Fruitbearers

As another year draws to an end, we reflect upon God's goodness and faithfulness through all its ups and downs.  This year has been a year of sorrow and celebration, loss and gain. On January 22nd,  my mother-in-law, Juanita went home to be with Jesus. Very unexpectedly. We visited her the night before and she was improving. We had her celebration of life on January 30th at City View Chapel. On March 3rd, we bought Juanita's home in Salem from her husband, Joe. Alyssa bought her first car (2006 blue Buick) from Joe for $2,350, which died on her shortly after she arrived in Texas (she left Oregon on Aug. 25th and arrived in Texas on Aug. 29th). On April 7th, during a wind storm, the Tree of Heaven in front of the garage fell on our red Toyota. Eric was standing there two minutes earlier. We're so grateful that God saved Eric's life! On April 8th, Josiah bought his first car (2000 green Ford Taurus) for $1,200. On May 13th, Alyssa received awards in the morning, had a d...

I like to check out new Christian music albums. I was glad for the opportunity to review a new CD, "A Girl Like Me" by Julie Elias . I had not heard of her before. Julie Elias was an actress (appearing on shows like "Grey's Anatomy" and "CSI: NY") and now she is a Christian singer and songwriter. She has a beautiful voice. She wrote all the songs on this album except three. She used her own personal experiences in her songs, hoping to share with others how God has worked in her life. Below is the list of songs: 1. Unchained 2. Only For Awhile 3. Awaken 4. A Girl Like Me 5. Alive 6. Forgive Me 7. Lost 8. Run Away 9. Here With Us 10. Wherever You Roam 11. A Wild Rose 12. In the Light I enjoyed listening to this CD. Some songs are catchy and some are soothing. All original songs are intentionally crafted to share stories that aim to encourage and inspire young women. Unchained is a song about freedom and transformation and a...

I love studying God's Word. I like using a variety of different Bible versions because they help me gain a better understanding of the Bible. I was excited to receive a  She Reads Truth  Bible  for review. It is a Poppy Linen hardcover. It is Christian Standard Bible (CSB) version. It may look plain on the outside but it is quite pretty and appealing on the inside. This Bible's key features are color-coded genre indicators, key verse arts, book introductions, maps, charts, reading plans (including supplementary passages for added context and deeper understanding), timelines, and devotionals. I'm a visual learner so I find maps and charts very helpful. I think it's great that "How to Read the Bible", "This is the Gospel", and "Introduction to the Christian Standard Bible" are included in the beginning of the book. In the back of the book, you will find a list of key verses, genre guide (color-coded), the Apostles' Creed, the Bible i...