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Showing posts from June, 2012

BOOK REVIEW: Anything

Anything By: Jennie Allen Published by Thomas Nelson Copyright 2011 Anything .  The word that says so much.  Can you pray that one word, and mean it?  Can you ask God to take anything you have, everything you have, and use it for His honor and glory?  Can you take that one word and let Him DO anything with your life and subsequently the lives of those around you?  Why is it so hard for those of us who profess to be Christians, who profess to have given our hearts to God, give Him anything He asks of us?  Why are we so afraid? These questions are probed thoroughly in Jennie Allen's book Anything (the prayer that unlocked my God and my Soul).  This is a powerful book that really pokes at you and prompts you to make a decision to go all out for God. If God is Who He says He is, what do we have to lose?  If God is Who He says He is, where are we going to spend the most time -- here on this earth, or in eternity?  So what REALLY MATTERS?  What does God want? As Jennie says:

Personal Thoughts on Abusive Situations

I have been feeling like I need to make some personal comments after having read and posted the book review on Break Through . I have kept quiet on my blog about personal abuse in my marriage out of respect for my two teenage sons. However, reading Break Through has prompted me to give you some personal, insider notes without trying to make a big deal or cast blame. I do feel that at some point in time God will ask me to share, and I want to be obedient, ready and willing when that time comes. But for now, here are some comments from the perspective of someone who has been there. To those in crises situations : There is no shame in seeking help. There is never any reason for someone to verbally or physically abuse you. You did not "make" them do it to you. Be prepared for denial on the part of the offender. It will NOT get better, only worse. To family members of those in crises situations : Unless a person is ready to get out of the abusive situatio

Cat

Have you ever heard stories of people finding creatures under the hood of their cars, having driven for miles not knowing they were there?  Well, that happened to me personally, although my distance was only from the Walmart parking lot to my house, maybe 5 miles.  I picked up medicine at Walmart, and when I got back to my car I thought I heard a cat.  I looked around but didn't see one, so thought maybe I was hearing things.  Went through a drive through for dinner and heard it again.  By this time I was praying I wasn't killing an animal and that I wouldn't see it bouncing down the road behind me!  When I got home, before I could pop open the hood of the car, a perky little kitten jumped out.  A cute little grey cat with white markings -- and No Tail.  And no, I AM NOT THE ONE WHO CHOPPED OFF IT'S TAIL!   It was already that way -- I promise!  It's been three days now, and I have found that this is one very loving little kitten.  I haven't told my son

BOOK REVIEW: Break Through

By: Tim Clinton and Pat Springle Copyright 2012 Published by Worthy Publishing It is sometimes difficult for me to read about negative, destructive relationships, having come from one myself.  I wish I would have had this book a number of years ago, but I was able to get good counseling to help me sort out my own issues.  I was able to realize there was a problem, determine what the problem was, and seek to remedy that problem.  But I had to get away from the circumstances of that problem.  Reading Break Through five years after I stepped away, FREE, from my own personal issues sheds a lot of light on my situation and why I did the things I did.  I imagine I am not alone in personal relationship struggles.  In fact, I would venture to say that most everyone has had a negative relationship in their life, either by being the needy person or being the one who was controlling. And even though these relationships are unhealthy, it is sometimes easier to stay with something we kno

BOOK REVIEW: Through Rushing Water

By: Catherine Richmond Published by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Copyright 2012 What happens when your plans change drastically, something you thought was a sure thing turns out very differently than you had expected.  That's the story of Through Rushing Water .  Sophia Makinoff is the French teacher at a girls' college and has plans to marry a US Congressman.  She is positive he is on the verge of proposing.  However, the proposal is not for her!   Sophia packs her bags and runs off to be a missionary to the Ponca Indians in Nebraska, hoping to leave behind the sting of rejection.  Her first choice was to be a missionary to China after which she could return to her native Russia, but the position with the Ponca Tribe became available first.  Anything to get away from her humiliation! Unfortunately Sophia does not seek the will of God.  She delves into her prayer book in order to pray.  She is not seeking God on a personal level.  But just because Sophia is not exactly in tune

BOOK REVIEW: Building Family Ties with Faith, Love & Laughter

By: Dave Stone Published by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Copyright 2012 Raising a family in today's world is a challenge.  And that's if you are not a Christian.  How much more difficult is is to raise a Christian family in a, and I'm going to say it, wicked world?  How do you teach good Christian values when your kids' friends and acquaintances might not have the same family values as you and your family? That's where Building Family Ties with Faith, Love & Laughter by Dave Stone comes into play.  Although building a strong family should begin early in the life of the family, there is always hope.  I am a mother of two teenage boys (15 & 16) and was able to garner a lot of wisdom (and ideas!) from Mr. Stone's book to apply to our family.  I always try to have fun with my guys and say "I love you" constantly, but there are a lot of other INTENTIONAL ways that our family of three can become what God wants us to be.   This book is filled

Fun with the guys

My guys hiking Okay, if my sons EVER find out that I posted pictures on my blog of our recent trip to Oak Mountain State Park , I AM TOAST!   So please don't tell them!  It all started when the boys arrived at my house at 7:00 a.m. on the dot.  I LOVE to sleep in, but I was up.  They were hungry so I fixed breakfast.  Then -- they were BORED!  Yeah, I know that's typical for teenagers.  Really, they had their faces buried in their new phones -- don't know what kind they are, but you can certainly download some cool (they think) games on them.  I asked what they wanted to do for the day -- nothing (heads still buried in their games).  So I went about my business.  About an hour later I asked the question again, and it was the same.  So I said I was going to go out in the yard and putter around.  I had a tent that says it takes two people to put up, and I wanted to see if I could do it myself.  I asked the younger of my two sons to come supervise me (this son

BOOK REVIEW: Wildflowers from Winter

Wildflowers from Winter By: Katie Ganshert Published by WaterBrook Press Copyright 2012 Architect Bethany Quinn has it all.  She has a job in a prestigious law firm in Chicago and a great boyfriend.  And she has successfully put behind her the life before her success.  Before she became a confident, driven career woman.  Until she receives news from home that her beloved grandfather (whom she has made no attempt to see in the past ten years) has suffered a heart attack.  Bethany rushes home to Iowa for a short visit and immediately meets farmhand Evan Price.  Who is this man, anyway.  And what is he doing LIVING in her grandfather's home?  Bethany also reluctantly renews her friendship with her once best friend (again, someone she has been out of contact with for the past ten years) and helps her deal with the tragic, unexpected loss of her husband, who also happened to be the brother of Evan Price. As quickly as possible Bethany wraps up her business in Iowa and

BOOK REVIEW: Subversive Kingdom

Subversive Kingdom By: Ed Stetzer Published by B & H Publishing Group Copyright 2012 Do you ever wonder what life as a child of God is REALLY supposed to be like?  Is life in Christ stale and ho-hum?  Should it really be all about becoming a Christian, going to church, and that's it?  In his new book Subversive Kingdom , Mr. Ed Stetzer  takes a look at what Christians are really supposed to be doing with their lives.  And that's not living with a get out of hell free card and doing nothing else. Subversive Kingdom  is divided into three sections: Part I - A Subversive Way of Thinking, Part II - A Subversive Way of Life, and Part III - A Subversive Plan of Action.  As Christians, we are supposed to be representatives (ambassadors) of Christ. We are supposed to go out and share the gospel, the good news of salvation.  We are supposed to help those who need help, give of our time, talents, etc.  However, we are supposed to do those things BECAUSE we are Christians, no