Tribute to Mothers

May 12, 2013

 

Mothers deserve praise! What makes mothers so special? What would you say about mothers? According to our Mother’s Day poetry contest winners, mothers are truly gifts from God. Thanks to all of you who entered! As I promised, here are the three winners of our poetry contest and their tributes to mothers. Read more

10 SIMPLE STRESS BUSTERS FOR WOMEN

May 6, 2013

Women and Stress

Is your life blessed or stressed?

Whether working inside or outside the home, today’s moms, grandmoms, and women of all ages deal with stress. Here are ten simple stress busters women can practice daily: Read more

Where Would We Be Without Mothers? (Book Giveaway and Poetry Contest)

April 29, 2013

In Honor of Mother’s Day

Instead of a devotion today, in honor of Mother’s Day, we’re having a poetry contest. I’d love to feature one of your own poems about mothers. Send me a poem you’ve written about mothers, rhymed or prose, no longer than 100 words. It must be original, and make sure that you own all rights to your poem, even if it was previously published.

How Do I Enter? Read more

Hope: Bible Promise for Today

April 22, 2013

“He tears me down on every side till I am gone; he uproots my hope like a tree.” (Job 19:10 NIV)

Some of you just read that and are asking, “Where is the hope in that verse?” In fact, right now some of you may be feeling like the one who spoke those words. Read more

Bible Promise for Today: Enduring Love

April 15, 2013

Is there such a thing as enduring love–the kind that lasts forever? In a world filled with break-ups and break downs, who can count on real love anymore? Read more

Book Giveaway: Congo Dawn

April 8, 2013

The questions arose in Job’s day. And people are still asking them today. Read more

When Can Silence Hurt? The Power of Encouragement

March 18, 2013

Most of us have heard that silence is golden. But sometimes silence can hurt.

We held one of those infamous garage sales at our home a couple of years ago–the kind where you clean out closets, drag out forgotten things from under beds, and purge the garage of stacked “stuff” that won’t fit into your house. It’s always fun to meet interesting people who stop by to view your wares. Occasionally, they’ll stay long enough to share personal stories.

This sale was no exception. An attractive boomer-age woman who came by told us of an experience that happened to her mother years earlier. This is my paraphrase of her story:

Her mom had just moved to a large metropolitan area and was hoping to meet and make friends in her new home. She joined several organizations, including a local church. But no one would befriend her. No one even spoke to her.

Is it my deodorant? My clothes? The way I talk? A hundred questions raced through her mind, but she found no answers. Women seemed to avoid her as if she had a contagious disease. No one spoke to her or invited her to their home. Read more

Books to Read and Book Giveaway: The Moses Quilt

March 4, 2013

If you’re looking for inspiring books to read, The Moses Quilt shares both a contemporary, interracial romance of two young people, Mazi Hartford and Edward Clayton, and the story of Harriet Tubman, a former slave. Through the pages of history, author Kathi Macias skillfully weaves a courageous tale told piece by piece through the quilt owned by Mazi’s great grandmother. She does a good job of bringing contemporary and history together in a unique way.

Mazi’s reluctance to marry Edward is a puzzle both to him and other family members. Even Mazi herself doesn’t understand her hesitancy. But the quilt–and the journey she follows through Harriet Tubman’s life–may help her find the thread she needs.

The plot is simple, and so are the characters. You won’t find an in-depth page turner here, but  you will discover a story that crosses racial and generational boundaries–and one in which one woman’s courage made a lasting difference to those around her–and to succeeding generations.

Keep reading to find out how to enter the book giveaway. Read more

Five Ways to Handle Irrational Fear

February 25, 2013

Mind-crippling, spine-tingling, heart-stomping fear–we’ve all experienced it at one time or another. Fears of several varieties took hold of my heart early on as a young adult, but through the years God has brought amazing freedom.

We’re not talking about the good kind of fear that alerts your spirit to an approaching enemy,  that moves you into action to protect the ones you love, or that promotes a healthy respect for God. Those fears are healthy. And not all fears are irrational. Some move in and out quickly without disrupting our lives.

But what about the other kind? Where does irrational fear originate? And how do you keep those fears from taking permanent residence in your life? Here are five ways to handle irrational fear: Read more

God, the One and Only – and Book Giveaway

January 28, 2013

I love to encourage my readers, so in today’s blog, I’m giving away a copy of the 2013 Mornings with Jesus Guideposts devotional book. All of us need to set aside time to connect with our faithful, living God–to refresh our spirits, strengthen our relationship, and nourish our souls. All of us need encouragement!

In the 2013 Mornings with Jesus devotional, I joined with nine other writers to share 365 fresh devotional insights from God’s Word that focus on the character and teachings of Jesus.

You can find out more about the Guideposts devotional here.

To enter the devotional giveaway, read through my blog to see what is required.

Here’s a sample devotion of mine about God, the One and Only, from the 2013 Mornings with Jesus devotional: Read more

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