It’s really late and I’m really tired.

I just got back from my church’s women’s Christmas concert. It was funny. It was touching. It brought tears. It caused laughter.

It was everything a Christmas event should be.

As I wind down the day my eyes look again to the Psalm I read this morning, and I remember God’s promise, twelve hours ago.

“Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.”

I didn’t think he meant me. I didn’t think he meant now.

But He did.

Today He filled me with helpers who showed up on time, and friends who made me laugh so hard my sides hurt. He filled me with joy over Christ’s message told, and a church who loves God so deeply it hurts.

Today He filled me with joy.

Open your mouth wide. God is a God of plenty.

The winner of the Ugg Slippers is: Betty the Chick Fil A lady!

Hey it’s Friday! You know what that means.

I’m giving away a $25 gift card to one of my wonderful subscribers. The winner this week is: Michelle Hicks! Email me your address at lina@livingwithpower.org to claim the gift.

We are 10 days from Christmas. Here’s a verse I’m giving away to you this week:

Matthew 2:11 “When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy….Then opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.”

I love the response of the wise men to Christmas. They saw. They rejoiced. They gave. They worshiped. Continue Reading…

Why is this happening to me?

Why won’t anything change?

Why am I still stuck in the same place?

Why doesn’t God do something?

Aren’t you tired of asking the same question over and over and over again?

Maybe it’s time to change the question.

Maybe it’s time to stop asking why?

And start asking…

What?

What is God trying to do in me in and through me today – no matter what I’m facing?

The winner of the Keurig is: Roxanne Ferris. Send me an email at lina@livingwithpower.org to claim your gift!

Only a couple of weeks until Christmas and I hope you’re getting ready and finishing up your shopping!

If you haven’t, don’t worry. I haven’t even started mine yet! What’s the hurry? I still have 2 weeks.

One of you lucky subscribers to my blog will win a $25 gift card today which you can use as a Christmas gift for someone else or for your own great self. If you are not a subscriber to this blog, you want to subscribe now by clicking here because each Friday I pick a random person to win a $25 gift card, and that person could be you next week!

This week’s winner is: Rachel Hudson! Email me your address at lina@livingwithpower.org to claim the card.
Continue Reading…

The winners for the Harvest Bible Chapel Christmas Concert from yesterday’s give away are: Tina Watschke, Jaclyn Hunt, Daidy22, Holly Kisly, Althea Wiebe!! Your tickets will be at the will call table at Rolling Meadows on December 16!

I just came across a great book introduction by Brennan Manning that I think captures the essence of what Grace is.

The book is called “All is Grace”. Here is the intro by Brennan Manning – I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Continue Reading…

If you’re new to this blog, welcome!

I usually post daily except for Sundays. On Fridays, it’s especially fun because I try to give away things.

Every Friday, I randomly choose someone from my email subscriber list and give them a $25 gift card in appreciation for following me! You can subscribe by clicking here.

This week’s gift card winner is: Betsy Langmade! Email me your address to claim the gift.

Also, lately I’ve felt like giving away other things. So I do. All you have to do to qualify is leave a comment to the question I ask.

This week’s question is: My favorite thing to do on a day off is: ___________.

This week’s give away is:  5 tickets to the Harvest Bible Chapel Christmas Concert Featuring 2 Grammy Nominated artists Mandisa and Mattew West!!  That means 5 of you can win!! (click on continue reading to get to the comments section).

You can buy tix to the concert by clicking here!

I want to introduce you to my dad today.

Here he is:

His name is Fawzi, but we like to call him the Fonz.

He doesn’t have email, and has never heard of twitter. He thinks facebook is ruining my mother, and he still can’t get over the day his cell phone stopped being attached to his car. He hardly ever reads my blog, but somehow manages to check it the days I write about sex.

He’s the most generous, kindest man I know. He loves God and his family. He reads his Bible every night, and prays before meals. He watches Fox news like I used to watch Lost. He believes in democracy and freedom of speech. He’s a man who has sacrificed much and saved thousands of lives in his 40-year career as a plastic surgeon.

Today is his birthday. There’s an on going debate as to how old he’ll be, but what I do know for sure is that it would make his day to get a birthday wish from you in the comments section.

Have a great weekend!

The winners of the Mandisa and Matthew West Concert are:

Sylvia Zuiderveen, Socorro (somoisdabomb), Becky Hook, TerriAnn, and Darlene Struthers!

Email me your address to claim your ticket!

The total for Feed my Starving Children is: $150 (I like to round off!). Thanks for your contributions!

It’s Black Friday today! I get it. You’re out shopping.

Don’t mind me – I’m just giving away some free stuff.

First: Every Friday I give away a $25 gift card from my subscriber list. You can join the list by clicking here. This week’s card goes to: rackstacy. Email me your address at lina@livingwithpower.org to claim the card.

Second: This week I’m giving away some money to a great cause: Feed the Starving Children. For each comment answered to the following question, I’m giving away $2 per comment.

Today’s question is: My favorite thing about Black Friday is: _______________ (you can write in anything about black friday you love – the best deal you get today, your favorite item or store etc….)

Third: I’m also giving away 5 tickets to the Harvest Rolling Meadows Christmas Concert on December 16 featuring Mandisa and Matthew West! Get more information or buy tickets by clicking here! Simply write in a comment on why you think you should win.

Ok. That’s it! Have fun shopping! Or good luck….one or the other.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Today is a good day.

Most of you will eat turkey and watch Football.

Some of you, like me, will find yourself at work.

Regardless of what you are doing today, I simply want to tell you that I’m thankful for you.

I’m thankful for each of you for reading my thoughts daily. I’m thankful that you have subscribed to my blog, and that you participate in the comments when I ask you to. I’m thankful for you quietly prodding me along to keep on going, to keep on living for the glory of God.

I know some of you. I hear from many of you.  And there a are a few of you that I will never meet.

But I’m thankful for each of you.

Enjoy today. Stop for a moment and give thanks to God for all He has done for you.

Philippians 1:3-4 “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy.”

The winner of the Frye Boots is: Benjamin! I know that seems weird since the lucky winner seems to be a boy but it turns out he has the same name as my nephew, so I trust he will make good use of them! Email me at lina@livingwithpower.org to claim the gift.

But I was so overwhelmed by the level of enthusiasm over the give away that I’ve decided to do 2 things. Continue Reading…