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Light, Love, Hope

Light in the Darkness Surrounded by Love with Hope for those in need.

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The Passion of The Christ

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My husband and I watched The Passion of The Christ when it was first released back in 2004.  I will never forget the huge impact this movie had on us as it focused on the night prior to the crucifixion of Jesus right up until his death on the cross.  Growing up, we read the bible and knew of the great suffering Jesus endured for our sins, but it was almost unbearable to watch it depicted on the movie screen.  To think that God gave His only Son as a living sacrifice is something hard to wrap our brains around anyway.  Jesus willingly suffered for you and I, enduring the multiple beatings as His flesh was torn away.  He carried His cross, stumbling and falling under the great pressure of the heavy cross and the agonizing pain He was in.  As if that wasn’t enough, they nailed Jesus on the cross piercing His hands and feet.  They mocked Jesus, tormented Jesus, and Jesus died on that cross for our sins.

I remember vividly the tears streaming down my face as I watched.  How could anyone watch the great suffering Christ endured and NOT be moved to tears?   It baffles me to this day how human beings treat other human beings.  But Christ, our Lord?  He could have chosen not to go through all of that, but He knew it was His Father’s plan.  He did what was ultimately required so that you and I may be forgiven and have eternal life by accepting Him into our hearts.

We get comfortable in our daily lives, and we forget how truly unworthy we all are of this incredible gift Christ gave to us all.  Eternal life!  The greatest gift of all!  How could anyone choose not to accept it?

As we prepare our hearts and minds for Easter, my husband and I sat down to watch Pure Flix.  That seems to be the only movie channel we can confidently open for a family movie night without having to worry about the content or rating.  We noticed Pure Flix has several Easter movies to view, one of which is The Passion of The Christ, which is certainly worth watching again!   Surprisingly, my husband clicked on Risen and got into the movie right away.  He began pointing out different characters and their roles in the plot to disprove rumors of the risen Messiah to prevent an uproar in Jerusalem.

Have you given Pure Flix a try? If not, we encourage you to today. They are offering a free trial right now also, so be sure to sign up here.  For Easter season and all year long, sign up with Pure Flix so you can be guaranteed quality content and not worry about inappropriate content here!  It has been so refreshing for our family.

Disclosure:  Many thanks to Pure Flix for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.

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Show Me The Father

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Fathers help shape us into the people we are and will become in life.  Some of us have wonderful fathers and look forward to conversations involving them.  Others, however, have not had their biological fathers in their lives or have not had them as the best father figure to look up to in life.  Instead, they have had to rely on other men to fill that role.  Whether it was a grandfather, step-father, or an older man that came into their lives and took the child under their wing to mentor to them, men have an unique role in the lives of children all over the world.

 

“SHOW ME THE FATHER is the film our nation needs to see. We have become a society that
devalues and mocks fathers, but God created the role of fatherhood for a very specific
purpose. Many of our children feel unwanted and unworthy because half of their identity is
absent. Fathers are necessary for the next generation to heal.”
– Nona Jones, Author, Pastor, Speaker, and Executive

 

The movie SHOW ME THE FATHER is another beautiful movie from the Kendrick Brothers, who are well known for the movies COURAGEOUS, WAR ROOM, and FIRE PROOF.  It is their first documentary, though, and people might groan when they initially hear that.   However, this documentary shares true stories with wisdom and such power from fathers like Jim Daly (from Focus on the Family), Sherman Smith, Stephen Kendrick, and Dr. Tony Evans.  These influential men share their stories and also share the fatherhood of God as well, stressing to us the importance of leaning on our Heavenly Father.  God is good all the time, in every situation and circumstance, even if we may not see any good in the situation at the moment.  God is ever present, and He is the father we can lean on and into no matter what we face in our lives, even at the hands of our own fathers.

Show Me The Father will be in theaters September 10, 2021, and I encourage you to go see this movie.  Take your families with you!!  Share with others who may be blessed by the true life stories and what we can all gain from these influential men.

I realize that everyone’s father story is unique to them, just as the men in our lives are unique.  There is no one else like them, and while my father story is a happy one, others do not have a happy story when thinking of their own fathers.  My oldest daughter struggles with the difficult relationship she has had through the years with her own biological father.  So I understand, and I know first hand some of the challenges she has faced and is presently facing, even at the age of 24 years old.  Unfortunately, her father/daughter relationship has been a painful source of heartbreak, and it still affects her today.  Our fathers very much affect who we are, and are at the core of our identity and direction our lives take.  They can help mold us and inspire us, or they can be the reason we question why we aren’t loved or “enough” for them to want a deeper relationship with us.  Such has been the heartbreaking case for my daughter, and I have cried tears right along with her over this.  There is not anything in the world wrong with my daughter – and never has been – yet it has pained me greatly that my daughter has questioned her own worth and value due to her father’s inability to be actively involved, take a lead role in her life loving her and being there as a father SHOULD be!  Just recently, they had another falling out due to his inability to acknowledge how the things he has said and done have her hurt.  Instead of accepting responsibility for his actions and words, he chose to invalidate her feelings yet again and place the blame elsewhere instead of with the person he sees in the mirror daily looking back at him, where it belongs.  Sadly, instead of owning up to and correcting his behavior, things escalated to where she has decided not to try any longer with him.  It saddens me greatly because my father is so very important in my life!  HE is my rock, and the one I always turn to no matter what.  My daddy is my everything, and it breaks my heart that my oldest daughter does not have this type of relationship with her biological father.  Things could have been so different in her life and their relationship; however, he has chosen to become emotionally disconnected over these years, and in our eyes, has dropped the ball in his role as her biological father.  Thankfully, all faith in men has not been lost, as she looks up to MY father with such love and admiration, as well as her step-father.  Together, these two men have picked up the shattered pieces of my daughter’s heart and helped restore her faith in what a father is supposed to be.   Her future husband has been instrumental in this as well, as these three men have helped change her view of fatherhood.  She and her husband will strive even more so now to give their own children (when that day comes) two sets of parents that will move Heaven and Earth to be there for them, loving, nurturing, and making memories!  I’m thankful for these men that have chosen to step up and show her what being a father is truly all about, and my heart is thankful these men have shown her the unconditional love and devotion of a father for their daughter/granddaughter.

Similar stories like our own will be told in this documentary, and it will have us all thinking more along the lines of the fatherhood of God as well.  Show Me The Father has five men sharing their true stories.  There will be story lines, of course, along with plot twists you didn’t see coming, but the movie will inspire and encourage you to be the best father YOU men out there can be for your daughters!

Watch the trailer here.  

SHOW ME THE FATHER is a film the entire family needs to see, so why not go together to watch it?  Be sure to get your tickets at showmethefathermovie.com and join families every where in theaters beginning September 10, 2021.

 

#ShowMeTheFather

#ShowMeTheFatherMIN

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When We Last Spoke

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I grew up watching Melissa Gilbert in Little House On The Prairie. It was one of my favorite television shows, and I enjoy the re-runs still today.  She brings the characters to life, no matter what role she is playing.  It felt like watching a family friend on the big screen in her latest movie When We Last Spoke.

Purposely, I do not watch the trailers or read anything on the movies I am getting ready to watch.  Instead, I rely on the picture to “speak” to me, as they say a picture is worth a thousand words.  If I am not automatically drawn in by the picture, I flip right past it.  However, this family picture drew me right in.

 

Look at the way the older lady at the bottom carries herself.  By the look on her face, you know there is a story waiting to be told, and this movie did not disappoint.  Aside from that and Melissa Gilbert staring in the movie, I was drawn in also by the smiling faces of the mischievous little girls.  Also, let’s not forget the old classic car they are leaning against in the bottom picture!!  I had no hesitations at all with pressing play for this movie!

The movie switches between the past and the present day, with lives of two sisters that faced heartbreak at such an early age.  The entire family suffered, honestly, but the movie is primarily centered on the two girls, Juliet and Evangeline.  When their father went off to war, their mother could not cope with the stresses of raising two young girls alone.  Sadly, she chose to drop the girls off with their grandparents, Ruby and Walt, with the girls begging, crying, and following behind with tears streaming down their faces.  That was heartbreaking enough, but the storyline continued with more the young sisters had to face.  It seemed like one thing after the other, until their grandfather, Walt, broke down crying and asking God why … I think we have all been there a time or two in our lives, if we are honest.  We can relate to feeling so overwhelmed with emotion with things happening in our lives, especially when we lose someone we love (whether they choose to walk out of our lives or they pass away).  Although we are taught not to question God, it is human nature.  It doesn’t mean we don’t love God or that we aren’t honoring Him.  We just seek answers as to why we have to face so much turmoil in our lives when we follow Him.  No one promises the path will be easy, but it doesn’t have to be so hard either!  That is where a lot of people get stuck – you either hang on to bitterness and resentment turning away from God, or you allow Him to comfort your broken heart and pick up the shattered pieces as only He can.  There is overcoming and forgiveness intertwined in this movie as well.

The storyline definitely gripped me as it focused on the girls mainly but also on those with a significant impact on their lives.  It was interesting as it flipped from the past, with the young girls with what they went through, to the present day with the now grown Juliet and Evangeline, and how what they endured affected them then and now.  “Family secrets” were mentioned, and often times when a secret is kept, it is to seemingly protect another member of the family.  (No, there was not any thing involving sexual abuse in this Christian based movie.  It was the secret the older sister kept from the younger one in the way the mother left.  Secrets such as these are often kept so as to protect someone’s feelings and heart.)

Ruby, played by Melissa Gilbert, tickled me in the one scene where she is dancing with the girls.  Oh how that warms my heart, as I have danced with my very own daughters just like this, and still do from time to time.  It made me reflect back on precious memories of my girls at that age and the fun we had being silly together.  Making memories!  That is what we were doing, just like Ruby with Juliet and Evangeline.

There was confusion in the mix within the movie as well, but a whole lot of love, too.  What struck me was the misconception with one situation in particular and also the part with the great-grandmother that tugged at my heartstrings and truly brought tears.  Not wishing to ruin the movie for you, I will choose to leave you in suspense and wondering What is she talking about?!

This award-winning movie is now available for live streaming on Amazon, so watch it and feel the love surrounding this beautiful family.  Click here for all viewing options!

 

Disclosure: Many thanks to Last Spoke Partners for providing this product/product information for review. Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

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Church People

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This movie was an interesting one, for sure.  It began with a very successful youth pastor capturing his audience and delivering messages of scripture from the Word of God.  Touring all over the country, he became very much a positive influence to anyone that would take the time to listen.

During one sermon, someone threw him a beach ball on stage asking for him to sign it.  He wasn’t sure what that was about but signed it anyway and threw it back into the audience. The crowd absolutely loved this so much, and upon seeing this, the marketing manager decided this would be a new promotional tool to gain further success.  However, as it turned out, the beach ball ended up becoming a huge distraction from the actual sermon!

The main preacher started to become more and more successful with his audience and with his antics, even wearing a superhero outfit.  All of these things began to distract even more from the actual Word of God!   Sadly, because the youth pastor was not in agreement to this new marketing plan, he was asked to leave and subsequently got laid off.  As you can imagine, the frustration mounted with this outcome.

We won’t spoil the movie for you, and it DOES get better … so we encourage you, instead, to watch Church People!  The outcome was amazing!

 

#ChurchPeopleFilm #ChurchPeopleMIN #MomentumInfluencerNetwork

 

Disclosure: Many thanks to Collide Distribution for providing this product/product information for review. Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

 

 

 

Dolphin Island

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Oh, how I love movies like Dolphin Island!

This movie takes place in paradise on a tropical island!   It all begins with Annabel, a 14-year-old girl, and Mitzy, the dolphin.  As you can imagine, I was immediately drawn in as this movie setting reminded me of the times my family and I visited the Bahamas and swam with the dolphins!

Annabel came to live with her fisherman grandfather after tragedy struck and took her parents away.  Her grandfather cares very deeply for her and has provided for her the best he can, even retiring to ensure he is there for her whatever the need.  She is living what seems like the best life, when a shady lawyer is sent to rock their world.  It isn’t long before a social worker pays a visit to their fishing boat, and looks down her nose at their living conditions and their surroundings.  Later, this very same social worker would become one that turns the case completely around.  Ah, but I will not spoil the surprise for you!  Just know that it truly matters who your friends are.  ~wink~

Annabel’s ailing maternal grandparents seek custody of her, as her grandmother’s mental state is declining.  The maternal grandfather seeks to have a relationship with Annabel since things were so strained with her mother before her passing.  Uprooting Annabel isn’t right, and it causes great heartache and pain for her.  When the transition was to take place, Annabel runs away, taking the helm of the ship herself.  Trouble awaits, and soon things take a drastic turn.  Luckily, Mitzy, the dolphin is able to point them in the right direction to save Annabel’s life.

This movie is about overcoming challenges, strong family ties, devoted friends, and unwavering faith … and it is available for you and your family to watch!  Dolphin Island will not disappoint!

#DolphinIslandMIN #MomentumInfluencerNetwork

 

Disclosure: Many thanks to Entertainment Squad for providing this product/product information for review. Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

Trafficked

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How often do you sit and think about the teenage girls, alone in their rooms, seeking companionship through their phone.  Often times, in the dark hours of the night, there is a stranger looking to become their friend.  In their innocence, they don’t think about the dangers that could be lurking.  All they want is someone to talk to when everyone else has turned in for the night.  Sleep won’t come, so they respond to the stranger on the other end, and soon they find they are sharing their world with each other nightly.  Seemingly, they form a very special bond, and the urge to meet in person is so strong.  Soon, they are making plans for the young, naive girl to sneak out of her parent’s home to slip into an awaiting vehicle to meet her friend.

This is a scene that is all too common, and occurs more often than we truly know,  all over the United States.  Sadly, the young ladies aren’t meeting their friend, their Prince Charming, but instead will meet their worst nightmare as these innocent ones are sold into sex trafficking.

The film Trafficked allows us a glimpse into the fate of these young ladies at the hands of pimps.  When Allison, at the age of Sweet Sixteen, was supposed to be celebrating her birthday with family and friends, instead, she is whisked away where she is kept in a dog cage until time for her to “work.”   Allison is hesitant at first until the pimp reaches into his pocket to retrieve a picture of her younger sister.  Allison accepts drugs from the pimp that insists upon being called “Daddy.”   Her life has been turned upside down by one mistake; trusting someone that “catfished” her online.  Numb to her reality, Allison complies with the pimp’s wishes in order to protect her sister.

Meanwhile, Allison’s family hires an outrageously expensive private investigator, Dean Cain, when they feel like the law enforcement officers aren’t taking Allison’s disappearance serious enough.  The once soft spoken grandmother gives up her retirement funds in order to find her granddaughter!

The film takes many twists and turns, as a feeling of hopelessness consumes the entire family.  In despair, Allison’s father contemplates taking his own life, but just when he needs it the most, the private investigator provides a spark of hope that ignites a fire within her father.  Joining forces with the investigator and his team, the father storms into the pimp’s house in search of his daughter!

I won’t tell you how this story ends, in hopes that you will desire to watch the film.  Please don’t stop there, though.  Help bring awareness to sex trafficking!

This film was particularly hard for me to watch, as I have a sixteen year old daughter who JUST revealed to me two weeks ago that she has been speaking with a young man she “met” online.  My heart shatters at the thought of someone catfishing her, seeking to destroy her in this fashion.

As parents, it’s our job to protect them!  Yet, due to their innocence, they fall into the hands of people that seek to harm them.  We must warn them of the dangers that lurk on the internet!

Thankfully, not all people on the internet are bad!  I won’t lump all internet users into the same category, as I have made lifelong friends with people I “met” online.  Some have been in my life now for 23 years, and I have been so blessed by their friendship.  After this length of time, we have become more like family.   But we must not lose sight of the fact that not ALL people seek to bless our lives, and we must not get too comfortable revealing things about ourselves with people we meet online.  There is danger lurking when our young ones least expect it.

I’d like to share some resources with you that provide talking points and other beneficial information.   Let’s bring awareness to this subject and help prevent young ladies from falling into this trap!   If you’re concerned about how to talk to your children, then please review the 10 Easy Conversation Starters at this link.  

Help is available for those that may have lived this nightmare and have come out on the other side a survivor!    Please reach out to the National Trafficking Sheltered Alliance if you or someone you know have been affected by sex trafficking.

#TraffickedMovieMIN #MomentumInfluencerNetwork

Disclosure: Many thanks to Collide Distribution for providing this product/product information for review.  Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation.  I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

 

 

 

 

 

Before The Wrath

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With all of the things going on in the world today, one could predict that we are living in the end of times.  Based on the scriptures in the book of Revelations, we can also see the signs as was prophesied years ago.  The current events in the news today should be enough to get your attention so you can get your heart and life right with our Lord and Savior.

When I was a little girl growing up in the Pentecostal Holiness church, someone made reference to a book entitled The Rapture. I can remember reading every word, often times with wide eyes feeling a stir of fear in my heart based on what I was reading.   This book talked about what would happen after the rapture takes place.  The torture the individuals endured in this book horrified me, and yet the words written were not in an effort to scare you.  Instead, it was to prepare you for what was ahead should you choose not to give your life to the Lord.

Recently, I was afforded the opportunity to watch a movie entitled Before The Wrath.  This movie also made reference to the book of Revelations in the bible.  The movie was produced to wake up the church!

The fact remains that no one here on earth knows the day or the hour that our Lord, Jesus Christ will return for His bride.  Angels in Heaven do not know, even the Son of God does not know, but the one and only that does know is God, our Heavenly Father.  While we may know the season is approaching due to events in the news and shocking things that are happening, there needs to be urgency within the people of the church to get the word out so lives will not be lost.

The problem we are facing today is that often times preachers don’t want to preach about fire and brimstone.  Instead, they want to sugar coat the message and offer positive words of encouragement.  This certainly leaves a feel good type of message with you long after the sermon has been heard.  However, what we need to carry with us is the knowledge of what will happen should we choose NOT to accept the gift that has been offered to us all; the gift of Eternal Life through Jesus Christ.  Yes, the feel good type of messages are important, but it is more important to make an impression upon people so they can choose to accept Jesus into their Hearts.   No matter how hard you try, you cannot remove the prophesy that is written in the bible.  Therefore, you should not be selective in what you pick and choose to share about the gospel.  Instead, all parts need to be shared so that one can make an informed decision about where they will spend eternity.

They need to know what is coming!

Sadly, there has been a great fall from truth.  More than 80% that do know still choose not to believe all that is in the bible.   The movie goes on to talk about how one out of four people don’t feel they belong to any religion.  Only about 18% believe Jesus is coming back and that the world will end.  There is a small portion of people looking at the headlines in the news and current events, taking notice of signs of the end times.

The scriptures have foretold what will happen.

In the last days, there will be a diminishing of believers, and there will even be those that mock the bible.

We have failed as a church, (and in church I do not mean a building but the believers in Christ).  We have not been telling the world about Jesus as we should, nor have we been busy with doing our Father’s business here on earth!  There are those that choose, instead, to detach from the Word of God.  However,there is physical evidence to almost all that is written in the bible.

He will come as a thief in the night.

When the Father is ready for the Son’s return, on the Day of the Lord, He will come without warning!  No one will know the day nor the hour, and His return will catch everyone by surprise.

When we all get bogged down in the cares of this life, it is easy to forget the job we have to do here on earth.  We need to be sharing the gospel and news of His return to the unprepared world.  We need to be deliberate and have an active part in the “wedding” when Jesus returns for His bride.

Don’t fall asleep as others have!

The bible makes reference to 10 bridesmaids waiting in the night with oils and lamps; however, only five had enough oil to sustain.  Don’t be like those five with little oils in their lamps.

Only those that are prepared will quickly rise up to join Jesus when He returns.  When the rapture takes place, when Jesus returns to collect His bride or His believers to join Him, will YOU be ready?

When the rapture takes place, believers in Christ will always be with Him.  We will never be separated from Him.  Let us be glad and rejoice, giving Him honor!

Yes, we are on this earth and traveling through, but this world is not our destination.  We have all been chosen as the Bride of Jesus Christ, if we only accept the gift of eternal life and accept Him into our hearts!

The wrath that will come will be horrendous to those that will be left behind.  There will be extreme torture once the righteous have been removed from the earth.  God will pour out His wrath on those that have chosen NOT to accept the gift of eternal life.

Please, tell those that you love so they can get their hearts and lives right with God!  It is our obligation as parents to tell our children about God!!

Pastors, tell your congregation!

Even the media should speak out and tell others what is to come to pass, should they not accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

As followers of Christ, we should NOT remain quiet, especially now.  Make the choice, then tell others so they can, too!  We are the family of God!

Before the day of the wrath, before the feast begins, before the rapture takes place … before the thief comes in the night … you have a choice to make.

His cup has been offered to YOU.

Will you accept it?

I am praying for every one that will stumble upon my blog and read this post.  I am praying that YOU will accept the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ.  All it takes is a simple prayer.  Please … ask him into your heart!  Believe that Jesus died on the cross and rose again on the third day so we may have eternal life.  Confess your sins and turn from them.  And feel the joy of the Lord fill your life!

#BeforeTheWrathMovie

Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255:  “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonial in Advertising”):

Many thanks to Ingenuity Films for providing this prize for the giveaway.  Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation.  I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.  Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway.  If you have won a prize from our sponsor FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, from the same blog, you are not eligible to win.  If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again.  Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

 

 

 

 

Open Hands

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Laura Story has a new CD out now called Open Hands. She has been one of my favorite Christian artists for a while, so as you can imagine, I was anxious to get my hands on this CD. I am here to tell you that it did not disappoint!

While all of the songs are good, one spoke to my heart more so than the others. The song Give You Faith speaks of a mother’s love to her children. In this song, Laura captures every new mother’s fear as they wonder how they’ll raise the precious gift God has given them. It seems like such a large task that we’re ill equipped for. We’re sure, in all of our humanness, we will mess up along the way. Then, she goes on to share how the things the children really need aren’t things that money can buy but, instead, are so much more important like faith, hope, and love! I’m sure the mother in all of us can relate to this as we wish this and so much more for our children. We’d give them the world if we could, but what we truly need to give to them is a firm foundation in life. What better foundation than having faith in God, clinging to the hope He offers, and being wrapped in His great love?!

She spoke to this mother’s heart through the words in this song. She sings of times that mothers disappoint their children. We will fall short as we are not perfect. And when the day comes that the children begin to question things of this world, after being shaken to their core, a mother’s prayer will be offered up to the One that has never ever left them … and never will.

Our greatest responsibility in life is to lead our children to God. We love them and treasure them, but there is One that loves them even more than we do. It’s hard to understand how there could be any greater love than ours, but that is how God loves each and every one of us as His children. I feel we have an obligation to teach our children about God and to help them come to know Him. But even greater than that, we need to help them form a relationship with Him. As a mother, I want to know without a shadow of a doubt that my children have asked Jesus to come into their hearts so they will have the gift of eternal life. It hurts my heart to ever think that there will come a day when my children will have to go on through life without me. Yet, if they have asked Jesus into their hearts and have accepted His gift of eternal life, as I have, we will be reunited again in Heaven. These thoughts are even more prominent now as my mother-in-law is fighting terminal cancer. I saw it in her eyes yesterday as she fought so hard to force a smile after having received bad news once again.

This brings me to You Came Running and Grace Abounds, also on Laura’s CD. There’s comfort in knowing that Jesus is running right to my mother-in-law in her time of need. Her future is unknown to man at this point, but my God is there to comfort her and provide her peace as she deals with the days to come.

I encourage you to pick up a copy of this CD. Or, leave your email address below in the comments to be considered for our randonly selected giveaway of this beautiful CD.

Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post. Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller /FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days on the same blog, you are not eligible to win. Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

#OpenHands #FlyBy

The Garden

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GARDEN-FINAL-ART-RGBHow blessed am I to work in an environment where Christian music is not only allowed but encouraged and played often?!   Very blessed, actually, and I realize it and certainly do not take it for granted.

My office is inside of a funeral home.  When I say that, a lot of times people will cringe.  But, I have the opportunity to help people in their most difficult days.  While I mainly handle things on the cemetery side, I also fill in on the funeral home side assisting families as well.  Just this past Friday, I stayed late to make a DVD for a funeral they were having Sunday afternoon.  The family provided me with 61 pictures to scan in to make a video to be played at the service.  There is a lot that goes into making this life tribute for their loved ones, and one portion is the music selection.  Immediately, my mind shifted to The Garden, by Kari Jobe.

Earlier in the week, I was gifted with a brightly colored CD, with an array of flowers on the cover with a just-as-equally-beautiful young lady right in the center of them.  Anxiously, I peeled back the clear plastic wrap and plopped this CD into my computer to give it a listen.

Ah …

Kari Jobe’s voice floated through the air, as if you could visually see musical notes flowing from my computer speakers filling the entire atmosphere in the room.  What I noticed was the affect this music almost instantaneously had on me.  Moments before I could feel my muscles tense up from the demands of ringing phones on three different lines all waiting to be answered at once, and constant interruptions of people in and out of the office during the mist of all of that.  Yet, that all seemed a distant memory when I began to listen to the words of the songs.  Even with the other distractions pulling on me once more, I remained at peace, no longer bothered unlike moments before.

When Heal Our Land began to play, I couldn’t help but think of the state of chaos surrounding and following the election.  If ever we needed healing in our land, it is now.  This world’s gone crazy, it seems, but I know a Man able to right all the wrongs in this world and heal our land.   That thought went hand in hand with Miracles, also on this CD.

As different thoughts floated in and out of my mind, peace and tranquility swept in and filled the cup that was depleted and lacking before.  By the end of this 14 song CD, my cup truly runneth over with God’s goodness, mercy, and love.

The last song on this CD is On The Throne, and I know without a doubt that my God is on the throne today.

Little did I realize at the time I was listening to this CD that this came about due to personal suffering and loss amidst what was suppose to be a happy time in her life.  You see, Kari and her sister were both pregnant at the same time, yet her sister had a stillbirth at seven and a half months.  I cannot imagine the devastation and heartbreak their entire family felt.  However, Kari sought God for comfort and found hope throughout this ordeal.  Thus, The Garden was born.

Whether you’ve been a fan of Kari Jobe for a while now, or if her name is brand new to you, I am certain that you will enjoy this uplifting, praise filled CD.  We’d love to share it with you!  This CD was just released Friday, February 3, 2017!  Please participate in our giveaway below, as one lucky winner will receive a copy of The Garden!

 

Kari Jobe “The Garden” CD Contest

Thank you to everyone who entered.

 

Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway.  Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation.  I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway.  If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller /FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days on the same blog, you are not eligible to win.  Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again.  Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

 

Freedom From Shame

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Help yourself attain freedom from shame.Maybe you’re still carrying around “baggage” from something that happened in the past, or perhaps it’s a situation that you’ve just found yourself in that has you plagued with guilt and shame.  The reality is that it does not matter when it occurred.  The point is no one is immune to it.  It reaches in and attacks the very core of who we are, often times dragging our sense of self worth down with it.  I’m speaking of guilt, but more importantly, I am referring to shame.  Trust me, there is a difference in the two.

Heather Davis Nelson speaks to the heart and soul in her book “Un-Ashamed – Healing Our Brokenness and Finding Freedom From Shame.”

Shame can come from any where; often times from how you feel about your body, difficult situations you may have encountered with a boss or coworker, or even something that happened in a relationship you were involved in.  Other times, it can be something that was forced upon you, and now you are having to live with the aftermath. Extreme shame is also someone’s constant companion if they have a secret sin they are trying to keep hidden.

Ms. Nelson utilizes Brene Brown’s books in order to put her work in a biblical framework, and she explains that she does so since we live in a fallen world.  Ms. Nelson strives to address the topic of shame with hope!

Allow me to quote directly from the pages of the book as the words speak volumes:

“Shame is the intensely painful feeling or experience of believing that we are flawed and therefore unworthy of love and belonging,” writes Brene Brown.   

“Brown writes:  ‘The majority of shame researchers and clinicians agree that the difference between shame and guilt is best understood as the difference between ‘I am bad’ and ‘I did something bad.’  Guilt = I did something bad.  Shame = I am bad.’  Guilt is associated with actions while shame taints your entire identity.”

“Ed Welch, a professor and counselor at the Christian Counseling an Education Foundation (CCEF), fills this out in the following ways:  “Guilt can be hidden; shame feels like it is always exposed.”

Let me just stop right there and say THIS is SO true!  I know this section at the very beginning of her book spoke to my heart!  This was just in the first few pages, too!  Imagine what the rest of the book has in store – oh, you’re going to want to soak and bask in it!

Not convinced yet?

Allow me to share a little more, would you:

“To expunge guilt, confession and forgiveness are needed.  Eradicating shame calls for a deep and pervasive antidote, one that will strike shame at its roots and transform the way you think about who you are and the relationships in your life.”

“We wear shame like a shield, hiding who we know ourselves to be and protecting ourselves from whom we fear others could be.”

Wow!

Now let me share something that brought hope forth out of these passages:

“Through union with Christ you are clothed with honor rather than shame, made part of a community to which you will always belong, and given a kingdom that cannot be taken away.”

I have been engrossed in this book so much that my daughter came in the other day when I was reading it inquiring as to the content.  I shared some of it with her, and she would like to read this book after I’m finished with it.  I’m telling you – everyone, regardless of age, can benefit from the wisdom that is imparted in this book.

Please enter our giveaway to have your very own copy of this book sent directly to your door.  Even if you’re not struggling with any form of shame currently but know of someone that may be going through something like this, you could win this book in our giveaway to pass on to them.  That’s food for thought.  Some one out there NEEDS to hear the message this book brings forth!  Won’t you enter?

Freedom from shame!

“Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post. Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway.  If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win.  Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”

Family Devotional Bible

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I remember it all very well.  Looking back on my childhood years, I recall this big shelf of books.  Lots and lots of books!  And there I sat looking through them all to find the one that would keep my attention.  What captivated me was this rather large, beige book that felt like it had a leather cover.  There was a picture of Jesus on the front, and my little eyes marveled at the man before me.  At that age, knee high to a grasshopper, I thought that was truly a picture of Jesus right there on the cover.  I remember staring into His beautiful eyes before running my fingers along the corner of the cover and opening the Good Book.  Page after page was filled with scriptures, of course, but my, oh my, the pictures within this book that almost told the story all by themselves.  I was mesmerized by each and every story with pictures to go along with it!

Fast forward all of these years later, and I am almost reliving the moment. This time, it is through my youngest daughter.

When the mail lady pulled up in our driveway honking the horn, I knew she had a package for us.  The only one I was expecting at that point was the one containing the ESV Family Devotional Bible by Crossway.  I thanked the mail lady, and we had a brief conversation before she pulled away to continue her route.  My daughter sat on the burgundy wrought iron bench in the front of our house looking out over our flowerbed.  We have bird feeders and a bird bath out here, and that is one of our absolute favorite spots in the entire yard!  As I walked toward her, she couldn’t help but see the package in my arms.  Curiosity killed the cat as she asked, “What’s that?!”   We typically always have to play the Close-Your-Eyes-And-Hold-Out-Your-Hand-For-A-Big-Surprise-Game.  As I placed the bible in her hands, she opened her eyes, immediately widened them as she said, “Wow!”  I smiled as she began to thumb through the first few pages.

That was all it took.  She was hooked!  Just like I was as a little girl when I discovered our family bible with illustrations!

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I wondered if she would just look through the bible that day and put it aside, but much to my delight, she didn’t!  When we went on a trip the next week, she carried this bible with her!  As we drove along, she would read the stories out of the bible, look at the pictures, and then quiz us on the story line.  Some of the stories from the bibles we could remember well while others would take some brushing up on our end to recall all that happened.  She was so happy to take the opportunity to  refresh our memory as she read aloud parts of the stories to us.

This Family Devotional Bible has become a favorite in our household with our little girl.  If you have little ones yourself, we encourage you to enter our giveaway below!

Special thanks to FlyBy Productions/Propeller for allowing us to participate in this giveaway.  I did receive a free sample of this product, but the opinions expressed are mine and were not influenced by this opportunity to review the bible.

Loved + Blessed

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When I arrived home, I found a little brown box waiting on me by the gate.  I smiled, as it was a package I had been expecting.  With great anticipation, I carried it into the house, carefully opened it, and immediately a smile formed on my lips.  My daughters saw my expression and hurried to my side to see what goodies this little box contained.

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The box was from Loved + Blessed, and that is exactly what I felt upon receiving this precious gift.

My youngest daughter loved the pink mirror and held it in her hand as if she had found one of the greatest treasures on earth.  Then, she opened it to find a message that said, “You are beautiful.”  She smiled all over herself at that point!  She also slipped the pink bracelet on her little wrist.

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My oldest daughter fell in love with the inspirational decal, poster, and wallet card, which she took to her room to proudly put on display.

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We agreed that I would keep the prayer journal, and boy do I ever love it!!

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What a wonderful concept to remind someone that they are loved and blessed, and what is so great about this is that you can subscribe to either receive a package once a month yourself OR bless someone else with a gift!  Each gift is packaged differently with inspirational messages and various items to encourage and uplift.  It is sure to bring a smile to someone’s face, including your own!

Just when you think it can’t possibly get any better, it does!!  Loved + Blessed is holding a giveaway right now for a chance for one lucky person to receive a loved + blessed gift once a month for a whole year!  Please click HERE to enter their GIVEAWAY!  

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