Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Tis the Season



Tis the season for eggs . . .

Last year a bird built a nest inside my front door wreath. A few weeks after I put that same wreath out this year, I noticed some fresh grass and mud had been added.

Sure enough, when I peeked inside the nest this evening, there lay a blue egg.

Hopefully, mama didn't see me catching a glimpse of her baby in progress.

We'll see . . .

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Wonderful Day with the Lakeside Baptist Women!

What a treat to speak on "putting the past in the past" at the LBC Women's Event today! And have my friend and neighbor, Linda Sable, come with me!



Theme: Gone with the Wind

From the majestic theme music to actual Gone with the Wind clip to Carol Burnett comedy sketch of "Scarlet in her curtain"--rod and all! To our own Heather Morris browsing tables dressed in her version of Scarlett (with rod and all!), to the glorious three-D hand-painted backdrop by Chrystal Creswell and the beautiful pillars. Not to mention the delicious brunch with men serving. And the gorgeous unique table decor from vintage to modern illustrating the theme.

Awesome job LBC ladies' event team: Sharron Hearne, Aliene Hodges, Tammy Brammer, and Mary Lynn Barrett. A special thanks to Susan Stephens for her moving monologue as the "woman at the well."

Great reminder that the Lord can help us put the past to rest and move on to what He has for us today.

~~

Also wonderful to get some books into hands today. A portion of proceeds goes to support Straight Street of the Roanoke Valley, an inner city ministry that reaches out to lost and hurting teens and their families with the gospel of Jesus Christ.



Friday, March 9, 2012

Okay, Ebook lovers--SECOND CHANCE, now available on Kindle!

Second Chance is now available on Amazon Kindle! Check it out!


http://www.amazon.com/Second-Chance-ebook/dp/B007IFGT3M/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1331298259&sr=1-1


Monday, March 5, 2012

Welcome Cynthia Simmons, author of Struggles and Triumphs!

Author, Cynthia Simmons, shares her thoughts on spiritual gifts from the scriptures.


Do you ever feel insignificant and wonder if anyone would notice if you disappeared? On the other hand do you struggle with thinking too highly of yourself? The following verses in Romans teach us proper self esteem. “For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith God has assigned. For as we have many members and the members do not have the same function.” Rom. 12: 3-4

Pride comes so easily to us, but so does poor self esteem. Neither extreme brings good mental health. So what’s the answer? In the next few verses the Apostle Paul launches into an explanation of spiritual gifts, and I believe that forms an excellent basis for a balanced view of ourselves.

Think about it. God gives every believer a gift. No one gets left out. Furthermore your gift may be mercy, but it will have a different slant than others in the church. You’ll be uniquely gifted to do a job no one else can do the way you can in the time and place you live. Even more than that, when you exercise your gift, you become a vital part of the whole church—a necessary cog in the workings of the machinery. Should you fail to use your gift, the church will lose the special ability to touch the world as God planned. Imagine your body deprived of an eye, or even the big toe. Doubtless you’d miss either one.

Let’s revisit the verse above. Paul taught each believer in Rome “…not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think…” In other words, he’s saying not to be proud. A prideful person would think of himself as the entire machine. Nothing would happen without him, and we all know that’s not true. That’s disobeying this verse—he’s not that important. But if a believer sees himself as a vital part of the machine, or the body of Christ, that’s healthy. He’s valuable and has something to offer. Paul continues Romans twelve this way, “Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them…”

Do you battle with thoughts of insecurity? Discover and use your spiritual gift. Do you combat pride? View yourself as a member of God’s church with a vital role to play. The church needs us all, working together for God’s kingdom.




Cynthia L Simmons and her husband, Ray, have five children and reside in Atlanta. She has taught for over twenty years as a homeschool mother and Bible teacher. Active in Christian Authors Guild (CAG), she conducts writing workshops and has served as president, vice president, and conference director. In December 2009 the membership granted her Life Time Membership for her numerous contributions to writers. “Cindy” is fond of history and writes both historical fiction and nonfiction. Her writing appeared in CAG publications, NATHHAN NEWS, Chattanooga Regional Historical Magazine, Georgia Right to Life Newsletter, Chattanooga Times Free Press, Catholic Exchange, and Christian Devotions.us. Her first book, Struggles and Triumphs, came out in 2008. While promoting her book, she had interviews on radio and TV across the nation and was nominated for 2008 Georgia Author of the year. She also conducts monthly podcasts called CAG Spotlight in which she interviews authors and VIPs in the writing industry. At present she is completing a twelve week Bible study using the stories in Struggles and Triumph.



What’s wrong with our world? Shouldn’t a God who claims to be all powerful and flawless prevent suffering? How can we continue to believe when storms rage on in our lives? If you’ve ever had tough questions like these Struggles and Triumphs Study Guide is the book for you. Author Cynthia L. Simmons will guide you toward answers with her unique and enlightening approach. Her twelve-week Bible study for ladies comes from stories of real women as told in Struggles and Triumphs: Women in History Who Overcame. As you study, you’ll come to understand God’s perspective on timeless issues that impact your life. The carefully chosen Scriptures combined with interesting historical information will challenge and encourage you.

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