Welcome to my blog!

A funny thing happened one day on my way through the 23rd Psalm.  Its message of comfort and guidance lifted right off the pages of my Bible as visual illustrations of the faithful guidance of the Shepherd for His sheep filled my little family room where I read.  Since that day several years ago, I have recorded these continual lessons of encouragement  from the Lord, and in obedience to Him, I have included 52 of them in the devotional book, “Intimate Moments with the Shepherd–Guidance Through the Challenges of Life.”

The happenings and family and friends surrounding this journey follow….

Phyllis Benigas

 

MISSIONARIES….I JUST LOVE THEM!

Missionaries…I just love them!  Have you ever had the opportunity to spend time with a missionary?  While bowing to a Middle Eastern king may not be a temptation for me (I am a professed news junkie), I have the tendency, at the very least, to bow my heart in the presence of a missionary.  These are individuals who leave the comforts of home, the fellowship of family and friends and the conveniences that no other country in the world seems to offer in order to reach a people group with a message of good news—there is Someone who loves them enough to die for them and who longs to guide them along life’s path.  They are talented people who could live the American dream to the fullest, yet they are compelled to go …and they only know peace when they do.

I am privileged to spend considerable time with these heroes.  Some who live where, if I told you their names and locations, their lives would be in jeopardy; some who live in desolate areas of the world without modern conveniences; and some who live in the mishmash of crowded cities, yet feel terribly alone.  Pray for their protection today, won’t you, and for God’s provision for their lives.  It’s the very least we can do.

One such missionary, my dear friend Margaret Register, has written a compelling book, where she shares the victories, the rigors and the humor of missionary life in “No Place for Plastic Saints.” Maggie is a tremendous communicator—and I promise her stories will entertain you—but they also will challenge you to live out your life following God’s plan for you.  Please visit Maggie at:  www.margaretregister.com

SALUTE TO MOM!

HONORING MOM

SALUTE TO MOM!

“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.” (Proverbs 11:30)  On January 1 of this year, my precious 91 year old mom slipped into eternity to meet face to face the One she loved the most.  Oh, I know she loved me and my brothers and sisters with all her heart, but we all know Who she loved the most.  When she invited Jesus to be a part of her life and accepted Him as her Savior at the age of 30, she began a life-long love affair with Him.  Not only her Savior, He became her best friend that she talked with every day and the One she talked about with everyone she met.  This humble homemaker with seven children somehow managed to find the time to introduce hundreds and hundreds of people, one by one, to their Lord and Savior as she lived out her life on this earth.  I would imagine a great number of them who have gone on before her greeted her as she stepped through those gates of Heaven—sales clerks, grocery carry-out guys, door-to-door salesmen, waitresses, neighbors…

The joy she felt day after day as she introduced others to her Best Friend carried her through many difficult times.  When the challenges of life were overwhelming, she would overwhelm the challenges with the thrill that came from introducing yet another searching soul to the One who brought her so much joy and fulfillment.

In May, we spent a day honoring our mothers, and I honored my mom as I spoke in the Sunday morning service at Holly Hill New Heights Community Church.  Unashamedly biased, I shared that not only was my mom the best mom anyone could ever have, but she was also the wisest person I have ever known.  “She who wins souls is wise,” and she was really wise!  The story of her life makes me want to do better and makes me want to be wiser—and I know just how to do that!

BOARD DUTY

We often hear individuals complain about the time they spend serving on various boards and committees; bored time, they call it—listening to reports, old business, new business, etc.  I recently completed a three-year term on the Assemblies of God World Missions Board—and it was never boring!  Humbled by this opportunity, I approached each meeting with the anticipation of learning how God is using a team of selfless, dedicated individuals to deliver the message of God’s great gift of His son, Jesus, to everyone, everywhere.  I was never disappointed.

 

Thanks to the great leadership of World Missions Executive Director, John Bueno, serving with an open heart and open mind, this fellowship has one of the largest and most respected mission’s endeavors on the planet.  The team of Regional Directors who serve with him, missionaries in their own right, is in tune with the cultures, politics and needs of every country within their regions—it really is amazing.  Equipped with this up-to-date information, missionaries work hand in hand with indigenous pastors and churches to build a strong, self-supporting ministry in cities, towns and villages worldwide.   The increasingly important stateside support team of missionaries equips them with literature, internet resources, training materials, etc.  Over 4,000 people in total, fulfilling the task that Jesus assigned to us so many years ago, “Go…preach…teach.”

 

Bored?  Not a single moment!  My heart has been touched, and I will never be the same. 

         

 

(Check out www.worldmissions.ag.org to be inspired, challenged and informed.  The Photo Gallery is an awesome pictorial collection of God’s beautiful people from around the world.)

Election Reflections

It wasn’t the nail-biting election night we thought it might be.  The result was determined before bedtime, no hanging chads to disrupt our dreams.  Our President-Elect was endorsed by almost 53% of the country, including many who feel that it is the first time in our nation’s history that they will have a voice speaking for them, someone who has walked their walk and understands their cry for equality.  Prejudice is an ugly thing, and hopefully we will never have to look at it again.

In light of Mr. Obama’s past record, I guess my concern today is this — who from his administration will speak out on the behalf of the silent cry from the womb.  Over the next four years, it is estimated that over 4 million souls will go into eternity by way of abortion without an opportunity to live the life that their Creator so lovingly planned for them. (Psalm 139:13-16)   Who will speak for them?  Will President Obama speak on their behalf?   I don’t think so….

Book Signings

Book signings are delightful opportunities for book writers to interact with book readers in bookstores.  I enjoyed a delightful afternoon at Lakeland’s Family Christian Bookstore a few days ago for a book signing of “Intimate Moments with the Shepherd.”  Assisted by my husband Tom, daughter Amanda and daughter-in-law Lacey, we met many shoppers in the busy store and signed many copies.  My deep thanks to a wonderful store manager and helpful staff that made it a great experience for us.

 

It’s humbling to watch someone pick up your book, flip through it and decide that it is something worthy of their hard-earned cash and worthy of the time they will invest reading it.  Over and over again my prayers are whispered, “Lord, may Your blessing touch every word and every heart.”  Thankfully, I receive reports of His faithfulness on a daily basis.

 

Someone asked me that day if I was raised on a sheep farm because of the stories in the book and the sheep pictures I took—this is so very funny.  Raised in the big city, not even the burbs, I often refer to my childhood in “the asphalt jungle,”(minus the heist, for you film buffs). No, my first visit to a sheep farm was four years ago when, out of obedience to the Lord, I sought to publish a devotional book that included sheep pictures.  My trekking through sheep pastures was, indeed, humorous for the shepherds to observe, and I’m convinced I saw more than a few smiling sheep.  Messy business, those sheep pastures, but loaded with lessons for us to learn.  Check out “His Sheep” for an occasional observation from the flock.