LOST!

So…this past weekend my friend, Vicky, and I attended a “True Woman” conference in Indianapolis, IN., and it was incredible! Well, let me rephrase that: the speakers were incredible, the music was incredible, the accommodations were incredible and the conviction brought upon me was NOT incredible except to show me that I am not the true woman I thought I was/hoped I was! In other words, it was a slap-you-in-the-face stab-you-in-the-heart convicting kind of thing! You know what I’m talkin’ about~ you walk away convicted, determined to change, and on a high for the Lord! Though our brains were mentally fried from absorbing so much info, it was a good tired.

After checking out of the hotel (Omni, no less, attached to the Circle Center mall-WOW! What a mall!) We decided we HAD to have a Starbucks “no water Chai, extra Chai and soy, extra hot” for me; same for Vicky except iced! I turned on my trusty Magellan GPS, clicked on “POI” (you know, “points of interest”), entered Starbucks, hopped on I-70 just as Gertrude (that’s what I used to call her! What I call her now is not allowed on this blog!) instructed, and went to the appropriate exit. Seeing a sign for Cracker Barrel made us realize we must eat before the 5-hour drive home, so we went there first, followed by a round the world trip to a Starbucks for our necessary Chai Lattes! Gassed up, buckled in, and ready to go.

I again turned “Gertie” on, hit our home address and touched “Most use of freeways”! Who calls them “freeways” anyway? They are interstates where I’m from! So let me briefly abbreviate…

Followed the directions…
…drive for an hour…
…felt like it didn’t look right…
…reset Gertie, shows same directions…
…keep driving another 30-minutes…
…see a freaking “Welcome to Illinois” sign…
…are you kidding me?!?!?!...
…($&%((*#)(Y#_***^#&*#**!!!!!!...
…take the next exit, pull over on shoulder and reset Gertie again, this time showing
“fastest route”…
…same ole same ole-says we are due home in 9 hours! RIGHT!...
…Vicky suggests I put her address in and see---same directions but arrive
Home 3 hours earlier…she lives 10 minutes from me!...
…$_(*&#*&$$^(%*$&_(**!!!!!..
…Called hubs and asked him to get out a real map…novel idea!...
…he does, tells me to turn around, go 2 exits and take state route 46…
…I do so; guess what! A 10,000 mile garage sale on both sides of road…
…ok, so that’s an exaggeration, but not by much!...
…slow going, finally clears….
…until road construction....
…UNBELIEVABLE!...
…hurry up and wait!...
…90 miles later a sign for I-65 S! HURRAY!...
…too late to go to son’s performance…
…arrive home and tell hubs to put Gertie under back tire so I can
back over her a few times and crush her to smithereens!

Spiritual implications? Absolutely! How often do I get comfortable depending on my own resources to get me through any situation? I hear the voices in my head telling me which way to go, how to respond, when to and not to act, etc. I've got it all under control! Until...it all falls down around me. Then what do I do? I go to the only true source of directions for my life, the one and only guidebook, the Word of God, where there are words of guidance no matter the situation I may be in. When and IF I will seek those out, I will have the "right way" before me, and life will be so much easier and much more fulfilling! See, God desires to be my Guide, but I must get out of His way, invite Him in, and truly relinquish control to Him. Not 99.9% but 100% control given over to Him, trusting by faith (not by sight) that He will take me where He wants me, safely, and bless my socks off in the process! Do you want to know which path to take? Seek His Word. Want to stay on the right path? Stay in His Word! God's Word is our GPS for life...and it never needs updating, it doesn't quit working, it doesn't sometimes take us to wrong places...it's timeless and true!

Book Review of "Out Life Your Life" by Max Lucado

Ordinary people living ordinary lives in ordinary places with other ordinary people~ all created by an extraordinary God for ordinary purposes. The Bible is full of examples of such folks; you are one, I am one…ordinary people called to serve the God of the Universe. What will your living legacy be as you “out live your life”?

In his newest book Out Live Your Life-You Were Made to Make A Difference Max Lucado, master storyteller and lyricist, challenges the reader to step out of the comfort zone of ordinary to a lifestyle of extraordinary compassion. Using Scripture, practical prayers, real life examples and good-old fashioned communication, Max invites us to examine our hearts against the plumb line of His calling~ to die to self and live for Christ. “He (God) has a heart for bikers and hikers, tree huggers and academics. Single moms. Gray-flanneled executives. He loves all people groups and equips us to be his voice. He commissions common Galileans, Nebraskans, Brazilians, and Koreans to speak the languages of the peoples of the world…God outfits his followers to cross cultures and touch hearts” (p. 27).

Referencing the book of Acts, Lucado paints a literary comparison of the New Testament church to the church of today. The work begun in the establishment of the first church is yet to be completed, and as Christ followers were are commissioned to get out of our shells and to be about His business in our sphere of influence. No one of us can touch the lives of everyone; yet each of us can serve someone, some place at some time, making a big difference in that one!

A companion “Discussion and Action Guide” prepared by David Drury offers questions for small group settings and ideas for action~ taking the knowledge attained and putting it into action! This power-packed book will give you pause for reflection and personal assessment, hopefully followed by increased faith put into action, the results of which will be your legacy that will outlive your earthly life!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from
Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com 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.”

God''s love....

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth..."

"Oh, how He loves you and me!"

Living with Confidence in a Chaotic World~What on earth should we do Now? By Dr. David Jeremiah

Living with Confidence in a Chaotic World is undeniably one of the most timely books for those who claim to be Christ followers in these days of economic and political chaos and uncertainty! Dr. David Jeremiah, pastor, radio Bible teacher and best selling author of numerous books including the New York Times best-seller What In the World is Going On? answers questions about how to survive these stormy times with a calm spirit, trusting in a righteous yet loving and merciful God who created the universe and promises, in the full counsel of His Word, to “work all things together for good to those who love the Lord, who are called according to His purpose”.

With unemployment rates tenuous, at best; with tension in the Middle East rising and the direct effects on our own shores; teetering our economic perils; with catastrophic events occurring more frequently in the form of fires, earthquakes, hurricanes, etc. people are living on the edge, desperately seeking answers to seemingly impossible questions. How did we get in this mess in the first place? Can we get out of it and, if so, how so? Is God still there and does He really care about us as a nation, about me as an individual? How can we find rest for our weary souls?

In a constructive and thematic way, Jeremiah first identifies the signs of our times, followed by ten strategies to help us confidently learn how to live victoriously in spite of external circumstances and naturally following internal responses that often perpetuate alarm and anxiety. By learning to “stay calm, compassionate, constructive, challenged, connected, centered, confident, consistent, committed and convinced” we become more than conquerors through Christ. This book is filled with priceless pearls of wisdom from Biblical writers like Paul, Peter, John, James, even Jesus Himself to modern day authors including Philip Yancey, Stephen Ambrose, Charles Spurgeon, Eugene Peterson, John Ortberg and many others. Dr. Jeremiah has an imposing way of combining facts and statistics with stories from his life and from others whose have shared their personal testimonies.

This truly is a book I will read again, not only for further understanding, but also for the reminder of God’s personal interest in and impact on the state of our world as we know it today, and the promises of his omniscient presence in the routine of my life, which comforts me in these uncertain, and perhaps frightening, times. Jeremiah writes in a simplistic yet commanding way that speaks truth tempered with hope! I encourage everyone to read this book and share it with others ”for such a time as this”!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from

Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com 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.” 

Review of The Butterfly Effect: How Your Life Matters by Andy Andrews

In this brief, yet amazingly inspirational book, Andy Andrews reminds us that we, like butterflies, have the power within, through our actions, attitude, and words to impact everyone we encounter. Having survived homelessness, Andrews, through a man named Jones, was offered guidance that would radically change his life. ‘“With a little perspective,” Jones said one day, “you can live a life of permanent purpose….When you know that everything matters—that every move counts as much as any other---you will begin living a life of permanent purpose….(which) will make you a better parent, a better spouse and a more valuable friend.”’ (author’s note).

In 1963 Edward Lorenz presented to the New York Academy of Science a hypothesis stating that a butterfly could flap its wings and cause air molecules to go into motion, which would in turn cause other molecules to move, and so forth, until eventually, on the other side of the planet, a hurricane would form. His idea was deemed ridiculous; that is, until some thirty years later several physics professors turned Lorenz’s hypothesis into The Law of sensitive Dependence Upon Initial Conditions (p. 80).

So Andrews shares examples of how the butterfly effect works through the lives of ordinary humans who, because of their fortitude and courage, have impacted our world. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, a colonel in the Union army in 1863, fought to keep the Confederate Army back. In spite of losing most of his troops, in the end, Chamberlain’s decisions and actions caused the rebels to win at Gettysburg. “Which means: When Hitler swept across Europe in the 1940s, had Chamberlain not charged on that afternoon so long ago, there would not have existed a United States of America to stand in the breach.” (p. 50).

In 2004 Norman Borlaugi, age 91, was honored by ABC News as “Person of the Week”. Ever heard of him? Neither had most people at that time! Yet, Norman generated corn and wheat in arid climates, saving more than two billion lives from famine. However, Norman was not really the one who saved the lives; rather, it was Henry Wallace, VP under Franklin Roosevelt, who created a business in Mexico to hybridize corn and wheat for those climates, and hired Norman Borlaugi to run the company. Was it really Wallace that caused the butterfly or ripple effect… or was it really George Washington Carver who, being interested in plants from a young age, eventually developed 266 things we use the peanut for today? Or was it a boy named Moses….

“Is there an ending to this story? Exactly who was it that saved the two billion lives? Is there a specific person to whom we could point? How far back would be have to go? How many lives would we need to examine in order to determine who it really was whose action saved two billion people…a number that continues to increase every minute? And how far forward would we need to go in your life to show the difference you make?” (pp. 100-101).

In a companion book for children of all ages entitled The Boy Who Changed the World Andrews delightfully shares the same story, which not only entertains, but teaches the principle that “You have been created in order that you might make a difference. You have within you the power to change the world.” (p. 105).

Great book to give to those needed encouragement…or those graduating…or anyone you care about!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from
Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com 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.”

Review of The Boy Who Changed the World by Andy Andrews

This nugget of a children’s book par excellence is a must read for children of all ages! In a true story of three prominent men is the recurring theme that anyone can make a difference in this world by their actions! The story begins with a little boy named Norman playing in the corn fields around home, and dreaming of feeding all the hungry people of the world. That dream became a reality later in life, exemplifying that something extraordinary can come out of the ordinary.

As a youngster Henry was fascinated with plants. Growing up he realized that God can use the simple things in life, like plants, to teach valuable lessons. One of his professor father’s students named George believed in Henry, saying “…Remember, Henry, God made you to make a difference. And I believe you will.” Henry ultimately became a very famous United States elected official.

George was the third little boy in this book. His parents died when he was young. One day George began carving a crutch for a friend with a crippled ankle. Observing his dedication to the task, his adopted mother said, “I bet your friend will be mighty grateful for that crutch. You know, George, little things can make a big difference. Everything we do matters. Every action you take, even small things, can change the world.” George became a famous teacher and inventor of many useful items, some of which are still being used today.

Three young inquisitive boys pursued their dreams. Each had people who believed in them and encouraged them to be all they could be. Those boys grew up impacting our world in positive ways. Just as a pebble thrown on the water creates ripples, so each person’s choices, attitudes and actions affect those around them.

Andy Andrews is a uniquely gifted writer enticing young and old alike to read and re-read the story. Preschoolers will hear it as a good story; elementary children will enjoy the storyline as entertainment while learning important history lessons. Parents, even grandparents, may use the book as an opportunity to teach significant life principles while sharing from their own personal experiences.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from
Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com 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.”

Review of Permission to Speak Freely by Anne Jackson

From exposure of the hidden hurts of her heart to the response of a redemptive and righteous God, Anne Jackson shares the worn and sometimes tattered tapestry of her life. In an artistically creative way she offers a platform where others expose the demons in their own closets. In Permission to Speak Freely Anne shares the cyclical pattern of shame, guilt and fear she experienced in taking the risk of being totally transparent and brutally honest with others living in bondage to their own secret shame.

In the messiness of life growing up, Anne felt trapped by those vulnerable places of the soul where she safely kept her deepest and darkest secrets tucked away, fearing judgment and rejection if she was ever found out. In this, her latest book, Anne vividly depicts, through personal stories and applications, how she confronts the darkness of her sin and allows the light of God’s forgiveness and grace to bring healing and victory to her life!

She also candidly discusses how “the church”, designed by God as a hospital for the hurting and a safe haven of rest and redemption for everyone, is often a place of judgment and exclusivity. The broken need to be fixed, and Anne offers insight into effective ways the body of Christ can bring hope to the hopeless and help to the helpless, without pretense or mockery. Permission to Speak Freely is a timeless and treasured gift that you will want to read time and again, and that you will likely share with others in your concentric circle of concern that need to hear how a messy life can become a message of hope and joy!

Disclosure of Material Connection:

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com 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.”