ASAG (Always Searching, Always Growing)

Blog Tour: I Blame Eve

2012-04-16T15:20:00.000-04:00

I Blame Eve
by Susanna Foth Aughtmon
187 pages
$12.99
ISBN: 978-0-8007-07-2047-6
http://www.revellbooks.com/

Poor Eve. She gets such a bad rap and yes, in a way she deserves it. But, truthfully, we all would have done the same thing. Satan knew her. He most likely had been watching her for a while. He knew where he could get her and he did.

The question we need to ask is, what can we learn from her? Susanna Aughtmon takes a comical approach to learning more about her and how we tend to view life through the same lenses as Eve did.

I think my favorite part of the book is when the author mentions how a drive to be organized or eat healthy or look right can really be a drive to be in control. This is the interesting part: there's nothing inherently wrong with eating right or being organized. These things are important! However, when we allow these desires to control us, Satan uses them to bind and hinder us in our Christian lives. In fact, most of the things we desire are good, except they become not so good when we allow them to rule us and define our importance for us.

Susanna uses the same comical approach in looking at other areas that we battle: hiding from God, being a perfectionist, a view that God is holding out on me, wanting things that don't satisfy, and so many more. In an easy to understand manner, she brings the issues that we inherited from Eve to the one who can help us overcome them: Jesus. Nothing else matters.

Does What You Believe About Yourself Affect Your Christianity?

2012-03-29T13:57:00.000-04:00

Have you ever known someone who always looks down on themselves and can never accept a complement?

I do.

That someone was me. For the longest time I would look at the way I did something badly instead of looking at the good I did. For instance, I play the piano and it is sometimes difficult to look back at a piece of music as something that was played well. I only saw the mistakes. And then, if I would receive a complement, I just could not accept it for what it was. I felt that by doing so, I would actually be lying to the person.

Kind of twisted, I know. However, the Lord in His goodness brought a friend along my path that told me I could say, "Thank you." It's actually frustrating to the person who is doing the complementing to always receive an "Oh, I could have done better" response.

The question is, did this affect my Christian walk? Did it encourage me to become a better person? You would think that it would, but ironically, it didn't. It resulted in my constantly second-guessing myself and ultimately, second-guessing the Holy Spirit. Some choices could have been avoided if I didn't have this frame of mind.

One of my goals this year was to memorize the book of Philemon. (Before you get too impressed, this book only has 25 verses.) What I love about memorizing is it makes you actually think about what you're reading. You have to meditate on it.

Verse 6 says, "That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus." (emphasis mine)

Could it be that Philemon had the same problem I did? Paul is telling him that in order for his faith to become effective, he needed to acknowledge everything that was good in him in Jesus. Not good in Philemon. Good in Jesus.

It is so possible to be a Christian and not realize all the good that Jesus is growing in us. He is planting seeds of good deeds and any other good work you can think of! It must be acknowledged. No more looking at how we did something not quite right.

Look at the good. Listen to the Holy Spirit, obey Him, and then believe that what you did was good. It's all good.

Childbirth: Did God Abandon Us in This Curse

2012-03-24T09:09:00.001-04:00

I've heard it said so many times.

"I can't wait to get to Heaven and let Eve know what I think of her! She's the one that brought this curse on us!"

And, normally, that's what I would think as well. Especially since I have been through childbirth. It is painful!

But, did God just point His finger at us and tell us what He thought and then abandon us to this curse? This 15 minute video by Jonalyn Fincher is packed with refreshing information on the trauma our bodies go through. You'll be blessed.

http://vimeo.com/34709661

Interview with Mesu Andrews

2012-03-22T14:14:00.001-04:00

I promised last week that I would have this interview up for you this past Tuesday. Well, as it always seems to happen, my internet shut down on Monday and I haven't had the chance until today to post it!! Ahhh!!!!

Okay...I feel better! (smile)

Mesu is an incredible author and if you haven't read her book, Love's Sacred Song, then you're missing out! I was able to interview her and "get into her head" a bit. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

I absolutely loved your book!! I couldn’t put it down; it was so beautifully written.

Thank you! Maybe at this point, I should ask you a question! Ha! Which scene in Love’s Sacred Song did you like best?

My answer: I loved it when the Egyptian princess told Solomon to basically man-up and go visit Arielah after her beating. What a woman! I know you asked me for one scene, but I just can't help mentioning one more. I thought it was so special when the Egyptian princess witnessed the love between Arielah and her family.

In the last few years, I’ve become aware of the importance of understanding biblical culture in order to understand the Bible more. What triggered your interest in studying the culture behind the text?

When I was a new believer, two crucial things opened my eyes to understand Scripture better. First, our pastor’s wife gave me an NIV Study Bible (http://amzn.to/wQs3hl). At the beginning of each book of the Bible, it gave a clear description of author, theme, etc. It also included a brief verse-by-verse explanation on every page. It’s a fabulous resource that I still use today. The second crucial learning tool was an organization called Bible Study Fellowship (BSF). I completed five of their systematic Bible studies and learned a TON! Check to see if there is a group in your neighborhood!

Which sources would you suggest for those looking to deepen their knowledge of biblical culture?

· Another Bible you might consider—the Jewish Study Bible (http://amzn.to/wQQgmx). Similar to the NIV Study Bible in how it explains verse-by-verse on each page, the Jewish Study Bible is translated directly from the Hebrew Bible and is divided into the three sections of that volume.

· Life in Biblical Israel, by Philip King – (http://amzn.to/xPzGQU) For strictly cultural information, this has been the best book I’ve found. It’s easy to reference and uses blue-collar language to describe its findings.

· City of David: The Story of Ancient Jerusalem, by Ahron Horovitz – (http://amzn.to/w3sdVe) This is a beautiful “coffee table” book with lovely pictures and really interesting information, written by one of the instructors that trains tour guides for Israel’s travel ministry.

Your first novel was Love Amid the Ashes. Can we look forward to more from you in this genre?

Absolutely! I’m contracted with Revell for two more books:

· Love in a Broken Vessel is scheduled to release March 2013, telling the story of Hosea and Gomer—Can Hosea’s faith overpower Gomer’s unfaithfulness?

· Love’s Saving Light is scheduled to release March 2014, telling the story of Queen Athaliah and Baby Joash—Will Jezebel’s daughter snuff out the last king on David’s throne.

Thank you so much for your time. Your writing is an inspiration to know our King even more.

Thanks so much for giving me the opportunity to share a bit with your readers! I also write free weekly e-devotionals. Folks can sign-up to receive them on Mondays by visiting my website: http://www.mesuandrews.com/. I love to connect with readers on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest!

Blog Tour: "Love's Sacred Song"

2012-03-16T14:36:00.001-04:00

Love's Sacred Song
by Mesu Andrews
443 pages
$14.99
ISBN: 978-0-8007-3408-4
http://www.revellbooks.com/

Arielah is a simple shepherdess from the hills of the tribe of Shunem. Her father, Jehoshaphat, is the city's highest official and needs to use wisdom in bringing peace between the northern tribes and Judah.

The answer came in Arielah. As a seven year old child, she saw Solomon for the first time when she, her brothers, and her mother accompanied her father to Jerusalem. After seeing him, Arielah knew in her heart she would one day marry him. Years later, her feelings had not diminished and it was with the assurance that she truly loved Solomon that Jehoshaphat decided that she would make a perfect treaty bride for uniting the tribes of Israel.

The question was whether or not Solomon would love Arielah? Could he possibly devote his time and attentions to one woman when he already had other wives? What would become of his beloved daughter?

Love's Sacred Song is the product of a study done by Mesu Andrews on the Song of Solomon. It is beautifully written with plenty of intrigue to keep the reader's fingers moving. She blends the facts of the culture with a wonderful story of love and all the while keeping true to the Scriptures. A book not easily put down!

Mesu has included on her website some Bible study questions that can be done in a couple of days to accompany the book. If you are interested in digging deeper into the story, you will enjoy these!

"Mesu Andrews is an author and speaker who has devoted herself to passionate study of Scripture. Harnessing her deep love for God’s Word, Andrews brings the biblical world alive for her audiences.

Mesu and her husband, Roy, have two grown children and (Praise God!) a growing number of grandkids. They live in Washington, where Roy teaches at Multnomah University. They have a Rottweiler-pitbull named Bouzer who keeps Mesu company while she writes.

She’s published two books, Love Amid the Ashes and Love’s Sacred Song. Two more are scheduled for release with Revell in March of 2013 and 2014."1

Come back on Tuesday, March 20, 2012 as I highlight Mesu in an interview! You won't want to miss it!

“Available March 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

1.http://www.mesuandrews.com/about-mesu-3/media-package/

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

How Is Media Affecting Your Family?

2012-03-13T17:03:00.002-04:00

No, I'm not going to harp on the stuff that's on TV.

I could.

But I won't.

It's the time that's spent in front of these different modes of media, like Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, blogs, etc. that concerns me.

I've just started looking on Pinterest and I have to say it's pretty incredible! I can get so many ideas on various subjects from other pinters (I made that up. HEE HEE)! Yet, how much time is spent on it? And to make it even more convenient, you can get an app for it,too!

It appears that I'm looking down my nose on all these things. I'm not, because, obviously, I enjoy blogging and I like to see what everyone else is up to (Facebook). But the question is, am I allowing something that is good and can be used for the Lord to monopolize my time? Am I more concerned about my pins or about what someone thought of my picture on Facebook than I am about talking to my children? It's easy to allow these no-brain-required activities to take over when I have some down time.

The question is, then, how does a person make sure that their time isn't taken over by these things? I think a good comparison would be on how we handle money. Money in and of itself is not bad. It can be used for the Lord. But as soon as we allow it to monopolize our thinking, it becomes a terrible thing.

People budget money in order for it to be a useful tool for them. The same mentality can be used for social media. Here are some steps that can be taken for budgeting your media:

1. List which media you are involved in.

2. Indicate numerically from least to greatest (one being the least and ten being the greatest) which ones are the most important to you. A good way to figure this out is by thinking about what you want to accomplish with each one. Different kinds of media accomplish different things. Twitter is just a network of tidbits of info. It is great for networking professionally. Blogs take longer, because if you want to be successful, you have to write well. You can't just quickly write down a thought and publish it. Editing is required. I think you get the picture.

3. How much time do you really want to spend on each one? (This really is a sequel to number two.) For instance, Facebook is great for connecting with people. But...if you have allotted 30 minutes for it, then you have to be careful of how much you look at pictures or read status updates. These can be informative, but many times the information is not that important and therefore, a waste of time. Set a timer if you have to.

You may find that certain avenues of communication need only be slotted for certain days. When you budget your time, it is amazing how much you can accomplish in a smaller amount of time that would have otherwise been spent browsing.

The main point is this. Family, after God, is the most important thing we have in this world. If we put them first, they will last with us throughout our lives. Media won't. Set aside the iPod Touch or whatever you use when your kids need you. There will be no regrets.

Blog Tour: "Sarai"

2012-03-09T11:56:00.001-05:00

Sarai
by: Jill Eileen Smith
317 pages
$14.99
ISBN: 978-0-8007-3429-9
http://www.revellbooks.com/

Sarai grew up in a family of wealth and privilege. She was a true princess of Ur. Along with this privilege came responsibility: bear an heir for her husband. In fact, she wanted so badly to marry her half brother, Abram, that her father finally consented on one condition. She needed to give him an heir. If she did, then Abram would be under no obligation to take another wife. If she didn't give him one, he would be released from the promise of monogomy and be able to have another wife.

Adonai appeared to Abram and told him to go to a land that he would show him. In addition to this command, He told Abram that He would make him a great nation and his seed would number the sands and stars in multitude.

As time passed, Sarai still did not have any children. Could it be that the promise was not really intended for Abram and Sarai, but just for Abram? Maybe God had a different plan for bringing this promise to pass.

Even though the story of Abraham and Sarah is quite familiar, there are so many things we don't understand, because we don't live in that culture. Jill Eileen Smith sheds light on how things were done (i.e. how an heir was always produced even if the wife could not conceive). She expertly integrates facts from the Bible and other historical facts with her imagination. You will come to appreciate all that these people went through to obey Jehovah.

If you desire to dig deeper into this fabulous story then head on over to Jill's website. As a bonus feature, she has included a Bible study and group discussion questions to accompany Sarai.

"Jill Eileen Smith is the bestselling author of Michal, Abigail, and Bathsheba, all part of the the Wives of King David series. Her research into the lives of David's wives has taken her from the Bible to Israel, and she particularly enjoys learning how women lived in Old Testament times. She lives with her family in southeast Michigan."1

“Available March 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

1. http://www.jilleileensmith.com/

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

Vulnerability: The Making of a Friendship

2012-03-05T15:26:00.000-05:00

We all know her. The lady who acts like her life is perfect. You ask her how she's doing and she puts on this smile and assures you she's fine. Yet, you know she's just been through a rough time. She makes you feel like there's something wrong with you because you're still struggling in this life and she appears to have it all together. (She doesn't do this on purpose, of course. But, perception is reality.)

Why do some people put on a front? Why can't they lay aside the mask and be real?

(Before I go any further, I am in no way suggesting that it's okay to be moody and let people know what's on your mind. This is something much different.)

I think for some people, the mask is a defense mechanism. Maybe they've been hurt one too many times. For others, it may be something in their past that they're especially ashamed of and don't ever want to go there again. So they go to the other extreme and act like the perfect Christian. They are afraid that their friends will lose respect of them if they show the human side.

It is with extremes that we push our friends away. I had coffee with a couple of friends the other day and it was so refreshing to be around people who don't pretend that they have it all together. I feel that I can be at home with them. I can admit I'm struggling with having an attitude towards my husband. (Gasp! Did I just say that?) I mean, really, if I can't even be that real, there's a problem.

If I could challenge you with one thing today, it would be this: Take off your mask. Be someone that a hurting person would feel comfortable with. Allowing yourself to be vulnerable builds trust and respect.

FREE St. Patrick Unit Study

2012-03-01T15:17:00.000-05:00

If you are interested in learning more about St. Patrick's Day and teach who St. Patrick was to your children, go to Knowledge Quest for a free unit study!

Fasting: A Drawing to Jesus

2012-02-29T11:25:00.000-05:00

Fasting is not something that comes easily to me. In all honesty, I haven't done much fasting in my life. And that is to my shame.

God is so much nearer to me when I fast, because I must cling to someone else for my strength. I must look to Him to bring me satisfaction.

Isn't that the point?

Look to Him. Cling to Him. You never know what He may accomplish in my life if I took a fast from not only food, but also media, reading, or whatever else I gravitate to. He wants all of me and fasting helps to accomplish this.

Love and Prayer: The Best Gifts

2012-02-27T09:22:00.000-05:00

This world is full of hurting people. Sometimes we understand their hurts and sometimes we don't. The tough part can be in reaching out to them. My friend and I were talking about this the other day. What do you say?

The simplest gift is many times the best. "I love you. I'm praying for you." These words are a balm to a hurting soul.

No platitudes.

No explanations.

Just love and prayer.

81. The sound of the coffee purculating

82. Sunshine on a house-cleaning day

83. Going out to eat

84. Prayer

85. Hearing

86. Listening

87. Result of #85 - #86: Slow to wrath

88. Doing

89. Tact

90. Deep pink roses for a hurting friend

91. The Passion of the Christ from a friend

92. Husband bringing baby to the car

93. Oldest loading up the car

94. Husband and I working as a team

My Life Is a Work in Progress

2012-02-24T11:51:00.001-05:00

Here's a quick update on the progress of my 2012 goals this past month.

1. Have a good attitude. This one is coming along. I'm finding that focusing on my family and not on myself helps a great deal. Much work needs to be done.

2. Be more diligent in my devotions. I'm getting better at being faithful with these. Either I do them at night or in the morning. I know this sounds unorganized, but it really does depend on what's going on that evening. My husband gets home late from work (8:30 most of the time) and I feel that the Lord wouldn't be pleased with me if I ignored him and went to bed early just so I could get up early for my devotions. However, I prefer to do it then, because it gets my day going on the right foot, so to speak. It's easy to flounder in my morning tasks if I get up too late.

3. Become a better list maker. This hasn't been an every day occurence, but I have definitely made it more of a habit. I can't believe how much more I get done when I see my list written on a piece of paper. I hope that next month I'll be able to say I did it every day.

4. Eat healthy on a budget. Not much to say here, except I have definitely found that it is possible to eat healthy without spending a ton. Still working on learning more and looking for other ways to cut costs.

5. Memorize two books of the Bible. This is coming along pretty well. I did, however, miss one week. I hate that! But, I'm not going to allow that to make me quit. I would like to add the Sermon on the Mount to this list, but we'll see. I'll let you know next month.

6. Build a routine and stick to it. I actually did not have this on my list at the beginning of this year. But, I am beginning to see that I need to have a particular routine in place. A lot of time gets wasted, especially in the morning. I think my kids would be happier, too, knowing what to expect each day.

How did you do? I'd love to hear about how you are accomplishing your goals.

Joy in Sacrifice

2012-02-23T14:24:00.000-05:00

The Psalms are rich in encouragement for those of us going through rough times.

Not only are they encouraging, but the Psalmist also gives us a view into his heart at the time that he wrote a particular Psalm.

I was reading Psalm 40 and verse 6 stood out to me! "Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened : burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required."

One thing to remember with the psalms is not everything is literal. Because of the genre (poetry), many times the writer talks about what he is feeling, not what is fact. The same is true here. Is David saying that God didn't actually require sacrifices? No, he's not. What he is saying is that God wants our hearts (and our ears, in this case.)

God is not impressed with us going through the motions just so we can say that we did what was required. This is very easy to do, because it does feel good to "check off the list", so to speak. God wants me to love Him. He wants me to want to be with Him and to please Him.

Even thought we don't live in the age of sacrifices anymore, God does want us to sacrifice for Him. But, not so we can feel good about ourselves because we checked off our list, but because we love Him. Joy is involved with these kind of sacrifices. This matters more.

Whitney Houston: A Lost Soul

2012-02-19T15:16:00.000-05:00

As a trained musician, I always appreciate a beautiful, clear voice. Well, even an untrained musician can appreciate it. Whitney Houston had this. She could sing the national anthem like no one else. The editor of Rolling Stone magazine said that she sang it with dignity and respect. I agree. So many singers degrade it and tromple it under their feet. Houston did not.

On Thursday evening, ABC aired a special on her and they showed some of the interview that Diane Sawyer had with her ten years ago. Of course, the whole thing is sad because she was already in the throws of alcohol and drugs, but she said some things that struck me. She said that her mother staged a couple of interventions, but she would have none of it. The reason was because her mother raised her on love and God and she wouldn't rely on anyone else to help her.

Diane asked her what she wanted her daughter to become when she grew up. Whitney said she wanted her to become a woman of God. She was obviously familiar with God because she grew up in a Baptist church. There is only one problem. It is so easy to go through the motions at church and never actually have a relationship with Jesus Christ, the One who can really help you. I believe this is what happened to Whitney. She sang in church (interesting how many people began their singing careers in church), was involved there, and I'm sure went through all the right motions.

There are so many people that go to church that don't actually know God. Some people are mislead on what it means to be a true Christian. And some people who are working with the children have no business doing so, because they are misleading them in what it means to follow Jesus.

For example, when I was a child we went to a church that did not make sure that the adults working with the children were properly trained and qualified. My sister was about four years old and she wanted to get saved. Her teacher told her that she would pray for her and then she would be saved. My sister told our mother and fortunately for her, our mother was always listening to us and decifering what was being said. With much discerment, she told my sister that someone else praying for her did not make her a Christian. She said it in such a way that it did not discourage her and as a result, she became a Christian several years later.

I did not tell that story to make it look like every child worker is like this, but I have to wonder how many people think they are a true follower of Jesus, yet are living on the misguided words of an adult.

This is why knowing about Jesus and knowing Him are two very different things. If Whitney would have come to a personal relationship with Him, her life would have been so different. I don't mean different in that there wouldn't have been any problems. There are and always will be problems while we are on this planet and sometimes we wander off the path, but she would have known the One who could guide her, bring her back to where He wanted her to be, and help her with the choices she made.

Book Review: "Evening by Evening"

2012-02-18T10:53:00.001-05:00

Evening by Evening
by: Charles Spurgeon
377 pages
$12.99
ISBN: 0883686465
http://www.burnerbooks.com/

Evening by Evening is a well thought-out set of thoughts on different Scriptures that can be used in our daily lives. Spurgeon has a way of taking one verse and bringing us to the feet of Jesus with it. His love for Jesus shines through each page and gives the reader a hunger to learn more about Him and want to be more like Him.

The use of Scripture at the beginning of each devotional is placed with the purpose of bringing us to a quiet, meditative state at the end of the day. Spurgeon speaks several times about reflecting on that day and asking the Holy Spirit if the choices we made were according to His will. A valuable asset to the library of any Christian that wants more from his daily walk with God.

Bible Reading: Only for Those Who Love to Read?

2012-02-17T11:07:00.000-05:00

I know not everyone loves to read. Just like not everyone loves to exercise.

I have a friend who just loves to run! She's pregnant now, so I doubt she incorporates running into her routine.

So, let me ask this question. Should exercise be only for those who enjoy it?

I don't enjoy it. I'll be honest. I'm kind of a lazy person by nature. I have to push myself to do what I know needs to be done. I'm not one of those type A people who just thrives on discipline! (I sometimes wish I was.) Is this a good reason not to get myself off the couch and move?

I decided that when I was finished nursing my baby I would begin to follow an exercise routine. To lose weight, yes, but also for my heath's sake. We all know that God didn't mean for us to just sit around all the time. He wants us to be healthy and vibrant, because by being healthy we can be better servants for Him!

More energy = better spirit.

I know the question. Did I actually begin my exercise routine like I planned? I did!! I exercised for six weeks on this routine, but found that I wasn't crazy about it because it's the same exercise every day. It got boring. However, I didn't quit, since I knew that I needed this routine to build up my strength for the one that I really wanted to do. I'm so excited to tell you that I actually enjoy the second one! The second one has variety and I'm not getting bored and my strength is growing! Yeah!! I'm looking forward to seeing what more I'll be able to do!

I may never have the enthusiasm for exercise like my friend does, but my attitude towards exercise is changing. I no longer hate it. Yes, I absolutely hated it. The same can be true for Bible reading. I'm certainly not suggesting that everyone have the same love for general reading like some people do (me!). But, the same process can be used when approaching the Bible.

Here's how the process can begin. Think about the necessity of training your spiritual muscles. You don't want them to atrophy. You want them to be of use to you and to your loved ones. Have a variety. Read one chapter out of Proverbs one day and one chapter out of Psalms the next, even if it's in the evening.

Side note here: Don't let people tell you that you have to do your devotions in the morning in order to be a good Christian. I really don't think God is going to wag His finger at you at the Judgement Seat just because you did your Bible reading in the evening. "As the day is coming to a close and you begin to look back on the day just passed,"1 the Lord may bring something to your mind that you said or did that day in your time of reading and meditating on God's Word.

I'm done with my soap box! (smile) Go back and forth in this reading pattern for a month. Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you. At the end of that month, you'll notice a growing love for reading this precious Book! Then, take it to the next level. Start going deeper. The gifts of God's gems lie below the surface.

Charles Spurgeon, in his book Evening by Evening, said it best: "No man who merely skims the Book of God can profit thereby: we must dig and mine until we obtain the hidden treasure."2 You may find that after exercising those muscles, you may not love reading per se, but you will love this precious Book!

1. Evening by Evening, by Charles Spurgeon, back cover.
2. Ibid, p. 169.

Hormones: Why are They Given Such a Bad Rap?

2012-02-16T13:44:00.000-05:00

So many people think that if you take hormones your chance of breast or prostate (depending on sex, obviously) will skyrocket. Is this true?

I wish everyone would read Suzanne Somers books on hormone replacement therapy. She delves into what the differences are between bio-identical and synthetic hormones. But, since not everyone is an avid reader, like I am, I've posted an 8-minute video that educates the listener on the difference between the two types of hormone therapy.

Gracious Evangelism

2012-02-15T00:01:00.001-05:00

I am not an extrovert. Sometimes I wish that I were. I tend to rationalize that it might make it easier to be a witness. However, this is not always the case. Even though extroverts have an easier time talking to people, this doesn't mean they have an easier time witnessing. Some of them have told me this.

The truth is, it is a command for all of us to witness. We just need to learn how. How can we do it kindly and graciously, without turning people away from Jesus? When I say that we don't want to turn people away from Jesus, I'm not saying that if we do it right everyone will come to Him. People can make their choice.

But, I don't want to be the cause of someone turning away.

I recently watched this video by Dale and Jonalyn Fincher and it has been a big help to me. I hope it will be to you, too.

Gift of Grace

2012-02-12T11:00:00.000-05:00

I have been recovering from a horrible cough and was not able to go to church this morning. I decided that during this time I would listen to some videos by Sally Clarkson. She is the author of The Ministry of Motherhood, a wonderful book on following Jesus' example with our children.

I want to be a good mother. But, more than that, I want to be a Godly mother! I want my children to see me and know that their mom loves them, not just by my saying, "I love you," but also by my taking the time to show them that I love them.

Like all humans, I forget to incorporate this. I look at all that I need to do and forget that I have little souls that are looking to me for their security and love.

Sally's video has helped to reign me back in to what is the most important.

Enjoy!

Free Proverbs ebook!

2012-02-12T10:18:00.000-05:00

Image used with permission by Kim Burner

The book of Proverbs is chock full of practical wisdom and daily advice. If you've ever wanted a study help to go along with this wonderful book, I have one just for you!

The Easy KJV Study of the Book of Proverbs has a fill-in-the-blank format with questions from that particular verse and a challenge to finish it off.

The best part is: it's FREE! All you have to do is go to Burner Books, log in (or open a new account), and add it to your cart for the free download of your copy.

Service = Love

2012-02-08T07:28:00.000-05:00

The Prince of Wales, Prince Charles, said a long time ago that his motto was, "I Serve." I'm sure he does to a certain extent by helping people out here and there. However, he didn't show a very good example of it when he was married to Princess Diana. (I know...it goes both ways. I'm just highlighting him because he's the one with the motto.)

We tend to do what the Prince of Wales does. Putting on a service hat when we leave the house is pretty easy to do. Well, not always easy, but most of the time it is. It's the ones we rub shoulders with every day that make it a bit more difficult to keep that hat in place no matter where we are.

You know what I'm talking about! Those precious children with the habits that really drive us bonkers! It could be that we are so used to these people in our lives we don't think about how serving them could make the world a better place for them, even when it seems to go unappreciated. This is where the rubber meets the road.

"I love you" are more than just words. They are an opportunity to be the Saviour to those around us. To show how He would stop what He's doing (like stop typing on my keyboard) to listen to my ten-year-old, how He would look for ways to make our household a warmer place, and how He would make the marriage relationship the best relationship in the house. This is how to say, "I love you."

Being selfless is never easy. I struggle with this every day. But, my children will remember how their mother reacted to less-than-ideal circumstances. They will remember if they had a mother who made life fun or just another huge to-do list.

Did I grudgingly help them with their homework? How did I respond when someone wanted a glass of water when I had a million other things to do? I see myself in the mirror of God's Word and I find myself wanting.

Most of all (aside from my relationship with Jesus), I want them to remember that their Mom and Dad truly loved each other and had fun together. And that they can always come home to a peaceful family where love is spoken everywhere.

This is how I want to say "I love you" to my family:

Myself last.

Them first.

Understanding the Bible's Genres: Narratives

2012-02-01T11:23:00.000-05:00

Have you ever opened your Bible to the Old Testament and wondered what's in it for you?

In order to understand what God is trying to teach us through His Word we must understand the style He chose to use in different sections of the Bible. We've already looked at the Law, but what about the sections where He's pretty much just telling us stories? What could be the purpose in that? Especially for us New Testament Christians, we often wonder why God would give us those stories about Israel and their struggles.

There is a reason. God has many things to teach us through the next genre we're going to look at: the narrative.

"Narratives are stories: purposeful stories retelling the historical events of the past that are intended to give meaning and direction for a given people in the present."1

Most of the Old Testament contains narratives and some of the New Testament does as well. The question is, how do I interpret them? How can I understand what God is trying to tell in these books?

I've said this before, but I think it's worth repeating. In order to understand what a word means we need to look at its antonym or at what it doesn't mean. I wrote about a good book to use for this purpose here; however, the same can be said for understanding a certain topic.

There are two things that narratives are not:

       "1. Old Testament narratives are not allegories or stories filled with hidden meanings...

        2. Individual Old Testament narratives are not intended to teach moral lessons."2

Sometimes people want to apply different truths into what they read in the Old Testament. One example is when Moses went up Mt. Sinai. The idea is tagged on that this is a picture of the soul going up and down to God.3 We need to be careful about putting "pictures" into the text that the Holy Spirit did not put there.

The second aspect of what narrative is not is that they were not intended to teach moral lessons. Can we learn lessons from them? Yes! For instance, even though the story of Jacob and Esau being favored by each of their parents does serve as a reminder of the implications of loving one child more than another, this is not the sole purpose of this narrative. The purpose here is God showing us that He kept the line of Abraham alive through the second son and not the first. God doesn't always do things according to the cultural mandate.4

So what are narratives and what can we learn from them? There are three levels of narratives:

       "1. The third level...has to do with the whole universal plan of God worked out through his creation...

        2. The second level is the story of God's redeeming a people for his name...

        3. Here are found all the hundreds of individual narratives that make up the other two levels."5

This list is pretty self-explanatory. I wish I could go into further detail with each one of these points. If I were to do that, however, I would need another series of posts. For right now it is important to understand that "...God is the ultimate character , the supreme hero of the story."6

Just to give you an example of what I meant in the last statement, we tend to look at Joseph and think he was the greatest thing that happened to Egypt and even to his family. We look at Joshua and Caleb and think what great men they were! Don't get me wrong. These were fine men who knew what it meant to do what is right. They loved God and wanted to please Him.

But...

They weren't the heros. They were just instruments like you and me. Think about that for a minute.

Like you and me.

Yes, they made wise choices and because of this God used them mightily. But God is the hero in these stories. Just like He's the hero in our story.

Let us never forget our Hero.

1. Gordon D. Fee and Douglas Stuart, How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1981, 1993, 2003), 90.
2. Fee and Stuart, How, 92.
3. Fee and Stuart, How, 92.
4. Fee and Stuart, How, 92.
5. Fee and Stuart, How, 91.
6. Fee and Stuart, How, 98.

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

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.

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.