What If We Were Real

Those of you who know me well know that I am not very athletic. I exercise in fits and spurts. I am having one of those fits now. My goal is to run a 5k by October. Did I just really type that?!? I am really committed now! I have a much better chance of reaching this goal than ones I have made in the past. I have a secret weapon, Hope in the Lord. I am literally claiming the promise of

Isaiah 40:31- 

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.

My encourager in all this has come from an unlikely place, my ipod. I was given a review copy of Mandisa's new CD What If We Were Real. I really liked the sound and put it on my ipod. I decided the upbeat tempo would be great to run- OK walk/run- to. Little did I know what inspiration the lyrics would provide. Here's a sample of the most inspiring lines:

"Good Morning"- Good Morning, You give me strength, You give me just what I need, I can feel the hope that's rising in me!

"Stronger"- The pain ain't gonna last forever, Things can only get better. He knows that this is gonna make you stronger, stronger.

Every song on the album has lines that make me want to run or at least not give up. Mandisa herself has lost 100 lbs recently. I am sure that she has poured out the motivation for her victory into this project. I am thankful to benefit from it!

So I ask that you all hold me accountable to my goal.

Congratulations Margaret!

The winner of the $20 gift certificate is Margaret! Please e-mail me @ themcds@hopper.net and I will get the info to you!

We all need Grace! & $20 Giveaway!

The awesome people at Dayspring gave me the opportunity to receive a product to review, and I get to give away a $20 gift certificate they provided to one of my lucky readers. So happy reading and good luck!

First off let me say that the tray is beautiful! It is a bit larger than I expected it to be and much larger than my husband thought necessary for the dining table. "Gawky" I think he said...LOL. But it would look lovely on a coffee table (or even a dining table.) :0) I wanted to show the tray in use and decided to display our family's collection of sea shells in it. Lovely if I do say so myself. It is well constructed and very versatile.

As I placed my daughters prize sand dollar on the tray, I was reminded of a beautiful yet painful story in my life of God's simple joy, unending hope, wonderful grace, authentic peace, and unfathomable love just like the words on the tray. This series of lessons came from an answered prayer of  my daughter and mine to find a sand dollar at the beach. We had been praying for several days for God to allow us the great joy of finding a sand dollar. We took a dolphin cruise to "Shell Island." Surely we could find one there! Sure enough as soon as we got to the beach, among the other 60 passengers, we found it.... a perfect sand dollar. We said "PRAISE THE LORD" and did a happy dance. ( Much to the amusement of others around us I'm sure.)

Fast forward to the end of our trip. My family dropped me off to join my dear friends for an eWomen conference. I insisted on taking the sand dollar with me to insure its safety. Well you don't have to be a genius to figure out what comes next. Safely tucked into my notebook with my Bible, I CRUSHED the sand dollar. I was just as crushed. Our answered prayers, our miracle gone. It took me a long time to figure this one out. I knew there was a lesson to be learned.

My first lesson was the life that came from my broken treasure. Did you know that if you crush a sand dollar there are tons of butterflies inside? The sign of new life spilled out of my broken dream. I held n to those butterflies for a long time.... Finally the Lord said enough of holding on to broken dreams. I threw them away.

 My next lesson came the next year as I walked the beach looking for another sand dollar. I spent most of that trip with my head down searching the sand for another "miracle." Mercifully, the Lord showed me that while I was so busy combing through sand I was missing the miracles all around me. A wonderful husband, two beautiful children, a huge family I never had growing up, all of creation proclaiming HIS GLORY and the Holy Spirit dwelling within me thanks to Jesus' death on the cross. Look around and see ALL of His blessings!

Finally, I saw yet another lesson in that sand dollar experience. When we hold our blessing too tightly, sometimes we crush them. That lesson is true whether you are holding sand dollars, children, or friends. You will crush the spirits of those you love if you hold them too tightly.

OK, if you stayed with me this far you have the great reward of getting the info on the giveaway! To enter your name for the twenty dollar Dayspring certificate leave a comment below telling me either a good use for the tray or a lesson you have learned from an unlikely object. I can't wait to hear your ideas and stories.  Don't forget to put your e-mail so I can contact you if you win the random drawing. Entries will be taken through 11:59 PM on Friday, April 22.

Truth in Disclosure: I was provided the Grace Tray by Dayspring to review for no cost. I did not promise a favorable review in order to receive the item. This is my true opinion. 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."

Max on Life by Max Lucado

I just finished with Max on Life by Max Lucado. This is actually my first Max Lucado book. This is not a book to just sit down and devour because it is written in a question-answer format. The questions are ones that have been posed to Lucado throughout his years as a writer, pastor and evangelist.

I found the questions very real. They are definitely some that are voiced by those outside of the Christian faith and those that have been lifelong Christians as well. I found Lucado’s answers to be open, honest, and biblically sound.

This would be a great book for those seeking answers to some of life’s toughest questions. As I was reading it, I was thankful for the way he puts into words some very difficult to explain foundations of Christian faith. Even if you have a good grasp of what you believe, this book would be a good tool in preparing to share your Christian faith with others.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com 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.”

The Final Summit by Andy Andrews

I began this blog with a desire to share what God says to me and to review some of the books I have read. I must confess I have been a little negligent about writing regularly. So please allow me to catch up a little over the next few days with some of the books that have sparked my interest. The first of which is The Final Summit by Andy Andrews.

The Final Summit is the second half of the story of Andy Andrews character David Ponder. Andrews began this story in The Traveler’s Gift. I for one am thankful he continued the story. David Ponder is now nearing the end of life and must answer the pivotal question of how humanity can correct its course. He is helped, of course, by several historical characters and the wisdom they have to offer.

 This book is the perfect “sequel” to The Traveler’s Gift. Although you don’t have to have read it to understand the story line of The Final Summit, this second half of the story will be much more meaningful if you have the first half as a framework to build on. The Final Summit ties all of the wisdom of The Traveler’s Gift together and puts a beautiful bow on it. Although not blatantly “Christian” this book definitely presents the practical side of living the Christian life. I highly recommend that anyone and everyone who loves a great story coupled with principles that can alter one’s thinking pick up this book. (And The Traveler's Gift as well!)




Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com 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.”

She Speaks is coming up!

I am very excited that the information for the She Speaks Conference 2011 is finally up! I found out about this event too late to plan on going last year, but I am prayerfully making plans to go this time around. This conference is a great opportunity to gain a wealth of knowledge and help for those who feel called to any sort of women's ministry. And I guess that would include me. Although I have no idea what my ultimate role in women's ministry should look like, I can't deny that the LORD has told me that this is my place to work for Him. I covet your prayers as I am trying to flesh out this call.

I would love to receive the Cecil Murphy Scholarship to attend the conference that Lysa TerKeurst is giving away on her blog. It would be fabulous to get the opportunity to go without the financial burden to deal with! If I don't get the scholarship though and the LORD intends for me to go, I am sure that He will provide in some other way.

Soooo, that is what is on my mind today. What call have you felt from the LORD? I would love to hear your story!

It's been a while....

It has been a while since I have been able to sit down and have a clear train of thought to write. Life has been occurring around here at breakneck speed. I mean that both figuratively and literally. My step dad fell 13 feet from a building about a month ago and life has been turned upside down for our family. I am happy to report that he is recovering and is expected to eventually be back to an almost "normal" life. :0)

In this rush from hospital to home and back trying to care for all the people I love, writing isn't the only thing that has been missing. It has been a while since I have settled down enough in my soul to receive from God as well. Running on empty would describe my gas guzzling SUV and my soul. I think it's time to slow down and get connected to the source of all my peace and joy. Trying to conjure up Christmas spirit without a close connection to that Savior who's birth we celebrate is like having a birthday party without the person who's having the birthday. POINTLESS!

Praying that both you and I will take time today to get cozy with the Life-giver, God Almighty. Let Him speak a word of cheer and true joy into our day. I am SO ready for it myself and I hope you are too!

Scripture for reflection: John 15:1-11

1 I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.

2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.

3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.

4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.

5 I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned.

7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

8 My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.

9 Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love.

10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.

11 These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.