When I received my latest book for review from Thomas Nelson, I was so excited.  I read the book a couple of times and enjoyed the story. I couldn’t wait for my grandson to visit so I could read it to him.

We sat together and read the story. The pictures were well drawn and told the story of how when bunny needed help he prayed to God. The story is done is rhyme and easy to follow.

Five year old Westin was able to retell the story to me.

11 year old Ryan is visiting and read the book. He wanted to know where to find more of this type book so he could get some for his little brother. “I think this is a great way to teach a younger child about God” he said.

What better praise could a book get than that.

When you look at a glass is it half empty or half full?   If someone points out the glass to you and gives new perspective, can the half empty become half full? Sometimes all a person needs is a little perspective.

I loved reading The Noticer.  Andy Andrews brings to life a character named Jones. “Not Mr. Jones, just Jones.”  He meets several people in a town and guides them through daily events in their lives, giving them a new perspective on what is happening.

I easily related to the events presented in this book. I was captured by his stories, his evident love and his encouragement.

“If the most important part of your life is ahead of you, then, even during the worst times, one can be assured that there is more laughter ahead, more success to look forward to, more children to teach and help, more friends to touch and influence.  There is proof of hope…for more.”  (pg 85)

Jones looks very common, you probably wouldn’t notice him if you passed him by on the street. But Jones notices, and shares.

This story was very moving, reminding me many times that the problem of the moment is just in the moment. There is so much more. I could easily imagine him sitting with me a table in the local diner, chatting away. I could hear him speaking. “Most people spend so much time fearing the things that are never going to happen or can’t be controlled that they have no energy to deal with the few things they can actually handle.” (pg 55)

So I must be grateful. “After all, the seeds of depression cannot take root in a grateful heart”. (pg 56) “No matter what your past…you can chose your future.” (pg 132

While I work through my own circumstances of work, children, mortgage payments, relationships and all else, I will be taking time to slow down and “notice” what is around me.  Who knows, maybe I will run in to Jones along the way.  I would be honored.

I received this book several months ago. I grew up watching Scott Hamilton dance on ice and wanting to do that myself. He made it look so easy.

Then, regrettably, I decided to use mu pilits license. You know, I “pile it” here and then “pile it” there. It got lost in one of the piles.

I pulled it out this week and read through it very quickly. I enjoyed the story of why he started skating, his battles with cancers and his love for life.

Life was not always the smiling face we saw during the Olympics and Ice Capades. Health issues, relationship problems, miscommunications. But he persevered.

Learn how he faced life’s challenges and chose to be happy. Yes, happiness is a choice.  “Every day of your life, something or someone is going to throw something at you that will challenge your ability to rise above negativity.  It isn’t the events in your life that define you; it’s how you deal with them. (pg 91,92)

I found this book to be enjoyable, a fast read and very encouraging.

I am sucker for the word “FREE”.  I hate to admit it, but I have been enticed into many purchases because of the word FREE.

Buy one, get one FREE.  I didn’t need the first one, but now I can get two!!  My biggest temptation comes when the offer includes a teddy bear.  I have so many teddy bears that many are still packed from our last move 3 years ago. I have no place for them. But they are teddy bears and many were offered as free with purchase or by signing up, or whatever “FREE’” idea was popular at the time.

My favorite FREE offer comes from God. The gift of salvation. “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”  (John 1:12 NIV)

God’s FREE gift is offered to all. But not all will accept the gift. They will respond “I don’t need that”, “I can do this on my own” “I can get to heaven just being good”.  None of this is true. Nothing you can do on your own is good enough. We are all sinners. God is God. He is perfect. He cannot abide sin and the sinful nature. So He has offered a way, a gift, to allow us to spend eternity with Him. That gift is Jesus Christ, His only Son, whom He sent as a sacrifice for my sin and for yours. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV)

But God will not force you to accept Him. You must invite Him in. Will you?

Click here to go to the Billy Graham website and view “How to Become a Christian”.

In the spring of 2007 I approached my church’s women’s ministry leaders with an idea of a Knitting Bible Study.  I had written some lessons and practiced on a couple of women in my home. They were thrilled with the teaching.  I wanted to try it at the church. 

They were excited at the idea and the first Knitting Bible Study was held  in the fall.  We are now completing the 2nd year of the Knitting Bible Study, growing from 4 women the first few meetings to as many as 18 last month. 

The relaxed setting of comfortable chairs and sofas in the coffee shop provide a welcoming atmosphere.  The lessons are read and discussed. Many women have commented on how they find the discussion more enjoyable with the knitting needles (or crochet hooks) in their hands.  The lessons are an incorporation of knitting terms or ideas and scripture.

If you’d be interested in a FREE sample lesson and would like to sign up for the Knit In Prayer Newsletter, click here.  (you can always opt out if you find it does not meet your needs or desires)

Click here for more details

While at Knit-Out 2009 I had the opportunity to set up a display for the Knitting Bible Study.  I now have 2 books completed with 10 lessons each. A free sample lesson is available and an opportunity to sign up for the Knit-In-Prayer newsletter.

You can get more information at www.KnittingBibleStudy.com .    The first book will available very soon for purchase.  I am finalizing the formatting, etcetera right now.

Would you believe someone stole the knitting needles from the dolls hands ? They were pulled through her hands and the project on it left behind. Oh well, I hope that whoever took them completes the project they were taken for.

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. As you make your requests, plead for God’s mercy upon them, and give thanks. Pray this way for kings and all others who are in authority, so that we can live in peace and quietness, in godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, for he wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.  1 Timothy 2:1-4 NLT

Today is inauguration day for our new President. This week there are many celebrations as he takes office and as a testimony to the many barriers that are falling away with this historic event. No matter what your politics and personal feelings, we are instructed to pray for those in authority.  Taking the role of leader in these difficult times will bring about many obstacles for Mr. Obama. He will be faced with challenges at every turn.

It is our responsibility as christians to pray for him and this country.   “He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone” continues Timothy. “So wherever you assemble, I want men to pray with holy hands lifted up to God, free from anger and controversy.”  (see 1 TImothy 2:6-7)

Let us, today, welcome our new President with hands lifted to heaven in prayer for him and for Mr. Bush as he leaves public office that he may feel the hand of God to continue guiding him.

The manuscript for this book, written by “ Goodnight Moon ” author, Margaret Wise Brown was recently found, unfinished, inside a cedar trunk tucked away in a barn. She died in 1952 but her work goes on. This manuscript has been completed with additional verses by Laura Minchew and vivid illustrations by Linda Bleck. I was to receive a copy from Thomas Nelson to review, but after 2 months of waiting, I went to Barnes and Noble to get a copy. They had one copy. This book is so popular right now that when I checked the libraries in the Kansas City area, only one copy could be found. And that was at the Administration Building. The branches are awaiting their supply to be delivered.

In this book, The Moon Shines Down, a koala bear looks at the moon and visualizes that the same moon he is watching is being watched all around the world, including France, Switzerland and Africa. As he thinks on the different ones looking up he asks God to bless them.  The words are fun for a young child and the beautiful illustrations make the scene come to life.

My 4 year old grandson enjoyed sharing this book with me. I recommend it for any parent or grandparent during that special story time. Talk about how God loves everyone, no matter where they live and how even if we don’t see them, there are people all around the world. And even though we don’t see Him, God is with us. Look at all the activity in each picture and discuss what you see; trees, animals, houses. A great book for quiet bonding.

Though we are slaves, our God has not deserted us in our bondage. He has shown us kindness in the sight of the kings of Persia. He has granted us new life to rebuild the house of our God and repair its ruins, and he has give us a wall of protection in Judah and Jerusalem.   Ezra 9:9 NIV

Welcome to 2009. A new year has arrived. We are now that much closer to the return of our Lord, Jesus Christ.  In just a few months I will celebrate my 50th birthday. Fifty?!?!  I never imagined I would see 50.  Like every other generation I was sure He would return and I would join him “in the twinkling of an eye” (1 Cor 15:51).  But I patiently await.

Also this year, my grandparents will celebrate their 80th anniversary. Can you believe it!!  I am sure this is a record, but haven’t yet found how to confirm it.

Every day is a new day in Christ. We are asked to do three things in First Thessalonians 5:

• be joyful always
• pray continually
• give thanks in all circumstances.

When times are hard it is difficult to think of being joyful and thankful. Often these circumstances are the only time we pray.

I once heard Joni Earickson Tada speak about a time she was very short with those around her. Joni was paralyzed from the neck down after a diving accident when she was a teen.  She said she apologized saying this wasn’t like her.  Her husband responded, yes it is.  You see, how we respond in times of pain shows who we really are. It is very easy to hide behind a mask and offer up a good appearance when is going well. But it is in those trying times, when our emotions are loosed and anxiety reigns that our true self comes out.

That is why we must pray always, not just in the bad times. How do you feel about that “friend” that calls you only to cry about their problems then doesn’t speak to you during the good times? 

Be joyful no matter is going on. I find it very difficult to smile when the back pain is overwhelming but I know I must overcome this. In her book ” Mama Get the Hammer! There’s A Fly on Pap’s Head” Barbara Johnson give 5 practical ways to live a joyful life.  My husband what my goals were for 2009. I think this list best describes them:

• Smile
• Be an Encourager
• Avoid gumbling, don’t speak whinese
• Be thankful for anything
• Learn to Laugh

Simple enough when things are going my way, but when life happens I need to be reminded of them. So I am setting a goal, something to achieve.  I am not making a resolution because that denotes failure. See, I am already looking at things differently.

Finally I must be thankful.  We are starting 2009 in a difficult manner with my husband being laid off work just before Thanksgiving. We must encourage each other and name something to be thankful for every day in order not to allow discouragement to overtake us.  We still have a home, some of our friends do not. We must tighten the budget, but we can do that as well.

Yes, it is a decision to be thankful. It is a decision to be joyful. It is a decision to trust God in all circumstances.

What decisions are you making?

Mama Get The Hammer! There’s A Fly On Papa’s Head! Barbara Johnson insists that laughing in the face of adversity is not a form of denial, but a proven tool for managing stress, coping with pain, and maintaining hope. She zeros directly in on the spiritual benefit of a smile, a giggle, and a good, old-fashioned belly laugh.