A Season For Tending - Book Review

If you love Christian fiction, this is for you! Rhoda Byler is such an interesting character and easy to relate to. This book has a good story line, and an excellent ending for a first book in a series.

I love the use of herbalism in this book as that is something that has before been frowned upon in Christian circles. This blends nicely with the Amish as well. Very good read that I would recommend to anyone.

4.5 Stars :)

Just to be clear, I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. However, that was no basis on this review. It really is a great book!

http://www.cindywoodsmall.com/
http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?work=208962
http://www.scribd.com/doc/98995874/A-Season-for-Tending-by-Cindy-Woodsmall-Chapter-1-Excerpt
http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/author-spotlight.php?authorid=72213

Armor of God

The armor of God is necessary in our lives more than ever! I don't know about you, but here lately, I feel as if I have been tried and tested in my commitment to my Lord.

I have had "friends" try to lead me and my family down a path of sin. They have tried to corrupt us from the inside. And it's about time it stopped.

Without giving too many details to keep this family friendly, we had a wake up call last night that I'm sure was from the Lord. Why, you ask? Because it finally hit us between the eyes! We want no part of these people! We felt that by trying to be nice and sweet to them, we could possibly win them to the Lord. In this case, they were testing our commitment to our Lord. And that's not going to happen. Not in this house.

I want to say this as a warning to other families out there. Satan is out to attack your families anyway he can! Be on guard. Watch. And be ever vigilant. Becase just as soon as you turn around, your family could be gone and you are left sitting there with no idea what happened. Watch!

Ephesians 6:10-18

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

God's Mighty Power

I came upon this chapter yesterday during my Bible reading time, and I wanted to share it. For some reason, when I read this passage, my heart sang with joy to my Savior! I hope yours does too. :)

Psalm 108

 ¹O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory.
 ²Awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early.
 ³I will praise thee, O LORD, among the people: and I will sing praises unto thee among the nations.
 ⁴For thy mercy is great above the heavens: and thy truth reacheth unto the clouds.
 ⁵Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: and thy glory above all the earth;
 ⁶That thy beloved may be delivered: save with thy right hand, and answer me.
 ⁷God hath spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth.
 ⁸Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine; Ephraim also is the strength of mine head; Judah is my lawgiver;
 ⁹Moab is my washpot; over Edom will I cast out my shoe; over Philistia will I triumph.
 ¹⁰Who will bring me into the strong city? who will lead me into Edom?
 ¹¹Wilt not thou, O God, who hast cast us off? and wilt not thou, O God, go forth with our hosts?
 ¹²Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man.
 ¹³Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies

Beautiful Etsy Giveaway at A Wise Woman Builds Her Home!

This week, Mrs. Fuentes at A Wise Woman Builds Her Home is holding a wonderful giveaway! A sweet Etsy shop called It's A Blessing is giving away a beatiful handmade scarf and bracelet.

Now, before you just dismiss these as more "handmade" items, you have to check them out! This sweet lady makes every bead on every strand have a meaning. For instance, her Creation bracelet is meant to show all the days of creation. She also has a Proverbs 31 bracelet and bookmark that is just wonderful. When you look at these, you will truly be reminded of our Lord in new and different ways.

Don't take my word for it though. Head on over to A Wise Woman Builds Her Home and check it out!

New Years Commitment

Don't new years feel exciting? They have a freshness about them that feels like all things are new again! No matter what happened last year, this year you can make a diffference. You can change what is necessary in your life.

So this year, I made a New Year's commitment. I call it a commitment because a resolution has always sounded to me like something easily broken. Resolutions are always laughed at by others because they expect you to break them anyways. A commitment sounds more firm and final. Something that we actually have to stick to.

My commitment this year is to not eat breakfast until I have done my personal Bible study. And if for some reason I don't get around to it, then no breakfast! I came to this decision when I realized that the Bible is our spiritual food. Just like actual food is necessary for our bodies to function, spiritual food is just as valuable. Therefore, if I can't find time to feed my Spirit, then I can't find the time to feed the body! A wonderful commitment I have made to my Lord this year.

What commitment have you made to the Lord this year? And if you haven't, is there something in your life you would like to change for the better?  If so, it's a new year! Just the right time to start.

Jeremiah 29:11- For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

When Ministering is Hard

I have a sweet little cousin who is 14 right now. She has come to me over the past few months asking for advice on boy-girl dating relationships. Just to clarify right out front, I am a courtship believer! One hundred percent. So, when she came to me with these questions, I gave her my honest answer.

I spent late nights up with her speaking to her about Biblical womanhood: modesty, speech, chastity, purity, etc. And I prayed with her. And I prayed for her. And I spoke to my husband about her and asked his opinion. And I'm sure he prayed for her too.

So, you can imagine my true sadness when she came to me and said that she had a "boyfriend" about two months ago. I was grieved. And sad. And I admit, a little mad. Didnt she listen to me? was my first thought. What were all those wasted nights of staying up with her? Praying for her? Why do I even try? She doesn't care!

Then, my rational side kicked in. OK, I reasoned. When I was her age, I probably took a little time to get across to too.

She called me last week and asked if she could come and spend the night at my house. This usually means that she needs to talk. She came and another night of talking and praying and ministering to her the best way I know how occured. I thought, once again, nothing had happened. No change.

But then, I got a pleasant surprise! When we went to bed the evening after she left, we found a sweet note on our pillow. She said in the note that she appreciated both mine and my husband's advice, and she realizes she is wrong. She needs to listen to us more, and she will try harder to put these things in motion in her life.

I was shocked that she had written such a thing to us! And my heart was so full of joy!

She did end up breaking up with the "boyfriend", but she is still struggling with peer pressure issues, youth group issues, etc. Those will be another post for another time. But please take heart! Even when you think you aren't making a difference and even when you want to throw up your hands and just say Enough! You just might be making more of a difference than you know. God can use you no matter what place you are in, as long as you make yourself willing and available. And sometimes, He gives you glimpses into the fruit of your labors.

Praise to the Lord!

Last night, my brother was involved in a severe car accident. He unfortunately does not know the Lord as his Savior. It was a miracle that he was not killed in this accident. It is quite evident the Lord's hand of protection was on him and his 3 friends. Praise the Lord for saving him! And I pray that he will come to know the Lord as his Savior soon! If you happen to remember this at any time, please  say a prayer for him. God works in amazing ways, and I am just praying that somehow this will all work out to bring him to repentance.

Isaiah 53:6- All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.