Civilla Morgan Update

Well, it's been a long time since my last post, too long but better late than never right? I've been studying, finally finishing my bachelor's degree, Bachelor of Science in Management, at The University of Phoenix Online. I should be finished within a year. In the meantime, I have finished the first draft of my manuscript on finance for the everyday person. Yes, I know there are a million different books out there on finance--for the everyday person, but, well, mine will have my personality intertwined using everyday language. I look forward to finally finishing that book, after I finish school.

Although school is my priority right now, another book has begun to roll around inside my brain so I had no choice but to start writing the outline. What else can I do? I can't ignore it. Its like ignoring the fact that I need to breathe. So i breathe as often as I can, but school will continue to be the priority until it's not--until I finish. I already have a title for this book but I will wait until it is copyrighted to mention what it is. I can tell you that like my first book Down Again, the subject matter for this book is very near and dear to my heart. All you over 40 'single no dependents' women out there will understand, and I hope this book will help you make your way through life until your status changes or even if it never does.

Another book I also would like to eventually finish is a novel based on a tragic true story of the sinking of a ferry in the Eastern Caribbean back in the early 1970's. Yes, I have quite a bit of writing to do and I am looking forward to it.

In the meantime, stay tuned here for updates on my books, visit me on Facebook, and of course for my latest articles, visit me at Examiner.com, search Civilla Morgan.

I prayed for a chair

For several weeks I had been perusing the Sunday circulars for a good deal on a chair for my office. After several weeks of getting up from my minimum three-hour online sessions I knew it was either time for a chair or become paralyzed from the waist down. It was that bad.
I did not want to spend too much money but I did not want to have to replace the new chair within two years either. One day I sat down in my old chair and said “Lord, I need a chair.” I then promptly forgot my prayer.
Almost two weeks later my brother and his family along with one of my sisters came into town for the weekend. We were celebrating his birthday. Once the festivities were over, I took them on a tour of my office. His youngest son had assembled my office furniture several weeks earlier and I was as usual doting on my nephew and his fine handy work. A few moments later my brother and sister-in-law pulled me aside and told me that they wanted to bless me with a chair. Of course I told them it was not necessary, that I was chair shopping and that I appreciated their offer but it was ok. My sister-in-law would not hear of it. On their way out of town that same day, they stopped at the local office supply store and ordered a chair. Immediately I got an email from the office supply store advising me that I would have my chair in two days.
The next day I told a co-worker that my brother and sister-in-law bought me a chair and I was so excited! She looked at me and said “but didn’t you pray for a chair?” I sat silently looking at her. I had forgotten my prayer! Isn’t that just like most of us? I prayed for a chair and when the answer came I tried to turn it away. And to top it off, I had forgotten about the prayer! There is a word in here for those of us praying for a Christian spouse, but that’s another article for another day!
When I told my brother and his wife about the prayer, they were amazed, but here is the interesting part. My sister-in-law told me that she was so convicted about buying the chair she just couldn’t shake the conviction. She practically ran down to the store to get the chair! There are two sides to a prayer, the asking and the providing. I prayed for a chair and God provided it through someone who listened to his voice. We must pray believing. Yes, I know some prayers we pray for years. We feel like giving up; it feels like God can’t or won’t hear us, we beg, make promises, and make deals. No answer.
Here is what I have come to realize about God and prayer: He will not answer until it is time. When he does answer; it is not a minute too soon or a minute too late. His answer is usually not the way we expect. And he gives us the best whether it is a spouse, a house, a job, or a chair. As I write this article, I am sitting in my office at my desk on the most beautiful leather chair with lumbar support. Even the armrests are leather. Isn’t that just like God? There’s more to this story. Part two is coming soon. Whatever you are praying for, don’t give up. God will answer and he will give you the best. Your part is to recognize the answer when you see it. It will be wrapped in heavenly perfection.

Christian in a secular workplace

Most Christians do not work in a Christian environment. We have been planted in different places all over the globe in every industry. Some of us are hiding in plain sight while others have no problem proclaiming the name of Jesus up and down the hallways. Most are somewhere in between.

We all know there are rules against harassment of any type in the workplace. Employees should feel safe at all times whether or not other employees agree with their religious beliefs. On the other hand, speaking from a Christian point of view, there is a time and a place for everything. Where I work everyone knows I am a Christian not because I shouted it from the rooftop of the work place but because I am being watched. I also know that I will not win people over by being holier-than-thou. It is as simple as doing my work to the best of my ability at all times, having the right attitude even when I really want to scream, and exercising integrity in everything I do. I’m not perfect. All of this takes practice and a consistent relationship with Christ. It also helps to pray before you walk into your workplace!

There will be co-workers who just don’t like the fact that you are a Christian. They will challenge you, say and do offensive things to attempt to throw you off of your Christian ‘pedestal’, and even try to catch you saying or doing something ‘non-Christian’. What do you do when you are surrounded by people whom I call ‘runners’? They are running from a relationship with Christ because they have been hurt by Christians or hurt by ‘organized religion’. Some of them even grew up in church and know how to ‘do church.’

I have found that the best thing to do is to continue to be who you are, a man or woman of God; and to continue to do the right thing. I also believe that there may come a time when you may have to say something to these individuals. If that has to be done, keep the right attitude. Remember, they want you to get upset and maybe even say something you should not. Pray before talking to these individuals or talking to management and only say something if you must. Remember, you have just as much right to work there and you have just as much right to believe in Christ as they do not to believe. But the right attitude is very important. How will you win these individuals over otherwise?

Regardless of what happens, keep these individuals on your prayer list. You may never see the change, but don’t give up. Someone said “Bloom where you are planted.” It’s not always easy, but that is the mandate to all Christians. Hebrews 13:5-6 says “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”

Have you ever stopped to think of the depth of God? Some people think of him as ‘The Man upstairs’, ‘the Big Guy’, or even ‘The Great Spirit’. But he is so much more than that. Some Christians think of him as ‘The Maker of the Universe’ who has no time for us and our little problems. He is the Creator of the universe, the galaxies, the planets, and everything we see as well as what we do not see. But he also created us. Do you think he made us to turn around and put us aside like a child tired of a new toy?

Some Christians realize who he is, El Shaddai, Jehovah Nissi, Jehovah Shammah, Jehovah Shalom, and Jehovah Misqabbi, just to name a few. Some people will only call him Yahweh, or YHWH. These people believe that to call him anything else is sacrilegious!

When I think of the Names of God, the descriptions of who he is; I can’t help but wonder at his magnificence! He is Lord of all the Earth—Jehovah Adoni Kal Ha’arets, Jehovah Eli—The Lord my God, or Jehovah Go’ el—The Lord thy Redeemer, to name a few more. But when I read the story of Moses (Exodus 3:14) where he asks God ‘who should I tell them sent me?’ God responds by saying “I am that I am…tell them I am sent you…” This verse never ceases to amaze me!

Have you ever stopped to think about whom ‘I am that I am’ is? He is the God of the Universe! He made everything we see and the things we do not see. He made galaxies we haven’t discovered yet, creatures under the sea and in the Amazon we haven’t discovered yet, and he made us! After creating everything I just mentioned he holds it all together in his hands. But he wants to commune with us. He wants a relationship with us. There is a popular Christian song by http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Gungor and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel_Houghton that says in part ‘…who am I that you are mindful of me, that you hear me when I call, is it true that you are thinking of me, how you love me, It’s amazing! I am a friend of God, I am a friend of God, I am a friend of God he calls me friend!’

Can you imagine that “I am that I am” wants to be our friend, that he hears us when we pray about anything; our circumstances, relationship problems, financial problems, problems we could not talk to anyone else about? He rules the Universe but he has time for us. If the CEO of your favorite restaurant or store made time for you, wouldn’t you make sure you looked your best, acted your best, and probably had a list of questions you always wanted to ask him? I am that I am always has time for us. There will come a time when he will not. That will be the Day of Judgment. Now is the time to let him in to our hearts, into our situations, into our lives. Watch him fix our problems as we maintain a relationship with him. He loves us, he cherishes us, and he is never too busy for us. Let him in, you will never regret it. Jehovah El’ohim—My Creator.

2010--HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

If you're reading this, it means that you made it through another year. To God be the glory. I know at least two people who didn't make it. This December has been one of the most interesting Decembers that I can remember. Christmas is my most favorite time of year. I enjoy mailing Christmas cards to family and friends. I love to go shopping after work and on the weekends before Christmas to get that one last gift. I love to hear the Christmas Carols, go to parties, and plays. But this year, December 2009, I lost my Uncle on December 16th and a very good friend on December 28th. One was expected, the other was not, but they both hurt. It is human nature to move through life knowing that we all will die, but somehow not expecting it to happen any time soon, to us or to our close family and friends. The fact is that everyone has close family and friends, so who would be left? No one likes to think about this sad subject, but for those of us who have had near death experiences, the memory of how we almost exited this life never leaves us. We tend to have an extra drive to push through and make the most of life. Our current status might not be what we like but we continue on because we know that if we keep trying we will eventually get to the place we were put on this planet to be. We will become great authors, poets, business owners, evangelists, teachers, preachers, top producing stock brokers, whatever the dream is. But we must dream because none of us knows when and how the end is. Why not have the best life we can, why not find out what our calling is? We all have one. Why not make 2010 the year you go out on a limb and try something different. There are two quotes that I really like: "Why not go out on a limb, isn't that where the fruit is?"--Frank Scully, and "Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." --Ralph Waldo Emerson. Instead of the same resolutions and promises that are forgotten by March, why not try something in 2010? Life is short and you only live once. Sometimes it ends too soon and it hurts to see people in their prime gone so soon. Make 2010 the year you live without regrets, the year you exceed and excel at your dream. I know I will!

Bumper crop

Bumper crop

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Cultivating a relationship with God

Hello, it's been a while since I last wrote, but believe me, I wasn't on vacation. Not even when I was on vacation! I'm now writing for Examiner.com in addition to continuing to promote my book "Down Again", and doing research for future books. Oh, and I work a full time day job. So, below you will find a link to my latest article. Read it, tell me what you think, and hey, why not subscribe to me at examiner.com and get the articles emailed directly to you as soon as they are posted?

http://www.examiner.com/x-17005-Orlando-Christian-Living-Examiner~y2009m10d11-Cultivating-a-relationship-with-God?cid=examiner-email