From one mom to another in the growing stages of life!
Not if, but when.
We all encounter hardship in life. That’s normal. The abnormal is when we avoid it.
How do you embrace grief? When Mom died 19 months ago, it took months for the reality to set in. We went through the motions at the funeral and did the best we could with the reality of it all. When Gra’ma died three months ago, we had been preparing for her homegoing, but the finality still hit hard.
Grieving comes in many shapes. When close friends have moved away, it has been difficult to regroup. They build lives in other places and we try to fill the gap from their leaving. Does it create a yearning in you for something more? It does for me.
Processing the implications of loss takes time. The kind of loss may be different from one person to the next, but we all know the pain of saying goodbye. I am a work in progress, but here are some things I have learned along the way.
1. You can’t rush the process. Allow yourself time to grieve, and understand that each person grieves in her own way.
2. You can’t avoid it. Memories of our loved one can be triggered at any given moment and sneak up to startle us. One particularly good day, I glanced at a photo on the wall and immediately burst into tears. Those emotions lie under the surface but run deep. A good day unexpectedly turned into a difficult day.
3. You can’t replace your loved one, but can learn to celebrate the value she added to your life. I have had many special friends and am learning to appreciate the things I learned from them. For too long, I grieved their absence instead of being grateful for that season of friendship.
Blessings,
Sally
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Thomas B. Clarke grows “A Garden of Love.” His work at the
I dabble in gardening with “safe” varieties, but this book gives tips and descriptions of plants for a novice gardener, to aid in planting a mix that will bloom all through the seasons. There are recommendations for design and plotting suggestions for color and height of the foliage. The author changed my mind about the maze of choosing the right varieties for planting seasons and encouraged creativity in styles of perennials and annuals used.
Most importantly, “A Garden of Love” brings simple messages that connect the life of individual flowers and their comparisons to the Christian life. Clarke is reminded of the new journey with Christ in the bloom of daffodils and affirmed to stand up to adversity when he considers the strong roots of the cosmos. In the old-fashioned columbine, the gardener sees “a mellow, easily coordinated color that allows other flowers to shine. In this plant, (he) senses Jesus calling us Christians to show love and mercy to others through acts of kindness.” (p. 16)
Has winter gotten you down? Then this book is for you; the vibrant pictures give hope for warmer days ahead. Are you overwhelmed with life? Then pick up this delightful book for a peaceful return to sanity. You will come away, as I did, encouraged to love others as Christ loved us.
Sally
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.”
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25 years ago, a friend of
Roy and I seized the chance to visit with Camille Tuesday morning at a Panera in
Imagine being displaced because you happen to live in a war-torn country. Imagine not having food, soap or water because your home was bombed. H4L reaches out to refugees not only with basic necessities but also hope for living. As supplies are distributed, people see something different about those who come, and doors are opened to share the message of Jesus Christ.
Camille’s daughters are vested in the ministry. Their enthusiasm inspired Thanksgiving deliveries and cross-stitch towels. Camille’s wife is also an integral part of projects and enhances outreach by her gracious spirit. When a family is on fire for the Lord, an organization is empowered to reach out to others. But it’s not just their family, H4L has grown with others who have caught the vision and have compassion for this land in turmoil.
One undertaking that has brought a win-win situation to two areas was the development of soap by farmers. The soap is bought and distributed to refugees, thereby helping both the refugees and the farmers.
The Winterization Project provides hats, blankets and helps families prepare for cold winter months. When I asked Camille about sending blankets from the States, he and Roy were both quick to say the cost of shipping is exorbitant. However, money sent to purchase blankets becomes an extra blessing as it is a boost to the local economy.
The ingenious ways H4L uses its assets is a reflection of its director. As we’ve connected with Camille repeatedly over the years, he has continued to grow into his role of mentor, resource person and trainer of others to fulfill The Great Commission. Click here to watch a video of Camille describing the ministry. I think you’ll get a clear picture of the passion he brings to the work in
How can you help? Pray and Give.
Camille reminds me of the faithful servant in Matthew 25:21 who gains a large investment on his talent. What will you do with your talents?
Sally
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A young missionary family has been home in our area. While in the States, their home in
Now, Nate and Amy are packing to return and rebuild. Why would you go back to those conditions? What would motivate anyone to live in an area of unrest? I think any missionary would answer, “We love the people and they have no other options.”
Nate & Amy embody this very thought:
Hubby & I had the opportunity to meet this sweet couple for lunch on Monday. As we talked about the people they work with in
In an email, Nate says,
“As we think about our return to
If God provides, we would like to rebuild a house near where our ministry relocates within peaceful
Could you help?
Could you send money for nails or cement or roofing? Would you help a family that is dedicated to the people of
Thank you!
Sally
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Do you find your checkbook unequal to the bills? Has your loose change dwindled to lost funds? How do you find finances to fulfill your vision when you’re barely making the cost of living?
Recent visits with missionary friends have garnered interesting insights into the perception of other cultures as they look to the
1. They see
2. They see Americans as wealthy.
How do you explain that people struggle here too?
Maybe we need to have a change of our own perception!
Read more here...
Leave a comment so we can dialog about your financial brainstorms!
Sally
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Darrin Yeager writes to today’s church about troubled times. Not just any time in history, but the church at work in today’s news. The format takes the book of First Corinthians, verse by verse, and fleshes it out for the reader using illustrations from current political events.
At times, the tone is from a mentor who seeks to guide the way. His message is palatable because he doesn’t come across as a “know it all” but one who knows the Savior. At other times, Mr. Yeager assumes a more authoritarian stance, calling other works “doctrine blowing in the wind.” He will offend some readers, yet enlighten others with his commentary on Paul’s letter to the believers in
Mr. Yeager’s real passion shows up in chapter 16 when he delves more deeply into the role of government and how we interact with it. Truly, that may be the shining glory of any Christian’s life, to refute the evils of society.
His encouragement to the church? “This is not the time to be afraid. Be prepared!”
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Money is tight. What will you do?
Have you ever traded services with another? When my daughter was a preschooler, I traded childcare one day a week with a friend. It released me to head to the library and gave my daughter a friend to play with. Together they will graduate from high school this year!
Dennis Hensley says a favorite pastime can provide “the fun part of making money.” What are you drawn to? Could that become more than a hobby? I have a friend who resells her finds on ebay. And there are countless job search vehicles. Yesterday I found another one called Jibe.
Coupon clipping is back in vogue. 
Maybe your way to earn money will come in the form of cutbacks? Less meals out? More home entertainment?
Don’t lose heart. Stay persistent in the quest to stretch your dollars. Your hard work will pay off in the end and you’ll be able to say, “Well done!”
Money that is gathered little by little will grow. Proverbs 13:11
Sally
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“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.” –Paul, Colossians 4:2-4
My Grandprincess loves doors. She loves to pull and push doors. She loves to knock on them. She loves to play peek-a-boo behind them. She loves to stand on her tippy toes and stretch her tiny fingers toward the doorknob, just out of reach. Until last week.
Last week she discovered the miniature door that stands sentinel to our closet under the stairs. Oh, how her face lit up with the wonder of something touchable! Emma had found a door, just her size.
Something clicked inside of me at her discovery. Hadn’t I been knocking on doors that just wouldn’t open for me? Hadn’t I worried that God didn’t know the one that was right for me?
God is the craftsman who knows which door is just my size. He won’t push me through one that is too small or one that is gigantic.
Paul talks in First Corinthians about the gift distribution system. The Lord equipped each of us in a way to contribute to all and to bring glory to God. There’s room for what each one has to offer.
What about you? Have you been knocking on doors too?
Sally
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Do You Want a Rich and Meaningful Life?
Set in run down neighborhoods of
Unexpected Dismounts, by Nancy Rue, tackles unusual plot themes of bikers, prostitutes, adoption, and Nudges from God. Wrap those themes up in street lingo and biker slang, and you’ve got an education coming that puts you right in the middle of a different world. Although a work of fiction, Rue’s characters were so consistent, they took on a life of their own. The point of view came from Allison’s own questions about people and their motives. And the emotions of doubt, fear and mistrust toward people and God were real-life snippets of our own tug-of-war with faith. I came away from the book feeling a kinship to people for whom I had not previously been able to relate. And it was refreshing to watch someone stretch in her understanding of God and His desire for her place in the world.
If you pick up this book in the middle of the trilogy, like I did, you may have difficulty following the characters at the beginning. But hang on; it doesn’t take long to rev up the action to a great read!
Sally
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Dr. Labib Mikhail says, absolutely not! His book, The Virgin Mary in the Light of the Word of God, clarifies the issues that have grown around the life that housed the Babe, born into the world to save us from our sins.
Of additional interest, a Lexicon is also added to the book, explaining common religious terms. While able to refute Muslim misconceptions of The Trinity, this book is an important tool to help all Christians understand the role of Scripture to validate Truth. I have some friends with a Catholic upbringing, who will be pleased to find such clear words used to shed light on human traditions.
Dr Mikhail and his collaborator, Dr. Nasser S. Farag, bring theology into easy-to-comprehend discussion. Yet, there are profound statements to mull over, as in the contrast between John the Baptist and Jesus. “One was filled with God’s Spirit. One was God Himself.” (p. 13)
Great effort is made to present all manner of heresies that have sprung up within the Church, always reminding the reader to put our trust in God alone (Jeremiah 17:5-8) instead of elevating Mary, nor any apostle, to equal Jesus.
The authors warn, “It is a dangerous thing to passively depend on human knowledge and choose to remain ignorant of God’s truth in His Word.” (p. 122)
True to the Mary we meet in Scripture, our final admonition is “as she tells the servants at the wedding in
I entered into this book of a mindset that it would be complex reading. It was a pleasant surprise to find it explained in layman’s terms, with a takeaway value: I want to do whatever Jesus tells me!
Sally
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.”
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