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Archive for the ‘Promoting Friends’ Category

Books, Blog Tours, and Authors I know (sort of)

Posted in Big Announcements, Book Reviews, Creativity, Joy in the Journey, Promoting Friends on August 27, 2007| 1 Comment »

This is “BOOK WEEK” at MY Journey. Grab a cup of something yummy (someone be a dear and make me some chai) and get comfortable in an easy chair somewhere. I am currently lounging in my beige, leather, swivel/rocker recliner in what my friend Tonia calls my studio. Doesn’t that sound creative? My home office is definitely on it’s way to becoming my creative space, but right now it’s cluttered and unorganized – not in a creative way at all. My laptop is resting on my lap (who’s the creative genius that came up with that name?) and I’m excitedly thinking ahead to my posts this week and trying to figure out how many more times I can fit the word creative into this paragraph. 😉

I’ve been doing blog tours for a few months now and I’ve loved every single one of the books I’ve helped promote here. A few of you have said you’ve bought the books I reviewed and enjoyed them yourselves. That’s great since that’s the point…getting the author’s works out there in everyone’s hands. On Wednesday I’ll be reviewing Allison Bottke’s newest book, One Little Secret, so be sure to stop by to read what I thought and leave your own comment for me or the author. She’ll be stopping by too. Mrs. Bottke is the driving force behind the God Allows U-Turns books and ministry. She is a gifted, inspirational writer and speaker. I’m looking forward to sharing her book with you. I’m also holding a drawing for a free copy of One Little Secret. If you’re interested, send me an email and I’ll put your name in the hat. The winner will be notified by email and announced on this blog on Friday, August 31st.

Susan May Warren was one of the first authors I started reading when I ventured back into the world of fiction. She has written several books I’ve enjoyed since meeting her last summer through my friend Paula. She took the time to sit with me and answer my many questions about balancing family, homeschooling, and writing…some of my own passions. She’s been holding a contest this summer called, “Ask the writer anything” and this week she chose to answer MY question…which was really several questions. Read my question and her answer at http://susanmaywarren.typepad.com/scribbles/ She’s a funny, talented, and entertaining lady. I hope to get to know her better someday.

There’s more, but I have to save something for tomorrow’s post, don’t I?

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Fool For You

Posted in Growing Faith, Music, Promoting Friends on August 26, 2007| 5 Comments »

I’m so thankful for all who have emailed me and left comments here about Pete’s healing. It continues to amaze me how God uses these things to point to His glory. I’ve had many challenging and uplifting discussions this week with friends who are struggling to understand the details of last week and what it all means. The awakening of desires for more of God is exhilarating and yet can be a scary thing and let me tell you, it’s been stretching me in ways I couldn’t have imagined. I am God’s woman and the whispers He has been sending my heart only strengthen me and give me courage to be bold for Him. Miracles are only miracles to us. To God it’s everyday stuff. I think He is waiting to reveal himself to believers who are willing to believe – even when it’s hard and it costs us something in return. Friends and family may think we’re crazy or exaggerating, but I want Him more than I want approval from men. There’s a deep longing in me to be used by God in mighty and powerful ways. I’m willing and waiting. And I’m listening.

Nichole Nordeman is one of the many people who inspire me. God has used her on many occasions to speak truth and healing into me through her music. She has a gift, and she IS a gift. Here are two of the songs that keep playing over and over again in my head. I’ve also included a link to her new video for the song Finally Free.

Help Me Believe

Take me back to the time
When I was maybe eight or nine
And I believed
When Jesus walked on waters blue
And if He helped me, I could too
If I believed

Before rationale, analysis and systematic thinking
Robbed me of a sweet simplicity
When wonders and when mysteries
Were far less often silly dreams
And childhood fantasies

*Chorus*
Help me believe
‘Cause I don’t want to miss any miracles
Maybe I’d see much better by closing my eyes
And I would shed this grownup skin I’m in
To touch an angel’s wing
And I would be free
Help me believe

When mustard seeds made mountains move
A burning bush that spoke for You was good enough
When manna fell from heavens high
Just because You told the sky to open up

Am I too wise to recognize that everything uncertain
Is certainly a possibility?
When logic fails my reasoning
And science crushes underneath
The weight of all that is unseen

*Chorus*

When someone Else’s education
Plays upon my reservations
I’m the first to cave, I’m the first to bleed

If I abandon all that seeks
To make my faith informed and chic
Could You, would You show Yourself to me?

(Help me believe ’cause I don’t want to miss any miracles)
Maybe I’d see much better by closing my eyes
And I would shed this grownup skin I’m in
To touch one of their wings
And I would be free
I would be free
I would be free
Help me believe
help me believe
Could You, would You show Yourself to me?
Could You, would You show Yourself to me?
Help me believe.

 

 

 

Fool For You

There are times when faith and common sense do not align.
When hard core evidence of you is hard to find.
I am silenced in the face of argumentative debate and
It’s a long hill, it’s a lonely climb

Cause they want proof
They want proof of all these mysteries I claim
Cause only fools would want to shout a dead man’s name.
Maybe it’s true, yeah, but

I’ll be a fool for you
Oh, because you asked me to
A simpleton whose seemingly naive, I do believe
You came and made yourself a fool for me.

I admit that in my darkest hour I’ve asked “What if?”
What if we created some kind of mimic thing like this
Out of good intentions or emotional inventions
But after life is through, there would be no you

Cause they want proof
They want proof of all these miracles I claim
Cause only fools believe that men can walk on waves
Maybe it’s true, yeah, but

*Chorus*

Unaware of popularity
Unconcerned with dignity, you made me free
That’s proof enough for me

I’ll be a fool for you
Oh, because you asked me to
A simpleton who’s seemingly naive, I do believe

I will speak Jesus’ name
If that makes me crazy, they can call me crazed
I’m happy to be seemingly naive
I do believe you came and made yourself a fool for me.

 

Here’s the link to the Finally Free video:

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=10740214

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Stories from my best friend!

Posted in Joy in the Journey, Promoting Friends on July 31, 2007| 1 Comment »

I know this is a blogging cop out, but today I’m sending you over to Tawnya’s blog. She has two posts about her time with me and my family so far and there are some really great pictures on there! The posts are her most recent ones and are titled, “Report from Colorado” and “God’s Little Gifts”. Go read them and leave her a comment. I’ll catch you up from my point of view in a few days.

Much Love! ~Niki

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Love for the Guys

Posted in Joy in the Journey, Promoting Friends on July 9, 2007| 4 Comments »

A few months ago I posted an article about my girl friends. You can read it here. I wrote about God using our friends to not only minister to our bodies when we are sick (by bringing by a pot of soup or a carton of Orange Sherbet), but to minister to our hearts and spirits as well. I am beyond blessed in the friendship department! I not only have girl friends that love me and care for my heart, I have several guy friends that do the same thing – only in their guy sort of way. So I’m doing things a bit differently in this post to honor those men in my life that love me like a sister and treat me accordingly.
This is Lennie and I actually am his sister by blood. Being his sister of the heart is an added bonus and blessing. I’m 2 years older. We are as close as any siblings could ever be. He is my partner in crime and sarcasm, and my closest guy friend other than my husband. He’s an expert in several forms of martial arts, has a heart the size of Texas, and is a gifted wood worker. He’s been protecting me ever since I can remember. He is a warrior and truly amazing. And he lives too far away! (MN)

This is my 2 for 1 shot of my favorite ministry guys on the planet. That’s Adam on the left and Chris on the right. This picture was taken a few weeks ago at Camp Zenith – our first point of connection. I have watched both of them grow and change from youth interns to youth ministers, to Adam pursuing other adventures in ministry. Adam is my Yoda that I mention every now and then. He is responsible for me joining the blogging world, and I ask him a lot of tough questions. 😉 He’s a talented writer, photographer, sports nut, and we share a love of books. He lives in AL – notice the shirt. Chris is my athletic, guitar playing, Texan friend and the breaker of many hearts now that he’s in a serious dating relationship. 😉 I’m grateful for the encouragement they’ve both given me in the blogosphere and out of it. They are both part of our ministry care team for SEVENS, and have both been to Colorado to stay with us and see our ministry up close and personal. They care for my heart, lift my husband up, and love on our children. We keep in touch through blogs, emails, and cell phones since we all live so far apart. Adam and Chris are Godly men doing their best to make a difference in this world. They’ve definitely made a difference in mine!

Meet Jared. Most of you know him by his blogging name, KingJaymz. Jared is located in the great Northwestern state of WA. He found me on the web through mutual friends about a year ago and we’ve been challenging and lifting each other up ever since. We are similar in personality (scary), though a lot of our favorite things in life are quite different. He’s got a lot in common with my husband and they’ve become good friends, which I love because Benny once said, “your blogging friends aren’t your REAL friends”. lol Jared calls me “Sis” which used to really bug me, but I have come to love the term of affection from this guy who is like my brother. In fact, we are closer to each other than we are most of our siblings. (Lennie being the exception of course.) We share the common passion and goal of opening up discussion about hard issues and the church. Jared is a co-author on my Sex, Love, and Marriage Blog.

Last, but certainly not least comes Billy. He’s my worship band leader and an all around nice guy. (I know you told me not to tell anyone Billy – I couldn’t resist.) 😉 He’s the only one on this list that lives close to me. I’ve only known Billy about a year and a half and in that time he has helped me find my voice. I’ve always had it, but Billy called it forth and challenged me, drawing out my courage and confidence. I no longer have the stage fright I’ve suffered from since junior high and I’ve come to this place of deep joy and fulfillment in leading worship at our church with him and the rest of the band. He pushes me to be who God wants me to be, and we occasionally enjoy deep conversations about life – where we came from and where we’re going. He’s a very talented musician and I tease him about name dropping since he met so many famous people during his Seattle Days. He makes me a better musician just by being who he is. He’s a computer whiz, and a great husband and father. Our friendship is new, but it is being passed on to the next generation – our 7 year old boys are best friends.
There you go. Five awesome guys that I love and am blessed to know!

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The Big "C" Word…Change

Posted in Big Announcements, Joy in the Journey, Promoting Friends on July 2, 2007| 1 Comment »

My friend Heather and I spent several hours at a coffee shop this afteroon working on my three blogs. Most of you may not know this, but I have begun posting again on my Supermom blog. I quit posting there almost two years ago, but recently decided to resurrect it, and I’m feeling really good about it. If reading family/children/Mommy stuff is your thing, I hope you’ll check it out. Besides, that url rocked! www.weareheroes.blogspot.com We redesigned the template (Heather did ALL of the hard stuff while I did very little) and added some new features. Go check it out!

You can now subscribe to receive my blog posts by email through a service called Feedblitz. Just type your email address in the little box, click the subscribe button, and wait for the magic to happen. However, I’d still love your input in my comments section, so don’t be a stranger here!

I’ve updated my blogroll as well. If you haven’t posted in 3 months or longer, you’ve been removed. I’m trying to keep my links current. If you really, really want to be linked, send me an email and we’ll chat about it.

Some future blogging plans : Labeling posts, Guest bloggers, and Favorite Things Fridays. I’ll also have an occasional book review to help promote my author friends.

Here are my blog links again:
www.weareheroes.blogspot.com
www.sexloveandmarriage.blogspot.com

Thanks for reading, and special thanks for joining in the discussion!

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