Sarah Geringer's Blog, page 87
January 24, 2017
A Time to Search
Today’s post is based on chapter 10 of my latest book, Newness of Life, recently released on Amazon. Get your copy this week for only $1.99!
There is a time to search, and a time to stop searching.
In my creative pursuits, I often stopped searching too soon.
In high school and college, my creative talents flourished. My days were immersed in writing, making art, and playing music, and I enjoyed getting swept up in the “flow” of creative energy, that sweet spot where time stands still and creation brings such pleasure.
Upon college graduation, I was shocked by the real world. To make a living, I answered phones, filed papers, and ran errands for higher-ups. The creative opportunities were given to experienced people. If I used my gifts at all, it was to typeset price tags or correct grammar mistakes on company letters. A far cry from the beautiful drawings and poems I made in my classes.
As a young idealist, I felt disillusioned. I stopped searching for opportunities to create because I felt confused and unappreciated. Then my babies were born, and I had little time to create, other than writing in my journals. I prayed frustrated prayers. “God, you gave me these gifts. When will I be able to use them?” I asked again and again.
Have you also given up your dreams, because life got in the way? Because disillusionment stopped your search?
In 2010 I began blogging. I wasn’t sure what to write about, but I couldn’t suppress the urge to create any longer. I saw opportunity waiting on the Internet, and I seized the moment.
In 2013 I attended my first writers’ conference and joined a local writers guild. Meeting with others who shared similar struggles and frustrations bolstered my confidence.
In 2016 I began blogging five days a week. I finally finished my memoir after six years, and I entered the world of self-publishing.
What spurred my renewed search for creative opportunities?
Adversity.
In my overwhelm, the enemy snarled, “You’ll never realize your dreams. You’ll be stuck pushing papers the rest of your life. Too many bills to pay, too little time available to make this a priority.”
In my depression, the enemy mocked, “You’re a nobody. No one will want to read what you write.”
In my scarcity mindset, the enemy accused, “Your time is past. Your opportunities are gone. Success is reserved for someone else.”
Adversity tore my heart again and again. I encountered difficult situations when my work became less and less satisfying, and higher-ups heaped negativity on my head.
But when a muscle is pushed to its limit, it regains strength when the tiny torn fibers are repaired. Adversity strengthened my resolve to renew my search.
I am in a new season of life, a season of asking, seeking, and knocking. A season of searching for new opportunities. A season of making connections and learning new techniques. No longer searching to overcome disillusion, frustration, and negativity. No longer searching to overcome a lack of confidence.
This season of searching is not about proving my worth; this season of searching is about giving God glory.
In this new season, I’m finding an active, living peace. Peace comes through joining in the work God is already doing. I don’t have to manufacture my own opportunities; I simply look for where God is working, and join in. He doesn’t want me to search out of desperation any longer. He wants me to search for him first.
I am trusting that if I search for God first, everything I need will be granted to me. (Matthew 6:33).
I am trusting him to teach me what’s worth searching for and which searches need stopping.
I am trusting him for newness of life in my season of asking, seeking, and knocking.
Questions for reflection: (please comment below)
What do you need to start searching for? What is your motivation?
What search do you need to stop, so you can experience God’s peace in a new way?
Study Guides
Here are links to free resources that will help you in the online Bible study or your personal study of Newness of Life:
Online Bible Study Reading Plan
Giveaways
Giveaways will be announced on Fridays. If you comment in my Facebook group this week, you’ll be entered to win a prize on Jan. 27. All comments will be entered to win the grand prize on Feb. 3.
This week’s winner will receive a copy of Jesus Today and a magnet set of these beauties:
My new book will help you apply Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 so you can understand God’s plan in your current season.
“There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens.” Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV
No matter what season you are in, God is teaching you valuable lessons to grow your faith and trust in Him. We will discover what God is saying through the different times and activities we traverse.
I look forward to hearing how God is working in your current life season. I hope you will join in the fun and discussion on the online Bible study.
Please vote 17 on this link: Click HERE! so I can make my publishing dream come true. God set me free from my fear of abandonment, and I want the world to know!
Please spread the word about Newness of Life on social media, using the buttons below to share this post!
This post will be linked up at #tellhisstory, #testimonytuesday, #raralinkup, and #tuestalk. Visit my linkups page to find links to these wonderful blogs.
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January 23, 2017
A Fresh Batch of Book Reviews #3
Enjoy three book reviews and check out my latest book, Newness of Life, on sale for $1.99 this week only!
Katharine and Martin Luther by Michelle DeRusha
This year marks the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, led by Martin Luther. As a longtime Lutheran this book idea held appeal for me. I just started reading this book and I can’t put it down. Even though I learned much about Luther’s history as a Lutheran schoolgirl, Michelle DeRusha fills in many gaps in this storyline so familiar to me. She is a gifted historian and storyteller, bringing ancient manuscripts to life and painting a sympathetic portrait of Martin and Katharina, imagining their emotions and challenges in a way that seems instantly relatable in 2017. What a perfect time for this book to come into print (January 31)! I will post a more in-depth review once I finish the book.
100-Day Vocabulary Word Devotional by Alan Balmer
I love Bible studies, and I love discovering new words. This book caters to both of my affections. Each day begins with a new, somewhat unfamiliar word and its definition. The following scripture and devotion explains how the word can be applied. It’s a vocabulary lesson tied together with solid Bible teaching. I like the “Bottom Line of the Day,” which helps you apply both the vocabulary word and the scripture teaching to everyday situations. The English major in me is enjoying this unique new study!
Epic Christianity by Jamie Mailhot
I liked the positive tone of this book and its solid biblical basis. I found the suggestions to be positive also, but not truly original. The chapters were very long. The book is advertised as a seven-day journery, but plan on spending two to three days per chapter unless you have an hour to spend each day. Overall this book is a decent resource if you haven’t read anything else on goal-setting and life-planning before. For goal-setting, I prefer Living Forward by Michael Hyatt and Daniel Harkavy.
Looking for Newness of Life in your current life season?
My new book Newness of Life will help you apply Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 so you can understand God’s plan in your current season.
“There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens.” Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV
No matter what season you are in, God is teaching you valuable lessons to grow your faith and trust in Him. We will discover what God is saying through the different times and activities we traverse.
If you comment in my online Bible study throughout this study, you’ll be entered to win prizes every Friday through Feb. 3.
This week’s winner will receive a copy of Jesus Today and a magnet set of these beauties:
Please vote 17 on this link: Click HERE! so I can make my publishing dream come true. God set me free from my fear of abandonment, and I want the world to know!
Please spread the word about Newness of Life on social media, using the buttons below to share this post!
This post will be linked up at #momentsofhope, #mondaymusings, #mommymoments, #modestmommondays, #heartofhomemaking, #dreamtogether, #soulsurvival, #smallwonder, and #glimpsesofhisbeauty. Visit my linkups page to find links to these wonderful blogs.
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January 20, 2017
Festive Friday #2
Festive Fridays are for counting blessings, recapping posts, announcing giveaways, and sharing special treats with you.
Special Treat
Since I plan to be at the She Speaks 2017 conference on my daughter’s birthday, we are celebrating her half-birthday with a snowman party this weekend. Even though the temperature is forecasted to be in the 60’s, we’ll have a snowy, girly holiday inside with four of her friends. I kept my Christmas tree up and replaced the red and gold decor with snowmen and snowflakes. We’ll decorate wintry butter cookies and create snowmen crafts.
Here’s my recipe for Ultimate Baked Potato Soup, in the lineup with all the white foods at our party.
6 large Russet potatoes, or 3 lbs. Yukon Gold potatoes (your choice)
1 T vegetable oil
1 T kosher salt
3 T butter
3 T flour
1 t. seasoned salt (I like Penzey’s 4S)
1 t. freshly ground black pepper
2-3 cups milk (I use skim)
1 14-oz. can fat-free evaporated milk
Pinch of ground nutmeg
Pinch of ground cayenne pepper
Additional salt and pepper to taste
Optional toppings: shredded cheddar or Colby cheese, sour cream, crumbled bacon, sliced green onions
Scrub baking potatoes. Wipe dry with clean towel. Rub with vegetable oil and sprinkle with salt. Place on baking sheet and bake at 400 degrees until tender when knife is inserted, about 1 hour. Cool until able to handle.
Cut potatoes in half lengthwise. Scoop out insides and set aside. Reserve the skins for other use (great for potato skin appetizers, and they freeze well in resealable bags).
In a large stock pan or Dutch oven, melt butter over medium-low heat. Whisk in flour, seasoned salt, and pepper. When roux is light brown, slowly whisk in 2 cups milk, about 1/2 cup at a time, until mixture is incorporated. Pour in one can of fat-free evaporated milk, which gives the soup wonderful body and richness. Season with nutmeg and cayenne pepper. Heat through on medium-low heat, stirring often with whisk.
Place potatoes in milk mixture. Heat through and emulsify with an immersion blender, or put batches in a blender and pulse until mixture is smooth, adding more milk as needed. Season with more salt and pepper to taste.
Recap of This Week’s Posts
On Monday I shared a fresh batch of book reviews.
On Tuesday I wrote about a time to cry and a time to laugh.[image error]
On Wednesday I wrote about grieving and dancing (memoir poem included!).
On Thursday I shared my past struggle with idol worship.
Questions for reflection: (please comment below)
Which post from this week resonated most deeply with you?
Have you joined the online Bible study? If not, please visit the link now!
Counting Blessings
I am currently in second place in the Fear Fighting Bloggers Contest. If you will take 30 seconds and vote for me, I will be so grateful! Vote 17 in the comments section on this link (click here)! One vote per email/IP address. Please comment if you voted for me. I will have a special prize drawing for all my voters at the end of February.
My new book Newness of Life is priced at 99 cents through Sun. 1/22. If you have downloaded the book, please post a review to Amazon and consider reviewing it on your blog, thanks!
January is more than halfway through, and this is the first time in years I haven’t succumbed to serious winter blues. My passion for writing is apparently giving me a great boost of endorphins!
Giveaways
Congratulations to Mary Ann H.,
this week’s giveaway winner! Thanks for your comment in the online Bible study group!
Mary Ann will receive a copy of Jen Wilkin’s book None Like Him and a magnet set of these beauties:
More prizes will be given on Jan. 27 and Feb. 3, so please join the online Bible study today!
Congratulations to Meghan W., winner of a free download of Newness of Life! Thanks for entering the giveaway!
My new book Newness of Life will help you apply Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 so you can understand God’s plan in your current season.
“There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens.” Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV
No matter what season you are in, God is teaching you valuable lessons to grow your faith and trust in Him. We will discover what God is saying through the different times and activities we traverse.
I look forward to hearing how God is working in your current life season. I hope you will join in the fun and discussion on the online Bible study.
Please spread the word about Newness of Life on social media, using the buttons below to share this post!
This post will be linked up at #dancewithjesus, #faithnfriends, #freshmarketfriday, #graceandtruth, and #fridayfive. Visit my linkups page to find links to these wonderful blogs.
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January 19, 2017
A Time for Blind Faith
Today’s post is based on chapter 8 of my latest book, Newness of Life, recently released on Amazon.
In this chapter about scattering and gathering stones, I spoke of smashing idol worship and remembering God’s faithfulness. Today I will combine this theme with the idea of blind faith, as prompted by the Live Free Thursday linkup.
I took up blind faith to smash my idol several years ago.
My home, my cozy haven. The beautiful, giant idol holding so many dreams. Dreams of family together forever, the way it should have been for us growing up, the way I desperately longed for our children. Dreams of security, safety, serenity. Perfect peace. All tied up in 2,400 square feet of beech floors, Andersen windows, whitewashed walls, and thousands of nails.
I trembled as I lingered in my van one afternoon, sitting in the dark garage, unable to turn off the words of Andy Stanley in a radio broadcast. He spoke of idol worship in our contemporary culture. He spoke of anything in our heart taking the rightful place of God, calling it an idol. And I heard God saying, “Sarah, your house is your idol.”
God wasn’t jealous of the trees we cleared, the foundation walls we poured, or the trusses we set. He wasn’t jealous of the cabinets holding our dishes, the doors guarding our rooms, or the walls framing us in.
God was jealous of my heart’s cry for home as the solution to all my struggles. Home as my source of security, when he longed to provide all the security I wanted. Home as my shield, my steadfast companion, my shelter from literal and emotional storms. God wanted to be everything for me, and he wasn’t willing to share any piece of my heart with my home or anything else.
For weeks I struggled with the notion of idol worship. How can my home really be an idol? We need a place to live, I argued. We have $60,000 in sweat equity, I reasoned. We are within the 25%-34% recommended budget range on the mortgage, I rationalized. Choking back tears, I pleaded: I always wanted to live here, not just anywhere. I want to live where generations of my family have settled. I want this part of your world to be my home, Father.
Another sermon came back to me from Dr. Charles Stanley, Andy Stanley’s father. He told of a time he gave up his cameras when prompted by God to do so. It made no sense whatsoever. Dr. Stanley is an accomplished photographer and didn’t think he had any idol problem with his cameras. But God said, Charles, you need to give them up. He struggled against the idea for a while, but finally decided to sell all his equipment at a camera shop. Right then a peace that passed all understanding came over him.
Only a short time afterward a friend knocked at his door. She had heard his story and decided to purchase his cameras back for him. She was so impressed with his blind faith, she prayed about what to do, and God prompted her to buy the cameras back. Dr. Stanley was overwhelmed by God’s perfect knowledge. He knew he had passed a spiritual test and didn’t regret his choice, even when it made no sense.
I didn’t agree to put our house up for sale. But I prayed God would unseat my home from its wrongful place in my heart. I prayed that if I gave my house over to God in my heart, he would somehow give it back to me like he returned Dr. Stanley’s cameras.
I didn’t understand what God wanted me to do, but I trusted him to show me, and I moved forward in blind faith, trembling and afraid.
That was ten years ago. God never asked me to give up my house; I’m writing these words in this same lovely home. However, in the painful process of helping me smash the house idol in my heart, he revealed dozens more. Relationships. Food. Daydreams. Books. Creature comforts. God used the first idol to expose others. He drew me closer and closer to himself by stripping the idols away, whispering:
I AM your comforter. I AM your shelter. I AM your shield. I AM your safe haven. I AM your security. I AM your strength. I AM your perfect peace.
When I was healed, I took up the stones of those smashed idols and erected milestones of faith:
This stone marks the time I learned to trust God for security instead of my house.
This stone marks the time I learned relationships will never fill me completely up, but God can.
This stone marks the time I learned food is fuel, not my friend; a delight, but not a drug.
This stone marks the time I learned daydreams lead me astray, but God’s word steeps me in truth.
This stone marks the time I learned books are blessings only in moderation.
This stone marks the time I learned to be thankful for creature comforts but not dependent upon them for happiness.
This stone marks the time I moved forward in blind faith.
Questions for reflection: (please comment below)
What idols in your heart need to be smashed?
What stones of remembrance can you set up today in your heart?
Here are links to free resources that will help you in the online Bible study or personal study of Newness of Life:
Online Bible Study Reading Plan
Giveaways
Giveaways will be announced on Fridays. If you comment in my online Bible study throughout this study, you’ll be entered to win prizes on Jan. 20 and Jan. 27. All comments will be entered to win the grand prize on Feb. 3.
This week’s winner will receive a copy of Jen Wilkin’s book None Like Him and a magnet set of these beauties:
Congratulations to Meg, winner of a free copy of Newness of Life!
My new book Newness of Life will help you apply Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 so you can understand God’s plan in your current season.
“There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens.” Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV
No matter what season you are in, God is teaching you valuable lessons to grow your faith and trust in Him. We will discover what God is saying through the different times and activities we traverse.
I look forward to hearing how God is working in your current life season. I hope you will join in the fun and discussion on the online Bible study.
Please vote 17 on this link: Click HERE! so I can make my publishing dream come true. God set me free from my fear of abandonment, and I want the world to know!
Please spread the word about Newness of Life on social media, using the buttons below to share this post!
This post will be linked up at #gracemoments, #livefreethursday, #thoughtprovokingthursday, #chasingcommunity, #dancewithjesus, #faithnfriends, #freshmarketfriday, and #graceandtruth. Visit my linkups page to find links to these wonderful blogs.
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Subscribe to my mailing list and receive two free gifts: 7 Ways to Find and Share Encouragement and a 2017 Peaceful Garden printable calendar!
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January 18, 2017
A Time to Grieve, A Time to Dance
Today’s post is based on chapter 7 of my latest book, Newness of Life, recently released on Amazon. Get your copy now, and be sure to enter the giveaway below for a free copy!
Yesterday I read a post on Jennifer Dukes Lee’s blog about grief, penned by Cheri Gregory. Cheri wrote so beautifully about grief, I want to include an excerpt here. Head over to Jennifer’s blog to enter a book giveaway this week only!
How Grief Ushers in Gratitude
For much of last year, guilt kept me focused on everything lacking from my relationship with my mother—all that I so desperately wanted but never got from her.
One day, while talking to a friend, I off-handedly described my malfunctioning cell phone as “invented by the devil to make Christians swear!”
Then, I began to simultaneously cry and giggle.
I hadn’t heard that expression in years, not since well before Mother’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Hearing myself speak her familiar words caused me deep pain yet gave me untold comfort.
I began to notice dozens of little ways in which I’m a lot like Mother:
– The way I “clean as I go” when cooking.
– The way I purse my lips when I’m annoyed.
– The set of my jaw when I’m determined.
– How much my hands look like hers.
– How fast she taught me to walk.
With each new memory come three distinct gifts:
Permission. As I give myself permission to finally grieve—to cry, to wish for what I’d never had, and to miss my mother—guilt loosens its grip.
Compassion. As my guilt subsides, my compassion toward my mother grows. She did the best she knew how to do in the face of myriad difficulties I’ve never known.
Appreciation. Remembrances of my mother are coming back sweeter and sweeter, because I’m intentionally looking for what I can be grateful for in each one.
Over and over again, in a healing cycle:
Permission.
Compassion.
Appreciation.
My overwhelming grief transformed, by God’s grace, into overflowing gratitude.
Wasn’t that a beautiful reflection by Cheri? Please leave a comment below and I’ll forward them to her!
Now, a special treat about dancing…a memoir poem from my childhood.
Codfish Ball, age 4
Mommy takes me to tap lessons.
I love the click-click sound
of my shiny black shoes
on the wood floor.
We practice and practice
our song and dance
for the Codfish Ball.
My teacher says
we get to perform
for our mommies and daddies.
We get sparkly green leotards
so we look like fish.
Mommy even lets me
wear blush and lipstick.
I smile big for the picture.
When we get to the show
we wait behind a curtain.
I got a peek of what’s out there—
lots of dark faces
and a very bright light.
Suddenly I feel tears.
I don’t want to go!
I don’t want to dance and sing
in front of everyone.
But I practiced so hard
and Mommy wants to see me.
Teacher sees me crying
and sends for Mommy.
I don’t want to cry
but I can’t help it.
Mommy asks, if I go
right behind Teacher
would it be okay?
I will try.
Mommy wipes my tears away
and fixes my blush.
It’s time to go!
The light is so bright
and the faces are so dark
but Teacher is right beside me
and I go first
with all the other girls following me.
I pretend I don’t see anyone
and I just sparkle and dance.
Questions for reflection: (please comment below)
What blessings have you unexpectedly received in a season of grief?
How can you praise God today by simply sparkling and dancing?
Here are links to free resources that will help you in the online Bible study or personal study of Newness of Life:
Online Bible Study Reading Plan
Giveaways
Giveaways will be announced on Fridays. If you comment in my online Bible study throughout this study, you’ll be entered to win prizes on Jan. 20 and Jan. 27. All comments will be entered to win the grand prize on Feb. 3.
This week’s winner will receive a copy of Jen Wilkin’s book None Like Him and a magnet set of these beauties:
Enter this special giveaway to receive a free download of Newness of Life!
My new book Newness of Life will help you apply Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 so you can understand God’s plan in your current season.
“There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens.” Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV
No matter what season you are in, God is teaching you valuable lessons to grow your faith and trust in Him. We will discover what God is saying through the different times and activities we traverse.
I look forward to hearing how God is working in your current life season. I hope you will join in the fun and discussion on the online Bible study.
Please vote 17 on this link: Click HERE! so I can make my publishing dream come true. God set me free from my fear of abandonment, and I want the world to know!
Please spread the word about Newness of Life on social media, using the buttons below to share this post!
This post will be linked up at #coffeeforyourheart, #wisewomanlinkup, #gracemoments, #dancewithjesus, #faithnfriends, #freshmarketfriday, and #graceandtruth. Visit my linkups page to find links to these wonderful blogs.
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January 17, 2017
A Time for Crying and Laughing
Today’s post is based on chapter 6 of my latest book, Newness of Life, recently released on Amazon. Get your copy now, and be sure to enter the giveaway below for a free copy!
Many of you have voted for me (17) in this special contest, and I am so thankful for that! If you have yet to do so, please read this excerpt of my linked post to the contest, which fits today’s description of a time to cry, and vote 17 for me please!
In April 2015 my worst fear came to life in front of my eyes. My husband packed his bags and told our children goodbye, telling me he was moving out. I was that little four-year-old girl again, abandoned by my daddy, huddled on my bed and crying.
But in the middle of the night, a peace stole over me like I had never known. In my darkest valley, when I finally saw the face of my haunting fear, I also saw the face of perfect Love.
Perfect love casts out fear. 1 John 4:18 NRSV
Love Himself sat with me in that April bedroom in 1982, collecting my tears.
Love Himself held me in the palm of his hand at both of my parents’ remarriages.
Love Himself stood guard at the door when I was home alone.
Love Himself whispered truth to me when I faced rejection, loneliness, and despair.
Love Himself held me close when I faced an uncertain future in April 2015.
Love Himself gave me the strength to stand up to fear and stand up for my marriage. I set boundary stones and said, “This far and no further.” Prayer was my food. Tears were my drink. I was standing in the valley of the shadow of death on our marriage, yet I felt empowered. Uplifted. Unafraid.
Love Himself restored our marriage at the end of May. Love Himself captured my tears in little blue bottles and set them on a special windowsill in heaven, just like the one in my kitchen. Psalm 56:8
Love Himself gave me newness of life. He planted seeds in those bottles, and new life is growing from those tears. New life which will help others trapped in the fear of abandonment. New life to set free those who grieve and mourn. New life to strengthen the hearts of those who seek Him.
If you enjoyed this excerpt, please jump over to the contest and vote 17 for me today, thanks!
As you can probably tell, I’ve done my fair share of crying. The last time I cried was Sunday evening, when I felt overstimulated in a good way from a meeting with other writers. My tears needed to flow to release internal pressure. I felt relieved and reset after those tears fell.
I intentionally seek out times for laughing to counter my serious, melancholy nature. My top ten favorite sources of laughter:
Giggling with my husband, who shares my dry sense of humor
Chasing and tickling my children
Sharing family stories with my sisters
Sharing inside jokes with two close friends
Laughing with Laura, my coworker who could moonlight as a comedienne
Reminiscing on ridiculousness with old classmates
Watching Vince Vaughn or Will Farrell movies
Replaying “Groundhog Day” every February
Jamming to “Mac Daddy,” Toby Mac’s silly song
Watching Food Network shows starring Guy Fieri or Jeff Mauro
I’d love to hear a few from your top ten list as well in the comments…
Questions for reflection: (please comment below)
In which season has God collected your tears in special bottles?
What sources serve as your time-to-laugh prompts?
If you feel more comfortable commenting in a more private setting, consider joining my Facebook group and leaving your comments there. New members are always welcome!
Study Guides
Here are links to free resources that will help you in the online Bible study or your personal study of Newness of Life:
Online Bible Study Reading Plan
Giveaways
Giveaways will be announced on Fridays. If you comment in my Facebook group, you’ll be entered to win prizes on Jan. 20 and Jan. 27. All comments will be entered to win the grand prize on Feb. 3.
This week’s winner will receive a copy of Jen Wilkin’s book None Like Him and a magnet set of these beauties:
My new book will help you apply Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 so you can understand God’s plan in your current season.
“There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens.” Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV
No matter what season you are in, God is teaching you valuable lessons to grow your faith and trust in Him. We will discover what God is saying through the different times and activities we traverse.
I look forward to hearing how God is working in your current life season. I hope you will join in the fun and discussion on the online Bible study.
Please vote 17 on this link: Click HERE! so I can make my publishing dream come true. God set me free from my fear of abandonment, and I want the world to know!
Please spread the word about Newness of Life on social media, using the buttons below to share this post!
This post will be linked up at #tellhisstory, #testimonytuesday, #raralinkup, and #tuestalk. Visit my linkups page to find links to these wonderful blogs.
Subscribe to my mailing list and receive two free gifts: 7 Ways to Find and Share Encouragement and a 2017 Peaceful Garden printable calendar!
* indicates required
First Name *
Email Address *
January 16, 2017
A Fresh Batch of Book Reviews #2 + Giveaway!
Enjoy these three book reviews, then enter below for a giveaway of my latest book, Newness of Life, or purchase for 99 cents this week only!
None Like Him by Jen Wilkin
This book grabbed me with the first sentence:
If you had told me five years ago that I would one day write a book for Christian women that led off with a quote from Proverbs 31, I would have punched you in the face.
Jen Wilkin writes about theology with this direct, candid style, and I find it refreshing. She breaks down big subjects like God’s omnipresence and omniscience into digestible pieces for contemporary readers. For example, in her chapter titled “Self-Existent,” she uses a story from a Pinterest-perfect baby shower to describe how human creativity stems from God’s perfect creativity. She describes how the endless changes in our lives help us long for God’s immutability. God’s perfect attributes draw us to him in worship.
She also writes how all our sins are attempts to be like God, though none are like Him. She writes two lists: Only God Is and God Is (And We Can Be). I gained much insight from her observation. Only God is omnipotent, yet we continue to strive for power. God is loving, and we can be loving, but often we are not. This quote is still turning over and over in my mind:
How many people spend their day potting how to achieve limitless love for others? How many people spend their day plotting how to achieve limitless power over others?
I want to be someone who loves limitlessly, but I often secretly plot how to have more control, which kills my love. This book is challenging me to take a hard look at myself and a deeper look at who God is, and I’m grateful for the challenge.
Each chapter has a few powerful reflection questions at the end, which would be useful in group discussion or personal study. I picked up this book at Lifeway for only $5.00 recently, and it’s the best book money I’ve spent in a while. Read on to learn how you can win a free copy this week!
Raising an Original by Julie Lyles Carr
Using a beautiful metaphor of lacemaking, Julie Lyles Carr knits together a lovely parenting book, unlike any other I’ve read. She writes poignantly about how each child is an original creation and how parents can tailor their styles to each child’s strengths and weaknesses. A mother of eight, Julie shares many of her own parenting adventures and mishaps. Her writing style is inviting and warm. She is also an informative teacher, sharing scientific research in an approachable way.
In Part 3, Julie includes a valuable assessment of your child’s personality. This is a practical tool for learning how you can parent your child(ren) in specific ways to foster academic, emotional, and spiritual growth. She also writes about creating balance in extracurricular activities and adjusting expectations for your child’s future. Julie deftly weaves in scripture lessons and vignettes to create a truly enjoyable parenting read.
If I could make any suggestion for changes, I would have a shorter introduction and place the personality assessment tool in Part 1. That would knit the content together more logically. But you can simply read Part 3 first and then the book as a whole. There’s still much to take away and apply.
This book has helped me understand the needs of my three children in a new way. I now have a better grasp on how to parent to their unique temperaments. I recommend this book to parents of children ages 3 and up who want to become more intentional in their parenting.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
A Month of Sundays by Paula Hartman
I was intrigued by the combination of devotional and cookbook, so I tried this book. The author writes personal stories about marriage and parenting with humor and warmth, and I enjoyed this peek into her world. She writes a short paragraph or two about honoring the Sabbath in different ways. Then she posts several recipes for a Sunday dinner. The book has 31 devotional/dinner recipe combinations.
I related to several of her stories, including “The Zen of Weeding” about using Sabbath leisure activities for spiritual meditation, and “Letting Go,” a touching story of spending quality time on the Sabbath with her daughter. The majority of the recipes reminded me of what I’d find at a church supper or at my grandma’s table–rich and homey. Some of the recipes appealed to me, especially the dessert recipes like Turtle Cake, Strawberry Surprise, and Caramel Pie. I eat fairly healthy and clean, and this is definitely not a healthy eating cookbook, but I found a few recipes I could adapt: Sweet & Sour Veggie Salad, Asparagus with Soy Sauce, and Frozen Yogurt Pie.
This book would benefit hugely from the addition of a recipe index. Many of the recipes were listed as adaptations of others; I would have preferred more recipes unique to this author. I would appreciate more biblical insight in the devotionals as well. The writer is gifted in humorous storytelling; I would welcome reading a humorous non-fiction book with no recipes. All things being considered, this book is an interesting concept with a so-so execution.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Giveaways
Enter below for a free copy of my new book Newness of Life, or buy today for just 99 cents (limited time only)!
My new book Newness of Life will help you apply Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 so you can understand God’s plan in your current season.
“There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens.” Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV
No matter what season you are in, God is teaching you valuable lessons to grow your faith and trust in Him. We will discover what God is saying through the different times and activities we traverse.
If you comment in my online Bible study throughout this study, you’ll be entered to win prizes every Friday through Feb. 3.
This week’s winner will receive a copy of Jen Wilkin’s book None Like Him and a magnet set of these beauties:
Please vote 17 on this link: Click HERE! so I can make my publishing dream come true. God set me free from my fear of abandonment, and I want the world to know!
Please spread the word about Newness of Life on social media, using the buttons below to share this post!
This post will be linked up at #momentsofhope, #mondaymusings, #mommymoments, #soulsurvival, #smallwonder, and #glimpsesofhisbeauty. Visit my linkups page to find links to these wonderful blogs.
Subscribe to my mailing list and receive two free gifts: 7 Ways to Find and Share Encouragement and a 2017 Peaceful Garden printable calendar!
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January 13, 2017
Festive Friday #1 + Giveaway
Festive Fridays are for counting blessings, recapping posts, announcing giveaways, and sharing special treats with you.
Special Treat
A poem celebrating winter, on this snow day of no work or school for our family!
January anew
Sleepy blue shadows
stretch long in the snow
among baby cedars waiting
for old snags to crash
and create sunnier space
for their evergreen branches.
Wildflower seeds lay dormant
under molten oak leaves
patient in winter’s mock death
burrowing deeper
with each freeze
and thaw.
Like the brittle brown grasses
blowing in the frigid wind
I considered my dream lifeless
not daring to hope
for any answer
to buried prayers.
Today’s answer held surprised joy
like a January daffodil.
My heart basks in bright slanted rays
with the cedar’s winter berries
and the patient wildflower seeds, certain
spring will return.
Recap of This Week’s Posts
Monday marked the beginning of my Newness of Life post series.
On Tuesday I shared a portion of my new book.
On Wednesday I wrote about sowing new seeds in my current season of obscurity.
On Thursday I got vulnerable with a hidden sin.
Questions for reflection: (please comment below)
Which post from this week resonated most deeply with you?
What did you like about the poem?
Have you joined the online Bible study? If not, please visit the link now!
Counting Blessings
I am currently in second place in the Fear Fighting Bloggers Contest. If you will take 30 seconds and vote for me, I will be so grateful! Vote 17 in the comments section on this link (click here)! One vote per email/IP address. Please comment if you voted for me. I will have a special prize drawing for all my voters at the end of February.
My new book has almost 200 downloads and 23 reviews on Amazon in the first week, and I am praising God for the exposure to new audiences. If you have downloaded the book, please post a review to Amazon and consider reviewing it on your blog, thanks!
I was chosen to be one of six in a special critique group for Suzie Eller as she writes her next book. So excited and blessed!
Giveaways
Congratulations to Dawn C., this week’s giveaway winner! Thanks for your comment in the online Bible study group, Dawn!
Dawn will receive a copy of Edie Wadsworth’s book All the Pretty Things and a magnet set of these beauties:
Keep the comments coming to be entered in weekly drawings on Jan. 20 & 27, and for the grand prize drawing on Feb. 3.
Enter this special giveaway to receive a free download of Newness of Life!
My new book Newness of Life will help you apply Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 so you can understand God’s plan in your current season.
“There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens.” Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV
No matter what season you are in, God is teaching you valuable lessons to grow your faith and trust in Him. We will discover what God is saying through the different times and activities we traverse.
I look forward to hearing how God is working in your current life season. I hope you will join in the fun and discussion on the online Bible study.
Please spread the word about Newness of Life on social media, using the buttons below to share this post!
This post will be linked up at #dancewithjesus, #faithnfriends, #freshmarketfriday, #graceandtruth, and #fridayfive. Visit my linkups page to find links to these wonderful blogs.
Subscribe to my mailing list and receive two free gifts: 7 Ways to Find and Share Encouragement and a 2017 Peaceful Garden printable calendar!
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January 12, 2017
A Time to Kill Hidden Sins + Giveaway
Today’s post is based on chapter 4 of my latest book, Newness of Life, recently released on Amazon. Read on for a chance to win a free copy.
It’s time to kill the hidden sins in my heart. The ones I don’t voice to the world, because they would make me seem petty and mean. The sins I hold closely and keep feeding with self-pity.
But I’m taking a chance and revealing one of those hidden sins to you today.
My hidden sin is jealousy.
When I get caught up in the whirlwind of this busy (and expensive) season of raising three children, I start a secret comparison game.
She’s going on vacation…again this year…and we haven’t taken one since 2013.
She’s got a beautiful new outfit on…again…and mine always come from the clearance rack or consignment sales.
She’s looking so slim…and I haven’t got my steps in today, again.
She’s so successful…and I am still just a secretary.
Is it just me, or does jealousy rear its ugly head in your heart too?
The funny thing is, I have felt the sting of others’ jealousy in the past. In high school and college, girls told me outright they were jealous of my talents and academic achievements. They let my gifts stand in the way of creating connection. I was bewildered by their comments–I was simply being myself, an artist and scholar. I wasn’t trying to offend anyone, and I wasn’t bragging. Their jealousy killed the chances of us ever having friendship. And I promised myself not to let others’ gifts get in the way of friendship.
But I don’t always keep that promise. My jealousy sets a barrier between me and potential friends now. Jealousy keeps me isolated and discontent.
How am I killing this sin of jealousy?
By practicing thankfulness. Every time I genuinely thank God for my current situations, my jealousy weakens. Sure, we don’t travel as much as I would like. But my income provides for our children to attend a private Christian school, which is vitally important. And my job allows me to stay at home with them on holidays and in the summer, which is a blessing others don’t have. I must treasure my current situation to stay out of the comparison trap. I want to overflow with thankfulness (Colossians 2:6-7) rather than discontentment.
By resting in God’s provision. As my children grow so quickly, they constantly need more clothes and more food. I often worry about this and jealously compare myself to others who don’t appear to have those worries. When I turn to Matthew 6:25-34, I feel settled and I cease striving for answers. I reflect on how God has always provided in the past, and renew my trust that He will continue to provide for the future.
By delighting in God’s design. I haven’t been skinny since second grade, and skinny is not God’s design for my body. I’m tired of comparing myself to willowy shapes. I’m working to accept my pear shape and make healthy choices, and I’m believing that I am fearfully and wonderfully made by God (Psalm 139:14).
By trusting in God’s timing. Even though I have big dreams, I don’t know when they will come to life. I am in a season of obscurity, and I’m trusting that God’s timing is perfect. Being jealous of others’ time in the light is stunting my character growth. I must trust that God is working out his plans in my current season (Proverbs 3:5-6).
Questions for reflection: (please comment below)
Do you also struggle with the hidden sin of jealousy? How are you killing it?
Which of the verses listed above helps you most today?
Here are links to free resources that will help you in the online Bible study or personal study of Newness of Life:
Online Bible Study Reading Plan
Giveaways
Giveaways will be announced on Fridays. If you comment on my blog or in my online Bible study throughout this study, you’ll be entered to win prizes on Jan. 13, Jan. 20, and Jan. 27. All comments will be entered to win the grand prize on Feb. 3.
This week’s winner will receive a copy of Edie Wadsworth’s book All the Pretty Things and a magnet set of these beauties:
Enter this special giveaway to receive a free download of Newness of Life!
My new book Newness of Life will help you apply Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 so you can understand God’s plan in your current season.
“There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens.” Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV
No matter what season you are in, God is teaching you valuable lessons to grow your faith and trust in Him. We will discover what God is saying through the different times and activities we traverse.
I look forward to hearing how God is working in your current life season. I hope you will join in the fun and discussion on the online Bible study.
Please vote 17 on this link: Click HERE! so I can make my publishing dream come true. God set me free from my fear of abandonment, and I want the world to know!
Please spread the word about Newness of Life on social media, using the buttons below to share this post!
This post will be linked up at #coffeeforyourheart, #wisewomanlinkup, and #gracemoments. Visit my linkups page to find links to these wonderful blogs.
Subscribe to my mailing list and receive two free gifts: 7 Ways to Find and Share Encouragement and a 2017 Peaceful Garden printable calendar!
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First Name *
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January 11, 2017
A Time to Sow New Seeds + Giveaway
Today’s post is based on chapter 3 of my latest book, Newness of Life, recently released on Amazon. Get your copy now, and be sure to enter the giveaway below for a free copy!
Of all the life seasons I wrote about in Newness of Life, the season I most identify with today is the season of planting. It’s ironic to think of planting in January, when the ground is frozen hard and the landscape is brown and grey. Yet seeds are beginning to germinate in my writing career, here in the cold darkness.
A few years ago I expanded my gardening skills by planting seeds indoors. Most seeds need artificial light to germinate, and a whole lot of it. I keep seed flats under fluorescent lighting on the counter tops in my laundry room, placing the trays mere inches away from the bright bulbs until they sprout. Those tiny seedlings thrive only if they are super-close to warmth and light.
Yet as I read the seed packet for verbena, one of my favorite bedding flowers, I was surprised when it said, “Verbena needs complete darkness to sprout.”
Complete darkness to sprout.
Shaking my head in disbelief, I place the seeds in a flat tray of soil, watered it well, and covered it with plastic. I stuck it on a shelf in our totally dark HVAC closet, feeling like I was wasting my time.
A week later I couldn’t believe my eyes. Tiny white verbena sprouts covered the tray!
The seeds had THRIVED in darkness. They were ready for the light, because their roots had set. If I had placed them under the light in the beginning, they would have never grown.
I am a Compel Training member, a special division of Proverbs 31 Ministries which trains Christian women writers. One of the videos I watched featured Mary DeMuth, a popular author and speaker. Her quote that still resonates with me is this:
Don’t despise your years of obscurity.
Don’t despise the years of writing in my journals, because I was honing my storytelling skills while staying home with my babies and learning much about myself.
Don’t despise the years of setting up blogs which bombed, because it took practice before I knew what works.
Don’t despise this past year of getting up early and sacrificing weekends to write, because I won’t get to my destination before I put in the work.
Don’t despise these years of not yet writing full-time and realizing the dream I’ve held close for 23 years.
I think about Joseph’s years of obscurity in prison (book of Genesis). He was a forgotten nobody in the eyes of the world. But God hadn’t forgotten him. God hadn’t forgotten the dream he revealed to Joseph when he was a teen, the dream which foretold God’s plan of making Joseph great.
We don’t know much about Joseph’s years in obscurity. Yet I can’t help think that God was using them to prepare Joseph for his role as second-in-command over the most powerful world empire at the time. God used those obscure years to refine Joseph’s character and strengthen his faith, so he would be prepared to handle the responsibility, pressure, and attention in his very public role.
I don’t know what role God is preparing me for in my obscure years. I do know when I was a teenager, God told me I would be a writer. Maybe that’s why Joseph’s story resonates with me. He received a promise as a teen but had to wait many years for those seeds to sprout.
So, I am choosing new seeds now. Not seeds of frustration and desperation and doubt. Seeds of patience, dependence, and submission to God’s will and timing. The package says these seeds sprout better in darkness. They will produce a multitude of beautiful blooms only if they first hide in obscurity. I pray that those seeds will lead to a greater harvest down the road, a harvest with newness of life.
Questions for reflection: (please comment below)
What seeds grow best in darkness in your current life season?
How does Joseph’s story inspire you?
How will the seeds you plant now reap more than you sow, later than you sow?
Here are links to free resources that will help you in the online Bible study or personal study of Newness of Life:
Online Bible Study Reading Plan
Giveaways
Giveaways will be announced on Fridays. If you comment on my blog or in my online Bible study throughout this study, you’ll be entered to win prizes on Jan. 13, Jan. 20, and Jan. 27. All comments will be entered to win the grand prize on Feb. 3.
This week’s winner will receive a copy of Edie Wadsworth’s book All the Pretty Things and a magnet set of these beauties:
Enter this special giveaway to receive a free download of Newness of Life!
My new book Newness of Life will help you apply Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 so you can understand God’s plan in your current season.
“There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens.” Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV
No matter what season you are in, God is teaching you valuable lessons to grow your faith and trust in Him. We will discover what God is saying through the different times and activities we traverse.
I look forward to hearing how God is working in your current life season. I hope you will join in the fun and discussion on the online Bible study.
Please vote 17 on this link: Click HERE! so I can make my publishing dream come true. God set me free from my fear of abandonment, and I want the world to know!
Please spread the word about Newness of Life on social media, using the buttons below to share this post!
This post will be linked up at #coffeeforyourheart, #wisewomanlinkup, and #gracemoments. Visit my linkups page to find links to these wonderful blogs.
Subscribe to my mailing list and receive two free gifts: 7 Ways to Find and Share Encouragement and a 2017 Peaceful Garden printable calendar!
* indicates required
First Name *
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