Congratulations to Lisa T. from New York, the winner of the $15 Amazon gift card!
Spring is a time of renewal, when everything is bright and fresh. Spring is the time when we celebrate Easter and the resurrection of Christ. We watch as trees begin to bud, perennials push their colorful heads out of the ground, and the grass turns to a soft, vibrant green. And we are reminded of the renewed life we receive through Jesus’ resurrection.
To celebrate the arrival of spring, and with it, Easter, I’m joining The Kids Did It blog and The Mommy Island blog to participate in the 4th Annual Rain Rain Go Away! Giveaway Event, which runs from April 2, 2019, to April 16, 2019. The winner of this giveaway will receive a $15 Amazon gift card.
Enter through the Gleam form below for your chance to win!
One entrant will be selected to win a $15 Amazon gift card. Open for entry in the Continental US/Canada Only, 18 years and older from 04/02/2019 thru 04/16/2019 at 11:59pm EST. Winner will have 24 hours to respond to notification email to claim their prize or a new winner will be selected. See Gleam form for official rules. Event hosts and participating bloggers are not responsible for fulfilling prize obligations from sponsors or self-sponsoring bloggers.
Staci’s 2019 Rain Rain Go Away! Giveaway Blog Hop
Echoes of Joy: A Devotional for Animal Lovers
Blurb
Do you have a favorite memory of a childhood pet? Perhaps you have a furry family member in your life right now. In Echoes of Joy: A Devotional for Animal Lovers, author Staci Mauney recalls the lessons she’s learned as a pet owner.
From taking care of rabbits and birds to caring for dogs and cats, animals have always been a part of Staci’s life. In this 30-day devotional, she chronicles her adventures with her sassy Yorkshire terrier, Lilly, as well as other pets she’s had throughout the years. Through the antics of her pets, she has developed a deeper relationship with God and grown in her faith.
These messages will encourage you in your walk with Christ as Staci reveals spiritual truths she’s learned. You will feel joy and your spirits will lift as you consider the wonders of the animals with which God has entrusted us.
Excerpt- Day 15
The Destruction of Jealousy
“You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans?” (I Cor 3:3)
A calico cat we named Kitty adopted my parents. She follows my mom around the yard and plops down to have her belly rubbed like a dog. Watching Kitty follow Lilly around the yard is pretty comical. Lilly tolerates Kitty by turning her head and pretending the cat isn’t there. Kitty will touch her nose to Lilly’s or sneak up behind Lilly, causing my little dog to leap away and start barking. If I pet the cat, I get an earful from Lilly.
Lilly and Kitty remind me of jealous siblings who endure each other’s presence. The Bible contains stories about several sibling rivalries: Cain and Abel (Gen 4), Jacob and Esau (Gen 27), and Joseph and his brothers (Gen 37). In each case, jealousy destroyed the relationship between siblings. Cain’s jealousy toward Abel’s sacrifice led him to murder his brother. Jacob, jealous of his father Isaac’s preferential treatment of Esau, plotted with his mother to steal Esau’s birthright. Joseph, who faced his brothers’ jealousy because of his father’s favoritism, was sold into slavery by his brothers.
A complex emotion, jealousy usually kicks in when we feel threatened. If allowed to grow unfettered, it will destroy even the strongest relationships. It creates issues of distrust and insecurity. It’s a natural, human emotion, and we can’t control it on our own. When faced with disappointment in our human relationships, we can turn to God, who will never leave us. With his help, we can let go of our jealousy to see others as he sees them and to show them his love.
Dear Jesus, help me to let go of any jealousy that I feel. I can’t do that on my own. Show me how to love the way you love. Amen.
Thanks for stopping by and reading a little of my Devotional for Animal Lovers! Remember to visit the other blogs listed below that are participating in this hop and enter to win more wonderful prizes! Good luck!
MY favorite thing about spring is the warmer weather.
My favorite is the warmer weather.
I love the Spring weather, it is perfect for gardening.
I like that the days ate a bit longer, and the cherry blossoms that are blooming.
Mt favorite thing about spring is the weather.
My favorite thing about Spring is the sense of renewal I feel every year.
I love the warmer weather!
My favorite thing about Spring is watching nature come back to life after a cold dreary winter.
My favorite thing about spring is planting my garden
I love spring because I can run outside again vs on the treadmill!
I like the flowers blooming
I like the warmer weather.
I love all the baby ducks that hatch at a pond near my house.
I love the birds coming back with all the new songs, the warmer weather, open water, the list goes on!
My favorite thing about Spring is when the birds build a nest on our porch, and waiting for the bird eggs to hatch! I love hearing the babies chirp!
I love the trees budding out in the Spring and everything turning green and growing.
My favorite thing about spring is being able to work in the yard and plant some flowers.
My favorite thing about spring is that I can go outside and read on the porch swing in the nice weather!
My favourite thing about Spring time is the warmer weather, blooming flowers, longer days… I love it all! It is so nice to get outside again 🙂 Happy Spring to you.
Definitely the warmer weather. Thanks for the opportunity.
My favorite thing about spring is we start camping.
My favorite think about Spring is the warmer weather.
I like watching the flowers bloom.
I love that I can get outside during the spring. I hate winter so much and even though spring isn’t particularly warm here I still can get out without freezing.
I love the flowers and the weather is really nice
I like the sunshine!
My favorite thing about spring is the warmer weather and my ability to work on my garden.
I love the new flowers the most about spring.
I love the new growth, the warmer weather, and being able to get outdoors!
My favorite things about spring are the smell of fresh air after the first warm rain and the first flowers that bloom – usually daffodils.
My favourite thing about spring is the mild weather!
I love all the fresh flowers of Spring!
I like the animals and birds coming back out to play and when everything turns green
I like working in the flower garden and taking my dog Baily for nice long walks he loves them
and they are good for both of us.
My favorite thing about spring is…no more snow or ice, lol 🙂
“Tell me your favorite thing about spring!” Spring flowers!
the warm weather
I enjoy planting my flower garden in the Spring.
My favorite thing about spring is the beautiful flowers.
I like the flowers
warmer weather!
the flowers and their scent
Warmer and lots more sun.
I like the longer days, warm weather and sunshine in spring.
My favorite thing about Spring is the warmer weather
My favorite thing about Spring is no more shoveling snow! Thank you for the chance to win.
I love the spring weather. It means the snow is going away.
My favorite thing about Spring is the warmer weather and seeing the flowers blooming.
What I like about spring is that the weather is nicer so that our family can go away camping & enjoy hikes.
The warmer weather and planting my garden.
I love being able to have the windows open.
I like the nice, pleasant weather.
My favorite part of spring is the warmer weather and beautiful blooms.
I love everything about Spring: Longer days, green growing things, birds singing.
Thanks for the contest.
I like it when it’s 7pm and it’s not pitch black yet! Remember winter, when it was already night at 4:30pm? Bleh.
I love seeing all the flowers bloom.
My favorite thing about spring is the warmer weather! We love taking walks this time of year.
I love the beautiful flowers.
seeing all the plants come up again
I love seeing all the flowers blooming.
My favorite thing about spring is the pleasant weather after months of cold.
My favorite thing about Spring is the return of more birds to my backyard feeders.
I love all the blooming plants and flowers in the spring.
My favorite things about spring are the sunshine and flowers.
My favorite thing about Spring is the return of the tulips and daffodils.
I like working in my garden with my granddaughters.
I do not like all the storms, but I do love that it starts to warm up a little bit.
My favorite thing about Spring is everything turning green again.
I like the warmer weather.
The bright blue skies is my favorite thing!
I love the longer hours of sunshine.
My favorite thing about Spring is to be able to open windows.
My favorite thing about spring is the warmer weather.
I love to plant my garden.
I like when the flowers are bloom. I also love swimming in the spring because it gets too hot and humid in the summer.
I love being able to work in my gardens
I love how everything blooms.
My favorite thing about spring is the new flowers and plants.
My favorite thing about spring is that I get to wear shorts.
I like all the new plants and animals.
I like the beautiful flowers.
I like when all the flowers start blooming.
My favorite thing about spring is the warm weather and storing my winter clothes.