Fresh Insights On Ancient Truths

Standing firm (2)

2012-02-14T01:59:00.001-08:00

In my previous post I wrote about a great faith lesson I learned based on 1 Corinthians 16:13, Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love. It is God who makes us stand firm and it is by faith that we stand firm. We know by faith that God will make us stand firm, even if we don't feel it!

Sometimes I wonder why the Bible makes it sounds so easy; standing firm in the faith is everything but easy. When I look around at what is happening in the Christian world I sometimes feel ashamed. People teaching weird messages, churches falling apart, Christians fighting etc. Sometimes it seems everything is being shaken and many are falling. Standing firm in the faith requires determination and focus. Paul wrote in 2 Thessalonians 2:15, So then, brothers, stand firm and hold on to the teachings we passed on to you... In other words, don't add, change or omit anything. Holding on to Biblical truth and teaching is the way to stand firm. Don't be tossed up and down by the waves of new teachings and philosophies.

Even in the Old Testament we can find a solemn warning, If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all (Isaiah 7:9). Standing firm in the faith is not a new calling, it has been there from the beginning. God will help us up when we stumble and hold us up when needed. I hope you may experience this in your walk with Him...

If the Lord delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.

[Psalm 37:23-24]

Standing firm (1)

2012-02-10T08:09:00.000-08:00

Some of the greatest faith lessons I've learned came from the greetings in the New Testament letters. Whether at the beginning or the end of an epistle, they are always interesting. Sometimes the greeting it is a blessing or hello before digging deeper into all kinds of spiritual stuff and sometimes it is a wrap-up of everything dug up.

So, this week I came to the end of Paul's first letter to the Corinthians. Chapter 16:13 says, Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love. One verse, many life lessons to learn. I could write another series of posts on one single verse :) This time however my interest was triggered by the word FIRM. Stand firm in the faith... Surely it is not always easy to stand firm. Paul almost writes it like an afterthought... oh yeah, by the way... stand firm. He makes it sound so easy, but it is easier said than done. The question that came to my mind was: How do we stand firm in the faith, since we see so many fall away?

The answer came quick, I found it at the beginning of the second letter to the Corinthians. 2 Corinthians 1:21 says: Now it is God who makes us and you stand firm in Christ. We may think we will succeed to stand firm by sheer will power or in our own strength, but it is actually God who makes us stand firm. Honestly I do not always feel that, I sometimes even doubt it and I do feel weak from time to time. Yet, reading and believing this scripture releases the pressure to perform. It is not me, it is God who makes me stand firm. Even standing firm is a matter of trust!

Paul ends his opening chapter with a word of encouragement: it is by faith you stand firm. So, not by physical proof or emotional feelings, but by faith I can stand firm. By believing that what God says is true. I may sometimes feel my knees are trembling or my steps are insecure, but God has my back covered!

Psalm of Sorek

2012-02-07T00:50:00.000-08:00

Close to the heart of the Father

I wonder

if I will ever find,

the right way to express

That longing in my heart and mind

a love so pure and fresh

To stay forever in your care

my source of life and laughter

To be with You

anytime and anywhere,

now and forever after

From: Breath of Life, a journey into origin of spirit, soul, and body

Tate Publishing

For all you writers out there...

2012-02-03T04:37:00.000-08:00

The gift of prophecy

2012-01-31T06:55:00.000-08:00

This is the 4th and last post (for now) on 1 Corinthians 14:1, Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. 'Especially the gift of prophecy'... how do we apply that to our daily life?

Even if we don't know anything about the spiritual gifts as mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12, we can learn from the above mentioned scripture that we should at least desire the gift of prophecy. This is a gift that enables the believer to bring a word of revelation directly from God (who is in heaven) under the impulse of the Holy Spirit (who is in us). So, it is NOT the delivery of a previously prepared sermon and it is NOT the foretelling of the future. It is proclaiming God's will and exhorting and encouraging God's people to righteousness, faithfulness and endurance.

Many wild stories and ideas do go around the world when it comes to prophecy, I have collected some biblical basics, hope they will help:

The speaking of prophetic words is available for all believers (Acts 2:17)
The gift of prophecy will be given as God decides (1 Corinthians 12:10), but we are encouraged to eagerly desire this gift (1 Corinthians 14:1)
The appointing of prophets to build up the church is done by God (Ephesians 4:11)
Prophetic words are no longer infallible (as in Old Testament times) and must be tested (1 Corinthians 14:29 and 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21)
Speaking prophetic words is a matter of using our mind. It is one of the few practices (maybe the only one) wherein the Bible tells us to keep our spirit under control of our will/mind (1 Corinthians 14:32)

How do we test a prophetic word? For example by asking ourselves whether it conforms God's Word, whether it promotes Godly living and whether it is uttered by a person who is sincerely living under Christ's Lordship.

How do we desire the gift of prophecy? I believe by asking for it in prayer and then by studying what the Word has to say about it. God has always desired and is still desiring to speak through ordinary people like you and me... through His Word, but also LIVE!

Eagerly desire...

2012-01-28T03:23:00.000-08:00

This is already the 3rd post I am writing about 1 Corinthians 14:1. There is such depth and insight in that single verse, Follow the way of love, and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.

'Eagerly desire spiritual gifts'. It's kind of weird, but when I think of the words 'eagerly desire' I tend to think of selfish greed and of the pursuit of goals and longings... maybe that is just my interpretation of the English language and a bit negative. The Webster dictionary says: excited by the desire in the pursuit of any object; ardent to pursue, perform, or obtain; keenly desirous; hotly longing; earnest; zealous; impetuous; vehement...

Now that paints a slightly different picture, it deals with excitement, zeal, and hunger. Why would Paul call the believers to eagerly desire spiritual gifts? Gifts can only be given, right? We can do nothing to earn them. Why desire something that is up to God to distribute? As human beings we often eagerly desire many things, but I do not meet too many people who eagerly desire spiritual gifts. Personally, I think Paul is referring to his earlier statement as written down in 1 Corinthians 12:1, Now, about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. We are NOT supposed to be ignorant when it comes to spiritual gifts. Why not? Because the spiritual gifts must be used to build up the church. If we are ignorant about the spiritual gifts, how can we build up and strengthen the church? It is no wonder we see churches falling apart, believers lacking power and not many miracles done. That is not God's fault, but ours... because often we are ignorant.

If you desire to build up and strenghten the church, the body of Christ on earth, then please do not hesitate to study the Word about spiritual gifts and start to use what God will give you! Talk with someone who is studying the same thing, read a good book about it with the Bible as reference and most of all... pray that the Holy Spirit will enlighten you, He is after all your teacher.

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you (John 14:26).

The Way

2012-01-23T10:39:00.000-08:00

Last week I started to dig deeper into 1 Corinthians 14:1 within the context of the surrounding chapters. Why? Because we can find so much more behind the words than we see at first sight:

Follow the way of love, and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift op prophecy.

[1 Corinthians 14:1]

Paul starts with a very clear commandment: follow the way of love. In doing so he points back to his words preceding the 13th chapter, and now I will show you the most excellent way. This way is the way of love. The word WAY here is the same word that Jesus used to describe Himself with: I am the way, the truth, and the life (see John 14:6). In the Greek language that is the word hodos (road, path, a general term for a thoroughfare to get from one place to another, manner of life). The way of love is the way of Jesus and not a road we think is popular or convenient. The way of love is living the way Jesus lived; humble, compassionate, serving, gracious and loving. That is never the easiest way, but it is an excellent way.

It is interesting to learn that the first believers in the book of Acts were called 'people who belonged to the Way' (see Acts 9:2). Again that same Greek word hodos. They were known as people who followed the Way, the way of love. When we think of Christians following Jesus, walking the narrow road, we often think of a road full of trouble and difficulties, a road with many restrictions and no fun. But that narrow road is actually the way, the path of love. Divine love with the characteristics as summed up by Paul.

I desire that we will be known again as people who belong to the Way, as people who follow the way of love!

Guest at Heading Home

2012-01-20T00:41:00.000-08:00

Today I am honored to be a guest at Lynn Mosher's blog Heading Home.

She posted my article The Essentials. Have you ever packed your suitcase too full? Have you ever been on a trip where you discovered your luggage was way too heavy to carry? That is often how we plan a new day, week or even year too, way too much stuff. Hop on over to Lynn's and be blessed with some great tips to plan your time wisely. Enjoy and happy weekend!

Follow the way of love

2012-01-19T00:55:00.000-08:00

Painting: Yvonne Nederend

As you may have noticed after reading my previous post, I am reading Paul's first letter to the believers in Corinth, Greece. This morning I lingered for the longest time at the beginning of chapter 14. Ah, such treasure in a single verse! I kept reading and re-reading it and discovered the riches behind the words. Please, read with me:

Follow the way of love, and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift op prophecy.

[1 Corinthians 14:1]

I decided to write a series of posts on this single verse in the context of the surrounding chapters. Today I would like to start with just the first few words of that scripture: follow the way of love. Paul refers here to his words preceding the 13th chapter: and now I will show you the most excellent way. That way is the way of love. What does it exactly mean to follow the way of love? When reading the 13th chapter you will notice that it sums up the characteristics of godly love. I am glad Paul gave us this summary, so we will know what to follow. Following the way of love means that we must learn to

be patient
and kind
not to be envious
not boastful
not proud
not rude
not self seeking and
not easily angered

Following the way of love also means that we should not keep record of wrongs, that we do not delight in evil, but that we rejoice with the truth. Following the way of love means that we can learn to always protect, always trust, always hope and always persevere. Well, I have enough food for thought for the next couple of days, and I hope you will too. In my next post I will continue to unravel this particular verse. Until then... choose the most excellent way on purpose!

PS: Painting 'My heart for Jesus' can be seen at Yvonne's weblog Creative Worship.

Church as we know it

2012-01-16T08:18:00.000-08:00

The church as we know it is in trouble, big time. Not because of persecution or hardships, but because we've made a mess of things and we forgot to read the Book. There's fighting, debating, corruption, abuse and apathy, all at the same time. The media loves it and Jesus is crying. He must be, because the church was His idea!

The church as the body of Christ on earth, now that He is in heaven, what a brilliant idea. His work continues, we're moving, loving, serving and working. The church, His beloved bride to be. Where did we go wrong? We do know the church the Bible talks about is not a building, but a group of believers coming together. Yet, often we don't know how we should be coming together. Of course, we have programs on how to plant a church, maintain a church, emerge a church, do church and even on how to grow a church. We have traditional, contemporary, Spanish, renewal, healing and worship services. We have services for young and old, for kids and teens, for seniors and singles. You name it, we'll make it happen, you'll get a comfortable seat and feel right at home.

I am studying 1 Corinthians 12 and when I came to verse 28 I thought about the people that we think should make up a church: a pastor, some elders, a worship team, Sunday school teachers and a deacon here and there. That would be a good start, right? Hopefully the pews will fill up with people who are willing to sit still and listen. However, according to what Paul writes to the Corinthians, church should be a little different:

And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles,
second prophets,
third teachers,
then workers of miracles,
also those having gifts of healing,
those able to help others,
those with gifts of administration,
and those speaking in different kind of tongues.

Hhmm, when was the last time you saw a worker of miracles in your church? I mean, seriously! Or a prophet? Let's be honest, do we really take these instructions seriously? If God appoints these people, where are they? Are you one of them maybe?

I know the Bible says a lot more about gifts and services in the church, but in this Scripture Paul writes very clearly about the 8 kind of workers God appoints in the church, any church... Can you imagine what church would be like if we would operate in these gifts whenever we would come together? Wow...

Daily bread or more?

2012-01-11T11:10:00.000-08:00

Over the past few years every January I picked a motto or scripture to meditate on and adapt as sort of a life lesson.

The other day I visited Lynn Mosher's blog Heading Home and noticed she picked a word, yes... one word! I thought that was very interesting. At first I wanted to skip picking a motto for this year, but then this morning two words came into my mind, words that I've been toiling with for the past several weeks: daily bread. And yes, I am in... I desire to learn more about our daily bread: literally, spiritually, and emotionally.

What's with daily bread? When Jesus taught his disciples to pray, He also taught them important Kingdom principles. He shared with them how to rely on God's provision on a daily basis, and we can still do so today. Give us today our daily bread (Matthew 6:11) is not a question, it is a statement or a proclamation. For most of us in the Western world daily bread is not something we worry about, we go to the store and buy it, so for many people the prayer has lost some of it's meaning. When growing up I always thought it was weird to pray for something that was already on my plate :)

But of course 'daily bread' is more than the food on our table, it is God's Word and it is daily provision. I must admit that when I pray for God's daily provision in my life, I have a tendency to also pray for needs I can see coming up in the next week or next month. I get ahead of things and that is why this year I want to concentrate on this part of the Lord's prayer and learn more and more to rely on His provision on a daily basis. Praying for what I need today, whether that is healing, wisdom, money, peace, endurance or favor, and NOT for what I think I will be needing tomorrow or later on this month. Proverbs 30:8 says: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Such wisdom in those ancient words. Have you learned to trust Him on a daily basis? Please share...

Jesus said: I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. (John 6:35)

Give-away at Diane Estrella's blog

2012-01-09T20:48:00.000-08:00

This week Diane Estrella is giving away a copy of my latest book Grace of Giving on her blog. Personally, I love give-aways and I have won some great reads in the past, it really adds to the blogging experience. And let's face it, a book with such a title needs to be given away :)

If you would like to enter the give-away, which is up and running until January 16th, 2012, you can click HERE. It's free and it's fun.

Call to action

2012-01-07T11:51:00.000-08:00

Interview with Diane Estrella

2012-01-04T10:00:00.000-08:00

At the beginning of a new year I am so honored to host an interview with fellow blogger and book lover Diane Estrella. You do not want to miss this. Diane always has the coolest give-away's on her blog as well as tons of other great stuff for readers and writers alike!

Please, introduce yourself… anything special we need to know about Diane Estrella?

I’m Diane Estrella, wife, cool home-schooling mom, aspiring children’s writer, part-time blogger, (full-time social media recreationalist) and semi-professional encourager. I never knew what I wanted to be when I grew up and I’m still not sure. I do love connecting people, writers, businesses, and anyone trying to turn their dreams into a reality though. I’m hoping that my epitaph will be that I lived and even made a difference in this crazy, mixed-up world. I’m good for a moments distraction from life, and any help I can be to others. That’s my purpose….That’s what I’m here for….. Like, totally! (That's my Big 80's Valley Girl-ness coming through.)

How and when did you start your blog/website?

My blog started up in May of 2009.... aaaack! Time goes fast! I started out with blogger and then switched over to Wordpress. I had some moving jitters but am glad I made the jump.

What is your drive behind blogging? What do you hope to accomplish?

Initially, I just wanted to be "out there" and be heard. The biggest struggle I have had with my blog is figuring out what my "niche" is. It's kind of hilarious to me that I can write a post on Finding your blog's niche, but I can't find my own. I guess I see it as, I am good at and like a lot of things, but not great or love any one thing the most. This is where the "That's What I'm Here For...." byline got it's start. If you need a laugh, advice, book or product promotion, encouragement, etc. then "That's What I'm Here For...."! Whatever you need, I'll try to fill it for ya. I guess like many others, I hope to either make money from my blog or use it as a springboard for my writing and when I become a published author.

You are an aspiring children’s writer. Tell us a little bit more about that, any specific dreams or goals?

I have written two picture books and have started a series of chapter books for ages 7-11ish. They have a Magic Tree House feel to them, and is a mystery/adventure series. Each book will focus on one of the Fruits of the Spirit and in the final book the mystery will be solved and the treasure found. Although I love sci-fi stories, and it kind of has a "Goonies" feel to it, I wanted to write it as if it really could happen to any kid out there.

What role does your faith in God play in your daily life, especially for you as a home schooling mom?

We began homeschooling my son in January of 2010. We pulled him out of school because of some social difficulties he was having. We left our daughter in to finish out the school year. This is the first "official" year I am homeschooling both of them. Each family has to do what is best for their situation. I am not pro-homeschooling or pro-public schooling. I prayed and told God, I would do whatever I had to do for my kids but my husband and I HAD to be in agreement with this one. Initially, my husband was opposed to it, but then when the difficulties continued he ended up being the one to suggest homeschooling to me. God knows what we need to do. When we put things in His hands, He leads and directs our steps.

Top three on your ‘favorite books’ list…

Too many to mention. Blogging has introduced me to so many great authors. I love the programs that the major publishers have set up where you can be sent a book for free, and you provide an honest review of it on your blog and also post the review on a commercial retail website (i.e. Amazon, etc.) I have some sites listed on my blog's sidebar where you can sign up.

Top three struggles in your writing journey…

Honestly..... My laziness is a big one. There are so many things that I can distract myself with, with not much effort.... My brain.... I wrote a blog post on a) even admitting I was a writer was hard enough and b) figuring out what kind of writer I am and not being ashamed or embarrassed by it. My blog! Keeping it up, doing research, getting giveaways together is like a part time job which I do love, but it is a lot of TIME.

Do you have any authors or specific books that have been an inspiration to you?

For me my thirst for reading, and unknowingly to be an author, started when my mom came home from a garage sale with this pile of Trixie Belden books. I was probably 10 at the time and a little too young to read them and really get them. I did, however, love the brightness of the hardcovers and the pictures within. I often would look through them. A few years later, I started reading them and instantly fell in love with Trixie and the whole gang. I actually loved them so much that I looked for the address of the publishing company and specifically wrote a letter to the author to tell her such. I did get a letter back from the publisher (probably more like a secretary that felt pity for me and my naivety) and it made me think more about the wonder of books. There is power in them to change, sculpt, persuade, and ultimately to dream, for myself and others. Wowza!

Any words of encouragement to us bloggers?

My all-time favorite quote was found on a sugar packet in a greasy diner. My sister made a cross-stitch out of it for me: Richard Martin Stern : If you have tried to do something and failed, you are vastly better off than if you had tried to do nothing and succeeded..

My favorite Bible passage is from Habakkuk 3: 17-19

Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls— Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills.

Both speak of overcoming and not giving up, which I love!

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Happy New Year!

2011-12-29T09:43:00.000-08:00

The Lord bless you and keep you;

the Lord make his face shine upon you

and be gracious to you;

the Lord turn his face toward you

and give you peace.

Blogging buzz....

2011-12-26T09:09:00.000-08:00

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! My weekend had a great start on Saturday morning...

The Ventura County Star published an article on December 24th, 2012, about my book Grace of Giving and the award it won. It also talked about my travels, the non-profit organisation Traveling Light we started in Holland earlier this year and much more. You can read the article on-line by following this link. If the article inspired you in your writing journey, please be so kind as to click the share or recommend button at the end. Thanks!
In 2012 I discovered a few new gems in the Christian blogging world. I really would like to highlight Blessings in His Grip, "a site designed to offer resources and helpful hints for bringing God's Word into every day prayers". Tricia and Joan post a scripture and a short prayer a few times a week. The posts are short but very powerful and practical, a great way to start the day. Please, be so kind as to check this wonderful blog idea.
Many of you may know the blog The Christian Writers' Marketplace, written by Sally Stuart, but just in case... her blog has lots of information on writing, contests, conferences, resources etc. A must have on your blog roll if you are a writer!

Kingdom Seed in the Womb

2011-12-24T11:13:00.000-08:00

He will be great and will be called the Son of the most High God. The Lord God will make Him a king, as His ancestor David was, and He will be the king of the descendants of Jacob forever; His kingdom will never end. (Luke 1:32-33)

Mary must have been stunned when she heard the words of the angel who visited her. A kingdom without end? That was certainly unheard of. The Middle East at that time had a violent history in which kingdoms rose and fell constantly. Yes, they had enjoyed years of peace and prosperity, but it never lasted longer than a lifetime. Change was always in the air and each time a ruler took over, the people eagerly awaited better times. Certainly this time things would lighten up.

The angel’s promise to Mary however, differed greatly from the political propaganda she had heard so often. He talked about someone who would become king because the Lord God would make Him king. This was not a matter of human performance, political strategy or violent conquest. The establishment of this new king was a matter of divine appointment. No wonder His reign would be of eternal nature and His kingdom could not be taken over by a rival. The angel’s message was a prophecy of things to come. Mary carried the Kingdom seed in her womb, a small and humble beginning of something that would change the world forever.

Through Yeshua, the Son of God, the Kingdom of Heaven came on earth and it has grown into the biggest Kingdom of all. Millions, yes, hundreds of millions of people are subject to the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Surely, it will never end!

Benefit package (4)

2011-12-22T09:35:00.000-08:00

This post wraps up the great benefit package, as presented in Psalm 19, that is ours when we live according to God's Word. Verse 8b is my favorite: The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.

The commands of the Lord are not dull or dark, they are radiant! Radiant means bright with joy and hope. Our problem is, as was the problem of the religious people in Jesus' time, that we have added too many man made rules that sucked the very life out of God's Word. Often we value tradition more than the life giving words of God Himself. In Mark 8-9 Jesus says: You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions. And he continued, You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions!

I meet so many people who have a hard time with what God commands, but their anger and fear is often based on what religion taught them, not on the teachings of Jesus.He urged his disciples: If you love Me, keep My commands (John 14:15) and he is still urging us today. Why? Because the commands are radiant, giving light to the eyes. They will bring a sparkle in our eyes, a joy in our step and His love in our hearts!

Jesus is the center, the reference point for every teaching, no matter what the subject. We cannot have grace without Him and we cannot fulfill the commands without Him!

Benefit package (3)

2011-12-19T08:51:00.000-08:00

In the previous two posts we looked at the benefits of Gods law. For the New Testament generation the law is not something that brings condemnation, it is something that brings life... but only if we see it in light of what Jesus Christ has done. He din't come to do away with the law, He came to fulfill it. Romans 13:10 says, Love is the fulfillment of the law. If we say we are unable to fulfill the law, we are saying we are unable to love.

In Psalm 19 we can read that the law revives our soul and makes us wise. If furthermore says (verse 8), The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart.

Yes, they are right and give joy to the heart. Who doesn't want a fresh re-fill of joy? Joy is fruit that the Holy Spirit desires to produce in our life. Joy is something the world cannot give, never! It might give us happiness, fun, pleasure or laughter... but joy is a divine virtue that only God can bring about in our heart. Studying AND applying Gods precepts will bring joy to our hearts. That is why the Lord wants to write His greatest commandments on our hearts: Love Him first and your neighbor as yourself! That will bring a joy no one or nothing can take away from you!

Again, I want to urge you: don't shy away from learning more about God's law and grace. The books in The Ten Commandments Series will bring joy to your heart!

Benefit package (2)

2011-12-15T10:03:00.000-08:00

The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple (Psalm 19:7b)

God's statutes are trustworthy, they don't change with the weather or the latest trends. They can be relied upon, circumstances nor situations have any influence on God's written statutes. What was true yesterday, is true today and will be true tomorrow. Time has no influence on God's statutes, which is actually a very comforting thought.

Besides being an anchor in turbulent times, God's statutes will make the simple wise. Now that is a benefit of studying AND applying God's commandments that we should not deny. Who doesn't want to be wise?

Again, as in the previous post, I would like to challenge you to dive into God's Word (maybe with the help of one of my books) and find out how law and grace come together in Jesus Christ.

Benefit package (1)

2011-12-12T13:45:00.000-08:00

Walking through the Bible I opened the door of Psalm 19 and there, smack in the middle of David's praise, I found the blessings for studying and applying God's command-ments. Since my books are based on the Ten Commandments, I thought it would be interesting and helpful to share with you the benefits of studying His Word. I'll call it the benefit package 101.

The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul (Psalm 19:7)

The law of the Lord is not boring, outdated, or even uninteresting... it is perfect. As the apostle Paul later wrote: the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good (Romans 7:12). God's law has not changed, the meaning has changed. In Old Testament times it was there to point people to their shortcomings and need for a savior. In New Testament times it is there to help us build a better and more godly society. The law now needs to be written on the hearts of the people.

The law is not only perfect, it is also reviving to the soul. We no longer keep or obey the law, we fulfill it by living it. And in doing so our soul gets revived, our soul gets watered, so we can flourish and refresh others. Are you longing for a revival deep down within you? Are you longing for a refreshing rain that will encourage and lift you up?

I challenge you to read one of my books and e-mail me whether it was reviving to your soul or not...

A specious place

2011-12-07T07:04:00.000-08:00

Recently my older brother in Holland had two serious accidents in one day. First on his way to work and later on his way back home. While riding his scooter a car came from the opposite side, suddenly turned and hit him hard. He walked away from the head-on collision without a scratch, just very sore! Now, that is a miracle!

This morning I was reading Psalm 18 and I got a clear picture of God's hand... He reached down from on high and got a hold of me; He drew me out of deep waters (Psalm 18:16). My brother was not drowning in water, but he experienced a serious attack on his life and the hand of God reached down. I am so thankful He did that. And you know what, He did that because He loves my brother. Verse 19 says, He brought me out into a spacious place; He rescued me because He delighted in me.

Why do some people survive an accident like that while others don't? I don''t know. I don't even know if there is an answer that makes sense, but I do know WHEN God reaches down in this miraculous way, we can be very, very thankful.

Has He ever rescued you like this?

Contract for new book signed!

2011-11-30T21:14:00.000-08:00

As writers we sweat and ponder, we edit and wonder... is this really good material for the reader? We struggle and procrastinate, we start all over again and evaluate...

Ah, the romantic life of creating stories and putting thoughts on paper. Many of you bloggers, writers, poets and essayists know better than this... writing is the hardest profession in the world, except for alligator wrestling of course. But you know what, sometimes we actually get to do fun stuff...

This week I signed a contract for another book, hooray! It will be my fifth book with Tate Publishing and yet another one in my series about the Ten Commandments in the 21st century. After my last book won the Readers Favorite 2011 Award for Best Christian Non Fiction I hesitated to send in a new manuscript, I wanted to enjoy the moment a little longer. But I learned that all glory is short lived, the show must go on. So, here we go; the work title I am using for my latest book is My Neighbor's House. The book deals with the 10th Commandment... yes, the one that says not to covet our neighbor's house or his donkey. Like I said, fun stuff happens!

Has something good happened in your writing life, lately?

How majestic...

2011-11-28T18:55:00.000-08:00

This past Thanksgiving weekend we went on a camping trip. We stayed at Jalama Beach in Southern California. The weather was a pleasant 80F (yes!), perfect for long walks on the beach.

We really took time to talk with the Lord and each other about pressing matters concerning our work and ministry. We enjoyed camp fires and cup-o-noodles, I read 3 books, believe it or not, and have set some short term goals for my writing. All in all an inspiring weekend, my motivation is back!

Jalama Beach is in a pretty deserted area along the coast, so at night the stars are just spectacular! The sunsets were absolutely beautiful too. We were in awe, as the psalmist was:

When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?

[Psalm 8:3-4]

May I ask, what do you do to get inspired and motivated again?

Very short sermon

2011-11-24T20:54:00.000-08:00

Surely, you will read this!

2011-11-21T11:49:00.000-08:00

In an ever changing world full of uncertainties I would like to share some certainties from God's Word. I call 'm the surely's of the Bible and I absolutely LOVE to read and proclaim them.

The word surely can be found many times throughout the Bible. In the book of Psalms alone it is used at least 28 times. I checked the dictionary, it explains: Surely: used to emphasize the speaker's firm belief that what they are saying is true and often their surprise that there is any doubt of this. Surely is a word that expresses and underlines our faith in God's promises. The psalmists used it all the time. Let me share some of my favorites to encourage you in this coming week:

Surely, O Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield (Psalm 5:12). I love this one, the writer proclaims and acknowledges God's favor in his life. What are we waiting for, let's do the same!
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever (Psalm 23:6). Despite circumstances, despite doubt and hurt, the writer proclaims God's goodness and love over his life. Whether we feel it or not, let's say these words in trust, thankfulness and expectation.
Surely God is my help, the Lord is the one who sustains me (Psalm 54:4). Don't forget to read the verses preceding David's statement here, he is in serious trouble. And yet, he is not afraid to proclaim God as the One who will come to his rescue. I am longing for that boldness, for that confidence, and I know it will grow in me as I proclaim these precious words.
Surely He will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence (Psalm 91:3). Whenever we need healing in our body or deliverance from the enemy, we can be assured that God is willing to come to our aid. Say it, read it, pray it!

The writers used the word surely to overcome their doubts and fears, an antidote against unbelief. I think we can learn from their proclamations. Please, if there is any reason to use one of God's surely's this week, don't hesitate to do so. It will make your faith grow!

Interview with Tracy Teppler

2011-11-17T14:46:00.000-08:00

Over the past year I have interviewed a colorful variety of fellow bloggers. I have asked them about their drive, their dreams and their devotion to God.

A few months ago I started following Tracy Teppler's blog My Daily Walk in His Grace. Tracy is from South Africa and we e-mailed back and forth a few times in Afrikaans, a language quite close to my native Dutch language. Her blog is relatively young (even according to web standards) and already a real treasure in the Christian blogging world. Tracy's writing is direct, pure and often un-edited, as she calls it. I love it! I am so honored and pleased to introduce Tracy to you all, Please enjoy!

Please, introduce yourself… anything special we need to know about Tracy Teppler?

I’m a daughter of the Most High God, wife , mother to 2 teenage daughters, and a friend. I live in Cape Town, South Africa and love it. At 42 I still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up?!

How and when did you start your blog?

I started blogging in March of this year. I was looking for Christian resources and Christian women's blogs. A friend and niece had blogs and I thought, “Why not me?” I got onto my PC and followed the prompts for starting a blog, and the rest has been an interesting journey to this point.

What is your drive behind blogging? What do you hope to accomplish?

At first it was a place to put down my feelings and write down what I discovered about myself and God through my quiet times. And then I started linking up (as I learnt how to do these things!) with other ladies and decided I needed to formulate why I was here and what I wanted to achieve with this blog as others would be seeing it. So I started asking myself those questions and came up with my “ My Blog Goals”.

Over the years I have asked God what it is that is my gift, what is it that He would have me do, and I believe the answer to that question is that I encourage other women. Christian women, any women! And in blogging I have found the platform to do that and I am finding now, after 8 ½ months of blogging, old friends are seeing me in a new light and trusting me with their hearts and hurts and asking me to pray with and for them. My new bloggy friends also seem to feel comfortable with opening up to me. I am so humbled and I feel I am where God wants me to be right now. What do I hope to accomplish?

Encourage others, Point people to God, Give Him ALL the glory. Open lines of communication up with like-minded people and be available for those who hurt.

Your writings are fresh and honest, do you have any aspirations to publish a book or story?

Over the years the thought has come to mind every now and then to “write a book” but I don’t have the imagination to write a ‘novel.’ I remember an English teacher once telling us the best way to write is from experience and my life in general has been fairly normal so no huge experiences to draw from for a novel! About a month before I started blogging I started to type up some sort of daily devotional thinking that maybe, someday, I could put it all together and submit it as an annual devotional.

Then I started blogging and my first blogs drew from that source. And then an amazing blogger/published author by the name of Marja asked me if I’d ever considered writing a book. I still can’t get the smile off my face. However, the cogs in the mind started turning and in answer to your question, Yes, I do have aspirations (NOW) to publish a book! One that brings glory to God!

What role does your faith in God play in your daily life?

It plays a major role. Not a day goes by where I don’t question my motives, question my actions and try to view them through how my faith should have me behave. Daily I fail, daily I acknowledge I am nothing without Christ. In the past I’d have a pity party and it’d take a while to swing out of it. These days I still go there, but I acknowledge it and start reading the word, turn up my praise music and thank God for everything I can think of (even if its just breathing in and out), and I can see my attitude changing and balance being restored. Yes, my faith plays a big part in my daily life.

Top three on your ‘places-to-visit’ list…

Hmmm, Israel, Victoria Falls (in Zimbabwe) - I was born in Rhodesia (now Zim) and Switzerland .

Who would you like to interview? Why?

Honestly, I have no interest in any famous figures. I would love to interview people who have overcome difficulties because of Christ and despite what they have been through, the love of Christ just shines through. People like: Anne Frank, Corrie Ten Boom. Maybe Billy Graham - ask him how he has remained true where so many others have failed.

Do you have any authors or specific books that have been an inspiration to you?

Helen Andelin - Fascinating Womanhood. Francine Rivers - Anything by her. Joyce Meyer.

Any words of encouragement to us bloggers?

Keep on doing what you are doing. You are encouraging people who you don’t even know visit your blogs. My encouragement to other Christian bloggers is to always keep it about Christ and always keep it positive and honest. Sometimes, the pain or hurt you have been through draws someone else to Christ. And that is a most humbling thought to consider.

Thanks Tracy, for being so open with us. It was a joy to have you and I am glad our communication has inspired you to think big when it comes to writing a book!
Please, visit Tracy's blog My Daily Walk in His Grace and leave her an encouraging comment.

Keeping it simple

2011-11-14T16:49:00.000-08:00

Everytime I face a difficult or tough situation, it seems I need more words to beg and plead my case with the Almighty. I find myself reasoning, debating and desperately trying to find an explanation or answer. Well, maybe that is just me...

But isn't it true that we sometimes feel we have to explain things to God? Our prayers get longer and more complicated, sometimes to the point where we don't remember what our initial question was! My former pastor and mentor in the faith always said 'keep it simple', and again and again that proves to be the right thing to do. The inspiration to develop an attitude like that comes straight from the Bible.

As always, Jesus is my ultimate example in this. The other day I was reading in Luke 5:12-16 how He met with a guy who was covered with leprosy. Well, if you've ever been in India, you'll know what leprosy looks like and personally I have never seen anyone being healed from that disease. Now, this certain man asks Jesus to make him clean. If that isn't a tough situation, what is? However, Jesus keeps it simple and uses three words to explain divine healing: I am willing.

Ouch, I wish I had come up with a theology like that! His answer is awesome! The actual prayer that follows His statement is even shorter, more simple... be clean! No discussion, no pleading, no crying, no begging. Just authority!

We can learn so much from such a short story. It might really help to remember this encounter the next time you face something that seems impossible to overcome or conquer, it will help you to pray and speak in faith. I definitely want to try it, what about you?

Weird messages

2011-11-10T10:47:00.000-08:00

Jesus had some weird messages.

One of Jesus’ boldest statements and commands can be captured in two words: ‘fear not’. His words almost sound like a cruel joke. Fear not? That’s like telling someone who is sinking not to drown.

One look at today’s headlines tells me there are many things to fear, such as wars, epidemics, terrorism, foreclosures, and cancer, just to name a few. Only a heart of stone would be untouched and unshaken by such scares. So, was Jesus mistaken or did He take things too lightly?

I don’t think so, His messages were sometimes weird, but always serious; don’t fear the things of the world, fear God! Put all of your energy there!

David prayed sincerely, Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.

(Psalm 86:11)

Let that be our prayer today!

Newspaper Faith

2011-11-07T08:30:00.000-08:00

Most of my blog posts are inspired by Scripture. I read random books in the Bible, going back and forth between Old and New Testament and I always find something to write about. Recently I have been reading the books of James, Jeremiah, Nehemiah and last week I started with Romans.

How many times have I read the book of Romans? I lost track, but I am sure I have gone over every word, every sentence and every chapter with great care and hunger. I don't need proof that God's Word is alive, I know it! As soon as I started reading, a sentence in the first chapter jumped off the page: I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world (Romans 1:).

Wow! Just think about that for a second. Can you imagine that your faith, or the faith of your family, your church, your town or your country would be reported all over the world? Can you imagine that your faith would be the talk of the town, that reporters would write favorable articles about your faith? That newspaper headlines would tell of your faith... What kind of faith would that be? Well, according to the Bible size doesn't matter. It doesn't have to be big faith, it needs to be faith in action!

I like what Jesus said about it in Matthew 17:20 (TEV), I assure you that if you have faith as big as a mustard seed, you can say to this hill "Go from here to there!" and it will go. You could do anything! Notice that this translation says faith as BIG as a mustard seed, while others say 'as small as a mustard seed'. Jesus' perception of size is different than ours! He basically tells the disciples, and us today, what mustard seed faith is: something very small you can use in order to do something very big!

Faith won't grow by itself, we need to put it into action. Go ahead, use what He has given you!

Knowledge is not enough

2011-11-01T03:04:00.000-07:00

Have you ever asked yourself why God needs so many words to teach us right and wrong? After all, the Bible is a huge book and sometimes it just seems a bit too much. Is it possible to keep things simple? Love God, love people... that's the Bible for dummies, right?!

Deep down inside we all know the difference between good and evil, but as believers we sometimes struggle to balance between living by the letter and living by the Spirit. Sure, having knowledge of something is not enough to be acting likewise. Knowing that pizza is fattening doesn't keep us from eating it, does it? Knowing that smoking may cause cancer doesn't keep people from doing it. Just having knowledge is not enough, we need understanding! We need conviction in our hearts. Only the Holy Spirit can do this work in us. We need to yield and give Him the right of way.

According to the Bible we do indeed have knowledge of good and evil. In Genesis 3:22, after Adam and Eve ate from the forbidden fruit, God said, Now the man has become like one of us and has knowledge of what is good and what is bad. However, that knowledge wasn't sufficient, God decided to give humankind guidelines to live by. He wanted to enter our hearts, but also our heads.

In Hebrews 10:16 He says, I will put my Laws in their hearts and write them on their minds. Heart and mind, mind and heart! Once God's teachings are in both places, it becomes easier and easier to live a life that is pleasing to Him, a life that we can enjoy too. It is my desire that we will grasp this concept and that is one of the reasons why I write my books about God's law from a life with the Holy Spirit.

Heart and mind, they certainly can get along quite well!

Jesus said: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.

[Matthew 22:37]

Tell me about yourself award

2011-10-29T06:53:00.000-07:00

Every now and then a fun and inspiring award travels through the blogging world. I received several in the past and I am always amazed at the creativity of the people who invent and design these awards. I don´t keep track of ´m all, but this week I received a nice one from Cathy, over at Thoughts on Books. Thanks, Cathy, for surprising me with this new award. It´s a great idea to get to know fellow bloggers a little better and to take the chance to visit new blogs. In other words, awards like this keep the blogging world go round, so I am happy to pass it on.

Please, take note of 3 simple rules:

Thank the person who gave you the award.
Reveal seven things about yourself,
Pass the award on to 5 other bloggers. Leave a comment on each blog, telling them that you've nominated them for this award.

Well, here's seven things about me that are fun to share:

1. I just LOVE lasagna, but unlike Garfield I prefer it hot from the oven!

2. I have been together with my husband for more than 25 years, we have no children.

3. I love to travel, exploring new places and re-visiting old ones and I always take plenty of photo's

4. I do not have a television, but enjoy watching movies and browsing Youtube on my laptop.

5. I like my desk organized and clean

6. I desire to write many more books, bible studies, blog posts and articles on practical Christian living and spiritual growth.

7. I have learned to speak in public and actually feel in my element when doing so.

I've chosen 5 blogs. Some I have followed for ages, others I've recently started following. Feel free to go visit these lovely blogs and Cathy's as well. :)

On Wings of Mirth and Worth
Putting Pen to Paper
My Daily Walk in His Grace
Blessings in His Grip
Ponderings

If you are one of the 5 blogs I nominated and would like to pass it on, copy the blog award to a post, reveal 7 things about yourself, and pass this award on to 5 other bloggers of your choice. Congrats!

Happy blogging!

Contrast of events

2011-10-22T14:15:00.000-07:00

It was an interesting week here in the Middle East. Well maybe that is an understatement.

We witnessed first hand how a nation welcomed back their lost son. We saw how a country celebrated the safe return of one of their kidnapped soldiers, despite the heavy price tag. We learned that a human life is valued and loved here in this tiny nation. The people of Israel cried silent tears before the television as they remembered the lives of the hundreds of people who died as the result of terrorism. More than a thousand prisoners received grace and went home. Will they be thankful?

At the same moment we watched how a people captured their leader, tore him to pieces and slit his throat. The killing of a human being is a horrible thing to watch, no matter who it is. Only one thing came to mind: the people have become as vicious as their leader. The contrast of events couldn’t have been bigger.

As I pondered about the week's events I was reading Paul’s letter to the Ephesians and just had to stop here, May you come to know His love-although it can never be fully known-and so be completely filled with the very nature of God. (Ephesians 3:19). Those words really stayed with me the whole week. God is love, it is His desire that we come to know His love. Why? Because it will fill us with His nature, which is love. And where there is love, all fear, all anger, all rage, all failure will disappear.

A word of promise and hope for believers, but I kept thinking... how in the world do we get this message to the heart of people who know no love?

Please pray!

Photo impression Israel

2011-10-18T07:07:00.000-07:00

Remains of Capernaum synagogue

It is written about Jesus that He didn't stay in Nazareth, but went to live in Capernaum (Kfar Nahum in Hebrew) (Matthew 4:13). Today there is not much left of that old town on the shores of the Sea of Gallilee, but the old synagogue is certainly worth a visit. It still breathes the atmosphere of biblical times.

Arbel National Park

Arbel National Park was a pleasant surprise. No crowds here, just tranquility and spectacular views of the Tiberias area.

Greek Orthodox church Capernaum

As we were strolling along the shoreline of the Sea of Gallilee, we stumbled upon this picturesque Greek church near Capernaum. Tranquility, beautiful gardens and grand views of the lake... awesome!

PS: for more pics, see my album on Facebook!

Journal entry...

2011-10-08T01:26:00.000-07:00

Last week I was going through some old journal entries, just for curiosity's sake. It encourages me to read my own writing, it tells the story of my faith journey. I found this section where I was just in awe about God...

"Lord, what exactly do I know about you? What do I really understand about everything You created? According to your Word stones can listen (Joshua 24:27) and trees can talk (Judges 9:9). That goes against everything I know to be the truth. Just because I never heard a tree (or a donkey for that matter) speak, doesn't mean it is impossible.

Everything is possible with God!

If I want to be like you, I have to change the way I think, from natural to spiritual, from limited to unlimited. With the help of the Holy Spirit I can do it. I must practice unlimited thinking every day!

Challenging question

2011-10-05T05:41:00.000-07:00

"Who is wise and understanding among you?"

Just imagine that someone at work, or in church, or in your family would suddenly ask that question. Would you dare to stand up and raise your hand? Would anyone stand up at all? I admit that I would keep things on the safe side and remain silent. Sure, I am not dumb and I sincerely believe that I do have a certain measure of understanding, but who is going to proclaim wisdom about himself? Surely, we want to stay humble here, right?!

All these thoughts were going through my mind while reading James 3:13-18. He is not afraid to ask a challenging question, Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. In order words, think before you answer in words, I need to see your deeds. He then shows that sometimes we think we are wise, but deep down we harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition. Anything that comes forth from bitter envy or selfish ambition he calls earthly and unspiritual 'wisdom'.

If we have any wisdom at all, it should come from heaven. The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ has become for us the wisdom from God (1 Corinthians 1:30). James clearly defines such wisdom (and basically describes Jesus' character, which should be evident in the life of His followers). Wisdom is first of all

pure, then
peace-loving,
considerate,
submissive,
full of mercy and good fruit,
impartial, and
sincere

I like his list. Whenever I have a choice to act in wisdom and understanding I can check to see if my choices are Christ-like. Whenever the things I say and do, mirror the characteristics James mentioned, I know it was given to me from above. We might hesitate to call ourselves wise, but we can ask ourselves: Am I growing in wisdom?

Pure religion

2011-09-29T12:09:00.000-07:00

If I were to ask you to define the word religion, what would you come up with?

I have to be honest with you; religion has gotten such a bad name that I have caught myself saying "no, no, I am not religious, I am a Christian..." Needless to say that doesn't mean a thing to the sceptic I am having the conversation with. I decided to look it up in my Penguin English dictionary:

[Rilijon] n belief in and worship of God or gods; specified system of theology, ritual and morality based on this; outlook and way of life based on this...

Way of life... that caught my attention. Religion is not a system, a theory or even a set of rituals, it is a way of life. It is not a bad word if we allow it to jump off the page and become alive, if we choose it as a way of life. This week I was reading James 1:27 and was surprised at the simplicity of his description, Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

James shares two principles that define the content of true and pure religion (genuine devotion to God):

benevolent love for the people in need, and
a holy life

I wonder how difficult we have made 'our' religion sometimes...

Living with passion

2011-09-22T11:18:00.000-07:00

Last week I spoke at a women's conference about living with passion, one of my favorite topics. At the same time a difficult one as well, because I sometimes have to dig through layers of discouragement, disappointment, fear, and anxiety in order to touch the heart of the audience. I am so grateful it is the Holy Spirit who gently takes care of this.

Apart from my personal testimony I used bits and pieces of biblical advice and books I have read on the subject. Like something I read the other day by poet William Arthur Ward. He wrote about passion as being one of the keys to success and broke it down into manageable tips we can start practicing tomorrow. I don't know what you're working on at the moment, maybe it's a book or an article. Maybe a new blog or a letter to an agent. Whatever it is, make sure you do it with passion. I know the following will somehow encourage you, as it did me. Living with passion means, you

Believe while others are doubting

Plan while others are playing

Study while others are sleeping

Decide while others are delaying

Prepare while others are daydreaming

Begin while others are procrastinating

Work while others are wishing

Save while others are wasting

Listen while others are talking

Smile while others are frowning

Commend while others are criticizing

Persist while others are quitting

The testing of your faith

2011-09-19T12:28:00.000-07:00

If I asked you to mention the one thing that brings pure joy in your life, what would you answer? Playing with the dog? Having the grand kids over? Winning the lottery? A walk on the beach? It wouldn't surprise me if each of you came up with a different answer. Of course there are no right or wrong answers here. There is however a surprising biblical answer.

Consider it pure joy, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance (James 1:2-3). Calling the testing of our faith pure joy is kind of weird, I mean... I would never come up with that. But the Bible says that's the way we should look at the trials in our life. Well, let me put it this way, the trials are not necessarily pure joy, but the testing of our faith is, because it develops perseverance.

Why is it so important to have perseverance? Listen to what the next verse says, Perseverance must finish it work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. Now we're talking! I love this verse because it tells me that the development of perseverance in my life must finish its work; in other words, there is an end to every test of faith, thank God! And then there is the answer to my 'why do we need perseverance' question; so that:

you may be mature
and complete,
not lacking anything

When looking at that kind of end result, the testing of our faith should be pure joy indeed!

The maturity mentioned here is the Greek word teleios, which stands for: a right relationship with God that bears fruit in a sincere endeavor to love Him with all one's heart in undivided devotion, obedience and blamelessness.

The completeness mentioned here is further explained in James 2:22, faith and actions working together makes our faith complete!

Not lacking anything is a Biblical promise for believers, Psalm 34:9 says Fear the Lord, you His saints, for those who fear Him lack nothing!

The testing of our faith through trial and error is nothing more than the development of perseverance which will make us mature, complete, lacking nothing! Is that pure joy, or what?

Readers Favorite Award 2011

2011-09-16T08:30:00.000-07:00

Just received news that they did not receive enough RSVP's for the Readers Favorite awards banquet in Las Vegas, which was scheduled for November 5th, 2011. So, they moved it to Miami for next year, where they'll combine it with the 2012 event during the International Book Fair. Well, I got my certificate and we've decided to fly out west anyway and enjoy Southern California while it will be winter here in Holland.

Make sure you pick up a copy of Grace of Giving if you haven't done so already! You will never look at GIVING the same way again, I promise :)

Growing in grace (4)

2011-09-14T07:46:00.000-07:00

Let's continue with chapter 6 of Grace of Giving.

We can be strong in that grace which is ours in our union with Jesus! First of all, we have to be very serious in our relationship with Jesus. Just having Him as one of our acquaintances, along with many others, is not the unity that the Bible speaks about. Unity involves a bond that cannot be broken, not even for a little while, for whatever excuse we have. Second of all, we have to exercise our walk in grace. Second Peter 3:18 says, Continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

We must continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of him, just like Jesus and the early disciples did. It is not enough to accept God’s gift of grace, say thank you, and store it with the rest of all our stuff. That would be the way of the thief! The Bible calls for a new lifestyle. We must turn away from our sinful lives and grow in grace! We have to grow in the grace by using it, giving it out, and, in doing so, multiplying it. Paul emphasized this in 2 Corinthians 6:1, As God’s fellow workers, we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain!

We can tap into God’s grace if we are sincere about becoming givers, the way Jesus had in mind when he spoke to the rich young guy. The man did not have the strength to do it; but then, he denied the invitation to become a disciple of Jesus. He was not in unity with him; he wasn’t willing to give it all. Is our attitude towards Jesus right? Is our commitment to live according to his teaching sincere? Jesus said in John 14:23, Whoever loves me will obey my teaching. We can become cheerful givers if we stop trying with our own strength. We have the example of Jesus, the help of the Holy Spirit, and the grace of God.

We can start off with self-disclosure. Check your attitude: see in what areas you are holding on to things. Evaluate your relationship with God. Is it a vibrant friendship, or are you bored with him? Is honesty a basis in your relationship with him? Reread the Scriptures that talk about giving and grace. Feed your spirit with Jesus’s teaching by meditating on his words, by reading it aloud, and by talking things over with him. Last but not least, check your giving. Pray over your money, bless it, and give to God what belongs to him. For starters, bring ten percent of your paycheck to the church that feeds you, your storehouse. Do so before you spend it on anything else, and watch God at work.

Be joyful in your giving, and you will notice you have entered that experience called grace.

Growing in grace (3)

2011-09-08T08:47:00.000-07:00

In the previous post I wrote about God's grace not being a one-time moment of truth, but an ongoing experience in our lives. We need to continually live and grow in grace, the apostle Paul understood that and wrote about it extensively. So, let's go back to Chapter 6 of Grace of Giving:

Paul is gentle in his attitude towards the Corinthians; maybe he knew giving was a delicate subject. In 2 Corinthians 8:8 (NIV) he says, I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. Paul speaks the language of the Spirit, especially concerning God’s law. He no longer barks God’s commandments at his listeners: do this, don’t do that, and shut up. No, he explains the new way of obeying God to them. It is no longer about obeying a set of rules; it is all about fulfilling them in a manner of love! Romans 7:6 sums up Paul’s new way of looking at things, No longer do we serve in the old way of a written law, but in the new way of the Spirit.

No longer is he trying to tell people what to do (remember that once he was a zealous Jew, a Pharisee, committed to the law), no longer is he driven by the outward signs of religion. Instead of stuffing the Ten Commandments down people’s throats, he urges people to change their minds, to obey God from the inside out, and to be sincere in their love for God and others. He measures the level of their giving with the sincerity of their love.

Paul experienced God’s grace firsthand; he writes about it all the time. He saw God’s grace in many aspects of life, not just in giving. Grace, God’s free and unmerited favor, can be found throughout the history of mankind. The Bible talks about the spirit of grace, the message of grace, the grace of God, the throne of grace, and so on.

You may wonder how to actually live in that grace and how to benefit from it. How do you know if you have received God’s grace? Listen, It is by God’s grace that you have been saved. (Ephesians 2:5) God poured out his grace on mankind—on you and me. If it weren’t for his grace, we wouldn’t be here! God has showed us favor, even in times when we rebelled against him when we were still sinners. God poured out his grace on mankind when he gave up his Son as a sacrifice for our wrongdoing. Grace is invisible, yet it is evident in everything God has done for us! Second Timothy 2:1 tells us that grace is ours. As for you, my son, be strong through the grace that is ours in union with Christ Jesus.

We can be strong in that grace which is ours in our union with Jesus!

Blogging buzz....

2011-09-06T10:41:00.000-07:00

Thanks everyone for your kind words and congrats on my award-winning book Grace of Giving :) I truly appreciate all the support. Before we'll move on with the grace chapter from that book (as I have been sharing over the last few weeks) I like to mention a few things:

The Readers Favorite 2011 Awards Banquet will be held in Las Vegas during the10th annual Vegas Valley Book Fair, November 3-6, 2011. If you're in the neighborhood, join the book fun!

I received the Liebster award from fellow blogger and friend Maria Morgan, make sure to check her inspirational blog Life Lessons and see what that is all about. Thank you Maria, I so appreciate your kindness! I wish to present the Liebster award to 5 other bloggers. There are just a few rules:

1. Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to them.

2. Give the Liebster Award to five bloggers and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.

3. Copy and paste the award on your blog.

4. Have faith your followers will spread the love to other bloggers.

5. And best of all – enjoy!

The Liebster award is presented to blogs with less than 200 followers, but definitely deserve more! So here we go, I picked from my blog roll:

Heather Sunseri over at Balance with purpose.

Traci over at My daily walk in His grace

Lisa Tortorello over at her author's blog

Aileen Sewart over at Aileen's Thoughts, and

Cherie Hill over at Journal of Faith

Readers Favorite Award 2011

2011-08-31T08:17:00.000-07:00

Yes! Praise the Lord, I am so happy. I am honored to announce that my latest release Grace of Giving has received GOLD! Today the winners were announced on the Readers Favorite website. If you decide to visit this website, you'll notice how many books have been entered in 70+ different categories. They have already entered information about the 2012 contest, so if you're an author make sure to check that as well.

Grace of Giving has been voted best Christian Non Fiction in their Readers Favorite 2011 Awards Contest. Needless to say that I am thrilled and thankful for such recognition. If you have not yet purchased a copy of this book, this might the be the moment to win you over :) For less than 10 bucks you'll have a treasure in your hands! It's a great book for self study or group discussion. It is available at most internet book sellers, like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders etc.

Growing in grace (2)

2011-08-27T03:24:00.000-07:00

In the previous post I wrote about God's grace not being a one-time moment of truth, but an ongoing experience in our lives. We need to continually live and grow in grace, the apostle Paul understood that and wrote about it extensively. So, let's go back to Chapter 6 of Grace of Giving:

We need to learn to be aware of his grace in our life, which will save us a lot of trouble because it is not a one-time moment of truth, it is an ongoing experience in our lives! The Apostle Paul knew that as no other. He opens the fifth chapter of the Book of Romans with the following words: Now that we have been put right with God through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. He has brought us by faith into this experience of God’s grace, in which we now live.

Paul simply states that by faith we can live in God’s grace; he calls it an experience. Living in God’s grace is something that will manifest itself in our lives for others to see. God’s grace is a power that will back up the work we do, it will keep us from failing. Grace does not mean that we can rest on our lazy behinds and let God do all the work. Praying, “God, make me a giver,” without taking any action is not going to change anything. God’s grace will help us to become givers when we start working on it. The Apostle Paul must have experienced this quite clearly in his own life, because he describes the process in a few sentences in 1 Corinthians 15:10: But by God’s grace I am what I am, and the grace that he gave me was not without effect. On the contrary, I have worked harder than any of the other apostles, although it was not really my own doing, but God’s grace working with me.

God’s grace is working with him! That is the key to success. If we stop fighting our battles and struggling all alone, and we accept God’s grace then it will work with us! We need to team up. Success is guaranteed! From a human point of view, it is almost impossible to become a true giver in God’s kingdom; we have to let go of so many sacred cows. With the help of God’s grace, however, we are able to do this.

It truly helps to no longer look at God’s commandments as outward rules but rather as inward change. With the help of the Holy Spirit, it is possible to change our perspective and attitude from “thou shall not steal,” to “I want to give.” John 1:17 makes it clear: God gave the Law through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. Trying to work this out without accepting the grace that Jesus freely offers us is futile. It just won’t work. With God’s grace, however, we can expect miracles, and we will recognize his mighty hand in every situation like the Apostle Paul did when he started off with telling the people in Corinth about the grace that God had given to the Macedonian churches (2 Corinthians 8).

It turned out they gave large gifts, much more than Paul expected, although they were poor. Paul recognizes the grace of God in this; the people could never have done that of their own accord. In verse 7 he encourages the folks in Corinth to start living in that grace too. But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving. Wow, they must have been a super church; somewhat like many churches in America, excelling in faith, speech, knowledge, earnestness, and love. Yet, they had been missing an important point: the grace of giving. He urges them to use this gift from God. If we are serious in leaving the way of the thief behind and becoming true givers we will need to use it too.

Growing in grace (1)

2011-08-24T01:10:00.000-07:00

During his devotional time my husband received some words of instruction for the season we are living in. One of the things was: study and live grace. The Bible is full of scriptures on grace, so that will keep us busy for a while :) We also ordered some books about grace (Philip Yancey, Joseph Prince etc.) which we will read and discuss together. We furthermore decided to read and re-read the chapter I wrote about grace in my newest release Grace of Giving. I thought it would be helpful and inspirational to share parts of that grace chapter on this blog. Although I wrote it specifically on the subject of giving, it contains many nuggets applicable to our life in general. I can only hope it will be an encouragement to you. So here we go:

Chapter 6

The grace of giving

I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor.

2 Corinthians 6:2 (NIV)

It is one thing to leave the way of the thief behind and another thing to become a true giver; to follow in Jesus’s footsteps and give it all you’ve got. It is one thing to say, “I do not steal,” but another thing to say, “I am a giver.” How can giving become a desire of our hearts? How can giving become part of our new nature?

Let me ask you the following question: how can a sinner become righteous in God’s eyes? How can we, as human beings, share in God’s glory? One simple answer: grace. It is God’s grace that makes many things possible for mankind. Grace is a word that we don’t hear much outside the church, yet it is so powerful! Favor, mercy, or goodwill are more commonly used. The Penguin English Dictionary describes grace as follows: supernatural power given by God to the soul to enable it to attain virtue and salvation. Grace is another one of God’s gifts to us! Grace is God’s free favor on our lives; we did not do anything to deserve it. When we receive that gift, we can start using it to overcome difficult situations. The dictionary says it is a supernatural power. The Bible explains more extensively what grace is and what it can do in our lives.

Jesus, for example, had God’s grace on his life. Luke 2:40 (NIV) talks about Jesus’s childhood: And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him. Grace was upon him, that tells me grace is something extra, almost like a gift from God. God’s grace was upon Jesus when he was a child. While growing older, the grace of God was no longer just upon him, but it filled him! That tells me Jesus grew in grace; he became full of it! The opening chapter of John’s gospel contains the following statement in verse 14, The Word became a human being and, full of grace and truth, lived among us.

Now, God did not just reserve his grace for Jesus; he gave it also in abundance to the believers, starting off with the first disciples. Acts 4:33 (NIV) tells us that “much grace was upon them all” in the same way as it was in the beginning upon Jesus. However, the disciples grew in grace too. A couple of chapters later (Acts 6:8 NIV) the martyr Stephen for example is introduced as follows, Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people. Grace was not just upon him, but it filled him!

Grace is so much more than a simple gift or a blessing; it is a power. God’s grace does not stop at our salvation; we can continue to live in it and grow in it. Once we become conscious of his grace, his undeserved favor in our lives, we will find out that it will help us conquer and control many difficult situations. As human beings, we have a tendency to depend on our own strength, to fight our battles all alone. We don’t have to do that because God’s grace is there to sustain us. We need to learn to be aware of his grace in our life, which will save us a lot of trouble because it is not a one-time moment of truth, it is an ongoing experience in our lives!

The effect of righteousness

2011-08-19T00:30:00.000-07:00

Have you ever met people who have a certain effect on you? Being around them for a few minutes encourages and inspire you. You walk away feeling on top of the world. On the other hand, being around certain people can have the opposite effect; you feel negative, afraid or even angry. Now, the post I am about to write is NOT about the effect other people have on us, but about the effect we have on other people!

As I am journeying through the book of Isaiah I stumbled upon this delightful resting place. I lingered there for the longest time :) while eating the words that nourished me. Chapter 32, verse 17 says: The fruit of righteousness will be peace, the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever. Go ahead, read it again and again. It is such a powerful scripture and it holds wonderful promises for the reader. While reading, I noticed two things that I would like to share:

The fruit of righteousness will be peace. It is a fruit, which means it doesn't pop out full grown, it will show itself small and over time grow into maturity. In other words, don't panic if peace is not written all over your forehead with big letters.
Eventually the effect of that fruit in my life will be quietness and confidence. The effect is something that will be seen by others, it is what I leave behind as I go about my daily life.

What exactly is righteousness? The Bible explains it clearly: Righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. (Romans 3:22). So, our righteousness bears fruit (peace) and it has an effect (quietness and confidence) throughout the day. My question today is: is that the effect we have on others? Do they see quietness and confidence in us or stress and doubt?

Let me leave you with a few scriptures on the fruit of peace, and the effect of quietness and confidence. Read 'm aloud, meditate on 'm and start living 'm.

PEACE: Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble (Psalm 119:165)

QUIETNESS: In quietness and trust is your strength (Isaiah 30:15)

CONFIDENCE: This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us (1 John 5:14)

Have a great weekend everyone.

Interview with Wyn Barratt

2011-08-15T07:49:00.000-07:00

Today it is my pleasure to post an interview with fellow blogger Wyn Barratt, all the way from Australia! I have been reading Wyn's blog Ponderings for a long time and last month she finally (at 82!) published her first book with Xlibris. I think she deserves an interview :) Here we go, enjoy!

Please, introduce yourself… anything special we need to know about Wyn Barratt?

I was born in England. The Second World War was on during my high school days. If there had been an air raid the night before we didn’t have to go to school the next day (assuming the school was still standing!) Consequently we hardly had any education during those years 1939-45. I attended the local Baptist church where I met and finally married Geoff Barratt. We had four children two girls and twin boys and emigrated to Australia as ‘ten pound Poms’ in 1966. In 2008 God gave me a promise and a wonderful gift. He promised me a hope and a future. At the grand of age of eighty that was amazing! His gift to me was in writing poetry. The Holy Spirit prompts me with ideas and words and I just write down what comes into my heart and head.

My husband passed away on Easter Saturday night in 2010. He was ill for years with diabetes and Parkinson’s disease.

How and when did you start your blog?

On October 18th 2008. I started because a friend started one and helped me set it up.

What is your drive behind blogging? What do you hope to accomplish?

I wanted to share my thoughts with others in the hope that they would learn to love God too. God gave me the gift of writing poetry just before my 80th birthday. I joined the Shoutlife website, which is a Christian one, and posted my poems between my blog and Shoutlife.

You are quite active in social media, which is admirable at your age. How do you keep up?

I sometimes wonder that myself. I tend to groan and panic a bit when I realize I have taken on too much. I can’t say no to anyone and apart from the invitation to jump off a cliff I have accepted all offers and suggestions, albeit with some trepidation. I have withdrawn membership of several places like Twitter and My Space and a couple of lifestyle sites where I felt uncomfortable or didn’t fit in. I joined Facebook only to keep in touch with my family. My family is both large and scattered geographically. I don’t see them very often so at least I can find out what is happening on Facebook.

You have recently published your first poetry book! Congratulations. What have you learned from the publishing process, so far?

It is still somewhat of a mystery. For instance My book Love Letters to the Master was published on June 24th , my husband’s birthday , which was very nice. It was weeks later that I discovered a number of agencies was already selling my book and I still hadn’t received a copy myself. Frequent phone calls to my ‘production assistant’ seemed more helpful than just sending emails. Next time (if there is a next time, as I still have nearly one thousand poems in my computer,) I will know the best moves to make from experience.

What are your poems about?

The persons of the Trinity and my love and gratitude for my Lord and all that He has done for me and been to me. They show the ups and downs of my spiritual progress in a lot of ways. A friend has told me I preach a bit too, but in a gentle way I hope.

What role does your faith in God play in your daily life?

It is my only reason for living. I have bouts of depression in spite of this, especially since my husband passed away after 60 years of marriage. Because of his ill health we rarely left the house and didn’t make friends easily, although we attended church as often as possible. I miss the companionship, friendship, and outings. I remain in the house even more now than I did when Geoff was alive. I haven’t become used to doing things alone yet. My favorite pastime is walking over Muttonbird Hill, a steep hill that protrudes from the sea wall. I hope that the Lord will call me when I am out on that hill. It is so beautiful, yet wild. I talk to the Lord as soon as I awake in the mornings and frequently through the day too. Being alone I can talk aloud to Him, but of course I have to remember not to do that when I am out in public!

Do you have any authors or specific books that have been an inspiration to you?

Marja Meijers!! I am not normally a reader but since I heard about her books I devoured them hungrily. I love her straightforward style of writing and sincerity and way of expounding the Scriptures. As I am reading I exclaim to myself “Of course! Why didn’t I see that before?” I fell in love with Sorek [main character in Breath of Life] and wept copious tears over him. She set my heart on fire for the aborted child.

The Shack is a favorite too. Totally unlike anything I have read before but I enjoyed it immensely.

Also a new book, Robert Greyeagle’s first novel, ‘Unto these Hills.’ He is a great writer. I was gripped from the beginning and couldn’t put the book down. I can’t wait for his next one which is titled ‘Luke the Drifter’. His books are about his people the Cherokee.

Finish these sentences:

I wish I had…started writing at a much earlier age but God’s timing was perfectly matched to my need

I wish I could…write wonderful words to show the beauty of God and His Majesty and tell the world how wonderful He is. I wish everyone would give their lives to Him

I wish…I never disappointed Him and that when I enter Heaven He will say “Well done thou good and faithful servant.

Yes, I can see in answering these questions that my life is just wrapped up in my dear Lord and Savior. He is my life and I wouldn’t want to live without Him for a single moment even though I can still get into a lot of trouble with my mouth and impetuosity. I regret to say that I am the sort of person that jumps off the proverbial cliff and then looks back to God and asks, ‘Is this what You meant?’ I am going to be a happy pupil in the school of the Holy Ghost for a long time.

The Power of God

2011-08-10T04:59:00.000-07:00

During the past few weeks I have posted on The Will of God, The Plan of God and The Voice of God.

We learned that the will of God is not so much something we should ask for, but something we should do. It is a general instruction for the Believers. The plan of God is more specific for each person, depending on your character and circumstances, and will be revealed step by step. About the voice of God we noticed that it is much more than spoken words. This week I would like to take it a step further and share some things about the power of God.

When we decide to live God’s will (in other words, to obey His Word) He will slowly begin to reveal His plan for our lives. Learning to hear His ‘voice’ is absolutely necessary in this stage to be able to follow His instructions. But that’s not all. We also need His power to work with us and through us. The power of God is an unlimited source that supplies anything and everything we lack in our lives at a certain moment. The power of God is available to us through the Holy Spirit. Please, note that the Holy Spirit Himself is a person, not a force.

When the Holy Spirit lives in us, He is there to help us, hence His name The Helper. Often we only think of Him as a help in trouble, but He is also there to help us in our daily lives, with our daily chores. (Think about Adam and Eve complimenting each other.) When we do all we can in the natural we need to rely on the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit to make our work effective. Many things can be done and accomplished by sheer will power, but only the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit can change our efforts into effective work for His Kingdom. The Bible clearly shows that God wants to share His power (through the Holy Spirit) with us:

Acts 1:8, You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you
2 Peter 1:3, His divine power has given us everything we need for life and Godliness through our knowledge of Him.
2 Timothy 1:7, For God did not give us a spirit of timidity but a spirit of power, of love and of a sound mind (or self discipline).

When we think of God’s power displayed, we often think of the opening of the Red Sea, the sun standing still at a believers request or Daniel surviving the lion’s den. Wonderful examples, but most of us don't see such things happen every day. Although the exact same power is still available today and can have earth shaking results we will, for practical reasons, focus on His power in a smaller context, namely our daily lives.

We are in need of God’s power every day, not necessarily to move mountains and open up the seas, but to overcome tough situations, to learn new things, to discern trouble and to do our work. God's power displayed on a smaller scale doesn't mean we have to yell, to jump, to push or to swing the chandeliers (although that can be fun) to make it happen. It means we have to call on the HELP of the Holy Spirit when needed, instead of doing it all by ourselves. Let me give some examples of the power that is available to us on a daily basis:

The power to resist temptation
The power to endure
The power to proclaim
The power to overcome
The power to save
The power to heal

His power can be evident in every area of our lives but we have to ask! I would call for Believers everywhere to start uttering breath prayers all day: Holy Spirit I really need your help with this or that...

The Holy Spirit is our Helper and He desires to display God's power through us, so we can be witnesses... until the ends of the earth!

Readers Favorite Contest 2011

2011-08-03T10:52:00.000-07:00

I've been in and out of the house a lot lately, not much time for a good post (on the power of God, as promised). So allow me to quickly share some great and exciting news.

Grace of Giving is one of the finalists in the Readers Favorite 2011 Awards Contest. This year there are more than 50 categories and they received more entries than ever. Grace of Giving is one of the five nominees in the category Christian Non Fiction.

You can see the 2011 Contest Finalists list here.

Strength according to biblical standards

2011-07-27T03:39:00.000-07:00

Quietness, trust & joy

As I spend many hours working behind a desk, I enjoy a good work out. It takes me half an hour on my bicycle to get to work and when the weather permits it, I go for a power walk during lunch time. But nothing beats a spinning lesson at my local gym! The exercise strengthens and excites me and quite often I feel much better afterwards.

Still reading through Isaiah I came upon a verse that talks about biblical strength, In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength (Isaiah 30:15). Now, that's a total different story. Although I am all for physical exercise and building up some muscles, I also realize that our real strength is not physical. It is not intellectual or mental either. The Bible teaches that our strength is in quietness and trust. I really had to think that over because it goes so much against the standard the world has set. Real strength cannot be measured according to the worldly standards. It cannot be found in exercise, education, status or importance. Real strength is in God and in godly attributes like quietness, trust and joy (Nehemiah 8:10). It is with the psalmist that we can cry out to God: Strengthen me according to your word (Psalm 119:28)

When I can stay quiet during arguments or difficult times, when I can trust God when all goes wrong... then I am showing strength. Again, this is where the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit will come in. Without His help we will fail, all the time. The apostle Paul's prayer for the believers is this: I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being (Ephesians 3:16). What a great prayer! The Holy Spirit will strengthen us with power in our inner being.

That brings me to the subject of one of our workshops: the power of God. I will post a short version about the power of God in my next post! Until then: may you be be strengthened in your daily walk!

A steadfast mind

2011-07-22T03:14:00.000-07:00

Are you being tossed back and forth?

Reading the Bible means interaction between God and me. I read, think, and ponder and ask Him questions. This is certainly so when I stumble upon a verse that jumps off the page. It happened to me the other day when I was struggling through the woe's in Isaiah, looking for a gem. There it was: You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you (Isaiah 26:3).

I had to read that verse over and over again and came to the conclusion that if, for some reason, I do not experience perfect peace, my mind must not be steadfast. My mind must be wavering, maybe being tossed back and forth by the waves... the waves of every day life and events. David recognized this 'state of mind' and asked God: Test me, O Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind (Psalm 26:2). Thinking about the state of our mind in relation to faith I realized faith is more than a matter of the heart, more than a spiritual exercise. It is also a matter of cultivating a steadfast mind.

The greatest commandment as stated by Jesus is, to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (Matthew 22:37). We must make up our mind where we stand with God and where we stand in our faith. That means finding the right balance in our love for God; in heart, soul and mind! Trying to do that in our own strength can be a frustrating exercise. That is why we need the guidance of the Holy Spirit. When we submit the condition of our heart, soul and mind to Him, He can bring about the peace the prophet Isaiah spoke about. Romans 8:6 confirms this: The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.

Wow! When we let go of wanting to be in control all the time and hand the reigns over to the Holy Spirit, in other words: when we put our trust in God, the Spirit of the living God will bring perfect peace!

Blogging buzz....

2011-07-20T01:35:00.000-07:00

Thanking, thinking, pondering

It's Wednesday, my day to work at home. The sun didn't come out, so slept in (a little), which basically means I lay there thinking and pondering... My most brilliant ideas don't come early in the morning :), but today however I decided to post another blogging buzz. There simply is too much fun stuff going around that needs to be shared. here we go:

First of all, a big thank you to all who took the time to read the interview with Susan Reinhardt. We are thankful for all your sweet comments!
I know some of you bloggers are active on Goodreads as well. As of last year I am the moderator of the Christian Non-Fiction Books Group on Goodreads. It's growing and we have some very interesting topics in our active discussions. "Amidst the romance, thrillers, Sci-fi and YA this group offers room for discussion on faith & spiritual growth topics. After all, life is more than entertainment..." There is room for recommendations, we are looking for good devotionals and small group study books and as of yesterday you can add your blog! You don't need to be a member to see the topics, but you will have to open a Goodreads account if you want to join the group; which is really not a bad idea if you are an avid reader and/or writer.
I love international blogging contacts. This week I stumbled upon an excellent blog, all the way in South Africa. Feel free to check out Tracy's blog, My daily walk in His Grace.
If you are on Twitter and enjoy inspirational quotes from a Christian perspective, try CSLewisDaily for some healthy writing.
Saturday July 23rd I'll be picking a winner in the book give-away at Toni Nelson's blog Press On. She asked me 5 thought provoking questions :) and posted the interview on her blog. If you would like to win a free copy of Grace of Giving, hop over and leave a comment!

Happy blogging!

The Voice of God

2011-07-14T12:35:00.000-07:00

Communication is more than uttering words

Based on the workshops we gave in Germany I have written posts about the will of God and the plan of God for our lives. We noticed that the will of God is not so much something we keep asking for, but rather something we should DO! His will is a general instruction for all believers. His plan, however, can be different for each individual because it depends on our personal situations. When we begin to walk and act in His will, the steps of His plan for our lives will be slowly revealed. The next question would be: how do we hear His voice?

When we think about the voice of God, we often think about an audible voice. The truth is, that most people will never hear God speak audibly to them, exceptions to the rule of course. Because we tend to focus on audible communication, we often miss it. Our idea of communication is often very limited! God speaks to us in many ways, but not necessarily through spoken words. In Hebrews 1:1-3 the Bible says that God has spoken to us through His Son, that is Jesus Christ.

Jesus is called the Living Word, He is God's Word, His voice if you like, because He only spoke what the Father had taught Him. One simple way to hear more from God is to read your Bible out loud, especially the words of Jesus. You will hear God's Word loud and clear, through your own voice. In John 10:3-5 Jesus speaks about the Good Shepherd and how the sheep will recognize his voice. In order to hear the voice of the shepherd, we need to know the shepherd. The more we read about Him, the more we study His words, the closer we get to know Him, the easier it will be to hear His voice, even if he doesn't use words. Right before Jesus goes back to be with the Father He explains to His followers what the Holy Spirit will do: He will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you (John 14:26). All communication takes place through the Holy Spirit who is living in us and who knows all about God!

But let's go back to our limited view of communication. God speaks to us in many ways, first and most of all through his Word and through the Holy Spirit. But that is not all. The Bible clearly shows that we do not only hear His voice, but we can also read it, see it, sense it. Don't limit the way you listen! Here are just a few ways God can speak to us, through:

Unctions, the still small voice within, ideas that pop up, strong feelings
Servants, prophets, teachers, pastors, all other believers, even people that don't know you, but do know the Word
Dreams and visions, which we see nowadays quite often in the Moslim world
Miracles, a question or situation we have can be answered through something we see (John 10:25)
Angels, less common nowadays, but certainly scriptural (Old and New Testament)
Music, art, we can experience God's presence or love or comfort
Nature, God communicates His glory often through nature, creation

The Bible is full of examples of God speaking to His people, we have to learn to listen with more than just our ears. We can hear His voice, but we can also read it, see it, and sense it. Don't limit this! John 6:63 says that Jesus'words are spirit and life. Those are perfect gauges to test if what we experience is really God speaking to us. Spirit: does it reveal God's character? Life: does it build me up, does it bring life? Remember that communication from God never contradicts His written Word!

Personally I find that the most practical way to hear from God is praying in the spirit (in tongues) and asking for a translation. That way God can speak very clearly and directly to us. If you have received that gift you will have to practice using it.

It might be helpful to think about the following:

How do you communicate with others if you cannot use words?
Write down how God has communicated with you in the past
Use your own words to describe the Holy Spirit's work in your life
Ask God to communicate with you and be quiet for a while, just wait. What do you feel, sense, think or remember?

Interview with Susan Reinhardt

2011-07-10T23:00:00.000-07:00

This week I am honored to present to you an interview with fellow blogger Susan Reinhardt, owner and author of the Christian Writer/Reader Connection. Faithfully she posts on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Personally I love her Friday Round-up posts, always something interesting, funny or helpful. I have been following Susan's blog for quite some time and I think she really deserves an honorable place in the Christian blogging world. Here we go, enjoy!

Please, introduce yourself…anything special we need to know about Susan J. Reinhardt?

Thanks for having me on your blog, Marja. I’ve been writing for publication about 10 years. My late husband encouraged me to go to a writers’ conference in 2004. In August 2005, I wrote the first draft of my manuscript The Moses Conspiracy. While non-fiction is my first love, fiction has exercised writing muscles I never knew I had. Like natural muscles, they’re often sore from the workout. Now, I appreciate both writing avenues and understand how they complement each other.

How and when did you start your blog? Around the time I started attending writers’ conferences, I searched for Christian bloggers. Once I found a couple of them, I visited everyone on their blogrolls. Talk about being hooked! They educated me on many facets of writing and publishing. In late May 2008, I started Christian Writer/Reader Connection. In addition to building a platform for my writing, I wanted to meet and encourage other writers and readers.

What is your drive behind blogging? What do you hope to accomplish?

The whole idea behind this blog is connecting and supporting Christian writers and readers. I wanted a place where both could relax and enjoy each other’s company. On Mondays, I post a short devotional/writing journey/life experience article, while Wednesdays are devoted to book reviews and author interviews. The Friday Round-Up offers a link I’ve discovered in my blog travels, which I think my friends will enjoy.

Your writings have appeared in several devotionals. Any work in progress in that field?

I’ve been blessed to be in two Cup of Comfort anthologies. My latest devotional will be in the Love Is A Verb Devotional book, which is a companion book to Gary Chapman’s Love Is A Verb. I also have a short article scheduled for Vista in the fall of 2011. At the moment, I’m preparing for a writers’ conference. Several devotional editors are on my list of possible appointments. Most of the assignments I’ve received have come as a result of attending these events. I highly recommend them.

Earlier this month you broke the news that you are working on a novel together with blogger Karen Lange. What have you learned from this project so far?

Sharing the research/writing duties with another writer is both delightful and daunting. We’ve learned much about communication, expectations, and writing styles. Like a good marriage, we’ve turned our different approaches into something that adds unexpected spice to the writing stew. Both of us have the freedom to do our own thing within certain story parameters that we’ve discussed. Karen’s addition of an antagonistic character was a stroke of genius. We’ve had a lot of fun using her to create tension and emotional reactions. The other day, I mentioned the need to give this person some redeeming characteristics because I wanted to smack her! (As an effective villain, she makes the grade, but brings out some not-so-nice responses in me. It’s an area I have to work on.)

What role does your faith in God play in your daily life?

I really can’t say my faith in God plays a role in my life. He IS my life. Beyond my morning devotions, we talk all day long. For every area, not just writing, I go to Him for wisdom, strength, and grace. Without His input, writing is a dead letter. Only He can breathe life into our words, so they minister to hurting hearts.

Top three on your “things-to-do list… Oh, wow, only three? Since we’re talking about writing, I’ll say:

To write books that dispel confusion, foster a deeper relationship with the Lord, and go beyond entertainment value.
To encourage greater connection in the Body of Christ.
To also write non-fiction books and develop a corresponding speaking platform.

If the whole world could see your bumper sticker, what would it say?

I have a modest collection of Noah’s Ark paraphernalia. One item I saw by an anonymous writer showed the ark with this caption, “God Keeps His Promises.” Instead of a bumper sticker, I’d like that as a sign I could hang up in my home. I hope that sentiment is apparent as I live my life.

Do you have any authors or specific books that have been an inspiration to you?

Many authors impacted my life and writing over the years. Francine Rivers and James L. Rubart are two that come to mind. If you want examples of deep point of view, their books are a great place to experience it firsthand.

Any words of encouragement to us bloggers?

Keeping our audience in mind is of paramount importance. As a devotional writer, I learned one of the major elements is the take-away. I share my stories, but always include something the reader can apply to their lives or writing. Another way to foster discussion is asking a question at the end of each post. It gives readers something to think about and comment on.

Thanks again, Marja. I enjoy your blog, and I appreciate the opportunity to share with your readers.

*********

Thanks Susan, for sharing part of your writing journey with us.

Feel free to visit Susan's blog Christian Writer/Reader Connection and enjoy her writing!

The plan of God

2011-07-06T04:52:00.000-07:00

Step by step

Two weeks ago I posted on the will of God for our lives and basically concluded that the will of God is not so much a thing we should ask for all the time, but something we should do! God's will is a general instruction for all believers, His plan is an individual destiny or purpose for you and me. Often God's will gets confused with His plan. The plan He has for us is a different story...

His plan is not the same as His will. His will is a general instruction, but His plan is an individual destiny that fits our unique situation. Of course His plan is always part of His will for this world and mankind. The Lord will start to reveal His plan for you and me as soon as we walk in His will and act upon His will. Trying to discover and work out His plan while not being in His will is a very frustrating thing to do.

The plan of God involves various levels of life. For example, God has a plan with the universe, with this world, with Israel, with the church and with individual people. When we seriously think about that it is no more than logical that His plan for our life will always fit in the bigger plan of God. I do not know what His plan is for you, my dear reader, but I can share some characteristics of His plan:

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). God spoke those words to the people of Israel in exile, and His words clearly indicate the character of His plans with men. They are good and hopeful and will not harm us. Please keep that in mind when you start discovering His plan.
But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations (Psalm 33:11). God's plan is set, it doesn't change all the time. It certainly does not bring confusion, it brings clarity. Please keep that in mind when you start discovering His plan.
About God it is said that He summons a bird of prey and from a far-off land a man to fulfill His purpose (Isaiah 46:11). God uses individual people to brings His plan to completion. The Bible is full of examples. We all play a role in His greater plan: the salvation of all people! Please keep that in mind when you start discovering His plan.

Now, the Lord will hardly ever reveal His plan all at once, simply because it would scare us and we would try to run away from it. He will reveal His plan step by step and we can recognize these steps by checking them with His Word (His will) as we have seen above in a few examples. Is the step we are about to take positive and good? Is the step certain and ordained? Is the step part of His greater plan?

So, how do we discover the first step of God's plan for our lives? First of al: PRAYER! Ask God to reveal His first step to you. Second, it might be helpful to write down what you already know and what God has already done in your life. The following acronym will help you to get started: STEP.

S = Strengths, write down your 5 main strengths, for example: I am a good listener

T = Talents, write down your 5 main talents, things that you are good at

E = experiences, write down 5 life experiences, for example: grew up without a father

P = Passion, write down the 5 things you like to do most or would like to do most

When you start doing that, a picture will be formed. A picture that you can take to the Lord in prayer, ask Him where and how He wants to use you. You will see that soon the first step will be revealed. It is then important to take that step! Let me know if this has been of any help to you.

Blogging buzz..

2011-07-01T13:12:00.000-07:00

News items and miscellaneous thoughts

Well, it was one of those weeks again... I have a vague feeling that I misplaced a few sticky notes, forgot some appointments and missed several blog updates. As I am trying to bring order on my desk (and in my 'recent downloads' folder) I like to wrap this week up with a few news items and miscellaneous thoughts:

During this month of July, I am the featured author at fellow blogger Toni Nelson's blog Press On. She asked me for an interview and mailed me five (five only) questions. Well, she has a way of cutting right to the bone, because it took me forever to answer those questions. Feel free to visit her blog and see for yourself. She's hosting a book give-away too, all you have to do is leave a comment on her blog.
Nothing makes a writer happier than positive reviews, right?! My latest release Grace of Giving received another wonderful review, this time on Christian-Book-Review. They're hosting a give-away as well. Check it out if you like reading reviews.
For all you blogger fanatics, you don't want to miss Daily Blog Tips, even you pay them a visit once a week, you'll learn something new. Well, I do...
Fellow blogger Diane Estrella is forever hosting give-aways as well as book reviews, thoughts, photo's and lots more. Fun stuff!
I recently discovered Listopia (vote for your favorites) on Goodreads and placed Grace of Giving on some lists in order to be able to participate. If you're on Goodreads and you enjoyed reading Grace of Giving, please be so kind as to cast your vote HERE. Yes, I am asking for a favor :) but it's a holiday weekend and the 4th of July is our wedding anniversary...
The blogging news of this week was that Karen Lange and Susan Reinhardt are working together on a novel. I think that is a quite the adventure and who knows they will inspire others to start a similar adventure. I'll be hosting an interview with Susan this month. Make sure you don't miss it!

Have a great weekend everyone, happy blogging!

The Will of God

2011-06-22T02:57:00.000-07:00

The instruction is general, the responsibility is personal

A few weeks ago we traveled to North Eastern Germany where we were invited to give a series of workshops at a conference. My husband and me enjoy teaching as a team and during that weekend we spoke on the will of God, the plan of God, the voice of God and the power of God in our lives. I thought it would be fun to share some of the nuggets on this weblog, in a nut shell of course :) So, let's start with the will of God for our lives.

The will of God is a general instruction for all believers. There is really no such thing as the will of God for our individual life; that would be called the plan of God. Often, we confuse the will of God with the plan of God. The will of God = the Word of God = the Law of God. His will is His system, or His testament for the believers. Jesus states in Matthew 12:50, Whoever does the will of my Father in heaven, is my brother and sister and mother. His will is something we do, not something God will do for us. We proclaim it in our prayers: Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10). God desires His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven! He tells us to proclaim that. It is our role/assignment to execute His will (His testament) here on earth. The instruction is therefore general, but the responsibility is personal.

It takes a change of mind to execute His will, instead of waiting for it to happen. Romans 12:2 says, Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will.

So, what is God's will for you and me, for us all? Scripture teaches us a few basics:

Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).Well, that would give us enough work for the rest of our lives, right?
It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality... (1 Thessalonians 4:3). No theology needed to explain that one, right?
For my Father's will is that everyone who look to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life...(John 6:40). Here we see God's will through Jesus, transferred to us.

Is everything that happens on earth God's will? NO! Even in a few scriptures as mentioned above, we see what God's will is on earth, but often we see the opposite happening. This is however not a reason for despair, but a call to action. There is work to do for the believers.

Let's stop asking for His will, but start doing His will!

Friday Round-up

2011-06-17T01:26:00.000-07:00

Cover of my first Dutch book

Writing is a multi-faceted business

Today I am following the example of blogging friend Susan Reinhardt who has just posted her 161st Friday Round-up on her blog Christian Writer/Reading Connection. I love Fridays with Susan, she always has the coolest links to other blogs and websites.

My Friday round-up is more of an update on works in progress. The last few weeks have been really busy here in our small house in Holland. Many projects are pending, and I am learning that the life of a writer is not just reclining at a desk and thinking up new stuff to share with the readers. As a matter of fact, I am learning that writing is a multi faceted business. Just to mention a few of the projects I am working on:

Next week my first Dutch book will be released in Holland. It is the translation of my book Breath of Life and is called Levensadem. My Dutch publisher gave it a new cover, which I think is absolutely awesome! We have scheduled a book presentation on July 4th 2011, also our wedding anniversary!
I am ready to review and edit my fifth book in the USA and I am planning to send it to Tate Publishing within the next few weeks. The work title is My Neighbor's House and it deals with the 10th commandment.
Because sales are going well, I have scheduled another book give-away on Goodreads, I am giving away three copies of Grace of Giving and one copy of Breath of Life. Feel free to check it out if you are on Goodreads. Just for fun I like to give away a free copy of my book Respectfully Yours on this weblog, why not! All you have to do is leave a comment and your email address and share this post on any other social media. I'll ask my husband to pick a winner next week!
Last week a new web community has been introduced here in Holland, called Jarsons. I am co-owner of this internet business and wrote most of the web content. Although the website is currently only available in the Dutch language, feel free to take a look. Talent development is our main goal.
I am also writing the web content for our new non profit Traveling Light. The blog is still under construction, but definitely worth visiting. The first project that we want to sponsor is the purchase of a rehabilitation center for men in Ukraine, the Onyfrievka project!
I just received an e-mail from Readers Favorite informing me that my book Grace of Giving is one of the contestants in the Readers Favorite 2011 Award Contest. By August 1st 2011 I will receive a list with the finalists. So, please pray with me for favor :)

As I a juggle to find balance between my part time job and this writing business I am happy to say that I love all this action! I am expecting big things and have decided long ago that I am willing to pay the price. Have you?

Biggest flashmob ever

2011-06-14T13:13:00.000-07:00

Blogging buzz....

2011-06-06T14:11:00.000-07:00

Oh, how I love the world of blogging! In a single second messages and posts can travel all over the world. Sometimes I try to picture my 82 year old cyber friend Wyn from Down Under, as she sits behind her desk and writes her poems or reads my posts. Her Ponderings traveling throughout Australia and beyond, ending up in my living room. How awesome is that!

I just came back from a long weekend conference in North Eastern Germany, where my husband and I gave some workshops on the will of God, the plan of God, the voice of God and the power of God in your life. I left some notes and photo's from that trip on our weblog Traveling Light.

I just received a special thank you hug from blogger friend Lorrie Ransom at her blog Grow up Deep, for the interview I had with her. The funny thing about that interview is that it was picked up by her friend Vee who re-posted it on her blog Living Journey and was so kind to post a link to my weblog too. You have to check out her blog, Vee writes about Christianity, Religion, Politics, apologetics... you name it, it's there.

Blogging makes the world go round. Keep on blogging friends!

Kingdom Basics (3)

2011-05-27T07:37:00.000-07:00

Who can enter the Kingdom?
In part 1 and 2 of this series we have looked at some interesting facts about the Kingdom of God. We learned that it is not a place or country, but a spiritual realm where righteousness, peace and joy reign with power, and this all in and through the Holy Spirit. We also learned that, because God’s Kingdom is spiritual, it is within us and at the same time we are in it. We know what it is and where to find it. The logical next question would be: who can inherit this kingdom?

Sometimes, in order to learn what things really are, the Bible teaches us first of all what they are not! It took me a while to get used to that kind of teaching, but more and more I am beginning to see how practical it can be. The Bible clearly states which people cannot enter (or inherit) the Kingdom (unless they repent and change of course!):

Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the Kingdom of God? (1 Corinthians 6:9) In other words, we must turn away from our wicked life styles and receive a new and clean life in Jesus.
Flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 15:50), it is not something that can be grasped intellectually or physically or even emotionally. Although we still walk and live on this earth, we can already enter God's spiritual realm; but only by faith.
Sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery, idolatry and witchcraft, hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy, drunkenness, orgies an the like. I warn you as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God (Galatians 5:19-21)

In other words, if we do not live a life with and for God we cannot enter His Kingdom. We will not even be able to see it, or understand it’s principles. Jesus clearly discussed this with scholar and member of the ruling council Nicodemus, who thought that knowledge was his way in. Jesus told him: No one can see the Kingdom of God unless he is born again (John 3:3). Later on in their discussion He adds: unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Well, this clearly shows how we do enter the Kingdom.

So a degree in theology, a church membership, a certificate of baptism, a life of good deeds... none of those things can qualify us for the Kingdom. There is no way to earn our way in. Jesus pointed to a group of little children, babies even, and said: The kingdom of God belongs to such as these. (Luke 18:16). In a way He showed that the Kingdom belongs to people of innocence and purity, such as we can only become when we receive a new life in Christ. Therefore, let us not make it too hard. Let us not become like the theologians of that time who shut the Kingdom's door in people's faces and hindered them to enter in (Matthew 23:13).

Jesus came to set up His Kingdom among us. He desires for everyone to come in and find that righteousness, peace and joy with power. We must become like the little children and give up on our pre-conceived ideas, on theologies, dogma's and theories. We have to lay down all of our knowledge, all of our pride and all of our human wisdom. Empty handed before God, that's a good place to be. The prayer will be simple: Lord, I am sincerely seeking You and your Kingdom, lead me in.

Anyone who will not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it (Luke 18:17).

Interview with Lorrie Ransom

2011-05-23T08:02:00.000-07:00

A colorful mixture of words & pictures...

This week it is my pleasure to post an interview with blogger friend Lorrie Ransom. If I remember it well, I came across her blog Grow Up Deep through Lynn Mosher's blog and I have been following her for a few years now. A few weeks ago Lorrie wrote a real good article/review about my latest book Grace of Giving and I wondered how to possibly thank her... Well, I finally decided to put her in the spotlight, she deserves it. Her blog is a colorful mixture of poetry, devotions, thoughts and pictures, I just love it and hope you'll pay her a visit! Please, enjoy this blogger-interview!

Please, introduce yourself… anything special we need to know about Lorrie Ransom?

Let me first say how wonderful it was to get your invitation for an interview. I’ve never been interviewed before… and I’m stuck on the first question! Something special about me? I really don’t think there is. I’m just an ordinary person doing ordinary things.

How and when did you start your blog?

I started GrowUpDeep in September of 2008. I was visiting ChristianWriters.com quite a bit and was inspired by our mutual friend, devotional writer, Lynn Mosher. We started one about the same time. I think I loved the challenge of crafting the site itself as a much as did the idea of having my own place to write at.

What is your drive behind blogging? What do you hope to accomplish?

When the gospel first came to me it was comparable to the seed that fell on the rock in the parable of the sower. Luke 8:13 says that… the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away. Sad but true, I went from being joyful and assured to being stuck somewhere between the old me and the truth I knew to be sure. It was hard for me to forgive my own failures so I lived in the “land of the self-condemned.” I’ve since learned how awfully prideful and dumb that was! God’s word is full of Grace and Mercy and forgiveness. Satan would have us think we’re done for when we fail but nothing could be further from the truth. Jesus came and died to save us from our sins!

When I started my blog I based it on Eph 4:14… so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. I named it GrowUpDeep with the idea that I wanted God’s word to fall on good ground instead of rocky. I wanted deep roots and I wanted to grow up to be a mature Christian woman. On my blog I say that I am trying to balance abandonment. To me that means living and dying all at the same time; learning hard truths but not becoming hard. To be childlike but not childish. This is what I am hoping to accomplish.

You have a passion for writing, poetry and art, is that the right order?

Oh, I think they all go hand in hand for me. I probably spend as much time looking for the right picture for my pieces as I do in writing them. All three are art to me.

Do you have any aspirations to publish your work?

I have had some poetic works published here and there but haven’t been too proactive about seeking publication for quite some time. I do have aspirations to complete a current work of non-fiction about pride. When I get it done I hope to send it out for consideration.

What role does your faith in God play in your daily life?

It plays a role in every single moment of my life. My desire is to be led “in the way everlasting.” I hold fast to Proverbs 3:5-6… trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path.

List your three main strengths and your three main weaknesses.

My greatest personal weaknesses are pride and regret. I would say that my greatest writing weakness is time. I’m not able to come home from a demanding work day and unwind with the flip of a switch into a creative mode.

My main strengths come from being raised by wonderful parents who taught me all the sensible things that are not so common anymore. If I have any real strength, it must certainly be in those times when I am able to love others.

Top three on your ‘things-to-do list…

Retire. That is a huge goal for me right now. My husband is retired and I would love to be able to have more time with him. I like to imagine that I would be much more creative given all those early morning hours I would have to myself. Just me, my coffee, my computer and no clock to watch!
Move to Wyoming.
Serve in some capacity on behalf of the persecuted church or to be involved in worthy ministry. I’m in listening mode right now about that!

Do you have any authors or specific books that have been an inspiration to you?
Randy Alcorn’s book Safely Home; the character Li Quan will be with me forever. It’s about the persecution of Christians in China. Along that same vein, I would also have to include Foxe’s Book of Martyrs. I love Francine Rivers’ books. I especially enjoyed her Mark of The Lion trilogy. There are many others, your most recent among them.

Any words of encouragement?

Yes. Abide in Jesus.

Thank you Lorrie for sharing a little bit of your (blogging) life with us. My blog certainly looks better with your lovely smile on the front page :) Feel free to visit Lorrie's blog GrowUpDeep and leave her a kind word or two, I promise her blog is worth a visit. Later on this week I will continue with the series on Kingdom basics.

Let's encourage one another daily!

Kingdom Basics (2)

2011-05-17T11:54:00.000-07:00

Where is the Kingdom of God?

In part one of the Kingdom basics we looked at some scriptures describing the Kingdom of God. It is not a place or country, but a spiritual realm where righteousness, peace and joy reign with power, and this all through the Holy Spirit. The logical next question would be: where do we find this Kingdom? When and where will we be able to experience His Kingdom?

This is a question the theologians and scholars of Jesus’ time asked Him as well. Jesus told them, The Kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, ‘Here it is”, or “There it is” (Luke 17:20). As I stated in part one, the Kingdom is not a natural Kingdom, it cannot be seen because it is spiritual. As Jesus was explaining this, his answer may have disappointed the Pharisees. Simply because they were longing for such a powerful era and reign to come in order to rescue Israel from foreign occupation. But Jesus continues and says: the Kingdom of God is within you (Luke 17:21). Well, that must have left them speechless. The Kingdom of God, His will on earth as it is in heaven, living inside of people?!

Some translations say, the Kingdom of God is among you, or within reach… However we look at this, the Kingdom is always at hand for the believers. Righteousness, peace and joy with power are always within us when we are alone and among us when we are together as believers! This is such a great secret. New Age philosophy has tried to steal this concept and teaches that people should always look within for answers. But let me warn you: there is no kingdom without the King! The Kingdom of God is within you only if the Holy Spirit lives within you. The awesome thing about Gods Kingdom is, that it is within us and at the same time we are in it. Colossians 1:13 shows us clearly that we enter the Kingdom during this present life on earth, For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the Kingdom of the Son he loves… This is past tense, this has already happened the moment you stepped from darkness into light!

So, the Kingdom of God can be found within us and at the same time we live in it. In other words, we can experience righteousness, peace and joy with power on the inside, through the Holy Spirit, but it will also surround us on the outside wherever we go. Jesus gave us the Kingdom within so that we can go out into a broken, lonely and worried world and advance it wherever we go.

Is this possible for everyone? Who qualifies? The next question that arises is: for whom is this Kingdom?

Kingdom Basics (1)

2011-05-14T00:43:00.000-07:00

What is the Kingdom?

My husband and I love to teach about the Kingdom. We have noticed that, although this was one of Jesus’ main topics, there is often a huge lack of knowledge among believers about the Kingdom. Lack of knowledge often leads to confusion about these matters; which raises the following question: how can we proclaim the good news about the Kingdom if we don’t really know what we are talking about? I have decided to dedicate a few posts on Kingdom basics.

One of the main topics of Jesus’ teaching was the Kingdom of heaven, or as it is sometimes called: the Kingdom of God. Jesus uses both terms and sometimes simply refers to it as the Kingdom. His teaching about the Kingdom became more urgent after His resurrection, just before He went back to be with His Father. The Book of Acts reports: He appeared to them [the apostles] over a period of forty days and spoke about the Kingdom of God (Acts 1:3). Forty days? And that after the many different times he spoke with them in parables about the Kingdom? I feel free to conclude that there is a lot to be learned about this. Let's start with a simple question: what is this Kingdom of God, or rather, what is it NOT?

It is not a natural kingdom, but a spiritual realm where God’s will prevails. Jesus said, My kingdom is from another place (John 18:36) and Your Kingdom come, your will be done (Matthew 6:10).
It is not a matter of our daily natural concerns. For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17).
It is not a theory or theology. For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power (1 Corinthians 4:20).

The Kingdom is not a place or a country, it is a spiritual realm where righteousness, peace and joy reign, with power. Although it seems that such a thing doesn't exist on earth, that we are only able to enter this Kingdom when we go to heaven, Jesus teaches otherwise! That is why at some point in my life I started to wonder why then Jesus tells the people on earth to seek the Kingdom first (Matthew 6:33). Why would He send us on a quest for something that cannot be found here?

So, first it is important to know WHAT we are seeking, what we are looking for. According to the scriptures I mentioned earlier, the Kingdom is righteousness, peace and joy with power in the Holy Spirit. Jesus urges us to seek these things first. The logical next question will be: where do we look? Where can we find this Kingdom?

Pushing forward through the crowd

2011-05-06T00:36:00.000-07:00

One touch of His mercy...

On May 5th Liberation Day is celebrated here in Holland, as we have been doing every year since 1945! Every year American, Canadian and British war veterans receive honor as we celebrate our freedom. A large crowd of people gathers at our National Monument in Amsterdam the evening before, where the Queen places a wreath in honor of the fallen soldiers. Large crowds gather at Liberation festivals, concerts and other festivities, it seems there are people everywhere!

Looking at these enormous crowds I had to think about the crowds that always surrounded Jesus. The Bible often mentions that a large crowd gathered around Him while He spoke. In Mark 3:10 we can read such a eye witness report: Because of the crowd He told his disciples to have a small boat ready for Him, to keep the people from crowding Him. For He had healed many, so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch Him.

I find this fascinating! The people were not just spectators, waiting to see something spectacular... no, they pushed their way forward to touch Him! One woman was so desperately ill that she thought to herself: If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed (Mark 5:28). At some other time people brought a blind man to Jesus and literally begged Him to touch the poor man. But it wasn't just sick people who came to Jesus, anyone in need of his touch was welcome. In Luke 18:15 it says: People were also bringing babies to Jesus to have Him touch them.

People from all walks of life, young and old, men, women and children, the sick and the healthy... they all pushed their way to the crowds to touch Him! This is such a great picture of what we still need to do today. Sometimes we must push through a crowd of resistance, of unbelief, discouragement and doubt in order to touch the One who heals and delivers us from our fears and weaknesses. When we push our way forward, to be closer to the One who holds all the answers, we automatically turn our back to our problems. Psalm 44:5 encourages us with the following words: Through you we push back our enemies; through your name we trample our foes. We can experience His touch as we seek to be close to Him. It reminds me of a song by country singer Ken Holloway, he sings: "One touch of His mercy will heal all that's hurting in me..."

May I encourage you to push forward? PUSH = Pray Until Something Happens!

E-book Grace of Giving

2011-04-28T10:53:00.000-07:00

Within minutes on your e-reader!

Nowadays a book is more than well... just a book! The reader must make his or her choice between paper backs, hard backs, audio books and e-books! Personally I prefer a paper back, I love to write my notes in a book, underline sentences and highlight the parts I want to remember! My books are also available as audio books, because for many people is is simply easier to listen than to read. Up to now I have not mentioned the e-book on my weblog. Where have I been?

Of course Grace of Giving is available as e-book! Within minutes and for a few bucks you can have it on your e-reader, Nook or Kindle (and many other devices). Is that awesome or what? Order here!

PS: We'll be traveling for a few days because we're speaking at a Kingdom Conference in Germany. So let me wish you all a happy weekend!

Blogger review Grace of Giving

2011-04-25T09:25:00.001-07:00

Oh well, I am sobbing again... (see my previous post)... This time tears of joy and thanksgiving. My dear blogging friend Lorrie Ransom posted on her blog Grow Up Deep about my latest release Grace of Giving. She wrote with passion and honesty and totally left me amazed and speechless... such kind words. Please, be so kind to visit her blog and say hi, she totally deserves it!
Is the blogging community good or what?? Have you had similar experiences?

Sobbing through the introduction...

2011-04-22T00:29:00.000-07:00

We bloggers just LOVE give-aways, it is such a great way of blessing one another! A while back I won a book through a give-away at Susan Panzica's blog. I was delighted and really believe my good luck has changed for the better, haha, I have never won anything before in my life! She mailed me a copy of The Hole in Our Gospel written by Richard Stearns, the president of World Vision US.

It was on my to-read pile for quite some time and this week I finally opened the first page and began to read. I cried throughout the introduction and all the way through the first chapter... really! Sobbing at a mere foreword is a new experience for me and for one thing, Stearns had my attention! Wow, I hope to be able to write in such a way one day. Stearns touches a very sensitive subject: the role of the 21st century church in the affairs of the world. You can find hundreds of reviews on Amazon, so I'll skip that, but I just wanted to highlight one of the questions he asks in this book, which is really all about building and advancing the Kingdom of God here on earth.

"The Lord's prayer, repeated in churches the world over, contains the phrase 'Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven'. Do we believe what we pray?"

After Jesus' resurrection he went around for 40 days, talking about the Kingdom. His message was huge, it was world changing, it was utterly important, so important that it came out of His mouth until the day He went back to the Father! What are we doing? Are we inviting people into His Kingdom? Are we advancing His Kingdom everywhere we go?

Review and words to ponder

2011-04-18T01:59:00.000-07:00

Today I received another great and honest review for my new released book Grace of Giving. If you are somewhat familiar with the writing business, you know how hard it is to get your work reviewed. Hopefully you also know how rewarding it is to receive a good rating and/or positive review! Needless to say I am happy, honored and thrilled with the review on Christian Book Notes. I realize I have mentioned Grace of Giving more than once on this blog and many of you have read the book. However, for those of you who are still planning to read it, this review offers useful insight on the subject matter, so feel free to check it out!

Since we are still traveling, I'll keep this post short and give you a thought to ponder. A thought about Peter walking on water: "The waves were just as high when Peter walked perfectly on the water as when he sank. The wind was just as great when Peter walked perfectly, as when he sank..."

In other words, there will always be storms in our life. It is our focus that will determine how we will continue our walk! Let's focus on the unchanging Word of God, not on the words the world hurls at us!

Traveling Light

2011-04-12T11:07:00.000-07:00

Traveling Light

Has it ever happened to you that an idea kept coming back to your mind? No matter what you tried, it was impossible to push it away. Every time you dared to think about it, it kept growing, it kept you awake and it kept you on the edge of your seat.

Well, that happened to us when we first started thinking about starting a European based non profit organisation. It must have been about two years ago. At first we didn't take it too serious, but the idea kept coming back. So, finally we talked business, with each other and with God! After much thought and prayer we finally signed the papers last week and Traveling Light was born.While we are still working on some final paper work, we already have a weblog up and running. If you're curious, please visit us at the Traveling Light weblog and be inspired and encouraged! I have also added a link in the sidebar on the right!

Interview with Susan Panzica

2011-04-07T04:13:00.000-07:00

This week I am honored and happy to post an interview with blogging friend Susan Panzica!

Welcome Susan, I am glad you agreed to a blog interview. It is always fun to learn a bit more about the faithful writers behind the ‘blogs of note’. Your writing home Eternity Café is a great place to visit while enjoying a cup of coffee. Let's linger around today and listen as you tell your story…

Please, introduce yourself and tell us some funny or interesting tidbits about your background.

First let me thank you for this interview. One of the best parts of blogging is getting to “meet” wonderful new friends in the blogosphere, you being one of them.

When I think of my background, I think sad, not funny. I grew up in a broken, dysfunction Jewish family, not religious but culturally Jewish. But there are always funny tidbits if you look for them. For example, my hometown as a little girl was Massapequa, NY. Because the population was half Jewish and half Italian, we referred to it as “Matza-pizza.” Now I’m married to an Italian, so my children are little “matza-pizzas.”

Some people find it interesting that I’m a very good cook, because if you know me, you’ll know that I am one of the pickiest eaters alive. I guess if I like it, it must be good!

Your personal testimony on your website is fascinating, Susan! Please share how you, as a Jewish young woman, came to believe in Yeshua.

My testimony I Was a Jewish Tax Collector can be found on my blog. My friends and I spent many nights at bars, dancing the nights away. One night we met the band, who had come to Christ the previous month. They shared the gospel with us, and something clicked, something deep inside. We talked many times over the next few weeks, and we started reading the Bible. I had many questions, and God provided answers. The “God shaped hole” in my heart was filled. That’s the short version. There’s much that came before and after, but that was the start of my journey. It wasn’t until I became a Christian that I learned what it really meant to be a Jew.

You have a love for writing and teaching. How do you combine the two?

I’m a natural born teacher. When I hear something encouraging or enlightening, I immediately want to share it with others. Writing came along recently as another avenue to share the message. Now that I’m immersed in the writing world, my appreciation for writers has multiplied exponentially. And I’ve grown to love what I previously feared. Funny how that happens.

Some of your speaking topics really triggered my interest, ‘time in a bottle’ and ‘fear is a four letter word’. How do you pick your topics and do you have a favorite one you enjoy teaching on?

Nearly all of my speaking topics are born out of personal experience. Using the examples you selected, “Time in a Bottle” looks at the finite amount of time each day and how we fill it up. We can’t make time; we can only spend it. And my spending habits caused my life to be impoverished.

Fear was my constant companion for as long as I can remember. I say “Fear is a Four Letter Word” because the first mention of fear is found in the Garden of Eden after the fall - the subtitle to this message is “Conquer the Curse.” Speaking on overcoming fear is a favorite topic of mine not only because it is my testimony, but also because so resonates with women.

My other favorite topic is the subject of my book-in-progress “i know You are, but what am i?” which biblically answers the age-old ‘who am I’ question. There’s a great deal written about the names of God (and rightly so!), but not very much about who He made us to be. If we can grasp who He made us to be, we can do what He calls us to do.

As far as your writing is concerned, what are your plans (or dreams) for the near future?

My ultimate goal for writing is to publish the book series about our identity in Christ, with versions for youth and children. In the very near future, on my blog, I will be sharing what I call “people posts” featuring unexpected “ordinary” people like you and me who exemplify these identities in their daily lives.

What is your drive behind blogging?

I never heard of blogging 3 years ago. Now I can’t stop! I will be blogging whether or not I do any other writing. For me, it is ministry. I love sharing everyday illustrations that illuminate divine truths, parables of sorts, and I especially love connecting with my readers, most of whom are not bloggers.

Do you have any authors or specific books that have been an inspiration to you?

Anything by Francine Rivers, Max Lucado, or Francis Chan

A book that spoke to me deeply many years ago – “Hinds Feet on High Places” by Hannah Hurnard

And of course – the Bible

If you were asked to design the bumper sticker that would change the world, what would it say?

Great question! To be limited to so few words is challenging for a gabber like me! Maybe I’d need a billboard ;) But what I’d want to share to change the world: you are loved - unconditionally

What is on top of your list of ‘places-to-visit’?

I would love to go on a mission trip to Uganda or Haiti OR to vacation in Monaco or Australia. How do I reconcile these diametrically opposed locations? I have no idea! But my daughter went to Uganda last year, and the work they are doing there is amazing. And all my life, I’ve just loved to travel.

Any words of encouragement for all the wonderful people in blogging land?

They are wonderful, aren’t they? My encouragement would be – be true to your calling. I’m an encourager, and my blog reflects that. At least, I hope it does. Many view blogging as a platform-builder, which it is. But it is so much more than that. It is a way to connect with visitors and leave an imprint on their hearts. And it is reciprocal. The blessings in blogging can be surprising and are always bountiful.

Thank you Susan, for this interview and for sharing part of your life and writing journey with us!

If you have never done so before, feel free to visit Susan's blog and website and leave her a word of encouragement! Her weblog is a great inspirational place to visit, her posts offer a healthy variety of topics, photo's, meditations and Youtube songs. Her website holds Susan's personal testimony (which is really a delight to read!) and information about her speaking engagements.

weblog: Eternity Cafe

website: Susan Panzica

Spring in Holland

2011-04-02T01:57:00.000-07:00

Well, after a long day (or night, or both... I forgot) of traveling we are back home in Holland! Wow, Los Angeles - Zurich - Amsterdam, half way around the world! It is always a relief to set foot on solid ground again (with all our luggage!). I love spring time in Holland, the flowers are abundant and every tree seems to burst with new life. The birds are happily singing while I am digging through a pile of mail...

Newspaper article

2011-03-28T11:26:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday there was a really nice article in the Ventura County Star about me and the books I write. Needless to say I was thrilled with positive exposure in the traditional press. It is funny how I found out about the article. Picture this: I was attending a fundraiser luncheon for Teen Challenge and the lady sitting next to me kept looking at me and finally said "I know you, I saw you in the paper this morning". Now, how cool is that?

The article can be found on-line at the Star's website, click here!

Why do the nations conspire?

2011-03-24T14:32:00.000-07:00

We will see great changes...

Over the past few months I have written several times about the turmoil in our world. It is hard to make sense of all the drama and violence that is going on around the globe. For one thing, it urges me to read the Prophets in the Bible. No, not so that I can point a finger and condemn, but so that I may learn and know how to pray. Although I often do not understand all the doom and gloom in their messages, I can clearly see that in the end there is always hope for the people, for the nations.

Yesterday, one particular scripture in Zechariah 2:11 caught my attention: Many nations will be joined with the Lord in that day and will become my people. How awesome to read such a promise in the midst of all the uproar worldwide. It is God's plan and will that many nations, if not all, will become His people! It brought me back to the promise God gave Abraham, You will be the father of many nations (Genesis 17:4). Not just Israel (although they are His treasured possesion), but many nations, including all Arab nations. A little later God confirmed His words about Abraham and said, all nations on earth will be blessed through him (Genesis 18:18), and in saying this He was pointing to the Messiah who was to come from Abraham's bloodline.

God desires the nations! I believe that is why Jesus gave us the great commission: Therefore go and make disciples of all nations... (Matthew 28:19). We have a calling to disciple the nations, to share the love God has for them, however it may and can be done! Many people and nations do not want to hear that message, which is also something that has been foretold long ago. Among the signs of 'the end of the Age' is the fact that Believers will be hated by all nations because of Jesus (Matthew 24:9). That hatred should not scare us, it is all the more reason to see God at work in this world. The Bible reveals it over and over again, like I wrote at the beginning of this post: in the end there is always hope.

The last book in the Bible talks vividly about the battle for the nations, it also holds a precious promise and our hope in troubled times: All nations will come and worship before you (Revelation 15:4) We might not see it yet in the natural, but it has been foretold in the spiritual and it will happen! I really believe all the uprisings and turmoil and rebellion is because of what the prophets said so long ago. The book of Revelation holds some beautiful Messianic songs, one in the 5th chapter says:

...with your blood

you purchased men

for God

from every tribe

and language

and people

and nation.

When that realization begins to sink in, we will witness big changes around the world, especially in the Middle East!

PS: what is your prayer for the world? Any particular nation you frequently pray for?

What others are saying about Grace of Giving

2011-03-22T19:32:00.000-07:00

It's been seven or eight weeks since the release of Grace of Giving and I am happy to see the first reviews coming in. I am not talking comments from friends and family here, but reviews on Goodreads, blogs and websites from people I do not personally know. Of course I love Grace of Giving (which author doesn't like the book they penned?) and sincerely recommend it to anyone who is serious about growing in their faith. But I believe it works so much better to share some positive words from the readers, so here we go:

"... a short book with a wonderful message..."

"Concise and well written..."

"... I would highly recommend this book to any bible study group..."

" I love every page of this book... I have come away enlightened, inspired, challenged and positive that this little book is anointed..."

Writing is good, books are better, but happy readers are the best!!

Now is the time

2011-03-16T09:47:00.000-07:00

My times are in your hands

One of the things I bring before the Lord quite often, is the aspect of time. Probably my biggest struggle in understanding God is understanding His view of time and the times we live in. I believe that all the promises in God's Word are true and amen in Jesus Christ but I also realize that I will not always see them come true in my time! God answers my prayers for sure, but I simply do not always know when.

As human beings on this earth we are limited by time, we have to live within the rythm of 24 hours in a day, 7 days a week etc. God however is not confined by time, He is eternal, He is the great Now! 2 Peter 3:8 says, With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. God views time totally different than we do. I am currently reading through the book of John and I noticed that Jesus demonstrated this often when He spoke. He asks Philip on one occasion: "Don't you know me, even after I have been among you such a long time?" (John 14:9) Such a long time?? We are speaking two, three years at the most, here! Can you imagine how it would feel if He would say that to us today? 'Hey, how long is it going to take for you to understand Me, you've been a Christian for 3 years now, for crying out loud... ' Three years is nothing on the scale of a lifetime. So, this passage clearly shows that God's idea of time is different than ours. Further on in the book of John the disciples ask among themselves: "What does He mean by a little while?" (John 16:18). They couldn't figure it out, they struggled with it, like we sometimes do when a prayer doesn't get answered or when God is silent.

While reading through the 16th chapter in the book of John I noticed that Jesus talks past, present and future as if everything is now. He tells His diciples "... a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language..." Right after that his disciples proclaim: "Now, you are speaking clearly..." Jesus said the time would come and when He said it it was right there! In verse 32 he does it again, He says: But a time is coming, and has come... The moment He says it it is done, it is there. I find this very fascinating. In the 17th chapter Jesus prays to His Father. He says: I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world... (verse 13).

I don't blame the disciples for not always understanding the time and the times they lived in. In Acts 1:7 Jesus told them: It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by His own authority. We can try to grasp His eternal character, His timeless being and His endless love, but I don't think we will be able to fully do so until we leave our earthly time frame behind to be with Him forever! There are, however, a few things the Bible teaches about time. They can offer comfort and hope in our present day troubled times:

There is time for everything... a time for war and a time for peace (Eccl. 3:8)
The time is short (1 Cor. 7:29) It doesn't say how short, but please don't wait any longer before surrendering your life to Him if you haven't done so yet!
Now is the time of God's favor (2 Cor. 6:2) Any moment is a good moment, God is waiting for you!
My times are in your hands (Psalm 31:15) When you belong to Him, you can feel safe, no matter what the time will bring!

I do not know whether you ever wonder about God's timing, but let me close with another word from the Psalmist, Trust in Him at all times, O people! At all times, good or bad. At all times, whether we deal with past, present or future situations.

Interview at Write Now

2011-03-14T08:44:00.000-07:00

This week I am happy to announce that I am an honored guest at Karen Lange's blog Write Now. She posted an interview and a book give-away! So, make sure you visit her blog, leave her a kind word or two and sign up for the give-away, another chance to win a free copy of Grace of Giving. Karen's blog is a treasure among the many blogs about writing. She says: "My blog discusses the adventurous writing life with musings, resources, tips, book reviews, and more..."

Blogging buzz

2011-03-10T09:27:00.000-08:00

About the generosity and hospitality of fellow bloggers

One of the things I really enjoy about the blogging world is the generosity and hospitality of fellow bloggers. I am so blessed to be part of an on-line community that not only positively proclaims the Gospel, but also frequently offers give-aways, hosts interviews and shares book recommendations. The blogs I visit on a regular basis (please, be patient with me as I struggle with dial-up at my current location) are excellent places to be encouraged and inspired. Such a visit can make any ordinary day special! Let me highlight a few things from my blogging week...

Susan Panzica from Eternity Cafe e-mailed me with congratulations.... I am the winner in her recent book give-away. Needless to say I am thrilled. I am a true book worm and nothing makes me happier than holding a new book in my hands. I'll hunt for a few quiet hours in the coming busy weeks (we are flying back to Holland on March 31) and hide away with my new treasure! Grab a fresh cup of coffee and visit Eternity Cafe, you'll find it a delightful place.

Monday March 14 I will be guest at Karen Lange's blog Write Now. This month she is celebrating her blogoversary with lots of goodies. Her blog offers a great variety of writing stuff: reviews, news, interviews, useful links, recommendations and devotions. Don't miss her blog and don't miss the interview!

Blogging evolves and changes, all the time! It really helps me to read at least one blog on blogging (yeah, right!) each week, so I can learn more about the craft as I move on. I have some very useful links in the sidebar of this blog, Michael Hyatt's blog being one of my favorites!

Happy blogging!

Got news?

2011-03-07T09:34:00.000-08:00

How beautiful are the feet...

Thanks to modern media it is possible to easily communicate with family and friends overseas. I call, e-mail, Facebook and blog my way around the world and I love it! Topics of discussion include the weather, my books, our travels and lately... the political turmoil around the world. "Have you seen the news? Have you heard the news?" are questions I frequently hear, mostly followed by concerns and fears about the future of the world. The other day I couldn't help but think about the words in Psalm 112, Blessed is the man who fears the Lord.... He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord (verse 7).

Bad news penetrates our society 24/7. Civil wars, uprisings, political turmoil, recession and natural disaster; not a day goes by without a constant stream of bad news on television, radio, internet and in the news papers. Although all these things are a reality, they are not the truth. The truth is God's Word and the Word says we do not have to fear bad news. Let me take it a step further, the Word says we have to spread good news! Jesus set the example when He went around, preaching the good news of the Kingdom (Math. 4:23). In Luke 4:43 He says: I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God. As a matter of fact it was all He did after His resurrection. The Book of Acts proclaims: He appeared to them over a period of 40 days and spoke about the kingdom of God (Acts 1:3).

Jesus was a bringer of good news, He knew the words of the prophet Isaiah, 'how beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news'. I truly believe we should take heed to the calling and be messengers of the good news of the kingdom, instead of listening to and spreading all the bad news the world has to offer. The apostle Paul explains in detail what the message of the Kingdom should be: The kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17). Let that be the news we deliver, let that be the news we post and proclaim! I am not afraid to say that our days, our week, our life will be so much better if we decide to spread good news in stead of listening to bad news!

Stylish Blogger Award

2011-03-03T11:20:00.000-08:00

Wow! I just received the Stylish Blogger Award, all the way from New York City. How cool is that! The sky is the limit for us bloggers :) Check out the blog of this lady on a roof... She writes about her travels, her love for the Big Apple and shares her favorite restaurants with the readers.

I actually met her while she was fixing the roof of the Teen Challenge Center in Holland. She came to Holland on a short missions trip with a team from Times Square Church and did a great job of bringing joy, encouragement and practical help to the guys in the residential program! My husband and me were there as volunteers too and really enjoyed this young and enthousiastic group from New York! Thanks for the award Carolyne, I appreciate it!

I will pass this award on to my blogger friend Wyn, from downunder! Her blog Ponderings is a place I enjoy visiting. Wyn is a mother, grandmother and great grandmother who enjoys writing poems. I think she deserves an award!

How did you receive Him?

2011-02-24T09:06:00.000-08:00

The continuing story

This weekend we will be driving north, to Merced, CA, to attend a wedding. I have never attended an American wedding, so needless to say I am pretty excited about it. After the ceremony in church there is a reception, a word derived from the verb to receive (to welcome, to accept). The newly weds will welcome their guests for a dinner and party and they will receive gifts.

The other day I was reading in the book of Colossians and it talked about receiving Jesus. The apostle Paul writes in the second chapter, verse 6, So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord... I stopped there and pondered... how did I receive Him? How did I welcome and accept Him? Was it a decision in faith? A conscious decision or an emotional moment? Did I feel pressured or forced or reluctant? Was I glad or nervous? While thinking about the biggest decision in my life, I realized that the moment of welcoming Jesus as Lord in ones life probably is different for everyone! In my case (I must have been kind of stubborn because it took me almost 40 years to surrender my heart) it was acceptance on purpose. I let Him in and take over, and my life has never been the same again!

Maybe your story is a different one. It doesn't really matter how we came to receive Him, it matters how we continue! Paul gives us four practical points for a continued life with Jesus: So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue

to live in Him, remember that in Him we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28)
rooted and built up in Him, remember that we are indeed rooted and established in love (Ephesians 3:17)
strengthened in the faith as you were taught, remember that we will be strengthened according to His Word (Psalm 119:28), and
overflowing with thankfulness, remember that out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks (Matthew 12:34)

I love Paul's practical lessons, they inspire and encourage me and it is my pleasure to share them with you!

Peace in a violent world

2011-02-19T10:02:00.000-08:00

About enjoying safe pasture...

While working on my book Grace of Giving I studied the parable of the good shepherd in John 10 extensively and ultimately John 10:10 became the foundation scripture for the book. While studying however, my attention was also drawn to John 10:9. Jesus says there: I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. For the longest time I wondered about the going in and out. Once we belong to Jesus and have entered his Kingdom, who wants to go back into the world? With Him, without Him, going in and out, that would be stupid, right? That would be like the ancient Israelites wanting to go back to slavery in Egypt for the simple reason that the meat was better there! No, the going in and out had to be about something else.

Jesus is the gate to eternal life and we can only enter through that one gate; which certainly narrows our choices down! We will come in, that is: we will enter his Kingdom, a spiritual realm where God's will is being done. The Bible says the Kingdom cannot be seen, but it is within reach or within us (Luke 17:21). We will go out, that is: into the world. We are not of this world, but we still live in it! And then... we will find pasture! Wow, we will be able to find green pastures and guiet waters amidst the trouble and turmoil in this world (Psalm 23). That is a very comforting thought. Psalm 37:3 gives solid advice:

Trust in the Lord and
do good;
dwell in the land and
enjoy safe pasture!

It is possible to enjoy safe pasture despite all the unrest in this world, despite all the bad news and the uprisings, despite political and economical unstability. We have to trust God to provide that safe pasture for us. We must not engage in negative talk about this world but continue to do good! Jesus said in John 16:33, In this world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world!

Take heart! Be encouraged! The world cannot invade the Kingdom, but we must bring the Kingdom into the world and share our peaceful and safe pasture with others, so they will get a glimpse of what a life with Jesus is all about! Happy weekend!

Interview with Lynn Mosher

2011-02-16T21:41:00.000-08:00

What did we do before blogging? Blogging has changed the way we communicate, express ourselves and get in contact with people all over the world. One of the first (if not THE first) blogs I signed up for was Lynn Mosher's blog Heading Home. I am sure many of you are familiar with her writings! Today, I have the privilege and honor to publish an interview with Lynn.

Please, introduce yourself... anything special we need to know about Lynn Mosher?

Let's see. I accepted Christ's offer of salvation when I was eleven years old at a Billy Graham crusade in New York City in 1957. I am now gray-headed enough to be a grandmother, will have been married to my sweet hubby for 45 years in July, have three great kids who have flown the coop, and two precious granddaughters. Oh, and a dog that drives me nuts!

To me you are the queen of bloggers :) Your blog was one of the first ones I signed up for. Please tell us how you started with the idea for Heading Home.

LOL! Thank you for the upgrade and crowning but I still consider myself a novice. After fybromyalgia hit my life in 2000, the Lord asked me to start writing for Him. I had no idea what would entail or what I would write. I wasn't a writer, but I guess the Lord thought I was. He led me to research the ancient Hebrew betrothal tradition and to write my first book Ready or Not...Here I come. In it, I uncover the twelve step process that holds profound, spiritual significance for those who are part of the Bride of Christ. The last step of the process is the wedding and the Bridegroom whisking away His Bride back to their home, which is a part of the Father's home. That inspired me to call my blog Heading Home.

What do you hope to accomplish when you write your devotionals?

I leave it all in God's hands. I have no illusions as to what I can accomplish, as Jesus said, "Apart from Me, you can do nothing." I obey by writing and He takes care of the rest. My prayer is always that whatever I write will encourage at least one heart that needs it in some way and will bring glory to the Lord.

You are very active on a variety of websites and blogs, how do you keep track of your writings and how do you schedule your work hours?

Since I have fibromyalgia and am also an empty-nester, I really have no schedule. The fibro causes comprehension and memory problems, so it takes me twice as much time, if not more, to write blog posts than it does others. Keeping track of all my writings is essential. I keep a Word file for each column I write, for all my blog posts with the titles and dates, and all the other submissions. I also keep a file in Excel , so that I can keep track of email addresses, what has been sent and when, what has been rejected, who to send my work to, etc. If I didn't have this, I would go crazy!

Your posts are often very timely, almost prophetic sometimes. is there a secret to keeping your writing fresh and in tune with the Holy Spirit?

Oh, thank you, Marja. All I can say is that I try desperately to pay attention to the Holy Spirit's nudges and guidance. Spending time at the feet of the Lord is essential.

Do you have any new publication plans for your work?

Ready or Not...Here I come will be out, along with an e-book, in several months. I also have a daily devotional that is sitting on the back burner, just stewing. Waiting to be stirred and finished.

What role does your faith in God play in your daily life?

Oh, my! If I didn't have my faith in the Lord, I wouldn't be able to live in peace as I do. The Lord is my everything, my every heartbeat, my every breath, my every thought. It is only by His power that I am able to get up every morning!

Do you have any authors or specific books that have been an inspiration to you?

I love Max Lucado's books. One book by Ken Gire is so wonderful that I read it for inspiration on a regular basis. It's called Moments with the Savior. There have been so many others over the years. It would be difficult to list them.

If you had one protege, what would be the 3 main principles for writing you would teach him or her?

Oh, wow! That's a real toughy! Hmmm...assuming s/he would be a Christian, I guess the principles might be, with an extra one thrown in...

Practice, practice, practice. Always work to improve your writing. Take courses if you can. Attend conferences. read books on how to improve your writing.
Never listen to the enemy's negativity when he throws out those "nobody will read what you write" or "you stink!"
Learn from everyone. Read! Read! Read!
Spend time with the Lord and listen to and obey His guidance. Remain sensitive to the Holy Spirit's leading.

Any words of encouragement?

Whatever you do in life, whether you write, you're a mother, a doctor, or a garbage collector. always keep your focus on the Lord. Keep short accounts. Have a burial for your unforgiveness and bitterness. it blocks all you can do for God's glory. And two of my soapboxes...always keep a positive attitude and praise the Lord no matter what. These are essentials to living the kind of life God desires for each of us.

Oh, yes, and blessings to all!

*******************************

If you have never done so before, please visit Lynn's blog Heading Home and leave her a note! You'll always get a kind word in return! Thank you Lynn, for sharing your thoughts and part of your life's journey with us. Looking forward to the release of your book!

Guest at Life Lessons

2011-02-15T09:18:00.000-08:00

Today I am a guest at Life Lessons, Maria Morgan's weblog and one of my favorite places to visit! Hop on over and say hi, let Maria know you appreciate her writings. I am honored to appear on her blog!

Happy reading!

Remind, refresh and remember

2011-02-11T15:16:00.000-08:00

Words jumping off the page...
I am a word freak! I love reading, I love writing, I love words. Most of all, I love the Word of God! My Bible looks like a workbook with countless colored markings, underlinings, bullets and personal notes. Sometimes, while reading a familiar scripture, certain words just jump off the page and that's the moment I know the Holy Spirit wants to show me something. The other day I was reading 2 Peter 1:12-15 and three words caught my attention: remind, refresh and remember. They all start with an R, so they're easy to memorize. In this passage of Scripture Peter adresses believers and warns them to make their calling and election sure. He summarizes;

So, I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.

Personalized, his writing comes down to this:

We need to be reminded, even about things we already know. Jesus said in John 14:26, The Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
It is right to refresh each other's memory. Proverbs 11:25 says, he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. As Christian bloggers this is what we do all the time!
We should make every effort to remember what God and our faith are all about. Psalm 77:11 says, I will remember the deeds of the Lord. We must purposely be willing to do so!

Remind, refresh and remember, these words tell me that we can never hear the essentials of our faith enough! That is why we need to read God's Word every day, that is why we need to listen to the Holy Spirit every day and that is why we need each other every day!

Arizona trip...

2011-02-09T07:24:00.000-08:00

We've been on the road for a week now, Arizona is a beautiful place, even in winter!

Facebook account disabled

2011-02-03T09:08:00.000-08:00

Tuesday morning I tried to sign in to my Facebook account and found out it had been disabled by the Facebook team. Somehow my account has been hacked and someone, posing as me, sent out weird messages to my friends asking for money, this is what they call the money scam.

Has this happened to any of you? It is almost impossible to contact FB, since there is no customer service. I really don't want to start all over again with setting up an account, but on the other hand... I miss FB already!

A not so common dwelling place

2011-01-31T08:17:00.000-08:00

He made His dwelling among us...

Years ago, on one of our travels through the Wild West, we visited Canyon de Chelly and Mesa Verde National Monuments. We were absolutely intrigued by the way the Native Americans used to make their homes in the rocks. The so called cave dwellings form a stunning unity with their natural environment. At that time the word dwelling was new to me, so I looked it up in the dictionary: a place to live in, residence, house, abode...

But more so than a word from the dictionary or an ancient form of housing, dwelling is a biblical word. The apostle John writes about Jesus' coming to earth: The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us (John 1:14), in other words, He lived among us. Hundreds of years before that, the Psalmist cried out: I long to dwell in your tent forever (Psalm 61:4). In the Old Testament the people of God desired to live in the House of the Lord (the traveling tent or tabernacle, and later on the Temple in Jerusalem) and so to be continually in His presence. How that has changed! Now, God desires to dwell in our tent! A total opposite situation! Where people used to cry out to live with God, now God cries out to live with people. The very Son of God came for that purpose, to live among people, to occupy their hearts, to make His living space among men...

In 2 Samuel 7:5 God asked David if he was going to be the man to build Him a house to dwell in. I believe He is asking that same question today. Are you building a house/temple for Me to dwell in? Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received form God? (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)...I hope our answer will be yes! We must honor God with our body by making it a welcoming place for Him to live in.

The last chapter in my latest book GRACE OF GIVING is about the sacrifice of the body, about giving our body to God as a living sacrifice, as a place He may use as a residence. It is far beyond my comprehension that God desires to live in me, but I see it as an honor and I long to offer Him a clean house where He can feel right a home. What about you?

I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith (Ephesians 3:16).

The secret of getting ahead...

2011-01-29T12:29:00.001-08:00

First of all, thank you all for leaving me sweet comments on the previous post :) I asked my friend Meike to draw a name and the winner of the book give-away is: Lisa Tortorello. Congratulations, I'll send you a copy of GRACE OF GIVING!

Second, let me share with you the secret of getting ahead according to Mark Twain:

"The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex, overwhelming tasks into small, manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one."

Happy weekend!

Book Release Party & Give -away!

2011-01-24T08:33:00.000-08:00

4 reasons to read GRACE OF GIVING

Thousands of new books are being released every day all over the world and sometimes it makes me wonder... What difference does my book make? How can my book possibly have a significant place amongst the greatest and most famous best sellers? Furthermore, do we really, seriously need more books? Well, you know the old saying: so many books, so little time! Personally I carefully select the books (or blogs for that matter) that I want to read. I need inspiring, challenging and sometimes comforting books, I want to be able to say that I learned something new after finishing a book. Maybe that is just me, you might have ten thousand other and better reasons why you like to read :) But one thing we bloggers definitely have in common: we all LOVE books! And maybe there can never be enough books... My favorite book in the Bible is the gospel of John and it end like this: Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written. So, aspirant writers out there: feel free to write, especially when it's about Jesus! You can always find something new to write about! Now, that is a very encouraging thought!

When surfing the web it seems just about everyone is having book give-aways and book launch parties nowadays and I realize we're all trying to survive in this publishing wilderness! Amidst all this incredible reading material, why should you want to read GRACE OF GIVING? Please, allow me to give you a few simple but profound reasons:

you'll find liberation and contentment in your giving
you'll no longer worry about lacking anything in your life
you'll receive fresh revelation on God's amazing grace
you'll experience deliverance of hurts, habits and hang-ups as you give yourself to God

Is it easy to let the Holy Spirit do this work in you? NO! But it will be worth the effort, because you will slowly begin to see that we can live the life that Jesus promised in John 10:10: The thief comes only in order to steal, kill, and destroy. I have come in order that you might have life, life in all its fullness.

So, what is an offical release date? It simply means the publisher has made the book available through distribution. It can now be ordered through all major book sellers, like Barnes & Noble, Borders and Amazon. For readers outside the USA the Bookdepository offers a great deal, less than 10 bucks, FREE shipping and handling worldwide! And while we're talking books here, let me throw in another free copy of GRACE OF GIVING, it is after all a time to celebrate and be encouraged! Leave me some sweet words in the comment box and if you would like to receive a free copy, please leave your e-mail adress and I'll draw a name next week!

I'll let you go with one more word of thanksgiving. A writer wouldn't be anywhere without readers. So, it is only because of you, my dear friends, that I feel compelled to keep on writing, you inspire me so much! A million thanks for all your support, comments and feed back! I truly appreciate your input!

PS: Don't forget to click on the Google Preview button!

Armchair Christianity

2011-01-17T09:37:00.000-08:00

Light and momentary troubles...

We don't watch much tv in our house, but a movie on the laptop is a real treat! The other night we watched A Cry From Iran, a ten times award-winning documentary on the life and secret death of a prominent evangelical pastor in Iran, Haik Hovsepian. A powerful, powerful documentary about life of modern day Christians in Iran, presented by Open Doors. The film reveals the harrowing saga of Iranian martyrs and Christian converts who became victims of their beliefs and paid the ultimate price...

Watching this film as a Christian in America I couldn't stop thinking about how easy our Christianity is in the Western world. How is it possible we sometimes struggle with our faith, we fight over theological differences and we are often ashamed to testify about the power of the Gospel in public? We live in a country where it is possible to buy Bibles, books, cd's, dvd's, jewelery, and all kinds of other gadgets. We can visit concerts, go to church, follow Bible studies, sign up for conferences and put a bumper sticker on our car! Oh yes, people might make fun of us or oppose our worldview, but is that really the hardest thing that can happen to us?

I am currently reading through the book of Jeremiah and right after watching this documentary my attention was caught by a particular scripture in the 12th chapter, verse 5:

If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?

It is God's answer to one of Jeremiah's complaints. Yes, the prophet was having a hard time, but God placed his experiences in the proper perspective. He showed Jeremiah that his present troubles were only a test for the real work! These words really intrigued me and I had to ask myself the same question God asked Jeremiah. If I am complaining about present (minor) circumstances, how can I ever truly win a battle? If I do not stand up in a free country, will I stand under trial? The apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:17, For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

I would like to ask you to look at your momentary troubles as a test that will reveal your true character and measure of faith. Try to see them in proper perspective and in light of what our brothers and sisters around the world are going through, the ones who really suffer for the faith!

Interview with Toni Nelson

2011-01-11T19:40:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Toni Nelson and A Beggars Purse

This week I have the privilege of introducing fellow author Toni Nelson to my blog readers. I 'met' Toni on Goodreads as one of the winners in my December book give-away. I checked her profile and noticed the cover of her book A Beggars Purse and it defenitely caught my attention. I also noticed that we have the same publisher, so we started e-mailing back and forth and I asked her if she wanted to do an interview for my blog. She happily agreed to share some thoughts with us, so here we go.

Please, tell us a little bit about yourself Toni.
I've been called Miss Personality, the life of the party, and social butterfly. When I gaze into a mirror, I see Miss Reserved, Deep Thinker, and the Loner. God has a custom design for every individual, equipping each for a specific achievement and purpose. I am an active leader for the seniors at Faith Fellowship Church and also serve on the prayer team. I am married to Rick Nelson, have two sons, three gorgeous grandsons and a dog named, Yaki. I have also been noted as the "happiest person on the Pahrump Planet!" Oh, I love u-no chocolate bars.

What role does your faith in God play in your daily life?
I have trusted in God since 1975. Proverbs 14:26 reads: "In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, and His children will have a place of refuge."

How and when did you decide to write a book?
I have been telling friends and family that I was going to write a book since 1986! I had no idea what genre, how or when but I knew one day, I was going to write a book.

What inspired you to write ' A Beggars Purse'? Any personal experience?
The inspiration for writing this book came to me while I was lying in bed under a down comforter in the chill of winter ailing from the flu. My mind was wandering aimlessly, as one's mind normally chooses to do when sick with the flu. From my bedroom window, I have a gorgeous view of Mount Charleston. The mountain is a cool haven in the Spring Mountains near Las Vegas, Nevada. As I gazed out over the mountain, completely enveloped in snow, an idea welled up inside of me that made me feel as giddy as Scrooge on Christmas morning. Here I was lying in bed, sick with the flu and actually laughing out loud. I felt like a mad person, a raging lunatic, and the best part was that I didn't even care. This is a story inspired by my own childhood memories in rural Carpinteria, California. God then relocated me to Las Vegas, Nevada, where He engaged me with a population I had long forgotten: The Homeless.

What do you desire to bring across, through this book?
God did not place us here on earth to sit around and become complacent in our journey called life. He wants us to live life to the fullest, which even includes feeling uncomfortable at times. God took me out of my comfort zone and placed me smack in the middle of the homeless population. I hope to share my experiences with the reader so that they too may become "uncomfortable".

Tell us how you felt when your manuscript was finally accepted?
I felt every possible emotion konwn to mankind! LOL. We have a saying in our home, "I can't wait to see what happens next..."

What was the most difficult thing in this writing process, so far?
Far beyond the writing process has been te marketing. I thought I spent numerous hours writing but nothing has compared to the time involved in marketing one's work.

What are your plans for the near future?
Well, I plan to continue to live life... (I hope you realize by now, I have a sense of humor.) I have another non-fiction manuscript I'm working on as well as a children's series. I would also like to learn to play the piano and paint.

Do you have any authors or specific books that inspire you?
I admire John Grisham's works. I read A painted house and was hooked. None of his other works are even remotely close to his writing style in A painted house, but we all have to start somewhere.

Any words of encouragement?
If you don't have anything nice to say, then don't... especially on a blog or website. Encourage and support one another, as the world is perfectly capable of tearing us down. If God has given you a dream, He has placed it in your heart for a reason... Don't quit!

Thank you Toni, for your time and for sharing a little bit of your life's (writing)journey with us!

BOOK GIVE AWAY:
Feel free to visit Toni's blog, leave her a comment a make a chance to win a free copy of A Beggars Purse!

Call to persevere

2011-01-05T13:25:00.000-08:00

Hope for a New Year

It seems to me that the amount of people who have new year's resolutions or clear plans and goals is getting smaller and smaller. Maybe because it is getting harder and harder to stay focused, since we are being tempted by too many things to do, people to meet, books to read and places to visit.

The other day I read a call to persevere in the book of Hebrews and I found it very inspiring. I would like to share it with you for 2011. The writer of the letter to the Hebrews makes his point of confidence quite clear: through His body Jesus opened a new and living way for us to enter the presence of God. Then he goes on and writes his call to persevere, which is still as powerful today as it was 2000 years ago:

Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in ful assurance of faith
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess
Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds
Let us not give up meeting together... but let us encourage one another

You can re-read this in the 10th chapter, starting at verse 19. I don't know whether you are willing to give heed to this call to persevere or whether you need it, but I know I do!

It could very well be that you are working on a project and have been discouraged lately. Maybe you are feeling overwhelmed by the world's events, maybe your are disappointed in the church or in people that were supposed to help you or maybe you're downright tired and have lost your joy. It doesn't really matter where you are at the beginning of this new year, the good news is: we have a great priest over the house of God (verse 21). That great priest is Jesus Christ and the house of God is us! Hebrews 3:6 says, We are his house, if we hold to our courage and the hope of which we boast.

Having Jesus Christ live with you will make a new year a new life!

The winner is...

2011-01-04T20:41:00.000-08:00

GRACE OF GIVING book give-away

Thanks again everyone, for participating in this year-end book give-away! My husband drew a name, and the winner is.... Karen Lange. Congratulations!

Please feel free to visit her blog Write Now and leave her a note!

End of the year book give-away

2010-12-27T11:38:00.000-08:00

One more week in 2010 and we'll find ourselves at the dawn of a new year. I am always excited about a new year: it brings new ideas, new opportunities, new travels and new people! I see it also as another great moment for a fun book give-away.

I learned from my previous give-away that some of you, my dear blogging friends and visitors have no favorite book on giving. Well, that made my heart jump for joy.. maybe you'll have one next year!! Grace of Giving will be released January 25th, 2011 and leading up to that release I am giving some copies away through this weblog as well as on http://www.goodreads.com/

Okay, so what's the deal this time? I have decided to make it easy... in order to sign up for a free copy of Grace of Giving, all you need to do is:

mention this give-away on your blog or re-post/share it on any other social media, and
leave a comment in the box below and tell me if there is one thing you find difficult to give away freely. It could be money, a smile, compliments, your heart, anything!

I'll announce the winner next week! Happy year end blogging :)

PS: The winner of the previous book give-away was Susan J. Reinhardt, feel free to visit her awesome blog Christian writer/reader connection and leave her a comment.