Generous January

Yep, that's what I said..."generous January." The Lord has blessed the beginning of the new year in so many ways.

First, the holidays were just awesome and my sweet husband gave me the most wonderful Christmas gift: a ticket to Because of the Times (BOTT), a tremendous conference where I marinated in the rich presence and Word of the Lord for three days. It was great and I'll be feasting on what I took from there for a long time...no kidding...I took over 40 pages of hand-written notes.

I've been amazed at all the requests coming in from all over the country for speaking engagements in 2010. Still finalizing many of the details, so check back for updates, or better yet, drop me an email at loriwagner@affirmingfaith.com and sign up to be on the Affirming Faith mailing list.

One special lady really blessed my slippers off when she placed an order for 100 copies of Gates & Fences for an upcoming mother-daughter conference. I was so happy to sign and pray over each book and hope the young ladies are encouraged by this thoughtful gift.

I am so happy I have all my ducks in a row for tax season (I hope and will find out tomorrow). What a huge undertaking. I have a confession. I use the shoebox method for receipts. It's very convenient throughout the year, but quite a mountain of work to prepare Affirming Faith, my husband's drywall and plastering business and our personal things for the accountant. But I know myself, and I will trade the 361 days of non-filing and non-spreadsheeting for the 4 days of sweating it out during tax season.

One very nice thing I ran across this month was a file of devotional thoughts I wrote probably 15 years ago. They were written before my first husband passed and I could see the Lord's hand preparing me for the road ahead in the things he showed me. Here's a sample, and I'll be adding some to the Message in a Bottle blog (see link in column at right).

Worry or faith?
Anxiety or hope?
Apprehension or trust?
The answers are etched on our faces by time.
Are we creating a sculpture of a frowning person
...or one full of hope and joy?
Say what we will, time will tell.

Jesus, let the lines on my face turn upwards
in praise to You
...to Your faithfulness.
Thank You for the hope and peace I have in You.

And then to top it all off, The Girl in the Dress was released this month, as well. Have you ever wondered why some girls choose to wear only skirts and dresses? This book answers some of those wonderings, in a fun, informative, graphic presentation exploring what the Bible, history, fashion designers, psychiatrists, teenage boys and others have to say about modesty and clothing. Ordering information available at www.affirmingfaith.com.

Well, I can't wait for Fabulous February! Blessings to you today...