And the Winners Are...

not professionally done, but they were so delicious!

Remember the giveaway deadline was yesterday? 

And so, here I announce that the winners are:

Rachel Whitaker

Jenna Woodburn

Deanna Swanson

Ashley Brown

Alice Martin

Thank you to  EVERYONE who participated.

 I loved hearing from you and honestly wish 

I could just give a book to everyone who participated!

I need addresses for Rachel and Ashley. 

Could you email them to me at courage225@juno.com 

please?

Love and blessings,

Marcia

Two Years and a Giveaway...

My lovely daughters, smiling, in spite of the 5 foot drift STILL claiming space
on the north side of our house! We wonder how long it will be until it is history!

I just realized that I passed the two year anniversary of this blog two weeks ago! 

And I am shocked to see that there have been over 20,000 page views!

 Last year, at the one year mark, 

there were around 4,000. 

I am delighted to have you stop by, 

and I pray that you have been

 uplifted, challenged, encouraged and refreshed 

as you've visited here.

I would like to do a giveaway in celebration of this blog's birthday. 

And guess what, I'm going to give not only to one, but five readers.

You can enter this drawing as often as you wish,

but I would suggest entering a new entry each time,

to keep it fair. :-)

The last time I had a giveaway,

 I gave away a book written by J. R. Miller titled "Home Making."

I've been reading another of his books, "The Personal Friendships of Jesus", 

and I must say, it has been a very good read! 

I've been provoked/instructed/encouraged in growing my 

approach to friendships 

as I've read this book on the 45 minute ride to and from church 

many Sunday mornings recently 

(as my husband sits beside/instructs our 'driver in training').

So...for this giveaway, leave me a comment 

on the blog

or in my email (courage225@juno.com)

or on facebook

or on google plus

or text me (if you have my number).

I'd love to hear what has inspired you in your recent Scripture readings.

 Leave me a note, however long or short you would like it to be!

The purpose of this (to me) is to bless the believers in whatever part of the world this is read.

 (some of my readers live in China, 

some live in Mexico, 

and some live in the 'wilds' of Manitoba :-)

They all appreciate encouragement,

and so do I!)

Giveaway winners will be announced on April 14,
Lord willingly.

Morning Musings...Giveaway Winners Announcement...

Hello friends. 

Almost I thought this day was passing by without my posting the winners for the giveaway! I had fun doing this and hope to do one again next season that comes...already I am thinking of fun things I could use for a giveaway for winter!

The winners of this giveaway for the book, Homemaking, are:

Jackie Wurtz

Rhoda Zimmerman

I will be seeing you both soon,

Lord willing...

and if not, then I'll contact you

for your addresses.

Thank you to all who participated

in this giveaway.

I love relating to others

and enjoy the fun of

giving away blessings

where I can. 

Love and blessings to all,

Marcia

PS

My morning musings were this:

We were created for relationship with God,

which spills over to relating to others.

Oh that we would lay down our lives

for our friends,

and love the Lord wholly.

Relationship cannot be forced.

Sometimes we have to love from afar,

when we are shut out of someone's life

because of their anger, fear or pride.

I recently experienced going back to a place

of previous hurt and sorrow, 

a place I don't often go to 

physically anymore.

As I sat there, remembering things, I felt myself

deeply compassionate for a friend in the audience

who has hurt me and others deeply.

I found myself praying fervently in my spirit

that she would know Jesus fully and be 

completely changed by Him.

After I came home, the Lord showed me

that THIS is what the power of Christ can

do when we yield ourselves to Him.

He can make us WHOLE.

He can make us complete.

He can make us love even those who

have despitefully used us.

Hallelujah for the life changing power

in Jesus Christ.

One Thing Remains

by David Wesley

Autumn Giveaway...

Can you believe autumn is here?! What beauty is just outside my back door as the maple trees do their yearly dance of color. I just came in from enjoying the sunshine on this lovely day, helping my husband reduce the huge cottage garden we have enjoyed the past 6 years in the front of our house. Time to admit that downsizing is a good idea. With all the things we have going on in our lives, there is just no time to properly care for vast places of landscaping on our property.

If you live locally, feel free to come by for perennial starts for a few weeks yet. I would be happy to send them off to other homes where they will bring joy to another.

Are you ready to hear about the giveaway? Remember the one I did in the spring? Well, I've been reading another book...and it's good! So good, in fact, that I would like to give away 2 copies. It has been challenging, convicting, thought provoking, and encouraging to me, and I would love to give you a copy to read.

For a chance to win a copy of this book written in the 1800's but with a message so poignant to today's society, please comment either here, or on Facebook, or Google Plus and share a blessing you are grateful for these days. Or ten blessings, or however many you would like to share :-)

I have found this book easy to read, and a real blessing to ponder.

I would recommend it to every man or woman, young or old!

This giveaway will be open for two weeks.
So in two weeks, on October 11, 2014,
I will put all the contestants' names in
a basket, toss them around,
and have my son draw two names.
I will announce the winners on the blog.
Looking forward to hearing from you!

God bless you...
and happy autumn to you all.

And the Winner Is...

...Lisa Peters!

 

Congratulations,

Lisa!

You won the

drawing

for the book,

Emma.

 

Please send me your address,

either through the comments

(it won't post publicly)

or email me:

courage225@juno.com

 

and I will mail it out shortly.

 

For the rest of you,

thank you to all who participated in

the drawing.

I enjoyed hearing from you.

 

Keep your eyes peeled for

another drawing

in the future...

maybe to celebrate

SPRING!

 

(when it finally gets to the frozen

'tundra' where I live!!!)

 



A Giveaway...

On Saturday, I promised a giveaway as a sort of celebration of this blog's 1 year anniversary. Thank you for your encouragement, and for stopping by here now and again. I appreciate each of you and consider it a privilege to call you my friends.

Recently, I noticed that a favorite author of mine, Becky McGurrin, has published a new book. I do not read many story books these days, it seems, but I really liked her previous books and have them both:

From Streetlights to Stars

Adopted

and now, her latest published work:

Emma

"Emma is a Hurst, and a very determined one. 

Epilepsy, death of loved ones, incarceration, cancer, 

the adjustments of a long single hood followed by marriage,

 God used all these things to shape Emma into a woman 

with a desire to yield completely to Him. 

Follow Emma through her fascinating journey 

as a Mennonite farm girl, factory seamstress, college student,

 public schoolteacher, wife, and widow. 

Be amazed at the wise and loving hand of God 

as He patiently guides, protects, and creates 

a Hurst with real strength,

 a daughter joyfully surrended 

to her heavenly Father"

I was so blessed as I read this book.

I was challenged and encouraged

to keep my will totally surrendered

to the Lord all my days.

My faith was increased

as again I realized that truly,

as God's child,

I am safe in His care...

SO...

I am giving away "Emma"

in 2 weeks, 

on March 31, 2014.

To enter the giveaway,

drop a comment at the end

of this post.
(I won't publish it if you specify
that you don't want it to be
published).

Be sure to leave your name,

and I would love to 

read of your favorite Scripture,

or even telling what He is 

doing for/teaching you.

The winner will be randomly

chosen by my son who

will select your name

from a jar, 

the old fashioned way 

:-)

Looking forward to hearing from you.