My first blog giveaway is finally here! I’ve been talking about doing a blog giveaway since last year (yes…I know last year was only 22 days ago), and the day has finally arrived. Today also happens to be my 38th birthday, and I REALLY want to share this day with my blog friends and their friends and anyone else who happens to stop by here over the next couple of days. So…would you help me celebrate my birthday? I don’t need any gifts…actually, I’d rather give one of you a gift! As a matter of fact, my giveaway will be a compilation of a couple of my favorite things, and I want nothing more than to share some of those things with you! So, here’s how it’s going to work. I’m not trying to make things complicated, but I’m trying to give as many people as possible the opportunity to get in on this. So…bear with me while I explain how we’re going to do this thing!

I guess I first ought to announce what I’m giving away. Let me first say that I wouldn’t be surprised if some of you already have one or more of these items, so if you are the winner – I encourage you to “pay it forward” to someone else and allow yourself to also be blessed in giving. So…here we go…ONE person, chosen at random, will get ALL of the following:

(1) His Princess: Love Letters from Your King by Sheri Rose Shepherd – one of my all-time favorite devotionals for women.

(2) The Hole in Our Gospel by Richard Stearns – one of my most recent reads…this book has changed my life!

(3) Blank journal for you to doodle in, write poetry, journal your thoughts, color, whatever…it’s blank! I think I actually have 3 or so that I’m keeping up with right now – one for favorite quotes that I like, one for my weight loss notes, and one for pure randomness.

(4) $10 Starbucks gift card – one of my favorite hangouts!

OK – back to the rules…

You have 4 opportunities to enter:

(1) Leave a comment on my blog. I’d love to hear your favorite birthday memory, but if you’re pressed for time…simply say “count me in”. If you log in as “anonymous” …please include your email address, so I can contact you if you’re the winner!

(2) Post about this giveaway on your own blog, and then come back here and leave a second comment telling me you’ve done that!

(3) Tweet about the giveaway on Twitter by leaving a link my blog and by using my Twitter name @All4Him89 so that I know that you’ve done it and give you credit for another entry.

(4) Lastly, become one of my blog “Followers” and enter another comment saying that you’ve done that. I just recently included the “Followers” gadget to the right (see right below my Twitter updates) to make it easier for you to sign on as a Follower. If you’re already following…you can simply post another comment saying that you are already a follower.

So…clear as mud? Just kidding…actually, if all you have time for is one little comment…then do that. You’ll still be entered in the giveaway.

I will leave this open through midnight on January 23 (this Saturday) and will announce the winner Sunday evening! My daughter’s birthday is Saturday, and we’re used to sharing “birthday week” together, so that’s why I’m allowing the birthday giveaway to remain open for a little longer!

Thanks for stopping by! You are a blessing to me!

Yesterday evening, I had the privilege of attending a women’s Bible study at The Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove in Asheville, NC. This was our first night, and let me just say…WOW! Why WOW? I’m glad you asked…

1) Doing ANYTHING at The Cove is such a blessing! It’s a beautiful place full of God’s Spirit, and the sweet staff and volunteers always make you feel so very special. You’ve got to visit there sometime if you’ve never been!
2) Getting together with a bunch of women – one of my favorite things to do!
3) Getting together and studying God’s Word with a bunch of women – one of my VERY favorite things to do!
4) I was privileged to be filled up by the refreshing teaching of Kendra Graham. That girl is VERY gifted!
5) I learned new ways of maximizing my Bible study time. I NEED to hear from God as often as possible, and I discovered ways to do that more effectively.

It really was that good!

Tonight, we studied Genesis 32:22-31. Just to refresh your memory, this is the story of Jacob wrestling with God. Do you know how many times I’ve read that story? Too many to count anymore. But…do you know that I read that story again tonight, and with Kendra’s teaching – it felt like the very first time. New insight. New understanding. New amazement. WOW!

If you live in the Asheville area, I encourage you to join me and a few new friends out at The Cove on Tuesday evenings from 6:30-8:00. If you live outside the area, I encourage you to check out these Bible study tips produce by Anne Graham Lotz, and they can be found on her website by clicking here. You won’t be disappointed!

Please come back tomorrow. I’m doing my first ever BLOG GIVEAWAY!!! I’ll announce what I’m giving away then, so stay tuned…and BE BLESSED!