Women Living Well:Pre-Order!

Over on Women Living Well, Courtney is gearing up for the sale of her new book, Women Living Well.

And yours truly is on her launch team! I've been able to get an advance copy, and let me tell you...it's AMAZING. Monday I'll be giving a more in depth review but right now I just HAD to share the amazing deal Courtney's giving when you pre-order her book. :D

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If you purchase ONE copy of my book before September 30th, you will receive FREE the following 10-eBook bundle! 

1. Honoring the Rhythm of Rest by Daniele Evans at DomesticSerenity.org
2. Hope for the Weary Mom by Stacey Thacker and Brooke McGlothlin at HopeForTheWearyMom.com
3. Take Courage (brand new release) by Jennifer Ebenhack at JenniferBenhack.com
4. Time Management 101 by Crystal Paine at MoneySavingMom
5. Taking Joy to Heart by Sally Clarkson at ITakeJoy.com
6. Outside the Zone by Rachel Wojnarowski at RachelWojo.com
7. Single Girl  by Ashley Schnarr at StayAtHomeDaughter.com
8. Healthy Ice Pops and Frozen Treats by Kelly Smith at TheNourishingHome.com
9. The Proverbs 31 Woman – One Virtue At a Time by (me) Courtney Joseph
10. A Companion Study Guide to the book Women Living Well- this can be used for your own individual study or grab a group of friends and use it as a group discussion guide!!!

In order to receive your FREE eBook bundle simply email a copy of your receipt to womenlivingwellbook@gmail.com Put in the subject “One book purchased”.  They will send you, via email, your free eBook bundle!!!




OH, and...you better hop on over to her blog, she's got even MORE deals and prizes, gifts for y'all! :D 


 

Life Interrupted: Beauty From Ashes

I've shared the story many times already, but it's still one of the biggest life changing and life challenging moments to date.  And sometimes I still can't see the whole picture of it, the 'good' in it. 

In 2010, after our 5 month old son left this earth, our lives were broken beyond recognition. I was hurt, overwhelmed with a grief so heavy, I thought I'd never get out from under it. I was angry. Confused. I thought surely, this was His punishment, for the sin we'd committed in being together while he was still married.

But one thing I knew...I would still choose Christ. 

As I struggled with the pain, and loss, I began blogging through it. In a hurry to get it all down, so I could remember what he smelled like, sounded like, how he smiled. And with each memory being put down, I ached for the ones that wouldn't replace them. The first time he spoke. The first steps. The first day of school. I would miss those firsts...and it hurt!

But one thing I knew...I would still choose Christ. 

In writing those memories down, it was like I was wrapping them gently, and placing them at the foot of the cross. I was giving them to Christ...and though at times it hurt, and some memories took me longer to let go of...I still choose Christ.

Now...I can see some of the beauty from those ashes. The bonds of marriage have become stronger, move focused on Him. The children we've been blessed with since, are a joy, unexplainable. My husband has come to know Christ more, and see Him more...trust Him more.

Yes, our lives were interrupted. But what a glorious legacy, from that interruption. 

I've had some ask me, if I want Michael back. Part of me will ALWAYS want him back.  But the greater part of me is at peace that this is how it's meant to be. If this has been God's plan for us, then I wouldn't change it. For there is a purpose in all things, and He will use it for our good.

If I confess of the mouth, then the walk and heart must follow. I can't pick and choose what I believe about Him, because something may hurt, or be more than I can bare. I must choose Christ..in ALL things. 

Linked up today over at:

Prayer & Hero's

Prayer.
It's the method of communication with a Father above, who desires to hear from His children.

I used to have a few more books on prayer, and darn my de-cluttering ways, they seem to have not made the cut of books. The following are the ones I have left, and I have decided, if it's His will, to see about new ones!

Of course, I also love the Psalms and Davids heart. In my own times of trails I have held the prayers of David close, and cried them out loud to the Almighty, seeking understanding and help.

Prayer can move mountains, and in some areas of the world, it's so very different. They don't have time for the popcorn, lollipop style prayers that those who have easier lives often fall into praying.

Myself included. 

Those in countries who are persecuted for their faith in Christ, have a deep, real prayerful connection to God above. They know Him to the be the one who gives them their next meals, their peace and their strength to face what comes. Each day. All day long. They can trust Him in the simple, basic ways, because...THEY can't provide for themselves. Oh, how I long to know Him like that. To have the every day, all day long trust in Him, to give the food, the housing, the clothing that I need.

The peace and strength. 

I've read many heros of faith, growing up. I can't remember them all. But the names of the Elliots, Chambers, Wurmbrand, Livingstone, the Wesley brothers, the secret church in China, the various stories and true tales of sacrifice crossed my library at some point. The lives of these people inspired me, and grew a love in my heart for the lost, hurting and broken. They grew the knowledge of God and just what He can do for His children, when they seek Him. 

Also with these people of faith, comes the searing rebukes for those who stand by and do nothing to help their professed brothers and sisters in Christ. The rebukes coming to the western churches, and regrettably...ignored by many.

Richard Wurmbrand writes in his book, "Tortured for Christ"
"Many Christians in the west have no love for those in captive nations. Proof it is that they do nothing for their salvation. They have missions to persuade Christians of one denomination to change to another. But many have no mission to captive nations, claiming that such work is "against the law"! They don't love them. Otherwise they would have long since created such an impossible-looking mission"



How to the point it is, and just what I was wanting to hear right now...strange as that may sound. Why is it we seem to focus on the Christians in another denomination, and not the lost?


Linked to Women Living Well

Last Night, My Words Hurt Him

Last night, my thoughtless words hurt my husband. As I watched his face absorb what I'd said, I knew I hurt him. In that moment, I wish I could have taken the words back, or taken the hurt I'd inflicted. But I can't do either.
All I can do is ask him to forgive me, and once again, try to tame my tongue.

Over at Women Living Well, she posted this post about making a list of things your admire in your husband, and giving it to him. To build him up. It seemed timely, so here I am.

What I admire about my husband:

1. He would do anything to make sure our family is taken care of.
2. He is protective and involved in all our pregnancies and childrens lives.
3. He never forgets to tell me he loves me.
4. He helps around the house, when I seem overwhelmed.
5. He helps my Mom with things around her house.
6. He takes the time to go to his Mom's house and see her, helping her as well.
7. He is nervous about being a Daddy to a girl. (I find this smile worthy, because he wants to do right by her so much!)
8. I love watching him and our son together, they are (will be) two peas in a pod, I believe.
9. I love that he accepted my parents as his own.
10. He picked me, this independent, pain the behind, steam roller of a gal, to love and spend his life with.


She also said to write a list of flaws about our husbands, but I don't think I'll do that. It's so easy to pick apart someone we love, and are close too. It's harder to remember to build them up, to love them, to show respect to them. My focus has been off lately, and my actions and words, show it.

It's time to refocus, and remember what's truly important. The little things are just that. Little things. 

Lord, help me to remember the important things, not the little ones. Guide my thoughts and deeds, so that I'm a builder of people, not a destroyer. 


Linked up over at:
Women Living Well
Revive Your Marriage series

30 Day Challenges

I've joined several challenges lately, and a few of them 30-Day ones. Besides the 8 week challenge over at Women Living Well, I will also be doing 3 30-Day's from Revive Our Hearts, Husband Encouragement, Choosing Gratitude and True-Woman Make Over.  I've been needing inspiration for blogging as well as for getting closer with God.

So, let the journey begin.

We'll start today with Husband Encouragement.

"The heart of her husband safely trusts her; so he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil all the days of her life." (Proverbs 31:11-12)

My husband and I have been married for just over 2 years now. An infant marriage, to be sure. But when you look past the dates n time-line, you'll see a gem. A beautiful stone that has been through fire and melting.

Just before our 1 year anniversary, our son passes away from SIDS. The grief, torment and guilt that goes along with a loss is enough to rock any marriage and most especially a new one.  As we mourned our loss, we turned to each other, instead of away. For which I'm thankful for, everyday. I like to say we were on a fast-track to a mature marriage. We learned a lot about each other, that might take others years to learn.

As life has settled down a bit, we've been able to have a routine again. To enjoy time together, laugh and cuddle. This in turn, allowed us to be blessed with another son who will be coming in the Fall.

My husband is a wonderful man, a terrific father and caring soul. He's passionate about his role as my husband, and being a father again (always).

He is my best friend, my lover, my helpmate and my partner in this life.
I tell him often that I love him, but it still wouldn't be often enough to show how much I appreciate all he's done for me, our family and those we care about.

What do you say about your husband? Do you praise him, to him? Does he know that you love him and desire him? Do you intentionally court your husband for his ideas, his feelings? I encourage you to do so.

Peggy

P.S. Btw, in no means do I think our marriage doesn't have room to grow and get better. It does have it's growing pains, and misunderstandings. We're not perfect, but we love each other and have a commitment to each other, that gets us through the tough and rough.

This post is also linked back to Time-Warp Wife.

Good Morning Girls!

**Originally posted on January 5, 2011

One of the many blogs I follow is Good Morning Girls, started by Courtney over at Women Living Well.
I love the encouragement I get from her and a few other blogs like hers. I wanted to join last year, a group of women who'd help keep me accountable to reading the Bible in quite time everyday. But I wasn't willing to do it, afterall. It was a half hearted attempt at best.
This year however, I am happy to have a group of lovely women to help me along this path. If you would like to join us please let me know! We have a group on Facebook and right now we're at 20 women. We're still getting to know each other, and won't be starting the dailies until the 15th, so you have plenty of time! Here is the description from the site:
When: Enrollment runs January 1st through January 15th

Where: Sign up on the Message board

Who: If you have a group of girls already, then enroll them on the message board.  If you do not have a group yet, go to the thread on the board where other ladies are looking for a group and email one of them and create a group!

What: If you have never heard of Good Morning Girls before here’s what we are…The “Good Morning Girls” is a title for a group of women who use email, facebook, twitter or text messaging to keep each other accountable for their quiet times. For 3+ years, I have been a part of a group of girls who email each other each weekday morning after we have our quiet time. We say “Good Morning” and then share what we read in our quiet time. Some of us have our quiet time first thing in the morning, while others squeeze it in during children’s naps or at bedtime.

Why: Our main goal is to be accountable to each other and to help each other maintain the discipline of reading God’s word daily.

Important to note: When our group started we had 11 women – within five months we were down to 5 women.  After 2+ years, we had one drop out and we added two new ones this past fall.  Your group may lose a few – don’t sweat it.  This is normal – do not take it personally or let it discourage you.  Keep going and praying for your group.
Over time, we have learned a lot about each other and have bonded. We discuss marriage, parenting, homemaking and more. We have fasted and prayed for each other in times of trouble, have kept each other accountable in specific areas of weakness and in the summer we always read a book together to discuss.

Commitment: Joining a Good Morning Girls group requires commitment.  Now that Angela and I have had time to watch these groups form and grow, we are aware that some start strong but then fizzle out.  As a result the entire group can get discouraged.  So it is very important that if you join a group you remain committed to the end.  Even if you can only check in once or twice a week – please do not quit completely.  The other girls WANT to hear from you!


This is a 3 month commitment.  The winter session runs from January 15th – April 15th.


What to study: You can choose as a group to read through a certain book of the Bible together, to join a Bible study together such as a Beth Moore study or each do your own thing.  This past year my entire group was in an Anne Graham Lotz  Bible study together but this winter we will not be in a Bible study together.
Angela and I will be unveiling a very simple Bible study in the book of James.  This is what I will be doing in my quiet times during this session.  We would love for you to join us in our study of James if you do not have other plans.
We look forward to a wonderful winter as we journey together in our Walks with the King!

The books that we've decided to read together are Ruth and Esther. So it'll be easy to jump in and join us. I pray that you'll hear Gods voice in this, and follow His leading. If you join us, I look forward to being encouraged and encouraging.


In His hands always,
Peg