Seasons of Opportunities

If you want fun, exciting, adventurous books for your kids, Focus on the Family Imagination Station books are IT! I read Battle for Cannibal Island to my kids on a long car trip we took.  They were so caught up in the story, they did not want to quit reading! It took up about an hour and a half to two hours of our trip. I had to stop occasionally to get a drink, and they kept saying "Read more!" Patrick is having a bad day. When Patrick and Beth accidentally take a trip in the imagination station to Fiji in the 1850's, Patrick's day doesn't get much better. They end up as stowaways on a ship right off the coast of an island of cannibals, who have just burned down the Christian village. Patrick, gets knocked over board, and has to fend off escaped convicts, a horrible storm, and worst of all the cannibal king. Beth follows the missionary James Calvert to the island in the rescue boat to search for Patrick. Are they heading right into danger or will their missi

Oh how I love thy law! it is my meditation all the day. Psalm 119:97 This week has been a mixture of emotions,  good times, craziness, stress, and much more. But today, I am reminded that when I love God's Word and focus on Him, all else pales in comparision and I am able to "handle" whatever comes my way. Thank you God for your Word. It never grows old. I can never get enough.  Do you have a verse that has just stood out for you this week? I would love to hear about it.

"We are blind to our own stuff, blind to the storm bearing down on us. In fact I was already adrift, I just didn't know it." - Joe Kissack Joe Kissack was living the "American Dream". Fancy house, great job, nice cars, expensive fashion; everything society required for success! But inwardly - there was more going on than meets the eye. In his book, Joe tells his personal story, of a life adrift, alongside the story of three fishermen adrift at sea. Their story of survival is incredible. How God was their life-line during that time and their only hope. Joe was adrift in addictions, depression, and self-centeredness, but didn't realize it til he was almost without hope; that is when he found God. As one lady put it, "The fisherman looked lost because they were in the middle of the Pacific Ocean with nothing but their faith. You, Joe, on the other hand, didn't look lost, because you had everything. But ... in God's economy, you were lo

She is running A hundred miles an hour in the wrong direction She is trying But the canyon's ever widening In the depths of her cold heart So she sets out on another misadventure just to find She's another two years older And she's three more steps behind  -Does Anybody Hear Her by Casting Crowns   Photo Credit  When I first met her, she was just a young girl, but already with a life full of heartaches deeper than I could imagine. She came and went, as the time passed. I never really had much opportunity to get to know her. She finally married and moved away... but her "happily ever after" was an illusion. She returned. Lately, the burden on my heart for her has grown. She often crosses my mind, and I have been praying that somehow God would give me opportunities to reach her. She is shy, and doesn't talk much. I rarely get an opportunity to speak directly to her, much less have a real conversation. As I pass her h

This story begins as two men  acquaint themselves during a layover at the airport. One man is intrigued by the other man's tale, a story of his life. Gabriel, world traveler, white water rafter and lover of The River, was dealt a tragic hand by The River at the young age of five. It takes years for him to conquer his fears, return to The River and find healing and a new life. This is a very captivating story and uses the analogy of The River as a reference to God (as far as I could understand). The characters were easy to follow and the ending has an unexpected twist. I really enjoyed the book, and am sure most that read this book will enjoy it also.  The story itself is very good.  At the same time, I was a little disillusioned, maybe I was looking too deep. Throughout the book, It seemed like it was leading up to a climax, in which the author would then reveal how, The River, was a reference to God and healing for our emotional pain comes from God who knows all and has a pur

Tyndale House has a really fun new program in which you can earn reward points. You earn points for signing up, sharing, and many other things. With your points you can get free Bibles or books.  This would be a great way to earn some Christmas gifts if you get started soon! Go here www.tyndalerewards.com/signup/?pc=cat9-lg7u-bglk-glyt  and register!! I already did and am ready to earn some points!! I would love to know what you think!

In today's world... bringing up children can be scary! Is there hope? Can I raise a godly child? How do I keep them "good"? This book was just what I needed!  With a son who is seven going on eight... I am looking for some serious HELP!! I only have one boy, but he certainly thinks and acts completely different then my girls. Dannah Gresh covers all things related to boys in her book. Subjects I am not even comfortable talking about (LOL) but obviously need to learn about to be able to relate to this little man I am raising. She talks about our fears as moms, our boy's need to connect, the best age(s) to connect to them. She deals with testosterone, puberty, and how their brains work. The first part of the book is on connecting about how to connect to them, the second part deals with the six ways to keep them "good". This is a must read for both mom and dad although the book is geared mostly to mom's.  Dannah's husband has added quite a fe

Melinda Colson has been waiting months for Evan, the assistant game keeper at the Bridal Veil Island Resort, to propose. Without an offer of marriage, she must return to Cleveland with the family she works for as a lady's maid. Evan isn't afraid of hard work, and he hopes to be promoted soon. He wants to marry Melinda but not until he's sure he can support her and a family. Letters strengthen their romance until a devastating storm strikes the island. with no word from Evan, Melinda knows she must journey back to Bridal Veil in search of her beloved. But even after moving to the island and finding a job, Evan still does not propose. Has she given her heart to the wrong person? Will she every find a man to love and to cherish? This story is full of twists and turns, but also lessons to be learned. Melinda is very often impetuous and impatient. Although she desires to trust that God is in control of her life; She often takes control of the reigns herself, and runs ahead