Book List for Junior High and High School

Recently I put out a Facebook call for "Must Reads" for high school students. I was looking for interesting, yet meaningful, reading material for my 11th- grader. Someone turned the tables and asked me what my recommendations were for Jr. High. I'm always up to creating a list so I couldn't pass up this request. :-)

The following isn't necessarily "Jr. High". Every child's reading level is different, and what one might read and comprehend in 7th grade another cannot grasp until 11th. With that in mind, here is a list of wonderful books my children and I have read, sometimes separately and sometimes aloud:

I really like historical fiction for my kids. It is a painless and interesting way to learn about history! My favorite set of books for this is the Trailblazer Series by Dave and Neta Jackson. They are fairly short and the authors tell you up front what part of the story is and isn't true. They make you feel like you know the historical figure. Many of them come with a study guide. Click here for a list of titles. I learned much more about Martin Luther through Spy for the Night Riders than I did in Bible History in college. (Maybe because it was more interesting.)

Other good books in this genre are:

Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes

The Secret Diary of Jeb and Abigail by Jean Fritz

Christy by Catherine Marshall (Which is based on a true story with some creative license.)

The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare

I really like Patricia St. John. Some of her books are Biblical Fiction like Twice Freed (The story of Onesimus) and The Runaway. Her books are a bit slow moving, but very meaningful and decidedly Christian.

My oldest daughter and I LOVE Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. (My youngest daughter didn't.) I consider it a must read. It is for a more experienced reader though.

Summer of the Monkeys by Wilson Rawls is a really fun book. My mom told me for years I needed to read it to my kids. The title just didn't sound too interesting so I continued putting it off. What a mistake! It is a great book and fun read-a-loud. (There is a movie. Skip it and read the book instead.)

Little Professor of Piney Woods School by Beth Day. This is a must read for those living in Mississippi. Many of us have passed Piney Woods School on highway 49 for years without knowing its very interesting and godly heritage. Great story!

Classics we enjoyed include:

Heidi by Johanna Spyri

Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain

The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain

In His Steps by Charles Sheldon (This book had a major impact on my life as a teenager.)

Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle

The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom (Very intense…high school students)

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (I recently re-read this. Absolutely one of the best books EVER! Definitely high school level)

The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum (I consider this a "must read" not because it is an oh-so-wonderful book, but because the movie is such a classic and American icon that students ought to read the original story and compare the differences.)

Other "Must Reads" though not classics:

These Strange Ashes by Elisabeth Elliot

Through Gates of Splendor by Elisabeth Elliot

End of the Spear by Steve Saint

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson (This is probably an elementary age book, but I still consider it one of the best Christmas stories out there.)

Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers (High School students only because of the nature of the story. This is absolutely one of the best books I have ever read!)

Harry Potter series by J.K Rowling . I realize they are highly controversial among Christians. I've read or heard all the pros and cons. I wouldn't allow my older two children to read them until they were grown. Then they put up the argument, "How can you condemn something you've never read?" I allowed my oldest daughter to read the first aloud to me and my then 13 year old. What can I say? I was hooked! Right or wrong, they are excellent read-a-louds and very entertaining. If all you've seen is the movies you don't have a good picture of the books. They do get "darker" as they progress, and I would NOT recommend them for pre-teens or younger. But I have to be honest, we really enjoyed them.

Another great read-a-loud is A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket. They are so impossibly tragic you can't take them seriously. I love the author's use of language and way with words.

My all time favorite children's book series is Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder. (There are also spin-off series about her parents and grandparents.) Skip the tv series and read the books.

Arleta Richardson has a collection of books about Grandma's Attic. They are delightful, humorous, and innocent. They may be difficult to find, but they are worth the effort. These are good for younger kids too.

That's my list so far. I'm sure new things will pop into my mind throughout the day.

Happy Reading!

That First Step

"I'm not going to cry. I'm not going to cry. I'm not going to cry." That was my mantra yesterday as my 23 year old son prepared to leave for his new life-adventure. He just accepted a job in Florida. You'd think that his five years in college would have prepared me for this letting go. He's lived in his own apartment for the last year, and his busy schedule prevented his dad and I from seeing him that often. Still, he was a college student then, only an hour away. Today he is a man; a man leaving for his first "real" job. A man about to live 0ver 500 miles from "home". A man making his own "home".

This is not his first adventure into the world. Just over 23 years ago he made his grand entrance - at 5:30 am. A few weeks before his arrival I remember thinking how difficult "letting go" would be. And it was painful, even with an epidural. Not just physically painful, but emotionally as well. He would no longer be a literal part of me. I might not always know exactly where he was or how he was doing. I wouldn't be aware of his every movement. Of course I wouldn't have stopped it for the world. There were exciting adventures to have and new discoveries to make. Many of these we made together. I cheered as he took his first steps and was his biggest fan during baseball season, basket ball season, football season. (You get the picture.)

Here I am at another "letting go". One an epidural won't even touch. My heart aches, my head aches, and, yes, I cried. (After he left.) Yet, this is not so much different from 23 years ago. He is moving a little farther from the influence and safety of "home" to a place less connected with my own life. Today I remind myself again I wouldn't stop this for the world. He has exciting adventures to have, more discoveries to make, new goals to achieve. And just as I cheered his first step across the floor, I will cheer this first step across the world.

No Words

We've exhausted the English language trying to describe Your indescribable mercy, love, and grace. We use words like "awesome", "incredible", "marvelous", "wonderful", "overwhelming" in an attempt to put what You have done for us into words. Our vocabularies just aren't big enough. Our attempts at description are feeble. Our efforts just overuse those few really great words leaving us speechless and inadequate and, I hate to confess, not as in awe of You as we should be. We've heard those descriptions time and again so that they have lost their punch so to speak. Phrases like "Amazing grace how sweet the sound" are no less true, they've just become so easy to say without any emotion at all. What a tragedy! Please, Lord, take these words - they are all we have - and give them meaning again. Refreshen our faith. Give us a glimpse of Your splendor. Waken Your sleeping church from her apathy. Pierce our hearts with the magnitude of Your sacrifice and the power of Your resurrection. May we be truly overwhelmed by Your love for us.
Amen

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My Advocate

My Advocate

April 6, 2011

Note: I’ve heard it said, “I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” 1 The truth of the matter is, if one person’s freedoms can be taken, then no one’s freedoms are safe. You may or may not agree with home-education, but if you value the freedom to raise your children as you see fit, and if you value the freedom to serve God as you feel convicted, then you should be concerned when a district Judge steps outside the law to violate someone’s privacy and rights. And besides, that’s not really what this article is about. J

On April 2, 2011 all homeschooling families in Mississippi’s 13^th district received a letter of notification that could very well have been the first step of the proverbial “Slippery Slope” - a slope that might endanger the rights of parents to home-educate their children in Mississippi. I wasn’t particularly concerned for my own “student” who only has to legally be enrolled one more year. 2 I was more upset about the intrusion into my privacy and the threat against this beautiful freedom we enjoy. I was concerned about my future grandchildren’s education and if my children would even have the right to home-educate if they so chose. I saw an injustice in the making - an overstepping of the judicial powers of big government, and I was not a happy camper. My first course of action? Worry. (Which always seems to be my default response.) Prompted by fear and indignation I began contacting other home-schooling families to see what they knew. Upon pooling our information it became clear that some counter legal action was needed. But what kind? How would you go about that? Who should be contacted? How much would such a thing cost? My anxiety level was on the rise.

Enter Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA).

For twenty-five years HSLDA has been defending the cause of America’s home-educators. For a nominal yearly fee they stand on guard protecting our rights and advocating on behalf of those who find themselves in legal battles over trampled civil liberties in the area of home-schooling. Always in compliance with State laws in a home-school friendly state I’d never given HSLDA much thought – until now.

Yesterday morning I called HSLDA and joined. By evening I received a kindly phone call from their legal team telling me what they knew about the case and assuring me they had been hard at work on the issue. All necessary papers had been drawn and filed. All parties involved had been notified of the intent to fight this rights violation. They had everything under control, and there was nothing for me to do but relax and let them handle it. I can’t describe my relief. They were knowledgeable about what I didn’t understand. They had power where I was powerless. They had contacts where I knew no one. A weight was lifted. Someone in the know was in charge.

As I breathed one more sigh of relief and gratitude this morning I thought about another Advocate3 I have. One I should turn to at the first sign of trouble but don’t always. One Who is powerful where I am weak, knowledgeable about all things, and has connections all over the world and beyond. One Who patiently waits to intervene on my behalf if I will just ask. He says to me, “I have done all that is necessary. I have everything under control. I’ve been working diligently behind the scenes. You don’t have to do anything except relax and let Me handle it.”

What a relief! And He paid the fee Himself!

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”4

“Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”5

---

1 Attributed to various people including Voltaire and Evelyn Beatrice Hall.

2 Students may opt to drop out of school at the age of 17 in Mississippi.

3 Job 16:19

4 Matthew 11:28

5 1 Peter 5:7

What am I giving up for Lent?

Yesterday was Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. Facebook had numerous mentionings of it. Several are actually surrendering Facebook during this 40-day period before Easter; others are sacrificing, well, the list is endless and doesn't really matter. Lent’s about sacrifice, right? Giving up something important as an act of worship, a reminder of Christ’s sufferings on our behalf, a clearing of “life-clutter” to create more time to focus on Him? I think it is a wonderful thing: self-sacrifice in order to grow closer to Christ. And the lists of things to give up, sacrifice, or fast from (however you want to word it) are legion. Facebook, television, secular music, Internet, alcohol, cigarettes, fast food, meat, sweets, soft drinks, new shoes, or anything that robs our time with God or replaces Him in our lives are good choices for the chopping block called Lent.

But I’ve been wondering….

What might please God more?

Giving up shopping trips or giving up grudges?

Forgoing Face Book or forgoing gossip?

Feeling chocolate cravings or feeling an overwhelming burden for the lost?

Leaving the TV. off or leaving our comfort zone to share God’s love with someone out of our social standing, religious convictions, or racial class?

Last year the Christian radio station K-Love gave a 40-day challenge to “do everything without complaining.” (Philippians 2:14) I opted out of the challenge. It was summer time in Mississippi and I knew, “It is SOOOOO hot!” would come out of my mouth numerous times. Giving up chocolate would have been easier.

This brings us back to the question. What am I relinquishing for Lent this year? I haven’t yet decided. Maybe nothing at all. (Just being honest.) I like what Barbie Bassett said, “As a Christian I am to deny myself daily.” Hmmmmm…. 365 days is a lot longer. Maybe I should choose sacrificing for Lent instead of daily for the rest of my life. (Is that even an option?) Also, if something has such a grip on me that it is worth giving up for 40 days, should it be in my life at all? These are the questions that plague me.

As I search for answers I’m reminded of two things:

“For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.” Hosea 6:6

“If I give all I posses to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:3

Hopefully I’ll get it figured out before Easter.

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Why you should….What’s that called again?

What would happen if you bought a medium size waterproof container, filled it with cheap trinkets, hid it somewhere outside, determined its GPS coordinates, and then posted those coordinates on the Internet? People from all over would come and find it! They would sign their names on the log book you included in the container (because you want to know who found it), they would take a trinket from the container and leave something in return, they would later report their find on the internet, and they would go off to find other such hidden containers. Oh, and they would call it Geocaching! (“Geo” meaning “earth” and “cache” being a collection of things.)

I wish I could take credit for devising such a clever hide and seek game, but I can’t. I can tell you to visit www.geocaching.com to learn all about this high-tech scavenger hunt. (That’s where you find and post coordinates and log in your finds.) I am fairly new to the geocaching adventure, but I can tell you it is great fun, educational, and highly addicting!

You should go geocaching because:

1. It’s fun!

2. It’s fairly cheap as far as hobbies go. You probably already have what you need: Internet access to geocaching.com (where you can sign up for a free account), a GPS, gas in your vehicle, and a sense of adventure. Of course, like any hobby, you can spend lots of money on geocaching too. You can invest in special GPS’s and/or smart phone apps, you can pay for a premium membership, you can purchase special trinkets to place in caches and “official” gear, and you can drive all over the country. But you don’t have too. Chances are there are hundreds of caches within a day’s drive of where you live.

3. It’s cross-generational. I love it, my 16-year-old daughter loves it, and my 69-year-old father loves it! Because it is an ageless activity it creates great opportunities to bring families together.

4. It gives you something to do on those beautiful days when you want to be outdoors but you don’t own a boat or a membership to the country club.

5. It is educational. Well, it isn’t ALWAYS educational, but many caches are hidden in or around historical areas. One of our best “finds” wasn’t the actual cache (which was too small to contain anything except a log to sign), but the nearby church that was built in the mid-1800’s. We were able to go inside and sit in the slave balcony on the original benches. That had a profound affect on my 16-year-old and sparked some great discussion. Also, some variations of the geocache are non-traditional ones which aren’t containers, but places including geological treasures and historical sites. Because of this…

6. You never really know what you will find or where you will end up! That makes it quite adventurous!

7. It creates great memory-making opportunities… like going caching with good friends along the bank of the Mississippi River. Or when you and your daughter give up the search for a cache deep in the woods but your dad refuses to give up and you think he is truly lost because you can’t hear him any more. (He does make his way out only to trip over a fallen tree and land flat on his back. He’s ok though.)

8. You get to see some beautiful places. If you like photography then this is the hobby for you. Like I said, you never know what you will find. It could be that previously mentioned old church, or a beautiful sunset, or a most unusual magnolia tree, or gravestones marked CSA (Confederate States of America).

9. I’ll let you fill in #9!

If you decide to accept my challenge and sign a log sheet that has already been signed by Jeffcoat5….that’s me!

Happy Caching!

Race Update

Just wanted to let readers know that Kyle ran his 1/2 marathon in 2 hours 25 minutes! He was well pleased and so was I. He is already making plans for a couple more 1/2 marathons and a full one! Upon reading my previous post he commented,"That was sweet, Mom, but I'm really not eating better." I said he might increase his time if he did.

Hmmmm....I feel another inspirational thought coming. :-D

Thanks for all the well wishes.

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At the Finish Line

My son is in New Orleans today running his first ½ marathon. I’m impressed! This is the son who loves chocolate chip cookies for supper and hates vegetables. This is the boy who hid his spaghetti under a bookcase when he was five and always has a little milk with his chocolate. Yet for months he’s been working out and training for this event. Even watching what he eats. (To some extent) I have no doubt he can do it, and I’m cheering him on all the way…from home. I want to be at the end of his 13.1-mile journey through the French Quarter to greet him at the finish line and applaud this accomplishment. I want to tell him how proud I am of his hard work, determination, and resolve to keep going. But I won’t be there. Obligations beyond my control prevent me.

I said this was my son’s first ½ marathon, but it isn’t his first race. When he was younger he decided to run the race of faith set before him by Christ, a race I myself started years before he was born. It too requires hard work, determination, and resolve to keep on keeping on. There are distractions, detractors, and detours on this path. Some places are smooth and scenic, and others contain rough, ugly terrain. And unlike a ½ marathon, we don’t really know how far it is to the end. We just have to keep our eyes on Jesus and run with perseverance the race set before us. Two things are certain, I know he can do it, and I will be at this finish line to welcome my son and applaud his accomplishment.

This is the most important race of our lives.

I love you, Kyle! See you there!

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. (Hebrews 12:1-2)

© Drewe Llyn Jeffcoat 2011

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I just loaded a blogger app and wanted to see if it really works.:-D

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A Mother's Heart Blessed by Her Daughter's....

God has been doing some amazing things in my daughter's life. I want to share it... (She'll be 16 this month!)


http://iamonlyonebutiamone.blogspot.com/2011/01/and-who-is-responsible-for-this.html

Making Memories

On January 2, 2010 I didn’t jot down a bunch of New Year’s resolutions in my journal; I wrote a list of goals for the year. Looking back at that list I see I accomplished some (like reading more) and fell short on others (like losing ten more pounds). One goal that will be on every year’s list is making memories with my family. Good memories bind us together giving our relationships depth and meaning. They are places of refuge during troubled times and warm us through like hot chocolate on a cold winter day. Blessed is the family with a treasure chest full of loving memories.

Some of the most memorable moments come unexpectedly like a spontaneous snowball fight. (Or water balloons depending on the season.) However, the calendar pages fly quickly and I do believe we need to make intentional memory making opportunities. They can be as simple and inexpensive or elaborate and as pricey as you want or can afford. Traditions are also great memory makers. I have a friend who makes green pancakes every St. Patrick’s Day. Something simple, yet a memory her children will always think of every March 17th.

Here are some things we did this year:
· Played in the snow (In Mississippi snow in itself is a memory maker.)
· Had our own Super Bowl party and watched our team win.
· Had movie dates with my daughters
· Shopping with my mom and youngest daughter to find fabric for daughter’s curtains Mom would make
· Sing with daughters in church (Well, sing with oldest; sing while youngest does ASL)
· Cooked new recipes
· Read books together
· Helped daughters pick out dresses for their first formal
· Did ministry projects together
· Went to extra-curricular activities (Cassie’s first play, Kyle’s intramural basketball game, and Candace’s clogging performances.)
· Went on nature walks
· Played basketball together (Kyle won…I am NOT a basketball player.)
· Got taken on a birthday adventure to New Orleans by my hubby and girls
· Watched a caterpillar grow and turn into a butterfly
· Made lots of candles together (Candace is earning $$ for a mission trip.)
· Participated in my first flea market to help sell those candles
· Had a water balloon sneak attack on Husband (with girls’ help)
· Painted Vacation Bible School scenery and learned VBS songs with youngest daughter
· Picked blueberries and butterbeans with grandparents (Not in the same day.)
· Discovered the joys of geocaching with friends and with my dad (Lots of good memories with this!)
· Played laser tag with whole family
· Made a time capsule with whole family
· Watched for shooting stars
· Made egg custard pie with my grandmother then ate it
· Went to the Riverpark in Tunica with friends
· Went to the water park as a family

And took lots of pictures! In this digital age taking pictures is not very expensive. It isn’t even that costly to have them developed because you only buy the ones you know are good. Put these in an album however fancy (or not), and look back over them.

What memories did you make in 2010?
What ideas do you have for making them in 2011?

Thy Kingdom Come?

I cheated. The new series I started teaching in Sunday School isn’t new at all. It’s an old series based on the Lord’s Prayer I used with another class several years ago. Simple, easy, and not too controversial. Seemed a perfect choice, I mean, who doesn’t want to know how to pray as Jesus did? But…

After a closer look and an encounter with a blog on human trafficking I now wonder who really wants to pray as Jesus did.

Originally my take on “Thy Kingdom Come” was one of submission…submission to God’s authority based on the submission of Christ (Philippians 2:5-11) Today I’m looking at it from a whole new perspective….

“Thy Kingdom Come” isn’t just our submitting to God’s authority; it is inviting Him into our world and our lives. Do we really want to? Sure, we want our loved ones healed, safe, sober, and out of jail. We may even want God’s help in making wise decisions, finding the best parking spot, or providing our needs. But do we REALLY want God’s will? Do we REALLY want His kingdom to come?

What if His will and His kingdom requires leaving our comfort zone? (It probably will.)
What if it means giving of our time, energy, and money until it hurts? (It usually does.)
What if it means giving up our desire to be healed, be safe, or be comfortable? (It’s a real possibility.)

You see, as much as God loves us, His highest goal is not our happiness nor prosperity. His highest goal is our rescue from hell and hell’s influence; not only ours, but that of the world. (Because as bad as it is, Satan’s abode is worse.)

When we pray “Thy Kingdom Come” we’re really saying, “Lord, use me to bring the world to You…whatever it takes.” I guess it is a prayer of submission after all. That’s what Jesus did, and it took Him to Calvary.

Are we REALLY ready to pray that?

This War Inside Me#comments

Heartwrenching! But don't turn away for God's sake and the sake of His children.

This War Inside Me#comments

Word Power

Did you know that Abraham Lincoln once credited Harriet Beecher Stowe with starting the Civil War? How? With her book entitled Uncle Tom's Cabin. Did you know that Clement C. Moore gave America the now prevalent picture of Santa Claus as wearing a bright red suit and being jolly? Moore also brought us the concept of eight tiny reindeer along with their names. How? With a little poem he wrote for his daughters called "The Night before Christmas".

Words are powerful! They can change the course of history and establish popular culture. Words can challenge people to greatness, or tear them down to despair. The Bible says:

"The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit." (Proverbs 15:4)

"Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing." (Proverbs 12:18)

"Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones." (Proverbs 16:24)

"The tongue has the power of life and death..." (Proverbs 18:21)

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." (Ephesians 4:29)

Not many of us will shape the culture or change the world by what comes out of our mouths, but every day we shape and change the lives of those who hear us, those closest to us. Let's shape them for the better.

"Silver Boxes"

My words were harsh & hasty
And they came without a thought.
Then I saw the pain & anguish
That my bitter words had brought.
Bitter words that I had spoken
Made me think back through the past;
Of how many times I'd uttered
Biting words whose pain would last.
Then I wondered of the people
I had hurt by things I'd said;
All the ones I had discouraged
When I didn't use my head.
Then I thought about my own life
Of painful words I've heard;
And of the times I'd been discouraged
By a sharp and cruel word.
And now clearly I remember
All the things I might have done;
But, by a word I was discouraged
And they never were begun.
So, help my words be silver boxes,
Neatly wrapped up with a bow;
That I give to all so freely,
As through each day I gladly go.
Silver boxes full of treasure,
Precious gifts from above;
That all the people I encounter
Might have a box of love

By Florence Littauer

Anticipating the Impossible

Here’s the challenge: Using only four lines, and without lifting your pen or pencil, connect all nine dots. Ready? Go!



Did you give up? Does it make your brain hurt to think about it? Is it even possible? I assure you, it is possible. It just requires a different way of looking at things. “Out of the Box” thinking, so to speak. (I’ll post the solution at the end. Don’t scroll down just yet, though!)

Puzzles like this remind me that just because I can’t see a solution doesn’t mean there isn’t one. Just because something seems impossible to my finite mind doesn’t mean it isn’t achievable. It may just require some creative thinking.

Life’s problems are frequently the same way. Whether the challenge is a strained relationship, financial concern, or some entanglement of our own making, resolution often seems impossible. We’ve thought things through from every human angle examining all perceivable options only to find ourselves at a dead end. Too many variables are out of our control and words like “hopeless”, “helpless”, and “impossible” hammer at our minds. We’re at the end of our proverbial rope.

And yet, if we are very still, we can hear other words whispering in our hearts:

“Everything is possible for him who believes,” (Mark 9:23)

“With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26),

and “I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is there anything too hard for me?” (Jeremiah 32:27)

That’s the sound of Truth – God speaking in His still small voice to our very souls. (See 1 Kings 19:11-12.) You see, God is King of “Out of the Box” thinking; the ultimate Creative Mind. He always has a fresh perspective. He controls all the variables. He perceives all the options. And He is holding both ends of the rope we're hanging from. The "impossibilities" of our lives are really opportunities for God to reveal Himself to us.

Here’s another challenge: Anticipate the impossible. Watch it become a reality. Ready? Go!

1. At the top of piece of paper write today’s date and “ ‘Impossible’ Prayer Requests'”

2. Now list those heart-burdens that require parting-of-the-Red-Sea miracles. These can be prayers of deliverance from addictions and past demons, prayers of reconciliation for strained relationships, prayers for salvation for those without Jesus, prayers for provision of financial needs, prayers of Divine Intervention and Wisdom for decisions to me made; whatever is on your heart.

3. At the bottom write those verse reminders that with God all things are possible.

4. Pray. Pray every day. Bombard heaven with your concerns.

5. And wait patiently for God to reveal Himself in ways you never imagined.

"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us." - 1 John 5:14

Solutions:

Challenge #1









Challenge #2
Start here:

Redeeming Love

What roads brought Angel to Pair-a-Dice brothel as the most sought after prostitute in town? What keeps her there? What secrets torment her? What will it take to free her from her demons? Is redemption even possible?

To find out, put supper in the crock pot, turn off your cell phone, clear your schedule, and check out Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. It is one of the best nail-biting, page-turning, spell-binding books you will ever read.

More than a masterful work of fiction set in the 1800’s, Redeeming Love is the take-your-breath-away story of God’s loving pursuit of His most cherish Beloved…you.

Little House on the Prairie

It may seem odd that a set of children’s books should be on my list of life-changing literature, but as I began composing this list I realized just how much the Ingalls family shaped my view of what family should be. I read this series through at least six times before graduating high school. Then I read it to my three children. And this is what I learned about family:

• Pa and Ma should be totally devoted to each other and the family through thick and thin. They create an atmosphere of love and safety for their children. They should be kind and gentle, but lovingly firm when necessary.
• Pleasure should be found in a job well done and in simple things like a sunrise, wildflowers, striped gophers, and sliding down a haystack.
• A wonderful day of family fun consists of going to the swim hole and having Pa dunk you, or reading aloud together while Ma does handwork.
• Christmas is about selflessness.
• Pa should work hard but still have time to play with the children at night and tell them stories.
• Ma, the perfect example of the Proverbs 31 woman, should be devoted to her family, making sure they are properly clothed and fed, etc, and is respectful and submissive to her husband. She should also be resourceful.
• Children are taught how to read, write, and do arithmetic at Ma’s knee. They learn how to respect their parents and each other and to love God and country.
• Everyone in the family should contribute to the well-being of the family.
• Hospitality is a virtue.
• A family works together, plays together, eats together, and sticks together.

Living in 2010 is much different from living in the late 1800’s. I’ll admit that I’m thankful for air-conditioning, automobiles, and Wal-mart, yet I somehow feel we have lost something very valuable in our fast-paced society. The “Little House” books inspire me to recapture something of that gentle era leaving me with a warm fuzzy feeling of contentment. After all, in my mind, that’s what family should be.

The Greatest is Love

Oh, the endless possibilities a brand new, blank journal brings! It can become anything the mind can imagine…a diary, an adventure story, a photo gallery, an heirloom of wisdom for future generations….anything! I recently opted to turn my new door-prize win into a quote book. I’ve been collecting meaningful quotes and poems for years, but they were scattered throughout all my journals. The time had come to gather them into one place. It was a time-consuming task, but one I cherished; if the quotes were worth writing the first time, they were well worth revisiting. Like old friends they spoke to me of courage, love, and inspiration.

One of my favorites was clipped from a 1979 newspaper. I still have the original, and I still love it just as much as I did when I was fifteen. (You don't have to do the math; I'm forty-six.)

"The Greatest is Love" by Helen Redheffer
(from 1 Corinthians 13)

If I can speak as angels do
Or men whose ringing words resound.
But have no love within my heart,
I’m like a clanging cymbal’s sound.

If I foretell events to come,
Know science, art, profoundest lore;
If mountains move at my command
Because of faith I have in store,
But there’s no love within my heart,
All these, I know, are but in vain.
If I give all I have away,
But have no love, what is the gain?

If I have love, I cannot boast,
Be jealous, rude, demand my way;
I can’t resent what others do
Or from the path of kindness stray.

Real love rejoices in the right,
Does not feel smug when others sin.
It bears its burdens, hopes, endures,
Believes and trusts through thick and thin.

Love never ends, though knowledge goes;
Prophetic tongues are stilled at last.
Our imperfections mar our lives.
Perfection comes when these are past.

In childhood years I thought and spoke
As children do, but now no more.
I had to give up childish ways
When I passed through childhood’s door.

I see life as an image dim.
Not knowing, I myself am known.
I’ll understand – all will be clear –
When earthly ways are finally done.

Faith, hope, and love will never end.
They’ll last through time, and this is sure:
The greatest of these three is love,
The best of these that will endure.

Taking it Personally

The delicious fragrance of cinnamon apple filled the house yesterday, and it’s only September! The day before it was the aroma of key lime and the day before that Hawaiian pineapple. However, if you happen to come my way, don’t expect a luau, spiced cider, or delectable pie. It’s not that my hospitality is lacking (there is plenty to go around) but candles aren’t very tasty, even if they are mouth-watering.

Candle-making. It’s my youngest daughter’s new enterprise; her effort to earn money for a mission trip next summer. And even though this business is her project, she’s not the only one breaking up wax, cleaning molds, printing labels, or promoting the product. When she makes a good sale her dad and I rejoice, and when things are slow we show compassion through words of encouragement. Why? We are emotionally invested in this child…our child.

Emotionally invested; that’s why we take everything so personally. When someone makes a generous donation, offers to sell, or buys even when they really don’t need five clean cotton candles, my heart swells with gratitude. It’s as if those benefactors affirmed me personally. I couldn’t be happier. What you do for my child you do for me. It’s that simple. If you help or hurt my child you’ve helped or hurt me. There’s no separation. There’s no middle ground. I take it personally.

This makes me think….

Jesus talked a lot about how we interact with each other. A lot. He said things like,

“By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:35)

“But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.” (Matthew 5:39)

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” (Matthew 5:7)

“This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your” (Matthew 18:35)

“…whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40)


And though that’s just the tip of the iceberg, I do believe it gets the point across. God cares how we treat each other.

So I’m wondering….could that last one translate into, “I’m emotionally invested in my children. What you do for them you do for Me. If you help my child you helped Me. If you hurt my child you hurt Me. There is no separation. There is no middle ground. I take it personally” ?

I think it does.

My Poor, Neglected Blog

To all my friends both far and near
Who take the time to stop by here,
I know my blog has been neglected,
over looked, and not inspected.
I'm facing every bloggers fear,
(It makes me want to shed a tear.)
Though I live near Wal-mart and Cups,
Our internet is only dial-up.


(Ok, so that was a spur of the moment poetry attempt, but you get the picture. Our internet is SLOW, and it's pulling me down. I hope to do better as I really, really enjoy blogging. I actually have a post or two in the works!)

Be blessed!