Always Be Ready
Carry with you a small notebook or pad of paper. You never know when topic ideas will strike, so always be ready. Jot them down so you don’t forget them. Ideas may hit when you’re in the grocery line or in the shower. Be ready!

Play A Game
I assume, that if you have a blog, you have already chosen a niche to target. Go through the alphabet and come up with a topic for each letter (or as many as you can) that pertains to your niche. For example, let’s say that you’re in the dog niche. Here are some ideas for things to write on.

A – Automobile carriers – keep your dog safe while traveling in the car
B – Bones that are good for your dog\’s teeth
C – Clothing for your pooch to keep them warm and dry
D – Dry food vs. canned food
and so on

Write a Series
I found it very helpful to find a topic and write a series on it. That gives me all kinds of ideas and the nice thing is that you know what you’re going to write about, so when you sit down to write, you can just get to work.

I have been writing a series on marketing and one on setting goals on my blog at Christian Home Business Owners. Monday is for marketing tips and Wednesday is for goal setting ideas. It helps me know what I’m going to write about on those days, and my readers know what they will be getting information on.

Blog topic ideas are all around us. I think sometimes we make it harder than it has to be. Spend some time brainstorming topic ideas and you’ll be amazed at how much you come up with.

About the Author:
Laurie Neumann has recently started a website specifically to help Christian home business owners grow their business. Sign up for her newsletter and get support and help to see more success in your home based business. Visit Christian Home Business Owners to see all that she offers. http://www.christianhomebusinessowners.com

As far as an answer goes, I say this; Jesus took on the sins of all men upon himself when he accepted his fate. The Crucifixion that he endured to set us free, from our original sin, is the greatest most unselfish form of unconditional love there is. It teaches all of us to think about something much more than ourselves. It is an example that can be easily followed, because what is old fashioned about love? And why is so hard for people to be respectful of each other?

Some of the biggest problems facing today’s generation is that there is so much information and so many great electric toys that it is hard for an old outdated book to compete. When you have wifi computer connections that can literally have you online almost anywhere in the world or iPhones, iPads, and iPods and having over one hundred channels on your flat screen LCD television within your reach, it’s no wonder that people think that Jesus and the Crucifix are redundant.

Today’s music and movies also glorify bad behavior. It’s tough to feel love of Jesus when you have songs that worship and justify killing policeman or of people wearing a different gang color than yourself. When we also idolize drug addicted singers and the media keeps putting these people on TV 24-7, it’s no wonder these poor souls have a hard time recovering from their habit.
Movies are becoming more and more violent and for some people it enforces this type of behavior. It seems like a daunting task for such an ancient faith and antiquated book.

Here’s the saving grace for all people of faith. We have the truth on our side! Love and forgiveness will always win over hate and blame. Since love wins over hate, doesn’t it also indicate that Jesus and the Crucifix are timeless? If it is timeless doesn’t that also means that the Bible is not outdated or old fashioned? Just a thought from a man that love’s Jesus and honors the sacrifice he made on the cross.

About the Author:
Frank Vidal, Writer and Owner of http://www.GodFaithSpirit.com. You can also follow me on Facebook and Twitter @ GodFaithSpirit.

Is that what Scripture is trying to teach us?

Repentance is a beautiful word. But do we understand it? Repentance is when we turn our hearts and ways to God’s ways, through Yeshua(Jesus) the Messiah. And believe it or not, in order to truly understand repentance, we must understand humility.

I see it everyday-self righteous religous people, and I was once one of them! But I began to read my bible, and I have to say, I was very turned off by what I read. People who are called after God’s own heart, yet did disgusting things? Take King David for instance. He was a man after God’s own heart because he wanted to do what was right in all things. But he was an adulterer-he cheated on the wife of his youth with other women, and then stole another man’s wife than killed the man. Now God rebuked David for all of that, and David did repent of all his sins later in his life when he got the revelation, and I can honestly say I believe that David was ignorant of many things in Scripture, just as many are today who read the Bible and say they get it, when really, something will be right in their face and they won’t see it! And we know that David was a man after God’s heart, despite his wicked ways, he truly sought to do right. God has always had mercy on those in struggle and in ignorance.

So where does that leave us here today? All have fallen short of the glory of God, and have sinned. Not one is sinless. The bible is there to show us what sin is. 1 John 3:4 says that sin is the transgression of God’s torah(instruction, commandments). All sin is worthy of death.

I know I have struggles, struggles people may not see as huge, but in God’s eyes their huge. But what sets us apart from the rest the world? The fact that we have hearts after Messiah. Hearts that desire to be clean. “Create in me a clean heart. I hate every false way.” those were the words of David. That is the desire of God’s people.

About the Author:
Husband and Wife on a mission from God.  Find us on the web at http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000030569306&sk=info

I learned a long time ago that when God is leading you, it’s best to follow. But I’m stubborn. So there are plenty of times I try to reason with Him that my way is better, or should at least be considered. For weeks before Christmas, I tried to make reservations at hotels up and down the east coast of the United States. My husband researched cities close by, towns far away, cruises, flights, even a possible venture to Mars. Yet, nothing seemed to pan out. We ran into obstacle after obstacle until I finally admitted out loud what I’d heard inside since Thanksgiving. We were not meant to go anywhere this year. My darling hubby and I came to terms with the verdict and knew it was for the best. That still didn’t stop us from trying again when an unbelievable deal came up on Groupon. But Father God showed us the fine print after our purchase and we had to request a refund. Sometimes it takes a brick and a shovel to get through to me.

Promising to be obedient, we enjoyed the Christmas holidays with family and felt even more relaxed and appreciative than in recent years. We didn’t feel the pressure of gift buying and hectic schedules didn’t have their usual effects. It was wonderful. But Satan was not through with us just yet. During Christmas dinner with my husband’s family, his brother announced he and his fiancé were celebrating New Year’s with a romantic weekend getaway to one of our favorite cities. My husband looked at me as I was already on the computer scanning last minute hotel deals. Like I said, sometimes it takes a brick, a shovel, a 2×4 and a canon. Of course, we were unable to make arrangements to travel with them and once again conceded to spend the time at home.

On the first day of our house arrest, we forced ourselves out the front door to start taking down the Christmas décor. This led to cleaning and reorganizing the garage, a project that had plagued us for months if not longer. Every time I walked through it I felt my shoulders tense up as I stepped over random, useless objects. Forget trying to find anything we actually needed. Now we were spending our “romantic” weekend tossing old beach toys, blowing out mounds of leaves huddled in every corner and organizing miscellaneous products from the auto parts store. Yes, I was pouting! Soon the garage project led to a trip to goodwill, the recycling center and the county landfill. It was about the time we were loading old cans of paint into the back of the car when I actually realized how much fun we were having being productive and working together. We had accomplished such a significant amount in 24 hours and would be able to start the New Year with fewer burdens and less stress. A sense of relief and accomplishment filled me inside. With renewed energy I began to tackle the dreaded dark recesses of every box, bin and cabinet I could lay hands on.

As we pulled into the county landfill, I looked at my husband with a big smile and teary eyes. I realized God had known all along that this is what we needed. Imagine that. It’s amazing how Father God leads us in the tiniest details of our life. He knows exactly what’s best for us today and tomorrow. Even when we don’t want to hear it, His plan will always lead us in the direction we should go. That may not always be cabin on a hill or a bungalow on a beach. Sometimes it leads you to the county landfill. And following that road we find peace, love and joy. We also found some things we’d been missing for years. And the wonderful, restful, productive weekend at home was the best romantic weekend we’d ever had. Thank you God.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)

About the Author:
April Thomas isn’t super mom. But wearing a cape makes life so much more fun. Plenty of moms envision themselves as super mom, but I not only have an authentic cape in my closet, I wear it proudly. Whether it’s the school car line, household chores or a business meeting in Atlanta, I use what I like to call my God-given talents to make life interesting. I carry duct tape and scissors in my purse since you can never be too prepared. I create marketing plans by day and bake (OK, buy) cookies for class parties by night. My family adore (OK, tolerate) my sense of humor, yet my detail-oriented nature takes vacation planning to a whole new level. I know the location of the restroom in nearly every retail store and restaurant in town and also on each exit of I-95 in three states. I can fix anything with my hot glue gun but will never camp again. My husband calls me blessed yet wonders if clipping coupons can be considered an addiction. Through it all, God uses the unusual, hilarious and sometimes humiliating moments of my life to reveal something important. Sometimes it’s motivational and sometimes its correction and even other times it’s just plain funny. But before I’m off to save the day and most likely create a scene somewhere, somehow, I want to share His message through my life’s daily adventures. http://www.CapeWearingMom.com

When will I stop listening and buying into what the world says is pleasurable and harmless? Precious time with the Savior is missed when we spend our time engrossed in social media. I believe the challenge here is breaking our habits. What have we told ourselves is okay to do and what has been our excuse?

The first thing that I felt convicted of was listening to the radio while driving. I tell myself that not every secular song is bad, but what really is the point in the grand scheme of things if that alone time in the car could have been spent in prayer instead? What if we spent our ‘down time’ praying and committing our day to Him? Would our perspective of that day change? Would we feel more prepared to face that day’s challenges?

The second thing I felt convicted of was the need for Len and I to begin our dates by committing our time to the Lord rather than starting off doing things other than praying together. We needed to make prayer our number one activity and everything else could fit around it. Since asking God to teach us, draw us closer to Him, and give us the strength to resist any temptation, the focus changes from ourselves to Christ, and we are stronger than ever.

I feel like it\’s so important to surrender each and every day to God; when we first start our day, when we start any activity alone or with others, and even in place of the pointless activities that we have allowed into our routine. Sometimes we believe that ‘me’ time or ‘us’ time requires something other than the Bible or prayer to give us peace, enjoyment, and relaxation. But according to the Bible, that is far from the truth…

“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11

When we open our heart to Christ, there is joy! There is peace!

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” John 14:27

As Leslie Ludy put it: “When we lay everything at the feet of Jesus and find our deepest fulfillment, rest, peace, strength, and joy in His presence alone… we are ushered into the supernatural, superhuman existence God designed us to live.”

It is a challenge to deny our pleasures and delights that seem so harmless. It’s what our friends are doing, it’s fun, and maybe it’s not even sinful. But how much time of our day are we spending serving the Lord? How many extra-curricular activities have we sacrificed for the cause of Christ? Aren’t we supposed to be of another world and not of this one? A set-apart life is supposed to stand out – not fit in. “No matter where you have been or where you are at, Christ is ready to transform you with His stunning beauty… Spend alone time with Christ and lay your life before Him. Allow Him to gently reveal to you the selfish patterns of your life and ask Him to forgive you in each of those areas.” We need to ask for the heart to want to change, as this is not a halfhearted commitment. Lord, help me to see things differently and not fall into the trap of selfish pleasure. Help me so that I may desire to honor you with my time above all other distractions.

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.” – Psalm 1:1-2

What is something that our culture says is normal and okay that you have been listening to lately? Would you join me in asking God to show us what may be interfering with our relationship with Him? Let us ask Him to give us the strength to get rid of it and replace it with quality time spent with Him so that we may experience true peace and joy of a life set-apart for Him.

About the Author:
Hi there! My name is Bethany and I love to journal. I created a blog so that I could record my thoughts and feelings, share the lessons in life God has been teaching me, and encourage those who read it. I hope I can interact with other Christian bloggers so that we can encourage one another. I think blogs are a great tool to connect with people who share the same passion for blogging, learning, and growing in their faith. I like to write about my relationship with my fiance and our journey towards marriage, what God has been teaching me, my adventures to china and other milestones in my life, and people/books/stories that inspire me. Please stop by, leave a comment and share your blog with me too! I would love to read your stories! http://lenandbethany.blogspot.com/

You see, while the calendar pages say that we are at the beginning of the year, the school calendar tells me that we are knee deep in the trenches of the school year. As we may struggle, or grow weary God is faithful.

The theme of this year’s Revival is Rooted… and the final night the topic was Rooted in Love. First we need to talk about the kind of love we are referring to. We are talking about agape love, the kind of unconditional love that God has for us. We are not capable of this love. That is we are not capable, apart from God’s power.

How can we access God’s power? As Christians, Christ wants to dwell in us. What does that mean? Look at it this way, there is a difference between a guest and a resident. God wants access to our entire life, not to be simply designated to the guest room, or to part of our life. Are you willing to give God the keys to your whole life!

Once you have given Christ the keys to your life, you are ready to be ‘Rooted’ in Him. When you are rooted into a source, you draw from that source. For example, if you have an oil well in your backyard, you would not tap into that well, and expect to get fresh clean water. So as, we tap into Jesus Christ, we are tapping into His love, and His power. And by tapping in our power source, we can allow God to work through us. And show and share God’s love for us, to our family, and those around us.

So how does that translate to us homeschool moms? I can tell you, personally, that there have been many times this year, that I have felt that I was at my wits end. That I simply was not equipped to finish this course set before me. Yes, I was going through the motions, fulfilling my duties, but, I felt very ill equipped. Well, I was, ill equipped that is. That is because I was trying to ‘muscle’ through on my own strength, and in my own power. And not relying on God’s strength. Sure I was reading my bible, I was faithful to church, and I was even faithful in my prayer life. However, in the heat of the moment, I was just overcome, and not turning to the Lord.

I am so thankful for the reminder this year that I need to remain plugged into the source, into Jesus Christ. Otherwise, my life will be like a living room lamp left unplugged…..powerless! Let’s get Rooted in Christ in 2012!

Author Bio:
Jennifer is a Christian homeschool mother. She has been homeschooling her 5 energetic children, by the grace of God, for 12 years! Her first 2 are set to graduate this year! Jennifer is thankful to have been able to provide a Christian Education for her children all of their years. You can visit her blog at http://jenscreativelearners.blogspot.com/ where she reviews curriculum, shares about frugal homeschooling and living and about her home businesses.

Idol as defined in the dictionary is: An image or representation of a god used as an object of worship. A person or thing that is really admired, loved or revered.

Throughout the old testament we read of different scenarios where the people of God fell into the temptation of idol worship. We can look at the children of Israel in the time of Moses. They had just miraculously been rescued from the damnation of an Egyptian Pharaoh and now, not too far afterwards, while Moses is up on the mountain seeking after the Lord it happens. They look to Aaron and demand that a golden image be made in the form of a cow from their gold and jewels so there would be something they could worship. Crazy right?

You might ask yourself, “Okay, so how does all of this tie into us as wives and mothers seeking to be obedient to Him?” Now, I’m going to get a little personal and say some things that might make your insides go “EEEEKKKK!”. However, I think this is necessary.

There can be a very fine line between obedience and idolatry. For me, this was a recent discovery. I realized I was making my priorities about keeping my home clean and providing the most nutritious and sustainable meals I could. As well as making an hour by hour guide to follow among many other homemaker duties and I quickly lost sight of what this is all about.

Recently I was able to visit with some wonderful women at my church and something of an epiphany happened! I have been making my position as homemaker my idol and forgetting to incorporate the most important element of it all, Jesus! This is not to say that He isn’t talked about or we don’t read our bible everyday during school. This is about the fact that I was making my priority about how clean I could get the house, frugal I could be, how creative I could be etc and missing opportunities where I could be sharing the gospel with my children. I firmly believe there comes a point where the lists need to be put down, the broom needs to be put away, the dishes need to sit for just a bit longer and those little ones (or big ones if you’ve got them) need to be shown your love, passion and admiration for this magnificent Savior whom we call Father and Lord. Does it mean let the house fall completely apart and never clean again? No! It means, take this beginning part of a new year and re-evaluate where the priorities are. Make sure this pursuit of noble womanhood hasn’t gotten off track spiritually somewhere. Look into your heart and make sure it hasn’t quickly forgotten where you’ve come from, like the children of Israel did.

I heard a statement in a song one time that said, “Sometimes my world gets filled with so much noise that my heart gets pulled away. But I find my peace in You.” May we grab hold of that sometimes wondering heart and point it back in the direction of where it should be heading. Let’s destroy those idols that have a tendency to sneak up in the most unexpected places and re-define this journey of nobility…

About the Author:
My name is Jerica and I am a mother of 3 little ones and help meet to my husband Matthew. My heart is for women longing to fulfill their desire of nobility in following biblical womanhood. While it can be a daunting and sometimes tiresome task I hope to offer encouragement, ideas, biblical answers to real life struggles etc. for women all over the world. You can follow me on my journey at www.noblewomen4christ.org

My son, JP, loves to play outside. I love to sit on our porch steps and watch him run around the front yard. At some point, we usually end up playing a game of chase or hide and seek. Today, he wanted me to help him dig a hole in the dirt so that he could bury one of his toys. Being the lazy mom that I am, (after working all day), I protested. Being the persistent five year old little boy that he is, he won. He handed me a shovel and we began to dig. Once the hole appeared, JP threw the toy down and we covered it up. He was pleased.

I just stood there. No more hole. The ground looked as if it had never even been tampered with. No one would ever know that there was a toy buried beneath its surface. If you were passing by, all you would see is dirt.

What do people see when they look at me? Would anyone ever guess that I had something, or in this case Someone, living beneath my surface? Or do I blend in with my surroundings. When we become children of God, He takes His shovel and cleans out all of our trash. He fills in the hole with His precious Son and covers us up with the Holy Spirit. A transformation takes place. We are different. At least we are supposed to be. That should be our goal.

When people cross our path, they should see more than just dirt.

Lord, I am supposed to be a beacon of light in a dark world. Help me not to take that responsibility lightly. I love You, and thank You for Your Son, Jesus!

About the Author:
I have been married to my best friend for ten years and I have a beautiful five year old son. While my education/background is in Early Childhood/Special Education, my PASSION in life is writing! I am the author of three blogs and I am currently working to complete my first children’s book. I enjoy blogging, writing inspirational stories/devotions, poems and short stories. You can find me on the web at http://andreasblogthoughts.blogspot.com

The day after surgery, as I got ready to take a shower, I slowly took off the ‘bra’ provided by the hospital. I wanted to see the one still there and the one that had been sacrificed. Yet, I did not want to see the visible scar, the evidence of cancer once living within. Gradually, I worked the straps down, slowly over my right shoulder, then over my left. I gulped in a gasp of breathe as I unzipped then unhooked the front closure. Gently I pulled the front away to reveal…

This morning, as I stepped into the shower, I felt the sudden rush of warmth slip over my body. I inhaled the orange scented body soap. I used my left arm, which is not so stiff, to help my right arm wash my hair. Then I silently stood, with my eyes closed, feeling the gentle massage of the shower tendrils as the soapiness glided off my body. Gradually, the warm shower sauna began to cool. I turned to switch it off. As I did, I glanced downwards to see the last vestiges of bubbles trailing down the drain. And in the corner of my eye, I saw…

I pulled, gently, the two parts of the ‘bra’. The sight brought tears to my eyes. A scar starting, where my nipple used to be, ending almost under my left armpit. Oh GOD!!! What had I done? Oh GOD!!! I look like Frankenstein! One moment of pity party, poor me, sorrowful heart…one moment only is all I allowed. When I got in the shower, a voice reminded me, my strong voice, ‘I have no regrets. I did the right thing’, reinforcing what I knew all along.

This morning, as the shower drained, I glanced at the space, the spot where once a breast was intact. No regrets. No sorrows. Just a smile…yes, to some I would look freakish. To some, I would not be normal. And to some, I would look deformed. I admit, I am scarred for life. But so were others…

John the Baptist…wild man, eater of locusts and things growing in the forest…least likely to be nominated to be the one who would eventually baptize Jesus…yet Jesus saw beyond the scars.

Peter…common fisherman, doubt almost causing him to drown, three times denied his best friend…least likely to be nominated head of the disciples…yet Jesus saw beyond the scars.

Mary Magdalene…some believe a prostitute, others believe possessed by demons…least likely to to be nominated to witness an empty tomb then see her friend anew…yet Jesus saw beyond the scars.

Thomas…follower who ran when Christ was arrested, admitted doubter…least likely to be nominated as a believer after he insisted on seeing evidence…yet Jesus saw beyond the scars.

This morning, as I dried off I looked in the mirror. Long ago, John, Peter, Mary and Thomas had to look at themselves. All of us, born imperfect. All of us, least likely to be nominated. All of us, scarred. Yet, Jesus saw and continues to see beyond what is in front of human eyes. A wild man turned one who prepared the way. A betrayer turned into one who eventually became the rock of the church. A woman scorned who became the first to witness. And a doubter, who ended up believing.

Scarred for life…yep all of us…you, me…everyone…some are more visible, some are invisible, some are deep, some skim the surface.
Human sight sees the scars…sees the ugliness…turns to avoid.

Scarred for life…Jesus’ hands, Jesus’ feet, Jesus’ head, Jesus’ body…one scar after another…for you, for me, for all.

Scarred for life…yes I am. But if it weren’t for Jesus, I would not be rejoicing. If it weren’t for Jesus, I would not be able to look, each and every day at the space left behind, knowing without a doubt, I did the right thing. If it weren’t for Jesus, I would not be able to accept the consequences, no breast, still long road to reconstruction, but cancer-free. If it weren’t for Jesus, I would not be able to see the beauty that still remains, in my smile, in my laugh, in my faith and yes, even in my scar. If it weren’t for Jesus…I would not be strong. If it weren’t for Jesus…I would be avoiding instead of accepting, all of it, His will in His time. And if it weren’t for Jesus…well there really are no sufficient words to express the deep gratitude I have, for without Him, my life would not be the same.

Blessings and here’s to scars…without which none of us would really know how truly strong we are and none of us would really know the power of Him,
Annie

About the Author: 
My writing journey began as child when I wrote poetry. It continued in college but stopped soon after when I began a career as a teacher. At forty, I changed careers and at 46 I began blogging. Today my writing reflects how my faith in Jesus attributes greatly to my daily life. It is one of hope, optimism and fun. I love to laugh out loud, have lived in Michigan all of my life, been happily married for 26 years and have two grown-a 24 year old and an almost 18 year old-sons. In November, 2011 I was diagnosed with breast cancer so my writing has reflected that journey, which is what this submission reflects. My faith journey also began as a child and continues to grow stronger each day. You can find me on the web at http://trstingod.wordpress.com

Have you ever felt so weighted down by your circumstances that you felt you might break under the pressure? I feel that way now. My family is experiencing some pretty heavy rainfall and my umbrella of strength is about to fold.

Tonight, for a brief period, I found myself curled up on my bed in the dark, crying. All I could think to say to God at this time was, “I am not strong enough for this!” And that is how I feel. I am so tired. I feel so weak. I am NOT strong enough to handle some of the circumstances that are raining down on my world. After I finished telling God all that I felt unqualified to do, He spoke. It was, of course, not an audible voice, but I heard it in my heart. It was so simple. “I know you are not strong enough to handle your circumstances. I AM.” And that was it. How true. Of course I am not strong enough. I do not have to be. That’s God’s job! He does not expect us to be able to weather some of the storms that blow into our lives. He only expects us to hold His hand while we’re out on the water.

And as long as we keep our eyes on Him, He promises not to let us sink!

Dear Lord, it’s raining so hard in my world right now it’s hard for me to see Your face. I guess this is where faith floats in. Please help me to trust You. I’m not going to let go of Your hand!

About the Author:
My name is Andrea Beam. I have been married to my best friend for almost ten years and we have a beautiful five year old son! While my education and background is in Early Childhood/Special Education, my PASSION in life is writing. I enjoy writing articles, poems, inspirational stories and most of all, devotions. I am the author of three blogs and am working to complete my first children’s book.  You can find me on the web at http://andreasblogthoughts.blogspot.com