If you have not figured it out yet….
May 7th, 2008A Cup of Tea With Me is closing it’s blog. Things were not going where I felt led, so I am closing up, here. However, you can keep up with me at Never Alone.
Spring Cleaning
April 23rd, 2008No, not at the house. I still need to do that. LOL! However, after several interesting events, I was able to log on and clean up my side bar and links. I am sorry it took so long.
Did you miss me?
April 17th, 2008Hello! I know I have been gone for a while. Too long, really. I have a lot of “cleaning up” to do on my side bar.
Where have I been? Well, many of you know that I started working. I was temping at TAMU, and it was the perfect job. I loved it. I loved the people that I worked with. But the key word there is temp. The job was shorter than first thought, and when it was over, I started slipping into depression.
Between temp assignments, I started playing World of Warcraft again. I started out fine, timing my playing and assuring that I would not slip back into my addiction. I knew it was wrong, but I could not help it, I wanted to play.
I got another temp position, that I will not say where it was, as it was a VERY negative experience. Those that had to listen to me while I was there know all the details. All I will say is that my direct supervisor needed to work on his social skills. However, many of the people that I worked with there were wonderful, and I was able to find a little sunshine there, every day, even if it had to fight to come through the clouds.
I got called in to TAMU for an interview for a department that works closely to the department in which I had temped. 2 weeks after the interview, I learned that I had the job! So, I am at TAMU, permanently, in the Admissions Processing area. I just love it there. Things are really looking up.
I made the decision to close Faith Filled Wives. My life is not consistent enough to work at that ministry. I may reopen it some day. I am keeping the domain name, but the hosting is gone.
I realized that WoW had become an idol in my life, and I quit playing again, cold turkey. It is hard, and it is a battle every day, but I will resist.
I talked to God, asked Him to forgive me. I know he did. When I was pouring out my heart and soul to Him, asking for forgiveness, I heard my theme song from Jeremy Camp in my mind. I know that God was the one reminding me of the song. He will always take us back, no matter how far we go, He WILL take us back. Once His child, always his child.
After recieving God’s forgiveness, the dreams started. I cannot post about them, but just know that I am in a very really demonic battle, and I know it is because I have let go of my strongholds, and the enemy will not give up easily. For days, I was afraid to sleep, even after praying, I did not let go of the fear. Last night, after prayer, I just kept saying outloud, “The Lord is my Shepard. He will lead me, I will follow Him. I will never be far from his side. God is by my side, and I am at His. He will protect me from all evil. God is my Shepard, my Saviour, my Salvation. He is all I need.” I repeated that until I fell asleep and when I woke up in the middle of the night, I repeated it again until I fell back asleep.
God will help me overcome it all.
My brother, rededicated his life to Christ, and was filled with the Holy Spirit in a wonderful way. I love how when He makes His home in you know, you feel it from the tip of your toes to the top of your head. It is amazing to hear someone you love describe that sensation to you. It reminds you of how you first felt.
Anyway, when it is slow at work, I can be on the internet, so I will be cleaning this place up, and working on posting more regularly.
I have no real reason for my hiding, other than I was dealing with internal and eternal issues, and I was dealing with them in my own, not so effective way.
Fallen by Matthew Raley
January 23rd, 2008
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Matthew Raley is senior pastor of the Orland Evangelical Free Church in northern California, where he lives with his wife and two young children. For fun, he enjoys playing chamber music with friends, giving occasional solo recitals, and playing first violin in the North State Symphony. This is his first book.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Jim was at work when his eyes drifted to the coffee shop visible from his office window. An attractive woman driving a Mercedes pulled up to the curb . . . and Jim’s married pastor emerged from the car. When Jim delves deeper into his pastor’s world, will he be able to handle what he discovers? Is he right to suspect that Dave is having an affair? In the behind-the-scenes church battle that ensues, Jim is torn between duty to his church and a desire to show grace. A ripped-from-the-headlines drama of suspense that keeps you engaged to the last page.
Fallen is the story about Jim’s relationship with Dave—how Jim tries to do the right thing to keep Dave accountable, but finds the situation getting worse and worse. It’s also about Jim’s other relationships. Just as he discovers hypocrisy in Dave, Jim discovers his own sins against his wife and daughter.
Christian Writers’ Market Guide 2008
January 16th, 2008
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Check out her blog!
ABOUT THE BOOK:
The essential reference tool for the Christian writer, Sally Stuart’s Christian Writers’ Market Guide is now in its 23rd annual edition!
Check out the section on Blogging on page 69…the CFBA is listed!
Writers’ Conference listings, Book Publishers, Magazine Publishers, and a Bookstore filled with the resources you need to be successful in this business. Get a Book Contract or Manuscript Evaluation, and check out the Writer’s Resource links. This book has all you need to connect to all these valuable helps for the beginning, intermediate, or professional writer.
To keep you up to date with the latest marketing news, visit Sally Stuart’s new marketing blog, Christian Writers’ Marketplace, at http://www.stuartmarket.blogspot.com/.
A new, updated version of the Christian Writers’ Market Guide is available about January 15 each year.
Happily Even After (#3 - Sassy Sistahood Series)
January 11th, 2008
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Marilynn Griffith is mom to a tribe, wife to a deacon and proof that God gives second chances. While best known for her colorful novels about friendship, family and faith, Marilynn is also a speaker and nonfiction writer.
Her nonfiction has been included in CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE CHRISTIAN WOMAN’S SOUL and several other devotionals and magazines. Currently, Marilynn is editor of the SISTAHFAITH:BELIEVING BEYOND SHAME anthology. She is also the founder of Faithchick.com, a blog for faith fiction readers.
Marilynn is the author of six novels dealing with issues such as teen pregnancy, AIDS, abstinence, stress relief, single parenting and marriage. Her recent fiction titles include TANGERINE and IF THE SHOE FITS.
Marilynn has served as Vice President and Publicity Officer of American Christian Fiction Writers. She speaks to youth, women and writers about believing beyond boundaries and daring to reach dreams.
Marilynn lives in Florida with her husband and seven children whom she taught at home for seven years. When not chasing toddlers, helping with homework or trying to find her husband a clean shirt, she can be found scribbling furiously on her next novel.
To book Marilynn for media interviews, speaking engagements, Serious Fun fiction parties or book club call-ins, please contact her thru her WEBSITE.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Superwoman doesn’t live here!
I marry a gorgeous executive, have a baby, lose all the weight (most of it), and move to a fine house in the suburbs with a welcoming new church. Wait…did I say welcoming?
One teeny waaah! and new mothers and their crying babies are exiled to a separate room. At least there’s some enlightening conversation. Like about my husband and issues I didn’t even know about!
And then there’s my aptly named mother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth, who can’t stand me.
I’m about to lose my mind! So it’s high time for a visit to the Sassy Sistahood for some much-needed advice about men, marriage and motherhood!
My Mother
January 8th, 2008For years, even in childhood, my mother was convinced that we were all going to hell because we did not honor the Sabbath on Saturday. For over a year now, I have been trying to convince her that since Christ rose on Sunday, the apostles and early Christians met on Sunday to honor that. Much like unclean meat and circumcision, the Sabbath day was washed in Christ’s blood and we were free to do what we needed to do on Saturday, and worship God when we wanted, honoring Him always, not just setting aside one day to worship Him, but essentially keeping all days holy. Ok, so maybe my interpetation was not quite right, either, but that is the beauty of learning and studying God’s Word. He teaches you.
Yesterday, while talking to my mom she read to me a scripture that really popped in her mind.
Colossians 2:16-17 (NLT): 16 So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths. 17 For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality.
Being led to do more research when I got home, I read it in the Living Bible. You remember that one, right? Well, I do not open mine very often, because in my mind it is more of a commentary, since it was translated by one man, but this is not about translations, it is about these verses. Anyway here is how the Living Bible reads:
Colossians 2:16-17 (TLB):
16 So don’t let anyone criticize you for what you eat or drink, of for not celebrating Jewish holidays and feasts or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths.
17 For these were only temporary rules that ended when Christ came. They were only shadows of the real thing — of Christ Himself.
Other versions say the same thing, but this spells it out, in such plain English. My mom was almost in tears. She was so happy to learn the Truth, and to be honest, I am too. We are not sinning by going to church on Sunday. We sin when we let the “laws of religion” interfere with with Blood of the Lamb.
“I Quit!” well, not really
January 7th, 2008My last day at my current job is Thursday, January 10. When I went to work there, in March, it was supposed to be temporary. A woman was out with Chemo and I was covering for her. Then it got to October, and I promised I would stay through Christmas. Now the boss is on vacation and will be back on the 1oth. I actaully gave my notice in early December, but I honestly did not think this day would ever come.
I am in the process of trying to find a 40 hour, Monday - Friday job, where I can be home with my hubby and kids on nights and weekends. It is my prayer that God directs my job hunt and that I end up where He wants me.
Interesting Thoughts on Christmas (A Post Christmas Blog)
December 31st, 2007I know, Christmas is over, but the conversations that led up to this post took place on December 26th. Please bear with me on this.
I work retail, I know you all have read that a ton of times. My neighbors at work are mostly Muslim, a few Jewish, and one Hindu. I am the only Christian that talks to them about religion and such. It is my belief that if we do not know what and how they personally believe, then we cannot witness to them.
Anyway, while at work on December 26th, I had some interesting and eye opening conversations. Every Muslim and Jew that I work near asked me how my Christmas was. I responded with “Wonderful, I got to visit with my parents, whom I only get to see twice a year. How was your day off?” Most of them work every day the mall is open. It is closed three days a year: Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
This got me to thinking. I did not ask any of my Jewish friends how their Hanukkah was. I only thought to ask one of my Muslim friends how her Eid al-Adha, was. Yet, they all asked me how my Christmas was. Yes, I knew the day(s) they were celebrating their holidays. Yet, it did not seem important to me to ask them.
So, one of my Christian friends comes by, while I am contemplating this and asks, “So, what did you get for Christmas?” This sent my thoughts into a spiral. The ONE person I spoke to that day, who was supposed to understand Christmas, was asking about my presents, while the ones who where not supposed to understand, where more interested in the day, itself.
Christmas is about more than the presents. Yes, the presents are nice, but it is about the greatest gift of all, God’s gift of His Son, to us, who died for our sins, so we could have fellowship with Him. I know my friends in the bloggy world understand this. I just had to share my thoughts and introspections.
God bless you all, and have a Happy and Blessed New Year! I pray that 2008 brings you joy and blessings.
Laced With Grace New Year Giveaway
December 24th, 2007
Laced With Grace is having a great New Year Giveaway, Dec 24, though Dec 31. Be sure to stop by and check it out! Good luck!
