10 Things You Probably Don't Know About Me (or care to :)

Not to long ago Beth Moore asked the readers of the LPM blog to write down 10 things that people (anyone) might not know about you. I commented and left my list on her blog, but I thought it might be fun to write the list here too.

I would love to see your 10 list too...please feel free to leave your list in the comment section here, or for my Facebook friends feel free to leave the list on my FB page. Remember to include some "off the wall" quirky things on your list. I think we all are a little quirky at times... I know I am (as my list will show :)

1. I have been using ProActiv for years, and it really does work :)

2. I love to twist my hair...so much so that it can get in a knot, and then that makes me sad because I lose a little hair. At this age I like to keep all the hair I can :)

3. Once my wallet was stolen right out of my hand while I was entering the local Toys R Us. I was returning a baby bouncy seat, and the thief came right up behind me and took my wallet. Then I flipped out and became a wild woman... The thief ran up to a car that his partner was in, and I ran up behind him and then threw the bouncy seat on top of the thief's car. YES I DID!!! That is 100% opposite of my personality... DON'T MESS WITH A WOMAN'S PURSE...

4. I did not really like to read when I was growing up, and now I love to read...

5. When I am alone and cooking, I will pretend to be the host of a cooking show... I know strange, but I figure I do this because I just can stand silence, so insanity wins out :)

6. I love to purchase Christian/Strong Family Value DVDS... I just started up "Movie Monday" here at my blog so I can share with others about these movies.

7. Although it is emotionally hard to go to Nursing Homes, I love to go and spend time with the residents of the home. I began visiting Nursing Homes with my mom and sister when we were teens.

8. I was a Candy Striper Volunteer for a hospital when I was a teen. My sister and I did it together...The stinky part was that my sister got to work with the moms and new babies, and I got to work the floor that dealt with Urology, but I loved it.

9. At age nine I accepted Christ as Savior, but I would say that I do not know for sure that at the age I was converted. I believe that might have happened in my 20's to 30's when I really realized what becoming a Christ Follower truly meant.

10. I am afraid of driving on interstates....add big Semi-Trucks to this equation and that is enough to cause me to FREAK OUT...

Well, that is my list... I would love to see your list... Do share...

Blessings

Movie Monday

Rating: Between 2 (Buy It) and 3 (Rent It) "No Greater Love"

What I like most about this movie is that it talks directly about Jesus. Many movies will mention God, but rarely do movies mention Jesus. Even though I didn't rate it as one to share, I think it is a movie you could buy/rent, and watch with a Small Group. Afterwards, you and your group could have a really good discussion on what it means to truly forgive and show selfless love.

The premise of the story is about childhood sweethearts (non-believers) that get married and have a baby, and then the wife leaves (will leave that info out). 10 years later the wife returns, but now she has become a Christian. The rest of the movie follows the couple as they try to reconcile, but challenges arise as the husband has not become a Christian. I don't like to give too much information about the movie so that you can be surprised when you watch it.

The acting in the movie was pretty good. There is a scene in the movie where the pastor of the church gives the husband counsel about divorce and marriage between believers and non believers. I think most Christians would agree with his counsel, but I suspect some may not fully understand or agree with the pastor's counsel.

Overall, the movie shows a beautiful example of forgiveness and what it means to truly love. This movie can be rented at your local video store or Redbox. If you watch it please come back and tell me how you liked it.

Blessings

Exciting DVD Series for Kids and Families

I heard about this series on the radio today and got really excited about it. I can't wait to use this for my kids...I think I will learn some things too.

Phil Vischer said something like the Bible is the most widely owned, least likely read book in the whole world... Wow...

Let me know what you think...

Movie Monday

Rating: 1-Buy it and Share it

This movie came out last year. I purchased it from Family Christian bookstores, although I do believe it can be rented at any normal video store, and maybe even Redbox. The film is based on the true life story of Angus Buchan. This movie is very inspirational... The beginning of the movie is a little slow, but stick with it. About 45 minutes into the story we see the conversion of Angus as he becomes a Christian. Angus truly becomes a new creation before your eyes. The faith of Angus Buchan will inspire you to love Jesus more. I will stop here and say that I can see that within the Christian community people may not agree with everything in the film, but you cannot deny what God did in the life of the Buchan family. Miracle after miracle...Please make sure to watch the real life documentary of Angus Buchan that is in the special feature section of this DVD. You will see that much of what took place in the movie really did happen in the life of Buchan family. There is one scene that is heart-wrenching to watch, but you will get to see a little bit of how God began the healing in the Buchan family after the deep tragedy. It is beautiful, and shows how much God loves his children.This film encouraged me in my faith, and challenged me to want to have more faith...go deeper in my faith walk. Let me know if you have seen the movie already and what you thought of it. If you rent or buy the movie after reading this review, please come back and comment and let me know what you thought of the movie.Until next Monday...Blessings ***You may want to go back and read last Monday's Movie Review. It was my first "Movie Monday", and I explained a little bit of what my goal is with "Movie Mondays"

Should there be a Difference?

This question really is not my own, I thought to ask it after listening to the "Revive Our Hearts" Radio program today. I love Nancy Leigh DeMoss (she is the host of ROH) as she challenges me to go deeper in my faith.

Nancy and her guests were talking about true womanhood and one of the statements they made referred to Christians standing out in this dark world. I could go on with what they were talking about, but I will just present you a couple questions instead. I would love to hear what you have to say...

Should there be a very marked difference between a Christian woman/man and a man or woman that is not a Christian?

Digging a little deeper...Should you notice a marked difference between a Christian man/woman and a man/woman that lives a life of integrity and has very high morals (standards)?

If you answered yes to either of the questions, what differences would there be between a Christian and a non Christian (even someone with strong values/morals)?

You see I think the answer is yes, but when I look at my own life I don't know that I see a marked difference from my life and that of a person living a "good" and "moral" life. There are definite differences, but I am afraid if I am honest there are not enough differences for someone who may not know me to say of me "That woman is definitely a Christian.", or "There is something different about that woman, something I want for my life".

You see that is what I would want people to say of me. Not to puff up my ego, but that others would see Jesus in me, even if they are not aware at first that it is Jesus they are seeing in me. What about you?

Movie Monday Review (Faith and Family Edition)

(Go to bottom of this post to see Review for "Sarah's Choice")

I am starting something new at my bloggy on Mondays... I am calling it "Movie Monday Review", but my focus will always be on movies that either deal directly with the Christian faith (my favorites) or a moral/family friendly film. I own most of the movies I will review, as you will be able to tell by my top quality photos of my DVDS :)

I am not a professional movie reviewer, but I am a self proclaimed expert (in my own eyes) as I have watched movies (and way too many movies) for over 30 years. Actually, I am a former movie/TV addict...God has been working in this area of my life for years now, and I am so thankful. However, I have felt freedom to seek out and view Christian entertainment (good quality Christian entertainment) over the last several years. If the movie is not Christian based, I try to choose a family friendly film with strong values.

Christian movie making has become more popular over the last several years with help from movies like "Facing the Giants" and "Fireproof". However, Christian film making has been going on for years... I have watched some really old Christian movies. Most of them have a good message, but the message can get lost with the lack of budgets these filmmakers have had... I can look over some "cheesiness" and bad acting if the message is strong and true. OK, all that to say some of the movies I review may not use blockbuster film making techniques and may have actors that you have never seen or heard about, but that doesn't mean that the movie isn't good or shouldn't be watched. So I encourage you to take a chance and see the movies I review :)

HERE IS MY REVIEW SCALE:

1. Buy the Movie and Share it with Others (FYI: this is my best rating :)

2. Buy the Movie

3. Rent the Movie

4. Wait for the Movie to Come on TV

5. Pass (I probably will never use this because I just have a hard time giving anything a low rating :)

Review for "Sarah's Choice" Rating: (1) Buy it and Share it

This movie features Rebecca St. James (popular Christian music artist) as Sarah. Sarah is not a Christian and she becomes pregnant. The rest of the movie deals with Sarah wrestling with her choice of whether or not to have the baby or to have an abortion. The movie takes you on a journey with "Sarah" as she wrestles with her choice, and also how she wrestles with questions about God and faith as well. I don't want to really share anymore details of the movie because if you watch it I don't want you to know everything that happens :)

The acting in this movie is pretty good... I like Rebecca St. James in this role, and you will also notice an appearance from Charlene Tilton (from Dallas), and Dick Van Patten too. I think as Christians we could use this film to start some good thought provoking conversations about abortion and the many things that go along with this issue.

So, I think I will end the review here today, since I already wrote a lot of background information at the beginning of this post. Feel free to send me a comment if you have a question about the movie... I would be happy to answer your question.

See you next Monday with a different Review :)

Holy Anguish

This is part 4 of 6... This segment is 10 minutes long, but gives us much to consider...

Who has Sown into your Life?

Hey my bloggy friends... I have a small group of people that visit here on a regular basis and I would love to know your answers to this question. Actually, I love to ask questions... You may have noticed if you have visited here for any length of time. So today please chime in with your answers...

Who are the top 3 people that have shaped who you are spiritually? (FOR THIS QUESTION, I WANT THE ANSWERS TO BE PEOPLE THAT YOU DO NOT KNOW ON A PERSONAL LEVEL. IE: BIBLE STUDY AUTHORS, MINISTERS, CHRISTIAN AUTHORS, ETC) Make sure to tell why.

Tomorrow or the next day we will name people that we do personally know.


Ok, like the two people that commented so far, Beth Moore is by far one of the most influential spiritual mentors I have had... Just have not had the pleasure of actually meeting her :) I know thousands of women feel the exact same way.

I am naming people that have sown into my life more recently.... 10 years ago I probably would have named a few others. Most currently is Lysa Terkuerst of Proverbs 31 ministries....that woman has challenged me so much over the last year through her books and her blog.

Last is Nancy Leigh DeMoss... I listen to her on the "Revive our Hearts" radio program. Nancy knows her Bible and she knows biblical truth. She is meek and gentle, but also she is that "iron that sharpens iron" that the Bible talks about.

Taking the High Road???

I had a sort of revelation this week, and I believe it can have such a profound affect in my life if I allow the Lord to change me. I have actually been dying to blog about it, but I didn't really have the time to do so.


I was talking with my best friend, and I told her that often in relationships with others(sometimes Christians and sometimes people who do not know Christ) I can find myself saying that I need to take the "high road" and do the right thing in certain situations. Most often I would say this statement when either I was wronged by someone, or had some kind of disagreement with him/her. However, when I say that I am going to take the "high road" and do the right thing it leaves me with a strange feeling. I know in theory we are suppose to do the right thing and try to do what Jesus wants us to do, but something still did not sit right with me.

I went on to explain that somehow when I said I needed to take the "high road" it made me feel self righteous...you know like "I am being the bigger person here". With my propensity toward pride this is a bad situation for me to be in. It doesn't take much for me to lift myself up.



My friend then said something so simple, but so profound. She said that she doesn't like when people use words such as "take the high road" or "be the bigger person". She said that actually Jesus wants us to "take the low road", "humble ourselves" and then she added we need to think of others as better than ourselves. She hit the nail on the head!!! All "taking the high road" has ever done for me is to feed my pride and make me think I am better because I did the "bigger" thing.



In my situations with others I have to see their time, family, and agendas as more important than my own. Even in those times when they may be wrong... I don't do that. Honestly, I can't do it...well at least on my own. All I can do is admit that I don't love others the way God wants me to, and pray that God will change my heart. I truly believe He will.



Now my challenge is the next time one of these "situations" arise in my life, that I remember what Jesus truly wants me to do. I need to pray that the Holy Spirit will love that person through me, and that I truly see them as more important than myself. In my life I would consider that a miracle if I could do that, but we serve a God that works miracles...that includes miracles of the heart.


Thanks Christina... the Lord used you this week to speak to my heart to remind me what His Word tells me to do.


Philippians 2:3 (New Living Translation)

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.

I want to be that One in a Million

I think this book/study looks awesome, and I was especially challenged at the end of this video when Priscilla talks about being the "one in a million"... The fact that only 2 people made it to the Promised Land is unbelievable... I don't want to stay in the wilderness my whole life...what about you?