"Fear not for I am with you. Do not be dismayed for I am your God, I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
My friend Angela sent me this video that I wanted to share. These two girls, Bethany who wrote and composed the song and Emily who is the vocalist, are two of Angela's pastor's daughters. The girls are homeschool graduates and very very talented. I can't wait to hear more from them!
It's the last week and the last day of the challenge! Wow, the time really flew by didn't it? Who knew a month of Bible Reading could go by so quickly.
Thank you all for doing this challenge with me and sticking it out! It was a lot of work but I think it was worth it for me. I know I have developed a mental habit where, at the end of the day if I have not read my Bible, I begin to feel guilty. But I think this is a healthy kind of guilt. I think it is the Holy Spirit telling me that I still have something to do before I slip into bed! I've learned that it is so important to feed the Spirit daily. Just like our bodies need daily food to survive, so do our spirits!
Okay, I am so excited to reveal the winners! My little guy drew three random names from the all ladies that signed up on the Mr. Linky but before I announnce them I wanted to share these verses.
Philippians 3:14 says, "I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
Hebrews 11:6 says, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Earthly prizes cannot compare to the heavenly reward we will receive if we continue to seek Him diligently and press on in our walk! Be encouraged to stay in the Word daily to receive the heavenly prizes that are so much more precious than anything we receive on earth.
Yes! We are on week four! We are almost there! I'm so excited! Weekends still prove to be difficult for me but reading the Bible daily is becoming more of a habit as each day goes by.
Last week life was just crazy and I was not feeling inspired so there was no "challenge week three" post, I'm sorry to say. But from that week, I think God revealed something to me that goes along with being in the Word daily.
I was reading in James and James is just full of good stuff but it was chapter 5:7-11 that I liked.
"7 Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. 8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. 9 Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned.Behold, the Judge is standing at the door! 10 My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. 11Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful."
It says to "establish your hearts". In what? In God's Word. The only way to do this is by reading His Word daily and by being rooted up in it. We need to value God's Word and prefer it to tv, movies, other books, entertainment, wordly pleasures, and selfish desires. When God's Word is first place in our life then our hearst will be established, unmoved, firm, and steadfast. It says in Psalm 112:6-8 that when our hearts are established we will not not be shaken, not be afraid of evil tidings, steadfast and trusting in the Lord.
There's also picture of an established heart in Psalm 1:2-3, "But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper. " When your heart is established, nothing can move you! You are like a tree deeply rooted into the ground. You will not wither when trials come your way. Instead, you will prosper and bear much fruit!
When you are deeply rooted in God's Word, you can endure all the trials that come your way because God is your strength and you have His law and His promises deep within your heart. You know what you know is true and nothing can shake you. Then, like it says in James, you will be blessed because you endured and persevered faithfully. And the key, I think for me, is to be deeply rooted in the spiritual truth set in James 5:11. To know absolutely, always, without a shadow of a doubt in your mind, that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful. He has a soft , tender, generous, sympathizing, forgiving, and kind heart. (Psalm 86:5,15) He has your best interests at heart and loves you unconditionally.
Last week, I doubted His love to me. I turned my back on Him and my thoughts entertained ideas that were not true. Because my heart was not established and rooted I kept listening to the devil's deceit. I became afraid, I was angry at God, and as a result my faith swayed with my circumstances. As I repented, though, and realized what a wretched sinner I am, God showed me how merciful and compassionate He is. He took me back with open arms and loves me unconditionally. He is so faithful and true. Steadfast and never changing. That is how I want to be. Like a tree so deeply rooted in His Word that the devil's darts will never shake me. I have to be faithful in establishing my heart "for the coming of the Lord is at hand." I want to be ready.
Don't quit and don't miss out on what the Lord has for you!
Summary:The Change and Cherish series follows the story of feisty Emma Giesy
My Review:
I love books that are based on a historical time period or on an individual in history. The main character of this book, Emma Giesy, a German-American woman, is a true and very real woman. She was the only woman who was sent off to the Oregon Territory in the 1850's. She had a very hard life. She experiences very trying circumstances and emotional times and the reader can identify with those struggles and sympathize with her. Jane Kirkpatrick's writing is very enjoyable as well. Very descriptive and full of details! I was given the opportunity to read all 3 of her books in this series and I really recommend buying the first two before reading the third in the series.
A Clearing in the Wild
Spirited young Emma Wagner chafes at the constraints of her 1850s religious community, which values conformity over independent thought, especially in women. Skeptical of the colony’s growing emphasis on preparing for “the last days,” Emma clashes with their increasingly autocratic leader—and faces the unexpected consequences of pursuing independence.
A Tendering in the Storm
This lyrical novel, based on an historical figure of the 1800s, follows the spirited and intelligent Emma Giesy, who achieves her goal of separating her family from the repressive religious community in which she grew up. But unexpected and dire consequences leave her family—and her faith—struggling to survive.
A Mending at the Edge
This richly textured novel, the third in the acclaimed Change and Cherish series, follows the historical figure of Emma Wagner Giesy, who chafes under the restrictions of her 1860s religious colony. When her bid to belong in her unique way unravels her most precious relationships, she seeks new ways to stitch meaning into her life.
Author Bio:Jane Kirkpatrick is the best-selling author of two nonfiction books and fourteen historical novels, including the popular Kinship and Courage series.Her award-winning writing has appeared in more than fifty publications, including Sports Afield and Decision. She’s won the coveted Western Heritage Wrangler Award, an honor shared by such writers as Larry McMurtry and Barbara Kingsolver. Jane is a licensed clinical social worker as well as an internationally recognized speaker. She and her husband, Jerry, ranch 160 acres in eastern Oregon.
I have two extra copies of A Mending Edge! For those interested, please leave me a comment naming a favorite book of yours and why you might like this one! Two entries will be drawn and the winners will be emailed. Drawing will be held this Friday night!
Review by Seth, age 15:
Do Hard Things is an inspiring book by twin brothers, Alex and Brett Harris, who understand the struggles teens face and how to overcome these struggles. This book focuses on the potential that teenagers have to make a difference in today’s society. The authors teach from personal experiences on how to remain focused on God during times of hardship and how to use those challenges for good. Each page is uplifting, instructional, and most of all, challenging. This book has helped me to realize that even though I am young, I can still be a leader. Even though people may not expect much of me, I can go above and beyond their expectations with the right attitude and God’s help. If all teens read this book and take its advice, there will be a “rebelution” in our society.
Summary: With over 10 million hits to their website TheRebelution.com, Alex and Brett Harris are leading the charge in a growing movement of Christian young people who are rebelling against the low expectations of their culture by choosing to “do hard things” for the glory of God.
Written when they were 18 years old, Do Hard Things is the Harris twins’ revolutionary message in its purest and most compelling form, giving readers a tangible glimpse of what is possible for teens who actively resist cultural lies that limit their potential. Combating the idea of adolescence as a vacation from responsibility, the authors weave together biblical insights, history, and modern examples to redefine the teen years as the launching pad of life and map a clear trajectory for long-term fulfillment and eternal impact.
Written by teens for teens, Do Hard Things is packed with humorous personal anecdotes, practical examples, and stories of real-life rebelutionaries in action. This rallying cry from the heart of revolution already in progress challenges the next generation to lay claim to a brighter future, starting today.
Author Bio: Alex and Brett Harris founded TheRebelution.com in August 2005 and today at age 19 are the most popular Christian teen writers on the Web. The twins are frequent contributors to Focus on the Family’s Boundless webzine, serve as the main speakers for the Rebelution Tour conferences, and have been featured in WORLD magazine, Breakaway, The Old Schoolhouse, and the New York Daily News. Sons of homeschool pioneer Gregg Harris and younger brothers of best-selling author Joshua Harris (I Kissed Dating Goodbye), Alex and Brett live near Portland, Oregon.
I have one beautiful hardback copy of this book to give away! If you have a teen at home and would like the chance to win, please leave me a comment and tell me how your teen has been growing in the Lord and desiring to live for Him. Entries must be in by Friday April 18th and the winner will be emailed.
It's only week two and I already got off track on my reading, almost. For me, I've found I can usually read my Bible in the morning when my little guy is eating breakfast. If I don't finish, I can do more reading during naptime. But over the weekend I never have a schedule. I remembered Saturday afternoon that I had not read my Bible yet and got after it, but then yesterday I remembered just before bed. So, I'm still on track, but just barely! I know I would not have gone to all the work of getting out of bed to go read, if it were not for all of you ladies keeping me accountable. In fact, this whole week I've been reading about how important it is to God that I remain accountable or "faithful" to Him. That word "faithful" stood out to me many times this week so I know God is trying to get my attention. Earlier this week I read these verses on faithfulness.
Colossians 1:2 "To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ"
I Timothy 1:12 "And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry."
I Timothy 3:11 "Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things."
II Timothy 2:2 "And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also."
All of these verses on being faithful also reminded me of Matthew 25 and the parable of the talents. This is the story of the master who leaves and gives his servants talents. He gives five talents to one, two to another, and one talent to another one, each according to his own ability. When the master returns to his servants he finds that the first two servants have been faithful with their talents and increased what the master had entrusted to them. The master said to them, "Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord."
The last servant however was a different story. He was not faithful with his talent. Why was he not faithful like the rest of the other servants? He says it was because he was afraid, so he hid it in the ground. In verse 26, though, the master reveals why this servant was unfaithful. Verse 26 says, "But his lord answered and said to him, You wicked and lazy servant..." The servant was unfaithful because he was "wicked and lazy". Now that verse really grabs my attention. I can easily see myself in the shoes of this unfaithful servant. First because I can identify with being afraid, but especially because I am often unfaithful in the little things for no better reason than because I am wicked and lazy. Very lazy. Why do I not read my Bible daily? I'm too lazy. And I'm too wicked doing other things that please my flesh rather than the things that please God and faithfully doing what God asks me to do, day by day, moment by moment.
I like I Timothy 1:12 where it says "and I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful." In the NAS, I like it even better. "I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful." To me, it sounds like God will enable me and strengthen me if I am faithful to Him. If I am faithful to Him he will giive me the strength to remain faithful. I'm not in this alone. He is there to help me along the way.
I'd love to know how you are finding the time to keep up and stay on track as well as what God has been showing you in your quiet time!
It's the 1st of April and, besides being April Fool's Day, it's the first day of our challenge!
I got up this morning and I usually do not open up my Bible first thing. In fact, I usually don't even get dressed or eat breakfast first thing. What I usually do when I get up, is check my email! And if it's a particularly boring email day I'll go check up on my favorite blogs and pop around the internet for awhile. Before I know it, those few minutes have turned into a whole hour wasted on the computer. Time flies when you are having fun! This morning I made sure I did not fall into my normal routine. Time for a new pattern!
Everyone has 24 hours in a day, no more no less, and God has given each of us enough time in a day to get done what He wants us to do. When I do not get my Bible reading done in a day it is not because I don't have enough time but that I've wasted my time on other things that were less important. Here is sort of an ideal schedule from my pastor's wife, for her.
DAILY SCHEDULE
1 Prayer
1 Study
½ Discipleship class (3 hrs. @ wk.)
1 Travel
1 ½ Eating
1 ½ Conversation with husband
1 ½ Conversation with child(ren)
1 ½ Conversation with friend(s)
½ Cleaning (including reading mail), ironing, mending
½ Cooking
1 Family devotions
½ Shopping/errands/finances
1 Household projects/organizing
½ Hygiene (hair, makeup, showers, bathroom)
½ Exercise
1 Rest/Nap
8 Sleep
1 Margin (for unexpected delays) 24 hours
Where is the time for TV, magazines, movies, books, Internet surfing? What about the woman who is going to school or work? Or homeschooling her children? Where do doing craft projects fit in? Playing with, caring for a pet? Caring for and talking with aging parents? Gardening, yardwork? God has given us 24 hours in a day to do only what He asks us to do. We continuously need to be in communion with Him, asking Him to guide us to the task He wants us to accomplish or just work a little bit on during a particular day. John 8:28b,29 says, "I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases Him.
Looking at my schedule I realized I most definitely spend more than 2 hours a day on the computer and sometimes more than 2 hours a day on the phone. Add that together and I've already used up half of an eight hour day! I Cor 6:12 says, "All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any." In looking at this verse I realized I had some things that needed to be weeded back. All things are lawful can mean things like talking on the phone and blogging on the computer. They are certainly allowable for me as a Christian. No one would say they are bad things morally. In fact, lawful things can be good things. But just because they are good things does not mean they are helpful or spiritually beneficial. If I am feeling convicted by the Holy Spirit about these things, then I must weed them out. And like my pastor's wife says, if we do not weed them out, God will. But if God weeds them out, it's going to hurt a lot more than if we take care of it ourselves. Ephesians 5:15 says, "See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil."
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This morning I read from Philippians. I'm almost to the end of it, though, so I'll probably be in Colossians the rest of the week. I'd love to hear what book of the Bible you are reading from this week or this month!
Get Ready!!! The 30 Day Bible Reading Challenge starts this Tuesday, April 1st! I'm so excited to get started. I think I said I'd reveal the 3 prizes at the end of the month but you know how I change my mind and can't keep secrets, so here they are. They are the cutest little totes I could find and they all have Scriptures on the front. I hope they will motivate you to keep up with the challenge of reading your Bible every day.
I have a book giveaway at my other blog. I'm giving away 2 copies of the book, Family Squeeze by Phil Callaway. If you are interested…leave me a comment HERE. I’ll be emailing the winners!
You can check back at that blog if you want more giveaways because I have another one coming up in late April.
Motivation. I've needed it since I was a kid, my mom could testify to that, and I haven't grown out of needing it as an adult as well. With me, if I'm not motivated I fall behind, procrastinate, and am too lazy to even begin a project. The little kid in me still needs stickers, rewards, candy, and prizes to get me moving.
For the longest time I've been desiring to read my Bible every day. I've tried reading it in the morning because I want to give God the best part of my day but it hasn't worked out. My little guy wants his breakfast, the kitchen has to be cleaned before we can eat breakfast, the milk spilled on the floor, the dog is barking, the phone rings, the laundry is buzzing, the floor is sticky, and before I know it I've hit the pillow and missed my quiet time, again.
I know that I do have the time during the day to read my Bible but the difficulty lies in setting the time aside to do it. I also need to determine to put the dog outside and set my little guy up with a longlasting activity - um, like a movie or a nap - so there can be a little bit of stillness and quiet.
For the month of April I decided I would make a committment to reading my Bible every day for at least 15 minutes. 15 minutes because I should be able to find at least 15 minutes in a day to read my Bible and it shouldn't be too overwhelming for me. All the while I'll also be developing a good habit that I can continue with and add more time to as I go along.
Want to Join Me?
Please join me and challenge yourself to spending at least 15 minutes in your Bible for the 30 days of April. Snag this button or you can copy and paste the code
and place it on your blog and leave your link below so we can encourage and motivate one another throughout the month.
At the end of the month, all of those who have persevered with me will be added to my drawing. On April 30th I'll draw 3 winners. Prizes are a suprise and will be revealed at the end of the month!
Summary: Business degree in hand, Logan enters the immense Universal Systems building and is hired as an organizational analyst – a trouble-shooter. His job: evaluate the company’s five divisions, each on a separate level and each operating on startlingly unique principles. Which set of principles is successful? Why is most of the company’s profit generated by one tiny division? What is real profit, anyway? And who is the enigmatic executive that Logan ends up reporting to?
Logan engages in a life-changing pursuit for The Next Level—a fascinating parable that will help readers answer some of life’s most perplexing, vital questions. Joining Logan in evaluating each level’s approach, readers will be inspired to consider the big picture of their own life from an entirely different perspective – one that holds the key to life’s ultimate purpose. No matter where you are now, get ready to embark on your own passionate pursuit of The Next Level.
Author Bio: David Gregory is the author of the best-selling books Dinner with a Perfect Stranger and A Day with a Perfect Stranger, and coauthor of two nonfiction books. After a ten-year business career, he returned to school to study religion and communications, earning graduate degrees from The University of North Texas and Dallas Theological Seminary. A native Texan, David now lives in Oregon devotes himself to writing full time.
My Thoughts: The Next Level is a book about a unique computer software corporation. In the story, we follow the experience of Logan, who is hired as an organizational analyst to evaluate each of the company’s five divisions, and identify what they’re doing well and what they’re doing poorly. Even though he’s a new hire fresh out of college, Logan reports directly to the director of the company on Level 5. Through his evaluation process, Logan makes some very interesting and unusual discoveries about the company….
When I heard about this book, I was really looking forward to reading it. I’ve worked for two large companies since graduating from college, so a modern-day parable of a large corporation that would help me understand my purpose in life certainly sounded fascinating! However, I was a bit disappointed when the parable didn’t make sense at face value.
…In Logan’s analysis of Levels 1 through 4, he discovers that all except for one of the divisions on those levels is losing money. And the one that is making a profit, isn’t making much. Considering that the first four levels consist of thousands of employees, you would think that the company would have to be losing money. However, through the efforts of Level 5 (made up of a few tens of employees), the overall company somehow makes a good profit. As I was reading, I was excited to find out what really great product Level 5 created that brought in so much profit! When I discovered that their “product” wasn’t a product at all, well...I just wasn’t able to relate.
Not that this book doesn’t make you think about your relationship to God and your purpose in life. It does do a good job of revealing the futility of living for yourself or living for anything besides God. And it makes you wonder why God puts up with us when we ignore what he asks us to do and go our own way. Unfortunately, it also makes you question the necessity of studying God’s “manual” by implying that if you have a close personal relationship with God, studying his Word is really only necessary to keep less godly Christians from looking down you.
The beauty of the parables Jesus told his followers was that his stories were a simple description of everyday life, and for those whose ears were open those stories revealed a deeper spiritual truth.
Check out my friend Heidi's blog for your chance to win a great assortment of goodies! Books, a magazine subscription, and a puzzle to help wait for Spring to arrive. FUN! I personally have my eye on the Yada Yada Prayer Group book. I've seen and heard a lot about it and it just looks like a fun book.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Julie Carobini is an award-winning writer whose stories often spotlight her family, the sea, and God's timely work in the lives of those around her. She lives with her husband, Dan, and their three children in Ventura Beach, California.
She also likes to blog! Go leave her a comment at Waves of Grace.
Julie left you all a special message:
To celebrate my upcoming CFBA tour March 5-7, I'll be giving away a copy of Truffles by the Sea AND and a 1/2 lb. box of yummy truffles to three of your readers.
All they need to do is drop by my blog http://juliecarobini.blogspot.com/ during the tour and leave a comment and a way to contact them if they win!
ABOUT THE BOOK:
If you read, Julie's first book, Chocolate Beach, then you might remember Gaby as Bri’s dramatic, lovesick best friend. Unfortunately, things get worse—much worse—for her before they get…well, best not to give it away.
Sometimes all a girl has left is chocolate...
Gaby Flores has a penchant for drama and an unfortunate knack for dating Mr. So Wrong. After breaking off yet another relationship, watching her apartment building burn to the ground, and discovering that her dippy delivery guy has run off with most of her business, Gaby decides it’s time to turn things around.
So she moves to a tiny waterfront loft and takes on a new motto: “Be gullible no more!” With help from her friends, she works to rebuild her flower shop—and her life. But when legal troubles and quirky neighbors and two surprising romances enter her beachy world, Gaby’s motto and fledgling faith are put to the test.
Can a young woman prone to disaster in both work and love finally find happily ever after?
"Truffles by the Sea is delightful! Julie Carobini has a new fan in this reader, and she's earned a spot on my keeper shelf." --Kay James, RomanceReaderatHeart.com
"This book is a delight to read, and the author has us rooting for Gaby from page one. This girl's never-say-die attitude is incredible, and her life is filled with all kinds of foibles. This is chick lit with heart – about so much more than finding a man.... While keeping the light chick lit tone, this book satisfied while avoiding the tired old formulas. Just when I’m ready to give up on the genre, I stumble across an author who can write without relying on stereotypes." --Cara Putman, writerinterrupted.com
"I liked Julie Carobini's first novel, Chocolate Beach, but her sophomore release, Truffles By The Sea, greatly surpasses it. I thoroughly enjoyed Carobini's second book and felt her writing was much stronger throughout. The characters are deeper and yet funnier – a great combination.... It's a great read for a cold winter day – you can curl up with the book, a nice fire and pretend you're the one by the sea." --Jill Hart, RadiantLit.com
