Thanks Friends!

I have been reading a book by Sophie Hudson entitled Giddy Up, Eunice Because Women Need Each Other.  Great book and I wasn't given the book to offer my opinion!  Anyway, I've felt very moved to say thank you to the women in my life from early on to present day! Thanks.  God had a plan for each of you and in some way He used you to grow me!  Perhaps it was through a word, a smile, even discipline that God used you and He placed us in each other's life for a season or forever, but definitely for a purpose!

I've read through laughter and tears this book and thought of so many different situations with some of you.  I've shed tears because some of these women have already gone to heaven and perhaps they never knew how they touched my life, but they did!  Recently, I ran into a sweet lady that still brings laughter to my journey whenever I run into her.  I told Hattie that day in the medical building I loved her and that she touched my life beyond words.  I still regret not sharing with Katherine the same words, but I hope she knew she taught me about being a lady always!  I still see Jo around the corner and laughter is the word that comes to mind with her.

Today, I am going to mention a few women some that are still here, some that are in heaven, but I believe I am to acknowledge and let know to the world that they were a part of God's plan in my life!  Women of all ages some younger, some my age, and some much older.  Age doesn't matter and this book is a wonderful reminder of how we are to learn from each other.  All the years of women's ministry and this is still the word that God gives me over and over about women reach out and  realize that if we sometimes will offer a hand or share our story God will help another person.

Peggy, Jimmie, Margaret, Jo, Jo, Louise, Linda, Aunt Martha, Beverly, Karla, Lisa, Marlene, Betty, Betty, Rozi, Carolyn, Jeanie, Frankie, Kathy, Brenda, Annette, Michaela, Kristin, Erin, Terri, Mary Lynn, Janet, Audrey, Jana, Callie, Taylor, Sarah, Elizabeth, Cindy, Leah, Becky, Kimberly, Julie, Chantay, Margaret, Darlene, Patricia, Linda, Dora, Mary, Ruthanne, Beulah, Christine, Marilyn, Loyce, Rachel, Robin, Veda, the list goes on and on.  If your name isn't here, it's just because I am aging and well sometimes things just slip the old mind! Forgive me for the mind not being what it once was. (acceptance is part of the journey)  Of course, my mom and Pam are at the top of this list!  Each of you God used and still uses to teach me, to help me, to show me, to offer a difficult word at times, but He uses you!  Yes, you so please continue to follow the Holy Spirits nudge by acting, by moving, by sharing, by smiling.

I still laugh at different situations that come to mind with some of you!  A special group of ladies were gathered

in Hope around a table we were playing a game and never ever will I forget the laughter shared by one particular answer.  Thanks ladies for the love and laughter, but most of all for you!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie 

Thanks Friends!

I have been reading a book by Sophie Hudson entitled Giddy Up, Eunice Because Women Need Each Other.  Great book and I wasn't given the book to offer my opinion!  Anyway, I've felt very moved to say thank you to the women in my life from early on to present day! Thanks.  God had a plan for each of you and in some way He used you to grow me!  Perhaps it was through a word, a smile, even discipline that God used you and He placed us in each other's life for a season or forever, but definitely for a purpose!

I've read through laughter and tears this book and thought of so many different situations with some of you.  I've shed tears because some of these women have already gone to heaven and perhaps they never knew how they touched my life, but they did!  Recently, I ran into a sweet lady that still brings laughter to my journey whenever I run into her.  I told Hattie that day in the medical building I loved her and that she touched my life beyond words.  I still regret not sharing with Katherine the same words, but I hope she knew she taught me about being a lady always!  I still see Jo around the corner and laughter is the word that comes to mind with her.

Today, I am going to mention a few women some that are still here, some that are in heaven, but I believe I am to acknowledge and let know to the world that they were a part of God's plan in my life!  Women of all ages some younger, some my age, and some much older.  Age doesn't matter and this book is a wonderful reminder of how we are to learn from each other.  All the years of women's ministry and this is still the word that God gives me over and over about women reach out and  realize that if we sometimes will offer a hand or share our story God will help another person.

Peggy, Jimmie, Jo, Jo, Louise, Linda, Aunt Martha, Beverly, Karla, Lisa, Marlene, Betty, Betty, Rozi, Carolyn, Jeanie, Frankie, Kathy, Brenda, Annette, Michaela, Kristin, Erin, Terri, Mary Lynn, Janet, Audrey, Jana, Callie, Taylor, Sarah, Elizabeth, Cindy, Leah, Becky, Kimberly, Julie, Chantay, Margaret, Darlene, Patricia, Linda, Dora, Mary, Ruthanne, Beulah, Christine, Marilyn, Loyce, Rachel, Robin, Veda, the list goes on and on.  If your name isn't here, it's just because I am aging and well sometimes things just slip the old mind! Forgive me for the mind not being what it once was. (acceptance is part of the journey)  Of course, my mom and Pam are at the top of this list!  Each of you God used and still uses to teach me, to help me, to show me, to offer a difficult word at times, but He uses you!  Yes, you so please continue to follow the Holy Spirits nudge by acting, by moving, by sharing, by smiling.

I still laugh at different situations that come to mind with some of you!  A special group of ladies were gather in Hope around a table we were playing a game and never ever will I forget the laughter shared by one particular answer.  Thanks ladies for the love and laughter, but most of all for you!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie 

Delilah Treacherous Beauty by Angela Hunt

What word comes to mind with the name Delilah?  Evil, beautiful, mysterious, why?  So many words, but not many that would show up in the "nice" column.  When I read that Angela Hunt wrote a book on Delilah I wanted to read it.  Why?  Because I thought will I see what is beneath her beauty?  Will I see perhaps why she made such bad choices?  Will it make me think more about Delilah and Samson and perhaps add new perspective?

The answer is yes!  I think this book is really good.  The story shows that a lot of living happened to Delilah.  Yes, things happened to her and she responded by making bad choices.  How often have I done the exact same thing?  Oops.  Yes, I think everyone of us would have to say yes!  Oh, you don't think so.  You don't think you might think sometimes an eye for an eye?  I believe the words of this book make us all take a deeper look at ourselves!

Angela's woven story is heart-breaking, but she stayed very true to the scripture weaving perhaps a deeper look into the why's of Delilah's actions.  Bad things happened and she wanted pay back.  She wanted to be seen as a real person.  She wanted the evil person to pay and the only way they paid was by her deceit with Samson.  So many things that might have happened that really make you think about Delilah in a new way.  Do I like Delilah now?  I'm not sure how I feel about Delilah, but the truth is Delilah was a flawed woman just like me.  Delilah was human, so she made bad choices.  Choices that hurt deep.  I haven't made the choices of Delilah, but I know I've made choices that hurt deep as well.

I encourage you to read this book.  I think it will make you look deeper at Delilah, but also at yourself.  Perspectives might be changed.  I loved Angela Hunt's words at the end of her book about Delilah and Samson, "Samson and Delilah were not heroes or villains.  They were people...because people, with all their flaws, are what God uses to work His divine will.

Once again, through the gift God gave Angela Hunt of weaving words we all look deeper at this story of Delilah and we find hope!  Hope because indeed we are all flawed people.  Our choices may be different and we may not weight them as bad as Delilah's, but our weight of them doesn't matter.  It is all about God and how He uses our bad choices to work His wonders!  

Encouragement and hope.  I found both of these in the story of Delilah!  Indeed, a beautiful woman that made bad choices, but shows hope in God is the answer to truly survive!

Order through Amazon.com or at your favorite bookstore!  I was given this book by Bethany House to read and give my honest review!  Honestly, very good and thought provoking!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie