Becoming Us....Book Review

I had the chance to read Becoming Us by Robin Jones Gunn.  This novel, which is part of the Haven Makers Series (Book 1) has Emily, Trevor and their fifth grade daughter settling in California. They have left Trevor's wealthy family to start over in their new life.  Will they be able to make it? What about all the past hurts from their first few years of marriage?

Emily is trying to find her place. Find friendships, find her place as a mother, and a wife. She is also trying to find her place as a working mother.

In Becoming Us, Robin Jones Gunn explores many "modern" twists. Infertility, friendships, even essential oils! I love the scripture Robin weaves into the story.

Readers will enjoy this novel by Robin Jones Gunn.  I enjoyed the topics it explores and feel that thirty-somethings will relate!

I was given a free copy by the publisher for my honest review!

Captivating! Justice Delivered Book Review

Patricia Bradley’s Justice Delivered is absolutely enthralling! Carly Smith has trust issues.  What has caused her to mistrust so many? How is this related to human trafficking? Who can she trust and who is part of the human trafficking ring? Why won’t Carly talk to her sister even now that she’s been out of the trafficking for so many years?

 I have to admit when I first started reading Justice Delivered,I was a little uncomfortable due to the topic of human trafficking. However the book dealt with the topic in a realistic but gentle way. Honestly Justice Deliveredwas captivating! I could not put it down. I highly recommend this Memphis Cold Case novel. Best of all it stands alone so you don’t have to read the first book to find out what’s going on, or the next book to find out how it ends! This is the first book I had read by Patricia Bradley. I absolutely loved it! 

I was given a free copy ofJustice Delivered  from the publisher for my honest review. Which I am happy to highly recommend.

Resources Podcasts and DVD +

Vigilance. Please note: As a parent it is your responsibility to be vigilant. Please do not take these resources and use them without checking them first for your family!

Podcasts (Please note: these may not be suitable for all ages. Please check content! These are for older teens/adults)

The happy hour 

Behind the scenes

Whoa 

Relevant

Love and the outcome 

The real talk  

Levi Lusko books (Caution: not all content is appropriate for younger children)

Make a War Room Prayer Binder

Set up a notebook for a quiet time. See this video for an excellent resource! (Hopefully it works)

https://www.facebook.com/lee.t.nienhuis/videos/10156175584293536/

DVD Series:

Vision Video https://www.visionvideo.com

Sugar Creek Gang http://www.mandieandthesecrettunnel.com/sugarcreekgang.php

Anne of Green Gables & Road to Avonlea  https://shopatsullivan.com/index.php/

Mandie http://www.mandieandthesecrettunnel.com/mandiemovies.php

Disciple Her ~ Kandi Gallaty

I had the opportunity to read Disciple Her by Kandi Gallaty.

I'm going to be honest in my review, which is what the publisher asks for. I expected a book about how to do discipleship, which would work for many.  Instead, what I read was a book that uses a method Kandi and her husband, Robby, have developed at Replicate Ministries.

Now, with that being said, Kandi DOES indeed let you know that this method does not work for everyone and she does write that she hopes this book will be a help for those who do discipleship.

I did find that I thought this was more on a manual on the method her and her husband use.  Is this method Biblical? Yes. Is this method practical? I'm not so sure.  The method Kandi teaches about is having a group meet every week for 12-18 months.  I'm afraid that in my reality that my not happen.  Does that mean that those I interact with are people who are not committed? Not necessarily.

Kandi does offer some practical insight for Biblical discipleship. I suppose I just wish this was less of a follow "our method" and more of a general book on women's discipleship.  I realize I'm going "out on a limb", because Kandi may say her book is the Biblical method, but having been a part of many other discipleship ministries, I've seen effective methods from other ministries as well.

Kandi does off some good resources and ideas that I will use for other ministries I am involved in. I'm just not sure that using her method will work for where I'm at!

I was given a free copy of Disciple Her by Kandi Galaxy from the publisher for my honest review.

Resources for Parents Part 3! BOOKS!

11 years ago, I decided to read Diary of a Wimpy Kid. I figured, "Hey if my kid wanted to read it, I should at least check it out!"

I was shocked by what I read. My son was in third grade. I know the books are high interest, but oh my.  Really. I am all about "raising the bar". Not lowering the standard.  I was appalled by what the kids were reading; many of his classmates read the book.

So.....I decided to be on a mission. I would provide my kids with QUALITY literature. I would get them books they were interested in and promote reading good books. It wasn't always easy and it seems each child liked different genres and authors!

Here is a list of some of the authors we have used.  Again remember:

Vigilance. Please note: As a parent it is your responsibility to be vigilant. Please do not take these resources and use them without checking them first for your family!

Authors of books for children/tween/teen:

Wynter Pitts

Dannah Gresh

Nancy Rue

Natalie Grant 

Dandi Daley Mackall 

Erin Davis

Kelly Minter

Angie Smith (Seamless is an EXCELLENT Bible study! In adult and teen version!)

Melody Carlson

Chuck Black

Bryan Davis

Donita K. Paul

Wayne Thomas Batson

Christopher Hopper

Jerry Jenkins and Chris Fabry

Live Original by Sadie Robertson https://liveoriginal.com

Resources Part 2

Vigilance. Please note: As a parent it is your responsibility to be vigilant. Please do not take these resources and use them without checking them first for your family!

See Part One. 

Resources for Children/Teens/Tweens:

For Girls Like You (Founded by the late Wynter Pitts) https://forgirlslikeyou.com

GEMS girls club https://gemsgc.org

Dannah Gresh - Secret Keeper Girl (Not just for girls! Soon to be renamed True Girl) http://secretkeepergirl.com

Dohardthings.com- https://www.dohardthings.com

Answers in Genesis https://answersingenesis.org

Jonathan Park https://www.jonathanpark.com

Focus on the Family Brio Magazine https://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/promos/brio-parents

Lifeway girls (More of a teen ministry but they are starting to have some resources for girls and tweens)  https://girlsministry.lifeway.com

Your Story Hour https://www.yourstoryhour.org

Confidence Conference (Local girls conference. Will not be held in 2019, slated for 2020) https://confidenceconference.com

Adventure in Odyssey: https://www.whitsend.org

iShine: https://ishinelive.com

Life Love and God http://lifeloveandgod.com/about/whats-llg/

Down Gilead Lane https://www.keysforkids.org/Home/DownGileadLane/ReadListen

World Magazine for Teens OR World Magazine for Kids https://world.wng.org

5 Love Languages: https://www.5lovelanguages.com/profile/

(Ask your child to take the quiz - depending on age.)

Driftwood Bay by Irene Hannon

I had the privilege of reading Driftwood Bay by Irene Hannon. I really enjoyed this Hope Harbor Novel. Jeanette Mason has settled in to her seclusive lifestyle at Hope Harbor. She is at the seaside town of Oregon and enjoying life on her lavender farm. She keeps to herself. Why is that? New to town is Dr. Logan West. Along with his daughter, or is it his daughter? Why is Jeanette so seclusive? What happened in her past?

I really enjoyed  Driftwood Bay by Irene Hannon. This was the first novel I had read by Irene. It was captivating and a great read. {Think great weekend getaway book or beach read!!!} I think what I like best is once I finished the novel, I realized that there are other books in the series. However a “pet peeve” of mine is when you have to read the next book in the series to find out the ending or read a book prior to this book to figure out exactly what’s going on. There are additional books in the series but they are not dependent on this book. And vice versa.

I really enjoyed Driftwood Bay by Irene Hannon. I would highly recommend this book. I was given a free copy by the publisher for my honest review which I was happy to do.

Intercession Part 3

{Please see previous post here and here}

I'll be honest. I had googled the parents before. I was trying to see if there was any information on social media. Googled dad. Nothing. Googled mom. Nothing.

I was in the car during a trip several days later and decided to repeat my google search. Dad, well something but wasn't sure it was him.

Mom. Something. Wait. Is that a baptism testimony?

I looked closer. I read the story. I scrolled at the way to the bottom.  I looked at the name of the church.  Wait. Wait.

It looked semi-familiar. BUT I knew that MANY churches have the same name.

I decided to google something else. Sadly it was an obituary.

You see on March 17, 2018 our dear friends had lost their young son. It was a tragic situation.  God knew. God had a plan. God had a purpose.

I pulled up the obituary of this little 6 year old. I scrolled down, looking to see where the service was.

There it was: SAME CHURCH, SAME CITY.

You see, we had been to this church when our friends married. We had been to this church to hear them share about their life. Unfortunately we were unable to attend the funeral at the church.

But it was THE church.

Let me back up to the day my son's teammate passed away. March 27.  That afternoon I was a mess. I had received an email from our dear friends who are far away from us (literally across the world).  I replied and told them I could not read their email right now. I said,

I’m trying to read through your email, but the tears in my eyes prevent me.
You know all too well what it’s like to walk the path that (my son's) classmate’s parents are walking on today. (My son) had a classmate pass away this morning. In his college dorm, just down the hall from him.  (They) were friends from day one at college, both as classmates and teammates...
You know this painful walk of grief.  And it is never easy.
I’ll read the rest of your email later, but just wanted to share. We continue to pray for you.  

My dear friend replied a few days later that he would be praying.

It wasn't until a few days after that he would know he would be praying for a family that would walk the exact same journey he had walked IN THE EXACT same church!

We reached out to their family who lived in the area. (Ironically {read: God} we first met this family 21 years ago when my college student son was born!) They shared that they did not know the family of the college student who passed away, but they knew the pastor who would be doing the service.

How did God work?
He had our friend email us that day from across the world.  I replied and asked him to pray and he had no idea the funeral would be in his home church.
He didn't allow me to make the connection until after the service at the college.
He extended the prayer circle to this family who we had known for 21 years.

See the added post script here.

Intercession ~ Part 2

{See previous post for the beginning of this story}

They Can’t Imprison the Message

Philippians 1:12-21 (The Message)

12-14 I want to report to you, friends, that my imprisonment here has had the opposite of its intended effect. Instead of being squelched, the Message has actually prospered. All the soldiers here, and everyone else, too, found out that I’m in jail because of this Messiah. That piqued their curiosity, and now they’ve learned all about him. Not only that, but most of the followers of Jesus here have become far more sure of themselves in the faith than ever, speaking out fearlessly about God, about the Messiah.

15-17 It’s true that some here preach Christ because with me out of the way, they think they’ll step right into the spotlight. But the others do it with the best heart in the world. One group is motivated by pure love, knowing that I am here defending the Message, wanting to help. The others, now that I’m out of the picture, are merely greedy, hoping to get something out of it for themselves. Their motives are bad. They see me as their competition, and so the worse it goes for me, the better—they think—for them.

18-21 So how am I to respond? I’ve decided that I really don’t care about their motives, whether mixed, bad, or indifferent. Every time one of them opens his mouth, Christ is proclaimed, so I just cheer them on!

Instead of being squelched, the Message has actually prospered. (Phil. 1:12 MSG)

My son was devastated a the loss of his classmate and friend. However, prayers through Moms in Prayer and many others had gone before this time. God knew. He knew this would happen. It did not take Him by surprise that this young man, only 20 years old, would pass away in his dorm room.  God knew. And He had a plan and a purpose.

A service was planned for the team. This was a time for them to come together. At time to cry with one another.  

We started praying for this service. Others were praying.  My husband and I and our son's Fellowship of Christian Athlete mentor headed to the college for the service.  All the while we had been praying. Praying that God would use this tragedy. That  "Instead of being squelched, the Message (would) actually prosper."

When we arrived at the college we say a group of people outside the room where the service was to take place. I asked if they were family.  They responded that they were. I remember hugging the mother and letting her know I was so sorry. So sorry.

After all, we know there are few words to say, few words that offer comfort at this time.  

The team arrived and the service started.  The Pastor shared comforting words from the Bible and his own experience with losing a child. He also shared the story of Lazarus from John 11.  He shared that we are sad, we don't understand and we question why. He shared that through this time can gain comfort from the Bible, from friends and from the memories we have. He shared about Hope.   It was a powerful message.

Afterwards, there were college students just sitting there. Picture that: college students just sitting there. No phones, no where to rush off to. Just sitting. For some they had never know anyone who passed away. They were in shock. Someone who just two days ago was at practice with them.

I then had the opportunity to comfort some of the women and pray with them. 

My husband and I also had the opportunity to interact with a coach. A coach who we had seen at every event. Yet, we didn't know. We didn't know he too was a believer. We had a chance to interact with someone from the college who "found" {read: God} my son's Fellowship of Christian Athletes twitter account, and reached out to my son. Someone who I had been praying for prior to this evening, but never met.  

And finally we found out that the young man who passed away was a believer.  

But that's not all....(More here.)

Intercession ~ Part One

“What have you done to me?” Balak asked Balaam. “I brought you to curse my enemies, but look, you have only blessed them!” Numbers 23:11 (HCSB)

If you read through this story in Numbers 23, you will see the Balak wanted Balaam to curse the Israelites.  However, Balaam, as per God's instruction in Numbers 22:12, was told:
Then God said to Balaam, “You are not to go with them. You are not to curse this people, for they are blessed.”

Did the Israelites know all of this was going on? Did they see God's hand of protection on them? God had his hand on them over and over and over and over again! Did they know that Balaam was interceding for them? {I don't think they did!}

Does God allow us to see His Hand of protection upon us? 

Sometimes.

And this is just one time.

I need to back up to May of 2017.  My son's senior year. He was all excited to head off to college. He couldn't wait. I was apprehensive.  Would it go well? Would it go will with me having him away?  Maybe I was more apprehensive about him leaving than he was about leaving.

I remember attending the spring leader's gathering my Moms in Prayer Area Coordinator was hosting.  I walked in and was introduced to someone whose name I had heard, Barb.  I also knew that she lived in the same county where my son's college was.   I remember walking over to her and saying, "I need to get to know you and we need to talk!" 

What a delightful time we had! She told me she was already praying for my son's college ~ as it's a school her Moms in Prayer group prays for.  She also let me know she knew the family of his track coach.  Oh how this blessed this apprehensive momma!

We later gathered together at her house - my whole crew of five kids and my husband to connect with her and her husband around their swimming pool.  She offered to help my son if he needed anything. [Not that an 18 year old college student would take her up on it!] 

Fast forward to February 2019.   I signed up to pray for my son's  college for the Collegiate Day of Prayer.  Guess who else had signed up to pray for his college? Barb!

March 27.  It was my usual day to pray with my high school/middle school Moms in Prayer group. We gather for one hour each week to pray for our children and schools.  This week was also the every-other-week time to gather and pray for my son's college along with two other moms. Except.  Those two other moms couldn't make it. I  already had this time set aside.  

I decided to contact my friend, Cindy, who works full-time. BUT, she recently had foot surgery. She would be off work for several weeks.  I had asked her to come to Moms in Prayer with me that day, but she wasn't able to leave the house.  Realizing no one could come to our  Moms in Prayer time, I decided to text and ask if I could come to Cindy's house.  She responded with a yes! My prayer sheet was already made and ready, so after praying for our high school and middle school, off I went to her house.

We had started praying and were following the four steps as outlined by Moms in Prayer.  We had finished praying for my son, and were praying for her son. Confession: I looked at my phone. I had just gotten a text from my son at college. It said:

I read the text to Cindy and we immediately started praying for my son.  I texted my son back to let him know that i was praying with Cindy and we were praying for him at that moment. Little did I know how big it would be. The next text I got from my son said:

I then called my son. Because what else is a mother to do?  

My son couldn't talk for very long. Cindy and I proceeded to pray.  We finished up and I asked her for some time just to sit on her couch and send texts/emails.  I tried to call my husband, but had to send texts due to his schedule.

My next text was to Barb. Who better to ask to intercede than Barb who had been praying for this college even before my son started attending? She proceeded to contact her Moms in Prayer group to "mobilize" the prayers! We also started to pray for a friend of hers who works a the college.  

The day unfolded with many texts, a few phone calls, many tears and many more prayers.  

What we learned is that my son's teammate and classmate had passed away in his sleep. No foul play.  Just never woke up.  20 years old.  The promise of his future and enjoying his time at the college were gone.  

Where did that leave us? With a saddened, hurt, broken, angry, desperate team.  Some students who had never experienced death.  

However, my son knew that this was part of a bigger story. He knew God has His hand on and still does have his hand on his college.

So he reached out to his coach, and his leaders for Fellowship of Christian Athletes. 

Now it "just so happens" {read: God!} that he also has a teammate whose dad is a pastor.  It also "just so happens" {read: God} that he lost a high school classmate in the fall of 2017.  And it "just so happens" {read: God} that his teammates pastor father did the funeral for that classmate. 

In ways only God can work, the pastor, coach, one FCA leader (who "just so happens" {read: God} to attend said Pastor's church) were all able to connect . They were all able to coordinate and a service at the college was starting to be planned.

 continued here

But think of all God did in preparation for this time:

I was praying with Cindy AT THE TIME I GOT THE TEXT.

Two friends couldn't be at Moms in Prayer, but God provided Cindy.

I met Barb almost two years prior.

Barb had been interceding for years for this college.  

Barb knew someone at the college who would have a direct impact on this situation.  

The Pastor had a daughter on the team. 

The Pastor had already done the service for one of my son's classmates

The FCA leader knew the Pastor.