Mary's Christianity Blog

Sukkot or the Feast of Tabernacles is a week-long fall festival commemorating the 40-year journey of the Israelites in the wilderness. This year it begins on October 13 at sundown. Sukkot is one of the three great pilgrimage feasts recorded in the Bible when all Jewish males were expected to appear before the Lord at the Temple in Jerusalem. It's main characteristic is the requirement to dwell in temporary shelters or "booths" in remembrance of God's protection, provision, and care during their years of wandering in the desert. In contrast to the solemnity of Yom Kippur, this holiday is a very joyous time of giving thanks to the Lord for his bountiful harvest and a reminder of his protection and faithfulness.

• Learn all about Sukkot or Feast of Tabernacles

Also:

• Bible Feasts Calendar
• Seasons of Faith - Christian Holiday Calendar

This week's post is a member-submitted Christian prayer called In Your Image. It expresses a desire to be restored to complete fellowship with God the Father.

Image: © Davide Guglielmo
In Your Image

My Father in Heaven,
I was created in Your image
And in Your likeness—
In the image and likeness of Almighty God
Was I created.
Read more ... In Your Image by Brother Trevor Q. Steele.

Do you have an original Christian prayer that would encourage or benefit a fellow believer? Perhaps you've written a unique poem you'd like to share with others. We are looking for Christian prayers and poems to encourage our readers in their communication with God. To submit your original prayer or poem, please fill out this Prayer / Poem Submission Form.

More Christian Prayers:

• The Lord's Prayer
• Prayer of Devotion

Recently I launched a new section of the site devoted to guest book reviewers. Christian readers and book enthusiasts are now welcome to submit original book reviews to be considered for publication on the Christianity site. To find out more or to submit a book review, check out this Christian Book Review Submission Form.

Guest reviewer, K. M. Paris, reveals just enough to pique your curiosity about this new cozy mystery novel. She says, "The Case of the Bouncing Grandma is a poignant story of a widow (Glory Harper) learning to allow her heart to flower again while in the midst of solving a mystery. The relationships between Glory, her daughter Andi, her grandson Seth, and her sister Jane are handled successfully, drawing the reader deeper into the story with each turn of the page. The author, A. K. Arenz, has mastered an easy-to-read, flowing style of writing. Now, if you're wondering how Glory Harper came to be called the 'Bouncing Grandma'—you'll have to read The Case of the Bouncing Grandma for yourself to find out. I can’t wait for book two to come out."

• Read Review: The Case of the Bouncing Grandma by A. K. Arenz

Ben started drinking and doing drugs in his early teens. By 16 he had run away from home. One Christmas Day, God intervened in his life by showing him people who cared about him and could help. Ben turned to Christ that day. This intervention took place seven years ago, and since then Ben has never been the same.

Ben's true story is one of our many featured testimonies from you, the members and visitors of this site. Each story reveals a life transformed by Christian faith. If your relationship with God has made a significant difference in your life, we would like to hear about it.
• Submit your testimony by filling out this Submission Form.
• To receive weekly messages of hope and encouragement from real-life stories of changed lives, sign up for eTestimonies.

• Read: Ben's Intervention

Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement is the most solemn and important holy day of the Jewish calendar. This year it begins at sundown on October 8. In the Old Testament, the Day of Atonement was the day the high priest made an atoning sacrifice for the sins of the people. This act brought reconciliation between the people and God. When the Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 A.D., the Jewish people could no longer present the required sacrifices on the Day of Atonement, so it came to be observed as a day of repentance, self-denial, charitable works, prayer and fasting.

Paul said in Colossians 2:16-17 that the Jewish feasts and celebrations were a shadow of the things to come through Jesus Christ. Of all the Jewish holidays, Yom Kippur presents the most foretelling picture of Christ's death on the cross and his complete fulfillment of the Day of Atonement.

• Learn all about Yom Kippur or Day of Atonement

Also:

• Bible Feasts Calendar
• Seasons of Faith - Christian Holiday Calendar

This week's post is a member-submitted Christian poem called The Words to Say I Love You. It expresses, through the eyes of God, how much he loves us.

Image: © Davide Guglielmo
The Words to Say I Love You

I was there, yet you did not see Me
The times you did cry
I wrapped you in My loving arms
And wiped the tears from your eyes

Every prayer - I heard, and answered
Every cry for help - I came
I cast down all your enemies
And brought them all to shame
Read more ... The Words to Say I Love You by Jennifer Kulp.

Do you have an original Christian prayer that would encourage or benefit a fellow believer? Perhaps you've written a unique poem you'd like to share with others. We are looking for Christian prayers and poems to encourage our readers in their communication with God. To submit your original prayer or poem, please fill out this Prayer / Poem Submission Form.

More About God's Love:

• How to Become More Lovable
• Testimony: Ayana's Quest for Love
• Lyrics to Jesus Loves Me Hymn

I don't know many people who like pain, rejection or loneliness. When was the last time you volunteered to be a victim of trauma or signed up for an illness? But hurtful experiences and painful trials are a part of this life. These wilderness experiences may even be divinely designed by God to get our attention or for some other purpose. In the words of C.S. Lewis, "God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains ..."

This is the prevailing theme of James Krechnyak's book, Through the Wilderness. Venice Kichura, guest contributor for About.com, recently reviewed the title and had this to say: "Through the Wilderness offers emotional support for Christians who are overwhelmed with various trials, feeling like they just can't take another challenge. Krechnyak reassures readers that our wilderness journeys don't last forever ... He relates how traumatic experiences can be used for good and how a Christian can actually grow through hurtful encounters with others."

• Read Review: Through the Wilderness by James Krechnyak, Jr.

Gwen spent most of her life searching for the love she lacked in childhood. The void quickly filled with empty depression, until one day she was suddenly diagnosed with a terminal illness. Gwen cried out to God and he intervened in her life. She was not only given a miraculous extension of years, but also a heart fulfilled with unshakable hope, peace, and the love she'd always wanted.

Read Gwen's true story of a life transformed by Christian faith, one of our featured testimonies from you, the members and visitors of this site. If your relationship with God has made a significant difference in your life, we would like to hear about it. Submit your testimony by filling out this Submission Form. To receive weekly messages of hope and encouragement from real-life stories of changed lives, sign up for eTestimonies.

• Read: Gwen's Search For Love

I'm going to make a quick confession: I'm not a very patient person. Just ask my husband, who happens to be very careful, methodical and, you guessed it—patient. I spent four years in Brazil before we were married, and the South American culture slowed me down a bit and forced me to learn something about patience. But I still have a long way to go.

I love this quote: "Patience is waiting. Not passively waiting. That is laziness. But to keep going when the going is hard and slow - that is patience." -- Author Unknown

So, I'm exercising patience in my wait to acquire more patience, even though the going is hard and slow. If you're like me and learning patience is a long and arduous process, the Bible contains many helpful verses we can apply toward developing patience. Try decelerating just long enough to focus on what God's Word says about patience.

• Read: Bible Verses on Patience

This week's post is a member-submitted Christian poem called Chosen One. It encourages readers to listen to the Father's voice when he calls to his chosen ones.

Chosen One

My heavenly Father called one day
I did not listen to His voice or what He would say
I would not ask, nor would I call
To Him who could give me all
I thought I could do it alone
Read more ... Chosen One by Sheila DeMartino.

Do you have an original Christian prayer that would encourage or benefit a fellow believer? Perhaps you've written a unique poem you'd like to share with others. We are looking for Christian prayers and poems to encourage our readers in their communication with God. To submit your original prayer or poem, please fill out this Prayer / Poem Submission Form.