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Want to win a copy of How to Enjoy Reading Your Bible by Keith Ferrin? Leave a comment below sharing a Bible verse that inspires you OR comment with a thought about Bible study and what you hope this book might do for you. I plan to draw a winner after midnight (PST) August 5th. Drawing open to anyone in the USA, except where legal restrictions disallow it. Happy commenting! :)

I grew up in church and don't remember an age where I wasn't either reading the Bible or having it read to me. So, I'll admit that there was a part of me that wondered about the title of this book. If I don't enjoy reading my Bible (I do, but that's a hypothetical "if") after this many years, how is this little ten-dollar paperback going to make a difference? I underestimated it. Just as the title says, this book contains ten tips (in ten chapters, followed by study guide sections) to enjoy Bible reading. Ferrin looks at the mental, spiritual and physical approach we take to Bible reading and how our routines are often erroneous. By changing our perceptions and habits, our lives can be changed. That sounds a bit exaggerated, I realize, but it's true. How we look at the Bible, how we make time in our schedule for the Bible, how we study the Bible. . . . these are all worth a second look. I don't want to give away too many of his th...

So, here is my good news for today. . . My husband just brought me 22 roses to celebrate 22 years of marriage today! (And my children each brought me a rose as well!) God is good. Enjoy your weekend!

This book is misnamed .   This short, eight-week study aims to provide a "light," "fun" Bible study option, giving Biblical perspectives on topics important to women. Since I've been asked by girlfriends for a Bible study program without homework, I was excited about this one, marketed right to them. The author organized her book into nice, easy-to-follow sections and I love the pretty, inviting cover. I received the book (ISBN 9781482083910) directly from her, and she even autographed it and wrote a personal note. Tate seems sweet and genuinely concerned for other women. That's one reason this review is so painful to write. I can't recommend her book. I think her title is a misnomer. The No-Homework Women's Bible Study: Group Hug doesn't seem "no-homework" or "Bible Study." True, no chapter analysis is required as homework. However, there are plenty of suggested optional tasks, from organizing to exercise,...

It is so fun to see the weekly analysis map that tells me from which countries visitors to my blog come. So far, we have had visitors from at least fifty nations/ territories! How cool is that? Argentina Armenia Austria Azerbaijan Belarus Bolivia Brazil Canada Cayman Islands China Croatia Czech Republic Denmark France Germany Ghana Greece Hungary India Indonesia Iran Isle of Man Israel Italy Jamaica Kazakhstan  Kenya Latvia Macedonia Malaysia Maldives Mexico Moldova* Netherlands Nepal Nigeria Pakistan Poland Russia Romania Saudi Arabia Singapore Spain Sweden Turkey Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom USA Vietnam *recently added Thank you for joining us on the blog! I am grateful to have you here!

When we lived in South America, we occasionally received care packages from friends and family back home.  Boxes, envelopes or suitcases would be mailed to us or hand-carried by my in-laws when they came to visit. It was so much fun to open them and find treats like books and magazines in English, American candy, Pop-Tarts, cheesecake mix, black olives, dill pickles, cards, notes and photos from loved ones. Costa Rica: Peter stopped unpacking the suitcase Papa and Grandma Throssel brought,  and just started reading one of the books! Bolivia: One year, Philip said that the only thing he wanted for Christmas was Silly Putty.  So, Grandpa George sent him an egg of it in every color available!   Well, a little while before Christmas last year, we received our first giant care package FROM Bolivia.  Our friend Caroline helped sort through some of our stuff in storage there, and then our friends Bev and Bill packed up two large suitcases fu...

Recently, I listened to Charles Stanley share a memorable analogy about the ocean. He said a giant storm can send winds swirling, rain falling and waves crashing. Yet, down deep beneath the water, where "the storm held no sway," that same ocean is quiet and calm. Stanley has written: "That’s what Christ’s peace is like. It’s not an absence of conflict or trouble but a deep calmness in the midst of life’s circumstances." (http://www.intouch.org/read/magazine/a-word-from-dr-stanley/choose-peace) Shortly after hearing him speak, I saw a stunning reminder of that kind of peace.  Some of you may have heard of eight prisoners executed in Indonesia for drug charges. Two Australians, a Brazilian, four Nigerians and an Indonesian were bound to posts and shot through the heart. There was a lot of controversy surrounding their deaths. No deaths had been linked to their drug charges and some of the prisoners had already spent years trying to make amends for their s...

In the midst of the Chilean volcano eruptions, the earthquake in Nepal and the riots in Baltimore, there is a LOT OF GOOD NEWS this week, too! Here are a few examples. . . . * More than 450 women and children have been RESCUED from Boko Haram in Nigeria (please pray for their emotionally and psychological recovery, and the hundreds still being held). * A teen was pulled from the rubble nearly a week after the Nepal earthquake! * Thousands of people stepped up in Baltimore to clean the city, feed police and military personnel and also feed the many needy children who couldn't get access to their school lunches. * A report shows automobile crash fatalities with drivers 16-19 years old are less than half what they used to be in America. * After Tim Ward lost his wife and home in a landslide, an anonymous donor heard his story and paid off the mortgage--of $360,000. * After Jean Sharon Abbott spent 33 years unable to control her limbs, a correct diagnosis allows her to ...

A BOOK THAT HAS STAYED WITH ME FOR WEEKS AND WEEKS I was so happy to be able to review No More Peanut Butter Sandwiches , by Jeff Davidson (currently available at http://www.amazon.com/No-More-Peanut-Butter-Sandwiches/dp/1633570010 ). This book is an honest story from a dad whose son was born with special needs.  Jeff Davidson was expecting a healthy boy with whom he could play basketball and teach to drive a car.  But his precious son, Jon Alex, was born with cerebral palsy and autism.  He is nonverbal and needs help to eat and dress. This book is meant to benefit other parents of special needs children, and especially to encourage dads to care for their wives and participate in their children's lives.  I didn't really know what to expect as I began this book, but I grew so much in my understanding of special needs individuals and their families.  There were so many things that I didn't know or hadn't thought about, and I feel very inspired and ...

Each time I see these photos, they make me smile! William Lawrence is so precious! He also happens to have an extra chromosome. His dad, Alan, is a photographer, who created these (and other) fantastic pictures of Wil flying. Alan says they are a reminder to him that his son will be able to do anything he sets his mind to as he grows. Alan is using the photos to create a calendar to raise awareness about Down Syndrome and gather money for two related organizations. "Ruby's Rainbow" helps provide scholarships to higher-level education for men and women who have this genetic condition. "Reece's Rainbow" helps fund adoptions of children with Down's. Sadly, studies show 90% of parents who are told their children will be born with extra chromosomes choose to abort them. Reece's Rainbow has helped with over 1,300 adoptions so far! I hope you will take three minutes to watch the beautiful, inspiring video at the link below. I think you w...

Please Click Here to read her inspiring article: How to Stop Being Bored And Start Being Wonderstruck (photo taken with my iPod on the way to work)

Have you ever felt blindsided by life? Have you ever felt blindsided by God? That is the subject of Peter Chin's recently-released book, "Blindsided by God: Disappointment, Suffering, and the Untamable Goodness of God." Can I just say, in short, that I LOVED this book? I did. Peter Chin and his wife moved with their two daughters to an inner-city location where they began a church congregation. He felt certain he was in God's will. They were blessed with health, purpose, each other. . . then they experienced some tremendous suffering in the span of a few short months. Miscarriage, a robbery, breast cancer, termination of health insurance. . . Why was this happening to them? If they were doing God's will, why would he allow them to suffer so much? This is a powerful book. One thing that I especially loved is that he doesn't preach at readers, but just tells his story and what he learned. And, along the way, we see some of God'...

Last night, I dreamed I was back in Bolivia. I dreamed it was the night before a flight to the United States and I was surrounded by the familiar pain of packing, cleaning, exhaustion and saying goodbyes.  It felt real and miserable and I didn't know if I could go through it all again. I trembled on the verge of just staying behind.  Opting out.  Leaving behind commitments, responsibilities, family, whatever and just not saying, "goodbye." Curling up in the empty house and letting whatever would happen, happen. That ripping, that tearing away, was always the most painful part for me of our years with the mission.  The leaving.  The crying. The wondering. I ached for something I couldn't have. I wanted all the people, places and things I loved to be together in one place. But that couldn't be a realistic option.  I had to push through hard goodbyes to get to good hellos. I had to move--12 houses in 13 years--because God was calling us to do thin...

Congratulations to "Jessbecause!" You won the Holly Yashi earrings! Thank you all for playing along. . . I usually have a giveaway every 4-6 weeks, so come back again for another chance to win something. Have a great weekend!

Well, I was thinking about the fact that it has been several weeks (six, to be exact), since I gave something away on my blog.  So, it is time for another one! And this one is very cool. . . these are a relatively new design from Holly Yashi, which I love. . .  the "Abbey Earrings." In the words of the Holly Yashi website, you can dress with "a touch of Renaissance glamour.":) These are made with sterling silver, Swarovski crystals, and the beautifully colored and imaged niobium for which Holly Yashi is famous. They retail for $48.00. Here's another photo to give you a clearer idea of their size. . . Want to win them? They are gorgeous! Leave your name with a comment at the end of this post.  What is something you love about Spring? COMMENTS FOR THIS OFFER CLOSE ON FRIDAY, MIDNIGHT PST. A winner will be picked AT RANDOM after MIDNIGHT ON FRIDAY, MARCH 13. By the way, I should add that you are welcome to enter the giveaway from anywhere it is l...

Tracie Miles wrote this book about an incredibly important topic, how God can use our past to impact other people in our future.  He doesn't make mistakes, and our own mistakes can be exactly what he uses to help those who are hurting.   This is an inviting book, with a nice cover and title.  I found Miles' writing to be engaging, and her stories to be vulnerable without being sensationalistic.  I loved the testimonies and questions that were included.  Miles wants people to work through their pasts in a God-centered manner and I think the Bible study questions could be a powerful tool for breakthrough in this regard. I can see her work being extremely useful for people wanting to move from painful backgrounds into all God has for them. I would have liked to see less of an emphasis on public platforms.  Not everyone is called to be a public speaker or author.  She says this in the book, but I felt it got a little lost in her encouragement to...

My mom gave me a phenomenal Christmas present this year.  She registered us for the 2015 West Coast Christian Writers Conference. We weren't first-timers.  She and I had been once before, back in 2006, I think it was.  Back then, Lee Roddy was keynote speaker, Jon Drury was Director, it was held under the name "Christian Writers Seminar" in Castro Valley, and I was working on a contemporary novel.  This past weekend, Kathi Lipp was keynote, Susy Flory was Director, we met in Fremont, and I was a little stuck on the non-fiction project I have poured myself into for the past two years. There are so many things to share about the conference, and maybe in the future I will write more about those.  Today, though, I want to tell you about something very personal that happened to us.  Something that felt, in a sea of strangers, like it was meant just for us. Road trip selfie My mom and I are both working on projects, and had a hard time selecting a con...

FAIR WARNING: Today's post is kind of PG-13.  So, kids, ask your parents before you read it. ------------------------------------   I recently overheard a coworker of mine say she is so excited about 50 Shades of Grey coming to theaters that she can hardly wait. I won't be at the theater watching 50 Shades on Valentine's Day.   In the words of Terri Clark, I have better things to do.   "I could wash my car in the rain, change my new guitar strings, mow the yard just the same as I did yesterday. . . . Check the air in my tires, straighten my stereo wires, count the stars in the sky or just get on with my life. . . I got better things to do. . . " (Shapiro/Waters/Clark) I don't mean to sound judgmental, but I won't be seeing it the next day, either. Or even when it comes out on DVD and Blu-Ray. I refuse.   Maybe you don't care why, but I'm going to tell you, just in case. :) I love my husband and marriage.      Years ago, before ...

I usually love pruning my flower bed.   It's like giving my roses a haircut.  I  anticipate how lovely they'll look come summer. But yesterday's pruning was hard.   Even painful.   It felt less like a trim and more like surgery.     You see, I've been worried about one of our roses, a bush that was planted in our yard approximately 100 years ago.   It was full of flowers our first year on the property, but after I cut it back last year, it hardly bloomed.     That is rare.   Usually the right kind of pruning makes the roses stronger.   So, a friend who is a rosarian graciously came over for a look.     Last Spring's blooms on the Lady Banks She said the rose was perfectly healthy, and I hadn't hurt it at all.   In fact, it needed to be cut back even more.   Almost to the ground.   Though it was healthy, it had developed years of twists and turns that were hindering it from being t...