About

Welcome to my site!

Briefly about me…I am a retired NYS Parole Officer, having served 27 years in the Harlem precincts of NYC.  For me,  this was best job in the world.  Working with felony offenders was most rewarding and I grew to love the Harlem community.  Each day brought a different challenge and opportunity to see the Lord’s faithfulness.  Touching lives marked by failure, brokenness, addictions, and confusion is a high call – and, while I have often fallen short, I am grateful for the opportunity.   I am grateful most of all for the Lord’s presence throughout each day –  protecting me, leading me, teaching me.   There is no walk in this world like the one led by Christ.

Born of Armenian descent, my life is enriched by the culture and history of Armenia.  The devastating genocide of 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Turks influenced my life, world views, and faith.   Tragedy and suffering make stronger ties than prosperity and happiness.  I do have a love for Armenia and  believe that the Lord is bringing revival to this  ancient land, bestowing “….beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.”   (Isaiah 61:3)

I hope The Burning Lamp is a place that you might find an ember of God to speak to your heart and light up your path.  Thanks for visiting!

 

P.S. You may also like to visit my other site   http://www.crushedbygod.com, exploring the presence of God in suffering.

38 thoughts on “About”

  3. Thank you for visiting my blog and for following. Shnorhakalut’yun! You have a wonderful site. I live in an area with many Armenian families, and I lived in Konya, Turkey years ago, where I learned a lot about the tragedy of the genocide. I’ve learned a few words of Armenian so I can show appreciation and respect to people in my community.

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    • Parev Martha! Yev shad oorakh em! So interesting that you lived in Turkey and now amongst Armenian folks. You have a great blog – I learn a lot from it. Thanks for visiting and encouraging…and following too. May the Lord bless and inspire you! 🙂

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      • Barev Lisa! Inch besek? Please forgive me, I just found your reply. Thank you for writing back. Yes hayeren em sovorel, vorovhedev yes gamavor em hivandanots’um hay hivandneri hed.
        Do you speak Western Armenian? I learned mostly Eastern pronunciation.
        Again, thanks for visiting my blog. I look forward to reading more of yours. God bless.

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      • Oh Martha, I’m impressed! I studied Western Armenian as a youth only to be so disappointed on my first trip to Armenia (1978) I could not understand them at all. Since then, I’ve studied Eastern Armenian but end up mixing things anyway! Your ‘Hayeren lezou’ is surely a cup of cool water to folks from a small, often suffering, country. BTW, expecting ‘Giving Paws’ today in the mail…looking forward! 🙂

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      • Shnorhakalut’yun! I truly appreciate you getting my book. That means so much to me.
        Please tell me what you think. If you want to rate it on Amazon, that would be swell too.
        Recently I had to change dentists, and when I heard that my new one was Armenian, I thanked him in Hayeren and explained why I had learned it. He smiled and gave me a big bear hug. It was the best. I’ve never been hugged by a dentist before. The community near me is big and they stick together, but I find if I reach out and relate to them in their language they warm up. I just have to be careful not to slip into Turkish. The older ones understand it, but it doesn’t make them smile or want to hug me!

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      • Hey, now I’m jealous! I miss those long ago days when I lived in an Armenian communty, most like my grandparents were genocide survivors. Am enjoying your book! Bye for now, wishing you many more hugs! 🌹

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      • Hi Lisa Beth. Inch pes ek? Forgive my transliteration. I hope you are well. Thank you again for reading my book. My publisher has asked me to get folks to rate it on Amazon. How do you feel about that? Would you mind? I’m not very good at self-promotion, so it’s awkward for me to ask, but you have been so kind and I hoped you’d understand. No worries if you don’t want to.
        Shnorhakalut’yun!

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      • Parev Martha! Actually, Giving Paws is right next to my computer to remind me to comment. I loved this book! You are such a gifted writer, I truly felt I was ‘there’ in many scenarios…and was really afraid of Hagatha! I really learned a lot, you touched my heart in many ways. Thank you for sharing your life so beautifully! 🙂

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      • Hi Lisa Beth. You just made my day. Thank you for responding to my message and for your kind words. I truly appreciate it, especially since I enjoy your excellent writing on your blog. If I knew how to add an emoji, you’d see a smiley face here!

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  5. Hi Lisa Beth! Thanks for following my blog and I have signed up to receive your posts as well. Praise the Lord for salvation in Christ Jesus! I saw that you are of Armenian heritage and you mention the Armenian genocide. Perhaps you have seen Elia Kazan’s film, America America? Although the story is told mainly from the perspective of a Greek family living in Turkey during the time of the genocide, I thought you might be interested.
    https://excatholic4christ.wordpress.com/2017/10/25/i-believe-i-believe-that-in-america-i-believe-i-will-be-washed-clean/

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    • Thanks Tom for your thoughtful comments. I have seen America Ametica, maybe three times! Most Armenians of my generation and older grew up with a special ‘radar’ for all things Armenian. But now my heart focus is on the Lord and His people…of every tribe, every nation.
      God bless you Tom, appreciate your visit and your blog!

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    • Wow, that is really something!
      As a book lover and seeker of God, I really enjoy your site. Thanks for posting such edifying articles and thanks for visiting here. May the Lord continue to bless & inspire you!

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  9. I’m afraid I didn’t know much about the genocide in Armenia until I watched a movie a few months ago. I’ll bet a lot of people don’t know about it. It was tragic and hard to believe that such things happen around the world. Just watched a movie a few nights ago about all the people killed under Stalin’s rule.

    Is it any wonder we need a Savior. Thanks for your faith.

    God bless.

    Rebecca

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    • Thanks so much Rebecca for your visit and thoughtful comments. The Armenian genocide is a deep wound, kept open and painful due to Turkey’s denial and continued violation of human rights.
      Yes, we really do need our Savior!
      So good to hear from you, I really enjoy your site. Thanks again. 🌹

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