 | Delighted we can keep in touch, my friend! I know you're busy, so let's make this short and sweet. You'll find two encouraging mini-messages, an easy contest, some fun news, and lots of ways for us to stay connected this year.
Stuff I'm excited about? Seeing you at Women of Joy and Women of Faith, and doing a reboot of my bestseller, Bad Girls of the Bible, with an all-new 10-session Bible study video on DVD, releasing this July. Woo hoo!
I'm also thrilled so many of us are meeting weekly on my Bible Study Blog. Right now we're walking through the pages of Embrace Grace, looking ahead to The Women of Easter starting February 27. Jump in, anytime! | Here's your first dash of encouragement For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39 Nothing. Nothing in all creation can separate us from his love. For those of us who've done everything in God's creation to ignore him, offend him, or deny him, these lines from Scripture offer incredible hope. We're not too late. We've not gone too far. We didn't blow it completely. God is on our side. God loves us still. As one of our sisters wrote, "That verse changed everything for me. I sobbed so hard, my heart burst open. God moved in and caulked the broken places. He was there for me and has been there for me every day, every moment since."
—Excerpt from Embrace Grace: Welcome to the Forgiven Life | Let's connect, dear sisters Hugs to the women of Calvary Baptist Church in New York City for sharing a "Ta-da!" moment soon after Hurricane Sandy blew through. I prayed 20 sisters might attend our conference. We had more than 200! Only God could manage such a miracle. The #1 question people ask me online is, "Where can I hear you speak?" Take a peek at my 2013 calendar for the answer. This year I'm speaking for Women of Joy, Women of Faith, and lots of great churches—23 different states in all, plus Canada and the U.K. Hope one event is near you! If I can't encourage you in person this year (sniff), then I'd be honored to do so online with my daily posts on Facebook and Twitter. And, if it's your thing, I'm on Pinterest too. | Another dash of encouragement
(especially for Former Bad Girls) My own dear "Boaz" never speaks of my past, never tosses my indiscretions in my face, never reminds me how generous he was to overlook that miserable decade of my life. Do I deserve such grace? Not for a minute. Am I grateful for his love? Every hour of every day of our happily married lives. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Lord. You too, sweet Bill. Only a Redeemer would pair a Former Bad Girl with a Truly Good Guy. Why does the Lord do such seemingly impossible things? Because he can. And because he delights in getting the glory. Redemption always bears God's signature. —Excerpt from The Girl's Still Got It: Take a Walk with Ruth and the God Who Rocked Her World | When in Romans This Thursday, January 17, look for a guest post from Lizzie on Ann Voskamp's hugely popular blog, A Holy Experience. She's an amazing woman. New York Times bestselling author of One Thousand Gifts. Farmer's wife and homeschooling mother of six. (Oh my.) Gifted speaker with Women of Faith. Beautiful spirit. Ann is doing a cool thing this year, memorizing Romans 1, 8, and 12 with her readers. For her blog, I unpacked Romans 1:1, teaching each word and adding photos from my garden. On Thursday I hope you enjoy, "Even in the Bleak Midwinter, the Hope of Spring." Now for that easy contest This summer on my weekly blog I'd love to teach verse-by-verse through a book of the Bible. Which New Testament book would you enjoy studying, and why? E-mail your answer to contest@lizcurtishiggs.com. Five winners will be chosen at random on April 1st (no fooling) and receive autographed copies of Embrace Grace, The Girl's Still Got It, and Ann Voskamp's One Thousand Gifts. I look forward to hearing from you! Until we meet again—online, across the page, or in person—may your year be filled with his peace in abundance. Your sister, Liz Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Colossians 3:15 | | | | | | |
