by Jocelyn on February 3, 2012
A note from Jocelyn: Yesterday, Grace Fox shared with us 9 Ways to Keep Our Devotions Vibrant. Today, she is sharing with us an excerpt from her brand new book (it just released on Feb. 1!), Peaceful Moments to Begin Your Day: Devotions for Busy Women.
BEWARE the DANGER!
“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” LUKE 10:41
Upward Gaze:
Father, in the midst of life’s pressures and responsibilities, I lift my eyes to You, the one whose throne is in heaven (Psalms 123:1). I know my help comes from You—the Maker of heaven and earth (Psalms 121:2). That knowledge fills me with strength and hope. Praise You!
Monday morning arrived with a to-do list that grew longer by the minute. I watered my outdoor plants and swept the deck, pausing only to watch the hummingbirds sip the last drops of sweet syrup from the feeder. I’ll mix another batch, I thought. I poured a cup of water into a saucepan, added ¼ cup sugar, and turned on the stove’s front element. While this heats, I’ll make a phone call. [click to continue…]
by Jocelyn on February 2, 2012
by Grace Fox
Every morning before my household wakes, I tiptoe downstairs, pour a cup of coffee, and settle into my leather loveseat for quiet time with God. Bible and journal in hand, I spend an hour delving into the Scriptures where—without fail—I discover nuggets of life-changing truth.
I regard this “sacred habit” not as a duty, but as a delight. It’s a discipline I guard selfishly. The benefits of maintaining it far outweigh the effort.
Spending time with God in this way helps me get to know Him better. I learn more about His thoughts regarding marriage, purity, communication skills, priorities, money, and other matters relevant to my every day life. I learn to view life and people through His eyes, and my perspective matures as I allow His thoughts pervade mine.
For instance, if unforeseen circumstances complicate my schedule, I’m now able to rest in knowing that God is in control rather than fussing and fuming about the unexpected changes. If someone behaves unkindly toward me, I resist the urge to do likewise and, instead, pray that God will meet that person at her deepest point of need. I now understand His compassion for the poor, the widow, and the orphan, and I share His desire to, in as much as is possible, live at peace with all men. [click to continue…]
by Jocelyn on February 1, 2012
Thanks again to all who participated in the Faith Deployed…Again online book club! I hope each and every one of you benefited from it. Below are all the winners of the daily drawings, selected by using random.org. If you see your name here, please email me and tell me your full name and mailing address so we can get these great books or DVDs in the mail to you soon! (I am going to email all the winners, so just hit reply and send your contact info. If I don’t hear from you by Saturday, I’ll have to choose a different winner.)
Happy reading! [click to continue…]
by Jocelyn on February 1, 2012
Thank you to everyone who participated in the Faith Deployed…Again online book club that took place last month! I’ll be drawing winners for the give-aways by the end of this week, but the discussions will stay up, and I encourage you to jump in on them if you missed them. The more feedback, the better. We all learn from each other.
by Jocelyn on February 1, 2012
by Erin Kent
It’s been 31 days since most of us made our resolutions for 2012. I wonder how many of us are still going strong on the decisions we made for the New Year.
In our household, as the New Year dawned for my husband and I, we began verbally expressing our resolutions for 2012. As always, there was the fitness pledge: “I will have the body I want by such-and-such date.” There was the focus pledge: “I’m going to get serious about really punching numbers at work this year.” We can’t forget the enhanced spouse pledge: “I will be a better husband/wife this year than I was last year.” You know, the archetypal ideas of what makes each of us “more” annually. Most everyone has the cookie cutter goals in mind, if we’re honest. [click to continue…]
by Jocelyn on January 31, 2012
Welcome to the Faith Deployed…Again online book club, Day 21! (Not sure what this is all about? Click here.) Today, our last day of the Book Club, we are giving awayPrayers for Our Nation’s Defenders by Maj. Anthony Gray (written for troops, so give it to your loved one in the military), and The Blessing of Adversity by Chaplain Barry Black!
In Your Book:
Before we begin, please turn in your copy of Faith Deployed…Again to page 240 and read “Wait Training” by Kathy Guzzo. (If you don’t have a book, don’t go away! We’d love to have you join us for this discussion and give-away anyway!) This devotion and blog post fall under the “Blue Star Mom” category, but I’m sure military wives can also apply the truths found here.
Now Let’s Talk:
Today’s discussion is led by Kathy Guzzo.
It’s January, the month of resolutions and one topic we hear a lot about is losing weight and getting healthier. We’re told that to accomplish optimum health, we need to eat better, and exercise to increase our stamina, to tone our muscles and strengthen our hearts. Many people each year make this their goal. However, most of them don’t realize that a huge part of training is the waiting to see results. So when they don’t immediately see changes they tend to get discouraged.
The same is true in our Christian lives. When God’s answer to our prayer is ‘wait’, we lose hope. We don’t want to hear that our unanswered prayers may be God training us, or that our faith will grow stronger because of the wait. [click to continue…]
by Jocelyn on January 30, 2012
Even though I have stacks of books I should be reading, the vast majority of which are research for the next novel in my Civil War series, I recently took a break from research to become fully absorbed in the latest novel by Julie Lessman, A Heart Revealed. It took me less than three days to read, so I don’t even feel that guilty about it! Before I share my thoughts, here’s the basic story:
Her heart is tied to a youthful vow . . . but can true love set it free?
Ten years ago, Emma Malloy fled Dublin for Boston, running for her life. Her emotional wounds have finally faded, and her life is now full of purpose and free from the pain of her past. But when she falls for her friend Charity’s handsome and charming brother, Sean O’Connor, fear and shame threaten to destroy her. Could Sean and Emma ever have a future together? Or is Emma doomed to live out the rest of her life denying the only true love she’s ever known?
Filled with intense passion and longing, deception and revelation, A Heart Revealed will hold you in its grip until the very last page. [click to continue…]
by Jocelyn on January 30, 2012
Welcome to the Faith Deployed…Again online book club, Day 20! (Not sure what this is all about? Click here.) Today’s give-away is Moving from Fear to Freedom: A Woman’s Guide to Peace in Every Situation by Grace Fox, plus the corresponding small group study guide!
In Your Book:
Before we begin, please turn in your copy of Faith Deployed…Again to page 238 and read “Secret Fears” by Kathleen Edick. (If you don’t have a book, don’t go away! We’d love to have you join us for this discussion and give-away anyway!) This devotion and blog post fall under the “Blue Star Mom” category, but I’m sure military wives can also apply the truths found here.
Now Let’s Talk:
Today’s discussion is led by a special guest: international speaker and author Grace Fox.
What thoughts come to mind when you read the word storm? I recall scenes from my growing up years on the Alberta prairie when wintery white-out blizzards forced school cancellations and made driving nearly impossible. I also think about windstorms we experienced while living on an island off the coast of British Columbia. One brought wild winds that felled trees and knocked out electricity for five days.
Not all storms are weather-related, however. One definition is “a violent outburst or disturbance.” Unfortunately, this type occurs anywhere and at anytime. Perhaps you’ve experienced this type of disturbance. It blows in with a phone call in the middle of the night. Or when the doctor says your mammogram is abnormal. Or when your child becomes deathly ill, or your spouse or child heads overseas into dangerous active duty. [click to continue…]
by Jocelyn on January 28, 2012
Thanks to Baker Publishing for a free review copy of Where Wildflowers Bloom by Ann Shorey! Here’s the story:
How far will she go to follow her dreams?
The Civil War stole a father and brother from Faith Lindberg–as well as Royal Baxter, the man she wanted to marry. With only her grandfather left, she dreams of leaving Noble Springs, Missouri, and traveling west to Oregon to start a new life, away from the memories that haunt her. But first she must convince her grandfather to sell the family’s mercantile and leave a town their family has called home for generations.
When Royal Baxter suddenly returns, Faith allows herself to hope that she and Royal will finally wed. But does he truly love her? Or will another man claim her heart?
This novel is a gentle story with charming characters–from the heroine herself to the cute old men who come to play chess in her grandfather’s general store. Though the setting is historical, the themes are contemporary: memories which haunt, a compulsion to run from the past, an aversion to the unknown, the tension between wanting to honor your family traditions and needing to make your own way in life.
Where Wildflowers Bloom is an enjoyable, feel-good read, perfect for cuddling up with on a long winter’s night.
Download a free Reading Group Guide here.
by Jocelyn on January 27, 2012
Welcome to the Faith Deployed…Again online book club, Day 19! (Not sure what this is all about? Click here.) Today’s give-away is Running Into Water: Women Immersed in the Pursuit of God by Angela Blycker!
In Your Book:
Before we begin, please turn in your copy of Faith Deployed…Again to page 232 and read “Letting Go” by Donna Mull. (If you don’t have a book, don’t go away! We’d love to have you join us for this discussion and give-away anyway!) This devotion and blog post fall under the “Blue Star Mom” category, but I’m sure a military wife would also be able to apply the truths found here.
Now Let’s Talk:
Today’s discussion is led by Sharon Carrns.
After being a mom for twenty-seven years I have come to realize that we begin the process of letting go of our children from the moment they are conceived. With each cell that multiplies, and each tiny finger and toe that forms our bodies are preparing our babies to be born to live their own lives. We let them go when we give birth and the cord is cut. We let them go when they take their own first steps. We let them go when we send them off to their first day of school, and their first camp, and their first date, and their graduation. I cried and prayed and cherished every one of those days. But I never expected to have to trust God completely with my little girl serving in the Army during a time of war. [click to continue…]
