Sunshine Blogger Award

Hey y’all!  Can you believe it?  This is my third blog tag this year already!  How fun!  Tags are a blast to do and give me lots of inspiration for future posts as well.  Today, the tag I’m bringing to you all is the Sunshine Blogger Award, nominated again by the lovely Anna from Annie Writes.  Thank you so much, Anna! <3

Here are the rules for the award (copied from Anna’s blog, along with the graphic):

Thank the blogger who nominated you and link their blog.

Answer the questions the blogger who nominated you provided (11 maximum).

Nominate new bloggers and make up 11 questions for them to answer.

List the rules and have the Sunshine Blogger logo present in your post.

Make sense?  Let’s get started!

1 – Who do you admire in your life that you would call a “sunshine for Christ?”

My mother, for sure.  She is amazing.  She is a stay-at-home homeschooling mother to 7 red-heads (you judge as to whether the “red-head temper” exists… and then please give my mom extra credit for raising 7 of them). :)  Her example constantly challenges me to a higher standard.  A stay-at-home wife and mother may not seem very significant to the world, but I believe it is one of THE most significant roles there is.  And my mom is totally killing it, if I do say so myself. ;)

My pastor’s wife is another lady that just screams “SUNSHINE” to those around her.  She is always so bubbly, joyful, passionate, and sweet.  In my opinion, I can’t imagine a better spirit and personality for a pastor’s wife than hers.

2 – If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?

I get asked this a lot, and the answer changes I’m sure.  I’d really like to take a trip up the east coast and visit all my friends and family up that way… there’s a lot of them!  Then I’ll hop on an airplane and fly to the opposite side of the country and meet Grace. :)  I’d also like to go on a mission trip anywhere.

3 – What is the best book you have read so far this year?

Girl Defined by Kristen Clark and Bethany Baird, or Do Hard Things by Alex and Brett Harris.

4 – Why do you think it is important to study God’s Word?

As Christians, our foundation is built on the Lord Jesus Christ alone.  He is the root of life itself and the basis for every single thing we will ever do; therefore, it is extremely vital that we study and learn the Word of God.  The Bible is the only perfect and unfailing guidebook for our lives.  We MUST know what it says!  Our growth in Christ results only through the working power of God’s Word, so we must study the Bible in order to know how to grow in righteousness and please God. 

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” -- 2 Timothy 2:15.

5 – Why do you think it is important to memorize God’s Word?

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” -- Psalm 119:11.

When we are tempted to sin, God’s Word can prick our conscience and keep us from doing so, but only if we first remember what God’s Word says.  When we memorize God’s Word, we are storing its truth and power in our hearts and minds, and it will jump out at us when we are tempted.  Temptation is not the only thing it will prevent, however.  Calling to mind specific Bible verses can help us overcome fear, doubt, and all manner of negative thoughts and emotions.  It brings peace and assurance.  If we memorize Scripture, that also prepares us to accurately share the gospel even when we don’t have access to a Bible at the moment.  Memorizing Bible verses will also make it so much easier to defend our faith on the spot.

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:” -- 1 Peter 3:15.

6 – What is one blog that you find really encouraging?

Abby Rose’s blog, Truly Beautiful.

7 – If you could choose another name for yourself, what would you choose, and why?

Hmm, I’m not sure!  I’ve always liked the name Melissa.  But I honestly like my name just fine! :)  In fact, I can even sign my name with a treble clef (G-clef) and a bass clef (F-clef) because Grace begins with a G and my last name begins with an F!  How perfect is that, for a music lover?! 𝄞𝄢 (OK, I will stop bragging now...;)

8 – What is one way you can serve God today?

I can cheerfully do laundry for my mom and talk kindly to my siblings.

9 – What is your favorite snack food?

Does ice cream count?  Or anything else with chocolate, for that matter.  No?  Oh, Ok. ;)

I LOVE strawberries!  I’d snack on them each day if I could.  I also like pecans and Pringles sour cream and onion chips.

10 – What is one fun fact about yourself?

One fun fact?  I think I gave all the fun facts about me back in this post! :)  Hmm, let’s see… I’ve almost drowned twice, at the exact same location.

11 – What are your favorite song artists/songs?

This is a terrible question to ask me, because I could continue on FOREVER… :)  But I’ll keep it short.  The Bontrager Family Singers, the Galkin Evangelistic Team, and Taryn Harbrigde are all favorites.  Chris Anderson and Keith and Kristen Getty write some of my favorite hymns (His Robes for Mine, In Christ Alone, Still, My Soul, Be Still, etc.).  Outside of all those, another favorite sacred song is He is the Christ (I know both of the singers in this video very well... I may or may not have been their pianist. :)

Here are the 11 questions for my nominees!

1 – What is your favorite verse about the Son?

2 – Who in your life is an example of radiating Christ?

3 – List three ways you can be a light for Christ.

4 – What is your favorite flower?

5 – What is your favorite missionary story?

6 – Name your #1 spiritual growth/missionary biography book suggestion.

7 – How have you been able to use your gift for the Lord?

8 – In what direction do you think God is leading you to in the future?

9 – What are your favorite lyrics from a hymn/song?

10 – Share with us a little bit about your greatest passion!

11 – Choose one verse you think best encompasses the idea of shining for Christ.

I nominate:

Alyssa at Here is Love

Beth at Sunshine Girl

Grace at Don’t You Know that I’m Singing

Olivia at Christ’s Light Magazine

Abby at Truly Beautiful

If you are unable to do this tag or I didn’t tag you above, feel free to comment with your answers below!  I’d love to hear from each of you, whether or not you were tagged or have your own blog.