Amanda Stephan's Blog: God is Good, God is Great, page 32

A Warm Party For A Cold Day

There's nothing like a warm party on a cold day to keep your mind off of the freezing temperatures. So for my daughter Emily's eighth birthday, we had a Hawaiian celebration. Known to my family as the queen of bargain shopping, I even managed to get most of the trinkets and accessories very inexpensively. Of course this called for clipping coupons for Hobby Lobby where I got mini umbrellas for the beach bear cupcakes and a pack of beach themed cut outs. It also called for several weeks of scavenging at my local Wal-mart for prizes.






















Speaking of scavenging, the first game I came up with for the children was a scavenger hunt where they all had to work together to find clues that lead to the treasure box full of prizes. To make it even more interesting and to ensure all was fair, when the children found the treasure box they weren't allowed to open it and pick prizes until they had all drawn a number. Early last fall I found felt fish and seahorse stickers on clearance at JoAnn Fabric's and I wrote numbers on the backs. Each child drew a number and then they took turns choosing a prize according to the number they had drawn.



We also played hot potato with a flip flop using and a Hawaiian music mix I made on the New My Space. Next came a memory game where I filled a box with ten items from sunglasses to a lei and each child had five seconds to look at what was in the box. Then they each had the opportunity to write down everything they remembered that was in the box and the child who remembered the most items won.



No party would be complete without great food, so we had a large assortment of that as well. We had party punch made with fruit punch, Sierra Mist, and raspberry sherbert. We had a large fruit tray (which I filled twice)  full of strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, tangerines, and bananas. We had a large veggie tray, hot dogs, meatballs, and chips. And of course those yummy cupcakes pictured above. Then after the gift giving the children spent two happy hours playing in the front room with all of  Emily's newly aquired goods.



You too can warm up your winter with a totally hot Hawaiian party and all it takes is a little imagination. And if you don't have any winter birthdays in your near future, just throw one for the heck of it!



So ends another episode of Kids Korner with me, Children's Author Aileen Stewart. Join me next week for another exciting episode same krazy time, same krazy channel. And feel free to drop by my personal blog Aileen's Thoughts any day of the week for even more on reading, writing, and life in general.


www.BooksByAmanda.com

Christian Devotional - Jesus Overcomer

Having a tough day (week, month, year)?




Almost everyone I speak with lately, myself included, has
been talking about the difficulties and frustrations that they are going
through. It seems that every situation and every circumstance has including
trials and tribulations. I’ve been reading through John in my daily devotional
and today I reread a verse that I’ve heard several times before, but just
seemed to strike a chord with me so I wanted to share it with you.



John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me
you may have peace. In the world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have
overcome the world.”



Jesus is speaking about the troubles and trials and
difficulties that the disciples can expect to encounter in the world. He then
comes to this verse. He makes a statement that seems counter-intuitive to me. He
says that He told us all these difficult and troubling things so that we may
have peace. Peace? Nothing about the previous few verses have sounded very
peaceful to me. In fact, Jesus has mentioned being abandoned, scattered, experiencing
grief, anguish, and mourning. There is nothing in that list that makes my look
forward to getting up in the morning. Yet, there it is in black and white (or
red and white depending on your Bible.)



But, the verses don’t end there. Jesus doesn’t leave us
there in the misery and anguish. Instead He leaves us this beautiful verse. We
will have trouble. That is assured. We can count on that. But we shouldn’t lose
heart. The world may be full of trouble, but Jesus has overcome the world.
Jesus has overcome the world. JESUS HAS OVERCOME THE WORLD! Why has Jesus told
us all the difficulties that we can expect to see in our lives? He told us this
so that IN HIM we may have peace. We can find peace in the midst of the craziness
and insanity that defines many of our daily lives because Jesus has overcome
the world.



Are we experiencing peace? Have we lost heart? The real
question becomes are we “in Him” because if we are He gives us peace in the
midst of everything this world throws at us. We can take heart today because He
has overcome the world.


Kristi Burchfiel, Christian devotional author and speaker

Living in the World – Living out the Word

Check out my website and daily devotions either on my blog or on my Facebook page



NEW BOOK OUT! "The Daily Devotional Series: 365 Devotions Through the New Testament" is now available as an ebook.


www.BooksByAmanda.com

Book Review: Out of Mormonism by Judy Robertson

When Judy and Jim Robertson felt a spiritual void in their lives, they found ""the finest people in the world""

to embrace them and a beautifully packaged religion to entice them. Once drawn into Mormonism, they quickly climbed to leadership positions and became worthy temple Mormons, only to become disillusioned with the teaching and demands of the LDS church. From her unique insider's viewpoint, Judy shares her life as a Mormon woman, her rediscovery of the Jesus of the Bible, and how she and Jim found freedom as they left the LDS church in the face of persecution and confrontation. (Book Description)

I'm normally not a non-fiction reader. Most of the time I find non-fiction boring because it reads so "blah" to me. (Hey, to each his own right?) But I picked up this book, Out of Mormonism, the other day and couldn't put it down. In fact, I think I read its 224 pages in one day. Judy writes her family's real story of how they were drawn into Mormonism and subsequently how they left.

I used to have a friend who was (still is as far as I know) Mormon. As a result our family did a lot of research into this church and its teachings. We found a lot of very disturbing things that a lot of "everyday" Mormons most likely do not know. The package looks great on the outside, but as Judy Robertson shows, once you get deeper into the church, you realize that things are not what they seem. Now, I won't go expounding on my own beliefs about Mormonism here and I don't want to get into a discussion about who is right and who is wrong, I simply want to share this book with others and tell you that I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone willing to read it.
www.BooksByAmanda.com

City Chickens!

There’s a rooster running around our neighborhood making his presence known and bullying anyone who gets in his way.





Today my husband was taking out the trash and the rooster was guarding the back stairs and had to be shooed off with the trash. He literally would not move.



No, we don’t live on a farm. We live in a city. A big city. We live in an extremely diverse neighborhood. The people with the chickens live behind us to the side. They are city chickens and they have no regard for anyone else’s property. They’re chickens. What can you expect?



On his way back from taking out the trash, my husband noticed why the rooster wouldn’t budge. Underneath our steps, one of the hens laid some eggs. She was sitting on them and he was protecting what was his.



If a foreign chicken is hatched under my steps…do the baby chickens have duel residency? Oh dear. This means there is going to be even more chickens running around.



Back to the point. My husband is a good 15 times bigger than that rooster and that bird showed no fear. He was confident in who he is and he knew what was his. Roosters are extremely territorial.





Now, I have yet to mention his cheering squad. Sitting on our five-foot high wooden fence was a line of roosters and chickens, squawking and waiting to see what was going to happen.



This rooster got me thinking. Are we like that rooster? Do we fight for what is ours? Do we battle the enemy in order to protect our children? Our families? In John 10:10 we are told the thief comes to steal and kill and destroy. There is nothing the enemy likes to do more than to destroy families.





Is your family protected today? Do you have the ultimate protector on your side? Be sure to put on your armor today. Your family is counting on you.



Thanks for taking the time to grow with me this Wednesday!

Darlene Shortridge

Author of the Women of Prayer Series and the Forever Novella Collection.

www.BooksByAmanda.com

I'm Stepping Out

and it scares me to death.



No, not on my husband, but I'm stepping out on faith. You know how easy it is to tell others to 'trust the Lord. He'll help you through it..' and 'Don't worry. God's in control'  and the rest of the blather you hear around other Christians.

I'm not trying to be disrespectful ~ not in the least ~ but I know how it feels when a friend, instead of listening to my worry or frustrations says those canned-type of answers.



And I also know that it's harder to do than to say.

How would I know? Because I, too, have said those very same words to friends. I know, right? Hello! Canned answer coming your way in 3...2...1



...and you see your friend roll their eyes.

But one thing I have found, that if I tell someone I'm going to pray for them, I don't mean it as a canned answer to their problems. I mean it as an encouragement. A help. I don't know what else I could do in their situation, so I rely on those phrases.



How easy it is for us to tell someone else to step out on faith because God's bigger than that...and ...He'll guide you...but when it's our turn?



Wait a doggone minute! Now you're using my own phrases against me? What's up with that?!



As I get older, I realize that my friends~my true friends~aren't giving me a canned answer. They're trying to do the same as me ~ give me hope and comfort in whatever situation I'm dealing with. Another thing I realize? That I appreciate those canned answers a lot more from certain people. You know the ones I'm talking about.



The ones that mean it.



So, what am I stepping out on faith on? I just signed up to attend the Florida Christian Writer's Conference in Leesburg, FL. While this isn't my first conference, it will be my first 'major' one. Yeah. That's right. The ones where you hobnob and talk to agents, publishers, and editors (oh my! Sorry. Couldn't resist. Should have, but didn't.) and you try to sell your work to someone that is interested in you as a writer and as a person.



Want to know a secret? Well, not really a secret, but a fact just doesn't seem to do it justice.

I'm scared. 

Why, you ask?

I'll be alone. All by myself. Way way way out of my comfort zone with a group of...

agents, publishers, and editors.

And I'm going to try to talk to them.



So please. Feel free to send along those canned answers, because right now,

I'd appreciate every single one of them!



Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. - Philippians 4:6











Amanda Stephan~Christian Author



BooksByAmanda.com




              








www.BooksByAmanda.com

Five Family Friendly Movies

 



                                               



At our home there is no cable, no satellite television; we don't even own a antenna tower. But what we do have is an extensive collection of videos probably numbering close to a thousand. We have videos in almost every genre from westerns and action to musicals and Disney movies. We have classics and cartoons, comedy and romance, and even a handful of old television programs like Mission Impossible.



When searching for videos that my whole family can watch it is often a struggle because unless we have already watched a movie we don't know if we will or will not enjoy it. Often I watch previews at the beginning of movies we already own to glean possible new films to enjoy, and sometimes I get suggestions from friends and family. Since many of you out there find yourself in the same predicament of what videos might be worth watching,  I have composed a list of our family's top five family friendly movies.




The Wood Carver starring John Ratzenberger. The Wood Carver is part of the WWJD series and tells one boy's story of redemption after he vandalizes a church. This story not only touches on forgiveness, but shows that even a family torn apart can be brought together through putting Christ first.
The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry starring Gavin MaCleod and Robert Guillaume. It is the story of three twelve year old boys who make friends with the seventy-five year old Jonathan Sperry. Through the developing friendship the boys learn valuable lessons about forgiveness and how to live a worthwhile life.
A Girl of The Limberlost starring Anette O'toole is a little known movie which shows the strength of perseverance and  forgiveness. Set in the early part of the 20th century, this story shows that no obstacles are too big  to overcome if you have a dream.
Come Away Home starring Lea Thomson, Martin Mull, and the legendary folk musician Gregg Russel. This movie about learning to appreciate family is the winner of the Best Picture Award at the 2008 International Film Festival. 
Because of Winn-Dixie starring Jeff Daniels, Cicely Tyson, Dave Matthews from the Dave Matthews Band, and Eva Marie Saint. Because of Winn-Dixie is based on a book by the best selling author Kate DiCamillo and is a story of a preachers daughter who wants her father to tell her ten things about her  mother.



So whether or not you are like my family and have no cable or you just love to watch movies on the side, I would love to hear what your top five family movies are.



So ends another episode of Kids Korner with me, Children's Author Aileen Stewart. Join me next week for another exciting episode same krazy time, same krazy channel. And feel free to drop by my personal blog Aileen's Thoughts any day of the week for even more on reading, writing, and life in general. www.BooksByAmanda.com

Christian Devotional - A light to my path

“Your Word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”
Psalm 119:105



This past week I had an interesting adventure that will
be the basis for several things that I will be writing over the next few weeks.
For this week, I wanted to start by sharing this particular part of the story.



On Tuesday I flew to a small and somewhat remote part of
north-central Pennsylvania for work. Due to several circumstances that were
outside of my control (but completely inside God’s), I arrived at the airport
at about 12:30 in the morning in the middle of a snowstorm. My hotel was about a
45 minute drive from the airport. After renting a car (in and of itself an
adventure), I was on my way.



As I left the airport, I started down the interstate
toward the town where my hotel was waiting for me. I quickly realized that I
would not be able to go very fast. The roads were snow-packed and more snow was
falling quickly. This area is quite mountainous as well. I could not see outside
the limited range of my headlights. I got behind a semi-truck and just
followed. The lane he was in, I was in. The tracks he left in the snow, I lined
up with. I didn’t need to see any further than where he was at. Up and down,
mountain curve after mountain curve, I continued to follow him. Thankfully, he stayed
on the interstate all the way until it was time for me to exit for my hotel.



Jesus provides His Word for just such occasions as this.
During the storms of life, we may not be able to see around much. We may feel
that we are in the midst of treacherous situations with the weight of the unknown
breathing down upon us, but His Word never fails. It may not provide us the
blazing light of the sun to see our path, but it will always illuminate enough
for our next step. Then when we take that step, we have light for the step
after that.



As we are going down our paths of life are we following
in the path of the light of His Word? Or, are we plunging out into the storms
of life with nothing to guide us? What is providing the light for your feet
today?



Also, have you subscribed to this blog? If not, you're missing out! Make sure you're signed up today!
Kristi Burchfiel, Christian devotional author and speaker

Living in the World – Living out the Word

Check out my website and daily devotions either on my blog or on my Facebook pagewww.BooksByAmanda.com

Iron Sharpens Iron

I’m revealing a little something here today. I know, the election is over and what is done is done. But, and this is a big BUT, there are some lessons that I have learned and just maybe you can learn something too.



I was talking with a friend, a good friend of mine. We haven’t seen one another in a long time. We were busy catching up when we happened upon the subject of the election. I am purposefully not mentioning names and besides, you don’t know this person anyway.



Anyhow, in our conversation she mentioned to me that she voted for Obama. I was silent. I didn’t breathe. I didn’t move. I was stunned. I know this person. Or at least I thought I did. What happened?





While I was hurt beyond measure and very confused, I recovered and managed to squeak out, “well, you know me. I will always vote according to Biblical morals and values, period.” I heard the catch in her voice when she responded “I want to be able to do that to.”



I hung up the phone and cried. I absolutely cried. I cried with my daughter, then again later with my husband. Then I cried out to the Lord. And here is the message I got.



While you were in close proximity with your friend, you held one another up. You discussed scripture and Godly thinking. You prayed together and held one another accountable. Now that you are far away from one another, there is no one in her life to remind her of the ways of the Lord.







God laid Proverbs 27:17 on my heart: “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend (From The New Living Translation). “



How true is that verse?



We become like those we are friends with. If we constantly surround ourselves with people who love the Word of God, who pray and who praise the Lord, then we will find ourselves doing more of those same things. We challenge one another. We constantly encourage one another to be more, do more…whether it be good or bad. If we are hanging with and forming relationships with those who are worldly…we will become more like the world. We will justify our actions and forget about holiness and righteousness.



I pondered my friend and I saw the events in her life for what they were. After my departure, she surrounded herself with lukewarm Christians who also crave the world, Christians who can and do justify behavior in order to have the best of both worlds.



I challenge you today to ask yourself…am I a lukewarm Christian?



Lord, draw us unto yourself. Change us oh Lord into your image. Help us to see ourselves for what we truly are and give us strength to make the changes you require in us.



Thank you for taking the time to grow with me this Wednesday!

Darlene Shortridge

Author of Until Forever, Forever Blessed and the brand new release, The Letter.













www.BooksByAmanda.com

I wanted a Vera...

Bradley, that is.



Yes. I've wanted a new purse for a long time now, but I'm cheap. Emphasis on the first syllable. (What? There's only one? Yes. I know this. That's how cheap I am.)



Anyway, the kids and I were at our local Goodwill, and I found a purse by Vera Bradley. Now, normally, I'm not a name dropper, and it doesn't bother me to have the regular White Stag $9.99 special. I don't go buy the name brand stuff. I'm cheap, remember?



But I do like deals. And if I can get a Vera Bradley purse for a cheaper price, then hang on, because I'm running to the checkout and you don't want to be in my way! I just may snatch it out of your hands...



I'm just kidding at that part.



Seriously though, I was super excited to see a purse by V.B., and while it wasn't exactly in perfect condition, it was new to me, and it did still look pretty good. Nothing that a good washing couldn't take care of.



And then I looked at the price.



BOING!



...that was my jaw...



because, even though it was at Goodwill, it wasn't cheap. And I, being the wonderful orator that I am-- *kidding*  --said in a rather shrill voice...



Really?!



So I decided to take it upon myself to dust off my sewing skills and make a new purse. I was even going to go all out and sew an organizer inside, a zippered pocket that would hold necessary stuff like lotion, perfume, hairpins, aspirin, pens, and possibly a small sewing kit. (Don't judge. When that button pops off in the middle of your meeting? Yeah, the one that was keeping you modest? When it pops off, you'll be looking for me and my handy-dandy sewing kit. Haters to the left, please.)



There I was, my grandiose dreams spinning through my head, my several linings laying prostrate on my desk, the zipper having been sewn into the little hidden pocket that I was trying to imitate...



...and then reality hit. Hard.



Especially when my idea to create the coolest hidden pocket ever died right there on my sewing-desk-turned-operating-table.



I was heartbroken. It was a flop. I was going to have to cut another lining piece. Oh wait. Make that two. Well sheesh...



never mind!

And then I thought. You know, praise God that He doesn't make mistakes like we do. Yes, my hair is red and my nose looks like an oinker, and I have a birthmark right there on my...face. (Ick, I know.) And well, let's face it, there's those few pounds (yeah, like 25) that I could stand to lose...but I'm a daughter of



The King.

The Creator of the universe. Yep. I'm His child. He adopted me into His family not because I'm a beauty (HAHAHAHAHAHA...ok. Quit laughing.) and not because I'm witty, pretty, ditty, or silly, either. But because He loved me enough to die for me. And I asked Him to save me from my sins.

I asked.

And received.

How awesome is that?!



Now, dear Lord, about that Vera Bradley purse...






There once was a woman who wanted a Bradley.

She wanted it so terribly badly.

This woman went home

Her sewing skills to hone

That she wasted the day

At her desk in play.




But when that night was come, 

She needed to be done.

Because there on her desk,

Was a horrific mess.

Bits of fabric and fluff

And lots of other stuff.




This did she 

To save a penny

When all was said and done

She whined to her hun

And because she was so cheap

He went to the store without a peep

To get that woman he loved so greatly

The purse so she wouldn't go crazy.

~Amanda Stephan













Amanda Stephan~Christian Author



BooksByAmanda.com




              









www.BooksByAmanda.com

Squinkies: The Toy of Choice In Our Home

Ever since my daughter Emily was very young she has had an obsession with extremely small things. For a while, I brought  home one of those small dogs, the kind you get in bubble gum machines, after every grocery shopping trip. When I would arrive at my mothers to pick her up, she would eagerly meet me at the door to see what type of dog she was going to get that week. Then when she was a little older, I bought her Barbie dolls and Polly Pockets. Although she was fond of the Barbies, the Polly Pockets, which are miniature dolls, have always been given the top billing.



Then a few years ago she discovered Squinkies. Squinkies are small and come in bubbles just like the toys in gumball machines, but they are so much more. Squinkies have accessories like chairs, bikes, cribs, and so forth. Squinkies have gumball machines in the shape of cupcakes, teapots, and castles all which include small plastic coins for smooth operation. They have carousels, vans, and shopping malls. They have even gone so far as to create lines of Squinkies for Barbie, Disney Princesses, and Hello Kitty. But if you have boys, don't despair because Squinkies have lines featuring Disney Cars, Marvel Comic Heroes, and collectable aliens.























Emily will be turning eight soon and so it will probably come as no surprise to you that she is going to get her very own Squinky mansion. I found it shortly after black Friday and it was on clearance. There is nothing better then getting a forty dollar toy for fourteen dollars. Then just the other day, I found Squinky six packs at Wal-Mart clearanced down to a dollar. Special clearance prices make Squinkies the toy of choice in our home for both Emily and I. And since the girls in her class seem to love Squinkies too, they make great gifts for all the birthdays coming up this year. So if you have boys or girls who love small things like Emily and her friends be sure to get some Squinkies of your very own!





So ends another episode of Kids Korner with me, Children's Author Aileen Stewart. Join me next week for another exciting episode same krazy time, same krazy channel. And feel free to drop by my personal blog Aileen's Thoughts any day of the week for even more on reading, writing, and life in general. www.BooksByAmanda.com