Yearly Archives: 2011

Sunday Brunch – The Danger Of Visiting A Psychic!

Mock Menu:
Light, tasty beignets coated with powdered sugar
Cafe Au Lait
Fluffy scrambled eggs lightly seasoned with salt and pepper
Crispy, salty bacon

Let’s pretend like we’ve just finished the meal outlined above before we begin our discussion!

Leviticus 19:31
“Do not turn to mediums or necromancers; do not seek them out, and so make yourselves unclean by them: I am the Lord your God.

Have you ever visited a psychic/medium and regretted it later?

Disclaimer:
***Please note that this is based upon my personal experience, and nothing more. I’ve had a couple of emails from a blog reader, stating that I should go into more detail as to why we shouldn’t visit a psychic. You can open yourself up to a whole forbidden world that could do tons of damage – affecting your salvation. I didn’t go into this reasoning in this blog post since I’m talking about one isolated incident that happened to me. I don’t know or understand the spirit world and we really need to rely on Jesus, trust in HIM with our future. I invite you to respond accordingly with your own experiences – it’s hard to give more depth to this blog post since it’s a personal blog post that happened to me a long time ago…and I only did this one time (that was enough for me to learn to not do this again!). My reasoning about not visiting a psychic is minor compared to what’s happened to others. Also, this is a subject matter that is so broad – there are probably thousands upon thousands of books out there about this subject. It’s hard to cover every aspect in just one blog post – I can only speak about what happened to me – for further insight, I invite you to read the comments or post your own comment about your own experience (or experiences of others if you feel led to do that).

***I also wanted to point out that one of the commenters mentioned that a lot of psychics are scam artists. Many people become addicted to calling psychic hotlines and such. Again, I didn’t mention this in my blog post, but it is a VERY IMPORTANT FACT and is mentioned in the comments. Feel free to share your thoughts!

Several years ago, I took a trip alone to New Orleans. At the time, I was dating somebody and I was head-over-heels in love with this person. I wanted us to get married. I wanted this marriage to happen so badly that I visited a psychic in the French Quarter. I did this knowing it was wrong, but, I figured if she predicted this wedding, well, it would just make me feel better, make me feel more sure about my future. She asked me if I wanted to do tarot or palm reading. I told her I didn’t know. So she chose palm reading.

She told me to close my eyes and make a wish. I wished for marriage to my boyfriend. When I opened my eyes, she said in a soft voice, “Your wish is going to come true.” My heart jumped when I heard this. She then said, “The wish that you made about the man will come true.” She said we’d have four children. Surprisingly, she told me things about myself that were true. She even accurately predicted some things that would happen to me later that summer.

So, I hung onto the hope of things working out in my romantic relationship. I figured the psychic had to be right about my budding romance, after all, she’d accurately predicted other things that had happened in my life. When my euphoric romance abruptly ended several months later, I was stunned! The first thing I thought during the breakup was, “But that psychic said we’d get married!” It was horrible, and that false hope made things so much worse and I also regretted visiting that psychic! I begged the Lord for forgiveness and since then, when the subject comes up, I’ve always advised others not to dabble with psychics.

I was raised with the knowledge that we should avoid psychics. That was the first and only time that I’d ever done this.

So, have you ever visited a psychic and regretted it later? Leave a comment!

If you like religious, wholesome fiction, then join my email list and receive 2 FREE Christian fiction e-books! 

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Home To Crossroads Ranch – A Sweet Romance

Home To Crossroads Ranch

Nate Del Rio doesn’t want kids, at all. He’s still taking care of his adult siblings – and his siblings take advantage of him by calling upon Nate to bail them out after each of their financial crisis. However, he soon finds himself enmeshed within the lives of Rainy Jernagen’s foster kids. When he shows up to fix Rainy’s broken washing machine as part of a church outreach ministry, Rainy convinces him that his ranch would make a great place for her foster kids to play and to learn about animals.

Nate agrees to the children’s daily visits and soon finds himself getting smitten with Rainy. However, she’s a beautiful, brownie-baking foster mom, determined to help children by taking care of them. Although drawn to the children, Nate knows that he’d make a terrible father. He’s failed his siblings in the past, that’s why he allows them to come to him during every crisis. However, Nate harbors a dark secret, a secret that explains his aversion to children and fatherhood.

This was a sweet, heartwarming and enjoyable story. There was also a yummy brownie recipe in the back of the book! I might try to make them!

 ~Cecelia Dowdy~

Sunday Brunch – Is It Wrong For Christians To Wear Tattoos?

Photo courtesy of Free Digital Photos

Mock brunch menu:
Moist banana bread with walnuts
Cold, creamy milk
Soft scrambled eggs seasoned with salt and pepper
Scrapple
Hot coffee with cream and sugar

Do you think it’s wrong for Christians to wear tattoos?

I came up with the subject for today’s Sunday Brunch while I was out on Friday evening. I passed a tattoo shop and this scripture came to my mind:

Leviticus 19:28 28“ ‘Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD.

This scripture is taken from the Old Testament, and far as I know, the New Testament does not mention this rule. I’ve seen some cool tattoos on folks, but, I’ve never been of the mind-set to get one. The thought of being pricked by that painful needle…and making that permanent mark on my skin has never appealed to me. Plus, as you get older, the tattoos don’t look as fresh and vibrant, they fade. I definitely wouldn’t want my skin crowded with faded tattoos!

However, I honestly don’t think that getting a tattoo is necessarily “wrong”. I tend to think more of daily-life Christian laws as being taken from the New Testament, moreso than the Old Testament. However, people may disagree with me about tattoos and I’d like to get a discussion going about this subject. I know I was raised to believe that tattoos were wrong and this scripture was used to back up that “rule.” However, as I got older and more exposed to the world, my thinking has changed.

Although I don’t think getting a tattoo is wrong, it’s not something that I would encourage someone to do. Why? Well, like I’ve already said, the idea has just never appealed to me, and if my son were older (like a teenager) and wanted my permission to get a tattoo, I’d tell him NO!

So, do you think it’s wrong for Christians to get tattoos? Leave your response in the comments!

~Cecelia Dowdy~

The Heart’s Song – A Sweet Romance

Here’s a brief summary of a nice, sweet, inspirational romance that I read recently.

Widow Reeny Landry has suddenly received money to use as a memorial to her deceased husband. Amidst some strong objections from town members and from her mother-in-law, Reeny decides to start a handbell choir in honor of her late spouse. Reeny is attracted to people who need love and attention, and her handbell choir is used to help others who need this activity as an outlet.

Widower and math teacher Graham Lockwood is new in town and he’s Reeny’s next door neighbor. Graham is suffering from a recent loss and he’s pushed God out of his life. He is somewhat irritated by Reeny’s breezy, God-inspired attitude. When Reeny needs someone to help her lead the handbell choir, Graham is a natural choice since he’s a musician, and she can’t find anybody else to fill the position.

I enjoy reading stories with disabled characters. I thought this book was kind of interesting and I learned something new by reading it! Reeny has a daughter who is mute. Her mute child becomes a member of the handbell choir and it gives the child a vocal-like outlet since she can’t speak. I rarely hear of this type of handicap – I usually hear of it associated with deafness, trauma, throat cancer, or mental issues. Rarely have I heard of someone being born without the ability to speak (unless associated with the issues I mentioned in the previous sentence).

Reeny also has another child, a son, who gently objects to his mother’s growing feelings towards his math teacher.

This story was light and entertaining and it showed how we need to embrace God, even when we suffer from tragedy and hardship.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Earthquake!!!

Have you ever experienced an earthquake or a tremor? What did it feel like?

It was a scary day. I live in Maryland and we don’t really get earthquakes. But, I was sitting at my desk and I felt a slight tremor in the floor. The tremor got louder and louder and the building started to shake. I screamed and my coworkers and I wondered what was going on. We figured it was an earthquake and the building was evacuated. I’m still thinking about it. This scripture came to my mind when I was standing outside of the evacuated building:

Luke 21:10-11
10Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.

Today’s earthquake made me wonder if Maryland would be seeing more earthquakes. So, have you ever experienced and earthquake or a tremor? What did it feel like?

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Someone To Blame By C.S. Lakin

Someone To Blame by C.S. Lakin

This book reminded me of Terri Blackstock’s novels. The chapters were short, suspenseful, and moved quickly. Irene, Matt, and Casey (The Moore Family) is suffering from a recent double tragedy. To help deal with their grief, they relocate to a small beach town called Breakers. Each member of the Moore family deals with their recent grief in their own way. Casey wears her deceased brothers’ clothing, wanting to keep their memory alive. Matt can’t stop thinking about the past, and what he could’ve done to prevent the senseless deaths.

When a new young guy comes to town named Billy Thurber, life in the quiet beach town becomes unsettled. A rash of robberies occur and there are several instances of vandalism. Meanwhile, young, vulnerable Casey Moore finds herself drawn to Billy. Could Billy be responsible for the recent ruckus in the small town?

Someone To Blame depicts a realistic journey to faith as we seek answers to our never-ending questions about life and death. I enjoyed this book immensely because it realistically shows how a family deals with grief and forgiveness. The fast-moving suspenseful threads made this book a page turner. I recommend it as a good read. Many thanks to the author for giving me a free review copy of this novel.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Sunday Brunch – Did Jesus Die On A Tree?

Today’s mock menu – let’s pretend like we’ve just finished this meal before discussing today’s scriptures:

Grilled ham
Fluffy omelets stuffed with fragrant herbs, cheese and mushrooms
Fried potatoes seasoned with salt and herbs
Tuna fish sandwiches on whole wheat toast
Buttered toast
Iced latte
Coke

Did Jesus die on a tree?

You know I’ve been reading a lot about the early Christians lately, especially in the book of Acts. I’ve often wondered about the scriptures in Acts which reference that Jesus died on a tree. There are several references about Jesus dying on the cross throughout the Bible, but I was wondering if the tree reference was used simply because the cross was made of wood?

Here are the scriptures that refer to Jesus dying on a tree:

Acts 13:28-30
28Though they found no proper ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him executed. 29When they had carried out all that was written about him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb. 30But God raised him from the dead,


Acts 10:39
39“We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree,


This is one of the many references about Jesus dying on a cross:
Acts 2:23
23This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.


So, why do you think Acts mentions Jesus dying on a tree? Personally, I think He died on a cross, but I’ve often wondered about the tree reference. Leave a comment.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

A Season Of Miracles By Rusty Whitener

A Season Of Miracles by Rusty Whitener

Did you ever play Little League Baseball? If so, what do you remember about it?

This book is about a twelve-year-old boy named Zack who plays little league. His team is not very great, but things change when they recruit a new kid named Rafer. Rafer is “touched” or mentally challenged. The Little Leaguers initially mistakenly believe that Rafer can’t hit the ball since he can barely speak. However, Rafer can hit almost as good as a professional baseball player.

The team learns about working together – team work – to improve their season. They also learn about faith. Zack finds himself interested in the subject of God and salvation, so he starts going to church with his fellow player, Donnie, since Donnie’s father is a preacher. Zack’s father is not too keen on his son learning more about the gospel since his dad doesn’t appear to have much respect for spiritual matters.

I think this book would be appealing to young boys who are really into the sport of baseball. It shows a heartwarming warmth between a group of young men who are determined to learn about baseball and Christianity. God’s role really comes into play when the team suffers through an extremely traumatic experience.

Many thanks to Kregel for providing me with a free review copy.

So, did you ever play Little League Baseball? If so, what do you remember about it? Leave a comment!

~Cecelia Dowdy~