Thoughts on the Divine by Amy

Christmas All Year

2012-01-30T09:25:00.000-06:00

I seems to me that it is such a shame that we only celebrate the birth of our Savior for one month out of twelve. So I am going to make it my goal to celebrate all year in 2012. I am listening to my Christmas music right now.

Matthew West’s The Heart of Christmas is playing as I type. This is a great CD! Who says Christmas has to end on Dec 25th? The music that West has on this CD is perfect year 'round. The opening tune, "Come on Christmas," on the album says,

I left the lights up all year ‘round
I just couldn’t bear the thought of takin’ ‘em down
I’ve been singing “Jingle Bell Rock” since July
All the neighbors look at me like
I’m crazy but I
I, got a feeling that I just can’t shake
You see it’s lasted three hundred sixty four days
And now I’m too excited, I can’t sleep a wink and
I stare at the snow outside my window just thinkin’
Come on, Christmas

The song "Leaving Heaven" featuring Vince Gill is definitely one not limited to December playing. It is about the choice Jesus made to leave Heaven in order to save you and I.

Another album I am loving is David Crowder*Band’s Oh For Joy. I love David Crowder Band! Their unique sound is fabulous no matter what they are singing. This collection of Christmas tunes is no exception. Each song is a classic with a distinct twist that makes it a hit. Since it has that updated sound it is a great choice to bring the Christmas spirit to your everyday.

An added benefit to choosing Christmas music after Christmas is that you can probably find great deals on these and others too! I am wishing you all the JOY of Christmas each and every day this year! CELEBRATE CHRIST!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from media Collective. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255<http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Good for Everyone

2011-12-18T08:26:00.000-06:00

³ Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled and became slaves to many lusts and pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy, and we hated each other.
⁴ But —

“When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, ⁵ he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. ⁶ He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. ⁷ Because of his grace he declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.”

⁸ This is a trustworthy saying, and I want you to insist on these teachings so that all who trust in God will devote themselves to doing good. These teachings are good and beneficial for everyone.

Titus 3:3-8 www.biblegateway.com

Honesty

2011-12-13T09:31:00.000-06:00

Is it ever hard for you to be honest? I'm not talking about telling lies versus the truth, but honest about your weakness in a way that shows God's strength. I confess it is hard for me. Even within the safety of friends I know love and care for me, it is hard to be open. God has done many amazing things for me. He saved my soul from hell, and my life from the pit. Over and over again He has released me from traps that should have been my undoing. Still it is hard to name them aloud. Abuse, depression, fears... and the list goes on. I must name them though. That is where He receives glory from my life. Not in how great I can look to those on the outside, but how great a work He has done on the inside. I hope to get to the point Paul was in 2 Corinthians 12:9-

Each time he said, "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.

If boasting about my weaknesses makes the power of Christ more evident to a lost world, let me be found weakest of all!

A Little TOO Gung Ho...

2011-11-29T10:11:00.000-06:00

So maybe you have noticed my once a day writing hasn't gone too well. Maybe jumping from once a month (mostly) to everyday is a bit much for little ol' me. My brain just doesn't have that much to say... well not in typed words that someone might want to read anyway. So my newly reworked challenge to myself will be to write at least 2 times per week. Maybe I'll even be inspired for 3 every now and then. :0) Thanks for hanging in there with me!

With LOVE,
~Amy

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T21:35:00.000-06:00

Just wanted to say Happy Thanksgiving today. I am thankful to my Lord Jesus for all of His wonderful gifts! May God Bless you richly as well.

TOBYMAC Christmas???

2011-11-23T22:39:00.000-06:00

I usually don't do Christmas at all until after Thanksgiving, but when TOBYMAC's Christmas in Diverse City came in the mail from my friends at The Media Collective I had to try it out. I was totally sceptical. TOBYMAC isn't who I think of singing "Silent Night" or "Away in a Manger." And he didn't sing either one..whew! He did hit some great classics like "The First Noel" and "Little Drummer Boy" (my favorite BTW.)

A warning however... This ain't your Grandma's Christmas album. It was great though! I can see myself listening to these songs year-round. They have that distinctive TOBYMAC sound and thump. He has invited several artist to join with him on this one as well: Leigh Nash, Owl City, Jamie Grace, and Nirva Ready just to name a few. If you like a little spice in your Christmas music, I highly recommend you get this one. If you don't, you better sit it out. I understand some that can't stand to change the classics, but I for one love it!

With LOVE,
~Amy

Greater Glory

2011-11-22T23:29:00.000-06:00

The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts. Haggai 2:9

Right now, halfway around the world, a work is being done to help orphaned children gain a life. They are being given a chance at life they could have never gotten abandoned to the streets of Aflao, Ghana. Not only are they given the simple gift of a safe, well-fed life with schooling, but a chance to hear the Good News that God Loves THEM and Jesus Died For THEM. Amazing!

Even as great as all this, is there is a need for new housing and, PRAISE GOD, He is providing the need. Haggai 2:9 speaks I believe of this new home. It will be greater in bringing Glory to GOD. But not only that HE will give peace there. Hallelujah!!! Peace... It's what I desire and you desire and those sweet children desire as well. God Is SO Good!

With LOVE,
~Amy

Today...

2011-11-21T22:38:00.000-06:00

OK. Writing everyday may be harder than I realized. Some days are so busy I get to the end and it dawns on me that I have made this commitment and I better get to the keyboard. Like today. Well, not really like toady, I have been thinking about it all day but I never had some great thing to say. It is humbling not to be able to come up with a single inspiring or heart-stirring thing to say, but here I am anyway. I hope all 4 of my readers don't leave me for my lack. :0)

I started this challenge so that I would HAVE to write something everyday. I had in mind, though, that my posts would exponentially grow in depth and gain great audiences as people just had to share my great insights with all their friends.Oh, how I love a good dream. Here in reality though, I am learning that it takes longer than 4 days to make someone a "writer" and it's not as important how many read but that you share your heart with whoever is reading. So this is it for today! Thanks for reading.

With LOVE,
~Amy

Fear Not, Only Believe

2011-11-19T22:18:00.001-06:00

But Jesus, not heeding the word spoken, saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Fear not, only believe. Mark 5:36

Oh, how often this has been Jesus' words to my heart! Yet again tonight as I read these words spoken by Jesus to Jairus, the ruler of the synagogue, they prick to the core of my soul. All week I have been praying for a specific answer to a need. I can't say that I have asked boldly without wavering. Begged over and over would be more accurate. I really want to believe that God is in the process of answering this prayer, but my faith is wearing thin. Tonight though as I read these words in my Bible my faith has been rekindled. Even if His answer to my prayer doesn't come like I think it should there is no fear! Jesus has it all under control. He has my back and that is my security. He is my security. John says it best, "Perfect love casts out the fear."(1Jn4:48) Jesus is PERFECT LOVE. When our faith, or belief lies in Him, He throws away the fear, all of it.

Praise His Precious Name!

With LOVE,
~Amy

What Women Fear by Angie Smith

2011-11-18T17:19:00.000-06:00

If there is a book title that could catch my eye from across the room, it is this one. I have always had a struggle with fear. Several years ago, God miraculously freed me from the bulk of my greatest fears, but if I am not careful to guard my heart, they attempt to take over my thoughts again. As I read this book, I realized that I am not alone. I could relate on so many levels with the topics Angie Smith covers in her book, What Women Fear.

Angie covers the basics of death, abandonment, rejection, and failure. But she doesn't stop there. She digs deeper into the realms of the "What ifs" and the fear of being found out (that we aren't perfect...gasp!) One that I often still struggle with is the fear of not being significant. Angie describes tit like this:

I don’t think I have ever met a single person who could honestly say that they never cared about anyone else’s opinion of them. There may have been situations where they were able to dismiss feedback, but it seems that no one is immune. We may be talking, working, parenting, advising, teaching, or any other number of things, but as we go through the motions we don’t know how to silence the fear:

"Am I important?"

Each chapter is devoted to a fear that I am betting most people have struggled with at some point or another in their lives. She approaches each topic with much grace as she tells stories from her life interwoven with stories from the Bible. There are moments of laughter to go along with the seriousness of this topic. She also includes a prayer from the heart at the end of each chapter. I highly recommend this book to you even if you are "fearless" maybe it will help you understand the rest of us! :0)

Do Not Be Like the Horse or the Mule...

2011-11-17T12:55:00.000-06:00

^{Psalm 32:8-11}
⁸ I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
⁹ Do not be like the horse or the mule,
which have no understanding
but must be controlled by bit and bridle
or they will not come to you. ¹⁰ Many are the woes of the wicked,
but the LORD’s unfailing love
surrounds the one who trusts in him.
¹¹ Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous;
sing, all you who are upright in heart!

This week, as I prepared for my Tuesday Bible Study class, I came across this portion of scripture. We are studying the book, How to Know God's Will by Charles Shepson. (Which is a great book.) In the first section, the author discusses the issue of our wanting to know God's will and if He wants to reveal it to us. Psalm 32:8 states that, of course, the Lord desires to reveal His will to us. It is up to us to be receptive to Him and His instruction.

Verse 9 really stuck out to me as I read this, so I did some study of the role of the bit and bridle in horse training. First I confirmed what I already knew. The horse ins controlled by the bit when it is placed in its mouth to apply pressure to turn the head of the horse to point it in the direction the rider wishes to go. The idea is to only apply pressure, not pain, to the horse's mouth. If the horse will not respond to pressure though the bit is pulled harder, to the point of pain, to get the horse's attention.

This method of training seemed to correlate to methods the Lord has used in my life at times. There is pressure to go the way of His instruction. Just a gentle push at first and if I do not heed, the pressure increases until the pain is such that I relent to go the direction I have been resisting. But this verse reveals there is a better way! Praise the Lord!

Note the lack of bit or bridle!

In my study of the bit and bridle I also found a forum discussion of riding without bit or bridle. It is possible with horses and I feel it is possible with us too. The horse must learn to "hear" the communication of the rider. Maybe that is a gentle nudge in the ribs, or the way the rider leans his body or stands in the saddle. The key is that the horse is very aware of the riders instruction and trusts the rider enough to do whatever he says, even if the horse doesn't want to. In the same way, we must trust the Lord and listen closely to His instruction in order to be lead in a more gentle manner. I pray that I might be able to hear and respond in such a way that He need not use pressure and pain to achieve His purposes in me, only the gentle nudge.

Chris Tomlin

2011-11-16T11:55:00.000-06:00

Exciting news everyone!!! Chris Tomlin has a new release. It is a collection of my (and I am guessing your) favorite Chris Tomlin songs. Most of them are the same as the first recording but he has new recordings of : "Forever", "We Fall Down", and "How Great Is Our God". Including a new "World Version" of "How Great Is Our God". About that song Chris says,

"I’ve been thinking for awhile if I ever did a ‘Best Of’ I’d want it to be called ‘How Great Is Our God’ just because of what that song has done and what that song has become globally. It’s such a privilege to be a part of a song like that. We’ve traveled around the world and done these world tours with Passion and have connected with different international leaders and sung this song in 20 languages. It just seems to translate universally, as people have picked it up in their own countries and own languages. I thought I’d love to bring in some of my friends, worship leader friends from around the world, and do a world edition of this song [to] hear it in all of these languages. So we created a track and sent it to our friends in several different countries [asking] ‘Would you just sing this in your language, sing some harmonies, whatever you want to sing. We put it together and I can’t wait for people to hear it. It’s the most special thing I’ve ever recorded. I don’t think I’ll ever record anything like it again in my life. It gives you a sense that this is the whole world worshipping God."

It is totally awesome too! Even though parts of the song are sung in a different language you can sense the worship and the adoration of Our Great God!

I have always loved Chris Tomlin and his music. He is such a talented worshipper. But it became much more precious to me when my son gave his life to Christ at an event while Chris sang "Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)." I have been singing that song at church for some time and it will always be one of my favorites. It is included on this album as well.

I highly recommend picking up this collection of the best of Chris Tomlin's worship songs! And a big thanks to Media Collective for giving me a sneak peak at the album!

A Great Challenge...

2011-11-16T11:32:00.000-06:00

I have decided to challenge myself to writing everyday (minus the Sabbath) for the next year. I have tried to set that as a goal before with private journaling but I guess I am just one that needs some accountability for follow through. To those of you who choose to follow this course I am taking, I say, "God bless!" I am not a great writer nor do I claim to have a year's worth of fabulous topics, but one can never improve without practice and you never know what you can do unless you try. So here goes!

Introducing Heather Williams...

2011-10-17T09:56:00.001-05:00

I have the great privilege of introducing Heather Williams! Her music is absolutely wonderful. This Time Around is her first full album release. You have probably heard her top 10 song "Hallelujah" and the rest of the songs are just as great. Her songs are full of meaning and heart. You can feel the anguish and joy in the music and lyrics of each song. I hope you will watch the YouTube video and hear more of Heather's story. It makes her music even more real.

One of my favorite songs is "Hallelujah." Heather's story of her "Hallelujah" moment reminds me that in my deepest despair God is with me. The lyrics say:

But don't give up on me now
I'm so close to You now
I'm in need of Your grace today
Wipe the dirt off my face
Hold me in Your embrace
Your love always saves the day

During the past few years, as I have been searching hard for what the Lord has for me to do and seeking to serve Him with my whole heart and life I have fallen many times. I seem to constantly get it wrong or backwards. There is self doubt and dark times of uncertainty but I know the He is near and with each attempt I am getting closer to the prize. And His "love always saves the day!" I love to belt out this song in the car {alone!} and know that with each Hallelujah my will and His will are getting closer and closer to being the same.

The folks are Media Collective have provided me with a copy of Heather's new album This Time Around to give away. I know you will love it as much as I do!

To enter leave a comment below with your name and email address by 11:59pm CST, Wednesday, October19. I would love to hear a Hallelujah story of yours too!

THEO Giveaway!

2011-10-10T07:57:00.000-05:00

What better way to start a new week than to giveaway a great prize?! Whitestone Media has allowed me the opportunity to give away a copy of their new release "Introducing Theo." To enter leave a comment below before tomorrow night, October 11, 2011 at 11:59 pm CST. I will randomly choose one commenter to receive this awesome prize. Keep watch for more opportunities to win!

"Theo" is a great way to teach children the basics of the Christian faith. The series revolves around Theo, an Englishman, who tells bible stories to lay a firm foundation for the fundamentals of our beliefs. It is well illustrated and fun too. There are two little mice who get into mischief and end up very practically showing children how the lesson that Theo is teaching looks in real life. I loved the way God's Word is presented in this format. The segments are very short for very short attention spans also. There is also an iphone app. How cool is that?!

Don't forget to comment and leave your email address so I can contact you if you win!

God's Love Letters to You

2011-09-14T11:29:00.000-05:00

God's Love Letters to You, by Dr. Larry Crabb, is designed to be a 40 day devotional. It has a verse for each day from 40 of the 66 books of the bible, a writing by Dr. Crabb that summarizes the book of the bible chosen for that day, a few questions to help you think through the material and a summary prayer for God's help in recognizing Him in our everyday life. The daily passages are short and can be read in a few minutes each day. This a condensed version of the book 66 Love Letters: A Conversation with God That Invites You into His Story, also by Dr. Crabb.

This book would be best understood by someone who is already fluent in the themes of each book of the Bible or as an accompaniment to reading through the Bible. To understand the passages written by Dr. Crabb one must possess a knowledge of the book it is referring to. It would be hard to pick up this book as someone with little or no Biblical background. Even with years of teaching, I found some of it confusing. It does provide the reader with a challenge to see the overall theme of each book individually. I did not really enjoy reading this book.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The New Giveaway!!

2011-08-04T18:50:00.001-05:00

OK, here are the details of the giveaway I mentioned in my previous entry. I have two tickets for.........(insert drum roll here)...... the WOMEN OF FAITH CONFERENCE!!! It is in Atlanta, GA next weekend, August 12-13, 2011.

The line-up includes:

Luci Swindoll Angie Smith

Mary Mary Natalie Grant

Sheila Walsh Nicole Johnson

Lisa Harper Steve Arterburn

Laura
Story

I was given the opportunity to go to blog about the experience, but due to a schedule conflict I am unable to go. The kind people at Women of Faith said that I could do a giveaway on my blog for the tickets so here it is!

The requirements for entering are as follows:
1) You MUST be able to attend the conference and provide your own lodging and food.
2) You must comment below with your name and email address.(Please put your email address in your comment because I can't see it otherwise!)
3) I would also love if you would write a short review when you return so that we will all get a little taste of how great it was.

UPDATE: Entries must be in by 9:00 PM(CST), Saturday, August 6, 2011.

All that is left to do now is comment and tell your friends to enter too! -Now don't be selfish! :0)

Help Wanted: Moms Raising Daughters

2011-08-03T08:27:00.000-05:00

I have finally finished another book! It is so much harder to find the time to read while the kids are home for the summer! We have had a great time these past few months playing in the pool and just hanging out. I can't believe it is almost time for school to start back. Like my Ems says, "I'm not ready!" It is also time for another blog giveaway, so stay tuned, over the next couple of days I'll be telling you how to enter. You won't want to miss this one! On to the book review....

Help Wanted: Moms Raising Daughters is a manual of sorts for the mother who finds herself at a loss raising daughters. It is full of helpful advice and instructions to navigate many areas of rearing those precious girls God has blessed you with. As the mother of a girl and a boy, I found that many of the lessons are applicable to both daughters and sons. This wasn't a "quick read" by any means. The author, Darlene Brock, has packed a boat load of information in the 215 pages of this book.

Each chapter covers a topic that you are sure to face as a mother. She sets them up as job descriptions and describes in detail the qualities a mom must posses as she tries to fill each role. The topics include:

Coach
Creative Counselor
Time Manager
Media Director
Academic Advocate
Professor of Gender Studies
Relationship Counselor
Sex Ed Teacher
Financial Consultant
Bodyguard
Communications Specialist
In-Home Demonstrator
Military Strategist

Mrs. Brock doesn't take a light view of the role of mother and encourages you to take it seriously too. I think this quote is a good summary:

So, as mothers, why should we work so hard in this unrelenting battle? Why should we look for the enemies and create a strategy? Because the result is ultimately important. You are helping to shape a human life-your daughter's. It is not the book we write, the car we help manufacture,the store we run,the letter we type,nor the house we clean that will truly affect the generations that follow.It is the daughters we bring into this world and help to mold. They are our treasures, and they will be this world's treasure as well. Your parenting has a profound effect on your daughter's life.

I highly recommend this book as a help for raising daughters (and sons as well.) I will be holding on to my copy as a source of encouragement to fight the good fight for my daughter and as a reminder of what that fight entails.

Voices of the Faithful - Book 2

2011-06-27T08:46:00.000-05:00

Voices of the Faithful - Book 2 is a compilation of devotions written by missionaries stationed around the world. The devotions are very inspiring and give a insightful peek into the lives of those valiantly spending their lives to spread the gospel in foreign lands. It gives a new focus to your prayers for those missionaries. As you read each day's entry, you receive a dose of scripture, a story from one serving in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas, and a prayer written from the heart. The goal of the book as stated by Beth Moore in the introduction is to make you "motivated to pray." There is a section in the back of the book to help you further your support of missions individually and as a church.

I found the stories inspiring and convicting at the same time. It is great to be able to see into the lives and hearts of those giving their all for the Kingdom. I am inspired to pray more faithfully for them and their work of faith. I hope you enjoy this book as I have!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

What If We Were Real

2011-06-13T07:14:00.000-05:00

Those of you who know me well know that I am not very athletic. I exercise in fits and spurts. I am having one of those fits now. My goal is to run a 5k by October. Did I just really type that?!? I am really committed now! I have a much better chance of reaching this goal than ones I have made in the past. I have a secret weapon, Hope in the Lord. I am literally claiming the promise of

Isaiah 40:31-

but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

My encourager in all this has come from an unlikely place, my ipod. I was given a review copy of Mandisa's new CD What If We Were Real. I really liked the sound and put it on my ipod. I decided the upbeat tempo would be great to run- OK walk/run- to. Little did I know what inspiration the lyrics would provide. Here's a sample of the most inspiring lines:

"Good Morning"- Good Morning, You give me strength, You give me just what I need, I can feel the hope that's rising in me!

"Stronger"- The pain ain't gonna last forever, Things can only get better. He knows that this is gonna make you stronger, stronger.

Every song on the album has lines that make me want to run or at least not give up. Mandisa herself has lost 100 lbs recently. I am sure that she has poured out the motivation for her victory into this project. I am thankful to benefit from it!

So I ask that you all hold me accountable to my goal.

Congratulations Margaret!

2011-04-23T16:46:00.000-05:00

The winner of the $20 gift certificate is Margaret! Please e-mail me @ themcds@hopper.net and I will get the info to you!

We all need Grace! & $20 Giveaway!

2011-04-19T21:08:00.001-05:00

The awesome people at Dayspring gave me the opportunity to receive a product to review, and I get to give away a $20 gift certificate they provided to one of my lucky readers. So happy reading and good luck!

First off let me say that the tray is beautiful! It is a bit larger than I expected it to be and much larger than my husband thought necessary for the dining table. "Gawky" I think he said...LOL. But it would look lovely on a coffee table (or even a dining table.) :0) I wanted to show the tray in use and decided to display our family's collection of sea shells in it. Lovely if I do say so myself. It is well constructed and very versatile.

As I placed my daughters prize sand dollar on the tray, I was reminded of a beautiful yet painful story in my life of God's simple joy, unending hope, wonderful grace, authentic peace, and unfathomable love just like the words on the tray. This series of lessons came from an answered prayer of my daughter and mine to find a sand dollar at the beach. We had been praying for several days for God to allow us the great joy of finding a sand dollar. We took a dolphin cruise to "Shell Island." Surely we could find one there! Sure enough as soon as we got to the beach, among the other 60 passengers, we found it.... a perfect sand dollar. We said "PRAISE THE LORD" and did a happy dance. ( Much to the amusement of others around us I'm sure.)

Fast forward to the end of our trip. My family dropped me off to join my dear friends for an eWomen conference. I insisted on taking the sand dollar with me to insure its safety. Well you don't have to be a genius to figure out what comes next. Safely tucked into my notebook with my Bible, I CRUSHED the sand dollar. I was just as crushed. Our answered prayers, our miracle gone. It took me a long time to figure this one out. I knew there was a lesson to be learned.

My first lesson was the life that came from my broken treasure. Did you know that if you crush a sand dollar there are tons of butterflies inside? The sign of new life spilled out of my broken dream. I held n to those butterflies for a long time.... Finally the Lord said enough of holding on to broken dreams. I threw them away.

My next lesson came the next year as I walked the beach looking for another sand dollar. I spent most of that trip with my head down searching the sand for another "miracle." Mercifully, the Lord showed me that while I was so busy combing through sand I was missing the miracles all around me. A wonderful husband, two beautiful children, a huge family I never had growing up, all of creation proclaiming HIS GLORY and the Holy Spirit dwelling within me thanks to Jesus' death on the cross. Look around and see ALL of His blessings!

Finally, I saw yet another lesson in that sand dollar experience. When we hold our blessing too tightly, sometimes we crush them. That lesson is true whether you are holding sand dollars, children, or friends. You will crush the spirits of those you love if you hold them too tightly.

OK, if you stayed with me this far you have the great reward of getting the info on the giveaway! To enter your name for the twenty dollar Dayspring certificate leave a comment below telling me either a good use for the tray or a lesson you have learned from an unlikely object. I can't wait to hear your ideas and stories. Don't forget to put your e-mail so I can contact you if you win the random drawing. Entries will be taken through 11:59 PM on Friday, April 22.

Truth in Disclosure: I was provided the Grace Tray by Dayspring to review for no cost. I did not promise a favorable review in order to receive the item. This is my true opinion. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Max on Life by Max Lucado

2011-04-18T19:52:00.000-05:00

I just finished with Max on Life by Max Lucado. This is actually my first Max Lucado book. This is not a book to just sit down and devour because it is written in a question-answer format. The questions are ones that have been posed to Lucado throughout his years as a writer, pastor and evangelist.

I found the questions very real. They are definitely some that are voiced by those outside of the Christian faith and those that have been lifelong Christians as well. I found Lucado’s answers to be open, honest, and biblically sound.

This would be a great book for those seeking answers to some of life’s toughest questions. As I was reading it, I was thankful for the way he puts into words some very difficult to explain foundations of Christian faith. Even if you have a good grasp of what you believe, this book would be a good tool in preparing to share your Christian faith with others.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The Final Summit by Andy Andrews

2011-04-12T13:37:00.000-05:00

I began this blog with a desire to share what God says to me and to review some of the books I have read. I must confess I have been a little negligent about writing regularly. So please allow me to catch up a little over the next few days with some of the books that have sparked my interest. The first of which is The Final Summit by Andy Andrews.

The Final Summit is the second half of the story of Andy Andrews character David Ponder. Andrews began this story in The Traveler’s Gift. I for one am thankful he continued the story. David Ponder is now nearing the end of life and must answer the pivotal question of how humanity can correct its course. He is helped, of course, by several historical characters and the wisdom they have to offer.

This book is the perfect “sequel” to The Traveler’s Gift. Although you don’t have to have read it to understand the story line of The Final Summit, this second half of the story will be much more meaningful if you have the first half as a framework to build on. The Final Summit ties all of the wisdom of The Traveler’s Gift together and puts a beautiful bow on it. Although not blatantly “Christian” this book definitely presents the practical side of living the Christian life. I highly recommend that anyone and everyone who loves a great story coupled with principles that can alter one’s thinking pick up this book. (And The Traveler's Gift as well!)

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers’ program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

She Speaks is coming up!

2011-03-11T08:05:00.000-06:00

I am very excited that the information for the She Speaks Conference 2011 is finally up! I found out about this event too late to plan on going last year, but I am prayerfully making plans to go this time around. This conference is a great opportunity to gain a wealth of knowledge and help for those who feel called to any sort of women's ministry. And I guess that would include me. Although I have no idea what my ultimate role in women's ministry should look like, I can't deny that the LORD has told me that this is my place to work for Him. I covet your prayers as I am trying to flesh out this call.

I would love to receive the Cecil Murphy Scholarship to attend the conference that Lysa TerKeurst is giving away on her blog. It would be fabulous to get the opportunity to go without the financial burden to deal with! If I don't get the scholarship though and the LORD intends for me to go, I am sure that He will provide in some other way.

Soooo, that is what is on my mind today. What call have you felt from the LORD? I would love to hear your story!

It's been a while....

2010-12-03T09:08:00.000-06:00

It has been a while since I have been able to sit down and have a clear train of thought to write. Life has been occurring around here at breakneck speed. I mean that both figuratively and literally. My step dad fell 13 feet from a building about a month ago and life has been turned upside down for our family. I am happy to report that he is recovering and is expected to eventually be back to an almost "normal" life. :0)

In this rush from hospital to home and back trying to care for all the people I love, writing isn't the only thing that has been missing. It has been a while since I have settled down enough in my soul to receive from God as well. Running on empty would describe my gas guzzling SUV and my soul. I think it's time to slow down and get connected to the source of all my peace and joy. Trying to conjure up Christmas spirit without a close connection to that Savior who's birth we celebrate is like having a birthday party without the person who's having the birthday. POINTLESS!

Praying that both you and I will take time today to get cozy with the Life-giver, God Almighty. Let Him speak a word of cheer and true joy into our day. I am SO ready for it myself and I hope you are too!

Scripture for reflection: John 15:1-11

1 I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.

2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.

3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.

4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.

5 I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned.

7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

8 My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.

9 Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love.

10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.

11 These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.

I'm So Excited!!

2010-11-02T03:24:00.000-05:00

TODAY IS THE DAY!!!

I have been anxiously awaiting the word that a piece I wrote about the winnings I received would be published on the website (in)courage. They are a fabulous group of women on the web with a God-sized dream to create a community of sisterhood with a safe atmosphere to be and share our real selves. This group, sponsored by DaySpring, is who I won $500 from. Half I had the privilege if giving away.

Go to (in)courage today to hear the whole story. Meanwhile I will be home doing the happy dance!

Rick & Bubba's Big Honkin' Book of Grub

2010-10-30T06:07:00.000-05:00

This is not a cookbook. That fact turned me off from the beginning. This is, in fact, a book about food. More accurately, a book about what Rick and Bubba think about food. There are about 20 recipes in the book and many funny quips about everything from barbecue to peanut butter.

Although I LOVE Rick and Bubba on the radio, reading their funny lines just doesn't have the same effect to me. It was funny but not my cup of "sweet tea." That said, I think some of the recipes included look YUMMY! I also love that they included a rundown of their favorite restaurants. Overall, if you like Rick and Bubba you will find this book at least amusing and maybe hilarious. Just don't buy it thinking it is a recipe book.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

Not Enough

2010-10-19T10:48:00.000-05:00

"You are not enough," Satan hisses quietly in our ears. We may be trying to discipline our children, or do something pleasing for our husband, or even lay our lives out at the feet of Jesus. We can hear Satan's whispers, "You are not enough." We know in our hearts it's true. It is part of our greatest source of fear. We are not all that people think we are, and one day we will be found out for the lacking phony we really are. Our children will find out we don't have all the answers. Our husband will find out that homemaking isn't joyful at all to us. Our church will find out that {gasp} we aren't perfect like they are. So the enemy has us cornered. "You are not enough! No need to even try."

There is some truth to Satan's statement. We are not enough....... in our flesh. Romans 8:8 says, "Those who are in the flesh cannot please God." Also Romans 3:10 says, "None is righteous, no, not one."

What are we to do then? Satan says you are not enough and God says you are not enough. The logical action would be to give up as Satan suggests. Thank goodness God doesn't work on logic! Keep reading in Romans 8. Verse 9 says "You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to Him."

The truth of the matter is that we are not enough on our own. As a mother, a wife, even as a child of God, I am not enough on my own, operating out of a fleshly mind, heart, and logic. If I have surrendered myself to the blood and sovereignty of Christ, that is a different story all together. Romans 8:26 says "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness." and verse 37 says"No, in all these things [ tribulation, distress, famine, nakedness, peril, or sword; v.35] we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us."

As Satan whispers "You are not enough, just give up," God in my spirit says, "On your own, you are not enough, but you, my daughter, are not alone. You are mine, bought with the price of the blood of my precious Son, Jesus. I have given you my Spirit and if you will heed the Spirit at work in you, you are more than enough! You are more than a conqueror, you are an overcomer!" Therefore, I must press on to take hold of that which God has called me to be: not perfect but my best in Him. First John 5:5 "Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he (she) who believes that Jesus is the Son of God."(NIV)

I believe! ~ Do You?

(Scripture quoted from the ESV except where noted; itallics and additions mine)

Review of Do You Know Who I Am?

2010-10-04T09:14:00.000-05:00

I just finished Angela Thomas’s new book, Do You Know Who I Am? : And Other Brave Questions Women Ask. It, like the other books I have read by Angela, was life changing. The premise of the book is to state up front the questions that most women struggle with at some point in their walk with God. For each question asked, we are given “God’s response.” Taking God’s naming of Himself to Moses as I AM, Angela lays out God’s I AM response to each of our questions to Him. The answer to our question of “Do You Know Who I Am?” lies in whether or not we know who God is.

This book is well written and easy to read. Angela’s storytelling abilities make the stories of her life and the scripture references come alive to the reader. Her line of reasoning comes through clearly, as each question is asked and then answered. Each chapter could stand alone separately so the reader could pick up the book and begin at any question that is tugging at their heart.

I would highly recommend this book to any woman seeking a deeper relationship the God of Heaven. As we long to know Him and be known by Him, this book is a very useful tool to see that process and understand both our and God’s position. He most definitely knows who we are. Let us learn through studies such as this who He is.

I was provided with a complementary copy of the book for review.

Love in Action

2010-09-20T12:33:00.001-05:00

If you came here today from (in)courage, WELCOME! So glad you came. I pray the Lord speaks to you as loudly as He spoke these words to me. God Bless!

Zechariah 7:9-10 (New International Version)

9 "This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. 10 Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts do not think evil of each other.'

This passage from Zechariah follows the Lord’s questioning of the Israelites feasting and fasting days. It seems that they were only living to themselves, not to God. They had hardened their hearts and stopped up their ears so that they didn‘t hear the Lord‘s pleas for them to return to Him. I find that we are not so much different than they are. How often do I choose to look out at the widow or the orphan? What have I done to ensure that there is justice (correct order) in my society? When have I shown love, mercy and compassion in action to anyone (1Jn 3:16-24, James 1:27)?

Instead I have chosen to turn off the news because the degradation of society disturbs me and I don’t want to see it. I choose not to hear the cries of those who have no one to care for them. I declare that there is nothing that just one person can accomplish so I sit on my hands and wait on another to move. I am too lazy to step out of my comfortable sheltered life to actually love on anyone. At times even my own family must feel neglected by my lack of action on their behalf. Forgive me Lord!

I hope that you don’t find yourself as guilty as I did upon reading these verses. But if you have, there is forgiveness in Christ. I pray that mine is a true repentance. A 180 degree turn that will point me to Love in Action. How will anyone ever know that Jesus will work for them if they never see Him working in us? It is said that we are the hands and feet of Jesus. When I read my bible, Jesus is always moving with love and compassion to help others or teaching with passion and conviction so that sinners might repent. May you and I truly have the hands and feet of Jesus in this world TODAY!

More on Encouragement...

2010-09-13T11:23:00.000-05:00

Guess what! I just won $500!! I get the privilege of giving half of it to a deserving charity. I am praying hard about who to choose. I won the money from a giveaway sponsored by (in)courage and Dayspring card company. (see yesterday's post) I often enter giveaways but am rarely the winner. To be honest, I never even considered winning this time. I was just excited about sharing encouraging words. I guess God knew I needed a little encouragement today. Thanks so much to all involved at (in)courage and Dayspring. Head on over to (in)courage to check out the great and encouraging words over there.

Encouragement

2010-09-12T21:17:00.000-05:00

Happy Encouragement Day to everyone! I hope that you were able to attend a church service today and receive some encouragement from Our Heavenly Father. I was surely encouraged as I attended our homecoming service today. God is so awesome!!

The reason I know that today is Encouragement Day is an offer I responded to from the (in)courage website for 10 Dayspring cards in return for the promise of sending them out to encourage someone. The agreement was to send just one, but as I got to thinking about who I was going to send one to, the Lord kept revealing more and more people that need encouragement in my circle of influence. Many of them are people that I just never feel like I know what to say to because I have never walked in their shoes, but I know from experience that a card that says I love you and I am thinking about you is a real day lifter. I know I will probably never hear about or get to see the look on their face as they receive their gift of encouragement from me, but I know that each person will be able to smile and hold their head a little higher because of an encouraging word form me and the Lord. He is "the lifter of our heads" but who's to say He doesn't want to use my hand to do it every now and then!

Dirty Feet

2010-08-16T09:04:00.000-05:00

Psalm 119:105- For thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.

In the summer, we slip on our flip-flops and head out on whatever task is before us. We flop to the mailbox, around Wal-Mart, to pick a tomato in the garden, etc.. Very seldom, if ever, do we think to stop and see how dirty our feet have gotten throughout the day. Often it is when I step into the shower and notice the footprint left behind that I realize how dirty my feet actually were. All that built up dirt and grime begins to melt away by the persuasion of soap and hot water.

This scenario reminds me of a time when Jesus washed His disciples feet (John 13). Peter wanted no part of it until Jesus told him that he couldn't be His without the washing. Peter then changed his tune, not only was he willing to have his feet washed but his WHOLE body. Jesus answered him by saying, " A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean."

See Jesus knew that walking in this world would get His followers dirty from time to time. We would get off the paved path into some stinky situations. Our pride would trip us or jealousy, or gossip. The list of foul-smelling dirt goes on and on, but that doesn't mean that our original washing of salvation needs to be redone. We only need out feet washed by Jesus!

How exactly does He wash our feet? By His word- His word is a "lamp unto our feet." He shines His light on the "dirt" or sin we have stepped into so that we may see how dirty we have gotten, repent and be washed clean again. His word will then be that "light unto my path." We will see, by His word, the way to the paved path again, and how, by His light, to avoid getting off the path and back in the dirt. So, let's get into the word of God so that we can see the dirt on out feet, get them cleaned up, and get back on the clean path of righteousness!

2010-07-23T07:17:00.002-05:00

Lessons from My Cat

Genesis 1:27- So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

This morning as I sat on the back porch enjoying the morning and a hot cup of coffee, I noticed something. My very ordinary house cat sat looking off in the distance. As I glanced at him, he looked to me just like a majestic lion or a mighty tiger surveying the terrain for prey. Then he moved and was "Bobby, the ordinary again", but for a moment he was "Bobby, made in the image of a greater cat". I heard God speak in that simple moment that we are that way. Just as the house cat has been made in the image or likeness of the greater cats, I or we have been made in His image. Most of the time I look nothing like my Creator God, but from time to time when I am completely unaware I just know others can see the likeness. I know it must be true of me because I have seen it in other people. When they say a fitting word or give a much needed hug, I see God in them. Then in a flash we are ordinary again. My prayer today is that I will spend more time bearing the image of my Creator so that others my know Him and His Resurrection Power.

Lot’s Sin and Mine

2010-04-02T15:23:00.002-05:00

Gen 13:1 So Abram went up from Egypt to the Negev, with his wife and everything he had, and Lot went with him. 2 Abram had become very wealthy in livestock and in silver and gold.
3 From the Negev he went from place to place until he came to Bethel, to the place between Bethel and Ai where his tent had been earlier 4 and where he had first built an altar. There Abram called on the name of the LORD.
5 Now Lot, who was moving about with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents. 6 But the land could not support them while they stayed together, for their possessions were so great that they were not able to stay together. 7 And quarreling arose between Abram's herdsmen and the herdsmen of Lot. The Canaanites and Perizzites were also living in the land at that time.
8 So Abram said to Lot, "Let's not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herdsmen and mine, for we are brothers. 9 Is not the whole land before you? Let's part company. If you go to the left, I'll go to the right; if you go to the right, I'll go to the left."
10 Lot looked up and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan was well watered, like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, toward Zoar. (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) 11 So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and set out toward the east. The two men parted company: 12 Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tents near Sodom. 13 Now the men of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the LORD.
14 The LORD said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, "Lift up your eyes from where you are and look north and south, east and west. 15 All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring [a] forever. 16 I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted. 17 Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you."
18 So Abram moved his tents and went to live near the great trees of Mamre at Hebron, where he built an altar to the LORD. (New International Version)

For a long time I have wondered what about Lot’s choice to go toward the plains of Jordan was so bad. Had Abram not let him choose? Then he chose and ever since has been labeled a bad decision maker. On Sunday morning the Lord gave me a great revelation. (Ok, maybe not great to everyone but great to me.) I finally saw the sin in Lot’s choosing. Do you see it? Lot looked with his eyes toward the plain of Jordan and saw (with his eyes) that it was well watered so that is the way he went. Of course he looked with his eyes you say. What else did he have to see with? Contrast Abrams response a few verses earlier. He and Lot were having troubles with their herdsmen fighting., so Abram built an alter and called on the name of the Lord. We don’t know for sure that Abram prayed about this situation, but I have a strong hunch he did since he suddenly had this great idea to split up. Abram used his eyes to solve his dilemma but not his natural eyes as Lot did and so often I do. He used his spiritual eyes. If Lot had sought God about the choice laid before him, he would not have fallen into sin as he did.

This isn’t the only incidence of seeing naturally and falling headlong into sin we see in the bible. You don’t have to get past the first few pages to see Eve looking with her eyes. Gen 2:6 says: “When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye,” She was only using her natural eyes to see the fruit. She had left off using the eye of God to see the fruit.

The lesson for me is this: whether there is a command of God concerning my decision about something or not, there are always choices set before me to make. What eye will I use to look at my choices? Will I use my human reasoning and my natural eye which is often led to see beauty where none exists? Or will I go to an alter of prayer so that I may see with an eye of faith, the eye of God? I desire to make choices that will bring me closer to God not closer to destruction, as Lot did.

Beautiful Things Happen When a Woman Trusts God by Sheila Walsh

2010-03-09T11:20:00.002-06:00

Do the twists and turns of life often leave you doubting that God’s hand is still on you or His presence is still near?
If so, this somewhat autobiographical book might reassure you that God is always there, even when He seems very distant. Sheila Walsh tells about her life going forward from her stay in a psychiatric hospital., and how God used the lives of ten people to help her along in her journey to trust Him more with the circumstances that she found herself in. Mary and Martha, Paul, Joseph, Abraham and others became her traveling companions. Through her rich story telling ability, they also become yours. Sheila has the wonderful gift of inviting you into the story as if you are present with her through the twist and turns of her life and the lives of these biblical heroes.

This book moved me to look at my level of trusting God with the circumstances of my own life. The chapter entitled “Trusting God with Your Fear” was one of the most moving. I could really relate to Sheila’s retelling of the story of Gideon and her take on how it reflects our struggle with doing what God has laid before us. All of Sheila’s retellings were very Biblically accurate with a few of her own ideas about the details not spelled out in scripture. I would highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to deepen their trust and walk with God.

God is So Good

2010-02-05T11:09:00.002-06:00

This week has been very interesting for me. The mood at my house has been dampened for most of the week by a very tired and grouchy momma(that would be me). I often go through spells of bad sleep patterns but this week it seemed like something different. I felt like there was a spiritual battle going on. Praise God the victory for me is found in Christ Jesus! After I got over myself and allowed Him access into my pity party, He busted it up, and I learned a little something in the process.

For the last 6 months or so, God has been showing me that faith does require some action on my part. Sitting-on-my-rump-faith isn't really good for much. It doesn't make God great in the eyes of anyone, if I say I believe God will move a mountain and I don't ever get up, go to the mountain and tell it that God said to move. I have this paralysis that is activated when the step of faith is required. Do you remember the story of Gideon putting out the fleece? Well Gideon ain't got nothing on me. Fleece after fleece is required before I will budge an inch.

Fast forward to last night. My husband and I were discussing my propensity toward legalism when God hit me smack in the face with a very disturbing revelation. I am to Him what my daughter has become over the last few months to me. You see, she has this rather exasperating habit of asking me before she does anything. For instance: "Can I go to the bathroom?" then "Do you want me to wash my hands?" then "Can I go back to play now?" then "Can I get out the crayons?" I think you get the point. I was at my wits end with all the questions and then she started asking more than once to be sure she heard correctly. AAAGGGGHHHH! So you see this revelation from God was quite disturbing. I have been driving Him crazy, more or less, asking questions that I should step out on my own faith on and then harassing Him to make sure I am doing the right thing. Don't get me wrong, God want us to make sure we are following His direction, but He doesn't want to be asked for permission to go to the bathroom. :^)

That revelation combined with a reminder this morning of the Grace God extended by sending His Son to die on the Cross for my sins, has turned my mood around. It's amazing what God can do when we look intently upon His face to see His goodness and mercy anew and see ourselves as He sees us. I am His beloved daughter.

Do you think now that I've learned my lesson my own Dear Daughter will quit asking so many questions? I'll let you know!

Beautiful

2010-01-26T12:31:00.003-06:00

By Phil Wickham
I see Your face in every sunrise
The colors of the morning are inside Your eyes
The world awakens in the light of the day
I look up to the sky and say
You’re beautiful

I see Your power in the moonlit night
Where planets are in motion and galaxies are bright
We are amazed in the light of the stars
It’s all proclaiming who You are
You’re beautiful, You're beautiful

I see you there hanging on a tree
You bled and then you died and then you rose again for me
Now you are sitting on Your heavenly throne
Soon we will be coming home
You’re beautiful, you're beautiful

When we arrive at eternity’s shore
Where death is just a memory and tears are no more
We’ll enter in as the wedding bells ring
Your bride will come together and we’ll sing
You’re beautiful, You're beautiful, You're beautiful

I see Your face, You're beautiful, You're beautiful, You're beautiful
I see Your face, You're beautiful, You're beautiful, You're beautiful
I see Your face, I see Your face
I see Your face, You’re beautiful, You’re beautiful, You’re beautiful

For the past two weeks , God has been wonderfully displaying His Beauty to me in the sunrise and sunset. I have always enjoyed watching the sky in the afternoons as the colors intensify and bring the sky to life. At times it seems that it is too beautiful a thing for this fallen creation to behold. While listening to the words to this song I realized the reason God sends the beauty of the skies. HE is the SUN of heaven (Rev 21:23). In the early morning, before the hustle and bustle of the day begins, He wishes to remind us of His beauty and His faithfulness (Lam 3:22-23) and in the quiet of the evening He is there again as we settle down from a long and tiring day to again allow a glimpse of His majesty as He sits robed in royal colors before us just beyond life’s sunset. Even in the midnight we can still see His glory, reflecting off the moon, shining down on us reminding us that He never sleeps nor slumbers (Psalm 121) . He is truly BEAUTIFUL!

Rev 21:23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.

Lam 3:22 Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.

Psalm 121:1 I lift up my eyes to the hills—
where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord watches over you—
the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;
8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.

Hello Out There

2010-01-26T08:47:00.000-06:00

WOW! I have been thinking about starting my own blog for some time now, but have been scared to death of putting my thoughts out for others to read. Hopefully the record of my journey will help someone along their way. I will try to be patient with myself on this new venture if you will be patient with me also.

In this blog, I would like to review some of the awesome Christian books I have read recently and tell a little about my life adventure as well.

I guess I should introduce myself.... I am a stay-at-home momma of two beautiful children (a boy, 7, and a girl, 5). I have been married to my high school sweetheart for almost 13 years. I am very active in our small country church. There I facilitate a women's bible study and have just been elected VBS director, again. I have a great passion for GOD and a desire to be all that HE created me to be. I love cake decorating and am hoping to open a shop in the near future. I am thankful for a close family and a great group of supportive friends. I guess that about covers it for now.

Thanks for reading and GOD bless!