Do you need an idea for a Christmas Party?

First before I share my idea, I just want to issue all women a warning... IF YOU WALK PAST A MIRROR WITH 15X MAGNIFICATION CAPABILITY, DON'T LOOK AT IT!!!


I was at a store today shopping for some gifts for my party gift exchange and I passed a mirror that said 15x magnification, so I looked at it. I am sorry I did. I was thinking my face looked pretty good until I saw it zoomed in 15 times more than a human should see her face. I saw a black makeup speck in my eye that was not clearly visible just looking at my face in a normal mirror. OK, I knew I had hair on my face, but man oh man...you could call me a man after seeing my face zoomed in.

You know the crazy thing is that even though it was awful, I think I want that mirror :)

OK, silliness over. Here is my idea.

If you are hosting a party and you are looking for a new way to do a gift exchange you could try this. This idea was actually inspired by Beth Moore. If I remember the story right, I read one time that she bought her coworkers "As Seen on TV" products. If you knew me, I am such a sucker for those "As Seen on TV" products. I own several :)

OK, so because I am curious, and I thought it would be fun to do with the ladies of my Bible Study group, we are having an "As Seen On TV" gift exchange. There are a lot of "ASOTV" products that are $9.99 (less tax) so that is limit we set for the gifts. I asked all the ladies in my group to give me their money so I could buy the gifts, so that way they could be a little surprised when they open their gifts. One neat thing is that every once in awhile you can find a higher price product on sale, so a few of the ladies in my exchange will get a bonus.

I am going to wrap the gifts and put a number on each gift and then let each lady draw a number from a basket. I can't wait for the exchange, and later my friends can tell me if these "ASOTV" products work or not.

If you are looking for any other Christmas ideas for parties, just let me know. I have a few more in mind :)

Living Proof Conference

Beth spoke on the life of John the Baptist, and it was great...she shared things that were so interesting and challenging. The theme was "Prepare the Way for the Lord" I think that was it.

I had awesome seats, although from the pictures it might not appear that way. My friend and I got to help out with Lifeway's bookstore while there...that was so much fun.

I always feel a bit sorry for speakers when they have their pictures taken...they never get to smile for the shot :)

365-#165-168 (Thru Thursday)

Do you recognize this woman??? (a bit blurry) My friend and I went to her ministry's conference...see us below. We helped out in the bookstore, so we had to dress as twins :) JESUS IS...

JESUS IS...

(I have more pictures that I will post from this conference in a separate post...

One of my favorite things...

One of my favorite things in life is Bible study and even more specific women's Bible Study... I have had the joy of being in many Bible Studies, and hosting some as well. Currently, I am hosting a women's Bible study at my home on Fridays. We are going through Lysa Terkuerst's new book, "Becoming More than a Good Bible Study Girl". It has been just fantastic... I highly recommend this book to read or work through in a study type situation.

Pictured above are some of my friends...some new and some I have had for a bit longer. I love doing life with women who are seeking to know Jesus more...women willing to change, and do the hard work that is required in the Christian journey.

I took so many groups pictures above because everyone was not here on the same day :)

Thank you Jesus for the opportunity to learn and grow with these women...

I am the Rich man (or woman)!!!

This post came about as a result of me watching the Francis Chan video (see the post on my blog about two down). I was nervous about watching a video called "Lukewarm and Loving It", but at this point in my walk with Jesus I do want to know the truth, even if I don't think I want to know.



The whole video is so good, but only about five minutes into the video I had a revelation of sorts. Francis Chan was talking about how over 50% of the world live on less than $2.00 a day. I think we all have heard that statistic stated in some way or another in the last decade. Francis then mentioned about the verse from the Bible that talks about how difficult it is for the rich to enter heaven, and then it just clicked in my mind. I am the rich, and it is difficult for me to enter heaven. (Matthew 19:24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.")


I think I always thought that verse pertains to the people in the world that are billionaires, millionaires, superstars, but not me. I am not rich, or at least I thought so. You see in my myopic view I was applying that verse to me living in America, but I don't just live in America, I live in a world... a world so much bigger than what my selfish eyes can see. According to the statistic of over 50% of people that live on less than $2.00 a day, that would make me filthy rich...a billionaire!!!



As the video went on Francis so passionately explains how money and riches (even if we think we don't have money) cloud our view of God, and the more money we have the more we find comfort and safety in it, and not God. As I watched the video I just sensed so many ways I trust money and not God...how I wrestle with giving up things I want and think it is a sacrifice. Oh, how sinful and foolish I am. I don't see God for who He is... High and mighty and lifted up. I think too highly of myself, and I don't want to anymore.



Francis also talked about the story in the Bible of the rich man that wanted to know what he could do to have eternal life, and when Jesus told him the last thing to do , which was to sell everything he had and give it to the poor and follow Him, the rich man walked away... he couldn't do it. I don't want to be that rich man. (Story found in Mark beginning at verse 17)



The verse above from Matthew says it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter heaven...that sounds impossible, but I am reminded in the Bible that with God all things are possible ... So yes, even a selfish woman like myself that has not viewed God the way He deserves can change and follow Him. Lord I need you so...




(Feel free to watch the video below to see the whole message)

365-#161-164 (Sunday too)

This way of decorating a pumpkin is much easier :)

A Powerful Message by Francis Chan

I know that 40 minutes maybe time you feel like you don't have, but I tell you if you watch this video you will not be wasting your time. A friend told me to watch this video and I did last night. This message was not one that was easy to hear, but it meant so much to me. I need to make some changes in my life.

If you do watch this video, I would love to hear your thoughts on it... Blessings...

365-#158-160 (thru Wed)

I have been waiting for this announcement

I have been wondering when the Sherwood Church would start begin filming their next movie...Well, I don't have to wonder any longer. Filming will begin in March of next year on the new movie by the Kendrick Brothers (makers of Facing the Giant and Fireproof).

The new movie is called "Courageous". Rather than take my word for it... Go here to see what the movie will be about...

Blessings,

A Public Service Message...

This video is of my son singing a song he learned during the "Say No to Drugs" Week at his school :)

365-#156-157

Do these pictures bring back memories for anyone???

Last Update for now...

Thanks so much to all the people that lifted up my mother in prayer. She came home from the hospital yesterday :) The recovery will take a long time, but she is so happy to have the surgery finally done, and she is so happy to be home :)

I would give all of you a big hug if I could... Love to all....

Makes Sense to Him...

Most of you that read this blog know that my son above, "Moose" has Autism. Although the road has not always been easy, I think on more days than not we (my family) can say that Autism has been a blessing in our lives.

Moose is in the public school system, and he is mainstreamed. Which basically means that he is in the regular classroom half of the time, and goes to the resource classroom for the other half of the day. One of the main issues with children with Autism (even though it varies from child to child) is that they have problems with communication. Things like social clues and reading people can be very hard for children with Autism. My Moose is very black and white, and takes things very literally.

Recently Moose came home with an assignment from his speech teacher. The worksheet asked him to look at two covers of some books and make predictions and inferences about them from just looking at the covers. I wish I had a copy of the covers for you, but I will do my best to explain what the books looked like.

The first book was titled "Computer for Dummies" (ok when I saw this title I knew we were going to have fun). On the cover was a picture of a boy with glasses (just like my Moose).

On the worksheet there were questions about the book.

First question. 1. What is this book about? Moose's answer: DUMMIES

Second question 2. Who should read this book? Moose's answer: DUMMIES

Makes sense to him!!!!

The second book was titled, " When I grow up I want to be...". The book had a picture of a young girl thinking about what she wanted to be when she grew up. There were 3 different pictures on the book of jobs she wanted to possibly do when she grew up.

First question. 1. What is this book about? Moose's answer: What she wants to be when she grows up (I can't remember the exact wording of this one, but it was something like this)

Second question 2. Who should read this book? Moose's answer: People who want to grow up.

Makes sense to him, and me :)

365-#144-155 (Catching Up) thru Friday

Oh "Terminator"... This child above makes me smile in my heart :)

This child melts my heart when he smiles...

And this child keeps a constant smile on my face..