Mirrors: As Were Some of You

By Fonda Royster

Oftentimes, both Christians and non-believers separate themselves from the characters found in the Bible. Additionally, both groups perceive the current era to be the only time when people have had to deal with generational or environmental issues, or issues such as addiction, mental health issues, feelings of low self-worth, poverty, and even s

• Language: English
• Publisher: Palmetto Publishing
• Release date: Mar 16, 2022
• ISBN: 9781638377962

Fonda Royster

Fonda J. Royster's biggest passion is to show others that God can make (and love) someone who has nothing and turn them into something great. God loves us so much that He gives each of us the opportunity to live a productive and safe life. Fonda wants to show readers that it is all right to have problems and issues, because God always offers us a way to change and escape them.Fonda is a proud mother of four: Rhema, Erick, Sarai, and Ariel. She holds an MA in Human Services, a BA in Sociology, and an AA in Social Work. She has over 17 years experience working in social services, ranging from working with the dd population, to preteen mothers, to drug/alcohol addicted individuals. Fonda is a proud member of Back2Life Deliverance Center in Toledo, Ohio. She is also a member of the Alpha Kappa Delta International Sociology Honor Society.

Book preview

Foreword

"A

nd let our lives be the mirror that reflects the image of Christ! Every Sunday night, growing up in the church that my grandfather pastored, we would end our youth services by reciting these words. It wasn’t until I became a pastor many years later that the full weight of our youth motto hit me. In Genesis chapter 1, we are told that God created man and endowed him with a reflective nature: And God said, Let us make man IN OUR IMAGE, after our likeness…So God created man in his own IMAGE, in the IMAGE OF GOD created he him; male and female created he them" (Gen. 1:26–27 KJV, emphasis added).

Mirrors are created to reflect images. However, mirrors are limited in that they can only reflect the image that they are turned toward. When the position of the mirror changes, the image within the mirror changes as well. Adam was created to reflect the image of God. As long as Adam stayed in proper position facing God he reflected God…but when Adam (and Eve) turned from God, he began to reflect satanic images of sin, rebellion, and death. What was true for the first man is truth for all mankind. As long as men turn their faces to God, they reflect His image (His nature, His joy, His peace, His love, His gentleness, His power, and His glory), but when they turn away, they begin to reflect Satan's nature (his pride, his jealousy, his wickedness, and his evil). When this happens, God implores them as mirrors to turn back to Him! We see this repeated throughout biblical history. IF MY PEOPLE, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land (2 Chron. 7:14 KJV, emphasis added).

It can be said, then, that the Bible is a house of mirrors…a compilation of the real-life struggles of men and women to turn from the nature of sin to become righteous reflections of Almighty God. In her new book Mirrors, Fonda Royster a takes us on an insightful journey through the Word of God, exploring and examining the tragedies and triumphs of everyday people like you and me. As you reflect upon the comparisons and contrasts of these biblical characters, it is my prayer that you will receive fresh revelation and inspiration that will spur you on and encourage you to let your lives be the mirror that reflects the image of Christ.

Yours in Christ Jesus,

Apostle Dr. Andre L. Cranford Sr.

Samson

The Prideful: The Last Righteous Judge

T

he lights flickered up ahead in the distance, along with the sound of feet walking to-and-fro in the prison. The faint sound of water slowly dripping from an old, dingy pipe splashed into a puddle on the floor, reflecting the current state of Samson's life.

Plucked eyes were not the reason he could not see the bars that locked him in the cold, concrete walls that were offered as a failed attempt to give his body rest for his long day's toil. His gloom came from his pride and rebellion. Samson's blindness offered comfort.

How could I be so stupid? Samson whispered to himself. Samson dared not condemn himself out loud. His sadness sat on him like a crown. He refused to cry. He knew that if he let out a