Friends On Friday {New Series}

Hey guys!

I’m really happy today to begin a new series on the blog called, Fridays With Friends. Each Friday for the next few weeks I’ve got a special guest writing here on the blog who will also be hosting a giveaway!

Whoo hoo!

Today, I’m honored to introduce you to a new friend of mine. We just recently connected through a group both of us are part of and I just love her. Her name is Elizabeth Maxon and she’s pretty amazing. I know you’ll love her.

Here she is …

I went on live television with a giant foam watermelon sticker on the back of my cowboy boot.

I didn’t even notice until later that day as I was removing the boots from my tired feet. Thankfully the camera angle was favorable and the sticker was hidden up against the couch where I was seated, chatting with the hosts of the ‘Your Carolina’ morning show.

I had to laugh when I saw it there. The kids and I had used them as part of a ‘fruit of the spirit’ activity. Watermelon represented faithfulness – how appropriate. The very fact that I was making an appearance on that show was a demonstration of faithfulness – both mine and God’s.

When you’re a mama, you’re busy.
Whether you work at home or away from home.
Whether you homeschool or put them on a bus every day.
Whether you have one child or ten {God bless those people!}.
All mamas are busy and all mamas have to decide what is most important, because our days are full and our capacities are limited.

I appeared on that television show because what I have to say is important. All the shuffling and scheduling that took place beforehand was one of countless sacrifices our family has made over the past few months. We have made those sacrifices for a common purpose.

Type ONEderland.

It is a book I have written, but it is also a story we are living.

And not only is it a story we are living, it is a gift we are offering. The lessons we have learned and the hope we have found over the past two years is worth sharing, so that’s what we are doing.

When our five-year-old daughter Lucy was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes we were devastated. Discovering that your child has a chronic illness can send you plummeting to the depths of despair. But,
the things that take us to the depths of despair
also take us to the depths of the One who overcomes that despair.

We have found Him there. God has taught us many things in deep places of grief and suffering. We have rediscovered his faithfulness in new ways. Our discoveries have moved us to faithfulness in carrying our message, His message, to the rest of the world. So I am talking about it on local morning shows and podcasts and blogs and anywhere else I find people who are willing to listen and learn, just as I have listened and learned.

While the majority of you will never have a child with chronic illness {thank goodness}, I bet you’ve faced despair in some form or another. When the darkness comes we look for some light to guide us. The light we find is called hope and it comes from a divine source. That hope has blinded our family with its brilliance, and compelled us with its significance. We want to offer it to you, so grab your sunglasses.

My new ebook – Type ONEderland: Finding Hope in the Hard Places – is a light I want to shine into the dark places of your own grief and fear and doubt. When the light floods in we look around and realize we are not alone. Whew! What a relief. You are not alone.

So I may not have time to check my boots for stickers before doing a television interview and I may not get all the dishes cleaned before bedtime, but I will be faithful to carry this message just as God has been faithful to carry me. Like you, I’m an ordinary person, living an extraordinary story, penned by an extraordinary God.

My story is worth telling. Your story is worth telling.

In Type ONEderland I share my story and encourage you in the sharing of your own. I hope you’ll join me there. We’ll learn together how to tackle fear and grief and ultimately uncover the hope found in those hard places. The choice is always ours – to live as a victim of our circumstances or to live as a victor in the middle of them.

How about you?

Is there a place in your past or your present that has left you full of despair?

Is there a darkness hanging over you that needs a little light?

In the comments below share a hard place in your life that needs the light of hope or share a phrase or verse that has offered you hope in those places.

One person will be chosen to receive a free copy of Type ONEderland. To increase your chances of winning, head over to the website and subscribe.

I will be giving away an additional free book and gift card each week of December!

Ok, I’ll go first. Here’s a passage of hope that has guided our family through the dark. May it be a light to you, too!

You won’t see us drooping our heads or dragging our feet! Cramped conditions here don’t get us down. They only remind us of the spacious living conditions ahead. It’s what we trust in but don’t yet see that keeps us going. Do you suppose a few ruts in the road or rocks in the path are going to stop us? When the time comes, we’ll be plenty ready to exchange exile for homecoming.

But neither exile nor homecoming is the main thing. Cheerfully pleasing God is the main thing, and that’s what we aim to do, regardless of our conditions. (2 Corinthians 5:6-9 )

Connect with Elizabeth on
Her blog – http://www.mywordsandwonder.com
Instagram – @elizabethmaxon
Twitter – @elizabethmaxon
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/lizwrites/

And check out the Type ONEderland site to read a sample chapter and sign up for fun freebies!

Go here to purchase the eBook on Amazon!

See Elizabeth’s interview on Your Carolina here.