Seasons of Opportunities

Melissa Ohden is fourteen  when she learns she is the survivor of a botched abortion. In this intimate memoir she details for the first time her search for her biological parents, and her own journey from anger and shame to faith and empowerment. After a decade-long search Melissa finally locates her birth father and writes to extend forgiveness, only to learn soon thereafter that he has died―without answering her burning questions. Then her birth mother’s parents say they are unable to pass along Melissa’s letter. Years later, when she finally hears from the woman who carried her and gave her life, she finds out why. But the shocking truth is more than she can bear. Yet even the most startling family secrets  are eclipsed by the triumphant moment when Melissa becomes a mother herself in the very hospital where she was aborted. And she reveals how―through the miscarriage of her only son, the birth of a second daughter

Ok... so this is my new favorite song!! I love the lyrics to this one. I don't think I had ever heard it before, but I happened across this a few days ago, and I just keep playing it over and over. Due to some recent circumstances, I guess this song just really stood out to me. 

This new devotional from Dr. Tony Evans and his son Jonathan Evans will provide both single and married parents with a resource tool to maximize those family devotional times, such as the dinner hour or bedtime.  The family virtues–based devotional provides 52 separate topics, one for each week of the year, and five devotionals within each topic that will guide devotional times Monday through Friday. This is a wonderful way to build a spiritually strong family week by week, day after day―a perfect way to head into the weekend. Topics range from the basics of the faith―such as salvation, spiritual warfare, prayer, forgiveness, and discipleship―to essentials of living as followers of Christ: money, prayer, family, friends, and priorities.  The subject matter is simplified so even young children can grasp important concepts. This is a perfect resource for busy families.

A homele ss author, a heartbroken daughter, and a theater ghost. There's trouble in Chapel Springs.   There's always someone new in Chapel Springs someone who is either coming home or stirring up trouble.  A best-selling author's latest book is a flop. While the reviewers are happily skewering her, her race car-driver-husband walks out on her and she's evicted, because he hasn't paid the lease on their condo for the last three months. Then she discovers he also he drained their bank accounts. Homeless and broke, she and her little boy have no choice but to retreat to the house she inherited from her Nana in Chapel Springs the house that's been gutted. Then, a stranger knocks on her door. One that will change the course of her life. 

It certainly seems like these Monday posts are ending up on various random days except Mondays :-)  Confidence   my word for the year God is really working in my life this year and I am confident this is my word! Confidence, for me, means trusting God on a whole new level. Allowing Him to work through me and do for me what I cannot do.  (I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.  Phil 4:13 ) Wish I could have gotten closer to this blue jay. There were three or four of them out one morning just squawking and carrying on. It was so much fun to watch them and be reminded that even more than God cares for them... He cares for me.

Bibleman is at it again! In this cool flip book, you actually get two-for-one. How awesome is that. One of the stories, Dr. Fear's Almost Perfect Disastrous Day ,  is about Dr. Fear, who is busy spreading the seed of fear all over summer camp. Kids are becoming afraid of all sorts of things, and so is the camp staff. Bibleman, while out for a boat ride, senses the enemy and stops by the camp. He helps them overcome their fear by using Gods Word. I did find it a little interesting, that right after helping the camp crew conquer fear, Bibleman and his crew just about succumb to it themselves, when Dr. Fear plants a seed on their boat. I guess every super hero has his moments of weakness.

... on Tuesday It is better to trust in the Lord, than to put confidence in man.  Psalm 118:8 My week of fasting and praying was a roller-coaster of ups and downs, but overall, I feel as though it was beneficial. The Lord encouraged my heart, blessed me, and also convicted me of some areas in my life that need work. I got a temporary "new" job and found something I lost ten months ago. But most of all, my heart is thankful that I have such an awesome personal God, who cares about everything no matter how big or small that is happening in my life; who uses all things for good to stretch me, grow me, and draw me closer to Him. I am still working on getting in the groove of taking a day of rest. After years of using Sundays as a catch up day, it isn't easy to change pace. This week, I prepared as much of my meal as possible on Saturday. I did have to do some cooking on Sunday but I was finished with cooking and dishes by 2 even after not getting home from church til ...

As I am working towards my New Year's Goal of  keeping the Sabbath as a day of rest and a holy day to the Lord and how to apply that to my own life, I wanted to share these verses with you.  Like I mentioned in a past  post  at the beginning of the year, I don't believe we are required to keep the Sabbath in the same manner as the Old Testament believers did. We live in the age of grace, and yet, we still need a day to focus on God, to rest from our work, and regroup.  Here is what my Sundays have looked like in the past: We go to church in the morning We try to avoid use of the computer, video games, TV and social media before church because I want us to focus on getting ready and keep our minds tuned into the fact that we are supposed to be in worship mode. Often we have guests, mostly kids that come over to play with my kids, occasionally someone who accompanies me to church, or other visitors. I usually cook, either in morning before church to p...

Made for a Purpose   is a beautifully illustrated picture book with simple text that draws readers of all ages into the world of each animal represented. The text instills in readers the truth of God’s amazing intelligent design, leading them to think about and explore their world with the understanding that the incredible things they find all point the back to God’s vast wisdom.  This delightful book appeals to the “Why?” in every child, using it to lay a foundational understanding of God’s wisdom undergirding everything.  This is the first book in my “Joyful Creation,” series. Five books are planed for this series. All of them will use the same style of

There were some things I liked about this book, and some I didn't really care for. Sister Eve is a nun/detective. She has a knack for solving crimes and although she is currently still a nun, she is also working as a detective for her father's agency. In this book, she is at the convent where she used to live for a convention. Dr Kelly Middlesworth,  a religious researcher, is supposed to be speaking at a conference there, but ends up murdered instead. Detective Eve's crime solving habits kick in, and she ends up on the trail of a possible killer. I liked the plot, it was unique and different from any book I've read. For the most part, it was interesting and kept me wondering who did it and what would happen next. I was pretty sure I knew who did it from the start, but the author did a pretty good job of promoting various alternative options that kept me guessing. What I didn't like about the story was that, although I liked Eve as a person, she seemed like a bi...

I was reading today about Ruth... The part of her story where she gleans in Boaz's field and then lies down at his feet at harvest to ask him to be her kinsman redeemer. From there I went to Joshua, to read Rahab's story because she was Boaz's mother. Did Boaz love Ruth because she was a foreigner like his mother, whose faith played a huge part in her life? Do men marry women like their mothers, the same as daughters supposedly marry men like their fathers? One of my favorite books I have read over the years was Francine River's Lineage of Grace .  .She writes about five unlikely women who were chosen by God to be in lineage of Christ. Two of them include Rahab and Ruth. Both foreigners in the land of Israel, one a harlot. What an awesome testimony of God's grace, love, forgiveness and mercy. He can use any of us, if we are repentant of our sins and willing to surrender our all to Him. Moving along on my rabbit trail, from Joshua I went to Judges, just to put...

For the  Lord  shall be thy  confidence , and shall keep thy foot from being taken . Proverbs 3:26 Since my word for the year is CONFIDENCE, this year I am switching my Monday titles from My Intentional Mondays to Quiet and Confident Mondays . As I look back on the year and reflect on my Intentional year... there are places where I can see growth, and places where I can see failure. There are lessons learned and many more to learn. As Christians I don't think we ever really stop growing, changing, and attempting to purge sin, pride, self-righteousness and become more Christ-like.

When Father Gilbert traded in his detective's badge for an Anglican priest's collar, he never expected he would be pulled into a different kind of mystery--the mystery of the spiritual world. Attending a conference in a seaside town, he has yet another supernatural encounter, this time with a murdered girl who worked at a local massage parlor. Details of the murder lead Father Gilbert to approach the police with clues in common with other cases, bringing him into contact with a detective from his days with Scotland Yard. Meanwhile, a local monastery has been vandalized, with grotesque images and profane graffiti defacing the altar and walls. The head of the monastery

Do you ever wonder why God created you? The Bible spells it out plainly: God created you to showcase His glory—to enjoy it, display it, and demonstrate it every day to all those you encounter.  After nearly 50 years of living as a quadriplegic, and dealing with chronic pain on a daily basis, Joni has learned firsthand the importance of glorifying God through the toughest of situations. Through this devotional, Joni will help you discover how to put God’s glory on display—how to say no to complaining and say yes to daily following God down even the most difficult paths. Along the way, you will find great comfort and encouragement by focusing on the one who longs to lead and guide you every step of the way, every day. 

2 0 1 7 It's the beginning of a new year!  Have you made new years resolutions? I am not really making any...  I do have some goals Devoting more time to concentrated prayer Eating Healthier Improving my organizational skills Working on improving/expanding my sewing business Focusing on celebrating a specific day of rest (Sabbath) to tune in to God and family

CONFIDENCE Isaiah 30:15 For thus saith the Lord   God , the Holy One of Israel; in returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength : and ye would not.