20molica&linkCode=ur2&tag=jmbcsds-20&linkId=XQMVLVZYNBLYAGEM

THE LORD GIVES US THE DESIRES OF OUR HEARTS

THE LORD GIVES US THE DESIRES OF OUR HEARTS  

The other day a friend at work was telling me about a 10-day seminar on the internet. I politely listened but there was more to it than that.

In my heart I felt unusually drawn to really want to listen to some of it but couldn’t seem to find the time. There are only two lectures a day and then they move on to new speakers. The first day I missed it entirely.

Then yesterday, the second day, I could see that the only time I would have would be if I took my computer to bed and listened a little before going to sleep. I couldn’t figure out why it was so much on my heart. I definitely had a strong desire going on, but for some reason I didn’t focus on it enough to actually pray about it.

BUT, the Lord saw my heart and He had something good in mind for me. About 7 o’clock last night I got a phone call from my boss at work. They had some trouble on the pieces we were supposed to work on today and could I come into work tomorrow instead? That totally freed me up to listen to the seminar today!

It was the perfect timing and the lecture I listened to set me free from some intense stress I was feeling from my inner critic! (The speaker was Cheryl Richardson – Learning to Love: Making Peace with the Internal Critical Voice that Holds Us Back). If you think you’d like to listen to it, I’ve included the link at the bottom of this article.

Jesus heard and answered the desire of my heart. Actually I know He’s the one that put it there in the first place! Psalm 37:4 says, “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” I think that verse can be taken both ways. He answers the desires of our hearts and He is also the one who often puts them there in the first place. The money I would have made at work today wasn’t worth what I got out of the talk I heard today.

I love it when the Lord does things for us that are outside of what we could have imagined. Yesterday at this time I couldn’t have even dreamed that I would be having a day off to listen to a lecture on line! But it was great and now my heart is totally relaxed and I’m happy. I praise God and thank Jesus for taking such good care of me.

What are you desiring? I’m praying that He answers your heart’s desires too.

Love, Carolyn

Link for lecture series: http://www.thetappingsolution.com/blog/2016-tapping-world-summit/

DEDICATION TO A FRIEND WHO PASSED AWAY THIS WEEK

DEDICATION TO THE MEMORY OF DOUGIE PETERS

My friend and co-worker, Doug Peters, passed away this week. This article is dedicated to his memory.  

In 2012 I wrote a chapter in my WINGS book about Father’s Day and Dougie’s love for his son so impressed me that I used his story as the introductory example in the chapter. This is what I wrote:

“I wondered what would be the best gift a son or daughter could give to a father. Then I remembered one of the guys at work, [Doug Peters], talking about his son playing little league baseball. Dougie [as we called him] said that almost every day after work they’d go out and practice throwing and catching. His son was the third baseman, but he wanted to be the pitcher. Doug gave his son some pointers; his son watched and then followed his dad’s instructions and they began pitching practice.

“The boy didn’t start off great but he got better and better and then the little league coach let him start pitching in the games. Dougie was so proud. From that I learned that one of the best gifts a son could give his father is to listen, learn and be successful at what his father taught him. I think that’s true for our relationship with God as our Heavenly Father too.”

Doug was always talking about his son’s baseball games and when not talking about his son, he talked about his daughter’s volleyball team. He really loved those kids. Whenever there was a holiday, he’d be planning a family camping trip.

At work, Dougie was one of those people who really cared about how the final finish looked. He wanted it to look really good. He always did his best, no matter what. Dougie was dedicated to doing a great job when others were satisfied with “good enough.” I was always so impressed by his consistent good attitude about work.

Doug had a beautiful heart and will be sorely missed by so many. I pray and believe that all that grieved him in this life is now over and the things that made his heart ache so badly have been replaced by the love in the face of the Lord Jesus Christ, his savior.

The Bible says about those who die and have believed in His son Jesus, “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away” (Rev 21:4).

What a great hope we have.

Love, Carolyn

WHALES, TURTLES AND GOD'S JOURNEY

Humpback whales travel 3000 miles each year to have their babies in the warm waters by Hawaii. Loggerhead turtles get born in Japan and travel 8000 miles to Baja to feed and mature. Scientists don’t know exactly how they find their way but they think it has something to do with the magnetic pull of the earth.

God is like that magnet. He knows where our best feeding grounds are, where we’ll mature and the best locations for us to birth and nurture our babies. I consider our babies not only our physical children, but the work we produce for our Lord and for mankind.

I think everyone has a desire to give something. John 3:16 says, “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son.” We are made in the image of God and have His giving nature in us. Sometimes it’s just not that easy to find the best venue for developing that giving nature.

It would be easier if we were just like the whales or the turtles and instinctively knew, and we all went to the same place to find out what our gifts were. But it’s not that way. We are all so different and have to walk our own journey. The thing is we never know exactly where that journey will take us. Like the magnet that pulls the whales and turtles, we are pulled toward those special gifts God’s given us.

Most of the time, though, we don’t fall into them instantaneously. We don’t know what our greatest gifts to other people are until we first find out what they are not. We have to try things out.

Yes, it’s hard sometimes and even embarrassing, but Jesus is our backup. He loves us no matter what. He never leaves us and He helps us. Everybody makes mistakes but everybody has great successes too.

I remember one time when I was in a Christian training program and we went out door to door witnessing. We walked up to the door and it was my turn to talk. I was terrified! I was supposed to introduce myself and tell them I was from the Way Biblical Research Group. We knocked on the door and a young woman opened it to us. After an uncomfortable pause, I blurted out, “Hello, my name is Carolyn Molica. I’m from the Bay Wiblical...oh crap!” I turned all shades of red and shrunk away. I was totally embarrassed.

I tried it a few more times and never was any good at it. I just wasn’t cut out to be an evangelist in that way. I didn’t find out till many years later that one of my greatest gifts to people is my writing.

I always thought that a preacher had to have a church too, but found out, after just jumping in and doing it, that my church is basically the internet people I know. So don’t expect that your way of giving is necessarily going to be in the “normal” ways you’ve thought of in the past. We have to be open to the new and unusual at times.

First Corinthians 15:57 tells us, “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory [as conquerors] through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Even when we try something and it doesn’t turn out, at least we’re finding out what doesn’t work and that’s a great milestone in itself.

Being aware of where we’re at is a great victory too, a great starting place for the next adventure. At every turn there is a lesson to be learned if we are only willing to look.

The whales and turtles may be guided by the earth’s magnetic pull, but we are being guided too.

We are told to pray. We thank Him for being “a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105).

Love, Carolyn

I’m working on Volume 2 of WINGS: A Journey in Faith. Check out Volume 1. You’ll be inspired.

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"HIS COMPASSIONS, THEY FAIL NOT"

It’s been a difficult two weeks: illness in the family, new work environment, just a pile of difficult circumstances. So when I came home after lunch yesterday I was feeling depleted and took a long nap. Who do you think was with me?

My little dog Peanut, full of unconditional love. It doesn’t matter if I’m grumpy, exhausted, preoccupied; he’s right there by me to snuggle and give kisses.

When I got up from my nap and came out to sit in the living room, Peanut jumped up on the chair with me. At night Snickers, our 16-year-old cat, waits in Jane’s room for her. When she gets comfortable, or sometimes even before she gets settled, he’s up on her, close enough to feel her breath on his face.

I think God created animals to give us more examples of His love for us.

“His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23). That’s God talking about Himself but isn’t it just like how our pets treat us? Faithful with love no matter what?

“He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Heb 13:5).  If we only knew the Lord as being half as attentive and loving as some of our pets, right?

Not only does Peanut hardly ever leave my side when I’m home, but when Jane comes to pick me up to work and Peanut is in the car, he jumps up and down and scratches and squeaks at the window for me to hurry up and throw my bag in the back and get in the car so he can give me wet kisses all over.

Who created pets? God, because He loves us.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Love, Carolyn

Please put in a prayer for the steady progress on my next book. Thanks.

And check out any of the ones already published. http://www.amazon.com/gp/search?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&index=aps&keywords=WINGS%20Carolyn%20molica&linkCode=ur2&tag=jmbcsds-20&linkId=XQMVLVZYNBLYAGEM

JESUS THE INSTIGATOR

JESUS THE INSTIGATOR  

Earlier this week I was at the dentist to get a filling. When the dentist finished putting the composite in place, the dental assistant held something in my mouth that looked like a fat pen. I heard it buzz a couple times. Then she took it out. What the heck was that?

The dentist explained that it is not a laser light but a blue light. He said it’s an instigator—it starts a chemical reaction in the two mixed materials for the filling.

In looking up the light spectrum I found that blue light helps boost alertness, heighten reaction times, elevate moods, and increase the feeling of wellbeing. It’s a high energy wavelength. I immediately related this to my Lord Jesus.

I thought of the verse where Jesus said, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). Jesus is like the blue light. He’s an instigator. He gets things started. He starts us out as a born again Christian when we accept Him as Lord of our lives. His light cleanses us of all sin, guilt and shame. Later in our spiritual walk when we need new inspiration or a fresh revelation, He’s there to give a jump start.

We call on Jesus to give us more light on a situation where we feel like we’re in the dark or confused or anxious. Jesus instigates a way out of any aspect of darkness.

I’ve found that when I prayed for the light of Jesus to intervene in a situation, it triggered a domino effect in circumstances that I really had no control over, things I certainly couldn’t change or fix in the natural.

The Instigator, Jesus, gets things rolling and then we get to watch and see how awesome the results follow through, often in ways we would have never dreamed of or expected.

My dentist said the light instigator shining on the two parts of the composite material made it set up much faster than in the old days.

I want to be quicker to call on Jesus’ light in my situations. With His jump start the results will most likely be speedier too.

Love, Carolyn

I’m working on Volume 2 of WINGS: A Journey in Faith. Check out Volume 1. You’ll be inspired.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/search?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&index=aps&keywords=WINGS%20Carolyn%20molica&linkCode=ur2&tag=jmbcsds-20&linkId=XQMVLVZYNBLYAGEM

A SIMPLE EXERCISE FOR LISTENING BETTER TO PEOPLE AN TO THE LORD

“Blah blah blah blah blah blah.” My roommate was talking but my mind was racing ahead on something else and I didn’t hear a word she said. Some of us have the habit of letting our minds go ahead of where our bodies are. We mentally live a bit in the future and not in the present. So what does that have to do with “growing bigger ears for the Lord?”

If we don’t slow down enough to listen to each other, we will also be racing past listening to the Lord. First John 4:20 says, “For he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?” Listening is an act of love.

If we want to get better at hearing from God, one step we can take in the right direction is to start practicing our listening skills with each other.

Here are a couple tips that can help:

1.Have some paper and a pen on hand. Ask a question and after listening to the answer, write it down to see if you really listened!

2.Ask a question and then after you get the answer, repeat it back to the person to see if you got it right.

These are two very simple and practical ways to build our listening skills with each other. AND we can also use these with our Lord. Try it this week with the people around you and with the Lord too and let me know what happens.

“To live in the moment is a gift. That’s why they call it the present!”

Love, Carolyn

A perfect GIFT FOR YOURSELF, WINGS: A Journey in Faith –Volume1. One story for each week of the year. It’s a compilation of short true narratives to ENTERTAIN, INSPIRE and enhance your spiritual growth.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/search?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&index=aps&keywords=WINGS%20Carolyn%20molica&linkCode=ur2&tag=jmbcsds-20&linkId=XQMVLVZYNBLYAGEM