From My Heart to Yours: Ponderings and Poems; Inspired by the Word

By Paula Elliott Fawcett

In, From My Heart To Yours, Paula Elliott Fawcett invites you to join her on a journey along the full spectrum of life. Within the text, hope and faith in God stand out as a shining beacon. It may be illumination for a soul floundering in a sea of despair, or a gentle glow, highlighting peace and contentment that resonates within one’s spirit. The light of the Most High may appear as an inferno ready to consume sin or as a sparkling guide, accenting the trail leading toward confession, forgiveness, and reconciliation.

May the searching soul discover the author of agape (selfless love) and the source of enduring peace who resides within reach of all who call upon His name. Shalom!

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Aug 5, 2019
• ISBN: 9781973668053

Paula Elliott Fawcett

Paula Elliott Fawcett’s commitment to spiritual growth and sharing the Gospel through real life experiences has become a welcomed avocation. Her meditation on the word of God has resulted in her non-traditional devotional, From My Heart To Yours. Paula is a retired middle school teacher and plays an active role in the Stephen Ministries organization at her church. She lives with her husband, Robert, and their family in Wichita, Kansas.

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ENDORSEMENTS FOR

FROM MY HEART TO YOURS

I would highly recommend From My Heart to Yours. This book is well written and thought out.

Paula’s knowledge and love for Jesus shines through every page. She is an amazing lady who loves and cares for so many; she wants to share the love of Jesus with all

Her special story is amazing, and her heart is running over with love. The title of the book is perfect because she truly pours out her love for Jesus and others. You will find many treasures in the book.

I hope you will enjoy the book as much as I did and that you feel the love of Jesus as you read each page.

Cyndy Bressler:Youth Coordinator

Ascension Lutheran Church

Wichita, Kansas

This book is very inspiring, and it is clear it does come from the heart. Paula Fawcett has captured the thoughts and feelings most of us go through as we journey through this life, as well as tied it to scripture. Truly moving and a must read!

Margaret Cuba: Product Development Manager

Adoptive mother of three

Denver, Colorado

Touching deep into our emotions through our senses, be assured this book will make you cry, as well as rejoice. Beautifully oriented toward God and His love and care for us, it contains heartrending compilations of the author from her early teens, through motherhood and beyond. Reflections with inspirational poems combined with scriptural references, make this a unique read for our time in the struggles and resolve of our culture today. I highly recommend this reading for anyone who strives and desires to become closer to God, to know ourselves better and to love as we are meant. A rewarding collection for Meditative Prayer.

Bonnie Johnson: Director of Religious Education

Holy Family Parish

Citrus Heights, California

His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities.’

Matthew 25:23 (ESV)

From My Heart

To Yours

Ponderings and Poems;

Inspired by the WORD

Paula Elliott Fawcett

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Copyright © 2019 Paula Elliott Fawcett.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.westbowpress.com

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (KJV) taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture quotations marked (ISV) taken from the Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.0. Copyright © 1996-2013 by the ISV Foundation. Used by permission of Davidson Press, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.

ISBN: 978-1-9736-6804-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-6806-0 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-6805-3 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2019909081

WestBow Press rev. date: 07/30/2019

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility, value others above yourself.

Philippians 2:3 (NIV)

Dedication: First and foremost, to my Creator, Redeemer, Comforter; may He receive all the honor and glory.

I present this book with a prayer that it will encourage the reader, provoke meditation, but most of all, inspire devotion to the One who is standing at the door knocking.

CONTENTS

Foreword

Section One – Reflections

The Bread of Life

Change

The Song

Assurance

Discovering Grace

Joy Unequaled

Mercy

Darkness or Light

Jesus

The Pathway

Prayer to the Lord

Can You Hear

Transformed

Life Within

The Chosen

Saved

Grace

Prophecy

Sin/Absolution

Face the Demons

Children

Christmas

Many Languages

In Charge

My Own

Lilies

World’s End

+The Facts of Prayer

Section Two – Life Beholds Life

My Baby and Me

Nowhere to Go

The Storm

Taylor’s Song

Special Me

Paradox

Politics

The Giving

This Baby

Survival

By Your Side

Infertility

Little One

Victory

A Hand Extended

A Recipe For Mercy

Frailty

March of Time

My Window View

Busy

Don’t They Know?

Comfort

For Always

Section Three – Lamb of God

Sacrifice

The Deliverer

Sweet Mary

Her Child

Mary’s Son

Found

Mary’s Lament

The Promise

Saving Grace

His Eyes

Simon Peter

There I Was

Woman at the Well

In the Garden

Denial

Contrition

Damascus Road

For Me

Faith, Hope, Love

Eternal Tranquility

Commissioned

Epilogue

Acknowledgments

Notes

FOREWORD

In her, From My Heart To Yours, Paula invites you to join her journey, and to consider and study your own story. She does not ascribe pat or prescribed answers but offers probing questions of self-discovery and resources for hope and next steps for the journey. You are not challenged to agree or disagree with her story. You are guided along a path that offers help for your steps and guided toward the God who speaks many languages and who holds both life and death, and help for the way, in His hand.

With prose and poem, she relates her life story, and possibly yours. I join her in the prayer with which she introduces her walk, My prayer for those who may read this offering, is that they will see God at work; that He will bring a message that He has orchestrated.

Enjoy the Journey!

In Christ’s Service,

Rev. Keith E. Kohlmeier (JN 15:16)

Several years ago, my daughter found some of my old writings. And I do mean OLD! Some of the short stories were written over fifty years ago when I was in 7th grade. She asked me to gather them together and put them in some sort of anthology. That seemed like a great idea; a legacy for my kiddos, and a peek into the mind of my younger self. My writing soon developed, if not a life of its own, at least a unique purpose. This compilation would not be ancient musings (though a few of the poems are from my late teens and my early twenties). The Holy Spirit led me in a different direction. How wonderful it is when you open yourself to the leading of God and discoverer places you had never imagined! My mind and soul were open in new ways and with new thoughts. The old writings that I did use were decided upon and included because of the purpose they served, not as a mere gathering of anything I had written.

Within this text are the sharing of personal stories, and connected poetry all tied up with the luminous ribbon of scripture. The Trinity was ever present in my mind, and I sought to provide bits of my own insight, as influenced and led by the Deity I worship. This collection seemed, not only right, but inspired; given by the Creator of words. The manuscript is a patchwork of belief, faith, conflict or controversy, with the immense love of the Father as the thread running throughout.

While I do feel that the Holy Spirit directed my path in this writing, I do not claim to have any new-fangled or amazingly poignant revelations. I simply asked, waited, and God provided the direction. My prayer for those who may read this offering, is that they will see God at work; that He will bring a message that He has orchestrated. I also pray that He will use the words that He provided to adorn someone’s life quilt. If this happens to you, if you feel His work in your soul, remember to thank Him and send up a praise that He has used the most unworthy to declare His worthiness.

SECTION ONE

Reflections

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On the wings of faith

we are lifted above the raging sea,

We call to You,oh Lord,

and You hear us.

⁹ If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

¹⁰ even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.

Psalm 139: 9-10 (ESV)

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28 (ESV)

Within the human drama there are two directions that events can take, victory or defeat. The blessing of living a Christian life is the assurance, that even in a situation that could be considered tragic, there can still be victory. The love of God and faith in His providential care can truly sustain us through any crisis that might arise. Our faith may be strengthened by the concern, love, and prayers of our Christian brothers and sisters. In times of need, it is this support that edifies us. It is God’s love that brings us together. Through His love, we are made more fully aware of the preciousness of life and of our friends. It is through our friends that we are often able to glimpse the nature of God. How lucky we are that we can use unfortunate experiences to help us grow and develop. Amid a sea of despair, we can hold on to hope. We can see beyond the fog and know that a brilliant new day is waiting ahead of us. Courage can be found in the promises that Christ gave to us all. Our vitality is ever renewed, and we can march forward with the confidence that we can face whatever lies beyond the next bend.

Peace be with you….

The Bread of Life

This is My body, He said

And so it was;

But so many don’t know…

He was there then,

Is there still!

This is My blood, He said

And so