Don’t Know Where To Begin, Hence a Book Giveaway
As you noticed, the blog has been silent for over a week. In that time, I flew to SC to visit with my oldest, attended Bible Conference at Bob Jones University, celebrated my 41st birthday, and enjoyed hearing my son preach at our church’s Preaching Expo. The week was full of so many blessings that I don’t know where to begin.
The one thing that stands out about our week was what a blessing God’s people are when they are walking in obedience to Him. Their mouths are full of blessing God and others. They can only speak His praise. They are full of joy and hope. They promote peace and have nothing but good to say about the saints. The fruit of God’s spirit oozes out of them: kindness, meekness, gentleness, goodness, joy.
God seems to shower me with examples of women who are walking uprightly. One is this lovely lady who asked to take me out for a cupcake for my birthday. She was a joy to be with. She spoke of God’s faithfulness to her in her family and life. She shared some of the ups and downs of life with hope and faith in what God was doing. 
Reliance on God and obedience to His word is so rare in Christian circles and I so appreciated her faith that does “not give way to fear.” She encouraged me to be faithful and discerning as I encourage you on this blog. She prayed that God would give me grace for several upcoming speaking opportunities that God has given me. Do you know how rare it is to be ministered to like that? I was blessed!
Since I am overwhelmed at what God is teaching me this week, I will leave you with a few quotes that I jotted down. And I will offer you a giveaway at the end of this post.
On being separated (holy) unto God for his uses, and losing worldly affirmation: “It boils down to: To whom will I be separated?” (Am I willing to lose God’s affirmation for man’s affirmation?
“When self is paramount, you’ll not be true to the scriptures, because your desires, appeals,pursuits and ambitions will rule your decisions.”
“All I want is Christ’s approval in my life.”
“To walk humbly before your God, you must rid yourself of pride, selfish ambition, need for approval from others and self dependence on your own wisdom.”
“A Christ follower loves his enemies. He blesses them, praises them, does good to them and prays for them.”
“Glorifying God means we must make decisions that reflect his “first-ness” in our lives.”
“Perilous times will come. We face no greater peril than to have a form of godliness with out the power, having learned to do things on my own strength, self dependent of Him. Our greatest need is Him. To do life w/o Him is our greatest peril.”
And now for a giveaway.
Nancy Leigh DeMoss’s excellent book “Brokeness.”
I hope this will be an encouragement to you as you seek to walk humbly before your God. If you haven’t read it, enter to win it. It is one of my favorite books of all time.
I need more help living in the moment with my kids. I am so busy planning for the days to come that I don’t appreciate where I am right now.
I struggle with respecting my husband like I should. I tend to put my kids first when I know that’s not the way it should be. I also struggle with guilt like I should be cleaning or doing something that makes me feel productive but at the same time I feel like I should be using my time to teach my little ones the Word. For me its a constant inner struggle about what I’m doing and what I should be doing.
thanks for the chance to win this book! I need help with giving the everyday, ordinary, boring things to God so I can focus on Him and what He wants me to do!
The books name alone touches me deeply. “Brokenness” that about sums up my spirit. I looked to God for so many answers, why is usually my biggest question. Living day to day with a child with a disability is not something that comes natural. I can’t just live a life that so many live, and give a sense of normalcy to my other children. Maybe my heart, eyes, and ears doesn’t want the answer from God. But whatever it is the guilt and despair has not left me. It would be so nice to have peace. Your blog has been a wonderful inspiration, and it has given me simple reminders of Gods live daily.
Such beautiful and encouraging truths! Thank you for encouraging us!
Many thanks for the thoughts you share everyday. It leads me to the cross and it deepens the meaning for me on so many levels. Thank you. This book sounds like an excellent resource for closer intimate moments, would like to have a copy of my own.
My daily agenda. I need to get out of the way, and follow His desire for my days.
This book sounds really good. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
I pray that I can yield my will to God’s will everyday and that I can be a blessing to someone else each and every day…. Thank you blogging and posting on facebook. Much appreciated!! 🙂
I need help setting my priorities and really yielding to God what I know He wants me to do.
Loved reading about your blessings. The book “Brokenness, Surrender, Holiness” by Nancy Leigh DeMoss sounds wonderful!
I need to spend more time with God.
So happy for you and the many blessings the Lord has given you!! My hubby gave me “Brokenness, Surrender, Holiness” by Nancy Leigh DeMoss. Such great books!!!
Sarah, it sounds like you had wonderful family times on your trip! We’re looking forward to our daughter coming home for a couple days later this week on her Spring Break, and spending time with her and our son being home at the same time.
Tim
I definitely need help yielding my attitude to the Lord and it all begins in my heart and mind. So much work the Lord needs to do on me!1 🙂 Thanks for this giveaway!
Kim
So true when walking with the Lord
My desire to get out of this house, neighborhood, city and to the country. Need to pray for God’s will and my yielding.
my time. i like having it to myself after dealing with littles.
I’m so glad you had a great time in SC!! Thank you so much for always encouraging me through your blog and through your testimony. I love Nancy Demoss’s books!
Thank you, Sara. Love you. <3
Happy Belated Birthday!!! It certainly sounds like you had a wonderful week. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences. I must confess they are as convicting as they are encouraging. May you continue to bask in the warmth of the Lord’s blessings!
Mary, I agree. They ARE convicting. That’s why I wrote them down for myself. Feel very blessed and hopeful when God breaks up the fallow ground and works on making me pliable. Thank you friend.
Glad you had good, refreshing week! Now snow is headed your way, right? We are enjoying it here today. One last big hurrah before Spring!
Thank you, Susan. YES, SNOW. 🙂 Spring is coming, spring is coming.
I always love Nancy’s books… so filled with Bible truth. Would love this help in maintaining a broken spirit before God every single day.
It was so nice to see you TWICE in SC. Thankful we got a small chance to chat.
Me too!!! Wish we lived closer… 🙂
I am (still) struggling with infertility. I don’t understand why The Lord would give me such a strong desire to have kids and then close my womb. I trust Him completely, but it’s hard. 🙂
Jenni, I know God has a plan and it must be so hard. I will pray for you, friend.
I believe I need to yield more of my undivided time to God. This book looks interesting!
Jennifer, this book is excellent. It boils down to yielding my will to God’s. Like a horse that is broken is useful to it’s master, when our will is broken and compliant, we can be more useful to the Lord and can really trust Him fully.
Sounds like a great book!
I need help yielding my battle with clutter and day to day priorities.
I love this, and I love hearing your thoughts….so much truth and challenge here. Which is why I come by 🙂
Ashlie, I am so glad you visit. 🙂 You are a sweetheart, and I appreciate you and your blog.