It's time to announce the winner of the "God is With Me" books.
The infamous Random.org chose comment #3 as the winner. And that is-
Shiloh! Sweet, sweet Shiloh. I'm so glad you are the winner! Shiloh is a long time friend that I haven't been able to see in person for years. Now she has two sweet girls of her own that I hope will enjoy these books. I'm thankful for cyberspace to keep in touch with great friends!
I wish all of you could have the privilege of hearing Shiloh sing. She has such a beautiful voice. So beautiful in fact, I asked her to sing at my wedding ten years ago.
Shiloh, send me an email with your mailing address and I'll get those books in the mail for you.
I'm sorry I have been such an absent blogger lately. I have a suspicion that many of you are busy with holiday preparations, too, and haven't missed me TOO much. But you can pretend and tell me you miss me just to make me feel better. : )
Do you know little ones that need help dealing with fear?
Then have I got the books for you!
Overcoming fear has been a lifelong battle for me. It is a theme that God has been graciously working on in my heart for years. Now as a mom, it is interesting to see what brings fear out in my kids. I'm always on the lookout for ways to calm those fears and to build their faith.
Zonderkidz sent us a set of these books to review and keep for ourselves (Thank you!) and another set to share with all of you. At first, I was worried they may be geared toward a younger audience, and that my first and second grade daughters might not be interested in them. I was wrong!
The girls initially fell in love with the pictures in the book, (They'll let you know all about their favorites in the videos posted below) but what really touched my heart was seeing how much they took to heart the messages in the books.
The other night I was tucking in my oldest daughter, and she was scared of the dark. Then she remembered God is with me Through the Night. She looked at me and repeated, "I am loved! I am safe!" It was so sweet!
My girls wanted to let you know why they love the books, too: (Please forgive our amateur video skills) : )
Throughout this week, I'll be hosting a giveaway where one lucky reader will win both of these books just in time for Christmas!
On Tuesday, November 24th, I'll select a winner from the comments left using Random.org and contact the winner via email or through your blog. Make sure to leave your email address if you don't have a blog so I can let you know you've won. : )
Here's how to enter:
1. Leave me a comment about why you would like these books, who you would give them to if you won, or ways God has taught you to deal with fear.
2. If you share this giveaway on your blog, Facebook, Twitter, or another social network, you can add an extra comment for each one you do and have extra chances to win.
Later this week, I'll tell you more about the author, Julie Cantrell, and the tips she has for helping kids deal with fear.
I'm listening to Pandora.com and just made a Bing Crosby White Christmas radio station. It's not TOO early for Christmas music is it? I just needed it today. : )
I spent the afternoon at JoAnne's Fabrics buying supplies to make gifts for my girls. I'd tell you all about my planned craft, but my girls are known to check out Mommy's blog. I'll have to wait to show you the result after Christmas.
"It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas" and I couldn't wait for after Thanksgiving to start listening to Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, and Perry Como.
Anyone else been bit by the Christmas bug early this year?
This quote was on the bottom of an email I received from a friend this week. It spoke volumes to me and is my "Thought for the Day."
Action is a great restorer and builder of confidence. Inaction is not only the result but the cause of fear. Perhaps the action you take will be successful; perhaps different action or adjustments will have to follow. But any action is better than no action at all. So don't wait for trouble to intimidate or paralyze you. Make a move. -Norman Vincent Peale
Warning: You are about to enter the realm of my wandering, rambling thoughts. It probably won't make a lot of sense. : )
So what are you doing, Lord?
It's so weird. I've been taking steps- (albeit tentative, nervous steps)- in a certain direction that I THOUGHT God was leading me in. Now there are new ideas, things that may be coming from Him, but appear to be going in the OPPOSITE direction than where I thought He was leading.
And it is quite possible I could be making it all up and this new direction isn't coming from Him at all. Confusing, huh? : )
Then there are remaining questions of unanswered things that I thought He was doing and then didn't. There still seems to be so many loose ends floating around inside of me, and I can't imagine how He is going to tie up those loose ends. I guess I just have to trust that He will.
Decisions, decisions, decisions...
Ideas, ideas, ideas...
What are God ideas and What are Becky ideas???
And even if we turn around and walk in what feels like the WRONG way, isn't God capable of getting me to the RIGHT place anyway?
In your prayers, above everything else, beware of limiting God, not only through unbelief but also by thinking you know exactly what He can do. Learn to expect the unexpected, beyond all that you ask or think.
See each time you intercede through prayer, first be quiet and worship God in His glory. Think of what He can do, how He delights in Christ His Son, and of your place in Him – then expect great things.” -Andrew Murray
I love the title of Lysa TerKeurst's book, What Happens When Women Say Yes to God? That phrase has been running through my mind all morning, and I keep responding, "What happens when you are willing to say yes, but don't know what to say 'yes' to?" Guess I better read the book instead of just the title. : )
Oh well, no matter which direction He's leading me, He's definitely working IN me. Guess there is stuff in there that needs some remodeling.
Lord, please bring clarity and direction to the chaos of all my scattered ideas, half done projects, ambitions and dreams.
I want to follow, not lead.
I want to follow, not drag my feat.
I want faith and courage and wisdom to lead the way, no longer held back by fear and procrastination and rabbit trails.
Remember, Lord, how in the fourth grade Mrs. Hall called me "her little absent-minded professor"? Not much has changed since then.
So instead of this fretting, I'm going to just be quiet and worship You. Then I'll see what you do next.
Our friend Scott just linked to this on Facebook. The girls were able to finally save enough money for their Wii last spring. This makes our Wii look like an Atari. Doesn't it seem Sci Fi to you? We've come a long way from my Pong and Space Invaders days.
Above all else, I want to please God, know Him more, and make Him known.
I love being a wife and stay-at home mom.
I have two beautiful daughters, and after four miscarriages and two failed adoption attempts, we welcomed our miracle baby boy into our family in August, 2008.
And Then You Were Gone: Restoring a Broken Heart after Pregnancy Loss
A spiritual and practical guide to healing after pregnancy loss, And Then You Were Gone, points grieving hearts to real hope and equips others with understanding and tools to effectively minister to grieving families.
And Then You Were Gone addresses issues such as:
• The Need to Grieve
• Assurance of God’s Love
• Battling Bitterness
• Conquering Depression
• Surviving Spiritual Attack
• Dealing with Insensitive
Comments
• Facing the Future
• And How to Help Someone
Who’s Miscarried
To order, click the "Buy Now" button above.
(I'm sorry but I am no longer able to ship to International addresses. If you live outside the United States and would like to read the book, please email me)
It makes me homesick for a visit to Mom's house. Do you recognize the 
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