by Doug on November 18, 2011
My children really like love Heroes and Villains of the Bible
This book presents the Bible’s heroes and its villains. The books shows children the difference between a Godly hero and a villain lies in the choices they made. It teaches that these choices can lead to a better quality life. A life that is blessed with God’s favor. It shows that when we make poor choices that it leads to a difficult life.
There is a lesson for children to read at the end of each person story. I love this because it gives my kids a chance to apply it to there own lives. It helps give them a perspective on how they can live there lives for God. I love that in the book that children will realize that true heroes are not perfect, but they choose to serve God.
The storys are excerpts from the Bible. The illustrations are very well done. My Kids really Love the pictures.
WE have enjoyed reading the familiar stories about the heroes and villains. This is truly a great book. Can I say that it again. It is a Great book!
(I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review blogger’s program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission.)
by Doug on October 5, 2011
This is the first Charles Martin book that I have ever read. And after reading this book I will be reading more Charles Martin.
This is a story about two young boys and their friend. They have a very troubled childhood and one-lady changes their lives and make a huge difference. She takes care of everything and she knows everything. The character of Miss Ella is inspiring. Her voice in Tucker’s head often reminded everything that she taught him. Her unconditional love she has for the boys is such a beautiful picture of God’s love for us. The characters are very compelling. I could not help but to live each moment with the characters. I wanted to protect these boys but God gives them a protector.
The message here is that God can do miracles beyond our imagination. The message of God helping someone let go and live a healthier life is compelling. This is not your typical Christian fiction but it is an inspiring live changing story.
I really wanted to meet these characters. This book will capture your heart. You will not be able to be to put it down. It is worth reading. Do not hesitate to pick this book up and give it a read it.
Disclosure of Material Connection:
I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”Wrapped in Rain
by Doug on September 6, 2011
Then Sings My Soul is a great collection of hymns sharing the historical facts and background surrounding each hymn. This book contains amazing background information on each hymn and it is a delight to read.
The church I grew up in only sang hymns. Christmas Hymns are still the ones that I am most drawn to know. Now I attend a church that sings only praise and worship music these hymns are still my favorite to sing during the holidays. This book is an amazing reference of hymns and there origins. As mentioned by many it is a good coffee table book.
Many of the songwriters are people who I really admire and it is very fascinating to read the stories behind there songs.
Even if you don’t sing hymns every sunday, know many hymns, or sing hymns this book will be delight for you to read. It gives you insight how God has you many people in different ways to spread the Gospel.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Things Gods revealing in my heart this morning. Mind Dump.
- Nothing compares to your embrace. Light of the World. You are Lord. All Creation will Proclaim. You are God. Nothing compares to your embrace.
- My Heart will say no other Name. JESUS. I am running to your arms. The riches of your love.
- We are here for you GOD. My purpose on earth is to serve you. May you be glorified.
- You are my one desire. Only you are worthy of my thoughts, praise and devotion. Let my shout be your anthem. I am here for you.
- Lord I need. Every hour I need you. You are my one Defense.
- 15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people,16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people Ephesians 1:15-18
- And if our Gods is for us. Who can ever stop us.
This is from my heart. It is repetitive. But it is from my Heart. This is not meant to be offensive.
I have not let God Love me. I have resisted his love although I have been a christian for over 25 years. Lately, I have just not being receiving God’s love. After so many major transitions in my life, I had stop believing in who God made me to be. I had started to deny the call he has on my life. I have put the call in a box and it became more of my identity instead of being my life. I have been living in worry and fear. I have not been living in Grace and Love. Our Father loves us. He has unmerited grace for us. He calls us to serve him. I have been living in the service but not in the Grace.
When I left youth ministry and began nursing school. Everything I was about became nursing school. I have been eating, sleeping and breathing nursing school. I have no doubt God has put me in Nursing School, but I don’t want to be known for nursing school. I really want to be known as a believer, a Husband, a father, a son and a friend. Yes, I do want to become a nurse but that is only an extension of being a believer, a Husband, a father, a son and a friend.
Worry does not produce results. It only produces more worry. Fear only produces more fear. Then you starting worrying that you have fear. And you start having that fear that you are worrying to much. It is a cycle that leads to NOWHERE. Without living in the Grace and Love of Christ. If you live Worrying about the world view of you, it is easy to quickly forget what you are called to do.
All I ever cared about in ministry was changing kids lives. It has never been about programs or messages. It has always for me been about transforming lives. I never really cared about how many students came. It wasn’t important. I prayed for God to bring the number he wanted. I was committed to just speaking truth and love.
Honestly, that is who I am. I care about people. If you have ever met me you know that. I truly care about you. God made me that way. I am not going to change.
Where ever God leads me next. That is who I am going to be. I am not going to withhold the truth that I know.
That Truth is that God has unmeirited Grace for us all. He loves us all and even if we have been a christian for 25 years. We can forget that.
We all need Gods Grace. And we have to live in that Grace. And we have live in that love. If we believe in that Grace and we soak up that love. WE can serve him more effectively because it will pour out of US. If we are not carefully we start to fear the word Grace. We fear if we are focused on Grace that we will forget about God’s truly calling. We fear the thought of crawling up in God’s lap and letting God love us. It seems weak.
I agree that we can’t only live in Gods Grace.
BUT It is not weak to live in God’s Grace. It shows no weakness. I believe it requires more courage to be loved, than to be unloved. It requires more courage to accept grace then to turn our backs on grace. Courage. Not weakness. I believe it is more courageous bowing at the feet of The Father and crying out for his love. It is courageous to let the Holy Spirit have our ALL. It is courageous to believe in a God who wants us to worship him with everything. EVERYTHING.
Thank you God for your Grace. Thank you God for your love.
God, I AM WORTHY OF YOUR LOVE!
From francischan.org:
I am very excited about some writing projects I am currently working on. One in particular is a discipleship project I am creating with David Platt. We have both been deeply concerned with the fact that so few who attend church services are obeying the great commission and making disciples. We are working on creating a free resource that would equip all lay people to make disciples. I believe deeply that the future of the church in America depends largely in all believers doing the work of discipleship and placing less of a burden on paid staff. I believe our best days are ahead.
Very Excited about this. And the fact it is free.
by Doug on March 16, 2011
What do I want to be known for?
Would you like to be known for being loving, compassionate or giving? Or someone that would make people laugh? Or someone that was a good teacher? Or someone that was a good mentor? Or someone that went the extra mile? Or your kids know you as fun, loving and providing father? Or as a loving husband? Or a caring son? Or a community servant?
Truth is we are human. And we can not always be the perfect person we want to be. But we can strive to be.
We all stumble. We all trip. We all make mistakes.
But God sees us as a beautiful creation.
So how do I want to be known? I would love to be known for being who God made me to be. That is how I strive to live everyday. I want to be known for Glorifying God, and for Loving Others.
What do you want to be known for?
by Doug on January 30, 2011
