Enourage one another

Let’s face it – We are all going through trials. We are all doing this life’s journey, but we should NOT do it alone! I have seen 2 posts just this morning on FB where people are born encouragers to others that are frustrated b/c there aren’t enough of us in this world. I, myself, love thinking of others, helping others, and trying to help others in small ways. There are a small number of us, but there are times we get discouraged! It is hard when people don’t think like you do. This world would be a better place if people didn’t the ME FIRST idea. Let’s not get too busy in our life that we can’t reach out in bless someone. Sometimes it is just doing something small for someone that touches their day like no other. There are times people are going through such trials that God just needs his son or daughter to remind that person that they are not alone! You need to be a light in this dark world!
When I was frustrated last week, God spoke to me during our service Sunday. I don’t try to bless others for my own satisfaction, but just to glorify my Father in Heaven. The next morning while I said my morning prayer with my children, I realized daily I ask God to help us find a way to bless someone! Do you know if you ask God, he will help you. Your excuse, “I’m too busy.” “I’m too tired.” Just really doesn’t cut it. There are times I am places and I know the Lord reminds me… look this person just told you they were looking for this. So I will pick it up and bless that person. Just ask God to help you! Or stop once a week and find someone to send a card to or sometimes just a text!

2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the LORD.
9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55: 8-9

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” I Thessalonians 5:11

I simply just searches “ways to encourage” and found many lists on many sites.
I did like this one http://anextraordinaryday.net/52-practical-and-thoughtful-ways-to-encourage-others/

There are so many people out there hurting! Sometimes just a smile can make someone’s day. Let’s even try to train up our children to be the light in a hurting world b/c let’s face it.. this world needs a Jesus Light!

NIRV MINECRAFTERS BIBLE

Since my kiddo loves Minecraft, this was a fun surprise for him. He was so excited to get this in the mail. I was surprised at how thin the Bible pages were. There are thicker pages with pictures and bible stories. These pictures are made in the minecraft design which had him excited. He was eager to show his new book to his friends. I would rather his friends sit around looking at a Bible than a Pokemon book. So this was a Win Win! This came in a hardback form with a good size for him to carry.

The description given was, "Do you ever feel like it's more fun to exist in the computer world than the real one? Is that the only place you can control your destiny? Well, God is the original great world builder, and he gave us the power and the skills we need to make changes in the real world. The Minecrafter’s Bible, NIrV contains the full text of the New International Reader's Version (NIrV) of the Bible (from Genesis to Revelation) as well as 24 color tip-in pages featuring full-color illustrations in the style of wildly popular virtual-world-building games. Featured stories include the days of creation and great builds of the Bible."
I would most definietly recommend this book for all those minecraft loving kids. 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

Light of the Last by Chuck Black

The books description is, "To Fight What Others Can tYou Must See What Others Don t
After an accident left him temporarily blind, Drew Carter didn t just regain his sight. He now sees what others can t imagine an entire spiritual realm of mighty beings at war.
Forget the gift, Drew just wants his life back. Part of that involves Sydney Carlyle, a woman he is inexplicably drawn to. When he s offered the chance to become a CIA agent, it seems the way to redeem his past. The only problem his visions of the supernatural realm are increasing in frequency.
It s up to the warrior angel Validus and his hand-picked team of heavenly agents to protect the unbelieving Drew. Validus now knows that the young man is at the epicenter of a global spiritual war, and the angels must use a millennia of battle experience keep Drew alive, for the Fallen want him dead.
Surrounded by spiritual warriors and targeted by demons, Drew s faced with an impossible decision that will forever alter the destiny of America...and his own soul."
I really enjoyed book 1 and this 3rd book of the series. It gives an insight of the unseen battle all around us. While reading, you get caught up cheering on for Drew as he fights the unseen evil while the heavenly realm fights for him to give his heart to Christ!" This a great book for any reader. I do think the guys and teenage boys would like this book as well as any reader. It really makes you stop and think. I don't want to give a spoiler so I went with the book description. This would be a great series to read! I received this book from Blogging for Books for my honest review.

Night, Night Farm by Amy Parker

The book gives this description, "Moo moo, cows!

Baa baa, sheep!

When the sun sinks low down on the farm, the animals are all tuckered out from the day’s adventures. Join these adorable farm animals in pajamas as they say night night to the farm, to their mommies and daddies, and to God.

Your little ones will sleep until the rooster crows knowing that the God who made them loves them too.

Night night, farm!"

It is a very cute board book with a soft cushion type cover. It is a big book so it would be easy for the toddlers to hold. The pictures on each page are cute and not so realistic that would turn a little one way. Each pages tells an animal on the farm good night. At the end they tell God goodnight and that he made them all. This would be a great gift for toddlers. I would recommend this one to those with little ones.
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 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The Daniel Prayer by Anne Graham Lotz

In the Introduction she challenges you to prayer. As a nation we are so busy that we forget to pray. I mean to really devote time to sit in God’s presence and pray. This part actually got to my heart because I know that I have been guilty lately of just sitting in God’s presence. I do however try to pray constantly through the day, but I fall short of stopping to give God his time. One thing in this book that touched me was that the Daniel Prayer is to pray until your prayer is answered. It’s not easy or quick or without sacrifice. “It involves reading and pleading God’s promises.”
This book shows you person by person that used prayer in their life to overcome. Part 4 is the Patterns for Prayers which help lead you in the prayer you need for your battle. At the back of the book is an area where you can write your prayers out. This is a great book for those ready to increase their prayer life and see answers. The hardback book is white with a dark binding. The dust cover is the one with the picture. 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

Daniel 9:1-23New International Version (NIV)
Daniel’s Prayer
9 In the first year of Darius son of Xerxes[a] (a Mede by descent), who was made ruler over the Babylonian[b] kingdom— 2 in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the LORD given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years.3 So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes.
4 I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed:
“Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 5 we have sinned and done wrong.We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws. 6 We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes and our ancestors, and to all the people of the land.
7 “Lord, you are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame—the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, both near and far, in all the countries where you have scattered us because of our unfaithfulness to you. 8 We and our kings, our princes and our ancestors are covered with shame, LORD, because we have sinned against you. 9 The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him; 10 we have not obeyed the LORD our God or kept the laws he gave us through his servants the prophets. 11 All Israel has transgressed your law and turned away, refusing to obey you.
“Therefore the curses and sworn judgments written in the Law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against you. 12 You have fulfilled the words spoken against us and against our rulers by bringing on us great disaster. Under the whole heaven nothing has ever been done like what has been done to Jerusalem. 13 Just as it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come on us, yet we have not sought the favor of the LORD our God by turning from our sins and giving attention to your truth.14 The LORD did not hesitate to bring the disaster on us, for the LORD our God is righteous in everything he does; yet we have not obeyed him.
15 “Now, Lord our God, who brought your people out of Egypt with a mighty hand and who made for yourself a name that endures to this day, we have sinned, we have done wrong. 16 Lord, in keeping with all your righteous acts,turn away your anger and your wrath from Jerusalem, your city, your holy hill.Our sins and the iniquities of our ancestors have made Jerusalem and your people an object of scorn to all those around us.
17 “Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary. 18 Give ear, our God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. 19 Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.”
The Seventy “Sevens”
20 While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel and making my request to the LORD my God for his holy hill— 21 while I was still in prayer, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice. 22 He instructed me and said to me, “Daniel, I have now come to give you insight and understanding. 23 As soon as you began to pray, a word went out, which I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed. Therefore, consider the word and understand the vision:

God is like a radio station

I enjoy listening to this one uplifting radio station while I work. It is the hardest station to listen to! Cloudy days it hardly comes in. I can pick the station up good in the morning but in the afternoons, I'm always wiggling the knob. This morning I was trying to get it to work correctly... then I thought.. wow how many times is God not picking up a one on one communication with us. I bet he wants us to get full service from him all the time. Do you ever wonder if it gets so bad on some days, he stops and says, "Let's put on a CD - Let me let nature worship me, since she won't do it right?" Here's to a morning of listening to a CD while trying to make sure God picks up my prayers and worship fully!

ENJOY your JOURNEY

Journey, Easter Journey is a book that my 3 year old is loving right now. It tells of how Jesus was on a Journey.. Journey journey Jesus.. Jesus on a Journey.. It takes him from his journey to Bethlehem, to Egypt, to being a carpenter, to the cross, to rising up in heaven.

We were in the store the other day when she saw a cross necklace. She said, "Jesus was on a journey, he journeyed to the cross, bad cross, but he is a live!" I thought the lady at the checkout was going to choke. Yesterday my great uncle asked did she like to read. She looked at him and said, "Jesus on a journey, journey journey on!!" Yes this book rhymes, and I have read it alot over the last 2 months. Yet I don't mind b/c I know God is using it to work in me and apparently for her to witness to others.
Since reading it, the work Journey sticks out in many devotions and things I run across...
FIND JOY IN YOUR JOURNEY is a phrase that keeps coming to mind. I love it especially since I was already loving the word JOY this year.

This life bogs us down. Yet we need to stop and make each day matter... find Joy in our Journey! Jesus put us in this world, at this point in history for a reason! Make each day matter for eternity and try not to let this life you get you down... Stop, take a breathe, and find Joy in your Journey, b/c it is YOUR JOURNEY! Jesus put you here... Things you go through is just part of your journey, learn from it and move on!!