Hi My Faithful Readers,
I will be taking a break from blogging for the next few weeks and I didn't want to leave you hanging wondering what happened to me. The plan is to spend some time thinking about the direction of the blog and my writing in general. Take care and see you in a few weeks.
Collecting Ebenezers as I travel through life. "Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.” 1 Samuel 7:12
Monday, May 14, 2012
Friday, May 11, 2012
Fingerprint Friday
Fingerprint Friday is the brainchild of Beki at The Rusted Chain. I love the idea of looking for God's fingerprint in our lives so I've decided to make this a regular post.
Fingerprint Friday is based on these words from the beautiful song by Steven Curtis Chapman:
Fingerprint Friday is based on these words from the beautiful song by Steven Curtis Chapman:
I can see the fingerprints of god
When I look at you
I can see the fingerprints of god
And I know its true
You're a masterpiece
That all creation quietly applauds
And you're covered with the fingerprints of god
This week my fingerprint is my mom. I look back on my relationship with my mom and I see how God planned our lives perfectly in making me her daughter and the way she and my dad raised me.
Mom passed away in 2007 so this will be our 5th Mother's Day without her here to celebrate. There's a line in the Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan movie You've Got Mail where Meg's character says, "I missing my mother so much it hurts to breath." Even after five years I have those moments. Thankfully, I have many happy memories to get me through.
My mother was the most amazing woman and I am so very grateful for every minute I had with her.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Friday, May 4, 2012
Fingerprint Friday and Book Giveaway Winner!
Fingerprint Friday is the brainchild of Beki at The Rusted Chain. I love the idea of looking for God's fingerprint in our lives so I've decided to make this a regular post.
Fingerprint Friday is based on these words from the beautiful song by Steven Curtis Chapman:
Fingerprint Friday is based on these words from the beautiful song by Steven Curtis Chapman:
I can see the fingerprints of god
When I look at you
I can see the fingerprints of god
And I know its true
You're a masterpiece
That all creation quietly applauds
And you're covered with the fingerprints of god
Speaking of songs, do you remember the old Garth Brooks song that talks about some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers. Recently I had the opportunity to see how a prayer from long ago might have turned out if God had answered in the way I thought He should. I have to say that His plan really was better than mine.
I see the fingerprint of God in the way He orchestrates my life even through unanswered prayers.
Giveaway Winner!
Congratulations to Lisa from That's What She Said for having her comment picked by Random.org!
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Sunday, April 29, 2012
As One Devil to Another, by Richard Platt
Do you ever wonder how the enemy gets so good at what he
does? CS Lewis pondered this question and came up with The Screwtape Letters. Now, Richard Platt has given us a current
day version of Lewis’ famous book.
As One Devil to Another chronicles the training of new
devil trainee, Scardagger as his Uncle and Mentor, Slashreap guides him in his
first tempting assignment. The mentor
gently guides his pupil in all the skills needed to pull his assignment away
from the Adversary and into the realm of the devil.This clever and entertaining book reads very much like The Screwtape Letters. Platt has done an excellent job of addressing current societal issues that have a way of drawing us away from our Lord. The book is filled with the truth of the Gospel woven through the letters. As a reader I couldn’t help but envision my very own tempter sitting somewhere contemplating ways of dividing my attention. While enjoying the book, I was also convicted of things in my life that I have let slide.
Walter Hooper is considered the foremost biographer of CS Lewis. He has put his stamp of approval on this book. In the preface he writes, “The narrative voice of As One Devil to Another is almost indistinguishable from Lewis’ own.”
Lewis is a hard act follow and done in the wrong way, this book could have been a dull parody of the classic. However, Platt has managed to skillfully write a book that does honor to the original.
Leave a comment, win a book!
Tyndale House Publishers has provided me with a certificate for a free copy of this book to give away to one of my readers. All you have to do is to leave a comment below by midnight MST Wednesday, May 2 and you will be entered in a drawing for the book. The winner will be determined by Random.org.
***Disclaimer: Tyndale House Publishers provided a free copy of this book to me in exchange for an honest review.
Friday, April 27, 2012
Fingerprint Friday
Fingerprint Friday is the brainchild of Beki at The Rusted Chain. I love the idea of looking for God's fingerprint in our lives so I've decided to make this a regular post.
Fingerprint Friday is based on these words from the beautiful song by Steven Curtis Chapman:
Fingerprint Friday is based on these words from the beautiful song by Steven Curtis Chapman:
I can see the fingerprints of god
When I look at you
I can see the fingerprints of god
And I know its true
You're a masterpiece
That all creation quietly applauds
And you're covered with the fingerprints of god
God's fingerprint really is all around us in the simplest to the most complex things. This week I am enjoying these little bits of God...
1. In the soft nuzzle of my kitty cat's head against my cheek when he wakes me up in the morning and the low, gentle purr he emits.
2. The fresh scent of grass and earth after the rain that is so needed to drench our dry land.
3.My dad's deep chuckle as we talk.
4. The gaping hole in my nephew's mouth that signifies his first lost tooth. This too is part of God's plan for our bodies.
5. The juicy, sweet taste of strawberries.
2. The fresh scent of grass and earth after the rain that is so needed to drench our dry land.
3.My dad's deep chuckle as we talk.
4. The gaping hole in my nephew's mouth that signifies his first lost tooth. This too is part of God's plan for our bodies.
5. The juicy, sweet taste of strawberries.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Monday, April 23, 2012
Discouragement and God's Answer to Prayer
Recently I’ve had a couple of things that I was really praying for. I prayed and waited. Then what I hoped would happen, didn’t. I’m sure you can understand that I was disappointed. It left me with a sadness that I couldn’t shake for a few days.
I understand that my prayers aren’t always lined up with God’s plan. I also know that sometimes what seems like an unanswered prayer is just one that was answered in God’s way, not my own.
During the time of waiting for the answers to these two situations I told God that I just needed this one thing in order to be encouraged and buoyed up again. I thought that if either of these two things came to fruition, it would saturate my dry spirit. Either would put God’s stamp of approval on who I am.
Then, right after the second seeming no answer, an acquaintance stopped me and introduced me to her daughter by saying, “Hey, I’m sorry, I forgot your name, but this is my daughter, Sue.*” In the few minute conversation I learned something about the girl’s choices in life that was breaking her mother’s heart. It was something that even without her saying, I knew this was true.
Still, I walked away feeling even more discouraged. I’ve known this person for about a year and yet she didn’t know my name.
Later, when the daughter wasn’t around the person came to me and said, “Now you know how to pray for me.” I smiled and assured her I would pray for her and her daughter.
She didn’t remember my name, but she remembered that I had spoken of my faith. What seemed like a rude introduction was actually a mom knowing that her daughter needed prayer. She knows that the Bible says, “When two or three are gathered in my name, I am there.” And she knew that I would pray.
My sadness at not having my prayers answered in my fashion has lifted. In that one moment it wasn’t important that she didn’t remember my name, she remembered the essence of who I am and she asked me to intercede for her before God. I thought the encouragement I needed was a pat on the back, but God knew that I needed to be reminded of what’s really important about me. I am a pray-er.
*Names have been changed.
I understand that my prayers aren’t always lined up with God’s plan. I also know that sometimes what seems like an unanswered prayer is just one that was answered in God’s way, not my own.
During the time of waiting for the answers to these two situations I told God that I just needed this one thing in order to be encouraged and buoyed up again. I thought that if either of these two things came to fruition, it would saturate my dry spirit. Either would put God’s stamp of approval on who I am.
Then, right after the second seeming no answer, an acquaintance stopped me and introduced me to her daughter by saying, “Hey, I’m sorry, I forgot your name, but this is my daughter, Sue.*” In the few minute conversation I learned something about the girl’s choices in life that was breaking her mother’s heart. It was something that even without her saying, I knew this was true.
Still, I walked away feeling even more discouraged. I’ve known this person for about a year and yet she didn’t know my name.
Later, when the daughter wasn’t around the person came to me and said, “Now you know how to pray for me.” I smiled and assured her I would pray for her and her daughter.
She didn’t remember my name, but she remembered that I had spoken of my faith. What seemed like a rude introduction was actually a mom knowing that her daughter needed prayer. She knows that the Bible says, “When two or three are gathered in my name, I am there.” And she knew that I would pray.
My sadness at not having my prayers answered in my fashion has lifted. In that one moment it wasn’t important that she didn’t remember my name, she remembered the essence of who I am and she asked me to intercede for her before God. I thought the encouragement I needed was a pat on the back, but God knew that I needed to be reminded of what’s really important about me. I am a pray-er.
*Names have been changed.
Friday, April 20, 2012
Fingerprint Friday is the brainchild of Beki at The Rusted Chain. I love the idea of looking for God's fingerprint in our lives so I've decided to make this a regular post.
Fingerprint Friday is based on these words from the beautiful song by Steven Curtis Chapman:
Today's fingerprint is the simple beauty in spring blooms as seen in this photo.
Fingerprint Friday is based on these words from the beautiful song by Steven Curtis Chapman:
I can see the fingerprints of god
When I look at you
I can see the fingerprints of god
And I know its true
You're a masterpiece
That all creation quietly applauds
And you're covered with the fingerprints of god
Today's fingerprint is the simple beauty in spring blooms as seen in this photo.
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