I watched his eyes sparkle and his smile widen as we talked about the parallel between nature and the seasons of life.

We have that in common, daddy and I – we tend to introspectively stretch our hearts to see God’s hand in everything. And nature is undoubtedly one of the most common canvases where our poetic veins soar in search of meaning for life’s highs and lows.

At 87, dad still inspires me with his positive outlook on life, even though he has struggled with health issues for several months. As I sat across him this morning, he talked about how God rescued him from depression by showing him how blessed he is, compared to so many people around.

I said a silent prayer, asking God to help me never to forget these rare moments when I go back home to America in a couple of weeks.

Watching my parents age in the past several years has been so hard. Whether it’s due to the natural decline of an aging body or the shadows that depression sometimes brings to seniors, witnessing the strong man and woman who raised me with such wit and energy become a shadow of themselves has been challenging. The issue becomes even more challenging because of the continent that separates us.

To those of us who are blessed to have parents who live a long life, we must face the decision of how involved we will be as they enter the winter of their lives.

To those of us who are blessed to have parents who live a long life, we must face the decision of how involved we will be as they enter the winter of their lives. @AJC
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According to a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services report, there is a “senior loneliness epidemic” in America. Approximately one in three seniors live alone, and those who no longer drive may spend long days isolated and go days or weeks without seeing loved ones. More than a third of senior adults feel lonely.

Likewise, experts found that loneliness increases the risk of death by 30 to 60% and is linked to depression and chronic health problems.

When God gave Moses the Ten Commandments found in the 20th chapter of the book of Exodus, he deliberately included a promise in the Fifth Commandment:

“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.”

Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.
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After fleeing Egypt and wandering in the wilderness for 40 years, God’s people would inherit the coveted Promise Land. They needed laws and guidance to establish their society under God’s protection and favor. The Ten Commandments became the very first law to guide a people group that lived under the influence of a pagan culture for over four centuries.

We should not overlook God’s unique focus on the commandment to honor one’s father and mother. There is a reason He tagged a promise along with this commandment. As 17th-century minister and author Matthew Henry states in his commentary:

“(…) here, a long life in that good land is promised particularly to obedient children. Those that do their duty to their parents are most likely to have the comfort of that which their parents gather for them and leave to them; those that support their parents shall find that God, the common Father, will support them.”

We should not overlook God’s unique focus on the commandment to honor one’s father and mother. There is a reason He tagged a promise along with this commandment. @AJC
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I agree with Henry. There is a more intrinsic meaning to “a long life” promised to those who honor their parents. The “long life” can also be understood as a spiritually and emotionally abundant life, for I believe God favors and protects those who choose to honor and care for their parents as the prime of their lives dawns.

It’s not always easy and certainly not convenient, but may we take time to care for our parents with the same love we hope to receive one day. May we never forget that we will soon be in their shoes, longing for our children’s love, patience and presence, long after we are no longer needed. 

This article was originally published in Patricia’s column for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Click HERE to find it on the AJC’s website.

The post Honor Your Aging Parents {the Atlanta Journal-Constitutional} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

John Quincy Adams is perhaps one of America’s most impressive leaders. No elected official held more prominent offices than Adams in U.S. history. He lived in constant pursuit of excellence, serving with distinction as the country’s president, senator, congressman, and minister to major European powers. He also served in the American Revolution, the War of 1812, and his name was tied to important events leading to the Civil War.

Despite all his outstanding accomplishments, we find a quote by the former president that translates the void he felt and insecurities tied to his struggle with perfectionism. At 70 years old, with a lifetime of successes behind him, he wrote, “My whole life has been a succession of disappointments. I can scarcely recollect a single instance of success in anything that I ever undertook.”

Indeed, anyone who struggles with perfectionism can attest to it: Perfectionism is a monster disguised in pretty clothes. Its victims usually look always put together. Their homes are often spotless. Their grades and careers, commendable.

Perfectionism is a monster disguised in pretty clothes. @AJC #Perfectionism #MondayMotivation #MondayThoughts
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If you are a woman, I guarantee you’ve been jealous of a perfectionist before.

But as is often the case, when it comes to the Joneses, there is much more than meets the eye. It is not uncommon to find deep insecurities hiding behind many perfectionists’ beautiful front and successful endeavors.

I know it too well. A recovering perfectionist, I struggled with thoughts of inadequacy and failure for many years. I strived for straight As and dreamed of straight hair. Indeed, in a perfectionist’s economy, “good” is never good enough.

When it comes to the Joneses, there is much more than meets the eye. It is not uncommon to find deep insecurities hiding behind many perfectionists’ beautiful front and successful endeavors. @AJC #Perfectionism #MondayMotivation…
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When it comes to physical appearance, the issue is broad. We live at the age of airbrushed, anorexic beauty. My anti-age cream ad campaign portrays a gorgeous 20-year-old model who won’t see a wrinkle on her face for another, well, 20 years. Millionaire actresses in their 50s or older sell us the lie that we can fight the losing battle of sagging, wrinkling and hormonal changes with the latest fad supplement or diet.

Without a doubt, physical perfectionism plagues our society, infiltrating our families and distracting even many of our beautiful young girls, who are hiding in the restrooms, drowning in the hopelessness of anorexia and bulimia.

But then there’s performance perfectionism. Like President Adams, many of us believe that we must be perfect in all we do. Our homes must be immaculate. We must strive to climb the corporate ladder, no matter the cost.

The need for perfection invariably leads to unhealthy comparisons. We may find ourselves comparing our marriage to our friend’s, whose husband appears to be more romantic than ours. Before we know it, we are nagging John to death, trying to change the man we fell in love with into someone he’ll never be.

And let’s not forget our children’s school performance and sports galore! The pressure to be on accelerated programs and honor rolls steal many children’s hide-and-seek moments today. Our baseball, softball and football fields overflow with young boys and girls missing their summers for another championship. Or missing church for another trophy. We push them. They push themselves. And everyone misses the mark.

We strive to perfect ourselves, our children, our spouses, our homes. Inevitably, we become miserable, tired, and broken… together.

It’s not easy to escape from the trap. But if we want to have an abundant life, we must try!

We can start by reminding ourselves of this truth: God is not impressed by our looks or performance. He wants our hearts. Hearts that understand that our perfection is only found in him.

God is not impressed by our looks or performance. He wants our hearts. Hearts that understand that our perfection is only found in him. @AJC #Perfectionism #MondayMotivation #MondayThoughts
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He is looking for people who make his priority list theirs, and whose hearts are set less in seeking perfection and more in perfecting their love and devotion for him.

Indeed, today I realize that perfectionism’s most significant issue is that it pushes me to rely less and less on God and more and more on fallible, inadequate me. It borders idolatry, really.

Instead of attaining perfection, the result will always fall short of our target: We become stressed out, needy of approval, self-indulgent, impatient. Simply hard to deal with.

As we strive to escape the perfectionism trap, we should start by viewing ourselves and our performance through the grid of God’s grace. By grace, we are lavished each day with opportunities, gifts and talents which allow us to do our best and be our best.

As Dallas Willard said, “Grace is God acting in our lives to do what we cannot do on our own.”

Indeed, God never designed us to accomplish perfection without him. The point of the gospel is that we are unable to be perfect. We all fall short; we all “miss the mark.” Sinners need a Savior, and as believers, we understand that is the reason Jesus came.

God never designed us to accomplish perfection without him. The point of the gospel is that we are unable to be perfect. We all fall short; we all 'miss the mark.' Sinners need a Savior, and as believers, we understand that is the…
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When we trust in him, he forgives our shortcomings, and we can stop striving for unreasonable, unattainable worldly “perfection” and rest in the Perfect One.

This article was originally published in Patricia’s column for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Saturday, December 4, 2021. Click Here to find it on the AJC’s website. 

The post Perfectionism Leads to Frustration and Stress {The Atlanta Journal-Constitution} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

“For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity; plans to give you a future and a hope.” Prophet Jeremiah, Old Testament.

So many valuable things seem to be senseless or even worthless on the surface.

Let’s take diamonds, for instance. “Raw diamonds” or “diamonds in the rough” are formed deep within the earth and often resemble lumps of pale glass when discovered. They have an oily appearance and no spark. In essence, for the untrained eye, it is almost impossible to distinguish between a genuine diamond in the rough and a cheap piece of quartz. They both look shapeless, rough around the edges, and unattractive. But deep inside, the roughly shaped diamond rock hides the most valuable of stones.

The Cullinan Diamond, for example, is the largest rough diamond ever found, weighing 3,106.75 carats and valued at $400 million. But if you see a picture of this diamond when discovered in South Africa in 1905, you will find that the gem in its raw state was less than impressive. Nevertheless, its rough appearance hid a most precious stone, unrivaled to any gem in known history.

“What you see is what you get.”

Whether it’s raw diamonds or life’s circumstances, the adage “what you see is what you get” certainly does not apply, for God often hides some of his greatest blessings in the most challenging trials.

The adage “what you see is what you get” certainly does not always apply to life's circumstances, for God often hides some of his greatest blessings in the most challenging trials. @AJC #MondayDevotional #MondayMotivation…
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In the Old Testament book of the prophet Jeremiah, we find the northern Kingdom of Israel (Judah) exiled to Babylon after years of rebellion and idolatry against God.

When the Babylonian seize started, false prophets tickled the people’s ears with the promise that the exile would only last a short time before God would return his people to their beloved land.

But God had a purpose for the exile, which would not be accomplished overnight. And so, Jeremiah gave the people the bad news: the Jews were to settle in Babylon because the exile would last 70 years!

At the end of this difficult news, however, God gave His people assurance and a promise:

“ ’I know the plans that I have for you (…), plans for welfare and not for calamity, (plans) to give you a future and a hope. (…) ‘You will find me,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will restore your fortunes and will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you,(…) and I will bring you back to the place from where I sent you into exile.’ ”

The harsh and ugly reality of 70 miserable years in Babylon disguised a purpose that transcended the people’s understanding at the time.

The Jews had fallen into a state of such deep spiritual adultery that they forgot who they were. Therefore, as hard as the circumstances in Babylon might have been, the exile was God’s grace in disguise, for it caused the Jews to desire the long-lost intimacy with their Maker, once again. And it was there that the people’s hearts started to turn back to the God of the covenant.

I cannot help but think about countless situations that looked like rough, shapeless stones, which turned out to be precious gems that changed the direction of my life.

Countless situations that looked like rough, shapeless stones, turned out to be precious gems that changed the direction of my life. @AJC #MondayDevotional #MondayMotivation #FaithChallenge
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These “rough diamonds” feel worthless, senseless, and painful:

A horrible diagnostic. Unemployment. Separation. Betrayal. Death. We’ve all had our “Babylons” – times when the hardness of our circumstances threatens to steal all hope. Months, perhaps years, when our faith was tested to its very limit.

But as children of God, we have two options:

We can choose to tie our hearts to Babylon, wishing for a short, painless exile; look away from the very lessons that God wants to teach about ourselves, His goodness, grace, and sovereignty. Or we can choose to trust the end of the prophecy, affirming our belief that the God of Abraham still honors His covenant and will certainly “restore our fortunes.”

Indeed, as I look back, I see the precious stone within each ugly trial. I see the polished rock reflecting a stronger, more authentic faith. And I see that it was not fate nor luck, but the Father’s loving hands that masterfully chiseled the ugliness away, revealing the purpose and beauty of each trial. But not before I let go of what I could see… and trusted His promise and vision for my future.

What we see in the challenging parts of our earthly journey is definitely not what we get. There’s a beautiful, priceless diamond waiting inside the ugly rocks. Will you let Him bring it out?

What we see in the challenging parts of our earthy journey is definitely not what we get. There’s a beautiful, priceless diamond waiting inside the ugly rocks. Will you let Him bring it out? @AJC #MondayDevotional #MondayMotivation…
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This article was originally published in Patricia’s column for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Saturday, May 8th, 2021. Click HERE to find it on the AJC’s website.

The post What You See Is NOT What You Get {The Atlanta Journal-Constitution} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

History is not left without certain data which give us a fair estimate of the actual number of people flooding Jerusalem for the most anticipated annual Jewish feast. According to the Roman historian Josephus, 256,500 lambs were sacrificed that year. Even at the very low estimate of 10 people to each lamb, the number of people assembled would have amounted to almost 2,700,000. That number does not even include the people who were present, but unable to be partakers in the sacrifice due to impurities ascribed by ceremonial laws.

Indeed, the astounding crowd represented nearly half of the population of Galilee and Judea. In other words, a large representation of the Jewish nation witnessed the popular, yet controversial Prophet entering the capital, riding, not upon a war-horse, but on a donkey, which was a symbol of peace.

The men and women who followed Jesus and witnessed his many miracles recognized the incident as a fulfillment of messianic prophecy. They responded by reciting the famous words: “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

Shouts of joy echoed throughout the hills and valleys of Jerusalem in response to Jesus’ presentation of Himself as King. However, as one studies the gospels, Jesus’ reaction as He saw the city from a distance looks nothing like the portray of a joyous king. Rather, according to Luke’s account in his gospel, when Jesus approached Jerusalem, where He would be crucified that Friday, He was moved to tears.

“He saw the city and wept over it,” Scripture says. He wept because the people received none of the spiritual blessings that He had come to offer and thus, judgment would come. While wailing in anguish, Christ delivered the prophecy concerning the destruction of his beautiful Jerusalem. The prophecy was fulfilled less than 40 years later, when the Romans besieged the city under the leadership of Titus, leveling buildings, the holy temple and most of the city wall. Over than 600,000 Jews died in the aftermath.

But I imagine Jesus’ sadness as he entered Jerusalem was also in response to a more personal understanding. He knew that the multitudes that waved palm leaves and praised God for the long-awaited Messiah would soon be shouting “Crucify him!”

Close friends — witnesses and recipients of many miracles, who feasted on the bread of life He offered — would soon desert, betray or deny Him. And many of those who welcomed Him would soon cast the votes which would send Him to the cross.

The foreknowledge of the pain of betrayal by those He loved… Could that have been yet a deeper sorrow, hidden behind the tears shed by the Christ? Could the emotional pain be what pierced His heart deeper than the nails driven into His hands and feet?

The foreknowledge of the pain of betrayal by those he loved… Could that have been yet a deeper sorrow, hidden behind the tears shed by the Christ? #MondayDevotional #HolyWeek #PalmSunday
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I believe so. Anyone who has experienced severe physical pain, as well as deep emotional sorrow, understands this truth: Nothing hurts quite as deep as the pain of betrayal. Whether it is the betrayal of a spouse, friend, sibling or child, nothing hurts quite as much or leaves uglier scars.

The knife in our back, driven by someone whom we shared our deepest secrets with…

The physical or emotional abuse promulgated by the most unnatural source – a parent or a spouse…

Things that leave us with scars that never disappear, much like the ones the resurrected Savior showed His disciples on his nail-pierced hands.

And yet, as He hung on the cross, He cried: “Forgive them, Father. For they know not what they are doing.”

His heart released the betrayer, even before Judas kissed his cheek. His loving eyes reached Peter, even before the rooster crowed that third time.

Jesus' heart released the betrayer, even before Judas kissed His cheek. His loving eyes reached Peter, even before the rooster crowed that third time. #HolyWeek #Easter
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And as Palm Sunday arrives tomorrow, and I gladly join the crowd singing Hosanna to my king, His tears on Jerusalem’s hilltop serve as a reminder that the Man of Sorrows understands each time our hearts are broken, and offers us the grace and strength to forgive those who hurt us, yet again.

This article was originally published in Patricia’s column for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Saturday – April 12, 2019. 

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LINKUP is open! As we celebrate Holy Week, Jesus' triumphal entry and His tears while seeing the city from a distance made me reflect on the pain of Betrayal. Join us & share your blog!
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Do you have any idea of the details of circumstances that had to happen from the beginning of time, so you would be exactly who you are, where you are, at this point in history?

The question lingered in my mind while the preacher continued his sermon.

I don’t remember who said it, if I heard it on TV, radio or at church. All I remember is that the question made me reminisce details from my life story which helped shape my character, direct my path and prepare me to do what I do today.

From my youth in south Brazil and the decisions my parents made for my education, to the precise circumstances that took place before I met my husband; from the moment I answered the call to write, to the very details that had to take place so I could write this column. I cannot look back without realizing that my life has been intrinsically weaved, orchestrated and guided by God’s masterful hands.

This concept is well-known in literary works and film productions. It is called “the backstory.” A backstory, also known as background story, is a set of events created for a plot, presented as preceding and leading up to that plot, which gives credibility to the central message. It is a literary device of a narrative history which presents earlier events that support the narrative of primary interest. Even purely historical works selectively reveal backstory to the audience. Without a backstory, any work of fiction or historical accounts lose credibility.

Last November, my husband and I drove across town to watch Joe Wright’s “The Darkest Hour” on its release night. The acclaimed movie tells the thrilling and true story that happened at the height of World War II when, within days of becoming Great Britain’s Prime Minister, Winston Churchill must choose between accepting to negotiate peace with Nazi Germany or stand firm to fight for the freedom and ideals of his beloved nation.

With the unstoppable Nazi forces rolling across Europe and an imminent threat of invasion, Churchill makes a tough decision against his own party, with the watchful eye of a skeptical king and an uninformed and divided public. Churchill’s “darkest hour” is a perfect example of one simple decision that could have changed the course of history — a backstory detail of modern history that shaped the world as it is today.

Agnostics and atheists see one’s backstory as happenstance or a natural evolution of events. I personally cannot wrap my mind around that concept. No. I am not that smart or wise to bring about so many details and shape my own destiny. Neither do I believe in accidents. Just as scientists know that small changes in the eccentricity of Earth’s orbit could bring about ice ages, I am well aware that small changes to my backstory would certainly have altered my life’s plot.

Because I firmly believe that nothing happens by chance, I have become increasingly aware of that tug in my heart when I don’t have peace about something, or when I feel compelled to do something that does not make sense. As I watch my backstory unfold, I certainly understand why. Ignoring that lack of peace has only led to disaster in the past. Likewise, moving forward when God prompted me to, even against all odds and critics, has led me to fulfill dreams and witness miracles.

The awareness that nothing happens by chance should completely change the way we see life’s trials and victories, as well as make us think twice before making certain decisions.

If we believe there is a God in heaven Who loves us and wants the best for us, we should also trust that even our darkest hours can work together for our good, if we respond the right way.
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Indeed, I believe that our darkest hour in the hands of Almighty God has the potential to become a light to others and even the very highlight of our backstory in the future.

This article was originally published on Patricia’s column for The Atlanta Journal Constitution on Saturday – July 7th, 2018.

The post Absolutely NOTHING Happens by Chance {The Atlanta Journal Constitution} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

For the past several years, I have been in constant prayer about some mothers I know and their children, whose relationships are filled with unforgiveness, separation or constant conflict.

In each of these situations, I can easily understand the motives behind the estrangement: overbearing and controlling mothers, children who neglect or disrespect their mothers, mothers who hurt their children deeply, whether by actions or with harsh words.

Thoughtless actions … selfish actions … intentional or unintentional deeds that create a wedge between two flawed human beings, nonetheless bearing a void in a person’s heart that cannot be replaced.

As a mom, my heart hurts every time I pray for these mothers. I cannot imagine not talking to my children for months, or years. As a daughter, I often understand the anger and certainly the void it creates, because it was my own for many years. And in each case, I can clearly see that God put these ladies in my life because I can somehow relate to their stories.

For over two decades, my relationship with mom was superficial, at best. As a child, my mom was not very present, and when she was, she was hardly the nurturing kind. As my parents’ marriage started suffering and ultimately ended up in divorce during my teenage years, our relationship became even worse. For far too long, I had a mixture of contempt and indifference toward my mom. The outcome was a heart filled with bitterness and anger, and a deep sense of unfulfillment that constantly spread to all other relationships in my life.

It wasn’t until I turned 25 and became a Christian that I started understanding the depths of God’s forgiveness and grace, and my own condition as a completely flawed human being, that I could finally open my heart to let God heal the pain and ultimately restore our relationship. Today, we live as two happy, redeemed souls, restored and renewed, and bound together by a deep love and appreciation for each other. It’s nothing short of a miracle. Really.

Earlier this week, as I thought about this column, one of God’s commandments in Scriptures crossed my mind: “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” The fifth on the list written in the book of Exodus, this well-known commandment is the only one which contains a promise. God promises that, if we honor our parents, we shall have a long life. But as we dive into the intrinsic meaning of these words, I believe there is more than what meets the eye: Honoring our parents not only pleases God, but it also translates into living a more fulfilling, better life. A life that is more infused with peace, contentment and completion.

For most of my readers, Mother’s Day is probably filled with love and gratitude, honor and joy. I am forever thankful to God that today I am also found on that list, both as a mother and as a daughter. But for my readers who are estranged from their mothers, even if for very good reasons, my prayer is that you will find it in your heart to mend the broken bridges, reach out to the woman who gave you life or raised you, offering the same grace that you wish to receive when you fail.

I was studying the Old Testament not long ago and had a wonderful revelation. In the Hebrew language, the word for “compassion” comes from the root word, “womb.” It’s the picture of birthing something new, or giving someone another chance. I don’t think I came across that insight by coincidence.

As we celebrate this Mother’s Day, may we extend love and compassion to the one who carried us in her womb, or raised us as if she had. May we mend bridges if need be. May we learn to love our mothers with more grace and less judgment. May we honor our mothers, that we may have peace, and find life at its very best.

As we celebrate this Mother’s Day, may we extend love and compassion to the one who carried us in her womb, or raised us as if she had. May we mend bridges if need be. May we learn to love our mothers with more grace and less judgment.…
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This article was originally published in Patricia’s column for The Atlanta Journal Constitution on Saturday – May 12, 2018.

The post This Mother’s Day, Give Mom Forgiveness, Compassion and Grace {The Atlanta Journal Constitution} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

The Apostle Luke enters the city on a mission. He is there to find the underground church, bring news from believers in Ephesus, and ultimately visit the apostle Paul, who had been sentenced to death and was waiting for his execution in a Roman dungeon. As Luke enters the gates at night, he walks through a well-lit street, brightened by numerous bodies of Christians, displayed as candles on each side. From a distance, a horrific cry pierces his heart — the last moments of a fellow believer, dying for the Name that changed the course of history forever.

The scene greets the audience in the beginning of the new movie “Paul, Apostle of Christ,” which opened in theaters March 23. Last week, I joined representatives of both religious and secular media outlets at the red carpet premiere of the movie in Dallas, where we had the opportunity to interview directors, producers, screenwriters and cast.

The script is beautifully and creatively written, well pleasing to anyone who studied first-century Rome and the life of the early church. James Faulkner is impeccable in his representation of the Apostle Paul. Jim Caviezel, the man who pierced our hearts portraying Jesus in the internationally acclaimed 2004 blockbuster “The Passion of Christ” portrays Luke, the physician-turned-disciple who never walked beside Jesus, and yet is responsible for writing almost one third of the New Testament. And Caviezel does not disappoint. In his first role in a faith-based movie since Mel Gibson’s movie, the actor comes back to the screen with the same devotion that captured the world in 2004.

I was able to sit down for a one-on-one interview with the actor during the premiere, where we talked about his role as Jesus in 2004, and now as one of his apostles. I had previously watched several interviews, where he gave testimonies of how his life and Christian faith were impacted by his role as Jesus.

When discussing the new movie, Caviezel talked about the horrific persecution that Christians have faced throughout history — an oppression that the church still suffers today, in many parts of the world. He pointed out that many Christians nowadays do not like to talk about the cross and suffering. He said, “How do I know that? Because they come to me and say, ‘I don’t want to see your movies. They are too violent.’ And so I tell them, ‘OK, then I will pray that no one ever comes to you and says, ‘Deny Jesus or die.’ Because this is happening right now.’”

Caviezel is right. According to an article published by Christianity Today in January 2018, approximately 215 million Christians now experience “high, very high, or extreme levels of persecution.” On top of the list is Kim Jung-un’s country, ranking as the No. 1 spot on the list for 16 years in a row.

It’s hard for us to imagine it. We live in a country founded on the principles of religious freedom; therefore, even the harshest form of religious hatred or intolerance in America pales in comparison to what happens across the world. But it should not surprise us: Jesus himself warned his disciples that they would be hated because of his name. And yet, his true followers know that the message of unconditional love and forgiveness that puzzled the crowd gathered around his cross, and shook the Roman empire to its core, still challenges us today: “Father, forgive them. For they know not what they are doing.”

This Sunday, as believers across the world gather to celebrate the Lord’s resurrection, may we remember to pray for the saints who, through the ages, paid and still pay the ultimate price to carry the gospel throughout the world.

You can watch the full interview with Jim Caviziel here: Click to watch. Visit www.paulmovie.com for a theater near you.

This article was originally published on my column for The Atlanta Journal Constitution on Saturday, March 31, 2018.

The post This Easter – Remember the Persecuted Church {The Atlanta Journal Constitution} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

One of his most acclaimed essays is titled “Acres of Diamonds.” It was written before Conwell became a pastor, and published in book form in 1890 by the John Y. Huber Company of Philadelphia. He delivered this message over 5,000 times around the world starting in 1900 and until his death in 1925. According to Conwell, the inspiration for the famous essay occurred in 1869, when he was traveling in the Middle East. It was told by an Arab guide hired by his expedition in Baghdad.

The story is about an ancient Persian, Ali Hafed, who owned a large farm, where he had orchards, grain fields and many gardens. He was wealthy and content. One day, however, he visited a wise man from the East, who told him all about diamonds and how wealthy Hafed would be if he owned a diamond mine. That night, “Ali Hafed went to bed a poor man,” writes Conwell. He became discontent with his possessions, and started craving for a mine of diamonds. It wasn’t long until Hafed sold his farm, left his family in charge of a neighbor, and started searching for the precious stones.

Hafed traveled around the world, squandering his wealth in his quest for more. Finally, broken and despaired, Ali Hafed committed suicide, never finding the mine that he so longed for.

One day, the man who purchased Ali Hafed’s farm led his camel to drink water from a brook. As the camel lowered its head to drink, the farmer saw a light flashing from the sand beneath. He reached down, pulling out a stone. Holding it in his hands, the stone started reflecting all the hues of the rainbow. The farmer had accidently discovered the mine of Golcanda, the most affluent diamond mine in history.

Ali Hafed died in a strange land, poor and desperate, while the wealth that he searched for was right under his nose, so to speak.

The Christmas season is upon us, sending most of us into a frenzy of activities and shopping. I read numerous blogs every Christmas season, written by frazzled moms, filled with good advice and designed to legitimately attempt to help us stress less and truly enjoy the “most wonderful time of the year.” For Christians, it’s a time to celebrate God’s love to mankind through Messiah’s birth, and our love for each other.

This year, however, as I read Ali Hafed’s story, I could not help but think about how the holiday season has changed since my childhood, when life was simpler, and people were content with less.

Even though my father was an attorney, our Christmas list was comprised of one or two items. We counted the days to open the gifts we longed for all year, and cherished them for months or years to come. A doll. A bicycle. A remote-control car. Simple gifts that were like diamonds to us.

Today, Christmas calls us to exchange perfectly good cars for the latest models, smart phones that are still working for newer ones. Our children feel entitled to the latest video games, and we rush to oblige.

In the meantime, family get togethers are often filled with tension, because relationships are neglected all year. Bigger homes are jam-packed with trinkets, and yet, discontentment reigns. Many of us have more than ever before, and yet, we go to bed poor.

In an attempt to find that diamond mine, we forget that the lush land that God has already given us has everything we need. We just need to stop looking elsewhere, believing we can find happiness in bigger, newer or better things.

I am not rich, by any stretch of imagination. Not as the world sees it.

Oh, but I am! So, this holiday season, I am determined to cultivate the land God has given me, and find contentment, right where I am. For just as in Hafed’s story, the greatest gifts I’ll ever need are already right under my nose: my Savior’s love, my precious family, and faithful friends.

This article was published in Patricia’s column for The Atlanta Journal Constitution (AJC) on Saturday – December 9, 2017.

Could it be that the best gifts you could ever ask for this Christmas are already right under your nose? Read Patricia's column for the @AJC - The Atlanta Journal Constitution
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I remember having the same crippling, often irrational fears for many years: fear of dying. Fear of robbers entering my house. Fear that my parents would die. The list went on and on. As fear settles in our hearts, anxiety takes over, and many of us are robbed of a peaceful, abundant life.

The harmful effects of anxiety are well known to the medical community. In the U.S. alone, 40 million adults suffer from anxiety disorders. When our bodies are under stress, our nervous system responds with a reaction known as “fight or flight.”

In the U.S. alone, 40 million adults suffer from anxiety disorders
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There are times when this physiological reaction is a healthy defense mechanism, such as when a person feels threatened by imminent danger. This reaction tells us when to move out of an unsafe part of town, or it incites us to run when spotting a poisonous snake on the ground. We were born with this important trigger to help protect us from threats.

However, the fight or flight response was never intended to be an ongoing reaction to our problems. Indeed, chronic worry and emotional stress breed terrible health problems. Continuous fight or flight responses cause our body’s nervous system to release stress hormones such as cortisol, which can boost blood sugar levels and triglycerides. These hormones cause harmful reactions such as dizziness, increased heartbeat, fatigue, insomnia and headaches.

Needless to say, the long-term effects can be devastating, including suppression of the immune system, digestive disorders and heart disease. In other words, it’s not stress that’s making us ill. It’s our response to stress that is killing us.

I wish I could say that worry and anxiety stopped at the door of our sanctuaries.

But we all know that’s not true. If anything, many people of faith are fretting more than ever. Entire websites are dedicated to disaster preparedness and to tracking events around the globe linked to end-times prophecy. As a Christian, I have studied these prophecies and believe them. But I don’t think this is a time for panic, worrying or fear.

Rather, I’m reminded that one of the most popular commands found in the Bible is “Fear not.” It’s found in almost every one of the books of both the Old and New Testament.

Fear Not. I’ll never leave you. Fear Not. I believe these words. Through my hardest trials I’ve experienced them to be true. I know it won’t be different now.

There is no question that there are many concerning issues in our world. We cannot pretend that there is not turmoil in our country, and that certain preoccupations that occupy our minds are not valid. We cannot dig our heads in the sand and pretend that nothing bad will ever happen. We are not immune from terrible harm or unspeakable evil. We’ve seen it. We know it. We should certainly be vigilant, but we should not allow our spirits to be on constant fight or flight mode. Either we believe that God is in control … or we don’t.

I’m speaking with the authority of a recovering worrier. I’ve experienced firsthand the bitter effects of constant fear and anxiety. I don’t want to tread that ground ever again. I certainly know that problems, tragedies and disappointments are inevitable. But worry is a choice. Therefore, I deliberately choose to turn off the fight or flight mode for things that I cannot control. I choose to turn to God instead — for direction, protection and peace. I choose to surrender my concerns to God, and trust him for the outcome.

it’s not stress that’s making us ill. It’s our response to stress that is killing us.
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This article was published on Patricia’s column for The Atlanta Journal Constitution on Saturday – October 14, 2017.

The post Fear and Anxiety – The Evil of the Century {The Atlanta Journal Constitution} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

In addition to composing favorites such as “God Bless America” and “Easter Parade,” he also wrote “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas,” which ranks as a best-selling musical score to this day.

In an interview for the San Diego Union, cartoonist and illustrator Don Freeman asked Berlin: “Is there any question you’ve never been asked that you would like someone to ask you?”

“Yes, there is one,” the composer quickly replied. “And the question is this: ‘What do you think of the many songs you’ve written that didn’t become hits?’”

His unexpected answer is memorable: “My reply would be that I still think they are wonderful.”

The story made me think of a conversation I had with my teenage daughter last week. We talked about how so many teenagers struggle with feelings of inadequacy, anxiety and lack of confidence, to the extent that many kids are on medication for depression these days.

I remember fighting similar feelings as a teen, and I know that they are common during the teenage years, when so many kids struggle with their self-image and self-worth.

As a teenager, I remember thinking I was fat, ugly, loud, my nose was too big, my hair too awkward … and the list went on and on. Today I look at pictures of my youth and realize how mean I was to myself.

I was my own worse bully and didn’t know it.

As hard as things might have been for teens in the mid-’80s, when top-models started strutting their curves in international catwalks, bringing beauty standards to unprecedented heights, they don’t compare to what kids face today.

Instagram, Snapchat, Photoshop and special filters have created an aura of plastic beauty that makes our girls and boys feel less than, every second they scroll down their smartphone’s screen.

And then there are the “likes.” Oh, brother! I recently read an article about young teens purchasing “likes” and followers on Instagram. That just takes the cake.

Indeed, it seems as if constant positive affirmation has become the measure of love for this generation. And I am afraid many adults from my generation and beyond are falling into the same trap.

As wonderful as social media can be — a place where I can find friends I haven’t seen in decades and a place where I can keep up with my family and friends who live 6,000 miles away — it can also be a place of downright pretense. On our social media walls, we make sure our houses are always clean, husbands and wives are always in their best behavior, and the camera angle always gets our good side (after 24 attempts and 3 filters, of course.)

That is why, to many teenagers, reality is becoming ever more distorted and they are increasingly harder on themselves. Therefore, it’s time we, parents, put down our own phones and come to their rescue. Quickly. Even if that means pulling them away from social media for a while.

As I discussed these issues with my daughter, I could not help but think about how Irving Berlin’s words reflect how God sees his children:

You and I may not always feel worthy, or beautiful. Our houses may not always look perfect, and we may have relationships that need serious work. We may not receive many likes from this world, and our life songs may not always become best-sellers, even among those who love us the most.

But God loves the entire album, from our best hits, to the off-key chords. He has an unshakable love for whom He made. He loves our brokenness, forgives and restores when we fail. That’s the message we must repeat to ourselves, and convey to our children.

This article was published on Patricia’s column for The Atlanta Journal Constitution on Saturday – August 19, 2017.

Constant positive social media affirmation has become the measure of love. Teens & parents. Read this!
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