ASAG (Always Searching, Always Growing)

More Gifts

2012-01-30T10:11:00.000-05:00

I don't have anything profound to share. Just the continuous recording of my gifts.

36. Playing "Clue" with my five-year-old

37. I love the planet Venus. This may seem a bit juvenile, but each evening, when I look into the night sky, I look for it. It's a wonderful reminder that our God is ever consistent!

38. Yesterday was a beautiful 65 degrees! In January!!

39. Wonderful dinner with two great families!

40. Watching my boys play soccer together

41. The library

42. Books

43. A friend doing some editing for me

44. A friend confiding in me

45. My mother's advice

46. Jesus' presence

47. Grace evident in my sister's life.

48. "Jesus, Friend of Sinners"

49. "Love Them Like Jesus"

50. The Holy Spirit gently rebuking me

51. The Holy Spirit's guidance in editing

52. Boys speaking kindly to each other

Goals 2012: Results or Not?

2012-01-27T11:28:00.001-05:00

By now, for most people, New Year's resolutions have flown out the window! They are usually made out of emotion instead of a well thought-out commitment. This is not always the case, but many times it is. Where does this leave you? Have you been able to continue on with your goals past the first half of January?

As I really look at this list again, I know that I haven't done my best to fulfill these goals. But that doesn't mean I haven't worked on them. Here's a run-down of what I have...or haven't...accomplished.

1. Have a good attitude. This is a tough one. I have to really work more on this. I've noticed that it rears its ugly head when someone pushes my buttons. And what is this teaching my children? I've heard it so many times that attitude is caught, not taught. The Lord has been convicting me about this and I know He will continue to work with me on it.

2. Be more diligent with my devotions. I will say that I'm pretty faithful with this. There have been times that I've missed them, but for the most part I've done my devotions. I've been reading through the Gospels and I've learned so much! I look to Christ and how He was with His disciples and I'm trying to use this as an example in how I train my children.

3. Become a better list maker. I've really dropped the ball on this one! The problem is, I think about making the list after I go to bed!! Not a good time! However, I am determined to use my time wisely, so I will make this a priority. I hope that at the end of February I can give a better report.

4. Eat healthy on a budget. This is not too difficult. You just have to know what you're going to make ahead of time (something I'm still working on) and stick with the plan. You have to know where to buy healthy food without paying the big bucks. I have to say that Costco has helped with this. I also enjoyed reading Stephanie's blog post here and here on spending only $245 per month on healthy food. I'll be going back to those posts many times!! Thank you, Stephanie!

5. Memorize two books of the Bible. With the goal of memorizing one verse per week, this really is doable! I'm so excited that I have memorized the first four verses of Philemon! Woohoo!! I plan on meeting my goal this year, which is to memorize Philemon and Jude.

I'd love to hear how you've done so far! If you feel like you haven't done very well, don't worry about it! You can always pick up where you left off and keep on going!

Win an iTouch SPY Pack in the Chasing Mona Lisa Giveaway from @triciagoyer @mikeyorkey!

2012-01-24T17:10:00.002-05:00

Chasing Mona Lisa is the continuing tale of Gabi Mueller and Eric Hofstadler (first introduced in The Swiss Courier). This time the two are on a relentless quest to save the most famous painting in the world - the Mona Lisa. You can help Gabi and Eric with your very own spy pack when you enter The Chasing Mona Lisa Giveaway!

One passionate protector will receive:

iTouch (The must-have device for any spy. Camera, Maps & Music.)
Starbucks Gift Card (For all those late nights.)
Moleskin Notebook (For those important notes.)
Invisible Ink Pen (Don’t want anyone reading those important notes.)
Chasing Mona Lisa by Tricia Goyer & Mike Yorkey (Great handbook and intriguing tale for any spy-in-training!)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends at noon on January 31st. The winner will be announced at the Chasing Mona Lisa Facebook Party on 1/31. Tricia and Mike will be hosting an author chat (on Facebook and Live from Tricia's website) and giving away their books and a Book Club prize pack! (Ten copies of the book for your small group or book club AND a LIVE Author Chat for your group with Tricia and Mike.)

So grab your copy of Chasing Mona Lisa and join Tricia and Mike on the evening of the 31st for an author chat, spy training (do you know how to pick a lock?) and lots of giveaways.

Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP today and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 31st!

Understanding the Bible's Genres: the Law

2012-01-24T16:47:00.003-05:00

Walking with God is so much more than just the few minutes we sit reading the Bible each day. It's about constantly conversing with Him, asking Him how to handle my child, or what should I do about this situation? Always acknowledging Him. I know...it is easier said than done, especially since we can't see Him.

Since the walking is more than just the reading, should the reading be done in a hurried way, without much thought gone into it? The more reading that can be done, the more we will recognize the voice of the Holy Spirit when He does tell us what to do in a certain situation.

I've written a series of posts on how to study your Bible, but I want to highlight a specific one. In it I listed the different genres of the Bible. Genres are a type of literature, like poetry, history, personal letters, etc. The Bible is like any other book in that you need to know what you're looking at in order to know how to interpret it. You wouldn't read a poem like you would a biography. They are written differently with different slants.

It's the same for the Bible. You wouldn't read the section where God tells the Israelites how they needed to perform certain sacrifices in certain ways like you would the Psalms. They have different purposes.

I have to admit that the Law is difficult to understand. It just seems to go on and on and it feels like you're getting lost in all the requirements God had for Israel. What is the purpose? "It was God's gift to his people to establish the ways they were to live in community with one another and to provide for their relationship and worship of Yahweh, their God."1 That's an interesting thought. God has always been concerned with how we treat each other and how we look to Him. Jesus said, "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." (John 13:35)

The laws were not so much a dare to see if the Israelites could fulfill them all. When God gave Moses the Law, He was giving him a binding contract between Himself and the Israelites. It was a sign of loyalty to Jehovah. Most of it is not applicable to us today, but it is important to understand the Law in order to understand why the prophets were so important. It's all a part of the story of the Israelites.2

I will be honest with you here. There is no way that in this post I could give you all the details of understanding this genre. They are like a tree with branches going everyhwere! I will, however, highlight two points:

1."The portion of laws from the Pentateuch that no longer apply to Christians can be grouped conveniently into two categories: (1) the Israelite civil laws and (2) the Israelite ritual laws. While some Old Testament laws do still apply to us..., these do not."3

2. There are some strange laws. Laws that make absolutely no sense to us in our culture. Why do I need to know or even read them? I will give you an example and I think you'll be amazed at how incredible our God is!

"Thou shalt not seethe (boil) a kid in his mother's milk." (Deut. 14:21, my explanation) "...these and other prohibitions were designed to forbid the Israelites to engage in the fertility cult practices of the Canaanites. The Canaanites believed in what is called sympathetic magic, the idea that symbolic actions can influence the gods and nature. They thought that boiling a goat kid in its mother's milk would magically ensure the continuing fertility of the flock."4

The light begins to brighten for me when I read this. God wasn't just interested in coming up with a bunch of rules that seem ridiculous, just because He could! He wanted to protect the Israelites from the surrounding influences of Satan.

What this says to me is, I may not have to follow most of the rules that ancient Israel did, but God does care about me and my relationship with Him. He's concerned about the culture I live in and how it influences me! He does have a set of guidelines in place for me. It's not to put me in a straight jacket so I can never have any fun! It's so I can be closer to Him, rely on Him for my needs, and be productive for His kingdom!

I just thank Him even more for making available to us the Old Testament Law, so we can be even more aware of His wisdom! What a wonderful God we serve!

1. How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth, by Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart, p. 163
2. Ibid, p. 166-167
3. Ibid, p. 167
4. Ibid, p. 179

Just Gifts

2012-01-23T10:07:00.000-05:00

I love the idea of having a calendar that gives you which gifts to look for each day. However, I tend to be an all or nothing kind of gal. It's almost like my brain tells me I can't look for anything else. Which, I know, is preposterous.

So, for this reason, I'm not going to use just the joy calendars for prompts in recording my gifts. I'm going to record them as I see them and if the joy calendar reminds me of more blessings, well...I'll include them.

23. My husband reading to and instructing our children

24. My husband changing the baby's diaper

25. My children playing well together

26. My husband putting up chore charts and a tie rack

27. The beautiful Holy Spirit

28. Beautiful music

29. Friends watching our children

30. My husband's boss treating us to dinner

31. Time alone with my baby

32. Jesus' outstretched arms of forgiveness

33. Jesus' always-listening ear

34. Jesus' grace for today

35. My baby's determination to get what he wants

Blog Tour: "Chasing Mona Lisa"

2012-01-19T14:59:00.000-05:00

Chasing Mona Lisa
by Tricia Goyer and Mike Yorkey
325 pages
$14.99
ISBN: 978-0-8007-2046-9
http://www.revellbooks.com/

The Mona Lisa has been one of the most treasured paintings of all time. Its creator, Leonardo da Vinci was a genius, and for that reason alone, the painting is priceless.

In the German occupation of France during WWII, the French did everything they could to spare the Mona Lisa from Nazi hands. It was moved from place to place in an effort to be one step ahead of the Germans.

Colette Perriard is a courier at The Louvre, an art museum in Paris. She does all she can to guard the art pieces from the Nazis, but not everything is in her control. What will she do when the Mona Lisa is threatened to be stolen by the Nazis?

Swiss OSS agents Gabi Mueller and Eric Hofstadler are commissioned by the Swiss government to deliver medical supplies via the Red Cross for the Resistance (those who fought behind the scenes to bring deliverance to France.) Due to the political climate, they are swept into the race to protect the Mona Lisa from Reichsmarschall Hermann Goring. Who will win? Will the Mona Lisa be returned to her rightful place at the Louvre?

Goyer and Yorkey provide a fast ride in this story of betrayal and intrigue. You will not want to miss one page!

Tricia Goyer is the coauthor of The Swiss Courier as well as the author of many other books, including Night Song and Dawn of a Thousand Nights, both past winners of the ACFW's Book of the Year Award for Long Historical Romance. Goyer lives with her family in Arkansas.1

Mike Yorkey is the author or coauthor of doznes of books, including the Swiss Courier and the bestselling Every Man's Battle series. Married to a Swiss native, Yorkey lived in Switzerland for 18 months. He and his family currently reside in California.2

1,2. Back cover of Chasing Mona Lisa.

This book was received free of charge for the purpose of writing this review.

Success Is In the Eye of the Beholder

2012-01-17T23:33:00.003-05:00

I find it so easy to compare myself with other people. I know...very unwise. Paul said so and I can see why. But, truthfully, we live in a visual world. We see others doing the same thing we are and they are seemingly much more successful! What's up with that, right?

I think of some missionaries who work so hard and sometimes not very much fruit is evident. Their work is difficult because people are so brainwashed in their religion and as a result, are closed to the gospel. It takes many years to build trust with them. They begin to open up and fruit begins to grow. (Adoniram Judson was one of those missionaries who worked hard for 15 years before seeing any converts.) And then there are other missionaries who work just as hard, but their particular field is much more open to the gospel. Which one is more successful? Which one, from a human perspective, is "getting it right?"

What does God think? The answer is pretty much a no-brainer. God looks at our faithfulness. He knows our circumstances and our difficulties. He's not concerned with what humans are concerned with.

This could also be applied in the area of church growth. The church that has the most people seems to be the most successful! But, is it? Are they doing what God commanded them to do from His Word? Or are they stepping away from the Scriptures and trying to employ man's ideas into what a church should be?

It's all in the perspective.

What about me? How can I, in the little area of the world God has called me to, be successful? How can I know that I am, even if it seems like my friend who is doing the exact same things that I am, is producing more fruit? I'm just being honest here, but it does get discouraging sometimes. I work hard. Yet, I don't see the results that I see others having. But the more I think of it, the more I realize that what I see is not always the complete picture. People put on their best face, so to speak. We want others to see that we are a success.

God wants us to be faithful and to look "unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith." (Heb. 12:2) The key is to remember that we all produce fruit at different times in our lives. All I need to do is look to Christ and know that when I get to Heaven, He's not going to ask, "So, how successful were you?" I hope that what He's going to say to me is, "Well done, thou good, and faithful servant." (Matt. 25:21, emphasis mine)That will be the ultimate success.

Cherish the Moment

2012-01-16T09:14:00.000-05:00

I am learning to live right now. I know this is Ann's theme, but it is starting to ring true to me.

We have learned again this week that life is fleeting. A precious family in our church lost their daughter to suicide this past week. My heart breaks for these dear people. My husband and I were talking about this tragedy and the truth is, we could at any moment be only four days away from being put into the ground.

Where is my focus? Am I just concerned about my house being perfectly clean that I forget the important people that live here? Do I allow things that have no eternal value to grab my mind and stay sucked in there? What would God say to me if He were to take me home today? Would He be happy with the way I treated the precious people in this house? Because, truthfully, they belong to Him. They are just on loan to me. These thoughts have spurred the addition of more gifts in my joy journal.

9. Fellowship

10. Thoughtful husband

11. Babbling baby

12. Boys huddled together

13. Me and my five-year old doing dishes

14. Sweet baby's breath in my ear

15. Boys making a Star Wars drink concoction

16. Seeing God's grace in a hurting family's life

17. Unfinished puzzle on the floor

18. Older brother giving younger brother a napkin; not just thinking of himself

19. New mercies every morning

20. Sister's joy in her suffering

21. Finished puzzle on the floor

22. Middle boy's funny personality

Blog Tour: 7 Money Rules for Life

2012-01-12T10:51:00.000-05:00

7 Money Rules for Life: How to Take Control of Your Financial Future
by Mary Hunt
200 pages
$17.99
ISBN: 978-0-8007-2112-1
http://www.revellbooks.com/

"In your lifetime, you will handle millions in earned income..."[1]

My mouth dropped when I read this statement. Maybe I'm the only person that has never thought about it, but that much money will have flown through my hands in my life? That put a whole different perspective on things. It's not just a few dollars here, a few dollars there. It's a lot of money that God will hold me accountable for and how am I doing at managing it? Not as good as I would like.

I love this book! Mary shares seven simple rules that can change a person's life. She should know. She's been up to her neck in debt and she and her husband worked hard to get rid of that burden. In the book, she tells us how it was this experience and the lessons she learned along the way that led to the founding of her company, Debt-Proof Living.

Here are her seven rules:

1. Spend Less Than You Earn

2. Save for the Future

3. Give Some Away

4. Anticipate Your Irregular Expenses

5. Tell Your Money Where to Go

6. Manage Your Credit

7. Borrow Only What You Know You Can Repay

Some of these things are just no-brainers, right? I figured I knew what she was going to say. I did know some of it, but there is so much more than what meets the eye! She doesn't just tell you what you need to do, but she tells you how you need to do it.

She dedicates one chapter for each rule, describing in detail how each function. After the rules have been stated, Mary describes how to utilize each rule for your particular situation. Everybody has one. Mine is an irregular income. This is difficult to budget with and I have to say that she is the first person to actually make sense in how to budget for irregular income! I was relieved to know that this is not impossible. Again, she speaks from experience in this area and that makes it more credible for me.

Mary is always honest, but also tactful. She never makes you feel like you should know better and why have you gotten into this mess? She is quick to point out that it wasn't wise, but there is a way out.

Money doesn't have to be a burden. It can be a blessing that will enrich your life and the lives of those around you. Pick up this book and learn how to make it happen!

"Mary Hunt is founder and publisher of Debt-Proof Living, a highly regarded organization consisting of an interactive website, a monthly newsletter, and personal finance tools."[2]

1. 7 Money Rules for Life by Mary Hunt, p. 20

2. Ibid, inside back flap

This book was received free of charge for the purpose of writing this review.

Blindness=Sight

2012-01-11T10:19:00.001-05:00

I love Jesus! Of course, the main reason is because He died the most horrendous death imaginable just so I can go to Heaven. But I also love His teachings! Sometimes I read a passage and I scratch my head wondering what He's talking about! Then, panic sets in. He said that those who have ears to hear will hear and I tell Him, "I have ears to hear! I'm just a little slow to understand some of this stuff!"

Thankfully, part of walking this road with Him is learning new things and He does open our eyes when we want to learn.

I was reading John 9 and the majority of the chapter is about Jesus healing a blind man on the Sabbath. The religious leaders didn't care one whit about the man being healed. They just cared about their power over people.

They kept asking him how he was healed and he continued to repeat the story. They finally accused him of being one of His disciples. Of course, this blind man knew Who healed him and when they kicked him out of the synagogue, Jesus found him. Interesting, isn't it? Jesus knew the heart of this man and He sought him out.

This is where I did a bit of head-scratching. Verse 39 says, "And Jesus said, 'For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see: and that they which see might be made blind.' "

How is that? Isn't it good if someone can see? I thought about it and prayed over it and the Holy Spirit showed me what Jesus meant.

You see, people who think they can see what's wrong with them usually don't have any idea. It's like someone who is conceited and thinks they have it all together and then they're blindsided.

It's about pride. If I come to Jesus like the publican did and ask Him to give me sight to see myself for who I really am, He steps in, shows me what's wrong, and gives me an abundant life. But...if I think I'm okay and don't need any help, He purposely blinds me. In fact, the blindness becomes worse than it was before.

The more I go to Him and remember that I am just a piece of clay that is worth nothing on it's own, the more He will shine His light on me. The more I will see what needs to be changed so I can grow to be more like Him. The more I will see how blessed I am to be able to walk with Him each day.

Joy Journal

2012-01-09T10:37:00.001-05:00

I know its a bit late, but, better late than never, right?

I've decided to join in on recording the joy gifts each day with the others at 1000 gifts. So bear with me as I am just at the beginning of this journey. Looking forward to it!

1. thankfulness

2. laughter

3. kindness

4. warm blanket

5. children's safety

6. innocent baby's face

7. a good book

8. cup of steaming hot tea

Why Should I Study the Bible? Part 4 (Methods)

2012-01-07T13:17:00.000-05:00

Now we're getting down to the nitty-gritty of Bible study. We've covered why it's important to read in context and understanding the genre. How can we go further?

I will give different methods of study and then I'll delve into them a bit more.

1. Read a book of the Bible through every day for 30 days.

2. Do a word study.

3. Study an individual.

There are more, but these are the ones that have helped me the most. How, then, can we study these?

The first method was to read a book of the Bible through every day for 30 days. This may seem too simplistic, but I can assure you, you will learn more than you thought! You will be amazed at what God starts showing you when you just focus on one book. You'll be reading in context which will help give you a firm grasp of what the author was trying to convey.

You may wonder, "How am I supposed to read a huge book in 30 days?" If its a small one, like James, then you can read it all the way through each day. But, there are larger books that would be difficult to read in one day. You would need to divide these up. For instance, Matthew has 28 chapters. If you divided it by 4, you would have 7 chapters to read every day. When you get to the beginning of the next month, you could then read chapters 8-14 each day and so on. It would take longer to get through the book, but you would still have a firm grasp of it.

The second method was do a word study. Here are some steps in accomplishing this goal.

Ask the Lord to show you a word He wants you to become more familiar with and go with that one.
Have a notebook handy so you can jot down important information.
Go online to the Strong's Concordance and type in the word in the first search box you see.
Let's say you typed in "saved". It will tell you how many times that word appears in the Bible. (104)
Each time you see the word, either by itself or in a phrase, you will notice a small number to the top right of the word. Click on it and this number will tell you what the original Hebrew or Greek word is and what it means.
Now, click on the back button and go through each verse. Record in your notebook what that particular verse is talking about and how the word you chose applies. Whenever you notice a new number beside your word, click on the number and see what the meaning is.
Before we continue to the next method of study, I want to challenge you to go just a bit deeper in the word study section. Remember in the Strong's Concordance online where you clicked on the number to get the definition of the word? Towards the bottom of the page there are a list of words that have also been translated from the same Hebrew or Greek word. You will find it fascinating how that same word has been translated in different passages. This is definitely the kind of study that can branch off in different directions.

Using Strong's is a wonderful way to do a word study. However, if you want to go even further, I recommend you buy Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament. It is fabulous! You can learn what the synonyms and antonyms for a word are. It corresponds with the numbering system in Strong's. If you want to have the Old Testament book, go here.

The third method is a study of an individual. This can be quite fascinating! You can use Strong's again to look up all the verses that this person was in. After you have done this, look at the historical and cultural settings. Even though the books that contain this material aren't actually the Bible, understanding the background is so important to knowing how that person may have thought or felt.

Let's just put it this way. If I wanted to learn more about Abraham Lincoln, I wouldn't just read a biography. I would also read history books to get a full grasp on his culture. That would help me to get inside his head, so to speak.

I know what you're wondering. Where can I get some good resources for this type of study? I'm glad you asked, because there are several books that will help you. Here are a few:

Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah by Alfred Edersheim (I am personally saving my money to buy this one. My next individual study will be on Jesus. I can't wait!!)
The International Standard Bible Encycolpedia by George Bromiley
In the Shadow of the Temple: Jewish Influences on Early Christianity by Oskar Skarsaune
The Promise and the Blessing: A Historical Survey of the Old and New Testaments by Michael A. Harbin

I hope this gets your wheels turning a bit! But, please, don't feel overwhelmed. Just take it one step at a time and remember that studying takes time.

What do you think is a good way to study the Bible? Is there a certain method that you like the best? I hope you share with us!

Teachable Moment

2012-01-04T14:17:00.000-05:00

It's not every day that I have the opportunity to share with my children something new in a familiar story from God's Word.

Most of us have heard the stories of Jesus quieting the different storms His disciples were in. When I read my devotions this morning from John 6, I learned that Jesus did something different than just calm the storm. The context of this story is Jesus feeding the five thousand and when He was finished, He escaped to a mountain, because He perceived that the crowd wanted to take Him by force and make him King. It was during the night hours that the disciples rowed from one side of the Sea of Galilee to the other.

I began telling my children this story and they interrupted (which I am working on) to tell me they already knew this story. Heard it many times in Sunday School. I then had the most wonderful opportunity to explain to them that so many times when we read the Bible, escpecially a portion that we think we already know, it is so easy to not think about what we're reading. After all, we already know the story, right?

I love this part, because God was able to prove His Word to be much more exciting than just a bunch of stories we hear in Sunday School! Before you start throwing stones, I'm not slamming Sunday School. I just believe as parents we should not rely on the teachers to impart truths to our children. Anyway, I read the verse that stood out to me. "Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went." (John 6:21)

I told my five and ten-year old boys that when Jesus stepped into the ship they were in the middle of the sea. As soon as He stepped in, they were on the other side. It didn't happen gradually. It was instant! You should have seen the look on my ten-year old's face! It was priceless! He said, "Huh?" I wanted to jump for joy! What a great opportunity to tell my children that the Bible holds so much more than we think!

Goals For 2012

2012-01-02T08:50:00.005-05:00

Why do most of us feel that we have to set New Year's resolutions? Maybe its a peer pressure thing. You kinda feel like you have to since almost everyone you know does it. Now, that may be part of it. But I think alot of it has to do with a new year brings new beginnings and we just want to start fresh. That's definitely where I am right now. There have been things in my life that I've really struggled with this past year and I want to gain victory over them this coming year.

In the beginning, most of us burst out of the gate with all the vigor of an olympic runner and when we come to turn 1, we run out of steam. And usually turn 1 is at the end of January! I know it has been like that for me! Why does that happen? I believe it happens when we focus on ourselves to get the job done. "Just do it!", the slogan says. How can we avoid the burnout that is almost inevitable?

Our relationship with Christ must be at the fore-front of our minds and I know this is the one that is easiest to neglect. This is one of my resolutions as you'll find out.
I wrote about the importance of having a servant's spirit. If we can just remember that we are serving alongside the Savior no matter how important or unimportant a task may be, it will help us to stay faithful.
Focus on the prize. Forget about what someone else is or isn't doing beside you. You have a goal that stretches past January 31 and you must stay focused to achieve it.

The Lord has been working on me regarding different areas in my life and I sat down the other night to write them out. Believe me, the list could go on and on. But for the sake of having an attainable goal, I'll only mention a few and the process I plan to take to achieve it!!

Have a good attitude. So simple, yet so difficult. Evil is so much more accessible than it used to be. (i.e. internet, TV, etc.) I work so hard to protect my children from Satan and his devices, but sometimes I wonder if I don't work hard enough on the things that will impact them the most. Like...my attitude? Hmmm. Something to think about.
Be more diligent with my devotions. I love the Lord so much. Yet, I allow the flesh to sneak in too many times. Jesus is the King. If in person He were to send me a notice that He wanted to meet with me, do you think I would allow silly little things to hold me back? Never! I have the Holy Spirit with me, so I need to take advantage of the wonderful opportunity.
Become a better list maker. I know people who thrive on writing lists. I am not one of those people, which is obvious, because why would I make it as a 2012 goal if I were good at it, right? Anyway, I have done it a bit and I accomplish so much more when I do it. So it's my goal this year to do it regularly. I want my time to be used properly. God will hold me accountable for how I used it.
Eat healthy on a budget. This is a difficult one, but I feel it's attainable. Eating healthy doesn't mean eating the most expensive food. But, it does mean moving past the convenience of buying something in a container. For instance, I made red pepper hummus and it is so good for you, plus I saved a ton by making it.
Memorize two books of the Bible. How in the world am I going to accomplish this? I definitely need a plan. I figured that if I memorize one verse per week, it would be very do-able. So I sat down with my calulator to see how many verses certain books have. Here's the list and the order I plan on doing it in:

                    Philemon:   25 verses
                   Jude:            25 verses

What about you? What kind of goals have you set for this brand new year?

Siblings' Love Reflects Love For Their Parents

2011-12-31T09:27:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I had a little situation to work out with two of my boys, ages 10 and 5. If you have children, you know that children will squabble. It's just part of growing up and learning to get along with each other and learning the meaning of true love.

But, I have to be honest with you. Every time they argue or fight or what have you, it hurts my mother's heart. I know that it's not like they won't speak to each other and there's a huge breach in their relationship, but I still want them to love each other and grow up to be each other's best friend. Nothing (aside from their salvation and love for God) would thrill me more. Their love for each other honors their Mom and Dad. It reflects us.

When I was finished working through the situation yesterday, the Lord showed me that how I feel about my children loving each other is just a small picture of what it does for Him when we as His children love each other. We can say with words that we love each other, but nothing speaks more of our love than acts of kindness and the absence of unkind words. Just like it thrills me as a parent when my children love each other, so it thrills the heart of the Father when His children love each other.

What do you do to help your children be kind to each other? Is there something specific that you have found to just click with them?

Why Should I Study the Bible? Part 3 (Genre)

2011-12-28T08:39:00.001-05:00

When I begin reading a book I always know what type (genre) of book it is. For instance, Night of the Living Dead Christian is an allegory which I wrote about here. I come to this book with different expectations than I would historical fiction. Each type of book has a different purpose. All authors want to communicate something to their readers and they pick a certain genre to accomplish that goal.

The same is true for the Bible. God wanted to convey to the world His love for us; He used several different genres to portray this love. When we understand the type of literature we are reading, it is easier to interpret the message behind it. For the purpose of this post, I will only give a list of the different types. At a different time I will make a series out of these and go into more detail.

I think once you've read the list, you will recognize them. But it's good to keep them in mind when studying or even just reading a certain passage.

The Law: Genesis-Deuteronomy
Old Testament Narratives
Poetry: Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon
Prophets
Gospels
Parables
Church History
Epistles
Revelation Prophecy [1]

It makes a big difference in how you interpret the Bible. For example, its easy to read certain ideas into the parables that Jesus never meant to be, like assuming that each one is an allegory. They're not always allegory.

I hope this wets your appetite a bit! Next week we'll get into the different tools you can use to study the Bible more. See you then!

How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth by Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart

New Year's Resolutions

2011-12-27T12:49:00.000-05:00

New Year's Resolutions. I have to say this is a bit of a love-hate relationship with me. I think we sometimes get caught up in the excitement of a new year and so we go along with the flow in setting new goals.

Having said that, I do want to set new goals. But, my motive is to draw closer to Christ and be more filled with the Holy Spirit. This Sunday I will be posting my list of things I want to change or to just get better in. I'm going to be detailed, instead of saying something like "I want to be a better parent." How do I want to be a better parent? You know, things like that.

Will you join me? You can either leave a list in the comment section or just leave a link to your blog stating what you goals are.

See you Sunday!

Congratulations to the Winner!

2011-12-22T11:25:00.000-05:00

Contest Winner

Congratulations to Jen!! You won the free copy of Night of the Living Dead Christian!

Have a Merry Christmas!!

Why Should I Study the Bible? Part 2

2011-12-20T11:32:00.000-05:00

I said that this week we would begin looking at different methods of Bible study. You may be surprised by my first choice: read with your eyes wide open.

I know what you're thinking! Well, duh, of course in order to study we have to read with our eyes wide open! But wait a minute! Don't tune me out yet. How often have you opened your Bible to a familiar passage and thought, "Oh. I've heard this so many times. Not much to learn here!" It's not that we really think God can't teach us anything new. We just become so familiar with what we've been taught. And that's a dangerous place to be.

When we rely on what we've been taught, we run the risk of depending on a human to interpret the Bible for us. The problem with that is, humans are fallible. Then, the next time you open a certain passage, you read it with the ideas of the person that taught it to you. I am not saying here that we should not learn from others. God gave us teachers, preachers, etc. They are wonderful tools in understanding the Scriptures. What I am saying is this: We must remember that the primary teacher of the Bible is the Holy Spirit. He's the One that wrote the Book!

The next time you open your Bible, pretend that you have never read it before. Come to it with the blinders off. Set aside any preconceived ideas of what you think the passage probably means. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you, to show you what the text is saying. (He may tell you that you need to do dig further. This subject is for future posts.) You never know what may be hidden in plain sight!

For me, this was the most important step in growing in my walk with the Lord! The blessed Spirit has taught me so many things and continues to do so!! I sometimes feel like a kid in a candy store and I eagerly look for the next wonderful truth that my precious Teacher is going to show me!

Next week we'll start looking at the different genres in the Bible and how it affects interpretation. You won't want to miss it!! I'll see you then!

Interview with Matt Mikalatos

2011-12-16T12:41:00.000-05:00

In keeping my promise to everyone, I am posting the interview I had with Matt Mikalatos, author of Night of the Living Dead Christian, today. Enjoy!

You're an excellent storyteller! How long have you been writing stories?

Thanks!

The first story I remember writing was in high school. It was about an Irish guy (I don't know why he was Irish, other than the fact that my dialogue was so boring that I was trying to spice it up with a brogue) who invented time travel, turned on his time machine and forgot to take into account the rotation of the Earth and the Earth's movement around the sun, so he ended up appearing in outer space. Then he died. The end. It wasn't a very good story.

As for how long ago that was... my freshman year of high school was 1988. Now I'm going to go write a story about this guy who realizes he's not as young as he was, invents a time machine, forgets about the Earth's rotation, and appears in outer space. Tragedy!

Was there a particular author that influenced you to write allegory?

Probably Kurt Vonnegut with books like "Cats Cradle" (It's the end of the world! Lets make our own religion!) and "Galapagos" (narrated by an evolved penguin-human-thing!) and "Slaughterhouse Five" (Am I travelling through time or experiencing post-traumatic stress?) I love G.K. Chesterton's fiction, and he has been a big influence, especially books like "The Napoleon of Notting Hill" and "The Ball and the Cross" and "The Man Who Was Thursday." C.S. Lewis's books, the Narnia books in grade school, the space trilogy in middle school and "The Great Divorce" and "Til We Have Faces" in college and beyond have always been influential to me, too.

Why do you write allegory as opposed to regular fiction?

Every genre has certain boundaries and limitations as well as strengths. If you think of your reader's mind as a fortress designed to keep foreign ideas out, then you would see a good non-fiction book of essays as a battering ram. The strength of the argument knocks a hole in the defenses. Fiction, of course, can sort of sneak over the wall, or stand at the gates and whisper something in a guard's ear and get him to lift the portcullis. Allegory is sort of the sneaky cousin of fiction that dresses up like a llama and says, "Guess what I am?" and then when the Reader invites them inside it throws off its disguise and says, "I'M YOU! YOU'RE A LLAMA!" It's a lot of fun, and people can be entertained by their personal insights rather than informed of them. Also, it's really fun.

How long have you had an interest in werewolves, vampires, etc?

My Dad started me on the Saturday Monster Matinee before I was old enough to hold a stake or load a silver bullet into a pistol, so, pretty young. We'd sit in blankets and eat peanut butter out of the jar with spoons. I have a lot of fond memories of that sort of thing growing up.

Will you continue writing in this particular genre?

Oh, probably. If the right story and subject present themselves. I have some ideas for some spin off stories for NLDC, but I don't have them slated into my writing schedule quite yet.

When can we expect to see another book?

Hmmm. It's hard to say what's going to be out there next. I have a fantasy for younger readers called "The Sword of Six Worlds" that might possibly come out in the near future (I'm in conversations with someone who would like to publish it). I've got a pitch for a comic book series called "Strange Territories" sitting on an editor's desk at Dark Horse Comics, so I'm waiting to hear back about that one. And then, this January I'm planning to start work on my first non-fiction book, which doesn't have a name yet but I'm really excited about it. I've written a little bit and I think it has the potential to be a really astounding and challenging thing to write as well as read. Oh, and my first book, "Imaginary Jesus", is being re-released as "My Imaginary Jesus" in the spring!

Photo Courtesy of http://www.mikalatos.com/

"Matt Mikalatos works with a Christian nonprofit equipping college students for overseas missions...He lives near Portland, Oregon, with his wife and three daughters."1

1. From the back of Night of the Living Dead Christian.

Book Review and Giveaway: "Night of the Living Dead Christian"

2011-12-15T12:18:00.000-05:00

Night of the Living Dead Christian: One Man's Ferociously Funny Quest to Discover What it Means to be Transformed
by Matt Mikalatos
270 pages
$14.99
ISBN: 978-1-4143-3880-4
http://www.tyndale.com/
http://www.mattmikalatos.com/

Matt is in charge of the neighborhood watch. Actually, he is the "watch!" This is not your average neighborhood with the riff-raff you might be used to. Matt protects his neighbors from werewolves, zombies, vampires, and other monsters.

He thinks that these creatures are outside of the circle of people he knows. However, he discovers that these creatures live closer to home than he thought. How can he help these people transform from being monsters into fully human beings? Matt knows that Jesus changes lives, but unfortunately one of the monsters wants to take the behavior modification route. Will it work? Or will it take Someone outside of himself to change him?

Matt Mikalatos is a master storyteller. He uses allegory to draw a picture of what happens when we allow the Holy Spirit to change us from the sinful nature that just comes so natural to us to the life He intended for us to live.

I loved this book! If you're a fan of fantasy, you are missing out by not reading it. You will be hooked from the first page! The author expertly blends humor with the seriousness of not living a transformed life. Included in the back of the book is a list of different monsters with a detailed description of each one and how it relates to the way we live. Which monster are you? You'll have to read it to find out!

Before I tell you about the giveaway, go here to watch the video featuring the author. He describes in a bit more detail what the message of the book is. Enjoy!

Giveaway

If you would like to receive a copy of this book, there are four ways that you can enter! This giveaway will end on Wednesday, December 21 at 11:59 pm EST. (The winner will be picked through random.org.)

1. Write in the comment section what kind of fiction you like the best. Remember to leave your email address so I can contact you if you win.

2. Sign up for my posts at the top left sidebar. Come back and let me know in the comment section that you signed up.

3. Follow me on Twitter. Again, come back here and let me know in the comment section that you are following.

4. Follow this blog. Let me know in the comment section that you are following.

Good luck!

I will be posting an interview with Matt Mikalatos tomorrow! Come back and learn more about this incredible author!

Why Should I Study the Bible?

2011-12-14T12:14:00.001-05:00

The Bible is an intimidating book. Well...should we expect less from Someone who created the universe? God wouldn't be so deserving of our worship if we could figure Him out completely. Why is it, then, that we are afraid to delve into the deeper truths of the Bible? Aside from the fact that it is intimidating, what else could be the problem? Here are a few reasons that I've noticed why people don't study it (as opposed to just reading it):

1.Time. And this is a genuine factor! I had a baby eight months ago and babies definitely take up more time than older children do. The fact is we are all in different stages of life and they give us different time restraints.

2. Ability. Some people think that because they are not "deep" people, all they need is the surface stuff. The practical stuff. What is not immediately apparent is that all Scripture is profitable, not just some. I know that some passages are easier to grasp and apply (like the poetic books, Psalms, Proverbs, etc). However, this excuse will not fly when we stand before God.

3. Gender. Yes, you heard me right. There are some who believe that since Proverbs 31 doesn't describe a woman who studies her Bible, then we women shouldn't use our time in this endeavor. I'm not saying that these people are suggesting you shouldn't read your Bible. They're just saying that we are not admonished, as women, to study the Bible.

If I may, I would like to elaborate a bit more on each point. In each season of life, we are given different time restraints. Some have very young children, some are single, some have aging parents. I am not at all insensitive to these things. But, truthfully, if you really want to get to know God, the King of the universe, you will take the time. You may only be able to take apart one verse at a time or you may be able to do a whole word study! Pray about what God would have you to do and He will guide you.

Secondly, some believe that they cannot go deeper because they are not "deep" people. This is true. Some are more gifted in applying the surface level of Scripture and we need this!! But the Bible is so applicable in many ways and God did tell us to "study to shew theyself approved unto God..." (II Tim. 2:15) What a blessing it would be for these more practical people to take apart the Bible and show us how we can use it for today's situations!

Thirdly, I may be harsh here, but I think the last point is ludicrous. It's just an excuse to pass the buck. Nowhere in the Bible does it teach us that only the men should study. Actually, the above verse applies here as well. This verse was written for all Christians, not just men. Am I saying we shouldn't learn from Proverbs 31? Definitely not! We need to glean all we can from these verses. And to be honest, here's another example of how we can take apart this particular passage and apply the deeper truths to life right now!

So, you may ask, what are some good ways to study the Bible? I'm glad you asked, because starting next week, I will begin a series on different methods of Bible study. I hope you will join me! While you're here, leave a comment on how you study your Bible! See you next week!

Book review: "More Lost Than Found: Finding a Way Back to Faith"

2011-12-06T10:50:00.001-05:00

More Lost Than Found: Finding a Way Back to Faith
by Jared Herd
189 pages
$15.99
ISBN: 978-1-4002-0303-1
http://www.thomasnelson.com/

In More Lost Than Found, Jared Herd discusses why so many young adults are leaving the Christian faith. He doesn't jump in where it seems the problem has begun, but at the beginning where there is a loss of heritage and with that loss comes a loss of a sense of belonging. Because of this, people will move toward any group that will make them feel that they are contributing and belonging, even if it means leaving the church.

Part of the problem in the church, Herd says, is that God has been put into a "fishbowl." In other words, when we step into the building we call church, all of a sudden God is everything. However, when we leave that building, we leave God there as well. Along with this comes a lack of knowing God in an intimate way. People don't experience God like they should and He becomes just a God of the mind. The lines then become drawn too severely. If you are a Christian, then you better be growing at a certain rate and you better show certain signs of Christianity at certain intervals of time. All of these things have turned people off.

After explaining the reasons for so many leaving, he begins a discussion on how we can get to know Jesus for who He really is and that He wanted people to become fully human, not just fragments of humanity. For instance, the soul and the body was made to function together. But for many of us, we fail to understand that what affects the body also affects the soul and vice versa. Another fact that humans need to face is that there is not always an answer for the suffering we experience. This may be a difficult pill to swallow at first, but it helps us to realize that we don't always have to give a suffering individual a "reason" for why they are suffering. Sometimes it's okay to say, "I don't know."

He doesn't end this book with a floundering feeling. The fact is we need to go back to the foundation of Christianity. Don't turn your back on everything you have known thinking that this is what God is all about. Take what you know, study the Scriptures, find out what Jesus actually taught, and move forward. This is the way to Finding a Way Back to Faith.

I mentioned in an earlier paragraph that Herd said that many are leaving the faith because there is too much of a "loving God with your mind" mentality and not enough experience linked with the faith. He has spoken to thousands of people and has heard their concerns. However, I have read from another source that has conducted legitimate surveys and those surveys testify that many are leaving because there is not enough teaching of the Bible. The truth is people just don't know what the Bible says and therefore they begin to think that what they are being taught are just opinions. (Of course, it is the parents' primary responsibility to teach their children, but that's for a different post.) I am not saying there should be no experience. We need to have it balanced just like Jesus said, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind."

Overall this is a book that will open your eyes to what is happening in Christianity today. "Jared Herd serves as the creative director for Xp3, a division of the Rethink Group. For the past ten years, he has traveled extensively speaking to hundreds of thousands of high school and college students."1

Go here if you would like to have a look at this book.

1. From the back cover.

This book was received free of charge for the purpose of writing this review.

Your Passions Define You

2011-12-01T23:20:00.000-05:00

It's hard to believe that Thanksgiving was just one week ago! Following on the heels of this wonderful holiday was another memorable day...Black Friday. Need I say more? Don't you find it interesting that the day that follows a day of remembering and thanking God for what He has done for us is a day where the incredible greed in people comes out in a flood? Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that just because you shop on Black Friday that you are greedy. I shopped at 11:00 on Thanksgiving night from my computer. I guess that counts as Black Friday shopping, right?

What I'm saying is this. Some people go to great lengths just to get that one item they think they need so badly! They will even park in front of a store for two days!! You might disagree, but I would put this in the "greed" column. These people have a passion for this stuff.

What drives you? Let's put a different spin on it. We all know that spending time with Jesus is important. We all know that going to church is important. But how eager are we to do these things? I'll be honest here. I sometimes have to do them out of duty. I wish I could say that I just jump out of bed every morning with no hestitation when it comes to having my devotions. Unfortunately, I don't. And there are times that I miss. This is not where my heart is, however. I want to have the same amount of devotion to my Saviour as these people who park in front of their favorite store for two days do.

How can my devotion to Christ grow to such a degree that I would do anything to spend time with Him? I have found that doing something out of duty is a good place to start. Sounds backwards, doesn't it? Yet, the more I discipline myself to read the Bible and pray, the more I get to know Him. The more I get to know Him, the more I love Him. The more I love Him, the more I want to get to know Him. It's a continuous circle. And truthfully, if I'm passionate about Him, it won't be long befoer love will take over duty. It won't be as difficult to get out of bed earlier.

What are you passionate about? Guess what? Your passions tell the world what your priorities are. They are speaking for you.1

1. The inspiration for this article came from my pastor, Tim Rabon. Thank you for sharing with us what the Holy Spirit lays on your heart!

"My Favorite Bible" Giveaway

2011-11-29T11:32:00.001-05:00

With the vibrant illustrations and engaging text in this Bible storybook, you can enjoy sharing the best-loved stories of the Bible with the children in your life and encourage a life-long love for the Word of God. My Favorite Bible is a book of exciting Bible stories and activity pages that guide children through the foundational truths of Scripture.

Each story is fully illustrated and includes a simple narrative full of things kids love: repetition, rhythm, and energy, along with a key biblical theme, a key Bible verse, and discussion questions to help adults introduce children to the Bible.

The colorful illustrations will capture the imaginations of children ages 4–8, and the stories will help adults to pass along the most important truth in life—the Gospel. Families will cherish this time as they read, listen, learn, and love, growing closer to one another even as they grow closer to God.

This giveaway ends on Friday, December 9, 11:59 pm EST. There are two ways that you can enter:

1. Leave a comment sharing either how you have family devotions or how you would like to implement devotions with your family.

2. Follow @jblovez2read on Twitter. But be sure to come back and comment that you are following!