Visit my Book Blog Tour Sites!
I will be featured on the following webpages on Monday, October 22nd. Check it out!
http://www.ginaconroy.com/ginablog/wordpress/
-Includes an interview with Elisa-
(Gina Conroy)
http://books-movies-chinesefood.blogspot.com
-scroll mid-way down the page-
(Deborah Khuanghlawn)
-Author of Women's Fiction-
To God's Glory
Monday, October 22, 2007
Friday, October 12, 2007
He Uses Strangers
Yesterday I had a request for an autographed copy of my book from a lady that lives in my community, but whom I had never met. Which in of itself is not unusual, however, what transpired after her request is nothing short of the hand of God working in my life. This lady took the moment to pick up the phone and call me at work. She began by asking me about my book and the reasons I had written it. We then shared with each other our writing habits and she shared a story she had written--full of humor and truth.
She then began to tell me about her distant relationship with my mother that had in recent weeks became a call from God on her heart to visit with my mother, to pray with her even. I felt the click of knowledge in my mind that God had sent this woman as a special person along my mother's path. I told this sweet lady that and she confided that she had felt it also.
Out of the blue she told me she had bought a trunk full of diapers with the thought she might give them to someone in her church. It turned out that no one needed them, so she had joked that Sarah was in her nineties when she was blessed with a child. She knew that God did not love Sarah then more than He loved her now, so perhaps at seventy-one she was going to have a child!
She asked me if I had children. I smiled and said, "Yes, a 9-month old." She praised God because her diapers were for my baby. I laughed when she said, "I did not know when I bought those diapers that I bought them for your baby, but I did." They were the correct size.
I then felt a prod to share with her my desires for my writing career and my continuing desire to be at home with my children. Not knowing that the Lord had laid a similar desire on her heart twelve years before, I was going to be given a nugget of hope.
Her husband had been on partial disability and for four months she had felt a strong desire to quit work and stay with her husband, but money was tight, so she prayed for those four months. On a Monday morning as she traveled to work, God spoke two words to her, "Go Home!" She could still remember distinctly the sound of His voice. And she called her husband once she arrived at work at told him she would quit work. The Lord prepared the heart of her boss who prayed for her, understanding this journey was from our precious Father. Shortly after leaving her job just two days after the Lord spoke to her, her husband was put on full disability. The Lord took care of their financial need. Eleven years later, her husband died.
She was so thankful for that time in her life when they were together and my request sparked her memory and she prayed then and there for me. A prayer that I felt touched heaven. She stood in for me where my heart could not go that day. I was weary and tired, unsure and frustrated, a walking zombie until this woman prayed for me.
The Lord IS not finished.
I know this because as I dealt with family issues the following day, I had another phone call. Ms. Elaine, a lady I had met through work, called to tell me she had read my book and loved it. Many people can say this and I simply smile and accept their compliment knowing that no one would ever say they did not like it to my face. What really touched my heart and reaffirmed that my feet were planted where God needed me to be was when she said that many points brought out in the book had inspired her to action. What more could I ask, ACTION! And the plot continues until the final credits roll.....
She then began to tell me about her distant relationship with my mother that had in recent weeks became a call from God on her heart to visit with my mother, to pray with her even. I felt the click of knowledge in my mind that God had sent this woman as a special person along my mother's path. I told this sweet lady that and she confided that she had felt it also.
Out of the blue she told me she had bought a trunk full of diapers with the thought she might give them to someone in her church. It turned out that no one needed them, so she had joked that Sarah was in her nineties when she was blessed with a child. She knew that God did not love Sarah then more than He loved her now, so perhaps at seventy-one she was going to have a child!
She asked me if I had children. I smiled and said, "Yes, a 9-month old." She praised God because her diapers were for my baby. I laughed when she said, "I did not know when I bought those diapers that I bought them for your baby, but I did." They were the correct size.
I then felt a prod to share with her my desires for my writing career and my continuing desire to be at home with my children. Not knowing that the Lord had laid a similar desire on her heart twelve years before, I was going to be given a nugget of hope.
Her husband had been on partial disability and for four months she had felt a strong desire to quit work and stay with her husband, but money was tight, so she prayed for those four months. On a Monday morning as she traveled to work, God spoke two words to her, "Go Home!" She could still remember distinctly the sound of His voice. And she called her husband once she arrived at work at told him she would quit work. The Lord prepared the heart of her boss who prayed for her, understanding this journey was from our precious Father. Shortly after leaving her job just two days after the Lord spoke to her, her husband was put on full disability. The Lord took care of their financial need. Eleven years later, her husband died.
She was so thankful for that time in her life when they were together and my request sparked her memory and she prayed then and there for me. A prayer that I felt touched heaven. She stood in for me where my heart could not go that day. I was weary and tired, unsure and frustrated, a walking zombie until this woman prayed for me.
The Lord IS not finished.
I know this because as I dealt with family issues the following day, I had another phone call. Ms. Elaine, a lady I had met through work, called to tell me she had read my book and loved it. Many people can say this and I simply smile and accept their compliment knowing that no one would ever say they did not like it to my face. What really touched my heart and reaffirmed that my feet were planted where God needed me to be was when she said that many points brought out in the book had inspired her to action. What more could I ask, ACTION! And the plot continues until the final credits roll.....
Friday, October 5, 2007
Fear Not - Your Future Is Before You
Hadassah, also known as Esther, was a young woman without a mother or a father. We don’t know how Esther’s parents died; we only know that Esther was an orphan who had been taken in by her cousin, Mordecai. This family was part of the Jews who had been carried into exile by Nebuchadnezzar. Esther, a young woman without a mother and father. Esther, a foreigner in a land where she now lived. Esther, raised by her cousin. Esther, a woman of hope for herself and her people?
Where was her hope when she was faced with the death of her parents? Where was her hope when she was an alien among the people of the land? Where was her hope as she searched for peace and understanding in a world where she could have found none. But, amidst all of Esther’s pain and trials, there was a plan. And where there is a plan, there IS hope. Did Esther know the plan? No, the Bible does not say that she had any idea the part she would play in the future of her own people as she suffered loss, possible ridicule, and even death. But, God had a plan.
Just as He has a plan for your life, for your future. Who knows the life or lives you will touch before you are called to eternity with God? Only He knows. But, you must be prepared to act! You must be prepared to move, to change, to face uncertainty—to remove fear from your life and accept that your God is a God of BIG things, a God that sees all, knows all, and is in all places!
How can I prepare myself, you ask?
Study His word, converse with Him, pray diligently to Him, BELIEVE!
(Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Psalms 37:4)
When Queen Vashti was deposed the king’s attendants suggested that he find a replacement for her. A search went out through the kingdom for beautiful, young virgins. We do not know how Esther was chosen to be among these virgins. Did Mordecai suggest her? Did her neighbor’s mention her beauty to the king’s staff? Did Esther request to be considered herself? No matter the manner in which she made it into the king’s courts, the point is that she made it. God made a way. Did you catch it? GOD made a way and Esther was ready. Esther did not turn away from her moment of opportunity out of fear that she would not be chosen (i.e….rejection). Esther did not turn away from her moment of opportunity out of fear of missing her family (i.e….alignment of priorities). Esther did not turn away from her moment of opportunity out of fear of failure. Esther did not turn away from her moment of opportunity out of fear of leaving the life she knew (i.e….change). Esther did not turn away from her moment of opportunity out of fear period. She accepted the challenge! Is God challenging you? Does He want to take you somewhere to change lives? Are you willing to go?
Too often we find excuses (like those above) to keep us from our blessings. We moan and groan that we don’t have a purpose in life, that we wish we had a ministry, that we can’t find our place. I wonder how many of those times we are missing out because of our own fears.
Where was her hope when she was faced with the death of her parents? Where was her hope when she was an alien among the people of the land? Where was her hope as she searched for peace and understanding in a world where she could have found none. But, amidst all of Esther’s pain and trials, there was a plan. And where there is a plan, there IS hope. Did Esther know the plan? No, the Bible does not say that she had any idea the part she would play in the future of her own people as she suffered loss, possible ridicule, and even death. But, God had a plan.
Just as He has a plan for your life, for your future. Who knows the life or lives you will touch before you are called to eternity with God? Only He knows. But, you must be prepared to act! You must be prepared to move, to change, to face uncertainty—to remove fear from your life and accept that your God is a God of BIG things, a God that sees all, knows all, and is in all places!
How can I prepare myself, you ask?
Study His word, converse with Him, pray diligently to Him, BELIEVE!
(Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Psalms 37:4)
When Queen Vashti was deposed the king’s attendants suggested that he find a replacement for her. A search went out through the kingdom for beautiful, young virgins. We do not know how Esther was chosen to be among these virgins. Did Mordecai suggest her? Did her neighbor’s mention her beauty to the king’s staff? Did Esther request to be considered herself? No matter the manner in which she made it into the king’s courts, the point is that she made it. God made a way. Did you catch it? GOD made a way and Esther was ready. Esther did not turn away from her moment of opportunity out of fear that she would not be chosen (i.e….rejection). Esther did not turn away from her moment of opportunity out of fear of missing her family (i.e….alignment of priorities). Esther did not turn away from her moment of opportunity out of fear of failure. Esther did not turn away from her moment of opportunity out of fear of leaving the life she knew (i.e….change). Esther did not turn away from her moment of opportunity out of fear period. She accepted the challenge! Is God challenging you? Does He want to take you somewhere to change lives? Are you willing to go?
Too often we find excuses (like those above) to keep us from our blessings. We moan and groan that we don’t have a purpose in life, that we wish we had a ministry, that we can’t find our place. I wonder how many of those times we are missing out because of our own fears.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)