He Holds My Right Hand

Focusing on the Positive in Our Children

2012-01-23T09:24:00.002-06:00

+This month marks 11 years since my daughter's diagnosis of autism. She is now 13. I love my daughter dearly and believe, on most days, I have come to terms with her diagnosis. I have accepted who she is and have accepted that life for her (and us) will never be the "ideal." But, I have to be honest with you... that doesn't mean there aren't still days when I wish things could have been different.

One thing I have come to realize, however, is that many other parents have similar feelings regarding their own “typical” children from time to time. As parents, we ALL have hopes and dreams for our children. And, when those dreams don't become a reality, it is sometimes hard to accept.

For me, it is extremely difficult when I see other girls my daughter’s age doing the things a typical 13 year old would do. I wish she could relate to other girls in a way that would bring her invitations to participate in their social gatherings. For other parents, they may wish their child could be great in sports, just like “dad” was; or, be an excellent student; or, be the social butterfly that mom is. Maybe some are frustrated that their child is involved with something that is not the "norm" for their family. Or, maybe they are dealing with a disability that limits their involvement in the things their family loves to do. There are many scenarios of how us parents wish our children could be different. And, there are many times we feel guilty for thinking this way.

One thing to remember, when those feelings of sadness or disappointment show up, is the importance of not dwelling on them. Dwelling on the negative only brings discontent and depression. What I have been trying to do is acknowledge my feelings are real and that I don't have to pretend they aren't there. Then, pray and express my feelings to God, because He is always there to listen. But, don't dwell on them. After acknowledging your feelings and expressing them to God, give them up and begin thinking about the positive things - the blessings God has given you. You may be surprised at how many things you can think of! Above all else, TRUST in the Lord, and KNOW that He will never leave you or forsake you.

If it wasn’t for the Lord holding my hand through every step of every day, I would not be as confident as I am in knowing that "God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28)

In spite of any difficulties my husband and I face, I love my children dearly. They mean so much to me and are truly blessings from the Lord.

LOVE your children today, truly love them... for who they are, not for who you wish they could be.

Ways to Encourage #7: Send a “care package”

2012-01-19T13:43:00.000-06:00

A "care package" is a box of various items that can be sent to just about anyone, and at any time. They are meant to be sent specifically to show someone you are thinking of them, and that you care.

COLLEGE STUDENTS
When I was a college student, my mother would send a care package every so often. She would include things I could use, such as peanut butter, pens and pencils, toothpaste and stamps. She would also throw in some items just for fun, like candy or cookies. No matter what she chose to put in them, these packages were ALWAYS welcome to receive. It was so fun to receive something in the mail, and it means the world to know someone was thinking of me.

MILITARY - ACTIVE DUTY
You can send a package on your own to someone you know who is serving our country, or you can give items to a local group who collects and sends packages to the soldiers on a regular basis. My brother is active duty in the Air Force, and I know he has always enjoyed receiving a package, especially while he was overseas in Qatar. One time, the church my husband pastored in Mendota, IL, lovingly helped me collect items to send to my brother. The package was full of cookies, candies, snacks, books, videos, and necessities.

MILITARY WIVES
Please don’t forget about the wives whose husbands are serving and are absent from them. They need some encouragement as well, and may even need more than just a care package! My friend, Donna, once expressed her feelings to me about how unsupported she felt when her military husband was deployed overseas. There are some wives who are blessed during that time because they have family nearby to help out with the kids and the yardwork, or they have a supportive unit on base or church family to rely on. But, for many like Donna, it is often assumed that someone is taking care of their needs, so no one bothers to get involved. During one round of deployment, Donna’s own Pastor never called her the entire 5 months her husband was gone. What a huge mistake this is!

EVERYONE ELSE

No matter who you are or where you are, EVERYONE loves to receive a package. Christmas and birthdays are not unusual times to send a package. But, what about sending one “just because?” I already mentioned how my mom would send me a care package when I was in college, but her thoughtful care packages did not end there! Even as I moved out of the house, got married, and had children of my own, she has continually blessed me and my family (as well as my brother and sister and their families) with an unexpected surprise package filled with “just because” items. It is always a special treat that really helps to brighten our day.

Bless someone today with a care package! It doesn't have to be large, as I know how expensive the postage is these days. Just package up some little things that won't cost too much to send, or work together with someone else to help share in the cost.

Have fun with encouragement!

Ways to Encourage #6 - Quality Time

2012-01-13T12:47:00.000-06:00

One of the best ways to encourage family and friends is by spending quality time with them. Here are a few ideas to try out:

1. Watch a good movie together, and discuss it at the end.

2. Pray together.

3. Turn off the TV and the computer and do one of the following:

Sit around the table at dinner time and talk and laugh together.
Go out to eat, or just go out for dessert.
Go shopping together and pay for something your friend or family member desires.
Go to a coffee shop and have conversation over a cup of coffee, or tea, or hot chocolate.
Go bowling, play miniature golf, or watch a ballgame together.

4. You can also go check out a previous post I made about: INEXPENSIVE WAYS TO SPEND TIME WITH YOUR FAMILY

It is important to understand, what one person considers good quality time may differ from someone else. So, if you are wanting to encourage in this way, find out what others consider to be quality time. Bring up several ideas to the one(s) you are wanting to spend time with, and ASK THEM what they would like to do. Then, go do it!

Have fun with encouragement!

Ways to Encourage #5 - Ten Ideas for Social Networking

2012-01-07T12:48:00.001-06:00

If you have a Facebook account, Twitter, or are part of any other kind of social networking site, post something positive and encouraging for others to read.

I have seen many different kinds of encouraging posts. Here are a few ideas you can try:

1. Post something you are thankful for (And, you don't have to do this only during the days prior to the Thanksgiving holiday!)

2. Post a Bible verse that spoke to you.

3. Post a favorite quote that is encouraging. (My brother posts quite often about the sweet or funny things his 4-year-old son says.)

4. Share a clean, funny joke.

5. Post a favorite You Tube video - something funny or something inspirational.

6. Share a link from some other site that directs others to an encouraging article.

7. Wish your friends a happy birthday, anniversary, or any other special occasion.

8. If someone posts that they are having a hard day (or they ask for prayer), post under their comment that you are thinking of them and/or praying for them.

9. Share an answer to prayer that you have had.

10. Every day, choose one of your "friends" to pray for, then send them a note telling them you did.

Ways to Encourage #4 - Invite Someone Over

2012-01-02T16:53:00.002-06:00

Happy New Year, everyone! I'm sure many of you are in the process of making new plans and new goals for this new year, or at least reminiscing of what the past year has entailed for you. Well, here's an idea to add to your goals... make it a point to be an encouragement to others. There are many ways this can be done (I've already mentioned three of them in previous posts). This fourth suggestion is to invite someone over to your home.

Now, before you get your head shaking from left to right as you emphatically say, "No, not to MY house!" listen to what I have to say...

1. Get the idea out of your head right now that makes you think you can't have anyone over unless your house is in perfect shape. My goodness, what is more important? The way your house looks, or fellowship with friends? Most people don't really care if you have unfolded laundry on the couch, unmade beds, or dishes in the sink. They just want to be thought of, and inviting them into your home is one big way you can show them you are thinking of them and want to get to know them better.

2. There are different things you can do with the people you invite over. Most people love to eat, so you can ask them to come to lunch after church (slow cookers are wonderful for this type of thing), invite them over for an evening meal (prepared yourself, or ordered) or have a cookout where each family brings their own meat and a side dish. Another idea is to invite them over only for dessert but, by all means, don't think that inviting someone over means you must feed them! Fellowship and/or a board game is perfectly fine. Asking a friend over to chat over a cup of coffee (or even just a glass of water) is a great thing to do, too! Just be clear with them as to what they are being invited over for, so they will know what to expect. If you do invite them over for some sort of food, be sure to ask about allergies first.

WHO TO INVITE OVER:

Good friends
Family
People from church
Co-workers
Neighbors
Those who have recently moved to town
Other acquaintances you would like to know more about

There are people all around us needing love and encouragement. Just ask the Lord to show you who to reach out to, then open your eyes and look around.

Have fun with encouragement!

Mary's Song

2011-12-24T11:42:00.000-06:00

MARY’S SONG

By: Victoria L. Stankus

~*~*~*~

Joseph and I had a long way to go.

We traveled both day and night.

But when we arrived in Bethlehem,

There were no empty rooms in sight.

I didn't complain, but trusted God

To find us a place to stay.

Soon, there was this stable

Filled with plenty of nice warm hay.

It is here where my song was born.

Jesus, God's son, I did bear.

The thought of this babe as a king

Is almost a bit of a scare.

But, as I look in His eyes,

I see beautiful sparkles of love.

I know He is not just my son,

But also the Father's above.

The birth of the king is shown by a star.

Some shepherds followed it and came.

When they arrived, they worshiped Him

And praised His holy name.

I’ve wrapped the babe in swaddling clothes

And laid Him in a manger.

There He will be plenty warm

And kept away from danger.

Now, as I watch Him sleeping,

There’s a song that fills my heart.

And, my baby boy is the melody

That made the music start.

My Experience With The Gabby Moms

2011-12-17T16:03:00.000-06:00

At the end of 2010, my friend CARIE introduced me to TEACH Magazine, which is now called Eternal Encouragement. The publisher, Lorrie Flem, was beginning a new program called The Gabby Moms, where specific mom bloggers would read and review one of Lorrie’s products each month. I was thrilled to have been accepted into the program, and my first review for them was posted in January 2011. If you’ve been following my blog at all this past year, you’ve most likely read one of my reviews of her products, and have seen how much they have been an encouragement to me.

I am very glad I joined the Gabby Moms. Being involved in the beginning phases of a new program definitely has its pros and cons; but, overall, it has been a very rewarding experience for me to be a part of it. However, after much prayer and thought, I decided not re-join The Gabby Moms program for 2012 - mostly because of time constraints. I have been very busy this past year with various activities and commitments and, quoting my Dad, “I want to be exhausted for the Lord, but I don’t want to be burned out.” While it is important for us to remain faithful in service for the Lord, it is also important to remember our PRIORITIES. Here is what Lorrie Flem has taught me about priorities:

As wives and mothers, the list of our responsibilities is long and it can be difficult to sort them all out. But the truth is they are clearly laid out for us in God’s Word and are not decisions that we have to make. It is all spelled out for us in Scripture. Look in Titus 2, Proverbs 31, 1 Corinthians 11, and 1 Timothy 5 to see just what our priorities are to be. Our priorities are to be:

• My LORD
• My husband
• My children
• My home
• My parents, in-laws, extended family, church, friends, and neighbors
• My outside ministries

This past year, with all of the craziness in doing for the Lord and doing for others, I think my outside ministries became a higher priority for me than anything else, and I intend to remedy that. So, I have begun to condense my commitments into only a few. That way, I can concentrate more specifically on the commitments I have, without getting stressed out; and I also want to be sure I don’t neglect those first five priorities!

If you are considering being a Gabby Mom in the future, or you are new to the program for 2012, I think you will find it to be a truly rewarding experience. Lorrie’s materials are very thought-provoking, and I have definitely learned a lot from her this past year. Just remember to keep your priorities straight as you serve the Lord in this way, or in any other capacity.

NOTE: In 2012, I will still be involved with Eternal Encouragement Magazine, but in a different way. I have been asked to be one of the columnists for the new online version of Eternal Encouragement. I'm very excited about this opportunity, and feel honored to have been asked.

God Gave Us You - Book Review

2011-12-15T22:39:00.001-06:00

I’ve always enjoyed the cute little “polar bear” books written by Lisa Tawn Bergren. This book, “God Gave Us You,” is no exception. This chubby little board book is great for young children to handle while looking at the pictures, either before or after Mommy or Daddy read the words to them. It's a great book to snuggle up on the couch and read to your little ones, telling them how their entrance into the world was a gift from God.

Just to note, the beginning of this book has a page where some of the wording may need to be adjusted in order to fit each child. The book seems to be geared towards a firstborn child, as Mama Bear says, “Your papa and I were alone, and we wanted a baby.” But, if needed, the “alone” part can be left out, easily changing the wording to, “Your papa and I wanted a baby.”

Overall, the pictures in this book are adorable, and it is a very sweet book to share with the little ones in your life. Even my 8-year-old son enjoyed the book.

I received this book free of charge from WaterBrook Multnomah

Publishing Group in exchange for my honest review.

You can find out more about this book at the

Waterbrook Multnomah website.

Ways to Encourage #3 - Share Your Goodies

2011-12-11T16:05:00.000-06:00

Today, I want to mention a third way we can be an encouragement to others. With the Christmas Season under way, this is a good one to be used especially during this time. However it does NOT (and should not) be reserved only for this time of year...

It it always a very special treat for me and my family when someone unexpectedly knocks on our door to bring something homemade to share with us. It has happened to us during the Christmas season, and it has happened to us during a time when we needed some special encouragement.

Several years ago, during a particularly hard January, one lady we knew from the church baked us a loaf of homemade bread and brought it to us, along with a hug. It was nothing fancy; just a simple (but I must say, YUMMY) loaf of homemade white bread. It was the thought that really counted. When someone takes the time to bring something to you in this way, it means they are thinking of you, and that they care. It is a special form of encouragement that should never go out of style.

As you (and maybe your children along with you) are making "goodies" to eat throughout the year, be sure to make some extra and share them with friends and neighbors. At Christmastime, you can include a Christmas card or a friendly greeting; but, it is also nice to mix things up a bit and share some goodies during different holidays in the year. Maybe make some cookies or candies for Valentine's Day and share them with others. Or, you could pass out Easter bread or some other homemade treat to celebrate the resurrection of our Savior in the Spring. You could also dye something green and pass it out on St. Patrick's Day. What about something with red, white and blue for Independence Day? Or a loaf of pumpkin bread, or pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving? The possibilities are endless! But, the best one of all (because it is least expected) is when you give to others for no special reason. At these times, you can attach a note that simply says, “Just because we care."

Have FUN with Encouragement!

Ways to Encourage #2 - Personalize Your Greeting Cards

2011-12-03T13:44:00.002-06:00

Yesterday, our family received our first Christmas card for this season! It was fun to get our first card, and it was nice to know some friends of ours were thinking of us. Not only that, but these friends made the card personal by adding a few photos of their family, and also writing a simple note at the bottom of the card. The note said, “This year has been richer because of your friendship.” It was just one, short sentence, but it meant a lot to me to know we have made a difference is these people’s lives. It was a simple act of encouragement to us on their part.

Of course, you don't have to send Christmas cards to let someone know you are thinking of them. You can do this with Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Easter, Birthdays, Anniversaries, or Just Because. But, sending cards (of ANY kind) really does help to bring a smile to someone's face.

When you DO send out cards, it will mean so much more to the receiver when you write a little note of encouragement in it as well. Make your cards personal by telling your friends and family how much they mean to you.

If your funds are limited, you can make your own cards. There are many different software programs you can use to help you with this, or just simply fold a piece of paper in half two times and use pen or marker to decorate it and add your sentiments. If you have children, you can get them involved by having them decorate the cards with sequins and glitter, or simply draw a picture.

Another way to save on cash is to hand deliver your cards, if your friends are local (and you can add a hug into the mix as well). If they are not local, feel free to send cards and letters through e-mail also. E-mail may not be quite the same as a physical card, but it is still something to let others know you are thinking of them.

Here are a few different places online where you can send a FREE “electronic” greeting card to your friends and family, and can add a personal note to most of them at the end...

HALLMARK

DAYSPRING

INSPIRATIONAL FLASH MOVIES

RIVERSONGS

Have fun with encouragement!

Ways to Encourage #1

2011-11-28T16:08:00.000-06:00

The dreams we have while we’re sleeping are usually pretty strange. But, I do believe there are times when we can learn something from our dreams. For example, a couple of months ago, I had a dream that gave me an idea to share.

In the dream, my family and I were sitting at our dining room table, passing around several pieces of paper. At the top of each paper was a name or a photo of one member of our family. For example, there was one paper for me, one for my husband, and one for each child. The papers went around the table and each of us took turns writing out something encouraging for the person on the paper.

A couple of weeks later, I decided to give this a try with our two children for a “creative writing” assignment. Our daughter was given a paper with her brother’s name on it, and vise versa for our son. Let me share with you what they both wrote:

Our 8-year-old son wrote:

I like [my sister] because... She loves dogs, and she loves me to play dogs with her, and she loves me too.

Our 13-year-old autistic daughter wrote:

I like [my brother] because... I love him. I like to play with him. We can play catch with a ball. We can play with stuffed dogs. We can play tag.

These are very simple sentences they each wrote, but special in many ways. They will be kept in a 3-ring binder and treasured to look back on. It is always nice to look at encouraging thoughts someone has written about you.

We haven’t done this activity with the entire family yet, but might do it soon. I’m sure it would be a good activity to do during the Christmas season. I encourage you to try it with your own family, and maybe even make a yearly tradition of it.

This suggestion will be the first out of a series called “Ways to Encourage.” Over the next several weeks, I will be sharing ten different ways we can bring encouragement to our family and friends, or even to a complete stranger. They will be simple things we can do to bring a smile to someone’s face.

If you choose to try one of the suggestions I mention, please share it in the comments section below (or send me an E-MAIL and I can share it for you.)

Also, if you have a story to share about how someone encouraged YOU in a special way, please share that as well.

Have fun with encouragement!

Yelling: The Cause, The Casualty, The Cure (Review)

2011-11-19T11:21:00.001-06:00

I am generally a quiet person, rather reserved and not wanting to draw much attention to myself. However, in my own home, where I am most comfortable, I have been known to “let loose.” I have danced around the kitchen with my family, tickled my children ‘til they can’t stand it anymore, chased them up the stairs, sang with them at the top of my lungs, and even laughed at noisy bodily functions.

Those are all "fun" things but, although I hate to admit it, I have also "let loose" by raising my voice at the children in a not so friendly way. In other words, I have "yelled" at them. Sometimes, I felt as if they deserved it, but most of the time they didn’t. That just goes to show, as much as I would like it to be, I’m not a perfect mom.

I also know I’m not alone with taking part in this negative response of yelling. Are there any perfect moms out there who have never raised their voice to their children? I honestly don’t know of one single mother who has never done that– not even Lorrie Flem of Eternal Encouragement Magazine! She is the first to admit she has yelled at her children, and she has received many letters from other mothers who have done the same, asking for help. So, Lorrie wrote an eBook about it, called, “Yelling: The Cause, The Casualty, The Cure.”

In this 21-page eBook, Lorrie encourages us to figure out what our “triggers” are. She also gives helpful ideas on how to plan ahead for those triggers, in order to eliminate them, or to respond appropriately to them. Yelling is not responding appropriately - to ANY misdemeanor. We expect our children to be respectful of us and to talk to us using a proper tone of voice. But, then, its okay for us to yell at them? What is this teaching them?

Lorrie says, “Look at it this way, if it isn’t life-threatening, if the house is not ablaze, if it is not time to call 911, or if the child you are yelling at is not half a mile away, then yelling is the wrong choice and not worth the cost.”

Lorrie can help you make a better choice through her “11-step stop yelling plan,” which is found in the “Yelling” eBook mentioned above. Order your own copy today at eternalencouragement.com.

I received “Yelling: The Cause, The Casualty, The Cure” as an official member of THE GABBY MOMS blogging program. I received it free of charge in exchange for my honest review.

Inexpensive Ways to Spend Time With Your Family

2011-11-17T17:45:00.000-06:00

You can spend time with your family, and you can do it very inexpensively. The following list has something for everyone - families with children, families without children, families with grown children, grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc...

Play a board game or card game.

Play “I Spy” (The object is to have someone choose an item in the room, within eyeshot of everyone. Then, each person takes turns asking questions about it until they figure it out.)

Play Hangman or Tic Tac Toe.

Ask each person 20 questions about themselves to get to know them better.

Play 20 questions, where someone thinks of an object and writes it down, then everyone asks questions to see if they can figure out what it is.

Draw pictures together. One of my family’s favorite games is to have one person draw one thing, then the next person adds something to it, then continues on until you all agree that the picture is done. My dad did this with us when I was growing up, and now he is doing it with his grandchildren as well. We call it the “Drawing Game.”

Tell stories to each other, or with each other. Just like the “Drawing Game,” telling stories works the same way. Someone begins, then the next one continues, until everyone has had at least one chance.

Bake together and share some with your friends and neighbors.

Have a family movie night with pizza and popcorn.

Have an ice cream sundae bar where everyone can add their own toppings.

Listen to music and dance around the room.

Sing with each other.

Rub each other’s feet and shoulders while watching TV or listening to music.

Exercise together.

Have a scavenger hunt.

Have an indoor picnic.

Do a craft together.

Do a service project together.

Play with playdough.

Learn about a specific kind of pet, then go pick one out together.

Go on a nature hike, or just a walk around the neighborhood.

Sit on the porch swing and watch the birds.

Go to the park.

Go swimming together.

Rake leaves together, then jump in them.

Play in the snow or go sledding.

Go camping.

Ride bikes.

Fly a kite.

Play a game of tag or hide and seek.

The list goes on...

What are some of your favorite inexpensive things to do as a family? Please share...

Happy 50th Anniversary to TWO Special Couples!

2011-11-14T17:00:00.000-06:00

I just wanted to share the amazing milestones of two wonderful couples in my life...

Within the past couple of months, both sets of our parents (David's and mine) have celebrated their 50th wedding anniversaries.

In September, we celebrated with

David's parents, John & Sharon

This past weekend, we celebrated with

my parents, James & Carolyn

Both sets of parents are such wonderful examples of what it means to follow through on a commitment. Through good times and bad, they have stayed together, and have promised to remain committed to each other until the Lord calls them home. It is a blessing to know these two couples.

Congratulations to both couples, and may the Lord continue to bless you in the years to come!

Homeschool Blog Awards Nominee

2011-11-07T14:28:00.000-06:00

This blog (He Holds My Right Hand) has been nominated for the Homeschool Blog Awards, under the category of "Most Encouraging." If you feel this blog is worthy of winning this award, please go to THE HOMESCHOOL POST and place your vote. Thanks!

Welcome Home, Daddy

2011-10-27T16:04:00.000-05:00

I’ve heard it said many times that we need to cherish what we have, because we never know when it might be taken away. That thought rang true in my mind yesterday morning, after I received a phone call from my Paramedic husband.

On the phone, he told me of a how the Lord protected him on his way to the hospital with a patient. The driver of the ambulance was going 65 miles per hour, and a semi truck, not seeing them coming, turned out in front of them. If it hadn’t been for quick reflexes and solid brakes, the ambulance would have collided with the truck.

Thankyou, Lord, for protecting my husband! You can be sure, when he arrived home last night, I welcomed him at the door with several hugs and kisses.

Speaking of that, I just finished reading a book by Lorrie Flem called, “Welcome Home, Daddy.” It’s a book geared towards helping homemakers become more content in their roles, and more committed towards serving in the home. It gives helpful suggestions on how to make your family feel special, including greeting your husband at the door when he gets home from work. It also gives ideas on how to make family meal times more special for everyone, how to be hospitable to guests (and not always needing a spotless house to do so!), tips on having family devotions, how to teach your children to pray, ways to minister to others through home baked goodies, and how to support your husband in his role as well. Overall, the book is what you might call “a graduate course in domestic engineering.”

Some may consider Lorrie’s traditional views of homemaking to be a bit extreme, due to the world we live in today and the many career options available for women to choose from. But, for those who desire to be the best they can be in the honorable occupation of being mothers and homemakers, this book gives good ideas on how to make the hours that “Daddy” is home into cherished memories. I know I gleaned some inspiration from it, and I’m sure you would, too.

NOTE: I received “Welcome Home, Daddy” as an official member of THE GABBY MOMS blogging program for Eternal Encouragement Magazine. I received it free of charge in exchange for my honest review.

If you are a mom blogger interested in being a part of the Gabby Moms program for 2012, please go HERE for more information.

.

Does God Give Us More Than We Can Handle?

2011-10-18T14:47:00.000-05:00

We’ve all heard it at one time or another...

We are going through a difficult time, one thing after another is going wrong, bad news keeps turning up, we just don’t know how much more we can take! Then, a well-meaning friend will say it.... “Just remember that God won’t give you more than you can handle.”

Oh, really? What if I’ve lost absolutely everything that means anything to me (as in the case of Job in the Bible)? What if I'm so full of sorrow that I can't think straight? What if I'm so stressed out that I feel as if I would break into a million pieces if just one more bad thing would happen? Wouldn’t that be more than I can handle?

I’ve been there, you know.... I’m not “there” at this moment, thank the Lord, but, I’ve been there! (And, I know plenty of others who have been there, too - with some that are “there” right now.) But, you know what? It took going through tough circumstances that helped me realize I could NOT handle these things - not at ALL - not on my own, anyway! I needed the LORD to handle them for me - to bear/carry my burdens - instead of trying to do it myself. I needed to lean on Him for strength, just as we all do.

Many well-meaning people will use 1 Corinthians 10:13 to say God doesn’t give us more than we can bear: “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”

My husband pointed this out to me... If you look closely at that verse, you can see it has nothing to do with the trials or hardships we endure; unless, of course, one of your struggles is dealing with temptation. The verse says God will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we are able to resist. It says nothing about us being able to handle/bear our trials. In fact, I can’t find ANY verse in the Bible that says this (If I am wrong, please share!) But, what I DO find are many verses that tell us to rely on God for the strength we need to get us through the difficult times.

Ps 28:7 - The LORD is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart exults, and with my song I shall thank Him.

Ps 37:39 - But the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; He is their strength in time of trouble.

Ps 46:1 - God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Isa 40:31 - Yet those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.

and the list goes on...

So, does God give us more than we can handle? Sure, He does! But, He also provides us with the strength we need by carrying our burdens for us... IF we allow Him to.

We don’t always know the reasons for the things we go through in life - at least not while we are going through them. But, no matter what, it is helpful for us to remember that the Lord does love us and will always be there for us in our time of need. He is there to listen, to comfort, to bring peace and/or reassurance to our heavy hearts, and to bring us strength. Trust in Him.

Homeschool Blog Awards

2011-10-15T11:07:00.002-05:00

The Homeschool Blog Award nominations are in full swing. There are many different categories to choose from as you nominate your favorites. I'm not sure if this blog (He Holds My Right Hand) would really qualify for nominations, since it doesn't talk much about homeschooling. However, if you like our homeschool blog SONset ACADEMY, feel free to nominate that one! Just click below for more info...

Real Rest

2011-09-27T14:06:00.001-05:00

Are you weak in spirit? Is your heart heavy with a burden? Read what it says here in Matthew 11:28

"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden,
and I will give you rest.”

Its not just a physical kind of rest Jesus is talking about here. (Taking a nice warm bath, or getting a massage can help with that for a little while.) Its REAL REST He’s talking about - the kind that comes from within - the kind that comes from sitting at the feet of Jesus and allowing HIM to carry our burdens.

Think about this past week for a moment....

How often have you lost your self-control?
How often have you yelled at your children for something they did wrong?
How often have you raised your voice to your spouse because he/she wasn’t meeting your expectations?
How often have you “chewed out” a friend over something that was rather unimportant?

Losing your self-control in these ways is usually caused by being tired, stressed, overworked, and feeling unappreciated. I admit I am among those of you who have felt this way this past week; and I know ALL of us do at one point or another. It is a typical human response as we seek fulfilment from others, rather than from the Lord. Lorrie Flem of Eternal Encouragement Magazine, understands this. So, she felt led to produce a new product, specifically geared towards women, that helps us learn how to be more ENERGIZED AND FULFILLED WOMEN OF GOD.

NOTE: This new product is not an e-book or an audio download. It is a physical DVD that is sent in the regular mail. The DVD also includes a PDF with a study guide that has the acronym of REAL REST on it. Lorrie uses the video and the study guide to walk us through how to find “real rest” when we are so worn down physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Lorrie helped remind me that sitting at the feet of Jesus is what will bring more rest for weary souls than anything else. She says, “You cannot be a nurturer unless you yourself are nurtured.” But, it’s a matter of choice. If we neglect Him, or don’t take the time to rest in His presence, our feelings of frustration and despair will get the best of us. So, what do YOU think would be the better choice?

I love this old hymn that talks of this very thing (Click on the play button below to hear the music)...

WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS

Words by: Joseph Scriven, 1855

What a Friend we have in Jesus,

All our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry

Everything to God in prayer!

O what peace we often forfeit,

O what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry

Everything to God in prayer!

Have we trials and temptations?

Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged,

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Can we find a friend so faithful

Who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our every weakness,

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy-laden,

Cumbered with a load of care?

Precious Savior, still our refuge

Take it to the Lord in prayer;

Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?

Take it to the Lord in prayer;

In His arms He'll take and shield thee,

Thou wilt find a solace there.

Disclaimer: I received Energized and Fulfilled Woman of God as an official member of THE GABBY MOMS blogging program for Eternal Encouragement Magazine. I received it free of charge, and all opinions are my own.
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Listening Sheets for Children

2011-09-25T14:25:00.000-05:00

I first learned about "Listening Sheets" from THE BISHOP'S WIFE, and decided to try them out. These are pages you can print out and give to your children to use during a church service, which helps them to listen and pay attention better. For the past two Sundays, I have used these with both of our children (ages 8 and 13), and it helped them to keep their hands busy and their minds more attentive. There are sheets for all ages, including non-readers up to those who read fluently. Here is a list of the places I found (or was directed to):

Give them a try and see what you think!

GUEST POST: Just Enough Grace

2011-08-30T12:09:00.001-05:00

I want to share an article with you from my new blogging friend, Valerie. She is a pastor's wife, a homeschool mama, and a fellow writer. I recently found her through an article she wrote for Homeschool Enrichment Magazine, and contacted her on her BLOG. Here is her latest post. Thanks for allowing me to share this, Valerie!

~ JUST ENOUGH GRACE ~

2 Corinthians 12:9 - And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

When my husband was 16 years old, he began having severe pain in his lower back. After taking medication for many days with no relief, his parents took him to the doctor. They discovered through ultrasound that one of his kidneys was the size of a basketball. Further tests revealed that a vein had been attached to his ureter since birth. As he grew, the vein grew, finally closing off the ureter so that the kidney could not be emptied. By God's great mercy and blessing, the doctors were able to remove his kidney, repair the problem and then replace the kidney. It now functions normally!

He told me that while he was in the hospital, they gave him a morphine pump. When he needed pain relief, he need only to press a button, and morphine would go into his IV and into his blood stream. He often wanted more than the prescribed amount to relieve the pain from the 12 inch cut they had made in his side. He said, "I would push the button over and over, but it would only release the morphine after a certain amount of time had passed since the last dose had been released." In other words, the medical staff had made it possible for him to get pain relief on demand, but within reason. Obviously, if they had let him take as much as he wanted when he wanted, he could have overdosed and died.

Sometimes, I feel as though I'm not getting any help from the Lord, I'm not getting any "pain relief". Then I realize that I'm borrowing trouble, I'm fretting over something that may or may not happen. In those times, I don't need any grace, I need to re-focus. I need to stop worrying! He gives me the grace I need, when I need it. I may want grace for tomorrow, but I don't get it, not until tomorrow comes. I get the grace I need for today, for my current problem. Then tomorrow, I'll get the grace I need for that time. Day by day, moment by moment, I receive the help and strength that I need. Not a moment too soon, and not a moment too late. Right on time.

Just when life gets unbearable in the present, I cry out - I press the "pump"- and guess what? I receive the relief I need. He sends me an encouraging email or card from a friend. He allows me an up-close look at His amazing Hummingbird. He helps me to see the many blessings I've overlooked. He reminds me of the heroes of the Bible. For instance, when I feel forsaken, I remember how Hagar felt the same way after Sarah forced her to leave. She was ready to die, but God saw her and He took care of her.(Gen.21:14-19) God knows where I am, too. He will take care of me.

And in the process, I can boldly say with Paul, "His grace is sufficient!"

A Daily Prayer Schedule

2011-08-19T17:19:00.000-05:00

I don’t know about you but, I have oftentimes found it very overwhelming to pray for the needs of each and every person in my life during my prayer time. I do think its important to spend time in prayer, but I also don’t want to be feeling like I need to rush through every person on my list, just so I can “get them in.” So, I decided to make a change that has been very helpful for me. In case it is helpful for someone else, I wanted to share it with you... All you need to do is make yourself a daily prayer schedule and pray for specific people on specific days. If there is an immediate need then, of course, you can (and should) pray for it, no matter which day you are on. But, for the general rule, keep it to a simple schedule such as this...

~ VICTORIA'S DAILY PRAYER SCHEDULE ~

SUNDAY - Thanksgivings (Don’t ask for anything unless its an immediate need. Just thank God for all He has done for you.)

MONDAY - Church family (Requests mentioned in church on Sunday, etc.)

TUESDAY - My Spouse & Myself (health, marriage, jobs, decisions, etc.)

WEDNESDAY - Our children (health, behavior, attitudes, goals, spiritual growth, etc.)

THURSDAY - Our Parents & Grandparents (health, marriage, jobs, decisions, etc.)

FRIDAY - Extended Family (Siblings & their families, Cousins, Aunts, Uncles, etc.)

SATURDAY - Friends & their families

Try it for a week and see how it goes! And, I would love to hear feedback on it, if you care to share. Or, if you have found a different way to simplify and/or strengthen YOUR prayer time, please feel free to share that as well.
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#3 Refine, #4 Rejuvenate, and #5 Rest

2011-08-15T16:18:00.000-05:00

Some people are born organizers. Some are not. I think a lot of it has to do with how we are raised, but I think personalities come into play as well. Regardless of our background or our personalities, it is possible to LEARN how to keep an organized home. The 3rd SESSION of “The Five R’s for Godly Womanhood” speaks directly about this topic. Last month, us Gabby Moms reviewed the first two sessions of this bundle from Lorrie Flem. This month, we delved into the last three sessions...

I think its important to explain here that Lorrie Flem is not a regular “Suzy Homemaker,” as some may call it. Lorrie was the oldest of four children, however, she did not really have a lot of responsibility around the house. Her mother did most of the housework by herself. It wasn’t until after Lorrie was married that she realized a change needed to be made in the way she managed her home. Apparently, she and her husband were visited by police officers one night after hearing a noise in the house, and the officers thought an intruder had “destroyed” the living room. It turns out, the living room was in its normal chaotic state. This was a big eye opener for Lorrie, and she began learning how to make her home more presentable. She also had to learn how to keep it that way without much effort. In this session, Lorrie shares 7 teachings on how to manage a home.

In SESSION 4 of this “Godly Womanhood” bundle, I had to laugh when I heard Lorrie tell of a young father licking mustard off his hand only to find out it was not mustard, but a need for his baby’s diaper change! Ewwww! It makes it all the more funny when I remember a similar event that happened to my husband when HE was a new father. He was holding our baby daughter and noticed the “mustard” on his hand as well, then ran disgustingly to the bathroom to wash up after realizing what it really was. Ha ha! I love that story! At least he didn’t lick it off, like the first guy. But, to move on, this story from Lorrie was told to represent how life brings us unexpected surprises while raising kids. Then, she goes on to explain how RAISING a child is not the same as TRAINING a child, and how the number one problem that comes up in child training is inconsistency. Training children involves a commitment of our time and efforts. In this session, Lorrie touches on several areas of Biblical child training and discipline. It is all very good food for thought.

SESSION 5 lets us know that, even with the most well-behaved children, the demands of our families can sometimes wear us down physically and spiritually. Are you weak in spirit? Do you feel as if you need a rest from life’s demands? Lorrie believes when our souls are longing for rest, we are actually longing to find solitude at God's feet. Taking a warm bath or spending a night away from home might help for a little while, but it won’t make the real issue at hand go away. Taking a bath will help to refresh our bodies on the outside, but it doesn’t refresh us on the inside. We need the Living Water to do that, and the Word of God. Instead of relying on a bath (or something else) to “wash our blues away,” Lorrie encourages us in this session to give all our stress and worry to the Lord. “Give it up in order to get it all.”

To learn more about “The Five R’s for Godly Womanhood,” or to purchase the full bundle for $24.97, visit the PRODUCT INFORMATION page of Eternal Encouragement Magazine.

And, if you didn't already know, I received The 5 R’s to Godly Womanhood as an official member of The Gabby Moms blogging program. I did not receive compensation for this post and all opinions are solely my own.

If YOU have a blog of your own, and are interested in joining the 2012 Gabby Moms team, please take a look at this APPLICATION PAGE to read more about the program and/or to apply.

Shepherd's Ministries

2011-08-13T22:30:00.000-05:00

I remember the Handbell Team and the performance they put on at Moody Church in Chicago. I was so touched at how these adults with intellectual disabilities were serving the Lord in this way, traveling with Shepherd's Ministries in Union Grove, Wisconsin. This was the first I had heard about them.

Many years later, I had forgotten all about Shepherds, until my husband received some information in the mail about them through the church he pastored. I took a much greater interest in them at that time, due to our daughter's autism. I learned that Shepherds provides compassionate Christian care and training to adults with intellectual disabilities. My husband and I have been on their mailing list ever since, and have followed along as they have expanded their ministry to now have a small accredited college.

A couple of weeks ago, our current church, and our family, was blessed by a visit from the "Gospel Team" of Shepherd's Ministries. It was truly an inspiration to meet Al Pick and his buddy Saul. During the morning service, Saul stood up in front of the congregation and gave his testimony of how he came to know the Lord. He then recited verses to share the Gospel, and also sang an old Gaither song, "Something Beautiful," in acapella.

It was easy to see how he enjoyed being in front of people and telling others about Jesus. In fact, out of his 15 hobbies, he said his first and most favorite hobby is telling others about the Lord. It was truly a blessing to meet him and Al. People with intellectual disabilities tend to have such a wonderful example of childlike faith, and are great encouragers. And, if you make a friend of one, you have most likely made a friend for life.

Please, if you ever get the chance to head up to Union Grove, Wisconsin, I know Shepherds would be thrilled to have you stop by and see how God is working there. Al mentioned they have housing available for volunteers, if anyone is willing to come for a day or two, or even more. There are all sorts of ways to minister at Shepherds, including special music, teaching, being a spiritual mentor, maintenance and construction, prepare and lead a 30-minute chapel program, tutoring, and helping out around campus in various other ways. Of course, they are always looking for financial support as well, penpals for the residents, and so on. Give them a call and see how you might be able to make "something beautiful" happen in the lives of these special people.

VIDEO Review: Paws & Tales - Putting Others First

2011-08-10T15:34:00.000-05:00

There are 2 espisodes on this DVD, an approximate total of 50 minutes all together.

Episode #1 finds the two main characters, C.J. and Staci, running errands for their grandfather and meeting many obstacles along the way. They eventually need to decide what is more important - to finish all their errands on time, or to stop and help a friend in need.

Episode #2 introduces the kids' schoolmate, Tiffany, who is from a very wealthy family. She enjoys intimidating those who are less fortunate than her, and using "blackmail" to make C.J. do things he doesn't want to do. In the end, he has to once again make a choice that could potentially affect the future career of someone he loves.

These episodes had very good content in them, and my children enjoyed watching them. However, I do suggest a parent watch them WITH their children, at least for the first time around, because there were a couple of actions mentioned in episode #2 that I felt could have used a bit more clarification. For example, the idea of revenge is brought up and not completely dealt with. In the end, justice was served. However, some parents may wish to clarify that vengeance belongs to the Lord and not to us. Also, it may be important for parents to discuss what their children should do when faced with 2 decisions - one that is a wrong decision (such as cheating, by doing another student's homework), and one that could potentially cause someone else harm. This situation was also resolved, but may need a little more clarification for some children.

Overall, this new DVD is a great concept. Not only does it have two animated stories about putting others first, it also includes music videos and helpful teaching resources to print out on your computer. I haven't had a chance to print out the resources yet, but think they could be a helpful addition to the stories.

You can find this DVD and other Paws & Tales DVD's at TYNDALE HOUSE PUBLISHERS.

NOTE: Tyndale House Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this DVD for review purposes. All opinions expressed are my own.

GUEST POST: A Healing Touch from the Lord

2011-08-06T20:25:00.001-05:00

SHARON & JOHN STANKUS

Today's guest blogger is another special person in my life - my mother-in-law, Sharon. Please read her story below of how God intervened in a life or death situation, and laid His healing hands upon her. Thankyou for sharing this story, Mom. I'm so glad God's plan was to spare your life back then and that your family did not have to suffer such a great loss. I am also so glad to have gotten the chance to meet you, and to have you as a part of MY life.

A Healing Touch from the Lord

By: Sharon Stankus

During the summer of 1978, I experienced what I believe was a divine intervention from the Lord. My appendix ruptured and I did not know it at the time. It is hard for some to understand how that could happen without my knowing it. You see, I had other issues that caused severe pain at different times, so that is why I did not recognize what had happened. It was 3 days later when I knew something was "not right" and went to my doctor. I was immediately hospitalized. There, I learned about the divine intervention that had happened. My body miraculously formed a sac that caught all the fluids from the rupture, something very rare that would not normally happen to a person. That sac, I later learned, was almost the size of a football.

The surgeon said he could not do surgery because he would break that sac and release all the poison into my body. I would have to be on heavy doses of antibiotics until the sac would shrink and surgery could be safely done. I was sent home. I was to be on complete bed rest, and the only time I could leave the house was to go to the doctor’s office. This was a challenge, as I had 3 young children. The oldest one is now this blog owner’s husband.

I felt myself getting weaker, not stronger, each day. One evening, when I could hardly speak, a friend of mine called me and she knew something was wrong. She hung up and immediately called mutual friends of ours, a pastor and his wife. They called me. They knew I was so weak I could barely speak, so they said, “Just listen while we pray.” After praying, they just kept talking to me as I listened. By the time they finished talking to me, I could already feel myself getting stronger. I could sit up and talk. From that time on, I grew stronger and stronger each day. The doctor reports were encouraging, as the sac was shrinking. When the sac had shrunk to about the size of a golf ball, after about 2 months, I had the surgery.

You may be wondering how the needs of my family were taken care of at that time. I could do nothing, as the doctors were concerned the sac would rupture. Well, the ladies from our church took care of us. They cleaned the house, did laundry and brought out meals for over 3 months. (And, we attended a very small church, so these ladies had their turn often.)

If any of you reading this think that, when you take a meal to someone who is ill, you have not done much, let me assure you that you have been a real blessing to that family; and, if you think your prayers are not important, you are mistaken.

GUEST BLOGGER: James L. McIntosh

2011-07-30T14:03:00.000-05:00

Dr. James L. McIntosh is an Instructor and the Academic Dean at Brookes Bible Institute in St. Louis, MO. He is also my dad (whom I'm very fond of). When I recently asked him how he came to know Jesus as his Savior, this is what he said:

JAMES & HIS SISTER

The evangelist’s message I can still remember. He said, among other things, “God loves you and you need to repent [turn away from] your own ways and receive His salvation.” I did...

I was 6 and a half. My mother “drug” me to church, kicking and screaming, during a series of missions meetings. After I settled down, I was listening to the speaker talk about people in Brazil, his work there with them, and how they could die in their sins and not go to heaven when they die. Someone needed to tell them of the love of Jesus and how He came to make things right between sinful man and God. Yes, I remember most of the message, even though I was so young.

He used the "Finney" style of giving an invitation at the end of the message, which many people do not like these days. The invitation isn’t what moved me, though. It was before the singing of "Just As I Am" that I knew in my heart what I really wanted. I was the only one that left their seat to go forward. My mother tried to grab me, thinking I was being my regular ornery self. When I arrived at the front, the pastor looked down at me and asked, "What are you doing here?" I said, “I want Jesus in my heart. I don't want to go to hell. I want to be with HIM!” The pastor took me through the "Romans Road" (it still works today) - Rom 3:23; 6:23; 10:9-10. He asked, “Do you understand all that?” I said yes. He asked, “Then, what do you want?” I said, to have Jesus in my heart. He told me to pray and ask Him in. I did. He did not make it easy for me - did not dictate a prayer. After I prayed, he asked, “What just happened?” I said, “I believe in Jesus and He came in.”

There was no earth quake, lightening or any other "experience" other than the fact that I KNEW something changed. I was different. Walking home that night, I KNEW I was not the same. Now, anyone who knows me knows that I still am not perfect, but I am changed and I have never forgotten what happened that night at Southern View Chapel in Springfield, IL.

~ James L. McIntosh (still a work in progress at 67)

Click here for an interesting article about the history of “the invitation.”

THE INVITATION: A Historical Perspective

Money Secrets of the Amish (Book Review)

2011-07-23T12:20:00.000-05:00

As a college student, I began developing more of my writing skills, and the editor of the school newspaper (The Moody Student) gave me several opportunities to submit an article for publication. I remember how excited I was when my first article was accepted. I might share that article with you one of these days but, for now, I want to tell you a little bit about that editor. Her name is Lorilee Craker (although I knew her in college as Lorilee Reimer).

After graduating from college, Lorilee continued writing... and writing.... and writing.... She now has 11 published books, including topics on parenting, marriage, devotionals, and the New York Times best seller Through the Storm with Lynne Spears. Today, I am excited to tell you about her newest book: Money Secrets of the Amish.

In these days of economical downslide, Lorilee decided it was time to make some changes in her spending habits. After learning of how the Amish are still doing pretty well financially, she decided it was time to find out why. So, she took several trips into Amish country, spending time with them and learning a “wealth” of information from them.

I don’t want to give away all of Lorilee’s findings here, as there are just way too many to list. But, there are 14 chapters full of stories and ideas on living a more simple life, delaying gratification, saving, recycling, shopping in bulk, eating homemade foods, bartering, and more. Even though I consider myself to be fairly frugal already, I came away with a TON of good information and ideas that I intend to use! For example, there are several craft ideas in the recycle and reuse chapter that I want to try out.

This book, with Lorilee’s witty charm, is a definite addition to my personal library. It was informative, educational, fun, and easy to read. I recommend this book to anyone who is wanting to find “true abundance in simplicity, sharing, and saving.”

Thankyou, Lorilee, for the time you took to research this information and make it available to us all.

You can find Lorilee here on her new website: ShoeFly Pie

Or on Facebook: HERE

Disclosure: I received this book free of charge from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. Even though I know Lorilee, I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Gabby Moms Review: Five R's for Godly Womanhood - Session 1 and 2

2011-07-18T09:42:00.000-05:00

Here is some interesting information for all you “mom bloggers” out there. The Gabby Moms blogging program is gearing up to begin the application process for next year - 2012. If YOU have a blog of your own, and are interested in joining the team, please take a look at this APPLICATION PAGE to read more about the program and/or to apply.

Let me tell you right now, this is not just your ordinary blogging review program. When I first signed up to be a Gabby Mom, I thought I was simply joining an ordinary review program where I would receive a product, use it, and write a review on my blog. But, it turned out to be much more than I expected. It has been fun for me, and a learning experience; but also challenging. I have been challenged in many different ways, including ways to improve upon my duties as a wife, a mom, and as a Christian.

That said, if you enjoy learning about new products for wives and mothers, if you enjoy writing reviews, if you have the time to commit to reviewing at least one product per month, and if you are willing to be challenged in various ways... then you would fit right in! So, go ahead and fill out the application form today!

On another note, us Gabby Moms were given another product of Lorrie Flem’s to review this month. (She’s the publisher of Eternal Encouragement Magazine... remember?) Well, this product has so much information in it that we were told to separate it into two different reviews. So, this month, I want to share a series of “fives” with you from just the first 2 sessions (the first 2 “R’s”) of Five R's for Godly Womanhood.

To be quite honest, it was a bit overwhelming for me to review these two sessions. The main reason is because they are both chock full of great information. It was hard for me to know what to share with you because there was just so much! Really! The series of five comments (below) hardly touch the surface and there is so much more to hear and learn from each of these sessions. But, since I don’t really want to write an entire book (and I doubt you want to read one right now), I’ll just start with these few comments...

Five comments from session 1

“Refresh: A Woman Who Kneels Before God Can Stand Before Anyone”

(REFRESHING our relationship with the Heavenly Father)

You cannot have a growing relationship with anyone unless you spend time with them. That includes the Lord.
Daily quiet time helps us get the strength we need to make it through the day.
None of us have enough time to spend time in Bible study and prayer - we must MAKE time.
Time with the Lord should not be a “chore”- it is a privilege.
Meditate on Scripture. Pick a verse each day and read it over and over. Focus on it throughout the day. Incorporate it into your life and it will help you to maintain a right frame of mind.

Five comments from session 2

“Rekindle: Red Hot is So Cool”

(Ideas to help wives REKINDLE our relationships with our husbands)

Loving our spouse MORE than we love ourselves is the key to keeping a marriage strong.
Flirt with Him. Treat him the way you treated him when you were dating or first married.
A lack of desire from you is not a reason to deprive him.
Nagging doesn’t work. If you consistently feed him love, encouragement and affirmation, he will feel loved, desired and safe. This is when he is more likely to listen to you, versus your nagging at him. Its not your job to change your husband. Its your job to love him, and God’s job to change him.
Intimacy is tied to love and respect. If wives don’t feel loved they withhold respect. If our husbands don’t feel respected, they don’t act in ways that make us feel loved. This cycle is found in Eph. 5:33 - “However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.” (NIV)

Next month, I’ll tell you more about the last 3 sessions:

Refine: From Homekeeping 101 to Graduating With Honors
Rejuvenate: What To Do When Abel Is Raising Cain
Rest: Give it Up and Get it All

Disclaimer: I received The 5 R’s to Godly Womanhood as an official member of The Gabby Moms blogging program for Eternal Encouragement Magazine. I did not receive compensation for this post and all opinions are solely my own.

Saying "I Love You" with Food

2011-07-12T13:36:00.000-05:00

The following article is from the Living On A Dime Newsletter. I wanted to share this with you because my blog is all about encouraging others, and this article gives a great example of how we can do that. I believe sharing our time and resources for someone by making them a meal, or even just a fresh loaf of bread or some cookies, is a great way to show them you care. It also brings them encouragement to see how the Lord has blessed them in this way.

Saying I Love You with Food

July 12, 2011

In this day and age of fast food restaurants and convenience food, we tend to think that most people, when going through a hard time, don't need a meal or a jar of soup brought to them.

Many years ago, before there were stores or fast food restaurants on every corner or microwaves in every kitchen, a neighbor bringing in a meal was sometimes a matter of physical survival. That isn't usually the case these days.

Even so, I hate to see bringing a meal to someone who is sick, has just had a baby, or has lost a loved one fall by the wayside. We often think the person or family can just pick something up or cook something easy in the microwave. They probably can but there are a couple of reasons why it is still nice to bring someone a meal.

Usually at these stressful times people are exhausted, both physically and emotionally. When this happens it is so hard to think and make decisions. Just ask anyone who has Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Trying to decide what to cook or buy for a meal can be very overwhelming. It's often the straw that breaks the camel's back.

Having someone call and say, "I'm bringing a meal for you tonight," can help so much to ease a persons mind, which is probably overloaded with other things. It is just one less decision to make.

Bringing food is a way of saying, "I love you," or, "I care." Food is comforting to most people. (I'm not talking about people overeating to comfort themselves so please don't comment on that). Being a grandma, the minute I know the grandkids are coming, I get out the cookies and candy and, when friends arrive, the first thing I do is bring out a plate of cookies or put on the kettle.

Taking a plate of cookies to a new neighbor says, "Welcome! We are glad to have you!" Taking a meal to someone who is sick says, "I care." Let's not let another way of saying, "I care," fall by the wayside.

I will try to share more ideas on this subject in a future post but, for now, here are a few suggestions to get you started:

* Make things as easy as possible for the person you are helping. Send napkins, plastic forks and spoons.

* Start looking now for inexpensive bowls, platters and dishes at garage sales. You can leave these dishes when you take food to people so they don't have to worry about returning the dishes. When you can, try to use disposable pans and dishes so the people who are already overwhelmed don't have to wash dishes.

* There is a time and place to save the environment and this is not it. I save and wash most of the containers that I get when I buy things at the bakery or the grocery store and reuse them at these times. You would be surprised how many containers you get every day that would work great if you remove the labels and wash them.

* Always have everything prepared so the receiver has little to do but warm it or stir it.

* Keep the food simple. Now is not the time to pull out your French Cookbook. Things like turkey, celery and carrot sticks, fruit salads and desserts like a simple chocolate cake work well and often can be used for a couple of meals. By keeping it simple, you can be pretty sure the average person will like what you bring.

* Keep in mind who you are bringing food to. If there are children in the family, a pretty red Jello will probably be more appreciated than a Hazelnut coffee mousse. When you talk to the person, listen and think about special needs.

* Ask if they have any food allergies. If you are on the receiving end, don't get too picky, giving a list of five rare items you want that must be organic and come from one certain food store. It is very rare that someone can't eat something like turkey, carrot and celery sticks and some fruit so be reasonable.

* Always bring extra food. Throw in a loaf of bread or some rolls so they can use the leftover meat for sandwiches for the next day's lunch and leftover veggies to go with it.

* Don't forget breakfast. One of the nicest meals we received was when the woman brought not only our dinner but included a pan of cinnamon rolls for breakfast and a container of frozen slushy mix to keep in the freezer and dip out when we wanted to make slushies at a later time.

* Think outside of the box. Don't always send just the usual generic casserole and, whatever you do, don't just send a sack of groceries unless the situation specifically calls for them.

* Be thoughtful. Agree to a time when you will bring the food and be sure you stick to that time. If you can't be precisely on time, it is better to bring it early than late. There is nothing worse than to tell the already hungry children that the food will be here soon and then have it arrive an hour late.

* There are times too when a meal would be appreciated at a later time. For example instead of bringing a meal to a widower the day or week of the funeral you might wait and bring one a couple of weeks later. Often in a case like this people will bring in meals for that first week so it might be nice to bring something when the first influx of meals has stopped.

* Don't overstay your welcome. Use sound judgment. If the people are going through trying times or are not well, too much conversation can make things more difficult for them.

I have so much more I can add but I will have to leave it for another time. Hopefully, this will get you started and help to decide whether or not you should take a meal and, if if you do, what it would be most helpful to bring.

~ Jill

To read more from LIVING ON A DIME, check out their WEBSITE. You can also sign up to receive their FREE e-mail newletter to receive lots of money saving tips and ideas.

GUEST BLOGGER: Jan Koch

2011-07-08T11:14:00.000-05:00

Are you feeling lowly and despised? My friend, Jan Koch, shares her favorite verses here and explains how her view of herself was not the same one that God had of her. Thankyou for sharing this, Jan. It is something I think many of us can identify with.

My favorite Verses

By: Jan Koch

"But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things - and the things that are not - to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before Him. It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus who has become for us wisdom from God - that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written, 'Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.'" I Corinthians 1:27-31

I remember the first time I read these verses. I wept over them. Especially the part about the lowly and despised things. For the first time I realized that was what I was. Not in God's eyes, but my own. It was ironic, really. Though most of my life I had prided myself on being "strong," I had hated myself almost to the point of death. Now there I was, faced with two truths: I despised myself, and I wasn't strong.

But, in spite of my foolishness, weakness, lowliness and in my own eyes, "nothingness," God loved me dearly and had chosen me - ME - to shame the "wise" and the "strong."

By that point in my life God had gone to great lengths to show me just how NOT strong I am. My high energy, type "A," career-driven personality didn't take gracefully to insulin-dependent diabetes, a broken thyroid, severe depression, financial struggles, an eating disorder or breast cancer. But through each storm I found out more about who I really am, and WHO GOD IS. He is beyond my highest ambitions or grandest dreams; He is my deepest Love and my greatest Strength. These verses are a beautiful picture of what God does when I offer what I am, and what I am not, to Him.

Are you weak and foolish? Do you despise yourself, beautiful one? YOU are exactly who God has chosen. He's been looking for you, because He loves you and He knows that you will boast only in Him. Remember Jesus? how foolish He appeared to be, hanging on that cross, when He had told everyone He was God's Son, but He couldn't (wouldn't) save Himself? Remember how they despised Him...remember how WE despised Him? And look what God did through Him. He provided salvation to the whole world. Through that "weak" Son of Man born in a lowly manger. All it took was one heart, one life fully surrendered to Him. He will do miraculous, wondrous things in and through you, too, beautiful one. All it takes is your heart, fully surrendered to Him. So, what are you waiting for?

GUEST: Jim P. - Encouragement for Uncertain Times

2011-06-30T13:41:00.000-05:00

Its been a really busy Summer so far and I feel like we’ve been going non-stop. But, I do have a few minutes to share a little something from a friend....

Jim P. is one of the church members from a special congregation my husband pastored in Northern Illinois. Jim recently sent me this encouragement to share, for anyone who may be feeling some uncertainty about their future...

“When a company bought out the place where I had been working for 17 years and let all the old-timers go, I was devastated. Being 65 at the time, there were not many job options and I really didn't have enough to retire set aside. The Lord directed me to Jeremiah 29:11, and it helped me so very much to realize I would be safe and secure in His hands.”

Jeremiah 29:11 - For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (NIV)

Thankyou for sharing, Jim! This is a good reminder for us all.
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REVIEW & GIVE-A-WAY: Attitude Adjustments

2011-06-15T13:31:00.001-05:00

With a cat on my lap, a glass of lemon water by my side, and a bag of M-n-M’s in my hand, I settled in at the computer to listen to an hour long MP3 download from Lorrie Flem of Eternal Encouragement Magazine. She had arranged for us Gabby Moms to receive 2 downloads - one about ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENTS, and one about the KEYS TO A QUEENLY CASTLE. I knew, without a doubt, that the one on attitudes would be the best one for me to start with. Not so much because I have a bad attitude. In fact, I always try to think positively, no matter what the situation is. But, I have noticed my “bad-attitude button” has been pushed more often lately, due to the negativity received from my 8-year-old son. As Lorrie puts it in her talk, “attitude germs are contagious.” So, I have been praying for ways to remedy this problem with “Little Mr. Negative,” and was hopeful to hear some great ideas from Lorrie.

The beginning of the talk DID briefly touch upon teaching proper attitudes to our children, but that was not the main focus of this talk. It was geared more towards us moms. How can we “attain and maintain” a good attitude in OURSELVES? Here are some things to think about regarding that:

You have a “bad-attitude button” that no one can touch, unless you allow them to.
You control your attitude, or it controls you. It sets the tone in your entire home.
Wake up and CHOOSE to have a positive attitude through-out your day.
We don’t have to FEEL good about everything that happens, but we should ACT good.

This was all good and well for me to hear, as it was a little refresher course to help keep me pushing towards instilling good attitudes in my children, by using my OWN example. I would surely recommend this download for any mom who needs this kind of encouragement.

However, this download left me wanting to know more about how to CHANGE negative attitudes in my children. So, I took a look at Lorrie’s other downloads on this topic and decided to purchase ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING.

This particular download had phone discussions between Lorrie and her audience. To be entirely honest, I did not like the fact that the people asking the questions could not be heard. BUT.... I WAS able to glean some helpful suggestions from Lorrie as she spoke. At the beginning, it had a lot of the same information in it that ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENTS has, but then it went more into the topic of OBEDIENCE. Lorrie said you can’t really begin teaching about bad attitudes until you first work on obedience. This is an entirely different subject, so I won’t elaborate on it now. But if you are interested in knowing more about how your childrens’ obedience coincides with their attitudes, then this might be a good session for you to consider listening to. Lorrie gave some helpful ideas on how to teach obedience in this session and, let’s just say, I think we will be making some changes around here very soon!

That brings me to an exciting opportunity for YOU! Anyone who is interested can receive a chance at a FREE download from Lorrie by following these simple steps...

TO ENTER THE GIVE-A-WAY

1. Click HERE to choose the MP3 file you would like to win.

2. Go to THE GABBY MOMS blog, where June's review links are posted and leave a comment

there with:

The name of the blog where you read about the giveaway (He Holds My Right Hand)
The name of the MP3 file you would like to receive, if chosen as the winner
Your email address

The winner will be chosen on Saturday, June 18th via random.org, and will be notified by the e-mail left in the comments. The winner will have 48 hours to respond before an alternate winner is chosen.

Good luck, and don't let anyone push that "bad-attitude button" today! Okay?

Disclaimer: I received 2 downloads at no charge for a Gabby Moms review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

GUEST BLOGGER: Carie Shinn

2011-06-12T22:24:00.000-05:00

Several years ago, I was diagnosed with PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome), which finally gave me the answers to so many questions I had about myself, including why it was so difficult for me to have children. So, the following article is something I can relate to in many ways. It is from my friend, Carie Shinn, a homeschooling mother of 4 beautiful children. She wanted to share her story of secondary infertility related to having PCOS, and to be a support for anyone out there who has questions realated to these issues. Please feel free to contact her directly through the e-mail address at the end of the article. Thankyou for sharing, Carie!

BE FRUITFUL & MULTIPLY - THE FLIPSIDE

By: Carie Shinn

In October 2006 I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome - or PCOS for short. This diagnosis was the culmination of over 5 years of hoping, praying and wondering what was wrong with me.

PCOS is one of those things that nobody knows you have. I have no outward deficiencies or problems. I can do anything that you can do.....except get pregnant.

Many people wonder about the age gap in our children. I have no doubt that many believe we are some kind of blended family. All 4 are "ours" and the gap was definately not planned....but I digress....

When my husband and I married in January 1996 I couldn't wait to start a family. I stayed on birth control until September of 1996 when we decided we were ready to start our family. I fully expected to get pregnant immediately. I had always been told if you weren't using birth control you would get pregnant!!!! I did, in November of 1996 and delivered Leland David in August of 1997 without a hitch. A good little patient I am, I went back on birth control immediately and life continued on for us. We moved, I went to college, Lee grew. I greatly desired another child, but Norman wasn't ready.....however in March 1999 I found out I was pregnant. My heart broke 3 days later when an ultrasound tech confirmed that I was miscarrying. Our lives seemed to be in a major upheaval for the next few months as we both did a lot of growing. God is good and our marriage was sustained. During those few months we bought a computer and connected to the internet. A search late one night led me to the homeschooling movement and I was hooked. I learned about the quiverfull movement and began to wonder if my miscarriage wasn't related to the birth control I had been using at the time. In July 1999, I also discovered I was pregnant again.....while still on birth control. This pregnancy was burdened by worries of problems (compounded when an ultrasound tech told me that he thought the baby had Down's Syndrome)......but in March of 2000 I delivered another strong baby boy, Gregory Robert, healthy as a horse and not the girl the ultrasound tech expected :)

I quit working when my maternity leave was up and officially embarked on a homeschooling lifestyle for our family. In the summer of 2001 I went off hormonal birth control completely and we agreed that we would love to "try" for another baby. Although I knew that my hormones were a mess, I fully expected to become pregnant again immediately. That, however, was not to be.

Weeks turned into months, months turned into years. I learned how to chart my cycles. I tried different "herbal" fertility aids. I prayed daily as my desire for another child became so strong that it hurt. I finally had to accept that just because we were willing to accept more blessings into our family, that didn't mean that they were going to come. God and I had a lot of arguements over the clothes line. Well meaning friends and family couldn't understand why we felt the need to add to our family when we already had the perfect 2. "Stop trying and it will happen". "Lose 20 lbs and it will happen". Those well-meaning quips dug deep as I tried to lose weight and I tried not to fuss.

In September 2006, after a tearful discussion with our family doctor (who didn't realize the hurt I had been suffering from), I got a referal to a fertility specialist. My doctor was and is wonderful. He did the blood work. He knew what he was looking for and diagnosed me right away. What a relief I felt when he told me that I had probably been manifesting the symptoms of PCOS in high school when I started gaining weight and that the birth control regulating my cycles was probably the only thing that helped me conceive my 1st 2 sons (and God of course - we believe it was a God thing). Regardless of diet or exercise I was not going to lose weight. Left to themselves my hormones swing in such a messy circle that I am at risk for all sorts of nasty conditions, ranging from heart disease, depression, diabetes and others. God provided medication. A specific diet/exercise plan that works well WITH the medication. A plan. We finally had a plan. Our doctor was fairly certain that the medication for the symptoms of PCOS would result in pregnancy eventually, but time isn't always on a woman's side, and I wasn't getting any younger. So we agreed to a few rounds of fertility treatments and Norman Matthew (Bear) was conceived on the 3rd round.

I remember the flood of emotions I felt when I discovered I was pregnant....ironically during a cycle the doctor didn't think would take. Thanks were given to God almost hourly at our household as we prepared for our new arrival. We felt blessed beyond belief. When you have waited for something so long, there is a period of disbelief......you almost wait for the "other shoe to drop". God is generous and gracious and kind......Bear was born (in Oct. 2007) after only 6 hours of labor and the doctor almost didn't make it to catch him :)

Our story wasn't done though. I like to say that God has a sense of humor :) After Bear's birth I again refused birth control, we were willing to accept another blessing if God chose that path for us. In September of 2009 however, my husband felt that God was telling him we were done. With my blessing (I also felt that God was done expanding our family), my husband had a vasectomy. The side effects were horrific. My husband endured all forms of horrible things and in the end refused to go back for his "checkup". He declared that we would accept more children if that was God's will, but he would never go through that procedure again. I found out 2 weeks later that I was 7 weeks pregnant :)

Little Abigail Caroline was born in May 2010 after an emergency c-section (she presented arm first and had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck restricting oxygen). God was merciful in sparing her life and mine (I had some blood pressure issues during the surgery).

We won't ever be the Duggar family. There are moments when I wonder about God's plan, specifically when dealing with the attitudes of a teenager and toddler on the same day. I can't begin to explain what God taught me about trust, faith and contentment during our time of waiting. With the "unplanned" arrival of Abigail, I learned that God has a sense of humor and always knows what is best for a family.

Sometimes I sit and wonder what God has in store for us. So far the experience has been interesting :)

If you are experiencing secondary infertility or have been diagnosed with PCOS, I would love to pray with you! You can contact me at carie_shinn@hotmail.com or catch me at my blog http://www.misscarie.blogspot.com/

Blessings,

Carie

A Hero to the World (GUEST: My Nephew, James)

2011-06-05T14:41:00.000-05:00

My nephew, James, graduated from High School this weekend. He is a Christian teen who enjoys humor (it runs in the family), being creative, playing video games, reading books, and cuddling with his dog, Tigger.

This Summer, he plans on working at Youth Haven Bible Camp, hanging out with his family, and volunteering as a worker for Vacation Bible School. After his fun-filled Summer, he plans to attend Gulf Coast State College, majoring in Digital Media.

I recently asked James what his favorite song is, and he replied:

My favorite song is “Hero” by the band Abandon. It is a song that not only sounds good, but has awesome lyrics as well. It presents Jesus as “The Hero/Savior to the world” for what he did.

I had never heard of this song before, or this artist, so I looked them up on You Tube and found the song James was referring to. Although I hate to admit it, I'm not as young as I used to be, and not all that "into" the music of today's youth. So, I wasn't too sure what to expect at first. I'm glad to report that I was pleasantly surprised.

Thankyou for sharing this song, James. It definitely DOES have good lyrics - and they are very important ones for us all to hear and believe.

"With love He gave His life, so we could be free.

The Savior of the world."

Is Jesus YOUR Hero?

Family Service Opportunities

2011-05-31T15:30:00.001-05:00

Are you looking for Summer getaway ideas for you and your family? Why not consider a short-term ministry opportunity? See below for two different organizations looking for volunteers.

Note: I know of one family who recently returned home from a trip to Voice of the Martyrs, and am looking forward to hearing about their experiences there. If she shares on her blog, I will be sure to direct you to it. In the meantime, read the descriptions below and, if you would like more information, click on the name of the organization to be directed to their volunteer page.

VOICE OF THE MARTYRS

Bartlesville, OK

Short-term volunteers (including families of various ages) work at the Operations Center doing various tasks. They fold, count, sort, stack, stuff, shrink wrap and sticker, just to name a few. This area is clean and climate controlled. Volunteers are seated while they work. There are a few other jobs that require standing and lifting. This is to be determined by the individual volunteer and the work schedule.

VOM does have furnished housing available to volunteers that work an average of 5 hours/day for every night in the VOM housing. The housing has all bed linens, a working kitchen, and living and dining areas. Housing is subject to availability.

~ ~ ~

BIBLE STUDY FELLOWSHIP INTERNATIONAL

San Antonio, TX

Staff and volunteers are responsible for the preparation, packing, and shipping of materials for class operation. Preparation involves filling orders and assembling materials, manuals and forms. All of these items, including the lessons, are packed and shipped to classes around the world.

Volunteers include anyone who is interested in participating in the ministry of BSF. Volunteers must be 13-years-old to serve in the Hertzler Press, and 16-years-old to serve in the kitchen. Teenagers must be accompanied by a parent or responsible adult.

· Volunteers may serve in the press from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday.

· Volunteers may serve for half days or whole days, depending on their schedules. Each day includes two (20-minute) breaks for rest and fellowship as well as a one-hour lunch break. First-time volunteers will be scheduled to take a tour of headquarters from 1-2 p.m.

· Please contact the volunteer coordinator at least one month in advance to schedule your visit.

Housing is available on campus for only $10-$15 per person per night, with certain other requirements. Others choose to find hotel rooms on their own off-campus, depending on schedules and other needs.

~ ~ ~

I would love to hear from anyone who has already volunteered at one of these places with your family, or if you know of any other great service opportunities that are not listed here! Please feel free to e-mail me: HERE　

Here to Help Each Other and Bear the Load (GUEST: Janice Luyster)

2011-05-28T10:58:00.000-05:00

Awhile ago, I sent out an e-mail to some of my friends and family, asking for testimonies or stories of how God has worked in their lives. I gave 5 options for them to choose from, and one of those options was to share about a specific time in their life when God sent someone to be an “angel” to them. Earlier this week, I shared a story from Charity Vanderhoof about how God delivered her husband from seizures. She had mentioned the “angels” that were sent to her and her husband to help them. Now, today, I have a short story from

Janice Luyster

Jan is a relative of my husband, David, and a friend to us both. She enjoys traveling, flower gardening, reading and photography. She is also active in her church in various positions, one of which is writing a monthly library news article for the church newsletter. Here is the story Jan wanted to share with you all.

A gal from church who, I didn't know too well at the time, was sent to me about three days before my husband passed away. She stopped in where I was working and said she would come over to my house the next evening and help me, and that way she would be able to meet my husband. When I got home from work the next evening, things weren't going well. I called her and told her that she might not want to come over. She said she still would, as she had helped to take care of her mother when she was ill and passed away. She came that evening and the next evening. The following evening, when she came over, he had passed away about an hour before. Since then I've called her my angel.

Thankyou for sharing, Jan! It is encouraging to see how God brings certain people into our lives to help us at just the right time. He definitely uses average, everyday people like us to do HIS work. Your “angel” is an example to all of us to keep our eyes and our hearts open to other’s needs, and be willing to reach out to them in their time of need. Here is a beautiful old hymn that speaks of us being a servant to one another, just as Christ has been a servant to us.

The Servant Song

by: Richard Gillard

Will you let me be your servant;

Let me be as Christ to you.

Pray that I might have the grace

To let you be my servant, too.

We are pilgrims on a journey,

We are trav’lers on the road.

We are here to help each other

Walk the mile and bear the load.

I will hold the Christ-light for you

In the night time of your fear.

I will hold my hand out to you;

Speak the peace you long to hear.

I will weep when you are weeping.

When you laugh, I'll laugh with you.

I will share your joy and sorrow,

'Til we've seen this journey through.

When we sing to God in heaven,

We shall find such harmony

Born of all we've known together

Of Christ's love and agony.

If anyone reading this has a story YOU would like to share, please e-mail me at: medicfam@frontier.com

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REVIEW: The Take Action Bible

2011-05-23T18:10:00.001-05:00

The Take Action Bible, published by Thomas Nelson Publishers, is a full-length Bible in New King James Version. The difference between this Bible and others is that it is interspersed with 48 full-color pages that include 15 true stories from real people. These stories give us examples of how to “take action” with God’s Word.

The theme of this Bible is: Together we can change the world.

You will “meet” people who have answered God’s call to GO, SERVE, GIVE, HEAL and TEACH. However, it is not insinuating that every Christian must be an overseas missionary. The idea is to help us understand that every Christian should be serving the Lord in some way. Even children can answer this call. In fact, there is a story included in this Bible that tells of 9-year-old girl who set up a lemonade stand to raise money for local flood victims. She raised $34, which is quite a lot for selling lemonade!

After each story also comes a Bible reference to look up. (How convenient to already be holding a Bible in your hand.) And, it also includes a couple of thought-provoking questions, as well as a place to write notes. Then, in the back of the Bible, there is also a list of 52 ways to “take action.” The reader is challenged to do at least one action per week, filling an entire year’s worth. A couple examples of these ideas is to (1) hold open a door for everyone you can during the week, or (2) volunteer at a soup kitchen. These could be considered small actions to some, but it could mean a world of difference to the receiver.

It’s definitely a neat little concept for a Bible and, in my opinion, would make a nice gift for a young graduate of High School or College. However, ANYONE could benefit from reading it.

You can find it on Amazon.com for around $11.00.

Disclosure: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
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GUEST: Charity Vanderhoof - Sharing About Her Husband's Deliverance From Seizures

2011-05-23T11:30:00.000-05:00

My friend, Charity, is the guest blogger for today. She is sharing how God sent some “angels” to help deliver her husband, Vic, from a severe seizure disorder. Thankyou for sharing this, Charity! It is wonderful to hear how God worked this situation out in your life!

~*~*~*~

On January 31, 2003, at 9:06pm, Vic and I had just gotten home from going out for pizza on a Friday night. Vic had his first grand mal seizure after a 23-year absence of them. We had only been in our apartment for 5 minutes. While Vic was driving home, just as we were getting off our exit, he complained about a ringing in his ears. Then after being home only a matter of minutes, Vic had the seizure. This was the first of many seizures and we learned the ringing of the ears came before seizures for Vic. He continued to have seizures for five years. It was like walking on eggshells. You never knew when the next seizure would come and you never knew what, if anything, would trigger one.

We lived through a lot during that time until, one day, by a set of circumstances I will not go over right now, we ended up with a different doctor. It turns out that my husband was a candidate for brain surgery. He had the surgery February 19, 2008, and Vic has been seizure free ever since. He also no longer takes medication. Furthermore, he had always had these unexplained “episodes.” It turns out those were undiagnosed petit mal seizures and Vic could not remember even one day of his life not having one of these episodes, prior to the surgery. These petit mal seizures are completely gone as well. To even further share the miracle of this, Vic had learning disabilities that reversed as he healed from surgery.

God sent a team of “angels” to us that absolutely revolutionized our lives when He led us to Dr. Kahlil, Dr. Roof, and Dr. Niemat. We had no quality of life, and had no hope of a quality of life. But, then, the Lord delivered us from our situation. This past December, Vanderbilt (where the surgery took place) used Vic as an example of a changed life from this type of surgery. At that time we figured up some of his statistics. On average, Vic had 3 violent grand mal seizures per week for a period of five years. He also had daily petit mal seizures since infancy. To God be all the Glory that Vic, and our entire family, has been delivered from these seizures.

~*~*~*~

You can read more from Charity over at her own blog:

VANDERHOOF HOUSE

Investing Your Time As A Wife

2011-05-17T22:18:00.002-05:00

When you want to improve upon something, or even just maintain the level of strength you currently have in a specific area, it takes a commitment and an investment of your time to do so. Wouldn’t you agree? Well, one of the BEST investments of a wife’s time is to work at strengthening her marriage.

“But, what about HIM?” you might ask. “Why doesn’t HE just do what I want, then we will get along just fine!”

I once read an article by Lorrie Flem of Eternal Encouragement Magazine that said something like, “Don’t focus on your husband’s part in the marriage, and what he is or isn’t doing. Instead, just focus on YOUR part as a wife, and ask God to help you be the kind of wife He wants you to be.” That’s hard to do at times, isn’t it?

Well, this month’s GABBY MOMS product review can help you to invest your time wisely in your marriage. It’s a “marriage bundle” from Lorrie Flem called, "Marriage - To Have and To Hold," and it includes:

31 Prayers for Husbands
Marriage quotes from well-known names
75 Inexpensive Romantic Rut Cures, by Lorrie Flem
Several other e-books on marriage
short stories and reports
Magazine articles
MP3 audios
and, lots more...

When I was sent this month’s review material, I was not especially thrilled. The zip file I received was loaded - and I mean LOADED - with at least 15 PDF documents and 2 MP3 files. I thought, “My goodness.... how in the world am I going to get through all of this material in time to write my next review?!” And, to be completely honest with you, I STILL did not completely get through it all. There was just wayyyy too much material for me to read in just a few short weeks. However, what I WAS able to get through was definitely good stuff! I can assure you that I will be investing some more of my time to continue reading the rest of the bundle.

In “75 Inexpensive Romantic Rut Cures,” Lorrie said, “Next to your relationship with God, your mate should be your number one priority.” I encourage you to take a moment and do a check-up on your priorities. Are you doing YOUR best at keeping your marriage alive and healthy? If not, then this MARRIAGE BUNDLE might just be the thing you are looking for!

Disclaimer: I received The Marriage Bundle as an official member of The Gabby Moms blogging program for Eternal Encouragement Magazine. I did not receive compensation for this post and all opinions are solely my own You can find the Marriage Bundle, and many other great resources at: http://www.eternalencouragement.com/

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BOOK REVIEW: The Whole Bible Story

2011-05-14T22:27:00.000-05:00

When I first saw “The Whole Bible Story,” by Dr. William H. Marty, listed as one of my review choices from Bethany House, I was really excited about reading it. For one, the author was one of my professors while I attended Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. I enjoyed the class he taught: Survey of the New Testament. Dr. Marty always had a way about him that made learning the facts of the Newt Testament interesting. So, I was really curious to see what this book was like.

The other reason I wanted to read the book was because it sounded like something I would enjoy reading... and, I was right! This book is considered to be “a Bible story for grown-ups.” It is not a translation of the Bible, and it is not a paraphrase of the Bible’s 66 books. It simply tells the story of the Bible, as if someone was just talking to you and giving a narration. It is meant to be used as a tool alongside the Bible, to help readers better understand what they are reading. It would be great to give to a new Christian who doesn’t really know anything about the Bible, or to someone who is curious. But, it is also good for anyone to read who desires a better understanding of the stories that happen in the Bible.

You can read more about the book, and see a preview, by clicking here:
THE WHOLE BIBLE STORY

Disclosure: I received this book free for review from Bethany House Publishers. The opinions I have expressed are my own. If you have a blog of your own, and are interested in receiving review copies from Bethany House, here is a link where you can sign up: www.bethanyhouse.com/bookreviewers
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His Presence Brings Rest

2011-05-11T14:45:00.001-05:00

It was awhile ago when I first read this verse...

Exodus 33:14 -
And He said, "My presence shall go {with you,}
and I will give you rest." (NAS)

I liked this verse, because of its comforting tone to it, and decided to ask a few friends what it means to them. Here are some of the comments I received:

Patricia Rod:
Before [my] acceptance and surrendering of all to Jesus, missionaries would come to visit and I saw radiant faces and smiles and quiet loving spirits. I wondered what caused that and could I learn of it.

God said, "I will make all my GOODNESS pass before you. However He said NO man may see Me and live. Moses was able to see God’s lingering image after He passed by, and even that caused Moses’ facial skin to shine with God's passing Light. WE shine because of God's promise of His "presence" to go with us.

Daneille Snowden:
I love the pronoun "He" here. He is My God, my Father - who is indeed omnipresent (everywhere)! Sometimes, I am in places not just physically but emotionally that seem so dark and lonely. Yet, there is that peace in the midst of the dark storms knowing HE SAID He is with us, and with Him the storms do cease - mostly in our spirits (where it really matters anyway). When God says it, like many a preacher has said, "that settles it!"

Mary Lee:
It seems to me that God agreed to go with [the Israelites] and not only to do that, but in His mercy and wisdom to give them rest also (which I take to mean defeat of their enemies).

James McIntosh:
It seems that the God and Creator of this world was telling His chosen people to relax in Him and that He would help them and take care of them. He only wants them to choose to follow, no matter how bad things would look or become.

Overall, the focus of this verse is primarily on two important words: presence and rest.

PRESENCE: The state or fact of being present, as with others or in a place. If someone is present, that means he is right here, right now, able to be communicated with in some way.

REST: to settle your mind, put you at ease, give you comfort.

When GOD is present in our lives, HE gives us his love, companionship, comfort, & support. This is what brings peace and rest to our souls - just knowing He is there to help us and carry us when the going gets tough.

Here is a video about resting in His presence that you may appreciate...

CHERYL'S STORY: You Deserve A Break Today

2011-05-09T12:43:00.001-05:00

I had the privilege of reading this STORY last week on the blog of MANY HATS MOMMY (a.k.a. Jenny). I asked permission to share it with you, as I feel it is a good reminder to us all to be more open to the Lord’s prompting, and to try to understand how another person might be feeling in a difficult situation.

This true story is about a mom named Cheryl and her two boys on the autism spectrum. The oldest has Aspergers, the younger was severely damaged by vaccines and also has cerebral palsy. It took place about 14 years ago when Cheryl was two hours from home, dealing with her boys after a big disappointment. Her son, Eric, was 11 years old at the time. Her son, John, was 4.

The story is a bit longer than my usual posts, but it will definitely keep your interest! So, PLEASE.... take the time to read it! You won’t regret it...

You Deserve a Break Today

I walked out to the van where the boys were waiting with news about meeting Dad. Rain started to fall making a cold day even colder and my spirits as damp as the day. I knew Eric would be disappointed that his Dad was not joining us, and I was not looking forward to handling John alone in a strange place where nobody knew us. At least at home, even though people didn’t understand, they had grown familiar with seeing us around town. People who worked in the local restaurants knew us and had compassion.

I drove around looking at the layout of fast food restaurants. I knew I needed a place with a back door where I could come and go without John having to pass a crowd of people. I knew I needed to be in the back left alone to cope with John and not be bothered or bother others.

A McDonald’s fit our needs perfectly. Eric was not happy as his Dad had promised we would eat at Back Yard Burgers, but I knew that was not a place where I could slip in and out with John. I promised Eric he could still go there when we picked up his Dad and the two of them could go together. For now, I needed to feed John and pass some time

I went through the drive thru and placed our order, two happy meals, extra order of fries, nothing for me. My job was to hold and feed John.

“I thought we were going to go out to eat but inside!” Eric said as I pulled into the drive thru.

“We are, it’s just I can’t hold John, carry a tray of food, juggle paying and all, so this works best. We will circle the building, and go in that back door, sit down and eat. If we need something, we will be inside.” I spoke as I dug for change to pay the lady at the window.

This plan worked well for a few minutes. I managed to get both boys in and the food in one trip and find a table in the far back. To help John cope with the noise, lights, and general atmosphere, I placed him in my lap backwards so that his face was facing mine.

Eric sat across from us and kindly opened both Happy Meals and placed John’s fries and chicken nuggets in a location that was easy for me to reach.

Rain pelted the glass window beside us and I leaned back in the bench and breathed a sigh of relief. John was quiet, and eating one fry after another. Eric was happy talking endlessly about a book he had been reading and ideas he had. I felt normal and happy for a few minutes, like a normal Mom out with her kids.

I relaxed and looked around and then back down at John’s sweet face. I looked back at a happy Eric and thought to myself, this must be what it is like to be a Mom with normal kids out to enjoy the day.

It didn’t last long, our perfect world shattered when John ate his last French fry.

I tried to switch to chicken nuggets and he was having no part of it. He tossed his head backward and slammed it forward into my chest. His blow knocked the breath out of me, and the next sound I heard was John’s ear piercing scream as his head went back a second time.

“Fries, hand me fries NOW!” I said as I struggled to hold John back from falling back into me a second time.

“MOM, gosh, they are MINE! You said I could have extra! Make him eat his chicken, I ate mine,” Eric said as he handed me one fry.

“So help me son, this is not the time or place to argue over fries, I’ll get you more in the drive thru. But now I can’t move, and I have to keep John quiet in a public place. Come on, hand them over. Once he is quiet and no longer stiff, I can move and we will leave.”

John grew quiet and turned around in my lap once the fries were within reach. For a minute, things went back to happy. So happy, I grew confident that I could make a mad dash to the counter for more fries and maybe even a sandwich for myself. “Do you want to go order some fries?” I asked Eric.

“No, I can stay with John. We will be okay. He is happy, and I can feed him. You go get what you want.” Eric said as he reached for a fry to hand John.

I weighed the situation for a minute. It was a straight shot to the counter and back. If I timed it where there was nobody at the register, I might just pull it off. I stood up and stood beside the table. Eric’s plan was working; he was handing John one fry at a time, and John was taking them from him and eating slowly. I looked over my shoulder at the counter; the last customer was walking away.

I held my breath and started walking backward, eyes glued to the table, when I was about seven steps from the counter; I turned around and turned my back on the boys for the first time. No screaming. This was going to work! I was actually going to walk up to a fast-food counter and place an order alone!

My heart was beating fast, and I found it hard to breathe. Yes, I am a normal Mom. I can order food and pay for it and wait for and carry it……

I turned quickly when Eric yelled, “I can’t hold him!”

John had slid out of the seat and was on the floor. He looked like a puddle of jello, he was so limp. Eric was reaching under the table trying to catch John who was strangely quiet, but moving. John stood up and headed straight toward me. I leaned down and spread my arms to catch him, when out of nowhere, John reached up onto a table and pulled down a cheeseburger, took one bite and dropped it to the floor, all this without stopping and still headed right into my arms. I was horrified as the burger rolled across the floor. Now I knew why John had screamed at the chicken nuggets, he had wanted a cheeseburger.

The burger belonged to a well-dressed business man who had a news paper spread out on the table and was sipping coffee. Out of the corner of my eye I had seen him unwrap the burger when I was walking backward.

“I am so very sorry, I’ll pay for it.” I said breathlessly as I walked back to where the man was sitting. To my surprise, he was laughing, big hard fully blown belly laugh and shaking his head no. When he finally caught his breath, he reached up and touched my arm.

“I am sorry, I am not laughing at you or your son. It’s just he was so quick, and caught me off-guard, it’s nothing, really, I don’t want you do buy me one or pay for that one. I didn’t need it, I just bought it to have, my wife will be thrilled I didn’t eat it. You have your hands full, let it go. It made my day, I was stressed at work and came here for a break, and boy did I need to laugh. Thank you for making my day.”

He stood up and began to clean up his area. “Go on now, it’s okay, really, I need to get back to the office, and you, you need to get back to your son.” He smiled at John and chuckled again as he walked over to a trash can.

I slipped back into the booth with John in tow. I was embarrassed for having left John for a minute, and yet, knew if I had picked him up to carry with me to the counter, he would have screamed violently. It was a no-win when it came to trying to know what to do or not to do when you had to navigate the public with John.

“Mom, what about the fries?” Eric asked.

“You have got to be kidding me. Let’s just finish up. You eat John’s nuggets and we will do the drive-thru. We got off lucky, don’t press your luck son.” I said as I hugged John close.

I looked out at the rain and listened to John hum and thought about how lucky I had been that the man had been so understanding. Suddenly the silence of my thoughts was interrupted by an employee holding a tray full of food.

“Your order.” She said as she sat it down on the table.

“NO, NO, NO, not mine, quick before my son gets that!” I said to her.

She put her hand on her hip and looked a bit out done. “Listen lady, you are the only Mom with two boys back here. Now this is yours.”

“But I didn’t order it. I didn’t pay for it.” I argued as John reached for the tray and began to slap the food.

“Yea, I know. That man did, that guy in the suit. He said to tell ya, thanks for the laugh, and take time for yourself to eat, does that mean anything to ya?” She said as she started to walk off.

I bowed my head and whispered to nobody in particular, “Yes, it means the world to me.” This stranger, who had been watching us, saw I was not eating and had bought my lunch.

The tray contained two cheeseburgers, a coke, large order of fries and ice cream for us all. In one minute my faith in humanity was restored and I knew that no matter how hard the days, God had everyday angels watching over us. The rest of the day went smooth just because I knew, someone did care.

~Cheryl

Thankyou, Jenny and Cheryl, for allowing me to share this story. We may never know what a small act of kindness did for someone, but the receiver will remember it forever. .
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BOOK REVIEW: God Gave Us Two

2011-05-02T12:30:00.000-05:00

I recently had the opportunity to review another one of Lisa Tawn Bergren’s books for children. It’s called, “God Gave Us Two.” I love these books, with their sweet, colorful illustrations of a polar bear family. This particular one isn’t my most favorite, but it definitely has a special purpose. It is about Mama polar bear being “with child,” and addresses the questions that Little cub comes up with:

~Why do you need a new baby?

~If we don’t like the baby, can we send it back?

~Will she go iceberg hoppin’ and puffin pouncin’ with me?

~Will the new baby look like me?

~Will you forget about me?

All of these are questions that a young child might ask when mommy is expecting number 2. It is a good book to share with little ones to help them accept, love and appreciate their new siblings.

You can find a hardcover edition of this book on Amazon.com for $9.99.

Disclaimer: Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

My Life Verse

2011-04-27T13:20:00.002-05:00

Some of you may be wondering, "What is a life verse?" So, let me answer that question...

A life verse is a specific verse in the Bible that holds a significant meaning to you. Maybe it defines your life in some way, gives you inspiration, or just plain speaks to you in a way that no other verse does.

MY life verse is written at the top of this blog: Isaiah 41:13.

I don't remember exactly when I came across this verse, but I know I was in my teenage years (probably around age 15 or 16). It definitely spoke to me in a way that no other verse has. It gave me inspiration at that time, and continues to do so today.

To give you a little better idea of how this verse has helped me throughout the years, I added a new tab at the top titled MY TESTIMONY. Go there now to check it out!

NOTE: Comments will not be able to published under the "testimony" tab. But, feel free to come back and leave a comment here below THIS post.

Now, here's an assignment for you... think about your own life. What one verse (or series of verses) could you call YOUR life verse? Write it down.

Go a step further and take some time to write (or type) out your story (or testimony) around this verse, and explain why it means so much to you.

Then, if you feel led, share it with me in an E-MAIL! I'd love to hear how God's Word has been an inspiration in your life. I might even be inclined to feature you as a guest blogger! You don't have to have perfect spelling, or perfect grammar. The important thing is to just write out your thoughts and make them known. Like Linda Thomas said in my previous post, "Your stories are part of God's stories, and God's stories are part of your stories." So, take some time to share them with others!
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GUEST BLOGGER: Linda Thomas - Spiritual Memoirs 101

2011-04-25T12:31:00.000-05:00

Not too long ago, I "met" Linda Thomas through The Faithful Bloggers. Linda previously served as a Teaching Leader with Bible Study Fellowship International. She and her husband, Dave, also worked with Wycliffe Bible Translators for three years in South America and eight years in Africa. In 2010, Linda published "Grandma's Letters from Africa," which is a memoir about her first four years in Africa. Then, only a couple of weeks ago, I got in on the ground breaking of her newest project about Spiritual memoirs. Just to clarify - a memoir is not the same thing as a journal or a diary. A journal is private, but a memoir is something that is meant to be shared.

Linda graciously agreed to write a post for my blog about this project. I really wanted to let you all know about it, as I think its a really great idea. This is a project that ANYONE can take part in, in the comfort of your own home, whether you are a parent, grandparent, aunt/uncle, or special friend to a child. And, if you can write a letter, then YOU can do this project. Thanks so much, Linda! I am excited to be a part of this project...

A Rhema Moment
By: Linda Thomas

About ten years ago while reading Deuteronomy 4, I had a rhema moment - an instant when "a word in Scripture zings you," as Priscilla Shirer describes it. It's a flash of "Aha!" when God gives extra significance to a Bible passage and you know He is speaking to you.

Deuteronomy 4:9 tells us to remember what we've seen God do for us and to be sure to tell our children and grandchildren. I had read that verse many times before but that day I had a rhema moment. That verse took on new meaning and urgency. I knew I had to do something about it.

At that time, I wasn't even sure what a memoir was but soon discovered memoir is a perfect format for telling kids and grandkids what God has done. A couple of years later, I started teaching memoir classes, first in Washington State, and now in Missouri. And now, for several reasons, the time is right to begin my new blog, SPIRITUAL MEMOIRS 101.

About the blog...

Spiritual Memoirs 101 is about inspiration and celebration, with a focus on Deuteronomy 4:9, "Always remember the things you've seen God do for you, and be sure to tell your children and grandchildren!"

Inspiration is one of my favorite words. I pray that within this blog, you'll find inspiration.

What words come to mind when you think of inspiration?

I think of infusing with enthusiasm, encouragement, passion, gusto, and eagerness.

Week by week, we will examine the art and craft of memoir and, as we do, my heart's desire is that you'll receive inspiration to write and write and write and write.

Celebration is another of my favorite words. It conjures up images of cheering, praising, and applauding. I pray that within and beyond this blog, you'll participate in a celebration - ultimately a celebration of God in all His goodness, faithfulness, holiness, and splendor.

May God help us remember all we've seen Him do for us, and with us - and even in spite of us.

May He give us a longing to write those stories for our children, grandchildren, and "spiritual" children as well - precious people God has brought into our lives whether we share DNA or not.

Your stories are part of God's stories,

and God's stories are part of your stories.

People need to hear those stories. Believe it!

Get ready to write!

~*~*~*~*~

Linda writes for her blog on a weekly basis, and you can follow along at: SPIRITUAL MEMOIRS 101 where she will be teaching us more about Spiritual memoirs and giving assignments to help get us started. For example, the first assignment was to start a list of things you’ve seen God do for you and add to it throughout the week.

You can also follow her along on Facebook: HERE.

And, if you would like to read more about her book, "Grandma’s Letters from Africa," you can follow her on this blog: GRANDMA’S LETTERS FROM AFRICA.

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Death, Burial & Resurrection - Group Writing Project

2011-04-22T14:34:00.000-05:00

A couple of months ago, I became a member of FAITHFUL BLOGGERS, a community for Christian bloggers. The purpose of this group is to provide a common ground where we can encourage one another to use our blogs for God's glory.

At the beginning of this month, several of us in the group stepped up to write a blog specifically about the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord. Each blogger wrote a personal testimony, a devotional, or a Bible study of some sort.

Now, thanks to Courtney (the owner of Faithul Bloggers), 15 of these blogs have been compiled into a FREE PDF download of 37 pages. It is my pleasure to share this download with you now. All you have to do is click on the book cover below. You can, then, save it to your computer and read it on screen, or print it out to read at your leisure.

ENJOY!

Eternal Encouragement Magazine

2011-04-18T22:32:00.000-05:00

On Tuesday afternoons, I get the opportunity to sit and read for about 40 minutes as I wait for my daughter’s Speech Therapy class to get done. My 8yo son and I will usually sit in the upper part of the High School gymnasium where, on some days, I will read him a book or two, giving him a little extra one-on-one time with mom. Other days, when he is more intrigued with watching the High School boys during gym class, or would rather just play with his toys, I will read something just for me... something that is usually encouraging, inspiring, or informational... and will conveniently fit into the front pocket of my purse. To name a few titles that have automatically found a home tucked between my checkbook and my wallet, I remember having a Guideposts magazine to read, as well as one from Remedy. Both of these magazines are just the right size for a carry-along bag or purse. More recently, I have been reading Eternal Encouragement. It is also a small, take-along size, and it just so happens to be this month’s Gabby Mom’s review.

Let me tell you, if any of you moms out there are looking for an inspiring magazine to subscribe to, this would be the one! I don’t say that lightly. I’ve read my share of some great magazines in the past - some for parenting, cooking, homemaking, homeschooling, Christian living, health, etc.; and, to be quite honest, I really didn’t think Eternal Encouragement would be overwhelmingly impressive to me at first. However, as I began to read the articles (this issue’s theme was “Time Flies”), I didn’t read just one or two encouraging... or helpful... or convicting articles. I’d say at least 3/4 of the magazine really spoke to me in a way that no other magazine ever has.

To be fair, there’s a chance that this issue’s theme just really hit home to me, as I’ve certainly been struggling with how I spend my time and how some of it could be spent in better ways. I can see how the Lord has so lovingly and patiently been speaking to me in numerous ways over the past few months about how my days are numbered... about how my children are growing up so quickly... about how much time is wasted in a day doing things that should be at the bottom of my list rather than the top. I know it wasn’t a coincidence that all of these things, and more, were discussed in various articles in this issue of the magazine, solidifying that I need to be faithful in prioritizing every activity of every day.

So, granted, I only have this one issue to go off of. But, after reading this one issue, I am totally curious to know what the next issue will entail.

FYI: Eternal Encouragement is a magazine “that will help you with your God-assigned tasks as a wife and mother by:”

Encouraging you with wisely spoken words.
Convicting your heart as He refines you into His image.
Challenging you to continue to strive for improvement.
Touching your spirit with heart-warming stories.
Entertaining you through life-learning lessons.
Inspire you to immerse yourself in the holy promises that are yours.

Go here to subscribe for $25.97 per year, plus receive a FREE gift:

http://www.subscribe.eternalencouragement.com/

Disclaimer:
. I reviewed Eternal Encouragement Magazine as an official member of The Gabby Moms blogging program. I did not receive compensation for this post and all opinions are solely my own.

The Velveteen Bible - Review and GIVE-A-WAY!!!!

2011-04-09T09:44:00.000-05:00

Now that we have our computer back, I can finally tell you about a new keepsake Bible I was given the chance to look over.... and give YOU a chance to win it!

I think almost everyone has at least heard of the popular classic children’s book “The Velveteen Rabbit.” Well, now here’s The Velveteen Bible. This is a complete copy of the NKJV Bible, enclosed in a sweet little keepsake box, and designed to be given as a gift to young ones. It has several pages at the beginning that allow the Bible to be personalized by the giver.

The cover of the Bible has the words “Holy Bible” written in pastel colors, and a brown & white rabbit that feels velvety to the touch. The designs encompassing the rabbit are also raised with a velvety feel to them, making it appealing to little fingers. There are also several colorful illustrations mixed among the traditional black & white pages, sure to be a delight to the eyes of a child.

While this is not a Bible with easy words for children to read on their own, it would make a cute gift for a baby shower, baby dedication, baptism, 1st birthday, or any other special occasion for young children. It would even be a sweet gift for Easter morning, which is coming up very soon!

With that in mind, I have decided to have a drawing to give this Bible away, as I don’t really have a need for it. My babies are.... well... no longer babies (Sniff, sniff....my how the time flies. One of my friends’ little ones spontaneously snuggled up in my lap for a few minutes on Friday and, oh.... I was in heaven.) So, anyway, if you are interested in participating in the drawing for this Bible, just do one of two things. Either comment below and be sure to include your e-mail address, or send me an e-mail: HERE. I will collect names through Friday, April 15th, draw a name on Saturday, and get it in the mail to the winner - hopefully arriving in time for Easter!

One entry per person.

Disclosure: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Who Has Influenced You the Most in your Spiritual Journey?

2011-04-06T10:50:00.000-05:00

Yes, I'm still alive. I have been without our desk computer for the past week and haven't been able to write much. It's been a nice break, actually, but I started having writing withdrawal yesterday afternoon. I have been periodically checking e-mail on my husband's laptop. However, it is difficult to write on my blog without having the computer I normally use. I'm not really sure when we will get the computer back so, today, since the kids and I are having an easy school week (a much needed little Spring Break), I decided I would go ahead and write something, regardless....

Today's topic was suggested to me by a group called The Faithful Bloggers. The question is...

Who has influenced you the most in

your Spiritual journey?

Well, that one, for me, is easy - my parents! They both grew up in Christian homes and had good examples from their own parents, thus passing it along to me and my siblings. At a young preschool age, I can remember my parents being area directors for CEF (Child Evangelism Fellowship). So, from the earliest time I can remember, I have been hearing about events that happened in the Bible. Most will call them Bible Stories, but they are not really "stories" like we would read in a picture book. They are true events that happened - a part of history. Obviously, many in this world will disagree with me on that and explain the Bible away as "stories" or myths. I feel sorry for those people, as they are truly missing out on knowing God in a real and meaningful way. My parents taught me, by their example, that the Bible is true; and that God's love for us is real.

At the young age of 4, my mother was teaching a children's Bible class (called a Good News Club) to some children in the basement of our home. I was included in these clubs, and it was during one of them that the Lord got ahold of my heart. At that young age of 4, I understood who Jesus was. I understood that I am a sinner in need of a Savior (Romans 3:23). I understood that Jesus died on a cross for my sins. I understood that asking Jesus to forgive my sins and to be a part of my life forever made me a new person, as well as someone who would have eternal life in heaven (John 3:16).

THAT was the beginning of my spiritual journey, but it didn't end there. My parents are not perfect, but they continued to faithfully teach me and my brother and sister about Spiritual matters. They not only helped to bring me to a saving faith in Jesus, they discipled me and helped me to understand that faith in Jesus is only the beginning of our service to Him. Anyone can believe in Jesus, but it doesn't really mean a thing if you're not willing to live for Him.

There IS more to my story, but I think I'll stop here for now. My hope is that my story never comes to an end as long as I am here on this earth. It is my desire to serve the Lord with gladness all the days of my life. And, I have my parents to THANK for their example.

Thankyou, Mom & Dad, for caring enough to teach me about God's Word, to tell me the truth of Salvation through Jesus Christ alone, to disciple me in my Christian walk, and for your continual love, encouragement, support, and example. Because of you, I am who I am today.

So, now, it's your turn? Who has influenced YOU the most for the Lord? Tell me about it below, or in an e-mail. I'd really LOVE to hear from you!

God is good.....
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Before the Throne of God Above

2011-03-26T17:02:00.001-05:00

Before the Throne of God Above is an old hymn written by Charitie L. Bancroft in 1863.

The words to this hymn can be a bit difficult to understand at first; but, if you really look at them, you can see the Biblical truth that lies behind them, and really recognize the depth of our Savior's love for us. Its a truly great hymn to focus on as we enter the Easter season and remember the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord...

Before the throne of God above

I have a strong and perfect plea.

A great high Priest whose Name is Love

Who ever lives and pleads for me.

My name is graven on His hands,

My name is written on His heart.

I know that while in Heaven He stands

No tongue can bid me thence depart.

When Satan tempts me to despair

And tells me of the guilt within,

Upward I look and see Him there

Who made an end of all my sin.

Because the sinless Savior died

My sinful soul is counted free.
For God the just is satisfied

To look on Him and pardon me.

Behold Him there the risen Lamb,

My perfect spotless righteousness,

The great unchangeable I AM,

The King of glory and of grace,

One in Himself I cannot die.
My soul is purchased by His blood,

My life is hid with Christ on high,

With Christ my Savior and my God!

Several different tunes have been used for this hymn, one of which is the same tune as “Sweet Hour of Prayer” composed by William Bradbury. But, a more modern tune was written by Vikki Cook to be used in worship services everywhere. The hymn has been recorded with this new tune by numerous artists, including GLAD, Selah, and Go Fish. Here is the Go Fish version....

Beautiful song, isn't it? I wanted to know more about the meaning behind this hymn, so as I was searching online, I found a blog by Charles Bumgardner, a professor at Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Plymouth, MN. He has written an extensive article around the Biblical meanings of this hymn, and you can read it for yourself by clicking on this link here: ORCHARD KEEPER
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"Super Shots" of Encouragement for Moms

2011-03-24T15:10:00.000-05:00

I’m not feeling very creative at the moment, and am actually feeling rather “blah.” There’s lots of sickness going around in our area, so I’m hoping I’m not coming down with something. But, more than likely, its just the gray skies that are causing my need for a “shot” of encouragement.

Did you know there are many different definitions for the word “shot?”

As an adjective, it can mean worn out, tired, or weary. For example, “I worked in the yard all day and I’m shot!”

As a verb, it is the past tense of the word shoot: “He shot the gun.”

As a noun, it can be a bullet launch from a gun: “The shot was heard from across the lake.”

It can also be the heavy iron ball used in a shot put sport.
It can be a vaccination or injection.
It can be a sequence of film exposures.
It can be a new opportunity: “Can I have just one more shot?”
It can be the act of launching a ball in a game: “He took the last shot.”
It can be a measure of alcohol.
It can be a chance: "It’s a shot in the dark."
It can be a remark or comment: “That was a dirty shot.”

There are many meanings for that one little word! So, what does it mean to need a “shot” of encouragement? I think the definition of a new opportunity probably fits best. A new opportunity is most often used in the context of someone getting a chance for advancement, progress or profit. I know for a fact that I could profit from having a new outlook on my gloomy day.

That brings me to this month’s Gabby Moms review of “The Encouraging Mom.” It is a new membership program through Eternal Encouragement Magazine that gives a monthly “SUPER SHOT” of encouragement regarding specific needs of moms. Each month, a new topic is covered, giving practical ideas that help moms to "profit" from encouragement by strengthening their marriages, and becoming the kind of mothers that would make Jesus smile. Topics include things like: Kids that Clean, Words You Won’t Have to Eat, Preventing Parenting Pits, and so on.... Each topic is delivered straight to your e-mail inbox, and includes at least 4 different products (e-books, audio downloads, and video clips) that will give you the “shot” of encouragement you are needing.

I was personally given the chance to look over the “Kids that Clean” Super Shot, and was pleased with what I saw. It included:

1. A 10-page e-book with 9 easy steps that teach your kids how to clean the bathroom. I really appreciated this little booklet because cleaning the bathrooms is something I really hate to do, and it doesn’t help that there are THREE of them to clean in our house! But, I guess I always figured the kids were too young (or not coordinated enough) to learn how to clean it properly. This booklet helped me to see that is not the case.

2. An 8-page e-book with 10 steps for cleaning a messy kitchen. Step one isn’t what you might think, though. The first step is to set the timer for 20 minutes! Interesting.... why would we need to set a timer to clean a kitchen? Because kids (and even some adults) love a challenge. The idea is to see how quickly you can get the kitchen cleaned up (efficiently, of course!) before the time runs out. The booklet also includes some helpful tips for KEEPING the kitchen clean.

3. A short, 5-page e-book with 10 habits for a clean house. I’m sure most moms have seen this phrase before: “Cleaning the house while children are growing is like shoveling the walk while it’s still snowing.” Well, Lorrie Flem disagrees with this statement. With her having 8 children, I can imagine how much mess there could potentially be in their house; And, Lorrie could have very easily used the above phrase as an excuse NOT to clean. But, she says there is a difference between showing your kids how to clean the house, and showing them how to KEEP it clean. It’s a matter of teaching good habits, having routines, and simplifying your life.

4. A video clip about getting your day going each morning by having each child (and yourself) complete one chore before breakfast. Lorrie has since informed us moms that the video clips we saw in our sample of the Super Shots were only meant to give us an idea of what the program will entail. The actual videos that will go with each Super Shot will be in the form of a “mini-workshop” and will be exclusive to this membership program.

The launch date for this program is not certain, but is expected to be up and running sometime prior to April 1st. So, just keep a watch out for it on the Eternal Encouragement website.

What’s the cost? $7.97 per month will give each member one Super Shot (four products) on a specific topic. However, anyone who subscribes before April 1, 2011 will be a charter member and their monthly price will be only $6.97 a month. Charter members will be grandfathered in so that, as long as they are a member, their monthly fee will remain at just $6.97 per month.

Disclaimer: I reviewed "The Encouraging Mom" membership program as an official member of The Gabby Moms blogging program for Eternal Encouragement magazine. I did not receive compensation for this post and all opinions are solely my own.

Communion Book GIVE-A-WAY!

2011-03-15T15:04:00.000-05:00

Easter (a.k.a. Resurrection Sunday) is less than 6 weeks away. So, I wanted to take this opportunity to put a plug in for my book,

"What is Communion?"

The book isn't directly written about "Easter," but it does specifically talk about the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord - which is the basis for celebrating The Lord's Supper in the first place.

It is written in easy language for kids to understand, and many adults could learn from it as well. Could make a really great Easter gift for someone special.

I am currently running an EASTER SPECIAL, limited to the first 20 books, for those who are interested in purchasing a signed copy between now and the end of April. Please head on over to the "What is Communion?" BLOG to see the details of the special.

~*~*~*~*~

Also, for those interested, I will GIVE AWAY one book via a drawing.

Do at least ONE of the following BY THE FIRST DAY OF SPRING (Sunday, March 20th) to have your name entered in the drawing:

Comment on this post with a favorite Easter memory.
If you are unable to post a comment below, please feel free to e-mail me at: VICKY'S E-MAIL
Share this post on your Facebook page, and let me know about it.
Tweet about it on your Twitter page, and let me know about it.
Share it on your own blog and send me the link to it.

You are welcome to do more than one of the above, however, only TWO entries per person will be accepted.

Thanks, All....
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The Love of God

2011-03-09T13:26:00.000-06:00

I really like this song that talks about the love of God....

Sin entered the world through Adam and Eve, but God provided a way for us to still have a relationship with Him. He gave His only Son to DIE for us. The kind of love that comes with that is immeasurable.

If the ocean was filled with ink, the sky was made of parchment, every corn stalk or tree was a quilled pen, and EVERY man was a writer, writing about the love of God would drain the ocean dry and there would still not be enough we could say about it.

The love of God is so rich and pure. It will remain forever and ever and ever.....

Thankyou, Lord, for you love for us!

Question of the Week for MOMS

2011-03-08T12:34:00.000-06:00

Guess what? My PREVIOUS POST, the one where I talked about Encouraging Moments Newsletter, was given recognition as one of top 3 posts for the February Gabby Moms mission! Pretty cool, huh? I ended up with a $15.00 gift card to spend on Amazon.com. I've got a few things in mind that I need to get, so I'll be going "shopping" on there pretty soon.

When you get a moment to spare, I recommend popping in on the other two February winners to have a look at their posts. They are both excellent and deserve the recognition they received:

DUCKETT DUCKETT GOOSE

GRANOLA MOM 4 GOD

Speaking of The Gabby Moms, starting this week they are introducing a new feature on their site called Question of the Week. Each week, a new question will be posted and the best answer will win some sort of prize! The winners in MARCH will receive a $5 Gift Card to Starbucks!

So, if you are a Mom (not just a Gabby Mom, but ANY mom living in the U.S. or Canada), head on over to the Gabby Moms site right now to answer this week's question:

What is the number one thing you do to refresh yourself, your kids and your homeschool mid-year?

Be sure to leave your e-mail address, so they can get a hold of you if you win!

Have fun!

http://www.thegabbymoms.com/

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"Encouraging Moments" is a Keeper

2011-02-23T14:53:00.000-06:00

The story begins at our church Valentine’s Dinner...

After enjoying a nice catered meal, several couples in the church were chosen to play the “newlywed” game (even though the majority of them had been married for 10 years or more). Since my husband and I had been chosen last year, we knew we were “safe” and looked forward to being in the peanut gallery this time around.

As the questions were asked, David and I would occasionally look at each other and quietly answer the questions amongst ourselves, just to see how accurate we would have been. We were doing pretty good, for the most part, but then it happened - two questions were asked that basically ruined the rest of my night...

A question for the men: “What class would you be most likely to send your wife to?
driving class
housekeeping class
cooking class
I was immediately thinking David would say “driving class,” seeing as how I am horrible at directions and feel very uncomfortable driving long distances by myself; but, to my surprise, he said “housekeeping class.”

What?! I admit I’m not the BEST housekeeper in the world, especially with 2 kids, 2 cats, and 1 husband to pick up after; not to mention how my time is eaten up with homeschooling, running errands, and planning and cooking meals. Sure, I have a hard time keeping the house dusted, the bathrooms cleaned, and there always seems to be a load of unfolded laundry sitting in the way somewhere. But, really..... it could be MUCH worse! At least my house is organized and I can usually find something if I need it. (Needless to say, I guess I kind of took offense.)

Then, the next question came. I don’t remember the exact wording, but I remember it had something to do with ways the wives irritate the husbands. Because of the answer David gave to the last question, I figured he would say it was the unfolded laundry basket sitting in the hallway. Instead, he air-typed on an imaginary keyboard and mouthed the word, “computer.”

Again came the, “What?!” I admit I am on the computer probably more than I should be. But, golly, why doesn’t he just understand that I NEED the computer. I NEED to write in my journals to help me process things. I NEED to update my blogs. I NEED to do research for therapies and treatments that come up, or for our homeschool curriculum. I NEED to do be online “chatting” with my friends so I don’t feel so alone here at home all the time. This Winter has been terribly hard on me, and I NEED.............

Oh crap - he’s right! I hate to admit it, but I’m addicted to this stupid computer, and I know it! Yes, all of the things above are true. I DO need to spend time on here to write, research, and stay connected with my friends. However, there also NEEDS to be a balance. I realiz now that the housework hasn't been getting done - not because I don't have the time to do it, but because I haven't MADE the time to do it. Instead, I've been spending all my time on here. Ugh! Why did he have to be right about this! Now, that means I really NEED to make a change - one that I don’t particularly want to make.

The next day, I listened to my conscience and didn’t spend much time on the computer, but I did take a little time to read an e-mail newsletter called “Encouraging Moments,” by Lorrie Flem. It’s a newsletter geared towards encouraging women in their choice to be wives, mothers, and homemakers; while also challenging us to strive for improvement in the areas we are lacking. A group of us gals (The Gabby Moms), who are reviewing products for Eternal Encouragement Magazine, were put on assignment this month to review this weekly e-newsletter.

Right off the bat, I liked the looks of the newsletter. The colors blended nicely, and the font was appealing. Then, I moved into the content and found that the author was speaking directly to women with a loving and encouraging tone - not with one that condescends. She even spoke directly to me in some instances, or so it seemed.

To quote Lorrie in the February 10th newsletter, she said...

The differences between a successful marriage and an unhappy one are:
living life "around" your disagreements
taking a "team" attitude toward compromise
loving in spite of differences
understanding and empathy for your husband's position
knowing that quietly talking about differences can strengthen the relationship and improve intimacy
knowing that avoiding conflicts doesn't make them go away"

Hmmm.... #2 and #4 really stood out to me as a confirmation that a compromise was in order regarding my computer time. So, from then on, I have made it a goal to try and accomplish at least one or two household chores each day BEFORE spending an allotted amount of time on the computer. That way, chores still get done, and I still get my computer time. Kinda like a reward system. I am also in the process of weeding out several e-mail subscriptions that take up too much of my time. However, Encouraging Moments will not be one of them, thanks to the positive tone and helpful advice it gives.

For some additional information, the newsletter is laid out in various sections. First, there is a “short and sweet” moment with the author. Then, it moves into information about a “drastic discount,” things that were said on Facebook this week, Lorrie’s schedule, a Chick Flicks for Mom video, specific news and announcements regarding the affiliate magazine, and then finishes up with a “timely tip” to share.

To sign up for this FREE newsletter, go to the website for Eternal Encouragement Magazine (http://www.homemakingwithteach.com/) and enter your e-mail address in the box that says, “Sign up for our e-mail newsletter.” For those interested, you can also find subscription info on there for the magazine itself.

Disclaimer: I reviewed Encouraging Moments as an official member of The Gabby Moms blogging program for Eternal Encouragement magazine. I did not receive compensation for this post and all opinions are solely my own.
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The Five Love Languages

2011-02-18T22:33:00.000-06:00

Every one of us is familiar with at least one of these things to either show our love for someone, or to feel loved by someone else...

Words of Affirmation
Quality Time
Receiving Gifts
Acts of Service
Physical Touch

These are the FIVE languages of love, based on the popular books by Dr. Gary Chapman. These are the languages we use to show our love or affection for our spouse, children, other family members and friends. If you haven't read any of the books by Dr. Chapman, I would recommend them to help tune you in to what gets your "love juices" flowing. However, there is also a website you can visit that explains more about these love languages: THE FIVE LOVE LANGUAGES

It doesn't matter if you are married or single, its important to understand why you give in the way you give, and why you may not feel loved when you don't get what you need. You can take the ASSESSMENTS on this website to help you understand more about yourself and the ones you love. And, after you have taken the assessment, be sure to pass the information along to your family and friends, so they will be able to know and understand you better as well.

For the record, I took the assessment and, out of a possible of 12 points for each category, mine came out with an 11 in Words of Affirmation. Second place tied with a 6 for Physical Touch and Quality Time. does that mean I don't enjoy receiving gifts or having someone do something nice for me? Absolutely not! If the way you want to show your love towards me is by giving me a gift, I sure won't pass it up. LOL. But, this assessment just shows me that "things" are not as important to me as hearing someone encourage me, or hearing why they care about me. And, a written form of encouragement works just as well as verbal.

So, now that you know my love language, I'd love to hear how YOUR assessment scores came out also. Please feel free to share!

REVIEW: Book Two from "The Dragon & The Turtle" Series

2011-02-13T16:01:00.001-06:00

The Dragon and the Turtle Go On Safari - by Donita K. Paul and Evangeline Denmark

This cute children’s book is the second one from "The Dragon and the Turtle” series. Quite honestly, I liked the first book a little better than this one, as I think the story line had more to offer its readers, and more things to discuss about it. However, aside from this second book having a few awkward words to read outloud, my 8 year old son found it interesting. He really liked the way imagination is used in the book, and enjoyed the sound effects I threw in every now and then. (You gotta have sound effects to make a book come alive!)

In a nut shell (or maybe it should be a “turtle shell” in this case), the book was about 2 boys who decided to go on an imaginary safari, including an overnight camp-out in one boy’s backyard. While they were camping, the unfamiliar, and sometimes spooky, sounds caused them to start imagining what types of animals the sounds came from - safari animals, of course! For example, an owl was a monkey, a squirrel was a giraffe, a raccoon was an elephant, and a dog was a rhinoceros. They eventually heard a cat (a small leopard) and decided he needed to be rescued from a tree. By early morning, they had not gotten any sleep and were heading back to “home base.” They realized a nap was in order before they could have any more fun and exciting adventures.

As with the first book, there is a page in the back that includes a Bible verse and some discussion questions to go over with your child. The first book dealt with friendships, and this second book deals with being courageous, as well as with showing concern for others. Overall, a good book to share with your little boys.

Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

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He Never Sleeps

2011-02-10T13:39:00.000-06:00

My brother, Dan, found this song by Don Moen awhile back. The lyrics are really good and I wanted to share them with all of you, as I think just about anyone can relate to them. We’ve all had times in our lives when we’ve become exhausted with our prayers - waiting for an answer - wondering if God is listening. We become weak and discouraged, and might not have any words left to pray with. At times like this, the best thing we can do is to rest in God’s loving arms and allow the Holy Spirit to intercede for us. In GOD’s time, our prayers will be answered; maybe not in a way we expected, but we can be comforted by knowing He DOES care for us and is working in ways we are not able to see at this time.

HE NEVER SLEEPS

When you've prayed every prayer that you know how to pray

Just remember the Lord will hear and the answer is on its way

Our God is able

He is mighty

He is faithful

CHORUS:

And He never sleeps He never slumbers

He never tires of hearing our prayer

When we are weak He becomes stronger

So rest in His love and cast all of your cares on Him

Do you feel that the Lord has forgotten your need

Just remember that God is always working in ways you cannot see

Our God is able

He is mighty He is faithful

(chorus 2 x’s)

Interesting Tidbits About Me

2011-02-07T15:14:00.000-06:00

I originally got this idea from my friend, Carie, a fellow GABBY MOM. She recently did this on her own blog and I thought it was neat, so I'm borrowing it from her. Thanks for the idea, Carie! You can find her blog here: LIVING, LOVING, and LEARNING WITH THE LORD

Before I get to it, let me mention that I recently added a subscription link to my blog page. If you are interested in receiving e-mail updates when a new post has been added to my blog, then sign up there!

Now, here goes....

I love dill pickles - have loved them since I was a child. I ate so many of them once that my family said I smelled like one! My son has also developed a taste for pickles.
My house is never spotless, but I like to keep things organized and in their place.
I went rapelling down a cliff in Wisconsin when I was in college.
I used to have a desire to go skydiving. Not anymore.
I would love to swim with dolphins someday.
I am registered as a Republican, although I consider myself more Independent.
I grew up in a Christian home with parents who love the Lord.
I have one sister and one brother - I am the youngest of the three.
I accepted Christ as my Savior at the young age of 4, and was baptized at the age of 6.
I would love to visit Ireland someday and take a tour of a castle.
Family history interests me. I wish I could figure out who my early ancestors are, from before the 1800's.
I have an Associates degree in Biblical Studies.
I used to be a Nationally Registered EMT (Emergency Medical Technician).
I regret not going to school to become a nurse, or a Physical Therapy Assistant.
I enjoy going to dinner theaters with my husband. I think we've attended about 10 of them so far.
I have a hyperthyroid disorder and polycystic ovaries.
I think tigers are beautiful creatures - especially the white ones.
Birds fascinate me and I love to watch them up close.
I used to own a parakeet named Emi. I taught her how to climb a rope from the floor to her cage.
I’ve never been very interested in sports and am not an athletic person.
I’d rather be sweating in the sun than freezing in the snow.
I used to have hair down to my waist.
York Peppermint Patties.... Yummmm!

"The Dragon and the Turtle" - Book Review and Contest Info.

2011-01-29T11:18:00.002-06:00

The Dragon and the Turtle, by Donita K. Paul and Evangeline Denmark, is a cutely illustrated, and uniquely descriptive picture book about Padraig the dragon and his new friend, Roger the turtle. I think most children in the age range of 4-10, would enjoy this book - although it seems my 8 year-old son enjoyed it more than his older sister, probably due to the fact that it includes 2 boys (one of them a dragon), and a pretend pirate adventure.

For a brief synopsis, two completely different boys meet and become friends; Padraig realizes his new friend is lost and does everything he can to help Roger get back home; the boys use the senses of sight, sound, smell and taste to finally find the right house.

Unlike other picture story books I’ve seen, this one has a couple of pages found after the story to help a parent or caregiver delve deeper into the meaning of the book. It offers a Bible verse (Proverbs 17:17,) as well as discussion questions regarding friendship. It even gives a recipe on the last page for Chocolate Chip Snappers, the special kind of cookies mentioned in the book.

You can find this book on Amazon.com for under $10.00. And, for those who are interested, Waterbrook Multomah Press is now running a “Go On Safari” contest, based on The Dragon and the Turtle books. Children ages 2-10 may participate in the contest, but you need to hurry, as the contest ends on February 11, 2011.

The grand prize winner will win a "go on safari" kit complete with:

A child-size tent
Two sleeping bags
Campfire treats
Essential safari tools (a compass, a flashlight, and a spy glass)
Stuffed animals
Copies of The Dragon and the Turtle and The Dragon and the Turtle Go on Safari

Two runner-up winners will receive a copy of The Dragon and the Turtle and The Dragon and the Turtle Go on Safari and a stuffed animal.

You can check out the details of this contest here:
http://multnomahemails.com/wbmlt/Emails/dragonanturtle-safari.html

Fruit of the Spirit: LOVE (Book Review)

2011-01-29T10:59:00.000-06:00

This book about LOVE is one in a series of 9 books written by Calvin Miller. The series is based around the Fruits of the Spirit found in Galatians 5 - love, joy peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. To quote the author on page 104 of the book,

“Love is the first fruit of the spirit. It is well-placed at the head of the list, for it permeates everything. Somehow if we live a life of love, the other virtues will attend us all the days of our lives. Love is the key that unlocks the entire fruit basket of Galatians 5:22-23.”

Recommended for use in a small group, this is not the kind of book you would just pick up and read, just to read it. As a small group study guide, it is to be studied over a 6-week period. There is a page or two each person reads on a daily basis for the first 6 days of each week. Day 1 covers the introduction of the chapter at hand. Day 2 teaches about the purpose of God in our lives. Day 3 talks about our relationship with Christ. Day 4 covers our service to others. Day 5 is about personal worship. Day 6 goes into a character study of a person in the Bible. Then, on day 7, the group meets together for discussion, encouraging all members of the group to participate and learn together.

Topics over the six weeks include the characteristics of LOVE, and how it can be cultivated in our own lives. Included are things like giving, forgiveness, the definition of God, God’s love for us - which is an unconditional love, how to love and serve other people, and how to love and worship God.

Overall, the book is a good one to get. However, it does seem to be rather simplistic and may need to be supplemented with more in-depth discussion questions, depending on the needs of the group. A good small group leader should have no problem using this book as a basis for a deeper study if needed.

You can find more information about the book by clicking HERE.

Disclaimer: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Stand Firm

2011-01-27T14:44:00.000-06:00

So many of my friends and family members are hurting right now, for various reasons. I actually can’t think of one single person who isn’t going through something that is difficult for them at this very moment. Several are struggling specifically with people they deal with at work. Others are dealing with family members who give them grief for one reason or another. Some are struggling with their own feelings and emotions over various issues. And, some are battling with their own thoughts and/or desires.

In all cases, I’ve come to realize the struggles we face are “not against flesh and blood.” In other words, the struggles we encounter do not really come from dealing with people, but from something much deeper. They come from the conniving plots of the devil. Let me explain...

Satan will do whatever he can to discourage us in our Christian walk - by bringing strife into our relationships, making us doubt who we are in Christ, and making us feel unworthy of God’s love. Satan knows that if he can get us to stay focused on ourselves and on the things of this world, we will not be focusing on the Lord. He knows his days are limited here on earth and it is his greatest desire to thwart any advances in spreading the wonderful news of salvation to others. This is why its important for us to “be strong in the Lord” by consciously putting on our spiritual armor every day. I’m speaking to myself here, too! I know I need to try and be more consistent about doing this, especially during the Winter season when the “blues” seem to hit much harder.

Eph 6:10-18 says...
(10) Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
(11) Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.
(12) For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
(13) Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
(14) Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
(15) and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
(16) In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
(17) Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
(18) And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

If you are experiencing strife in your relationships at work or in the community - STAND FIRM against the schemes of the devil.

If you are struggling with your spouse today, or any other family members - STAND FIRM against the schemes of the devil.

If you are struggling with addiction in any shape or form - STAND FIRM against the schemes of the devil.

If you are allowing your thoughts and emotions to get the best of you today (guilt, pride, anger, embarrassment, unworthiness, etc.) - STAND FIRM against the schemes of the devil.

If you are doubting the existence of God because He’s not answering your prayers as soon as you think He should - STAND FIRM against the schemes of the devil.

If you are getting so busy with your life that you don’t feel you have time to attend church or spend time alone with the Lord - STAND FIRM against the schemes of the devil.

If you are feeling discouraged today for whatever reason - STAND FIRM against the schemes of the devil.

Don’t quit praying and seeking God’s direction for your life. Don’t succumb to Satan’s evil plans - STAND FIRM against the schemes of the devil.
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A "Gabby Mom" REVIEW: True Treasures

2011-01-24T14:02:00.000-06:00

NEWS REPORT: My blog was recently approved for The Gabby Moms, a blogging program through TEACH magazine (now known as Eternal Encouragement). As a “Gabby Mom,” I will be writing monthly reviews on various products and sharing them with you on my blog.

FYI: Eternal Encouragement is a magazine geared towards encouraging women in their choice to be wives, mothers, and homemakers; while also challenging us to strive for improvement in the areas we are lacking. To find more information about this magazine, go to: http://www.homemakingwithteach.com/

Now, on to my first review.... The book I was asked to review for the month of January is called

“True Treasures.”

It is a newer book, in a thin, 8x10, magazine-style format, that celebrates the first 10 years of TEACH Magazine. In the picture (left) it looks a lot thicker than it really is, but it's filled with some of the best articles from the past years, and breaks them into 6 different categories for easy reference:

• Jewels That Make the Heart Sparkle
• Marriages Made of Solid Gold
• Parenting Pearls: Practical and Priceless
• Homemaking That Dazzles Like Diamonds
• Homeschooling Nuggets of Wisdom
• Godly Living That Glitters

If you haven’t noticed, the chapter titles coincide with the book’s title, revealing how the articles in the book are “True Treasures.” Pretty neat, huh? But, anyway, if you are like me, it is hard to get through an entire novel in a decent amount of time. But, with this book, it is easy for busy moms to pick it up and read through one or two articles in one short sitting.

So, do I like the book? Yes, I do! I would recommend it for women of just about any age who are wanting to read encouraging articles and helpful ideas on homemaking, Biblical and practical parenting, marriage, homeschooling, and living a Godly life. As I read through this book, it has given me some helpful advice, as well as encouragement in being the kind of woman I have chosen to be. Many of the articles overlap in topics, as well. For example, an article titled, “Teach Your Children to Embrace Homemaking” is placed in the “Homemaking” category. However, it also could be included under “Practical Parenting.”

There is only one thing I would possibly change about this book, and that is to maybe add a splash of color on at least some of the pages. There is a picture of a flower on most of the pages, and I think it would be so much more appealing to have those flowers in color. But, that’s just me - I’m a visual kind of person.

For more information, or to order the book, click here to be linked to the TEACH (Eternal Encouragement) website: ORDER

SPECIAL DISCOUNT: You can get $4.00 off of “True Treasures” until May 31, 2011 (only one per customer and per order). Just enter this coupon code at checkout: GABBYMOM

Thankyou, Eternal Encouragement Magazine, for allowing me to review this book for you.

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Disclaimer: I received this product for honest review from Eternal Encouragement Magazine as a part of The Gabby Moms blogging program. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

My New Haircut

2011-01-20T12:02:00.000-06:00

This past weekend, I guess I had what some would call the “Winter blues.” I was so bored with life and also a lack of sunshine. Basically, it stemmed from the fact that I had been cooped up in our house for the previous 2 weeks, due to bad weather and taking care of sick family (my son and my husband). So, I was bummed, to say the least; and every little thing that happened was one more reason to bring me down, including the way my hair had been acting lately. Every woman that I know goes through spurts where they are sick and tired of their hair and desire a change. So, what did I decide to do about it? Did I call up a beautician and make an appointment? Nope! Oh, instead, I decided I could do it myself. Ha ha ha

I have cut my children’s hair since they were babies, and I have trimmed my own hair many times as well, so I was looking forward to my hair being refreshed by a little trim. However, I must have taken my frustrations out with the scissors and ended up cutting off a LOT more than I had planned - not to mention, it was very uneven in the back. I was NOT happy, and was depressed and grumpy the rest of the day. Eventually, my husband’s shoulder became soaked as buckets of emotions were poured out on him. The tearful release was a big help... but it sure didn’t help the looks of my hair! I was actually embarrassed to leave the house.

I finally connected with my friend, Gwen, and she graciously opened her salon for me that night to give me a more evened up haircut. I still hated the shortness of it, but at least it was in better shape than I had left it. One consolation was that hair does grow back! Then, after a good night’s sleep and a shower the next morning, I didn’t hate my hair as much as I did the night before; and, as time has gone by this week, the change has grown on me.

So, what’s the moral of this story? Well, I could use this example to show how one “little” wrong-doing can turn into bunches of wrongs, and can eventually wreak havoc on something you thought would be simple to get away with. That could work, right? But, no.... I think the best example this story has to offer is what NOT to do when you are cooped up in the house and bored to no end. At least I’ve learned MY lesson!

January 16th is Full of Memories

2011-01-16T12:06:00.000-06:00

Tick...tick...tick...tick...tick...

Sounds like a clock, doesn’t it? Well, its not. It’s the sound I hear almost every night in bed, but its not my clock, or a watch. Actually, it might sound more like a “click.” Listen again....

Click...click...click...click...click...

It’s a sound I have become accustomed to hearing for the last 15 years of my marriage. Now that I think about it, its actually been quite comforting to me - oh - aside from the snoring part of it... I guess I forgot to mention that part...

Click...click...click...SNORE...click...click...click...SNORE...

Yep, its coming from my husband. The clicking part actually comes from an artificial heart valve opening and closing - it was installed in 1996, 15 years ago today! Wow, I can’t believe it’s been that long! The snoring part... well, that just came as a part of the package. But, anyway, January 16 is a significant day in our lives because it was the beginning of a new adventure and a new kind of health for David.

But, actually the 16th has more than one significant meaning to us. On that day, in1990, David and I met for the first time...

My remembrance of January 16, 1990 ~

The first day of Angelology class was about to begin. It was a popular class on the study of angels, mostly taken by upperclassmen. I was only a Sophomore, but I knew this would be my last semester at the Moody Bible Institute. So, with a strong desire to take this class before leaving school, I walked into the lower entrance of Alumni Auditorium and looked around for a place to sit. I didn’t want to sit too far in the back. Nor did I want a seat too close to the front. Spotting a few empty seats somewhere between the front and the mid-section, I walked up the stairs and sat a few chairs away from another young student. He looked at me and said, “Hi, my name’s Dave.” I replied in the same manner, revealing my name as “Vicky.” He seemed like a nice, young man. And, not too bad looking either. Curiously, I had never met, or even seen him before. In my three semesters at Moody, I thought I had at least passed by each student in the hallways. This one obviously got missed. A thought entered my mind and made me think this “Dave” would become someone special in my life. I had this feeling he was thinking the same thing about me. But, I brushed the thought aside and decided not to acknowledge it. I was getting over a “crush” I had on another young man, and was not interested in dating anyone. So, the next time class was in session, I chose to sit closer to a student from my brother floor. This was in hopes of warding off any advances from Dave. Little did I know, not only would Dave end up being a special friend, he would eventually become the husband I thought I’d never see.

A year later, that SAME day in 1991, I bought my first car - a tan 1984 Ford Escort, a car that I used to drive back and forth to visit Dave while we were long-distance dating (You can see the back end of it in this picture).

And, as already mentioned, that same day in 1996, my husband of 3 years (at that time) underwent a major open heart surgery to repair an aortic aneurysm and replace a bad valve.

My goodness... such memories from January 16th....

I am thankful the Lord brought David and I together as friends - 21 years ago today.

I am thankful the Lord provided a way for David and I to continue seeing each other after we went separate ways from college - 20 years ago today.

I am thankful the Lord spared David’s life when he underwent a very complicated surgery - 15 years ago today... and it’s why I take comfort in hearing the constant click...click...click... every night by my side. To be honest, I don’t even mind the snoring...

Happy “anniversary” David, in more ways than one!

I'm so glad God brought you into my life!

Significant January Event: Dealing With Guilt

2011-01-11T09:34:00.000-06:00

Today’s significant January event came from ten years ago. On January 11, 2001, David and I found out we were pregnant with our 2nd child. Our daughter was 2 ½ at the time, and we had been trying for another child for almost a year. It was something we should have been thrilled about, but we weren’t. The joy of it had been stolen away due to the recent diagnosis of our daughter’s autism. We were still trying to process the load from that and, even though I tried to be excited about another baby, the thought of another child possibly having some sort of disorder made us both nervous.

Three days later, on January 14th, I miscarried that baby. Talk about a huge array of emotions that took place... Part of me was sad for the loss, a bigger part was relieved, but the biggest part was feeling guilty over feeling relieved.

Guilt. We’ve all felt it about one thing or another. Sometimes the guilt we experience is to make us realize the error of our ways. But, sometimes, its simply from a lack of meeting our own expectations. In this case, I expected myself to be grieving for the loss of this child when, instead, I was relieved.

What I eventually came to realize was, I was not really relieved we had lost a baby. Instead, I was relieved that God had decided the timing wasn’t right for us to have another child. It all depends on the perspective. Are you focusing on yourself, or focusing on God’s overall plan for your life?

The idea I’m getting at is to consistently seek God’s direction and determine WHY you are feeling guilty; and, if you are feeling guilty today, there is only one way to overcome it - stay in tune to the Lord and follow His prompting to do what HE is telling you to do. In other words, if you’ve done something wrong, then you are being convicted with your guilt and you need to set things straight - make amends with the person(s) you have hurt, and/or change your behavior. But, if your guilt is from your own high expectations, then lower them to where you are no longer having nosebleeds. Guilt in this case doesn’t come because you’ve done something wrong - it comes because Satan is trying to discourage you and lead you down the path of depression. Don’t let him win. Deal with your guilt TODAY.

God's blessings to you all!

Significant January Event: The Birth of Our Son

2011-01-07T10:40:00.001-06:00

Eight years ago today, David and I held our newborn son for the first time. I was due to deliver on January 6 and, if I didn’t go into labor before then, I was going to be induced on the morning of January 8th. We asked my mom to come on the afternoon of January 7th, so someone could stay with our 4 year old daughter while I was in the hospital the next 2 days. Before she arrived, David and I went to our last doctor’s appointment and the doc said I could possibly go into labor on my own that evening. After the appointment, we walked around Walmart for awhile and I was having major Braxton Hix contractions (or so I thought). I was actually in labor at that time and didn’t even realize it because there was no pain, only pressure. After supper that evening, the contractions increased and I was having them 2-3 minutes apart, still without any pain. David and I questioned whether or not we should head in to the birth center or not. My mom thought it was a good idea, but David wasn’t too sure since I wasn’t having any pain. I was puzzled as well because I had never gone into labor before on my own and didn’t know what to expect. As we debated, here is the e-mail David sent out to a few family and friends:

January 7, 2003 (Tuesday) - Hello, It is Tuesday night at 7:30 pm. We went to the doctor today and Vicky is at the brink of delivery. He said she is 100% effaced, and dilated to 4-5 cm!! He said that we should get the car packed, because it would not surprise him if she went tonight. He also said that when she goes into labor, we should not mess around and get straight to the hospital. He said that she will go very quickly. He even said that if we get delayed in leaving, we should have some clean blankets and..... (well, he lost his train of thought, due to my interrupting him).

Ever since this morning, she has been having the Braxton-Hicks contractions. They have been getting quite regular ever since the appointment, and at times are 2 to 3 minutes apart, however, there is no pain yet. She said there is only pressure. So, we are sitting here wondering, is this the real thing, or is this false labor, or is it still the Braxton-Hicks....

So, the car is packed, Vicky's mom is here to watch our daughter, and the countdown begins!! If she does not go overnight, we will be at St. John's at 7:00 tomorrow morning to get induced.

Wait a minute....

Ok it's time to go. We just got off the phone with the Birth Center and they said it is time to come in!!

-Dave

What he didn’t mention in the e-mail is that, the doctor he talked to on the phone scared the daylights out of him! She said, with how far dilated I was, and how close the contractions were, he better be ready to deliver that baby in the CAR! LOL. So, we headed to the hospital (with the song “My Deliverer is Coming” by Rich Mullins playing on the radio) and arrived in our birthing suite around 8:30 that night. Our son was born at 11:42 p.m. He was 8 lbs, 13 oz., and measured at 21 ½ inches.

BOOK REVIEW: The Sacred Meal

2011-01-06T14:49:00.000-06:00

The Sacred Meal was published in November 2009 as one in a series of books on Christian practices. The author, Nora Gallagher, is an Episcopalian priest at Trinity Episcopal Church in Santa Barbara, CA.

As for my thoughts on the book, oh where do I start..... Well, I guess I'll begin by saying this book gets a big thumbs down from me! I chose this book because, as a self-published author of my own book on communion, I was curious to see what another author teaches about this familiar act of worship among Christians. Due to the fact that I disagree with many aspects of Episcopalian theology, I didn’t expect to agree with everything in this book, but I did expect to be taught more about the history behind taking Communion, the meaning of it, and the reasons why Christians partake. Since the author is a priest, I expected her to also give Biblical references regarding the topic. Instead, what I found was a lot of emotional “babble” about how serving and receiving communion made her FEEL. Instead of Biblical references, she used many quotes from people that I’ve never even heard of and used a lot of awkward (and rather boring) reasoning for why she feels the way she does during participation of this Christian practice.

Honestly, it would take me a book of my own to pick through and discuss everything I found that I didn’t like about this book (Scripturally and otherwise). But, I don’t have the time for that. So, I will briefly just mention a few of the “biggies.”

Chapter 4 has a large amount of awkward reasoning regarding her understanding of the left and right brain. It was truly pointless, in my opinion.

In chapter 5, the author encourages mystical experiences while taking communion. Scripture gives us no such direction to do so.

On page 66, she goes into a spiel about Jesus’ first miracle - the one where He turned water into wine at a wedding reception. To quote the author, she said, “The wine was hidden in the water.” What? No it wasn’t! Jesus miraculously CHANGED the water into wine! That’s why it’s called a miracle.

Chapter 8 is probably the most informational chapter in the book, as it reveals the authors beliefs on communion - the make of it, the reason for it, who can take it, why, etc. While I expected to disagree with her on most of this, I at least expected to find Scripture references that she uses to support her position. Instead, I was very disappointed, as there was a gaping lack of Scripture references to back up her beliefs (or rather, her opinions). But, that is not surprising considering she seems to hold a very low view of Scripture to begin with (p. 110).

In chapter 9, she prays along with the Muslims at an interfaith gathering. To quote her on page 100, she said she came away “energized by a new way of praying and well fed.” Doesn’t she realize that the Muslims aren’t praying to the same God that we know as God the Father, Jehovah?

I was truly disappointed with this book and do not recommend it. It completely misses the point of what “the sacred meal” is all about. If you are interested in learning more about communion and what it really means, it would be worth your while to pass this one up and move on to one with a lot more substance.
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Disclosure: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. The intent of my review is not to stir up strife or divide the church body, but to honestly express my concern over some of the content in this book. I was not required to write a positive review, and the opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s guidelines.

A Significant Event: Our Daughter's Diagnosis

2011-01-03T09:09:00.000-06:00

Happy New Year! I’m not normally one for making new year resolutions, and don’t really intend to start. However, I often use the newness of the year to reflect on years gone by, as well as wonder what the future has in store.

For us, the month of January has tended to be a month that hosts significant events in our lives. Not sure why, exactly, but it just seems to have worked out that way. One such event happened ten years ago today! Our sweet daughter, our firstborn child, was 2 ½ years old on January 3, 2001, when she was diagnosed with Autism. It was definitely a significant event in our lives. Not an easy event, but one that has changed our lives in a tremendous way; one that we will remember forever. I’d like to share an excerpt from my journal on that day...

January 3, 2001 - Our daughter had her appointment with a developmental pediatrician this morning. It’s not exactly very encouraging news. She has been diagnosed with a moderate form of Autism, or Autistic Spectrum disorder. Plus, she has Sensory Integration Dysfunction - which means she is very sensitive to certain sights, sounds and textures, making it hard for her to learn about the world around her. Doc suggested she begin seeing an Occupational Therapist soon, to help out with that. So, I set up an appointment with our Service Coordinator through Child and Family Connections. She will be out tomorrow morning to help us pick out a therapist.

David and I are taking this news a bit hard. I don’t know what all David is thinking because he is at work right now and we haven’t had much of a chance to talk yet. But, I know he is upset and wants to come home. We have both suspected autism for quite some time now, but it didn’t really hit home until the doctor said the word out loud. When she said the word “autism” my heart skipped a beat. Our fears had just become reality. I have been on the verge of tears through-out the day. I haven’t actually broken down yet, though. I guess I’m just trying to let the news sink in a bit. I’ve been keeping busy most of the day, to help keep my mind off of it, too. I just don’t know what I’m going to do. How will I take care of a child with autism? Doc gave us a long list of books that we can check into for more information. I guess I’ll have to start with a couple of them and go from there. It’s just really sad and frustrating to know my daughter has this disorder, and there’s no known cause or cure for it.... There is a good chance she will be able to adjust to this disorder so that others won’t even be able to tell she has it. But, there is also a good chance that she will never be socially compliant, and will probably never even have a serious relationship or get married. It’s really disheartening. As parents, we have so many hopes and plans for our daughter. We want her to excel as a student and as a person, and grow up loving the Lord and serving Him. We want her to one day fall in love, get married, and basically just be happy. I know that sometimes what we want for our kids is not what the Lord has planned. But, it still hurts.

I guess the main thing right now is that there’s so much uncertainty. We just don’t know how severe her disorder really is, and whether or not she will improve. We really won’t know until she is older. Doc said she will not get any worse, but she could get better. So, that’s what we’ll have to pray for. Hopefully, our daughter will be at the high functioning end of the autistic scale. But, if she’s not, we will still love her no matter what. She is our child, our beloved daughter, our flesh and blood. She means the world to us and we are glad she is here to brighten our days with her smile.
As I look back on that day and remember, I sometimes wish we had never had to experience it. But, at the same time, I know the Lord used this event to help my husband and I learn and grow in various ways; and, even though we have accepted our daughters autism and love her for who she is, we will never stop learning and growing; but, we will continue to trust the Lord to give us wisdom regarding her needs.

Being a Christian does not mean everything in our life will be perfect, but it does mean we can rely on the Lord to give us the wisdom and strength we need to get through it. With the wisdom that only God can give, our daughter has made wonderful progress over the years and has overcome many obstacles. She continues to improve and we feel so blessed to have her in our lives.

James 1:5 - But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. (NAS)

Two Great Children's Books

2010-12-26T15:50:00.004-06:00

I hope everyone had a nice Christmas. Our was very enjoyable and I'm glad to have had the time to spend with family and friends.

Right before Christmas, I had the opportunity to review two great children’s books from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers. The first one was actually sent to me by mistake, but I’m glad that it was. The title of the book is “God Loves Me More Than That” by Dandi Daley Mackall. I first read this children’s book on my own, to get a feel for it and see what its all about. Then, I read it to my children to get their opinion of it. We were all pretty much in agreement that the book is worth keeping.

“God Loves Me More Than That” is a thin, hardback, rhyming book with simple words, and only one sentence per page. It is filled with extraordinary, colorful illustrations that almost make you feel like you are inside the book. There is a page for many different interests, including nature, astronomy, outer space, treasures, trucks, cowboys, the circus, football, weather, kittens, and treehouses. The content is special, as it helps readers feel more connected to God as they “discover that His love is bigger, wider, higher, and deeper than anything they could imagine.” (Quote taken from the back of the book.)

When I asked my children what they liked about the book, my oldest (a 12-year old girl with autism), said she liked the words; and her favorite picture was of a sneezing kitten. My son (age 7) loved the last page with a boy in the treehouse and profoundly described how the boy was resting there, just being close to God. In his funny way of trying to be a judge (as he called it), he said the book was “spiritful.” I'm not exactly sure if that’s even a word. But, what I think he meant was that the book is spiritual in nature, and can really reach a person’s heart - no matter what their age is.

~*~*~*~

The second book is “God Gave Us So Much,” by Lisa Tawn Bergren. This is a limited edition treasury of three books in one. In the eyes of a curious little polar bear girl, these three sweetly illustrated books give answers to a little one’s questions.

Book one in the treasury is “God Gave Us the World.” It explains about the differences in animals (and people) around the world and how God made us all special in our own ways. It also tells of the importance of taking care of our world.

“God Gave Us Love” tells about the different kinds of love, and the importance of loving others the way God loves us.

“God Gave Us Heaven” gives answers to a little one’s questions with just enough information to satisfy a young mind. The book does not involve heavy theology, but could possibly encourage deeper conversation when a child is ready to know more.

If you get a chance to read these books to your children, I'm sure you would enjoy the experience.

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Disclosure: Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers has provided me with complimentary copies of these books for review purposes. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

A Christmas GIFT from Our House to Yours

2010-12-15T16:47:00.000-06:00

When I was growing up, my family made it a point to eat together at the table on most occasions, maybe with some background music playing, but very rarely the television on. Yes, there were times when we all sat in front of the TV eating our meals while we watched a special show, but those were not the norm. The bulk of our meals were spent at the table - talking, sharing, having family devotions, and praying. My husband grew up doing similar things with his family, so we both understand the value in this type of quality family time. Likewise, we have made it a point to try and keep this tradition going with our own children.

A couple of years ago, as our youngest became more interested in watching full-length movies, we began having one of our weekend meals on TV trays while watching a wholesome movie or television show together. This has also become a special time of family togetherness that we all enjoy. However, as time has gone by, the kids began to look forward to movie night more than our meals at the table. Our youngest even eluded to the fact that our meal times were “boring” to him. Some of this, I’m sure, was just due to the fact that our kids enjoy movies and TV (and I admit they probably watch too much of it, but that’s another topic); and some of it could be because my husband and I have had a tendency to talk with each other and “catch up” about our days at home or at work, while unintentionally leaving the kids out of the conversation. So, I started brainstorming on ways to make our meal times more enjoyable for the kids again.

The idea that finally came to mind was to write questions or conversation topics on slips of paper; then, fold them up and toss them into a container. At our main meal of the day, we pull out one (or more) slips of paper and take turns answering the question. It’s a great way to get everyone at the table participating in conversation, and learning more about each other as well. Since we have been doing this, our youngest began looking forward to our meals at the table again.

So.....

As a special Christmas gift to all of YOU, I wanted to share this idea with you, but also decided to go a step further.... With my family's help, I made up a FREE download of 60 “topic cards” for you to assemble and use with your own family. All you have to do is print it out and follow the simple directions.

Please take this opportunity to download this FREE gift today! Have fun getting to know more about your family (or friends) while you spend quality time with them around the table.

Click below for the download page, and feel free to pass this along to anyone else who might have an interest.

MEALTIME CONVERSATION STARTERS

We hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!

BOOK REVIEW: What in the World is Going On?

2010-12-02T12:40:00.000-06:00

The book "What in the World is Going On?" is a best seller by Dr. David Jeremiah. He is the senior pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church in El Cajon, California, and this book is a result of his teachings at that church.

I’m not a big reader of books about prophecy and the “End Times,” but this book was definitely an informative and interesting view on what is happening in the world today, and what things are still to come. The author uses everyday language to help explain certain events that have happened already, or are currently happening, and how they play a roll in our future. He also uses Scripture through-out the book to back his views.

Some people believe learning about the End Times and Christ’s return is a useless waste of time. However, a quote at the end of the book gives an explanation of why its important to learn about these things: “The signs that tell us the second coming of the Lord is drawing near should motivate us as never before to live in readiness.”

The author goes on to say that, “As we anticipate His return, we are not to foolishly set dates and leave our jobs and homes to wait for Him on some mountain. We are to remain busy doing the work set before us, living in love and serving in ministry, even when the days grow dark and the nights long.”

Remain busy... living in love.... serving in ministry.... good words to live by!

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Disclosure: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review, and the opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s guidelines.