I want to share my nail-biting story with you. No, I NEED to share my nail-biting story with you. I know I’m not the only one out there who has felt the shame of having a bad habit that they just could not get a handle on no matter how hard they tried. I hope this story encourages you!
You might be wondering why I am praying for my husband who chose to betray our marriage covenant. Honestly, sometimes I wonder the same thing.
Max Lucado writes in his book, Anxious for Nothing, “The path to peace is paved with prayer.” In these days of utter turmoil, peace sounds very very good.
For several years now, I have worked my way through the book, A Clearing Season, by Sarah Parsons during Lent. I’ve never finished it. Maybe one day I will. But in one particular reading, in one particularly hard season of my life, I read this:
“’Thy will be done’. These may be the most revolutionary words we will ever say. Saying them can change our orientation to life: we put our little boats into a great stream and drop our oars. We lose a bit of our old control over things; we clear the space and allow God to fill it, agreeing to tend whatever growth God engenders.” ~Sarah Parsons, A Clearing Season
I’m off to London for a quick fun trip with my sister next week. I realized today that we’ve never been on a trip together as adults. Neither of us have been kids for quite a while but it’s fun to think about a trip with no parental supervision. haha! We are both huge fans of all things Jane Austen. Although someone recently told me I can’t really be considered a true fan if I’ve only seen her movies and not read the books. haha! Bonus ultra fan points for those who have read her books multiple times. Anyway, on those terms, I suppose I’m not as much of a fan as others but I will argue, that ANYTHING Jane Austen is fan-worthy and anyone who loves anything Jane Austen can be in my fan club, lame as some may think it.
Welcome my new friend, blogger and author, Julie Presley! We “bumped” into each other in cyberland, introduced by a mutual friend, and I couldn’t be more grateful. She is the author of the Christian romance novel, Stones of Remembrance and Nor Forsake, which I have read, devoured and loved. Her heart is for women to experience freedom in Christ-centered romance but the biggest piece of her heart is dedicated to her two sons, as you will see as you read her words. Thank you, Julie, for sharing with us here at EPFH. You can find more of Julie’s writings at JuliePresley.com. Subscribe to her mailing list and keep up with news about her upcoming novel.)
Please welcome, LaRae Humes, as she shares this beautiful and heartfelt prayer for her young daughter for this new year of life. As a “seasoned” mom, it is so special to me to see young moms caring so well for their babies. And by caring well, I mean leaning into God’s provision through prayer. Prayer is the very best thing we can do for our children. Thank you, LaRae, for sharing your heart with us. It is a true joy to have you with us. For more of LaRae’s writings, visit her blog, My Musings. You’ll be so glad you did.
Today marks 27 years of marriage for my husband Tommy and I. This is nothing short of a miracle. Anyone who has been married longer than a week could say the same thing.
Today, 2 years ago, I woke up to what would be the longest and most exhausting day of my life to date. I finished November 2, 2013 with not one ounce of anything left in my body. Energy, emotion, thoughts, words, nothing. It was also one of the most wonderful days of my life.
I want to welcome as many of your stories as I can so on this Saturday, and if it works out, all the Saturdays to come, I’m hosting a link-up post sharing extravaganza.
I believe in the power of prayer. I believe that prayer works and I couldn’t be convinced otherwise. I know several people who are praying for me right now. Either because I asked them to or just because they’re good to me like that. They are praying over me to have hope, to have peace, to sustain, to allow God to continue writing my story. I am praying for them too.
Empty Plate . Full Heart 