Retro SGM Radio: Reality Check on Rose Gardens

Reality Check: I Beg Your Pardon

There is nothing quite like the soft patter of a gentle summer rain. I looked out of the window and saw that the rain was heavy on the roses, which were bending beneath the strain of droplets filling their petals. As I began to tenderly tie up the heavy, prickly stems, I was reminded of a song: “I beg your pardon, I never promised you a rose garden…”1 an old song with a simple truth for us today. None of us were ever promised a life without problems.

Giving your heart and life to Jesus does not guarantee you a perfect life, but it does mean that you have an Almighty God Who is watching you and will come close to you if you let Him. I’ve been working my way through the Old Testament and I find that often when God’s heroes were having a rough time – which they invariably did – there is usually a statement that says, ‘And the Lord saw…’ That in itself is comforting, for He sees with discernment. He knew and understood what they were going through and what they were feeling.

I’m so glad the Lord sees when I am going through things that are difficult, when I’m trying to get from Point A to Point B and everything in between seems like such a struggle. For you, this may mean that Point B is a new job, a new spouse, a bigger paycheck, a better relationship, or a healthier body. But between now and then, there are a lot of rose bushes with a whole lot of thorns.

Isn’t it interesting how often we think, ‘If this was God’s will, surely it would be easier?’ Unfortunately, it usually isn’t fun to be on the path of God’s perfect will for your life. Look at the lives of Abraham, Joseph, or King David. Poor David had crazy King Saul chasing him from cave to cave, wanting to kill him. Abraham spent most of his life on the road. Joseph went from being thrown in a pit to being thrown in jail. These men were all following the Lord’s path for them. Yet, through it all, the Lord ‘saw’ them. He was working out His plan for good in their lives.

There is also the argument that if God told us to ask for what we want, surely He will line our paths with good things only, such as roses without thorns? Not so. In Philippians, Paul says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 4:6 and 7). The Lord doesn’t say He will answer an automatic ‘yes’ to whatever we bring before Him, but He does say He will give us peace. What a great promise!

Often the path from where we were to where we want to be takes dips and turns we aren’t expecting. From the beginning of my illness until now, I have seen many specialists and heard many proposed diagnoses and treatments. At first, it appeared that this would be a short-term situation and soon I’d been back to my normal self. After a year and a half, it’s obvious that’s not the case. But again, biblical tales of people just planning on going from here to there, often have twists in the story. Jonah wasn’t planning on meeting a big fish. Daniel wasn’t planning on being tossed to the lions. Sometimes God just wants to remind us that our timing is not His timing. But His timing is always right.

Are you finding it difficult making your way along the path from here to there? Trust that God knows where you are and if you follow Him, He will take you places you could never dream of finding on your own. Get to know the Lord better, read His Word, talk to Him and listen to His voice. It’ll make your path seem much more manageable, thorns and all.

I’m so glad that God gave us the example of simple roses to show us that life is still beautiful even with thorns, no matter where His will takes us. Between Point A and Point B there will be hard times and there will be unexpected turns, but He still sees and cares for us. The Lord is our “Rose of Sharon” bringing beauty and peace to our lives.

Written by Lorraine Walker
Published on SGM Radio website April 2013

For current Reality Check blogs and artist features visit http://www.sgmradio.com/




1. From the song “Rose Garden”, written by Joe South, 1969.

Retro SGM Radio: Reality Check - Asking the Hardest Question

Reality Check for April 2008
By Lorraine Walker

A short time ago a lady spoke in our church about how the Lord had blessed her and her family. She spoke of some challenges they had faced with her son who had a birth defect. She related how the trials had been difficult but seemed like small hills which gradually led them to one huge mountain. This situation was so hard that she found herself asking all the “why” questions. Then it struck her that when something good happened, she rarely asked why. So if she took the good things as a part of life, why was she questioning the difficult circumstances?

I don’t believe that God is afraid of any of our hard questions. He created us to be inquisitive and to reason. We can ask Him anything and like a good Father, He will answer. However, sometimes our penchant for asking why keeps us from actually seeing or hearing His answers.

There is one particular situation in my life that seems to be a continual source of challenge. Many nights I have lain awake, asking the Lord, “Why?” I didn’t realize that this was my way of dwelling on the negative areas of the situation instead of seeing anything good.

We were reading the story of Ruth and Naomi during devotions one morning at work when God revealed this truth to my heart. Naomi and Ruth had come to a crossroad and Naomi suggested that Ruth return to her homeland. Ruth’s husband had died and she had nothing. They had grieved for their loss and it was now time to move on. However, Ruth made a decision that would change her life.

Instead of falling to the ground, wailing about the situation and asking God why, she realized what a treasure she had been given in her mother-in-law Naomi. She and Naomi traveled together to Bethlehem, where Ruth eventually met and married Boaz, and was blessed to have Jesus Christ within her line of descendents. Ruth had chosen to leave the ‘whys’ with the past and look instead at what God had given to her in the present. This enabled her to move on and trust God with her future.

The next time I find myself asking God “why”, I hope I remember to ask myself why I’m asking “Why?”. Is it easier to dwell on the negative and want the answers to all our questions because we say we want closure? God isn’t afraid of our questions, but neither does He want us to dwell in the past. We are to leave that behind and face the future, knowing that His blessings in our lives right now are proof that He will continue to be with us whatever we face. “Where Thou goest, I will go!”

For current "Reality Check" blogs by Lorraine Walker, click on to http://www.sgmradio.com/lorraine-walker-reality-check/

ON EVE OF ROE vs. WADE 40th ANNIVERSARY FORMER ABORTION ADVOCATE’S NEW BOOK TELLS OF CHANGED LIVES; OFFERS HOPE, HEALING

Stats Point to Troubling, Unexpected Consequences of Abortion

SurrenderingtheSecret.com

As the 40th anniversary approaches of the Supreme Court’s Roe vs. Wade decision legalizing abortion, author, speaker and post-abortion trauma and recovery expert Pat Layton is a knowledgeable voice on all facets of the powder-keg issue. After having an abortion at age 23, Layton now counsels women, men and families nationwide on dealing with post-abortion fallout. She is the author of the book A Surrendered Life—Finding Freedom, Healing and Hope After Abortion, which releases nationwide on Jan. 22.

Speaker, author and ministry leader Pat Layton writes for newspapers, blogs, newsletters and ministry media, including Lifeway, Focus on the Family and Proverbs 31 Ministries. Layton founded and leads Life Impact Network and hosts Imagine Me . . . Set Free women’s conferences at churches and other locations nationwide. A member of the American Association of Christian Counselors, she served on the Florida Governor’s Media Service Review Team for the Abstinence Education Plan and Governor’s Partnership for Adoption. The Florida House of Representatives recognized Layton with the Promise of Excellence award.

A Surrendered Life will be in stores Jan. 22.

10 Little-Known Facts, Unexpected Consequences About Abortion

1. Abortion is color-coded. 43 percent of all pregnancies in the black community are aborted; that’s 1,200 black children aborted every day. In New York City abortions outnumber live births in the black community 2 to 1 with about 62 percent of black pregnancies aborted. An overwhelming number of abortion clinics are placed in minority neighborhoods. Planned Parenthood placed 62.5 percent in black communities. SOURCE: AACC/Vol 19 No 1/ Abortion and the Untold Impact “Abortion and the Black Community” by Dean Nelson and Alveda King

2. The loss of human population. Abortion has become the No. 1 cause of death in America

39 percent of all death is by abortion
21 percent by heart disease
18 percent cancer
22 percent all other causes
SOURCE: “Promises UnKept” Article Michael J. New Ph.D. “Abortion: The Number One Cause of American Death” by Dr. Dean Crosby

3. It’s about money. There are about 3,753 abortions every day in the U.S. At an average charge of $300 for each abortion the income is $1,125,900 per day. Planned Parenthood alone received $542 million dollars in government funding/grants in 2012. SOURCE: Newsweek “The Math Behind the Stat” 3/4/2010 Fox News: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/01/08/planned-parenthood-receives-record-amount-taxpayer-support/

4. It’s harming mothers. Abortion has consistently been linked to increases in cases of breast cancer and sexually transmitted diseases. The legalization of abortion accounts for as much as a third of syphilis cases with incidence of syphilis up 35 percent since Roe vs. Wade. SOURCE: AACC (same issue as above)
“Abortion in Amercia” Alan Sears, J.D., Esq

5. The numbers are astounding. By age 45, one third of all women in the U.S. have had an abortion, and 49 percent have had more than one.

6. Effects of emotional and spiritual loss were never considered in the abortion rule. With 55 million abortions since Roe vs. Wade, if only 1 percent of women regretted the choice—550,000 would need help. Yet statistics tell us that as many as many as 80 percent of women interviewed experience post abortion trauma, and this does not count affected men, families and future children. SOURCES: AACC (above)
“Creating a Safe Place for Abortion Recovery” Linda Cochrane, R.N.
British Journal of Psychiatry, Sept. 2011, Dr Priscilla Coleman
Surrendering the Secret/Chapter Three “Truth” page 53

7. Christians are involved. 65 percent of women having abortions identify themselves as Christians and as violating their moral code. SOURCE: 2011 Guttmacher Institute Fact Sheet quotes—37% Protestant--28% Catholic (65%)

8. Abortion affects relationships and marriage. In some studies as many as 70 percent of women interviewed after an abortion did not remain with the father of the child. Abortion leads to trauma in both men and women: shame, secrecy, anger, feelings of being forced or ignored, blame and unforgiveness—poor ingredients for a solid relationship. SOURCE: National Abortion Federation quotes—
83% Unmarried/67% never married/16% separated
“Promises Unkept” by Dr New, referenced above
“Can Relationships Survive After Abortion” Dr. Theresa Karminski Burke

9. Increased out-of-marriage births. The change in societal and social sexual mores has led to increased premarital sexual activity. Use of contraception has increased by 30 percent. The out-of-wedlock birthrate has increased with the abortion numbers. SOURCE: See above

10. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Women who choose abortion experience 81% increased risk of mental health problems—10% directly related to the abortion experience itself. Symptoms of post abortion trauma include: grief, shame, regret, rage and depression. SOURCE: AACC Article above; Linda Cochrane—“Creating a Safe Place”

Layton’s Bible Study Yields Online Reality TV Series
Layton’s Surrendering the Secret Bible study inspired an online reality series that follows a group of women through the healing process in a Surrendering the Secret abortion recovery Bible study. The program by KnockTV, called Surrender the Secret, will air its first online episode on Jan. 22. (www.knocktv.com/surrenderthesecret/preview)

SYNOPSIS: As a new Christian at age 30, Pat Layton’s eyes were opened to a secret from her past she had long kept pushed down—the devastating emotional and spiritual effects of an abortion when she was 23 years old. In A Surrendered Life, Pat takes readers on her personal journey through unearthing that secret, finding help in God’s word, forgiveness in Christ and offering hope to those similarly affected by abortion. A Surrendered Life offers eight practical, biblically based steps for post-abortion recovery.

Innovo Publishing Signs Beloved and Best-Selling Author, Joyce Rogers

MEMPHIS, Tenn., Nov. 14, 2012 /Christian Newswire/ -- Innovo Publishing announces it has signed Joyce Rogers to a publishing deal with Chosen to Be a Minister's Wife, scheduled for release in February 2013. Mrs. Rogers, the wife of legendary minister, Dr. Adrian Rogers, former pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church, shares personal insights and experiences as a minister's wife of 54 years.

"Being a minister's wife is a calling from God. I was married to Adrian for 54 years before the Lord took him home. We grew closer to God and to each other over those years, but it wasn't always roses. Through Chosen to be a Minister's Wife, I hope to help prepare the next generation of ministers' wives by sharing my experiences -- both joyful and difficult -- and the insights the Lord taught me."

Chosen to be a Minister's Wife provides personal and unique insights for wives of ministers and those considering such as call. It is an invaluable insider's view for ministers and their families and friends of the joys and challenges faced by ministers' wives. Chosen to be a Minister's Wife will be released globally in February 2013.

"In Chosen to be a Minister's Wife, Joyce has penned a very personal, transparent, and biblically based volume," said Dr. Bart Dahmer, President of Innovo Publishing. "I believe her experiences and counsel are invaluable not only for ministers' wives but for their husbands, too. Her insights are eye-opening and applicable to those in ministry as well as to Christian couples in all walks of life."

Joyce Rogers is an author, speaker, and wife of the late Dr. Adrian Rogers, pastor for 32 years of the well-known Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee, and the three-term president of the Southern Baptist Convention. A pioneer of women's ministry in the Southern Baptist Convention and a Bible teacher for 60 years, Joyce loves encouraging and challenging others in their Christian walk through speaking to ministers' wives, widows, and women of all ages. She is a committed homemaker and mother of five children, grandmother of nine, and great-grandmother of seven.

Innovo Publishing LLC is a family-owned, privately held Christian publisher based near Memphis, Tennessee. Innovo publishes a select group of authors each season, covering a variety of Christian genres including fiction, spiritual growth, current events, biblical study, biography, devotionals, and Bibles. Visit www.innovopublishing.com to learn more.

Christian Newswire