Cathy Bryant's Blog: CatBryant.com ~ Journey Blog, page 37

A BRIDGE UNBROKEN Available at Amazon.com

I’m delighted to announce that my new baby has arrived! Consider this as your formal birth announcement…

A BRIDGE UNBROKEN – Links

A Bridge Unbroken is available in both print and digital formats at Amazon.com. Here are the links:

E-BOOK VERSION

PRINT VERSION

If you read the book and enjoy it, please leave a review at Amazon. This really helps me out, especially as the book is a new release. Potential customers often won’t purchase a book unless it has several reviews.

A BRIDGE UNBROKEN #ChristianFiction by @Cathy_Bryant Available! http://amzn.to/1h5wm2j #forgiveness
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A BRIDGE UNBROKEN – $100 Visa Card Giveaway & Party!

Hope you’ll consider joining the fun for all the book launch festivities! The party isn’t until May 22nd at the special A BRIDGE UNBROKEN Facebook group I created just for the evening and to share all the blog tour info (free books!), so we can all interact and have fun! The party kicks off at 7 p.m. CST! Please take a minute to RSVP by clicking the pic above OR clicking this link. (You don’t have to RSVP in order to attend, but it helps me know how many to plan for.)

The grand prize is a $100 Visa Card, but I’ll also be giving away t-shirts, tote bags, books (both print and eBooks), and bookmarks. So you really don’t want to miss the fun. There will be a scavenger hunt, a Q & A session, and lots more!

On a side note, if you’re a blogger, would you mind posting the button to the left in the sidebar of your blog with a link to the Facebook event page at https://www.facebook.com/events/315502748601792/ Thank you so much!

$100VisaCard #Giveaway - #BookLaunchParty A BRIDGE UNBROKEN...
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A BRIDGE UNBROKEN – Blog Tour

The BlitzKat Book Blast Blog Tour kicks off May 1 and lasts through May 22. At each stop on the tour, there will be extra chances to win print and e-Books. Once the tour is finalized, I’ll post it here on CatBryant.com so you can have an easy reference for the stops each day. Here are the stops arranged as of this posting:

May 1, 2014:

Diana’s Tea Time Reviews
A Book Lover’s Retreat

May 2, 2014: MontanaMade Tell-Tale Book Reviews

May 5, 2014: At Home Book Reviews

May 6, 2014: Cami Checkett’s website

May 7, 2014: Ritty’s Writing Adventure

May 8, 2014: ASC Book Reviews

May 9, 2014: Im-perfectly Pamela

May 12, 2014:

Inkslinger Blog
Seasons of Opportunities

May 13, 2014: The Not-So-Perfect Housewife

May 14, 2014: Inkslinger Blog

May 15, 2014: Teena Stewart

May 16, 2014: Inkslinger Blog

May 19, 2014: Write Now

May 20, 2014:

Buzzing About Books
I’d Rather Be At The Beach

May 21, 2014: ASC Book Reviews

May 22, 2014:

Musings of a Book Addict
Book Reviews by Tima

BlitzKat Book Blog Tour A BRIDGE UNBROKEN #ChristianFiction by @Cathy_Bryant #Book #Giveaways
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To read a sample chapter of A BRIDGE UNBROKEN, click this link.

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Everyday Hero Travis Bryant

The world is full of everyday heroes who sometimes go unnoticed in the hustle and bustle of life. Because of this, I decided to create a series of interview posts about the everyday heroes I come in contact with.

Today’s post is very special to me because I’m interviewing the love of my life and husband Travis Bryant. Words can’t express how special he is. I’m so grateful to the Lord for giving him to me, and I wouldn’t want to make this journey through life with anyone but him. Other than Jesus, he’s my best friend. In addition, he’s my soul-mate and the one person I trust above all others. Without further ado, please welcome my…

Everyday Hero Travis Bryant

Tell the readers of this post a little about yourself and/or your family.

I am the only one in my family NOT born in Texas. I am the youngest of 4, born and raised in Northern NM. I met the love of my life in college (that’s YOU, Babe!) and we have been married for nearly 33 years. We have two sons, a daughter-in-love, and two GRAND KIDS!

They are definitely GRAND! What hobbies do you enjoy?

Golf, although I haven’t been able to enjoy that much recently. I also enjoy hiking andcanoeing, but mostly spending time with family.

If you could spend time with any person–past or present–who would you choose? What would you talk about?

I would love to be able to sit down with my dad again, play a round of golf, laugh, take in a Texas Rangers game and talk baseball.

What’s on your bucket list?

I would love to take in a baseball game at Fenway Park in Boston, Wrigley Field in Chicago, and Dodger Stadium in LA.

What’s something that not very many people know about you that you’d like them to know?

When I was 12, I set the Espanola Valley Little League record for strikeouts in a game (15) and strikeouts in a season (63), winning all 7 games I pitched in. When I was 15, I threw a curve ball during a game and my arm went numb for a few days, which is probably the main reason why I am now a musician rather than a retired professional baseball player. That was MY plan for my life then. God had a different plan in mind.

What’s your favorite Bible verse? Why?

Tough one cause there are so many. But I would have to say it’s Isaiah 40:28-31 – “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

What’s your life motto?

I really like the song by J. J. Meeks’ Band, “Let Them See You.” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJhK39RVmQ8) The chorus goes like this:

“Let them see You in me;

Let them hear You when I speak:

Let them feel You when I sing;

Let them see You, let them see You in me.”

What is your all-time favorite family vacation or event? Why?

I think Mustang Island and camping out at the state park in the pop-up trailer. Some great family time memories there when the boys were little.

Side Note: I was blessed to be able to camp in the same location with my mom and our grandson last week! What do you do for a living?

I was a Texas public school band director for 11 years before going into full-time music ministry, now having served in 4 churches in Texas, Arkansas, and currently in New Mexico.

If you could start your own business, what would it be? Why?

I’ve always loved to cook. I’d love to open a restaurant and share that with others. Then, my sanity returns, and I realize I should probably stick to cooking for the family.

He’s a wonderful cook! Tell us about a person you met or a place you traveled that had a big impact on you.

Well, there was this one person I met some 35 years ago. We were classmates, played together in the college band, and both music majors. She was a bit of a “country gal” – Texan through and through – heart of gold, very cute, a sense of humor that made people laugh (sometimes at the joke, sometimes just at her!), and a love for the Lord that flowed from her. We were friends for two and a half years before we started dating. Six weeks later we were engaged. Her impact on my life has been huge. I know God ordained our time together at Wayland Baptist University, brought us together, has been with us through many trials, and blessed us in many more ways. Although I still have a long way to go, I am a better man, husband, father, and more importantly, Christ follower, because of her!

See how incredibly blessed I am? As we always tell each other: “I’m the lucky one!” Love you, sweet man! Thank you for being my real-life hero and the inspiration for my fictional heroes!

EVERYDAY HERO TRAVIS BRYANT – DISCUSSION:

Who are some of your everyday heroes?
What makes a person heroic?

If you have a suggestion for an Everyday Hero interview–either yourself or someone you know–please send me an e-mail via the Contact tab.

Join @Cathy_Bryant as she chats with an everyday hero, her hubby Travis Bryant. #Share #Inspire...
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Understanding the Enemy: Beginnings Bible Study

Continuing our Beginnings Bible study (see end of post for links to other devotions), we reach Genesis 3 and man’s fall. Verse 1 immediately sets the tone: Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden ‘?”

Military experts will tell you that the key to overcoming any enemy is understanding them–what makes them tick, how they operate, what their goals are. There is no doubt that Satan is the enemy of our souls. Remember Jesus’ words? He calls him a murderer and a liar. Tells us that the devil comes to steal, kill, and destroy.

1 Peter 5:8 tells us to be on alert, because our enemy is like a lion on the prowl, waiting to devour us. While we need not fear Satan because our God is more powerful, it is extremely important that we understand how he works.

Understanding the Enemy: He Disguises Himself

No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. ~2 Corinthians 11:14

Though our enemy is often portrayed as a snake or horned creature with a pitchfork, he is much more subtle and often attractive. Genesis 3:1 calls him crafty. We need to remember that he will stop at nothing–including disguising his true colors–to trip us up.

Understanding the Enemy: He Spreads Doubt, Fear, and Confusion

Look at Genesis 3:1 again. “Did God really say…?” With Eve, the devil subtly questioned God’s goodness. If Satan can get us to doubt God, give in to fear and confusion, he’s well on his way to his goal of stealing (our joy and peace), killing (our reputations, our witness) and destroying us. When we find ourselves in a place of doubt, fear, and confusion, there’s no doubt who caused it.

Understanding the Enemy: He Deals With Desire

The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die! For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. ~Genesis 3:4-6

We can always count on Satan to operate this way. Even in his temptation of Jesus (Matthew 4), he appealed to human desire. Who doesn’t want good food, beautiful surroundings, and wisdom? We just need to be very careful how we choose to satisfy our human desires. Instead of giving in to the enemy’s temptation, we should remember that only God truly satisfies. Everything else is a cheap substitute.

Understanding the Enemy: He Contradicts God’s Word

Satan got to Eve by contradicting what God had already told them. He tried the same thing with Jesus, and He operates the same way with us, usually by twisting scripture just enough to make it sound right. That’s why it’s sooooo important to immerse ourselves in God’s Word. If not, we’ll believe the devil’s lies rather than the Truth!

Understanding the Enemy: Digging Deeper

The enemy of our souls is far from invincible. We defeat him by using our God-given armor (Ephesians 6), the word of our testimony, and by the blood of the Lamb. If you’d like a few more study references on this topic, here are just a few:

Satan’s Fall From Heaven: Isaiah 14:12-14; Ezekiel 28:12b-17; Luke 10:18
Satan’s Work: 1 John 2:16; Matthew 4:2-3, 5-6, 8-9; John 10:10a; 8:44; 1 Peter 5:8; 2 Corinthians 11:14

Understanding the Enemy: Discussion Questions

Can you think of other ways in which our enemy operates?
Can you think of a time you were able to overcome the enemy’s tactics? How did you do it?

Part of any battle is understanding the enemy. Beginnings #BibleStudy Gen.3 @Cathy_Bryant
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Other BEGINNINGS BIBLE STUDY Posts:

Day 1
Days 2 and 3
Days 4 and 5
Day 6
Blessed Rest
In The Garden
Made For Each Other

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Shout Out to Christian Book Bloggers

Happy Thursday, everyone! I’m sending out a call to those of you with blogs to see if any of you are interested in scheduling a post about the upcoming release of A Bridge Unbroken during its book blog tour May 1st-22nd.

Book Bloggers – What’s Available For You:

I’m willing to do author interviews, book spotlight posts, guest blog posts, or character interviews, all with a brief blurb about the book along with purchase links. If you’re interested in reviewing the book, I’d be delighted to send you a review copy in exchange for your honest review. (NOTE: Due to increased printing costs, I’ll have to give priority to those who are willing to read a digital copy unless your blog traffic is particularly high.) I’m also willing to do giveaways. For the same reason stated above, I’ll have to limit print copy giveaways to those with high blog traffic.

The blog tour will culminate with a Facebook party on May 22nd, at which time I’ll be giving away a $100 Visa Card. All bloggers on the tour are more than welcome to enter the giveaway, and I’ll add extra entries for those who post during the blog tour. I’ll include the following pic in each tour post with a link to the giveaway. (NOTE: The link isn’t live at the moment.)

To find out more about the book, you can click HERE.

You may have also noticed that the book is part of a BlitzKat Book Blast (see lower left corner of picture above. I have decided to try our hand at organizing Christian book blog tours, book advertising, and helping authors with branding through the use of custom-made graphics for their websites and social media accounts. The name of the new website (still under construction) is BlitzKat Promotions. If you’re interested in joining our team of bloggers or in becoming a member of our BlitzKat Street Team, contact me via the ‘Contact’ Tab on the BlitzKat website.

If you think you might be interested in being part of the BlitzKat Book Blast blog tour (try saying THAT three times fast), please fill out this form at BlitzKat Promotions (scroll down to bottom of page). Thank you so much for your interest and for helping me out!

Shout out to Christian book bloggers: Interested in reviewing/hosting A BRIDGE UNBROKEN?
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Book Survey: Tell Me What You Think

Hi, everyone! I promise I’m not going survey happy on you. Last survey for a while, I promise! Yesterday, I wanted to get your input on blog posts. Today I’m asking for your input on the topic of books! My main reason for this survey is to know if I need to stay in the same place for the Miller’s Creek Novels, or if I need to head in a different direction.

There seems to be a trend in the book market toward novellas and trade-sized books. I think this is happening for a couple of reasons. As our society gets busier and busier, more and more people are opting for shorter reads. Also, as people’s budgets get squeezed tighter on a daily basis, folks are looking for inexpensive entertainment. (This is all strictly my take on the matter. There could be other variables I’m unaware of.)

Anyway, thanks so much for taking the time to fill out this short survey to help me out (only ten questions). Please answer as many as you can. The survey is completely anonymous. (And if you’re on Twitter, please take a minute to tweet the following to get more people’s input on the book survey.)

Calling all readers! @Cathy_Bryant needs your input on books. Short anonymous survey.
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Extra Book Survey Question To Discuss In The Comments Below:

How would you feel about the Miller’s Creek Novels in novella size?
Do you prefer younger or older heroines/heroes?

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Blog Post Input: I Need Your Help

As a writer, I enjoy writing blog posts. I find that doing so improves my craft through the constant practice of both writing and editing. However, as a writer of novels, my time to write blog posts seems to be quickly diminishing.

I want to write posts that are helpful, beneficial, inspirational and informative, as well as ones that readers/subscribers want to read. That’s what led to the decision to include this Blog Post Input Survey and ask for your help.

While I will always write what I sense God leading me to write, I’m also interested in knowing what you think. So please fill out the following survey for me–only five questions. It’s completely anonymous. (You’ll notice that on the first question there are some fairly odd choices. These extra things are some of the things I enjoy and on which I could write a decent post, but only if you’re interested!)

What blog post topics?

Since my time seems to grow more and more limited, I want to streamline the blogging process as much as possible and cut out all the fluff that no one wants to read! Thank you so much for taking the time to vote! (And if you’re on Twitter, would you mind tweeting the following so I can get more input? Thanks!)

Christian author @Cathy_Bryant is looking for blog post input. Short five-question survey.
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Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey , the world’s leading questionnaire tool.

I so appreciate you taking the time to give me your invaluable blog post input by filling out the short survey. This will greatly help when trying to determine blog content as well as posting frequency. One question I neglected to ask (and something we can add in the comments) is this:

If you’d like to see me write devotional/Bible study posts, are there any specific topics or Bible books you’d like to see addressed?

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Made For Each Other: Beginnings Bible Study

I know it’s probably just because I enjoy romance so much, but when I first watched Sleepless in Seattle, I fell in love with the expression MFEO–Made For Each Other. As much as my romantic heart loves the expression, it came into being LOOOOOONG before the movie. Say, back to the dawn of creation.

Continuing our Beginnings Bible Study in the book of Genesis, we continue with the following passages from Chapter 2. (To see more posts in this study, scroll to the end for article links.)

The Biblical version of MFEO (Made For Each Other) ~ Genesis 2:15-25! #CreatedByGod
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Made For Each Other: No Helper Found For Man

The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” ~Genesis 2:15-18

Here we see God purposefully placing man in the garden of Eden, this place of pleasure, delight, and perfection (what the word ‘Eden’ means). Man’s purpose in the garden was to work it and take care of it. So many people believe work was the result of the curse. Yes, man’s work became more difficult, but work was part of God’s original plan. Work gives us purpose, meaning, and joy.

#Work was instituted before man's fall. It gives us #purpose, meaning, and #joy! See Genesis 2:15
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God also gave man a warning. It wasn’t given as a threat or a challenge, but as a loving Father setting boundaries for His creation. The warning came with a severe consequence: death. We tend to only see the physical result of death, but spiritual death is so much worse! Death to its most finely-tuned definition is separation from God.

Spiritual #death is much more serious than physical death. Death is #separation from God.
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Hell will be eternal torment because it is a place of eternal separation from God.

“Helper suitable for him” – There was no comparable counterpart or helpmeet for man at this point, so God plans to make him a helper.

DIGGING DEEPER – Ephesians 2:1; Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Made For Each Other: Woman Created For Man

Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame. ~Genesis 2:19-25

“See what he would name them” – If you’ll think back to our study of Genesis 1, you’ll remember that naming things indicates lordship and ownership. When God gave names to the heavenly lights, He showed His Sovereignty and Lordship. In this case, where man names the animals, it also indicates stewardship, because God places the responsibility of flawless Paradise firmly in the hands of man. Notice that the man also names the woman based on her being taken from man. The Hebrew word for man is Adam, very closely related to the Hebrew word for ground, which is Adamah.

“Deep sleep” – As strange as it may sound in a world that often denies the existence of God and rebels against Him, this verse is where we get our surgical practice of putting people to sleep for surgery.

DID YOU KNOW we get our surgical practice of anesthetics from Genesis 2? #God was the first surgeon!
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Before God instituted the church, government, the law, God instituted marriage. Leaving and cleaving are Biblical principles. If either partner remains emotionally closer to parents than to spouse, there will be problems. Marriages are often destroyed because the Biblical principles of leaving and cleaving aren’t followed.

DIGGING DEEPER – Revelation 19:7-9; Ephesians 5:25-27; Revelation 21:2; Isaiah 54:5

“naked and felt no shame” – At first glance, this phrase might seem rather random, but the statement takes on new meaning in what is about to take place.

Made For Each Other: Discussion

What are your thoughts on work, especially in context of these verses and others like them?
What is one of the chief roles of married women?
Compared to other institutions, such as the church and governments, how important is marriage? Why?
What is man’s God-given responsibility concerning the earth?

LINKS TO OTHER ‘BEGINNINGS’ BIBLE STUDY POSTS:

Beginnings: Day 1
Beginnings: Days 2 and 3
Beginnings: Days 4 and 5
Beginnings: Day 6
Beginnings: Blessed Rest
Beginnings: In The Garden

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Empty: What It Really Means

Empty pockets.

Empty gas tank.

Empty hearts.

Empty life.

The word ‘empty’ normally carries a negative connotation, doesn’t it? It implies that we’re somehow lacking.

How fitting that in God’s topsy-turvy kingdom where the first are last and the humble are brought to honor, the word isn’t negative, but full of life and promise.

As you scroll through the following photos, don’t let the emptiness get you down. Instead, keep moving ahead. The ending is one you don’t want to miss.

(I apologize in advance for those of you who have seen a similar presentation of mine when I had the blog, WordVessel. It’s kind of become a tradition with me…)

Empty Cross

EMPTY TOMB!

The message of Easter isn’t about bunnies and candied eggs or even a new outfit and going to church for the first time all year. It is simply this: Because of what Christ did on the cross and what God accomplished at His resurrection, those of us who choose to believe in Him have hope of eternal life. For those who follow Him in faith, eternal life is not a some-day-in-the-future event, but an already-here-now happening. Thank You, God, for the life-giving hope Your Easter story brings!

Oh, and by the way, as you stroll through this earthly life, don’t let the emptiness get you down. Instead, keep moving ahead. The ending is one you don’t want to miss.

Make Easter real in your hearts every day!

You-Tube Video: Glorious Day! by Casting Crowns

Easter, an every-day-event for believers. 'Empty' is a word of life and hope when it comes to the...
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Everyday Hero Sandra Stiles

The world is full of everyday heroes who sometimes go unnoticed in the hustle and bustle of life. Because of this, I decided to create a series of interview posts about the everyday heroes I come in contact with.

Today I’m delighted to welcome another wonderful friend I’ve made online: Sandra Stiles. Sandra is another one of the precious friends who serves on the Miller’s Creek Main Street Team. I’m incredibly blessed to have Sandra and the others on the team. They help out so much, and serve as a source of encouragement to me. So without further ado, Let’s meet Sandra!

Everyday Hero Sandra Stiles

Welcome, Sandra! So glad to have you here! Tell us a little about yourself and your family.

I am a wife, mother of 3, and have 9 grandchildren. My mother lives with me and my husband.

What hobbies do you enjoy? What are you passionate about?

I enjoy quilting, sewing, painting, as well as other crafts. I am passionate about teaching students to read and write, as well as writing books that will get them interested in reading.

What’s something that not very many people know about you that you’d like them to know about you?

I am shy.  I have overcome a lot of it.  In high school I could not look anyone in the eye. I decided to put myself in positions where I was forced out of my comfort zone. I auditioned for a singing group, plays, and other things that put me out there.

That take’s lots of courage! What’s your favorite Bible verse? Favorite hymn or praise song?

Philippians 4:13 – I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.  When things seem to be piling up I think of this verse as a reminder that I can make it through as long as I keep Jesus at the forefront. My favorite hymn is, “I Serve a Risen Savior”.  It is one I can remember singing as a small child in church and has always been one of my favorites. It reminds me who I serve and that my God is very much alive.

If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?

Germany. I have done so much research on the Berlin Wall for another  book in the works. One of the reasons I want to go there is my father was stationed in Berlin during the building of the wall.

What is your all-time favorite family vacation or event?

The year our family went from Missouri/Illinois, down the east coast, visited the Appalachian Museum, and stayed in what was my father-in-law’s house at the top of a mountain in Dayton, Tennessee. He gave us directions and told us where we would find the key. It was fully stocked for us. We hiked trails, visited Fall Creek Falls and had a wonderful time as a family, building memories.

Sounds wonderful! What do you do for a living?

I am a National Board Certified Teacher, in my 21st year of teaching. I am certified to teach Elementary and  English/Reading 6th – 12th.

Another thing we have in common. I’m certified in all-level music education and general elementary! If you could have any super-power, what would it be, and why?

I would want the ability to heal the broken hearts of children who are hurting.

I’m with you! As teachers, we see those hurts and broken hearts. Tell us about a place you traveled that had a big impact on you.

New York City, the year my daughter’s dance team went to New York for national competition, ( 10 months after 9/11), had a huge impact on me. I was on the trip with some of those same students I’d had in my class on 9/11. Their questions on that terrible day, along with our trips to ground zero were the inspiration for my first book  “Steps to Courage”.  When I returned to Florida I had to write what I felt.

What makes you laugh?  Babies.  I got more spankings after church because a baby was in front of us and I can’t seem to contain myself when they make funny faces or noises. I would end up laughing out loud.

If you had a life motto, what would it be?

It is what I write in the front of my book whenever I sign it. “Remember, Courage always begins with the first step.” My husband says the reason it took me so long to publish my book was I was scared. It took courage to publish it.

What project do you have going that you’d like to finish ASAP?

I have just a few more chapters on a Young Adult book before it is finished, and a picture book I have been writing with my eight year old grand-daughter.

What was your favorite subject in school?

Reading. I loved it so much that beginning in first grade I gave up some of my recess to tutor other kids who had trouble reading. I tutored kids in reading all the way through middle school.

Sounds like teaching others about reading is what the Lord had planned for you, Sandra! Thank you for using your gifts to inspire and educate young people. And thank you for sharing your inspiring story with us and for being one of my everyday heroes!

EVERYDAY HERO CHRIS GRANVILLE – DISCUSSION:

Who are some of your everyday heroes?
What makes a person heroic?

If you have a suggestion for an Everyday Hero interview–either yourself or someone you know–please send me an e-mail via the Contact tab.

Join @Cathy_Bryant as she chats with an everyday hero, @skstiles612. #Share #Inspire #EverydayHero
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In The Garden: Beginnings Bible Study

As a long-time gardener and flower lover, the little poem above speaks to my heart. I find it no coincidence that time began in a garden, and our heavenly home will be the same sort of Paradise (if not better) as what God initially created. Let’s continue with our study of Genesis, Beginnings. (See the end of this post for links to other articles in the same study, and feel free to share the above pic–or any of the photos on this site–on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest.)

In The Garden – God Creates Man By Hand and Breath

This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, when the Lord God made the earth and the heavens. Now no shrub had yet appeared on the earth and no plant had yet sprung up, for the Lord God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no one to work the ground, but streams came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground. Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. ~Genesis 2:4-7

This passage begins a second account of creation, where the emphasis switches from an overview of God’s work to God’s special relationship with man.

“Account” – This term is used a total of ten times throughout the book of Genesis, and means “record, family history, generations.” (See also Genesis 5:1; 6:9; 10:1; 11:10; 11:27; 25:12; 25:19; 36:9; 37:2.)

“LORD God” – In chapter 1, the name of God used is Elohim, a plural word indicating the Trinity, as well as God’s sovereignty. Now the name Yahweh, or Jehovah, is used. This is the covenant, sacred, and personal name for God, and the name most closely linked to His work of redemption (Exodus 3:14-15; 6:6). It also means the self-existing One, and was considered so sacred by the Hebrew people that it wasn’t spoken aloud.

Yahweh is God's #covenant name and the name most closely linked with His work of #redemption.
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“Formed” – I love this beautiful picture of a potter fashioning a work of art with His hands. God scooped up dirt from the ground and lovingly shaped it into a living being.

Man was hand-crafted by God. Beginnings Bible Study-Genesis. #MadeByGod
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“Breathed into His nostrils the breath of life” – The word ‘Spirit’ literally means breath (pneuma). This is another plural term, and indicates fullness of life. Again, I love this picture of covenant God breathing His life-giving Spirit into the nostrils of man.

DIGGING DEEPER – Isaiah 42:5

In The Garden – God Places Man in Paradise

Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. A river watering the garden flowed from Eden; from there it was separated into four headwaters. The name of the first is the Pishon; it winds through the entire land of Havilah, where there is gold. (The gold of that land is good; aromatic resin and onyx are also there.) The name of the second river is the Gihon; it winds through the entire land of Cush. The name of the third river is the Tigris; it runs along the east side of Ashur. And the fourth river is the Euphrates. ~Genesis 2:8-14

The Lord made this gorgeous garden for the hand-crafted creature called man, and placed him in it. What care our God bestows on us for no other reason than to demonstrate His love and grace. We are so blessed to have Him as our Father!

“Eden” – means pleasure or delight. God had created Paradise. This area is believed by Bible scholars to be located in modern-day Turkey or Iraq, though it is possible that the great flood further obscured its location.

God created #Paradise for man. What care our #Creator bestows on us to show His great #love.
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“All kinds of trees” – Notice the trees are further described by dividing them into four distinct categories:

    pleasing to look at
    good for food
    tree of life
    tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

What a wealth of abundant natural resources are described for the area of Eden – water, gold, aromatic resin, onyx– which further demonstrates God’s abundant provision for His creation. There are also four rivers mentioned – Pishon, Gihon, Tigris, Euphrates. Only the latter two are still known in modern days.

DIGGING DEEPER – Revelation 22:1-2

In The Garden – Discussion

How does it make you feel to know that man was specially crafted by the Creator? How should it change us?
How does the knowledge that God breathed His Spirit–His life–into man affect you? How should it change us?
When you read the description of the garden of Eden, what does it teach you about God and His care for man?

LINKS TO OTHER “BEGINNINGS” ARTICLES (GENESIS STUDY):

Beginnings: Day 1
Beginnings: Days 2 and 3
Beginnings: Days 4 and 5
Beginnings: Day 6
Beginnings: Blessed Rest

You-Tube video: “In The Garden” by Alan Jackson

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