Amanda Stephan's Blog: God is Good, God is Great, page 33
January 12, 2013
Christian Devotional - Marriage
My husband and I just celebrated our 15th
wedding anniversary a little over a week ago. This weekend, we’re taking some
time to celebrate, so today’s devotional is going to be brief J
I am amazed how many people find out how long we’ve been
married and think it’s some huge and amazing accomplishment. Maybe in today’s
society reaching 15 years of marriage is some amazing milestone, but I just
look at my parents who have been married 38 years and my grandparents and both sets
had been married over 50 years before one or both went to be with the Lord. In
comparison, 15 years still sounds like newly-weds.
So today, as my anniversary gift to you, I want to tell
you the secret of our success. Commitment. We are both committed to loving
and following God and as a result, we are both committed to serving each other.
We love each other very much, in fact, no one on earth knows me better than my
husband. But, there are plenty of times when we get frustrated and angry with
each other. Even in the midst of our most heated arguments and discussions,
the “d-word” isn’t even an option so we know that we’ve got to find a way to
work it out. We are committed to God first and to each other second.
Genesis 2:24 “For this reason a man shall leave his
father and his mother, and be joined to his wife, and they become one flesh.”
This verse displays the commitment that is necessary to
make a marriage work. I will tell you that being committed to God first makes
being committed to my husband easier. I can rest in God knowing that He will
give me what I need to glorify Him in my relationship with my husband. We can
truly be joined together in all that we are and do. I can plan for the “us”
instead of just the “me.”
So remember, feelings of love come and go. Happiness
fades. But, if we are committed to God first in our marriage and second our
spouse (not our kids second, that’s a whole other topic for a post sometime),
we will bring God glory in all that we do together for Him.
This is a truth I will be taking to heart for the next 15 years…and
the 15 years after that…and the 15 years…. Well, you get the idea!
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
wedding anniversary a little over a week ago. This weekend, we’re taking some
time to celebrate, so today’s devotional is going to be brief J
I am amazed how many people find out how long we’ve been
married and think it’s some huge and amazing accomplishment. Maybe in today’s
society reaching 15 years of marriage is some amazing milestone, but I just
look at my parents who have been married 38 years and my grandparents and both sets
had been married over 50 years before one or both went to be with the Lord. In
comparison, 15 years still sounds like newly-weds.
So today, as my anniversary gift to you, I want to tell
you the secret of our success. Commitment. We are both committed to loving
and following God and as a result, we are both committed to serving each other.
We love each other very much, in fact, no one on earth knows me better than my
husband. But, there are plenty of times when we get frustrated and angry with
each other. Even in the midst of our most heated arguments and discussions,
the “d-word” isn’t even an option so we know that we’ve got to find a way to
work it out. We are committed to God first and to each other second.
Genesis 2:24 “For this reason a man shall leave his
father and his mother, and be joined to his wife, and they become one flesh.”
This verse displays the commitment that is necessary to
make a marriage work. I will tell you that being committed to God first makes
being committed to my husband easier. I can rest in God knowing that He will
give me what I need to glorify Him in my relationship with my husband. We can
truly be joined together in all that we are and do. I can plan for the “us”
instead of just the “me.”
So remember, feelings of love come and go. Happiness
fades. But, if we are committed to God first in our marriage and second our
spouse (not our kids second, that’s a whole other topic for a post sometime),
we will bring God glory in all that we do together for Him.
This is a truth I will be taking to heart for the next 15 years…and
the 15 years after that…and the 15 years…. Well, you get the idea!
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
January 7, 2013
Book Review ~ J.R.R. Tolkien
Have you ever wondered what made someone tick? Or, why someone was a certain way? No?
Drat. I do it all the time.
Like when our son decides it's the perfect time to go feed the dog while he's supposed to be doing his math lesson. Yeah, it's times like those that I wonder what he's thinking.
But, living with the little guy, I'm at an advantage. I can pretty much tell you why he's feeding the dog instead of doing Algebra ~ because he doesn't want to do it. Shocking revelation, wasn't it?
I didn't think so.
Be that as it may, there are just sometimes I want to know a little bit more about some of my favorite people ~ authors especially. Was so and so an instant success or did they have to struggle? Did they ever feel as though they had achieved something in their lifetime? What was their purpose in writing these things?
When I was offered a chance to review the book, J.R.R. Tolkien: The Making of a Legend, I jumped at it. He's one of my favorite authors, so why wouldn't I, right?
They say, write what you know.
But what if you happen to write about things like Orcs, Hobbits, and Elves? Do you really know this enough to write about it? In a way, yes, JRR Tolkien did write what he knew. Or, more like it, the way he saw the world. Overcoming tremendous odds, he gave us some of the best loved stories that still thrive today.
When you read this book, you're getting an intimate peek inside a complex individual that was molded by his fair share of life, death, loss, and love. Be prepared for emotional turmoil that followed him thru his life. Cheer for him when he finds his one true love, and pity him when he ultimately sets aside that love because of the wishes of another.
Not only will you meet the man behind the Hobbit, but the story of JRR Tolkien's perseverance through hardships will inspire you when you thought your hope was gone.
JRR Tolkien had a gift. He was a romantic. I know. Many a man would shudder to be labeled a romantic, but he saw life differently than most. When the regular person would see only an ordinary tower, JRR saw not a normal tower, but a different time and place with evil and good, fighting against one another and that tower, a pinnacle that holds it all in the balance.
Conjuring stories and poems on a whim, he was an immensely gifted man. A creator not only of worlds and words, but of entire languages.
But why would he desire to write such stories as The Hobbit? To reignite a love for fairy tales to a new readership.
He has succeeded in this and his stories live on and will continue to do so for generations of romantics to come.
Amanda Stephan~Christian Author
BooksByAmanda.com
www.BooksByAmanda.com
Drat. I do it all the time.
Like when our son decides it's the perfect time to go feed the dog while he's supposed to be doing his math lesson. Yeah, it's times like those that I wonder what he's thinking.
But, living with the little guy, I'm at an advantage. I can pretty much tell you why he's feeding the dog instead of doing Algebra ~ because he doesn't want to do it. Shocking revelation, wasn't it?
I didn't think so.
Be that as it may, there are just sometimes I want to know a little bit more about some of my favorite people ~ authors especially. Was so and so an instant success or did they have to struggle? Did they ever feel as though they had achieved something in their lifetime? What was their purpose in writing these things?
When I was offered a chance to review the book, J.R.R. Tolkien: The Making of a Legend, I jumped at it. He's one of my favorite authors, so why wouldn't I, right?
They say, write what you know.
But what if you happen to write about things like Orcs, Hobbits, and Elves? Do you really know this enough to write about it? In a way, yes, JRR Tolkien did write what he knew. Or, more like it, the way he saw the world. Overcoming tremendous odds, he gave us some of the best loved stories that still thrive today.
When you read this book, you're getting an intimate peek inside a complex individual that was molded by his fair share of life, death, loss, and love. Be prepared for emotional turmoil that followed him thru his life. Cheer for him when he finds his one true love, and pity him when he ultimately sets aside that love because of the wishes of another.
Not only will you meet the man behind the Hobbit, but the story of JRR Tolkien's perseverance through hardships will inspire you when you thought your hope was gone.
JRR Tolkien had a gift. He was a romantic. I know. Many a man would shudder to be labeled a romantic, but he saw life differently than most. When the regular person would see only an ordinary tower, JRR saw not a normal tower, but a different time and place with evil and good, fighting against one another and that tower, a pinnacle that holds it all in the balance.
Conjuring stories and poems on a whim, he was an immensely gifted man. A creator not only of worlds and words, but of entire languages.
But why would he desire to write such stories as The Hobbit? To reignite a love for fairy tales to a new readership.
He has succeeded in this and his stories live on and will continue to do so for generations of romantics to come.
Amanda Stephan~Christian Author
BooksByAmanda.com
www.BooksByAmanda.com
Geocaching
For quite some time I have heard the term Geocatching and wondered exactly what it was. Recently my friend and fellow children's author, Judi Chesshir, mentioned that she was a Geocacher; and so I asked her to do a guest post about the subject. I was truly excited to find out that Geocaching is a worldwide scavenger hunt because if the truth be known; I have always loved a good scavenger hunt. The best part of this hobby is that the whole family can participate. I was so intrigued by Judi's descriptions that I signed up to be a geocacher as well. So please welcome my friend and leave comments for her as she shares her Geocaching experiences!
A Different Approach to Book
Marketing
By Judi Chesshir
This past summer, I found a fun and adventurous hobby that I
used to help tell others about the book I wrote. It is called Geocaching. Geocaching
is a world, outdoor treasure hunting game using GPS devices. You navigate to a specific set of GPS
coordinates and then attempt to find the geocache (container) hidden at that
location. I first heard of this in our
local newspaper a few years ago. I tried
it without any GPS device. It was very
hard and I eventually gave up. After
purchasing one, I finally tried again and fell in love with this game.
What I enjoy the
most about this is not knowing where I am going and what I will find. It’s like having little mini adventures. Sometimes I am hiking trails, and other
times I am climbing a small cliff or tree to find a cache. The hunt gets me out of the house and moving
around. The containers are hidden all
over the US and world. The caches or
containers come in a variety of sizes.
People who hide caches get creative with them, which makes the game even
more fun. The containers hold a log for the cacher to sign. Some even hold swag or trade items for all to
enjoy.
Another fun part of the game is finding
trackables. A trackable is a registered number
on a tag that can be attached to anything. The cacher finds a trackable and takes it with him or her to a new cache further away. The trackables travel all around the
world. After finding about 100 or so, I
decided I wanted to make a trackable and send it out into the world. I ordered my tags and then attached them to 4
copies of the book I wrote called, MyFinny Fin Fin. I created a goal for
each book and found ammo sized caches and dropped them off to start their
travels. When a cacher finds one, they
take it with them and move it to another location after logging it in. A
message is sent to me to let me know where all my books have traveled. I am
happy to say they have been taken thousands of miles since August. I enjoy reading messages from those who find them
. I especially love reading how the kids
enjoy the books. This was a unique way
to try to get people to know about my book. I do not know if this has led to anyone purchasing a copy, but I am
enjoying the experience either way.
The metal shark tag trackable has a number on the back and is attached
to the book.
Another way I promote my book is by taking
pictures of the cache with one of my bookmarks. I later upload the pictures onto the official
geocaching site and now my book title can be seen by other cachers. I also
autograph the back of the bookmark and leave it in the larger containers for
kids to take in trade.
A sample of a cache.
One more perk to
this game is meeting other geocachers. I
recently ran into a couple while searching for the same cache. We introduced ourselves and told each other
our caching names. I mentioned my
caching name, Finny Fin Fin and then we found the container together, signed
the log and said goodbye. I later
received a message on the geocaching site from one of them saying she had
looked up my caching name on geocaching.com and noticed that I was an
author. She told me she ordered my book
for her grandson. She asked if I would
mind autographing it when it came in. I
was thrilled to learn she had purchased the book and I did meet her to
autograph it once it arrived. We even
hunted for a few caches in the area together.
I hope that by
having a few books as trackables, the bookmarks being left in containers, my
cacher name on all the logs, and meeting other cachers, that others will learn
about my book and purchase one too. Combining two of my passions, my book &
geocaching, helped me come up with a fun and different way to promote my book.
To learn more
about “My Finny Fin Fin,” please visit http://judichesshir.tateauthor.com/
To learn more
about Geocaching, please visit http://www.geocaching.com/
I would like to thank Judi for sharing her two favorite hobbies with us and if you want to see pics of my family's first Geo Hunt drop by my personal blog Aileen's Thoughts.
www.BooksByAmanda.com
A Different Approach to Book
Marketing
By Judi Chesshir
This past summer, I found a fun and adventurous hobby that I
used to help tell others about the book I wrote. It is called Geocaching. Geocaching
is a world, outdoor treasure hunting game using GPS devices. You navigate to a specific set of GPS
coordinates and then attempt to find the geocache (container) hidden at that
location. I first heard of this in our
local newspaper a few years ago. I tried
it without any GPS device. It was very
hard and I eventually gave up. After
purchasing one, I finally tried again and fell in love with this game.
What I enjoy the
most about this is not knowing where I am going and what I will find. It’s like having little mini adventures. Sometimes I am hiking trails, and other
times I am climbing a small cliff or tree to find a cache. The hunt gets me out of the house and moving
around. The containers are hidden all
over the US and world. The caches or
containers come in a variety of sizes.
People who hide caches get creative with them, which makes the game even
more fun. The containers hold a log for the cacher to sign. Some even hold swag or trade items for all to
enjoy.
Another fun part of the game is finding
trackables. A trackable is a registered number
on a tag that can be attached to anything. The cacher finds a trackable and takes it with him or her to a new cache further away. The trackables travel all around the
world. After finding about 100 or so, I
decided I wanted to make a trackable and send it out into the world. I ordered my tags and then attached them to 4
copies of the book I wrote called, MyFinny Fin Fin. I created a goal for
each book and found ammo sized caches and dropped them off to start their
travels. When a cacher finds one, they
take it with them and move it to another location after logging it in. A
message is sent to me to let me know where all my books have traveled. I am
happy to say they have been taken thousands of miles since August. I enjoy reading messages from those who find them
. I especially love reading how the kids
enjoy the books. This was a unique way
to try to get people to know about my book. I do not know if this has led to anyone purchasing a copy, but I am
enjoying the experience either way.
The metal shark tag trackable has a number on the back and is attached
to the book.
Another way I promote my book is by taking
pictures of the cache with one of my bookmarks. I later upload the pictures onto the official
geocaching site and now my book title can be seen by other cachers. I also
autograph the back of the bookmark and leave it in the larger containers for
kids to take in trade.
A sample of a cache.
One more perk to
this game is meeting other geocachers. I
recently ran into a couple while searching for the same cache. We introduced ourselves and told each other
our caching names. I mentioned my
caching name, Finny Fin Fin and then we found the container together, signed
the log and said goodbye. I later
received a message on the geocaching site from one of them saying she had
looked up my caching name on geocaching.com and noticed that I was an
author. She told me she ordered my book
for her grandson. She asked if I would
mind autographing it when it came in. I
was thrilled to learn she had purchased the book and I did meet her to
autograph it once it arrived. We even
hunted for a few caches in the area together.
I hope that by
having a few books as trackables, the bookmarks being left in containers, my
cacher name on all the logs, and meeting other cachers, that others will learn
about my book and purchase one too. Combining two of my passions, my book &
geocaching, helped me come up with a fun and different way to promote my book.
To learn more
about “My Finny Fin Fin,” please visit http://judichesshir.tateauthor.com/
To learn more
about Geocaching, please visit http://www.geocaching.com/
I would like to thank Judi for sharing her two favorite hobbies with us and if you want to see pics of my family's first Geo Hunt drop by my personal blog Aileen's Thoughts.
www.BooksByAmanda.com
January 5, 2013
Christian Devotional - Calm Chaos
Happy Sunday!
I wanted to take a few minutes and just share a few things from my heart with you all today. I don’t know about you, but the holidays were quite a rush with lots of hustle and bustle. We even had a wedding as my younger brother got married 4 days after Christmas (yay Brent and Jaquie!), and with all the travel and the dinners and the presents and the family I’ve felt in a whirlwind of activity.
But this week started the New Year and I felt an incredible urge to slow down a bit. A passage of scripture has been weighing on my mind heavily as I’ve run from one thing to the next and I wanted to share with you what God’s been sharing with me.
Psalm 46:10 – “Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
What God’s been speaking to me about is that beautiful word “striving.” In some translations the verse says, “Be still.’ Other languages translate it “quiet” or “at peace” or even “tranquil.” I’ve always thought that this verse was referring to the idea that I needed to find a quiet spot, free of distractions, and there I am to just focus on God. You know, something akin to a convent or monastery. I would also look around my life and wonder how that was even possible. You see, I am always going and busy with something. My “things to do list” multiplies like rabbits and even if I do take a minute just to sit on the couch and close my eyes, my kids find that moment to start saying, “Mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy,” “What?!?” “Never mind.”
What God has so peacefully suggested to me and I would humbly offer to all of you whose lives run at a pace just shy of “chaos” like mine, that word striving refers to the state of mind. Striving is an attitude or motivation, not an action itself. Determining whether we are peaceful or tranquil has very little to do with the activity level around us, but the state of mind we are in during the midst of the activity.
God is going to be exalted, the verse above assures us of that. We can calm our mind; calm the frantic thoughts that fill our already busy and active inner-dialogue, and mentally relax and rest in the knowledge that He is God. No matter what happens, no matter how big or how small, no matter the activity level of our day, God is still God. God will be exalted and we can take a calm mental approach to the activity of the day. We “do” without “striving.”
That’s my encouragement for you today and as we go through the new year. “Cease striving and know that I am God.” Calm your mind, even if you can’t calm your circumstances. God is still God and we can mentally rest on that fact, even as the activity around us speeds on.
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
I wanted to take a few minutes and just share a few things from my heart with you all today. I don’t know about you, but the holidays were quite a rush with lots of hustle and bustle. We even had a wedding as my younger brother got married 4 days after Christmas (yay Brent and Jaquie!), and with all the travel and the dinners and the presents and the family I’ve felt in a whirlwind of activity.
But this week started the New Year and I felt an incredible urge to slow down a bit. A passage of scripture has been weighing on my mind heavily as I’ve run from one thing to the next and I wanted to share with you what God’s been sharing with me.
Psalm 46:10 – “Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
What God’s been speaking to me about is that beautiful word “striving.” In some translations the verse says, “Be still.’ Other languages translate it “quiet” or “at peace” or even “tranquil.” I’ve always thought that this verse was referring to the idea that I needed to find a quiet spot, free of distractions, and there I am to just focus on God. You know, something akin to a convent or monastery. I would also look around my life and wonder how that was even possible. You see, I am always going and busy with something. My “things to do list” multiplies like rabbits and even if I do take a minute just to sit on the couch and close my eyes, my kids find that moment to start saying, “Mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy,” “What?!?” “Never mind.”
What God has so peacefully suggested to me and I would humbly offer to all of you whose lives run at a pace just shy of “chaos” like mine, that word striving refers to the state of mind. Striving is an attitude or motivation, not an action itself. Determining whether we are peaceful or tranquil has very little to do with the activity level around us, but the state of mind we are in during the midst of the activity.
God is going to be exalted, the verse above assures us of that. We can calm our mind; calm the frantic thoughts that fill our already busy and active inner-dialogue, and mentally relax and rest in the knowledge that He is God. No matter what happens, no matter how big or how small, no matter the activity level of our day, God is still God. God will be exalted and we can take a calm mental approach to the activity of the day. We “do” without “striving.”
That’s my encouragement for you today and as we go through the new year. “Cease striving and know that I am God.” Calm your mind, even if you can’t calm your circumstances. God is still God and we can mentally rest on that fact, even as the activity around us speeds on.
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
January 3, 2013
An Epic Tale
On Christmas Day my parents drove over to spend the holiday with us. After we opened presents, enjoyed a family dinner (I made it all by myself this year!), both my parents and my sixteen year-old daughter were more than ready to go to the movies. We had been waiting for months for the remake of "Les Miserables". I saw the musical in 1989, in London, and it was one of the most powerful experiences of my life. So I was both excited and anxious to share the story with my daughter. I wondered how the movie would compare to the play, how these famous and popular actors would fare with the singing required in the musical. I hoped the emotion that I still remember from watching it over 20 years ago would come through on the big screen.
So we bundled up and drove to the theater...and waited in line much longer than normal to get tickets. It seems lots of other people had the same idea. As the movie began, the first pounding of drums and angry chanting filled the auditorium, along with a larger than life picture. From that moment to the end of the movie, I was enthralled.
Granted, there were several scenes that were much coarser than in my memory. I think the movie makers pushed the boundaries of vulgarity with the whole inn scene, and I was truly worried at how much would be shown when Fantine finally sold what she had left, her body. (My sixteen year old daughter sat beside me, remember.) But, in my opinion, these scenes of despair and hopelessness only served to magnify the redemption that was and is available for all who accept it.
One of the most powerful parts in the story, for me, occurs at the very beginning. Jean Valjean gives in to despair and steals the silver from the priest who has offered him sanctuary. He is captured and dragged back to the scene of his crime, where the priest informs the officers that the silver was not stolen, but was a gift. Then he turns to Jean Val Jean and says, "But my friend, you forgot the candlesticks. How could you leave the best behind?"
From that time on, everywhere he goes, we see those candlesticks...a reminder of grace.
I have since heard of some who were so outraged by the immorality in the movie, they refused to sit through it. I would not condemn any person's right to leave a theater if they become offended in such a way. But I will say, in this instance, they missed the whole point of the story.
I believe the fear, anger, degradation, despair, and immorality shown at the beginning of the movie is necessary. If Victor Hugo had sugar coated the conditions in which his characters found themselves, would we still be enthralled with this story, hundreds of years later? Would we still marvel at the hope, the grace, the forgiveness Jean Valjean portrays after he accepts it for himself? I don't think so. I think sometimes we need a glimpse of hell to understand what mercy means. We need to see loathing to better feel the depths of love. We can best comprehend grace when we have experienced evil.
I will admit I have not read "Les Miserables". But my daughter requested and received a copy for Christmas, so I certainly plan to do so this year. I can only imagine it will bring me to tears just as the musical did.
What is your opinion on delving into the dark side of life in order to show how strong the Light can shine in the darkness?
www.BooksByAmanda.com
So we bundled up and drove to the theater...and waited in line much longer than normal to get tickets. It seems lots of other people had the same idea. As the movie began, the first pounding of drums and angry chanting filled the auditorium, along with a larger than life picture. From that moment to the end of the movie, I was enthralled.
Granted, there were several scenes that were much coarser than in my memory. I think the movie makers pushed the boundaries of vulgarity with the whole inn scene, and I was truly worried at how much would be shown when Fantine finally sold what she had left, her body. (My sixteen year old daughter sat beside me, remember.) But, in my opinion, these scenes of despair and hopelessness only served to magnify the redemption that was and is available for all who accept it.
One of the most powerful parts in the story, for me, occurs at the very beginning. Jean Valjean gives in to despair and steals the silver from the priest who has offered him sanctuary. He is captured and dragged back to the scene of his crime, where the priest informs the officers that the silver was not stolen, but was a gift. Then he turns to Jean Val Jean and says, "But my friend, you forgot the candlesticks. How could you leave the best behind?"
From that time on, everywhere he goes, we see those candlesticks...a reminder of grace.
I have since heard of some who were so outraged by the immorality in the movie, they refused to sit through it. I would not condemn any person's right to leave a theater if they become offended in such a way. But I will say, in this instance, they missed the whole point of the story.
I believe the fear, anger, degradation, despair, and immorality shown at the beginning of the movie is necessary. If Victor Hugo had sugar coated the conditions in which his characters found themselves, would we still be enthralled with this story, hundreds of years later? Would we still marvel at the hope, the grace, the forgiveness Jean Valjean portrays after he accepts it for himself? I don't think so. I think sometimes we need a glimpse of hell to understand what mercy means. We need to see loathing to better feel the depths of love. We can best comprehend grace when we have experienced evil.
I will admit I have not read "Les Miserables". But my daughter requested and received a copy for Christmas, so I certainly plan to do so this year. I can only imagine it will bring me to tears just as the musical did.
What is your opinion on delving into the dark side of life in order to show how strong the Light can shine in the darkness?
www.BooksByAmanda.com
January 2, 2013
Mission Possible
Mark 1: 1-5 In the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, As it is written in the Prophets.
“Behold, I send My messenger before Your face. Who will prepare Your way before You.” The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord, Make His paths straight’.”
John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.”
I want to share today a little something that has been on my heart. I’d like to write about John the Baptist and how the five verses above fit into our lives today.
First, John the Baptist was not a mistake. He was born with purpose. He was born to proclaim the truth. The wilderness he baptized in and preached in was a place of loneliness. There weren’t many hanging out with him. It wasn’t the popular place. It wasn’t the comfortable place.
He was regarded as a freak, as an anomaly. He did not fear man, for he would not have preached repentance. He knew his job and he didn’t let circumstances, lack of money, lack of talent or any other excuse keep him from accomplishing his purpose.
He knew his place. He was in the limelight but a short while and didn’t let the attention go to his head. He never thought of himself more than he ought. His sole purpose was to glorify the Son.
He did not have to chase people down; they went out to him. They knew him and they heard his message.
What do we have in common with John the Baptist?
Well, we are supposed to be preparing the way for the second coming of Christ. The question is, are we?
Each one of us has purpose. We are all supposed to be proclaiming the truth. If we choose to accept our mission, it will be a lonely place, for it is not popular to preach repentance. We will have those that tolerate us, those who disassociate and those who out and out attack us for taking a stand for Christ.
We will be freaks, anomalies. If we choose to fear God instead of man, we will preach the forgiveness of sins, which leads to salvation. Love will have its part in our messages, but it will not be the entire message. We will not know the definition of, nor care about, being politically correct. If we choose to accept our mission, we will do so through every circumstance the enemy is allowed to throw our way. We will face forward, not looking to the left or the right. We especially will not look behind. We will put one foot in front of the other, walking in the direction of our purpose and not let anything sway us or distract us.
We will know our place. We are here to bring Glory to the Father. Period. We only have worth through the blood of Jesus Christ.
The Holy Spirit will direct those with ears to hear to stand in the path of our message.
So, I’ll ask the question again. What do we have in common with John the Baptist?
Everything. Or nothing. It’s up to you.
In this New Year of new beginnings, will you accept the challenge? Will you go out and prepare the way of the Lord?
Thanks for taking the time to grow with me this Wednesday!
Darlene Shortridge, Author, Speaker, Singer
www.BooksByAmanda.com
January 1, 2013
2013 Predictions
Happy New Year!
Christian Glitter by www.christianglitter.com
Can you believe 2012 is now in the past? I've said it before, and I'll say it, oh, probably until December of 2013 that it just flew by.
When I was a kid, time wasn't this fast. Somehow, those 24 hours just dragged their feet. And then I graduated, and life grabbed the fast lane and took off.
I don't claim to be psychic or be able to tell the future, but I do have some predictions that I know are going to happen in 2013.
IN 2013 I PREDICT THERE WILL BE:
Tears
Let's face it. Tears are a fact of life. Whether they are caused by the death of a loved one, a heartbreaking decision, or whatever, tears will be a part of 2013. But after tears, there will be...
Laughter
Scripture says "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine." God wants us to be a happy, laughing people. Laughing releases feel-good chemicals in your brain. If you're not a natural laugher, why not try to increase your laughing? It's a fantastic stress reliever.
Frustrations
Things aren't going to always go your way in 2013. Period. That's not life. Perhaps you're going to miss a deadline, or you lost all those files that were pertinent to what you were doing. Frustration will come.
Encouragement
But be encouraged ~ tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it. There will be something that will encourage you in 2013. Maybe a best friend will pick up the phone and chat away those frustrations. Or a soak in the bathtub with your favorite book. Or, when those frustrations seem insurmountable, hitting your knees in prayer and meditating on God's Word will encourage you. When I'm frustrated and discouraged, depressed and disillusioned, this one works every time. It's hard to maintain a bad attitude while reading the Psalms!
Disappointments
This kind of goes along with Frustrations, but they aren't identical. Frustration doesn't always cling to disappointment. There once was a house I wanted so badly, but it didn't fit in God's will for our family. The disappointment was acute and harsh. I cried for the entire day. (Silly. I know.)
Happiness
But after that harsh disappointment, and while reading the Psalms and praying for God to change my attitude, (I tell Him I need an attitude adjustment, and He *always* delivers), I began to see all the blessings I already had. And happiness ensued. True, I didn't get my way, but I became more thankful that I have a Savior that loves me enough to tell me NO. Think about it. He knows whats going to happen in the future. I don't. If I can trust Him for my salvation, then I can trust Him with my future.
Discouragement
Right on the heels of disappointment, may come discouragement. Oftentimes, those come in pairs, or maybe even triplets. Frustration, disappointment, and discouragement like to play together. Unfortunately. But. If you try to keep your eyes on the Lord and submitting to His will,
Hope
runs them off! Keep your eyes on the Lord. Remember that He knows everything and that He loves you and wants only the best for you. Hope is a wonderful, healing balm He applies.
Trials & Tribulations
You will have things that must be overcome in 2013. Trials. Tribulations. Maybe even persecutions. Things are changing in America, and not necessarily for good. I'm not trying to be doom and gloom here, but let's face it. Christians are facing things today that they've never had to face before. Rights are being taken away left and right, and unfortunately, most don't seem to care. There will be trials. There will be tribulations. But. There will be...
Victories
We serve a GREAT BIG GOD and nothing takes Him by surprise. He knows when a sparrow falls to the ground, He even knows the number of hairs on your head. He calls the stars by name ~ I love that! In 2013, don't put God in a box. He's a great God ~ He created the Heaven and the earth without My worrying about it ~ He will be victorious, and if you're saved by the blood of Jesus Christ, You, my friend, are on the winning side. HE will have victory and so will you.
I realize this is a post for saved people ~ people who have asked Jesus Christ to save them from their sins, but if you haven't trusted in Him for salvation, there's nothing stopping YOU, from asking Him into your heart today. It's as easy as ABC.
A - Admit that you're a sinner
B - Believe that He is God's Son and died for you, was buried and rose again from the dead. Be willing to turn away from your sin.
C - Confess to Him that you're sorry for being a sinner, and ask Him to be your Savior.
Prayer:
Dear God,
I am a sinner. I need and want to be forgiven. I believe that Jesus shed His blood and died for my sin. I want to turn away from sin and I ask Jesus Christ to come live in my heart and life as my personal Savior.
What could be better than asking Jesus to be your Savior for 2013? Nothing.
www.BooksByAmanda.com
Christian Glitter by www.christianglitter.com
Can you believe 2012 is now in the past? I've said it before, and I'll say it, oh, probably until December of 2013 that it just flew by.
When I was a kid, time wasn't this fast. Somehow, those 24 hours just dragged their feet. And then I graduated, and life grabbed the fast lane and took off.
I don't claim to be psychic or be able to tell the future, but I do have some predictions that I know are going to happen in 2013.
IN 2013 I PREDICT THERE WILL BE:
Tears
Let's face it. Tears are a fact of life. Whether they are caused by the death of a loved one, a heartbreaking decision, or whatever, tears will be a part of 2013. But after tears, there will be...
Laughter
Scripture says "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine." God wants us to be a happy, laughing people. Laughing releases feel-good chemicals in your brain. If you're not a natural laugher, why not try to increase your laughing? It's a fantastic stress reliever.
Frustrations
Things aren't going to always go your way in 2013. Period. That's not life. Perhaps you're going to miss a deadline, or you lost all those files that were pertinent to what you were doing. Frustration will come.
Encouragement
But be encouraged ~ tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it. There will be something that will encourage you in 2013. Maybe a best friend will pick up the phone and chat away those frustrations. Or a soak in the bathtub with your favorite book. Or, when those frustrations seem insurmountable, hitting your knees in prayer and meditating on God's Word will encourage you. When I'm frustrated and discouraged, depressed and disillusioned, this one works every time. It's hard to maintain a bad attitude while reading the Psalms!
Disappointments
This kind of goes along with Frustrations, but they aren't identical. Frustration doesn't always cling to disappointment. There once was a house I wanted so badly, but it didn't fit in God's will for our family. The disappointment was acute and harsh. I cried for the entire day. (Silly. I know.)
Happiness
But after that harsh disappointment, and while reading the Psalms and praying for God to change my attitude, (I tell Him I need an attitude adjustment, and He *always* delivers), I began to see all the blessings I already had. And happiness ensued. True, I didn't get my way, but I became more thankful that I have a Savior that loves me enough to tell me NO. Think about it. He knows whats going to happen in the future. I don't. If I can trust Him for my salvation, then I can trust Him with my future.
Discouragement
Right on the heels of disappointment, may come discouragement. Oftentimes, those come in pairs, or maybe even triplets. Frustration, disappointment, and discouragement like to play together. Unfortunately. But. If you try to keep your eyes on the Lord and submitting to His will,
Hope
runs them off! Keep your eyes on the Lord. Remember that He knows everything and that He loves you and wants only the best for you. Hope is a wonderful, healing balm He applies.
Trials & Tribulations
You will have things that must be overcome in 2013. Trials. Tribulations. Maybe even persecutions. Things are changing in America, and not necessarily for good. I'm not trying to be doom and gloom here, but let's face it. Christians are facing things today that they've never had to face before. Rights are being taken away left and right, and unfortunately, most don't seem to care. There will be trials. There will be tribulations. But. There will be...
Victories
We serve a GREAT BIG GOD and nothing takes Him by surprise. He knows when a sparrow falls to the ground, He even knows the number of hairs on your head. He calls the stars by name ~ I love that! In 2013, don't put God in a box. He's a great God ~ He created the Heaven and the earth without My worrying about it ~ He will be victorious, and if you're saved by the blood of Jesus Christ, You, my friend, are on the winning side. HE will have victory and so will you.
I realize this is a post for saved people ~ people who have asked Jesus Christ to save them from their sins, but if you haven't trusted in Him for salvation, there's nothing stopping YOU, from asking Him into your heart today. It's as easy as ABC.
A - Admit that you're a sinner
B - Believe that He is God's Son and died for you, was buried and rose again from the dead. Be willing to turn away from your sin.
C - Confess to Him that you're sorry for being a sinner, and ask Him to be your Savior.
Prayer:
Dear God,
I am a sinner. I need and want to be forgiven. I believe that Jesus shed His blood and died for my sin. I want to turn away from sin and I ask Jesus Christ to come live in my heart and life as my personal Savior.
What could be better than asking Jesus to be your Savior for 2013? Nothing.
www.BooksByAmanda.com
December 31, 2012
Books Make Great Gifts For Young Readers
My daughter, Emily, loves to read; so part of her Christmas gift this year were some new books. She received two Minnie and Moo books, Minnie and Moo Wanted Dead or Alive and Minnie and Moo The Case of The Missing Jelly Donut. She is quite a bit past the I Can Read stage, but she thinks Minnie and Moo are just plain hilarious no matter how old you are, and I quite agree. Denys Cazet has a flair for writing the ridiculous and everyone in this day and age can use a good laugh!
She also received two Cam Jansen Mysteries, The Mystery of Flight 54 and The Catnapping Mystery.Currently she is working on reading The Mystery of Flight 54 which has some pretty funny characters. Cam, short for Camera, is the nickname for the main character, a young girl who always says click when she is remembering things because she is looking at mental pictures she has taken. One of my favorite parts so far is when the family is picking up Cam's aunt from the airport and she claims to have lost a piece of her luggage. Cam discovers her aunt's missing luggage neatly tucked inside her other luggage. I think the Cam Jansen series is going to be a great fit for Emily who has a very curious mind and loves to figure out a good mystery as she reads.
Last, but certainly not least, she received a joke book for Christmas called Laugh Out Loud Jokes for Kids. Jimmy Curlytail can't wait to borrow the joke book because he loves to make
his family laugh. He might even make up some funny stories of his own
this year! Meanwhile he loves to retell the story of the time when he
and Edward Cornstalk got stuck in the mud.
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.
Jimmy and Edward from Fern Valley ~ www.funwithaileen.com
www.BooksByAmanda.com
She also received two Cam Jansen Mysteries, The Mystery of Flight 54 and The Catnapping Mystery.Currently she is working on reading The Mystery of Flight 54 which has some pretty funny characters. Cam, short for Camera, is the nickname for the main character, a young girl who always says click when she is remembering things because she is looking at mental pictures she has taken. One of my favorite parts so far is when the family is picking up Cam's aunt from the airport and she claims to have lost a piece of her luggage. Cam discovers her aunt's missing luggage neatly tucked inside her other luggage. I think the Cam Jansen series is going to be a great fit for Emily who has a very curious mind and loves to figure out a good mystery as she reads.
Last, but certainly not least, she received a joke book for Christmas called Laugh Out Loud Jokes for Kids. Jimmy Curlytail can't wait to borrow the joke book because he loves to make his family laugh. He might even make up some funny stories of his own
this year! Meanwhile he loves to retell the story of the time when he
and Edward Cornstalk got stuck in the mud.
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.
Jimmy and Edward from Fern Valley ~ www.funwithaileen.com
www.BooksByAmanda.com
December 29, 2012
Christian Devotional - Resolutions
The New Year is almost upon us. Do you make New Year’s
Resolutions?
I’m generally not much of a resolution-maker. I’ve
certainly had a few things that I have set my mind to do or not do in a certain
year. My hesitancy generally comes from the fact that I’ve seen so many people
set their New Year’s Resolution and then stumble on that resolution and not do
anything again until the next January.
There’s nothing wrong with New Year’s resolutions and I’m
all for people setting goals to improve themselves and their lives. I actually
have a few things that I want to do differently for the coming year. However, I
do take issue with people who are only willing to start something on January 1,
but not willing to start anything at any other time of the year. You know, they’re
the people that make some resolution on January 1 and by January 15th
they’ve fallen down on their resolution, but decide that they won’t worry about
it until next January.
Whether you make resolutions or not, as you are thinking
about and setting those goals for the upcoming year, I would direct you to
Galatians 6:9-10.
“Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we
will reap if we do not grow weary. So, then, while we have opportunity, let us
do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the
faith.”
No matter whether you are setting specific resolutions,
or just some general goals, I encourage you to take these verses to heart. Don’t
lose heart. Based on the statistics of follow through on New Year’s
resolutions, there’s a really good chance that you are going to slip up on the
goal that you have set. Don’t lose heart. Get back up, dust yourself off, and
continue working to follow through on your resolution. Don’t lose heart.
Continue to do good. Don’t lose heart!
In other words, don’t think that you have to wait until
the next January 1st before you can start trying again. Start immediately,
right then. That’s what it means to not lose heart. Don’t give up.
So what are you resolving to do this year? Even if you
don’t do official “resolutions,” what do you want to be different about your
life, your walk with Christ, your family, etc? What are you going to do about
it this year? No matter what decisions you make, do not lose heart! Continue on
doing the good that you have on your heart to do.
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
www.BooksByAmanda.com
December 28, 2012
Book Review: Legacy Lane by Robin Lee Hatcher
Angie Hunter left Hart's Crossing for college and never looked back. So when her widowed mother needs care following surgery, Angie is more than ready to hire a nurse rather than return to her antiquated hometown. But when she is passed over for a promotion at work, an angry Angie quits and heads home anyway.
Francine Hunter is both excited and nervous about having her daughter home for the next two months. She sees this as her chance to make a new connection with her estranged daughter. Will she be able to nudge Angie toward faith without overdoing it? Or will Angie pack up and leave for a new job as soon as Francine has recovered? (book description)
Legacy Lane is a book that reads as if it was real life. There are no great mysteries to solve, no great dramas to enact, just plain and simple real life...if you could call life plain and simple. And I like that about this book. It doesn't try to stand on crazy story lines, but simply shows the life of a girl who wanted nothing more to get out of the small town she grew up in and then later realizes that small town is exactly where she needed to be. It shows the real life struggle of how we sometimes find God.
All in all, I was really impressed with this book, except for the end. I wanted to wrap it up in a nice, neat bow and have Angie find God, marry her high school crush, and the world be right again. But that's not real life either is it? So, in all reality, the ending fell right where it needed to. And because this is book 1, I hope to see more of Angie in future books.
I would recommend this book, it was a good read!
www.BooksByAmanda.com
God is Good, God is Great
A little of this, a little of that. I love doing many different things, but I'm going to share my love of good books, fun crafts, freebies, contests, and scrapbooking with this blog. Enjoy!
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