Believe God's Love and Dwell in it ~ Celebration Week ~ $25 Gift Card Give-Away ~ Winner of June's Book Give-Away

Let's celebrate ~ all images are from Google image

 

I hope you will bear with me today because I might seem to ramble.  I want to share a write moment with you as usual, plus there’s even more.  This is a celebration week for me, and I want to celebrate with you.  I’ll be giving away a $25 gift card as just a tiny token of my appreciation for you, readers and friends.  Plus, I’ll be announcing the winner of last week’s book give-away.  More about that after the meditation.

 

 

 

I figured out a long time ago that we are free to be our very best in an atmosphere of unconditional love.  Pure love, not because of anything we deserve, but because of the nature of the giver, brings out the best in us.

This revelation first came to me during a time when my small children and I were staying temporarily with my daddy between military moves.  He loved us being there with him.  Everything about us delighted him.  He loved the meals I prepared and relished our time together.  I thrived  in that atmosphere of love and acceptance.  It wasn’t due to anything I did or deserved.  It wasn’t because we were perfect.  It was due to the nature of his love for us.

There was no anxiety.

There was no self-condemnation.

There was no fear of failure.

 

Everything was covered with unconditional love.

 

Love covers all sins.  Proverbs 10: 12b

 

In our relationships and dealing with others, that kind of love is rare.

But, we as believers have something to celebrate.  God’s love for us is

 

 

unconditional.

 

 

Christ accepted death on the cross for us—for the unloved and unlovely and sinners of this world.  And the love that He demonstrated was more powerful that sin, more powerful that death, for Christ rose again to Life everlasting.  And He offers His Love to us.  (See John 3:16)

There is no greater love. (See John 15:13).

Christ has called us to share in His love.  He is our model, and He commanded us to live by the same principles when He gave us the greatest commandments. (See Matthew 22:36-40).

 

And we have known and believed the love that God has to us.  God is love: and he that dwells in love dwells in God, and God in him.  Herein is our love made perfect, that we many have boldness in the day of judgment:  because as he is, so are we in this world.  1 John 4:16-17

 

So are we in this world. 

If we believe God’s love for us, and accept His Love, then we can dwell in that love.

Dwell ~ where you are right now, whatever your circumstances

·         Stuck in traffic

·         Waiting in the doctor’s office

·         Short on money to pay the bills

·         Exhausted from a long day at work

 

Dwell in God’s unconditional love for you and cover your situation with His love.

 

My prayer for us is that we will accept God’s love for us, that we will realize it, and apply it to all circumstances in our lives.  You will experience yourself becoming the best you can possibly be because of His unconditional love.

 

 

 

Now, as promised, more reasons to celebrate.

1.  Congratulations to Jeanette Levellie, who is the winner of Michele Howe’s book, OneSize Fits All.   Many thanks to Michele for being our guest last week and graciously providing a copy of her book.  First Monday author meet and greets have been very popular this year.  Yes, I said year.

2. Happy Anniversary to Write Moments with God.  One year ago, June 13^th, with butterflies fluttering in my tummy, I posted the first meditation here.  Your unconditional love and encouragement has meant so much to me that today we can celebrate

* 95 posts

* almost 700 comments

* over 25,200 visits.  

I hope you’ve found encouragement, compassion,  and strength for your journey at Write Moments with God.

3. (I suppose I have to mention that June 12^th is my birthday.)

4. I also want to mention my devotional journal, God, Me, and Sweet Iced Tea which will finally be released on July 11, 2013.  It’s already on Amazon.  If you like this blog, you'll love God, Me, and Sweet Iced Tea and find it even richer and more refreshing.  Next month, I’ll be giving away copies of the devotional to celebrate its launch.

 

Now, what must you do to qualify for the $25 Amazon gift card.  It couldn’t be easier!  And I'll be thrilled to read all your lovely comments!

 

Leave a comment below about what you like about this blog.  I’ll leave the first one so you can click there.  Tell me what you will do to tell your friends and others about this give-away and Write Moments with God—such as through Facebook shares, Twitter, comments on your own blog, word of mouth.  Then, leave your email address (if I don’t have it already) so I can contact you if you win the random drawing.

Do this before 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 15, 2013.  The winner will be announced on June 17^th. 

God bless you and thank you for celebrating with me.



Michele Howe, Featured Author ~ Plus Monthy Book Give-Away

Michele Howe ~ http://michelehowe.wordpress.com/

 

Today our featured guest is Michele Howe.  Michele is the author of twelve books for women and has published over 1600 articles, reviews, and curriculum. Her articles and reviews have been published in Good Housekeeping, First for Women, Single Parent Family, Christian Single, and many other publications. Michele’s single parenting titles include, Going It Alone and Still Going It Alone. After having undergone six shoulder surgeries, Michele saw the need for a women’s inspirational health-related book, which lead to her book, Burdens Do a Body Good: Meeting Life’s Challenges with Strength (and Soul), released in 2010 and from which Prescription for Life is based. Faith, Friends, and Other Floatation Devices will be published in 2013 by ACTA publications.

One Size Fits All: Making Healthy Choices, Stepping into a Meaningful Life is a women's health/inspirational devotional, released in February, 2013 by Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas.  Michele has graciously offered to give away a copy of this book to our readers. I hope you will enjoy our interview.

 

Michele, I’m excited about One Size Fits All.  It sounds like a book I really need to read.  Tell us about it.

 

·         In One Size Fits All, you will discover that much of life and health is about making good choices.  What we say yes to, as well as what we say no to, matters in our everyday decisions.  Information, no matter how valuable, remains worthless unless we grab hold of its principles and put them to use in our lives.  Each one of us determines the quality of life as it pertains to our health.  Throughout every chapter of One Size Fits All, you will discover how much influence you have over your life despite periodic seasons of setback, illness, or injury.  As you read, you will learn how every individual’s unique lifestyle plan includes making meaningful choices to build a healthy life.  One Size Fits All provides comprehensive prescriptions for life that will encourage, strengthen, and fortify you to be your healthy best, mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually.

You are such a prolific writer, Michele.  When did you begin writing?

·         I began writing after the birth of my first child some 27 years ago.

Do you have a “guiding principle” as far as your writing is concerned?

·         Everything I write has to circle back to the foundational truths found in Scripture.  I always want my writing to get readers to take action of some sort.  As my pastor says, once you’ve listened to a message, you should ask yourself “So what?” meaning what am I going to do with the information I’ve just received?

That is wise counsel, Michele.  Do you have a favorite Scripture?

·         Yes, Proverbs 31: 8,9

 

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.  Speak up and judge fairly, defend the rights of the poor and needy.

 

Thank you Michele.  I can’t wait to read your book. Thank you for sharing with us on Write Moments with God. 

Read more of Michele's work at http://michelehowe.wordpress.com/.  You can contact Michele at: jhowe@toast.net.

Now, for an opportunity to win a copy of  One Size Fits All:

Follow these steps to qualify for the random drawing.

1. Leave a comment on this blog (my favorite part!) which includes your email address.  I will use your email address to contact you if you win. To leave a comment, click on the pencil icon or the word comment at the end of this blog post.

2. Share this blog post on Facebook so your friends will read about it and visit too.

3. Tweet IF you have twitter, and mention the book give-away on your own blog if you have one. 

4. Become a Follower on this blog.

Complete these steps by 11:00 a.m. Saturday, June 8th.   A winner will be announced here on Monday, June 10th, so be sure to check back to see if you've won. 

Thank you so much for participating in the give-away.  Now...leave a comment and have a wonderful day.

 



Coincidences, Unexplained Synchronization of Events or Spiritual Puns

 

Awesome photo courtesy of Eileen Decamp ~ Monticello

 

 



Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing. Isaiah 40:26 NIV


This week a story is trending on Yahoo about an uncanny coincidence.  Marion Shurtleff, of San Clemente, California purchased an old bible in a used bookstore several months ago.  She noticed a folded piece of yellow paper  between the pages, but a couple of months passed before she toke the time to open the paper and read it.  When she did, she made an astonishing discovery.  The paper was actually an essay that she herself had written 65 years ago to earn her merit badge for Girl Scouts, when she was living 2,000 miles away in Covington, Kentucky.  Who could have imagined such a coincidence.  Now, she is on a quest to find out who owned the bible and why they saved the letter.  She wonders if there is a message in this for her.

 

In the life of a believer, is there any such thing as chance or coincidence?  God engineers everything.  I believe most of us would concede that God is in control of the circumstances in our lives.  We go our merry everyday ways not thinking much about that fact until some synchronized details reveal a mystery so intricate that it could only be explained as the unseen hand of God. 

G. K. Chesterton said “coincidences are spiritual puns.”  I wonder what he meant by that.  The word pun means a joke.  If that is the case then, according to Chesterton, God has a real sense of humor.  But maybe, the purpose of coincidence is much grander than that.

When such an event occurs—a connection that has persisted over miles in time and space--is revealed.  We wonder if God is speaking to us through the circumstances.  God’s providence has been revealed to our unseeing eyes by the working out of this event called “coincidence”.  No matter how we explain it, ordinary events have come together in such a way that we marvel at  God's grace and His providential care.

But now, this is what the LORD says-- he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. Isaiah 43:1 NIV



Sunset at Beaver Creek Reservoir ~ thanks Eileen DeCamp

 



Thank you for visiting Write Moments with God.  Please consider leaving a comment below.  I'd love to read your thoughts on "coincidences".  Do you have an interesting one to share? 

Please come back on Monday when I introduce my guest author for June and give-away one of her new books!

Significant Accomplishments ~ not necessarily as the world defines them



Graduation caps tossed into the air ~ Google image



For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another. Romans 14:18-19 (NASB)

The school year has ended and the last chords of pomp and circumstance have faded away.  It was a beautiful day for the graduates to toss their caps into the air.  When I returned home from the ceremony, I made myself a glass of iced tea and headed for my favorite spot in the backyard.  I had a stack of a hundred plus papers to read.  No, they weren’t more papers to grade.  They were the notes my students wrote to me on their last day in class. 

I will say, as we say in the South, they “did my heart good”.  And I treasure and will treasure my students’ messages.  They got me to thinking about accomplishments.  I’ve had a few in my life that the world recognizes as “significant”.  The cords I wore at my multiple graduations have for the most part lost their meaning to me.  When I think of these letters from my students, I wonder whether those other accomplishments have any real significance at all.  To me, these words mean so much more.

Even though I already knew it, it’s nice to read that I was a favorite.  But what pleases me even more is to read that so many students thought they were my favorite.

 “I was your favorite student.”

“With love from your favorite student.”

“You don’t have to say it ‘cause I know I was your favorite.”

It’s good to feel like a “favorite”.

We should all have a person who sees the best in us despite “in your face” realities ~ despite acne and deficient hygiene, despite missing homework and mistakes. 

We all need someone who can set us to believing in the goodness and the possibilities in ourselves ~ through little conversations now forgotten, smiles that proved I notice, encouraging words that say I care.

We all need at least one person who will confirm that our outlandish dreams are plausible ~ one person who will dig deep to plant seeds of beauty and hope in the rich soil of our hearts. 

 “I always looked forward to coming to your class.”

“You brought peace to my day always smiling.”

 “To the one teacher who cared how my hand writing is.”

“I learned French but you taught me so much more.”

“You’ve spoken nothing but good things about me and that truly means a lot.”

“You believe in second chances.”

“Always remember me.  I will either be reporting on the news or traveling the world and visiting different countries.”

“Don’t forget how important you were/are to me.”

Happy tears filled my eyes as I read their farewell letters.  It may sound a little “cheesy”, but I’m happy that I was important in the lives of those young people.  To me, more than an endearing accomplishment, it is one with enduring significance.  I don't think I ever realized that so much as I do now.

That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. Ephesians 1:12

My favorite corner of the yard

Thank you for allowing me this indulgence.  I really wanted to share a little bit from the letters with you. 

Thank you so much for visiting Write Moments with God.  I am honored that you are here, and I hope you'll come again.  Be pleased to leave your comments below.  I appreciate what you have to say.   Have a lovely Memorial Day holiday.  May God bless you and your family.

Step out in Faith or not at all -- His Grace is Sufficient

City of Eternal Spring, Vietnam ~ courtesy of Jeanne Henriques Collage of Life



He must increase, but I must decrease.  John 3:30

 

I’ve just gone thought a season of ill health.  Nothing horrible or life-threatening, but enough sickness for long enough to make me realize my utter human frailty and the impossibility of my doing anything apart from His mercy and grace.  But, that consequence, that realization, is actually a good thing.  My faith has kicked up a notch, as I’ve had to step out in faith or not step out at all.

As I’ve sat around more than usual, I’ve sought solace in His presence.  Like a mother cradles her little child, I’ve asked Him to cradle me.  He has.  As my reliance on Him grows, so does my faith.  His grace is sufficient.  When all is said and done, His purposes are the eternal essential thing.   His plans for me?  I want to make those plans my own.

In our culture, we celebrate youth, beauty, health, and vitality. Like those long summer days of our childhood, they seem never-ending.  But, eventually for all of us, due to accidents, illness, or simply old age, they do end.  We come face to face with our human weaknesses and limitations.  When we suffer the loss of health, we learn a new way of being, and if we are wise, a new level of dependence upon the Lord's all in all. 

I’ve just read “Sick & Tired: Empathy, Encouragement, and Practical Help for Those Suffering from Chronic Health Problems”, a new book by Kimberly Rae.  It was a welcomed dose of encouragement.  I love her words of dedication to Jesus: 

 “You can do more with my being less than I ever could have done being what I thought was more.”

…I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus

my Lord:  for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them

but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own

 righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of

Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:  That I may know him, and

 the power of his resurrection… Philippians 3:8-10a

Photo courtesy of Jeanne Henriques ~ I love her photography.

May God in His mercy and grace strengthen you and empower you to do all He has called you to do this day.  Take His peace.  Thank you for visiting Write Moments with God.  I appreciate you. 

You are welcome to leave your comments below.

Love, Bless, Pray...for your Enemies

My dear friend Rita visiting on my birthday 2012

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.  Matthew 5:44

 

From the first moment we met, I thought my new supervisor disliked me.  Everyone else welcomed me to my new position, but this person seemed stand-offish, mistrustful, and even jealous.  Over the course of that year, we had several differences of opinion which left me feeling somewhat bruised and devalued.

 

             While I complained one day about this person’s behavior, my friend interrupted me and asked, “Have you prayed for him?”

 

             Her question definitely caused me pause.  I had not prayed for him, but her question made me realize that I should be doing just that.  After all, we need to pray about everything. 

 

I began to pray for him in earnest.  Each day I prayed for his mental, physical, and spiritual well-being.  I prayed for God to bless him.

 

And above all these things put on charity.  Colossians 3:14

 

            I began to see subtle changes in our interactions.  Greetings seemed sincere.  I noticed he listened and seemed to appreciate what I shared in our group meetings.  The changes were coming from both of us.  By the end of that year, the relationship had transformed into one of mutual respect and good-will.

 

Let brotherly love continue.  Hebrew 13:1

 

Prayer transformed an enemy into a friend.  Only the power of God can do that.

Little brothers Nathan and Jonah at play

 

I welcome you to leave your comments below.  Thank you so much for visiting Write Moments with God.  May God bless you and cover you with His love.

Life is Like a Jigsaw Puzzle...or not ~ plus announcing the winner of the monthly book give-away

Liberty Leading the People, Eugene Delacroix ~ like the puzzle I bought in the Louvre. Google image.

I’ve always loved putting together jigsaw puzzles, not only as a child, but as an adult.  My mother and I still buy them for each other.  Once I even bought a puzzle of a Delacroix painting in the gift shop of the Louvre in Paris.  I examine the picture, shake the new box, then I'm ready to master its 1,000 easy pieces.  The designs and variegated hues and shadows intrigue me.  As the pieces are fitted together, satisfying glimpses of the big picture come into view. 

I am creator.

I have total control.

Sometimes an elusive bit will send me searching high and low, examining every piece until I find the elusive one.  I savor the moment when I have put the final one into place to complete the picture perfect. 

Life simplified into 1,000 pieces in a box.  Thus, the perennial charm of puzzles.  A real sense of satisfaction for a low price.

Hello!  Life isn’t 1,000 easy pieces. We may want the big picture completed neatly now so we can see the results of all God plans to do in and through our lives. But, in reality, we need an eternal view.  We can't know the final plans.  God’s purposes are for eternity.  We will see and understands parts of His plan for our lives, but some things we can't know and understand this side of heaven.  It's enough to know I can trust Him to design each scene along the way.

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.  Philippians 1:6

I believe that the God who knows the number of hairs on my head can be trusted with all the bits and pieces and mysteries in my life.  I know I can trust Him.  If I cooperate with Him and play my part, God who is the Master, will put it all together perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  Fear ye not therefore.  Matthew 10:30, 31a

The girls doing French braids.

 

Thank you for visiting Write Moments with God.  You are important to me.  I appreciate you, and pray God will bless you.  Please consider leaving your comments below.

 

Congratulations to Rebecca Waters, who has won a copy of Cynthia Ruchti's new novel, When the Morning Glory Blooms.  Thanks to all of you who visited and commented when Cynthia was our guest.  We enjoyed it very much.