by Emily Conrad
**1/2/19 update– The giveaway has ended. Congrats to Amber and Lila!**
I’m not quite done with my gift giving! Who’s left? Well, you are! Though I can’t give every blog reader something (I wish I could!), I do have 2 e-book copies of the novel I love most from my reading this year: Becky Wade’s Falling for You.
Why was this my favorite? Well, there’s romance, there’s mystery, and there’s a fame element. (Fame plays a role in some of my more recent manuscripts, which I hope you’ll get to read someday–but first, I need to find a publisher. š ) But also! The heroine struggles with perfectionism. If you’ve been following this blog for any length of time, you know that topic is near and dear to my heart, and this story dealt with it in a way that was authentic to the story but so moving.
See the giveaway details at the bottom of this post, but because I know it’s sometimes easy to overlook, I’ll stress right here that, unfortunately, these e-books will only work for US customers.
Now, on to your regularly scheduled post!
I tend to circle certain topics in my life and, in turn, on the blog.
In fact, if it werenāt for the blog, Iām not sure Iād notice as acutely how I camp around issues like perfectionism, worry, identity, waiting, and more.
I can feel like I made real progress in an area, and then something happens, the issue floods me again, and Jesus must remind me of the same old truths Heās taught me before.
Often, Heās gracious to do it in a new way, and hopefully truth sinks deeper and permeates further each time, but my need for repetition frustrates me sometimes.
And then it comes time to write a blog post. Should I really pen another post on that same old issue?
So, I look around for something else to write about. Itās Christmastime, and that means seasonal posts are an option. Something about waiting based on Advent, or something about peace and joy, or something about keeping Jesus the focus.
These traditional Christmas posts are an option every year. As we grow older and time goes faster, it seems these annual landmarks come around more quickly, circling past.
The year may change, but the holidays stay the same, bringing to mind the same things over and over.
And thatās kind of the point.
When God instituted the annual observance of Passover, He said in Exodus 12:14 the day was to be a āmemorial.ā When we take communion now, itās in āremembranceā of Christ.
At Christmas, we remember God sent His son to earth to die for our sins. At Easter, we remember Jesus defeated death to offer us life. At Thanksgiving, we remember we are a people called to gratitude.
With each holiday and each tradition, right on down to going to church on Sunday mornings, weāre encouraged to remember.
Remember, remember, remember.
We like to check things off. We like to move on and learn something new.
But there are some things weāll spend a lifetime circling and remembering and applying anew.
If holidays and traditions circle, maybe it shouldnāt surprise me that I do, too.
Thereās room for this with God. Not that we should fail to learn, but that He is patient with us as we do. After all, He is love (1 John 4:8), and love is patient and kind (1 Corinthians 13:4).
It seems He never tires of issuing reminders. One of the last things he said on Earth? āAnd remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.ā (Matthew 28:20, NET)
Wait. Remember that? Has He told us that before?
There may be other instances, but this time of year, the one that stands out to me is tucked away in the Christmas account in first chapter of the same book:
āLook! The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will name him Emmanuel,ā which means āGod with us.ā (Matthew 1:23, NET)
That verse is quoting a prophecy recorded in Isaiah 7:14.
Thatās three times. Remember, remember, remember.
So, remember, Heās still with us. He doesnāt give up on His children. He walks with us, reminding us of His love, His mercy, and His grace until we get it.
Again.
And not for the last time.
To be entered in the giveaway, comment on this post. If you enjoy what you see here, I’d love for you to subscribe to the blog via email, but that is not required for the giveaway. See the other details below.
**1/2/19 Update- The giveaway has ended. Thanks so much to all who entered!**
What are some of the truths you can never been reminded of too much? What types of posts do you find most helpful? I’d love to use your feedback as we go into 2019!
To enter the giveaway, you must be 14 or older and a US resident with a valid email address. Void where prohibited. Comment on this post before January 2, 2019. Winner will be announced in comments on this post on 1/2/19, and in the new post that goes live on 1/3/19. Winner will have one week to respond by emailing me at emilyconrad @ sbcglobal.net (remove the spaces). I don’t have access to email addresses of commenters, but if possible, I will attempt to reach out to the winner via email and/or social media. The e-book will be awarded via an Amazon redemption link. If you have any questions, just ask!
Photo Credits
Title image created on Canva.com, photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash
Ceramic house photo by Sweta Meininger on Unsplash
Gift photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash
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So happy to be subscribed to your newsletter. I'm looking forward to reading your short story.
Thanks for doing that, Leslie! "A Thing of Beauty" has a special place in my heart–I hope you enjoy it!
Thanks for the giveaway–I've been wanting to read Becky Wade's book for a long time!
As to a message I can't get tired of, I've had two words popping up all over for me. "Hope" is one the Holy Spirit keeps sharing with me for the past three years. Lately, it's been "Light." Because Jesus is the Light of the World, we as believers are also to be lights on a hill, shining our good deeds to the darkened world so that they will praise our Father in heaven (Matt. 5:16)!
I don't think I'll ever get tired of hearing these two words or their messages!
It's so worth the read, Lila! And those words–hope and light–are wonderful messages! Thank you so much for sharing that encouragement!
I will probably get kicked out of Christian Romance-ville for saying this, but fame elements are not my fave; they're a thing I have to overlook and hope I enjoy the book's plot anyway rather than something that's a draw for me. HOWEVER, I am reading "Falling For You" right now and enjoying it more than I thought I would. So there's hope for me yet!
As for reminders, I have to constantly be reminded to quit trying to do things on my own and let God do them for me. It's ridiculous how often I forget that.
I won't kick you out of Christian Romance-ville over something like that! We all have different tastes. I'm glad you're enjoying Falling for You.
I'm with you on needing to remember to let God do the lifting instead of trying to do everything myself. Thanks so much for stopping by!
Thanks for the encouragement, Emily. God reminds me that every day is a gift. A lesson learned through cancer. I'm claiming Philippians 4:13 this year, "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." And some weeks, I don't know how i would get through them without Jesus.
Have a blessed 2019.
Thank you for sharing that reminder with all of us, Barb. It's so easy to take our time here for granted. And yes, I'm with you–without Jesus, I wouldn't get through, either. Happy 2019!
Haha, I didn't mean I was afraid YOU would kick me out of Romance-ville. There are others, though… š But you're right, everyone has different tastes. Some people probably think pioneers are incredibly boring. š
Ha, yeah, that's true. I don't remember the last pioneer book I read. Maybe some Laura Ingalls Wilder? Not that I couldn't get into it, but it's not my first choice, so I suppose it's the same as you and fame stories. Ha, and if others do try to kick you out, I'm sure the Quotidians can vote you back in š
I just found my way here today, and from the description it sounds like this will be an interesting book! Thanks for the giveaway, also!
So glad you stopped by, Diane! I'll enter you in the drawing!
The fact that I have to be reminded over and over is both a nuisance and a blessing. The "I want to be God" side of me wants to be told once without reminding but the Christ-centered part of me (smaller percentage) is always blessed when I come across truth I'd forgotten because it comes to me exactly when I need to be reminded.
As always, God has His ways with us and His ways and methods are always perfectly suited to meet our greatest need.
It's nice to "remember" that our Father is Love and Patience for the times we forget. Thanks for sharing, Emily.
Mary – You're right. It's hard to be humble and let God be God–the one who issues the reminders. But He is good to remind us at just the right times, like you wrote! Thanks so much for joining the conversation!
Thanks so much for visiting today, Carol. I'm glad the post was encouraging!
I love Christmas! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for stopping by, Amber!
Thank you to everyone who entered the giveaway! The winners are Amber and Lila. Congrats, ladies! I hope you enjoy Falling for You as much as I did!