Leap Into Books Giveaway Hop
February 28th to March 7th
Co-hosted by Jinky is Reading
Thanks for Hopping by!
In this giveaway, we're giving away 3 Bestseller Christian Ebooks
to one lucky winner!
to one lucky winner!
Sunday Devotional Blog - What is a Loser?
When my son was
about five, we watched a show on TV where a character shaped a hand
into the letter L and placed it on their forehead and then chanted
“LOSER” to another character. Being curious about the world as
only a child can be, he turned to me and asked, “Mommy, what’s a
loser?”
I thought on it for a moment, not
wanting to blurt out the wrong answer, because to me a loser is not
simply someone who loses at a sport or game, but more.
Then the voice in my heart taught me exactly what a loser is. I
shared it with my son, “A loser is a person who quits. Because if
you believe in yourself, and keep trying, even if you fail over and
over again, eventually you’ll win – you’re not a loser until
you give up.”
No matter how many times you
trip them up, God-loyal people don’t stay down long; soon they’re
up on their feet, while the wicked end up flat on their faces.
(Proverbs 24:16 MSG)
One of the common misconceptions about
Christians is that once you’ve been covered by Christ, you no
longer sin or make bad decisions. But that’s not true. The
difference is that when we fall down into the pit of sin, we don’t
stay there, but get up and get going again. We don’t get up and
get going by our own strength, nor are we asked to. It would be too
much for us. When we fall down, the Lord himself supports us and
helps us up.
The step of a good man are
directed and established by the Lord when He delights in his way [and
He busies Himself with his every step]. Though he falls, he shall
not be utterly cast down, for the Lord grasps his hand in support and
upholds him. (Psalm 37 23-24 AMP)
Thank God we don’t have to believe
in ourselves. We can trust Him to help us up. How many times would
we give up if we felt that we had to get ourselves out of trouble,
save ourselves, do the impossible?
This is why we can
be called “more than conquerors,” in Romans 8:37. Because
nothing can keep us down. We don’t fail once and for all, but
eventually we win, as long as we believe, keep trying, and let Him
help us up. To be called more than a conqueror raises us up above
even Alexander the Great. Because he won his battles, conquered what
he thought was the whole world, then sat on his laurels and quit. As
long as we live we don’t give up - don’t let one failure keep us
down - but press on and persevere.
So what has been bringing us down
lately? What keeps tripping us up and making us want to give up?
Consider for a moment the promises He’s given us, and let us reach
up for His hand, and never give up.
Sunday Devotional - Unfinished Business with God
The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the Lord, where the ark of God was.
Then the Lord called Samuel.
Then the Lord called Samuel.
Samuel answered, “Here I am.” (1 Sam 3:3-4 NIV)
There are times when the Lord calls me, and I'm busy. Like Samuel in the passage above. He was laying down and going to bed...after a hard day's work. His pillow was likely calling his name. But when the Lord called him, Samuel jumped up and said, "Here I am."
As Christians, we have to remember that God doesn't work according to our timing. He has His own. If we try to take the timing out of his hands and into our own, this is sin. It is not wasteful to leave a task unfinished.
If I'm in the middle of doing the dishes, and God calls, I need to leave the dishes and answer. If I'm in the middle of eating, and God calls, I need to put down my fork and answer.
What we think is left unfinished might be exactly where God wants us to be. Sometimes people die leaving work in a state that seems unfinished, but is right where God wanted it to Be. We never see the full picture in this life, but we need to trust in His call, His word, and His timing.
What is God calling you to leave incomplete today?
Home is Where the Heart Is Blog Hop
Happy Valentine's Day!
You know, it's funny, but this little saying has so much truth. I have been married for nearly twenty years, and would be fine living in a car with my husband as long as I had him...and my family.
My most recent writing project is a Steampunk Fantasy series I am co-authoring with Paranormal Romance author, Melissa Turner Lee. The series, called Armored Hearts is set at the turn of the century and is a fantastic amalgam of Steam and Fae.
Here's our logo:
Tristan Gareth Smyth has lived in the same home his entire life. Although his grandfather often leaves for London, he never takes his grandson with him because he finds the wheelchair cumbersome. So Gareth is stuck at Waverley Park with the servants.
His single source of freedom is in the fact he can fly, but in order to keep this secret, his adventures must be kept under the cover of night. Tabitha, his friend and close relation, is the only one who knows his secret.
When debtors come to call on Grandfather, there becomes only one way Gareth can keep his home. He must marry rich, and do so quickly.
What is a home without love?
And do you agree with me that you can make a home anywhere as long as love is present?
LEAVE A COMMENT
here at my blog with your email address, and a lucky commenter will win an e-book copy of
Winter Fae - the short story prequel to Armored Hearts
Don't forget to enter for the many prizes in this Hop:
and visit the other blogs in the hop as well!
Sunday Devotional - Becoming Farsighted
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| (c) Samc3352 Dreamstime.com |
As Christians, we need to become farsighted. Dictionary.com describes this trait as: seeing objects at a distance more clearly than those near at hand.
Personally, I find this difficult. Even when I know there is something better in my future, at times it's difficult not to satisfy my own needs now. Like snacking. Dinner is so much better, but if we fall prey to hunger at 4 in the afternoon, and dinner seems hours and hours away, we might be tempted to eat a few chips...or maybe even a whole bag. Then when dinner finally arrives - we're no longer hungry for it.
So maybe it's time for me to wake up and dismiss those things that are near at hand -- for the better things that seem far-off. Perhaps they are closer than I think.
What is #God? - Sunday #Devotional for #tworship
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| (c) Sorinus - dreamstime.com |
When God says "I am" what does He mean? What is in that name? Do I believe Him?
Everything that God is - is wrapped up in that simple name. I was meditating on this and heard this song:
Do I believe Him? Sometimes I struggle with this. If He is enough for me, why do I still search for other things to satisfy first? Is He really my satisfaction? Why is the pull of this world so strong? Why is it that I still want to do what I know I shouldn't FIRST, before I realize I'm heading the wrong way again?
But I do know. I know that He is enough.
Those other things that pull me to them rob me of my joy, my peace and my comfort. Often these things offer a short term pleasure, but long lasting misery (like drugs, alcohol, overeating.) If I could stop being so short-sighted and improve my long-range vision, maybe I could overcome this pull and head for my true source of joy, peace, and comfort.
I am ... the Father
A father is supposed to be the provider, the comforter, the protector. In today's society the role of father has been so distorted, that for many "father" had become the opposite of what he was supposed to be. So it's hard to TRUST God, who calls Himself "Father" if we have had a father who was not a provider, or source of comfort, or protector. If we've never experienced what a father should be, how can we trust God to be what He says He is?
I am ... Jesus
“Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” (John 8:59 NIV)
If you ever read this passage of the Bible and didn't understand the significance of WHY they wanted to stone Jesus after He said this, you must see the video clip above - the dramatization of this chapter of John is unforgettable.
So do I trust Jesus when He says "I am" - this is what the foundation of all Christianity is.
Do I trust that He is who He says He is - and will do what He says He will do.
Because if I do - it changes everything.
Do you trust Him?
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