$544.64 and Sweet Caroline

Hey Siestas!

'Hope this day you are doing super-dooper! It's a foggy, rainy day here in Colorado. I think we have moved to England. Before I begin talking about our next book, can I tell you? I mean--are you ready for this?

I just mailed a check for $544.64 towards a clean Water for LIFE well in honor of Beth Moore to Life Outreach International. That makes a total of $2,709.64 since last August. Come on now, you know you want to PRAISE HIM MORE! Stand up and clap with me!!

And so I begin another waiting list for the next order. So far I have nine sweet Siestas, who would like to order a cookbook. Wanna join them? Just email me at chrishollysmith@msn.com and I will add you to the list. They are $18 plus shipping and I must have 100 on the list before I make the order. I ask that you not try to pay until I have 100 orders, and I promise to email you when we make the mark.

I emailed my contact at Life Outreach to let him know about the check I sent and he gave me a link to a group of Bible study girls in Branson, MO, who have a spectacular idea! They are asking that if you have taken a Beth Moore Bible study and have been blessed by it, consider giving a gift towards a water well. They said if Beth was at your study, wouldn't you love to take her to lunch or buy her a coffee? Well, instead they are asking folks to give towards a well.

So whether it's through a cookbook or just to be a blessing, I think this opportunity to bless some kids and give them a cup of clean water in Jesus' Name would be fulfilling such a wonderful crown to one day lay down.

Okie Dokie?

Well now, let's move onto our fictional book talk...

Sweet Caroline by Rachel Hauck

Now if you haven't picked up the book already, you can pick it up and join us next week. You are welcome to come back to this and answer. Of course, I'd love to dialogue-- two-way communication makes good conversation, as my sister in Christ, Becky Tirabassi says.

1) In the first chapters of the book, we discover how Caroline has fallen into a pattern of giving up her wants to help others. Discuss a time in your life when you gave up your goals and dreams to serve others. What was the outcome?

This has occurred a few times in my life. Two points that stick out in my mind are the college I chose and not going to law school. I picked University of Texas to please my parents. I had been accepted to SMU and that is where I always had wanted to go. Sometimes I wish I had gone to the furthest extent, to go where I felt led to go. Also, after finishing at Texas A&M (Huh, you say? Yes, I married my Chris the summer before my junior year and transferred to his school. He was a merit scholar and had a full scholarship.), I really wanted to go to law school and Chris really wanted to go to graduate school. But one of us had to work, and again Chris received a full scholarship. I got my PHT, my Chris says. I "put hubby through."

In both cases, I know that it was God's will for me to do just what I did. I have no regrets. Also? I have no desire to be a lawyer. None.

2) Raised with a troubled mother, Caroline fell into the role of caring for her Dad and brother, bearing an emotional burden. How can we bear one another's burdens while each one carrying their own weight? Do you carry burdens that are not yours?

Of course I do. Don't we all? And when it gets down to the point, we really sometimes try to be mini-gods to others by creating a co-dependence through carrying those burdens in an unhealthy and over-zealous way. Jesus never meant for us to be yoked in that way.

However, on the other side, the Holy Spirit does lead us to intercede and help others, to carry their burdens. We have got to learn to listen. And we have got to learn to recognize our motives and our reactions. Once we start seeing and understanding (ask God to help!), we can walk with peace and grace and mercy--never guilt or condemnation. There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ. Walk in that. Walk in Him.

You are precious in His Sight!
Love,
Holly

PS Please continue to pray for Patty and her family.