We Are Disciples

This is another excerpt from my newly released devotional, "Embrace the Morning".

Mark 16:19: So then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God.

Jesus' ascension represents His earthly work was done; however, the work of His disciples was just beginning … to share the word of God and bring others to His mercy. And so it is with us. We too are His disciples and are blessed with the task of continuing His work.

Dear Jesus, you earned your heavenly reward by spreading the word of God and for sacrificing your life for our sins. With your loving help, may I become your faithful and loyal disciple and at life's end, be welcomed into your kingdom.

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WE ARE DISCIPLES 

What an exhilarating feeling knowing Jesus puts that much trust in each and every one of us!
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HAVE A BLESSED DAY!

My spinning mind....

My mind is like a merry-go-round.  Ideas for devotionals and other projects are constantly spinning around. When an idea jumps off the ride, I'm off and running with it.  Sometimes that merry-go-round slows down for more than one to jump off at a time, which is what happened this past month.  Now I have three outlines, about a gazillion (okay, so I exaggerate) bible verses and graphics for book covers.  

One would think pressure would be mounting to complete these books but curiously, it's not.  It's nice to go back and forth, one subject to the other, then the other...but the best part of the whole process ...the bible verses.  I love researching and determining the best ones to use in each book that will provide comfort and joy. The verses go the full spectrum depending on the subject matter. 

So even though it sounds like I'm a loon for tackling three books at a time...it's a way for me to spend time with God and focus on all His messages.

Fellow authors - a question:  How many projects do you work on at a time? 

Thursday I will be welcoming Amber Schamel - my guest blogger....
You'll enjoy her insight and inspiration!!!!

HAVE A BLESSED DAY!!!!

A LITTLE STORY WITH A BIG MESSAGE

I heard this story awhile back and I carry it's message in my heart......I know you will too.

THE PEARL NECKLACE

A cheerful girl with bouncy golden curls was almost five. Waiting with her mother at the checkout stand, she saw them: a circle of glistening white pearls in a pink foil box. "Oh please, Mommy. Can I have them? Please, Mommy, please!"

Quickly the mother checked the back of the little foil box and then looked back into the pleading blue eyes of her little girl's upturned face. "A dollar ninety-five. That's almost $2.00. If you really want them, I'll
think of some extra chores for you and in no time you can save enough money to buy them for yourself.  Your birthday's only a week away and you might get another crisp dollar bill from grandma."

As soon as Jenny got home, she emptied her piggy bank and counted out 17 pennies. After dinner, she did more than her share of chores and she went to the neighbor and asked if she could pick dandelions for ten cents. On her birthday, grandma did give her another new dollar bill and at last she had enough money to buy the necklace.

Jenny loved her pearls. They made her feel dressed up and grown up. She wore them everywhere--Sunday school, kindergarten, even to bed. The only time she took them off was when she went swimming or had a
bubble bath. Mother said if they got wet, they might turn her neck green.

Jenny had a very loving daddy and every night when she was ready for bed, he would stop whatever he was doing and come upstairs to read her a story. One night when he finished the story, he asked Jenny, "Do you love me?" "Oh yes, Daddy. You know that I love you." "Then give me your pearls." "Oh, Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have Princess-- the white horse from my collection. The one with the pink tail. Remember, Daddy? The one you gave me. She's my favorite." "That's okay, Honey. Daddy loves you. Good night." And he brushed her cheek with a kiss.

About a week later, after the story time, Jenny's daddy asked again, "Do you love me?" " Daddy, you know I love you." "Then give me your pearls." "Oh Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have my baby doll. The brand new one I got for my birthday. She is so beautiful and you can have the yellow blanket that matches her sleeper." "That's okay. Sleep well. God bless you, little one. Daddy loves you." And as always, he brushed her cheek with a gentle kiss.

A few nights later when her daddy came in, Jenny was sitting on her bed with her legs crossed Indian-style. As he came close, he noticed her chin was trembling and one silent tear rolled down her cheek. "What is it, Jenny? What's the matter?"Jenny didn't say anything but lifted her little hand up to her daddy. And, when she opened it, there was her little pearl necklace. With a little quiver, she finally said, "Here, Daddy. It's for you."

With tears gathering in his own eyes, Jenny's kind daddy reached out with one hand to take the dime-store necklace, and with the other hand he reached into his pocket and pulled out a blue velvet case with a strand of beautiful genuine pearls. He had had them all the time. He was just waiting for her to give up the dime-store stuff so he could give her a genuine treasure.     (Author Unknown)

We all carry dime-store pearl necklaces...each pearl carrying something we're not willing to turn over to God.  Let's give our Father the cheap necklace so He can give us the genuine treasure...a life filled with hope, love and serenity.

HAVE A BLESSED DAY!

Responding with Love

The following is an excerpt from my devotional "Embrace the Morning", which was just released. 

II. The Scourging at the Pillar

John 19:1: Then Pilate took Jesus and had him scourged.

Although Jesus suffered excruciating pain, He never once let go of His love for us or His persecutors. Our hearts break for the pain He endured but conversely we should rejoice in His abundance of love. We need to follow His example by loving one another, despite any transgression against us.

Jesus, no amount of pain stopped you from loving me. 

When I am faced with pain or cruelty from others, may I not lash out in anger, but respond with love.

     My Precious Savior, guide me to follow Your word in my thoughts, words and deeds.  At day's end may I count my blessings with love and gratitude.

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Please keep all the people suffering in the Philippines in your prayers.

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HAVE A BLESSED DAY!

Go Seahawks and Gridiron Granny!

GOD WAS AT MY KEYBOARD

We just found out my mom has cancer throughout her body.  I know, especially during this time, I need to trust that God will sustain us while providing whatever is necessary to keep her encouraged, comfortable and free from pain.  I need to trust He will also sustain me while being a source of solace and strength for my father.

This is a prayer I wrote a few weeks back, before knowing my mom's condition. I believe God was at my keyboard that night as His way to prepare me.

HAVE A BLESSED DAY!

Keep the creative juices flowing.....

Life brings us subject matter for future writing projects every day...a long lost memory, a profound statement, an event, a random thought or even a dream. I don't know about you, but my memory is no longer the steel trap I had in my youth...and as quickly as an idea comes to me, it disappears into the Bermuda Triangle of my brain.....never to be seen or heard from again.

I now accept the fact I'm "memory challenged", and am doing something about it. I now have a notepad that goes with me everywhere.  No matter where I am ... the grocery store, a parking lot, a restaurant ... my new best friend is there.  I do get funny looks at church when I jot down a verse or something the priest says, and my husband gets a tad bit annoyed when I wake up in the middle of the night from a dream, and turn on the light to document the epiphany ... interrupting his slumber...but it's worth it.  My days of lost inspiration are over...as long as I remember the pencil!

HAVE A BLESSED DAY!

Oh, by the way ~ Gridiron Granny's winning streak continues...and my Seahawks (albeit a nailbiter) were victorious as well!