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Book Information
Genre:
RELIGION / Christianity / General
Publication:
Dec 29, 2007
Pages:
132
There are so many things in this life that bring us joy: a crimson sunset, a hug from a special friend, an unexpected gift, a relaxing day on the beach, the freshness of spring, bright colors of autumn-the list is endless. There are also many things that rob us of a joyful life. This book explores several situations that tend to take our joy away. It exposes the lies that keep us in prisons of guilt and feelings of inadequacy, freeing us to accept the joyful, abundant life that God desires for each of us. Come, find out how you can experience the best in life!
"I was out with my kids and a few friends on one of the mountains near my home. It was a bit windy that day, but the sun was out, and the sky was clear. The views from the ridge we were following were breathtaking! I was just imagining what we would be able to see when we got to the top, as one can see for miles in every direction from that vantage point, when something grabbed my attention. To our left was a huge basalt cliff, several hundred feet high, near our destination. But the cliff was not what stole my attention. This was brought about by a small group of very large, black birds, maybe eight or ten of them. I think they were vultures, but I couldn't quite tell from where I stood. In any case, it wasn't their presence that drew my attention. It was what they were doing that intrigued me. They were standing in a row at the top of the cliff, and, one at a time, they were falling forward into the wind and performing all kinds of aerobatic flips and dives and somersaults in the air. Of course, it is not unusual for birds to dive and circle around in the sky, but these birds just seemed to be having so much fun doing it! They weren't searching for food or migrating to a specific destination. They weren't working at all, as far as I could tell. They were just taking time off and enjoying themselves. I must admit, I was a bit envious. As I watched them tumbling and soaring, I couldn't help feeling a little more light-hearted myself. I felt the joy growing inside as I watched them and imagined myself joining them. How the wind must feel, rushing by as they dove over the edge, their wings catching the air just right and sending them flying back up, high above the cliff. How free they must feel! As I left them and continued on with my own journey, I began to walk with a little more spring in my step. Then it hit me: Is this how God feels when He sees me fully experiencing life? Does He look down from heaven and say, "Yes! That's it! Go ahead and have fun. Take it all in! I made this for you. Do you like it?"
About Terri Cruze
Terri Cruze is a Christian writer and also a Registered Nurse who works in geriatrics and long-term care. She is also involved in youth ministries in her church, so she is able to share her love for Christ, by serving people across the age spectrum. She has a real passion for writing and has frequently blessed others with the message of Christ's tender mercy through her poetry and previous writings. She shares her message of God's protection, love, forgiveness, and grace with everyone that needs to hear it. Terri makes her home in a small community in the Cascade mountains in the Pacific Northwest, with her husband and three children.
There are so many things in this life that bring us joy: a crimson sunset, a hug from a special friend, an unexpected gift, a relaxing day on the beach, the freshness of spring, bright colors of autumn-the list is endless. There are also many things that rob us of a joyful life. This book explores several situations that tend to take our joy away. It exposes the lies that keep us in prisons of guilt and feelings of inadequacy, freeing us to accept the joyful, abundant life that God desires for each of us. Come, find out how you can experience the best in life!
Terri Cruze is a Christian writer and also a Registered Nurse who works in geriatrics and long-term care. She is also involved in youth ministries in her church, so she is able to share her love for Christ, by serving people across the age spectrum. She has a real passion for writing and has frequently blessed others with the message of Christ's tender mercy through her poetry and previous writings. She shares her message of God's protection, love, forgiveness, and grace with everyone that needs to hear it. Terri makes her home in a small community in the Cascade mountains in the Pacific Northwest, with her husband and three children.