May 3, 2013

First Fridays ~ Cathy Baker

Cathy Baker

Cathy Baker

I’m excited to feature my friend Cathy Baker this month. Cathy lives in Upstate SC and we connected through one of my sweet friends in that area. She’s a writer, a nature lover, and a Bible study leader in her community.

This Clemson fan is married to “Hokie Hubby” Brian, so she sprinkles in a little Chicago Maroon with that all that orange. I can’t wait to meet her in “real life” this month at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writer’s Conference!

A Quiet Night in My Own Heart

Mary Slessor was a young single woman who left Scotland at the turn of the century to go to a part of Africa that was infested with disease and indescribable danger. But she had an indomitable spirit and kept going when lesser men and women broke down, ran, and never came back. Once, after a particularly draining day, she found herself trying to sleep in a crude jungle hut. Of that night she wrote:

“I am not very particular about my bed these days, but as I lay on a few dirty sticks laid across and covered with a litter of dirty corn-shells, with plenty of rats and insects, three women and an infant three days old alongside, and over a dozen sheep and goats and cows outside, you don’t wonder that I slept little. But I had such a comfortable quiet night in my own heart.” (Italics mine) [Read more...]

Posted by Susan on May 3, 2013 | 23 Comments
March 1, 2013

First Fridays ~ Julie Gillies

Julie Gillies

Meet my friend, Julie Gillies. We connected several years ago through Proverbs 31 Ministries, and then met in RL (real life) last summer. 

Julie has a God-sized story that includes healing from a traumatic childhood and restoration of her seriously troubled marriage. She’s the joyful wife of Keith, mom of two soldiers and one civilian, and grammy of four.

She can be found online at www.JulieGillies.com and on Twitter at @juliegillies.

Julie’s new book, Prayers For A Woman’s Soul, is hot off the Harvest House press! Want a chance to win a signed copy? Leave a comment and we’ll draw for a winner on Sunday! 

 

Don’t Stop Clinging

I’d had it. I not only wanted to throw in the towel, but my wedding ring, too. [Read more...]

Posted by Susan on March 1, 2013 | 12 Comments
January 11, 2013

First Fridays ~ Tereasa Mansfield

Tereasa Mansfield

(I realize it’s not the first Friday of the month, but I was distracted by the holidays and the Downton Abbey premier. Better late than never!)

I’m excited to introduce you to my friend, Tereasa Mansfield. We connected through a link-up last year. The more I learned about her compelling story, the bigger fan I became. (I actually mentioned her in my Legacy series last year.) She recently moved to the US from Canada, with her handsome hubby and three children.

You can find her online at www.hispenonmyheart.com and as @mtereasa on Twitter.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I’d like to have a conversation with you. Have a seat. Can I get you something hot to drink? There is something I really want to talk to you about. It is important that you are honest with me, though. I want us to take a really good look at ourselves while we talk.

What would you do if Mary came to church today? [Read more...]

Posted by Susan on January 11, 2013 | 13 Comments
December 7, 2012

First Fridays ~ Diane Bailey

Say hi to my friend Diane Bailey! We somehow connected online and became friends in that arena, then we had a chance to connect in person last summer. She is sweet and funny and LOADS of fun, and she also has a tender heart for the Lord and for ministry.

In addition to speaking and writing, Di is a professional photographer. Her beautiful words and images never fail to inspire me. Be sure to check out Diane’s website and follow her on Twitter, @dewbailey.

Okay, let’s just call it what it is! I have entered the sandwich stage of life! I am old enough to have children and grandchildren, and blessed enough to still have parents. [Read more...]

Posted by Susan on December 7, 2012 | 14 Comments
November 2, 2012

First Fridays ~ Kim Hall

I’m excited to introduce you to my friend, Kim Hall! I’ve featured Kim’s posts on my “Friday Favorites” and this month she’s my guest! We haven’t met in RL (real life) but we’re fans of each others’ blogs and are frequent commenters.

Check out her “Too Darn Happy“ blog where she talks about encouraging faith, practicing gratitude, and discovering joy. And be sure to follow her on Twitter (@kimahall)

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Giving is something you love to do. You give of your time, your money, and yourself.

This is a wonderful thing, as you love to bring joy to those you care about.

Whether you realize it or not, every time you give, you set the bar and pay a price. This may go exactly as planned, or you may have set your sights on a bridge too far.

Company for dinner? You spend a whole day cooking a gourmet meal fit for a king, from amazing appetizer to delectable dessert, served with a side of indigestion and weight gain.

Family for holidays? You clean and prepare for days, and then become a one-woman wait-fest, followed by a major crash from the stress and the effort.

Christmas gifts? You plan and plot for weeks to purchase a marvelous mountain of presents, only to be crushed by credit card bills.

I am not saying that every occasion for giving ends this way. However, I have heard too many times from women who are just feeling overwhelmed, discouraged, and resentful because of their giving.

It does not have to be like this. There is a better way that will leave you a more joyful giver. [Read more...]

Posted by Susan on November 2, 2012 | 23 Comments
October 5, 2012

First Fridays ~ Karen Lembo

Welcome my friend, Karen Lembo! A resident of Maryland, Karen & I connected through an article she wrote for Journey Magazine. She’s a prolific writer and blogger, as well as a teacher and talented artist. Her paintings are gorgeous!

We hope to connect in person one day, but in the meantime we’ll continue our bloggy friendship! Be sure to check out some of her practical tips and encouraging posts at her blog, Living Above The Laundry Pile.

Riding the Escalator of Hope

“How do I do another load of laundry?” I sigh as I come to grips with the time on the clock by my head.  Sometimes it is just hard to drag myself out of bed and face the mundane, repetitive tasks before me.  ”I want a life of adventure!” my soul cries.  But the dog needs to go out, the lunches prepared, I need to exercise, grocery shop and do another load of laundry.  My family needs me.  But I’m tired of doing this, Lord. [Read more...]

Posted by Susan on October 5, 2012 | 19 Comments
September 7, 2012

First Fridays ~ Kristi Butler

Kristi Butler

Meet my friend, Kristi Butler! Kristi and I met at a writer’s retreat last fall, but to be around us you’d think we went to high school together. The Lord joined our hearts in an amazing way, and I love how I’ll get a random Facebook message from her that says,

“Isn’t it AWESOME the way
God brought us into each other’s lives?
I’m so thankful for you!”

Tell me that wouldn’t make your day! Kristi is that kind of friend. She shares her wonder of His goodness on her blog, A Matter of Grace.

An accomplished speaker and author, Kristi’s written two children’s books that feature the adventures of Gracie and Grover Groundhog. Fun fact: she was invited to Punxsutawney and appeared with Phil on Groundhog’s Day! 
Another fun fact: Kristi pulls off the road to snap a pic of her furry friends.
(I know this first-hand.)

Quicksand or His Sand

“How precious to me are Your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand.” Psalm 139: 17-18 (NIV)

Do you ever get consumed by what people think of you? [Read more...]

Posted by Susan on September 7, 2012 | 17 Comments
August 3, 2012

First Fridays ~ Sandi Nieto

For faithful followers of my blog, Sandi Nieto is a familiar name. She’s a dear, sweet friend who is a great encourager and all-around fabulous person. She’s also really funny. We met in 2009 on our first trip to Israel, and it was truly a God-ordained moment: perfect strangers one minute, life-long friends the next.

Honestly, we clicked at our first meeting and have been snapped together like Legos ever since. Except that she lives in AZ and I live in VA. Whatever.

She’s a regular on my Friday Favorites, and I’m excited that she’s guesting for me this month. BE SURE to follow her blog. It’s insanely popular, and with good reason. Check it out and see: Clayzmama.com

Lighten up!

Remember your 4th grade slumber party when you played Truth or Dare?  Remember making little Janie Gooden kiss the dog and the dog kissed back?  You laughed so hard you couldn’t catch your breath and the little rubber bands on your braces popped out?

You were learning at an early age that laugher just makes you feel better.  Humor can relax your body, ease your mind and relieve stress, not to mention [Read more...]

Posted by Susan on August 3, 2012 | 16 Comments
July 6, 2012

First Fridays – Kim Vander Poel

I’m excited to introduce you to my friend, Kim. We became friends through the ministry of Proverbs 31, and she’s a precious gal with a compelling story. I’m honored she’s sharing some of the things she’s learned during her battle with cancer.

Cancer is something we’ll all deal with in some form or fashion, whether its our own personal diagnosis or that of a close friend or family member. I think you’ll appreciate her practical tips.

Be sure to check out her blogs – Hope Lives Now and Kim’s Ponderings Beyond Breast Cancer.

Cancer is a Journey No One Should Walk Alone!

Did you know that almost 50% of American’s will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime? And one third of those diagnosed will die within 5 years of diagnosis?

Three years ago, these statistics meant little to me. After all, I had few cancer risk factors I was only 40 years old. Imagine my surprise when Mr. Lump decided to make my left breast his new home.  After numerous tests, discussions with my medical team and many prayers, I decided to have a bilateral mastectomy (both breasts removed).

On Christmas Eve, 2008, I had an 8 hour surgery to evict Mr. Lump and rid my body of this ugly disease. Unfortunately the type of breast cancer I was diagnosed with was Triple Negative Breast Cancer.  The surgery gave me a 30% chance of survival, but with chemotherapy, my survival rate increased to 70%.

I had 16 treatments of chemotherapy over five months. Chemotherapy hated me as much as I hated it, [Read more...]

Posted by Susan on July 6, 2012 | 46 Comments
June 1, 2012

First Friday – Julia Tomiak

Say hello to my friend, Julia Tomiak! She’s another of my fabulous writer-friends, and we’re in an online critique group together. She and her family live on a farm just down the road from me in Southwest Virginia. A graduate of UVA with a degree in English, Julia has a passion for literature and is a voracious reader. She’s also working on a contemporary young adult novel, so she’s a busy gal!

Be sure to check out her blog, “Diary of a Word Nerd.” She posts each week and reviews books, shares her thoughts, and builds her readers’ vocabularies. In a fun, non-SAT-prep kinda way ;)

Starting a Book Club

Imagine yourself in a cozy, quiet room, nibbling on a fudge mint brownie and engaging in an interesting conversation with other adults.  Sounds lovely, doesn’t it?  And what are you discussing in between bites of chocolate?  Books of course!

Even if you don’t have a tall stack of novels next to your bed (like I do), you could benefit from starting or joining a book club.  Reading and discussing books with other people helps you to learn about new places, interesting people, and significant moments in history.  Books stimulate your brain in a way that everyday minutiae- the job, the family transportation management, the laundry- just can’t.   And when you actually discuss books, the benefits multiply.

[Read more...]

Posted by Susan on June 1, 2012 | 11 Comments
May 4, 2012

First Friday – Hester Christensen

Welcome my friend Hester Christensen! A Pacific Northwesterner, she lives in Washington state with her minister husband and 3 sweet boys. We attended a writers’ conference together in 2010, and have been in a critique group since then. Even though we didn’t actually meet at that conference, we’ve gotten to be fast friends online through writing and ministry. Bless her sweet heart, she’s had to slog through a lot of my crazy mixed tenses and sentence fragments, and for that I’m sorry. But I’m truly blessed by her wonderful input and insight.

She has a weekly blog, Hester’s Heart, and posts a thought-provoking devotion each Friday. I think you’ll find her to be refreshing, transparent and REAL. AND she just returned from a trip to Haiti, so pop over to her site and hear about her adventures!

Covet, Compare, Complain – What’s the big deal?

Philippians 4:11-13 (NIV-1984) “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstance. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”

Recently, I’ve been wrestling with contentment. I want something that God is not ready to give me. I don’t think my desire is bad, but when I allow it to effect my mood, there’s a deeper problem. I’m acting no differently than a 2 year old spoiled brat who isn’t happy when she doesn’t get her way. [Read more...]

Posted by Susan on May 4, 2012 | 16 Comments
April 6, 2012

First Friday – Vonda Skelton

Meet Vonda Skelton, one of the sweetest & most accomplished women I know! Vonda is a frequent visitor and commenter here on my site, and she’s been one of my most encouraging writer-friends.

We think the first time we met was in 2005 at a Christian speaker/writer’s conference in Knoxville. We met again at Blue Ridge Christian Writer’s Conference in 2007, and last fall I got to spend a long weekend with her and Edie Melson at a writer’s retreat at Lake Keowee, SC. She’s a popular conference speaker, a widely published writer with countless articles to her credit, and has authored several young adult novels. She’s also written an excellent Bible study, Seeing Through The Lies: Unmasking The Myths Women Believe. Vonda is sweet and real and down-to-earth, and I’m honored and blessed to be her friend.

God and the Telemarketer

You may not believe this, but I know it for a fact: God talks on the telephone. [Read more...]

Posted by Susan on April 6, 2012 | 20 Comments
March 2, 2012

First Friday – TK Sharpley

This month my guest post-er is my friend TK Sharpley! She is a real-life Martha Stewart, and I’m not even being dramatic ;)  She paints and sews and even grows green beans in her FRONT yard. Yes, she is my go-to gal on all things artistic (because y’all know I skipped that table in the genetic buffet and got an extra helping from the tech table). 

In addition to being insanely talented and creative, TK is one of the most fun people I know, and a dear friend and confidante. I’m excited to introduce you to her. She’s developing a fun blog, Under The Flaps, so be sure to follow her adventures!

“When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say ‘I’ve used everything you gave me.’”
~Erma Bombeck

God does not hide our talents. He expects us to uncover what he has given us….and use them. I have discovered that talents usually end up becoming our PASSIONS. [Read more...]

Posted by Susan on March 2, 2012 | 12 Comments
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