Thank you for visiting! The goal of this podcast is to pass on to the next generation the important lessons we have learned during our life journey. As we draw closer to the destination, we want to help others know what to watch out for as they navigate the narrow road ahead.

Click on this link to listen - ​podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-05-what-is-truth-and-why-is-it-important/id1729503297?i=1000666715328

Here are some additional verses to study and please share your thoughts, questions and suggestions in the comment section at the bottom of this page.

John 8:32-59 (New King James Version) Click here to read more!
32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

Matthew 7:15-16 (New King James Version) Click here to read more!
You Will Know Them by Their Fruits 15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits.

Thanks to her initiative, I want to highlight the work of New Beginnings, a safehouse for children in Indonesia. Learn more about them and the amazing work they do at www.beginningsindonesia.com. We know the courageous couple that started this ministry to save children, and you can support them there. Also, starting today through the month of August, we will be donating all online profits of The Little Boy Who Wouldn't Eat Cheesecake that sell here to New Beginnings!

You can donate a hardcover to your student's school classroom, library or Sunday School class as the new school season starts, and if you're interested in having a children's author come to your school this year, please click our School Visits link. ​

On April 16th, 11 years ago, my heart strings felt stretched to capacity as I kissed my young children goodbye that early morning before the spring sunrise as they slept unaware. If all went well, it would still be quite a long separation from them. Our oldest, 10 at the time, was able to understand that I would be getting treatment, and family was coming to help. But how do you help a 2-year-old understand that mom will be missing for many days and won't be able to carry him for 3-4 months when she comes back? Still, I tried.

Hours later, I underwent a serious abdominal surgery at Emory followed by a two-week stay at the highly ranked university hospital. The Sugarbaker procedure lasted eight-and-a-half-hours and ended with a hot chemo wash. Days later, after being moved from the ICU, it was confirmed that cancer, even though suspected, had been present. A week later, one of our dear family members that came to help us had to have emergency abdominal surgery. We were all hands-on deck and in survival mode.  

​​With all that has been in the news since January about Catherine, Princess of Wales, and King Charles III, I've been reflecting on how a similar family health crisis ultimately led us to new beginnings and praying for their family to heal and recover as they go through this challenging time. From experience, my husband, Scott, and I know that the weight and pressure of these events can produce a perseverance and humility that is life changing. And we know that Jesus was stating truth when He said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” found in John 16.33 (NIV). To get the full context of verses leading up to that scripture, read all of John 16 here. 

While I'm grateful for every day since my surgery, 11 years later, the heavy weight of trouble continues. While writing this post, my husband is working on a memorial service for his close friend, who died due to injuries sustained from an accident last month. He was only 52. Tomorrow, we gather with family to bury his uncle, and recently learned that my aunt, dealing with dementia, has undergone major surgery after a fall. If it weren't for the grace of God, we wouldn't have strength to face the day. And because we've seen Him carry us through all sorts of trials and hardships, even when death comes, we want others to know that they can and should call out to Him. Jesus, quite literally, is our only HOPE. 

One of the new beginnings that came out of our family crisis was this Humble and Bold blog. There were so many ways that God helped us, and I wanted to have a place to write about those things we witnessed and encountered. Every day, I'm reminded what a gift each day is and recently, this verse got our attention. Psalm 145:4 (ESV) - One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. This verse prompted us to start a podcast to share the Good News to those wanting encouragement.

For a while, God had been putting on our hearts to share all the ways we've seen Him show up and carry us through many situations, and we wanted to share this hope to this next generation. To all the children and young people that God has brought into our lives, this podcast was specifically done with you in mind! 

You can watch episode 1 - a welcome and introduction of our Humble and Bold podcast on YouTube above and listen to episode 2 in following link. We will upload the video recording of each conversation a week after each podcast episode airs.

More info on our background stories with links. 

​My father lost his first wife, my mother, to breast cancer at the age of 44 back in 1989 on a Friday evening. In 2013, he found himself praying with me, his grown daughter (same age of 44). And my husband was only seven, when he lost his 12-year-old sister, Terry, to cancer - also on a Friday. I remember how the loss of his sister and my mother came up in conversation on our very first date. To read more, click here on Ten Precious Years.

​We felt God's presence and peace carry us through so many difficulties leading up to this hospital stay, during and afterwards. Sidenote, my father's second wife, who had come up with my father to help our family, had emergency surgery a week after my surgery. My father was out of state with both his wife and daughter in different hospitals (40 minutes apart), and most everyone felt overwhelmed . . . but God - He carried us all. Click on this link My God Is Awesome - humble & BOLD (humbleandbold.com) to read about some of the amazing ways God let us know He was with us during the long diagnosis, surgery and recovery.

​While recovering, there was an article in my hometown paper, The Birmingham News, about the very procedure I had undergone. What I didn't know was that the survival rates weren't as long as I had thought. The article revealed that after having the Sugarbaker Procedure, there was a possible five years of expectancy (for only 50% of patients), which was up from a survival rate of only one year with conventional therapies. Click her to learn more The Sugarbaker Procedure - Laura, You Were Right! - humble & BOLD (humbleandbold.com)

With love,
Christina
Stay humble & be BOLD!

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a
​light unto my path."  Psalm 119:105

To check out my testimony click here
How to connect. 
Instagram @humbleandbold
Facebook Humble & Bold
Twitter Christina @humble_bold
​Pinterest humble&BOLD by Christina
Youtube Humble & Bold
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/christina-myers-a44355

Psalm 91:14-16 ESV 

I was shown how to make these cute paper heart envelopes last year at a Valentine's Tea at Antiques in Old Town Lilburn. The owners hosted a wonderful tea party for their customers and provided supplies to make personalized letters of love and appreciation. A kind lady shared this cute idea that someone showed her. 

Turn the paper heart upside down with color facing down. Fold the sides inward, facing each other and leave about an inch between the two sides. Fold up the bottom part and then, fold the pointed top down, and you're done! 

You can write on inside of the paper envelope or place a heart shaped note inside. These are fun to fold and so pretty! Add a sticker to keep the envelope sealed. . 
​
Hope you enjoy! 

Years ago, I gathered some beautiful branches out of my backyard and placed in a vase to display my Great Grandmother Sallie's vintage postcards. It has definitely been a conversation piece over the years, and in September, I love to use these faux fall leaves from Hobby Lobby to give that display a warm seasonal feel. 

Here's what my vase looks like, but you could fill these branches with lots more color.
Our Boston Terrier, Max, likes to oversee all my projects. 

Most of the time these items are already 40 to 50% off due to specials. 
The gold leaves would make for an elegant display..

The tips of the stems have a perfect sized opening to fit over the ends of smaller branches.

All my leaves fit snuggly on the branches and no glue was needed.
If they happen to fall off when I have guests over . . .  well, it just looks realistic.

Even facing down, they hold really well. 

Hope you enjoy this idea! 

​With love,
Christina
Stay humble & be BOLD!

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a
​light unto my path."  Psalm 119:105

To check out my testimony click here
How to connect. 
Instagram @humbleandbold
Facebook Humble & Bold
Twitter Christina @humble_bold
​Pinterest humble&BOLD by Christina
Youtube Humble & Bold
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/christina-myers-a44355

After hearing about the passing of Dr. Tim Keller last Friday, I was still trying to absorb the news of a car accident taking Dr. Harry Reeder into the presence of our Lord just one day prior. These two dedicated men, along with Dr. Charles Stanley, have all recently finished their earthly race according to 2 Timothy 4:7-8, but the echos of their many exhortations encourage those of us still running.

Even though I never met Tim Keller, God used a video of his to confirm the name of this blog the night before my first post was published. Below is the one-year anniversary post of Humble and Bold, written in January 2016, where I explain. Hope this encourages you.

​THE CONFIRMATION OF HUMBLE AND BOLD
​1/20/2016
18 Comments 
After recovering from an eight-and-a-half-hour cancer surgery, the words humble and bold were often on my mind, and then God started writing them on my heart. While my body was going through some major physical adjustments and healing, my spirit was really undergoing a major overhaul. It was as if God had been operating on my attitude. He definitely was refining my soul and showing me things that (as much as I didn't want to see) I needed to see. I had been holding onto resentments, and foolishly believing I had the right to do so. I also hid a lot of my thoughts and convictions behind southern politeness and political correctness, which caused inner turmoil that wasn't healthy either. It led to outbursts from time to time, because when you hold things in for too long, it has a way of surfacing.

During my recovery, I kept saying, "We are all so fragile and don't realize it!" to my friends and family, as they visited me during my two weeks stay in the hospital. The awesome realization that the Lord gives our hearts the ability to beat for a certain number of days, resonantly changed me for good. Time is a gift to be used wisely, and all our time here on earth is relatively short, whether we believe it or not. This moved me to write down what I had seen God doing in my life and to share with those needing encouragement. 

After confessing and repenting of the things that needed to change, I noticed such a peace and joy in my thoughts. It was shortly after, that my husband and I went on an evangelical outreach involving several different ministries coming together. During the prayer time, one of the speakers from International House of Prayer, Hazen Stevens, prayed the words, "humble and bold" right over me out loud. As soon as I heard those two words together in that order, I felt God revealing to me that this was the name I was to use for my blog.

In the fall of 2014, I was given a book by the Women's Ministry at Perimeter church, where I work. It was Timothy Keller's The Freedom Of Self-Forgetfulness and again, it was if God was speaking directly to my heart about how to move forward in a new season of my life. This book takes a close look at the ego in all of us yet reveals how to ascertain an unexplainable joy that our egos cannot grasp.

In January of 2015, humbleandbold.com began, and like a child craving their parent's approval, I was hoping for another nudge of assurance that I was following His will. Checking again, like I had searched so many times before to make sure the name was not already in use, I came across this video by Timothy Keller and it was a huge confirmation and a sweat kiss from my Father, The King, who had led me to this video the night before my first blog went out there. It was the third confirmation and reminded me of how Jesus, three times, asked Peter if he loved Him. If you know the story of how Peter denied Him three times, then you grasp the importance of Jesus giving Peter three more chances to declare his love for Him. So thankful that God gives us new opportunities to glorify Him, even after we have gotten it wrong!

It has now been a year since I published my first blog post! I can honestly say I never dreamed of blogging. How can you dream of something you never were really aware of until later in your adult life?  What I did dream of was using my creative gifts and talents in a meaningful way, that would impact people's lives for the better. Funny how God uses our dreams and brings them to pass in ways that we never would have imagined. He is good like that!

What dreams has God given you and how have you seen Him working in your life?
​​
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 King James Version (KJV)

To read original comments click on The Confirmation of Humble and Bold - humble & BOLD
18 Comments

P.S. Several years after this blog started, 2 Corinthians 10:1 (ESV) jumped out to me as another confirmation - I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!

With love,
Christina
Stay humble & be BOLD!

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a
​light unto my path."  Psalm 119:105

To check out my testimony click here
How to connect. 
Instagram @humbleandbold
Facebook Humble & Bold
Twitter Christina @humble_bold
​Pinterest humble&BOLD by Christina
Youtube Humble & Bold
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/christina-myers-a44355

Whether you have lots of time and money to spend OR you're on a budget, don't forget incorporating these 5 ideas to make your event memorable.

1) Use the Cap and Gown 
Find a place to hang your student's cap and gown for decor backdrop and photo opportunities. You may want to highlight what cords and sashes represent in a nearby frame for inquiring family and friends. 

2) Arrange Beverage Bottles and Cans
​Arrange bottles and cans you plan on serving to guests in the year of graduation. For smaller gatherings, use the last two digits of the graduation year. Have plenty of ice nearby, and you could use an oval or round bucket for the zero.

3) Use School Swag with Logo
Use school promotional items with visible logos to incorporate into the decor. For example, we used this oversize mug as a mini vase for flowers. Another example would be to use pen with college logo for guest sign in book.

4) Dollar Tree Balloons 
You can get so much more for your money by incorporating balloons from the Dollar Tree (ok, $1.25 tree) but still! You can still go fancy and extravagant, while saving for college. Use staggered as in pic on a mantel or use on each side of a photo wall. 

5) Beverage and Dinner Napkins
If you have helpers, try tying white dinner napkins to look like diplomas and use black beverage napkins to resemble the graduation caps. 

These are just a few ways to make your party memorable without overspending - using what you may already have around you. 

Sidenote -These pictures are from decorating for my niece's college graduation in 2021. This year, our son graduated from college, but didn't want to celebrate with a party. So, it's always good to ask. If your graduate wants a party, I hope these ideas make for a great celebration. Please comment below and let us know if you found these ideas helpful. 

​

On April 16th, ten years ago, I was driven to Emory University Hospital before sunrise by my husband, as my father rode along with us for support. Trying to imagine what was going through my father's mind as he had lost his first wife, my mother, to breast cancer at the age of 44 back in 1989 on a Friday evening. In 2013, he found himself praying with me, his grown daughter (same age of 44), as we made our way down the expressway. We listened to praise music and did our best to keep each other uplifted. We were all concerned about the unknown. My husband was only seven, when he lost his 12-year-old sister, Terry, to cancer - also on a Friday. I remember how the loss of his sister and my mother came up in conversation on our very first date. 

We felt God's presence and peace carry us through so many difficulties leading up to this hospital stay, during and afterwards. Sidenote, my father's second wife, who had come up with my father to help our family, had emergency surgery a week after my surgery. My father was out of state with both his wife and daughter in different hospitals (40 minutes apart), and most everyone felt overwhelmed . . . but God - He carried us all. Click on this link My God Is Awesome - humble & BOLD (humbleandbold.com) to read about some of the amazing ways God let us know He was with us during the long diagnosis, surgery and recovery.

Worry and anxiety tried to hijack the following years, but I learned to cast my cares on Him with thanksgiving for all He has done.

The timeframe surrounding my appendiceal cancer surgery seems more like the time God gave me a heart makeover. So many life-changing lessons were learned during that time. Worry and anxiety tried to hijack the following years, but I learned to cast my cares on Him with thanksgiving for all He has done.

Ten years later, on Sunday, April 16, 2023, my husband, Scott, was asked to give the message for our church service, and I was so happy to be here to support him. He is passionate about evangelism, because he's so thankful for the new life God has given him.

With these 10 precious years, God has graciously given me, I have been here to see my oldest graduate from elementary, middle and high school and be able to plan his college graduation celebration. I'm so thankful to have been here for my youngest son and see him adjust well to middle school and learn to sing and play the viola. For all the children God has brought into our lives, our family, neighbors and friends. Thankful that my father and second mom have had 10 precious years together as well.

Out of a refining fire, God has given me a new appreciation for Him, His gift of life, salvation and leading by the Holy Spirit. It's not about us, but HIM! 

Ending this post with a page from the April 16th reading of The One Year Bible (NIV). There are so many things that stand out to me on this page. The lesson to not give up, to cry to the Lord for justice, and   humbling oneself speaks volumes to my spirit. Would love to know what jumps off the page at you.