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Announcement: Freebie Coming in September!

Do you have a “go-to” verse or book in the Bible that you turn to when you need comfort, encouragement, help, or even a reminder to “shape up” your attitude? If you’re like me, you have several—diferent ones for different needs. However, the Book of Psalms is my all-around go-to book. While it’s true that the New Testament speaks to those of us no longer living under the Old Testament Law, it is also true that our amazing God never changes; therefore, for me, the Psalms contain just about everything I need in reference to knowing more about God.

In addition to a more structured, written Bible study, I try to read the entire book of Psalms during the months that have thirty days. I read five chapters each day, each thirty chapters apart, in order to accomplish this: on the first day, I read Psalm 1, Psalm 31, Psalm 61, Psalm 91, and Psalm 121, and I follow this pattern for each day of the month. Others find that reading this book in chapter order is their method of choice, so, as always, the principle is to do what will benefit your life the most through your personal time with God.

From this morning's reading of Psalm 91! Click the photo to read this chapter on BibleGateway.com.

Yes, I know that August has thirty-one days, but I’m already so excited about a study/list I’m going to make available—for FREE—that I’m sharing a little bit about it today. I’m cheating and preparing it in August—rather than posting it daily in September as I go through it—so that it will be ready on August 31st for you to download! Please pray with me that the lessons I’m learning through this mini word list will be used in my life and then in the lives of others.

When I read through the Psalms in April, I was awestruck at the repeated use of the words will and shall (along with will not and shall not). Perhaps it was simply that God was using those words to remind that He keeps His Word. Perhaps it was that He was reminding me that He keeps His Word in His time. Perhaps it was He wanted me to remember that He keeps His Word in the way that is best for me. The bottom line is this: He keeps His Word. And in the Book of Psalms, He uses the words will and shall abundantly!

Today I started making a list of the verses where these words appear. As I compile the list in an easy-to-follow format, I’m also creating a uniquely presented set of promises and truths that I hope you will find helpful and that I hope will encourage your heart.

I’d love to know your most-used go-to passage or verse in the Bible. Please share them/it in the comments below so that we can all learn from, be encouraged by, and claim these wonderful promises of God!

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By Petals from the Basket | August 1, 2013 | Bible Reading, Ebooks, God-and-I-Time, Ideas |

My Friends—C. S. and Jeff

C. S. Lewis said, “Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: ‘What! You too? I thought I was the only one.'” If that is truly the case, I can now call author Jeff Goins my friend. He gets it. He’s been there. And he writes about it beautifully.

In his new book, The In-Between: Embracing the Tension Between Now and the Next Big Thing [A Spiritual Memoir] [affiliate link], Jeff shares this simple but eye-opening statement:

“Maybe the good stuff isn’t ahead of or behind us. Maybe it’s somewhere in between.” —Jeff Goins

I started this blog right when my most recent personal “in-between time” began—when I suddenly found myself unemployed. A brief backward glance at where I’d been quickly gave way to my Polly Positive tendencies, and I determined to look toward the next job, the next location, and the next major change in my life. Moving forward was imperative for me, so I kept my eyes on that mysterious and illusive “next big thing.” It was all I thought about.

You guessed it. It was 2012, and jumping right into a new place of employment was going to require more than my spirit-boosting trampoline of enthusiasm and determination. Day after day of looking forward—only to be pushed backward by defeat—began to take its toll on my usually positive, faith-filled heart. I dreaded the evenings because I was headed to bed with seemingly no further progress than the day before. I dreaded the mornings because I was waking up to what I began to see as another probable day of what felt like rejection.

It was only when I stopped to look at my present situation, my present opportunities, my present skills, and my present abilities (or in Jeff Goins’s words, my “in-between”) that I began to embrace the long, difficult, hard—no, wait!—the precious, God-given, hope-filled, blessed days in which I was living at that very moment. It was “the tension” between past losses and future hopes that not only propelled me forward but also directed me down paths that continue to bring me unspeakable joy!

This must-read book is officially being released tomorrow, but it is already available on Amazon. (I’ll include another set of links below so that you can check out more details on the book—available in both Kindle and paperback versions.) Whatever your individual story is, I know—truly know—that you will find this book helpful, faith-boosting, and inspirational as you embrace your personal in-between. (You can read an excerpt and read more about the book on Jeff’s blog, here.)

And if you happen to run into the author, Jeff Goins, be sure to tell him hello from me. After all, we’re friends.

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I’d love to hear your personal “in-between” stories.
What life lessons are you learning to embrace today?

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[affiliate links]

Paperback: The In-Between: Embracing the Tension Between Now and the Next Big Thing [A Spiritual Memoir]

Kindle: The In-Between: Embracing the Tension Between Now and the Next Big Thing

And you can learn from my personal “in-between” lessons in my e-book: What Should I Do Next? A Thirty-Day Guide for Walking the Path of Unemployment.

Downloadable E-book: What Should I Do Next? A Thirty-Day Guide for Walking the Path of Unemployment.

Kindle: What Should I Do Next? A Thirty-Day Guide for Walking the Path of Unemployment

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We’ve added another Christian Greeting Card to “The Card Store!”
Be sure to check out our new cards, designed exclusively for Petals from the Basket!

By Petals from the Basket | July 31, 2013 | Books, Events, Life Changes |

His Eye Is on the Sparrow

Lorraine Strohbehn, my mom, contributes a post on the last Friday of each month. I was encouraged as I read today’s post; I hope you will be too.

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For about eight hours, we tried every flat surface to see if it may be what would finally relieve the physical pain I was facing: first my bed, then a sofa, then a recliner, then the bed again—and on it went. Early morning arrived, and while still in pain, I opened the blinds on our patio doors. On the arborvitae adjacent to the patio sat one of the most common birds we have in the neighborhood—a sparrow. She was perky and well-fed, and it looked like the promise of a wonderful day was before her.

Surely, I thought, the Lord sent that sparrow to remind me that if He cared for even the least of the birds of the air, then He cared about the needs I was facing. (Matthew 6:25: “Therefore, I say unto you, ‘Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?’”)

Lorraine Strohbehn

Today's post is from Guest Contributor, Lorraine Strohbehn

Matthew 6:26 states: “…for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?” It was as though that sparrow was completely content in what God provided. As we drove to emergency room, I knew that surely God would provide for me.

After a few days in the hospital with marvelous care, surgery, recovery begun, and a promise to return to our home that afternoon, I was nearly overwhelmed to have a dear friend arrive, bringing with her a magnificent Asiatic lily in a “horizontal” crystal lily-shaped vase. I have never seen a more nearly perfect or a more beautiful flower. It was like the Lord was saying I needed to both complete and confirm His promises from Matthew chapter six.

Matthew 6:28–29 goes on to say, “…Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.”

My Lord watches over even the sparrows, gives beauty beyond measure to the lilies, and shows His loving care for me. He used an amazing team of medical experts, a loving family, and many, many others—not the least of whom prayed—to bring me through the valley and into a joyful recovery. What an awesome reminder from both Matthew and the old Christian song that “His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me!”

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Have you experience similar reminders of God’s care?
Please feel free to share them in the comments below.
 

By Petals from the Basket | July 26, 2013 | Bible Reading, Events, Family, Guest Posts, Life Changes |

Ah, the Gift of a Letter

One of my favorite books of all time is Gift of a Letter, by Alexandra Stoddard [affiliate link]. When my friend Diana first gave me this book back in the 1980s (um…would you believe I was only two at the time?…er…okay, maybe not), it changed the way I looked at writing cards, letters, and personalized notes. I highly recommend it as a valuable resource tool and an awesome read! If nothing else, Ms. Stoddard’s engaging and personal writing style reminded me how wonderful it feels to be the recipient of a card or letter—so why not extend that feeling to someone else?

After seeing our three exclusive Christian Greeting Cards on this website yesterday, a friend said to me:  “I don’t send cards because I don’t want to pay the high price for postage stamps.”

Based in part on a monologue I heard comedian Paul Reiser do many years ago, I replied, “Really? Where else can you hand someone a quarter, two dimes, and a penny and say, ‘Will you please take this handwritten, personalized note of encouragement all the way from Wisconsin to my friend in South Carolina? Oh, and will you please take it right to her door—even if it’s raining? Thanks!'”

And then I thought, Ah, the gift of a letter…. 

This morning, my Bible reading was in Proverbs 25. I love that verse 25 immediately reminded me of letter writing:

“As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.”

Whether you use the beautiful, professionally printed cards from Petals from the Basket (click here to go to “The Card Store”) or you use a postcard from the local store, will you try to take time in the next few weeks to start (or continune) sending “good news from a far country” to a friend, acquaintance, business owner, or loved one?

Ah, the gift of a letter….

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I’d love for you to leave a comment
and share how you feel when you receive
a personalized card or letter in the mail! 

 

By Petals from the Basket | July 25, 2013 | Bible Reading, Books, Family, Friends, God-and-I-Time, Ideas, The Card Store - Letter-Writing |

They’re Here!

Ohhhh, I wish it were Februrary! Not for the cold, but so that it would be the official Petals from the Basket “Letter-Writing Month.” Then again, any time is a great time to send a card!

That’s why I’m so thrilled to announce the following:

Created exclusively for the Petals from the Basket website, three new styles of Christian Greeting Cards are now available! As a card sender, I’m thrilled to be able to make these available to everyone—with free shipping and handling for you!

There are no sneak previews in this post! Instead, check out “The Card Store” by clicking here or by clicking the tab of the same name at the top of this page.

By Petals from the Basket | July 24, 2013 | Events, The Card Store - Letter-Writing |