My First Book is Released!

I am so excited to announce that my first book has finally been released!  It went into print about a month ago, but I was waiting to announce it on my blog until the e-books were also ready.  And today is the day! 

My book is intended to be read to kids ages 4 to 8, but older children will love it too.  Please visit my website at http://www.elaineandfriends.com to read my message to kids, view my author page where I share childhood photos and answer frequently-asked questions, the parents' page, recipes, download a free activity packet for your child or grandchild, and more, including a kids contest that ends the last day of August.  I've had nothing but positive, rave reviews about my website.

Malcolm Fraser from my publisher, Wine Press, just told me the e-books have been released and they are DRM-Free on my website!  That's good news, because it means that when you purchase my e-book from Wine Press on my website, it can be viewed on all modern e-book readers including Sony e-Reader, B&N Nook, Apple iPad, and even laptops, home computers, and smartphones!  Check out this link to read more about it: http://www.winepressofwords.com/2011/06/why-your-e-book-should-be-drm-free/ 

I'm pleased with the number of books I've already sold and have three book signings in the next few weeks.   My prayer is that families and children will be encouraged as well as entertained, and blessed as well as brought into God's Kingdom. 

Book two, "Biff and Becka's Stupendous Vacation"  is written and ready to submit to the publisher as soon as I am financially able to do so.  I am beginning work on the third book, "Biff and Becka's Splendiferous Christmas" in the trilogy The Adventures of Biff and Becka. 

Thank you for telling others about my book and website!  And please purchase a copy (or several) of my book; it makes a great gift for a child's birthday, Christmas gift, or Easter basket, or to brighten the day of a child who is convalescing!

Copyright © 2012 Elaine Beachy

Father's Day

On this day as we honor our fathers, I want to honor mine, who is now at home with his Heavenly Father.  I miss his quiet presence and his sense of humor, his slender bearing and dignified, gaited walk.  I can still see him, in the latter years of his life, sitting in his favorite kitchen table chair with his hand cupped behind his ear to catch the words of the TV westerns he enjoyed.  I remember the little note pad and pen he carried in his shirt pocket along with a box of Luden's cough drops.  I can still hear his affectionate term for my mother: "Bobbi Jo".  He coined her nickname from the TV show "Petticoat Junction", and it stuck. 

I remember looking at his work-worn hands in his latter years and noticing his immaculate grooming habits.  He was always a "snappy dresser".  He loved my coconut cream pie, and enjoyed a good cup of coffee.  I can still see the teasing look on his face as he gave a few loud "slurps" with the coffee cup to his lips and then let out a satisfied "aah" as he grinned.  Table manners were very important to him, but around family, he broke the rules with his coffee-sipping.  He enjoyed eating out and observed fastidious decorum.

I remember the low, hand-made 4' x 6' play table covered with linoleum and little chairs he made for us kids so we'd have a place to do puzzles, color, cut, paste and draw.  I remember the pleasure I felt as a six-year old when daddy would take us for a drive in our Kaiser-Frazer on those sweltering Virginia evenings and then stop for an occasional ice cream cone on the way home.  I can still picture the "Cap'n Bull" watch fob on his belt loop when he'd come home from a day of running the D-9 Caterpillar bulldozer at the Naval yard in Norfolk when we lived there before we move to Pennsylvania and farm life.  I remember how he taught me to drive and took me to get my driver's license at age  sixteen.

The poem below is my tribute to my dad on Father's Day.

The Measure of a Man

My dad was not a speaker

Or famous, as they say.

Farming left him with much work

And not much time for play.

Some may say that daddy failed;

His net worth wasn't large.

But faithful prayer was always made

For those within his charge.

Tell me, you who think you know,

What value do you place

On children who were taught the right,

And have God's saving grace?

By Elaine Beachy

June 17, 2012

Copyright © 2012 Elaine Beachy 

Who's Your Daddy? Part Six

Today we conclude our leisurely walk through Psalm 23; I've enjoyed the pleasure of your company, and I pray the things God gave me to share as I have "milked" the Word have blessed you as they have blessed me.  My prayer is that as you meditate on who your Daddy really is, that your heart will cry, "Abba, Father", which means "Daddy, Father!"  His arms are stretched out to you; His kingly scepter is never withheld because you are His child if indeed you have asked Jesus to be your Lord and Savior.  He will never, ever, leave you or abandon you. Never.

"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."  Psalm 23:6  (NKJ)

Surely: Not maybe, but definitely!

Goodness: The Hebrew in Strong's Concordance, #2898 from # 2895, means: "the best, beauty, gladness, welfare, fair, good thing, joy, go well with."

And mercy: The Hebrew in Strong's Concordance, # 2617, means: "kindness, beauty, favor, good deed, pity. Webster's Ninth Collegiate Dictionary defines it as "compassion or forbearance shown to an offender or to one subject to one's power. A blessing that is an act of divine favor or compassion. Compassionate treatment of those in distress."

Shall: "Must, will be able to; used to express a command."

Follow: To pursue in an effort to overtake, to go, proceed, come after.

Me: It's personal. The object of my Good Shepherd's attention.

All: "The whole amount or quantity; as much as possible; the whole number or sum."

The days of my life: "a period of existence or prominence of a person or thing -- day after day for an indefinite or seemingly endless number of days -- day in, day out."

I will: A sure thing. 

Dwell:  Strong's Concordance in the Hebrew, at # 3427 means "to sit down, to remain; settle to marry, make to abide, continue, habitation, inhabit, make to keep house.

In the house of the Lord:  Strong's Concordance, in Hebrew # 1004, house means "family, palace, temple".  In the company of God's family; His dwelling place, His temple."  How wonderful to be in the company of believers who love God and love each other; we are all one big family, here on earth and in Heaven!  It reminds me of the scripture in Ephesians 3:15: "...from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named."  God loves to have a family; He loves our families, and works in families.  One praying believer within a family gives God legal access to intervene and stop satan's work in the life of that loved one. 

Forever:  means "for a limitless time; at all times; continually." 

If I were to paraphrase verse 6, I would say, "Deep joy and well-being by God's overwhelming kindness and favor will pursue me as long as I live; and besides this, I have a permanent home in Daddy's house."  I don't have to make house payments; no one can make me move; I don't have to earn my keep, and no one can foreclose on my heavenly mansion.  I am forever provided for, now, in this life on earth, and in the one to come. 

Who's my Daddy?  He created and holds the entire universe together!  Yet He desires my fellowship and shepherd's me as I walk in this hostile environment called earth. He totally provides for all my needs and invites me to rest in Him.  He shows Himself strong in dealing with my enemies and spreads a feast in front of me while my enemies look on and can't partake.  He is not passive, but notices my every need and care.  He invtes me to throw all my cares on Him and rest in cool green pasture and drink calm, refreshing water.  He heals my wounds and gives me His righteousness. He sees me guiltless in Jesus.  I lack nothing.  That's my Daddy! 

Shalom to you, my friend! 

Copyright © 2012 Elaine Beachy

Who's Your Daddy? Part Five

"You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over."  Psalm 23:5

You prepare:  "To make ready beforehand for some purpose or activity, to put in a proper state of mind, to work out the details of, plan in advance, to put together."

A table:  "A supply or source of food"

Before me:  "Right in front of me."  Sometimes we miss the obvious and instead look right and left, up and down in search for answers to our needs.  Proverbs 4:25-27 says, "Let your eyes look straight ahead, and your eyelids look right before you.  Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established.  Do not turn to the right or to the left; remove your foot from evil."

In the presence:  "The act or condition of being present."  Present:  "now existing or in progress, being in view or at hand."

Of my enemies:  enemy: "One that is antagonistic to another; one seeking to overthrow, injure or confound an opponent; something harmful or deadly.

You anoint:  "To smear or rub with oil or an oily substance. Ointment -- a salve for the skin."

My head:  "The part of the body that contains the brain, the chief sense organs, and the mouth; eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and the brain that controls body functions. 

With oil:  "Olive oil; oleum; any of numerous unctous combustible substances that are liquid or at least easily liquifiable on warming, soluble in ether.  Unctous: "fatty, oily."  From this we get the word "Unction":  "religious or spiritual fervor or the expression of such fervor."  I John 2:20 says, "But you have an unction (an anointing) from the Holy One, and you know all things."  The Holy Spirit is referred to as oil in the Scriptures.  John 16:13 says the Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth and tell us things to come.  Oil is also a lubricant.  Oh how we need this oil to help us all walk in love, truth, and victory!  Isaiah 10:27 declares, "It shall come to pass in that day that his burden will be taken from your shoulder, and his yoke from your nedk, and the yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing oil." 

My cup:  "Bowl-shaped drinking vessel, a drinking vessel and its contents; a holder of substance."

Runs:  "Continued rapid movement; an act or the action of running."

Over:  "To exceed a limit; extending beyond the allotted space."  This makes me think of Paul's prayer in Ephesians 3:19-20  "...to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.  Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us..." That sounds like "running over" to me!  May the anointing oil of the Holy Spirit fill our cup and overflow to others!  I think of Amos 5:24: "But let justice run down like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream." 

As our Good Shepherd used His rod and staff against your enemies (verse 4), He now sets up a feast for you as your enemies look on, confounded.  He anoints your head with oil to heal your wounds and so you can forgive them.  Perhaps you have been wounded by harsh words or any number of injuries; He pours in His healing oil and your joy is restored.  Your cup runs over because of who your Daddy is!  Rest and rejoice in His care today!

Copyright © 2012 Elaine Beachy

Who's Your Daddy? Part Four

Today we look at Psalm 23:4 (NKJ) "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and staff, they comfort me."  Let's meditate as we "milk" the meaning out of the words and phrases so it can nourish our souls.

Yea:  means "more than this; not only so but -- " used as a function word to introduce a more explicit or emphatic phrase."  So as we leave verse 3 and begin verse 4, we would say, "He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake; and even more than this (as wonderful as that is), if I walk through the valley. . . I will fear no evil."

Though I walk through:  I don't stay stuck; I keep moving forward.

The valley:  a valley is an elongated depression of the earth's surface between ranges or hills or mountains; a low point or condition.

Of the shadow: a shadow is an imitation of something; a copy; the dark figure cast upon a surface by a body intercepting the rays from a source of light; a phantom; dark; a source of gloom or unhappiness.

Of death: one definition of death is "the cause or occasion of loss of life"; the ceasing of all vital functions.  The phrase "of the shadow of death" would mean anything threatening you, that looms over you that could cause fear of loss.  Perhaps it's the fear of losing a friendship, or a job, or fear that your children or grandchildren will be swallowed up by the evil one, or the fear of a disease, anything that would steal your joy.  I can imagine David the shepherd sitting there with his sheep, looking at two mountains with a valley between them.  A place where the sun was hidden; a dark and perhaps scary place that would cause fear of the unknown.

I will fear  no evil:  Evil is defined as morally reprehensible; sinful, wicked, offensive, disagreeable; pernicious (causing harm), unlucky.  Something that  brings sorrow, distress, or calamity; the fact of suffering, misfortune, and wrong-doing; a cosmic evil force." (which the Bible calls the devil)

For You are with me:  God is with us.  Is it just a passive "with", like walking alongside someone for company, being an on-looker, but doing nothing if we need action and protection?  Like just watching a drowning man and doing nothing to help?  No, we're on God's team; He is for us.  The word  "with" is defined as "in opposition to: against; as a function word to indicate a participant in an action.  God is for me and has provided for my defense and protection against my enemies.  I think of the Scripture in Ephesians 6:12 that says "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." (NKJ) 

I also think of Luke 10:19, of Jesus' words to the seventy disciples He sent out: "Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you."  The "serpents and scorpions" are demonic spirits.  By praying and using His authority Jesus gave us as New Testament believers, we partner with God in enforcing satan's defeat that Jesus accomplished on the cross and by the resurrection from the dead.  He gave us spiritual weapons.  John Wesley said, "God will do nothing on earth except in answer to believing prayer."  (Quote from Jack Hayford's book, Prayer is Invading the Impossible.)

Your rod and Your staff:  In research, I discovered that a rod is a shepherd's cudgel (to beat with).  A staff is defined as "a long stick for support in walking; a club, a cudgel; a rod carried as a symbol of authority.  God fights for you and me; believe it!  He is not passive in being "with" us!

They comfort me:  As a verb, the word "comfort" means "to strengthen greatly; to give hope and cheer; to ease the grief or trouble of."  As a noun, "comfort" means "assistance, support, consolation in time of trouble or worry.  A feeling of relief or encouragement.  A satisfying or enjoyable experience."

To tie this mediation together, I quote Psalm 27:1 (NKJ): "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"  And Romans 8:31-32 (NKJ) "What then shall we say to these things?  If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him freely give us all things?"  We would do well to meditate on that.  May we live boldly without fear!

Copyright © 2012 Elaine Beachy

Who's Your Daddy? Part Three

Yesterday I realized that when I began this series of "Who's Your Daddy",  I had forgotten that we celebrate Father's Day this month!  I thought the title the Lord put into my heart was a bit odd, but I went with it.  This Sunday is indeed Father's Day, and my heart sometimes can hardly contain what I feel as I sense God's grace on my life.  When we stop struggling and realize that He has already done everything for us and calls us (our spirit man) holy and righteous, it is humbling and so very freeing.  What a wonderful Father and Shepherd He is!  I marvel to look back at the paths of righteousness in my life; He took a perfectionist and insecure young Mennonite girl on a journey of love and acceptance to the place of rest and security in Him.  Thank You, Father!  Your grace is generous and awesome!

Today we look at Psalm 23:3 (NKJ) "He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake."   Now let's meditate those words.

He restores:  Restore means "to renew, rebuild, alter;  give back or put back into a former or original state."  Wow.  That means He wants our souls to be as they were in the Garden of Eden before Adam and Eve fell for satan's lie.  (I didn't capitalize the "s" in satan on purpose).  They had no consciousness of sin and weren't even aware they were naked until they believed the lie and ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  I think of Hebrews 10:2 that says Jesus' sacrifice makes us perfect, and that once purified, we should have no more consciousness of sins.  We should fight the good fight of faith and reject thoughts of condemnation and a sin-consciousness.  We need to be God-conscious, and enjoy fellowship with Him because we are in Christ Jesus.

My soul:  The soul consists of 3 parts: the mind, the will, and the emotions.  So we'll break it down that way. 

1)  mind: my recollection, memory, reasoning.  The brain, nervous center. 
2)  will:  my desire, wish, disposition, inclination, appetite, passion, chioce. Determination.  Mental powers manifested as wishing, choosing, desiring, or intending.
3)  emotions:  the effective aspect of consciousness, feeling, disturbance, excitement. . . physical reaction (as anger or fear) subjectively experienced as strong feeling, and physical changes that prepare the body for immediate vigorous action.  See "feeling".
     a)  Feeling:  " one of the basic 5 physical senses.  Skin - touch - a sensation experienced.  Emotion carries a strong implication of excitement or agitation, affection, sentiment, passion, (a very powerful or controlling emotion).

Our soul is the connecting part between our spirit and our body.  On a piece of paper, draw a large circle; draw a second smaller circle within that circle, and yet another circle in the very center of the second one.  This represents the total you.  The center circle is your spirit (which is born again, made perfect, holy and righteous when you receive the Lord Jesus as your Savior from sin).  Write the word "spirit" in the center circle.  In the space around your spirit, write the word "soul".  Last, write the word "body" within the outer circle.  The Lord Jesus wants to restore our soul out of that holy place which is our spirit, and our restored soul will then affect the body and its actions.  That's how we become sanctified, as we read in I Thessalonians 5:23-24 (NKJ) "Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it."  We need to allow our born-again spirit to effect changes in our soul and body.  We need to live out of our spirit -- who we really are in Jesus.  We do this by renewing our mind to God's Word.  We can't restore ourselves.  Isn't God just so kind and merciful and full of love?

He leads me:  Again, as we saw in verse 2, He leads; He doesn't push or shove, or force us in any way.  He is gentle and humble, lowly in heart -- void of pride. 

In the paths:  A path is defined as "a trodden way; a course, route; a way of life, conduct, or thought.  a track specially constructed for a particular use."

Of righteousness:  "right-ness, righteous, free from guilt or sin; morally right, blameless."  God declares you free from sin and blameless if you have taken Jesus as your Savior from sin and judgment!  See Romans 4:22;  II Corinthians 5:21; and Ephesians 6:14 for more study.

For His Name's sake:  because of who God is, His character, His reputation, His good name. 

I conclude today's meditation with Psalm 18:35-36 (NIV): "You give me Your shield of victory, and Your right hand sustains me; You stoop down to make me great.  You broaden the path beneath me so that my ankles do not turn."  He does indeed lead me in paths of righteousness for His Name's sake!  Thank You, Father!

Copyright © 2012 Elaine Beachy

Who's Your Daddy? Part Two

Before we continue our walk together into verse 2 of Psalm 23, I would encourage you to see God's Shepherd heart in Ezekiel, chapter 34, New King James version.  You'll be blessed by the tender heart of God and how He feels about His sheep, how He feels about you. 

Verse 2 reads, "He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters."  Now let's meditate:

He:  My loving Shepherd who cares for me.  The One Who has all power and authority.

Makes: The definition of "make" is long; here is a partial list: to prepare, make, anoint; to cause to happen, to bring into being by forming, shaping, or altering; to fashion, to fit, intend, or destine, to cause to be or become, appoint, to cause to assure the prosperity of, to cause to be experienced.  This tells me that my Good Shepherd prepares, fashions, shapes, fits, destines, appoints, and assures me.

Me:  Again, it's personal.  He takes notice of each individual, including you.  He can do that; I don't know how, but He does.  He gives attention to each of His sheep (those who are His.)  You and I are not forgotten or replaced.  We are deeply loved and highly valued. 

To lie down:  This is a picture of peaceful rest.  Hebrews 4:1-11 talks about the rest of God.  He's talking about resting from self- effort to be righteous, holy and blameless in His sight.  If we believe the Lord Jesus Christ has made total payment for our sin, our unrighteousness, we enter His rest and stop trying to impress God with our good works.  There is a "work" of faith where we act out of love, humility and with thankful hearts as we know what pleases Him.  But we don't do good things to try to get on God's "good side".  Jesus is the only one Who is perfect, and He satisfied God's requirement for payment for sin.  Now that is good news! 

In green pastures: I picture lush, fresh, tender green grass.  Jesus gives us the living Word to feed on -- not pastures that have been stripped, trampled, and muddied.  (See Ezekiel 34:18-19)

He leads me:  He doesn't drive me, force me, shame me, criticize me, scold or belittle me, hit me, push me.  He offers His hand and walks with me; He is patient with me.

Beside the still waters:  Refreshing cool, peaceful waters.  Waters of rest. Not rushing, turbulent water, dangerous, polluted water, or rapids.  (See Revelation 7:17 -- "For the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters.  And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.")  Still waters are such a picture of rest and refreshment.

The world around us can be filled with bad news reports, bad doctor reports, bad reports of wayward children and loved ones, reports of Christians who leave a bad testimony, not to mention the daily activity of life that keeps our mind going in circles filled with turbulent, painful thoughts. 

It is increasingly obvious to me that more and more "Christians" have a shocking lack of knowledge and respect for the Word of God, twisting portions of the Word to excuse, and even applaud sin.  I think of "...righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds..."  (2 Peter 2:7-8)  But I love verse 9 that follows:  "then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment."  He alone is the righteous Judge, and He will judge rightly and justly!  What a comfort that our Good Shepherd knows how to deliver us from temptation.

Jesus said in Matthew 11: 28-30 (NKJ),  "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and My burden is light."  Ahh-hh. :o) 

He makes me to lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside the still waters.  He invites me to throw all my cares on the Lord, lie down, and rest.

Copyright © 2012 Elaine Beachy

Who's Your Daddy? Part One

Does peace elude you?  Do you fret and worry?  Do you fear that you'll fail, that God is not pleased with you, that you're not good enough, won't have enough, aren't holy enough to earn God's favor, receive answers to your prayers or enjoy a miracle from Him?  Do you feel unworthy or beaten down?  Are you tired of running on the endless treadmill of performance? 

Take a slow walk with me through Psalm 23 as we go verse by verse in a six-part series.  We'll stop along the way, search out meanings, meditate on each word, notice every detail, just as one would  notice details in the beauty of nature in a walk through a woods. 

Today we'll do verse one: "The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall  not want."  With the Holy Spirit's help, we'll meditate on the truth, using also Strong's Concordance and Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary and some internet research as aids:

The Lord:  Not just any person; not your earthly father, not the Pope, not your pastor, not religious tradition or the world's wisdom, but your Father, the Creator and Ruler of the Universe, Who holds everything together by the word of His power, and your Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.  (If indeed you have declared Him to be your Lord and Savior according to Romans 10:9-10.  If you have not done this, stop, get a Bible, read what God says, and do it now; surrender your pride, become as a little child and with humility, receive forgiveness of all your sin.  There's no better feeling than to be made right with God through Jesus!  God says today is the day of salvation.)

Is:  Not maybe.  He has committed Himself to be your Shepherd.  He will never decide not to be your Shepherd.

My: He's personal.  He's for you.  Yours.  To have and to hold forever!

Shepherd:  One who tends sheep; a pastor.  One who guards; is responsible for their provision and health.  He lays down his life for the sheep by defending them against predators, as David in the Bible killed a lion and a bear by tearing their jaws apart.  He provides food for them.

I:  Again, it's personal.  Don't think of others right now; this is for you.

Shall not:  Won't.  Will not.  No ifs, ands or buts. This is God's Word to you.  (I think of the verse in Hebrews 13:5b-6, "For He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'  So we may boldly say: The Lord is my helper; I will not fear.  What can man do to me?"  (New King James)

Want:  Means to lack, decrease, fail, be abated, bereave, make lower, waste away, lose what I have of value.  God's promises will not fail.  Dare to believe that.  He always makes provision for us.  I think of the Scripture in Philippians 4:19 that says, "But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." 

I hope you are beginning to see more of how much God loves you.  "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment.  But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.  We love Him because He first loved us."  I John 4:18-19 (New King James)  In the church, we have been taught so much, I think, to focus on "how much do I love God?" rather than on "how much God loves me."  Hmm.  Now there's some food for thought.

As you focus more and more on God's love for you personally, fear is driven out.  Dare to let yourself rest on God's grace, His marvelous, great love! 

Next post, we'll meditate on verse 2.

Copyright © 2012 Elaine Beachy