A Song for Sunday - All My Fountains

"Open the heavens...come living water! 

All my fountains are in You!"  Amen!

 Chris Tomlin

 

Naked Strawberry

We bought 4 cartons of local strawberries and when my hilarious daughter and husband came across one that looked like a bum (the center one, of course), they had to play with their food.


Result: Naked Strawberry



And so, I had to write about her.
 

Did you see Naked Strawberry running through the turf?

Flaming red hair, hands in the air, running for all she was worth?

Two greedy monsters were chasing her, hungry for a bite.

Too bad Strawberry was so tasty, a monster's delight.

My Life Quotes -- On General Stuff

If you could write your own life quotes, what would they be?

Here are mine on General Stuff:

When they start playing 80’s music on the Oldies Station, you’re officially deemed “Old”.

Extraordinary should be the goal for everyone.

People are very interesting to observe. I just wish I could understand why they do the things they do.

Writing to publish is one of the hardest things to do. Right up there with math and rocket science.

Dress codes work best in the military where they have the discipline to back it up. 

    --Dress codes are a hot topic right now with our school district.

It's hard to tolerate adults who still act like they are three, but then I try by imagining them as children who missed out on something critical in their lives.

      ---90% of brain development occurs before age five (Robert Ehrlich).

Too bad the world associates Americans with the words “excess”, "obese”, and "apathy". I want the world to associate us with “moderation”, “lean”, and  "passion".

What would your "General Stuff" quote be?

A Song for Sunday - Washed By The Water

This is one of my favorite songs (I have so many). I even made up hand motions (I know, I'm weird).  

I was studying the below scripture and "Washed By The Water" by Need To Breathe came to mind! 

The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.  

Matthew 7:24

Online Security

At work, I deal with computer security issues.  I found this short presentation over at Tech News Daily. It's worth the view!

The 10 Biggest Online Security Myths And How to Avoid Them
  
What's your biggest online security blunder?

Book Review - Priceless Stones

I received my second free BookCrash book last week!
I ripped open the box like it Christmas!  Anyway, what a "present" this book is! 

Click to see it on Amazon!

Priceless Stones: 42 Days of Hebrew Promises for Kingdom Living
by James Revoir (Crosslink Publishing, 2013)

Dawn’s Recommendation: 5 of 5 Stars

Overview:
Journey with the author on a forty-two day quest to unearth the amazing goodness of God which lies hidden in the original Hebrew language of the Old Testament. (from back of book)

What I liked:
This book is “priceless”! Very powerful messages that include insight from the original Hebrew words, which helps readers understand God’s Word more fully and how we are to apply it to our lives.  This book will help you grow more spiritually mature. Each day’s reading contains a Scripture, the teaching on a Promise (aka a “Priceless Stone”), a prayer, a declaration, and thought-provoking questions. It is a powerful combination of reading, saying, and doing that can help folks get closer to God. I’ve seen prayer and questions in studies before, but the declaration section was neat because I felt compelled to read it out loud with feeling and heart (to God).

I enjoyed learning the Hebrew words and definitions that were woven into the study!

As a writer, I enjoyed the questions section. In my own journal, I jotted down the Day’s point and then answered the questions. This really helped me focus on God and assess my own faith journey. Here’s one of my favorite questions: “Can you think of a time when the Lord protected you from the onslaught of the enemy?” (from Day 3)

I liked the Glossary of Hebrew words at the back.

What I didn't like:
The book didn't include a photo and bio of the author. The blurb on the back only tells how long the author has been a Christian and that he has a Master in Divinity. You don’t get to know him.

The cover is nice, but the graphics and colors don't highlight the "priceless" information inside the book. The colors are muted tan/brown, which is blah. The title color does not pop and as a thumbnail on the internet, it can't even be read.

What I didn’t need:
At the end of the book, I didn’t need to see the Scripture Index, Bibliography or Endnotes sections, BUT because they were there I more fully appreciate the time and effort that the author put into creating this study. I also realize that some other readers may want to see this information and see that it is backed by the Bible and theological publications.

Disclosure of Material: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookCrash.com book review program, which requires an honest, though not necessarily positive, review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR Title 16, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

A Song for Sunday - Hello, My Name Is

Don't believe lies! Your name is "Child of the One True King"!

                                                             ...and that's the truth!

"Hello, My Name Is" by Matthew West

LibraryThing Book Widget

Want to get this cool book widget?

Sign up for free at LibraryThing!

Once you are signed up click on "Your Books" tab. Add the books you want and then click on "Widget". Customize your widget's header (I wanted mine to show the books I'm reading this summer) size, colors, even icon that shows while it loads (like my flipping book pages), etc. Then copy the html and insert an html widget into your blog.

I love it and so will you!

Book Review - Heaven is for Real

Click here to see it on Amazon

Last month I read "Heaven is for Real: A little boy’s astounding story of his trip to Heaven and back" by Todd Burpo with Lynn Vincent.

Dawn's Recommendation: 5 out of 5 Stars

Overview:
When Colton Burpo made it through an emergency appendectomy, his family was overjoyed at his miraculous survival. What they weren’t expecting, though, was the story that emerged in the months that followed—a story as beautiful as it was extraordinary, detailing their little boy’s trip to heaven and back.

Colton, not yet four years old, told his parents he left his body during the surgery–and authenticated that claim by describing exactly what his parents were doing in another part of the hospital while he was being operated on. He talked of visiting heaven and relayed stories told to him by people he met there whom he had never met in life, sharing events that happened even before he was born. He also astonished his parents with descriptions and obscure details about heaven that matched the Bible exactly, though he had not yet learned to read.

With disarming innocence and the plainspoken boldness of a child, Colton tells of meeting long-departed family members. He describes Jesus, the angels, how “really, really big” God is, and how much God loves us. Retold by his father, but using Colton’s uniquely simple words, Heaven Is for Real  offers a glimpse of the world that awaits us, where as Colton says, “Nobody is old and nobody wears glasses.”
Heaven Is for Real will forever change the way you think of eternity, offering the chance to see, and believe, like a child. (from Amazon)

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What I liked:
The story is amazing! It gives a glimpse of heaven from a child’s experience and it offers hope for all who read it. As Colton told his story to his dad, Todd Burpo, Todd compared everything he said to what Todd knew of heaven from the Bible. Everything fit. The book shares the backing from the Bible to Colton's story, lending credibility.

The book shares Colton's account of:
*meeting family in heaven
*what people look like and dress like in heaven
*what you do in heaven
*what happens to babies who die in miscarriage
*what's going to happen in the future
*how Jesus reacts to children
*how Jesus reacts when we follow his will
*God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit
*angels

"Heaven is for Real" is a very short read and I read it in two days. Can’t stop thinking about heaven now! 

What I didn’t like: The story lacks a little polish and it skips around some, but the content more than makes up for that!

My Life Quotes - On God

If you could write your own life quotes, what would they be?

Here are mine on God:

In some cases, praying is the only way to love on people.

God does still talk to people. Are you on your knees, listening?

Passion is a gift from God. Use it.

The more I see of humanity, the more I am awed by God that he loves us so much that he’d die for us, so that we might live with Him forever.

No matter where you are in your faith journey (or lack of one), God is pursuing you.

The best question you can ask is “Is there a God?” because when you do, He’ll let you know.

Submitting and waiting are two of the hardest lessons to learn, but the ones God uses to grow you the most.

What would be your "God Quote" be? 

A Song for Sunday - You Are

I can't help but belt this song in the car as I listen to the radio (Word FM)! I can imagine standing in front of Jesus on that day and shouting His endless glory and grace!

Book Review -- Limitless

Click to see on Amazon.com

I just got finished reading Nick Vujicic's new devotional called "Limitless, Devotions for a Ridiculously Good Life".

I saw Nick last year at Creation Fest and he is a powerful and fun motivation speaker. I was excited to get this book for free (in exchange for reviewing it) through Blogging for Books! 

Dawn’s Recommendation: 5 of 5 stars

Overview:  

Nick Vujicic is an evangelist, motivational speaker, author, and director of the Life Without Limbs organization.

“Nick Vujicic knows there is no greater hope than trusting in God’s plan for your life. Born without arms or legs, Nick has experienced both the peak of hope and the depth of despair. But he has overcome his circumstances and physical limitations by embracing his faith and understanding the limitless love and power God has for every person.

Now he wants you to experience that same reassurance of hope. In these fifty inspirational devotions, Nick shares his most compelling hard-earned wisdom to help you face obstacles with confidence and courage. Whether you struggle with faith, relationships, career challenges, anger, health concerns, self-esteem, finding balance, or doubt in your dreams, Nick’s biblical encouragement and positive attitude will transform your life and show how you can overcome limitations because God is limitless.”  (taken from book jacket)

What I liked: I heard Nick Vujicic speak in person. He is engaging, encouraging, fun and slightly mischievous. His refreshing take on life and his personality comes through in this book! As I read, I even imagined his Australian accent! The devotions are stories about him or stories from people he has met in his travels. They are interesting and quick to read. In fact, I didn’t want to stop reading! I read almost straight through, but I am looking forward to going back to read on a daily basis so I can soak in each Scripture and devo’s wisdom!

I really enjoyed the Scriptures choices. Many of them are lesser known Scriptures, so I found myself reading them carefully. Each one fits well with its associated devotion.

I loved the “Limitless Life” section at the end of each devotion. It gives readers a chance to apply what they’ve read to their own lives. For people who journal or for writers, the “Limitless Life” section could be taken further and used as writing prompts to further contemplate their own life experiences, struggles, goals, etc.

What I didn’t like: There were one or two devotions out of the 50 that I found myself skimming because they didn’t share a concrete personal story and were more general in nature. These couple, though, did not take away from the overall book because the rest were powerful, specific stories from Nick or someone he met.

Overall: A great book to keep on your work desk or night stand to read every day! The devotions uplift, encourage, and motivate you to come closer to God and to be all you can be.  If you struggle with any of obstacles mentioned in the overview, you will be encouraged by Nick in this book. There will probably be certain devotions you will want to share with friends and family to encourage them.

For more about the book and Nick Vujicic, click on the below links:

• Author's Website
• Nick on Facebook
• Nick on Twitter
• More Info
• Read Chapter One
• Author Bio

Disclosure - I received this book for free from  

WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

Question For The Day - Not as Planned

When things don't go as planned, how do you handle it?

We all have something that "doesn't go as planned". I've got one going on right now and you probably do too. Mine has been on my mind a lot lately. It's not a constant worry, but it is a bad feeling about work. Last night as I prayed, I finally laid it out to God, but I didn't even know what or how to pray. Then the answer came to me, just pray God into the situation. That's it. Pray God there. So I did, and I immediately felt at peace.

I pray. How do you handle when things don't go as planed? 
 

Book Review - The Black Book of Secrets

Here's another Middle Grade Book Review.

It's called "The Black Book of Secrets" by F. E. Higgins

Dawn's Recommendation: 4 out of 5 Stars

Click to go to Amazon

Overview:

A boy arrives at a remote village in the dead of night. His name is Ludlow Fitch, and he is running from a most terrible past. In this village is the life he has dreamed of: a safe place to live and a job, as the assistant to a mysterious pawnbroker who buys people’s deepest, darkest secrets. Ludlow transcribes the confessions in an ancient leather-bound tome: the Black Book of Secrets. He yearns to trust his mentor, who refuses to disclose any information on his past experiences or future intentions. But what the pawnbroker does not know is, in a town brimming with secrets, the most troubling may be held by his new apprentice. (from Amazon)

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What I liked – I thought the book might be a little dark, but I was pleasantly surprised to find goodness in the Secret Pawnbroker. He helped people in a strange way, unburdening them and helping them financially. I liked his assistant, Ludlow Fitch who escaped from abusive parents, all of the townspeople, quirks and all, and Saluki, the tree frog. The bad guy, Jeremiah Rachet, was great too. A great little book! A nice bonus at the back of the book included real-life blurbs that told of life back then in England (1800’s) like coffins with air tubes and bells in case you were buried alive.

What I didn’t like – The ending (when they travel to a cave) was far-fetched and seemed “stuck on”, almost like a different story. The book could have ended after climax and story of town/townspeople’s problems were resolved.  Even so, I would still recommend this book! Up until that point, it was great and the resolution for the town/townspeople was very satisfying.

I was excited to see there are more books in the series: The Bone Magician, The Eyeball Collector, The Lunatic’s Curse. I am looking forward to reading them! F. E. Higgins also has a new book called The Phenomenals (new series). Here’s the author’s website:

http://www.panmacmillan.com/gobstoppers/fehiggins

A Song for Sunday - 10,000 Reasons

I love to belt this song in worship (in my car, of course)! Here is Matt Redman's "10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord)".