Top Ten Blog Posts of 2016

Hello Friends!

Thank you for coming to Cranberry Tea Time this year. I am thankful for all of you! I'm thankful for those of you who comment or email me. I'm thankful for those of you who share my blog posts on social media. And I am thankful for those of you who come here and read quietly, even if I may never know your name. Thanks for being a part of the Cranberry Tea Time community.

Want to know what your favorite posts were from this year? Here are the ones that had the most views and shares.

Top Ten Blog Posts of 2016:

• Choose Joy Weekend
• The Beautiful Truth
• God Is Good
• Beyond the Prayer Sheet
• Adventure and Joy 
• Persevering and Choosing Joy on the Hard Days
• Travelling with a Chronic Illness
• Serving the Homebound in the Church
• Helping the Healthy Child of a Disabled Parent
• Five Minute Friday: Surrender

I have been making a list of blog post topics for next year, and some of these ideas come directly from emails from readers. If you have something you'd like to hear from me about in a blog post, let me know!

I wish you all a happy new year! See you in 2017!

Blessings and joy,
Rachel

Merry Christmas! Hope Is Here!

Immanuel

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. Galatians 4:4-5

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14

Merry Christmas! Hope Is Here! Truth Has Come!

Jesus came for you, and He came for me. He came as Immanuel, God With Us. He came to live a sinless life and die on the cross to take the punishment that you and I deserve for our many sins. He absorbed the wrath of God in our place. He rose again from the dead, and He is now in Heaven preparing a place for all who will believe in Him. Have you believed on the Lord Jesus?

I invite you to watch this animated video that beautifully illustrates why Jesus came to earth. If you are reading this in an email, please click over to the blog to see the video.

Close By - An Animation by Full of Eyes

These are the Scripture verses that you will see during this song and animation:

Their sin is written with a pen of iron; with a point of diamond it is engraved on the tablet of their heart… Jeremiah 17:1

He is the radiance of the glory of God… and he upholds the universe by the word of his power… Hebrews 1:3 

Your hurt is incurable,
    your injury beyond healing...
because your guilt is great,
    and your sins so many.
Jeremiah 30:12-14 

In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the wrath-absorbing sacrifice for our sins. 1 John 4:10

Dear friend, do you know Jesus as your Savior? If you don't know Jesus, please email me! I would love to tell you more about Him so that you can know Him too. He has changed my life, and He can change your life too. You need Jesus! He is the one who makes each day worth living.

Merry Christmas! Hope is here! Truth has come!

Favorite Books of 2016

I have enjoyed reading lots of books this year. Here are a few of my favorites! Plus a giveaway! (The giveaway is now closed. Thank you to all who entered! And congratulations Angela on winning!)

Choose Joy by Sara Frankl and Mary Carver

In 2010 I found Sara Frank’s blog, and I began reading it daily. Sara shared openly about her life with a severe chronic illness and extreme pain, and she shared about how she chose joy in the midst of it all. Getting to know Sara through her blog made things less scary for me as my health declined, and I became increasingly homebound. Without even knowing it, Sara mentored me through her blog. She showed me how to live a homebound life with joy. 

Choose Joy was co-written by Sara Frankl and Mary Carver, and it was released in January of this year. Choose Joy contains blog posts from Sara that are woven together with Mary's words. Mary introduces each section of Sara's, giving the reader background information, sharing stories from friends, or sharing stories of her own.

Choose Joy will be coming out in paperback in January 2017! You may read my full review here.

Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World by Kristen Welch

This is a helpful book for any parent seeking to raise their children to be grateful, Christ-followers in a world that wants to teach us that it is all about having more. Whether you are dealing with heart attitudes of wanting more, or are needing to make big changes in your family to move away from living an entitled life, this book will be encouraging and helpful. You may read my full review here.

And It Was Beautiful by Kara Tippetts

Through her blog, and through her books, Kara Tippetts has shown the world how to live well and die well. And It Was Beautiful is Kara’s final book, and it is primarily a collection of many of her blog posts. Those who have enjoyed reading Kara’s blog will love owning a copy of her blog in book form!

In this little book, Kara shares beauty and joy in the midst of the very hard grief of dying as a young wife and mother. Kara shares about the grace and peace that can be found in times of suffering. You will be encouraged to live life with joy and love, and you will learn to see beauty in the hard things in life. You may read my full review here.

A Step Further by Joni Eareckson Tada and Steve Estes

This book was originally published in 1980. Joni wrote it with her friend and mentor, Steve Estes, and it was a follow-up book to her autobiography, Joni. In A Step Further Joni and Steve dig deeper into Scripture to share what it teaches regarding suffering, health, and healing. This book is good, insightful, and biblical. It is especially helpful to those who are facing life-long disabilities and are wondering why God has not healed them.

A Spectacle of Glory by Joni Eareckson Tada

A Spectacle of Glory is Joni’s new 365 day devotion book. It released in October, and I have been reading an advance copy this fall from Net Galley. I have not finished the book yet, but I have read a few months of the devotions, and they are encouraging, challenging, and helpful. They devotions are short, and will be good for those who cannot read long chapters.

Joni has been a quadriplegic almost 50 years. She writes from a perspective of someone who has suffered a lot from disability, but also from the perspective of a woman who has walked with God for many years. Joni’s devotions are always based in Scripture. She writes on a variety of topics including joy, perseverance, suffering, prayer, difficulty, disappointment, pain, gratitude, fear, hope, turning from sin, faithfulness, and Heaven.

If you are looking for a new year-long devotion book for 2017, A Spectacle of Glory is a great book to choose! I especially recommend this book if you have a chronic illness or disability.

For Such a Time as This by Angie Smith

Adelaide and I enjoyed reading this book together this year. For Such a Time as This is a great devotion book for a mother and daughter to share. Angie tells the stories of 40 different women from the Bible including Eve, Sarah, Rahab, Ruth, Esther, Gomer, Elizabeth, Mary, and Priscilla. Every page is beautifully illustrated by Breezy Brookshire. The Bible stories are well told, and there is an application section that is challenging for both moms and daughters alike. Each chapter ends with a prayer to pray for your daughter. If you are looking for a high-quality devotion book for a 6-10 year old girl, this is a good one!

My Brother’s Crown by Mindy Starns Clark and Leslie Gould

This year I enjoyed reading several fiction novels. Fiction is sometimes easier for me to read on my tired and brain fogged days. I read classic novels as well as several newer ones. I especially enjoyed reading two books from the Cousins of the Dove series. It is a new mystery and historical fiction series written by Mindy Starns Clark and Leslie Gould.

My Brother’s Crown is the first book in the Cousins of the Dove series. There are two stories that unfold in this book. One story follows a Huguenot family facing persecution in seventeenth century France, and the other story follows modern day descendants of that Huguenot family. I enjoyed learning about the Huguenots while reading this book, and the modern-day mystery gave it just the right amount of suspense!

My Brother’s Crown is a great start to a fun and interesting historical fiction series. Only the first two books in this series have been released so far. Book number three will be coming out in July of next year.

And now for a giveaway! I have an extra copy of My Brother’s Crown, and I would like to give it to one of you! If you would like to win this book, please enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter form below. The winner will be notified by email on Tuesday, December 27.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

What books did you read this year? What was your favorite book? What do you recommend I add to my reading list for 2017?

Fourth Sunday of Advent

For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
    and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and of peace
    there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
    to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
    from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. 

Isaiah 9:6-7

Busy Hands: A Bag for Myrtle

This fall I took walks in front of our house with our little dog, Frodo. I bought this seat cane to help me, and I named her Myrtle. This seat cane has worked well for me, but it was difficult to hold on to a leash, my phone, a cane, and any items I needed for Frodo. So I made this little bag to hang on Myrtle.

I liked the houndstooth pattern on my walker bag so much that I decided to make something similar for a seat cane bag. I made the bag in the round and then added a black flap to close over the top. After that I added two single crochet strips to use to secure the bag to the seat cane.

The straps easily secure with black buttons inside of the bag.

As a final touch, I added a vintage brooch from a friend. I thought about adding a crocheted flower, but decided on the brooch instead. When I'm ready for a different look, I can easily change it to a different pin.

This seat cane bag is working out well for me, and I like the way it makes Myrtle look a little bit more fun and fancy. I'm not currently taking walks with Frodo because it is too cold, but Myrtle and I are ready to go whenever it warms up again!

What have you been doing lately to keep your hands busy? Do you have any fun crafts or projects to share?

Third Sunday of Advent

The people who walked in darkness
    have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
    on them has light shone.
You have multiplied the nation;
    you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
    as with joy at the harvest,
    as they are glad when they divide the spoil.
For the yoke of his burden,
    and the staff for his shoulder,
    the rod of his oppressor,
    you have broken as on the day of Midian.
For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult
    and every garment rolled in blood
    will be burned as fuel for the fire. 

Isaiah 9:2-5

Five Minute Friday: Joy

It is Five Minute Friday! This week the topic is joy! We all write on the same topic, and then we gather at Kate's blog to share our words. 

Life with a chronic illness is hard. But it is not without joy. Joy is there to be found in the hard days, the stuck-in-bed days, the pain-filled days, and the lonely days.

I have been blessed by the joyful example of many different people. These people have helped me, and continue to help me, to live a life of joy.

Sara Frankl blogged while completely confined to her small condo, and through her blog she showed me how to live a homebound life with joy. Her sister, Laura, continues to tell Sara’s story and point others to the joy found in Christ. Laura is such a sweet encourager for me.

Kara Tippetts lived well, and died well, and showed the world how be joyful in the midst of suffering.

Arlene was a dear friend who was a godly example of joy to me in the few months that I knew her before she went to be with Jesus.

I recently met Andrew through Five Minute Friday. He is dying, and in his final months he is showing us how to choose joy in a very painful end of life. In fact, he is writing at Kate’s blog for today’s Five Minute Friday post!

I recently heard the testimony of Johanna Watkins, and she has encouraged me to keep a joyful perspective and to trust God no matter what.

I have a few chronic illness friends, most of whom I’ve never met in real life, but whom I keep in touch with through Facebook, emails, and texting. These friends are godly examples to me of persevering in suffering and choosing joy.

What a blessing it is to have godly examples from others who are suffering, and what a blessing it is to have godly friends who encourage me to keep choosing joy.

My ultimate example is the Lord Jesus Christ. “who for the joy set before him endured the cross, despising the shame” (Hebrews 12:2). Jesus suffered more than I ever can or will. He looked to the joy ahead, and He endured the pain and suffering of the cross. He took my sin upon Himself so that my life could be redeemed for His glory.

Dear friend, He suffered for you too. He took the punishment that you deserve so that if you repent of your sins and place your faith in Christ, you too can be forgiven and spend eternity in Heaven! You too can have this amazing joy that Sara, Kara, and Arlene had in the mist of their suffering. You can have the joy that Andrew and Johanna have! You can have the joy that I have.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.

Hebrews 12:1-3

Who is an example of joy for you? 

Purpose in Illness

As Christians, we believe that “God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28, NASB). Romans 8:28 has encouraged me often in my life, and I love to find ways that God is using suffering for the ultimate good of His people. Though we cannot know all of His good purposes on this side of Heaven, we can trust that God is working all things for our good.

Recently, two verses in Galatians encouraged and challenged me as I considered God’s amazing plan in the midst of suffering. In Galatians 4:13-14, Paul tells the believers, “You know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first, and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus” (ESV).

I was encouraged by these verses because they showed a very specific, and good, purpose for Paul’s bodily ailment. He was able to preach the Gospel to people in Galatia because of an illness! It could be that his illness forced him to take a break from travelling while he was in the area of Galatia. He used his unplanned time there to share the Gospel, and as a result, many came to faith in Christ! There was purpose in his suffering that will have an effect for all of eternity.

These verses were also encouraging to me because they showed the love and care that the churches in Galatia had for Paul. His illness was a trial for them, but they did not scorn or despise him. Sometimes illness and disability can be a trial for those around us who need to care for us. It is always a blessing when they help with genuine love, and it was encouraging to see that the young churches in Galatia responded to Paul in such a compassionate way.

In addition to encouraging me, these verses challenged me to look for more opportunities to share the Gospel with others. God used Paul’s illness to bring the Gospel to people who had not yet heard it. This challenged me to think of whom I might be able to share the Gospel with because I am chronically ill. Perhaps there is a nurse or a doctor with whom I can share the Good News of Jesus Christ. Or maybe there is a fellow chronic illness friend with whom I can share the Gospel.

If you live with a disability, take courage in the fact that God has a good purpose for you, even in the midst of your suffering. He can use your disability for your good and His glory! And perhaps there is someone you can share the Gospel with because of your disability!

Who do you know who needs to hear the Good News of Jesus? Perhaps there is a doctor, nurse, or home-health aide with whom you can share the Gospel. Or perhaps there is a teacher or school aide who is in your life because of a disability. Maybe there is a neighbor who sees your faithful testimony and needs to hear the Gospel from you. I encourage you to pray this week and ask the Lord to give you the opportunity to talk to someone about Jesus!

This article was originally posted on The Irresistible Church blog.

Second Sunday of Advent

 

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. 

Isaiah 7:14 

There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse,
    and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.
And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him,
    the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
    the Spirit of counsel and might,
    the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.
He shall not judge by what his eyes see,
    or decide disputes by what his ears hear,
but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,
    and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;
and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,
    and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.
Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist,
    and faithfulness the belt of his loins.  

Isaiah 11:1-5 

Five Minute Friday: Crave

It's time for Five Minute Friday! It's a writing flash mob that gathers at Kate's blog each week. We write without worrying about whether or not it is perfect. We write for the joy of writing. This week the writing prompt is: Crave.

When we read the Psalms, especially ones like Psalm 119, we see how much the psalmist craved the Word of God. His desire was to know and obey God’s law. It was his delight. He longed for it, he clung to it, and he hoped in it.

It is convicting to read of such a strong craving for Scripture! Do we crave Scripture like the psalmist? If not, we should.

Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. 1 Peter 2:2-3

Let us pray for a greater desire for the Word of God. And then let’s dig in! There is a spiritual feast to be found in the pages of Scripture. If you don’t have much of an appetite for God’s Word, pray that your desire for His Word would increase. And then start reading the Bible, and keep reading the Bible regularly, and your appetite will grow!

There is much in the world to distract us, entice us, and entertain us. But let’s not lose sight of what we need the most. We need God. May we all be able to say with the psalmist:

Whom have I in heaven but you?
     And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
     but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. 

Psalm 73:25-26