The Friends Spotlight on Suzie Thomas has made me think about the best advice I've ever received. I don't know that I can narrow it down to one or two nuggets of wisdom, so I've decided to start compiling a list! Here's what I've come up with so far:

This too shall pass.

Choose your battles wisely.

Nice matters!

Always treat others with kindness and respect.

The prettiest thing you can wear is a smile.

You can't always choose your circumstances but you can choose your attitude.

When in doubt, don't.

On purchasing big ticket items: check at least 3 different places for prices. You'll get the best deal and enjoy your purchase more, or realize you don't really need/want it and save yourself the expense!

Sleep on it

The 10/10/80 principle - give 10%, save 10%, live on 80%

Say you're sorry even if it wasn't on purpose!

Forgive.

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

If it won't matter a year from now, it's not worth fighting about today. (a year from now, a month from now, a week from now, a day from now...what is really worth fighting for?)

If it would feel really good to say it, you probably shouldn't.

Lefty loosey, righty tighty

Read your Bible and pray everyday (I was probably 3 or 4 when I learned that phrase in a song, unfortunately it took me a couple of decades to put it into practice!)

To have a friend you must be a friend.

How you say something is often remembered longer than what you say.

Better to be silent and thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. (ouch!)

Most viruses will run their course in 48 hours (spoken by a health care professional who recommended staying home with a sick child instead of immediately running to the doctor.)

Hurting people hurt people.

You don't have to be everyone's best friend but you must be kind to everyone.

Take 10 minutes every morning to put things in order in your room or home - throw it away, put it away, or give it away

Make a list - and do the thing you really don't want to do FIRST! (then it's done and you won't spend the rest of the day thinking about it!)

Why worry when you can pray!

Live well, laugh often, love much!

Until next time.
Beth

Labels: Beth

Labels: Missy

I am a pack rat.

I discovered this after years of vowing to not take after my mother - or her mother. Despite my determination, alas! I horde things. Usually useless things. This became apparent when we moved from Ohio to Nebraska after living in the same house for sixteen years. We not only scaled down by sorting, packing, and giving away much of our accumulated 'stuff', we actually hired a dumpster and filled it to the brim!

We looked less like a family heading west and crossing the prairie in a covered wagon and more like the whole wagon train by the time we had made two trips with the largest moving van we could find.

So what does a woman who is moving halfway across the country pack up and take with her? I thought we had thrown away everything we could until we got out west and I discovered I'd packed our 'junk drawer' pretty much as-is. Here are a few of the treasures I absolutely could not live without:

--Two balloons and a partial roll of crepe paper - I guess I just wanted to be ready for a party - although not much of one

--Stack of fifty business cards - with totally the wrong information - address, phone, & email.

--Odd shaped sponges I cut for some reason - their purpose long lost to me now, but I might think of it again and want them - for something or other.

--Eyeglass cases - five of them - not including the one I actually keep my glasses in.

--Parts of a wooden necklace made for me by my five year old son (that was only eightteen years ago- do you think I saved it long enough?)

--A hoof pick (although even without owning a horse that might actually have come in handy out west).

--Burger King toy - might need that for a treat for one of my kids - who were 23, 21, and 19 when we moved!

--Name tag from my old job - at least people will know my name.

--Wooly Willy - the little toy that you use a magnet to draw with little fillings that give him a beard or head of hair - useful in case I get bored and need something to do.

--Boot hooks that I used with my knee-length riding boots (which I reluctantly pitched when I found that a mouse had chewed through them).

--Last, but not least, a door knob from our hundred year old house we left in Ohio. Memories - priceless!

This list was funny when I sat down and wrote it out 4 years ago in Nebraska - it's less so now after moving south to TN and then back to Ohio - and I still have everything in my junk drawer! Bad enough to haul it across the country, but you would think I would have the sense to throw it out when I got there. We did manage to reduce our overall 'stuff' and only needed one moving van and one trip back east. But the junk drawer that I had packed to go west? I packed it up again, took it east and south - then north again, right back to where we started!

Why do we hold onto things? I can see my fist now - clutched so tightly around something that seems so important at the time, but like all these items - essentially worthless. Perhaps they are past their prime usefulness (toys for kids that are all grown up, a hoof pick for a horse that I no longer have, business cards that have out-dated information) or maybe they are things that once meant alot to me (the necklace my son made when he was in kindergarten, a doorknob from the house we used to live in). Or maybe it's not things so much as dreams that I won't give up, or plans that I've made that aren't coming to fruition, or maybe just wanting to do things my own way.

As long as my hand is closed, grasping onto what I think is best, most important, 'can't live without' items, all these things that I think I might need or use or don't want to give up, it is closed to all the things God wants to give me. It's time to let go of all that I've held onto for fear of what I might lose out on (whether or not it's useful to me now!) It's time to open my hand, holding it out for all the blessings God has promised - His provision, His plans for me, His dreams and purpose for my life.

What about you? Are you holding on to things from your past - good or bad - or dreams and plans you made that haven't quite worked out the way you wanted? Perhaps its time for you to let go, too. Open your hand and let God fill it.

As for me, I'm headed to clean out my junk drawer!

All for Him,

Missy

Labels: Missy

Labels: Beth

I've been cursed with little-sister-syndrome.

If you have two big brothers like I do, you'll know what I'm talking about. My brother can get me to do anything - and I mean anything! Sometimes it's good, and sometimes, well, it's not so good.

Somehow he managed to get me to clean his room. Not just once or twice, but on a fairly regular basis! When it came to weekly chores, my brothers always got me to do the bathroom. And I'm sure there are plenty of other things they manipulated me into doing that I just can't remember.

But on the other hand, I was fourteen when I got a letter in the mail about sponsoring a child. I remember saying how could I possibly sponsor a child? I was too young! To which my brother simply replied, "No you're not," and it's something I've continued to do ever since then. And at eighteen, when I couldn't figure out what to do with my life, my brother told me I should move in with him in Indianapolis, which is where I soon met my husband.

No matter what it was, I never seemed to question their suggestions or instructions. I'm not sure if it was wanting to please my big brothers and get "in" with them since I was the only girl or it was some foolish thinking that they actually knew better than I did! And it's a habit that's been hard to break.

So when we went boating last weekend and my brother had gotten a new tube (a big square with a giant basket handle to grab on to) it didn't take much for him to convince me to go for a ride with him. And it didn't take much for him to convince me that it would be so much more fun to ride on the back with him up on my knees, despite the fact that there was absolutely no stability and I was much more comfortable lying on my stomach. It wasn't long before we were thrown off and I hit the water hard and literally got the wind knocked out of me. When I popped up out of the water I was done - I was not getting back on that tube! Scared and unable to catch my breath I just wanted back on that boat.

I told Ryan that was it, I was done. "No you're not!" he said, and sure enough, he got me back on that tube for a second, much better ride.

It's a simple picture of what we all know to be true. Life's a ride, sometimes it's bumpy and rough and we're screaming to get off. And sometimes it's smooth sailing and an absolute blast. But it's a lot more fun when you go through it with someone else, and it gets a little easier when someone's there to convince you to hop back on after you fall off.

So maybe I'll just keep on listening to that big brother of mine after all. He's not completely steered me wrong yet., and besides - it's his boat!

Emily

Labels: Emily

Today our spotlight shines on one who probably needs no introduction in the Canton area. Suzie Thomas, former morning co-host on the Light 95.9 and present contributor to the Circle of Friends radio ministry, is a friend to all. As public relations director for Malone University in Canton, Ohio, she is working in one of her areas of giftedness: Encourager Extraordinaire! In her job she encourages people to check out the opportunities Malone offers; in her life she encourages people to check out all the opportunities God offers!

Suzie and hubby Jim married in October of 1980. September of 1982 their first son was born and October of 1984 they were blessed with their second son. Each year the Thomas family gets to celebrate all four birthdays, as well as Jim and Suzie's anniversary, over the course of 5 weeks! Both sons have moved to Los Angeles after graduating from college (Malone, of course!) giving their parents a new "favorite place to visit". Locally a bike ride on the Towpath Trail (followed by a shower and dinner out!) is a perfect way to spend a sunny day.

Suzie became a follower of Christ at a very young age and has found the spiritual lesson that seems to reoccur in her life is the power of praise! When in need of encouragement herself (yes, even encouragers need to be encouraged!) she dives into the Word of God. The life of Catherine Marshall has been an inspiration to her as Suzie has journeyed in her own walk of faith. And somewhere along life's path she has learned to have FUN and rejoice always in the opportunities that God sets before her. A conversation with Suzie is never boring, and always inspiring!

When asked what the best advice she ever received is, Suzie replied: depends on the situation. With a new baby, the best advice was to make dinner at 10 a.m. when the kids were both napping and refrigerate it, then just microwave it at 5 p.m. when my husband got home. Spiritually, living on the "top half of the tank" has sort of become my creed. Just as I don't want to wait until I'm on "empty" when I'm out driving in the car-I don't want to wait until I'm empty spiritually before I pray through a situation or seek God's wisdom and guidance. Stay filled."

Labels: Beth

So I get home from work the other night, park my car and walk across our gravel driveway. I look down and see tufts of salt & pepper hair. What in the world? Ned must have cut his hair. Oh, no! I race into the house and demand he come into the kitchen so I can see him. He's wearing a hat.

"You didn't. You did, didn't you?"

"I look normal with a hat on."

The last time he shaved his head I made my feelings pretty clear on the matter. Don't. ever. do. that. again. We were upstairs in our bedroom and he says to me, "Honey, I was thinking about shaving my head." And I answered him in the worst possible way - without thinking and paying little attention. "Mmmh. Uh huh. Okay. - WAIT!" By the time my brain had comprehended what he said he had already vanished. I ran down the stairs and out into the garage. It was too late. He'd already swiped the clippers over his head.

And now, he's done it - again.

Don't get me wrong. I would love him even if he was bald. But some heads just aren't made to be naked. He's handsome, but his shaved head is ugly. There. I said it.

Fortunately it will grow out again. And for the record, lest you think I only discredit my dear husband on this blog, let me tell you all the wonderful things I love about him - despite his predilection for junky cars cars and shaved heads.

He cooks. A lot. In fact, for awhile he cooked me dinner every night. Now I share that chore with him once a week or so. He totally, absolutely adores me and tells me often. Every day he says 'I love you so much.' He tells me I'm beautiful and how great I look (despite the fact I've gained twenty pounds). He golfs with me rather than his buddies. He doesn't get upset when I spend money and he caters to my wants not just needs.

So I ask you, what's a little fuzz and pointy head compared to all that?

I'll take him just as he is.

All for Him

Missy

Labels: Missy

When I found out my oldest son was about to become a father, I was certain he was going to have a little boy. I began to wax nostalgic thinking about J as a baby, how much he was like his father (which has only increased with the passing years) so I wrote a book called 'Just Like My Dad' for him to read to his little boy (who turned out to be an adorable little girl!) which in essence said, "Look! Your daddy is just like his dad." And the little boy decides he wants to be just like his dad, too.

I never thought of myself as much like my father, but recently I've discovered that I'm much more like him than I would ever have imagined.

Whenever I asked my dad how old he was he always replied, "I'm as old as my tongue, and a little bit older than my teeth." His answer never varied and I could never persuade him to reveal his age to me. I had to find out his birth date and figure it out on my own. My dad had a sense of the absurd about him that peaked out every once in awhile. I think he liked to surprise people. He would sometimes come home and ask, "Anybody want to go for a ride?" but refuse to tell us where we were going - we always had to 'wait and see'. It made the most ordinary of days a fun and exciting adventure.

Not long ago my daughter gave me a memory book filled with pictures of the two of us. It makes me cry every time I read it. In the back there was a list of her favorite memories. They included one of me jumping in our pool every year fully clothed. (A tradition I treasured for the shock value!) I'm like my dad in wanting to surprise people - 'hey, you think you know me, but have you seen this side of me?"

I'm mostly quiet, but I have my dad's quirky sense of humor. I remember at one family party he danced on top of a table with a full glass on his head. I'll refrain from telling any stories about my party days!

I'm stubborn like my dad, too. When he and my mom were newly married they were at a party (we evidently like parties in my family!) My mom appeared to be taking too long in the ladies room 'fixing her hair'. They squabbled. Okay, they had an old-fashioned, rip-roarin' fight and my mother declared she would never 'fix' her hair again (and didn't!) and my dad said, 'Fine! Then I'll grow a mustache.' (Which my mother hated.) He kept it until he got sick forty-some years later and had to shave it off so the oxygen tubes would stay in his nose.

While I never aspired to be like him, I'm glad that there is much that I have inherited from my dad. Good and bad.

I don't know what kind of relationship you have with your father, or if you have any relationship at all, but I do know that you can have a most extraordinary relationship with your Heavenly Father. And you can be like Him! You can say with the psalmist, "I will be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness." (Ps 17:15)

All for Him,

Missy

Labels: Missy

Pirates and Parables

What do the two have in common? Absolutely nothing! That is, until I came up with The Charles Towne Belles series. Leave it to a Christian romance author to find a tie between a Scriptural parable and a pirate. But that is what I do. I create stories around truths I find in the Word of God. And lucky for me there is an endless supply in my favorite all-time book, the Bible! I've heard it said that if you're a writer, you are either a plot-driven writer or a character-driven writer, but as I've progressed in my writing, I've discovered that I fit into a third possibility, spiritual-driven writer. That's because my stories always begin with some scripture that God keeps pressing into my mind. In the case of my new series, it was the parable of the sower found in Matthew 13. You remember the parable. The sower (God) tosses seeds (the word of God) onto four types of ground: the wayside, the stones, among the thorns, and the good ground. Each type of ground is a person who receives the Word, but then things happen to them that either choke it or wash it away or make it fruitful. I remember walking on the trail behind my house thinking about this parable and instantly, God gave me the idea to create a 3-book series, each book containing the story of one sister who represents one of the final three types of ground.

In the first book in the series, The Red Siren, Faith Westcott represents the seed that falls on the stony places, and when tribulation, troubles, and problems arise, she stumbles and drifts away. So, I allowed a series of horrific things to happen to Faith and her family before the story even begins, things that caused her to turn her back on God and take matters into her own hands. She needs to make money and she needs it fast, and what better way to do so at a time when women could not work, than become a pirate!

In book two, The Blue Enchantress, Faith's sister Hope represents the seed that falls among the thorns and the pleasures of this world lure her away from God, and in book three, The Raven Saint, the third sister, Grace represents the good soil-the person who hears the word and understands it and bears much fruit. But of course she has one tiny little flaw (which I won't reveal quite yet)

I feel so blessed that God has allowed me to bring to life portions of His Word, and my hope is that it will make these truths seem more real and thus more understandable to readers.

If you're a writer and you struggle developing characters and plots, try starting out with a spiritual theme, a strong uplifting message you want the reader to walk away with. After you have that firmly in mind, create characters who will best portray that theme. In Faith's case, I needed someone stubborn, arrogant and angry. The kind of person who would walk away from God when disaster strikes. Then add all the other characters in the story who will either help your heroine in her journey or try to prevent her from succeeding. After all the characters are developed, choose a time period and location for the story. Tie it in with what you want your characters to go through and why, and finally develop your plot. It might sound a bit backward from the steps most writers take in creating a story, but it works for me. Maybe it will for you too!

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Labels: Guest Blogger

Circle of Friends is excited to continue to spotlight Barbour Publishing fiction authors. Today meet award-winning, best selling author Wanda Brunstetter. She has written nearly fifty books, with over four million in print. Some of those titles include the Sisters of Holmes county series, A Sister's Secret, A Sister's Test, and A Sister's Hope. She has also written stories, articles, poems, and devotionals for publication, as well as five books of puppet/ventriloquist scripts. She is a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother who loves being with family and friends. She also enjoys gardening, bird-watching, photography and the beach.

Be sure to click on our devotional link to read her devotional today! Check out her books and visit her Web site at http://www.wandabrunstetter.com/.

Labels: Missy

If you've followed this blog for any length of time - or are a regular listener of 95.9FM weekday mornings from 10 to 11am - you've quickly learned that I am passionate about God's people getting God's word into their lives each and every day. I liken it to our daily diets, we can't fill our mouths with junk food and expect to be physically healthy and we can't fill our minds with junk information and expect to be spiritually healthy.

So why is this simple truth so hard to incorporate into our daily lives? We've all been there, we've all, with best intentions, decided to join a Bible study, decided to read God's word each and every day. We know, without a doubt, that His word is important! The decision to "just do it" is the easy part! The actual "doing it"..well, frankly, life often seems to get in the way!

Why is life so busy? Why isn't there enough time to do all the important stuff we know we need to do? Well.I think I've found the answer! And guess what.it comes from God's word! (surprised? =)

Galatians 6:2 "Carry each other's burdens."

Galatians 6:5 ".each one should carry his own load."

Huh?

That was always my response as I read that portion of scripture. It seemed like a contradiction to me! In one verse we're told to help each other out and three verses later we're told to handle things on our own. So which is it? Do it yourself, or expect some help? And the answer is.YES!

God's word is quite clear: we need to be responsible followers of Christ. Doing what we've been called to do and not expecting others to do it for us! It is also just as clear that we are to be there for others (and they for us) when the burdens of life are too heavy for someone to carry on their own.

Let me try to give you a word picture to help with this one: "load" - or "stuff" is another non-theological word we could use - it's the items on our to-do list, the "stuff" we need, the "load" we carry, the items that need checked from our list today.

Now, think about the items you can't leave home without.cell phone, debit card, all those important things.when you're ready to head out the door what do you carry your daily load/stuff in? A purse? A backpack? A basket? Your pockets? For this purpose lets say we carry our "stuff" in a backpack. It's the "stuff" that we see as vital to our day. The "stuff" that we have chosen. (job, home, hobby, relationships, etc.) These are choices we have made to carry with us every day.

"Burden" on the other hand is something that has been placed on us - we haven't made a willful choice to pick it up and place it in our backpack, in fact, it often won't even fit in our backpack! It's the stuff of life that has "fallen" on us.

Both items can affect the busy-ness of our lives, but one (burdens) is a temporary journey, even though often, when we are in the midst of it, it seems it will never end; and the other (load/stuff) is usually what we've allowed to become our responsibility, our daily duty. The things we have picked up along the way and placed in our backpack.

Today we are talking about the daily "stuff" of life, the stuff we've put in our backpacks - or allowed others to place there. The stuff that we've chosen to carry, to take care of, and to deal with! It's the items we would find if we detailed our day on a list. Think of each item as a stone.each stone we allow into our backpack can make the weight of the day a little heavier.

Each and every day we need to ask ourselves "Is my backpack too full?" Each day will have some "weight" to it, (weight training is heart-healthy!) but is it a healthy manageable weight to carry around?" Are we trying to carry more than our bodies were designed to handle? Have we allowed others to place their stones (not their temporary burdens, but their daily "stuff") in our backpack? Or are we only carrying the stones (responsibilities, daily duties) that God has placed in OUR lives?

It is a temptation to fill our backpack to the brim with all the "stuff" that we think we HAVE to have, we HAVE to do, we HAVE to be! The load on our lives is our responsibility to carry, but we only need to carry what God has for us, and remember, He will never give us more than we can bear. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

The weight of our daily load will be impossible for us to carry without the help of the One who has designed us, knows the plans He has for us, and cares the most about us. The most important "stone" we can place in our backpack is a daily relationship with our Heavenly Dad! We will never know the "stones" (gemstones!) He has for us unless we are seeking Him, in prayer, in reading His Word, and in worship and adoration of and for Him!
And so my friends, I ask TODAY, have you spent time with your Heavenly Dad? Have you read His love letters to you? Have you looked upon His face and told Him how much you love Him? And if the answer is "no, I just didn't have time"...have you considered your knapsack is full of stuff He didn't put there?
Until next time.
Beth

Labels: Beth

Labels: Missy

When it rains, it pours.

Or at least that's how I felt. It was another rainy, ugly day, where a downpour hit exactly as I was walking to or from my car. With my husband still searching for a job, and every good possibility falling through, and now one of our cars sitting dead in our driveway and the bank account dwindling, I felt worse than the weather. Rain, rain, go away, come again..wait, don't come again stay away!

It seems that life just goes that way. With one trial comes another one right on top of it. When you think nothing else could possibly go wrong to make your life any more difficult, sure enough something will break down and need fixed, or you'll have an unexpected bill or more bad news. And just as it seems that the sun is finally peaking out after a long, rough storm, clouds quickly cover it up again.

And yet we are told to rejoice in our suffering (Romans 5:3-6), and to count trials as pure joy (James 1:2-4). This goes way beyond tolerating or surviving whatever it is that we're going through. It even goes beyond trying not to be bummed or even having a relatively positive attitude about things. We are supposed to be joyful throughout it all, thankful, praising God for bringing us situations and circumstances, because they draw us closer to Him and allow Him more glory by working in our lives.

In thinking about all of this, what's going on in my life and what God's Word tells me to do about it, I decided I could either sit inside, staring out through the window, wishing the rain would go away, or I could throw on my poncho, run outside, and go jump in the puddles.

So I'm heading outside. I'm gonna splash around, look up to the sky and catch raindrops in my mouth. Maybe I'll even do a little singing! But one thing's for sure, I am definitely going puddle jumping.

Cause I'm pretty sure Jesus already beat me out there and He's waiting on me to join the fun.

Emily

Labels: Emily

I decided to do something I've been MEANING to do forever.
I drove over to a buffalo herd near me.

Yes, there's a buffalo herd near me.

And took some pictures.
I just love the way buffalo look and I've driven by them a zillion times and stare like crazy because I find them fascinating. But I never pull over and just take a real look.

I'm especially interested in them because I've got a book coming out in October called Buffalo Gal. In fact it might be the other way around. I think my fascination with those buffalo is what inspired the book. I just think they're the coolest, weirdest creatures. The longer you look at them the stranger they look. The way their heads are so huge and their back ends are so slender, completely at odds with their heads.

It's like God was just having a good old time when he created them.

Anyway, today I did it. Pulled over. This herd is just outside Winnebago, Nebraska on the Winnebago Indian Reservation.

Look how close this guy is to the fence. I could have gotten really close to them. Instead I just used the zoom lens.

This fence looked pretty sturdy and there's an inner electric fence,

you can kind of make out the two thin strands of it.

I'm sure the whole time the buffalo was smashing through it he'd be going,

"Ouch, ouch, yowee, yikes, that smarts."

Then he'd be through and CHARGE!

I just kept flashing on a headline in the Omaha World Herald.

Woman gored to death by buffalo
Mary Connealy, while photographing a buffalo walked right up to it and it killed her. Duh! ***
***

Yes, the World Herald would put DUH in the headline.
You know they would.
How could they resist?
If the buffalo hadn't taken me out,

I'd personally insist they carve DUH on my tombstone.

EVERY PERSON who read that story would think..
"Good riddence, get someone that stupid out of the gene pool."

I WOULD THINK THAT, TOO! I ADMIT IT!!!

They might hunt down everyone related to me, too, just to strengthen the species.

***(Disclaimer.the above headline is fake. I am alive. The World Herald has never.to my knowledge mocked a person killed regardless of the stupidity of the actions of said dead person)

http://www.maryconnealy.com/

Labels: Guest Blogger

We are again spotlighting one of Barbour Publishing's fiction authors. Today we'll meet M.L.(MaryLu) Tyndall. MaryLu grew up on the beaches of south Florida and always longed for adventure. Her journey, like most of us, has been filled with valleys and mountaintops, but the greatest adventure has been discovering God's plan and purpose. She has been writing stories all her life and gives God the glory and praise for opening the doors of publishing for her books. Now she shares with others her wonderful creative world of adventure with God's love woven through every tale.

If you haven't tried reading historical fiction, check out MaryLu's books - which include The Falcon and the Sparrow, The Restitution, The Redemption, The Reliance, and The Red Siren. I'm sure you'll become a fan! Check out her devotional today on our devotional link.

Labels: Missy

As I write this it is the first Saturday in June. One daughter is off to get her hair done for the wedding of her best friend from high school. Another daughter is finally home after an unexpected trip to northern Ohio to be with a friend whose father succumbed to cancer much sooner than anyone could have expected.

A quote from the Dickens classic "A Tale of Two Cities" comes to mind, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times". And the verse from Romans 12:15 where we are instructed to "rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn" is at the forefront of my mind.

Both activities bring tears to my eyes. Yes, I'm a weepy woman, I'd love to say it's just my age, but the truth is I've teared up easily for as long as I can remember. In the past that trait embarrassed me, now I just see it as the way God wired me (yet there are still times I wish those tears didn't come quite so easily!). If you are one who has studied personality traits you'll remember it as a characteristic of a sanguine. Yup, that's me.

So today we rejoice - and oh what a great time of rejoicing it is! Lindsay and Michael, high school sweethearts with their whole lives ahead of them! In the fall both will begin the next phase of their lives as they attend dental school - together! Best wishes abound!

And in a few days we'll have the opportunity to fulfill the second part of the instructions from Romans as we open our home to the friend who has lost both father and best friend.

I'm so thankful that God has given us the great privilege of communicating with Him thru prayer. Philippians 4:6 - 7 instructs us to "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Ahh.that peace.that peace that this peace lover is so extremely fond of! That peace which the Amplified Bible explains as: that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace - will "guard [our] hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."

Without God's Word, without the amazing privilege of prayer, without the opportunity to thank and praise Him for everything that He has entrusted us to be a part of, I couldn't go on. But because of God's provision in our lives we can walk with confidence, and peace. Rejoicing (delighting, exalting, partying - my word, I'm pretty sure it's not found in scripture!) with those who rejoice and mourning (grieving, weeping, aching) with those who mourn.

Until next time.
Beth

Labels: Beth

I hate waiting.

I am so impatient and it drives my husband crazy. I hate waiting on the garage door to open all the way or the pin-resetter-thingie (yes, that is the technical term) at the bowling alley to go back up - I am flying into the garage or whipping my ball down the alley before I really should. So far, no accidents or major mishaps, but I'm sure it's just a matter of time before I'm taught the lesson I need to learn.

And today I find myself waiting. Waiting on a phone call, waiting on an answer, waiting to see what God is going to do in my life. Just like I have been the past month or so. Waiting, waiting, waiting.

And I don't like it.

So I began to think about waiting on the Lord and started looking through Psalms, where I knew the phrase could be found. Wow, does the psalmist have such great confidence in God, even when he is waiting. Ps 130:5 "I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I put my hope." Ps 38:15 "I wait for You O Lord, You will answer, O Lord my God." Ps 33:10 "We wait in hope for the Lord, He is our help and our shield." Ps 27:14 "Wait for the Lord, be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."

There is hope in waiting for the Lord, there are answers, there is help and there is strength. It's so hard to wait because it means we feel like we're not doing anything! We want to just fix it, and fix it now. But waiting is not a lazy response, it's not a desperate response, it's not a last resort. It's a Biblical response, it's a trusting response, and it should be our first instinct. To trust God, to patiently wait on Him to work out whatever it is that He is doing.

So I'm gonna continue to wait. I'm gonna give that whole patience thing a shot, and put my hope in the Lord and in His word. I'm gonna be strong and take heart, knowing He will answer.

Emily

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Ever feel like you're spinning your wheels, getting nowhere fast, taking one step forward and two steps back? When my children were young I used to quote this little rhyme:

"Ladies and gentlemen, hobos and tramps,

Cross-eyed mosquitoes, and bow-legged ants.

I come here before you to stand behind you,

To tell you something I know nothing about."

They loved this nonsensical verse but that's all I knew of the poem. That's all I could remember of it from hearing it as a child. Recently I discovered that there are about twenty different versions of it. So kids, here's the rest of it that you always asked for...

"This Thursday, which is Good Friday,

There's a lady's aid meeting for fathers only.

It's absolutely free, just pay at the door,

Pull up a chair, and sit on the floor.

It doesn't matter where you sit, the man in the gallery is sure to spit.

It was a summer's day in winter, and the snow was raining fast,

As a barefoot boy with shoes on, stood sitting in the grass.

Oh, that bright day in the dead of night, two dead men got up to fight.

Three blind men to see fair play, forty mutes to yell "Hooray"!

Back to back, they faced each other,

Drew their swords and shot each other.

A deaf policeman heard the noise, came and arrested those two dead boys."

Some days it just fits, you know? Try as I might I seem to get more behind than ahead. My to-do list gets longer not shorter, the junk in my house grows, not diminishes, and my responsibilities are more not less. Unfortunately I find that, like Paul, this wishing one thing and doing another is a struggle in my spiritual life as well.

Romans 7:15-23 describes it perfectly. I can't understand how I can decide one way, then act another, doing things I absolutely despise. I can't seem to be trusted to do what's best for myself. I know what the law says but can't seem to keep it. The power of sin pulls me toward these bad decisions. I can't do it on my own. I want to do right and I decide to do good, but then am unable to do it. I choose not to do bad, then do it anyway. I can't follow through on my decisions. Sin gets the better of me every time. I love God's Word, but can't seem to obey it. We all struggle with sin, even when we want to do right we battle our old nature - we end up saying with Paul, "I've tried everything and nothing helps. I'm at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me?"(v 24)

Thank God! He has given us that answer in His Son, Jesus Christ who has done everything necessary to set my life right.

All for Him,

Missy

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A co-worker of mine lost the baby she was carrying yesterday. So very tragic. She's struggled to conceive and lost a newborn a few years ago, so this must be truly heartbreaking for her. So, so sad.

I don't work for a Christian organization. I know of several believers here but certainly not everyone shares my faith. So I was amazed when we gathered around to talk about how we support Cheryl, how we help her, how we love her, how we see her through this great loss in her life. What to say, how to be sensitive, who's bringing her food or doing her laundry, and how we continue to celebrate the other women in the office who are pregnant with their own babies. This isn't necessarily the body of Christ, but this is what it should look like.

I can't imagine going through something like that. I've known several women who have lost children at different ages and I know that it's the most heartbreaking thing for a woman to go through. It just isn't supposed to happen that way. And I have no good thing to say to anyone who has experienced that. There are no good answers to why or how God could let one lose a child.

But God in His goodness has given us something to help in any time of great tragedy or loss or hardships - each other. The precious, precious body of Christ. When we endure trials like these, we wish God was close enough to hold us, to touch us, to comfort us. To literally be able to crawl into His lap and rock us as we cry. He's not physically here on earth with us, but He's given us people who are.

So if you're going through something right now I encourage you to use what God has given you - your sisters in Christ. Let them bring you dinner or drive your kids around or come and clean your bathroom. Let them pray for you, pray with you, cry with you, listen to you, and make you laugh when you need it. Don't shut people out, lean on them, let them help carry you through whatever you're going through. And if you know someone who needs those kind of people in their life - be that person! We are not to go through this life alone, we need each other, God has made us that way.

Because as hard as this life is, it gets a little bit easier when you can share the load with someone else.

Emily

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What was the last good book you read? If you haven't tried Christian fiction lately you're missing out on a good thing! Circle of Friends is excited to be featuring several authors on our blog and devotional page. Today we'll meet Mary Connealy. She is a Christy Award finalist and author of numerous books including, Petticoat Ranch, Calico Canyon, Gingham Mountain. Her newest release is Nosy in Nebraska. Make sure to check out her devotional on our devotional link.

As an award-winning author, Mary Connealy lives on a Nebraska farm with her husband and is the mother of four grown daughters. She writes plays and shorts stories and is the author of the Lassoed in Texas series. July 2009 brings the release of her historical fiction novel Montana Rose, the first in her Montana Marriages series. Also an avid blogger, Mary is a GED instructor by day and an author by night. For more information on Mary Connealy, visit her Web site at www.maryconnealy.com.

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It has been my sweet joy this past school year to meet with some amazing and inspiring people. They have enriched my life in ways they may never fully comprehend. Each one would tell you they are nothing special, just common ordinary folk, but we all have one thing in common, we serve an uncommon, extraordinary God!

For the past nine months I have had the pleasure of meeting with other moms who have a concern for their students, and a passion for prayer. We have grown in our faith, in our relationship with God and with one another, in our joint effort to lift our precious children up to our Heavenly Father; The One who loves them even more than we do! We have prayed for the teachers and staff who impact their lives each and every day. We have asked God to protect, to provide, to comfort and to guide each and every one who enters the school building. We depended on Him for traveling mercies as bus drivers, as well as student drivers, made the daily trek to and from their homes and schools, and every stop in between. And when events occurred that just didn't make any sense, we thanked Him for being in control, and trusted Him for the outcome. It has been a sweet sweet time of prayer.

I also had the distinct pleasure and privilege of meeting with another faithful group of fervent prayer warriors. This group had no relational ties to the students. But they have an immense "relational tie" to our Heavenly Father! We meet on the campus of Walnut Hills Retirement Home, and faithful and fervent are two words that describe them so well.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so instead of going on and on about this splendid group of senior saints take a look at the following..and if you'd like to join us, we've decided to continue our time of prayer thru the summer months! You can e-mail me at beth@circleoffriends.fm for more information! We'd love to see you there!

Until next time.

Beth

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Sisters. I have two living, and one who went to heaven long before I was born. I also have two brothers, but today I really want to dwell on the amazing gift of sisters. Let's face it, having brothers may be nice, but borrowing their clothes isn't half as fun (although I admit to poaching a few favorite shirts from my brother - who actually got them from his friends, but hey - possession and nine-tenths and all that - all I know is if it ended up in my laundry - I claimed it!)

My sisters are both older than I am. Being the baby has both its special privileges and frustrations. On the one hand, you usually manage to get whatever you want, on the other - that 'baby' thing gets annoying when you want to be taken seriously. I mean, seriously - at my age - I'm still 'the baby'. Yeah, whatever. The thing I always tell my siblings when they claim I'm spoiled - "Who do you think spoiled me?" It's their own fault.

You can see why I'm grateful that my sisters love me anyway - despite my predilection for self-importance or falling back into my old ways of 'getting what I want'. My oldest sister, Laura, for much of my life was really more of a mother to me than a sister. In fact, we called her 'Little Mama'. She is still nurturing all those around her - children and grandchildren alike. I love it that I was able to have her first. (Uh-oh - again with the spoiled thing!) She's funny and smart and has a way about her that draws you in and makes you feel special. She makes me laugh, and although she is ten years older than I am we have a lot in common and enjoy the opportunities we have to be together.

When I was younger I always thought my sister, Randi, might become President of the United States and run the country. She could do it, too! It's not just her intelligence that I admire, she's creative and caring and has put aside many of her own dreams to support her husband and family. She has a deep tender spirit that reaches out to everyone who enters her home. She's a great hostess and definitely makes you want to come back and visit her often! I sometimes look at myself and wonder how much of my life is a 'copycat' of trying to be just like her. She's a writer and loves the water - it seems all my favorite things I drew from her life.

These are my biological sisters - siblings that I am blessed to call family. They are a gift from God that I thank Him for daily. They have helped to shape me into the person I am today. We are connected through blood, bonded together by shared experience and living and linked by our heritage and deep-rooted love, but we are also spiritual sisters related through our shared relationship in Christ.

God has blessed me with a number of 'spiritual sisters'. In actual fact, there are too many to count because God's Word tells us that we are related to all those who claim Christ as their Savior. I know that I am blessed with those the Lord has drawn around me and allowed into my life. Their daily impact on my life is amazing. They encourage, support, exhort, hold me accountable, and love me well. We are made by our Creator to live in community with one another. To share our joys and sorrows, our trials and challenges of life, to interact with one another in a way that each life enriches the other.

Who are those special women God has brought into your life? They may be family by shared blood or heritage, but even if you don't have that particular gift, look around. God has most certainly placed some special ladies in your life to be a help and support. Bless them with a thank you today. And thank your Heavenly Father for caring for you and for those special friends you call 'sister'. Whether or not you share the same family tree, you share the same spiritual one.

All for Him,

Missy

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