A promise is a pretty neat thing.

A few years ago, God gave me a promise. He whispered these words to my soul and spoke them softly into my heart.

My heart is overflowing with a good theme.
I recite my composition concerning the King.
My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.
Psalm 45:1


There was going to be something I wrote, something I spoke about concerning the Lord. I still had my doubts. But in faith when He asked me to believe, I did. Blessed is she who believed what the Lord said to her would be accomplished. Luke 1:45 With each door He opened I held my breath, grabbed His hand and walked through.

As a writer, rejection is common. But, my God is not. Being a nobody to the world doesn't matter. I am a somebody to Him. Years after His promise to me there has been fruit; magazine articles, editors and authors I can call friends, and the faith to continue.

My book is now being looked at by two publishing houses. Friends, please pray for His will in this.The Radical Sabbatical - Break Free from the Bondage of Busyness and the Captivity of Activity will be published in His time.

Until then, I will keep saying Yes, and enjoy this amazing journey.



What promise has He given you? What have you said yes to lately?

Growing UP! Monday

So, what about you? How are you growing? What have you been learning about our great and marvelous God? Did your Bible study hit home recently? Or, maybe your pastor or a friend shared a scripture that spoke right to your heart?

Share it on Growing UP! Monday.

Please share the love and add the above button to your site with a link back to Blessed..., and make sure to add your blog to McKlinky below so people can find you.

Lets all grow UP together!



"Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." Ephesians 4:15-16

How much are you worth?

Do you see this handsome young man here? (Please overlook the pink elephantine ears, they aren't really his.) Samuel had an important question for his father and I today.

His 8 -year-old perfect timing = smack dab in the middle of The Dollar Store.



Samuel: How much does a foster kid cost?

Me: What???

Samuel: How much does a foster kid cost? My new friend in class is a foster kid. He doesn't have a family, Mom. Do you and Dad have enough money to buy him?

Dad: Well, I'm not sure if we do son. Have you thought this through Samuel? If you had someone living with us your age you would have to share your room.

Samuel: I don't care Dad. I feel bad he doesn't have a family.

Me: (Trying to keep my composure.) So, how much do you think your friend costs?

Samuel: He doesn't know. He said he thinks he is free, but he's going to ask his foster family tonight. He's going to tell me tomorrow how much he's worth.



That was all it took. On came the water-works, crying right there in the middle of the gift wrap aisle at The Dollar Store.

I couldn't wrap my head around the fact that this precious child was trying to figure out what he was worth. His greatest desire...to belong to someone who would love him.

Friends, how many times have we felt worthless? Each time we feel this way, God is watching us and wondering how we don't know, why we don't understand just how much we are worth to Him.

Do you realize how precious you are to the Lord? He tells us our worth is far above rubies. (Prov. 31:10) Your value to God makes the Hope Diamond look like a gumball trinket.

The God of the universe bought you with a price, His one and only son. What kind of love is this? A love that cannot be measured. You are worth it all to Him.


Pray Samuel's friend learns this too.


"For you were bought at a price..." 1Cor.6:19

She is His.

My heart is breaking. Transition is taking place. Change is happening and I don't like it at all. I told the Lord she was His long ago, even reminded Him on occasion about our deal when she annoyed and irritated me. This day seemed so far off. Tucking her into bed, reading her stories, watching her dimples flash with joy over the simplest of things. A giggle. A word. A memory. My precious, precious child.

My oldest is moving out on her own. At almost eighteen years old, she is too much like her mother. Now in college, she wants to experience everything, taste and see it all. I have done my best to hold her back, and my not-so-best to hold her back.

She leaves happy, on a good note. Her father and I have helped her gather up belongings and will lovingly place her bed and dresser in her new home. But still the questions haunt me.

Have I done enough? Taught her enough? Encouraged her enough? Loved her enough?

I'm counting the days and hours before a mother's death sentence... letting go. I look into her beautiful blue eyes and see a desire to step out from under the confines of a home now keeping her, smothering her, with too many rules. She doesn't understand. She doesn't know what lies beyond the door. I want to keep her from it. But I can't.

"Every good mother, sooner or later, must understand she is denied ownership; she is merely granted stewardship." T.D.Jakes

Her mission soon begins. Mission: a group or persons sent to a foreign country to conduct negotiations and establish relations. She will be stepping out into the world where I pray she will make a difference for Him. "Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth." Psalm 127:4 Like those arrows, she is meant to soar.

But, does she truly know what I know about her? She is gifted. Does she see in herself what I see in her - opportunities beyond her wildest dreams.

Only a few miles away in a simple cottage, enjoying the freedom she craves. Still close enough to stop by and raid the refrigerator, do her laundry, and remind me once again she is no longer mine.

She is His.


"...I have called you by your name; You are Mine." Isaiah 43:1

Growing UP! Monday

So, what about you? How are you growing from His word this week? What is it you are learning about our great and marvelous God? Did your Bible study hit home recently? Or, maybe your pastor or a friend told you something that spoke right to your heart?

Share it on Growing UP! Monday.

Please share the love and add the above button to your site with a link back to Blessed..., and make sure to add your blog to McKlinky below so people can find you.

Lets all grow UP together!



"Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." Ephesians 4:15-16

So, it is true? Another blog conference giveaway!

What did you just say? You didn't win my Free to Be Me blog conference giveaway? Get your cursor ready and click on Lisa Shaw at Sharing Life with Lisa!

She is giving lots away...head on over and check it out for yourself.

You won't be disapointed.

I'm not giving up hope. I want to meet you there!

We Have Ourselves a Winner!

Would ya'll do me a HUGE favor?

Head on over to Karen at Hallelujah Anyhow and congratulate her! She is the winner of the Blessed...Free-To-Be-Me conference giveaway.

I just know there is some hoopin-and-ahollerin' goin' on!

For those of you who would still LOVE to come but finances are holding you back, keep a close eye on Lisa Shaw over at Sharing Life with Lisa this month.

A little bird told me you won't be disappointed.

Congratulations Karen...I can't wait to meet ya!!!

My Friend Changed Her Home Address

This is Debbie. She was my secret sister. You haven't met anyone on fire for the Lord like Debbie. In the few months we went to church together we enjoyed one another a lot. Whatever the social event, we would find each other. Both of us weren't what you'd call the quiet and gentle types. When she came over to swim this summer she made sure to grill me about the new church we were attending - like any dear friend would.

Last month we were at a friend's surprise party. Her and I were laughing over the fact that we were both huddled on different parts of the couch trying to quickly seal our birthday cards...hoping the birthday girl wouldn't notice how fresh the spit was on our licked envelopes.


Debbie moved September 8th.

Her new home address is Heaven.


Debbie was 48 years old and died unexpectedly from pneumonia. Everyone was shocked, but God wasn't. He knew full well the date and time of her welcoming party. Knowing Debbie, she ran full speed into His waiting arms and hasn't stopped talking and laughing with Him since.

She leaves behind many touched lives, a godly husband, her precious seven year-old son Samuel, and a church family who loved her dearly.

My plan was to attend her life celebration yesterday, but at the last minute I was held up. It was difficult not gathering with my sisters who were missing her too.

Friends shared later how beautiful her service was and how the church was packed with people from all over. I wasn't surprised.

If Debbie were here she'd remind everyone of her forwarding address. She'd point out the way and joyfully and quite matter-of-factly tell you how you could see her again.

When she was a child she heard Jesus knocking and gladly opened the door of her heart for Him.

For some of you He is knocking right now.

Debbie would want you to answer.


Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. Rev. 3:20

Are You Ready for a BIG Giveaway?!?

The Free to Be Me Conference is right around the corner.

Are you praying for the blessed opportunity to attend?

Have you always wanted to meet your blog-friends in person?

Would you LOVE to go, but have been asking God for a financial miracle?

How does a scholarship for this amazing two-day conference sound?

Did I mention you'll be leaving the kids and dirty dishes behind?

Girls, get ready...one lucky gal is going to receive a $100 scholarship!

Which means admission to the Free To Be Me conference will be...

FREE!



Here's all you have to do: Comment below, then post about it on your site.

The winner will be picked on Sunday, September 20th.

Which means I'll be seeing one of YOU in Florida.

It's as easy as that.

Growing UP! Monday

Welcome friends, I thought it would be fun to check in with other sisters and brothers around the world. We are the body of Christ, all of us growing and learning so we can be used by Him and for Him.

The long arm of the Internet has made our huge world quite small. What a blessing it is to talk to other believers in countries all across the globe!

So, what about you? How are you growing from His word? What is it you are learning about our great and marvelous God? Did your Bible study hit home this week? Or, has your pastor recently taught you something that spoke right to your heart? Share it on Growing UP! Monday.

Don't forget to add the above button to your site, and make sure to add your blog to McKlinky below, so we can all grow UP together!



"Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." Ephesians 4:15-16

I just LOVE Saturday's don't you?!?

I absolutely LOVE Saturday mornings. When I was a little girl, my dad would gather up my two little sisters and I, and take us out for donuts. While mom got to sleep in, we scurried out of the house as quiet as little children can - to our awaiting sugary delicacies!

Thirty years later, I still wake up early on Saturday mornings. No, I don't eat donuts too often anymore, but I do my share of garage sales.

This morning I woke up with this song on my heart. My husband got to hear me singing this in the shower, my children heard me singing this through the house.

And now YOU get to hear it too (make sure to pause my music down below before hitting play).

Happy Saturday Friends!





Head on over to Signs, Miracles, and Wonders...for more great Saturday songs!

Are You an Encourager?

And a voice from Heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love, with him I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:17

My husband is an attorney. From time to time, I tag along with him when he has to be in court. This week he was appointed to represent a mother who was trying to regain custody of her teenage son. After some poor decisions by his mother, this child was now in the care of foster parents. His name was Maverick.

When Maverick sat down outside of the court room, dressed all in black. His body language screamed, “Leave me alone and stay away.” His whole demeanor saddened me.

I couldn't help but overhear as his social worker sat down beside him, and began talking with him.“I just finished reading your reports Maverick. I am so proud of you. You are doing great! You are my shining star.” she said, while smiling from ear to ear.

It was almost as if I was watching a deflated balloon fill up with air. With each word of encouragement and praise, this young man's whole countenance changed. The once wilted flower began to stand tall after a long and much needed drink. I wanted to cry for him. God's Word says, “The tongue has the power of life and death...” Proverbs 18:21

It reminded me of how important words of encouragement are to our children. We see a perfect picture of an encouraging parent in Matthew 3:17, after Jesus is baptized, His Father makes it clear to all of us, just how He feels about His precious son. “And a voice from Heaven said, 'This is my Son, whom I love, with him I am well pleased.'”

I make a point to tell my children how precious they are to me and how proud I am of them. No matter how old my children are, from time to time I will peek my head in their room at bedtime and tell them, “How in the world did I get the best eight-year-old in the whole wide world?” My children usually respond in a giggle or a joyful wiggle under their covers. One night after I'd asked the same question to my ten-year-old, she answered, “Because God loves you.”

My child had learned that encouragement is a two-way street. Now, it was my turn to grin from ear to ear.

Wouldn't you like to go, where everybody knows your name?

In a world where Starbuck's reigns supreme, is there any chance for competition? Could there be another of its kind, quickly learning the ways of the coffee-jedi-master, in the hopes of one day rendering a death blow to the black java-knight's armour?

I say yes!

If you live in Western El Dorado County, there is such a place in Cameron Park. Caffe Santoro. A blessed blip on the coffee-radar screen and only blocks away from our home. Paul and I walk there on occasion.

Occasions such as: when the Cubs win the World Series, any lunar eclipse, or when I clean our shower. Other than that we drive...often.

So, what's so great about this place, you ask?

PEOPLE. Here is where you find friends, neighbors, school teachers, business owners, local attorneys and a bevy of mom's grabbing their cup of Joe for the day.

PREFERENCE. Pick your poison. You'll find it here. I enjoy the tea or a soy chai, while my husband says the coffee is great. We both love their cold-case of treats. (Probably the reason my jeans are fitting a bit too snug these days.)

PERSONALITY. Ken is what you'd call "old-school-Italian": ambitious, hard-working, and a gift of hospitality that is God-given. He is a people-person through and through and has blessed many who have walked through his doors. You are greeted with a smile and a hint of New Jersey accent if Ken does the welcoming. He has trained his family of co-workers to remember your name, and his son T.J. is a chip off the old block - remembering my name AND my drink of choice.

Guess who caught us in the act while we were taking advantage of a great photo opp?




None other than the java-king himself.

So, prepare for battle Starbuck's - the Force is strong with this one.

Laced with Grace Giveaway!

Laced with Grace is having a special giveaway. Make sure to read through to the end and don't forget to stop by LWG to enter!



Material from Kitty Designs' kit "Dream of a Blue Sky"

And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. ~ Matthew 8:26

They're talking layoffs at work, slowdowns in the economy, flare-ups in the Middle East, turnovers at headquarters, downturns in the housing market, upswings in global warming...Imagine your life, wholly untouched by angst. What if faith, not fear, was your default reaction to threats? (text taken from Max Lucado's website)

To find out more about the book itself, please visit our very own Lori from Lori's Reflection. She read the book so she can share her thoughts with us: Fearless by Max Lucado.

Now to the niddy-griddy part of the giveaway (LWG writers are not eligible to enter - sorry, girls :wink: ). The package includes: Fearless - Hard Cover, Fearless - DVD Study, and the Fear Not Promise Book. You have four chances to enter your name into the drawing. Wondering how to get your name four times into the drawing -- pretty simple...

• Share the giveaway with your friends on your Blog, Facebook, or Twitter




• Follow Laced with Grace on Twitter



• Follow Laced with Grace on Facebook



• Become a member of the Laced with Grace Blog Frog Community

Please leave a comment on this post for every entry you make. The giveaway will end next Tuesday, September 15th (midnight - EST) with the winner to be announced on Saturday, September 19th.

Remember, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control (2 Timothy 1:7)


Iris

--
~Encouraging women to be Mary in a Martha world~

Medicine we ALL need.

???????'s Answered

You gals asked me a few questions last week. I thought it was about time I answered. Plus, I have a winner I need to announce. But first, lets get the housework done and answer these questions.

Denise at ShortyBears Place asked, "If you had the opportunity to talk to one of the following, who would you choose, and why? Mary(mother of Jesus), Ruth, Deborah, martha, Mary(sister of Lazarus) or Sara?"

Yowza Denise, great question! Hmmm, that's a tough one. I look forward to talking face to face with every one of these amazing women one day. But, since you are making me choose, I would have to say Mary the mother of Jesus.

A mother's heart is what I understand most. And mom's are who I've been called on to encourage. The heartaches and joys of parenthood are real and experienced by every woman who raises a child up into adulthood. Who knew the pains related to motherhood more deeply than Mary?

I also look forward to asking her how she pondered things in her heart. How do you do that? Especially after an angel has just dropped in for a visit to give you a personal message from the Lord. INCREDIBLE!

Yep, Mary is the one I will be first in line to talk with.


Lauren at Walking by Faith asked, "Here's my ??? for you: why did you decide to start a blog?"

Ok Lauren, here's the almost-Reader's Digest version: When I began attending my Christian Writers Group (Inspire), they encouraged everyone to begin a blog. They wanted us to use it as a tool to remain faithful in our commitment to writing. Posting something regularly does just that.

I had no idea what it would blossom into. My occasional posts put me in contact with some incredible women. My faithfulness in writing has now become a blog and the blessed opportunity to write for two online devotion sites, Laced with Grace and 5 Minutes for Faith.

The Lord used blogging to get my attention last year when I won a $250 scholarship through Laced with Grace, so I could attend the She Speaks-P31 conference in North Carolina. And from there I met publishers and editors and writing has become a calling I believe the Lord is asking me to do for Him.

What we have planned and what God has planned are two very different plans. God's plans are always so much better, aren't they?

Susan at Runner Mom asked, "Ok, my question is about your time yesterday! Did Jesus meet you there and did He walk with you and share His Word during your time?"

Since "yesterday" is now next week, I have had two whole days now to spend at my precious friend's cabin in the mountains. And YES, the time there is wonderful. I am working on Chapter Seventeen - From Devotion to Devotion, the part of my book where I encourage parents to have daily family devotion time with their children.

The first week I wrote and wrote. Yesterday, I finished it up, cleaned it up, and tied it up in a pretty bow. When I came home I emailed it to a handful of my writing friends and they are sending me back critiques now. I will then go and make the changes I need to make. I'll begin writing a whole other chapter next week. Nine chapters done, eleven to go!

Susan at Eternity Cafe asked, "My question for you: WHEN can we have our phone call!!"

Susan and I had our phone call a couple of days after she sent me this question. We chatted while I sat in a foldup chair on the sidelines of my son's soccer practice. It was 7pm in California and 10pm in New Jersey where Susan lives. She sounded groggy at first, but she was as perky as a spring flower by the time we were done catching up at 11pm her time!

Whew! Is that it? Am I done now? I hope I didn't miss any. So, here is where it gets fun. I told you I have a gift for the winning question. I LOVED all your questions, so I had my husband pick a number between one and four...he chose the number two.

So, Lauren, you are my winner!

Scroll on down to see what you have won...I sure hope you don't already have this one!







Now, who ever thought answering questions could be so much fun?!?

Got Chores?

Ahhhh, the joys of being the family waste collector. Gotta LOVE that boy!




This sweet child could be happy in a mud puddle.




Great job Gracie!

Now where did Meghan run off to? I have laundry that still needs folding.

Blessed...Blogs of the Month

Yep, it's that time again. If you haven't already noticed the left side of my blog - it's time you did. This is the part of my blog-real-estate that I use for my monthly blogging hall of fame. (Below the pictures of my kids. Cmon' cut me some slack, I'm a very proud mama!)

Pay attention to the left side of Blessed...it's here I highlight seven blogs each month. You will discover blogs that inspire, encourage, teach, make you laugh and sometimes even make you cry. Take the time to peruse their sites and get to know some of these precious people.

I look forward to having all of you there soon. But, if you're impatient like me and just can't wait, then hop on over and click on my "Follow" button on your right there, or my Blog Frog Thingamajiggy right below. That way, people don't have to wait on me, they can visit you today.

Now, take your cursor and make a sharp left turn and check out my Blessed...blogs of the month list. I hope you have your comfy shoes on - pop on over and pay a visit to all of these Blessed... blogs. And make sure to tell them Joanne sent ya!

***And to those of you chosen this month, your words have blessed my heart. Thank you for giving to the Lord. I am a life that's been changed.***