What 'cha Want GIVEAWAY!!!

 

Whatcha Want Christmas Giveaway!

Hosted by: Jenn's Blah Blah Blog, Dishin With Rebelle, and, Contest for That.

The following blogs have come together and helped make this event possible, a special thanks to:

Pink Ninja Blogger, A Medic's World, Swank Savings, Vero's View, Mukhang Pera, Life: Full of Unexpected Happiness, My ReCe's Pieces, What's Up? - Contests, Giveaways and Everything Nice, Aunt Maggie Rocks, Sister's Saving Cents, The Frugal Free Gal, BlogShopWin, , Simply Shawn & Jenn, and Diva Fabulosa

If you've been entering our monthly Have It Your Way Giveaway you know how it works. This giveaway is better, we have lots of awesome prizes, but before we get started! We have several fabulous sponsors that I would like to introduce you to!

  Pink Ninja Media Jenn's Blah Blah Blog. Not long after Jenn has a decided to get the ball rolling with Pink Ninja her wonderful friends Raegan from Contest for That, and Bobbie from Dishin' with Rebelle joined the fun. Together we make one pretty awesome team, connecting great bloggers with fabulous brands. If you're a brand looking for help with your brands campaign, be sure to check out Pink Ninja Media. You'll find some of the best bloggers in the blogosphere to help you with your blogs campaign.


  Maggies Bags:   When it comes to keeping her promise to being green, nobody does it better than Maggies Bags! Maggies Bags uses genuine automotive seat belt webbing that's used to protect you while driving. She uses the high-quality material and turns it into something beautiful that's eco-friendly. She creates the lovely bags you'll find at Maggies Bags. Maggies Bags have been featured on TV, in print and online. You'll never find another handbag as unique and eco-friendly as Maggies Bags. Maggie Bags has an awesome discount set up... Don't want to wait, will these fabulous bags make an amazing gift for you ore someone you care about? Maggie Bags is offering 25% OFF their Premier Line! It's valid through Dec. 16, 2012! To get the awesome 25% DISCOUNT ENTER CODE WhatChaWant


Ball + Chain
  Ball + Chain allows members to name their prize on jewelry & accessories. Ball + Chain jewelry and accessories are available for purchase every Jewelry + accessory auction held every Tues. at 8pm CST via their Facebook Page. Join them now as they have some pretty awesome plans to expand their website into an amazing online boutique. You're going to want to "Like" their Facebook page to stay up to date with some of the best deals and steals around.

  About Aloha Vintage Jewels If you're looking for amazing Vintage Jewelry from Circa 1950 to 1980 you're going to love Aloha Vintage Jewels. There's some fabulous, unique, and super original pieces of jewelry at Aloha Vintage Jewels. Jewelry has never been owned or worn. It's been in stock since the 80s. You're going to want to follow Aloha Vintage Jewels via Facebook for their Monthly Giveaways, and fabulous jewelry Okay so here's how this is going to work, there's several great prizes.

1. $250 Winner's Choice - Anything you want valued up to $250 (shipping must be included in amount final prize amount of $250)
2. $200 Winner's Choice to Maggie Bags - Winner chooses any product from Maggie Bags valued up to $200.
3. $100 Winner's Choice to Maggie Bags - Winner Chooses any product from Maggie Bags valued up to $100.
4. $50 Winner's Choice to Aloha Vintage Jewels - Winner chooses anything from Aloah Vintage Jewels valued up to $50.
5. $50 Amazon Gift Card - Winner will have additional choices depending upon where winner lives.

Giveaway will run from 11/10/12 at 12:01am EST till 12/11/2012 at 12:01am EST. Must be 18 or older to enter, and event is open Worldwide. For full rules on giveaway, please visit Jenn's Blah Blah Blog.   Disclosure: I was not compensated in any way for this event, nor am I responsible for shipping prize to winner. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Glass Handbag Giveaway!

Welcome to the Glass Handbag Giveaway!

Diva Fabulosa and Glass Handbag together with a wonderful group of bloggers are bringing you this FABULOUS Giveaway!!

  About the sponsor: Glass Handbags Glass Handbag is the brain child of Tamara Leuty. After being frustrated for so many years when looking for something in her handbag but couldn't find it right away, she decided to take the matters in her own hands. She decided to make a bag that's not only fashionable but also functional at the same time. These handbags has a unique lighting system and thus makes it easier for us women to find whatever it is we are looking for in our bags when we need it. No more endless search for our keys or lipstick! These handbags are handmade by skillful craftsmen who are each true professionals in leather, hardware and electronics. Glass Handbag is one of the best luxury handbag available on the market! Glass Handbag have ay bag you need; from small evening bags, handbags and purse to duffle bags. Check out Glasshandbag.com and your sure to find yourself a wonderful bag I know you will defnitely love! This purse is well worth the money. Glass handbag CEO, Tamara Leuty has graciously offered to give 1 Leather Glass Handbag of choice to 1 lucky reader! This is OPEN WORLDWIDE!!! Yipeee!!

• 1 lucky reader will get a chance to win a Leather Glass Handbag bag of her choice RV $400
• Giveaway will run from October 11 - October 17
• The giveaway is open to entrants 18+ worldwide

Please wait for the rafflecopter to load below and enter.

Believe. Then, everything is possible...

Christine - WINNER of Masterchef.  One of my new heroes.

Like most folks, I love to be entertained and my DVR play list certainly shows that.  As of right now, I think there's probably 12 TV shows that I still haven't had the chance to watch...but I did see the finale of Masterchef.  

This year, Masterchef featured a blind contestant named Christine.  From the very first moment I saw her on my TV, I was elated.  Not because I know her but because her story spoke volumes to me. Here was a woman who suffered from an illness that gradually took away her eyesight at the age of 10 yet she persevered.  Abundantly.

This makes her one of my new heroes.  The fact that she is living her dream, and her passion AND not letting the fact that she can't see stop her is amazing to me.  

Now, I don't know about you but I think I would question God.  I think I would shrivel up - not doing the things I love because of my disability.  Of course I don't know what I would actually do but I can imagine... 

I had the great privilege of watching the finale with my daughter and it gave me a great opportunity to talk to her, explaining and showing her that with perseverance and determination, you can do anything you can dream!

So often trials and sickness are thrown upon us. This world we live in is a fallen world where bad things happen to really good people.  And when those things come our way, we can either choose to wallow in the misery it brings OR we can get up from the ashes, turning into a beautiful phoenix...

This story reminds me of Acts 9 (Saul's Conversion).  It just so happens that he was on a mission - his own mission to jail and kill believers of Christ.  On the road to Damascus, he was assaulted by a blinding light and was blinded for 3 days.  But, when the Lord said for him to get up, he got up!  He got up and started walking...

That's what we HAVE to do.  Sometimes our only action is to simply get up.  Get up off the couch.  Get off Facebook.  Get out of the bed.  You get the point.

Friend, please don't feel bound in your circumstances.  You are a mighty force to be reckoned with.  The only problem is YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE IT.  

If you have a dream - go for it.  Don't wait another day.  Do what you can, talk to people, make lists, etc. - do something!  

Free Giveaway and Blogger Sign Up!

Calling all bloggers, Sign up for the

Bloggy Whatcha Want Christmas Giveaway!

Jenn’s Blah Blah Blog, Diva Fabulosa, Dishin With Rebelle and There’s a Contest 4 That Bring you the Bloggy Whatcha Want Christmas Giveaway!

You’re not going to want to miss this awesome event!  Jenn’s Blah Blah Blog has an awesome event in the works for Christmas, hurry and get a spot, the good ones will fill up quickly!

About the event:

• $250 Prize, whatever winner chooses (shipping included)
• $50 Amazon Gift Code
• More to come
• FREE Facebook Link
• $3 additional links, we want to bring more to the event so we bumped it up $1!
• Event will run from November 10th until December 10th.
• Everyone will get comments
• $10 Co-Host available

These events are always awesome, everyone gets TONS OF COMMENTS!  Our readers love them, which is the reason we want to bring another fabulous event their way!  So don’t miss out on this awesome blogger opportunity!

Remember, if you want the FREE Facebook link for this Super Bloggy Giveaway you have to post an Announce post on your blog.  Why?  HELP PROMOTE, THE MORE BLOGGERS WE HAVE IN THIS EVENT THE BETTER PRIZES WE CAN OFFER OUR READERS, THE MORE FUN WE ALL HAVE!

WHERE DO I SIGN UP?

SIGN UP FOR THIS FABULOUS GIVEAWAY ON JENN’S BLAH BLAH BLOG HERE

Trials = Joy??

Encountering trials aren't exactly fun.  In fact, I don't think they're any fun at all.  I don't know about you but I can't remember any time in my life that I have prayed for a trial to go through.  No thank you very much..  

Yet in James 1:2 God says for us to 'consider it a joy' when we encounter trials.  A joy!  Now, I don't know about you but it is really hard for to me to consider a trial a joy.  But if we want to be more like Christ, that's exactly what we must do.  Friend, we have to be shaken from our comfortable positions on the couch if we want to be fit and healthy in the Lord.  Sometimes we have to work out by reading the Word or praying, other times, we need an all out body makeover in the form of a trial.  

Let me be sure I make myself clear - trials are NOT a punishment from God.  No way, no how.  They can be, however, a consequence of a action that was made that was not clearly thought out - but they are not from God sitting up there punishing you for <insert sin here>.  However, God will allow some things to come our way.   Most times when a trial finds its way to us, it's simply the enemy trying to gain a foothold into your life - he tries to diminish your faith and cause doubt to rise in your heart.  Instead of giving the enemy any sort of pleasure from our pain, we need to remember what God's Word says about these trials & tribulations that will occur.

If necessary, write these scriptures down on sticky notes and place them in areas where they will be seen daily.  Memorize them and hide them in your heart.  Trials will be much easier to go through when you use the weapons God has given you. (2Cor. 10:4 & Eph. 6:17)

Anyone who meets a testing challenge head-on and manages to stick it out is mighty fortunate. For such persons loyally in love with God, the reward is life and more life. - James 1:12  

No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it. - 1 Corinthians 10:13 

 Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality. - Romans 12:12

Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way. - James 1:2-4

 Friends, when life gets really difficult, don’t jump to the conclusion that God isn’t on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner. - 1 Peter 4:12-13

Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good. - Romans 8:28

Jesus answered them, “Do you finally believe? In fact, you’re about to make a run for it—saving your own skins and abandoning me. But I’m not abandoned. The Father is with me. I’ve told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.” - John 16:33

So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn’t hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn’t gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God’s chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ’s love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture: They kill us in cold blood because they hate you.  We’re sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one.  None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us. - Romans 8:35-39

Be blessed,
{heather}

Fit Me In Somewhere, Lord

                             Photo Credit: A Splendid Adeventure 

From Spoken Worship, by Gerard Kelly

Fit Me In Somewhere

Fit me in somewhere

in this giant jigsaw, God,

somewhere in this work of art

you're working,

select a space my shape can fill

and with a puzzle maker's skill

let my contours find their fit without contortion.

Teach me which patch I am, God,

in the cosmic quilt you're quilting.

Show me where my square of selfhood is of use.

Let the colourful complexities

of the pattern that is me

find their purpose in the placement that you choose.

Show me my position, God,

in this group photograph.

Stand me where you want me to stand.

Put me next to who you will.

Make me stand, for good or ill,

precisely in the place your plan demands.

Tell me what I am, God,

in this body you are building;

a tongue to taste, 

a nerve to serve, 

an ear to hear.

Give me grace

to not be, gracefully,

the parts I am not called to be

and to play with elegance

the roles I'm given.

Fit me in somewhere

in this giant jigsaw, God,

somewhere in this work of art you're working.

Weave your wondrous tapestry

until the twisted, tangled threads of me,

surrendered to your artistry,

form an image that is beautiful to see.

Spoken Worship: Living Words for Personal and Public Prayer (Paperback Edition)
Spoken Worship - Kindle Edition

Journey through Acts 9 - A {transformed} Heart

This is day 2 of our Transformation series.  For day one, please click here. 

When we left off yesterday, Saul was on the road to Damascus on a mission to find and imprison believers of the recently crucified Jesus.  Saul was walking with his companions and was suddenly accosted by a blinding, white light from Heaven.  We talked about how sometimes we feel like we have it all together - like Saul thought.  Then out of the blue, some blinding trial comes our way and hinders our sight - something that has the ability to transform us from what we think we are into what God designed us to be.

I imagine myself as Saul - how that must have felt like.  About a year of so ago, my daughter and I went with her homeschool group to Desoto Caverns.  It's amazing, really.  It's a series of geologic caves and a tourist attraction located in Childersburg, Alabama.  The main room of the cavern is twelve stories high, and larger than a football field.  In 2 words, it's massive!

It's filled with chairs and once all the children come in and take a seat, the presentation begins.  The tour guide draws everyone's attention to the little lights that dot the surface of the cave.  While it's not terribly bright in there, your eyes can adjust enough to the darkness that you can see what's around you.  However, when they turn the lights off, that's it.  Nothing.  You can't see your hand in front of your face.  After a minute or two, they turn the lights back on and you can see again.  Barely.

After an hour in the caves, upon your ascent out of the cave the light from the outside gets brighter and brighter.  So bright in fact, that you have to shield your eyes and maybe even squint.  Of course this example isn't quite as extreme as what Saul went through, but it does give you an idea of how he must have felt.

The Bible says that it came in an instant, or suddenly.  BAM!  Has this ever happened to you?  You're sailing along, happy go lucky, husband has a great job, life is good and SPLAT!  The rug comes flying out from under you.  Your husband gets fired/laid off/hurt on the job, bills pile up, kids start acting out - you feel as if you can't see the way out.  You've been blinded by life...  (I may be interjecting my own life here but this is all about being real. lol )

When these times come, it can prevent growth - even for a long time Christian.  Especially for a long time Christian.  We get weary - it's the same old routine.  We can learn from Saul though...

The first thing Saul did after he asked, 'Who are you?' was to pick himself up up off the ground.  This is revelation to me.  He did not wallow in the mud, he did not lay there and pitch a fit about not being able to see, He didn't question God further (which is in direct opposition to what Ananias does a few verses below).  Saul simply got up and did what God told him to do.  He started walking.

He performed an 'action'.  It's easy for us to lay in a pile of questioning sorrow when the unthinkable happens.  As women and mothers, we do so much for people even to the point of laying aside our own needs and desires that it seems very unfair when circumstances take us to places we wish we didn't have to go through.  Even still, we have to walk. 

We still have to walk in faith.  We still have to walk in courage.  We still have to walk in the truth that God is who He says He is and that His Will includes us being shown His unmerited favor and peace.

Only then can we see the manifestations of His blessings.  Only then can we rise above the trappings of this world, releasing our fears and bitterness from our hearts and thoughts.  It's in that place of pure trust that our hearts become one with God.  It will not be us having to do anything - it will Him through us.  

Beloved, I know that these days aren't easy.  I know that sometimes it's hard to get up and walk anywhere.  I also know that some days, the greatest act of faith is getting out of bed.  It's okay.  God honors all of it.  

Don't wallow.  Trust in who God is.

This is what God says, ... “Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history.  Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new.  It’s bursting out!  Don’t you see it?  There it is! I’m making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands."  Isaiah 43:18-19 (MSG)

“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 3:12-14 (NKJV) 

“The righteous keep moving forward, and those with clean hands become stronger and stronger.” Job 17:9 (NLT)

 

Praise brings results. ;)

The past couple of days have been a whirlwind for me.  First, my computer exploded.  Like, literally exploded. The fan started making the horrific sound and BAM!  An explosion. (well, in all honesty it was a really loud boom - not like a BOOM but a boom.)  After that - nothing.

As someone who is a writer, it is imperative I have a computer (because we know pen and paper is sooo redundant.  just kidding!!).  So, I really didn't know what to think - I wanted to scream, to throw it in the yard but I didn't.  Instead, I laughed.  Really all the enemy wants from us is to throw us in the deep end - where we're struggling for air, grasping at the water in front of us wishing and willing ourselves to grab hold of something, - anything.  All he wants to do is shake us up because when we're shaken, we can't see straight.  We might start forgetting all the benefits the Lord grants us (Ps 103:2-5), and THAT is what he aims to do.

No, I didn't pitch a total fit.  I sat there on my bed with a booming computer and laughed - partly out of frustration but mostly because I knew it was the enemy trying to get a rise out of me.  I held my ground and laughed in his face.  I called him a loser and a punk.  I told him that this hindrance he was trying to cause was not in any way diminishing my faith in my Father.  I started praising the Lord, thanking Him for the brand new, even better, prettier version of my newly deceased laptop that I just knew He was planning to give me. :)

That happened on August 29th.  Today, September 6, I go to my door and what do I see??  I see the Fed-ex guy standing there with a box from Dell in his hands!!!  I.almost.died.

God is so good to me.  He gave me a brand new, PINK, Dell Inspiron 15R.  It's totally swanky and completely fast!  In fact, this very blog post is the first thing I'm using it for.  It manifested itself because of praise, the least I can do is have its first action be a praise report!  <woot, woot>

If you're praying for something, or praising God for something you're already believing, just hold on.  God is still in the GIVING business!  Don't lose hold of your faith - just keep believing and never stop praising.

Stay blessed!
{heather}


*edited to add:  I am so thankful for the people that God decides to use in all our daily lives.  The fact that God thinks enough about us to use regular ol' people to bless us is miraculous in itself!  I am grateful for the person God used to bless me with my snazzy new computer that I had to pay nothing for.  :)  I pray that I can 'pay it forward' so to speak.  I pray that I am able to hear the need in others and that I am a blessing to them.  That's my prayer for all of us.

Paypal Cash Giveaway!

Giveaway begins September 10, 2012!




Today could be your lucky day! I Heart Giveaways and The Coffee Chic present a brand new giveaway where you can get a chance to win $150 Paypal Cash.

The rules are easy! All you need to do is to enter on the rafflecopter widget below to earn entries. Make sure to provide the correct details. Good luck!

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This event is co-hosted by Zoes Printable Coupons, Stay a Stay at Home Mom and Chic Foodies. a Rafflecopter giveaway

You are NOT Crushed!

Be encouraged as you are pressured from every side, I am using all things to draw you closer to Me. My Word will be accomplished, every prophetic Word will come to pass, as this age is drawing to a close. Be not weary in trusting in Me, I will uphold you and preserve you. Your forefathers and the saints of old, longed to see your day. This is the day that my glory will shine brightly, even more as darkness increases. This is the day of My greatness, when My anointing shall rest on all that will yield, the old and the young. Wait, write and be attentive. All things that I have spoken in My Word are accelerating to an end. Stay in a state of readiness. Awaken yourself to My Presence. Do not become overwhelmed by the pressures, you must overpower them by submerging yourself into communion with Me, says the Lord.  ~ Debra Lowe

What does God really see when He looks at us?

“The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked.  Who really knows how bad it is?"  Jeremiah 17:9

I believe this scripture to be one of the most 'taken out of context' scriptures in the Bible.  If you are a believer, a child of the Almighty God, then you're heart is NOT wicked, or deceitful.  Not anymore.

When reading scripture, it is so important that we remember the context in which His Word was written.  This verse goes along with the old covenant.  You, my friend, are living under the NEW covenant.

Reading the rest of Jeremiah in verse 31:33, God lets us in on the 'cure' for our wicked hearts.  He tells us what HE is going to do to heal us:  "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts.  I will be their God, and they will be my people."  He will give us a new heart.  (I love that!)

So, what about our 'wickedness'?  Well, Psalm 103:12 tells us that God has tossed our sin 'as far as the east is from the west'.  Romans 8:1 says that God doesn't have one condemning thought towards us.  God does NOT see sin when He looks at us.  Period.  John 3:16 says that 'whosoever believes in Him shall have everlasting life".  If you believe in Him - believe what He did for you by sacrificing His Son Jesus to lay Himself bare before men, to die for your wickedness, to give Himself up for your judgement and rose three days later to sit at the right hand of the Father - if you believe in your heart, soul and spirit that Jesus Christ is the Holy Son of God - then Grace abounds to you.  Your sin has been taken care of.

We now have a new heart.  Look what God tells us in His Word: "I'll give you a new heart, put a new spirit in you. I'll remove the stone heart from your body and replace it with a heart that's God-willed, not self-willed. I'll put my Spirit in you and make it possible for you to do what I tell you and live by my commands. You'll once again live in the land I gave your ancestors. You'll be my people! I'll be your God!"  ~ Ezekial 36:26-27

When God sees you, He sees the you that He designed.  He sees the real you and He loves you.

be blessed,

{heather}

What We're Reading - Week of August 27th

Reading is one of my most favorite activities...I love it.  Curling up on the couch with a good book is as good as it gets for me.

I've traveled the globe with adventurers, I pioneered a lost planet with a race of ancient human beings, heck, I've even walked with Saul on the road to Damascus - and I did all with books.  When I'm not reading fantasies, I'm immersed in Biblical literature.

Here's a few I've read this week - be blessed and enjoy!


Elijah, Steps to a Life of Power by Bob Saffrin - FREE on Kindle.  

This book is a guide, tracking the life of the Old Testament prophet Elijah, to discover God’s plan for us, and learn how to receive his power to accomplish that plan.Each of our lives is a story with a sum total that adds up to something. What does your life add up to so far? What will people say about you when your story ends? Will you make a difference? When people talked about Elijah, they said that the purpose of his life was to turn the hearts of the people back to the worship of the one true God. They said that his mission was: “…to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” 
God has given you a purpose and a mission as well. God has a plan for every life. My hope for you as you read this book is that when you are done you will not be satisfied, but hungry, hungry to hear the infinite God of the universe speak to you as a lover speaks to his bride. I pray that you will finish, panting for more.



The Apostle: The Life of Paul by John Pollock

The Acclaimed, Authentic Biography of the Early Church's Greatest Evangelist--the Apostle Paul.  Master storyteller John Pollock makes Paul and his amazing story freshly alive, so that you can know the greatest apostle much as Luke and Timothy did as they traveled with him. As you turn the pages, you'll sense Paul's motives, his aims and priorities; what mattered to him; and what he was willing to die for.  



Light Of Eidon (Legends of the Guardian-King) by Karen Hancock

Light of Eidon is the first book in the Legends of the Guardian-King Series. It is set in a fictional land during a time similar to our middle ages. The protagonist is a prince who is the fifth-born son in his family with no shot at the throne. Feeling rejected by his brothers, and worst of all his father, he leaves the family and joins a religious order as a novitiate. The book begins as his 8-year novitiate term is over and he is about to take an oath to join the Brotherhood. It wouldn't be much of a story if everything went according to plan, now would it? Very quickly a mystery unfolds. The story accelerates to be a page-turner that makes it hard to put down. It is packed with adventure, action, conspiracy and mystery. There were several times where I thought I had the story "figured out" and knew where it was going, but I was wrong. I love it when I can be "gotten" like that!

Light of Eidon is also an allegory. It is quite possibly one of the best allegories that I have ever read. Since I love J.R.R. Tolkien, I tend to side with him slightly on his opinion of allegories...they can be problematic. Too bad Tolkien couldn't have met Karen Hancock. :) 

Since I just finished Light of Eidon, the story of the kings of Israel (1 and 2 Chronicles) has a pulse it never had before--it was like I added a little salt. I connected with Scriptures in a different way. On the other hand, having a good basis of Scripture--which I firmly believe is inerrant and factual--was a good rock to stand on while reading this fantasy novel. It's easy to get caught up in a good book, especially when that book is a good reflection of the One Good Story. 

Elise Fitzpatrick says in "Give Them Grace" that every story is a retelling of the One Good Story, just that some stories tell it more closely than others. Since I have read that bit, I have been filtering everything I read through this lens and it has been really interesting to perceive. Light of Eidon is a beautiful retelling of the Gospel and how it touches the lives of not only the protagonist, but of nations. This book is suitable for Christians, and especially for non-Christians--though some might react like the negative reviewer on Amazon, "I hate being tricked into reading about Jesus." Though that's not a bad thing. Seeds are still planted. This book focuses not on the coming of the Messiah. That has already happened long before we enter the story. It is set in a world that has many different religions. Which one is right? The religions presented in Light of Eidon have similarities to religions in our world today.

This book is not, however, appropriate for the younger crowd. There is a lot of fighting and blood. There are descriptions of decapitations, sores, descriptions of evil, etc. I know that readers will be limited by their own imaginations in "seeing" these things, but it's still words and it still reaches into the heart. There is also a thread of romance in the story. There is one scene that made me squirm in my seat, and before I knew where it was going I was worried it would ruin my ability to recommend this book. If stories of romance cause you to falter in purity, then you may want to pass this book up, or at least commit to skipping those pages (since it is not long). It didn't go where I thought it would go, and it was a lesson that is useful for teaching. But I still recommend it with reservations. I recommend it for mature teens and adults.

{daily} Psalm

The Orion Nebula, also known as Messier 42 or NGC 1976, is called a diffuse nebula. Being the closest one to Earth, it is about 24 light years in diameter and by the far the brightest from our vantage point.  Credit for the picture is to the Hubble Telescope.  

Enlarge Your Thinking!

I heard this story this morning.  I had heard it once before (not sure where) but it really stuck with me this time:

"Two fishermen were at a lake and one couldn't help but notice that the other guy had a 10" ruler and measured all the fish that he caught. Then, without fail, he always put the big fish back in but kept the little ones. This went on for several hours.
Curiosity got the better of the first fisherman and he just had to ask, “Say, I see that you keep putting the big fish back but keeping the small ones. Can I ask you why?"

“Oh, that’s easy to answer, I only have a 10 inch frying pan to cook them in. It’s been in our family for generations!!”

Have you ever limited yourself to a 10-inch pan mentality?  I have.  I still find myself wanting to 'go there' in my thoughts but I know the truth.  The truth is God wants to shower His children with a huge, record-breaking catch along with all the grills, pans, fire etc. we need to cook it on!!  God even goes a step further and says, "I'll cook it up for you and even serve it to you if you will only believe". 

Maybe you think that your not worthy to receive something bigger, that your only deserving of little fish but friend, that couldn't be further from the truth. Maybe, like the fisherman in this story, this way of thinking has been in your family for generations. It's time to toss out the 10-inch pan in your life and reach for one that is much bigger.

Too many times we are held back due to our own self-imposed limitations. We  challenge you today to not settle any longer for "just getting by" but to dream big and set your sights on bigger things! There is no limit to what you can do or what God is willing to give you if you enlarge your thinking.

Write this verse on a sticky note and put it where you will see it several times a day.  Speak it aloud, commit it to memory - I promise as you do, God will manifest it in your life, your heart and your thoughts.  You don't have to settle anymore.  :)  

"God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us."  Ephesians 3:20-21 

Be Blessed!
{heather} 

Liberate Me

SHELLY MATHIS
Kremmling, Colorado

Liberate Me!

I hear the voice of the Spirit crying out, “Grant Me My freedom! Allow Me to break out of the confining box in which you have placed Me. Permit Me the liberty to be the Great I Am in you, through you, and around you in the manner for which I long.

“Unbelief in My ability restrains Me. Agreement with the enemy's lies and confidence in his cunning shuts Me out. Religious notions and traditions alienate Me. Yet, no matter how defiant they may be, I will break asunder these adamant bars if you will simply choose to surrender and give Me permission to have My way. I tell you truly, you can trust Me!

“When you liberate Me to be as I please, it will set in motion a limitation-breaking work in you, My Beloved. I will release you from the prison of limitations in which others, the devil, or you yourself have you bound. The potential for great corporate liberty depends on the response and cooperation of each member of the Body.”

"For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.  Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually." ~ 1 Corinthians 12:12 & 27 

"Do not quench the Spirit." ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:19

 "Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." ~ 2 Corinthians 3:17