Thank you all for making my birthday month a memorable one. Not sure what my next year will bring; trusting God for His guidance.

One thing I am working on is my first gallery for Visual Peacemakers . Sure, I do not travel abroad, but I read a wonderful article by Jerod Foster that made me think of photographs that I took right here in Phoenix.

Thank you for stopping by today. Have a blessed week,

Current Mood: Blessed †

As many of you may know, September is my birthday month. Hitting the BIG 50 this year is something. Strange thing, I am more okay turning 50 than I was turning 40.

At any rate, to kick off my big celebration, I thought I have a weekly giveaway until my birthday. The first week I would like to give one of my readers a book that I have been reading over the last couple of weeks that really dug deep down into my heart. Later this week I will share a little more about a theme God has been impressing on my heart through this book and other means. The book I am talking about is Joanna Weaver’s book “Having a Mary Heart…”

Lori was surprised that I am just now reading the book (it has been on my wish list for 3 years – yikes). I truly wish I had more time to read, but my work-schedule and my photography do not leave room for much else.

There are many books out there that tell us how to keep focused on God in our busy lives; Joanna’s book is different. Joanna shares her own struggle keeping up with life’s demands. Her honesty encouraged me to say the least; I am not alone in the struggle finding time to meet with God. Don’t get me wrong, I get up early to get my ‘fuel’ for the day. To be honest though, some mornings I rather snooze 30 minutes longer…

What do you have to do to win the book? Simply leave a comment below (US, Canada, and APO Addresses only please). If you already have the book, please still enter for a friend/family member as a gift. I think that all women can benefit from this book no matter how long you are a follower of Christ. This week’s giveaway ends on Sunday, September 12th.

Current Mood: Blessed † & Okay

It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night, to the music of the lute and the harp, to the melody of the lyre. For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy.
~ Psalm 92:1-4 (ESV)

I enjoy reading, I just wish I had more time to do so. My sweet friend Lori has a marvelous list on her review blog (click on the button above to take you there) . She picked 10 books from her vast array of books she has read over the past months. Some of the books I have already read and the rest are on my wish-list .

I am thankful for books (especially the Bible); I always learn something. I am also thankful for Lori’s review site, because I know that I can trust her judgment. If fiction or teaching books, Lori always gives a straight forward review. She will let you know if something bothers her about a book .

What are you thankful for this week? Head over to my friend Laurie’s site “Women Taking a Stand” to read more TT posts and leave your link.

Thank you for stopping by today. Remember: Reading is Fundamental.

Current Mood: Thankful

First I like to thank you joining me in the journey of living fearlessly in 2010 (and beyond). Second I want to announce the winner of the books “Fearless” and “Fear Not Promise Book” written by Max Lucado. Drum-roll…the winner is: Kim (comment # 5 on the original post from 01.01.2010) – Congrats Kim — I will contact you to get your snail-mail address

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” ~ Romans 8:28 (ESV)

How can you tell a father who is facing lay-offs; a wife who’s husband left her for another woman; parents facing the death of a child, families loosing their home, chemotherapy …that everything is working out for the good? I often have a hard time comprehending what is happening. Do I question God because not everything is working out the way I think things should work out?

We all have our fears. I my personal opinion, fear in itself is not a sin, but how we handle it can send us in the wrong direction. Fear can consume us to the point that we are afraid of stepping out into life; or even worse…gambling, lying, stealing…But we don’t have to have fear consume us.

I think that we sometimes loose focus because of fear. We only see our current circumstance and don’t look at the bigger picture — the eternal picture. Take my past as an example. I feared coming to the US, leaving family and friends behind with an uncertain future (would I find work? what support would I have). Looking back though — leaving Germany was the best that could have happened to me. Removed from family and friends, God had my attention. He was waiting for me with arms wide open to put my trust in Him, not myself.

Over the next week, I would like you to look back at your past. What was the biggest step you have taken? What was your greatest fear about taken this particular step? Failure, insecurity, rejection? I would love to hear about your past fear(s) and how you have overcome it. What brought you through?

If you have a blog, please share your past with us (link below). If you don’t blog — journal and share part of your thoughts in the comment section. You can journal/blog at your own leisure; there is no deadline to answer the above questions.

Today I leave you with a quote by Max Lucado you may want to ponder:

“When fear shapes our live, safety becomes our god. When safety becomes our god, we worship the risk-free life. Can the safety-lover do anything great?…For God? For others?” ~ Source: Fearless

Living fearlessly — trusting Him with my future…

Current Mood: Blessed †

Whos, Here, we are Whos here, smaller than the eye can see. Whos here, we are Whos here, I’m a Who and so is she…

I’ve always wanted to live in a musical. When I was a kid, I loved Oklahoma, Sound of Music, West Side Story. I seriously thought that, if the moment was right, maybe the stars aligned, people would break out into song and dance.

I was sorta right. Because in my house, one needs to be able to talk in movie lines and song lyrics to effectively communicate. At any moment, someone might break out with a quip from the Princess Bride, or Finding Nemo. They might sing Tomorrow from Annie, or My Favorite Things like Julie Andrews.

But, most recently we’ve found ourselves speaking in “Suess”…

It’s suppertime, son, and the time is near To call far and wide the sneetches who hear Just the sound of their bellies, the whir of their gear The Gurgles and Burbles that give them great fear Tell them all, tell them loud, tell them clear Their hands they should wash, check their face in the mirror Because the food is now ready and it’s time to steer Close to the table, where they’ll find hot gribbles here.

Why, you ask? Because David and Sarah are performing in the community theater’s production of Suessical the Musical, a hilarious conglomeration of Dr. Suess’ fun work, from Horton hears a Who to Horton Hatches an Egg.

As the Christmas season draws close (and the songs from the play linger in my head), one line has stood out to me… “We are here, we are here!” You know the story – that part where, after everyone has called Horton names and they’re about ready to boil the speck that contains Who-ville, Horton calls out to the Whos to send up a cry to prove themselves as real. “We are here, we are here!”

It strikes me that sometimes we can feel like Whos…smaller than the eye can see. Tossed hither and yon by the wind, helpless and facing being boiled. Tired, perhaps, or alone. Wishing someone might find us and pay attention.

Someone has, and that’s the good news about Christmas. Because we don’t have to “make ourselves heard,” like the Whos. In fact, even before we realized we were headed for the cauldron, God intervened. God demonstrated his own love for us in this – while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Rom 5:8). That’s what Jesus is all about – he’s the answer to even the unspoken cry of our hearts, saying, “I am here, I am here.” Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

So as this season approaches with its whistles and bells I hope you hear the voice where the Mighty One dwells – down deep in your hearts, so nothing can shake the knowledge of his love, given all for your sake.

Merry Christmas from Susie May Warren

Susan May Warren is the award-winning author of twenty-one novels and novellas with Tyndale, Steeple Hill and Barbour Publishing. Her first book, Happily Ever After won the American Fiction Christian Writers Book of the Year in 2003, and was a 2003 Christy Award finalist. In Sheep’s Clothing, a thriller set in Russia, was a 2006 Christy Award finalist and won the 2006 Inspirational Reader’s Choice award. A former missionary to Russia, Susan May Warren now writes Suspense/Romance and Chick Lit full time from her home in northern Minnesota. Susan May Warren Check out her Christmas Novella, The Great Christmas Bowl.

Current Mood: Blessed †

Laurie Ann, I will be contacting you go get your snail-mail address. As for the mystery gift; I chose a Christmas movie:

Now I hope that the movie is not already in Laurie Ann’s movie library .

I had mentioned a couple of times the book “3:16″ by Max Lucado. As you can see, it vanished from my sidebar. Yeah, I finally finished it (wish I had more time reading). Anyway, hopefully I will be able to write a review on this book this up-coming week. This book stirred up so many thoughts…but more about that later.

Thank you for stopping by today…be blessed today and as always…

Current Mood: Happy