Fruitbearers

This year I read about 35 books. Here are my top 13 reads of 2013 (not in any particular order). Beyond the Rapids by Evelyn Puerto When God Makes Lemonade by Don Jacobson Stop Asking Jesus into Your Heart by J.D.Greear God's Not Dead by Rice Broocks Experiencing God at Home by Tom and Richard Blackaby Secrets to a Happy Life by Bill Giovannetti Epic Fail by Gordon Dabbs Lead Your Family Like Jesus by Ken Blanchard, Phil Hodges, and Tricia Goyer The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence One Way Love by Tullian Tchividjian Knowing God by Name by Sharon Jaynes, Gwen Smith, and Mary Southerland Fed Up with Flat Faith by Kathy Howard Whispers of Hope by Beth Moore You can click on the titles to read my reviews or to get more information about the books. What are some of  your favorite books this year?  Please share.

We are thankful for what God has done for us, in us, and through us this past year and are excited for what He has prepared for us in 2014! 1. Alyssa was awarded a full 4 year AFROTC scholarship (Type 7). 2. Josiah made 87 out of 100 free-throws (in February)! 3. Eric and I celebrated our 22nd anniversary in September. We had a sweet weekend getaway at the beach (Lincoln City). Actually, this year we managed to have 2 beach getaways. We also had a memorable time at Salishan Spa & Golf Resort at the beginning of April. So thankful for God's unexpected blessings! For some (unknown) reason, all their premier rooms were all booked (even though we made a reservation in advance a few months prior) so they upgraded us to one of their suites, the most romantic suite Salishan has to offer (with an in-room Jacuzzi and more :)). We had so much fun! This was our first time ever being alone as a couple away overnight since we have had children. Feeling like newly weds ♥! 4. Is

About the book: The God Puzzle is a colorful, easy to use tool to help you communicate to your child the rich truths about God, His ways, His will and His love. The God Puzzle will help you address doctrinal themes of the Christian faith in a kid friendly way, present Bible lessons in an interactive way that will hold the child's attention and deliver quality teaching with no preparation needed. 75% of children leave the church when they leave home. Something isn't working. Sunday School isn't doing it all. Kids need answers, good ones. And they need them from you, the parent. This book enables you to give them simple, clear answers. About the Author: Valerie Ackermann has a BA in Theology and has been a full time Children's Ministry Director at Parkwood Community Church in California for over 10 years. She is also a weekly Sunday school teacher, wife, and busy mom of two boys ages 9 and 11. She has hands-on experience as a children's ministry

About the Author Deborah works full-time as a regional government affairs manager for a major U.S. energy company. Prior to joining the utility industry, Deborah worked as a radio news director, television reporter, anchor and talk show host. For five years she wrote inspirational and book commentary columns for newspapers in northern Virginia. Deborah serves on boards of directors for community, education and leadership organizations. My Review: Have you ever wondered how successful people do what they do to get to the point where they are :)? The author interviewed 12 successful people in various fields and from different backgrounds such as a songwriter, actor, teacher, minister, dancer, soldier, governor, and entrepreneurs. They share their career highlights, triumphs, and challenges. I'm glad that they boldly share how their faith in God/their relationship with God/their reliance on God has helped and influenced them. You will find valuable insights and prac

I collect devotionals :)! So happy to add this new one to my collection. I think Daily Reflections on the Names of God is now one of my favorite devotionals. This devotional book covers 122 names of God. In the Bible, names are very important. They often reflect the characteristic attributes about the persons. Even more so, God reveals His character by referring to Himself by different Names. He wants us to know and understand Who He is, what He does, how He relates to His children, and how we should relate to Him. Who is God to you? Elohim (Creator God). El Shaddai (The All-Sufficient God/God Almighty). Abba (Father). You may be familiar with these. But God is so much more! He is also the Jealous God (El Qanna), the God Who Sees (El Roi), the Lord Our Peace (Yahweh Shalom), the Lord Who Heals (Yahweh Rapha), the Lord Our Righteousness (Yahweh Tsidkenu), and more. The author offers 3 devotionals for each name. The first one ("look up") explains why God describes

For the month of November, I posted on Facebook daily what I was thankful for. I'd like to be able to look back someday so I'm reposting all of my 30 thankful status here. 1. I'm thankful for the peace that Yahweh Shalom gives me! The Lord is Peace. He is the Source of true peace. When I fix my thoughts on the power of God, the promises of God, & the purposes of God and give thanks continually for His presence, provision, & protection, His peace guards my heart and mind. I pray. I trust. I rest. Inner peace. " Do not be anxious about anything, b ut in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus ." Philippians 4:6-7 " Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid ." ~Jesus (John

I've always admired the Amish's simple way of living. I'm quite happy to add The One Year Book of Amish Peace to my devotional collection. Are you struggling with busyness? Do you find it hard to slow down and just be still before God? Are you being bombarded with online information, social media, and million other distractions :)? This book will help encourage you to set a slower pace of life and take time to spend with God and to enjoy His blessings each day. Simple joys are truly the best! Simple peace, too :)! Jesus is our Peace and He shows us that we can always find joy and contentment in Him and in the simple things He blesses us with. There are 365 devotions; each is only one page long. Each devotion starts with a Bible verse and ends with a prayer. It helps keep my heart and mind focused on God and His Word. I also enjoy learning more about the Amish, including their customs and their proverbs. Their proverbs are wise and witty.  A few of my favorites are "T

FROZEN (In 3D) DISNEY Website: Disney.com/Frozen Facebook: facebook.com/DisneyFrozen Twitter: Twitter.com/DisneyAnimation Genre:                                     Animated Comedy/Adventure Rating:                                    PG Voice Cast:                              Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff, Josh Gad, Santino Fontana, Alan Tudyk, Ciarán Hinds Directors:                                 Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee Producer:                                 Peter Del Vecho Screenplay by:                        Jennifer Lee The film is directed by Chris Buck (“Tarzan,” “Surf’s Up”) and Jennifer Lee (screenwriter, “Wreck-It Ralph”), who also wrote the screenplay. It is produced by Peter Del Vecho (“Winnie the Pooh,” “The Princess and the Frog”). Featuring original songs from Tony® winner Robert Lopez (“The Book of Mormon,” “Avenue Q”) and Kristen Anderson-Lopez (“In Transit,” “Winnie the Pooh”), and an original score by Christ

When Calls The Heart DVD Price:                                           $19.98 U.S. Release Date:                                       November 19 th , 2013 Total Running Time:                              89 minutes Michael Landon Jr. – Director:   Michael Landon Jr., son of the late television legend Michael Landon, has been in the film business for over 25 years. With two of the highest rated films in the history of the Hallmark channel, and several top ten releases targeted to the Christian market, Michael has become known for creating heartfelt, inspiring films that connect to the family.  He has developed and/or produced, directed, and written screenplays for Fox, CBS, NBC, Disney, Sony, Lifetime, and others.    My Review: When Calls the Heart is a beautiful, heartwarming Hallmark movie directed by Michael Landon, Jr., based on the book by Janette Oke (my mother-in-law's favorite author). It is the story of a 22 year old cultured and pampered young

I'm excited about this new movie, "Noah" starring Russell Crowe, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Jennifer Connelly and Emma Watson. I hope it's Biblically accurate. Check out the trailer below!

Do you and your husband have regular scheduled dates? My husband and I don't but wish we could :). However, we're thankful that this year we have had 2 different weekend getaways at the beach. We had a fabulous time! The Little Book of Great Dates is filled with 52 fun, creative ideas for affordable dates to help strengthen your marriage. It's a beautiful gift book--little in size but great in content! It aims to help couples be intentional about deepening their relationship, connect with each other more intimately and more frequently, know each other better, enjoy new, exciting activities together, and discover that dating your spouse is tons of fun. Think of dates as investments with great benefits for your marriage relationship. The beginning of the book talks about why marital dating is so important. The rest of the book shows readers how to get it done. Some of my favorite ideas are #10 making the "cherish list" (a list of the things you value about your

Meet the authors: Dave & Bernice Gudgel are committed to walking intentionally with God and helping others do the same. Bernice has a degree in Psychology and has focused her adult life on raising three kids and leading various ministries in the church where people can connect with God and each other. Dave is a pastor and teaches for Walk Thru the Bible. Learn more at: http://davidandbernice.com MY REVIEW : I wish I received this book sooner because I would have gone through it with my daughter before she left for college in September :). I definitely want to go through this book with my sons in a few years before they leave home. This book is a valuable guide to help young adults make wise decisions and be better prepared to live a productive life on their own with confidence and with integrity. It's an easy-to-read book. I enjoyed the conversational style; it seemed like I was just "listening" to some loving advice/insightful counsel from people who r

I have homeschooled my kids for over 15 years. And I have used NIV Bibles for much longer than that. I was thrilled to receive this beautiful NIV (New International Version) Homeschool Mom's Bible to review. Are you a homeschool mom who feels exhausted or unmotivated or inadequate or ready to give up? Have you neglected spending time in God's Word? We, homeschool moms, get discouraged, stressed, or anxious from time to time. We desperately need consistent spiritual food for strength, stamina, encouragement, wisdom, and guidance. Let's take care of our soul first so that we'll be able to properly care for our children's spiritual well-being. This Bible is designed specifically for you. It contains 365 daily devotions written by Janet Tatman, a veteran homeschooling mom with 25 years under her belt. She's one of those who has been there done that. Her messages will encourage & inspire you and will help you feel more confident & committed in your callin

Bullying seems to be an increasing problem in our society. I'm very thankful that my kids have not experienced it because we homeschool. However, b ecause of technology and social media avenues, cyberbullying is a new widespread problem that can affect even homeschoolers. I know from the news and from my own experience that bullying can destroy self-esteem and lives. I'm glad to participate in the Green Giant "Raise a Giant" campaign and encourage parents to talk with their kids about bully-prevention.   At Green Giant® we know it takes a lot more to raise a healthy child then just getting them to eat their vegetables. Kids these days live in a world that is bigger and scarier than the world we grew up in, and they need help and encouragement to navigate that world with confidence and pride. Unfortunately one of the hardest things kids have to deal with is bullying. When a child is bullied by a peer it can turn his or her life into a daily gauntlet of fe

One Way Love Written by:  Tullian Tchividjian Publisher: David C Cook Paperback:  240 pages  Release Date: October 1, 2013 $14.99 About the Author: William Graham Tullian Tchividjian  (pronounced cha-vi-jin) is the Senior Pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Ft. Lauderdale, Fl. A Florida native, Tullian is the grandson of Billy and Ruth Graham. He is a visiting professor of theology at Reformed Theological Seminary, and a contributing editor to  Leadership Journal .  He is an ordained minister in Presbyterian Church of America. He is the author of six books;  including the best seller,  Jesus + Nothing = Everything   that won Christianity Today’s 2011 book of the year.  He travels extensively, speaking at conferences throughout the U.S. My Review: "It is finished!" Jesus declared. Yet, why do so many of God's children still live a performance-driven life with fear, anxiety, heaviness, and exhaustion? The author thinks it

We are fans of Adventures in Odyssey. I've enjoyed using this devotional book with my sons. For us, it works better at bedtime rather than mealtime :). There are 90 devotions divided into 3 main categories: Any Day Mealtime Devotions, Holiday Devotions, and Theme Devotions. Each devotion includes Mealtime Prayer (a fresh & creative way to pray), Appetizer (a fun activity or an interesting question used as a conversation starter), Main Course (an object lesson), Table Talk (follow-up questions for discussions), & Vitamins and Minerals (Bible verse(s)). Each one is only a page long. Short and sweet! If you're looking for ways to promote a quality family time and nourish your children spiritually at the same time, check this book out. You and your kids can enjoy these delicious "recipes" which lead to meaningful conversation at mealtime or anytime. These devotions are faith-building, engaging, and kids-friendly. Our family approves and recommends it. ~I r

What does " worship " mean to you? When you hear the word "worship," do you only think of singing songs of praise in church? This book shows readers that worship is much more than music; worship should entwine every aspect of our life. It's meant to be an everyday activity...a consistent way of walking with our God, not reserved for just a Sunday schedule. Does your love and passion for God grow cold or distant? Do you feel like you're walking alone through drought and storm? It's time to soak in God's presence, really worship Him, and connect with Him intimately. The book covers the essence of worship, the cost of worship, the sacrifice of worship, and various ways to worship God in our daily walk with Him. From his wealth of experience, the author shares his insightful thoughts and offers practical ideas/steps for readers to try. He does a wonderful and thorough job at helping readers gain a right understanding of worship and develop a lifestyl

It's time for another weekly photo hunt, hosted by Sandi at The Saturday PhotoHunt . This week's theme is Global. McDonald's is definitely a global establishment. Here Ronald McDonald is greeting customers in Thailand with the traditional "wai".

Faith. Family. Football. Season of A Lifetime is an inspirational documentary about Jeremy Williams, head football coach of Greenville Patriots high school team, who is determined to persevere through his terminal illness of ALS (aka Lou Gehrig's disease). ALS stands for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. It's a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. The motor neurons (which control muscle movement) eventually die. There is no cure for ALS, "slow version of death". This film follows Jeremy Williams around as he leads and motivates his football team through a tough 2010 season, in the midst of his own battle with ALS. Jeremy's faith in God has kept him going through all the storms of life. He also has a loving support from his family. He's married to his high-school sweetheart and they have one daughter and one son who is stricken with spina bifida. His players love and respect him not only as their coa