Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Steadfast - Guest Blogger Paula Mowery

I'm always excited for Wednesdays because it means I get to have a guest blogger. This week it's Paula Mowery and she has an insightful perspective on the valley of the shadow of death. 

Welcome, Paula.



Paula Mowery is an award-winning author, acquisitions editor, speaker, and pastor’s wife. Her published books include two women’s fiction titles and two Christian romances with two other contracted titles due out in 2015. She is a member of ACFW and is on their Featured Author interview team. Her devotions have been included in the published collections, Sweet Freedom A La Mode, Fear Not, and A Walk Through The Valley as well as various blogs. She writes for The Christian Online Magazine where she shares book reviews of her latest favorites in Christian fiction.
 You can connect with Paula through her blog, www.paulamowery.blogspot.com, where other social media links are provided.



Holding Steadfast With A Prayer

My husband is a pastor, so I am used to phone calls at all hours of the day and night. However, I wasn’t prepared for the call he received one Sunday afternoon as we were eating lunch. 


I thought the voice I could barely hear on the other end was my brother which was confirmed when my husband ended the cell phone call. He informed me that my father had suddenly been unable to speak right after their church’s worship service. He actually drove he and my mother home, not stopping for their normal restaurant lunch. 


When my mother questioned my father and found him unresponsive, she called my brother who advised her to rush him to the nearest ER and he would meet them there. 


I stayed home from church that evening awaiting word. I live an hour away from my parents but prepared to rush down if I was needed, but I held off. After praying for God to take care of my dad, I had a peace about waiting. 


Within two hours, my dad’s speech began to return. He was kept overnight and tests were run. The verdict was a bloodclot went directly to that speech center in the back of the brain. He had no lasting effects. 


Later that evening my dad talked with me on the phone. He described how strange it was to not be able to speak but be fully cognizant of what others were saying. He knew how he wanted to respond but just couldn’t vocalize it. 


I have often told others that I don’t know how unbelievers get through difficult or scary situations like this. I truly don’t. But, I knew that my prayers for my father were heard and just as effective whether an hour away or in the same room. Prayer allowed me to have a peace in Who was in control no matter the outcome. 


Now don’t get me wrong, I've had to build on my trust in God. But, He has always proved faithful. That is not to say that in every bad situation everything has turned out fine. Sometimes I’ve had to trust Him to bring a person through surgery, recovery, or even chemotherapy. Yet, He has never left me. I've always felt Him near, comforting and encouraging. 


The Psalmist tells us in the 23rd Psalm that even though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, God is with us. What does this show me? There’s going to be dark times we must endure. But, did you notice it is a shadow? I love this imagery. When was the last time a shadow did you any harm? We can get through because God has promised His presence and the Psalmist plainly states that we walk through. There’s no camping out in that dark valley. God sees us through to the other side. 


My dad is just fine and back to all of his normal activities which means I have another responsibility. Time to praise and thank God for bringing us through that short valley and for teaching me more about trusting Him.  



What a beautiful perspective. We really don't have to fear the shadows. Thank you, Paula.



Legacy and Love
Free to one of you!





The Prayer Shawl

Sean Holland is a magazine reporter always looking for the next story. Hope Weaver is a pediatric nurse who shares Christ through making prayer shawls. The shawls are just the touchy-feely story Sean needs, even though he’ll have to endure Hope’s strong Christian beliefs to get it. An unexpected connection brings them together as a couple. But, can they find love if they don’t share their faith?


Inheritance

Alex Lyndon’s life has been a series of fits and starts with no finishes. She finds herself jobless and divorced. Now her only family, Granny Olivia, is critically ill.

Chase Carson had to step into running the family business when his father died. The time is past due to visit Miss Olivia.

Alex and Chase must go on a treasure hunt. Will each find purpose and love for their lives in the process?



If you'd like a chance to win a copy of Legacy and Love just leave a comment and your email address so we can contact you. I'll draw the winner's name next Wednesday.

Last week's winner of On the Threshold is ... Shannon. Congratulations!

Grace and peace to you from God,

Bonnie


13 comments:

  1. Anonymous10:15 PM

    Wonderful: when was the last time the shadows hurt me. Never! They just scared me to death, being so dark, vague, unknown. But God walks me through 'em. Thanks for that. Patti Iverson pattiiverson@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Patti, thanks for stopping by. And, we can certainly be scared to death sometimes, but isn't it grand that we have a God who has conquered everything? What a mighty and dependable God we have.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thank you for sharing your story. I would enjoy reading your books, I know! My email address is ranmarsmith@windstream.net Thank you for offering your gift of writing to others.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous2:42 PM

    Paula has an awesome way of finding the beautiful imagery and inspiration in Gods word. Her books are full of the same.-Brooke

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thanks for your encouraging words - my Dad has just passed away and I'm having a real crisis faith at the moment

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous12:35 AM

    Thanks for your words Paula. I am going through a dark valley right now . My youngest brother who lives far away from me in NY is dying of cancer in his jaw and near vital things. Not curable because of where it is, He in in a V A Hospital on Hospice. I have lost my parents and 5 of the siblings so this will be the sixth. Then there will only be two of us left. But, I know GOD will see me through this valley like so many times in my life. I've also lost my husband, a baby, and numerous ones in our large family. GOD has given us many Miracles tho.Don't know how people get by without HIM. I would love to win your book. Thanks Bonnie for hosting Paula. GOD bless you both. Maxie
    > mac262(at)me(dot)com <

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hey Bonnie, I haven't received an email. I even Checked my junk mail. sncreasey@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  8. akaylee, thanks for the encouragement!
    Brooke, thanks Girlfriend!
    Leigh-Anne, hang in there! Sometimes we don't understand but God still loves you and wants to comfort you.
    Maxie, The valley can become so dark but He will not leave you and He promises you'll go through.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I was given permission from Bonnie to share something with you ladies. As I read your comments I thought about my book, Be The Blessing. Right now it is being offered for free, along with the whole e-book catalog, at www.pelicanbookgroup.com. This book talks about how God uses our suffering to even bless others. It contains a Bible study in the back for further thought and study. Please check it out.

    ReplyDelete
  10. What a great offer from your publisher, Paula. Thanks for passing on the information.

    Grace and peace to you.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Wonderful story, Thank you for sharing it with us.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Dear Maxie, I am praying for you and your brother. Sometimes life feels too painful - I would never make it without the Lord.

    Hugs to you.

    ReplyDelete

ShareThis