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Last Published: 8/29/2008 3:12:45 PM
Bible study
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Posted by: Tricia Goyer at 12:43PM EST on October 9, 2007
 I must be bored (not) and rich (totally not)...because I'm having another contest!Yep, that's right...a C-O-N-T-E-S-T!
(Details on the OTHER contest -- for teens! here!)
This contest runs from September 16 through October 26 !
Here's the SCOOP!
Did you live your teen years unscripted? Or did you think it through and make wise choices?Write a sample script from your teen years (I know--scary!) and post it along with information about my book on your blog! Your script could be where you make a good choice ... or a not so good one. Also share how God's Word helps you as you script your life today!
The person with most creative blog post during the tour will win a gift basket which includes starbucks coffee, amazon gift card, an itunes gift card, and more. There will also be 5 runner up small gift baskets.
Oh...wait! There's one more contest! Ha!If you sign up for my newsletter here between now and Oct. 12, you'll be entered to win all of my fiction books (6 books!)Okay...I think that's it...for now! :)
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Thursday September 27, 2007
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Posted by: Tricia Goyer at 12:41PM EST on September 27, 2007
My mind is so full of everything I want to share that I thought I'd share a few things at a time ... there is so much! First
of all, my most meaningful moment was not centered on writing, but on
our adoption. We've been doing paperwork to adopt for China for 1 1/2
years. It's been slowed down by crazy things like a lost homestudy (the
immigration office moved mid-paperwork) and unsatisfactory
fingerprints. On Thursday Susan Downs, who has been praying for me,
found me and told me she was continuing to pray. It was awesome to know
that there was someone there who knew my heart and continued to pray
for me. Then, Saturday after the banquet, and fun time with my
friends, I discovered my husband had been trying to reach me. He'd
called 5-6 times. I called him and he excitedly told me our paperwork
was in! It had been mailed that day Susan was praying!!! We are
approved for one or TWO (if there are twins) babies from China. It was
awesome because I was able to go around (at midnight!) and tell my
wonderful agent Janet Grant and some of my friends.  It
was a special, and unexpected, gift--both the paperwork and that God
chose THERE to let me hear the news and share it face-to-face with
those who have been praying! The process is still 2 more years, but I know God's timing is perfect!
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Wednesday September 26, 2007
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Posted by: Tricia Goyer at 10:24AM EST on September 26, 2007
 People
think I'm crazy ... seriously they do. I can't tell them about all the
book ideas I have or possible projects coming down the pipeline ...
otherwise they'll start hyperventaling. People may wonder
why I write. Is it to get famous? No way. Because I enjoy living by one
crazy deadline to another? Uh, no. Is it because I really enjoy asking
my husband to pick up pizza on the way home ... or perhaps just as a
way to make sure I never get a coffee date with friends? Not even close. I
write so much--so many different things--because I am compelled by the
love of Christ. In fact when I was doing my Bible Study today one verse
especially resonated with me: "For the love of Christ controls and urges and impels me ..." 2 Corinthians 5:14 (Amplified) That's
not to say I love God more and so I write more. (Not even close!!!) BUT
when I get a new idea--and when an opportunity comes up to write
something that will glorify God, share His love, and encourage others
in their relationship with Christ--I HAVE TO say Yes. I HAVE TO follow.
My whole soul burns within me until I do. I know when God is asking me to join Him ... and it would be disobedient not to do so. This
is my path and mine alone. It's a path of obedience to the messages He
places on my heart. A path of desperation, because I can't write ONE
WORD without Him. It's a path of connecting with the family of God, as
God brings others alongside me to help me. (And, boy, do I need help!) It's
also on this path on which I've experienced God in amazing ways, mostly
become I'm expecting and anticipating Him to show up ... and He does!
He always does. I was studying my Experiencing God
workbook this morning when I came upon this phrase, which is talking
about quiet time with God: "I keep that time alone with God, not in
order to have a relationship but because I have a relationship." And
even though writing is TOUGH, I truly feel it's an extension of my
alone time with God. I don't write to make God happy, to get published,
to drive everyone around me crazy, but rather because I have a
relationship and the messages burn within me. As I just recently
started telling my agent ... "I have been overcome with words!" They're
words of hope, of healing ... words that are an outpouring of my quiet
time with God. So if I'm crazy, I'm in good company. In fact, I
totally understand Paul when he said, "For if we are beside ourselves
[mad, as some say], it is for God and concerns Him; if we are in our
right mind, it is for your benefit, for the love of Christ controls and
urges and impels us ..." 2 Corinthians 5:13-14 (Amplified). So go ahead ... call me a crazy [mad] woman. I'll completely agree! Just please remember to pray for me, please :-)
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Posted by: Tricia Goyer at 11:06AM EST on August 13, 2007
Two weeks ago I was blessed to attend summer camp. Actually, my whole family attended to serve in a drama ministry. I also had the joy of watching three boys, ages 3, 4, and 6 while their parents helped in the kitchen. Yes, boys are active but some of my best times were playing with them in the sand at the lake with the sun smiling down on us.
Still, I came away from camp with more than a sun tan. I also learned some great things about my (our) walk with God!
- Everyone needs a time to escape with God. Isaiah 49:10-11 says, “For the Lord in his mercy will lead them beside cool waters. And I will make my mountains into level paths for them.” As you will see from the photos, there were both beautiful mountains and cool waters at camp. It was a time of refreshing. A time to be reminded of God’s creative powers and “rest” in Him.
- There is a whole generation of young men and women who are in need of hearing about God’s miracles in OUR lives. Psalm 71:18 says, “Let me proclaim your power to this new generation, your mighty miracles to all who come after me.” I was able to participate in some small groups and share ways God has transformed my life. The generations coming behind us need to know more than just “about God.” They need to know how He works in the lives of men and women! I pray that the personal testimonies from the counselors will nourish their faith. (In addition to the small groups, I also took my one and only copy of My Life, Unscripted … and one of the teen girls borrow it to read it. I still haven’t gotten it back yet. I think it’s being passed around!)
- We all need direction for our day … and discipline. As you can imagine, we couldn’t let 70 kids run wild and do their own thing. We set clear boundaries and planned their day. And when they got out of line we did correct them, but we did so gently. “I know, Lord, that a person’s life is not his own. No one is able to plan his own course. So correct me, Lord, but please be gentle.” Jeremiah 10:23-24
- We all need to take time in our day to fill our stomachs and our souls with the good things of God. And you can be sure EVERYONE comes running when they hear the dinner bell! “The eyes of all wait for You [looking, watching, and expecting] and You give them their food in due season. Psalm 145:15 (Amplified Bible)
- At camp one’s eyes are open to see spiritual needs and their mouths are quick to speak truth to those with softened hearts. If only we were so in tune with God’s work in the lives around us all the time! “At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.” Matthew 10:19 NLT
- Today can be the day of salvation. And for two dozen kids at the camp, it was! It is a wonderful thing to know that these children accepted the greatest gift ever … Christ. “I am overwhelmed with joy in the Lord my God! For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness. Isaiah 61:10
- There is joy and excitement in praising God. If we were face-to-face I’d show you hand motions to some of the songs I learned! “My mouth’s full of great praise for God. I’m singing his hallelujah’s surrounded by crowds.” Psalm 109:30
Yes, everything I know about God I was reminded about at summer camp!
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Posted by: Tricia Goyer at 1:29PM EST on August 6, 2007
 I
love when my kids go to summer camp. Yes, they have fun. Yes, they get
a little break from me for a while, but mostly because they come back
so spiritually charged up. I
youngest son go back from camp yesterday, this morning when I got up at
6:30 a.m. he was already up and reading his Bible! Nathan also asked if
I could help him find him something for his quiet time. We looked at a
few Bible Studies I have around her, but nothing seemed to fit what he
was looking for. So then I started searching on-online. We found the
perfect quiet-time studies for him at: http://cbh.gospelcom.net/kfk/home.php He was SO excited. We printed out the month of August for him, and he’s put together a quiet time binder as I write this. Years
ago, I did Keys for Kids with my older children, I’d forgotten about it
until today. If you’re looking for a great devotional and/or quiet time
study for your kids, I highly recommend it!
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Posted by: Tricia Goyer at 12:49PM EST on July 30, 2007
1Timothy 2:1, 3 (The Message) The
first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for
everyone you know…This is the way our savior God wants us to live. More
than anything, parenting takes courage. There is no going with the
flow, no just trying to slide by, when it comes to raising kids. As
we enter the uphill battle of child rearing, we must trust the success
of our parenting to God. Prayer is key. Sometimes situations are hard
to see, and we feel like we are blindly tramping around. In raising
kids in this day and age, we need to take all our needs before God and
leave the results to Him. In prayer we plead our case before God, we
get God’s perspective, and gain confidence and courage. God
doesn’t always answer our prayers in the way we hoped or expected, but
we can trust that He will answer our prayer in the best way, not just
sometimes, but every time. As
Gen X parents, we know that these are trying times to be raising
children, but we must realize that we are parents now, not by chance,
but by design. God has called us to parent specifically during this
time in history. Here are some scriptures for your parenting journey: 1. Prayers of need (Psalm 55:22, Jeremiah 17:7-8) 2. Prayers of thanksgiving (Psalm 40:5, Romans 11:33) 3. Prayers for seeking families (Matthew 11:25, Psalm 116:6-7) 4. Prayers for generations (Psalm 105:708, Psalm 100:5) ©Tricia Goyer
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Posted by: Tricia Goyer at 12:16PM EST on July 2, 2007
This morning I started reading 1 Corinthians, but I didn't make it past the first three verses. You see, this week I'll be flying out to ICRS, the International Christian Retail Show. While I'm there I'll be attending workshops, banquets, and publishers' events. I'll also be signing books and speaking. I'll pretty much be interacting with all levels of Christian Retail--publishers, editors, marketing people, salesmen, book buyers, book sellers, and other authors.
It's wonderful because I see friends, new and old, and meet some of the people I work with face-to-face. It's hard because ... although I know I shouldn't seek the approval of others, I want to be appreciated. And while I know God looks at the heart, I never feel smart enough, pretty enough, or talented enough when surrounded by so many "stars." (In this business that means those who sell lots of book, have amazing ministries, and who are well-known and greatly valued.) These stars have long lines during signings, back-to-back media events, lots of big banners plastered everywhere, highlighting their work. And ... then there is the rest of us.
Can you see why I needed to dig into God's word this morning?
Here is the text: 1 Corinthians 1:1-3, The Amplified Bible
1 PAUL, SUMMONED by the will and purpose of God to be an apostle (special messenger) of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes, 2 To the church (assembly) of God which is in Corinth, to those consecrated and purified and made holy in Christ Jesus, [who are] selected and called to be saints (God's people), together with all those who in any place call upon and give honor to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:
3 Grace (favor and spiritual blessing) be to you and [heart] peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
The main message/theme God spoke to me this morning is "God CHOOSES holy messengers to speak HIS Word to those chosen BY GOD and called BY GOD."
I almost left out the word "holy" in that sentence. It's seems okay for me to consider myself a messenger, but calling myself a holy messenger, seemed to be pushing it. But these verses reminded me of three things:
1. Holiness happens through Jesus. Jesus consecrated, purifies, and makes us holy.
2. My job is to CALL on the name of Jesus.
3. And 1 + 2 = giving honor to the name of Jesus.
After reading these verses a few more times, I also became okay with the idea, especially when I saw the benefits of holy people:
1. They are given worthwhile duties, like being a special messenger.
2. They are connected with other believers local and world-wide.
3. They get grace (special favor and spiritual blessing) from God.
4. They receive heart peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus.
So how does it apply to ICRS?
--What a privilege! I am one of many who have been chosen to be a special messenger of God. One way to look at it, ICRS is a mini-gathering of those God has chosen during our moment of history to spread His Good News.
--Anything I've done, great or small, has been through Jesus. The same can be said of the others at the show. Even though there will be a lot of bling and marketing junk, if you look to the core, it's evident that Jesus has been at work in the heart of His messengers to spread His word, for the glory of His name. Looking at the numerous ways Jesus' message is going out is like seeing His work on display. How cool is that?!
--My job is to CALL on the name of Jesus. When I'm excited, discouraged, overwhelmed, tired, and joyful. If I'm focused on that, Jesus' name will be honored through me.
Finally, because of our duties and our connection in God's body, those at ICRS will get to see a glimpse of God's will and purpose.
This show should also should be a showplace of God's grace (special favor and spiritual blessing) and heart peace (from God our Father and the Lord Jesus).
Will it? My attitude change won't make or break the show, but personally I know that when I accept my calling, applaud God's work in His assembly, and see the core of Jesus-at-work in the hearts of the men and women ... then GRACE and PEACE will flow. It will flow in my heart first. And maybe it will flow to others as I join them in joyfully celebrating God's calling in them and work through them.
Time to celebrate God at work in the hearts of His messengers everywhere!
I'll keep you posted on how it goes!
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