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Hello Friends, and welcome to this weeks linkup. I am taking a much needed week off from writing, and hanging with some of my writer “mastermind” friends. However, the linkup is still happening below.
Plus Don’t miss the special giveaway opportunity below for those who answer my question in the comments.
If you follow me on social media, I am sure you will be seeing pictures of our adventures.
We are four women from four different locations, who have a passion to write and bring the truths of Jesus to our corner of the world.
Four years ago this past October I met an amazing group of women. Two sets of friends who made connections with each other. We first connected online doing linkups and then we finally met face to face at a writers conference. God brought us together and after our first face to face meeting we have purposed to stay in connected.
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We created a mastermind writing group, but as our lives and writing priorities changed over the years, we stopped meeting as “masterminds”. However, we have continued to share in life’s high and lows, we have encouraged each other in our writing and lifted each other up in prayer.
We have learned that we are #BetterTogether and when God brings people into your life, you take the steps necessary to invest in those relationships no matter the distance.
“The Masterminds”
It’s been two years since we have all been together in the same location, but this week we are reconnecting face to face and taking time to be refreshed and catch up. We are also celebrating our 4 year friend-aversary, book releases, birthdays, soon to be born grand-babies plus much, much more. There is something so important about sharing life with others.
I thought it would be fun if you shared in the comments about an unexpected connection which grew into friendship. Make sure to make it compelling because….
For those of you who respond and share your story in the comments, my friends and I are will each choose our favorite story and we will send you a gift.
4 prizes, 4 potential winners. Although, if we choose the same story, that person will get a prize from each person who chose their story.
I (Debbie) will be giving away a signed copy of my new book: The Gift of Prophetic Encouragement: Hearing the Words of God for Others. (Or my other book if you already have a copy of this one)
Mary Geisen who hosts #TellHisStory Linkup on Tuesday 5pm (CT) will be giving away a copy of her devotional: Brave Faith: a 31 day devotional journey.
Holly Solomon will be giving away a copy of her 12 week Bible Study book: Gray Hair Talking Lessons in Living in Grace
Patti Krank who blogs at Old Things New and writes about DIY, home decor and her faith will send you this brand new “Live Simply” pillow.
We will choose the winners next week. So you can still comment and respond through Wednesday November 14th.
Top Clicked Post:
This weeks most clicked post comes from Diane at Worth Beyond Rubies. Her post: How to Study the Bible When you have that Menopause Brain Fog! Had a great many of you clicking over to read her post. Diane has 7 tips and she even created a video as well. It’s worth checking out even if you are not of menopause age yet.
Plus she has started a new linkup on Wednesday. Y’all know I love to give a shout out to help people grow their linkups so go check out her linkup by clicking here.
The next most clicked post I want to highlight is from Patti Krank over at Old Things New Blog. If you haven’t visited Patti’s sight, go check her out. Not only does she have amazing DIY projects and pictures, but she shares her faith and encouragement for others on this journey. Patti took the month of October and participated in Writing for 31 days on her story. Last week she linked up post #1 but all 31 are up and ready for you to follow Patti as she shares her journey on Becoming:
Again Welcome and Thank you for joining me for #TuneInThursday it is an honor to have you here!
I have had a few people ask for a badge/button to display on your blogs. I would absolutely be honored if you would display it, or link back here in some way. Thank you!
Now let’s get this party started, feel free to link 1-3 posts:
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Debbie Kitterman is a natural born encourager who is on fire for God. She is passionate about equipping individuals, so they can go deeper in the relationship with God, reach their God-potential and claim their Kingdom inheritance. Debbie is a wife, mother, author, pastor, speaker and the founder of “Dare 2 Hear,” a ministry that trains individuals to hear the voice of God. She travels to churches internationally and is the founder and teacher of d2htraining.com, an online course designed to equip the believer in releasing God’s heart. Her writing and teachings inspire faith and build bridges for people to believe and expect the impossible. She is also an ordained Foursquare pastor, currently serving with her husband, John, as senior pastor of Restoration Church in Lacey, Washington. Learn more at: www.debbiekitterman.com
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Do you wonder if God still speaks today? Do you wonder if He would ever speak to you personally? Do you long to hear the voice of God in your life?
Have your read other books on hearing from God, but long for hands on practical application? or are you looking for ways to move you forward hearing from God?
If you answered YES to any of those questions, then I have exactly what you need. I now have an online e-course designed to equip you in understanding that God still speaks today, and He longs to speak directly to you, through His word, and others. He longs to encourage you, strengthen you and comfort you. The training on this site, is fully based on Scripture, and taken from my training manual Releasing God’s heart through Hearing His Voice.
God is speaking, Can you Hear Him?
d2htrainging.com membership site is open, I invite you to check it out today, and develop a deeper relationship with the Lord, as you learn to hear Him speak to your heart.
Looking for other Great Inspirational Parties. Click Here to see where I Link-Up weekly.
Several Submissions have been featured at Blessed Transgressions, an Online Magazine:
Balancing the Warrior & the Princess We’re Called to Be
Trusting God When it Seems Illogical
Will You Sit with Me? (Jesus is Calling.)
My Post: The Reluctant Encourager was featured here:
My Posts: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year & And So Do We! & Know Your Why & Jesus in Us! were featured here:
My Post #BeTheGift was featured here:
My Post “Climb Every Mountain” was featured in the August monthly link-up at : Life on Intention Link-up Party
My Posts: “Will You Sit with Me?” & New Mercies Everyday & Wait for it were featured here:
My Post: The Power of your Story, The Reluctant Encourager and #TeamJesus were featured here:
My Post “What’s in a Name?” was featured here:
My Post: “The Journey through Change” was featured here:
Again, I have been know to link to the following Inspirational Parties:
I just love it when you girls get together! The pictures speak for themselves. (And I think you are still masterminds.. .)
My unexpected connection happened with my kids’ Sunday School teacher. All four of my sons had a lovely, very traditional SS teacher when they were around four or five. With gray hair and a schedule in her hand, she ruled the class full of rascals with an iron fist in a velvet glove. As a retired Kindergarten teacher, she knew all the tricks. I had so much respect for her, and since she and her husband were “from away,” far from family, and had no children of their own, we invited them to our home for holidays. I really looked to this woman as a mentor, but now, nearly twenty years later, she has become a friend, and we often laugh about our age difference and ask each other, “Who’s mentoring whom here?” She and her husband have moved back to the mid-Atlantic region and sold their home here in Maine, but we keep in touch over the phone and with semi-annual visits, but the dearest component of our friendship has survived geography. I’ve lost count of how many years we have followed the same Bible reading schedule together. This month we will finish a nearly year long trek through Jeremiah, and so I will be creating a new schedule that will take us through the four Gospels. We both appreciate the accountability and companionship that comes from reading together and discussing the text–and in the case of Jeremiah’s last few chapters, commiserating about all the woe! This connection has been one of the God’s great gifts to me, and I have been enriched by it in more ways than I can count.
Ahhh, thanks Michele. We do have fun together, that’s for sure. Thank you for sharing your story of unexpected friendship. I love that you invited her into your home to share the holidays with you and that the difference in your age didn’t keep you separated. Oh and that no matter the distance you have still remained friends and study the Bible together ! I love it – THANK YOU so much for sharing a piece of your world with us. 🙂
Love this story, Michele! Thank you for sharing with us.
Michele –
What a wonderful story. I love connections like this and who knew that someone you respected has now become a friend on a deeper level.
So when are we meeting?
I love this Michele. What a blessing you’ve been to each other.
Hi Debbie and friends! What a fun idea for a giveaway. Here’s my story. When I worked as a high school secretary, I enjoyed my first-hour office aide’s company. She and I had a heart connection that kept developing over time, and I was grateful that this teen started sharing her heart with me. Teens aren’t always comfortable opening up to adults, but this sweet young woman trusted me. I could tell she looked up to me, and I began sharing advice with her when asked for it (but not when she didn’t ask for it). Now and then we bump into each other. This August, we saw one another at Panera and had a long, heart-to-heart, two-hour chat. I think she is being blessed by my role as a mentor, and I’m even more blessed to serve her. We all need friends in different generations–the generations before and the generations that follow us. Only God knew that her first-hour office aide assignment would turn into a lasting friendship!
Thanks Sarah! You are so right, we so need friends from different generations. I love that this unexpected friendship began when she was a teen. What an amazing story to show that no matter where we work, who we are that there are opportunities available to us to reach out and make a difference in other peoples lives. Thank you for sharing your story. 🙂
Sarah, love this! And you are so right about our responsibility to have friends from all generations. We all have something to learn and can learn from and encourage all, regardless of age!
I love the natural rhythm of mentoring relationships. What a blessing for both of you.
Amen to needing heart connections that span the generations. I’m sure you both benefit greatly from this sweet friendship.
Your group of writer friends is such a blessing! How wonderful to have other “masterminds” to share with.
Yes, Laurie, they are a blessing indeed. I hope you will come back and share your story of unexpected friendship with us – by doing so you will be entered to win on of the 4 prizes. Blessings
We are so blessed to have the connection we do. I pray you find the same kind of relationships where you are in your life. We would love for you to come back and share a story. We love giving things away.
Not sure what it is but seeing you all together each time makes me smile! You all are a blessing not only to each other but to many.
Oh, thanks Joanne! We have been together less than 24 hours but I have laughed and smiled more in this short amount of time than I have in the last month combined. Getting together with like minded friends sure is refreshing. I hop you will come back and share a story with us about unexpected friendship so we can read about you and also so you can enter to win one of the prizes too. 🙂
Hi Joanne!
We would love to have you come back and share your own story.
Joanne, thanks for your encouragement. Tell us your friend story!
How fun! You girls have fun and emerge refreshed from your time together! I met Mary once a couple of years ago and that was such a treat! Thanks for sharing your adventures and challenging all of us to gather with our blogging friends, Debbie!
Thanks Beth! We have having a grand time so far – only have a few short days together so we have to make the most of it. I love that you met Mary once. I hope you will come back and share your story with us about your unexpected friendship so we can all get to know you better and also you will be entered to win one of the 4 prizes. 🙂
I count meeting you as one of my biggest blessings! Share a story with us so you can win a prize! 🙂
I have many and they all seem unlikely because of what would appear to be entrenched beliefs. As a young wife and mother my best friend at work turned out to be Jehovah’s Witness. We connected because we had similar values – she was the first person I met who made a point of not cursing, just like me.
Many years later, after relocating to CA, there was a need in my soul for deep friendships. I met many women through jogging, but one stuck. I’ll never forget the day I found out she was Muslim. I never thought it was possible, and we’d had deep religious discussions.
Recently I’ve connected with my neighbor – she’s white, has a dog (I don’t like dogs) and has the most beautiful long grey/white hair. We started talking during my morning walks after her husband died and we kept talking. I’ve learned so much from her and may even like her dog.
Nylse – I love all three stories that you shared. I love how the friendships began to develop and then you found out more about them, and it is so true that we can bridge the gaps of beliefs by finding common ground, and still love one another. As I was reading the last story about your neighbor who recently lost her husband. I thought how much it’s just Like God to send you to talk with her and be a friend to her and her the same for you. Thank you for taking the time to share!
I love this! When we open our hearts to others and love as Jesus loved we will find ourselves in the company of friends we would’ve never expected or maybe even chosen for ourselves.
Thank you so much for hosting again this week. You always do so much for bloggers! Have a relaxing week!
you are most welcome Marilyn – I hope you will come back and share your story of unexpected friendship
Oh it is so good that the 4 of you are able to connect! I have made some very deep friendships through blogging, that I would love to be able to meet up with. Someday–even if it’s in Heaven! But my story of unexpected friendship began over 25 years ago when all 3 of our children were very sick with chicken-pox, and I had been cooped up in our house for weeks. There was a woman at church that we had met, but really didn’t know very well. One Sunday, when I was home with our sick children, my husband approached her after church and asked if she would give me a call & maybe go for a walk with me. He thought we might connect & I needed a friend. Since that time we have walked through many deep valleys and joys together, that we never would have known if my husband had not taken the risk to ask her for connection. I am so thankful that God plans those connections for us! Blessings to the 4 of you and the beautiful connection that God arranged.
Thanks BettieG – don’t you just love the connections you make through blogging world! You husband is awesome – I love that he loves and cares for you so much that he went out of his way to ask her to connect with you – what a good man he is! My husband would do the same thing. We are blessed through friendship and our spouses. Thanks for sharing your story. 🙂
Such a beautiful story! Thank you for sharing your story. God is so good to give us exactly what we need at just the right time.
What a loving and thoughtful husband. The results of his taking action when you were in need have gone on to bless you for years afterward. Just one act. Who knew? Thank you for sharing this beautiful story.
I love makin new friends Debbie. Pick me🤗
Hey Hector – thanks for the comment – come back and leave your story of unexpected friendship to be entered into the contest. Blessings 🙂
Debbie, this is such a wonderful story. I love when God does this, and He makes it so clear that the connection has been orchestrated by Him, which makes it an even richer experience of sisterhood.
Thank you Crystal! Yes, I love when God orchestrates connections that we aren’t looking for and it truly does make for a richer experience.
“The Masterminds” sounds like such an uplifting group to be a part of. I wish I had a group like that. Maybe someday I will. Thanks for hosting this link up!
April, I agree, it is great to be a part of such a group. I think that you can have a group like this. I would suggest finding other writers or individuals that have similar goals with and create your own group. It is well worth it and Thanks for stopping by.
In 2015 my closest friend, left our church and pulled away from our friendship. I was devastated and mourned over the loss. I made attempt after attempt to repair our relationship but, while outwardly all of the right words were said, it was clear that my friend was not interested in working to continue our relationship. I had to let it go. Shortly after, a couple moved to our area from out of state and began to attend our church. I was gun-shy to let anyone close, but God wouldn’t let me keep my heart hard and closed up. She has become a dear and trusted friend, and her husband has become a true friend, confidant and support to my husband. I know they were God’s gift to the both of us and to our church as well.
I so understand being gun shy Elizabeth. I’ve been there and I’m so thankful that God didn’t allow you or me to stay in that place! How good He is to bring just the people we need into our lives at just the right time. A double blessing that your husband got a great friend also! Thanks for sharing your story.
Elizabeth – I am so sorry about the broken and lost relationship with your longtime friend. I too had a similar experience a few years ago with someone whom I was in close relationship with. It hurts, and we do all we can, but sometimes restoration isn’t possible no matter how bad we want it. I love how God has a way of sending us what we need and yet He asks us to trust Him through the process. It is so worth the risk in trusting God.
Elizabeth – I am choosing you as the winner of a signed copy of my book – Check your email. 🙂
That is so true. God does has a plan for our friendships. Thanks for hosting and I hope that you had a wonderful weekend. Have a great week.
thanks Patrick!
The older I get the more I appreciate good friendships. They add so much richness and support to our lives. Yours looks like no exception!
I agree Donna 🙂
One of my unexpected connections came from my first writer’s conference. This woman walked up to me as I was pondering which workshop to take. We hung out the whole conference. She’s in Colorado, and I’m in NC. Our husbands and us have spent 3 weekends together over the past years. Such a blessing!
Attending a writer’s conference is a brave thing and I’m so glad God gifted you with a special friend while you were there. We never know what direction these special connections will take do we? Thanks for sharing. BTW, I’m your neighbor to the south in SC 🙋🏼
Debbie – what a great story of God connections! I love that your husbands and you have been able to spend time together over the past few years! Blessings
Hello! I’m your neighbor today at #GraceFullTuesday.
I’m so glad that you were able to take some time off writing and spend time with friends filling your cup. I know that for me, things like that really energize me.
A story. . . Hm. . .
Several years ago I signed up for a class to learn how to advocate for families with Special Needs. It was a 9-month commitment. I had no idea what to expect. While I learned a ton of helpful information, what I came away with were the best friends anyone could ask for.
I suddenly had a group of women who understood exactly what I was going through with my son with special needs and could empathize to a level I had never known before. If we ended up in the hospital with one of our kids, we could count on the others taking care of our other children, bringing food, and just basically knowing what we needed before we did ourselves. While only one other person in the group was a practicing Christian, it is my best description of what living in a Christ-like society would be (adding in prayer). They truly cared for the sick, weary, helpless amongst ourselves and then turned around and helped lift others.
Calleen – taking some much needed rest is necessary and it has been a long time in coming for me, but has been so worth it. 🙂 What a beautiful story and yes the perfect example of of what it means to live in Christ-like society – thank you for sharing your story – it is a beautiful example of friendship
I think it’s wonderful when God brings us people who we have things in common with because we can connect on a deeper level. A bonus for you was the lifelong friendships that developed because of it. Thanks so much for sharing.
Calleen – Congratulations! Mary Geisen has chosen you as the winner of her Devotional Book. She will be contacting you soon via email to get your shipping info.
God has great things when you have unexpected friendships happen. He blushes your heart your soul and your mind.
My unexpected friendship came with Jocelyn B. We knew each other from high school but never really good friends hung out with different crowds and knew each other were but never actually knew each other. This last year she moved back from the East Coast with her two wonderful daughters and had some unexpected circumstances happened and was not able to move into her apartment on time. She was going to be homeless for three weeks with her girls and I talked with my kids and they both agreed for them to come stay with us. What was supposed to be 3 weeks turned into a month and a half before everything was ready for her to leave and move in to her own place. During that time we were able to connect on a more spiritual level and share experiences about our life in came to realize that a lot of the heartache that we had both been through parallel each other. A lot of the same hurts and heartache we both were able to help each other or talk through and know that we were not alone and in our grief. We became so close that her girls are major part of my life and my kids with her too. They even call each other sister :-). She has opened her heart up and asked more about the Lord and has started coming to Prairie Knights and bible studies with be wanting more of the Lord in her life also. During that time I have started a new healing and areas of my life that I can reach out and she prays for me and encourages me and doesn’t judge me that continues to help me seek the Lord to answer my questions. We have healthy boundaries but love each other with the love of the Lord. I don’t know what I would do without her in my life now. I am so blessed that God brought her into my life the way he did when he did. What I looked at as an opportunity to help somebody was actually the opportunity that helped me and changed my life.
Sara – I love how God works. That you were looking to help someone esle, and yet God connected you with what you needed too to help you and thereby hanging both of your lives. Thank you so much for stopping by to share your story! I loved reading it.
Oh how I love this story Sara. I believe so strongly that we receive so much back by giving of ourselves to others. Maybe even more! I love that your families also benefitted by receiving new “sisters.” I wonder where this connection will take y’all in future years?💓💓💓
Sara – Patti Krank has chosen you as the winner for her prize. She will be contacting you via email soon. Be watching.
My unexpected connection goes back about four years ago. I met my friend Marjie at the gym. I was doing some personal training with the gym’s owner and she had a session after mine. We started talking and teasing and something just clicked. Every time we saw each other at the gym we enjoyed talking. Pretty soon we started coordinating our workout times. This turned into going to lunch occasionally and even going to antique malls together. She became one of my best friends. The unexpected part is that Marjie is 25 years older than me. That makes no difference to either of us. Even after I moved all the way across the country our friendship continues. She writes to me every day. I miss her terribly.
Jill, I loved reading about your friend Marjie and especially that miles haven’t changed your relationship – the commitment to write everyday and stay connected is valuable .. no matter the years that separate you in age, God has knit your hearts together. Thank you for sharing your story.
I love your story Jill! Especially because one of my dearest and closest friends is 19 years younger than me. When God calls two hearts together, age never matters!!
I love this so much Jill. Deep calls to deep and age is irrelevant. Thanks for sharing.
Jill, Congratulations – Holly Solomon chose you as the winner for her Bible Study Book – Be watching your email -she will be contacting you soon –
You know how much I love this, right??? It was a such a treat to spend last week with you and the rest of our sweet Mastermind group. Can’t wait to do it again!
Yes, I do and I am so glad we all got to be together and come up with the idea together as well! It was so awesome to be reunited again face to face. Looking forward to the next time.