Fruitbearers

I read lots of good and great books in 2012 so it's difficult for me to pick my usual top ten reads for the year. I will instead post my top 12 reads (12 is my favorite number, anyway :)). Embracing Obscurity by Anonymous How to Share Christ with Your Friends of Another Faith by Dr. Jeff Brawner What Every Christian Ought to Know by Adrian Rogers Mondays with My Old Pastor by Jose Luis Navajo A Heart Like His by Beth Moore Miracle for Jen by Linda Barrick with John Perry Reasons for Hope by Carl Kerby Great Day Every Day by Max Lucado The Colors of Hope by Richard Dahlstrom Live to Give by Austin Gutwein What Do You Think of Me? Why Do I Care? by Edward T. Welch What Every Man Wishes His Father Had Told Him by Byron Forrest Yawn

About The House of Hope One couple’s powerful ministry to some of China’s most vulnerable children Robin and Joyce Hill lived in a gated community in Beijing . Their family’s life was marked by luxury and the security of Robin's job as an engineer. Then one day, as members of their church, they had a chance to tour a state-run orphanage. Haunted by the needs of the children they saw there, for the next four years they tried to help the institute in meaningful ways. In 1998 the Hills planned to leave China, but instead felt a sudden call from God on their lives. They left their gated community--reserved for only non-Chinese residents--moved their family into a small apartment miles outside of Beijing and immediately began to take in foster children. They took in any child, but especially those that needed extra care—terminally ill children that couldn't receive care elsewhere, and those that needed complicated and expensive surgeries that the Hills soon began to coordinate a...

ABOUT THE AUTHORS: Jay Loecken grew up on an eighty-acre hobby farm in Minnesota as the youngest of three boys. His upbringing was solid with loving parents who were always encouraging him to try new things. He grew up in a Christian home, but his faith really began to develop during his sophomore year at Northwestern College while living in Dublin, Ireland for the summer and working with Greater Europe Mission. That’s when the Bible began to come to life for him and he began developing his own convictions. Beth Loecken’s upbringing could not have been any more different. She grew up in Kansas City in a Catholic home as the youngest of six children. Her mother battled depression and eventually committed suicide when Beth was only five. Beth’s father retreated into alcoholism, leaving her in a chaotic and unstable environment where she was often abused. After graduating from high school, she moved to New York where she discovered her first true love—Jesus. He offered her a love and...

This is my catch-up post :). I have been praying but have not had time to blog about it until now. We're in the middle of praying the Scriptures for our sons through the fruit of the Spirit: LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS, and SELF-CONTROL. As you can tell from my blog's title, we're raising our children to be fruitbearers :). Study Questions 1. There comes a time in every child's life, when the sin-nature starts to show its ugly head. For Brooke and her husband, this came accompanied by a difficult, life-altering challenge that made it difficult for them to train their son. Can you relate? Yes. One of our sons has special needs and special challenges. 2. When things don't go as you planned, and life seems to throw you a curve-ball, what is your heart's response? Do you get angry with God? Stop talking to Him? My heart's response was sorrow, grief, and disappointment. I don't get angry with God. I talk to Hi...

Today, I read pp. 17-18. I prayed the Scriptures on integrity for my sons. " Integrity can be defined as firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values or the quality or state of being complete or undivided. Someone who stands up for what is right no matter who is around. " (from the Warrior Prayers Leader Guide) I would like to add that integrity also includes standing up to defend what is right and fight what is wrong...come what may. " A person with inte grit y has 'grit'....Never mistake respectability for integrity. Respectability can come because of fear, power, position, or wealth. Integrity requires none of these. It stands on its own character. " (~Brent D. Earles) I made up an acronym for I.N.T.E.G.R.I.T.Y. I mitating Christ N o compromise T ruthful E arnest G rounded in God's principles R eliable I mmovable in righteousness T rustworthy Y ielding to Christ Study Questions 1. At the beginning of this chapte...

About The Church History ABCs Dramatically converted on the stormy seas, a slave-trader-turned-abolitionist penned the best-loved hymn of the Christian faith. A church father was arrested and martyred for teaching the truth about Christ’s incarnation. Captured by pirates and shipped off to Ireland, a priest baptized thousands of pagans, from paupers to princes. Now who ever said church history was boring? The Church History ABCs is a fun way for kids to learn about great figures in Christian history. Twenty-six heroes of the faith march through the alphabet, boldly telling their stories in language children can understand. This wide range of characters—men and women from across the centuries, from all over the globe—reflects the breadth of church history and reminds children that these great figures of the past were living, breathing people who lived and died for the glory of God. About the Author and the Illustrator Stephen J. Nichols is a professor at Lancaster Bible...

UPDATE: This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to the winner, Sarah! I used random.org to select the winner. About  The Crossmaker DVD  (Ages: Story 3+ Art Lesson 6+) THE EASTER STORY: Dominic, the son of a carpenter, finds himself drawn into the unforgettable trial of the man called Jesus. Share in this amazing adventure that takes Dominic from Christ's crucifixion to a place of redemption, and a face-to-face meeting with the risen Christ. See The Light chalk artist Gloria Kohlmann draws her stunning interpretation of the Easter story. This DVD includes three art lessons: 1. GLORY! See The Light artist Heidi Shorts teaches on the art of Creative Lettering 2. HE IS NOT HERE! HE IS RISEN! See The Light Art Club Master Teacher Pat Knepley leads budding young artists in a step-by-step drawing lessons using chalk pastels. Plus, create your own black light reveal! 3. THREE CROSSES ON A HILL. See The Light's Jim Pence gives a tutorial in water colors as young artists ...