Summer Reading List

Remember when your last report card of the year contained the reading list for the upcoming school year? (Actually, I am way too old because they didn't have summer reading lists in the dark ages!) For you young ones, hopefully you will remember the excitement that accompanied the list! That is the reader and teacher in me!

I am taking a poll today. Since we just got back from our vacation, I now have some down time to read! (Sounds kind of backwards doesn't it?) I LOVE reading! I was able to read "Same Kind of Different as Me" and "Texas Roads" on the beach! Both are by Christian authors. One was fiction and the other, nonfiction. The author of "Same Kind of Different," Ron Hall, spoke recently here in town at a fund raising dinner for the homeless. Amazing testimony!

I am also reading Elaine Olsen's book, "Peace for the Journey... in the Pleasure of His Company." Love this one! Each devotional contains rich scripture and questions to ponder and pray. It's one that I will make last a while!!

So...my poll! What books are you reading this summer for pleasure? I'm not talking about your Bible study books. Those are wonderful, and I really would like to know what you are studying (I am still reading through the Bible with Wendy Pope and have just started Ephesians with Wendy Blight.)

But, for the purpose of this post, just tell us what book/s you plan on reading this summer or share one of your lastest treasures. I can't wait to hear what your plans are!

(BTW, I didn't participate in Sweet Shot Tuesday today. I was actually out of town on a photo shoot in 100 degree weather!! Mercy! But it was a ton of fun! Will share pictures with you all soon of 6 children ages 3 and under!)

Sweet Blessings!

Anniversary of Fear to Faith

Happy 2nd (I think!) day of Spring! Except it feels like winter here again! Brr....it's cold outside! This weekend's Anne Graham Lotz revival was awesome! Just like a shot of the Holy Spirit! Thank you for your prayers! So many women went to the Cross and accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior for the first time. It was a beautiful time in the BiLo Center!

As I was reading my devotional yesterday, I noticed a comment that I had written. A year ago yesterday, I encountered not only an attack on my body, but an attack of my faith. You can go here to read about it. Bonnie, sweet friend and neighbor, I didn't tell you about this, but....go ahead and read! I'll talk to you in the yard later on!! :)

The devotional from JESUS CALLING by Sarah Young is amazing! This is the reading that March 21 began with...."Trust me and don't be afraid, for I am your Strength and Song. Think about what it means to have Me as your strength. I spoke the universe into existence; My Power is absolutely unlimited! Human weakness, consecrated to Me, is like a magnet, drawing My Power into your neediness. However, fear can block the flow of My Strength into you....When you relate to Me in confident trust, there is no limit to how much I can strengthen you."

Fear did block my communication with God that morning. I was in panic mode, and although I tried to focus on Him, I couldn't for that moment. This fear turned into aggravation--not anger--with Him. The next morning, after processing the entire incident, I talked to Him while getting ready for church. I asked Him WHERE was He when I needed His protection on that mountain? He replied to my spirit that He was there. He protected all of us from something far worse. He kept the coyote from attacking over and over again. He placed the right people in our paths ASAP. Just last week, our local tv news reported that a family pet had been attacked and killed by a coyote in its yard. This is a subdivision not far from where my attack occurred. My mama was here watching the news with me, and it just broke her heart to hear about this dog. I'm sitting on the couch with her thinking, "Mama, if you only knew!" We still have not told our families or many others. I did share it in a talk that I gave at She Speaks last summer.

I have the scars that bear the attack. They have faded just a bit. But they are a daily reminder to TRUST in a God that is BIG...much bigger than our fears. I also have a stronger faith that stems from this episode. Sometimes you have to go through valleys (even though I was literally on a mountain top!!) in order to come out stronger and more sure of your relationship with Christ. Just an FYI, Wendy Blight has an amazing book that deals with fear. It's called Hidden Joy in a Dark Corner. I gleaned so many truths from this book. If you have not read it, I highly recommend it. As a matter of fact, it's going to be a choice for our women's ministry's Beach Blanket Bible Studies this summer.

I leave you with this thought....concentrate on trusting the One who loves you more than anyone else!

Sweet Blessings,

Forgiveness...optional or not

Forgiveness.... a word that many people use without thinking about what it really means. Have you ever told someone that you forgive them just to make them feel better? Or, have you said it because you knew you were supposed to?


Look at the other side of the coin. Have you ever been on the receiving end of forgiveness when you had done a wrong to someone....either on purpose or by accident? It's hard, and it hurts no matter what you age!


In Wendy Blight's book, Hidden Joy, she writes "Scripture teaches that forgiveness is not optional. Jesus died on the cross to save you from you sin. You did nothing to deserve His forgiveness. He gave it freely with no conditions attached." Hmmm....not optional. It is expected because we have been forgiven.


This makes me remember a question that a friend asked one day. She wanted to know how to forgive someone if they had already passed away. I was not expecting this, and was not prepared to answer as God would have wanted me to! This, my friends, is an area of weakness of mine that I am truly working on! I need to be spending more time knowing God and His Wonderful Word than other things that I chose to do! Guilty as charged! I have experienced growth, but I have a long way to go!


Please take time to visit Wendy's blog today and as we discuss forgiveness. Some of the comments have just melted my heart! This book is simply wonderful! I received my copy in the mail right before we left for the beach in June. I settled down with it on the beach and began reading. By Wednesday, I was still reading! Y'all, I've said it before--I am a speed reader! Even Hubby asked me if I was almost done with this book. I told him that I wanted to really think about each chapter--to let it resonate within my heart. God so used it to speak to me! I highly encourage you to order this book for your collection! Wendy did a beautiful job sharing her heart and story.


"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you." Ephesians 4:32


Sweet Blessings!