Saints’ Survival Kit

By Tamara Lofton

When a person joins a congregation, they are not expecting to encounter any issues. In the real world conflict collides with contention, and insecurity is besieged with self-doubt. With self-centered attitudes, confrontational outbursts, and diverse levels of prejudice, multiple offenses are sure to take place. Witnessing the repercussion of these actions, I’ve often wondered why. The Word of God has a solution to all conflict. Sadly, for some individuals, the church has become a revolving door instead of an anchor of stability.
The word survival has only one meaning but several diverse methods of application and execution—guts, endurance, longevity, durability, vitality, perpetuation, continuity, continuance, and permanence.
From thoughts for the week to chapters of survival, this intentional admonition shares several powerful nuggets of wisdom. I have filled your backpack with tools for survival! Don’t allow opposition to get you off course. The benefits are endless, supporting anyone who desires to become or remain active within a ministry culture.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Dec 23, 2018
• ISBN: 9781546273332

Tamara Lofton

Tamara accepted the Lord as “Saviour and Lord of her life” at age 18, but in reflection, she hadn’t acknowledged Him about what her total career path should be. Coming from a lineage of educators, she also decided to be a teacher. Music was all that she knew; piano lessons since age 4, played for churches since age 12, trained choirs at age 15, went to college as a Music Ed major, studied voice, became a High School music teacher, wrote gospel songs and commercial jingles, and traveled for 13 years as an organist for an evangelist. She had chosen music, but He had another plan. Somewhere between learning to yield to His purpose, and doing life, something changed! The Lord breathed life into dormant gifts, using her in areas that she had not been professionally trained in. A love for music transitioned into a passion for the word. Basic reading, writing, math, and typing skills, became the catalyst. A genuine love for people surfaced. Her focus changed, and she connected, by becoming a tutor of music, math, and the message of Christ. An author and administrator was born, replacing the career path that she had previously chosen for Herself.

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Copyright © 2019 Tamara Lofton. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 12/19/2018

ISBN: 978-1-5462-7334-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5462-7333-2 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2018914976

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

The Practical Bible Dictionary & Concordance (P.S.I & Associates, Inc)

Merriam-Webster Dictionary

Tree Research Reference Books:

A Guide to Field Identification Trees of North America

By: C. Frank Brockman (Golden Press, New York)

Guide to Southern Trees

By: Ellwood S. Harrah & J. George Harran (Dover Publications Inc. New York)

Trees Alive

By: Sarah R. Reidman (Lothrop, Lee & Shepherd Co. New York)

Grand Trees of America

By: Lisa jorgenson (Roberts Rinehart Publishers)

The Blossom on the Bough

By: Anne Ophelia Dowden (Thomas Y. Crowell Company, New York)

Bible citations:

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked AMP are from The Amplified Bible, Old Testament copyright © 1965, 1987 by the Zondervan Corporation. The Amplified Bible, New Testament copyright © 1954, 1958, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked MSG are taken from THE MESSAGE. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. Website.

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Website

Scripture taken from The Holy Bible, King James Version. Public Domain

Scripture quotations marked TLB are taken from The Living Bible copyright © 1971. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked AMP are from The Amplified Bible, Old Testament copyright © 1965, 1987 by the Zondervan Corporation. The Amplified Bible, New Testament copyright © 1954, 1958, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

CONTENTS

Reflections

Dedications

Introduction

Chapter 1   The Stability of a Tree

Chapter 2   The Functional Use of Peace

Chapter 3   The Limitations of God

Chapter 4   All of God’s Shall’s are Loaded

Chapter 5