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God is Leading You
Even if you are not reading your Bible daily, God is leading you and guiding you each and every day with people, choices, and opportunities He puts in front of you. In our society we have learned to react instead of think and respond, so when it comes to decisions to make we tend to choose the best option that fits our wants and immediate pleasure. Instead, wait….and talk to God to see how He guides you. Is this decision, choice, or opportunity in front of you going to glorify God? Will it utilize the talents and gifts He has given you?
Consider praying today for God’s guidance in all that you do. Psalm 25:4-5 say, “Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior and my hope is in you all day long.” When you start each day with this beautiful Psalm, you are reminded that God is there to guide you and lead you in all that you do!
As a Warrior on the battlefield of this world, we must learn to respond to Satan’s attacks with fierce intensity but with the virtues God has instilled in each of us. If a soldier in war reacts too quickly and is unprepared, he is more than likely going to be injured or killed. Going into battle with knowledge and training will prepare us for Satan’s schemes and tactics. Knowing God is there with us gives us courage to face the enemy. How can you be more obedient to God’s calling today and prepared to be a Warrior for God?
Forgiving the Abuser
When I was five years old, I was sexually abused by a family member. The abuse occurred for two years until the predator moved away, but the occasional visits and family get-togethers remained stressful and brought me extreme anxiety. I didn’t report the abuse until years later, and by then the evidence was lacking and accusation less believable. I held onto that secret and pain for four years before I had the courage to tell anyone, all the while thinking that I was the problem and cause of my pain. I first shared my trauma with a school counselor, who then asked me to demonstrate the abuse with dolls while being recorded on camera. It was a humiliating experience for me. Even worse, family members, including my parents, turned a deaf ear to the accusations and acted as though it never happened. Once the authorities were brought in to investigate, and since years had passed since the abuse, a case could not hold its ground and was thrown out.
My parents never spoke to me about the abuse but showed their disappointment in their faces, which I considered as disappointment in me. I never received counseling or therapy for the trauma so I could never reveal details or process the experience with anyone wiser than me. Shortly after the case was dissolved, my father died and a new kind of grief took control.
Jesus said, “Come to me all who are weary and heave laden, and I will give you rest.” It wasn’t until I became a Christian in my early adult life and found comfort in Jesus that I was able to be healed from my childhood abuse and trauma. I couldn’t overcome my fear or anxiety of men until I relinquished my pain to God and allowed Him to heal my heart. I wasn’t able to forgive my abuser until I understood through counseling courses in college that most predators have endured similar abuse in their past without healing or restoration, and they act on their constant fears and struggles by hurting others. While that is no excuse for my trauma, or make it right for child abuse, I knew that I was not the cause of the abuse and could let go of the wound of guilt.
Parents never want to hear that their child has been abused or harmed in any way. The look of disappointment that my parents expressed was toward their own guilt and shame of not being aware of threats in their daughter’s life and not preventing the situation. That guilt is very common. Parents must be more protective of their child’s environment, whether it be friends, family, or inside the church. As a parent to three children now, I am cautious of who my children are around, especially when they are alone, because I don’t want history to repeat itself on my watch.
Therefore, I urge those who have experienced trauma in their childhood to look up for their healing. Look to God to help you mend the wounds and to seek forgiveness of your predator. Holding onto the anger and resentment will continue to block your full potential as God’s Warrior. Don’t be afraid to share your story with others. You never know who else might be holding onto trauma, thinking no one else would understand. Since I have started sharing my testimony, many others have been able to share theirs and begin healing their wounds.
Ginger Turner is the Founder and Director of Warriors for God Ministry. She has a Master’s Degree from Liberty University in Marriage and Family Therapy, is a Board Certified Mental Health Coach, and a Christian Life Coach. Ginger, her husband, and three children reside in the Hill Country of Texas where she teaches and counsels couples, young children, and teenagers. Her focus is on enriching marriages and families, suicide awareness, and coaching the community on Whole Body Wellness. Ginger loves the Lord and lives every day for Him, serving Him in whatever capacity He sets on her path.
Youth Suicide
Take two minutes this evening and think about a young person in your life that could be struggling with depression, anxiety, or suicidal thoughts. Maybe they haven’t seemed themselves lately. Pray for them. Pick up the phone and call them or schedule a time to have coffee together. Help them to feel and know they are loved!!
We are in the middle of a mental health crisis in our world and young people are farther away from Jesus than they’ve ever been in history. Fewer and fewer children are attending church or youth groups. Families are busier than ever and fight daily for time together. When they are together, phones, TV, social media, and other distractions rob them of QUALITY time.
More than 2.7 million youth in U.S. are struggling with depression, and suicide has become the 2nd leading cause of death among 10 to 24-year-olds since COVID. There were 6,600 suicides in 2020 alone among this age group.
Consider that 150 million people live in an area where there is a mental health professional shortage and they are not even able to ask for help from local sources!!
We must step up, TODAY, and help our young people. They are STARVING for our attention as parents, friends, counselors, coaches, and family members. We have to turn this mental health crisis around and help the ones who are struggling to be heard.
Ginger Turner is the Founder and Director of Warriors for God Ministry. She has a Master’s Degree from Liberty University in Marriage and Family Therapy, is a Board Certified Mental Health Coach, and a Christian Life Coach. Ginger, her husband, and three children reside in the Hill Country of Texas where she teaches and counsels couples, young children, and teenagers. Her focus is on enriching marriages and families, suicide awareness, and coaching the community on Whole Body Wellness. Ginger loves the Lord and lives every day for Him, serving Him in whatever capacity He sets on her path.
Does God Exist?
In life, there is a moral code, the universal law that governs the safety, security, and goodness of humanity. Laws that state to not lie, steal, and murder. The moral code stems from the divine creator and the universal lawgiver, God. From the beginning, God created man in His image to live in goodness as His creation. When sin entered the world through Adam and Eve’s fall, so did the immorality of their character. The proof of morality is one of the three fundamental ways to prove God’s existence, as He is the ultimate and universal lawgiver. Morality is what modern society treats as right and acceptable, but that is not exactly what morality was supposed to be. Modern society’s treatment of morality leads to many loopholes in the system of morality. The moral argument for God’s existence says that God exists because He is the best explanation for the fact that there are objective moral truths. Moral truths that things such as stealing, murder, and lying are wrong. Some might argue that even if morality in itself is objective, there is no need for the existence of the source. Christians ought to disagree, because of the understanding of morality. Man is made in the divine creator’s image. The Creator is a rational and good being. As man is made in the Creator’s image, man holds the characteristics innately given by the creator, which is morality. The modern society’s definition of morality to their selfish philosophies leave loopholes in the meaning of true morality. Chapter four of C. S. Lewis’s book, “Mere Christianity” discusses what lies behind the law, which can be summed up into three suppositions: (1) there is a universal law and thus a universal lawgiver (2) the universal lawgiver is a transcendent being (3) the universal lawgiver is God. Only God is omnipotent and omniscient, and thus only He could create the moral code. In stories like McCorvey, the morality set by God can also be how He is revealed.
The first supposition states that there is a universal law and thus a universal lawgiver. In modern society, liberalism has separated from God, implying its moral code is inevitably flawed and problematic. In the separation of God, there is no true morality, only the immoral and pseudo philosophies and sciences that govern the fallen world. Where society separates from God, there is destruction. Hitler wanted a perfect society with his anti-Christian beliefs, and thus he murdered millions of Jews. Modern liberalism and the perspective of morality are similar to that of evolution, that anything is good if it contributes to survival. True morality, in which God reveals Himself, is the code that keeps humans safe and secure and good as God’s creatures. Morality points to a lawgiver, a chief judge, not subjective reasoning to better the me-ism philosophy. The chief judge is God, who will judge all in the end. In Exodus 20:2-17, God gives Moses the Ten Commandments, the non-negotiable rules to keep from crossing the line. These non-negotiable commandments inspired the statutes that constitute the United States. The chief judge has given man the innate knowledge of morality, and the chief judge will return. God is the universal lawgiver and the ultimate chief judge for mankind, governing and protecting His people with laws that aren’t subjective but objective to the truth.
The second supposition is that the universal lawgiver is a transcendent being. In order for God to be the perfect and ultimate universal lawgiver, He has to be omniscient and omnipotent. He is above human knowledge and capability. Mankind only knows what God has revealed to them, and even then there is both general and special revelation, thus some things are only revealed to specific people. Morality is set in stone and is under the governing authority of God who is perfect and without sin. The objection to God’s perfection and goodness in terms of morality is the entering of sin. The first objection is that God is powerful and good but evil somehow exists (God chooses not to reveal this to mankind). The second is that God is able to rid evil but chooses not to thus He isn’t good. The last is that God wants to but can’t. These objections have led to many theological questions about God’s sovereign power and the existence of evil in this world. The blemishes of morality and the existence of suffering have no part in the goodness of God, but the existence of sin has brought on evil in the world. The transcendent being is God is why true morality exists and is another component of how morality is proof of the existence of God.
The third supposition is that God’s existence is the cause of morality. Without God man doesn’t exist, but in the hypotheticals that man does derive from evolution and not the divine creator, the knowledge of good and evil would be flawed and would not exist. How does one determine that murder is wrong without the known consequence of being the image bearers of God? How would one know if stealing is wrong, isn’t stealing basically communism? How did the moral code come into existence without the existence of pure good? Without God, the world is pure evil and is a void in the universe, a black hole. Without God, man is left to total depravity and hopelessness. The moral code set by God is the sign of His goodness and His proclamation to His people to be like Him in His goodness. Murder is wrong because it is an act of harm to the innocent image of God. Lying is wrong because God is a being of truth. Stealing is wrong because God is the provider. God is the chief ruler and judge. He granted man free will but holds humanity accountable by supplying the boundaries of morality.
Morality is written in the blueprints of mankind, the innate code brought into existence by God, for He is perfect in His goodness. When Adam and Eve fell the existence of sin came into the world. The existence of morality is then the existence of God, for morality isn’t subjective to modern society’s narrative of it, as the treatment of things that are seen as right and acceptable. Just because it is acceptable doesn’t make it good, take, for example, abortion. Almost fifty years ago, in 1973, Roe v. Wade ultimately led to the legalization of abortion as a woman’s right and a form of healthcare in turn to rape and other harmful situation for the mother or child. Abortion is the ending of a pregnancy, a human life, which is inevitably murder. Though it is morally horrific and wrong, as it goes against the sixth commandment, it is accepted and seen as right in modern society. The moral code is the proof of God’s existence and a way in which He reveals Himself, even Norma McCorvey (“Jane Roe”) ended up keeping the pregnancy and in 1995 she was baptized by the director of the anti-abortion group, Operation Rescue and she was converted as Christian. McCovey declared that she was pro-life and regretted her role in the horrific case. Without the existence of morality, man would be left to total depravity and darkness as hopeless creatures, in the constant struggle like the demons that inhabit the broken world. God reveals Himself through His divine goodness, the moral code man then follows.
Gianna Turner is a student attending Reformation Bible College in Sanford, Florida. Gianna graduated last year from Alpine Christian School in west Texas with a passion for knowing more about theology and Scripture. She attended a Christian Counseling Conference in 2021 and discovered her purpose in life is to work with children and help them with childhood trauma and their development. She writes for Warriors for God in her free-time and shares her college papers in order to lend her college wisdom to our readers.
An Exegetical Paper on Romans 3:9-11
In Romans 3:9-11, Paul writes, “What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin; as it is written: “There is no righteous person, not even one; There is no one who understands, There is no one who seeks out God.” In this passage, Paul is writing to the reader that no one is greater than the other and that all are under the condemnation of sin, they are all deserving of death and no one is righteous than the other. The Jew is no better than the Greek, and vice versa. Christ came to save all; man, woman, and child.
Romans is in the New Testament canon, taking place shortly before Paul’s visit to Jerusalem with the gift of the Gentile congregation (15:25; Acts 24:17)1. The book of Romans is a letter and is known for the use of rhetorical questions (e.g. 3:8; 6:1; 7:7; 9:14). Romans is useful in understanding the big picture because it references and illuminates the promise of the Gospel revealed in the Old Testament. It is first revealed through the fall of Adam, showing the need for a savior (5:12––21), God’s promise to crush Satan’s head under the feet of Eve’s promised seed, which is Christ. The gospel continues to be revealed in Soli Deo Gloria, found within Abraham, where God proclaims the message of justification and faith alone. Paul insists all throughout his teaching that the Gospel does not destroy the Mosaic Law but establishes it. Jesus is the promised seed through David and is the One all the prophets look to and proclaim. Romans is the document showing Jesus as the promised prophet, priest, and king of Israel and the savior to all.
The chapter in the discussion of Romans is chapter three, verses nine to eleven. The chapters previous to three open with an introduction and Paul’s purpose to visit Romans and how the just shall live by faith and not of works (legalism and the use of Jewish law as a way of salvation). Paul references Habakkuk 2:4, “The righteous shall live by faith” in verses sixteen and seventeen of chapter one. Paul writes in chapter one verses eighteen to twenty-seven about God’s wrath on the unrighteous, which is then concluded in chapter two verses one to sixteen, where he writes of God’s righteous judgment. In verses seventeen to twenty-four of chapter two, Paul calls out the Jews and how they are just as guilty as the Gentiles (this is further explained in chapter three). The first eight verses of chapter three are on God’s judgment defended and thus introduce verses nine to eleven, how all have sinned and that God will judge all regardless if they are Jew or Gentile. The next section, containing the verses discussed, is on how all have sinned. The sections and chapters subsequent chapter three verses nine to eleven are on God’s righteousness through faith and how boasting is excluded by the law of faith. This continues how no one is greater than the other because all are sinful and it is by faith in Christ not by works that man is redeemed. Chapter four is on how Abraham was justified by faith, even before he was circumcised. Abraham was not the heir of the world because of his works and circumcision but by his faith in God, he was given a promise that goes beyond generations.
In Romans 3:10, Paul quotes David’s Psalm 14:1-3 and Psalm 53:1-3. Psalm 14:1-3 states, “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, they have committed detestable acts; There is no one who does good. The Lord has looked down from heaven upon the sons of mankind to see if there are any who understand, Who seek God. They have all turned aside, together they are corrupt; There is no one who does good, not even one.” Psalm 14 is a Psalm of the foolishness and wickedness of people, not just the Jews or the Gentiles, all people are. The fool, like the Jew, denies the existence of God, but in the context of the New Testament canon, they deny Christ as savior which is seen as practical atheism because they are unable to see beyond the ignorance of their true salvation. Paul uses Psalm 14 to demonstrate this in how foolishness points to the lack of morality and not necessarily the lack of intellect. Like the fool, the Jew isn’t just oblivious to the goodness of God but to the salvation brought by Christ. “There is no righteous person, not even one; There is no one who understands, There is no one who seeks out God;” Man is sinful and corrupted by evil, and is unable to be saved on their own, in the New Testament, the legalism of the Pharisees and the belief of works is shown in the Israelites. They are lost in their own ignorance as Christ as savior and are unable to see the light that is He who saved.
Paul opens the passage with a question, “What then? Are we better than they?” In this context, the Jews were prideful as the chosen people and thus were unable to see the truth that Christ is the savior and that their way to salvation was through works. Luke Timothy Johnson states in his commentary on Romans that “ Paul’s next question is extraordinarily difficult to interpret, not only because its text and punctuation are uncertain but also because Paul’s use of language is obscure.” The relationship between the “What then?” and the “are we better off than they?” is a series that is not quite answered through Paul but through David in Paul’s reference to Psalm 14 in the subsequent verses.
In most of the commentaries on Psalm 14, it is seen as a “last days” Psalm, meaning that the contents will come to pass in the future. The first line is notably a reference to Sennacherib who stated, “Do not let Hezekiah deceive you into thinking your God will save you. The other gods did not save their nations: are you thinking your God will save you?”. Sennacherib hints that he and his men do not believe in ‘god in the entry or they do not see God as the savior, hence he is a fool and has committed the unforgivable sin of blasphemy. In relation to Psalm 14 and Sennacherib, the Jews reject Christ as the savior and thus they are regarded as fools because (a) they do not believe and (b) they still think they will be saved based on their works and not their faith in the savior. Verse nine is then seen as a negative-positive relation for the lines “Not at all;” and “for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin” because Paul is negating that the Jews are better than the Greeks when in reality, they are just as flawed and other God’s wrath because of their sin, like the Greeks and the Gentiles who reject Christ. Johnson continues to state, “A final resolution appears impossible. Fortunately, Paul’s following words do throw some light on his intended meaning, for he places Jews and Greeks once more on equal footing.”
Verses ten and eleven are a progression to the reference of Psalm 14, where Paul quotes, “There is no righteous person, not even one; There is no one who understands, who seeks out God.” This verse is a catenae, or a “chain.” Such catenae are usually organized thematically or by means of word linkage. Here the phrase “there is not one” is repeated five times in 3:10-12, and once more at the end (3:18). verses eleven and eighteen in the entirety is a breakdown of man’s true nature of corruption, beginning with “There is no righteous person” in verse eleven. Beyond verse eleven to verse eighteen, Paul states, “They have all turned aside, together they have become corrupt; There is no one who does good, There is not even one. Their throat is an open grave, With their tongues, they keep deceiving, The venom of gasps is under their lips: Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood, Destruction and misery are in their paths, And they have not known the way of peace. There is no fear of God before their eyes.” What follows after verse eleven says, “But you die as men.” Whence also the following is written in Genesis, “And God reconsidered that he had made man upon the earth; and he regretted it in his heart and God said: I should destroy man, whom I have made, from the face of the earth.” Connecting the question then asked in verses nine to verses ten and eleven is a Ground because it concludes Paul’s point that the Jews are not better than the Greeks, they are equal in the eyes of God for both parties are corrupted and sinful; man is corrupted and sinful. It is by faith, through faith, in Christ alone that man is saved.
Romans 3:9-11 is applicable to the modern-day Christian in how it proclaims the truth that it is by faith alone and not by works that man is saved. There is no way to Christ other than the Gospel that proclaims the truth. It is foolish to believe that it is by works or that only the Jews will be saved through their good works because they are the chosen people. Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice and it’s believing in him that will save man, not the works. “We are no better than they? Not at all;” Jesus came to save all, not just the Jews, not just the Gentiles, he came to save all. There is no one more righteous than the other, there is no one who is knowledgeable of all things, there is only Christ who is the most righteous and the most knowledgeable, and thus he is the perfect savior to man.
Gianna Turner is a student attending Reformation Bible College in Sanford, Florida. Gianna graduated last year from Alpine Christian School in west Texas with a passion for knowing more about theology and Scripture. She attended a Christian Counseling Conference in 2021 and discovered her purpose in life is to work with children and help them with childhood trauma and their development. She writes for Warriors for God in her free-time and shares her college papers in order to lend her college wisdom to our readers.
What is the Gospel?
John 3:16 is the decree of the Gospel proclaimed by Jesus Christ. It is so simple even a child could grasp it. So, what is the Gospel? Well, the Gospel is summarized into three suppositions: (a) God is holy (b) We are sinful (c) He (Jesus) alone is our substitute.
The first supposition one must know is that God is the ultimate, the Arche, the Aseity. He created the world and all things in it for His glory, and humans were of His image, the Imago Dei. Apart from God, man is nothing. In Psalm 19:1, David writes, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” The second thing to understand is that man is a sinful being. In the beginning, God established a covenant with Adam, to be fruitful and multiply, to dominate the creatures, but to not eat of the Tree of Good and Evil. Adam failed to keep the covenant with God, plunging his prosperity into sin, leaving man hopeless, lost, and under the wrath of God. With that said, the third and last supposition is that, in mercy, God has provided a substitute which is Christ. He came to overcome the curse and to undo what Adam did and he did what Adam failed to do. Through His passive and active obedience, Christ accomplished the work of redemption on our behalf. He took upon Himself our sin and gave us His righteousness. He is the ultimate sacrifice, the lamb of God. Through repentance and faith in Christ alone, man was given salvation. Man’s faith is justified by the propositions and the truths of the Gospel (notitia), mental assent and affirmation of those propositions (assensus), and an entire trust in those propositions and in the Person of Christ, who is at the center of the Gospel (fiducia).
John 3:16 is the embodiment of the Christian faith, but the second verse, verse seventeen, is just as important, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.” All those in Christ are appointed His ambassadors, apologists, to proclaim the good news of the Gospel, to proclaim that God is making all things new, and to proclaim that God is all in all.
Gianna Turner is a student attending Reformation Bible College in Sanford, Florida. Gianna graduated last year from Alpine Christian School in west Texas with a passion for knowing more about theology and Scripture. She attended a Christian Counseling Conference in 2021 and discovered her purpose in life is to work with children and help them with childhood trauma and their development. She writes for Warriors for God in her free-time and shares her college papers in order to lend her college wisdom to our readers.
January 2023 Newsletter
Warriors for God is so excited to release our first newsletter! We hope you will take the time to read about what our ministry is passionate about, what we’ve been up to, and what we plan to do in 2023. We love support, we appreciate shares, and we would LOVE to hear from you and know how we can help you this year!
Our Detox Adventure
My perspective on health was extremely influenced by my two body-building brothers I admired during my childhood. I saw them eat tons of protein and cut out junk food to build muscle to achieve their ideal bodies. When I lost my brother to suicide, I put my health on the back burner as dark depression and anger consumed me for several years. When I married and started having children, my perspective was revived and refined as I read books about proper nutrition and exercise to insure a healthy baby in the womb. I worked extremely hard to maintain my body weight, including hours a week in a gym during and after having my children. However, nothing challenged my perspective of dieting as much as when my mother found out she had cancer. Since she had not maintained a healthy diet or regular exercise in her sixties, cancer was a battle she fought hard and eventually lost. I realized that healthy bodies have a better chance of fighting disease, and that is exactly what I needed to maintain.
I never possessed a sweet tooth, but I was notorious for skipping meals, for several days even, as I buried myself in work. With an intense interest in suicide prevention and mental health, I dove into books by Dr. Amen who taught me that nutrition and exercise are not only favorable for a healthy body, but also for mental health. I became obsessed with the brain and the fascinating aspects of how all systems in the body rely on a healthy brain, which rely on proper nutrition and protein.
Then, my daughter developed a lump in her throat when she was only 11 years old. We met with three different doctors and had the fluid inside of the lump drained and analyzed to make sure it wasn’t cancer. None of the doctors could give a definite diagnosis but mentioned terms like goiter, thyroid cyst, and hyperactive thyroid but told us to wait a few months and see if it goes away. Fast forward 4 years and the lump remains. We moved to the Texas Hill Country where we have access to more doctors and were recently told by a specialist that she should have it removed, along with her thyroid. He made it sound like it was the only option.
After researching my family’s medical history, I discovered that thyroid issues are prevalent on my mother’s and father’s side. I had my thyroid checked and discovered that I have an overactive thyroid, which is why I have a rapid heartbeat several times a day and my right hand shakes. While my friends advised me not to pursue the surgery option for Hailey at such a young age of sixteen, I feel like I am running out of options! I started looking into natural healing options.
Dr. Don Colbert published a book in 1979, called “Toxic Relief”, that described the overwhelming impact of toxins and preservatives on a human body. He went into great detail about the ingredients in food, even fruits and vegetables, that have changed our society and their health. He offers a natural way of detoxing the body, beginning with a liver detox and then a three-day juice fast. This book and its instructions have proven to prolong life in cancer patients, end or alter heart disease and diabetes, and reset the thyroid.
I’m not sure if this will work for Hailey but it’s worth a shot in lieu of surgery! I figured the best thing for a mother like me to do is to try it first. As Hailey begins her own detox over Christmas break, I can guide her through any struggles she faces as she withdrawals from caffeine and sugar. Fortunately, I have been a pretty healthy eater since my mother passed away from cancer so the only thing I have missed is honey in my tea every morning. Drinking Green Tea without sweetener has not been very satisfying!
I started juicing seven days ago, terrified at first. Dr. Colbert explained the misery of a character in his book – waking up in the morning, dragging herself to the kitchen to make her juice, laboring over the washing and chopping of fruits and vegetables, terrified of the flavor to come. But as she touched the finished concoction to her lips, a burst of flavor hit her tongue, and she was completely satisfied with the taste. I have experienced the exact moment from the fear to the eye-opening flavor as it hit my mouth. I look forward to it every day, and really look forward to this weekend when I get to fast on juice alone, relying heavily on prayer and God to help me through the three days lacking solid food.
Jesus fasted in the desert for 40 days. The Bible says that Jews fasted often throughout the year and relied on fervent prayer to get them through the time. “Juice fasting creates an alkaline environment for your body’s cells and tissues so that they can start releasing waste products through your body’s various channels of elimination” (Dr. Colbert). Fasting also boosts energy cells and rejuvenates a person physically, mentally, and spiritually.
So I leave this thought with you today. If it is a fact that your diet impacts the cells in your body, premature aging, sickness, chronic fatigue, arthritis, mental illness, attention and focus, heart disease, cancer, and so much more then why aren’t you consuming better products in your diet? Your body is being attacked every day by air pollution, toxins in water supplies, preservatives in your food, and dozens of chemicals wreaking havoc on your systems. Do me a favor and do your own research. Become aware of the foods you are ingesting into your body. Maybe that research alone will change your habits like it did for me. This is just one more step to become a stronger Warrior for God!!
Ginger Turner is the Founder and Director of Warriors for God Ministry. She has a Master’s Degree from Liberty University in Marriage and Family Therapy, is a Board Certified Mental Health Coach, and a Christian Life Coach. Ginger, her husband, and three children reside in the Hill Country of Texas where she teaches and counsels couples, young children, and teenagers. Her focus is on enriching marriages and families, suicide awareness, and coaching the community on Whole Body Wellness. Ginger loves the Lord and lives every day for Him, serving Him in whatever capacity He sets on her path.
A Warrior for God
In Biblical times, a Warrior for God was one who followed the hundreds of laws set forth during the time of Moses, including the sacrifices required throughout the year. It was a daunting task! When Jesus spoke to the Pharisees, He explained that the laws were to be replaced with one simple task….”to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37). When He died for our sins, He provided a way out of the law and into grace, simply by believing in Him. In John 14:6, Jesus says, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” When we set our eyes on Jesus and believe in Him, we become Warriors for God.
A Warrior wears their Armor daily. This involves beginning the day with prayer and meditation on God. Ephesians 6:10-18 provide a list of armor a Warrior needs to prepare for battle, every single day. We have the Belt of Truth buckled around our waist – the scriptures that we read and memorize daily. This truth is always on our hearts when we are attacked on the battlefield, because we will be attacked! Psalm 119:11 tells us to “hide the word in our hearts” so that we do not sin against Him. Scripture helps us fight the temptation of sin and the devil’s schemes.
In today’s world, we are surrounded by temptation! Our iPhones, television programs, music, and even some churches are feeding our minds and hearts with lies and treacherous things. The world has justified sin for cultural changes…that times have changed and innocence has changed. Not true!! Sin is still sin and truth is still truth! A Warrior for God stands for principles of truth that our found in the Bible. Those truths include honoring one another; being obedient to God, parents, and authority; honoring marriage; saving the lives of children and babies; and filling our hearts and minds with goodness.
Ephesians 6:13 says repeatedly that we must stand in our Armor of God, standing firm in the values God has instilled in us as Christians. When we fall away from Biblical truths we are jeopardizing our faith, as well as our children’s future. Warriors for God do not falter in their focus on God. This life is a race for us all and we must set our eyes on the path before us! Hebrews 12:2 reminds us of the sin that hinders and entangles us and how we must throw it off to “run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” Consider what Jesus endured on the cross for us, so that we may be free and receive mercy. Warriors for God appreciate His sacrifice and honors it daily in the way they live.
Warriors for God live their lives with targets on their back. As their faith grows, as they disciple to others, and while they worship God, Satan is devising schemes for them to fall. 1Peter 5:8-9 reminds us to “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” We are to resist him and stand firm in our faith.
Suit up in your Armor each day, knowing that Satan will attack. God will be on the battlefield with you through His Holy Spirit inside you. Remember, the war has already been won, and we are on the winning side!!
Grief is Not an Event
The holidays can be challenging for those who have experienced loss. A deep sadness clouds our minds, hardens our hearts, and steals our joy during a season that is meant to represent peace and hope. Grief is not an event where pain can be switched on or off, but instead a process we all must walk through to experience healing. The grief process can take years and it cannot be avoided without feeling bitter, empty, or numb.
The grief stages usually consist of denial or shock, release of emotions, guilt and anger, and then acceptance. A healthy grief process involves true friends who provide support and love through the grieving process. Such friendships will ultimately help the person who has experienced the loss to reorganize and reconnect with the world.
When I lost my brother to suicide, I didn’t grieve properly because I was focused on the pain and void in my life. I drowned myself in work and bad behaviors to avoid the process completely. I was left with a hardened heart, extreme anger, and depression. It wasn’t until years later, when I focused on God and His purpose for my life, that I started to heal properly and accept my brother’s death. When I lost my mother to cancer a few years ago, the grief process was managed by my faith in God and His plan, friends who loved me, and knowing that my grieving was going to be a process required to heal my broken heart.
Psalm 23 says God will comfort those who are walking through the valley of the shadow of death. During the days and weeks of mourning, God will never abandon us.
Ginger Turner is the Founder and Director of Warriors for God Ministry. She has a Master’s Degree from Liberty University in Marriage and Family Therapy, is a Board Certified Mental Health Coach, and a Christian Life Coach. Ginger, her husband, and three children reside in the Hill Country of Texas where she teaches and counsels couples, young children, and teenagers. Her focus is on enriching marriages and families, suicide awareness, and coaching the community on Whole Body Wellness. Ginger loves the Lord and lives every day for Him, serving Him in whatever capacity He sets on her path.
Choose Joy
Are you facing challenges in your life right now? Jesus told his disciples in John 16:33 that they will face trouble and persecution but reminded them that He has overcome the world. When we focus on the pain and the struggle we are experiencing, we aren’t focused on God. When we aren’t focused on God, we tend to lose sight of the joy around us. Remember that God is in control, and while it may be hard to realize it now, He will be with you as you experience every challenge and struggle. Focus on Him and what He is doing in your life in this moment. Choose joy!!
I remember when I was sitting at my mother’s bedside a few years ago, and I was watching her struggling to breathe because the cancer in her lungs had consumed them. I prayed in every moment that God would heal her and relieve her pain but every day seemed to get worse. I was so focused on her pain and my heart ache that I could not find joy in the moment. One day, I opened my Bible and read Psalm 116 that speaks about thanksgiving and deliverance from death. While my mother could not avoid her death, I could provide joy to her in her final hours. I chose joy and spoke to her about life and how much I loved her. I decorated her hospital room with beautiful flowers and splashes of her favorite colors. She was surrounded by joy and love which set her heart at ease. Her final days were peaceful and I found joy in being with her through every last breath she took.
If you are struggling today, consider the positive things surrounding you and focus on them instead. If you know someone who is struggling, be a vessel of joy for them and find a way to encourage and love them. It’s crucial to switch the mindset from doom & gloom to joy & gratefulness. Meditate on three things you are grateful for today and see how your perspective can change.
Ginger Turner is the Founder and Director of Warriors for God Ministry. She has a Master’s Degree from Liberty University in Marriage and Family Therapy, is a Board Certified Mental Health Coach, and a Christian Life Coach. Ginger, her husband, and three children reside in the Hill Country of Texas where she teaches and counsels couples, young children, and teenagers. Her focus is on enriching marriages and families, suicide awareness, and coaching the community on Whole Body Wellness. Ginger loves the Lord and lives every day for Him, serving Him in whatever capacity He sets on her path.
“Get Up”
The chorus of this song came to me after a friend’s husband passed away and she could not work her way out of the valley of the shadow of death. Bitterness and grief consumed her, and for months I wanted to tell her to just Get Up. But the rest of the song never came to me.
Years later another friend was going through a difficult trial with her young son. He had been gripped by sin and darkness, and was actually arrested and removed from his home. My friend was lying on the floor in her son’s room, in tears, when she heard God tell her to Get Up. She heard it, audibly. She obeyed, and she was moved to stomp her feet in anger at the enemy and tell him he would NOT win the battle over her son’s heart and his soul. She stomped her foot and told him to leave. Another friend witnessed a terrible cracking sound inside the house, light flooded into the room, and she felt God’s presence sweep the house, tearing through the stronghold that had been invited in by her son. She shared this story with me, and after hearing her say Get Up, I knew immediately God intended the song for her. He was faithful and filled in the rest of the song that had escaped me for so many years. It became her anthem for that season, her victory cry.
(Music & Lyrics owned by Caroline Luna)
Warriors for God encourages our visitors and followers to share this song with others who may need to hear the words and have a reminder to be strong, Get Up, and know that God is with you and with Him all things are possible! These lyrics have helped many people through the struggles of life and turmoils they’ve experienced.
Caroline Luna lives with her husband and three children in Alpine, Texas. She started on her Warrior path when she served as the Head of School for Alpine Christian School and took the safety and well-being of the whole campus to heart. She (along with Ginger) led the staff in a daily attack on the spiritual forces at work against the school and she trained for physical threats as well. She is a licensed attorney and a certified handgun instructor for Texas License to Carry and NRA Pistol, but more interestingly, she is a former worship leader who still loves to play guitar and sing His praises. Thankfully she has been able to fight most of her battles with a bible and/or guitar in hand and not her other weapons of choice.
Parents!!
Let me share some data with you that may encourage you to change some things with your children.
- Gut health impacts brain health. If your family is consuming junk food or things that cause inflammation of the gut then their brains are not at their fullest potential.
- Are they looking at screens an hour or less before bed? Blue light has proven to hinder REM which is crucial to good rest
- Are they getting 8 hours of sleep each night? If the brain is tired then they can’t focus well during the day.
- Are they taking vitamins? Include Omega-3 foods into diet, vitamin C & D, B-12, & probiotics
- How much screen time do they have each day? Are they going through tech detox on weekends and getting outside and spending time with family or friends?
- What kind of exercise are they getting? Walks, running, sports? This is crucial for whole body health!
Consider your family’s emotional, physical, spiritual, and mental health and how you can work together to improve these aspects together. Have a meeting and set goals and discuss the important of each of these to your family.
Warriors for God is here to coach you through the process if you need help. We want you and your family strong and ready for battle.
Ginger Turner is the Founder and Director of Warriors for God Ministry. She has a Master’s Degree from Liberty University in Marriage and Family Therapy, is a Board Certified Mental Health Coach, and a Christian Life Coach. Ginger, her husband, and three children reside in the Hill Country of Texas where she teaches and counsels couples, young children, and teenagers. Her focus is on enriching marriages and families, suicide awareness, and coaching the community on Whole Body Wellness. Ginger loves the Lord and lives every day for Him, serving Him in whatever capacity He sets on her path.
Addictive Habits
Alcohol has become the go-to drug for most of the world. It’s actually the 2nd most addictive drug, following heroine. Alcohol impacts the brain by decreasing blood flow and creating abnormalities in the entire brain cortex. Some doctors have reported that a glass of wine a day helps the body but the real question is whether a person can stop at just one glass. Anything after one glass begins to change the brain function on a more permanent scale, opening up chances for memory loss and cognitive disability.
If your parents struggled with alcoholism or any addictive behavior, it’s best to avoid alcohol and drugs completely. My parents were both alcoholics and I discovered that one drink was never enough for me. I have made the choice to abstain from all alcohol because I don’t want it to lead to an addiction that is already in my genes. I can attribute nearly every bad decision/action in my life to a moment when my cognition was hindered by alcohol.
When we choose to consume things that obstruct our abilities, it is best to understand what those substances do to our brain and our heart. Young people who plan to have children need to understand that what they put into their bodies now actually impacts their offspring in the future. The organs that create eggs in a woman and sperm in a man are negatively impacted by what products and substances they consume at an early age.
1/3 of American families are affected by alcohol and drug abuse. Consider the long term generational effects they have. If you need help with substance abuse, don’t hesitate to ask for help. There are so many options out there to help people avoid drugs and alcohol. There is hope for change!
Ginger Turner is the Founder and Director of Warriors for God Ministry. She has a Master’s Degree from Liberty University in Marriage and Family Therapy, is a Board Certified Mental Health Coach, and a Christian Life Coach. Ginger, her husband, and three children reside in the Hill Country of Texas where she teaches and counsels couples, young children, and teenagers. Her focus is on enriching marriages and families, suicide awareness, and coaching the community on Whole Body Wellness. Ginger loves the Lord and lives every day for Him, serving Him in whatever capacity He sets on her path.
Find Meaning in the Pain
Did you know we are meant to experience pain? It’s true. Luke says in Acts 14:22 how we must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God. When we experience suffering, the best thing to do is to find meaning in the pain and help others.
After I nearly destroyed my marriage to wrong choices, I was able to help other couples who were stuck in the same struggle. After I lost my mother to her battle with cancer, my best friend lost her sister to cancer and I was able to help her through the grief process. God has put me in so many situations with people who are hurting from the same things I have experienced so that I can help them through it. We struggle in life so we can give other people hope that they can make it through their own pain.
So if you are struggling today, ask God, “What do you want me to get out of this pain? How can I help other people? How can we make it through this storm?”
I hope this helps you with a new perspective today and how to be a Warrior for God.
Ginger Turner is the Founder and Director of Warriors for God Ministry. She has a Master’s Degree from Liberty University in Marriage and Family Therapy, is a Board Certified Mental Health Coach, and a Christian Life Coach. Ginger, her husband, and three children reside in the Hill Country of Texas where she teaches and counsels couples, young children, and teenagers. Her focus is on enriching marriages and families, suicide awareness, and coaching the community on Whole Body Wellness. Ginger loves the Lord and lives every day for Him, serving Him in whatever capacity He sets on her path.
The Youngest Suicide Victim
In 2009, Samantha Kuberski arrived home from school one day with her three sisters. After arguing with her mother, Samantha was sent to her room while threatening to kill herself. No one took Samantha seriously but she went to her room, crawled into an unused crib, wrapped a belt around her neck and the other end on the bar in the crib, and hung herself. Samantha was a 6 year old 1st grader, beautiful and bright, and with her future ahead of her. She was the youngest child recorded to commit suicide in America.
Drayke Hardman was born to his loving parents on May 26th, 2009. Drayke was incredibly loved by his family, he loved sports and had such a kind spirit. Drayke just wanted to be friends with everyone. Drayke had the biggest, bluest eyes. Sadly, Drayke had been experiencing bullying at school. His bully would pick on Drayke for every little thing, but despite this, Drayke desperately tried to be his bully’s friend. His school and parents were aware, and his bully had been previously suspended for attacking Drayke. On Monday, Drayke had come home with a black eye, he confided in his sister that his bully had hurt him. Two days later, on February 9th, 2022 Drayke’s older sister found him hanging with his favorite hoodie from his bunk bed. Drayke’s father immediately started CPR until paramedics took over and after 15 minutes his heart started beating, but the damage had already been done. On February 10th, 2022 Drayke passed away surrounded by his family. He was 12 years old.
A child under the age of 12 years old commits suicide every 5 days in America. Bullying is the #1 problem in schools today with administration and parents at a loss on ways of prevention. Gabriel Taye (8), Razy Sellars (11), Jamel Myles (9), Stormiyah Denson-Jackson (12), and Carl Walker Hoover (11) were all different victims to bullying, under the age of twelve years old, who committed suicide.
Signs to look for to prevent suicide in children:
- Change in behavior or loss of interest
- Significant mood changes
- Drop in academic performance
- Changes in eating habits
- Writing or drawing about death
- Recently experience of loss or trauma
- Self injury of their bodies
Schools, parents, and teachers must be relentless in their discipline of bullying so that it stops. They must also create an awareness for risks of suicide, an awareness of signs to look for. Discuss problems with children and offer solutions that give them hope and create an action plan to change the environment they are in that could be creating suicidal ideation. Let’s also raise Warriors who are resilient and who can defend those around them who are hurting and needing help. It will take a collaboration in every community for progress to be made.
Ginger Turner is the Founder and Director of Warriors for God Ministry. She has a Master’s Degree from Liberty University in Marriage and Family Therapy, is a Board Certified Mental Health Coach, and a Christian Life Coach. Ginger, her husband, and three children reside in the Hill Country of Texas where she teaches and counsels couples, young children, and teenagers. Her focus is on enriching marriages and families, suicide awareness, and coaching the community on Whole Body Wellness. Ginger loves the Lord and lives every day for Him, serving Him in whatever capacity He sets on her path.
Are You Ready to Defend Your Christian Values?
The world just gets crazier every day! We think about the distractions, the division, and the turmoil we experience now, but our children and grandchildren will struggle even more….unless we do something about it! How can we prepare our children for when it comes time to defend their faith, their values, and what they stand for?
Proverbs 22:6 says to “train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” This is harder than we think when the world and Satan is fighting for their attention and corruption. Children are witnessing classmates who were once boys now becoming girls. They are bullied in the once-safe environments of the schools and hear foul language and insults in their face daily. Sexting, cyber bullying, and vulgar conversations are taking place within groups of friends. What once was a family gathering opportunity around the television has now become a battle against X-rated shows and children’s cartoons with sexual and LGBTQ explicit material.
Parents have to make a choice of whether to accept the terrible repercussions of their children becoming part of the world, or shield them from as much as they can and protect their hearts and minds. Why justify the changes of the world when you have a choice to stand against it??
Warriors for God is partnering with teenagers in areas across the country to help them defend their values. Young adults will have the opportunity to share the battles they face each day, then receive armor of facts, truth, and scripture so they can defend their faith and take a stand against the devil’s schemes. As warriors, we should not submit to the enemy! As warriors, we should not back down to justify the wrong as right!
Over the next few months, we will be sharing materials from this partnership so YOU can forward to parents and young adults who want to stand for God and His biblical values. Please pray for Warriors for God as we take a stand against the devil’s schemes. “The battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:12)
Ginger Turner is the Founder and Director of Warriors for God Ministry. She has a Master’s Degree from Liberty University in Marriage and Family Therapy, is a Board Certified Mental Health Coach, and a Christian Life Coach. Ginger, her husband, and three children reside in the Hill Country of Texas where she teaches and counsels couples, young children, and teenagers. Her focus is on enriching marriages and families, suicide awareness, and coaching the community on Whole Body Wellness. Ginger loves the Lord and lives every day for Him, serving Him in whatever capacity He sets on her path.
PTSD Can Kill
PTSD impacts brain function more than most people understand. When a person experiences trauma in disasters, extreme stress, violence, abuse, or combat their amygdala is triggered which sends a signal causing a fear response. This triggering system was created to keep a person safe. Those with PTSD tend to have an overactive response, so something as harmless as a car backfiring could instantly trigger panic. The amygdala is a primitive, animalistic part of the brain that’s wired to ensure survival. So when it’s overactive, it’s hard to think rationally.
Think of soldiers, for example. Consider the long periods of trauma they experience in combat that ends up rewiring their brain and fear response. Those with PTSD show symptoms of anger, irritability, headaches, frustration, and anxiety.
17 veterans commit suicide each day in America. It is evident that there is a crisis that must be handled.
Sydney Negley Mulder’s husband experienced PTSD after serving our country as a Navy Seal and ended his life in 2017. Listen to her powerful story.
Ginger Turner is the Founder and Director of Warriors for God Ministry. She has a Master’s Degree from Liberty University in Marriage and Family Therapy, is a Board Certified Mental Health Coach, and a Christian Life Coach. Ginger, her husband, and three children reside in the Hill Country of Texas where she teaches and counsels couples, young children, and teenagers. Her focus is on enriching marriages and families, suicide awareness, and coaching the community on Whole Body Wellness. Ginger loves the Lord and lives every day for Him, serving Him in whatever capacity He sets on her path.
Saving the Next Generation
Our children and their grand children are in danger! We must take a stand as parents and do something to protect them, suit them with armor (Ephesians 6:10-18), and guide them as they enter a destructive and divided world.
George Barna recently released a book called The American Worldview Inventory 2021 in which he lists some frightening statistics** derived from major studies he conducted on Millennials, those born between 1981 and 1996:
- Only 4% of Millennials have a biblical worldview
- Biblical worldview has declined by 50% in the last 25 years
- 6 out of 10 Millennials consider a Christian to be someone who is a good person
- 56% of Millennials think they will go to heaven just by being good
- The largest growing segment of Millennials is the “Don’ts” who are people who don’t know if God exists, don’t care if he exists, and don’t believe that He exists.
- 3 out 10 believe the Bible is trustworthy
- 4 out of 10 attend church each month
- Only 33% read the Bible during the week – the lowest it has been in any generation
- 54% of Millennials suffer from anxiety, depression, and fear
- Only 25% believe life is sacred
- 66% believe in sex outside of marriage
How can parents help change the trajectory of the next generation? Millennials have experienced more than any other generation, including mass school shootings, social media explosion, cyber bullying, pandemics, political turbulence, racial discrimination, natural disasters, and sex trafficking. A majority of fathers are absent in the homes and mothers are working alone to raise their children. Children are being neglected through excessive amounts of TV and social media in the home that teaches them a worldly perspective that their actions and appearance determine whether they will be loved and accepted.
So what can we do to change this disaster? Parents can be coached, they can take classes to learn about ways to improve their family dynamic, they can take their family to church, and they can limit the use of devices to 15 years and older. What if they turn the television off and share more intimate conversation with their children about their day?
I have listed some resources below to get you started on connecting more with your children and teenagers. Consider starting these one at a time, one each week over the next 6 weeks:
- Visit www.famousathome.com for tools on parenting + take the EQ Assessment about your child so you know how to improve
- Visit https://5lovelanguages.com/quizzes/love-language and take the love language quiz for you and your child. Learn how they experience, appreciate, and show love.
- Limit their screen time to an hour a day. This goes for television and tablets too. Enjoy face to face conversations. If you need help with dialogue, here are some conversation tips children love to discuss: https://thefamilydinnerproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Conversation-Starters_2020.pdf
- Cancel Disney channel and subscribe to PureFlix.com for Family Movie Night. Your children’s Emotional Intelligence isn’t fully developed until they are 25 years old so put healthy images, language, and stories into their brain while you can.
- Do you have a teenager in the house? More than likely they have a phone so ask them to download the Bible app and partner with them on a Bible study. A great one to start with is SE Students: No Matter What Comes Through the Doors.
- Take walks with your family and only one person has a cell phone that is kept on silent. Enjoy nature, God’s creation, and share your day with each other while breathing fresh air. This is very rejuvenating and should become a habit rather quickly.
I’ve also listed some quick tips that are really easy to implement now. Keep in mind, the more you pay attention to your child’s whole wellbeing: spiritually, mentally, physically, and emotionally – the better they will be as adults. Make sure to take care of yourself first though! If they see you as a model for “good health”, then they will want to follow in your footsteps.
Quick Tips
- Eat together at the dinner table, not in front of the television.
- Ask “What was the highlight of your day?” and “What was one thing that was hard for you today?” when they get home instead of “How was your day?”
- Read to them at night; tuck them in, no matter their age, if they still live at home.
- Be an example for them to follow (stop cussing, pray with them, and show grace).
- Show love and affection to your children ASAP. If you are not a hugger, it doesn’t mean they are the same way. Children need nurturing and loving touch.
I leave you with my favorite parenting verse, Proverbs 22:6 that says “Train up a child in the way they should go; even when they are old they will not depart from it.”
Thank you for wanting to make a difference.
God bless!
**Source of data from “Christian Counseling Today”, Vol. 25, No. 3
Ginger Turner is the Founder and Director of Warriors for God Ministry. She has a Master’s Degree from Liberty University in Marriage and Family Therapy, is a Board Certified Mental Health Coach, and a Christian Life Coach. Ginger, her husband, and three children reside in the Hill Country of Texas where she teaches and counsels couples, young children, and teenagers. Her focus is on enriching marriages and families, suicide awareness, and coaching the community on Whole Body Wellness. Ginger loves the Lord and lives every day for Him, serving Him in whatever capacity He sets on her path.
Suicide Prevention Month
I had my hands clenched on the steering wheel, tears streaming down my face, and anger raging inside me! I was driving down a two-line highway with a grassy median separating me from the oncoming traffic. It was the summer of 1997 and I was in San Antonio about to start my sophomore year in college. It was just a week away from the dreadful day that marked a year since my brother, Keith, took his own life and I was experiencing a darkness I had never felt before. I was so angry at God and had questioned Him every day for why my brother was no longer in my life. As I drove down the highway, I cursed God for stealing my joy, my friend, and one of the most beautiful people I knew. I screamed over and over at the top of my lungs, “I hate you!!!!” until my voice was just a whisper, and my throat was stinging from pain. I continued to clench the steering wheel to get a grip on the anger that burst through my soul. I was done. I wanted out and I considered for a few minutes how easy it would be if I just drove across the median into a guard rail head-on. I imagined the quick death and the loss of pain forever. I desperately wanted the guilt, resentment, loss, and heartache to go away! My broken heart couldn’t stand another day.
Nevertheless, I kept driving. I look back on that day often, especially when I’m experiencing new pain or extreme grief. If I had jerked the steering wheel to head into the median worse things would’ve happened, and many more people would be hurting. I would’ve left our mother childless, my friends with broken hearts, and possibly hurt others in the act of killing my own pain. God heard my cries and cursing that day but He had a bigger plan for me than I could ever imagine.
Suicide is now the 10th leading cause of death in the United States, 2nd leading cause of death for ages 25-34, and 3rd leading cause of death for ages 15-25. The #1 main cause of suicide points to depression, anxiety, and hopelessness. 93% of Americans surveyed believe suicide can be prevented. So how do we do that?! We start by creating an awareness of the problem so that people understand risks, signs to look for, impact on suicide survivors, and how to communicate with those who are struggling with depression, anxiety, and hopelessness.
Join me in September for National Suicide Prevention month. Watch for more information as it’s posted and share with your friends and family. Spread the awareness so we can stand together and fight the mental health disease that is robbing our young people of their lives. Let’s make a difference!
Ginger Turner is the Founder and Director of Warriors for God Ministry. She has a Master’s Degree from Liberty University in Marriage and Family Therapy, is a Board Certified Mental Health Coach, and a Christian Life Coach. Ginger, her husband, and three children reside in the Hill Country of Texas where she teaches and counsels couples, young children, and teenagers. Her focus is on enriching marriages and families, suicide awareness, and coaching the community on Whole Body Wellness. Ginger loves the Lord and lives every day for Him, serving Him in whatever capacity He sets on her path.
Kung Fu is in Everything
I have read through the introduction and into the first chapter of The Soldier Code, by Duncan Ray Brannan and now while watching Jackie Chan’s version of the The Karate Kid, one of his lessons on Kung Fu resonates more deeply than it might have before seeing these pages.
After the first several training sessions between Mr. Han and the student, Dre, they don’t progress past the boy putting on his jacket, taking it off, dropping it to the ground, picking it up, and then hanging the jacket on a peg. After several sessions of this, the boy gets frustrated and quits. Mr. Han shows him that the repetition of those simple movements has conditioned him to respond to Mr. Han’s sudden attack. He says something to the effect of Kung fu is in everything we do, even in the way we put on and take off our jackets.
The boy had been taking off his jacket and dropping it on the floor less than a few feet from the coat rack in his home. His mother had to nag, beg, and demand over and over for the boy to pick it up off the floor and put it where it belongs. While the scenes with Dre hanging up the jacket over and over were not as poetic as Danielson’s “wax on, wax off” of the first Karate Kid, as a parent it was gratifying to see the child grow weary of picking up the jacket, much as his mother had done.
Do we come home and throw our armor on the ground, scoffing at its proper place by the door? Do we leave it at home on the floor or hide it on the way to practice so we won’t have to repeat the effort of putting it on and defending our faith?
I’m reminded of a sweet young man who played bass guitar for me when I lead worship at a church in San Marcos. He walked to church one morning in sandals and a tank top, no jacket, in 40-degree weather. It didn’t occur to him to check the weather before he left, and even after he had walked outside into the cool air, it didn’t occur to him to go back inside and change…
How many times have we failed to check ourselves at the door when there were clear warning signs that we were not “dressed” appropriately?
On page 24 in The Way of the Samurai chapter under the heading “Live with Deadly Intensity”, the author describes the Age of War and how it increased appreciation for everything else in life. Nothing was taken for granted, everything became an art that was studied, practiced, perfected, and then reverently taught to the next generation.
Our Faith should be in everything we do, it should color every conversation and interaction. It should most definitely be something we are reverently teaching to the next generation. What is this armor? How do we put it on? When do we wear it? How do we take it off and leave it ready for the next wearing?
The Whole Armour of God
Ephesians Chapter 6
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armour of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. 15 As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. 16 With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints. 19 Pray also for me, so that when I speak, a message may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it boldly, as I must speak.
Book of John Study – Day 4
Reading: John 1:29-34
This section tells of John the Baptist and Jesus along the riverside. Note, this is not the first time that they have been together (John is speaking in past tense about the spirit coming down on Jesus) and this day is several days after Jesus was baptized by John in the river.
The actual baptism of Jesus was told in the other Gospels (Mark 1:4-11). The moment that Jesus was baptized, the Holy Spirit manifested himself like a dove and descended upon Jesus. The Lord spoke words from the heavens. Through John’s Gospel, we understand why John the Baptist was intended to baptize Jesus. We also understand the relationship between our water baptism and the Holy Spirit.
Note that Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist right before he began His earthly ministry. The miracles He performed were only AFTER He received the Holy Spirit that gave Him the power. The arrival of the Holy Spirit through baptism was the moment Jesus went from being a carpenter’s son to Rabbi and Messiah.
Did you notice that Jesus comes to John to receive the Spirit? John was the man appointed by God to identify the Messiah to the world. John’s sole purpose in his ministry was to call attention to Jesus and naming Him the Messiah. Jesus becoming baptized brought John’s ministry to completion.
The water baptism Jesus received was a picture of the Spirit’s arrival. The very same thing the Spirit did for Jesus is still happening for believers today.
The water baptism is a washing away of sin, a demonstration of what Jesus expects His followers to do as a symbol of Spirit baptism.
Recognize that in verse 32, the Spirit remained with Jesus. This is the same for believers who believe in Jesus and accept the Holy Spirit into their hearts, the Spirit remains with them to guide them.
In verse 33, John the Baptist applied a baptism of water alone, but Jesus brought a baptism of the Spirit.
Notice how John the Baptist says twice is this section that he did not know Jesus before He came to him for baptism. Remember, not even Jesus’s brothers believed He was the Messiah until He had died.
Also make note that no account of Jesus’s baptism is told as witnessed by anyone other than Jesus and John the Baptist. All four Gospel writers record that only two people witnessed the theophany of the dove and hearing the Lord’s voice from the heavens. This was meant as confirmation to John the Baptist that this was the Messiah that he was baptizing.
Once John the Baptist announced that Jesus was the Messiah, He had followers the same day. John’s point in Chapter 1 is to focus on John the Baptist as the one paving the way for Jesus’s ministry.
The fact that no one knew Jesus as the Messiah (besides Mary & Joseph who were told by an angel) really proves that He lived as a fully normal human being while on earth. This is why Jesus’s early years are not recorded, because He was not bringing attention to himself like Superman, and His ministry had not started yet.
Finally, note that Jesus’s ministry began right after He was baptized. As Christians, we should understand our own baptism in the Spirit as the moment we launch an earthly ministry. We are equipped with the Holy Spirit and now we have a mission to serve the Lord. How many Christians do you think truly begin their service from the first moment after their baptism?
It takes times for Christians to figure out their purpose or ways to serve. It took Jesus coming back to the river in John 1:29 for Him to receive followers and His first two disciples in John 1:35.
John testifies in this section that Jesus is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world. If and when you have the opportunity to testify about Jesus, what would you say? What has He done in your life that you could be sharing with others? What does His life mean to you where you can testify to His presence and existence?
NEXT STEP, REFLECT ON THESE VERSES, TALK TO A FRIEND ABOUT THEM, AND READ JOHN 1:35-42
Book of John Study – Day 3
Reading: John 1:19-28
In case you didn’t know, the John who wrote this book and John the Baptist are not the same people. This author, known as John the Evangelist or Apostle John, was one of the twelve disciples with Jesus and he was a fisherman. There is some argument as to whether this John also wrote Revelation but it is in fact the same person.
This section of John begins the “Book of Signs” that tell of Jesus and his signs. This book is different than Matthew, Mark, and Luke because they tell what Jesus did and John tells of who Jesus was. This book allows people to connect more with Jesus.
In John 1:19, John the Baptist is confronted by pharisees who are questioning whether he is the Messiah. He denies that he is Christ and uses references to Old Testament to demonstrate his knowledge of scripture. “I am the voice of the one calling in the wilderness” comes from Isaiah 40:3.
Keep in mind that the pharisees thought that the King and Messiah would be two different people. They thought there was no way a King would suffer for sins of Israel. In reality, there is one Messiah with two comings. Christ’s first coming is as a prophet to serve as the Lamb of God and the second coming is to rule over His Kingdom as King.
Even after John the Baptist explained who he was and who he was not, the pharisees could not understand. If they didn’t see John the Baptist the right way, they would not see Jesus the right way either.
John the Baptist doesn’t focus on himself and talk about him, because his job was to announce Christ, which he did.
John told these men that they did not know the Messiah and the Messiah was so great that John was not even worthy to untie his sandals.
Do we all know Jesus in this way? Are we aware of His authority? Are we prepared to see His light and hear His truth? Are we ready to know Him more?
ENJOY READING THE NEXT SECTION, JOHN 1:29-34. WRITE DOWN YOUR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS AS YOU READ THROUGH THE VERSES.
Book of John Study – Day 2
Book of John – Day #2
Reading: JOHN 1:1-18
Beginning the book, did you see the parallel with Genesis 1? Make sure to read Genesis 1:1-5 and see the similarities with John 1:1-5. “In the beginning…”
You’ll notice in this one section alone, the mention of “light” seven times. The Book of John mentions “light” 21 times.
Again, look at the similarities with Genesis and the mention of “light”.
Did you recognize how John says Jesus was with God in the beginning? Genesis also mentions Jesus in the beginning in the trinity. A Genesis study will explain this more, but Jesus was the “light” then; and God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness”. Recognize how John says Jesus was life. He created all things.
Jesus not only created man, but He is the source of their eternal life, “that life was the light of all mankind.”
John uses the metaphor in verse 5 to say that Jesus is the solution to the problem of darkness, which is sin. Not only does He bring life to our physical bodies, but Jesus is also the Word, the source of truth. While Jesus came to earth to save us from our sins (light in the darkness), He was also rejected – but darkness did not overcome Him.
Verses 6-14 summarize Jesus’s ministry and how he brought the light into the dark world but was rejected and his own people did not receive Him.
John the Baptist paved the way for Jesus. He was foretold in Isaiah 40 as the man who would come from the wilderness proclaiming the Messiah’s arrival.
John had disciples who followed him, of whom left to follow Jesus after he was baptized by John the Baptist and then started His ministry.
Do you see John’s overall message in these verses? Jesus created all things and then became part of the very world He Himself made, who was rejected by those He created! Consider the humility of a God who would orchestrate the circumstances by which He would suffer humiliation at the hands of the very people He spoke into existence and granted life.
In verse 12, John explains Jesus gave a way for those who believe in Him to become children of God. Believing in Jesus brings eternal life. It is by the will of God that people become believers.
Verses 14-18 explain that Jesus actually became flesh and how John the Baptist testifies to this man as being the Messiah. John the Baptist was born six months before Jesus but Jesus was there at the creation. John says that because of Jesus, we receive grace. Grace is freely given to those who believe in Him.
FEEL FREE TO LEAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS BELOW.
NEXT READING: JOHN 1:19-28.
Book of John Study
Warriors for God would like you to join them as they study the Gospel of John. It will be simple! The only thing you need to do is have a Bible and follow along as we read through the chapters of John over the coming weeks. You are welcome to give feedback through comments or just learn new things from each section.
Day #1:
The Gospel of John is meant to strengthen one’s knowledge of Christ and salvation.Let’s begin with some facts about the Book of John:
– Did you know that the Gospel of John is the most recommended book in the Bible for new Christians to read? Leon Morris wrote that John’s Gospel is a pool in which both a child can wade in and an elephant can swim in.
– John’s purpose in writing his book was to strengthen the church for the long period of time before the 2nd coming of Christ.
– John really wanted believers to abide in Christ and depend on His word.
– John emphasizes the need to truly know Christ through a continual trust and connection instead of one moment of confession.
– Gospel of John is known for the 7 statements of “I am”
NEXT STEP: READ JOHN 1:1-18 and watch for the next post that highlights these verses.