What a year this has been. There have been many children die this past year in different ways. Sickness, stillborn, car accidents, abuse, and violence have taken what is so near and dear to us. I can't even begin to imagine the loss of a child and what Christmas is like for a family without them. But there should be a peace in our hearts knowing that God has our little loved ones right there in His kingdom. He is a loving God, and is taking good care of them. He did not abandon them at their death, whatever the cause, indeed His word says that to be absent from life is to be present with the Lord. What a comforting thought!
So if you have lost a child, as I know so many have, please know that you will see them again. They have moved to their place in eternity, and are fine, they are safe in the arms of Jesus. I pray for you this Christmas season, that the peace that Jesus left with us overtakes your sorrow and one day brings a smile back to your face in remembrance of your baby.
I wonder what Christmas in Heaven is like. I think it must be awesome. I think that Almighty God must look down and see us worshipping; and when he looks around at His loved ones that have already gone before us, those that are part of His very own choir, I think He must smile broadly! I think He is happy that we still celebrate the birth of His only Son even when our hearts break. I think it shows how much we trust Him, that is shows our belief that the enemy will not and can not defeat us! And I think that makes Him glad. We are here but for a moment, after all, and our eternity will not be filled with sadness or grief. There is no sorrow in Heaven, there is only never ending joy! God bless you!
Please click on the link below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVE7H2QUD-U
That's me in the window, and my Dad, world renowned NYC Crime Reporter Pat Doyle shoveling snow. What a Christmas Eve!
Dear Reader,
I would like to thank you all so much for all the comments you have sent the last few months. I would love to hear from some of the rest of you, especially those of you in different countries.
I started this blog site in August 2011 to promote my book, A Christmas I Remember, but have almost never mentioned the book at all. I know, it's really strange, but God keeps taking me on different journeys. I believe that He gave me this one sweet memory and made it a book to prepare me for other things. It doesn't matter how small a book is, or what it is about, the process to getting it published traditionally and getting it marketed is the same. I think He is preparing me for the future. Last year I was on TV, I was on national radio, and had several book signing events. You see, dear Reader, He was gracious enough to give me a book that has a season to sell so that I wouldn't be overwhelmed. The major sales of A Christmas I Remember is from October until 24 December. It consumes me for that period of time, but then it is over. I have more exposure, so to speak, because more people are shopping for Christmas books at that time. The rest of the year He has me writing my blogs and a few more books which I will get back to after this sale is over.
Selling a book isn't easy, even with a publisher and a marketing rep. They will put information out to hundreds of media sites, but if the media sites don't care to mention it, they don't. I am not a famous name... yet, so I have to work hard to sell this little book. But my Savior is with me every step of the way, and I know that He will send the right people to buy it. I would be blessed if you would be so kind as to check it out.
I believe that God has blessed me because He wanted me to start this blog page. He works through each of us to reach different people all over the world. I have a ministry of sorts, writing what He tells me, and leaving the rest up to Him. I enjoy writing my blog. I enjoy sharing the things He has taught me. I hope that I am able to encourage and inspire you as I feel our Lord speak through or to me.
My website can be found at www.deirdretolhurst.com. Please check and see if maybe my first book would be something you would like to buy for a child this Christmas. There is a 'Look Inside' there, so you can read a little bit of it. All the details about how it came to be are listed there, so I won't go into it here except to say that I do mention that Jesus is to be honored.
This week only, until 6pm CDT Saturday, 27 October, ALL BOOKS WILL BE ON SALE for 10% OFF, and NO SHIPPING AND HANDLING FEES to any address in the United States. That makes it cheaper than Amazon. Besides, on Amazon you can't buy a hard cover, coloring book, or an Author's Special, which is one of each book, signed, and wrapped in a bow.
Thank you again, dear Reader, and may God bless and inspire you!
Deirdre Tolhurst
Dearest Heavenly Father,
I come to You today and give You my heart. I do not own it, it belongs to You. I trust You, Father God, to hold it safe in Your tender embrace. I give You permission to remove the hard shell that has formed around it, preventing me from being aware of the cries of those I love the most, my spouse and family.
I allow Your warm hands to massage it, and work out the kinks, the stony areas that have made me blind to the plight of the downtrodden and deaf to the cries of the weary. I wait as You break up the fallow ground and remove the hard places, allowing seed to once again grow.
I will rejoice in knowing that once again holy life will flow freely through my heart. I give You permission to scrub off the grit and grime of hate, intolerance and impatience, the filth of pride, arrogance, and self-serving, and to polish it back to where once again it is new, and whole, and pure.
I will honor You with the fruits of my labor. I will dedicated my life to You, O Lord, for You have made me new again today, and my once cold and dying heart, which You have made new and perfect, rejoices in love and adoration to You.
Thank You, Father, for working in me, and healing my broken heart. You are the Great Physician! My Jehovah Raffa. I adore You. I accept this beautiful new heart and promise to care for it and fill it with love from Your word daily. I will not let it suffocate to the point of near death ever again. Thank You for restoring it back to health and beauty. It shines like Your reflection!
I love You, my Father, with all I have. In Jesus' sweet name I pray, Amen.
