Random Question :)

AS Christ followers we all struggle with some sin from time to time that we cannot seem to "break free" from. I know for me I am still fighting my battle with "Fear". My sin is that I do not trust God and believe what His Word says... "Do not fear..." I am wrestling with this sin, and my hope is that I will "break free" from fear one day.

So today I have a question for you, or a fill in the blank to be more specific.

If I broke free from the sin of __________, I would finally be able to ____________ in my life. "

Here is an example of what mine would look like...

If I broke free from the sin of FEAR, I would finally be able to MAKE DECISIONS WITHOUT IMAGINING THE WORST CASE SCENARIO in my life.

I would love to hear your "break free" stories... Do Share...

No More "Mrs. Nice Girl"

This past weekend I was able to attend a simulcast of a "Living Proof Live" event. One of my favorite Bible study teachers, Beth Moore was in Chicago live, and she was live via video in over 5oo other places... I think the final count of all who were attending (live and through video) numbered over 125,000....that's a lot of women, and a few brave men :)

Beth's theme verse for this particular conference was Proverbs 31:26 (New King James Version) She opens her mouth with wisdom, And on her tongue is the law of kindness. I don't know about you, but I sure do want to open this "BIG" mouth with WISDOM, and of course I want to be KIND too. In today's post I won't touch on all eight points of why we need to speak with wisdom and have the "law of kindness" on our tongues, but one thing Beth talked about really stuck out to me.

Beth talked about how being kind is not the same as being nice. She said "nice is fine, but kind is divine". She then added that we can fake "nice"through flattery and other kind of ways, but you can't really fake "kind". God is kind.

One of Beth's eight points stated that "Kindness is not an action. It's a disposition." That really hit me. (This is me thinking now, not Beth). Kindness is not so much in the acts we do, but who we are...Who we are in Christ.

So all this kindness talk led me to ask myself if I am kind... I would have definitely described myself as kind, and honestly I think if people were to write down words that describe me they may write "kind" on the list. But after Beth went through scripture after scripture where the word "kind" was referenced I began to think of myself in a different way. I think a better desorption of me would be to call myself "nice". Ok, let me say there is nothing wrong with the word "nice", of course I want to be nice, but that statement about how "nice" can be faked but kindness cannot, convicted me.

I have been so guilty in the past, and even today of being nice to others because it somehow benefited me. Yes, I do like be be nice, but I have been nice to others by flattering them...making them feel good so that they would think good of me. I hate that about myself, but at the deepest level of my heart I still want to please people and make everyone happy with me. I have been nice and flattered others to get people to like me.... Not so good.

I could really go on and on about this subject, but for today I just wanted to say that I want to say so long to "Mrs. Nice Girl", and hello to having the "law of kindness" on my tongue so that I may truly touch others with God's kindness, not my own false flattery. This world needs a touch of kindness, and it is only God's kindness lived out through His children that will encourage a world where true kindness seems to have disappeared.

Dear Lord, teach me how to speak with wisdom, and help me to truly speak with kindness to everyone I come in contact with. May they see You in me.

First Day of School

Back to School 2010... Moose, Snake and the Terminator

BookSneeze Review-(One Hand, Two Hands)

I love Max Lucado, so when I saw that he had a new children's book out I requested it so I could review it. I also teach Preschool at a Church so I thought this might be a book that I could read to my class. I was right; Max's new book "One Hand, Two Hands (Oh, the ways we can help with our hands!) is a perfect book to read to my class of 4 year olds.

In this book Max shows that even the youngest children can use their hands to serve others. He also emphasizes that the hands of little ones can be used to help and show love to others, especially to their family. Max states in his book that children know that "hands" can be "kind or harsh", "helpful or hurtful", so he wanted to write this book to show how their little hands can be helpful in all kinds of ways.

The book itself is not to long, but just the right amount of pages for little ones to listen to. The words in the book (the story) are written in a bigger font, which makes it easy to read. Max also writes so that words and phrases rhyme in the story. I just love reading a book out loud that flows with a rhyming pattern. The illustrations of the book were done by Gaby Hansen, and they are really beautiful. Soft colors and full illustrations fill each page.

Max ends the story with a list of ways a child can use their hands to show love and to help others. It appears Max is giving the children that read the book a list of actions that they can complete when they are done reading the book. I like that...

I would recommend this book to parents, grandparents, and teachers. Actually to anyone who has a little one in their lives. Max is a gifted, talented writer and he can write for any audience, young or old. Once again, I am thankful to BookSneeze for allowing me the opportunity to review this book.

BookSneeze Review- "Out Live Your Life"

I am so glad to tell you about the newest book that I was able to review for BookSneeze. I am in a busy season of my life right now, and have not had a chance to read many books lately. However, when I found out that Max Lucado had a new book, I jumped at the chance to review it. The title of Max's new book is "Out Live Your Life", and Max challenges his readers to do exactly that OUTLIVE THEIR LIVES.



In "Outlive Your Life" Max takes a look at how the early church lived their lives (from the book of Acts). His point is that if God worked in the lives of the early church in such amazing ways, might we expect that He can work in our lives the same way today. Lucado talks about how ordinary people can do extraordinary things for God. Throughout the entire book Max is basically calling us to come out of our "shells" and to open our eyes to see the needs of a hurting world. For all of us to do something for God that will last eternally.

I love Max Lucado's writing style, and he writes in such a way that makes every story he tells come to life. Lucado is brilliant with his use of words and phrases, but yet he writes in a way that makes it simple to understand. He is a master storyteller.

I love when I can read a book, and walk away from it feeling challenged in some way. Well, "Outlive Your Life" is one of those books. I felt convicted, challenged and encouraged all at the same time. I highly recommend this book, and you too may walk away challenged and changed after reading it.

One of the neatest things is that 100% of the author's royalties from "Outlive Your Life" products will go to benefit children and families through World Vision, and other ministries of faith based compassion (this came from the back of the book). One other thing that I like is that the back of the book has a discussion and action guide (prepared by David Drury) that relates to all the chapters in the book. This discussion and action guide make it easy for a person or group to go through this book like a study. I glanced over the guide and questions, and they were really good. I love that not only are questions posed for us to answer, but that there is a action to go with each chapter that you can perform..."Walking the Talk".

If you are a Max Lucado fan you will love this book. If you don't even know who Max Lucado is, you will still love this book. It is an easy read, but it won't always be easy to do all the things Max refers to in his book, but we have Christ to help us outlive our lives.

(I received this book from BookSneeze to review. Thank you BookSneeze.)

September's Book Giveaway

I decided to go to a monthly giveaway for my book collection. The last book I sent out cost me $4.00... I am glad to do it, but weekly that might help to stretch my funds a little thin :)

So you have until the end of September to enter my book giveaway. Remember, I will only be shipping with the US.

I will be giving away Sandi Patty's book, "Broken on the Back Pew". This book is really good, and Sandi let's you into the deepest places of her heart as she shares her story of her marriage ending. She talks about forgiveness and God's grace. It is an older book, but if you have not read it, you will enjoy it.

Click here if you want to get more information on the book.

I just finished reading Mary Beth Chapman's new book, "Choosing to See" Oh my goodness this book was awesome. I will be back later to write about it...

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