It is official! I am now a published author...my book went on sale today at Crossbook.org and Amazon. God gave me the story, because He gave us a son.. Jamie. "Round Eyes" is the title of the book.
The book is a colorful children's book, illustrated by my dear friend Tracey Applewhite Broome, of when we realized Jamie recognized he was different. Jamie came to us from South Korea through Holt Adoption Agency. (A Christian adoption agency, same one Dale and Roy Rogers used)
But, God was the orchestrator of both the adoption and the story. He so lovingly placed Jamie in our home and now it is a story for the world to read.
It is once more... God giving to us...and a son. No, this story ends in laughter and love, not like the sacrifice of the Son of God. But all in all, it is about His love...we cannot understand how He can be so giving and loving, but we do know that He is all those things. He is our Father...we are adopted into His family by the blood of Christ and we love Him very much.
And Jamie, we are so blessed that God sent you to our home to be our son. We love you very much and are proud of the man of God, husband and father you have become.
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Devestation and Pain vs Peace and Comfort
This week I was speaking with a friend who had just been diagnosed with cancer. The peace of moving forward with whatever happens is from the Lord. But, the endurance of the physical pain she is facing is a challenge.
Also, this week we heard of the Colorado fires on the news, this reminds me of them last year. We were sent there with the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team to give hope in the midst of the burnt ashes. Then, before we left CO, the Aurora shooting happened. The pain...in the hearts for those who had lost homes and everything they owned and then the ones who had lost their loved ones or injured at the theater.
The pain of this world hurts so badly sometimes, we ache physically. We ask, "How can we make it this time?" We wonder what the news will be on tv, only to hear more pain. We live in a world of pain and suffering, disease and death, hurt and loss.
But in Psalms 23, He promises to be with us in the valley, His rod and staff they will comfort us. He will be with us, even when we are surrounded by the Enemy, He will take care of us. Psalms 23 is a scripture I had to memorized in 4th grade, in a public school! This scripture is still close to my heart, because we can rely on it during good or hard times.
Yes, we go thru this world, but we are only travelers...we are not home yet! We also have the best Guide that a traveler can have..Jesus Christ. Lean on Him and let Him carry you through whatever you are going through.
Also, this week we heard of the Colorado fires on the news, this reminds me of them last year. We were sent there with the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team to give hope in the midst of the burnt ashes. Then, before we left CO, the Aurora shooting happened. The pain...in the hearts for those who had lost homes and everything they owned and then the ones who had lost their loved ones or injured at the theater.
The pain of this world hurts so badly sometimes, we ache physically. We ask, "How can we make it this time?" We wonder what the news will be on tv, only to hear more pain. We live in a world of pain and suffering, disease and death, hurt and loss.
But in Psalms 23, He promises to be with us in the valley, His rod and staff they will comfort us. He will be with us, even when we are surrounded by the Enemy, He will take care of us. Psalms 23 is a scripture I had to memorized in 4th grade, in a public school! This scripture is still close to my heart, because we can rely on it during good or hard times.
Yes, we go thru this world, but we are only travelers...we are not home yet! We also have the best Guide that a traveler can have..Jesus Christ. Lean on Him and let Him carry you through whatever you are going through.
Pslam 23 NASB
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want,
He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters.
He restores my soul, He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His names sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod and staff comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You have anointed my head with oil, my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the
Lord forever
Saturday, June 22, 2013
Walking in this world....
Wow! A few days ago I was doing my devotional and listening to a man on tv doing a bible study. I am sorry I do not remember his name, but he was from Arkansas. Anyway, he was teaching in the book of Jude and went off on a rabbit trail...just for me. He strayed from Jude to the book of John beginning with chapter thirteen and I will just start with verse 8, where Jesus was going to wash Peter's feet.
Now, I must admit, if Jesus were to say to me, let me wash your feet, I would be just like Peter and say "No way!" But, Jesus goes on, when Peter then asked for Him to bathe him, to explain that Peter was already cleansed, but his feet were dirty.
The thoughts that were opened up to me were truly an awakening.....this could clearly be the way we are as spirit and flesh on this earth. We are forgiven, we have been cleansed (by the washing of our sin, by the blood of Jesus), but we continue to walk in this dusty (sinful) world and our feet (sins) need to be washed everyday.
Lord, help me to never keep the dust on my feet, but allow you to wash them clean everyday. Thank you for Who you are and giving of yourself to die for me....to give me the Living Water that washes over me.
Giving God Glory
gs
Now, I must admit, if Jesus were to say to me, let me wash your feet, I would be just like Peter and say "No way!" But, Jesus goes on, when Peter then asked for Him to bathe him, to explain that Peter was already cleansed, but his feet were dirty.
The thoughts that were opened up to me were truly an awakening.....this could clearly be the way we are as spirit and flesh on this earth. We are forgiven, we have been cleansed (by the washing of our sin, by the blood of Jesus), but we continue to walk in this dusty (sinful) world and our feet (sins) need to be washed everyday.
Lord, help me to never keep the dust on my feet, but allow you to wash them clean everyday. Thank you for Who you are and giving of yourself to die for me....to give me the Living Water that washes over me.
Giving God Glory
gs
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Seek Him with All Your Heart
Sometime you just need to take a spell and focus on God. We are in the middle of the mountains, at the Billy Graham Training Center "The Cove", and His presence has been felt, heard, and seen this week. I cannot imagine how glorious Heaven will be!
Jesus took time away from the crowds and separated Himself from the 'needs' to refill His tank (so to speak). Some of us need to do this more often than sitting in church on Sundays. We heard Richard Blackaby speak on "Going to the next level with God" and we can only do that when we spend time with Him.
What are ways we can change our time with Him? Meet Him in a different 'closet' of our lives, meet in His nature, see Him in your daily walks, listen to Him. We often don't take time to 'listen' to God, only to pour out our requests. Be Still and know I AM. He has great and mighty things, beyond anything we could imagine, for us to see and do...to Glorify Him.
There are two things God wants from us:
1. Fellowship (with Him)
2. Give Him Glory
How can we begin to do those things? Nudge up closer to the Father, let Him know you are ready to do whatever and wherever He leads you to do. Be prepared, He may take you on the journey of your life!! But it will be a BLESSED journey!!
Jeremiah 29:13
Give Him Glory!!
GS
Jesus took time away from the crowds and separated Himself from the 'needs' to refill His tank (so to speak). Some of us need to do this more often than sitting in church on Sundays. We heard Richard Blackaby speak on "Going to the next level with God" and we can only do that when we spend time with Him.
What are ways we can change our time with Him? Meet Him in a different 'closet' of our lives, meet in His nature, see Him in your daily walks, listen to Him. We often don't take time to 'listen' to God, only to pour out our requests. Be Still and know I AM. He has great and mighty things, beyond anything we could imagine, for us to see and do...to Glorify Him.
There are two things God wants from us:
1. Fellowship (with Him)
2. Give Him Glory
How can we begin to do those things? Nudge up closer to the Father, let Him know you are ready to do whatever and wherever He leads you to do. Be prepared, He may take you on the journey of your life!! But it will be a BLESSED journey!!
Jeremiah 29:13
Give Him Glory!!
GS
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Sunhine or storms?
This week we have seen the beauty of God's creation in the Carolinas. We have seen the mountain tops, the oceans, the valleys.....the sunshine, the storms and even a rainbow.
This is the way life is as we take our journey. We cannot be on vacation in our lives and forget Who we serve. Nor can we always see the mountain tops, the vast oceans or the deep valleys. We must journey one day at a time, and at the end of each day, there awaits our rainbow....God's promise to us....He will never forsake or forget us....He will be with us each day and in the darkest of night. He walks with us on the heights of the mountains and the depths of the oceans of life. I think He even smiles when we serve Him and He knows that the Plan was there all along on the pathway of life, this is when He receives Glory. I am not sure I even understand His gift to me, that I am all I am made to be....to give Him glory.
But, what I do know is that He loves us so much, when we seek Him, He is there for us. Our God is a mighty God, Who sent His Son, and now we have the Holy Spirit to guide our ways. Do we look to Him, do we try to live life ourselves? Why? Enjoy life in Him and let Him be glorified!
Giving God Glory!
GS
This is the way life is as we take our journey. We cannot be on vacation in our lives and forget Who we serve. Nor can we always see the mountain tops, the vast oceans or the deep valleys. We must journey one day at a time, and at the end of each day, there awaits our rainbow....God's promise to us....He will never forsake or forget us....He will be with us each day and in the darkest of night. He walks with us on the heights of the mountains and the depths of the oceans of life. I think He even smiles when we serve Him and He knows that the Plan was there all along on the pathway of life, this is when He receives Glory. I am not sure I even understand His gift to me, that I am all I am made to be....to give Him glory.
But, what I do know is that He loves us so much, when we seek Him, He is there for us. Our God is a mighty God, Who sent His Son, and now we have the Holy Spirit to guide our ways. Do we look to Him, do we try to live life ourselves? Why? Enjoy life in Him and let Him be glorified!
Giving God Glory!
GS
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