Contact Me

If you enjoy my blog and would like to contact me, you may reach me at this email: dena.netherton@gmail.com

Some of my stories are published in:
A Cup of Comfort Devotional for Mothers and Daughters (Adams Media, 2009)
Chicken Soup: What I Learned from the Dog (2009)
Love is a Flame (Bethany House, 2010)
Extraordinary answers to Prayer (Guideposts, 2010)
Love is a Verb (Bethany House, 2011)
Big Dreams from Small Spaces (Group Publishing, 2012)

Thursday, August 1, 2013

Find Me

Hi Readers, God 'n me has moved to WordPress. My new blog address is:
www.denanetherton.wordpress.com
I'm still learning how to place all the elements on my new blog site, so please be patient as I study all the wordpress tutorials. In another week or so I should have pictures and links up and running again. In the meantime, please follow me to this new site.
Thanks so much for your patience.
Dena

Friday, July 26, 2013

Reminder: I've Moved

Dear Readers, this is just a reminder that my God n me has moved to WordPress. The new title is God and Me and my blog address is http://denanetherton.wordpress.com
Thanks. See you there!
Dena

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Wednesday's Word

Hi readers:
I am in the process of moving my blog over to WordPress. If you would like to read my latest Wednesday's Word, you can find it on http://denanetherton.wordpress.com
Have a great day!
Dena

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

I'm Moving!

Hi Readers: I am in the process of moving my blog posts to WordPress. If you'd like to follow me over there, you can type in this address: http://dena.netherton.wordpress.com
and my blog should come up.
If not, please let me know by email: dena.netherton@gmail.com
Thanks so much!
Dena

Monday, July 22, 2013

Eternity Begins Now

When a person comes to Christ, his or her eternal life begins immediately.
Sure, there are wonders to anticipate in the future.
But Christ promised abundant life right now.
This abundance consists of His loving presence, His power, His protection, His provision.

Can you think of another philosophy or religion that offers that?
I can't.

In all other religions, the disciple is required to perfectly live up to some strict standard, sacrifice his happiness, even his life for some far-off reward in heaven.
Or perhaps he must try, in another life, to improve himself.
The reward is always far off and un-seeable.

But the wonders of the life of the Christian is Christ.
The absolute joy of a relationship right now with Christ, the Alpha and Omega, the Creator, the Savior who loves me just as I am.
The life that He gives me is one that is lived in the power of Christ.
Because our merciful Lord knows that we are puny and that we cannot successfully live out God's requirements in our own power.

And the other wonderful thing about the life in Christ.
We can KNOW where we'll be after our physical life has ended.
Not just hope.
Really know.

I have failed so many times to meet God's requirement for perfection.
I do not deserve heaven.
But one day I pleaded for Christ to save me.
He gave me His righteousness.
I did nothing to deserve it.
As surely as Christ never lies and has promised to give eternal life to all who trust in Him,
I can know where I'll be when my physical life has ended.

Even now, when I do or say things that displease God, I still know that because Christ died in my place, I have not lost my relationship with Christ. His love calls me to ask forgiveness of Him and the person I have wronged. 

My eternity began the day I received Him.
I do not have to wait for eternal life someday way off in the future.
It has already begun.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him." (John 3: 16-17 NIB Bible)

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Like Little Children

When I was a small child I found the world of adults—particularly my parents— gargantuan, scary, and incomprehensible.
The things they conversed about sounded like gibberish.

They could do things that seemed god-like, such as lighting a pilot light, driving a car, or going to sleep in a dark, dark room without needing a night-lite.

Who else but a god could read a newspaper and understand it, let alone enjoy its contents?

Who else but a god knew how to drive from our house to some strange place we'd never been before?

And who but a god knew the order of our days: when to get up, what to wear, and if the events of the day were going to diverge from the ordinary?

So when my god-like parents determined that it was time to take a nap, I did not question them.
When food was placed before me, it did not occur to me to ask for menu options.
If my parent-gods were pleased with me, my world felt secure.
If one of these gods was displeased, I felt shame.

A few years passed.
I went to school, socialized with my peers, and learned to do god-like things like read and write.
By ten, my parents were no longer gods. Sure, they were people to be admired, even feared at times.
But they no longer dwelt on Mt. Olympus.

I let them know by my words and body language that I no longer accepted their orders and instructions just because they proclaimed them.

I ceased to be a little child.
This is as it should be for the growing child. He or she must begin to learn how to live independently.

But in the supernatural world of the seeker of Christ, or the disciple of Christ, to be child-like is exactly what we need to be.
To recognize that the world surrounding us is gargantuan, often scary and almost always incomprehensible.
And to trust that our Father knows what is best for us.

Unlike the little child living under his parents' roof, I will never grow so mature and knowledgeable that I won't need Him.

I need to keep reminding myself that...
He is the Alpha and Omega
and I am just a wee small babe in constant need of protection and guidance.

"At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, 'Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?'
He called a little child and had him stand among them. And He said: 'I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.'" (Matt. 18: 1-3 NIV Bible)


Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Wednesday's Word (July 17th)

Wednesday's Word:

Xenophobia: noun
Pronounced: zee-no-fo-bee-a
Definition: a deep dislike of foreigners

Last week's word was wangle.
"Perhaps I can wangle a deal with the used car dealership by offering my old car as a trade-in."