A lot on my mind...

I've had a lot on my mind lately but haven't been able to share it.  There are still things I can't share and it's really bothering me.  Pastor Husband and I were asked not to though and we won't. 

Our pastor resigned a few weeks ago and his last Sunday was yesterday.  Our state Administrative Bishop will be here next Sunday (the 8th) to speak to the church from the Word then in a business meeting afterward.  We will find out then what he has in mind for our church.  I hope the people here know that they CAN say no.  I don't know what he has planned but I know what he doesn't and that's what I can't share.  It has caused my heart to break.

So, what's going to happen to us?  Good question.  I'm glad you asked.  I really don't know.  It will depend on who our new pastor is going to be.  We are keeping our options open and we are trying to come up with a plan B and maybe even a plan C.  There is a chance that the new pastor won't want to keep us on staff here.  We need to be prepared for that.  There is also a chance that WE won't want to stay on staff with the new pastor.  We've heard rumors and if the one we heard recently is true, we will be looking at our other options.

What are our other options if we aren't able to stay here?  We can either apply for other staff positions or find a senior pastor position that fits us.  We will probably do the latter.  We feel God moving us back in that direction.  Pastor Husband feels that's what God wants us to do if we leave here.  I do too.

For quite some time God has been laying Women's Ministries on my heart.  As the First Lady of a church, that would be my responsibility.  God has shown me some Bible studies He wants me to do as well as some things to get to know my ladies.  I'm actually really excited about this!  For so long I have only taught children and it's really exciting for God to take me in a different direction. 

I don't know what our future holds.  God may very well work it out for us to be here for many years.  I do hope that is the case.  Please be in prayer about this with us!

Book Review: Flame of Resistance by Tracy Groot

Flame of Resistance by Tracy Groot is an excellent World War II novel about a French Resistance movement called Flame.  This novel provides a little bit of a love story, a little bit of God, a little bit of action, and a little bit of history.  Germany has invaded France and there are numerous resistance cells all over the country.  Michel Rousseua is the leader of one such group, Flame.  He’s presented with an unusual opportunity when a Dutch-American pilot crashes in France and is willing to be an agent for Flame.  The pilot is paired up with a young woman who has been forced into prostitution in order to survive.  Together  they unravel a great story!

This was a good read, however, it was a little tough to follow for a couple of chapters until you wrap your head around who is who.  After I got a grasp of the characters, I really enjoyed this book.  It really got me interested in WW II history and I enjoyed the author’s note at the end.  This lead me to a little research on my own.

I recommend Flame of Resistance to history lovers as well as mystery and romance readers.  As I said, it was a good read.

I was given a copy of Flame of Resistance by Tyndale Publishing for review.  This review is my honest opinion.

Obedience is smart!

Not too long ago I went to a meeting.  I don't want to go into great detail about the meeting because, well, it's not the thing to do on my blog.  I can tell you that the attitude given about the poor rubbed me the wrong way.  Want to know what rubbed me really wrong?  When, after being told that my children would continue to be homeschooled no matter how good the schools are here and that we were willing to make pretty big sacrifices to do so, the person I was talking to looked at me and said, "You just seem so smart."

I had a moment.  That person may have thought it wasn't a pretty moment.  I politely looked at her and said, "Oh, I am smart!  I have a bachelor's degree from Texas A&M and have worked in social services since I graduated."  I wanted to tell that person that I am more qualified to do her job than she is, but I refrained.  My momma taught me better than that.  Apparently her momma didn't teach her the same manners. 

What in the world would make someone imply that I am NOT smart because I make sacrifices to homeschool my children?  I'm doing what God has called me and told me to do.  Proverbs 22:6 tells us, "Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it."  I am convicted that I cannot train them up in the way they should go if they're at school more than they're at home during waking hours.  They're not just learning the 3 Rs at our house.  They're not just learning history facts and dates at our house.  My boys are learning how to serve GOD! 

I'm praying God gives me a better answer for the next time something like this happens.  I'm also praying that I can refrain from being so indignant and really say what God wants me to say.  I do feel like I'm smart.  I'm smart enough to obey my Heavenly Father and do what HE tells me is right for my family and not follow what the world says would be best for us.

Winner winner chicken dinner!

Jennifer V is the blessed winner of the certificate for her copy of Miracle for Jen!  Congrats, Jennifer!  You have 24 hours to respond. 

If Jennifer doesn't respond, we'll pick a new winner on Friday.

Just so ya know, since I obviously didn't use rafflecopter, we did this completely scientifically.  I numbered y'alls posts and made my oldest son pick a number.  ROFLOL.  He asked me, "What do I win, mom?  You made me pick a number.  I gotta win something."  Guess I better reward him for being my picker!

Book review and giveaway!

I am thrilled to be reviewing Miracle for Jen by Linda Barrick.  This is the story not just of Jen Barrick but also of her family and friends.  In the beginning of the book you meet an all-American family.  They have what I would call the American dream.  Great jobs,I a a beautiful home, two kids who are in private school, and wonderful friends.  The family's daughter, Jen, is a beautiful, bright, bubbly cheerleader, but better than that, she loves God with all her heart.  In her journals she cries out to God to love Him more, serve Him better, and tell others about Him.  One night changed all that.  On the way home from Jen's choir concert the family is hit by a drunk driver.  This one night changed their lives. 

What the devil meant to steal, kill, and destroy, GOD used for good!  The family learned to depend on God in everything.  They all survived but did not come out of the accident injury free.  In fact, Jen suffers a traumatic brain injury.  One that leaves her much like a baby.  The only thing she can say coherently is prayers and praises to God! 

I loved going on this journey with the Barrick family.  I laughed, I cried, and I just loved this book.  It really made me think about my own faith and my own relationship with God.  I'm amazed at the faith demonstrated not only by Jen but by her mom, Linda as well.  Linda had her moments of doubt but she followed God anyway.  This is a highly inspirational and motivating book!  I also encourage you to visit http://www.miracleforjen.com/ !

Now, on to the giveaway!  I was given a copy of this book by Tyndale House Publishers to give an honest review.  Well, guess what!  They also gave me a certificate for a blessed winner to take to their local christian bookstore to get your own copy.  So, what do you need to do to be that blessed winner?  I'm glad you asked!

Leave a comment on this blog post with your email address!  Yep.  That's it.  Just leave a comment.  We'll have a drawing to see who gets the certificate  on April 4, 2012 and I'll email the winner.  You'll have 24 hours to respond.  If you don't respond within that time, I'll draw another name.

Looking forward to reading your comments!

only144.com

I just wanted to share an AWESOME website for your ministry needs today.  If you're in ministry, you should check out http://www.only144.com/.  It rocks!  For around $98 you can get all sorts of deals.  We've gotten curriculum for Children's Church that rocks.  The last deal we got was over $1600 of Uncle Charlie Children's worship resources for $98.  AWESOME AWESOME deal!  First of all, Uncle Charlie rocks.  Seriously.  These resources have not only been enjoyed by our childrens' church group, but they have gotten my 8 y.o. son interested and wanting to worship!  That's worth the money, let me tell ya!  What made this even more awesome?  That only144.com made it possible for me to have top notch praise and worship for my children's church at a price that I could afford. 

Check them out! 

Oh, I just wanted to say how awesome they are.  I didn't get anything for saying all this.  :D

Book Review: The Captive Heart

The Captive Heart is book two in the Daughters of Caleb Bender series by Dale Cramer.  It’s an ongoing saga of a family, the Benders, who have fled their home in Ohio for religious freedom.  They move to Mexico to a land called Paradise Valley.  In this second book, the Bender family is joined by other families and more trouble from bandits.  The Benders deal with much heart ache and pain in The Captive Heart and ultimately, Miriam is has to make a decision that can rip her heart in two. 

I had a hard time getting into this book.  The first four or five chapters seemed to go slow for me.  However, once I got into it, I couldn’t put it down.  There were several parts that really caught my attention spiritually and even struck up discussion in my home.  It was a blessing to me!  I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series.  I just can’t wait to find out how it all pans out.

***I received a copy of The Captive Heart from Bethany House Publishers for  review.  All views and opinions are my own.