Fruitbearers

  American Underdog is an inspirational film that tells the true story of Kurt Warner (played by Zachari Levi). He's an American underdog who went from a stockboy at a grocery store (in order to barely make ends meet) to a two-time NFL MVP, Super Bowl champion, and Hall of Fame quarterback. It's not only a wonderful Cinderella story of overcoming obstacles and setbacks before the dreams come true, but also a beautiful love story of Kurt and his wife, Brenda (played by Anna Paquin). I have a soft spot for all romantic love stories. Even though I am not a football fan, I really enjoyed the movie and definitely recommend it to all, especially football fans :). I love Zack (Brenda's son from a previous marriage) who is blind but lives joyfully, defying all the odds. The relationship between Kurt and Zack are priceless. Behind every great man is his team of people who support him, encourage him, believe in him, and pray for him. American Underdog demonstrates that in spite of ...

Christians are called to be different...to live counter-culturally. We are to cease being conformed to the way of the world (worldliness) and surrender ourselves completely to Jesus to be transformed by the renewing of our mind (Romans 12:2) To live rightly, we must first think rightly (have the right kind of thought).  What our mind chooses to dwell on will affect who we are, how we talk, what we say, what we do, how we respond, and how we react. " A man is what he thinks about all day long ." (Ralph Waldo Emerson)   Renovating Your Mind is a devotional book that will help readers direct their thoughts towards God's Word and apply God's truths in their daily lives. The author shares about his personal experiences and what he has learned from his daily Bible-reading. It contains 365 devotions that challenge and encourage readers to have an eternal perspective and Biblical worldview. It's an easy read yet filled with great insights. I enjoyed reading it and highli...

I am in awe of God's magnificent creation and I like reading and collecting devotionals so I was excited for the third book in the Indescribable Kids devotional series, The Wonder of Creation , by Pastor Louie Giglio. This fun fact-packed book is ideal for children ages 6-10 but adults would enjoy it, too if they are curious about the wonders of the world around them like I am. God's wondrous creation never ceases to amaze me. I enjoyed reading this book to my kindergarten class and reading it myself. In this book, there are 100 devotions that will inspire kids to discover, delight in, and appreciate God's creation and strengthen their faith to live out God's truths in their lives. The devotions explore different parts of creation such as spaces, earth, animals, peoples, and more. You will learn about firenado, tar lilies, pygmy jerboa, "the Chocolate Hills", and much more. Each devotion begins with a Bible verse, a scientific fact, Biblical truths, a closing...

I have to admit I'm not a planner but I do want to become better at planning, organizing, prioritizing, and managing my time. The Horacio Printing Christian Dream Planner looks very promising and encouraging. This is not an ordinary planner. It's specifically designed to help you plan with a God-centered purpose. Horacio in Latin means timekeeper. This planner aims to help you be more intentional about how you spend your time, how to achieve your dreams, and how to foster personal growth. The planner includes five steps to help you flourish in various areas of your life such as physical, spiritual, personal, financial, professional, and more. It also guides you to refocus on what really matters, to pursue your passions, and to overcome distractions. Let not your dreams be buried by your busyness. Boldly pray and plan. I love all the Scriptures throughout the planner. The layout is simple and easy to navigate through. There are QR codes here and there which you can scan and watc...

I've seen God's Not Dead (the first one in the series) and loved it. I have not seen the second and the third ones. I'm thankful for the opportunity to review  God's Not Dead: We The People (the fourth movie). It's about a group of Christian homeschooling families led by their pastor, Reverend David, standing up for their right and freedom to educate their own children as they see fit. They go to Washington DC to testify in a crucial congressional hearing. Religious freedom in our country is continually being challenged and threatened. I homeschooled my three children for 20 years (from the very beginning to their high school graduation). Therefore, this movie resonates with me. It is also a timely film since the government has recently been imposing more restrictions and mandates which take away our freedom more and more. I enjoyed the movie and I cried. Great performance by the cast. The movie is not just about homeschooling; it's about freedom, faith, relat...

It's hard to believe that it has already been 10 years since Courageous (Kendrick Brothers' 4th film) was first released. Courageous Legacy will be re-released in theaters on September 24th with a new ending showing what happens to the main characters ten years later. Courageous Legacy is a drama (with plenty of action) about four police officers and an unemployed construction worker forming friendship and tackling their faith, fears, and fathering. I watched Courageous ten years ago and I loved it. I just watched Courageous Legacy and I loved it even more. I laughed out loud a lot and I cried several times throughout the movie. Fantastic performance, great chase scene, and wonderful songs. Courageous Legacy covers many topics such as death, grief, regrets, healing, integrity, accountability, prayers, faith, fatherhood, and courage. The importance of fathers' influence is a such needed message for our time! It may be easy to write up a resolution but it takes courage ...

Finding Love In Mountain View is a sweet romance movie inspired by the book, " Finding Love in Bridal Veil, Oregon " by Miralee Ferrell. Margaret, a thriving architect, has been unexpectedly entrusted to be a guardian of her deceased cousin's two children (Joel and Samantha). Struggling with the new role and responsibility of parenting, she seeks help from her high school friends, Tamara and Andrew. I enjoyed this heartwarming movie about love, relationship, family, and sacrifice. The songs in the movie are fantastic. I also really liked the aerial shots (bird's eye view) used quite a bit in the movie. Check out this family-friendly movie, premiering on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries Channel today at 6 pm PT/9 pm ET! You can watch the trailer at https://aci-americancinema.com/screener/finding-love-in-mountain-view .  GIVEAWAY: To celebrate the premiere of FINDING LOVE IN MOUNTAIN VIEW, premiering Sunday Sept 19 th  at 6pm PT/9pm ET, we are giving away a copy of the...

  I'm so excited to share this post with you all. I have enjoyed watching all of the Kendrick brothers' movies (I've watched all except Overcomer) so far. Show Me The Father is their first documentary film and it did not disappoint me. It's a powerful and impactful documentary to say the least. Everyone has a father. Some enjoy a close, loving relationship with their fathers while others suffer from a distant, unhealthy relationship with their fathers. And then there are those who have never known or met their fathers. Show Me The Father includes five real-life fatherhood stories that cover a wide range of experiences. From brokenness and bitterness to forgiveness and restoration. You will hear from Jim Daly (the president of Focus on the Family), Sherman Smith (former Seattle Seahawks runningback and coach), Stephen Kendrick, Alex Kendrick, and Deland McCullough (former NFL player, coach, teacher and principal). In addition, Dr. Tony Evans (pastor and author) shares ...

What a timely book it is! During this global pandemic, most (if not all) people have had to say goodbye to "normal" in one way or another and have experienced some kind of loss, grief, disappointment, fear, anxiety, and/or depression to some degree or another. But what is "normal" anyway? I love this quote by Patsy Clairmont: "' Normal' is just a setting on your dryer ." Seriously, even without the pandemic, change is inevitable in our lives. I also love this quote by Andy Andrews: " All people – all lives – are either in a crisis, coming out of a crisis, or headed for a crisis ."  It's a fact of life. Therefore, it is wise for us to live by faith, not by sight, and to wean ourselves from the craving for and the clinging to what we consider "normal". So Long, Normal: Living and Loving the Free Fall of Faith is the book that will challenge us and help us do just that. " Laura Story is not only a wonderful songwriter, si...

It's here! Check out the trailer for Kendrick Brothers' SHOW ME THE FATHER (their first documentary film)! It's coming to theaters nationwide on September 10. I cannot say too much about the movie yet but it's definitely a must-see. Check back here at the end of this month for my review and giveaway (2 free tickets). #ShowMeTheFather #ShowMeTheFatherMIN #MomentumInfluencerNetwork

  When We Last Spoke is an award-winning, heartwarming film about family and forgiveness, based on the novel by Marci Henna . The film won five awards (Best Picture, Best Narrative, Best Supporting Actor, Best Actress, and Best Actor) at the ICVM (International Christian Visual Media) Crown Awards at the National Religious Broadcasters 2021 Christian Media Convention! When We Last Spoke is a story of two sisters, Juliet and Evangeline who are raised up by their paternal grandparents, Walt and Ruby Cranbournes. The film goes back and forth between their childhood (1960's) spent with their loving & caring grandparents and their adulthood (30 years later) when they are estranged because one blames the other for keeping a secret but a situation arises that causes them to reunite. The two girls' performance is fantastic. They have good chemistry. Melissa Gilbert (as Ruby) and Corbin Bernsen (as Walt) also play off each other well as a couple. They face a challenge of not only...

  I think this is my favorite review so far and I have done reviews for over 12 years now. I received a watercolor package from Emily Lex and an access to her online watercolor classes for this review. Wow...what an awesome and generous offer! The two watercolor workbooks (animals and flowers) include her sketch drawings on high-quality paper ready to be painted. The animals workbook has dogs, cats, butterfly, goldfish, whale, bird, bunny, frog, deer, and duck. The flowers workbook has hydrangea, peony, sunflower, pansy, anemone, daisies, rose, tulips, bouquet, and wreath. I love the two sets of  31 illustrated Scripture cards (one of them made specifically for kids) The package even included a brass stand for displaying these cards. They make great encouragement cards for children, spouses, families, colleagues, and friends. I've put some here and there and hung some up in our bathroom as reminders of God's faithfulness and promises.  Emily Lex is a gifted artist and te...

Update : The giveaway is now over. Congratulations to Anita Braden! She has been notified. Did you know that KJV is one of the most trusted translations of the Bible and also one of the most purchased ever?  For over 400 years, the King James Version has been the most popular translation. It captures the beauty and majesty of God's Word with rich and reverent language. You can see the great selection of Bibles available now (and many on sale) at www.thekingjamesBible.com .  Whether you’re looking for a Christian devotional Bible, a great resource for your Bible studies or a study Bible for women, men or students, KJV Bibles by Holman helps you deepen your relationship with God.  Be sure to enter for your chance to win one (see the giveaway details below).  There are so many different styles with different tools for different purposes. Check out " Find Your KJV Bible Tool " to find what you are looking for and find limited time offers with up to 50% off.  I rece...

We all have experienced anxiety in varying degrees in our lifetime. Usually, most of us just deal with occasional anxiety which comes and goes but for some people, anxiety is their constant struggle and crippling illness that prevents them from living their lives to the fullest or at times from functioning in their daily lives. The Anxiety Reset presents the whole-person approach (mind, body, soul) to overcoming fear, stress, worry, panic attacks, OCD, and more. I hardly get anxious but some of my loved ones are prone to anxiety. I wanted to read this book so that I may understand them better and know how to help them. I also plan to share this book with them. This book is packed with valuable and insightful information. It's very well written, full of scientific research data, and yet easy to understand. It's also written with compassion and understanding. Dr. Jantz uses real life examples including his own. He himself is no stranger to anxiety.   The book consists of 18 cha...

I am happy to add this NIV Verse Mapping  Bible to my Bible collection. This unique Bible is made for me :).  I like reading and studying from different translation versions of the Bible. I also love knowing the Greek and Hebrew original roots of various words found in the Bible. The NIV Verse Mapping Bible offers both. Verse mapping goes beyond just simply reading the Bible. It uses Bible study tools to dig deeper into God's Word--to discover what God is saying and how we can apply His Word in our lives. The verse mapping technique was developed by author Kristy Cambron.  The NIV Verse Mapping Bible includes 350 partially completed verse maps.  There are also extra 70 blank verse mapping pages throughout the Bible for your own inductive Bible study. I enjoy Bible-journaling so again this Bible is truly my cup of tea. I choose not to write in the Bible though because the pages are thin; I prefer doing my journaling in a separate notebook.  Verse mapping helps ...