Need a Bible Reading Plan?

"I've been using your Bible reading plan again this year. I just wanted to tell you that I appreciate it - mainly for the variety, rather than a straight-through reading. Thank you." Lorrie, widow of 7 years

Lorrie sent this to me last week. It was such a nice surprise! I developed my Bible reading plan over a couple of years. I wanted something that would help widows to... 

• get into God's Word 
• have a feeling of accomplishment 
• not be overwhelmed by trying to read through the entire Bible
• start a Bible reading plan at any time of year, not just Jan. 1st

Click on it in the sidebar of this blog to print your own copy.

Here's how it works:

Read only one, sometimes two, chapters a day, and you will read through the following in one year:

• Entire New Testament
• Ruth
• Proverbs
• Selected Psalms

You can start any time! Each month is self-contained, nothing carries over into the next, so start anytime.

1st day of every month: you'll read a portion from Psalm 119, the longest book in the Bible. It highlights the wisdom, power and application of God's Word and sets our focus on the great things we can expect!

The Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. My plan has you read one gospel every season. Isn't that perfect? Four gospels, four seasons, four times when we devote our reading to Christ's ministry among real people. We see him from four different people's front-row seats as he heals the sick and broken-hearted, carries our guilt and sin to the cross, and rises to victory and eternity---our future! 

Ruth: THE book for widows! I've scheduled Ruth to be read in the springtime, right about the time Ruth and Naomi would have returned to Bethlehem and Ruth would have started gleaning. Hope blossoms in so many hearts in springtime, so I love timing the reading to this time of year.

Proverbs: The book of wisdom! We can never get too much. 

Selected Psalms: I matched certain psalms with certain New Testament passages--read them and you'll see how much they speak to each other, and speak to your heart. It's pretty amazing! Psalms teach us how to cry, how to pray, and how the praise---essential expressions for suffering. God knows what we need, so he has provided!

* this indicates that the word "widow" appears. These are not the only instances or teachings on widows in the Bible, but these are the ones in my particular plan. 

Enjoy reading God's Love Letter to you!

💗

A Quiet, Steady Voice to Help You Pick Up the Pieces

Have you suffered loss, grieved well, and now stand ready to rebuild your life? 

Or . . . maybe you don't even know where to even start. 

Contact me.  

I help widows, and others who have endured loss, with coaching tailored to their personal needs. You matter to God, and you matter to me. I, too, have known . . . 

• the profound loneliness and heartache of widowhood
• the secondary losses of career and my family
• the complications, setbacks, and crises of relocation 
• rejection
• loss of faith 
• and betrayal

I can help you discover your God-given inner strengths and resources for rebuilding your life.

I’ve been blogging for widows since 2010 and my book, “Postcards from the Widows’ Path—Gleaning Hope and Purpose from The Book of Ruth,” has helped thousands. I write magazine columns, help start widow groups, and lead my own groups. I help with widow retreats like Widows Link and Widows Journey. I have a B.A. from Moody Bible Institute and was a pastor's wife for over twenty years before my first husband died. 

But touching one life at a time is what matters most to me. That's my greatest strength: I'm a quiet, steady voice when your world spins out into chaos. 

Let's talk. Please email me for a free consultation. I’d love to hear your story and talk with you. There's life after death, believe me. Together we can begin to discover it and tap into your new hope, purpose, and joy.

wcplace@gmail.com

💗 Ferree 

Would you recommend me?

Dear Friends,

I've been featured at Womenspeakers.com and I wondered if you'd be willing to give a recommendation to help event planners learn about me? https://www.womenspeakers.com/.../ferree-hardy/writeareview

If you've heard me speak, do a workshop, or lead a small group I'd love to have your valuable review! Just click the link above, and it'll lead you through. Please LMK if you have questions.

I am truly thankful for your help!

Author Day at the Farmers Market

How do you like the bright green lawn in the background of this picture? We had (another) rain shower right before setting up last Saturday. I wish we could send the rain to all of you who's lawns are crispy brown with drought, or over to where wildfires are burning. 

But fortunately, the rain stopped in time for the market. I haven't done an author's table for years, and didn't really know what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised by the sweet people who came out to support me and say "hello."

The other great part was getting the word out: God cares for widows. He treasures them. They're very important to Him! (I used to wonder if all that was true, but slowly and surely, I've been learning it is!)

I think I could put a money back guarantee on my book: Read the whole thing, do the reflections at the end of each chapter, and you will see change and receive hope. I guarantee it!!

As I told a widow friend just today, "There's life after death for your husband in heaven, and there's a 'life after death' for you too!" She's feeling ready to step into that life, but as we all know, it takes time.

Time is something that God has plenty of. He's just waiting for you. My book can help bring you to be able to breathe again, to hope again, and to find your purpose. I guarantee it, not because it's my book, but because God loves widows; He loves you.

Here's where to start back to life: Postcards from the Widows' Path

Local Opportunities Are the Best!

There's nothing like knowing someone who "gets" you--who understands, doesn't need to judge, won't try to fix you. 

No one understands a widow like another widow. If a local widows group is available in your area, make a beeline to their next get-together. 

Here in Ticonderoga NY, I want to invite you to three different meet-ups.

1). If you go to the Ticonderoga Area Farmers Market on Saturday, Aug. 19, please look for my author booth. The Chamber of Commerce is featuring local authors and makers this day along with the regular farm-to-table producers and vendors. 9-12 Saturday morning. I look forward to meeting you! I will feature "Friends Caring for Friends" a local non-profit that helps everyone who needs some compassion, and I'll also have some copies of Plain Values, with my monthly Widows Path column.   

2). On Wednesday, August 23 is the first Coffee * Cake * Conversation get-together for widows, from 1 - 2:30 pm at my house. Space is limited, but there are a few more openings, so email me at wcplace@gmail.com to let me know if you can come. 

Can't make it this month? We'll meet the fourth Wednesday of every month. Same time, same place, so come to the next one. 

3). On the third Wednesday of each month, join widows for lunch at The Hot Biscuit Diner, 14 Montcalm St., Ticonderoga, at 11:30 a.m. Make your way to the group meeting room in back and you'll be welcomed. Receive 10% discount on your lunch and enjoy the fellowship. 

So if you are up in the Adirondack Mountains of New York, I hope to meet you soon! But if you're not, look for local widow groups in your area. There's nothing like meeting in person with someone who "gets it."

💗 Ferree

wcplace@gmail.com

Praying for A Husband

 A young widow recently emailed me to ask about praying for a husband. 

I'm sure many of you can relate to that heart-felt longing, too, so I wanted to hear what you think, and perhaps ways that the Lord has guided you. Should a widow pray for a new husband and father for her child?

I would say, "Most definitely!" 

• When we know God as our loving, heavenly Father, we know that He wants us to cast all our cares upon Him. (I Peter 5:7) 
• Asking precedes receiving: so sometimes we have not because we ask not! (James 4:2) 
• And every good gift (like a husband), is from above. (James 1:17).

So pray, pray, pray! But remember to pray like Jesus did--in actual conversation with God. Don't just leave God request, after request, after request. Some of us treat prayer time like we're talking to a heavenly voicemail or answering machine. 

What would happen to asking God for a husband if we entered into prayer as a conversation?

*In a conversation you could talk heart-to-heart with God. And then God would talk heart-to-heart with you in a variety of ways:

• through Scripture that you are studying and memorizing, 
• sermons you are listening too, 
• fellow-believers who know you well and are able to speak truth into your life, 
• and that still small voice that gives you peace and rest. 

If you are serious about praying for a husband, begin to pray beyond a list a qualities you want. Let go of fear that God won't answer, let go of the lie that you are all alone, let go of the panic that clutches your throat... God loves you more than any husband ever can. He will provide for you better than any husband ever can. 

And then, have faith that He will, and carefully watch for His answer to your prayers. Listen for His side of your prayer conversations (see *).  And be on guard against the tricks of your enemy, the devil, who wants to use this difficulty to destroy you. 

If you're not sure you understand how to pray, or if God even hears your prayers, please email your questions. wcplace@gmail.com

Stand strong in Him my friends. This is not an easy path, but it's full of God's goodness. 💗