Tag: christianity

Intertestamental Period

LoLo Roberts

I am currently enrolled in Opened Bible Academy, spending two and a half years drawing closer to God and better understanding His Word. I learned that the period between the last writings of the Old Testament and the arrival of Christ, known as the “intertestamental” period, serves as a bridge of waiting, hope, and anticipation. It stretches from when the prophet Malachi ended the Old Testament to the powerful preaching of John the Baptist, marking a transformative phase in spiritual history.

I am in a transformative period, feeling God shift and shape me. The Holy Spirit is empowering me with strong discernment for my nonprofit ministry. I am experiencing a profound closeness to God, even as I navigate feelings of distance from others.

I truly feel God’s presence in my life, and during this time of deep reflection, I find myself wanting to create some space from others. It’s a challenging balance, as I know what’s best for my nonprofit through divine guidance, yet I also recognize the need for human support in this journey.

God was silent for 400 years, but why was He silent? He was working. God orchestrated conquests, victories, and defeats. He established trade routes that would be used in the future during Jesus’s ministry to move from region to region. God also coordinated the Maccabean revolt against the Seleucid Empire and the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem. Everything was aligned for His purpose and plan. He was putting everything in its proper place for when John the Bapitizer arrived to prepare others for the arrival of the Messiah.

I know that my “intertestamental” period, marked by its unique challenges and experiences, will not extend for 400 years. I do know God is at work as I sit here, waiting for His next step. Silence from God is not absence or forgetfulness; it is preparation happening behind the scenes. Over the past seven years of working in this nonprofit, I have learned the value of patience and the importance of not pushing my own agenda. I know the Holy Spirit well and can discern His guidance, understanding that others do not personally receive God’s message for me.

I genuinely value the kindness and support I receive from others as I journey through the complexities of growing my nonprofit. However, I often find myself grappling with how to articulate my needs in a way that resonates. It can be disheartening when their interpretations seem so distant from my original intentions, leaving me feeling misunderstood and, at times, even isolated in my vision.

I recognize that this journey can often feel lonely, yet I find solace in believing that God is guiding me every step of the way. Even in solitude, His presence is a constant source of strength. He understands my heart’s depth and my unwavering commitment to Him. This connection fills me with hope and reassurance, reminding me that I am never truly alone.

I will continue to move forward, embracing the journey and recognizing that everything unfolds in its own time. This is a comforting reminder that God’s timing truly matters, not the ticking of my watch.

My love and gratitude for each of you, LoLo

2 Peter 3:8
But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.

My Journey Begins

LoLo Roberts

I was recently accepted into The Open Bible Academy, a two-and-a-half-year program designed for laypeople who want to study seminary without pursuing a ministry position. Although I’ve wanted to apply for several years, I felt called by God to complete my application only last fall. I’ve included this link for you to learn more. https://www.the-oba.org/

I began this journey feeling insecure and inadequate, as I had been out of school for over forty years. I was not the best student during my school years; I was often disinterested and mediocre, prioritizing my social life over my studies. I was never one to think of the future but only of the present.

Since starting this class three weeks ago, I’ve realized that I struggle with studying and understanding my reading assignments. I also didn’t fully grasp what a rubric is. I was aware of my lack of knowledge regarding college and academic terminology, and it’s clear that I need additional support to improve. It was time for me to reassess and adopt a new approach to traditional college course studying. I had to bow my head and kneel to pray for guidance.

“God,” I prayed, “You have placed me here to draw closer to You and to better understand Your words. I need You desperately. I feel like I am sinking fast and must come up for air to grasp what I am meant to do. Please provide me with Your guidance and the resources to fulfill my purpose in my class. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

I sent my SOS to Heaven, hoping that God would find favor in me and grant my prayer. As I had hoped, He was there for me. The next day, I sat with my textbook open, staring at the words, and I felt His presence lifting me. “Listen to My words as you read,” I felt Him say. I took God’s guidance by buying an audiobook that corresponds with my Bible, which would be a good idea so I could hear His words as I read them. It is like God speaking to me directly.

This blog post is brief, but I must focus on my first writing assignment: my perspective on Creation and humanity’s relationship with God. Even though I now understand a rubric and have a step-by-step example of how to structure this paper and the expected flow, I still bow my head, seeking God’s guidance to complete this assignment. I hope you will join me on this journey as I explore my weaknesses and witness how God will develop my faith and devotion to Him.

With love and gratitude, LoLo

Isaiah 43:19
“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”

God, I’m Giving All This to You!

LoLo Roberts

It has been quite a while since I have written a blog post. So much is happening in my ministry, such as feeding insecure senior citizens food, bridging gaps for communities in crisis, and trying to care for myself.

Each April I participate in an Evening of Emowerment. This is an event that victims of violent crime are invited to attend for an opportunity to meet with counselors and legal aid and be pampered. This event offers beautiful meals, new clothing, groceries, massages, and yoga. My purpose at the event is to pray over victims and their families to inspire HOPE and let them know they are not alone.

Every year, I struggle to hear heartbreaking stories and want to fix everyone’s problems through prayer. Over the last five years, praying for 100s of people has caused me to be a bit fearful. Each year becomes more challenging and complex, yet God draws me back every year to serve these families in His name.

I made a “Give It to God” jar this year. This jar would allow women to give what they are struggling with to God and release it from their control. They could write what they wanted to release on a card, fold it, and put it in the jar. I asked them as they placed the card in the jar to ask God to take their struggle from them.

I always wait a few days before I open the card. I want to sit in a quiet, reflective space to read each card. This year, as expected, the cards were more challenging to read. I am not posting the exact prayer request, but a watered-down version. If you are a prayer warrior, please consider praying over a few of these women.

I pray to meet a wonderful, faithful man who will be a father to my son.

I pray to be free of an abusive home life.

Please pray I can be better.

Pray for my disabled body.

I pray that God will forgive me for the life I have led.

I am pregnant and in a domestic violence shelter. Pray my baby is born without complications and we receive a home.

Pray my children come back to God.

Join me in prayer.

Father, Our Gracious God, place your healing hands on these 34 women who feel less than they are or struggling to let go of their struggles. May they begin to trust You and feel Your peace and love for them. May they know that Jesus died on the cross for each of them. I pray that Your peace lands in their hearts and minds as they accept Jesus and Your unconditional love for each of them. Father, make Your presence known to them this very day. I love and trust you, Father, and in Jesus’ holy and precious name, with the power of the Holy Spirit, I pray for these women and children. Amen.

My love and gratitude for you, LoLo.

Walking Through Grief From Fentanyl Poisoning

LoLo Roberts

Death is all around us. When I speak of death, I am not only talking of physical death and loss of loved ones but also of death in society. The Bible presents death as separation: physical death is the separation of the soul from the body, and spiritual death is the separation of the soul from God.

This past weekend, I spoke to a group of families (mainly moms) who have lost their children to fentanyl poisoning and are in extreme grief. They were confused by unanswered questions, dazed by the sudden loss, and present with broken hearts. There were tears, there were fears, and there was emptiness.

I walked into the room and was concerned about relating to the group since I hadn’t had any dealings with fentanyl poisoning. I didn’t know any information about this drug except that it was an aggressive killer and random as to who it would kill. In 2022, there were 4,925 unintentional drug overdoses in Texas. Greater than 44% of those deaths were fentanyl deaths; 2,192 beautiful people became angels and are no longer with us. In 2020, there were 891 fentanyl poisonings in Texas; in 2021, 1648, and 2,192 in 2022. This is a rapid increase in a very short time. The numbers are still being compiled for 2023. The graph below is provided by: https://healthdata.dshs.texas.gov/dashboard/drugs-and-alcohol/fentanyl-trends

Until this meeting, I didn’t really know what fentanyl was. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. Just two milligrams of fentanyl, which is equal to 10-15 grains of table salt, is considered a lethal dose (see picture below). The two moms facilitating this class explain that fentanyl is very cheap. A single dose of fentanyl is considered to be 100 mcg-400 mcg and can cost about $2 or less. The cost of heroin is around $20 per dose. One of the major problems with fentanyl sold on the street is that there is no way to know how much fentanyl something actually contains, and it is one of the easiest opioids to overdose on.

It is sadly not uncommon now to find heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, or MDMA (ecstasy, molly, or mandy) laced with fentanyl on the street. Due to its high potency and low cost per dose, street dealers have found it to be a useful filler or substitute when selling other, more expensive street drugs. (https://www.addictionresource.net/cost-of-drugs/prescription/fentanyl/)

The group I was speaking to was NTX Angel Moms. I met one of the moms last fall at an event I was attending with Grateful Gratitude. I was visiting with the community offering prayers and gratitude hearts. A lady named Jeri approached my table and was so sad. She told me she had lost her daughter and she missed her so much. She didn’t tell me how the loss occured and I didn’t ask seeing her hurt. I asked her to choose a heart to take with her and to remember that I cared for her and would be praying for her peace.

Two weeks ago, Jeri sent me an email and said she was launching a new support group and asked if I would come speak on the importance of journaling and share gratitude hearts with the family members. She then told me she lost her daughter, Jessie to fyntanyl poisoning. Even though I was not sure I could be of help on the subject of fentanyl poisoning, I hoped God would make me a help through the grief support I offer.

The meeting started with family members talking about their family member and how they found out about the loss. I didn’t cry tears on the outside but I felt my heart breaking as they spoke. Some had few words to share, some a lot, all the words clung to my soul. Here were beautiful people living life, yes some with struggles but none with intentions of dying. I saw the faces of the lost loved ones, again, beautiful faces full of life. Please don’t be a person that says I don’t need to know about this because it doesn’t partain to me. It does. We just lost a outstanding teen in a neighboring community to this viscious drug.

I want to show you some pictures from the gathering. Pictures of two moms fighting to save other family members with fentanyl poisoning awareness. Pictures of a few faces lost, now angels and never forgotten. Please reach out to NTX Angel Moms or Because Cullen to have them speak at your PTA meetings, church gatherings, parents groups, or meet with them alone to become educated on how to slow and stop this loss. More information may be found at: https://www.dea.gov/onepill and at Because Cullen: https://www.facebook.com/groups/330821742943543

May God bless you and your families and I pray you learn more about saving lives.                      

               Love & Gratitude, LoLo.

Mary, Did You Know?

LoLo Roberts

So, it has been quite a while since I have posted a blog. There are many reasons for this, but the main reason is my friend and podcast producer passed away unexpectedly on October 1st. Mark Friedman believed in Grateful Gratitude before I knew what Grateful Gratitude would be.

I am floundering to figure out how to continue my podcast since Mark was usually present to banter with me when I recorded. I would always walk into his studio, and he’d always have something he “needed” counseling on (his words, not mine). He wanted my opinion on someone he “liked” (as if we were in high school). It could have been that he wanted to challenge me on my knowledge of the Bible or even talk sports, although I knew nothing about sports. He made every session comfortable and thought-provoking.

As I contemplate this Christmas without podcasts with Mark, my thoughts turn to a beautiful Christmas song, “Mary, Did You Know” by Mark Lowry. The lyrics ring more repeatedly this year than any other year. I wake up with the lyrics swirling in my head at 3 am. Why is this, and how does it relate to Mark “Friedo” Friedman?

It dawned on me that Mark would always say to me, “Hey, did you know…..”? Every session in the studio or any time I ran into him, he would always ask me that question, followed by a random question. I imagine all his friends heard this often, too.

Now that Mark is gone, I reflect on some of those questions. Mark asked me a few profound questions. One was, “Hey, did you know that I think I had a near-death experience when I was in my coma?” Of course, I did not know this at the time. He proceeded to tell me cryptic bits of what he recalled when he lay in a coma that he thought he may have been dying. I studied heaven when my dad was terminally ill with pancreatic cancer. I taught a class on heaven and passing away Mark had attended after he was released from the hospital. I think he felt I might be able to help him understand his experience. This opened the door to more conversations about passing away and going to heaven. May I just say that Mark was not afraid to die and knew the promise of heaven?

Three days before Mark passed away, I went to his studio to record, and as soon as I hit the door, he said, “Hey, did you know I am having more of those experiences we talked about? Do you have time to hang around and talk about them?” Unfortunately, we got off-topic and never had that conversation. Later that afternoon, I remembered I hadn’t discussed the experiences he mentioned. Like many, I stowed it away to talk to Mark about the next time I saw him.

Sunday evening, just three days later, I received the text that Mark had passed away. I was stunned at first and thought the same thought most people had, “I just saw him!” This caused my mind to race and relive the session we just had. He looked great, better than he had all year. He usually was jaundiced, but his eyes were clear and bright white that day. I said to him, “You look great. Better than I can remember.” He laughed and said, “You wouldn’t think that if you saw my blood panels.”

Laying in bed that Sunday night, I dozed off but awoke suddenly around 3 am. A conversation with Mark last spring hit me like a ton of bricks. I arrived early for a lunch meeting, and Mark and my friend Justin were at the restaurant talking. The restaurant was quiet and empty. I hadn’t seen Mark in several weeks. I asked him how he was, and he flippantly said, “Hey, did you know I was in the hospital recently?” “No, how would I know that?” I responded.

Mark looked me in the eyes and said, “Yeah, I was, and the doctors say I have six months to live.” Mark was always kidding, so I responded, “Oh, shut up. That’s not true.”

Mark brushed it off and changed the subject. Mark is such a private person; I would have never expected him to share something like that. Back to “Mary, Did You Know,” why is it haunting me this holiday? It wasn’t mainly the Christmas song, but the words, “Did You know”?

That phrase, “did you know,” brings me back to Mark. It brings me back to that last session when he rallied and looked healthy.

There is an article I read about why people rally before dying. This is what is said:

It is completely normal for someone to rally before passing away. Despite being somewhat shocking to family members, this last-minute surge of energy or clarity can help the individual say their goodbyes, reflect on their life, and process what is happening to them. It helps your loved one tie up loose ends and may give them a sense of control when it comes to their death. This can be particularly healing for those who have sought treatments for illnesses but to no avail.

I feel that Mark knew my faith and that hearing the three little words, “Did you know?” would remind me how special he was. How he believed in me when I didn’t believe in me. This is our last podcast together. Mark, I did not know this would be our last podcast, but I greatly thank you for being there on this day.

Thank you for reading this blog post, and please look up for one minute to say hi to Mark and know he is with Jesus.