Living Your Best Life: A Compilation of Lessons Designed to Help You on Your Christian Journey

By Venita Hartley Luzadder

Venita Hartley Luzadder explores how to live your best life in this compilation of lessons she’s learned as a lifelong Christian.
As long as she can remember, she has fond memories of going to church, including youth services on Friday night, which included pizza, quizzes, and preaching. Sunday school provided her with a strong foundation to build a relationship with God. While her life revolved around the church, including her marriage and professional endeavors, she encountered an unexpected and transformative experience: the end of her first marriage. However, the Lord revealed to her that amidst the pain of loss, there was a path to renewal and the blessings of finding true love.
Venita discovered that immersing herself in ministry and embracing her calling allowed her not only to survive but thrive. Through her unwavering devotion, she learned to live her best life, radiating hope and inspiration to others.
In this inspiring narrative, Venita shares her profound insights on navigating life’s challenges, finding strength in faith, and embracing the transformative power of renewal. Join her on this remarkable journey as she reveals the secrets to living a purposeful life, filled with love, joy, and boundless blessings.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Jan 11, 2024
• ISBN: 9798385014668

Venita Hartley Luzadder

Venita Hartley Luzadder has served her home church in numerous positions, including as a Sunday school teacher for forty-five years and the Children’s Ministries coordinator for twenty years. She also sang in the choir and on the praise team. She is co-facilitator of a ladies care group and the church sponsored grief share class. She has a deep love for the Word of God and enjoys helping others move closer to Jesus Christ.

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Copyright © 2024 Venita Hartley Luzadder.

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Unless otherwise indicated, scripture quotations are from the ESV Bible® (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the Holy Bible, King James Version.

Scripture quotations marked AMP are taken from the Amplified® Bible, Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked MSG or The Message are taken from The Message. Copyright 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

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

ISBN: 979-8-3850-1464-4 (sc)

ISBN: 979-8-3850-1465-1 (hc)

ISBN: 979-8-3850-1466-8 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2023923764

WestBow Press rev. date:  01/11/2024

Dedication

This book is dedicated to the love of my life, my husband

Richard Luzadder.

God blessed us with twenty wonderful years together, for which I am so thankful. The cover artwork is a picture Richard painted for me. I wish you were here to see this finished product. You have always been my biggest supporter. Although you were taken too early, I know you are pain-free in the arms of Jesus, and for that I am so grateful. I can hear you say, Baby, we are on another adventure!

I will love you forever.

Contents

Dedication

Introduction

Chapter 1 Stuck in the Mud

Chapter 2 Makes Me Love Everybody

Chapter 3 Soggy Bread

Chapter 4 One Good Turn Deserves Another

Chapter 5 The Face of God

Chapter 6 That Is for the birds!

Chapter 7 Through the Eyes of a Child

Chapter 8 Jesus Wept

Chapter 9 The Patience of Job

Chapter 10 What a Difference a Day Makes

Chapter 11 Put On Your War Clothes

Chapter 12 Light at the End of the Tunnel

Chapter 13 Breathe

Chapter 14 The Choice is Yours

Chapter 15 Stop the Madness

Chapter 16 Miracles Still Happen

Chapter 17 Best Laid Plans

Chapter 18 Character Matters

Chapter 19 Don’t Fall Over Your Pride!

Chapter 20 Blessed and Highly Favored

Chapter 21 Hide the Spies

Chapter 22 Buried Treasure

Chapter 23 Unwavering Faith

Chapter 24 Build Me A life Boat

Chapter 25 The Tip of My Tongue

Chapter 26 I Know Who I Am

Chapter 27 I Know the Peace Speaker

Chapter 28 If You Don’t Stand, You Will Surely Fall

Chapter 29 Sing Like Nobody’s Listening

Chapter 30 What Is in a Name?

Chapter 31 Give God the Glory!

Chapter 32 Out of the Mouths of Babes

Chapter 33 Princess Warrior

Chapter 34 P.U.S.H.

References

Bibliography

Introduction

When I look back over my life,

And I think things over,

I can truly say that I’ve been blessed.

I have a testimony.

As I awoke from a very restless night several years ago, this song was on my heart and in my mind. It brought all the thoughts of my night with very little sleep together. I am truly blessed. I was raised in a Christian home. My mom taught Sunday school and my dad was an usher. They both sang in the choir. Our lives revolved around the church. We were there every time the doors were open.

Church was something I looked forward to. Every Friday night, we had youth service. Everyone came. We called it pizza/pop night. There was something for everyone. We had sword drills, quizzes, special songs, and preaching. One of my favorite games was Name That Hymn. We divided the boys and girls on both of the outside aisles about halfway back. Our pastor’s wife, Lois Newstrand, or the pianist, Lillian Glover, would begin playing a song. Whichever team guessed correctly would move up a row. The first team to the front would win.

Sometimes, as you walked into the sanctuary, the older youth or adults were handed a slip of paper with either a scripture or thought written on it. The preaching consisted of several three-minute sermonettes. What great experience for leading in the church. After church, we would all go to the fellowship hall for refreshments. Those memories are indelibly etched on my heart.

I am the fourth in a family of five children. We were taught at a very young age to put God first in all things. I remember praying at the altar when I was five and six years old. I learned the freedom of worship.

Our parents didn’t allow us to bring bags of toys or snacks to church. I felt lucky to be given Dad’s lesson leaflet from Sunday school and a pen to write with. I remember wanting to take a baby doll to church like some of the other girls. Mom said that church was not a place to play with dolls. She would take Dad’s handkerchief and fold it in such a way that it looked like twin babies lying in a cradle. I would rock it back and forth. That was the extent of my church toys. What that taught me was respect for the house of God.

Sunday school was a wonderful experience for me. The many things I learned in Sunday school gave me a foundation for my relationship with God. That is what it is all about: having a relationship with God. Children are not born anointed vessels. They have to be nurtured and taught. Remember that practice makes perfect. Many people go through their whole lives sitting in the pew, but never really knowing who God is. I remember hearing Edith Walker’s sweet voice when I was in the beginner class telling me about Bible heroes and Bible principles. When I graduated to the junior class, Elsie Ulrich taught me the books of the Bible. To this day, I may struggle saying them but I can sing them. What a treat it was to move to the junior high girls and then on to the youth class. What exciting memories!

When I finally reached the youth group age, I was privileged to be part of Lois Newstrand’s class. She told us, Your reputation is what people think you are. But your character is what God knows you to be. I have taken that principle from her class and tried to base my life on it. I have taught my classes through the years the same thing. It is vitally important as a child of God to have impeccable character.

When I said that church was the center of our lives, I meant it. All of us were involved with everything that came along for our age groups. In the summer, we all went to Vacation Bible School. Our church has a small embankment directly beside it. We would be ushered outside for snacks and games. Those days of playing Red Rover, Red Rover and freeze tag will remain locked away in the recesses of my mind. Those early years were filled with the things that memories are made of. The underlying current was then, and still is, forming a relationship with God and creating a love for God, His people, His church, and His service.

I taught Sunday school and was the children’s ministries coordinator for many years. I feel it is safe to say there is not an age I haven’t taught. Even in teaching, I have continuously been a learner. I have learned numerous lessons observing children and talking to them. The expression out of the mouths of babes really speaks volumes. It is amazing what one can learn when talking with children.

During that time, the unthinkable happened to me. I went through separation and divorce. I was raised in the church, married in the church, and worked in the church. I taught Sunday school, sang in the choir, and was active in other ways. I’ve often said to my friend, the pastor’s daughter Lisa, that at the marriage supper of the lamb, she and I would plan it, decorate the fellowship hall, prepare the meal, serve it, and clean up afterward. I was very involved with my church.

This was not supposed to happen to me. Marriage was supposed to be for a lifetime. I felt like my ministry as I knew it was gone. I was divorced. How could God use me after that? No one would listen to someone who failed in marriage. I felt truly devastated. During one of the many hours spent in prayer, God showed me that the only way to survive the pains of loss was to submerge myself in ministry.

There have been many times since then that I have felt I was going nowhere or that my ministry had gone stagnant. However, one thing is for certain. Water only becomes stagnate when there is no outlet; it remains idle. I chose not to become stagnant.

Although I didn’t have biological children, when my best friend passed away, I was blessed to become the guardian of her two precious young teenagers. Sixteen-year-old Amber chose to live with me through her senior year of high school and college. Her younger brother Landon went to Florida to live with his aunt and uncle. Those days were wonderful and challenging. I wouldn’t trade them for the world.

I learned many lessons during those years. The enemy will use whatever means he can to destroy your soul, your ministry, and even your role as a parent. Do you feel that sometimes you struggle with a desire to come to church or do you feel that getting through the day is a challenge? God has recently proven again that when He gives you something, He will not take it away. He is not an Indian giver. We, however, can give up or become weary in doing good things.

My constant battle is lack of self-esteem. The enemy uses it against me all the time. However, I have determined that nothing and no one will ever take away what God gave to me. I will fight for my ministry because I know it comes from God.

So much has happened since that time. Ministries change as we change and grow in Him. I no longer lead or teach in children’s ministry. I have remained active in the church. God brought a wonderful man into my life. We ministered and served God and the church together for twenty years. I am in a new phase of life. The love of my life reached his heavenly reward earlier this year. Therein lies the foundation of this book. I have been praying diligently for God to show me a purpose for my life. I needed something to focus on. Grief is a terrible thing, but I have learned that God’s Word is true: weeping endures for the night but joy comes in the morning. God has given me some mini lessons or devotions, or whatever you may choose to call them. I trust that as you read and meditate on the passages enclosed, you allow God to touch you. Allow Him to renew, restore, and revive you.

May God richly bless you.

1

STUCK IN THE MUD

Deborah the Prophet

Once again, the Israelites were back to their old ways. Sometimes you just want to say, Will you never learn? They were serving false gods and were warned many times about what would happen if they were disobedient.

Judges 4 and 5 tells the story of Deborah the prophet. Let me share a brief recap of the story.

The commander of the king’s army was very wicked. He had oppressed the Israelites for twenty years. He had nine hundred iron chariots. On their own, the Israelites had no clue how to handle this challenge. As was their habit, they called out to God for help. He didn’t have to help them. He could have said, You are on your own this time. You are making me weary. Every time He got them out of trouble, they followed a different leader and got into trouble again. Nevertheless, He loved them. They were His chosen people, just like us. When we do wrong, we can call out to Him, and He will always be there. God gave us these human bodies and willful minds. The truth is there is nothing you can do on your own to get rid of the sin and wrongdoing.