Have you heard the Good News?

Light in a messenger's eyes brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones.  (Proverbs 15:19-31)


How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!" (Isaiah 52:6-8.) 


The angel said to him, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. (Luke 1:18-20)

Today is my daughter's 17th birthday.  My son is in the military, sworn to protect me and you.  I cannot imagine telling either of them that they must die in order for you to live.   But God did.  He told Jesus he must die for you.  He did.  


"The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day raised to life."  (Luke 9:21)


A 10-year -old boy was killed in a car accident last week.  His father is in so much pain right now.  How could God TELL his son to die?  Why would he do that?  


Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.  (1 John 4:7-9)


Life on earth is temporary.  I can live through any pain here on earth because I not only have the joy that comes through Jesus but also hope, faith, and love.  

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.  My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.  (Psalm 28:6-8).


Where do you find joy in your daily struggles?  "There is more joy in 24 hours with Jesus than in the world in 365 days.  I have tried them both." R. A. Torrey.  


...I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me - the task of testifying to the good news of God's grace. (Acts 20: 23-25)




Want to know more? 

This spot reserved for you: Read John 14:1-4

LET'S PLAY

Thursday morning I found a surprise in my mailbox.  I'm it!  That's right, I have been tagged in a game of Global Blog Tag by fellow blogger Claudine Gueh over at carryusoffbooks.  


The rules of the game are:  You must be tagged by someone; list 10 random facts about yourself; then tag four people.  Simple.   Since it is Global Blog Tag, I searched for bloggers on a different continent than myself.


First the random facts:
1.  When I was a teenager I liked to ride my horse bareback and with no bridle in our pasture near Houston, Texas. 
2.  I was a dance major in high school.  
3.  Chocolate is my favorite vegetable. 
4.  I have a hard time staying awake past 9 pm but can easily pop out of bed at 5 am.
5.  I absolutely love making greeting cards.  Currently I use children's drawings and my own photographs. 
6. I like broccoli. 
7. I never get lost, even in the mountains of North Carolina.  This is probably because I am an admitted control freak and if I were lost I would not be in control, right? 
8. I can't sing. Nope, even my children ask me not to sing them lullabies. 
9. Jesus Rocks!!! 
10. My awesome husband has turned me into a geek. 


My four bloggers are:   
1.  Terry Callister - Spain
2.  The Coffee Bar (Kate Evangelista) - Philippines
3.   Gwendolyn Gage, because Texas IS a different country. 
4.  Jo-Ann M. Rodriguez - Puerto Rico




Tag, you're it! 

In the beginning God created...

Then God said, 

"Let the waters teem

with swarms of 

living creatures,

...and let birds fly

above the earth

in the open expanse of the heavens."

God created the great sea monsters

and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarmed after their kind,
 

and every winged bird

after its kind;

and God saw that it was good. God blessed them, saying, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on earth."  Genesis 1:20-22

Today's photo shoot.

I did a photo shoot today to make into cards for my Bible class.  Here are some of the pictures. 

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands.  And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world.  This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.  1John 5:1-5

Walk across the room.

Over the last few weeks at my home congregation we have been discussing sharing our faith.  On Wednesdays individuals have shared their stories and on Sunday the topic has been "Walk across the room".  Walking across the room, simply stated, is acknowledging people.  I have been encouraged to do more, to share more.  But how? I work at home.  Most weeks I only leave my house to go to church or the grocery store.  How can I walk across the room? There is no one in my 'room' except my cat. 


For the last two Sundays my son, who is in S. Korea has virtually come to church with me via video chat.  I then realized that my 'walk across the room' was at my finger tips.  It was then that I decided to let my fingers do the walking.  I sat down and created several post cards to send out to whoever may need encouragement.  (I mailed 4 this morning).  I then e-mailed a study to someone who I care deeply for because they have decided to stop coming to fellowship.  I am posting it here for you.  I hope you will delve deep and share your answers:


1. What do you believe about Jesus?
2. Why do you believe it?
3. What does it mean to be a Christian?
4. What does God require of Christians?
5. What is the "church"?
6. What does God say about obedience? To Him? To elders? Parents? leaders?
7. What is grace? 


I pray that you will search the scriptures to find the answers.  

Now in paper!

All 7 of my books are now available in paperback through Amazon!  They are also available in digital formats online through Amazon, Smashwords, Apple, Barnes and Noble, etc.   Happy Reading!  Not sure which to choose? Read the reviews!  I have reposted them here on my blog and you can also see them on Smashwords and Amazon.