Carolyn Dale Newell is sharing her words today in the Dance With Jesus Birthday Beach Bash and Blog Tour, celebrating Kyle’s 28th birthday. Carolyn describes herself as a visually impaired, middle-aged Christian woman. During the time that her vision dramatically declined, she drew so much closer to God. Her faith has grown so much deeper, and she began to share her deepening faith through writing devotions to inspire and encourage others in their difficulties. Carolyn blogs at A Mountain of Faith.
Carolyn is the author of “In the Storm” which is a 31-day Christian devotional written to encourage all people, especially the disabled, since the author is visually impaired. Each devotion will remind you of God’s strength, grace, and power as you face the difficulties of life.
MY FIRST “SHE SPEAKS” EXPERIENCE
You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. ~ 1 Pet. 2:5 (NKJV)
Last winter, God laid it on my heart that I should invest in my writing by attending “She Speaks”. My response to God was that He must provide, not just financially, but I would need help. With very little vision remaining, I would need assistance getting around.
Little did I know that He already had the wheels in motion, putting the desire to attend in the heart of a woman on the west coast. Isn’t that just like God?
Proverbs 31 had already offered to help me with volunteers, but when I discovered that my new Twitter friend was planning to go, I explained my situation to her. She gathered a group of women who aided me in getting around. I could not believe the number of women being the hands and feet of Christ.
I felt so much love at She Speaks. It was good to hug old friends and meet new ones. It was very cool to meet some of my favorite authors. I learned so much about writing and ministry, and the food was delicious too. Best of all, God met with us.
Can you imagine 800 women gathered together with the same goal? Yet, there was unity. There was no talk of denominations. Everyone was helpful and kind to one another. No one was out for number one.
I left there with a rock (long story). It will remind me that I am a living stone. I am just one stone out of many, at least 800. Together we are a spiritual house. Jesus is our cornerstone. There is room for each of us to have a ministry because it is all God’s ministry. If you remove one stone, it weakens the wall.
I am assured that no matter how small my following may be, no matter the number of visitors to my blog, I am a necessary stone in this spiritual house.
God is so good! His providence, His provision, and His promises. It was an amazing weekend, but then again, He is an amazing God.
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God of All Comfort
One of the ladies I had the pleasure of meeting at She Speaks was Susan B. Mead. She is the author of “Dance With Jesus: From Grief to Grace.”
This is her story of how God brought her from grief to grace. Susan describes the ways God helped her deal with the deaths of several loved ones, including the unexpected death of her son.
Everyone grieves differently, and Susan will show you how God can bring comfort even through the mundane things of life. God even gave her the grace to forgive the person who accompanied her son, Kyle, when he purchased the drugs responsible of his death. God is truly the God of all comfort.
“You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness” (Psalm 30:11 NKJV).
Click here to be entered to win a copy of “Dance With Jesus: From Grief to Grace”. Leave a comment on this post no later than Thursday, August 13 by 7:00 AM (EST) to qualify for the giveaway. The two winners will be notified Friday, August 14, 2015.