The Christmas Gift -- Vivia Oliver

There is a gift we celebrate at this time each year

Which we need to hold in our hearts so dear

This gift we should open, not leave it under the tree

We hold it in our hearts, this gift so precious to me

A gift left under the tree not opened helps no one

When Christ offers you salvation, take it a prize won

Take that gift with thanks; to your life add his charm

This gift, you can take forever to hold in your arm

This gift will sustain you through trial and error

It will bless you and give peace to the bearer

There’s no gift like it, it cost not one cent

It will never wear out and will never be spent

Take this gift of salvation, let it fill you with hope

It will give you a thing to hang onto when you’re out of rope

And tell others of this wonderful blessing it has given

It might even give them salvation and life in heaven

(c) Vivia Oliver, 2009

InScribers Review: An Amish Family Christmas (Murray Pura)

 

 

Book Review by Vivia Oliver

An Amish Family Christmas

Author: Murry Pura
Publisher: Harvest House, 2013

Murry writes very good Christian fiction, true in detail and Biblical truth. The Amish belief that people should not participate in war time efforts can be very troublesome for some church leaders. Micah has felt a pull of God's spirit and done a good deed by going to the battlefield to save the injured as a medic. Would you follow a pull of the spirit that was against your minister's advice?

This explanation of the controversy in the rules of churches could lead a reader into the story. Many have interest in subjects of this kind.

But the church is tied to rules, so they shun him for his good deed. When he is gone to war his wife of a short time, Naomi, suffers the loss of her sister and parents in an accident at home. Her brother survives the wreck but can’t talk afterwards.

When Micah returns after his year of service, he is not allowed to talk to anyone because of his involvement in a war effort. He can live at the same house as his wife and sister but cannot communicate unless it is an emergency.

This shun continues until the ministers son has a serious accident near the home of Micah and Naomi. Micah rushes to the scene and saves the boy by his medical knowledge. The minister gets the message that this medic involvement in the war was a good thing, and finally removes the shun from Micah and allows the married couple to enjoy their marriage after all.

Removing the shun could cause division in the church, but all ends well, the Lord blesses Micah in the end.

Does your local congregation hold fast to rules that could discourage people from attending your church?

InScribers Review: It's Always Darkest Before The Fridge Door Opens

Review by Vivia Oliver

It's Always Darkest Before the Fridge Door Opens
Finding Joy in the Cold Places of Life

Authors: Martha Bolton and Phil Callaway
Publisher: Bethany House, 2006


These two writers have worked with many comedians to create clean humour in the world. Any of their work is worth the time to read it.

This book is a compilation of anecdotes of humorous and realistic ways to look at life.

They open the 'fridge door' to view some great ways to laugh at life in general. This book contains lots of neat ways to take worry off your mind. These writers of humour have turned food and kitchens into fun centers. Like moldy cheese turning into chia pets.

The fun tales they tell seek humour in family life, ways to laugh about hard times and disappointments in home life. If you don’t have sore ribs from laughter after reading this book, you will at least come away with a smile and peace of mind.

They describe many fun ways for looking at life’s troubles from a new view. There is a funny side of life and we are blessed to take a funny look at trouble. As Phil Callaway reminds us, “Laughter is the shortest distance between two people.”

Why I Write - Vivia Oliver

 


We're pleased to have InScribe member Vivia Oliver join us as our Guest Blogger today.  She writes poetry, songs and stories.


If someone asks me what kind of poems I write, I tell them the ones God wants me to. I generally don’t write poetry from my own ideas. I feel that nearly all my poems are God inspired, especially the gospel poems which have been given to me through inspiration. There have been a few, not too many, that a friend has prompted by saying: why don’t you write a poem about that?  I will be listening to a sermon, a song, or be driving down the road and the words suddenly come to me, or at least the idea, the subject for a poem.

One poem that I wrote last fall came to me while I was driving down a quiet highway. All of a sudden I thought, Thank you, Lord, for the wide open road. That is what I named it. The lines just kept coming to my mind, and by the time I got home it was nearly all in my head. (I've included the finished piece below).


At times I have carried a small tape recorder so when I am driving I can record my words and not have to stop on the road side. The first poem I ever wrote was while I was driving and I had to pull off the road several times on the trip to write down my lines!

I often think of poetry, songs, or even stories while driving, listening to the radio. It is a relaxing thing for me, as long as the traffic isn’t too heavy.

Pictures are another thing that have inspired me to write stories. I can analyze a picture and come up with a story quite quickly. I have written several stories from pictures in my house.Events with animals are another lead for me to write. I enjoy animals, especially horses.

Thank the Good Lord

Thank the good Lord for the wide open road
And for a saviour to help me carry the load
For bridges to take us safely over water, not wet
That cross rivers in the direction I want to get

I wanted to be a trucker in my younger days
Now I drive a lot, and am familiar with byways
Thank the good Lord for the wide open roads
And the big trucks which carry the loads

The scenery so beautiful; leaves painted by God
The skies which could only be spread out by God
The Saskatoon bush standing by a gate post
Reminds me of Peter, the Holy Gate host

Thank God for keeping the deer in the ditch
And the other cars passing without a hitch
I feel like I’m driving to eternity
As Jesus keeps Satan from catching up to me

The sign posts along the road tell us where to go
The Bible has a word for us, so we know how to grow
Thank the good Lord for the wide open road
And for a saviour to help me carry the load

Vivia Oliver, September 2012

InScribers Review: Little Copper Pennies

LITTLE COPPER PENNIES

Author: Susan Harris

Publisher: FriesenPress, 2012

Review by Vivia Oliver

Susan Harris has done a great job of outlining the history of the Canadian penny. By giving it the appropriate name of “Copper”, she personalized this little piece of money that has been present in our country for one hundred and fifty five years.

The little copper penny was first made in 1858, in England. Then in 1908 it was made in Canada for the first time and continued until 2012.

Many people have heard the tales of 'a penny for your thoughts' or 'your two cents worth'. How many of you have dropped pennies in wishing wells, or fountains, or put them on the railroad tracks to see if the train could flatten them?

Susan tells many tales in her book of the fun things and the interesting things that pennies were used for and how it will live on in our history for many years to come.

She pieced the facts of production into the stories to keep us aware of reality. A good read for all generations of Canadians.

 

 

What is Cowboy Church -- Vivia Oliver

We're pleased to have one of our InScribe members, Vivia Oliver, join us today as our Guest Blogger here at InScribe Writers Online.


Cowboy Churches have sprung up all over North America like the proverbial bad weed. They seem to be growing at a phenomenal rate, with nearly 700 listed all over Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, as well as all over the USA.

Cowboy church is an evangelical non-denominational Christian fellowship, reaching out to those who like the western way of life. Our aim is to reach out to people who are afraid of traditional organized churches. We lean toward relaxed atmosphere and acceptance of any and all people, common or otherwise. We accept folks from every walk of life, every occupation and ability. There is no dress code at Cowboy church. In some groups they sit at tables and drink coffee during services, without discrimination.

Our goal and mission at Cowboy churches is belief in the inspired word of God and to lead people into a growing relationship with Jesus. The main goal is love God and love neighbour; and work toward that end at all times. We care for each other as members, we have prayer ministry, visiting of the sick and helping where needed, or holding memorial services and baptisms, as well as communion services.

Our leadership is made up of members who are picked from people who are dedicated to the future of the church in each area. Constant attendance is a plus in that category. Also people use their God given talents to perform whatever tasks are required to run a good organization. People with musical talents perform, ladies and gentlemen, make coffee and serve at funerals, etc. The minister and helpers visit the sick or young people help with building bees. Horse related activities are held for those with that bent, also camping trips.

So if you’re out looking for a great group of people to worship the Father and Son, look up a Cowboy church. There could be one close by; look up Cowboy church on your internet search engine and you’ll come up with a long list. God bless your results.

Vivia Oliver

Are You A Grateful Receiver? -- Vivia Oliver

How many times has someone complimented you on how nice your dress looked or a similar, you look nice today? You blushed and remarked that you got that dress at the Sally Ann. Why do we always apologize for a compliment? Is it that hard to just smile and say thank you?

When we stop and analyze our reactions to praise or a gift, we are often less than receptive and often not really thankful. This is a put down to the person who gave the gift or compliment. We are insulting their generosity when we don’t accept graciously and thankfully.

Do we also insult God when we don’t easily accept his free gift of salvation and forgiveness of sins? Do we mock Christ’s death on the cross when we think we have to “work out our salvation”? We don’t seem to appreciate the tremendous gift of eternal life like we should. What a great and marvelous life God has offered us free of charge. We certainly don’t deserve this gift by our past record, we deserve the death sentence that is assigned us on the outside of his kingdom.

 “In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.” Ephesians 1:5, 6 NIV

This reflects how very poor we are at being gracious receivers. And we need to gratefully receive Christ’s salvation. We need to accept the free salvation of Christ or we won’t receive it. We are very proud to give to others and repeat God’s promise that it is more blessed to give than to receive, but in order for us to give, someone has to receive. For instance if we won the lottery wouldn’t we be thankful, and graciously accept the cheque? Wouldn’t we be very thankful and very gracious in our acceptance speech?

Acts 20:35 –“we must help the weak-the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘it is more blessed to give than to receive’.” Acts 20:35 NIV

When we receive a great gift, don’t we feel obligated to take it gratefully and thankfully? Also if our employer gives us a healthy bonus or raise, don’t we feel the obligation to keep on doing a good job or maybe do a better job in the future? We should feel obligated and eternally grateful to God for the greatest gift of all times. A gracious, grateful attitude should lead us to follow God in the path that He has chosen for us. We need to walk worthy of our calling.

"However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me-the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.”  Acts 20:24 NIV

God has a plan and purpose for our lives; he made us for a reason, so we should gratefully go in the direction he has laid out for us. If we stop to think about what a fabulous gift salvation is, we should be willing to follow God to the ends of the earth and back again.