IT'S UP! MY NEW BANNER AND BLOG DESIGN!

You'll notice the new banner as soon as you click on the blog url. It's just beautiful and I couldn't be more pleased.

Edie at Rich Gifts worked hard to make this banner, a smaller version for my website and then change the template for the blog to a three column design. Now I have a consistent, professional look for the website, the blog, and the beautiful button.

I'll be rearranging the blog elements over the next couple of days, so stop back often to see my progress!

Thank you Edie, for sharing your talent with me.

On a happy side note: Edie also happens to be one of the Mother's Day Giveaway winners and she has requested a copy of my book, which I will sign and send off to her!

Changes Are Coming Soon!

I'm very excited that Edie at Rich Gifts is working on a new blog banner and banner for my website. She's also going to make this a 3-column blog! I have an idea of how I want to arrange all the gadgets, buttons, widgets, etc., and the 3-column design will accomodate my plan perfectly!

I love Edie's creativity and how she "captures the essence" of each person she does work for!

So . . . stay tuned. The winds of change are blowing:-)

Blog of the Week at Becoming Me

I'm honored to be the featured Blog of the Week participant and Becoming Me. Angela is such a wonderful networker and Christian friend. She offers hospitality to everyone who visits her blog, invites others to pray with her for others, and generally offers opportunities for others to shine.


I hope you'll stop by to read my interview, read some of Angela's posts, and spend some time looking around her blog. You'll be captivated I'm sure.

Because of the Cross

A number of years ago I attend an Emmaus Weekend. An Emmaus Walk is challenging to explain because the preference is that future participants not know everything that will take place throughout the Friday night-Sunday afternoon over which the experience takes place.

The weekend is planned to allow the "traveller" to experience Christ at a deep, personal level. It is a time of complete seclusion but for other Emmaus participants and the team of volunteers who serve as guides/servants/small group leaders. Every learning style is addressed and catered to. Music, food, study, small group sessions, large group sessions, personal testimonies, and so much more are intermingled with time to be alone, pray, reflect, walk or socialize and relax with others.

One of the two women "assigned" to my group of 5 women displayed seemingly boundless energy. She also was a deeply committed to making the experience as meaningful as possible for each of us. Each team member has been on the Walk themselves and then receive extensive training to become a team member for others. She was a true servant in that she continually brought us soft drinks, water, tea, coffee, snacks during sessions.

She prayed with and for each us indvidually and as a group. I know the team got almost no sleep throughout the course of the weekend, buy this woman never wavered in her willingness to jump up and be sure we were catered to like royalty.

I cried many tears that weekend. In fact I'm wellng up as I type this just recalling the experience. My tears then were for my sinfulness; for my abject grief and shame. My tears were due to my absolute inability to grasp why and how God could love me enough to send Christ.

I lost any perception of composure when this young woman prayed over me after one of our small group discussions came to a close. This was her prayer: "Lord we know that you died for us. But Lord, today I need Mary to know that you would have died just for her. If she had been the only one in need of your gift, you would have died just for her."

I had never and have never been one who said I was "born again." I am blessed that even during the years I did not go to church as a young adult, that I knew Christ and His love for me. This day, though, the magnitude of the gift washed over me. The vestiges of unworthiness and self-loathing began to erode. My tears and the tears I have cried since began to wash away the past - the life I lived before I knew and fully accepted that Jesus would have died JUST FOR ME.

He would have died JUST FOR YOU, too. That's called grace. We don't deserve it - you and me - your OR me. But He did it anyway--and he would have just for you; just for me.

Because of the Cross I long for eternity in heaven. Because of the Cross I live for Christ. Because of Christ I am free and whole and worthy. Because of Easter I am like those women at the empty tomb 2000 years ago - awed, amazed, full of hope and joy!

"Because of the Cross" is the answer to every question in my life.

Because of the Cross.

If you have a post about the true meaning of Easter, please visit Becoming Me to let others know about it.

My New Blog "Button"!

Edie at Rich Gifts just designed a blog button for me! The link here is to her design blog (She also has a personal blog that I know you will enjoy reading.)

I'm so pleased with how it turned out! She actually gave me 5 versions to choose from.

If you would like to copy this button to your blog, go to my sidebar and you'll see the code (with instructions if needed)--also courtesy of Edie.

Edie doesn't know it yet, but I'm going to have her do some more graphics to correspond to my website. This is a little less "cute" than the original banner and avatar I have used for several years. Also as my ministry has evolved, I think this new one represents the new focus.

EASTER FRILLS AND THRILLS BLOG CARNIVAL

I'm joining Angela at Becoming Me in her Easter meme. After you read my post, stop by her blog and find out about the awesome giveaways she is offering. All you need to do is write a post about Easter and post it on your blog on either March 9, 10, or 11. There are no rules for the post other than it be about Easter (she offers some great suggestions for posts). Why not sign up with Mr Linky on her site and share your own Easter frill and thrill!

My Easter post is actually a poem that is included in my book, Woman At The Well.

The Cross of My Salvation

Every thorn in the mocker’s barbed and twisted crown

placed upon my Savior’s head
For these I implore your mercy,

though I have not been merciful.

Every stripe of the tormenter’s rage ravaging

my Savior’s back and arms and chest
For these I beseech you,

grant me pardon though I have not been forgiving.

Each crucifier’s nail hammered through

my Savior’s hands and feet
For these I humbly implore your absolution,

though I have failed to grant pardon.

Each gnarled branch used to make a

Cross for my Savior to hang upon
For these I abjectly bow before you,

filled with sin and shame.

The cold and lonely cave a rich man gave

for my Savior to be laid in.
For this I weep in anguish,

knowing full well my own sins helped carve out the stone.

The ragged burial clothes lovingly

wrapped around my Savior’s body
For these I wring my hands,

fully knowing my imperfections weaved the cloth.

The heavy, groaning rock that sealed

the tomb of my Savior’s fate
For this I shed a million tears,

anguished that my own heart could be like stone.

The sunrise on the third day

that welcomed my Risen Savior’s victory
For this I seek your grace and peace,

rejoicing that I too was born again that day.

Great Giveaway From a Christian Bloggy Friend!

Edie at Rich Gift Graphics and Blog Designs is having a Blog Makeover or Graphic Giveaway. The winner will get a Custom Blog Makeover for a Blogger blog.

If you already have a blog design that you are happy with or don't have a Blogger blog, then she will create a Custom button, tag, or Header for you instead.

The winner is welcome to Gift-Away their makeover if they want to to make a special blogger happy.

Her graphics are awesome! Check out the scripture tag on my sidebar to see the type of work she does. Several bloggers I follow have blogs she designed and they're gorgeous!

Click on the link and read the rules! Even if you don't win, you'll be so glad to discover Edie and her gift for all things graphic!

Resting in God

I'm not very good at "resting in God." I'm a fidgety, busy, energetic, creative and imaginative person. All too often I am just not able to contain or appropriately channel that creative energy! Over the last couple of weeks I've felt the spiritual energy coursing through my body, I just didn't know how to channel it. Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established. [Proverbs 16:3] I shared on Friday that I have been praying the Prayer of Jabez.

God has not only answered my sincere prayer that He provide me opportunities to share the Good News, he answered quickly!! Oh, my! I listed on my Godly Graffiti blog all the new writing ideas I have had today. Of course, the Spirit has cleared my mind and opened my heart to the possibilities. I just needed to quiet my soul and wait on God to guide me.

My heart is not proud, O LORD, my eyes are not haughty;I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me. [Psalm 131:1-2]

I am so excited to be excited about writing again! I'm thrilled to have new and fresh ideas. I have considered my ways and have turned my steps to your statutes. [Psalm 119:59 NIV]

Now my challenge will be to implement all these great ideas and still stay on track with my already established goals!

I Guess An "Old Dog" Can Learn Some New Tricks!

I know that some of you who know me well will be in utter shock when I tell you this: I actually used html and other computer "stuff" to create a blank journal for sale on the website lulu.com!

For those who don't know me well, the humorous part of this announcement is that I can't even handle using the remote control for the television except for the "on/off" function! We have so many options with cable t.v., etc., that I inevitably hit the wrong button, much to the exasperation of my family!

What is so amazing to me is not only that I was able to produce a product that looks exactly as I envisioned it, create a "storefront"/"website" where people can go to buy it on line and then add links back to the storefront from my website and my blog all by myself, but I did it on a day I was not originally scheduled off. I received a bonus day off and so I used it to accomplish this goal.

Perhaps you don't see God in all of this, but I know He has been at work arranging and rearranging circumstances for me in response to my ardent prayer that He take over all the how's and the when's of everything I believe He wants me to do to spread the Good News. A week ago, I couldn't imagine how I would possibly have time to sleep because it seemed my days would be so full and busy! Finally, on Sunday, I asked God to give me some kind of sign, that I could not mistake or doubt, about whether or not I was on the right track in the goals I have set.

This is part of an email message I received from a friend on Monday morning:

GOD WANTED ME TO TELL YOU, It shall be well with you this coming year. No matter how much your enemies try this year, they will not succeed. You have been destined to make it and you shall surely achieve all your goals this year. For the remainder of 2008 and all of 2009, all your agonies will be diverted and victory and prosperity will be incoming in abundance.
Today God has confirmed the end of your sufferings, sorrows and pain because HE that sits on the throne has remembered you. He has taken away the hardships and given you JOY. He will never let you down. I knocked at heaven's door this morning, God asked me. My child! What can I do for you? And I said, "Father, please protect and bless the person reading this message".

Apparently this prayer began with Mother Theresa and has been circulating for several decades. Needless to say, I have been praying that all it promises is so. I have no doubt that it will be through the power of Christ and the prayers I lift as well as the prayers of my friends and family.

I want you to know that I pray this for each of you every day as well. I wish you JOY in your journey.