What if the all-knowing, all-powerful creator of the universe called you to preach the gospel? After you mustered up all the courage you could find to answer that call, you were told.... No Women Allowed.
Dr. Joyce Miller recounts her poignant and often funny struggle with being called by God to preach - but in a church that didn't allow women anywhere near the pulpit. Not that Joyce was exactly excited about God's call; in fact she cried out, "God, I don't want to do this anyway! This was your big idea, why are you making this so difficult?" God's call was sure and because of his faithfulness and Joyce's perseverance, she now preaches in pulpits once reserved only for men. Joyce knows that her father, a minister himself, looks down from heaven and is proud of the fact that his daughter was instrumental in knocking down barriers. Leadership ministry roles once reserved for men only are now beginning to be open to all of God's children, regardless of gender.
Joyce learned many lessons from her father and Madea (mother) in her early years. You'll read of her parent's creative punishments for infractions such as stealing a sweet potato, leaving the gated yard, and deliberately cutting destroying a cotton plant while "The White Man" watched. God used Joyce's unusual upbringing and several poor choices in her early years to show His redemptive power and grace. God offers the same to you, dear reader. What He's done for Joyce, He's more than willing to do for you.
Dr. Joyce Miller is a native of Alexandria, Louisiana, and the seventh of fifteen children. Her mother was a strict disciplinarian and made sure each member of the family did his/her part to make the household function. While schooling was important, it was not always a priority. Joyce remembers, "When it was time to pick cotton in the fields, mother would 'cancel' school for us and off to the fields we would go." In her early years, Joyce did not receive the quality education she now knows is critically important. Because she didn't begin her educational aspirations until later in life, she knows, "With God, all things are possible, if you only believe." It's never too late for Him to use a willing vessel. After 27 consecutive years of college, she walked down the aisle to receive her doctorate of ministry degree, looked up and said, "God, WE did it!"
Dr. Miller is currently the associate minister at The Greater Piney Grove Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia. Happily married for 37 years and has three sons, her said her mission: to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the lost and to equip/encourage the saints through drama, preaching, teaching and interpreting God’s Word to the hearing impaired.
Candice Cunningham, Speech and Language Pathologist of the Atlanta Area School For The Deaf said: No Women Allowed is an inspiration story on how Good took a misguided and very naïve young woman and used her willing spirit to accomplish great things.
NO WOMEN ALLOWED
A Memoir by Dr. Joyce Ann Bell-Miller
ISBN# 978-60585-662-9
www.drjoycemiller.com
I am so not ready for Christmas. I just realized I don't have much time either. One good thing is the DH is off Friday and possibly all next week, so I can give him a few chores to do, which may help some. I'm counting on him to put stamps and labels on the Christmas cards, and do a few things around the house to straighten it out some. Unfortunately, I'm the organizer in the family, so I can't expect too much on the getting-the- house ready front. That's pathetic, since I'm not very organized. (g)
Anyway, I hope to get the house into decent shape before Christmas, when I do my annual meal for the family. There's also that Christmas list to get together. Time is ticking away.
What about you? Are you ready for Christmas? Or do you celebrate another Holiday? If so, are you ready?
One of the main reasons for writing "Cynthia's Attic" came from my failure - failure to appreciate my ancestors. Our family stories are probably no more or less interesting than most, and I went out of my way to avoid remembering most of them or asking questions about my grandparents lives.
For instance. Did I bother to ask my grandfather what it was like playing in the first night football game in America?
Or did I try to find out just which relative "supposedly" sold a city block on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles for $20,000? Guaranteed, I would not be sitting here writing a blog had that particular relative held on to the property.
Then there's the story, "Cynthia's Attic: Curse of the Bayou," of my great-great grandfather, Augustus Boilliat who disappeared in 1860 while taking a load of produce down the Mississippi River to New Orleans? Oh, sure I've read different accounts about what happened to him, but lost forever are the stories his grandson (my grandfather) could've told me about facts he'd heard from my great-great grandmother, Marie Julia, about her husband's disappearance.
I remember a few accounts told by my dad about his adventures as a teenage cave guide at one of the largest caves in the Southern Indiana area, Wyandotte, but I only have to guess at some of the adventures he must've had.
That's why I'm writing adventures I wanted my ancestors to have; adventures I can enjoy with them through the eyes and voice of my character, Gus.
The idea for Cynthia's Attic: The Magician's Castle came from detailed genealogy research done by my cousin, Betty. Long before the Internet, she traveled to Switzerland to search for documents that would tie our great-grandmother, Harriet Kistler, to Peter Kistler the First, President of the Republic of Bern, 1470-1480. I've tried to honor the Kistler family in the fourth adventure in Cynthia's Attic.
Thanks, Morgan, for having me as a guest!
Mary Cunningham
Mary Cunningham is the author of the award-winning 'Tween fantasy/mystery series, Cynthia’s Attic. She is proud to announce the release of book four, "The Magician's Castle," Dec 1, 2009. Her children's mystery series was inspired by a recurring dream about a mysterious attic. After realizing that the dream took place in the home of her childhood friend, Cynthia, the dreams stopped and the writing began.
She is also co-writer of the humor-filled, women's lifestyle book, "Women Only Over Fifty (WOOF)," along with published stories, "Ghost Light" and "Christmas Daisy," A Cynthia's Attic short story.
To celebrate the release of "The Magician's Castle," (Quake/Echelon Press, DEC 1, 2009), a winner will be chosen on each blog stop to receive a copy of the "Cynthia's Attic" short story, "Christmas With Daisy!" So, be sure to make a comment!
Monday, I'm over at my group blog, http://makeminemystery.blogspot.com/, where I'm blogging about the mystery of the missing checks. Come on over and find out what it's all about.
I'm firming up some dates for speaking engagements in 2010. One's tentatively set for March 28, at 1:30 at the Niles Public Library, another probably in mid May at the Schaumburg Township District Library.
Also, coming up is a radio interview at WJJQ again on May 7, at 9:35 a.m. before my booksigning May 8 at Cover to Cover Books in Tomahawk, WI.
I've heard that some people are more afraid of public speaking than of dying. Surprisingly, I find it easier each time I do it. As long as I have my cheat sheet with me to glance down at once in a while for security and I like what I'm talking about, I'm okay.
What about you? Do you like to talk or would you rather not?
Once, Connor believed that his ability to see the future would grant him everything. Instead, it landed him in a prison of his own making. Connor gains wealth and prestige, but with every vision, his own sight dims. Moira curses herself for failing…
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