Walking with God in the season of Motherhood (biblestudy)

By Melissa B Kruger

I guess I was expecting more of a devotion, but I like the way it is set for each day as a bible study with a devotion for the final day of the week. I love how she gives the verses so you can read them and not have to look in a bible. To me it helps to have it all in one location so I can underline & highlight. After the devotions you have a indepth question or a few to break down the verses you just read to make you truly look into God’s word. It is nice having one geared towards moms. As a mom, she knows our fears, anxiety issues, and really just the things that make us tick. I was drawn to the book after realizing that I was in that other season of motherhood. I’m over having my children. I remember the longing season for the children that might come, the season on newborns and not feeling the done, and now I have a toddler and a 1st grader. I’m there. I am now in the season on doing my best to be the best mom that I can be. She gets that in this devotion. She offers us moms the bible study we need. Now if we could just sit down and read it. This would be a good book for any mom. The one sentence I fell in love with that she uses is, “The hope is to have God impact our own lives in such a way that His imprint on our hearts makes a lasting impression on our children.” Isn’t that the goal for every mom. Here’s a funny from my child this week: When playing, I realized you had a sticker on that said “Made in China.” I laughed and asked was he made in China or America. “Silly Momma. I was made by GOD! Not in America or China!” This should be why we parent! Lead a generation towards God. "I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review."

The Berenstain Bears God Bless Our Country Series: Berenstain Bears/Living Lights

By Mike Berenstain

This was a cute book that shares the meaning of our country’s birthday – The 4th of July!
The bears question the meaning of being patriotic and why they call it the Nation’s Birthday! I love how they actually teach about how our nation was founded on Christian principals and how they fought to be free. My son liked the word Patriotic. His daycare always has them dress up their bike for the 4th of July. This gives him the meaning on why while Brother and Sister bear do the same thing! I would recommend this book for any child. My children loved the stickers that were included. It is a normal paperback book that fits all the others in this series. Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

Rise of the Fallen by Chuck Black #2 in the Wars of the Realm

“The author’s overview: A six thousand year war rages and now the demonic Fallen are coming for him--the one man shrouded in mystery. Only Validus stands in their way.
Validus is the last and least of God's angels, but he's seen much across the millennia since his creation. Empires have risen and fallen as angelic and demonic forces battle in a raging war that will determine humanity's fate - and the fate of his defeated brothers.
Eventually called to be an earth-bound warrior, Validus rises to a position of power and respect, commanding legions of angels through impossible battles and overwhelming odds. But when orders arrive from the Creator's most elite Messenger, he finds himself suddenly demoted to a task of apparent insignificance considering the fierce war they are waging against the demonic Fallen - the covert protection of one unbelieving man.
Validus soon finds himself on a mission that will push him beyond his abilities as he battles to protect Drew Carter, for the Fallen are coming for him. Legions of them.
As Validus races against time to discover why Drew is so important to humanity's survival, can he stand between Drew and all who would destroy him?”

This book does not follow the first book. The first book is written as if Drew Carter was leading the story. I was looking forward and waiting for book 2. This book however hardly mentions the end of the story line from book 1. I couldn’t follow this book and how it jumps around. It is about the heavenly angels fighting the demons. I couldn’t recommend this book. I tried reading it multiple times, but I never could stay with it. I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for my honest review.

A daily required prayer - per my 6 year old

We were on our way leaving a Birthday party. Out of the blue I'm asked, “Does the devil have control of your life?” Um no. I pray for God to direct my steps and that I will live as he wants me too. “Well you have to ask God to take control of your life every day, if not the devil will try to take control! Have you asked God to take control today?” Ok son… Let’s pray..

Just last week he was telling me how he got stuck by the bad boy in class. I just said, "We just need to remember to pray for him." His response, "What that the devil would not have control of his life?"

so...
Who has control of your life?
Have you prayed today for God to take control of your life?

Have you lived Pleasing to the Lord today?

Wednesday night at church gave a few points that we should all look at asking ourselves daily...

Pleasing the Lord
None of us will live a perfect life.
Every one of us can live a pleasing life.

By his examples – we could go so many more places in life if we would strive to Please God and not others!
Enoch got to visit heaven w/o dying – b/c he was pleasing in the sight of the Lord!

Daily question to yourself:
Did you try to
1. Seek 1st the Kingdom of God – Live Righteously
2. Love the Lord with all your heart, soul, and Strength
3. Love your neighbor as yourself
4. Live to please the lord consistently


Show God’s LOVE by your ACTIONS!

The Berenstain Bears God Made You Special Series:

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”
Matthew 5:8

This Berenstain bears book is great for all children. How often do kids not understand kids that are different than them – All the time! This was a great way to introduce looking at kids that aren’t like them in a new light. Try to see why did God make this person the way that they are? Try to find the joy that they find in life. Maybe God is trying to teach you a lesson by knowing this special child! All children are special no matter if they fit the “normal” society puts kids in. I loved how the book portrayed the situation and how Brother and Sister bear got to know this child and got to experience a special kind of joy in their day! It was a simple paperback square book. It bends easy, but it is a great book for any kid. The pictures are great with the same great cartoons as always. Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

Easter & Heaven from My Child’s perspective

I love my son! He is a little pastor in the making w/o realizing it himself. I see the calling of God on his life all the time. He is meant to touch people. He sees the heavenly realm in so many ways. I can only pray he keeps this spirit about him.

In the afternoon of Easter, he runs excitedly thru the house. Mom!!! God hid me an egg! Of course your momma self is like, “WHAT?” so he repeats, “MOM, God hid me an easter egg! I just found this egg in the house! God hid it for me, and guess what? It is empty! He reminded me of the empty tomb!” I can only smile at this point and hug him! He must had been extra special for God to hide him that egg.

Later that night while we were cuddled saying our bedtime prayers, he is praying and asks God “to leave us just the way we are now when we go to heaven. Not to make Momma a kid, but keep her like she is so she can be my mom and I can be her kid, and when we get there, let us go together, but aren’t ready to go now.” I’m waiting for this to end to see what is on his mind. Then he asks about his Great Granny. DO you think she had a fun Easter? “Yes! She got to be with Jesus on this special day.” Well do you think she got to see me having fun on Easter? “Yes, I know she loved Easter and had to see you on Easter too!” At this point, I’m just waiting for his tired self to start with his tears that normally happens when he is tired and brings up his Great Granny.
Then it goes to, “Granny isn’t a kid, right? I still want her to be my Granny when I get to heaven.” Yes she will still be your Granny. “Well can she keep just one wrinkle, b/c I liked her widdle cute wrinkle.” “Well when I get to heaven, I want her to show me where the Circus Animals are, b/c I really want to see those circus animals.” Yes… “Well she can also show me where all the light switches are. I will need to know where they are.” We go into how God is the great light in heaven, there is no night when he is around, and no electricity – we won’t need light switches. Then he starts in on what does God do with the people that make it into heaven and then decide to do something bad. I explained that I would hope once they make it to heaven, they are so happy, that there isn’t a need to do bad. At this point he is getting tired, he rolls over and says, “Well I know one thing God has a lot of in heaven?” What sweet child of mine… “Security Cameras.. God has a lot of security cameras in heaven to keep a watch on everyone!” and he falls asleep…

I have to stop and think – what would people in this world do if we knew God has security cameras.. if we could physically see a God camera in the corner of the room.. something to remind us he is watching… I still think people would get used to seeing them after awhile and continue on with their sinful ways.. but maybe just maybe it might straighten a few people out..