I Just Published My Free Ebook!

I write for the Christian inspirational magazine market. My latest publication, however, is an ebook.

One of the things that brings me great satisfaction is being able to encourage other women in their daily lives, whether they are young or old, married or single, in the workplace or at home. This post is about what led me to write my inspirational ebook. In the next post, I'll tell you why I'm giving it away and how you can get your free copy.

But first, here are the top three reasons I wrote this ebook:

1. To help inspire women.
We live in the midst of turmoil that is almost impossible to avoid. If we're not personally involved in some sort of unrest or instability, our loved ones may be. And we go through whatever they're going through right along with them. At the very least, we pick up a newspaper or turn on the radio or TV and we're greeted with a steady dose of despair and trouble. We long to be uplifted and inspired from above to counter the negative influences that surround us daily. This e-book helps do just that.

2. To allow the mysteries of God to touch us in new ways.
We can't live very long in the world without realizing that there is Someone much more powerful than we are who is in charge of all things. That Someone is the God of the Bible. And what a God he is! The creator and sustainer of the universe calls us to come to him and receive his goodness. It's my prayer that this ebook will inspire you anew with the mysteries of God.

3. To share the goodness of God.
I started writing this book when I first became a Christian, though I didn't know I was writing a book at the time. Through just living my life, it seemed that the Lord himself was writing his lessons on my heart, in my mind, in my spirit, on my tongue, in every muscle and sinew of my being, so much so that his lessons exploded from me through my pen. I wanted to shout out the Lord's wonders and goodness from the roof tops. He allowed me to write a book about it instead. Perhaps there's something in this book that will encourage you as you, too, go about your daily life. Or, maybe you know someone who could use a dose of inspiration and encouragement.

There you have it--those are the main reasons for writing the book. I hope it will be a blessing to you and to all who read it. Check this space for the next post on why I'm giving the ebook away and how you can get your free copy.

The Good Words Bookshelf

I'm a "books person." You probably are too. I love to read and consequently I'm constantly surrounded by books. I thought it would be fun to share some of the books that are on my own personal bookshelf with you.

A companion blog to this site is "The Good Words Bookshelf" where I do just that. I give a quickie summary of some of the excellent books on my bookshelf. Click over to "View My Complete Profile" and then click on "The Good Words Bookshelf" to see the books. You may want to check back regularly for updates.

Let me know what you think.

Message on a Balloon

On my way to church this morning, there weren't many signs that this was Easter Sunday. No girlie Easter dresses or bonnets. No children carrying colorful Easter baskets. Just the usual line of traffic on a narrow road in my region.

Then, all of a sudden, I saw them!

What on earth are they? Balloons...but what were they for? I wondered.
Someone had tied colorful balloons to trees, street lights, stop signs, fire hydrants and almost anything that was upright, lining both sides of the road. Flapping and bobbing upright in the breeze, the balloon display went on for about two miles. Sheer curiosity would make you wonder why someone would do such a thing. At first, I thought they were just balloon “signposts” to guide visitors to someone's house for Easter dinner.

But, there was some kind of writing on the balloons that I couldn't read at first. Quickly glancing out of the side of my eye, I made out something that looked like the word, "Alive." Then further on down the road, I made out the word "Jesus" on a balloon. "Jesus Is Alive" was stamped on each balloon for the next few miles! No one driving on that road could have missed that display.

I loved it! What a fitting reminder of today, Easter Sunday. This is the day Christians celebrate Jesus’ resurrection from the grave. But who was responsible for this display? A church? A youth group? A family? One individual? It doesn't matter; it was just refreshing to see this anonymous reminder of what today is all about. I couldn’t help smiling all the way to church.

Jesus is alive, and death is swallowed up in victory. Thank God Jesus is alive. And those are great words for us all.

Christ is Risen!

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16, King James Version)

Today we celebrate and remember the Resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ! What a glorious day it has become for us all! It's glorious because we remember and celebrate the day Jesus defeated death and rose from the dead, just like He said He would.

His death and resurrection make it possible for all our sins to be buried in the depths of the sea, thrown away as far as the east is from the west, and remembered no more.

On this day, we remember that promise of the Resurrection--that we can have a clean slate, the promise of a new start. It’s all because of the innocent blood that God's only Son, Jesus, willingly shed to pay the penalty for our wrongdoing.

What Love for us!

Copyright © 2010 Barbara Hemming. All Rights Reserved.

Good Friday

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2, NIV)

Good Friday seems to have suddenly come upon us, yet heaven and earth have been inevitably leading up to this day.

The frigid blasts of winter, the drenching downpours of early spring, then suddenly, everything seems to stand still…waiting, as we wait. We think about what it took for Jesus to do the unthinkable..to allow Himself to be tortured and killed so that we could have a chance at eternal life. What love! What sacrifice! We can never fully understand that kind of love and sacrifice. But we can receive the benefit of Jesus' loving sacrifice and live in the good of it as we draw even closer to God.

Copyright © 2010 Barbara Hemming. All Rights Reserved.

Maundy Thursday

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." (John 13:34, NIV)

Today is a day we call Maundy Thursday, the day Jesus celebrated the Passover with his disciples. We call that Passover meal the Last Supper and remember it through our celebration of communion. It is also the day Jesus set a humble example of love for us to follow by washing his disciples’ feet. We remember Jesus' example as we serve others today.

As we think about these acts of Jesus, we know that we are drawing closer and closer to remembering the most important day in the history of mankind--the Resurrection. Jesus' humility and love made the Resurrection possible. Humility and love. What good words!

Copyright © 2010 Barbara Hemming. All Rights Reserved.