Seasons of Opportunities

Well, I am running a little late on Monday's post, but thought I would at least share this picture of the raging creek waters in our back yard. It has been raining "cats and dogs" here for a couple of days. And our creek is really rolling. The following Psalm is an awesome expression of what I think of when I go out and watch it roar.

  Give thanks  to the LORD, for he is good;  his love endures forever. I Chronicles 16:34 This is the last Sunday in November. I hope you have enjoyed this month with an extra focus on Thanksgiving. I know I have!! I pray your grateful heart will continue on into December and even into the new year. A grateful heart is the key to Joy - our theme for December.  I also want to remind you that this is the first Sunday in Advent.  If you are beginning some Advent tradition or reading, this would be the day to start.  I am planning on using the book I reviewed a couple of weeks ago, Ishtar's Odyssey ,  with my kids this Advent season. I am hoping they will like it, look forward to the daily reading, and it will help turn their focus toward Jesus a little more this Christmas season. Have a blessed Lord's Day!  Remember to take time to keep it Holy.

And the WIINER is Rachel!!! Moms have been hoodwinked—tricked into believing lies that keep them from not only enjoying motherhood, but forging friendships with other moms who might tackle the tasks of motherhood differently. Myths such as “Mothering is natural, easy, and instinctive” cause moms to feel like failures if they have questions or apprehensions in raising their kids. Operating from the premise that “The way I mother is the right (and only) way” puts up fences between moms instead of building bridges of encouragement between them. Lies such as “I am my child’s choices” tempt moms to mistakenly believe that if their child makes a wrong choice then they, in turn, must be a bad mom. In their encouraging “we’ve been there” style, Karen Ehman and Ruth Schwenk enable mothers to:

DRUM ROLL Please........ Oh yeah, Just a second... First, Rachel, from Reader's Cozy Corner , and I want to say a BIG thank- you to all of you who entered the Fun Fall Giveaway! It was a joy to have each and every one of you leave comments on both blogs sharing how God has been faithful in your lives and what your blessings are. I was so encouraged by each and every comment. Thank you so very much and I look forward to having you here again soon! And now for the winners: Learning Journey - winner of the Fun Fall Giveaway pack  - Kitchen Collection and Devotional - Five Minutes with Jesus Melissa Henderson - winner of Max Lucado's book Miracle at Higher Ground Cafe, along with a journal and candle

Psalm 34:8 T aste   and   see  that the  Lord  is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. I hope you have had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I did!  It was a simple one this year, just us mostly. But it was nice. We cooked, ate, had some fellowship with a few family members for an hour or so, cleaned up, and spent some time playing games with the kids. Then we watched the movie - The Christmas Shoes. One of my favorites but a real tear jerker too! Well, this is the last day to enter our fun fall giveaway   so don't miss it. I can't wait to choose the winners tomorrow. And I am looking forward to a new giveaway for Hoodwinked coming up Saturday, so be sure to check back then.  Oh and yes, I did a little bit of my Christmas shopping online. How nice to not have to be out in the crowded stores tomorrow. Some people enjoy that though. Are you one of those? I prefer to be in my living room, with my family and my coffee and be able to...

 A devoted, devilish enemy seeks to wreak havoc on everything that matters to you: your heart, your mind, your marriage, your children, your relationships, your resilience, your dreams, your destiny. But his battle plan depends on catching you unaware and unarmed. If you’re tired of being pushed around and caught with your guard down, this study is for you. Available at  Lifeway

So.... how many of you are ready for Thanksgiving? And do you have and exciting plans? What do you love most about thanksgiving? I love the gathering of friends or family to give thanks, enjoying good food and fellowship together. Is every thanksgiving perfect? No, sometimes family can't come, sometimes we may not feel well, but no matter what the circumstances, if we choose gratitude... our hearts can still find JOY. Because true JOY is a by product of knowing God and choosing thankfulness, not the circumstances that surround us. I hope that is what you are choosing this week, because odds are, the holidays will not be perfect. I would love to hear about your Thanksgiving plans and traditions. Don't forget to enter the giveaway that ends this Friday! Details Here.

Sometimes the thing that keeps us from making the wrong choice is the one thing we can't control As an investigative reporter and the host of her own TV talk show, Faith Marin works to expose the truth for her viewers. But in her personal life, she's anchored her world with firm boundaries in order to hide a family history she'd like to forget. By contrast, her husband Geary's life is an open book. An easygoing pro bass fisherman, Geary is the ultimate family man--and his overbearing relatives don't know the meaning of boundaries. Faith and Geary haven't been married long when their differences start to derail their tender relationship. Surely love shouldn't be this hard. While Faith considers whether divorce is the only answer to

Psalm 105:1-5 Give thanks to the Lord,  call on His name; Make known to the nations what He has done. Sing to Him, sing praise to Him;    tell of all His wonderful acts. Glory in His holy name;    let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord and His strength;    seek His face always. Remember the wonders He has done,    his miracles, and the judgements he pronounced. Last Sunday my parents were in town and my pc was getting a clean up, so I didn't take time to blog. This whole month our focus has been on having thankful hearts, and I have been attempting to share a passage of Scripture on Sundays about giving thanks.  There are so many, it is hard to pick just one. I hope you are blessed by it, and continue the thanks-living habit long after this month is over. Today I am thankful for: no *My daughter's courage to get baptized     She accepted Jesus as her Savior...

Lessons from the Sheepfold Two shepherdesses invite you to laugh, cry, and contemplate as you read the stories of what their sheep have taught them about themselves, others, and God. Between the two of them, Marilyn Bay Wentz and her mother,  Mildred   Nelson   Bay , have seven decades of sheep raising experience. Marilyn and Millie’s stories range from hilarious to thought-provoking, but always entertaining and inspiring. Each of the 45 short chapters includes a vignette

A Christmas story from the bestselling Berenstain Bears Living Lights series. The bestselling Berenstain Bears brand and Living Lights series continue their proven tradition of teaching children valuable lessons in a fun and creative way. In the affordable 8x8 softcover format, The Berenstain Bears and the Night Jesus was Born gives fans of the Berenstain Bears the story of Jesus’ coming … from the angel’s announcement of a new baby to the visit of the three wise men This newest title in the Berenstain series is perfect for gift-giving or as an easy addition to any holiday library.

No one needs to push Nikki Boyd to excel on the Tennessee Missing Persons Task Force. The case of her own missing sister, still unsolved after ten years, is the driving force in her work. When a Polaroid photo of a missing girl shows up at a crime scene, Nikki quickly recognizes similarities to the past. The closer she gets to the abductor, the more she feels this case has become personal, and she is not the hunter . . . but the hunted. With this explosive first book in The Nikki Boyd Files, award-winning author Lisa Harris takes you on a fast-paced pursuit of justice that will

A new Advent family devotional from the author of Jotham's Journey ! Fourth in a set of Advent adventure books for families, Ishtar's Odyssey follows the ten-year-old son of a Persian wise man as their caravan follows a star across the desert. Ishtar would just as soon stay in the comfort of the palace, but slowly he learns that there's much to see, do, and learn in this world that can't be experienced in school. He eventually meets Jotham, Bartholomew, and Tabitha as he follows his father and uncles in their search for a newborn king. Arnold Ytreeide's family advent devotionals have become a much-loved Christmas tradition, enjoyed by multiple generations. With over 100,000 in print they include Jotham's Journey, Bartholomew's Passage, and Tabitha's Travels .

I have missed my blog. I haven't had an opportunity to blog in over a week.  But at the same time, this past week has been a blast! We spent some amazing time with family laughing, reminiscing, and making memories. It was such a special time together. I had wonderful intentions on getting a lot of books read, but really couldn't pass up the fellowship in exchange for reading, so am running a bit behind schedule. I am sure you can relate. So bear with me, I will get back on track, soon.

"The Caterpillar Cowboy"   is a delightful story for children and adults of all ages. Russ Lanier's original tale of a caterpillar's first great adventure is brought to life through the beautiful and captivating illustrations of a gifted young artist, Whitney Lanier. Turn the pages and get ready to hold onto your horses as our hero chases his dreams and learns a valuable lesson along the way.  (34 pages)

In World War II, German scientists began many experiments. One never ended. Roger Greene is a war hero. Raised in an orphanage, the only birthright he knows is the feeling that he was born to fly. Flying against the Axis Powers in World War II is everything he always dreamed―until the day he's shot down and lands in the hands of the enemy. When Allied bombs destroy both his prison and the mad genius experimenting on POWs, Roger survives. Within hours, his wounds miraculously heal, thanks to those experiments. The Methuselah Project is a success―but this ace is still not free. Seventy years later, Roger hasn't aged a day, but he has nearly gone insane. This isn't Captain America―just a lousy

This week I am looking forward to spending some precious time with family. My parents who are missionaries are in for a visit, and I am so excited to get to be with them. I am looking forward to an enjoyable time of fun and fellowship with lots of laughter as well as some thought provoking conversations. This past week was all hustle and bustle of preparing, but it will be so worth it! Just like when we get to heaven, everything we may have gone through here on earth will be worth it - when we see Jesus!! I can't wait!! Can you? God is sooo good!!! I am thankful he has given me God-fearing parents, who are willing to give Him their all by serving full time on the mission field. They have been there for 38 years. That, my friends, is faithfulness. I am thankful that I was brought up in a Christian home, and taught to love God and love His Word. What are you thankful for today?? Don't forget about our  FUN FALL GIVEAWAY this month.T o be entered, just leave a comment of ...

Psalm 107 Give thanks to the  Lord , for He is good; His faithful love endures forever. 2  Let the redeemed of the  Lord  proclaim that He has redeemed them from the hand of the foe 3  and has gathered them from the lands— from the east and the west, from the north and the south. (1-3) Let them give thanks to the  Lord for His faithful love and His wonderful works for all humanity. 9  For He has satisfied the thirsty and filled the hungry with good things. (8-9)

True gratitude is not an incidental ingredient in the Christian's life. It's a crucial one. It's a grace-infused commitment each of us chooses . . . and it's totally worth it! Nancy Leigh DeMoss explores the biblical and practical aspects of what makes gratitude truly Christian. Discover how it makes life, even with all its bumps and bruises, a joy to behold. Gratitude is a choice.  If we fail to chose it, by default we choose ingratitude. And once allowed into the heart, ingratitude does not come by itself, but with other seedy companions that only succeed in stealing joy. Derived from a popular Revive Our Hearts radio series,  Choosing Gratitude: Your Journey to Joy  challenges and equips the reader to live a life of intention, a life based on thankfulness for the freedom Christ has provided and for the blessings of others. By intentionally thanking God and others, bitterness and entitlement are replaced with joy and the humble realization o...

On the streets of New York, darkness and violence reigned. Dimas “Daylight” Salaberrios began selling drugs when he was eleven years old, and by sixteen he had served his first stint at the notorious Rikers Island prison. Dimas saw only one way to survive: by reigning over the streets. He would be the richest, most powerful ruler in the hood . . . or die trying. Street God  is the true story of one man’s dangerous journey through the underworld of crime, drugs, and almost certain death. It was an encounter with the real God that saved his life—and

“Do YOU want to meet my best friend?” The McDougal twins are excited to meet their new neighbor, Abby, who has just moved in next door. Poor Abby is sad that she had to leave her friends behind when she moved. To cheer her up, the twins lead Abby on a crazy hunt to meet their best friend–one that can go anywhere they go. But first Abby has to find it! With plenty of quirkiness and delightful illustrations by Sarah Horne, this picture book has an important message about how and why the Bible can be the best friend we have. Meet My Best Friend is the first title in the new The Bible Is My Best Friend brand by best-selling author Sheila Walsh.

My friend Rachel from  Reader's Cozy Corner  and I are teaming up to bring you a FUN FALL GIVEAWAY The giveaway will run through Thanksgiving. Entering is easy - Just leave a comment on any or all November blog posts telling us what you are thankful for. For extra entries you may use the Rafflecopter below.

Michael Keane's stressful days as a Columbus police officer are done. He's ready to relax into his new position as deputy sheriff in his sleepy hometown. Nothing ever happens in Hidden Springs, Kentucky--and that's just fine with Michael.  Nothing, that is, until a dead body is discovered on the courthouse steps. As Michael works to solve the case, it seems that every nosy resident in town has a theory. When the sheriff insists Michael check out one of these harebrained theories, his surprising discovery sends him on a bewildering search for a mysterious killer that has him

First off, the WINNER of Suzanne Fisher's book, The Imposter is  Melissa H. C ongratualtions!! And thank you to all who participated. Don't forget to enter this month's giveaway. All you have to do is comment on any or all blog posts, mentioning something you are thankful for to be entered. The more you comment the more chances you have of winning. I haven't yet decided on the prize pack, but I am thinking something nice... Maybe several prizes - so we can have several winners. I will try to announce what the prize will be mid-month. How about that? You will have to enter by faith! (smile) I wanted to share two of my favorite books about giving thanks: 1. Choosing Gratitude  by Nancy Leigh DeMoss This book is worth reading!!! It will totally change your outlook. I thought I was a grateful person, til I read this one. Hmmmmm..... Lots of food for thought. Almost every year around thanksgiving, I get out Nancy s book. Trust me, no matter how hard I...

I love fall and the month of November. One reason is because it is a wonderful reminder of the importance of giving thanks. But the Bible doesn't just command us to give thanks for our blessings, it also commands us to give thanks for our trials. It's totally off kilter from the society we live in.  That kind of thanksgiving requires Jesus. The Mighty One, God, the LORD,      speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to the      place where it sets. From Zion, perfect in beauty,      God shines forth... Sacrifice thank offerings to God,    fulfill your vows to the Most High, and call upon me in the day of trouble;    I will deliver you, and you will honor me.