Holiday Idea’s Part 4

Photo Credit Mikayla H. 

By Rose H.

Christmas is over. It’s sad isn’t it? We enjoy the holidays so much and then all too soon they’re over.

Now as we look forward to the New Year. A new beginning. A time to make new goals, to plan new projects, to dream new dreams.

So let’s get going. Put on your thinking caps. Let’s figure out what we are going to do this year.

As you plan, here’s a few things to remember.

1.       Remember the bigger picture. Remember the reasons you do what you do. Make your plans based on that.

2.       Keep things simple. Don’t try to bit off more than you can chew. Make some simple and easy goals.

3.       Pray about your goals.

4.       Ask friends to join in. Having encouragement and support is always a great idea to ensure that you see your goals through to the finish.

5.       Enjoy the process of making new goals.

6.       As always, keep an open mind. Maybe try something that you have never tried before. Just live out the calling that God has called you to.     

A Very Merry Christmas

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May God bless all of you on this Christmas day. I hope that today finds you enjoying time with family. And have a very Merry Christmas.

Holiday Idea’s Part 3

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By Rose H.

During the holidays there are many opportunities for helping others that you can take advantage of. Just dive into them and spend some joy.

1.       Volunteer at a food bank or soup kitchen.

2.       Ask a needy family in your church over for a meal.

3.       Invite some friends over to make Christmas cards for a local nursing home.

4.       Give some change to bell ringers.

5.       Take some friends cookies and let them know what they mean to you.

6.       Be a secret Santa for someone in your church.

7.       Send a Christmas card to a faraway friend. 

Holiday Idea’s Part 2

By Rose H.

One of the great things about the holidays is the time we get to spend with your family. Here’s some things that you can do together that are fun and easy.

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1.       Read a holiday book together like The Forth Wise Man, Christmas Stories for the Heart, The Little Drummer Boy, or If You Take A Mouse To The Movies.

2.       Pull out some of your favorite Christmas movies and enjoy them together as a family. I have some friends that wrapped up all their Christmas movies, and unwrap and watch one every day in December. That way it would be a surprise what they would watch that day. Whatever you do, just make it fun.

3.       Bake together. Have everyone pick their favorite cookie, and work together to make them.

4.       Take a winter stroll together.

5.       Enjoy hot chocolate in front of a crackling fire together.

6.       Work on Christmas presents together. 

Holiday Ideas Part 1

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By Rose H.

December is a fun month. A month to enjoy family and friends. A time to bake mouth-watering foods. And a special time to help out those in need.

During December things also can get pretty crazy. So I’ve come up with some tips to help make this holiday season less hectic. And all this month, I’m going to make some suggestions for things you can do that will make this December special.

1.       Plan ahead. Write down lists of everything that you need to do, putting the most important things at the top of the list. Then work through this list.

2.       Realize that you only have so much time. Use it wisely, learn when to say no when something will take too much of your time.

3.       Make sure to spend a lot of time with family and friends. Enjoy time with them and make some memories.

4.       Try to clean the house this week instead of waiting until right before Christmas or a party. Get it done early and relax.

Audiobook Review: Because He Loves Me

I received this audiobook for Christian Audio for the purpose of doing a review. 

Narrator thoughts - To be honest I found this narrator to be a bit monotone. Maybe it was just me, but she didn't seem very enthusiastic about her subject. 

Book Thoughts - When I first saw this book I was excited. I thought that it would be a book about basking in the fathers love. Instead I found a long (sadly dry) book about how our father is very wrathful but has decided to love us anyway. 

That's not the God I serve. My God and Jesus love people deeply and is broken-hearted by the effects of sin. He made a way for us to be with Him because He loves us and doesn't want us to be apart, but it was a joint effort. 

I felt like the book came across more discouraging then I would like. Besides the author didn't really organize her thoughts as I like.

Maybe this was just me, but I didn't like the book very much. 

To see this or more titles go to http://christianaudio.com  

Thankful For ...

Day 30

That I can count all these blessings and post them. I enjoy recounting all the things that God has given to me. Anytime I make a list like this, I feel so full and blessed. Besides I know that this is just scratching the surface of all I have to be thankful for.     

Thankful For ...

Day 29

Movies. They are so fun, relaxing, sometimes encouraging, and enjoyable. 

Thankful For ...

Day 28

Bibles. I have 3 different translations and I enjoy all of them. 

Thankful For ...

Day 27

The ability to relax. Time to kick back, play a game, watch a movie, enjoy a walk, or do a fun project. 

Thankful For ...

Day 26 

Cookbooks. I love going through them and trying new things or pulling out an old favorite and whipping up something fun for my family. 

Thankful For ...

Day 25 

Sundays. I’m thankful for days to just relax, take a break, and spend time with God and my family. 

Thankful For ...

Day 24

Jewelry. To remember fun memories, or someone’s love, or to accent an outfit. I love the collection I have. 

Audiobook Review: Between Heaven and Ground Zero

I received this book courtesy of Christian Audio for the purpose of writing a review.

Narrator Thoughts - I had mixed thoughts about the voice. Normally, I love it when authors read their own works because they can put their own emphasis into the words. But for this woman, the words came hard and slowly. Her emotions at times overwhelmed her. While it did garner sympathy, I'm not sure that she was ready to read her own words yet. Also for any quotes and scripture readings they had a different lady read them. All of those had poor recording quality which detracted from the message.

Book Thoughts - Overall I wasn't very pleased with the book. Even though she survived the horror of Tower 1 on 9/11, she seemed to look back on it all with a deep depression. She suffered from PTSD and looking back was very hard for her.
Maybe it was that I had hoped that faith would play a more central part in her accounts. Now by her own admission she has struggled in her faith and God had been put on a back burner, Until 9/11 came and shattered her world. Yet even as she was remembering, I felt like she didn't infuse the memories with hope. I know that 9/11 was a horrible tragedy, but I also know that through it God showed us some amazing examples of love.
She did however do an amazing job of showing you what it was like to be in one of the world trade centers as they fell. It also gave me more of a sense of what it was like before the towers fell. That aspect I enjoyed.
Some of her description of her walks with God since 9/11 were beautiful and thought-provoking.
Yet again I didn't like some of her conclusions about 9/11 and what it meant for Christians. She claims that with 9/11 the Apocalypse has began. I think that Biblically that is unsound, but will leave it to you to decide.
One final note is that I didn't think she organized her thoughts very well. Scriptures seemed to be thrown in for no apparent reason. Some stories didn't connect to what she was going through. I just seemed a little off to me.
As I said, overall I wasn't pleased with the book, but that may have been a matter of opinion. I leave it to you to make the final call.

To buy this or other titles, please visit the book site www.christianaudio.com

Thankful For ...

Day 23

Grandparents. They are very kind and I enjoy the time I’ve had with them.

Thankful For ...

Day 22

Calendars and sticky notes. To help remind me of things I need to do and keep me on track. 

Thankful For ...

Day 21

My blogs. Meditations of His Love, I’ve really enjoy writing for you and seeing people be encouraged and strengthen through those posts.Homemade Ministry, you were my first blog and I still enjoy having you around to encourage girl in their craft lives. A Christian Playwright, I enjoy dreaming about all the things I plan to do with you. I love writing plays to put on you and seeing what God will do with you. Simple Thoughts, you in many ways are my personal blog. In you I share my heart and stories of what God has been teaching. And for all these blogs, I pray that God will continue to bless and encourage other through you. 

Thankful For ...

Day 20

Music. To encourage, to inspire, to lift my spirit, to go with my mood, to enhance my writing, to dance to, and to work to. For every time in my life there has been a song. And I enjoy every one of them. 

Grace: An Audiobook Review

I received this audiobook was given to me courtesy of Christian Audio for the purpose of doing a review.

Narrator thoughts - I like Wayne Shepherd. I've heard several books read by him before and I have enjoyed each one. His deep clear voice helps set the mood for the message of the book. It was a perfect match.

Book Thoughts - I have always loved Max Lucado. His unique writing style and ability to touch the heart of the listener combine to make this a truly beautiful work. Through story and scripture Lucado gives you a picture of the grace of God draw on the canvas of His love.

Grace is lavished on us by a loving God. Will we take it? It's there, it's waiting. Waiting to cover us. Will we accept this wonderful and lavish gift called Grace?

To buy Grace by Max Lucado, head over to http://christianaudio.com/grace-max-lucado

Thankful For ...

Day 19

Time. Gregg Harris once said, “God gave us time so that everything wouldn’t happen at once.” And I am so thankful that it doesn’t all happen at once. Dealing with it as it comes is hard enough; I can’t imagine dealing with it all at once. Thankfully with the gift of time I can celebrate the victories and work through the hard times. 

Thankful For ...

Day 18

Food. Not only food that nourishes my body, but also tastes good. I know that in many countries people go hungry every day. I’m so thankful for food. 

Thankful For ...

Day 17

Spiritual mentors. My parents, Brennan Manning, Wayne Jacobson, Gayle Erwin, Pastors, Max Lucado, and Nancy Leigh DeMoss have all had a profound impact on my walk with God. They’ve helped me see new things about Him and encouraged me to walk forward in Him. I owe them more than I can ever repay. 

Thankful For ...

Day 16

Plants. I love flowers, grass, ferns, and bushes. I enjoy the color and life they add to my day. 

Thankful For ...

Day 15

Crafty things. I love making something new out of canvas, yarn, or paper. It’s so much fun to create.

Thankful For ...

Day 14

Dreams that God has allowed me to live out, small and big. Being in a movie, getting a kitchenaid mixer, acting in a play, writing plays, having close friends, making a lovely cross stitched nativity, learning ASL, and growing in the knowledge and love of God. And I’m grateful for the dreams that I still have to live out.    

Thankful For ...

Day 13

Writing. Whether writing a play, blog posts, a skit, or a film script, I enjoy writing. Being able to take something from my head and put it onto paper, is an great feeling. 

Thankful For ...

Day 12

Living in the country. All my life I’ve lived out in middle of nowhere, but I loved it. Surrounded by trees and nature, it’s a perfect place. And I love being able to call it home. 

Thankful For ...

Day 11

Clothes. Not just something to cover our bodies, but clothes that make us feel pretty. A pink flowery shirt, a pleated white skirt, fun handbag, a lovely blue dress, dangle earrings, or a pair of white sandals.  I’ve been blessed with lots of clothes and fun ones at that. 

Thankful For ...

Day 10

Pictures. To bring back fond memories. To savor the flowers of spring. To help us capture beauty. To enjoy moments for years. And to capture the beauty of our family. 

Thankful For ...

Day 9

Books and Audiobooks. I enjoy and challenging my mind. Besides it’s fun to get caught up in a good story, especially a good romance ;). 

Thankful For ...

Day 8

Each new day. A fresh day. With new possibilities and dreams. 

Thankful For ...

Day 7

American Sign Language classes. ASL is like doing a dance with your hands. And I’ve so enjoyed learning how to do it better. 

Thankful For ...

Day 6

Friends. My Texas Friends, my blogging friends, my film-making, and my facebook friends. I am blessed and encouraged by you every day.

Thankful For ...

Day 5

My laptop. I could live without it, but it makes so many things so much easier. It helps me to communicate with friends and helps me do a lot of writing. 

Thankful For ...

Day 4

Mail. Isn’t it so fun that we everyday can get letters and packages from all over the world? I enjoy it so much whenever I get mail. 

Thankful for …

Day 3

For an amazing Family. Dad, Mom, Nicole, Sarah, Michael, Rebekkah, and Mikayla, you mean the world to me. You make my day brighter. You love me and care for me like no one else does. You are the best friends I have. 

Thankful for …

Day 2

Seasons. Both in weather and in life. Times of rest and business. Times of work and of relaxation. Times of cool and of warm. Times of sunshine and of rain. Times when I have a lot to say and times to be quiet. Times to be with friends and times to be alone. And most of all, spiritual seasons. 

Thankful for …

Because of thanksgiving, for the next 30 days, I'll be counting down my blessings. Here we go ...

Day 1

A God who loved me enough to call me His own. Throughout my whole life I have seen His love and care for me. And as I walk on His hand guides me. 

Rose's Idea's Part 3

Ministry To Elderly People

One of the things that this generation takes for granted is its older generation. We visit grandparents, but many times we miss out on other elderly people in our world.
I have an elderly neighbor that I work for once a week. She tells me stories and has things from all over the world in her house. I consider her a friend.
What about you? Do you want to get involved in an elderly persons life?
There are so many ways that we can help them, but here are a few to help you get started.

Make a meal for an elderly couple once a week.

Volunteer at a nursing home.

Take some cards or other handmade gifts to them.

Offer to clean their house once a week.

Volunteer with a shut-ins program.

Make some time to talk to them (this can be the most important one).

Wrecked: Audiobook Review

I recieved this Audiobook curtesy of ChristianAudio for the purpose of doing a review.

Narrator Thoughts - Since the author narrated the book, it added a great demention to the book. You are pulled into the heart of the message through his voice. I really enjoyed having the authors emphosis in th reading of this book.

Book Thoughts - This was one of the best books I have read on putting compassion into action. Through stories and personal experiences the author encourages his readers to grow up and take on the challenges that God wants you to take.

The author was so clear and challenging that I was revivited to the message throughout the entire book. I was encuraged to take some risks for God, but also be willing to setle down if that was what God wanted.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is struggling with what to do with their life or having a hard time making a risky choice.

Rose's Idea's Part 2

Baking Ministry

If you’re not good at crafts, but love to hang out in the kitchen, here’s an idea for you. When a mother has a baby in your church, make her a meal. If a new family moves into your neighborhood, you could welcome them with a plate of cookies. Or when someone gets sick, you could take him or her some soup.
There are so many ways that this idea can be applied, but find one that you like and do it. Trust me there is never a lack of people who like homemade food. 

Rose's Idea's Part 1

Birthday Presents

Everyone likes it when people remember their birthday. It’s fun to have someone say, “Happy birthday!” or for somebody to send them a present. We expect that family members will remember our birthday, but isn’t it fun when somebody outside your family remembers your birthday?

I don’t know where I got the idea, but about five years ago I started keeping track of people’s birthdays. When someone’s birthday would roll around, I would prepare a small gift and a card. Normally I would write something along the lines of “Happy Birthday. May God bless you. Rose.”

As for the gifts, I just bought things at thrift stores or I made little things.

You would have been surprised. Sometimes when I gave people presents, you would think that they hadn’t ever gotten a present in their lives. They were thrilled.

This is fun and easy way to bless people. I guarantee you, if you ask people their birthday, they’re not going to hit you over the head. People love to know that someone cares and remembers little things like birthdays.

I Love Yarn Day!

Okay, normally I don't get into these small holidays. But I liked this one.

Today is I Love Yarn Day! It's a day to celebrate crafting.

How about we making it a charity day? What about setting aside some time today and making some things for charity? Make a hat for the hat Box Foundation. Make a preemie gown for Faith Hope and Charity Stitches. Or why not volunteer your time. 


If you would like more ideas for how to celebrate I Love Yarn Day, go to http://www.craftyarncouncil.com/node/1253

Ministry (or lack there of)

What do you do when you haven’t been doing a lot of ministry things? When you’re a ministry blogger, I guess that I should be doing more for charities and such. But lately I haven’t been doing much. I’ve been mainly making films and spending time with family. Making things for charity has dropped down on my list. 

It’s not that I don’t want to make things for charity anymore, it’s that I haven’t been making time for these things. I’ve been too busy. 

As I sat down to write a batch of blog posts, I felt bad that I didn’t have more to tell you. That I couldn’t show you what I had made, or tell you about something I did. But as I sit here writing, I couldn’t come up with anything to tell you about. 

Yet there’s one thing I can say, there are seasons when we are more productive than others. There are times when we will have fruitful seasons of ministry. And no matter what stage were in, God is right there with us. He will show us what we are supposed to do and where we are supposed to go. 

So I may not set a record for the most items made for charity, but I’ll focus on what God has given me to do today and see where that takes me.  

Free Resources

Are you having a hard time finding patterns for your charity project? Here are some great pages full of Free patterns and resources for you to use.

http://linusconnection.blogspot.com/p/free-patterns-resources_9838.html

http://www.hatboxfoundation.org/links.html

http://www.threadsoflove.org/BurialGown

http://www.binkypatrol.org/section.cfm?id=19

Encouragement

Colossians 3:23 (NIV) Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.

Book Review: Disability and the Gospel

By Rose H.

I received this audiobook courtesy of Christian Audio for the purpose of writing a review. 

Narrator thoughts – To be honest this guy had a good voice, but he seemed monotone to me. I felt like he could have done a better job on the emphasis and speaking with emotion.

Book thoughts – Overall the book was good. I liked how the author points out how Jesus reached out to the broken, weary, and lost to show His glory. And how we should do the same. Too often we shun the disabled and turn our backs on the broken, instead of loving them for the people that God created them to be. That I think is a very good point.

What I didn’t like so much was mid-way through the book when the author started getting into theology. I felt like I lost track of where he was going and got lost in an answer to a theology question that I had forgotten. Besides I disagreed with some of his thoughts about why suffering happens to us.

It’s not the greatest book on suffering, but I liked some parts of it.  

Friendship Shawls

I found this website and I thought it had a charming idea.

It suggested that you make shawls for your friends. That way next time they need a hug and you aren’t there.

For patterns and inspiration, Visit http://www.craftyarncouncil.com/welcome.html

11 Years Later

11 years. It doesn’t seem like it’s been that long since one of the scariest days in my life. I remember many things from that day very clearly. Sadly the things I remember most are the fear that I felt. I wondered if we would be next. I even remember a few days after that hearing a plane go over our house and my heart starting to race. I wasn’t thinking rationally, so I started praying things like, “please God spare us, I don’t want to die right now.”

11 years later, I now laugh at the me that jumped at the sound of an airplane, but I don’t laugh at the me that watched in horror as two tower fell to the ground killing thousands. No matter how old you are when thousands of people die, it’s cause to be afraid and sad. Anytime the anniversary of 9/11 rolls around I still get heartsick. To think that so many lost loved ones and friends, it’s sad.

11 years after these events, there is hope and thankfulness. Hope for a better tomorrow and thankfulness for today. Don’t get so bogged down in the worries and cares of this life that you can look to the future and know that God will make all things good.

11 years from now, who knows where we will be, but I know that whatever the future holds, God will be right there seeing me through whatever comes.

Book Review: Fasting – Student Edition

By Rose H. 

I received complements of Christian Audio for the purpose of writing a review. 

Narrator thoughts – He had a nice voice. He was very good at enunciation. Some readers trip over big words or say things fast, not this guy. This narrator was very clear and his voice was suited to the subject he was covering. 

Book thoughts – I thought this book was very good. The author makes it very clear that fasting should be a part of our lives, not something we do if we get desperate. I was convicted that I should take some time and fast and pray. It also helped me to realize that I need to start giving God my firsts and not my leftovers. I also appreciated the emphasis he put on examining your heart to make sure that your motives are pure. 

There are only two things that I didn’t like about the book. One I thought that the author came across as thinking that if you would just fast, your life would be perfect. I personally believe fasting can heighten your spiritual awareness and help you to focus on prayer. But only God can bring about miracles. I also didn’t like how he used some verses to make his point. Some verses he used correctly, others he took out of context and cherry picked what he wanted to hear.

Overall it was a very helpful book. If you are someone wanting to start fasting, this would be a good book to read. With helpful solutions to help you get you started on your own fasting journey, this book is a helpful place to start.    

To find out more about this and other books available on Christian Audio, visit http://christianaudio.com/fasting-student-edition-jentezen-franklin