This is My Story: Zelma

“What we do now echoes in eternity.”-Marcus Aurelius

There are people that come into your life on purpose, to make a lasting impression and impact on our hearts.  One of those people for me was a lady named Zelma.

I was in the fifth grade and my parents had just gotten separated.  My mom and brother and I had moved to a new place, and my mom started taking us to church again.  On Wednesday nights, our church had dinner together, which was lovely by the way.  After that we divided up and went to our own classes according to age.

I don’t remember everything about my class, but I do remember Zelma.  She had bright red hair.  She was an older lady and she was my teacher.  I don’t remember anything she said, but I remember I did not feel alone in her presence.

I was kind of a mess at the time.  My world had just been rocked to pieces.  My parents were in the process of ending their marriage.  I was in the 5th grade, an awkward time.  We were going to a new church, living in a new house, with no dad, and my mom had just given me a terrible haircut.  Go ahead, you can laugh at the last part.  I felt like Samson having his locks shorn.

So, I am in this class feeling awkward around new people, and here is this Bible teacher woman who is reaching out to me and welcoming me into this new environment.  I don't remember all the details, but I do remember that she removed some of the loneliness, and that she gave me a new Bible.  We hadn’t been to church in a while I don’t think, so this was a reintroduction to the things of God.

Sometimes we don’t realize that the smallest of efforts can influence people for eternity.  We are sowing just the smallest of seeds that may seem extremely insignificant, but can have lasting, eternal impact.  I am so thankful that this woman loved God, and took just a minute to love little, messed-up me.

As the years went on, I drifted from God, only to come back to Him in my early twenties.  As I look back, I realize that that because Zelma planted a tiny seed in my heart, God was able to water that seed to produce fruit in my life for His Kingdom and bring this sweet little lamb home.

I still have the Bible.

"The sower sows the word."-Mark 4:14

Conrad and the Cowgirl Next Door by Denette Fretz Illustrated by Gene Barretta

"Seems to me that bein' a cowboy is mostly about heart." Uncle Clint says.  "And your heart knew one of the most important cowboy rules."

"Which rule is that?"

"Forgive your enemies.  It messes up their heads."

-excerpt from Conrad and the Cowgirl Next Door

Based on Matthew 5:43-47, author Denette Fretz has written a parable for children about loving their enemies.  In the story, Conrad and the Cowgirl Next Door, Conrad goes to his Uncle Clint's ranch for cowboy training for the summer, and encounters an enemy in the form of a little red-headed girl named Imogene Louise Lathrop.  There on the ranch, Conrad learns some serious cowboy rules, but he also learns about being nice to those who may not at first be nice to you.

This is a really cute book.  The story is unique and fun for little boys and girls.  The main characters are energetic and adventurous which always makes for a good children's book.  The illustrations are also very unique and entertaining for the eyes.  I like the little boy's personality.  He is kind and forgiving.  The little girl is cute.  She is kind of mischievous and has red curly hair.  She is also bossy, which reminds me of myself a little bit.  Haha!

I think it is also important to note that at the end of the book, the author has included different kind of poetry about cowboy stuff by one of the characters named Giddy.  I thought that was a really neat element to add to the book.

I liked this book.  I like that the author taught in parable form, because much of Jesus' teaching was using parables to communicate an important truth.  I mentioned Matthew 5 earlier, but she also reminds us of Romans 12:17-21 in the parents page/guide in the back of the book.  

I recommend this book to parents looking for Christian literature for their children.  This is a fun book to add to teaching tools, and it really is just a fun book to read.  Children who are interested in ranch life, horses, and cowboys would especially enjoy this book I believe.

Many blessings to you as you read!

~Beth

To learn more about Denette Fretz and Conrad and the Cowgirl Next Door, please visit her at her blog, denettefretz.com.

Disclaimer:  I received this book free from Book Look Bloggers in exchange for a review. I was not required to give a favorable review.  The thoughts and opinions her are entirely my own.

This Good News

This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world.  It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God's wonderful grace.-Colossians 1:6

What is the Good News?  IT is the news that Jesus loves me and has paid my penalty for my sins. He has redeemed me. He bought me, purchased me with His own blood so that I might be His bride and walk beside Him in white.  I am pure, unblemished, without stain because of Him.

 That Good News changed my life and continues to do so to this day.  It is constantly moving me forward into my destiny, into His plans.  As I go, I hope to be spreading His fragrance and bearing fruit by being a light for others.

It has the power to change your life.  He is as near as your breath, waiting for you to receive Him.  He loves you and has grace, His love unending, full of mercy for you.  Grace like was given to Queen Esther when she received her crown.  HE longs to place a crown upon your head.

 You are his daughter, his sister, the reason He lived and died.

What great love that He has lavished upon us that we should be called the sons and daughters of God.

-1 John 3:1  and 2 Corinthians 6:18