Archives for January 2011

"I Love Chocolate" Giveaway!

January 30, 2011 by 28 Comments

If you’ve visited my blog within the last week or so, you know we’ve had some sad times at our house. I’d say it’s time for something fun to balance things out. How about an “I Love Chocolate” Valentine’s Day Giveaway??

You know me. I love chocolate, and I’m not ashamed to admit it. Well, maybe a little ashamed, given the depth of my affection for it :) You can learn more about my chocolate obsessions by reading my pieces in the Life Notes issue going out this week (if you’re not yet receiving it, sign-up is free and to the right).

Everyone who leaves a comment on this post by noon (CST) Feb. 13 will be included in a drawing for a $15 gift card to Godiva. If I don’t know you personally or can’t contact you via your own blog, you must include your email address in your comment to be eligible for the giveaway. For fun, tell me how much you love chocolate, and if you don’t love chocolate, spill the beans on the tasty treat you do love.

Something else I’m not ashamed to admit? I love Jesus. He died so that I — and you — might live. I pray that my affection for Him grows deeper with each passing day. Anyone else?

“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” 1 John 4:10

*Flickr photo by lovejanine

**Thank you so much for your prayers for our family during our loss of Don’s mother. God blessed us in so many ways. I appreciate each one of you!

Filed Under: chocolate, fun, giveaway

In Memory: Frances Barker

January 25, 2011 by 11 Comments

Our Energizer Bunny, the little lady who defied the odds time after time, passed away shortly before noon on Monday, January 24th. Don’s mother will forever live in our hearts and memories and shine as an example of perseverance, determination, spunk, strength, and pure grit. In fact, her life was the “True Grit” movie we will remember.

Live on in heaven, Energizer Bunny! We miss you now but look forward to the day we’ll see you once again…

“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;” John 11:25

*Mom’s memorial service will be Saturday the 29th at 2 p.m. Thank you so much for all your prayers. They have been — and continue to be — such a help. Thank you!

Filed Under: family, grief, memories

Prayers, Please

January 23, 2011 by 6 Comments

*Update: Don’s mom passed away today (Monday) shortly before noon. We are so thankful that she is no longer hurting and struggling but would appreciate your prayers for the family. Saying goodbye is never easy…

Instead of a regular post today, I need to ask for your prayers. If you’ve been following my blog for long, you know Don’s mom has struggled through crisis after crisis with her renal failure and other serious issues.

We call her our Energizer Bunny because she routinely defies the odds and just keeps going and going. I’m sad to report that our Energizer Bunny has run out of steam and is in her last days.

As of today, she doesn’t seem to be in pain any longer. Please join us in praying for a painless, peaceful passing for her. We would appreciate your prayers for the entire family as well. Many of you know through personal experience what a difficult time this is.

Thank you for your prayers!

“We give thanks to God always for you all…” 1 Thessalonians 1:2a KJV

*Flickr photo by josephpetepickle

**The next issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter, will come out next week. Sign up is free and to the right.

Filed Under: family, prayer, trial

Winter Comfort

January 19, 2011 by 8 Comments

Sometimes winter visits our souls at the same time it visits our neighborhoods. If you happen to be feeling the gray of the season in your spirit today, I pray that God will minister some winter comfort to you through the following poem I wrote several years ago. Be blessed, my friends, as you read:

The Wintertime

“O Lord, I need a touch from You
For it’s wintertime in my soul,
I feel so lonely and discouraged,
Extra stress has taken its toll.

Lord, it’s even winter outside
And the gray, cold days mirror my heart,
Father, please speak peace to me
And lovingly give me a fresh new start.”

As I finished my prayer
His voice I longed to hear,
But instead His touch I saw—
Snowflakes started to appear!

Silent snowflakes, pure and white,
Came drifting gently down,
Making the wintertime a wonderland—
God spoke to me without a sound.

“’I, even I, am he who comforts you…'” Isaiah 51:12a

*Flickr photo by lalofont, Creative Commons License

**The next issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter, will come out in early February. Sign up is free and to the right!

Filed Under: comfort, poem, snow, winter

Never Give Up

January 16, 2011 by 6 Comments

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9

Have you ever felt like giving up in your prayers for a certain person or about a particular issue? Maybe his or her heart seems too hard to ever desire a change or maybe that issue seems impossible and beyond all reasonable hope. You may feel like your prayers aren’t making a difference at all.

We’ve probably all experienced discouraging thoughts like these about some of our prayer efforts. When we grow discouraged, when we grow weary in our prayers, let’s remember that “…nothing is impossible with God.” (Luke 1:47)

The next time we lose heart, let’s be honest with the Lord and ask Him to refresh us. Let’s share our burdens with one another and encourage each other. Let’s determine to keep looking for the harvest. Let’s determine to never give up.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21

*If you have a prayer request you’d like to share, please feel free to share it in the comments. I’d like to ask your prayers for my mother-in-law. Her ongoing serious health problems kicked into high gear again on Christmas Eve, and she is not doing well at all. Please pray that things can go as easily as possible for her.

*Flickr photo by ^@^ina, Creative Commons License

**The next issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter, will come out in early February. Sign up is free and to the right!

Filed Under: determination, fighter, perseverance, prayer
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