Missional Mama

His Kingdom Come {Book Review}

2012-01-27T06:10:00.001-05:00

His Kingdom Come: An Integrated Approach to Discipling the Nations and Fulfilling the Great Commission

edited by Jim Stier, Richlyn Poor, and Lisa Orvis

Description:

Jesus' final words to his disciples ring down through the ages: preach the gospel to every individual and disciple every nation. Preach the gospel? Got it, but what does it mean to disciple the nations? Do I preach or teach? To individuals or groups of people? What exactly does Jesus want me to do?

Come explore these questions through Scripture, history, and the ideas and experiences of those who are actively engaged in discipling nations. You'll discover that God's kingdom comes in and through many ministries, vocations, and locations - from university campuses to developing regions, in kitchens and boardrooms, through government, journalism, and the arts. All followers of Christ are needed to bring God's grace and truth to individuals, cultures and nations today and to do the works God prepared in advance for us to do.

Jesus' words are for each of us, wherever we are and whatever God has gifted us to do. What does it look like for you and for the body of Christ worldwide? How can we respond passionately and creatively to the call of God to see every person and every nation transformed?

via YWAM Publishers

My Thoughts:

I need to be honest and let you know that I am not done reading His Kingdom Come, but my family will be traveling soon and I did not want to wait until the summer to let you know about this gem! I have skimmed much of the content, looked for ideas that I needed, and read slowly from the beginning. Slowly, because some of the ideas are new to me and so profoundly beautiful that I need the time to slow down to take it in. I especially have loved the first two chapters which are all marked up with underlines and notes in the margin. It is worth getting the book for just those chapters!

I think anyone with a heart for missions should obtain this book. His Kingdom Come is split into five parts including: "What the Bible Says", "History of Discipling Nations", "Philosophy of Ministry", and "Strategy". Each of these sections is broken into chapter by different authors which brings an interesting change of flow between the writings.

My plan is to keep at this book in a studious manner. I have even considered teaching some of the content for it to really sink in.

This book was given to me in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review.

Beat This Cookbook by Ann Hodgman {Book Review}

2012-01-26T09:54:00.000-05:00

Beat This! Cookbook

by Ann Hodgman

Description:

Do you think you have the absolute best recipe for apple pie? Maybe your neighbor claims to make the best meatloaf around. Did your Italian grandmother serve the best spaghetti sauce this side of the Atlantic? Well, unless you or that neighbor or your grandmother is Ann Hodgman, you’re wrong!

The book that the editor in chief of Vanity Fair called “the funniest, most engaging book about food I’ve ever come across” has now been revised and updated: more than half the recipes are completely new, and many of the originals have been “oomphed up” to make them even more shamelessly delicious.

Beat This! Cookbook contains more than a hundred all-time favorites, from Burnt Sugar Ice Cream and White Chocolate Raspberry Pie to Chili-Cheese Casserole and Onion Rings. Each one is guaranteed to make people take a bite, stagger with joy, and beg you for the recipe.

via Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

My Thoughts:

Can a cookbook be funny? Yes! Yes, it can!

It can also be entertaining and inspiring all at the same time. Hodgman has managed to cram between the pages of Beat This! Cookbook, a plethora of amazing recipes with her wit and humor running alongside. This is not a boring cookbook nor one that will only be pulled out only during the dinner hour. This is your friend or at least reads like you are chatting with your friend. One who is spouting off about the lastest recipe and then tells you percsisly how to make it and what she does so it comes out just right or what to use if you don't happen to have that particular item on hand.

I learned a few things from Hodgman. For example, that the famous "Neiman Marcus" cookie story was fabricated, she mentions Snopes.com and then shares the recipe. They are amazing cookies and now I can make them again! The "Mashed Potatoes" recipe is worth reading too, as you probably have never made them this way nor even thought to do so. In fact, that is the genious here. There are many recipes that you probably already make with her tweeks to create better versions or at least a little different.

While enjoying the humor of this cookbook, you may want to note that the recipes are listed in alphabetical order with a list of dishes by category on pages 13-17. There is also a section for leftovers.

I like Beat This! Cookbook. Adding a little wit to cooking is a good thing!

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. This is my opinion and I wasn't required to write a positive review.

The Big What Now Book of Learning Styles by Carol Barnier {Book Review}

2012-01-26T07:12:00.000-05:00

The Big What Now Book of Learning Styles

by Carol Barnier

Description:

Many of the books on learning styles devote 98% of their text to identifying learning styles, then spend the remaining 2% telling you how to apply this knowledge. They are long on diagnosis and short on prescription. Carol Barnier knows from her own experience and from interactions with educators all across the country that while people are certainly interested in the "why", they are in urgent need of the "how", or the big "what now?" They need perfectly clear and practical information that can be applied tomorrow.

In The Big What Now Book of Learning Styles, parents and teachers will find an emphasis on "what to do about it". This book

supplies hundreds of activities keyed to learning styles for easy access and application
covers practical strategies for success in spelling, writing, math, history, geography, science, and more
inspires parents and teachers to act with confidence on the conviction of God's potential in each child

via YWAM store

My Thoughts:

I could not wait to read Barnier's book, The Big What Now Book of Learning Styles. What a wealth of information for the weary homeschool mom who just need that one great idea.

Within the first section of The Big What Now Book of Learning Styles (pages 11 -41), Barnier sets out to suggest that all children do not learn the same and that new activities can be introduced to find what works for an individual child. In a few chapters, she gives a short, encouraging exhortation to the homeschool mom whose child may not be grasping a certain subject or two. She also explains how to make the best use of the book.

Section two (page 43 -191) is full of ideas or "keys" as the author calls them. You will find chapters containing activities for spelling, writing, reading, math, history, geography, science, and reviewing. Each idea is clearly explained with a symbol showing the learning style it best matches. You are encouraged not to let this be your only guide as each child is different. Some ideas even challenge the parent to consider a new perspective like "Shared Spelling" on page 81-83. The reader will find bonus material including a unit study on for history, ditties & mnemonics, educational resources, and websites.

After reading the first section, I personally turned right to the chapter on math. The beauty of this resource is that it does not demand a cover to cover reading, but instead can serve as an idea manual to use when you can't find what will spur learning. Certainly, you can read it straight, underlining and highlighting ideas that you would like to try, that is up to each teacher.

Any mom who wants to help her child find easy, creative ways to learn would appreciate this helpful volume. It really will help answer the "what now" question.

*This book was given to be in exchange for my honest review. The links within this post are not affiliate links.

Tag! I'm It!

2012-01-25T10:27:00.000-05:00

Well, sort of!

Kris over at Eclipsed posted this and I decided to play! Yes, I love this silly kind of thing, but I promise to make the random stuff about me painless and the questions you get to answer, very cool!

Here are the rules:

1. Post 11 random things about yourself.
2. Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post.
3. Create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer.
4. Go to their blog and tell them that you’ve tagged them.
(So, if you are reading this -- TAG! You are it and can now play along on your blog! Leave a link, so I can read your gems!)

11 Random Things About Me
1. I miss Pumpkin Spiced Lattes.
2. I cannot wait for The Hunger Games movie to come out.
3. I love going to coffee shops with bookstores attached!
4. I enjoy Pinterest, but am not addicted to it.
5. I cannot wait to eat regular Cheerios.
6. Discipleship and women's ministry are what I enjoy the most in ministry.
7. Watching my kids grow and learn is a joy. I love watching for the "..way they will go."
8. Organizing is fun! Cleaning and cooking are work!
9. I don't wear make up very often because it is too hot here.
10. I enjoy reading People, Shape, Good Housekeeping and a variety of other magazines. Because of where I live and the fact that I only get magazines periodically, I read the entire thing including the ads.
11. I took my youngest brother to see M.C. Hammer in concert. He was 2 Ligit 2 quit!

Kris wants to know:
1. What’s one thing you’ve accomplished in your life that you never thought you could?
I am not sure that I thought I could not accomplish this, but the adoption of our son took a lot of hard work and time. Does that count?
2. Do you have a mantra that keeps you going when you’d like to quit?
"Be Still and Know that I Am God!" I have a bracelet with this verse to remind me to rest in God alone!
3. What is one piece of advice you’d like to pass along to someone who is trying to lose weight, but doesn’t think they can do it?
Join My Fitness Pal. It reminds you how much you should be eating, to drink your water and exercise.
4. I’m trying to complete one random act of kindness each day and haven’t been succeeding very well lately. Give me a suggestion of an act of kindness that you would like to do for someone else or would love for someone to do for you.
Support a missionary ;)! Actually if you are looking for ideas, there are always medical needs here in Bolivia that you could help with. We have a couple doctors here that are helping the poor in amazing ways!
5. What’s the best book you’ve read lately?
Intentional Parenting by Tad Thompson
6. What’s your favorite healthy meal/recipe?
Green smoothies or salads!
7. What’s your favorite date night activity with your spouse or significant other?
Dinner out and a movie
8. Is there a food that you eat the cashiers at the grocery store ask you about? (My personal examples are jicama and spaghetti squash.)
Yucca (When I am in the US, here everyone eats it!)
9. What’s your favorite game show?
I can't remember!
10. If money were no object, where would you like to travel?
Italy and Spain
11. If you have or are making changes toward a healthier lifestyle, what was the tipping point that finally made you decide to do so?
I did not want to still be carrying the extra baby weight when I turned 40!

11 Questions for the People Who Choose to be Tagged:
1. What is the book you recommend the most?
2. What advice do you want to share with other moms or women?
3. What do you do to relax?
4. What is your favorite drink?
5. What ways have you been missional in your life?
6. What ways do you want to be more missional?
7. What is your all time favorite blog post on your blog?
8. What is one activity your family enjoys doing together?
9. Name five things you do every day.
10. What would your dream vacation be?
11. What is your go to exercise?

Let me know if you decide to play along. If you do, leave the link to your post in the comments so I can come by and read your answers.

What's On Your Nightstand? for January 2012

2012-01-24T09:06:00.000-05:00

So, how are you doing on your resolutions? How about your reading goals?

A post will be forthcoming about creating time for reading. If any of my "Nightstand" meme friends would like to share some tips, I am happy to link to you. Just leave your email in a comment or send me an email for more details.

What I Finished in January:

The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barber
(Interesting writing, did not enjoy the story at all.)
Intentional Parenting: Family Discipleship by Design
by Ted Thompson
(great book on parenting, short, to the point, a reread!)
Education of a Wandering Man by Louis L'Amour
(How a famous author got a world class education, along the way. If you are a book fanatic, you will enjoy reading about another and may learn of some older books you want to search out.)
Before the Season Ends by Linore Rose Burkard
(Regency romance that spells out the plan of salvation. It was free on the Kindle.)
Don't Pig Out on Junk Food: The MK's Guide to Survival in the U.S. by Alma Daughtery Gordon
(good info. for missionary families or expats, will browse before future furloughs.)
To a Shepherdess: Messages for Missionary Women by Jean Dye Johnson
(I think she is a kindred spirit. This book written in 1988, may seem dated at times, even so I think her heart shines. I was encouraged by it.)
The Organized Heart by Staci Eastin
(A good, short pep talk, but not really anything new here.)
The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis
(Read at my son's suggestion once he finished, one of our homeschool books.)
Bible Reading -- I & II Thessalonians

My Children and Reading:

Exploring Creation with Zoology 1: Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day by Jeannie K. Fulbright (This really held attention the entire book!)
James Harriot's Treasury for Children (All of my kids enjoyed this. The illustrations are amazing!)
The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis (my oldest son)

What I am Presently Reading:

The Next Story by Tim Challies (review book)
Lit! by Tony Reinke
The 11 Secrets of Getting Published by Mary DeMuth (review book)
Organized Simplicity by Tsh Oxenreider

His Kingdom Come by YWAM (review book)

What I Found This Month/ Possible Future Reads:

My Seinfeld Year by Fred Stoller
The Accidental Bride by Denise Hunter (I will be reading this for a review.)
Crazy Sexy Diet by Kris Carr (I am on the fence with this one. It looks like a lot of bad words around some great nutritional information. I am also interested in her story about surviving cancer. Has anyone read this?)
The Ultimate Guide to the Daniel Fast by Kristen Feola

What have you been reading?

You Can Do Tea by Sandy Lynam Clough {Book Review}

2012-01-24T07:21:00.000-05:00

You Can Do Tea

by Sandy Lynam Clough

Description:

Sandy Clough, artist of If Teacups Could Talk (more than 300,000 copies sold), believes that anyone can “do tea.” All you need are the basics. In this charming tea primer, she presents no-fuss recipes and ideas to create gatherings that delight guests and hosts alike. New paintings from Sandy showcase tea cups for every taste, while cozy scenes encourage readers to embrace the surprising simplicity of tea.

Sprinkled throughout are tips on making teatimes beautiful and welcoming:

Ways to develop and implement a themed tea that suits any occasion.
The only recipes you’ll ever need to host a delightful tea.
Teatime manners and etiquette made simple.

As warm and comforting as a fresh batch of scones…this lovely gathering of ideas and invitations is for longtime tea lovers as well as those who are just discovering the pleasures, treasures, and benefits of the worlds’ favorite beverage.

Via Harvest House Publishers

My Thoughts:

You Can Do Tea by Sandy Lynam Clough is a lovely gift book for your favorite tea lover. Clough wrote and illustrated this simple invitation to tea etiquette. The reader will learn about themes, menus, and how to hostess plus you will find some delicious recipes, including my favorite cucumber sandwiches (page 25).

My little girl loves drinking tea. So, I look forward to some upcoming afternoons where we will read this treasure learning about tea together. I can even imagine us planning a tea for a few of our friends afterwards. There is a section towards the back, "Tea for Little Ladies" for ideas specifically for girls. I know that my little sweetie will enjoy the subject, but the amazing art throughout will also be a delight to her.

You Can Do Tea can be used as decoration, a coffee table book, or a gift for friend along with some fabulous tea.

What is your favorite tea?

Don't Call It a Comeback Book Review {Edited by Kevin DeYoung}

2012-01-23T15:58:00.001-05:00

Don't Call it a Comeback:

The Old Faith for a New day

edited by Kevin DeYoung

ABOUT:

Recent cultural interest in evangelicalism has led to considerable confusion about what the term actually means. Many young Christians are tempted to discard the label altogether. But evangelicalism is not merely a political movement in decline or a sociological phenomenon on the rise, as it has sometimes been portrayed. It is, in fact, a helpful theological profile that manifests itself in beliefs, ethics, and church life.

DeYoung and other key twenty- and thirty-something evangelical Christian leaders present Don’t Call It a Comeback: The Same Evangelical Faith for a New Day to assert the stability, relevance, and necessity of Christian orthodoxy today. This book introduces young, new, and under-discipled Christians to the most essential and basic issues of faith in general and of evangelicalism in particular.

Kevin DeYoung and contributors like Russell Moore, Tullian Tchividjian, Darrin Patrick, Justin Taylor, Thabiti Anyabwile, and Tim Challies examine what evangelical Christianity is and does within the broad categories of history, theology, and practice. They demonstrate that evangelicalism is still biblically and historically rooted and remains the same framework for faith that we need today

Via Crossway

MY THOUGHTS:

Go out and buy this book. It's a must read!

Don't Call It a Comeback edited by Kevin DeYoung displays chapters on fundamental Christian topics from a host of young leaders. Inside the pages, you will find insights into the history, theology, and practice of our faith. Some of my favorite chapters included, "The Secret to Reaching the Next Generation" by Kevin DeYoung; "Worship: It's a Big Deal" by Tullian Tchividijian; and "The Local Church: Not Always Amazing, but Love By Jesus" by Thabiti Anyabwile.

This is a book to read with a highlighter. A book you will want to discuss with other serious readers. It might even be a book you will wrestle with depending where you stand on some of the issues presented. I think it is highly worth your time.

Here is a peek inside via a few of my favorite, underlined portions:

"It is the church that God has called and commissioned to take the name of Jesus to all lands." (page 139)

"God is not like you or me. He's unimaginably better. He's mightier, fiercer, more loving, more majestic. He is holy, holy, holy." (page 56)

"Social justice, though valuable as an expression of Christian love, should especially as a churchwide endeavor, serve the goal of gospel proclamation. We care for people because we love them as creatures made in God's image and lament their suffering." (page 158)

Have you read Don't Call it a Comeback? If you do, let me know.

This book was given to me in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review.

Kindle Deals {Trailblazer Series}

2012-01-23T11:18:00.003-05:00

The Trailblazer Series can be found on Amazon for $2.99 each right now. Imprisoned in the Golden City by Dave and Neta Jackson has been on my wishlish, but not for long now.

If you follow the link, you will see listed below under "Customers Who Viewed this Item Also Viewed" many of the other Trailblazer books at this great price.

Do you have a favorite Trailblazer book?

Love Food & Live Well by Chantel Hobbs {Book Review}

2012-01-20T09:24:00.000-05:00

Love Food & Live Well

by Chantel Hobbs

Details:

Go ahead. Get passionate about the food you eat!

Don’t fall for the lie that to lose weight you have to endure bland, uninspiring meals—and go hungry most of the time. Starting today you can love delicious food and lose weight at the same time! The secret is knowing when to have carrot cake and when it’s time for just a carrot.

Make food your ally by following Chantel Hobbs’s 80/20 rule. A full 20 percent of the time, splurge on the foods you love and incorporate them into celebrations and social occasions. The remaining 80 percent of the time, choose food that delivers maximum health and fuel for your body.

Using personal inventories, food plans, and new exercises for strength training and aerobic fitness, you will enjoy getting fit and trim. Love Food and Live Well guarantees that you can love what you’re eating while you lose weight.

via Waterbrook Multnomah

My Thoughts:

You cannot help but be motivated by a woman who has been there herself and now, having lost weight, is sharing her story and ideas. If you are like me and need the periodic pep talk to remember what healthy eating looks like and why you need to do it, you will find it here.

Chantel Hobbs encourages us to make changes and shares about the kinds of foods that will benefit our bodies. She even reminds us that we need God for real, lasting change, "surrendering to the living God your life, your own strength, and your ability to change is a daily occurrence. You have to lay down your desire whenever they get in the way of what God wants to do in your life." (page 57)

Much of what you find between the pages of Love Food & Live Well, you have seen before. This is basically a reminder about calories, carbs, protein, fat, and other basic diet information with her personal push and challenge. She spells out the 80:20 Rule to help you make the most of your eating and then leaves you with ideas and recipes. There is also a section on exercise with tips for scheduling, actual exercises with photos, and more.

Hobbs writing is easy and fun, plus it is encouraging to learn from a woman who has lost two hundred pounds and kept it off. If you need a little inspiration, you will want to read Love Food & Live Well.

Are you encouraged by reading books about healthy eating, diet, and exercise?

This book was given to me in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review.

Missional Mama's Word of the Year

2012-01-19T16:42:00.000-05:00

Intentional was the word for 2011. The goal was trying to be intentional in parenting, homeschooling, being a wife, living as a missionary and so forth. Certainly, I did not arrive as an intentional giant, but it was a year of growth, change, and moving forward.

And then recently, 2012 arrived. Resolutions were not made and life seemed to have speed up with a overflowing calendar. I spent time considering and praying about what to focus on during this promising year. After evaluating my life and year, the word became clear: REST.

Button via Melanie @ Only a Breath

This does not mean sleeping and napping more, although getting sufficient shut eye is certainly part of it. It is more along the lines of learning to being still, calm, and dealing with stress in more proactive ways. Resting in God's protection, provision, and order for my days and life is the aim.

The main areas to "REST" are as follows:

Getting the amount of sleep the body needs to be healthy, awake, and absent of a cranky attitude.
Learn ways to deal with stress.
Seek God about what to include in the schedule and the family calendar.
Have enough downtime to serve well when homeschooling, keeping home, working, doing ministry and all the little things that come into the hours.
Being still and present with God by praying without ceasing and spending time in Bible reading, study, and prayer.

Be still and know that I am God

Psalms 46:10

What is your word for 2012? If you wrote a post about it, add the link.

Kindle Deals {Look What's Free}

2012-01-15T19:50:00.000-05:00

There are just some things that must be passed on.....

Did you know that Organizing Simplicity by Tsh Oxebreider is free on Kindle right now. I am not sure how long it will last, so grab it now.

Other great Kindle deals that I noticed recently are:

There Is No Me Without You by Melissa Fay Greene is $2.51.

Instructing a Child's Heart by Tedd and Margy Tripp is $3.99

Let us know if you have seen any great Kindle deals too...

Amazon links are associate links.

Cultivate Listening

2012-01-02T10:52:00.001-05:00

I am trudging through The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery which, incidently, I am finishing because I am more then half way and not because I am particularly facinated as of yet. I find that even in the midst of books that takes months to finish, still little gems may jump out of the text to inspire or teach me something. This occurred today as I read the following.

“It’s really pleasant to listen to him (Kakuro) talking, even if you don’t care about what he’s saying, because he is truly talking to you, he is addressing himself to you. This is the first time I have met someone who cares about me when he is talking: he’s not looking for approval or disagreement, he looks at me as if he to say, “Who are you? Do you want to talk to me? How nice to be here with you?” That is what I meant by saying he is polite – this attitude that gives the other person the impression of really being there.” (page 169)

I stopped there, in the middle of a paragraph, so that I could ponder a minute. There are a number of actions that should be considered here.

1. How do I listen to others? Do I make people feel like I care about them?

2. When I join a conversation, am I (without the knowledge of others) really looking for approval from them? OR looking for a disagreement? If so, what can I do to be mindful of this and change my ways?

I think listening is a skill that we can cultivate. How about we make a deal right here, the next person we engage with today, let's try hard to make them feel important and loved?

Funny, how a fiction work can inspire. What has inspired you recently?

The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice. – Proverbs 12: 15

Hello 2012!

2012-01-01T23:00:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year!

<><><><><><><><><><><><>

photo by Chris Weissenberger

Looking forward to what 2012 holds for Missional Mama.

The goal is to keep encouraging readers towards missional living
and
drawing near to God.

Part of the plan is to continue reviewing and writing about books
while reading widely and participating in memes like What's on Your Nightstand?

Another desire is to add more Adoption Mama interviews, homeschooling ideas, and inspiration in health as well as other topics.

Doing all this so,
"that we may be mutally encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine" - Romans 1:12.

Thanks for reading!

Reflect and Resolve

2011-12-31T10:56:00.000-05:00

REFLECT

Download The Simple Mom's List of Questions for reflection on 2011 by Tsh.

RESOLVE

4 Christian Principles for Making New Years Resolutions @ Ligonier Blog

The Sobering Effect of Year-Ends from Desiring God on Vimeo.

What do you do to reflect on the previous year and make resolutions for the new year?

A Year of Favorite Posts

2011-12-31T07:07:00.000-05:00

Here is a look back at favorite posts from 2011...

JANUARY

10 Ways to Keep Your Kids From Reading
{A snarky little look at reading.}

FEBRUARY

Modern Candy Hearts
{Check out what my heart told me.}

MARCH

Serving Makes Life Full
{Translating for a medical team that visited.}

APRIL

Meeting Blog Friends
{So fun to meet online friends in real life.}

MAY

Praying With and For My Children
{Some ideas that have made a difference in my life,}\

JUNE

What Are Your Passions?
{This would be a good one to start the year reading.}

My Year of What? Help Me Write a Bestseller
{Two for June because this might be my favorite post of 2011.}

JULY

Finally, A Verse For 2011
{Did you have a verse for 2011?}

AUGUST

Plans for the 2011-2012 Homeschooling Year
{Love reading these types of posts on other people's blogs.}

SEPTEMBER

Recommendations For Read Alouds'
{Some of our favorites}

OCTOBER

Take One Step
{I wrote daily about missional living in October and this has all the links for the month.}

NOVEMBER

Would You Give Up Your Peanut Butter Cup?
{What my four year old taught me.}

DECEMBER

Adjusting to Life on the Mission Field
{What it is really like when missionaries go to another country.}

If you have a blog, leave a link to your favorite post from 2011.

What I Read in 2011...

2011-12-30T23:01:00.000-05:00

My goal for 2011 was 25 books. Since I was used to reading more from the previous year, I kept up the pace and finished 58 books (listed here), two shorter books, and many read alouds with the kids. I also read blogs, newsletters, magazines, books of the Bible and many other items with writing.

As you scan the list, please note a few facts. The highlighted books were my favorites for 2011. The books that are in small print, I do not recommend and would have been better off had I abandoned them. Not all the titles that I left in normal size font would I recommend. If the title is linked, it probably leads to a review post.

This is simply a list of the books that I read.

1. I Am Hutterite: The Fascinating True Story of a Young Woman's Journey to Reclaim Her Heritage
by Mary-Ann Kirby
2. The Mission of Motherhood: Touching Your Child's Heart for Eternity
by Sally Clarkson
3. Washed and Waiting: Reflections on Christian Faithfulness and Homosexuality
by Wesley Hill
(Tim Challies posted a great review on this book here.)
4. Reaching and Teaching: A Call to Great Commission Obedience
by M. David Sills
5. Hello, I Love You: Adventures in Adoptive Fatherhood
by Ted Kluck
6. God Planted Five Seeds
by Jean Dye Johnson
7. Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer
by John Grisham
8. The Missional Mom: Living with Purpose at Home & in the World
by Helen Lee
9. Life From Scratch: A Novel
by Melissa Ford
(free in Kindle - very light read with some pages I skipped or skimmed. I need to write a post about the problem with free Kindle books at some point.)
10. One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are
by Ann Voskamp
11. Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back
By Todd Burpo with Lynn Vincent
12. Happily Ever After (Deep Haven Series #1)
By Susan May Warren
13. Homeschooling with a Meek and Quiet Spirit
by Teri Maxwell
14. Friendships for Grown-Ups: What I Missed & Learned Along the Way
by Lisa Whelchel
15. Something Borrowed
by Emily Giffin
16. Lies Homeschooling Moms Believe
by Todd Wilson
17. Something Blue
by Emily Giffin
18. Leadership Education: The Phases of Learning
by Oliver and Rachel DeMille
19. Always the Baker Never the Bride
by Sandra D. Bricker
20. The Convenient Groom
by Denise Hunter
21. The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment
by Tim Challies
22. Practicing Affirmation
by Sam Crabtree
23. Talkers, Watchers, and Doers: Unlocking Your Child's Unique Learning Style
by Cheri Fuller
24. A Woman Who Reflects the Heart of Jesus: 30 Days to Christlike Character
by Elizabeth George
25. The Heavenly Man: the Remarkable True Story of Chinese Christian Brother Yun
with Paul Hattaway
26. The Little Lady Agency
by Hester Browne
27. Mission to Oz: Reaching Postmoderns Without Losing Your Way
by Mark Tabb
28. The Student Whisperer
by Oliver DeMille and Tiffany Earl
29. Don't Waste Your Life
by John Piper
30. Just One of the Guys - (not recommended)
by Kristan Higgins
31 .Pocketful of Pinecones: Nature Study With the Gentle Art of Learning : A Story for Mother Culture ®
by Karen Andreola
32. Prep - (not recommended to anyone)
by Curtis Sittenfeld
33. The Fine Art of Insincerity
by Anglea Hunt
34. Global Soccer Mom: Changing the World is Easier Than You Think
by Shayne Moore
35. Uncompromising: A Heart Claimed By a Radical Love
by Hannah Farver
36. Jesus, My Father, the CIA, and Me: A Memoir of Sorts
by Ian Morgan Cron
37. Jump Off the Hormone Swing: Fly through the Physical, Mental, and Spiritual Symptoms of PMS and Perimenopause
by Lorraine Pintus
38. Choosing to SEE: A Journey of Struggle and Hope
by Mary Beth Chapman
39. Miss Match
by Erynn Mangum (free on Kindle)
40. Rematch
by Erynn Mangum
41. Match Point
by Erynn Mangum
42. I Was a Really Good Mom Before I Had Kids: Reinventing Modern Motherhood
by Trisha Ashworth and Amy Nobile
43. Hungry for God: Hearing God's Voice in the Ordinary and the Everyday
by Margaret Feinberg
44. Love Food & Live Well: Lose Weight, Get Fit & Taste Life at Its Very Best
by Chantel Hobbs
45. My Foolish Heart
by Susan May Warren
46. For Time and Eternity
by Allison Pittman
47. Breathing In, Breathing Out: Keeping a Writer's Notebook
by Ralph Fletcher
48. Not Your Parents' Offering Plate: A New Vision for Financial Stewardship
by J. Clif Christopher
49. Not a Fan.: Becoming a Completely Committed Follower of Jesus
by Kyle Idleman
50. So Long, Insecurity: You've Been a Bad Friend to Us
by Beth Moore
51. The Hunger Games
by Suzanne Collins
52. Catching Fire
by Suzanne Collins
53. Mockingjay
by Suzanne Collins
54. Don't Call It a Comeback: The Old Faith for a New Day
by Kevin DeYoung (Editor)
55. My So-Called Life as a Proverbs 31 Wife: A One-Year Experiment and Its Surprising Results
by Sara Horn
56. Blue Christmas
by Diane Moody
57. What Matters Most: When No is Better Than Yes
by Doug Fields
58. Faith
by Lori Copeland

Favorite Books of 2011

2011-12-30T07:31:00.001-05:00

The following are my top five books of 2011:

1. Choosing to See: A Journey of Struggle and Hope by Mary Beth Chapman - This offers a fast-paced look into Chapman's life including the death of her daugher. She shares in an honest and authentic way which I found beautiful. This is a book you will read and then pass on to your friends.

2. Don’t Waste Your Life by John Piper - What took me so long to read this book? This is an excellent reminder of what is important. I plan to challenge my children to read this when they are in high school and I think all college students or young adults need to read this book. If you have not read it, grab a copy.

3. Practicing Affirmation: God- Centered Praise of Those Who Are Not God by Sam Crabtree - This was such a refreshing look at giving others words of encouragement. I highly recommend this for Chistians desiring to build others up in a Biblical way.

4. Reaching and Teaching: A Call to Great Commission Obedience by M. David Sills - This is an excellent look at the entire Biblical mandate. It helps us remember that we are not just to reach the world but also to teach them.

5. The Hunger Games Trilogy - I enjoyed these books as much the second time in light of what I knew would happen.

What were your favorite books in 2011?

Reading the Bible in 2012

2011-12-29T17:33:00.001-05:00

In a few short days, we will all welcome in 2012. What are your plans to cultivate drawing near to God? Bible Reading for 2012, and Why at Pyromaniacs was especially inspiring as I was thinking about what I would be doing. I especially liked the following quote:

“Pick a plan. Any plan is better than no plan. Play to your strength. If you're a morning person, read it first thing (this is what I found decades ago to be my path). If not, do it in the evening or midday. There is no law for a time to pick; but there is a law to do it.”

I agree. It does not really matter which plan, what time of day, or any logistics. It does matter IF you read and IF you read to know God and hear what He wants to share with you.
As you search out a plan that will work for you, may I suggest a few ideas…

1. THE FREE WAY – My very first time reading the entire Bible, I started with a sheet that listed each book of the Bible and every chapter. I read whatever book that I wanted, in whatever order that I wanted. I got it done and was amazed that I finally managed to stick it out. (After that, I was able to follow a more structured plan.) If you have started and stopped too many times to count, why not try a more free approach and see if that helps.

2. THE TIMELINE WAY – This is normally known as the chronological plan. You basically find a plan that lists the readings in order and read what happened first and then next and then next and then next…. You get the idea.

3. THE BOOK WAY – Open your Bible to page one and begin reading. When you complete Revelation, you are done. (This can be done in 90 days, one year, three years, seven months and twelve days, or in whatever time you happen to need.)

4. THE HERE AND THERE WAY – This would be a plan that has you reading in several places each day. You can read from two places, four places, even ten places. You can find all kinds of Bible reading plans with variations on the here and there way.

As you can see, there is no right way to read the Bible and I totally made up the names for the plans above. For a great list of plans with links and normal names, take a look at Justin Taylor’s Bible Reading Plans for 2012. You could also join Tim Challis in the 3650 Plan. This plan falls under #4, reading from 10 places daily and I plan to attempt it in 2012.

***My biggest and best advise for those who will be trying this for the very first time is that if you fall behind, do not quit. In fact, expect to fall behind and then you won’t be disappointed in yourself. Does it really matter when you finish reading the Bible? Does it really matter if you are on the correct day?

What are your plans for Bible reading in 2012?

What’s On My Nightstand? for December

2011-12-28T19:04:00.001-05:00

Here we are at the end of 2011 and time again for What's On Your Nightstand? I have found less time for reading and even blogging this month and this post reflects that fact. I do hope to pull together an end of the year reading post in the next day or so. In the meantime, here is the basics of December....

FINISHED THIS PAST MONTH:

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins – {I read this series in the fall of 2010 and started the first book again after watching the trailer. It was fun revisiting the books and seeing the details in light of what I knew would happen.}

Don't Call it a Comeback edited by Kevin DeYoung

My So-Called Life as a Proverbs 31 Wife by Sara Horn

Blue Christmas by Diane Moody

What Matters Most: When NO is Better Than Yes by Doug Fields

WITH MY KIDS:

The Birds’ Christmas Carol by Kate Douglas Wiggins {This title is free on Kindle}

The Adventures of Mumford: Munford Meets Robert Fulton by Jamie Armimi (the oldest)

Lyndon B. Johnson by Thomas F. Barton (my oldest)

My daughter is reading Magic Tree House books presently.

Bambi: A Life in the Woods by Felix Salten

What have you been reading?

* Links are affiliate links.

Blue Christmas by Diane Moody {Author Interview}

2011-12-21T21:32:00.000-05:00

On Facebook recently, I asked what Christmas related books people were reading this month. One of my friends mentioned Blue Christmas by Diane Moody. I was pretty sure that Diane, my friend, and I had attended church together about 16 years ago. Of course, I was curious. After reading the description of the book, I popped it on my Kindle for less than a dollar and began. I enjoyed the Christmas themed, love story plus the journey behind the book is also great. Here is a little background from Diane herself...

1. You are likely a new author to many of my readers, can you tell us a little bit about yourself and how you started writing.

I've loved to write for as long as I can remember. But for some reason, it never occurred to me that it could be a career. Just a hobby. Oh, to have those years back . . . Then again, it's so obvious to me that God opened the door to publishing at this point in my life now that my kids are grown and gone, and I finally have the time to seriously pursue this dream. I started attending writers' conferences and meeting other authors as I learned the "craft" of writing. It took more than 15 years before my first book was published in 2010 - Confessions of a Prayer Slacker - a book literally written on my heart by the Lord. Then, earlier this year, I decided to dip my toe in the indie-publishing arena with The Runaway Pastor's Wife, and I've never looked back. I've released two novels and two novellas this year, and I can honestly say I'm having the time of my life!

2. The story Blue Christmas is quite unique. Please share how the story came about.

When my daughter Hannah was in high school, she was obsessed with a particular boy band that was popular at the time. So for Christmas that year, I wrote her a short story about a girl named Hannah (though fiction-Hannah was a college senior) who quite by accident found herself in the home of a kind woman on Christmas eve. She soon discovered her new friend was the mother of the lead singer for the hottest band in the country - and Hannah's childhood idol. She and Jason fall in love, of course, and over the holidays their relationship begins to grow. Then tragedy strikes at the heart of the band, and their newfound love is put to the test in the glare of the paparazzi spotlight. My daughter loved the story, asked me to write more, and over the course of time it grew into a full-length novel. She posted the story on a fanfiction website of her beloved boy band, and it was read by more than 80,000 readers. Over 1000 of them wrote me emails! It was so much fun, and I knew one day I wanted to publish the book. (Of course, the band is now fictional.) Blue Christmas just released a couple months ago, and the response has absolutely blown me away.

3. What was your favorite band growing up? presently?

Okay, this is SO embarrassing, but I have to admit, when I was in junior high I was completely smitten with The Monkees. I know - lame, huh? Of course, I also loved the Beatles and the Beach Boys. Over the years, my taste is music has become rather eclectic. My favorite band today? I have no idea. I seem to gravitate more toward movie soundtracks by James Horner, Thomas Newman, James Newton Howard, Hans Zimmer. Great background music for writing. But since I live in Nashville, I also have to admit I love Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, and Dave Barnes. Just so you know.

4. I read that you will be adding to this series. Can you expound on that?

I hope my readers aren't disappointed, but the Moody Blue Trilogy are all separate stories. They all involve music celebrities, and there's a "blue" thread through each of them. Right now I'm working on the second book, Blue Like Elvis. It's based on my two years back in the late 70s working at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis. I worked as a Patient Representative, a hospital version of what flight attendants are to the airlines. Only program like it in the country. I was there at BMH the day Elvis died (can you see where this is going?) My 20-something fictional character has quite a story to tell about working at "Elvis's hospital" . . . can't wait to finish this one! The third book is still up in the air, though it will most likely have more of a Nashville vibe with a lot more comedy thrown in.

5. Since my blog is Missional Mama, I always like to ask how others include missional living in their life.

I have finally begun to understand my mission is touching hearts for God through my books. I always include a message of God's forgiveness or the profound hope that only He can offer. When I wrote the original version of Blue Christmas and received emails from young readers asking about Christ's love, I realized then that written word - even in a fiction format - was just as much a vessel for sharing the Lord as standing in a pulpit or serving as a missionary in a distant country. Different, but no less important. It's the gift God gave me and equipped me for, and I'm so humbled to see how He's using it to reach others.

Thank you, Diane, for the interview. To read more, check out www.dianemoody.net or www.dianemoody.blogspot.com

Consider ordering or downloading Blue Christmas and be sure to let me know what you think. It is not too late to enjoy a fun holiday read!

What was your favorite band growing up?

*This was not a review book, I purchased the book myself. The links are affiliate links.

Fall into Reading Challenge Closing Post

2011-12-19T12:48:00.001-05:00

The Fall into Reading challenge is now over.  Running from September 23RD – December 21ST, I did as much reading as I could.  Here is a review of my goals and what I ended up reading…

MY GOALS were as follows:
1. Finish the seven books that were listed.
2. Finish at least five more books.
Total: Read 12 books or four each month.

This is how it went down....

1. Of the seven books listed, I finished five of them.

The books that I finished…

Hungry for God: Hearing God's Voice in the Ordinary and the Everyday by Margaret Feinberg
Love Food and Live Well: Lose Weight, Get Fit, and Taste Life at Its Very Best by Chantel Hobbs
Not a Fan: Becoming a Completely Committed Follower of Jesus by Kyle Idleman
Don't Call It a Comeback Edited by Kevin DeYoung
The Big What Now Book of Learning Styles: A Fresh and Demystifying Approach by Carol Brainer (I did not read every word of this book but will go back to it for homeschooling ideas.)

The books that I have yet to finish…

His Kingdom Come published by YWAM {This is a great book so far but it is not an easy read and it will take me awhile to finish.}
The 11 Secrets of Getting Publishedby Mary DeMuth

2. I ended up finishing 11 books, although the last one was a very short book and seven of them were fiction which always moves along fast.

1. My Foolish Heart by Susan May Warren
2. From Time and All Eternity by Allison Pittman
3. Forsaking All Others by Allison Pittman
4. Breathing In, Breathing Out: Keeping a Writer’s Notebook by Ralph Fletcher
5. So Long, Insecurity: You’ve Been a Bad Friend to Us by Beth Moore
6. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
7. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
8. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
9. My So-Called Life as a Proverbs 31 Wife by Sara Horn
10. Blue Christmas by Diane Moody
11. What Matters Most: When No is Better Than Yes by Doug Fields

I ended up finishing 16 books all together.

So, did you accomplish your reading goals? What have you been reading?

12 Questions About Reading {FIR 2011}

2011-12-19T09:39:00.001-05:00

The Fall Into Reading Challenge posted questions about reading each week which I meant to answer. Now that they are finished, I thought I might try my hand at a few quick answers. Why not join me and write a post with your answers or pick your favorites and answer them in the comments here and on the FIR original posts.

#12 - Christmas is quickly approaching. What book- or reading-related gift would you love to receive for Christmas?
I really would like a wide margin, single column ESV Bible. Crossway had one coming out in January that looks good. I have been considering joining in on Informing the Reforming’s 3650 reading challenge and would like to start it out with a new copy to underline and fill with notes. I am not sure if I can keep up with the reading load, but it sure sounds like an insightful way to read scripture!

#11 - Share a special memory relating to books or reading — something you’ll never forget.
I loved reading the Bobbsey Twin books and Dandelion Cottage as a child. They were my mothers and housed in the comfortable, loft hallway of my grandparents home. I used to borrow one or two from my Nana each time we would visit. When I would bring them back, I could borrow more.

#10 - In what ways do you encourage others to read or support their reading habits? How do you share your love of reading with others?
I hope this blog helps encourage others to read more. In real life, I often pass my books around as well as borrow from others. I also talk about books that I am reading, esp. if I feel strongly about them.

#9 - What else do you do while you are reading? Eat? Drink? Household tasks? Or do you usually put aside absolutely everything to focus solely on the book at hand?
I will often drink something while reading. Sometimes I join my family while they watch TV and I read instead. In the US, I used to listen to books while driving or cleaning. Also, while my kids work on homeschooling materials, I may read for a few minutes here and there as I can.

#8 - Where do you love to read? Do you have a favorite chair, a favorite room, a favorite place…somewhere that inspires you to put everything else aside and pick up a book?
Anywhere. My favorite place would be laying on my bed, sitting on the couch, or at an amazing coffee shop. If that coffee shop is in a bookstore, bonus!

#7 - Is there a book that has had a tremendous impact on your life? One that made you look at life in a whole new way, or caused you to completely change something in your life?
The Bible would be the obvious one. It has changed my life and continues to work on and guide me.

#6 - When it comes to fiction, are you more of a “plot person” or a “character person”? If you had to choose, which concept would win out when it comes to picking and loving a book: plot or character?
I think it would be plot. I need a decent story line to keep me plugging along.

#5 - Do you skim? Or are you faithful to read every word?
This depends on the book. If a fiction book is not well written or has a flimsy story, I will skim. Also, if the author tends to repeat what was already said or if I am not that interested in the topic, I may speed read to get the basic idea.

#4 - How large is your personal/family collection of books? And where do you keep them?
We have tons of books here in Bolivia and stored in Florida and Kentucky. I also have many on the Kindle that I have picked up free. So, my answer is a lot!

#3 - On what devices, if any, do you read books? Or are you strictly a “physical book” reader?
I’m a Kindle girl, but I still like paper books too.

#2 - How often do you re-read books? What does it take to make you re-read?
There are only a handful of books that I have reread. I am not sure what it takes to make me re-read. If I found the story inviting and interesting (like The Hunger Games & Anne of Green Gables) OR if I found myself learning things that I want to remember or revisit (like The Practice of the Presence of God or The Praying Life.)

#1 - How much do book reviews influence your decision to acquire and/or read a book?
I almost always read positive and negative reviews of books before I decide if I want to read something. Certainly, there are the times that I just read one that I picked up or was given. This can be risky as I have read a few books that I have regretted that way (like Prep).

The links in this post that take you to Amazon or Westminster Bookstore are affiliate links.

Adjusting to Life on the Mission Field

2011-12-08T10:22:00.001-05:00

All the ladies in attendance at the grand dinner were well dressed and mannered. The delicious food was set before us with flair. Everything about this Christmas extravaganza shouted of excellence to the smallest detail. There were gifts given to the many pastor’s wives and then to the missionaries in attendance. My friend whispered to the hostess that there was one more. They called my name. I remember the swelling applause and the lovely Brighten bracelet that still adorns my wrist on occasion. Upon returning to my seat, my eyes began to fill and I was glad for the lowering of lights as the program began because I could not hold back the tears for the applause that I did not deserve.

Read the rest of this post at Quest for a New Perspective

Thanks to Gene Jennings from Quest for a New Perspective for inviting me to write this post. If you will remember, he wrote about Purposeful Giving for the 31 Days of Missional Living project in October. Please take some time to read his post and see what he is doing with the next ten years to help reach the whole world!

Jump off the Hormone Swing by Lorraine Pintus {Book Review}

2011-12-07T09:00:00.000-05:00

In Jump Off the Hormone Swing, Lorraine Pintus shares openly about the inner tension a woman can feel at certain times of the month between wanting to love her neighbor on one hand, and wanting to strangle her and shoot her ugly dog on the other. While many books discuss the physical and emotional symptoms of hormones, this is the first to explore in depth the spiritual aspects. Jump! is a mentoring book, not a medical book. The focus is on attitude, not anatomy. Lorraine shares insights from her own journey as well as wisdom from 1,500 women she surveyed. Sound biblical wisdom is laced with humor because after all, when it comes to hormones, you either have to laugh or cry, and laughing is better!

Get answers to these questions:

· What is the number one thing I can do to feel better physically?
· How does PMS and perimenopause affect me spiritually?
· Which foods ease PMS symptoms...which make them worse?
· How do hormones affect my brain?
· Why does stress make my PMS worse and what can I do about it?
· Are there benefits to PMS and perimenopause? (you'll discover 10!!)
· How can God possibly love me when I hate myself?
Includes a 10-week study for individual and group use.

* from Moody Publishers

My Thoughts

All women deal with issues related to hormones at some point. Loarraine Pintus takes this tough topic and breaks it down into a very readable and helpful book. Not only is it informative but it is also practical with tips and ideas to help one through the seasons of being a women tackling physical, mental, and spiritual symptoms that occur.

I plan to keep this book around to remind myself of the helpful tips like the ten “brain foods” listed on page 56 or the ways to manage stress that are found in pages 117 –126. I also might reread much of the book and follow along with the videos I just noticed were listed in the Bible Study section towards the end. This section lists questions and points to online videos which could be a nice addition to the information.

I would easily recommend this book to any of the women in my life. It is a great starting point for dealing with female issues and a jumping off point towards discussion and further research.

This book was given to me by Moody Publishers in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review.

My So-Called Life as a Proverbs 31 Wife by Sara Horn {Book Review}

2011-12-06T13:04:00.001-05:00

My So-Called Life as a Proverbs 31 Wife:

A One-Year Experiment...and Its Surprising Results

By Sara Horn

Author Sara Horn always admired the Proverbs 31 wife, but when she became a busy writer and mother, she deemed this model to be dated and impossible. Or is it? Join Sara as she heads into a one-year domestic experiment and offers full access to see if this biblical model can be embraced by a modern woman—even one who can’t sew.

With humility and humor, Sara sets out to pursue the Proverbs 31 characteristics through immersing herself in all things domestic, but when her family's situation changes and she must return to a full-time job, she's forced to look at the Proverbs 31 woman with a whole new viewpoint. Through it all, she and readers discover:
what it means to be a godly woman and a wife
how investing in family and faith refines priorities as a spouse and a parent
how mistakes are opportunities for growth
This thought-provoking, surprising, and entertaining personal account will inspire women to try their own experiments in living out God’s purpose for their lives.

*from Harvest House

My Thoughts:

The title told me that I would enjoy this book. Everything about the cover and the idea of a one-year experiment trying to follow in Martha 31’s (as Sara calls her) shadow seemed ideal for an interesting read and it was.

Sara Horn could have taken a number of angles here. One might expect a “look-how–perfectly-I- kept-my-house,-family,-and life-now-try-to-be-perfect-like-me” approach that would garner readers who would then fall short and feel like failures. She could have decided to deal with topics like baking bread and not wearing spaghetti strap tanks making this book about rules which quite frankly is easy to do. Instead, Sara gave us the “here-is-my-very-real-life” look at how a modern woman attempts to make Proverbs 31 come alive in her life! She tells stories and slowly unveils how she fails, changes, and grows and she ends the book remembering what is most important.

Quotes like, “The Proverbs 31 wife and I don’t get along very well. I don’t appreciate how bad she makes me look.” (pg. 11) and “…I was feeling all domestic in a rebellious sort of way.” kept me laughing as I turned the pages. I enjoyed this quick book finishing in a few days. This is not a study on Proverbs, but a simple journal of sorts presenting one women’s journey through life events that might cause you to open to those verses and see how you might start to challenge yourself.

Have you read any books about being a Proverbs 31 Woman?

I was given this book by Harvest House in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review.

4 Gift Ideas that Give Back

2011-11-30T10:39:00.001-05:00

Here is a little help for those of you who have not finished your Christmas shopping. Each of the items below benefit people or agencies that we know.

1. First Fruits Café offers coffee while helping support missions. Who doesn't enjoy a good cup of coffee?

2. Worthy of the Prize is selling glass ornaments until December 7TH. The proceeds will be split between several adopting families including our friends, the Dear family.

3. Alive and Awake is selling T-shirts to help “bring hope, love, and education to a street child in Kechene, Ethiopia”.

4. My Crazy Adoption is giving away another mission trip this year. All you have to do is purchase one of the two T-shirts below by December 2ND for an entry. Check out the link for all the details! If you are too late for the giveaway, go take a look at the amazing T-shirts they offer. There are lots of great designs and they well made.

Truly Great

2011-11-25T07:05:00.001-05:00

“He is truly great, who is great in love. He is truly great who is little in himself, and who makes no account of any height of honor (Matt. 23:11). He is truly wise who accounts all earthly things, ‘but dung, that [he] may win Christ’ (Phil. 3:8) And he is truly very learned who does the will of God and forsakes his own will.”

-The Imitation of Christ by Thomas A Kempis (end of Chapter three)

The Fast-Food Kitchen by Sheri Torelli {Review}

2011-11-22T16:00:00.001-05:00

The Fast-Food Kitchen

by Sheri Torelli

Sheri Torelli, coauthor with Emilie Barnes of the popular More Hours in My Day (over 240,000 copies sold), presents a wonderful mealtime solution for families on the go, on a budget, and ready to switch from drive-through answers to fast, healthy, home-cooked meals.
Sheri provides realistic, fine-tuned ways to bring sanity and the family back to the table:

double-duty cooking—how to maximize a minimal amount of time in the kitchen

menus by design—foolproof ways to plan meals and a month’s worth of menus

creating little helpers—skill-appropriate tasks for kids of all ages

tips for an efficient kitchen—tweaks and tools to organize a fast-food kitchen

fast food with friends—hosting simple meals at home without feeling intimidated

This unique and practical resource provides the recipe for better eating and better living: meal plans, organization helps, and lots of encouragement

From Harvest House

My Thoughts
The Fast-Food Kitchen is the perfect solution for the mom who needs quick meals because of a busy lifestyle.

The first 86 pages of the book are filled with tips and ideas from personalizing your kitchen and learning to cook double, to making a menu that works. Some of the ideas will be reminders and some will be new as Sheri encourages you to set kitchen goals that will make your meal making time easier and better.

The rest of the book boasts over 100 recipes to try on your family. Each one gives an estimated prep and cooking time plus how many it serves as well as approximate calories. One each page, you will also find an easy recipe laid out by ingredients, methods, tools needed, plus side dish ideas, kitchen tips, how to make it double, and possibly an extra comment.

My family’s favorite is the Crock-Pot or Microwave Mexican Meat Loaf (which we bake in the oven actually) on page 132. Because we live in South American, I have to make a few substitutions; but both times I have made it, my kids raved and begged for more. This scrumptious dish will make it to our table at least monthly!

I really think that Sheri Torelli has given us a handy little book here. It would make an excellent gift tucked inside an over mitt perhaps or just a helpful addition to your kitchen.

This book was given to me by Harvest House in exchange for my honest review.

Vision Forum Giveaway at The Modest Mom

2011-11-22T13:27:00.001-05:00

Head over to The Modest Mom blog to enter to win one of three gift certificates for Vision Forum!

Vision Forum is an store full of amazing Christian books and gifts.

We have purchased from them many times and have not been disappointed which is why I am writing this post just in case they pick me.

What’s On My Nightstand? for November

2011-11-22T10:36:00.001-05:00

I have not been attending to my blog as much in the past week or so as we have my husband's parents with us now for a couple months. It is a joy to have them and it helps my Spanish as we interact daily, but my online time has been cut a bit by the extra visitors. We shall see as things level out how the reading and online time go, but for now here is my November update...

IN PROGRESS:

Started:

Education of a Wandering Man by Louis L'Amour

Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger: Moving from Affluence to Generosity by Ronald J. Sider

What Women Fear: Walking in Faith that Transforms by Angie Smith

Breaking Out of Beginner's Spanish by Joesph J. Keenan

Still working on:

Don't Call it a Comeback edited by Kevin DeYoung
His Kindgom Come published by YWAM
The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery

WITH MY KIDS:

Sarah Morton's Day: A Day in the Life of a Pilgrim Girl by Scholastics Inc.
The First Thanksgiving Feast by Joan Anderson
Eating the Plates: A Pilgrim Book of Food and Manners by Lucille Recht Penner

FINISHED THIS PAST MONTH:

For Time and All Eternity by Allison Pittman {This book came free on the Kindle, but I could hardly put it down and then had to find out what happened in the second book. Kindle is smart to sell the first in a series free because often one wants to find out what happens next.)
Forsaking All Others by Allison Pittman
Breathing In, Breathing Out: Keeping a Writer’s Notebook by Ralph Fletcher {Book of ideas for writers.}
Not a Fan: Becoming a Completely Committed Follower of Jesus by Kyle Idleman {Linked to review}
So Long, Insecurity: You've Been a Bad Friend to Us by Beth Moore {My mom gave me this a little over a year ago. It was interesting hearing Moore's personal stories and I liked her prayer and her ideas how to live in freedom from insecurity.}
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins {Because I saw the tailer for the movie and just could not wait to read it again.}

Have you read The Hunger Games?

What are you reading these days?

Missional Idea: BUY COFFEE TO SUPPORT MISSIONS

2011-11-16T09:08:00.001-05:00

South America Mission started a new initiative to help fund the amazing projects happening within the mission. While you drink your morning coffee, you can also be helping people share the gospel and show love in South America.

First Fruits Café—Whole Bean Coffee, Freshly Roasted, Gets Mission Going

First Fruits? It is the first flow of coffee right out of the drip. The best taste experience. The least acidic. Unfettered. Earthy and beautiful…

Yes, beautiful, because in that purest, unfettered form, there’s full and original satisfaction.

Coffee is beautiful. And it tastes good to boot. Drink it up, give it as a gift. First Fruits Café is the real deal. 100% Arabica. Pure South American. Freshly roasted.

And every bag you buy for yourself or give away as a gift, 100% of the profits supports work through South America Mission. First Fruits Café gets mission going. {from First Fruits}

PURCHASE TODAY BY CLICKING HERE
{$10. for a 12 oz. bag of pure South American goodness!}

*The coffee is sold to help with projects that South America Mission is working on such as CONPLEI 2012!

Me and My Blog {for Rachel and Her Blog}

2011-11-14T14:08:00.001-05:00

When Rachel suggested taking photos with our blogs for the memories, I was so in!

So, I now can not only remember how I looked holding up my computer, but also how dusty the city is that I live in, the fact that we don’t take stickers off our computers years after we own them, and that my husband has had to fix the cord (note yellow duct tape) for me several times.

Oh, the memories in one little photo.

Side note: I did attempt to look cool here but one can only do so much in extreme heat.

What do you look like with your blog?

Not a Fan. by Kyle Idleman {Book Review}

2011-11-14T10:18:00.001-05:00

Not a Fan: Becoming a Completely Committed Follower of Jesus
by Kyle Idleman

Fan or Follower? In our celebrity and sports driven culture, we know what it means to be a fan. Most of us determine our answer to the question based on cultural or denominational measurements. Or we identify our answer with some religious rituals or traditions. Not a Fan examines and reveals what it means to go beyond simply being an enthusiastic admirer to being a completely committed Follower of Jesus. (Synopsis from Zondervan)

My Thoughts:

Not a Fan by Kyle Idleman is set up to challenge ones idea of what faith and following Christ looks like. Kyle takes a look at how fans view life and how followers see the same thing. The book is convicting even for the most faithful follower. For me, Idleman’s writing was a reminder of why I am a follower and not a fan. The book caused me to ponder areas in which I can grow; I was especially challenged by the “Take Up Your Cross Daily” chapter.

The size and layout of Not a Fan is inviting. The clear, shorter chapters are perfect for a devotional before bed or a quick, weekly book club read. I like how Idleman always included scripture, some historical anecdotes, and/or a Biblical story that illustrated where he was headed in each chapter. However, my favorite part of the book is the testimonies included at the end of each chapter. The first one gave me chills. For me, reading real people who deal with hard issues and follow Jesus often gives the courage needed to keep going.

One caution I would suggest is to read Not a Fan only as it concerns you. Without being careful, you might find yourself starting to judge other people (who is a fan and who is a follower) which could be easy to do. Instead, I would encourage you to be mindful and allow it to be a very personal journey asking God to reveal to you where you need to work in your relationship with Him.

I think most followers will find this a helpful book as they seek to know God more and grow in areas that are lacking. I am just guessing here, but I think most fans will quickly stop reading and those who proceed may just find their hearts and lives changed. I am certain that is the author’s purpose and I am praying that is what occurs.

You can find out more about Not a Fan here.

This book was given to me in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review.

Hey Missionary Mamas

2011-11-11T16:04:00.001-05:00

Hey Missionary Mamas,

Mrs John in Gahana is running a giveaway just for us {those living overseas}. She is sending a special package of holiday goodness to the winner.

Head over to her blog and to get the details.

Painting to Music {An Idea for Art}

2011-11-11T08:27:00.001-05:00

While music filled the space, the kids painted.

With large fluid motions or whatever drew their hearts, they worked onto the large white paper.

My children sat engrossed.

“This can be very therapeutic,” the art teacher mentioned after inviting me to join the fun.

Such a simple idea for art. Share large paper and large brushes with various brilliant colors of paint and seeing what happens. Play favorite music loudly while the creation takes shape and enjoy.

Perhaps beforehand, you may desire to share a few paintings or use movement of the arms to demonstrate large strokes. Encourage your children that different strokes and amounts of paint will present themselves differently on the paper.

What simple art activities does your family enjoy?

{This activity is shared with permission from my friend, the art teacher.}

Hillsong United in Bolivia

2011-11-09T09:56:00.000-05:00

Imagine singing in a language you cannot speak. Hillsong United stated upfront that they do not know Spanish which must mean they memorize the lyrics and they truely do a good job of it.

With the words on the screens upfront, Hillsong United started in one language and would then switch to the other which I wasn’t expecting, but appreciated. Sometimes they would seamlessly switch back and forth between languages and the crowd followed. It was something to behold. During one song, they even started in English then stepped back and the stadium took over in Spanish which was awesome!

It was a beautiful night of worshiping God!

Have you been to a Hillsong United concert? What was the last concert you attended?

How Can We Make Others Glad?

2011-11-08T10:37:00.000-05:00

If you live gladly to make others glad in God, life will

be hard, risks will be high, and your joy will be full.

– John Piper

My friend, Lisa, added this quote to her Facebook status this morning. After “liking” it, I started to wonder about how exactly do we make other “glad in God”? Here is the basic morning brainstorm…

Help

Serve

Give

Be there

Share the gospel

Listen

Share scripture

Speak life and truth

Think of others before yourself

Invite

Sit by

Bless

Pray

Call

Send an email

Mail a card

Bake

Care for

Feed

Donate

Do the next thing

Drive

Fill a need

Include

Encourage

Uplift

It is up to each of us to fill in the who? what? where? when? how? May God give each of us wisdom as we go about our day to make others “glad in God” despite the risks!

Would love to hear what came to your mind when reading this quote.

(According to Goodreads, this quote comes from the Don’t Waste Your Life Study Guide by John Piper. If you have not read Don’t Waste Your Life, it is a must read in my opinion.)

Would You Give Up Your Peanut Butter Cup?

2011-11-04T09:50:00.000-04:00

“Invítame a este choclate, por favor,” my friend Elva said.

We were just starting back into our weekly Bible study when she eyed my youngest son’s candy bucket. She was not asking for the national candy, but wanted to try the peanut butter cup that she didn’t recognize. How can you blame her; it’s pure happiness wrapped in orange.

I told her that it was not my candy to give away and called my 4-year-old over. I explained that Elva would like to try his peanut butter cup. Immediately, he started digging into the bucket to which the young women and I laughed as we were certain he was looking for a suitable replacement for the treasured treat to give away instead.

To my amazement, he picked out a sucker which happened to be the second biggest treat and took both around the table handing the peanut butter cup to Elva and the sucker to her sister. I really was surprised.

I am pretty sure if she would have asked me, I would not have wanted to give up the last of my sweet Americana candy of which I am so fond. This is the stuff those of us living abroad savor, making it last as long as possible. I only drink my good coffee {when I have it} on Saturdays. It’s a fun weekly treat from home and it stays around longer that way.
This made me wonder about what else I would have a hard time willingly giving over and how can I cultivate a childlike heart that happily gives away even my favorite treat?

Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

- 2 Corinthians 9:7

What about you?

and have you learned any lessons from children recently?

Missional Clothing {Missional Wear T-Shirt Giveaway}

2011-11-02T12:39:00.001-04:00

Giveaway Closed : Winner # 1- Jessica Gardner - Congrats!

In honor of the new blog look, I contacted Missional Wear about hosting a giveaway so that one of my readers could wear a T-shirt like this one….

Missional Wear offers T-shirts, sweatshirts, and accessories for women and men. You will find Theologians, theology, solas, quotes, and scripture like the following…

The Missional Wear site states:

We provide quality apparel and products inspired by missional living and reformation theology.
Our commitment is to provide excellent customer service with competitive low prices.

The best part of all is that

Missional Wear is offering one of my readers

one short sleeve T-shirt of their choice.

TO WIN: (Read the fine print below.)

Visit Missional Wear and leave a comment letting me know what T-shirt you would choose.

Extra Entries:

Tweet: Win a Missional Wear T-shirt http://bit.ly/tEBuBq @MissionalMama

Add the direct link to your Facebook page and let me know.

FINE PRINT: Please leave a separate comment for each entry. U.S. addresses only. Winner will be chosen using Random.org. You may enter until Wednesday, November 9 at 9 P.M. EST. I will post the winner on this post and if you leave your email, I will email you. If I do not hear back from you in 48 hours, I will choose another winner using Random.org

Thank you Missional Wear for offering this giveaway.

6 Ways to Watch Our Words

2011-11-01T15:18:00.001-04:00

I told my mouth to stop.

I knew that I would regret it, but somehow the words spilled out.

I went on and on and one thing led to the next. The crazy part was that I wasn’t really angry at anyone just irritated by one small thing. One thing turned to a few, none of which really mattered. It was the talking about the first thing that set my tongue onward.

That first thing should have had me wrestling it out with God and not sharing it on the phone.

It was such a small silly issue, you would laugh at me, BUT that small thing created my monster mouth. Why didn’t I just keep it to myself?

I hung up the phone and regret met me immediately. IMMEDIATELY! Perhaps you know the feeling.

I hate that. The knowledge that my words are out there and I cannot really take them back. The apology does not erase words that did not need to be said.

I do not want to be that person.

I want to be a person who always speaks blessings.

I want my words to bring life, encouragement and cause people to seek God more.

I would hope that, more then not, people walk away feeling loved on and not dumped on.

To move toward that end, here are a few quick ideas to keep the reminder before me, before us…

Do a scripture study to uncover what the Bible says about our words and the tongue on your own. What connections do you find between the verses? What commands are there to take?

Read Proverbs and write out all the verses that have to do with what you says. Pick one and place it where you will see it each day.

In the morning, ask God to help you speak life and truth to the people you meet during the day. (I started this practice a few years ago and it really transformed the way I see things.)

Find a study like Conversation Peace or 30 Days to Taming Your Tongue to do alone, with a friend, or in a small group. Take notes on what you want to remember and especially the areas you see where you need work or God is specifically directing you.

Read books like Practicing Affirmation that remind you to bless others with your words.

Pray and ask God to help you with your speech.

The words of the reckless pierce like swords,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing. - Proverbs 12:18

What else can you suggest? Any verses or books that have been helpful?

31 Days of Missional Living {Day 31} – Take One Step

2011-10-31T09:55:00.000-04:00

How does one become intentional in looking outside themselves and into the neighborhood, city, state, country, continent, and world to do what can be done to advocate change and bring the gospel? This month we are looking at easy, practical steps towards living a mission-minded life.

{DAY 31}

TAKE ONE STEP

Take a moment and look back over the post from the “31 Days of Missional Living” series. Which one has stuck with you {or if you are new which title demands your attention now}. Go back and refresh your memory and determine today to take one step toward more missional living. Maybe this means you will begin to read missionary biographies, take the next Perspectives course, start using the self-examination questions in your devotional time, or invite your new neighbor over for coffee. Whatever it is, I ask that you TAKE ONE STEP.

31 DAYS OF MISSIONAL LIVING

Day 1 – Prayer

Day 2 - Missionary Stories

Day 3 – Neighborhood

Day 4 – Bless

Day 5 – Community

Day 6 – Follow Your Passion {guest post}

Day 7 – Share the Gospel

Day 8 – Read to Your Kids

Day 9 – Serve Your Church

Day 10 – Singleness {guest post}

Day 11 - Orphan Care

Day 12 – Sending Agencies

Day 13 – Mom Time

Day 14 – Purposeful Giving {guest post}

Day 15 - Sponsor a Child

Day 16 - Old Testament Verses

Day 17 – ECHO – Fights Hunger

Day 18 - Books for Mom

Day 19 - Ministry with Kids {guest post}

Day 20 - Nacer Ministries {brochure posted}

Day 21 - Keep Record

Day 22 – Take a Break

Day 23 – Read About Missions

Day 24 – Called

Day 25 – Be There

Day 26 – A Testimony of Starting Young {guest post}

Day 27 – Share Your Story

Day 28 – Do the Next Thing

Day 29 - In Your Homeschool

Day 30 – Self-Examination

Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. – Proverbs 4:26

Thanks for reading along. I do plan to continue writing about being missional, so please join me by following this feed, joining the Facebook conversation, and you can find me on Twitter and Pinterest too.

Many blessings towards a more missional life!

What one step will you take towards more missional living?

A big THANKS to Kelli for making
the 31 Day Missional button for this series!

31 Days of Missional Living {Day 30} - Self-Examination

2011-10-30T16:58:00.002-04:00

How does one become intentional in looking outside themselves and into the neighborhood, city, state, country, continent, and world to do what can be done to advocate change and bring the gospel? This month we are looking at easy, practical steps towards living a mission-minded life.

{DAY 30}

SELF-EXAMINATION

This candle helped us see during an evening service in a remote village
after the power was turned off at 8 P.M.

If you are serious about living a missional life, it is important to take the time to look into the state of your heart. The following words, highlighted in bold, are from a paper that I tucked in the cover of my devotional binder, I hope you will consider obtaining a copy for yourself as I think you will find it a good (and hard) place to start the examination process. Take a few minutes to reflect on the questions and you will see what I mean by good as well as hard…

A TEST FOR SELF-EXAMINATION

These are 22 questions the members of John Wesley’s Holy Club asked themselves each day in their devotions over 200 years ago.

Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression that I am better than I really am? In other words, am I a hypocrite?
Am I honest in all my acts and words or do I exaggerate?

Do I confidentially pass on to others what has been said to me in confidence?

Can I be trusted?

Am I a slave to dress, friends, work or habits?

Am I self-conscious, self-pitying, or self-justifying?

Did the Bible live in me today?

Do I give the Bible time to speak to me every day?

Am I enjoying prayer?

When did I last speak to someone else of my faith?

Do I pray about the money I spend?

Do I get to bed on time and get up on time?

Do I disobey God in anything?

Do I insist upon doing something about which my conscience is uneasy?

Am I defeated in any part of my life?

Am I jealous, impure, critical, irritable, touchy or distrustful?

How do I spend my spare time?

Am I proud?

Do I thank God that I am not as other people, especially as the Pharisees who despised the publican?

Is there anyone whom I fear, dislike, disown, criticize, hold a resentment toward or disregard? If so, what am I doing about it?

Do I grumble or complain constantly?

Is Christ real to me?

The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out. – Proverbs 18: 15

Do you have any self-examination ideas for us?
31 Days of Missional Living
Day 1 – Prayer Day 2 - Missionary Stories Day 3 – Neighborhood Day 4 – Bless Day 5 – Community Day 6 – Follow Your Passion {guest post}Day 7 – Share the Gospel Day 8 – Read to Your Kids Day 9 – Serve Your Church Day 10 – Singleness {guest post} Day 11 - Orphan Care Day 12 – Sending Agencies Day 13 – Mom Time Day 14 – Purposeful Giving {guest post} Day 15 - Sponsor a Child Day 16 - Old Testament Verses Day 17 – ECHO – Fights Hunger Day 18 - Books for Mom Day 19 - Ministry with Kids {guest post} Day 20 - Nacer Ministries {brochure posted}Day 21 - Keep Record Day 22 – Take a Break Day 23 – Read About Missions Day 24 – Called Day 25 – Be There Day 26 – A Testimony of Starting Young {guest post} Day 27 – Share Your Story Day 28 – Do the Next Thing Day 29 - In Your Homeschool

31 Days of Missional Living {Day 29}- In Your Homeschool

2011-10-29T09:32:00.003-04:00

How does one become intentional in looking outside themselves and into the neighborhood, city, state, country, continent, and world to do what can be done to advocate change and bring the gospel? This month we are looking at easy, practical steps towards living a mission-minded life.

{DAY 29}

MISSIONAL IN YOUR HOMESCHOOL

Most homeschoolers that I know are intentional about teaching their kids about the world. If you are wanting to do something and wondering where to start, here are a few ideas….

Read to Your Kids – Linked to an earlier post about missional books for kids. There are so many more great ones out there.

Ministry with Kids – Linked to a guest post about not leaving your children behind as far as ministry with great ideas. Be sure to read Olive’s post if you haven’t already.

Start the homeschool day with Bible reading. Make it a point to read scripture and discuss it. Imagine reading most of the scriptures with your kids by the time they graduate. You could also listen to it on CD.

Get your homeschool co-op involved in a community service project or perhaps a few families you know.

Do a Fundraiser to help with a project, ministry, or person that you know. You could share your idea and get other homeschoolers involved. This helps your kids focus on needs outside themselves.

Host a mission day. Have students choose a country to research and present. Bring foods that represent each area and share a meal together. At the end of the evening, pray for each country and the needs that were mentioned.

Have missionaries visit your homeschool group and stay in your home.

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. – 1 Thessalonians 5: 11

How are you being missional in your homeschool?

31 Days of Missional Living Day 1 – Prayer Day 2 - Missionary Stories Day 3 – Neighborhood Day 4 – Bless Day 5 – Community Day 6 – Follow Your Passion {guest post}Day 7 – Share the Gospel Day 8 – Read to Your Kids Day 9 – Serve Your Church Day 10 – Singleness {guest post} Day 11 - Orphan Care Day 12 – Sending Agencies Day 13 – Mom Time Day 14 – Purposeful Giving {guest post} Day 15 - Sponsor a Child Day 16 - Old Testament Verses Day 17 – ECHO – Fights Hunger Day 18 - Books for Mom Day 19 - Ministry with Kids {guest post} Day 20 - Nacer Ministries {brochure posted}Day 21 - Keep Record Day 22 – Take a Break Day 23 – Read About Missions Day 24 – Called Day 25 – Be There Day 26 – A Testimony of Starting Young {guest post}
Day 27 – Share Your Story Day 28 – Do the Next Thing

31 Days of Missional Living {Day 28} – Do the Next Thing

2011-10-28T09:42:00.000-04:00

How does one become intentional in looking outside themselves and into the neighborhood, city, state, country, continent, and world to do what can be done to advocate change and bring the gospel? This month we are looking at easy, practical steps towards living a mission-minded life.

{DAY 28}

DO THE NEXT THING

My youngest doing the next thing after church.

What if living a Missional life is about doing what is in front of us? What if it is going about life doing the next thing? For me after my husband left for work this morning, doing the next thing was making oatmeal, sitting down to write this while the older kids worked on math, and soon to be reading Bambi aloud. This is not amazing stuff; it will not make our missionary newsletter.

As I read Global Soccer Mom a few months ago, I was struck by the fact that the Shayne Moore was going about life when she was faced with the great needs worldwide. As the author juggled being a wife and a mother, she took the next steps available to her to be doing what she is doing. She did the next thing. Sometimes as you follow your passion that can mean looking, praying, and researching while you do what is in front of you today.

I encourage you to remember to be present in your day. Be there in your conversations and not thinking about what is to come. You only have one October 28, 2011 and it will soon be behind you. Live your life fully for the glory of God. Say No when you need to. Say yes when you know God is directing you. Love and encourage your family and friends, share the gospel, be there, and watch for God’s direction.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” - Matthew 11: 28 - 30

What is your next thing?

31 Days of Missional Living Day 1 – Prayer Day 2 - Missionary Stories Day 3 – Neighborhood Day 4 – Bless Day 5 – Community Day 6 – Follow Your Passion {guest post} Day 7 – Share the Gospel Day 8 – Read to Your Kids Day 9 – Serve Your Church Day 10 – Singleness {guest post} Day 11 - Orphan Care Day 12 – Sending Agencies Day 13 – Mom Time Day 14 – Purposeful Giving {guest post} Day 15 - Sponsor a Child Day 16 - Old Testament Verses Day 17 – ECHO – Fights Hunger Day 18 - Books for Mom Day 19 - Ministry with Kids {guest post} Day 20 - Nacer Ministries {brochure posted} Day 21 - Keep Record Day 22 – Take a Break Day 23 – Read About Missions Day 24 – Called Day 25 – Be There Day 26 – A Testimony of Starting Young {guest post}
Day 27 – Share Your Story

31 Days of Missional Living {Day 27} – Tell Your Story

2011-10-27T13:28:00.000-04:00

How does one become intentional in looking outside themselves and into the neighborhood, city, state, country, continent, and world to do what can be done to advocate change and bring the gospel? This month we are looking at easy, practical steps towards living a mission-minded life.

{DAY 27}

TELL YOUR STORY

I think that I have tucked the missional idea of sharing your story into some of the other posts from this month. Perhaps the wording was different, but the idea is the same. There is power in sharing what God has done for you.

Last night at our mission prayer meeting, a missionary with Wycliffe was asked to speak. He and his family were back in Bolivia after 30 years to celebrate a monumental anniversary in their marriage. The man was easy to listen to with his old-time radio voice and welcoming manner, but it was his words that struck me. He encouraged those of us who were weary and discouraged that our work and ministry was worth it and that we were not done yet. He shared how he recalled leaving so long ago and wondering what they had accomplished during their 11 years in Bolivia.

Now 30 years later, he told us that he sees more clearly. That a student who had crossed his path came a long way to meet with him and share his ministry in the mountains and the impact the missionary had made on his life. We learned about churches that had multiplied resulting from a work he was involved in. His details were more beautiful then my retelling and the awe in which he shared was inspiring. He was seeing that it was worth it and inspiring us behind him. He was telling us his story, how God worked, and letting us know that it is worth it. “YOU ARE NOT DONE YET” and “IT WILL BE WORTH IT” struck such a deep place. I could feel myself picking up the plow in my heart. I am so glad this missionary shared his stories as so many were touched.

As Christians, we need each others stories to encourage us to keep the faith, to know God more, and to put our trust in God. It speaks to the weary and it moves the courageous. Please don’t be silent.

When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. – Acts 11:23

How has God been working in your life? Who can you encourage today? Who can you ask to hear their story?

31 Days of Missional Living
Day 1 – Prayer
Day 2 - Missionary Stories
Day 3 – Neighborhood
Day 4 – Bless
Day 5 – Community
Day 6 – Follow Your Passion {guest post}
Day 7 – Share the Gospel
Day 8 – Read to Your Kids
Day 9 – Serve Your Church
Day 10 – Singleness {guest post}
Day 11 - Orphan Care
Day 12 – Sending Agencies
Day 13 – Mom Time
Day 14 – Purposeful Giving {guest post}
Day 15 - Sponsor a Child
Day 16 - Old Testament Verses
Day 17 – ECHO – Fights Hunger
Day 18 - Books for Mom
Day 19 - Ministry with Kids {guest post}
Day 20 - Nacer Ministries {brochure posted}
Day 21 - Keep Record
Day 22 – Take a Break
Day 23 – Read About Missions
Day 24 – Called
Day 25 – Be There
Day 26 – A Testimony of Starting Young {guest post}

Missional Mama

His Kingdom Come {Book Review}

Beat This Cookbook by Ann Hodgman {Book Review}

The Big What Now Book of Learning Styles by Carol Barnier {Book Review}

Tag! I'm It!

What's On Your Nightstand? for January 2012

You Can Do Tea by Sandy Lynam Clough {Book Review}

You Can Do Tea

by Sandy Lynam Clough

Don't Call It a Comeback Book Review {Edited by Kevin DeYoung}

Kindle Deals {Trailblazer Series}

Love Food & Live Well by Chantel Hobbs {Book Review}

Missional Mama's Word of the Year

Kindle Deals {Look What's Free}

Cultivate Listening

Hello 2012!

Reflect and Resolve

A Year of Favorite Posts

What I Read in 2011...

Favorite Books of 2011

Reading the Bible in 2012

What’s On My Nightstand? for December

FINISHED THIS PAST MONTH:

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins – {I read this series in the fall of 2010 and started the first book again after watching the trailer. It was fun revisiting the books and seeing the details in light of what I knew would happen.}

Don't Call it a Comeback edited by Kevin DeYoung

My So-Called Life as a Proverbs 31 Wife by Sara Horn

Blue Christmas by Diane Moody

What Matters Most: When NO is Better Than Yes by Doug Fields

WITH MY KIDS:

Blue Christmas by Diane Moody {Author Interview}

Fall into Reading Challenge Closing Post

12 Questions About Reading {FIR 2011}

Adjusting to Life on the Mission Field

Jump off the Hormone Swing by Lorraine Pintus {Book Review}

My So-Called Life as a Proverbs 31 Wife by Sara Horn {Book Review}

My So-Called Life as a Proverbs 31 Wife:

A One-Year Experiment...and Its Surprising Results

4 Gift Ideas that Give Back

Truly Great

The Fast-Food Kitchen by Sheri Torelli {Review}

Vision Forum Giveaway at The Modest Mom

What’s On My Nightstand? for November

Missional Idea: BUY COFFEE TO SUPPORT MISSIONS

Me and My Blog {for Rachel and Her Blog}

Not a Fan. by Kyle Idleman {Book Review}

Hey Missionary Mamas

Painting to Music {An Idea for Art}

Hillsong United in Bolivia

How Can We Make Others Glad?

Would You Give Up Your Peanut Butter Cup?

Missional Clothing {Missional Wear T-Shirt Giveaway}

6 Ways to Watch Our Words

31 Days of Missional Living {Day 31} – Take One Step

How does one become intentional in looking outside themselves and into the neighborhood, city, state, country, continent, and world to do what can be done to advocate change and bring the gospel? This month we are looking at easy, practical steps towards living a mission-minded life.

{DAY 31}

31 Days of Missional Living {Day 30} - Self-Examination

How does one become intentional in looking outside themselves and into the neighborhood, city, state, country, continent, and world to do what can be done to advocate change and bring the gospel? This month we are looking at easy, practical steps towards living a mission-minded life.

{DAY 30}

31 Days of Missional Living {Day 29}- In Your Homeschool

How does one become intentional in looking outside themselves and into the neighborhood, city, state, country, continent, and world to do what can be done to advocate change and bring the gospel? This month we are looking at easy, practical steps towards living a mission-minded life.

{DAY 29}

31 Days of Missional Living {Day 28} – Do the Next Thing

How does one become intentional in looking outside themselves and into the neighborhood, city, state, country, continent, and world to do what can be done to advocate change and bring the gospel? This month we are looking at easy, practical steps towards living a mission-minded life.

{DAY 28}

31 Days of Missional Living {Day 27} – Tell Your Story

{DAY 27}