Deep Ponderings and Frivolous Wanderings

Easy Christmas Recipes!

2011-12-19T11:14:00.000-06:00

Merry Christmas!
My hope and intent for the approaching New Year is that I will be more disciplined to carve out a regular article or post for this lonely Blog. In the meantime, I figured I'd stop by and share a couple of favorite and EASY recipes with you! These are two treats that are continually requested by others whenever they're made. They are not original, although I have added my own tweaks.

On second thought, I'm going to throw in one more my SIL shared with me after I inhaled half of a container of them last Christmas. They're so easy and yummy, you need the recipe too!

Sorry that I'm too lame to have pictures to accompany these recipes. I know that can make or break whether or not you want to try the them, but I'm doing well just get these typed up!

Unbelievable Toffee! (Unbelievably delish, unbelievably easy!).

One box of plain or honey graham crackers (you will not use the whole box).
Two sticks of butter (yes, the real deal, not margarine!)
One cup of brown sugar (I prefer dark, but either will work).
One package of semi-sweet chocolate chips.

Line a jelly roll pan (i.e. cookie sheet with a one inch lip around the edge) with plain graham crackers. You will need to cut and fit in pieces around the edge to cover the entire surface. Baking stone not recommended.

Preheat oven to 350.
In medium sauce pan, melt two sticks of butter, and one cup of brown sugar (dark provides a more serious toffee taste).

Once melted, turn to high. Allow to boil, without stirring (except maybe once when it starts to bubble up really well. It's particularly important not to over stir with the dark brown sugar. For some reason it has trouble melding with the butter if you stir too much). When it is boiling so that it looks foamy, let it remain in that state for about three minutes. You can give it one more brief stir if it looks like it needs it during this stage.

Pour over graham crackers.
Use spatula to smooth over all crackers.
Bake for 10 min.

Remove and immediately dump one package of semi-sweet choc chips evenly over pan. (You can use milk choc but they do not melt and spread as smooth. I would recommend mixing them with semi sweet. Plus the semi-sweet off-set the sweetness of the toffee layer, so it's the best!). When the chips become shiny, after about five minutes, use spatula or back of spoon to smooth over the surface.

Place in fridge until hard (half an hour or so). Remove and break into pieces. I usually bend my metal pan a bit like an ice cube tray to get a corner lifted (which is one reason a stone pan doesn't work well).

Store in fridge to keep crunchy!

Variations: Add some cayenne pepper or chipotle pepper to butter and brown sugar mixture for chipotle toffee.

Toast almonds or walnuts and sprinkle on top after you smooth choc chips.

Sprinkle just a few white choc chips over the top of the melted and smoothed regular chocolate chips. Allow them to melt and smudge them across the chocolate in a marble design.

I've known two different people that have made these to sell for a fund raiser . . . that's how good they turn out!

Cream Cheese Cookie Bars

These dream bars have all of the elements of eating pleasure: gooeyness, a bit of crispness, edges that are similar to brownies, and density. Mmmmm.

There are also endless ways to vary the taste. I never actually make this basic recipe (though it still tastes amazing), preferring to add lemon or chocolate to make them flavored to my whim of the day. Suggestions given at the end.

1 stick butter 1 box of powdered sugar
4 eggs, divided 1 8 oz package of cream cheese
1 box of yellow cake mix

Heat oven to 350.
While it is warming, place one stick of butter in 9 x 13 pan and melt in oven. Remove when it is melted.

In a bowl, add 2 eggs to cake mix. Mix with fork until crumbly. Usually seems more like a sticky blob than a crumb mixture but that is how my original recipe reads.

Sprinkle cake mix over butter and pat down. (aka, drop blobs of the sticky blob all over pan and press down with spatula or back of spoon to cover the bottom fairly well). Butter will be swirling around the edges, letting you know this is going to be yummy!

Mix powdered sugar, cream cheese and other 2 eggs. Pour over first layer and spread evenly.

Bake for about 30 minutes, until lightly browned on top.

Variations: Lemon bars: Add about three to four Tbl lemon juice to EACH layer of mixture. A little lemon extract won't hurt either.

Chocolate Bars: Add 3 - 5 Tbl Cocoa (to taste) to EACH layer and throw in some chocolate chips to the BOTTOM layer. Also can use a chocolate cake mix on bottom layer. May choose to leave top layer plain cream cheese or add some cocoa to it.

Experiment with different cake mixes! Carrot cake on bottom with the cream cheese mixture on top would be delicious. Strawberry cake on bottom and maybe 1/4 cup pureed strawberry preserves added to the top layer would be perfect for a little girls birthday!

Praline Mini-Muffins

This is the recipe from my SIL. She calls them Mini Pecan Pie muffins. I think Praline captures their essence more succinctly :) Whatever their name, they can lend themselves to overeating due to their small, innocent-looking size. Beware! Or . . . just make a bunch. Thanks for sharing, Pamela!

**I also think you could easily make this gluten free with a substitute flour. There really isn't much flour in it . . . just enough to bind together.

1 Cup brown sugar
1/2 Cup all purpose flour
1 Cup chopped pecans
2/3 Cup melted butter
2 eggs, beaten

Combine brown sugar, flour, and pecans. Set aside.
Combine butter and beaten eggs. Mix well.
Stir in flour mixture. Stir just until moistened. Fill greased mini-muffin pans 3/4 full. (If you know your pan has sticking problems, you may want to grease and flour the pan as well. These are a bit sticky for a muffin, and I have trouble getting them out of one pan, but not another).

Cook about ten minutes, until light brown. These store well in air tight container.

One thing that stands out after typing these three favorites: Butter makes for some fabulous desserts! Woohoo!

Authentic Faith for our Families

2011-10-04T11:26:00.000-05:00

A dear friend just passed on the following article to me via email. It is so accurate and revealing of so many of our 'good' though misguided intentions as Christian families today, that I felt compelled to pass it on to you!

Although the article speaks to a phenomenon happening in homeschooling families, it is just as applicable to any Christian family seeking to raise godly children who own their faith. Who among us doesn't know a Christian family who has lost their children to the world? Maybe even our own children have gone off to see 'what they've been missing.'

How do we avoid contributing to our children's rejection of what we hold dear? Or perhaps the question is: will they model what they may see in us: an outward appearance of godliness while the inside is a clutter of problems and hypocrisy? Neither scenario is something we desire for our children, yet this is often the case in so many homes today.

The following article is quite lengthy, so you may want to click and print it for when you can sit a spell and take it in. I pray God will use it to reverse any negative trends you see in your family as you pursue Christ and seek to glorify Him in every little nuance of your heart!

Click here for the article.

Avoiding What is False

2011-09-28T15:37:00.000-05:00

“Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord?

Who may stand in His holy place?

The one who has clean hands and a pure heart,

who has not set his mind on what is false.”

Psalm 24:3-4

I came across this verse in Psalms yesterday while I was having my devotion time. Scripture is so multi-faceted that there’s always something new, even in a familiar passage.

When I read the last line, “who has not set his mind on what is false,” I was aware of just how many things I falsely dwell on. Not necessarily sinful things in and of themselves, just false things. Do you see the nuance there?

There’s nothing wrong with having a pedicure or going out to lunch or even sitting and reading a magazine. However, if that is not what the Lord has asked me to do with my time for the day, and I am neglecting that thing He expects of me, then I am dwelling on what is false. This equates to sin.

Am I listening to the voices of other’s that say, “You need to expect your daughter to go to college,” when it is clear that God’s call is for her to be a missionary? College isn’t a bad thing, and it may even be necessary to become a missionary, but there are other ways to reach that goal as well; am I willing to entertain those options?

The false voices are often well-meaning: “have a hobby,” “make sure you have some time for yourself,” “you should always have dinner ready by the time your husband gets home,” “you should be helping in the children’s ministry,” etc.

But those voices are not necessarily the voice of the Holy Spirit. If I am falling into performance mode, and becoming a people pleaser, a lover of self, or making an idol of my home in some way, than the Lord will take issue with that thing, and what is a neutral subject becomes sin in my life.

I must always prayerfully evaluate my use of time and my inner thoughts as well. Busyness, good intentions, and thoughts that are not yielded to the mind of Christ can soil my soul, wear me out, and drive a wedge in earthly and heavenly relationships. This is experience talking!

Been there, done that, prefer to avoid it!

Ask the Father to reveal any falsehood in your life today. Remember that James assures us that if we lack wisdom, we should “ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing.” When we repent of our falsehood, He is faithful to meet us where we have are and allow us to begin again, right then and there.

Amazing grace, isn’t it?!

How God Turns Stumbling Blocks into Stepping Stones

2011-06-27T16:01:00.000-05:00

I’m trying to reinvent the common blog. I’ve been working hard on this “silent” blog of mine for some time . . . um, yeah, it’s been completely contrived that I would have little to say since the New Year. I don’t think I could patent the idea any time soon. In fact, the silent-ness of my blog could be deemed an utter failure. Or, just a symptom of a very busy life.

Not just busy . . . Crazybusy!

Spring is always fast and furious around here, and seems to start much earlier than the official calendar date of the Vernal Equinox. Add a graduation to the normal chaos, and you have one tired mamma!

And a silent blog.

Enough explanation. What I’d really like to do with this post is brag on the awesome God who does all things well . . . even when we aren’t paying attention!

As you may know from my other posts, I have a son who has mild autism. He is eighteen years old now, and he just finished high school! Well, sort of. But I’ll get to that in a bit.

Let’s rewind about 18 years.

Cute baby, full head of hair (so full he had a haircut before he was two months old!), and hungry. Hungry because he has no idea how to suck. Takes him nearly an hour to latch onto anything: a bottle or myself.

Therefore, he’s not sleeping well because he’s hungry. Therefore, no one else is sleeping well. I call doctors and lactation consultants; no one really knows what’s going on.

Sleep deprivation doesn’t look very good on me.

Rewind a bit further, to a week before his birth, and you’d see my husband’s place of employment closing its doors a couple of weeks before Christmas. You’d see us taking Christmas presents back to the store to have money to live on. You’d see that everyone has already hired their Christmas help and so there’s no work for my man.

Exciting times!

Yet, perfectly timed, because it took two full time at-home parents to function on very little sleep to care for this little guy who was just eating enough to make it for an hour or two 24/7. I was so thankful to have my husband home with me, money or not, to keep me sane.

Oh yes, we also had our first daughter, who was 17 months old, when the little man came into our lives.

I’ll spare you the blow-by-blow of the hard times we had when the kids were young. You could sum things up with the idea of two more girls becoming part of the family, and money being pretty doggone tight for more years than we would have voted for struggling along--if God had taken a vote.

When my son was 3 1/2 we decided something must be wrong. I tried not to compare him to his older sister, but eventually we knew there was more than a typical “boy delay” happening. We were consistent with discipline but felt that no child would have such a strong will that he would purposefully get himself into as much trouble as he did.

We knew he could hear because he would respond to noises and he was talking a little. But we wondered if he might have hearing problems, since he ignored most of what we told him to do. Or maybe he changed his name, preferring to keep us in the dark as to what name he would respond to. That was the best explanation we had, so we decided to send him to some experts.

We had his hearing and language assessed through a free program that the public schools offered. He was found to be fairly delayed in most areas. Their suggestion was to put him in special-education preschool.

Any help that someone was willing to offer was welcome. The elementary school he was to attend was one block from our house, yet he would get to ride a bus. Sweet. I wouldn’t have to pack up his sisters at the crack of dawn and unload everyone to walk him to class. Yet putting him on the bus the first few days was heartbreaking, even if he was only riding it for all of 45 seconds.

What was wrong with my little boy? Would the “experts” at the school be able to help?

His teacher was terrific. She’d been teaching special education for 15 years and was a Christian. She had a heart to help the kids and desired to see them succeed.

It was soon apparent that Garrett was the highest functioning child . . . with the biggest behavior problem by far. He was constant motion. He could not sit still. He could not keep his hands to himself. He could not be still enough for a nap (he’s had sleeping issues all of his life), and he rarely obeyed.

His teacher told me that she really wanted to praise him more, since he seemed to always be in trouble, but, “as the words are coming out of my mouth, when I see him doing something right, he inevitably begins to do something wrong before I’ve finished speaking.” This was as true of a statement as I had heard. Welcome to my world!

Long story somewhat short . . . we eventually had him tested and found out that he had something called Pervasive Developmental Disorder: Not Otherwise Specified. PDD-NOS for short. Autism for super-short.

By the time he was old enough for kindergarten, his school wanted to mainstream him into regular classes. This was an absurd idea to his teacher and myself, but other “experts” decided he was too “high functioning” to qualify for full-time special education. Said experts hadn't spent much time hanging around class and observing his behavior, I presumed.

My husband and I were already homeschooling his older sister and it seemed best to do the same with our son. His teacher was in full agreement. “He needs one-on-one,” she said. Yup.

So, what did one-on-one look like for this complex little boy? It looked like special diets, experimental herbs and supplements, and lots and lots of therapy.

Years of therapy.

It would take us from breakfast to dinner to get through all of the things he needed. It was supposed to take 3 uninterrupted hours, but with three other children in the house there was no such thing as “uninterrupted” slices of time.

I can remember describing my day to my husband as follows: Every morning I get up and crawl into a big long tunnel made out of brambles. I try to make it through with the least amount of scratches and injuries as possible. When I make it to the end of the tunnel, I get to go to bed! Waking up meant I started over, at the beginning of the tunnel.

Exhausting.

'Everyday' things were a big ordeal. Riding in the car and going grocery shopping were a test of patience and tenacity. Going to bed at night was difficult because it was so hard for him to fall asleep. If he was still for 60 seconds he would conk out, but he wouldn’t stay in bed. We were thrilled to discover the doorknob covers that were hard for kids to grip and turn. He had poor finger strength so we were able to use the doorknob cover for quite a few years. With no possibility of escaping from his room, he would eventually give up his quest and fall asleep.

He had a penchant for playing with hair. Not just any hair. Freshly pulled hair. His older sister had a head full of springy curls that just beckoned to be plucked on a regular basis.

Scaring animals was sublime entertainment. Anything on a screen would mesmerize him to no end. Repetitive noises were one of his favorite ways to entertain himself. To this day I’m highly sensitive to whistling. Please refrain.

But God was at work. We prayed and cried and sought help. We often couldn’t see the forest for the trees, but God was faithful. He gave us patience and strength and friends that were willing to help. He showed us our selfishness and taught us love and sacrifice.

He convicted me of my pride when He showed me that one reason I wanted my son to behave was so that he wouldn’t embarrass me and make me look like a bad parent. Ouch.

The Lord taught me how to parent in His strength and not my own. How to respond to poor behavior for the thousandth time with sweetness in my voice, rather than scorn and contempt. He showed me my sinful heart and His righteousness, as he taught me how to love in His strength. That’s not to say that I’ve got it all down, but over the years I’ve struggled less and less. Sin still likes to rear its ugly head!

Fast forward to the summer before his ninth grade year. I mused to a friend that I felt “stuck” with my son. That it seemed I couldn’t get him any further (in any area) for the last few years.

“Maybe I should see if he could get some special services from the local high school,” I wondered aloud.

“Why not enroll him full-time?” My friend asked.

I had a million reasons why, or so I thought, but I prayed about what she said. I made some phone calls and talked to a counselor, and the next thing I knew, he was enrolled.

This proved just as providential as our decision to homeschool. Great teachers, new friends with similar challenges and interests, a variety of classes I couldn’t offer at home . . . it was a wonderful fit for everyone!

Four years of high school flew by and June 3rd--graduation day--I found myself prayerfully reminiscing about the mysterious ways of Time. Looking back at what issues my son struggled with that deeply affected him, as well as the rest of us, I had to be amazed at how far we all had come!

Though he still struggles with self-control in certain areas, our day-to-day lives are so different from when he was small. No more “brambles.” Smiles, laughter, and a general feeling of pleasantness are the characteristics that we enjoy on a daily basis.

Riding in a car, going shopping, being in a room full of people (even people with curly hair!) are no longer issues! He sits still and joins in discussions in youth group and school. He shakes hands and looks people in the eye when he meets them and says, “yes, sir/ma’am” when speaking to adults. He’s quick with a joke and will sit for hours and listen to me read (if I can last as long as he would like!). He has an ear for music, a great voice and is considered “invaluable” by his choir teacher.

Yes. This is my son.

And--wow!--what an awesome, faithful God we serve! He doesn’t always give us what we ask, but He does give us EXACTLY what we need. As I sat contemplating all of this I was overwhelmed with thankfulness.

There are a few particular areas that he still struggles with. Some of them big, big issues. At times it can be so discouraging when we see him overcome by sin. I realized, as I sat contemplating his life that day, that I’d almost given up hope that things could improve in these specific areas.

And I had to repent.

Change can happen so subtly when we are in the trenches that we’re blind to its occurrence. Hindsight is a great teacher and that day it renewed my hope--and my faith--for victory in these other areas as well.

In fact, on that last day of school, my son, the senior, brought home some projects he’d been working on through the school year. One was a terrific self-portrait, complete with a description he typed with his own unique spelling, that read:

“My name is _____, I love my friends and love food around the world Love pizza and pasta and the place I love to eat is at Cicis pizza and pull off pranks on people. The three things I want to work on is listen better o bay the last thing is stay out of trouble. I am a funny outgoing kind of person, I have an extended family some I haven’t seen before. I cannot wait win [when] on my big day win I go out in the world and win I graduate and I love my DS and I have brown hair and brown eyes.”

The whole project left me choked up; but to read that he was aware and desirous of working on the three things he listed was further evidence of God being at work in ways where I’d been losing faith. And by His great providence, He timed the unveiling of my son’s work with the unveiling of His work in our lives during my quiet time earlier in the day. The impact was so much greater, the blessing that much sweeter.

Watching him walk across that stage a few weeks ago was a milestone none of us will forget. We cheered and screamed and were so proud; he was searching for us in the crowd (he could hear us!) and beaming as he made his way across the platform.

There’s still a long road ahead. Although he was a “senior” this year, he actually gets to stay in the special-ed program for another three years. He will continue to work on life skills and vocational training. He will continue to have many ways in which he can practice, “listening, obeying, and staying out of trouble.” He has one of the best teachers prayer’s could ask for; someone who holds him to the same standards we do.

But he only gets to walk the stage this once. And as we watched him parade into the auditorium with his classmates, take his seat and listen respectfully, stand at the right time, and wait patiently in line to cross the stage . . . we weren’t aware, right then, of how each of those things were a culmination of year upon year, line upon line, precept upon precept, and many answered prayers.

However, slowing down and getting this chance to reflect helps me see how all of those stumbling blocks along the way were used by our heavenly Father as stepping stones on a gently ascending path. Americans crave (even expect) the gratification of instant success; but how satisfying the victory when it happens through sacrifice, hard work, leaning on one another, and being the recipients of graciously answered prayers.

Susan Marlow Strikes Again!

2011-05-20T14:48:00.001-05:00

Fans of Susan K. Marlow’s Circle C Series will be glad to discover—if they haven’t already—the Circle C Beginnings book series! Geared for the younger cowpokes in your home (ages 6-8), Circle C Beginnings chapter books brings the earlier adventures of Andi Carter and crew to your younger readers.

In Andi’s Fair Surprise, Andi and her family take a train to the California State Fair. Andi has never been to the fair and has no idea what to expect. She’s not so sure she even wants to go, especially if it means leaving her beloved horse Taffy at home.

The sights and sounds and displays that greet Andi create a world of wonder for the six-year-old in the late 1800’s. Besides getting her own money to spend each day of the weeklong fair, she is also given a ticket that might win a prize! Andi makes some new friends, watches a ‘thrill show,’ and learns that big sisters and brothers can be pretty special. Friends and family take home ribbons for everything from roosters to jelly . . . and Andi has her eyes on a prize or two as well!

Andi’s first day of school is a memorable one, not necessarily for the best of reasons, in Andi’s Scary School Days. Hiding doesn’t keep Andi from having to get dressed up and head to school. Climbing a tree doesn’t keep her from the one room schoolhouse either. As things go from bad to worse from the first day of school to the second, Andi decides that desperate times call for desperate measures!

Your early readers will enjoy frolicking along with Andi as her impetuous spirit and tomboy personality take them along from one escapade to the next! But Andi isn’t allowed to get away with poor behavior; natural consequences and lessons learned round out each adventurous tale (told from a Christian worldview).

The black and white illustrations from artist Leslie Gammelgaard add lively impact, reflecting the fun and fearlessness that Andi embraces. Your readers will also appreciate the “New Words” list, at the beginning of each Andi book, explaining terms that may be unfamiliar. “A Peek into the Past,” at the end of each book gives some background on life in the late 1800’s relevant to Andi’s stories.

Parents and kids alike will appreciate the FREE coloring pages and learning activities that are available to print out from the Circle C website. Also, A Journey Through Learning has created Lap Books that can be made with the Readers, in order to make the Circle C Beginnings book part of a Unit Study. Adding these teacher helps will make Circle C Beginnings a truly educational experience, one your child will misconstrue as plain ol’ fun!

For a review of other Circle C Beginnings books, click here. If you’d like to read a review from the original Circle C books (chapter books for tweens), click here.To purchase any and all of the Andi books, published by Kregel, click here. And to visit Susan K. Marlow’s website, you can click here.

If God, Why Evil?

2011-03-24T09:55:00.001-05:00

Earthquakes. Tsunamis. War. Murder. Kidnapping.

One doesn’t have to look hard to find bad news. It seems to be oozing into every fiber of society on a grand scale. The heartbreak in Japan, the killing of innocent citizens in Libya, the abortion clinic down the street...evil has many faces and can leave us asking the Question of the Ages: “Why?”

Although Believers have hope in the midst of tragedies, we still find ourselves lacking sufficient answers when the world—or our neighbor—asks, “Where is God? Doesn’t he care?”

We may even ask such questions ourselves.

Dr. Norman Geisler’s new book, If God, Why Evil? seeks to answer this seemingly elusive and age-old question.

Defining evil and laying out the common arguments from atheists and agnostics, Dr. Geisler explains the dichotomy of how it is that evil exists with permission from the omnipotent and all-good God of the Universe. If God, Why Evil? gives sound answers, taking apart our common questions and objections and exposing the logical end to such arguments. Using clear, common examples in conjunction with scripture, Dr. Geisler clears up many misconceptions about the existence and operation of evil.

For instance, he explains that evil is not merely the opposite of good. The fact is, evil cannot exist without there being good.

“Moths can corrupt a woolen sweater, but holes do not exist in themselves. They exist only in other things. Again, a totally moth-eaten garment has ceased to exist. Evil is a real corruption, but it is not a real thing (substance).” (pg. 20)

Such useful explanations, along with scripture defining God, sin, evil etc. are liberally used throughout this practical book. Some of issues discussed throughout this 167 page easy-read are: The views, nature and origin of evil, The persistence and purpose of evil, miracles and evil, and even eternal evil (aka hell). The complexity of evil is dissected in a user-friendly way, helping the reader grasp issues that normally trip them up.

The end of the book also contains three appendixes that deal with some deeper--yet related--issues, including a biblical critique of the popular book The Shack. Although written as a fiction book, the underlying (and mistaken) views of God are seeping into modern theology which in turn causes a watered down understanding of God’s holiness and his nature, leading to misconceptions about evil itself.

If God, Why Evil? is available from Bethany House publishers, and sells for $14.99. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review of the contents.

It's a Marshmallow World in My Mind

2011-01-01T17:46:00.006-06:00

Happy 1-1-11!

Here we are, once again, at the beginning of a brand spankin’ new year. But if you haven’t taken your Christmas decorations down, like me, it may still feel like last year hasn’t officially come to a close. Sort of a befuddled-between-years sort of thing.

Happens to me every year.

Another thing that happens is my desire--and failure--to somehow slow Christmas down. Savor it more. Bake more with the kids. Do some special crafts. Take time to shop in a leisurely manner. (Yeah, not really living in reality, I know). Allow the meaning of ‘God incarnate’ to sink in a few layers deeper than the year before.

But life happens. We seem to get plowed over with end of semester stuff. Good stuff, most of it. Rehearsals, recitals, and the like. Parties. Church. Travel. The line between Thanksgiving and Christmas gets blurred in a flurry of activities.

Inevitably, my nostalgic side wonders how I could have done things different, made more memories. The practical side argues that you can’t change things outside of your little sphere of influence. The visionary side looks ahead to the new year and says, “it’s a land of opportunity and you have a huge list of things to conquer!”. The cynical side reminds my optimistic thoughts that the list is the same as last year with a few more things added . . . making it longer than ever.

Last night we enjoyed a lovely New Year’s Eve party with some friends. Friends that are organized. The party was structured with time for fellowship sprinkled between times of organized fun such as: a Christian comedian, live music, building a “snowless” snowman, having devotions, communion, and fireworks. Within the course of the evening the hostess remarked that during the summer she made-over both of her girl’s bedrooms.

Wow. There’s not a room in my house that doesn’t have a project waiting on me to get my act together enough to tackle. Take my front door for instance. We got a new one about two years ago. It needs to either be stained or painted. I’ve gone to Home Depot and brought home paint swatches. Picked out some trippin’ red paint. I barely had the color picked out when I heard all sorts of awful things about Home Depot and decided to boycott it. I can get the color swatch matched at Lowes or some other spot, I assure myself.

But, I haven’t.

I still have a naked, boring door.

One of the speakers at last night’s party discussed the importance of setting goals. And writing them down. Seems there’s something sort of magical about making goals more concrete by putting them on paper. Gave some impressive statistics about those that are purposeful in setting goals.

A few years ago, I resolved “not to resolve” anything as far as New Year’s resolutions are concerned. Because all of my best intentions fall by the wayside leaving me deflated and defeated. Year after year. I’m convinced that unless God changes me, it ain’t gonna change. And I still believe that . . .

However, last night got me thinking. I tend to let life happen to me. I am a “go with the flow” sort of person. I will never be accused of being a Type ‘A’ personality. I see the big picture of what needs to get done but am fairly inept at nailing down the nitty-gritty details of how it’s accomplished. I work much better under pressure than under my own paced out plans.

Probably because I never make paced out plans.

But maybe it’s time for a change. It occurred to me that my best-laid ideas rarely get past the foggy-floating-around-notion sort of phase. Most of the time I think of things that need to get done when I’m in bed; not the most opportune time. Yep, better remember to get on that . . . zzzzzz.

Maybe it’s time to write some things down. I’m not talking about getting overly ambitious, here. I can be a realistic optimist. I’m not going to think that writing down “redo guest bath” will bring in the elves to make it happen while I sleep (devastatingly sad!). But maybe if I make a list with things like, “paint the door in the bathroom,” and, “buy some baskets to organize the shelves,” it will break the project down into doable steps that may actually allow me to redo the guest bath! Amazing concept! (And even if I don’t get it ALL done, anything is an improvement, right?).

So, how about you? Maybe you ARE a Type A personality and you need to have more fun? Hey, schedule it into your Daytimer--I know you own one!!! In the meantime, I’m going to breakdown the big picture into little puzzle pieces that I can work with. A little accountability will do me good.

Feel free to tap me on my cyber-shoulder this year and ask how my list is going! Is it getting any smaller? Is it growing? Am I morphing into a Type ‘A’ little by little?

Whatever your goals, your frustrations, your dreams or needs, I pray God will bless you this coming year. May you have a heart of gratitude for the many blessings, of all sizes, that are part of your life. May you look at trials as opportunities for God to show His glory through you. May your relationships bring you joy!

And may little elves come and do the dirty work for all of us . . . wash baseboards, dust tall ledges, touch up chipped paint and organize our closets . . .etc. (It could be a long, long list!).

Signs of the Times.

2010-12-07T14:48:00.002-06:00

Yesterday was philosophically peculiar. Besides being tricky to pronounce, that means I ran across some things that left me sad about the state of humankind. First there was this large sign plastered on the side of Fort Worth public transportation:

This isn't the exact graphics, but it is the exact wording. While looking online for an image of the poster on the bus, I was surprised to find what a massive campaign this is on the part of secular humanists. They have chaplains. The word 'oxymoron' comes to mind. Or maybe just 'moron.'

Of course, I was very disappointed to see that our local government-sponsored bus system thought it was a good idea, at Christmas time of all times, to display this insulting sign. I was surprised to learn that Dallas refused to display this ad, considering it religious in nature, and having a "non-religious" advertising policy. Normally Fort Worth is the conservative side of the metroplex. I suppose this means Fort Worth allows religious advertising? Hopefully there's not a double standard, although I don't know for certain.

At a time when it's all "Happy HOLIDAYS" and lighting a "HOLIDAY tree," I suppose I shouldn't be shocked. Actually, I wasn't. Just doleful and a bit angry at the false message that many searching souls will try to assuage their guilt with.

Last night when I was checking email, I was further saddened by an article that described several pastors, some that are still in the "ministry", that have lost their faith and become atheists. You can read it for yourself here. How Satan has twisted their minds is a mystery, but one that the Bible warns us to expect, especially in the latter days. Yet, once again, these sinking ships take down many passengers, and allow a gloat-fest from the media.

I haven't a nice, neat little summary, or a clever observation to close this with. It is sobering to see how we must truly know what we believe, and at the same time, understand our enemy. He will appear as an angel of light and draw moths to his flame to be burned.

A few words of truth are in order.

"The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none who does good." Ps. 14:1

"All have turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one." Ps. 14:3

"All have turned away from God; all have gone wrong. No one does good, not even one." Rom. 3:12

"But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived." 2 Tim. 3:13

"But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed." 2 Peter 2:1-2

"They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved. For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them." 2 Peter 2:19-21

Review: Circle C Beginnings. Early Chapter Books You Won't Want to Miss!

2010-12-04T16:20:00.002-06:00

Little girls and horses just seem to go together like . . .well . . . little boys and puppy dogs. I know that I was a horse-crazy kid, and now I have three young ladies of my own that adore all things equine. If you can’t have adventures on your own horse though—oh, what a cross to bear!—the next best thing is to READ about adventures on a horse!

Author Susan K. Marlow has delivered another wonderful series that will have your littlest horse lovers jumping in with both feet. “Circle C Beginnings” is the prequel to Susan Marlow’s other successful series, “Circle C Adventures.” I reviewed Trouble with Treasure, one of the books from the latter series, earlier this year. I just loved the wholesome fun it offered. So much so, that I bought the entire set for my 12 year old daughter. She inhaled every book and proclaimed them to be the best stories her voracious reading appetite had consumed!

When I received the first two “Circle C Beginnings” books recently, my daughter snatched them up and read them as well (even though they are aimed at an audience of 6-8 year olds). There’s something about Andi Carter, the main character of all the Circle C books, that is so endearing. She just seems to find trouble like a flea finds a dog. And it’s always with such good intentions that you can’t help but become a fan!

In Andi’s Pony Trouble, Andi is tired of her pokey, hand-me-down pony, Coco. She is almost six years old, for Pete’s sake, shouldn’t she be ready for a full-grown horse? Her family doesn’t think so, but Andi is sure she can prove how mature and ready she really is.

Andi and friend Riley go riding on Coco and Riley’s horse, Midnight. Riley let’s her take a turn galloping on Midnight and Andi feels like she can conquer the world! She certainly doesn’t want to ride boring old Coco anymore. In fact, why can’t the two of them ride double on Midnight and let Coco follow them back to the ranch? Good plan, until they realize Coco is no longer behind them. Andi knows that losing Coco will mean big trouble. If she can’t take care of a pokey, hand-me-down pony, then it proves she really isn’t ready for a full size horse! Maybe if she can find Coco on her own . . . (yes, it’s a bad idea!).

Andi’s Indian Summer finds Andi and friend Riley (or maybe “partner in crime” is a better description?) between a rock and a hard place. A dime-novel about Indian’s taking white men captive has planted some pretty scary images in young Andi’s mind. What could be worse than being kidnapped by a tribe of wild Indians? The children find that getting lost in the vast, unsettled wilderness proves to be a close second. When real Indians come across their path, Andi and Riley are sure they are goners!

All of the Circle C adventures are set in the late 1800’s, in the untamed Sierra Nevada’s of California. A perfect place for a young tomboy to find trouble and adventure galore! There’s enough rough and tumble fun in these stories to ensure that boys will enjoy them as well. Although Andi makes bad choices at times, she also learns wholesome lessons through the natural consequences of her actions. Important concepts for young people to grasp!

These delightful early chapter books have a “New Words” list to help readers navigate the tale. Illustrator Leslie Gammelgaard has liberally sprinkled her charming sketches throughout the pages, serving to enhance the story that much more.The author also has a few questions and historical facts at the end of each book to add to the experience. You’ll also be glad to know there’s a definite Christian worldview woven into each story that's never preachy, just a natural part of Andi’s life.

Furthermore, on the Circle C website (visit it here), there are activity and coloring pages (related to each book) that can be printed out for FREE, serving to make these chapter books a truly educational experience. If you’re ready to add some Circle C fun to your Christmas gift list, then you can order books by visiting the Kregel Publishing website here.

It has been a pleasure to get to know Andi Carter and crew through the various Circle C books! I know you won’t be disappointed in the quality of writing and integrity of character that Susan K. Marlow serves up with each tale. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future!

Christmas Punch for a Bunch!

2010-12-02T16:16:00.000-06:00

Here's an easy, festive recipe for Christmas punch that you can whip up for your next Christmas party. Good anytime, really!

One gallon of Apple Cider
One bottle of 100% Cranberry juice (you can do Cran-Pomegranate, or Cran-Grape, whatever you fancy).
One 2 liter bottle Ginger Ale, 7-Up or Sprite (Cherry or Cranberry 7-Up helps to keep the drink more pink/red).

Mix in large container and enjoy!
Cheers!

A Different Kind of Prayer

2010-11-30T13:59:00.001-06:00

My family is blessed to be able to participate in a fine arts school for homeschoolers that is over 700 kids strong! Yes, you read that right. I'll share more about that fantastic program another time, but I did want to reprint a prayer that was published in the monthly newspaper that the journalism kids publish once a month.

I thought it was a poignant reminder that things aren't always what they seem on the surface and that the world is bigger than population three: me, myself and I.

A DIFFERENT KIND OF PRAYER
Anonymous

Heavenly Father,
Help us remember that the jerk who cut us off in traffic last night is a single mother who worked nine hours that day and was rushing home to cook dinner, help with homework, do the laundry and spend a few precious moments with her children.

Help us to remember that the pierced, tattooed, disinterested young man who can't make change correctly is a worried 19-year-old college student, balancing his apprehension over final exams with his fear of not getting his student loans for next semester.

Remind us, Lord, that the scary looking bum, begging for money in the same spot every day (who really ought to get a job!) is a slave to addictions that we can only imagine in our worst nightmares.

Help us to remember that the old couple walking annoyingly slow through the store aisles and blocking our shopping progress are savoring this moment, knowing that, based on the biopsy report she got back last week, this will be the last year that they go shopping together.

Heavenly Father, remind us each day that, of all the gifts you give us, the greatest gift is love. It is not enough to share that love with those we hold dear. Open our hearts not just to those who are close to us, but to all humanity.

Let us be slow to judge and quick to forgive. Bless us with patience, empathy and love.
AMEN!

Thoughts on Thankfulness

2010-11-28T22:06:00.000-06:00

As Thanksgiving weekend comes to a close, I was just thinking how healthy a habit being thankful is 24/7. I once bought a friend a plaque that read, "There's always, always something to be thankful for." That is a great reminder; I like the way it stresses "always" since there are often times I lose sight of that truth in the midst of a trial.

We are reminded of that truth over and over again in scripture. Regardless of the trial, regardless of the circumstance, regardless of our feelings: REJOICE and GIVE THANKS!

So, without further adieu, and by no means is this list all-encompassing, I would like to proclaim the many things I am thankful for (and I encourage you to write your own list and display it where you can see it in the midst of the muck of life!).

Salvation: The free gift of God, the love He had for me even when I was His enemy.
My husband: His unconditional love, his godly character, his patience, his provision, his sense of humor.
My children: Their soft hearts, obedient spirits, love of life, love of God, creative impulses, musical talent.
My mom: That she lives nearby and gets to be a part of our lives, that she is in good health, that she has passed her faith on to me.
My dad: Even though he is no longer with us, I know I will see him again! I'm glad I inherited his creative juices.
My In-Laws: From mom and dad to brothers and sisters and cousins, I now have the big, loving family I didn't grow up with!
My friends: Their love, their support, their prayers, their faithfulness. They urge me on in my walk with Christ. They are so often Christ with skin on in my life!
My church: The leadership, the scriptural grounding, the amount of men that are strong husbands and dads, the youth group, the reverence and awe they add to my spiritual life.
My job: Teaching ballet, and now blossoming as a writer, are total gifts from the Father. I have done nothing to earn these gifts, have no merit and training that I can look to as a basis for my pursuits.
My home: Cozy. Warm in the winter, cool in the summer, situated in the beauty of the country. It is so much more than a roof over our head. It is where memories are made every day!
My country: Freedom to worship, freedom to homeschool, freedom to vote, freedom of speech...just to name a few things that make America great!

Those things are just the tip of the ice berg. I must also choose to be thankful, today in particular, that even though my refrigerator keeps going out, I have a back up fridge that works! I am also thankful that although said refrigerator went out today, as well as about 10 days ago, IT WORKED THROUGH THANKSGIVING! That was a concern that wasn't realized! Yea God!

Book Review: A Rush of Wings by Kristen Heitzmann

2010-11-24T20:34:00.000-06:00

Noelle St. Claire has abruptly left her life of wealth and sophistication, leaving behind a stunned fiance and father that adored her. They have no idea where to look for Noelle and she has no idea where she’s headed—she just feels a desperate need to run.

Using cash for anonymity and taking a bus west, Noelle finds herself at a ranch in a tiny mountain town of Colorado. She isn’t sure what to make of the ranch owner, Rick Spencer, who is rugged, introspective and full of faith in a God that Noelle doesn’t believe exists. Then there’s Rick’s brother, Morgan, who is just the opposite of Rick: charming, flirtatious and greatly lacking in faith of any sort.

The brothers are equally as perplexed about the mysterious Noelle. They can tell she is running from something but she is tight-lipped about her past and who she is. She seems like a puzzle with pieces that play hide and seek. The truth is, even Noelle isn’t sure what it is that she has run away from. Sure, her fiance was a brute when he was angry, but that didn’t explain the sudden fragmented thoughts that caused panic attacks and threatened her sanity.

Rick sees her as a vulnerable young woman in need of God’s love and healing; Morgan sees her as a fragile beauty that needs a good dose of his charisma. Noelle just wants to be left alone to find her way: thank-you-very-much.

I thoroughly enjoyed Kristen Heitzmann’s latest novel, A Rush of Wings. An excellent read if you are looking for romance laced with tension and mystery. I’m impressed with the way the author wove the element of faith into the story, giving believable struggles and not offering pat answers. Yet the faith was deep and vivid, not watered down. I also enjoyed the stark contrast of the brothers, Rick and Morgan, and their banter with Noelle. Exceptional characters and lovely descriptions fill the pages of this novel. Looking forward to discovering what else Kristen Heitzmann has to offer!

**In exchange for my honest review, Bethany House publishers has provided me with a copy of this book.

Homemade Sloppy Joes . . . Let's Call 'em Sloppy Heathers!

2010-11-18T22:16:00.004-06:00

So, I'm sitting here watching "Julie and Julia," and relating to the thrill of good food and all of those publishers calling Julie Powell and saying they want to publish a book based on her blog. . . not that I have any delusions about this blog being a hot item or anything. But the thought of someone wanting to publish one of my stories IS something I fantasize about.

Anyhoo (see, that word right there shows that I'm just messing around on this blog, having fun), tonight I made some homemade Sloppy Joes that had a surprising "yum" factor, due to the Rotel I tossed in as an afterthought. This was a big hit with my husband as well as the kids, and so much better for us than the pre-made stuff in a can. I feel inspired to share it with you, thanks to the movie . . .

Brown two pounds of ground meat. You probably will use beef. I used one pound of venison and one pound of Italian chicken sausage. Drain the fat (don't you wish you could do that to your thighs?).

In a medium bowl mix together:
1/2 C BBQ sauce
1/3 C Ketchup (not Catsup! Who spells it like that, anyway?)
1/3 C Brown Sugar (I used dark)
3 T Yellow Mustard
3 T Worcestershire
Garlic or seasoning salt to taste
One can of drained Original Rotel

Add above mixture to browned meat and "slop" it into some wheat hamburger buns (because you gave up white bread a long time ago, right?). If this makes too much for your brood, freeze it and have it for "fast food" later!

And there it is. A man-pleasing, kid-slurpin' good meal!
I served ours with sweet potato fries and slices of fresh mango (on the side, not on the Joes!). A great sweet/spicy combo if I do say so myself!

Book Review: Warrior of the Son

2010-11-06T10:00:00.006-05:00

When young Evan MacKeth watches his mother’s murder at the hands of his half-brother Osric, bitterness takes up residence like an insidious monster. Although he himself is a wanted, hunted man on the run, Evan is plotting a return to his homeland and vengeance for his mother’s death.

Never mind that his mentor and companion, Julian Antony Vorenius, is a follower of The One True God, and is urging Evan to find forgiveness in Iosa Christus so that he can forgive his brother. Never mind that he has been pursued by trolls and demons and finds himself calling out to this One True God for help!

Evan MacKeth is driven by his anger; driven to be the best sword fighter, driven to return to the castle and marry his childhood sweetheart, driven to avenge his mother’s murder. He will not know peace and satisfaction with anything less than this ideal. It takes him into exile across strange lands and propels him through many trials. He rehearses his pain and his plan over and over until it resounds like a pulse in the very fiber of his being.

Author Samuel Schiller has written a medieval tale with all of the gallantry and danger of other well loved fantasy books. Warrior of the Son, the first in his series of Gothic stories, will be a thrilling read for the young person in your home that loves a good adventure laced with the language, legends and chivalry of King Arthur’s day.

Mr. Schiller offers up a bevy of characters, castles, peril, and creepy opponents. What he also offers is truth. Laced with scripture, this tale is honest in its look at what bitterness will do to a person without being preachy about God’s antidote to the problem. The consequences of harboring hatred bear out in a natural way.

The story is not for young readers, as it deals with some mature themes here and there. (For instance: Evan is the illegitimate son of the reigning king). The issues are handled tactfully and only touched on briefly. The flowery language would likely be a challenge for younger readers as well.

Take a look at all of Mr. Schiller’s exciting stories by clicking here. I think you will be pleased to find an author who can provide the exploits that fantasy readers crave without glorifying the dark side. Rather, Mr. Schiller makes it clear that the truth of scripture is for all men at all time, and in any situation!

Prayer Boxes: An Easy Way to Pray for...Everything!

2010-10-26T13:12:00.001-05:00

Do you ever feel like the list of prayer needs grows by the week...and maybe the day? I know that so often the "big" pressing things get the prayer time, and many other things just fall by the wayside or else get rattled off in a rapid-fire list as time constraints dictate. We have found a great solution for just such a problem!

I'm not sure where I read this idea, but I thought it was great! We have Prayer Boxes (I think the original idea was Prayer Jars). We made small cards with prayer needs written on them. I mean everything we could think of: neighbors, family members, our church, our school, our country, our soldiers, the persecuted church, missionaries...you name it. We wrote them down on some card stock (sturdy enough to be used repeatedly) and cut them out.

Then we put them in a small recipe box and wrote "Prayer Needs" on top. We labeled another box "Prayed For." Each day, we pass the box around and each person takes out two cards (pick a number that works for you), then we all have a quiet time of prayer. When we are finished, the cards go to the "Prayed For" box.

When the "Prayer Needs" box is empty, we start over! This way, everything gets prayed for on a fairly regular basis, and we don't have to feel overwhelmed-- or as if we are dropping the ball. Of course, as new needs arise, we put them in the box and add to the cards.

Besides effectively praying for so many needs, the kids really enjoy the element of surprise each day. Something about pulling the unknown out of a box...that "ta-da" effect! They like that. And they like sharing with each other who or what they are praying about.

And, certainly, there are many needs that we know cannot wait for prayer...and we pray for them all the time!

Ridiculously Delicious and Easy Peanut Butter Cookies (that also happen to be Gluten free!)

2010-10-05T06:37:00.001-05:00

Here's a recipe with three whole ingredients! Share it with your kids and they may just keep you in a steady supply of delicious peanut butter cookies.

Two cups of your favorite peanut butter (regular or crunchy)
2 eggs, beaten
2 C sugar (I only use 1 1/2 and it is PLENTY sweet. But I like that the recipe calls for everything in 2's. Like Noah.)

Preheat oven to 350. Mix dough well with beaters. Of course, you may add in chocolate chips if you so desire, which we do occasionally. Or a Hershey Kiss on top! Roll the dough into ping-pong size balls with your hands. Place on cookie sheet and mash down with fork (the official stamp of authenticity for peanut butter cookies!). Or squish it down with that Hershey Kiss idea. It's all good.

Bake for 12-15 minutes, until lightly browned. Scarf 'em down.

When the Severe Pain Ebbs

2010-09-28T13:17:00.002-05:00

Sunday School. Just down from my husband and me sits another couple that I see every week, yet haven’t had an opportunity to get to know. A “hello”, a nod, a smile.

Their son is a friend of my daughter’s in youth group. She isn’t in Sunday school with him today, she stayed the night with a friend and is visiting another church.

Sunday School is over, we all file into the sanctuary and worship together. Our family, this other family. Many families. Many that I know. Many more that I do not.

Fast forward about 30 hours to Monday night.

Last night.

We all file into the sanctuary to worship together. Again. Our family. This other family. Many families. Suddenly we are all family.

But, the family from Sunday School is minus One. The one in youth group with my daughter.

So many tears. So many broken hearts. So many questions. So much pain.

Yet...So much rejoicing. So much faith. And hope. So much victory in the midst of loss. Prayers unite. Strength surrounding, scripture declaring, songs lifting our eyes from ourselves and our anguish to Christ who has vanquished.

Even so, I cannot keep my mind in the moment. My storytelling brain takes over. The writer in me goes into third person and I find myself observing glimpses of the future that will bring back the pain, fresh and ferocious.

I do not know these parents. But, I am a parent. I am a mother. I know the heart of a mother.

The agony that sears and tears with intensity right now will mellow. Who could survive such heartache if it did not? God has sent the Comforter. This mother, this father, and sister...they will be comforted. They will come to a place of acceptance and a place of motion, where the world goes on and they move forward with it once again.

A place where the severe pain has ebbed. Replaced by the sweet ache of missing someone you love beyond measure.

But I see the unexpected stabs of pain that loom in the near and distant future. Hiding behind the little things that will catch this mother, and the others, by surprise. Little things that will feel like big things, making them catch their breath. The questions, the “what ifs”, the “remember whens”. These thoughts, these pictures, these stories are what choke me with tears, what makes me pray for this family more.

A long vigil over time seems like a good idea. Remembering to pray for this family is a marathon and not a sprint. To pray that Christ would carry, would comfort, would heal even as each memory wields a clever strategy to bring heartache. Opportunities for bitterness and anger will spark, hoping to find purchase, hoping to steal joy. We must--- I must--ask God to keep bringing this family to my thoughts so I can bring them to Him in prayer.

I think we all kind of hope, maybe even expect, that a real-life crisis will occur like it does in the movies. Foreshadowing takes place in scripts. Not in life. It would be so handy to have a string of events to look back on and see how it was all leading up to this...as if the person knew it was going to happen.

I bet this young man left his room a little messy. He plopped some books on his half-made bed, left his shoes laying around, needed to empty the trash. His room seems to be expecting him back at any moment.

There is school work left incomplete. What was he going to write about for his assignment in Literature? Was he finally getting the hang of quadratic equations? And, oh, look at that lousy handwriting! No wonder he wanted to do everything on the computer...

His basketball schedule is still on the calendar. He was looking forward to the tournament at the end of the year. His favorite movie was going to be released next week; he and some friends already planned their weekend around it.

Mail will come addressed to him. So presumptuous.

Do the couch cushions hold some treasure from his pockets to be unearthed at a later date? A crumbled up scrap of paper that he scribbled on or folded around a wad of gum. Like a time capsule. That will be a precious find! Precious but painful.

Notes in his Bible. Notes on his desk. Reminders to himself become reminders of him.

A glimpse in a crowd, when-- for the moment-- it will seem natural that he is there. A case of mistaken identity that leaves the family member yearning...

These stories play in my mind when I contemplate their loss. Each of my children become this young man. Though I cannot imagine their depth of pain...in some small way I can. We all can.

I wish I could make it all better. Wish I could make that pain go away. Wish I could bring back their young man. Wish I could at least arrange a proper “good-bye”.

Yet, I remind myself of the promises of God. I embrace His sovereignty. I believe he is gracious and loving and good all of the time. And so does this family. It is very evident in their life.

It is right to encourage them with scripture and hugs and tears and prayers. I believe all of that will help to heal. It must be done. It is being done.

I just know the unexpected moments and memories are destined to come and I wanted to tell them that it is ok. Those times will be like a brief, sweet connection that can be savored. Like a quick visit.

It will hurt. It may make them wonder if it will ever hurt less. I don’t know for sure. I just felt like I had to put into words what many of us already have had floating through our minds. We chastise those kind of thoughts. Won’t allow ourselves to “go there”. Such pondering doesn’t seem very spiritual.

But it is very human.

Sometimes these bodies of flesh and emotion demand attention. Demand to be recognized. Must be allowed an outlet. Not an excuse to sin. Not a reason to be bitter. Just permission to feel and to hurt and to swell up and gush over in tears. We are wired to find relief in releasing our emotions. Jesus allowed himself to deeply love and openly hurt. Jesus wept.

It must be ok.

It is ok.

I pray God will remind us all to keep carrying the burdens of those that mourn as life resumes and the severe pain ebbs.

Be Careful What You Wish For!

2010-09-26T15:11:00.001-05:00

Even grown-ups love a Cinderella story. Masquerade by Nancy Moser escorts our inner- princess into the late 1800’s where high society flourishes and the lower class barely survives. And never the twain shall meet. Nor would it be proper for them to associate.

Lottie Gleason is born into the British upper-crust and has been comfortably insulated from the likes of problems with politics, business and even struggles within her own home. She gets a crash course in Adulthood 101 on her 19th birthday when she discovers her family is being shunned thanks to some indiscretions by her father. Before her ship can totally sink, Lottie is forced to accept a marriage proposal from a wealthy American who hasn’t caught wind of the tarnished Gleason name “across the pond” in New York. Lottie doesn’t want to marry this stranger and Lottie is used to getting her way.

Dora Connors is Lottie Gleason’s maid. She has lived on the streets and experienced life in the gutter. Since the age of 13, however, she has been attendant and confidant to Lottie. They are very close, yet they both know their place. Dora is to accompany Lottie on her voyage to America, where she will start a new life as well.

Somewhere across the expanse of the Atlantic, a plan forms in Lottie’s mind. A plan to escape the restraints and expectations of her family and chase her own dreams. Dora can be Lottie Gleason, Dora can marry this strange man, and Dora will be glad to do it because it is a chance to better her life beyond her wildest dreams.

And so each girl assumes a new identity and they both live happily ever after.

Yeah, right. While Dora steps into New York society with only the occasional stumble, Lottie falls flat and hard and finds herself seeing how ‘the other half” live. More than seeing, she is experiencing it first hand.

Both girls find that “a man makes his plans but the Lord orders his steps” as they discover their masquerade is not the neat little package they had hoped. The character issues that are addressed and the relational honesty that is necessary for love and friendship to flourish are learned in the fire of the streets--and the mansions--of New York.

Masquerade is a cinderella story. One of the best kind. No fairy godmothers here. Rather, the God of the universe helping two girls find their purpose, their love, their friendship and their true identity.

***In exchange for my honest review, Bethany House Publishers supplied this book to me free of charge.

The Implications of Marriage

2010-09-18T00:34:00.014-05:00

“Why is the marriage relationship more important than any other relationship?”

This question was posed by a dear friend when we were having a little heart to heart about the state of various things in her life. Valid question, yes. But one that took me by surprise as it seemed obvious to me. Since I think better through my fingertips, rather than in a spur of the moment conversation, this ~~little~~ (make that long!) blog post is my attempt at an answer to my friend’s question.

I don’t believe this person held marriage in a low-priority position by any means. In fact, I know she knows it is “numero uno”. Yet, she was in the midst of a heart wrenching relationship with one of her children and that was eclipsing all else. She was doing what each of us tend to do: Give the squeaky wheel the grease.

It is much easier for me to sit on the sidelines and cheer little scripture-like cheers to my friends when I am not the one going through the fire. But, I do think it is essential to rehearse what is true when things are going swimmingly, so that when a flood threatens to overwhelm us, we can cling to what we KNOW. Peace and joy may look precarious in the face of a tsunami, but Truth will remain our lifeline.

I think we live in an age that devalues marriage and belittles men to such an extent that even churches tend to try and feminize our guys and God Himself. Too many touchy-feely expectations that often rely on experience and psycho-babble, rather than the counsel of scripture.

With that understood, I’ll go ahead and state that I do believe in submission to ones own husband (as scripture states in Ephesians 5:22...implying women can be awed and influenced more heavily by some other man...even a pastor). Submission does NOT imply inequality; merely the chain of command that makes things flow rather than grate. Frankly, I like it that way. There is freedom in submission...if bad decisions are wrought by my husband, it is between him and God (not to say it doesn’t have an effect on other people, myself included). I don’t want to be an Eve and have my hubby say (like Adam), “that woman you gave me wore me down until I would agree to do this...”. I prefer to keep my hands off. It helps that my husband can smell manipulation a mile away; it would be a total waste of time to try.

So, the above explanation tells of the structure of a healthy marriage (not my opinion here, either. Scripture will back me up on all of that submission stuff). But WHY is marriage so important? Why is it THE relationship that must be cherished and nurtured at all costs, especially when things get really awful in other areas of life? Why can’t we afford to just coexist for awhile, coast along and hope things will get better (when he sees what a jerk he’s been...)? Why can’t I spew all over my mate and expect them to just get over it and move on? We’re both adults, right? They know I love them.

Let’s look first at the origin of marriage. This is an obvious one, I know. Still...restating truth helps to reinforce its application in our life so it bares repeating. The first marriage was ordained and orchestrated by the Creator of the universe in Paradise. Adam and Eve were part of the ultimate blind date match up. Those two were literally made for each other!

The animals were not a suitable companion for Adam, only a woman would do! God could have just made a bunch of people that were an instant little “Village of Eden”. He could have commanded all the independent people to “be friendly and fellowship.” Instead he made one of each gender and then gave them the command to have sex...and he made that something special and symbolic as well. “Be fruitful and multiply,” he said. Oh, and it’s really fun to practice the “being fruitful” part...and the little ones that result will be one of the best things to ever happen to you!

Even the actual act of consummating a marriage has sacred and symbolic significance. A true covenant relationship is one that is sealed in blood (the blood of animals in the Old Testament, the Blood of Christ in the New Testament). When a virgin has relations for the first time (presumably after marriage), blood is spilt; a seal of the covenant made between the bride and groom. What a beautiful picture--with deep implications-- that most do not fathom!

Scripture goes on to extol the virtue of marriage, to show it as a relationship set apart, as a Holy Covenant that should only be broken by death itself. The intimacy of the marriage bed is used as a term for the way God intimately knows each of us. Song of Solomon is a whole book devoted to the love relationship between marriage partners. Marriage is an ongoing example of unity and intimacy throughout scripture.

Still, there is something more, something that causes marriage to have no equal among relationships between people. If this were to be the only mention of marriage in the Bible, it would be enough to propel it to “numero uno”: Marriage is a reflection and representation of the union of Christ and His church.

Our heavenly Father uses the picture of marriage, the verbiage of marriage, and the sanctity of marriage to show the relationship that the Bride of Christ (the church) has with the Bridegroom (Christ). (See Matthew 25, Ephesians 5, 2 Corinthians 11, and Revelation 21 to name a few). God did not use a picture of teacher and student, or a picture of priest and congregation, but the intimate, loving, stick-with-you-through-thick-and-thin commitment that has two people becoming one in Holy Matrimony. In fact, just look at that term: “Holy Matrimony”...do you recall the relationship between parents and children being termed “holy”, or any other relationship for that matter? On the contrary, Jesus says that for his sake, those relationships may be violently torn apart (see Matt. 10:35).

Truly, being one in the covenant of marriage is a beautiful likeness of what Christ has done to reconcile us to himself through his sacrifice on the cross; collectively as a church, and individually as well (see Eph. 5 for how the husband and wife submit and give all to each other just has Christ has done for us). He is coming for a pure and spotless bride, without blemish or wrinkle. He promises to tenderly care for us, protect us and provide for us. He is preparing a feast and celebration for us when we are with him in eternity. Marriage. Marriage. Marriage. It is a thread woven throughout the Bible; a heartbeat of a passionate and loving God.

Now that we have established the high calling of marriage, what do we do with this information? Tuck it away as an interesting thought to ponder? Make a note in our Bible’s margin? Nope. I say it ought to be of the utmost priority to make our marriages the best possible union; effort given to building a strong foundation, adding to that using the Fruits of the Spirit on a daily basis.

It is a shameful fact that the divorce rate is as high in the church as it is in the world. It should never, ever be so. Our marriage is part of our testimony to the world, it exists to reflect the glory of God and give glory to God. What message is the world getting from us about this holy union? One that says it IS NOT holy, it is merely a matter of taste and convenience. Like a mortgage on a house; it is not something to be taken lightly, but--if times get tough--you can always sell it and move on.

One last bit of food for thought... What if the bride of Christ spent it’s energy trying to change who Christ is? What if we decided to tweak the attributes of Jesus or redefine what it means to be a Christian? Well, that wouldn’t fly, would it? A peek at the churches of Revelation shows how God wants to spew the unfit from his presence and discipline those that are disobedient. We would be defaming the name of Christ if we acted like that.

What if the church went around bad mouthing Christ to the world? “Yeah, Jesus rarely answers any of my prayers, he’s so selfish and lazy.” Or, “I would be a better Christian if Jesus would just ____(fill in the blank).” Or, “I don’t know who that Jesus thinks he is, expecting me to do this and that.” Yikes! Such speech is unimaginable from a true follower of Christ.

Yet how often do we whine and complain about what we perceive to be wrongs in our relationship to our spouse? Are we guilty of bad mouthing them to others? Are we approaching marriage the world's way, or our own way, instead of God’s? Do we distance our mate and our marriage in our words or our actions, either to their face or to others? Are we tearing down instead of building up? Manipulating and pouting, being bitter and scornful, instead of serving and showing respect with a heart of gratitude? What about shutting ourselves off in cold indifference?

I believe that our relationship with the Lord is directly connected to how we relate to our spouse. We cannot be a grumpy, judgmental, discontent, whiney-butt with our husband (or wife) and expect to pursue an intimate relationship with our heavenly Father. That holds true even in a marriage with an unbeliever. The scriptures give guidelines for everything, including that! Not to say such a union would be a cake walk, but it still can bring glory to God as the saved spouse relates to the other in a Christ-like way.

Ephesians gives very specific directives on how we should treat each other in marriage and those standards are not earned by the other person’s behavior. They are what God expects of us as believers in obedience to His word. We cannot control what the other person does, we can only control ourselves, our choices and our reactions. And those things should be under the control of the Holy Spirit or they will only be wood, hay and stubble (aka, works of the flesh).

I know this post may come across as overly simplistic, and very black and white...

I realize that different situations may NOT be simple, but the bible reads gloriously black and white so that we can take those convoluted messes we make and find answers and hope without going crazy. The answers are there if we will take the time to look. They are not old-fashioned and out-dated. They are the tried and true remedies from the mouth of the One who created marriage! Why doesn’t that fact make a difference in Christian matrimony? It seems we often balk at how simple God’s approach is, deciding it really doesn’t apply to us. We stomp off and attempt to fix it ourselves, perpetuating the cycle. Why do we doubt the living God?

When my friend posed her question to me, she surely did not know what a heaping can of worms she was opening! And most of this post is like preaching to the choir to her and many others that may come across it. But I know, as a fellow human being, how hard it can be to get information to transfer out of our heads and into our hearts. I pray that my little diatribe may be used as a defibrillator on things that have grown cold, stale and even lifeless.

Things like your heart.

Things like your marriage.

Surviving the Summer

2010-08-15T18:26:00.001-05:00

It has been one long, hot summer, here in Texas. Well, the summer has flown by, but the heat...it drags on and on and on. I'm all for breaking records: in the Olympics. But record high heat leaves much to be desired from this native Pacific Northwesterner, even if I am a girl who sees the glass "half full"!

But Autumn is looming large, and welcoming, on the horizon. Which of course, means: school is starting!!!! This is a grand event for many parents ready to buy school supplies and send their kids on their happy way...But for those of us that homeschool, it can send us into panic mode as we scramble to buy last minute curriculum and make out our final (for the fifth time) schedule (that we know will have to change after the first month trial run).

That would be me, right now. So, once I get my organizational brain in place concerning the upcoming school year, I can put my creative brain back to work on this blog. I hope you all have had a fabulous summer, and if it was actually relaxing, I would like to know your secret!

I'll be baaaack!

You Can't Go Back

2010-07-19T08:04:00.000-05:00

My youngest is no longer so young. Entering seventh grade this year means life as a child is fading while the responsibilities and changes of a young adult are looming on the horizon.

I drove past a Toys-R-Us the other day and realized it had been several years since I have graced their doors (no love lost there, really). We have been past the “toys for gifts” faze for several years now. Replaced with clothes and books and more grown up gadgets.

It struck me several years ago that, at some point, there was a last time that I picked up each of my children and held them during church. But, at the moment, I didn’t know it was to be the last time. How sad not to have been able to relish it!

Yet, if we all knew that it was creeping up to that point in the size and age of our children, I suppose we’d keep picking them up and carrying them around until they were big enough to pick us up and carry you around...which may prove embarrassing for all parties.

Anyhow, we have been lamenting that our youngest was now entering junior high, and that all of our kids, come fall, were of “youth group” age for church. Although it is a wonderful new stage to be a part of, it has happened so swiftly that I feel I have been plucked up by some giant bird and dropped off further along in my life than I actually should be.

The other evening I was enjoying some one on one time with my youngest (the one that isn’t so young). She leaned over to me and said, “You know, I’m not sure I want to start youth group in the fall.”

“Really?” I said, surprised by the revelation. “Why?”

“Because, I don’t know that I am ready to grow up just yet. I like being a kid.”

I thought I might melt. How sweet, how refreshing! (And how totally opposite from myself at that age). “That is perfectly fine, honey,” I said. “Once you begin that journey, you can never go back to childhood innocence. But you do have a choice from this end to put off growing up for awhile. There’s no hurry.”

“Ok,” she said is that trustful way that only a child can pull off. And that was all that needed to be said.

Pretty wise, for a kid. :)

Forgiving Our Offenders

2010-06-30T09:55:00.002-05:00

I have been slooowly going through a study called, "Seeking Him, Experiencing the Joy of Personal Revival," by Nancy Leigh DeMoss and Tim Grissom. I am consistently inconsistent, so there are many days that I don't do the study, mostly for variety's sake, and many days that (I will confess) I just don't make the time I should for a quiet time. Praise God for grace!

Anyhow, I have quoted from this wonderful study before, and ran across a few paragraphs this morning that struck me as too good to keep to myself! I pray it helps you walk out forgiveness as God leads you to obedience.

"Remember that God does not hold us responsible for the wrongs others have done to us; He only holds us responsible for how we respond to what others do to us."

"As Christ has forgiven you, fully forgive each offender. Remember that forgiveness is not a feeling; rather, it is a choice and an act of the will. It is a commitment to clear the other person's record and never to hold that offense against him again.

"Keep in mind that emotional healing may involve a process, but actual forgiveness can be extended in a moment. Don't wait to forgive until you feel emotionally healed from the wound; instead, choose to forgive and let God begin the process of true healing in your life."

"Verbalize to the Lord your forgiveness of each of the individuals [that have hurt you]. 'Father, as you have forgiven me, so I choose to forgive [person] for [name the offense].' "Pg. 185

May you know the freedom and peace of God's forgiveness in your life towards you, as well as experiencing His power in allowing you to walk in forgiveness towards others!

Embracing the Great Commission: Radical Living

2010-06-21T11:06:00.000-05:00

“...and God bless the missionaries all over the world. Amen.”

As children we may have prayed something similar to that statement. Maybe as adults we elaborated a little more on exactly how God should bless the missionaries all over the world...but the “us” (non-missionaries) and “them” (missionaries) mentality still remains.

Occasionally we will be reminded from the pulpit that Christ commanded all of us to “go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations,” (Matt. 28:19). I know, personally, that I believe that is true in theory, but it often doesn’t live out in a very tangible way when I have insulated my life (albeit, unintentionally) with those that are already believers. I try and give myself a swift kick in the pants, to be “on the look out” when I am at the grocery store or some other non-church sort of place (as if I need to look for the person with the big question mark floating over his or her head so I know they are the ones searching for truth). When my awkward attempt at bringing the cashier to repentance ends with an odd look of dismissal, I retreat back to my little church-y world and justify my lack of authentic witnessing with my lack of non-Christian relationships.

The last two Sundays at our church have been so very convicting. Two different speakers (not our regular elders) have issued heart wrenching pleas of centering our life around the gospel. Radical calls have gone out to look at our comfortable, American lives, so nice and neat and sterile, and do more than pray for God to “bless the missionaries all over the world.”

Along with the usual reminder that WE ARE ALL MISSIONARIES, there has been a gentle and broken urging to live a life of such radical obedience, that in every area of our lives, Christ may be proclaimed. Do we need to sell our bigger home and live simply to give the money to the poor or to fund mission work? Maybe move into a neighborhood that we normally avoid driving through? Do we need to adopt a child? Maybe a “crack” baby? Do we need to open our home in some way? Are our neighbors seeing Christ in us? Do we need to give up our retirement plan for the plans of the Kingdom?

God has not promised us retirement, comfort, or even safety. He does promise persecution, trials and rebuke. Am I willing to count the cost? Am I willing to forsake all for the sake of Christ? Am I even willing to contemplate such things? And then, do I dare to breathe such a prayer as, “whatever it takes, use me” ? What if He takes me seriously?

I can’t honestly say, “I’m there”. I like to think that I am, in my self-righteous, glossed over heart. However, I know that this awakening is merely conviction, that demands repentance, that needs to result in change. So, this is just the beginning, a little baby step of obedience. Maybe a shout out to fellow believers because there is strength in numbers and it would be a beautiful thing to see masses of American Christians living radically. Placing my own struggles in writing also calls me into accountability.

I was reading over the Great Commission this morning and realizing how practical the command is for each of us, right where we are. Christ’s disciples were not told to preach the gospel to the ends of the earth via Frequent Flyer Miles. They had two legs and two feet just like me. THAT is the way the gospel was going to get to the ends of the earth. Walking, talking, living, breathing...wave upon wave of a Christ centered life that brought those in their sphere of influence as well as those outside of their comfort zone into a spiritual orbit, revolving around the beauty of the gospel.

I AM A MISSIONARY.

Living Intentionally

2010-06-10T16:30:00.003-05:00

Have you already noticed how quickly the summer is filling up and flying by? To some extent, when I name the things that have already scooched onto my calendar, it seems like I have already spent it, like it is over and I have missed out on all the summery things I hoped to do!

Of course, it is just beginning, so I cannot actually fast forward it...yet, at times it feels we are living in fast forward, at least in my little corner of the world. Our mind is so consumed with what is coming up that we often miss the hear and now. I am guiltiest of all; crown me Queen of Multitasking and Over-committing.

I've come to realize that all the multi-tasking I did as a young mother of four children has left me very little memory of various things in our day-to-day life. So sad! Just not a lot of recall when you store everything in your short-term memory (which is what you do when you multi-task). The things there don't last long...hence the name "short term."

Desiring to learn from the past, I am deciding to live more intentionally in the present, when I have the presence of mind to do so...ha, ha! As the various activities loom large, I am going to stop and water the flowers, picking a few along the way. As well as spending time with the kids that says, "I am dropping all this other stuff and paying attention to YOU because you matter to ME!"

With that, I leave you for now. We have a book to finish reading and here I am on the computer...

Log On to Lobster...Get Connected, Get Organized and Get What You Need!

2010-05-31T12:12:00.000-05:00

I am not entirely sure what Lobsters and Networking have in common...but I am pretty certain that the services offered (for free!) on the Lobster Network are going to be invaluable for many people. It is one of those websites that make you wonder why you didn’t come up with such an idea yourself, or, how you got along without it in the first place?

What can the Lobster Network do for you? Well, one of the simplest services is to help you keep track of your stuff! I think all of us suffer from the TOO-MUCH-STUFF disease. Do you share curriculum or reading material with others? Does your husband loan out tools or DVD’s? Do your kids like to share their video games with friends? Ever forget who loaned what to whom? With the Lobster Network, you can create your own personal inventory of things you have, things you are willing to loan, and who has borrowed them!

When you get your friends to use Lobster Network with you, they can see (for instance) that you have the Pride and Prejudice movie that you are willing to loan. They can ask to borrow it for a predetermined amount of time (say two weeks) and then you will each get a reminder for when it is due back! No more wondering what happened to the movie when you want to watch it, or feeling awkward calling your friend and saying, “Uh, remember that DVD you borrowed 6 months ago...we were wanting to watch it now...”.

Beyond the inventory control (which can also come in handy for insurance purposes in the unfortunate event of a fire or burglary, when you need to list your damaged/missing property), you can also have groups on Lobster Network that could suit many needs. These groups are secure within themselves to share information that not everyone can access.

For instance, a church library can utilize the Lobster Network as a way to track their items and remind people of when they are due without investing in an expensive compute system. How about a homeschool group that wants to share curriculum? A gardening club whose members want to share their seeds? There’s really no end to the possible uses for a secure networking site like this!

Within the Lobster Network you can set up personal accounts that only YOU can see. You can set up places for friends to browse your stuff that you are willing to share, and you can set up want ads or sell items, choosing how big the viewing audience is (from your own contacts to everyone on the Lobster Network).

The Lobster Network fills a niche I bet you didn’t know you had, until now! Click here to create a free account and let your friends know about this helpful site too. The sooner you connect, the sooner you guys can enjoying the benefits!

Guacamole Heaven...The Best Guac EVER!!!

2010-05-30T20:48:00.002-05:00

Every time I make guacamole, I think: I need to get this recipe on my blog!

I just made another batch and decided to head right over to my computer and get this up for others to enjoy. I cannot take credit for it; my best friend's husband is the chef for this one. But, we make it all of the time and everyone that tries it agrees: IT'S THE BEST!

Recipe:

3-4 Medium- Large Haas avocados. (A ripe avocado should be very dark green and slightly soft but NOT mushy!)

1 Can Rotel (diced tomatoes and green chiles). Do not drain.

About 1/3 of a lemon. You can use refrigerated lemon juice if you don't have fresh. You can substitute lime, but it isn't quite as tasty. You may also add more juice to taste, if you want, when it is at the tasting stage.

Garlic salt (about 1/2 tsp? I just shake it on. Start with a bit and add as you taste).

Cavendar's Greek Seasoning OR Ground Pepper (1-2 tsp. to taste). Cavendars is yummy but pepper is nearly as good if you don't have Cavendars.

Method: Scoop avocados into bowl and mush well with fork. Dump can of Rotel into bowl and stir well. Add seasonings, stir, taste, tweak if needed, taste again... then watch it disappear!

So yummy! I expect to see this stuff in heaven!

Book Review: Andrea Carter and the Trouble with Treasure

2010-05-27T12:18:00.001-05:00

“Here in the heart of the Sierras, the word lost took on new meaning. Steep, rock-encrusted gullies, ridges that went on for miles, and dark pine and sequoia forests marked this place as dangerous to the inexperienced traveler. Andi, for one, did not want to be left on her own in these mountains.” p. 35

Oh, if eleven year old Andrea Carter (aka Andi) only knew the trouble awaiting her in those mountains, she may have dwelled on that thought long enough to return to the safety of her ranch...

Of course, headstrong and independent Andi would have scoffed at the idea of falling into jeopardy; not with her big brother Mitch and two of her closest friends trekking the mountains with her. After all, two weeks in the Sierras, fishing and panning for gold while sleeping under the stars, was to be the highlight of her life! On the back of her trusted horse Taffy, Andi always felt confident and ready to meet uncertainty head on.

What starts out as a promising adventure for everyone, quickly goes from bad to downright awful. Pulling the reader along the mountain paths of post Gold Rush California, the latest Circle C Adventure book from author Susan K. Marlow is sure to enthrall your tween readers with its rough-and-tumble tale set in the late 1800’s. From snakes to bank robbers--and even a stint in jail-- the young cowgirl and her posse seem to find themselves in a heap of trouble.

Andrea Carter and the Trouble with Treasure is a terrific and face-paced read that will prove to be hard to put down! Packed with good old-fashioned pioneer peril and a natural (yet not preachy) undercurrent of trusting in God and His care, this story delivers good, clean entertainment.

Although The Trouble with Treasure is part of the Circle C Adventure series, it is a stand alone saga that the reader can jump right into. But why limit the fun to just one book? Check out all of the Circle C Adventure books from Kregel publishing (available for $7.99) by clicking here. This series is also available in bookstores. As an added bonus, there is a free study guide with activities to go along with your purchase when you go to this website.

**As part of the TOS Crew, I was provided with a copy of Trouble With Treasure in exchange for my unbiased review.

THE NECESSITY OF FORGIVENESS

2010-05-24T10:14:00.003-05:00

I have been going through Seeking Him, Experiencing the Joy of Personal Revival by Nancy Leigh DeMoss and Tim Grissom. In lesson 9 the topic is "Forgiveness: Setting Your Captives Free." I really like the first line, that is sadly true:

"Forgiveness. The gift everyone wants to receive but finds hard to give." I just made that statement my status on my Facebook profile. It will be interesting to see some of the comments that will trickle in from it. I believe we can all relate to that desire and need to be met in our own life, whilst being rather unwilling to dole it out to others. Sometimes nursing our wounds feels so good! It is so easy to justify!

Yet, when we look at the treachery, the iniquity and the sin of our life and see how generous and gracious God has been towards us, we are without excuse to not offer forgiveness to others. We all know that is easier said than done. As the saying goes, forgiveness is divine. We are NOT divine...(thought I would point out the obvious in case you haven't noticed).

However, we are a new creation in Christ, and through the power of the Holy Spirit, He will enable us to do what we cannot do for ourselves. I heard a pastor say once that, "only God can forgive and forget, but we can forgive and remember it as forgiven!" That is a powerful truth.

"Who is a God like You, removing iniquity and passing over rebellion for the remnant of His inheritance? He does not hold on to His anger forever, because He delights in faithful love. He will again have compassion on us; He will vanquish our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea." Micah 7:18-19

"But God who is abundant in mercy, because of His great love that He had for us, made us alive with the Messiah even though we were dead in trespasses. By grace you are saved!" Eph. 2:4-5

"But I say to you who listen: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you." Luke 6: 27-28

(Just a thought to interject: does it sometimes seem easier to forgive the stranger that wrongs you than the one you love and have a relationship with? Is it just me? I think we tend to question why the loved one would hurt us, if they really love us. We feel undeserving of such treatment and take it upon ourselves to offer back what we feel they now deserve: unforgiveness.)

"Then Peter came to Him and said, 'Lord, how many times could my brother sin against me and I forgive him? As many as seven times?' 'I tell you, not as many as seven,' Jesus said to him, 'but 70 times seven.'" Matthew 18:21-22. Jesus then goes on to tell the parable of the wicked servant who was forgiven of a huge debt by his master, only to go and hunt down a fellow servant that owed him a small debt. When the master found out what the forgiven servant did to the fellow servant, he threw him into jail. Verse 35 concludes with, "So my heavenly Father will also do to you if each of you does not forgive his brother from the heart." Ouch!

I know I am preaching to the choir here so I will wrap this up with one more quote out of the Seeking Him study:

"Forgiveness means that I fully release the offender from his debt. It means fully cleaning his record. It is a promise never to bring p the offense against him again (to God, to others, or to the offender himself)."

Confessions of a Lazy Woman

2010-05-21T10:55:00.009-05:00

The following article is actually a post from my OTHER blog. It has been a secret, non-active blog for a couple of years. It is supposed to be about my fitness journey. Up until this point it has been a little undisclosed part of my writing that has been untouched because of the LACK of a fitness journey.

My husband and I have finally got into the habit of exercising together regularly. We are about to embark on a hard-core workout for the summer (P90X). So, I felt it was necessary to dust off this guilt-inducing blog and do something productive with it.

If you enjoy the article, I hope you will go to this other blog, morphingmyself.blogspot.com and follow me as I fight to become mentally and physically tuned up (which, I believe, will be quite a spiritual tune up, as well). Maybe along the way you will be motivated to tune up an area of your life that you have been avoiding!

They say that it takes 40 days of a repeated activity to create a new habit. I am not sure who “they” are, but I have been getting up at 6:15 for the past three years to help my son prepare for school and I have yet to make a habit from it. Let’s see, with weekends and summer vacations and holidays aside, that makes around 540 days that I have pushed that snooze button come 6:15, and when the weekend arrives, I sleep right on through my weekday waking time by a good two to three hours! I am not any closer to becoming a morning person after three years!

Seventeen years ago I had a dental hygienist friend share that if you could only brush your teeth or floss for the rest of your life, flossing would be the best choice for your teeth. Although I had rarely flossed to that point, I immediately acquired a faithful habit to floss my teeth, and have rarely missed a day since!

I wonder how “they” would explain that?!

Proverbs 19:2 tells us that “even zeal is not good without knowledge...”, which explains why one can undertake many “good” things and burn out quickly because we just don’t fully grasp the benefit. I guess I am still looking for the “good” in “good morning” at 6:15 am... and it is still alluding me!

As I approach this P90X experience that looms over my summer, I am aware of the need to arm myself with knowledge of how important this 90 day event will be in my life! You see, I believe it will be every bit as challenging for me mentally as it is going to be physically. And, frankly, I am not an endorphin junky, nor am I a Type A “git-er-done” personality. I am inherently lazy, I must confess. I have always felt-- deep down in my secret, unrealistic heart-- that I am called to live a life of leisure.

Due to good genetics, that I can take no credit for, I grew up eating whatever I wanted (which did not include much of anything healthy...corn was about my only “vegetable”) and was able to remain stick thin. The need to gain weight was my excuse to over indulge in junk food galore. I mean over-the-top galore! Tanning in summer with a canister of Pringles and a large carton of Whoppers was a day well spent in my mind!

Oh, I definitely developed some habits the first 20 years of my life. Mostly the habit of only doing what comes easy and with very little effort. I had a lot of natural ability that kept me from needing to work hard for things I wanted. My desires revolved around satiating my desires, and it was a catch 22 of self indulgence that I still struggle with today.

Marriage and homeschooling four children tend to beat the laziness out of a person but that ugly skeleton in my closet still likes to come tumbling out pretty regularly. And, although I haven’t wanted to gain weight the past, oh, 15 years, I still only carried around an extra ten pounds or so, which is easy enough to hide when you are 5’ 8”. But that 10 pounds has slowly crept up the last few years and the blubber in the middle has become increasingly hard to suck in. It has also been increasingly hard to take any of that blubber off, the older I get!

Life being what it is, I am busy all of the time, tired most of the time and have justified my lack of working out quite believably. This past year I’ve noticed a marked change in my mental self; I have gone from at least sincerely wanting to change my slothful ways to reluctantly wanting to change and on to (almost) giving up because it is just so hard to change! Hard to find the time, hard to find the “want to”. Ultimately, having the “want to” will cause me to find the time, I am having to admit, and that desire is waning with each passing year.

There’s a little, feeble voice of reason deep down that whispers a harsh reality: “If you don’t do it now, you never will. You are teetering on a precipice of will: what you choose now is going to define you for the rest of your life.” I can feel a sort of “biological clock” ticking...urging me to do this while I can, or I will just give up and eventually find that I am trapped in my weakness and even calloused to the Spirit’s conviction in this area of my life.

Interestingly, Proverbs 19:15 states, “laziness induces deep sleep,” and I can tell you that rings awfully true when I get into a pattern of extreme self-indulgence. When I readily justify going back to bed in the mornings and taking naps during the day, the more I want to go back to bed in the morning and take a nap during the day. Vicious cycle.

The next line of Proverbs 19:15 proclaims that “a lazy person will go hungry.” How true that was for the time period in which it was written! Growing and harvesting crops and making every meal from scratch is hard work! If only the lazy people of Bible times had the pre-packaged junk food of our age, they wouldn’t have had to experience such hunger! Like most of us Americans, we can continue our SAD diet, fending off hunger, and remain inactive... and then get on about half-dozen prescription meds when we reach middle age. Ah! The wonders of Western civilization!

One area that, over the years, I have gained a lot of knowledge about is healthy foods and the benefits of eating a more primitive diet. Sprouting grain, grinding flour, drinking raw milk...I have much head knowledge and quite a bit of practical experience in this realm. The zeal to eat better and the knowledge of how to do that have made the mental procrastination even harder because I really do know better...and yet I continue to make really bad choices. Bad choices are just soooo much easier to make than good ones, aren’t they? Or is it just me?

Especially when you can hide those choices behind being tall and fairly thin. Which has morphed into hiding behind being tall and wearing clothes that fit in a certain way to hide the fact that I am not so thin anymore. Which is trying to morph into giving in and buying the next size up in clothes...

Enough is enough. The only thing stopping me, is me. My weak flesh and my years of coasting along must come to an end or there will be no end in sight to my self-loathing. That may sound very unbiblical but I don’t know what else to call it when you continually ignore the urging of the Lord in an area...God invented guilt to drive us to Him and his forgiveness and his wisdom...when we push that aside the conviction decays into condemnation as we continue to serve ourself. Walking around under a cloud of guilt is unhealthy and will allow all sorts of problems, physically and emotionally, to set in. God does not intend for us to live that way yet it is often our default setting, sort of a self-sabotaging mode.

So I am trying to get prayed up and psyched up for this “boot camp” workout. I cannot fool myself with any sort of illusions of ease and natural desire. This is going to be hard! But--hard is ok! Hard is good! Hard is what I need...EASE is my enemy! This must be my battle cry this summer!

I need this transformation Lord, just as much in my mental state as in my physical body! Let this journey be one of discovering new strength in You and a time of building character within myself that will overflow to other areas of my life. Help me to keep my eyes on You, to offer my pain of body and mind to You as a living sacrifice each day. It is nothing compared to the sacrifice of your Son, but it is the cross I am to take up at this time in my life. With You, I know that all things are possible. I am so weak but I know, Lord, that You are my strength. Thank you!

AP Exam Help: Chemistry

2010-05-19T16:46:00.002-05:00

For those of you with ambitious and brainy students, homeschooled or not, check out the latest DVD’s from Cerebellum Corporation, the folks that produce Standard Deviants DVD’s. As part of the TOS Crew, I was sent a copy of their Light Speed Chemistry AP Exam Prep DVD.

This DVD is not a chemistry course, but it is an efficient way for your student to hit the main points needed to study for the AP chemistry exam. The DVD features teenage actors/students that give a rapid fire approach to what can be expected in the exam. These are professional, non-cheesy actors, I might add (since I have a hard time getting past the corn-ball factor in low budget films). The entire DVD is professionally done and very engaging, even for someone like myself that hasn’t taken a day of chemistry...nor do I plan to have to personally teach it to my children (that’s what a co-op is for, right?).

But, l digress...

The Chemistry AP Exam Prep DVD features 25 minutes of testing taking tips, helping students know how to pace themselves, when to skip questions, and how to spot tricky wording etc. The instruction then goes over 30 of the main chemistry concepts in 30 minutes. Complete with graphics to help illustrate the explanations, this portion should likely be viewed several times in order to really grasp the points. Covering topics such as chemical bonding (sounds dangerous!), atomic theory and structure (yikes!), stoichiometry (huh?), and more!

Along with the DVD, there is also an accompanying CD-rom that includes a digital workbook with lesson plans, worksheets and quizzes! This helpful set is just a teeny weeny investment of $14.95 (but is currently on sale on their website for just $11.24). They also carry AP Exam prep for History, English Language and Composition, and U.S. Government and politics. They also carry a ton of other videos for a plethora of subjects. Check it all out by clicking here!

Beeyoutiful YOU-tiful!

2010-05-06T12:20:00.009-05:00

“Take two Aspirin, and call me in the morning.” Does anyone even own a bottle of Asprin anymore? (OK, one they have actually removed the foil thingy from? And the cotton?) Remedies have changed over the years evolving from basic Aspirin, to very long words pronounced correctly only with practice (can you say, “Naproxen, Ibuprofen, Acetaminophen” three times fast?).

Still, these medications only mask the symptoms, and basically are toxic to the body although they have some beneficial side-effects (such as pain relief). I am not completely knocking them, and I am not without the need for them at times. But, I want to avoid dependance on them, all the same.

One thing I have had even less need of over the last dozen or so years, is a doctor. I am not knocking them either; praise God for wise and talented doctors! We have gone to the doctor for the occasional emergency (stitches, broken bones) but never for a cold, sore throat, sinus infection etc. (with the exception of strep throat or an ear infection I didn’t manage to catch in time). I am certainly willing to go if needed, but my first line of defense is always natural products that spur on our bodies own healing!

One company that I have turned to as a source for natural treatment, and have the privilege of reviewing now as a member of the TOS Crew is: Beeyoutiful. They recently sent me a free bottle of their Berry Well Syrup to try, along with their extremely informative catalog.

Although I was excited to receive the Berry Well Syrup, I was a bit perplexed at how to go about doing the review. It is not a daily supplement; rather, it is taken when ill with the flu, cold or a viral infection. Thankfully, we are not often under the weather. So, it was most convenient when my husband (who never gets sick!) and oldest daughter came down with some sort of cough, sore throat, shnocked-up yuck the very next day!

After I thanked them for donating their bodies to science, I got out the Berry Well Syrup, along with the usuals, (garlic, echinacea, Vitamin C, Airborn), and began their treatment plan. Second problem: hard to know for sure how that syrup is working with all of the other supplements. However, I will say they recovered in about 1 1/2 - 2 days, rather than the usual 3 -4 days, so that could be attributed to the Berry Well Syrup, though I have no way to prove that. It didn’t seem right to withhold the other things for the sake of a blog review.

Ultimately, what I want you to take away from this review is the inkling that you can treat most of the common illnesses yourself. God has gifted the earth with so many helpful herbs and other healing foods that equip your body to sustain itself. It is shameful how little modern science has recognized this fact, but there is really no excuse for us to remain ignorant! With the internet at our fingertips and prayerful guidance as we take baby-steps to reclaim our health (beginning with our diet!), everyone can at least improve their quality of life... let alone enjoy being (almost) doctor-visit-free for 12 years!

The Beeyoutiful family knows and believes this concept as well. They are an excellent source of quality products that stimulate your bodies supply of healing properties. From daily supplements for prostate health or pregnancy, to cleanses for ridding yeast from your body, Beeyoutiful has an abundance of fresh, natural products for preventing illness and treating your family at home. And their website and catalog is full of articles, tips and recipes to get you moving in a healthy direction. I was especially excited to see articles in their Winter 2010 catalog on sprouting grain and baking with the two-stage fermentation process.

But, since this is specifically a review for the Berry Well Syrup, let me tell you a bit more about this special substance! First of all, it is fairly high on the “yum” scale, as far as medicines go. I mean, you wouldn’t want to guzzle it or pour it on pancakes, but it is taste bud friendly and your children should willingly swallow a spoonful.

Made with elderberries, raw honey, bee propolis, Echinacea root extract and raw apple cider vinegar, this is a power-packed bottle of purple goo! It is full of anti-viral powers and immune system enhancers (that’s the elderberries). Also it gives “a rich supply of live enzymes” (thanks to the raw honey), and natural antibiotics (courtesy of bee propolis and Echinacea root). Top it all off with raw apple cider vinegar to increase your bodies alkalinity (cancer fighting) and give potassium to cells to fight back against the bad bacteria, and you have an intensely potent arsenal defending your body!

Berry Well syrup is one of Beeyoutiful’s best sellers. It sells for $18 per bottle, which is WAY cheaper than a trip to the doctor! Check out all of the natural products and helpful articles, designed with your health in mind, by clicking here. Start taking steps over the summer to stock up on body strengthening supplements and treatments before flu season hits next fall!

Explore, Discover, and Enhance with Lesson Planet!

2010-04-25T20:28:00.003-05:00

Scientists often discover new planets in other solar systems. Even though science is not my strength (case in point: maybe they aren’t discovering planets: is it just galaxies...?), I am proud to say I have discovered a new planet all by myself! It’s called Lesson Planet and it is as close as the World Wide Web, rather than 30 million light years away. Much easier for all to explore, wouldn’t you say?

As part of the TOS Crew, I was given an extended trial membership for this out-of-the-world website. Lesson planet is a tremendous resource for all teachers, homeschooling or otherwise, and each lesson is given a rating by teachers, too!

With over 150,000 teacher rated lesson plans and 75,000 worksheets at your fingertips, you are likely to make new discoveries yourself in the realm of enhancing your school’s curriculum. From the basics of the 3 R’s to elective subjects like art and drama-- even plans and worksheets for celebrating holidays or enhancing your unit study-- there is bound to be something for every need that could arise. I was amazed at the subject breadth, there are so many ideas in so many categories...things you may not have thought about-- just waiting to give you a light bulb moment.

The website has a great search engine that allows you to get particular about the types of worksheets or lesson plans you are looking for. You can choose general subjects or get very specific by wanting only key words. You can also select the minimum “star rating” you want to select from. When your search comes up, there’s a peek at the content of each choice, so you can see if that selection headed in the desired direction (rather than a bunch of titles that you would have to click on to find out more about the plan/sheet).

All grades, all subjects, all available for your use with a $39.95 yearly membership. What is nice to know is that you can have a 10-day free trial when you visit the website by clicking here! You will have full use of the site, getting a good feel as to whether or not it will be a good fit for your family. Sign up and see what your curriculum has been missing...and possibly put together some of your own and save a bunch of money!

Wisdom in the Kitchen!

2010-04-22T21:16:00.002-05:00

To eat this, or not to eat this...? That is the question. That is the question that we all ask ourselves, albeit ever-so-fleetingly, many times a day. A desire for and understanding of good nutrition does not come naturally. I believe a weakness for for the “bad” stuff is about as innate as sin itself. Thus, endeavoring to change that tendency is much like a spiritual journey. Study, prayer and application are about the only way things will ever change.

And then... you are a freak.

Seriously, you start eating really healthy and you’ll get all sorts of flack. You may receive some crazy looks or sarcastic comments, similar to those that non-Christians might give us Evangelicals. You may be called a hippie or a tree hugger or all manner of things!

I have a friend who’s wife died from stomach cancer; he has researched nutrition incessantly, hoping to arm his four children with healthy bodies that will fight against any genetic tendencies. His view of eating healthy is this: If you look at how American’s eat as if it were a face on a clock...you could put the Standard American Diet (aka S.A.D.) at 12:00. If you want to eat right, it isn’t as if you need to tweak things just a bit...say towards 11:55 or 12:10...One must go in the absolute other direction. Good nutrition is at the 6, or the 30 minute mark, in total opposition from mainstream America.

I hope that visual made sense.

So, where am I going with this? Well, as part of the TOS Crew I received a Sue Gregg cookbook, Introducing Whole Foods Cooking for Health and Hospitality, by Rich and Sue Gregg. This is like a cliff-notes version of a nutritional Encyclopedia.

Actually, I have the full-size version of the “nutritional encyclopedia” already: Sally
Fallon’s Nourishing Traditions. It is a wonderful resource/cookbook but it is almost overwhelming in the amount of information it contains. I have vacillated with what I have learned and the actual application for several years. I was certain that there was probably some simplification that could be done, but hadn’t the time to experiment and figure it out. When Sue Gregg’s book arrived I was thrilled to see that she and her husband Rich have incorporated and UNCOMPLICATED the very things that are taught in Nourishing Traditions!

I have had some previous exposure to Sue Gregg’s cookbooks. When I bought my flour mill, years ago, a friend shared one of her Sue Gregg cookbooks with me. I still have many of the recipes. Although they were nutritionally “current” (low fat, whole grain, and using yogurt instead of sour cream etc.) they were nothing like the fundamental nutritional facts found in Sally Fallon’s tome.

When I started reading the Introducing Whole Foods book, I was so happy to see that Sue and Rich Gregg had found and incorporated the truth’s in Fallon’s book as well. This was not the Sue Gregg cookbook of years past. The Gregg’s have learned and evolved in their nutritional expertise and are now passing on their secrets to eating truly healthy (way down there at the “30 minute” mark) to the rest of us.

Introducing Whole Foods for Health and Hospitality is a perfect introduction to taking steps towards solid nutrition. The fact is, healthy eating has been going on since creation; it has only been in the last 100 years or so that things have gone haywire, causing all those nasty “Western” diseases such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes. What nutritional knowledge have we lost?

The answers begin in books that teach how foods should be prepared, how they have been prepared in generations past. Thankfully, truly healthful food prep is not a completely lost art, but it isn’t something you’ll find in the latest issue of “Eating Light” or “Healthy Living”. Yet the ways of our ancestors have been preserved by a few and are slowly being practiced by more people.

It is a process of re-educating ourselves. And, as I said, Introducing Whole Foods is a great place to start. Sue and Rich Gregg do an excellent job discussing what true nutrition looks like and how to incorporate that into real life. They take the “scary” out of the process of using grains properly, and they give you recipes that really do taste delicious! Furthermore, through their genius idea of using your blender for a mill, you can enjoy hard-core nutrition in very doable ways. In fact, the “Blender Batter Pancakes” are the best pancakes we’ve ever eaten (and we have had stacks and stacks...). Tip: if you ever make these, cook on lower heat for a longer period, these babies are thick and will stay gooey in the middle if you aren’t careful!

Where does wisdom for right relationship to our food ultimately come from? The Word of God, of course. Recognizing this fact, the Greggs have also included Bible studies on the use of food, the way food brings us all together and how we can glorify God through what we eat, as well as how we eat it. They take spiritual food and natural food and show how closely the two are related.

Introducing Whole Foods for Health and Hospitality is a terrific way to take the first step towards truly eating right. It is also a wonderful little home-ec/Bible study course that you can do on your own, with your children or even in a co-op setting. What could be better than getting together and baking bread with a bunch of friends? (Yes, ok, coffee at Starbucks is right up there).

Once you get comfortable with the easy recipes in Introducing Whole Foods, there are many more cookbooks that the Greggs have written that delve further into the nutritional realm. One feature with this cookbook that is just fabulous is the inclusion of a CD that takes you step by step, using photos, through the recipes, removing all the mystery out of preparing food and eating right!

Sue Gregg has a tremendous website, with some recipes you can try before you buy, allowing you to anticipate the great things to come in the cookbooks you order. You can visit the Gregg’s website by clicking here. Introducing Whole Foods for Health and Hospitality sells for $23. In this day and age, it can be hard to decipher the latest nutritional craze and buzz-words...turn your back on all that and get back to basics with the sound nutritional guidance in this cookbook! The money you'll save in the long run by eating healthy now is well worth your time and money.

Below is a picture of a healthy coffee cake recipe that I made several times, much to the delight of my family! I doubled it to make a 9 x 13 pan to feed 12. It did!

Fast Food Encouragement!

2010-04-09T10:31:00.000-05:00

My time as a reviewer for the TOS Crew is coming to a blessed end after this month! Don't get me wrong, I am very thankful that I have had the opportunity to be forced to write and explore and meet deadlines...it has been a terrific training ground for me! I am grateful for the opportunity and have learned and grown from the experience. Although I was tempted at times to resign, due to lack of time for the amount of commitment involved, by God's grace I have seen it through!

Furthermore, I have been tremendously blessed by a job opportunity that has sprung out of one of my reviews (officially my first paid writing job!). I am now writing product descriptions for the homeschooling curriculum company All About Spelling/Reading. So, it is exciting to see God using my gifts in a productive way.

I have had very little time to dedicate to writing anything on this blog, other than product reviews. Hopefully you have found the reviews helpful in some way, but I do miss getting to just blab about whatever is on my mind, or get on my soapbox about things that are important to me!

Since, at the moment, time is still a constraint, I thought I would just post part of an email that I just received from the Women's Ministry in our church. I found its truth to be an encouraging and gentle reminder of what my role is as a daughter of Christ and wife to one awesome guy! May you be piqued by the truth as well!

The greatest evidence of how big I believe God is, and how trustworthy I think God is, is my willingness to come under God-ordained authority when I don’t agree with it.

God intended for men and women to understand that they are equal in their humanity, dignity, worth, and value before God. Yet God intended for the woman to be different from the man, and these matter in terms of how we function best.

If we follow God’s design, we enter into the joy of the functioning of it. If we go against God’s design, we harm ourselves and others in the process.

Terrestria Chronicles: Making Biblical Truth Tangible!

2010-04-09T09:25:00.001-05:00

There was a reason that Jesus taught in parables. He knew that stories can convey deep truths in ways that a long explanation cannot. (Well, after all, He knows everything!). It surely makes sense to follow His example when we want to teach biblical concepts to kids: word pictures deliver!

If you have ever read Pilgrim’s Progress or Hinds Feet on High Places, you know that an allegory can take story telling to the next level. That is what Ed Dunlop, author of the Terrestria Chronicles, has set out to do in his stories. I received a copy of “The Crown of Kuros,” and “The Dragon’s Egg,” in exchange for my review of these books. They are book #4 and #5 within the 7 books that make up the series.

Set in the realm of King Emmanuel, Lord of all of Terrestria, within the walls of The Castle of Faith, the princes and princesses that serve the King find their commitment to Him tested in various ways. Both stories follow young Prince Josiah who has, in prior volumes, been freed from slavery to the wicked Argamor, (the King’s nemesis, who desires to cause unfaithfulness to King Emmanuel throughout the realm). Josiah is now in grateful service to the true King.

He and his fellow young noblemen, Prince Selwyn and Princess Gilda, are in the King’s employ and have various quests and errands that are entrusted to them as they serve in The Castle of Faith. The cast of characters in each story have names that, in most part, describe just that: their character! Names like Sir Faithful, Sir Dedication, Sir Pretentious and Captain Assurance will help the reader see how these traits play out in the lives through each individual's interaction. Or, how about Captain Covetousness and Captain Discontent as part of the crew of the bad guys? The way these chronicles state the obvious will help the reader recognize these attributes in their own lives.

In The Crown of Kuros, Josiah’s faithful heart is tested. He joyfully serves King Emmanuel but occasionally has his own agenda and is tempted by a desire to be recognized for his own glory. In fact, he learns that a rash act of impatience on his part, has perhaps cost the security of the realm.

Whoever holds the Crown of Kuros, controls the land of Terrestria. When it comes up missing from its secure place in the Castle of Faith, Josiah is determined to help bring the crown back. The quest leads him and Prince Selwyn into the underworld of Argamor where they overhear Argamor’s commanders plotting how they will overthrow the land of Terrestria. The evil doers know they cannot win by sheer force, as their numbers are much fewer than that of King Emmanuel. But there is a much more powerful method that they have devised to conquer the land: one heart at a time.

Through the use of “Spellavision” and seducing music, as well as a variety of subtleties such as making women discontent with their role as wife and mother, Aragamor’s minions have devised a subtle but formidable attack that will destroy Emmanuel’s kingdom from within itself. Through the power of allegory, your children will recognize how each of these temptations in Terrestria are very real struggles that are present in their lives today. Seeing how the people of the land are seduced-- or how they overcome-- will surely bring to light the struggle against evil that each of us face.

In the meantime, Josiah must come to grips with conflicts and struggles within. He is also haunted by the notion that the crown's disappearance just might have something to do with his own shortcomings. He is more determined than ever to recover the crown of Kuros to its rightful place in The Castle of Faith.

Once again, in The Dragon’s Egg, we find Josiah, zealous as always to serve, yet continuing to make selfish choices. This time The Castle of Faith and the land of Terrestria will be in grave danger thanks to Josiah’s secret sin. The thing that once seemed so innocent and so easily justified has taken on a life of its own! Your kids will recognize Satan’s ability, as old as the Fall of Man, to twist the words of Emmanuel and make us doubt the instructions He gives. Your children will see that those secret “little sins” are just as big as the obvious ones...and can be much more destructive.

Through the power of story, so many biblical truths come to light. In a very tangible way your kids will relate to the struggles, the temptations, and the promises of scripture that are reflected throughout the character’s adventures. I would give both books two thumbs up for their ability to make plain the truths of scripture, although the technical side of writing falls short. I think a good set of editorial eyes would be beneficial to Mr. Dunlop's terrific tales; yet it is doubtful that kids will be overly deft in this area.

To check out all of the Terrestria Chronicles, as well as other books written by Ed Dunlop, click here. Each paperback book sells for $7.99, or $39.99 for the set, (hardcover sets available at a higher price). You may also purchase a study guide which goes along with the entire set; this would be a great addition to family devotions.