It is a pleasure today to feature a guest post from Janet Stobie. In it she shares an announcement about her newly released children's book and some reflections that will ring true with many of us. But first, let's find out some more about Janet.
Bio for Rev. Janet Stobie
A writer, inspirational speaker and ordained minister, Janet Stobie spent nineteen years in pastoral ministry enjoying children, teens and adults. She is welcomed as a guest speaker at fundraisers, men’s and women’s group meetings, book clubs and studies and of course, Sunday morning worship.
In her retirement, Janet has continued in ministry both through pulpit supply, and her writing. She has written ten books:
Janet also writes a newspaper column titled “Today’s Faith” for a local newspaper.
A writer, inspirational speaker and ordained minister, Janet Stobie spent nineteen years in pastoral ministry enjoying children, teens and adults. She is welcomed as a guest speaker at fundraisers, men’s and women’s group meetings, book clubs and studies and of course, Sunday morning worship.
In her retirement, Janet has continued in ministry both through pulpit supply, and her writing. She has written ten books:
- four children’s books,
- three biblically-based short story collections enjoyed by families,
- two adult novels,
- a worship resource.
Janet also writes a newspaper column titled “Today’s Faith” for a local newspaper.
Announcement from Janet Stobie
I’m pleased and excited to announce the birth of my latest book, “Rajah Finds His Wisdom: Using Our Differences Wisely”.
In his new home, young Rajah, the African elephant, faces rejection. He is different. As an adult he grows up to be the biggest in the herd and a bully. Opportunities to do well, and acceptance by others lead Rajah to the wisdom of using his differences wisely. The colourful watercolour illustrations were created by Lois Sexsmith.
We are hoping “Rajah Finds His Wisdom” will bring delight and learning to a host of children, their parents, aunts, uncles and neighbours. I’m sure he’ll make a great gift for the children in your life.
Rajah Finds His Wisdom: Using Our Differences Wisely is available as a paperback on Amazon UK for £8.67 (www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1775293823/) and on Amazon US for $9.95 (www.amazon.com/dp/1775293823/).
You can purchase an autographed copy direct from Janet Stobie through [email protected] or her website www.janetstobie.com/.
I’m pleased and excited to announce the birth of my latest book, “Rajah Finds His Wisdom: Using Our Differences Wisely”.
In his new home, young Rajah, the African elephant, faces rejection. He is different. As an adult he grows up to be the biggest in the herd and a bully. Opportunities to do well, and acceptance by others lead Rajah to the wisdom of using his differences wisely. The colourful watercolour illustrations were created by Lois Sexsmith.
We are hoping “Rajah Finds His Wisdom” will bring delight and learning to a host of children, their parents, aunts, uncles and neighbours. I’m sure he’ll make a great gift for the children in your life.
Rajah Finds His Wisdom: Using Our Differences Wisely is available as a paperback on Amazon UK for £8.67 (www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1775293823/) and on Amazon US for $9.95 (www.amazon.com/dp/1775293823/).
You can purchase an autographed copy direct from Janet Stobie through [email protected] or her website www.janetstobie.com/.
Life Lessons
When I was a young teenager, it was easy to compare myself to others and find myself lacking. Whether it was body shape, popularity, beauty, or just stuff, it seemed that others had so much more than I did. They were prettier, more athletic, won prizes. Boys flocked to them, not me. They had nicer clothes – whatever I looked at, I had less. I lived a life of scarcity.
At the church I received affirmation from our youth group leaders. Over and over, they told us we were God’s precious kids. That started me on the road to abundance. They treated each of us as if we were special. They had time to listen, even to me. They talked about and lived Jesus teaching that each one of us was special, God’s creation. I remember a poster in the church hall that said, “God made you and God doesn’t make junk.” This experience and my parents’ love gradually led me to understand that who I was, God’s precious child, was more than enough. The scarcity in my heart shrank as abundance slowly crept in.
Motherhood took me another step towards living an abundant life. My children loved and needed me. I thrived as a mother, recognized and took pride in what I did. My teaching career and my church volunteer work with young people showed me I was actually very capable. I finally realized that I lived an abundant life. There was no scarcity in who I was as a person. Others still had more, seemed better, stronger, smarter, but the comparison no longer mattered. I had stepped into a world of abundance just because I was me. Sharing became easy. Of course, I wanted to reach out to others. My life overflowed with goodness.
Now at age seventy-eight, I am again tempted to compare myself to others. With each new body ache, each new loss of ability to function that comes with age, the path to a life of scarcity opens wider. I am grateful for my lifetime of discovering the abundance that surrounds me every day. Though others possess lots of things, that does not detract from my abundant life. I know the goodness that abounds in my family’s love, Tom’s love. I know the value of being able to write and publish books. Choosing to see and welcome the goodness that still surrounds me is a most valuable life lesson.
It's never too late to choose abundance, to focus on what you have in things, talents, love, friends and be grateful.
Today, I suggest you choose life’s abundance. Count your blessings. The by-products are peace, generosity, satisfaction. – LIFE. What could be better?
When I was a young teenager, it was easy to compare myself to others and find myself lacking. Whether it was body shape, popularity, beauty, or just stuff, it seemed that others had so much more than I did. They were prettier, more athletic, won prizes. Boys flocked to them, not me. They had nicer clothes – whatever I looked at, I had less. I lived a life of scarcity.
At the church I received affirmation from our youth group leaders. Over and over, they told us we were God’s precious kids. That started me on the road to abundance. They treated each of us as if we were special. They had time to listen, even to me. They talked about and lived Jesus teaching that each one of us was special, God’s creation. I remember a poster in the church hall that said, “God made you and God doesn’t make junk.” This experience and my parents’ love gradually led me to understand that who I was, God’s precious child, was more than enough. The scarcity in my heart shrank as abundance slowly crept in.
Motherhood took me another step towards living an abundant life. My children loved and needed me. I thrived as a mother, recognized and took pride in what I did. My teaching career and my church volunteer work with young people showed me I was actually very capable. I finally realized that I lived an abundant life. There was no scarcity in who I was as a person. Others still had more, seemed better, stronger, smarter, but the comparison no longer mattered. I had stepped into a world of abundance just because I was me. Sharing became easy. Of course, I wanted to reach out to others. My life overflowed with goodness.
Now at age seventy-eight, I am again tempted to compare myself to others. With each new body ache, each new loss of ability to function that comes with age, the path to a life of scarcity opens wider. I am grateful for my lifetime of discovering the abundance that surrounds me every day. Though others possess lots of things, that does not detract from my abundant life. I know the goodness that abounds in my family’s love, Tom’s love. I know the value of being able to write and publish books. Choosing to see and welcome the goodness that still surrounds me is a most valuable life lesson.
It's never too late to choose abundance, to focus on what you have in things, talents, love, friends and be grateful.
Today, I suggest you choose life’s abundance. Count your blessings. The by-products are peace, generosity, satisfaction. – LIFE. What could be better?
