Homeschooling Can Be Murder – By: Susan Lyttek

To be honest, I stole this book from my girlfriend who won it at a writer's meeting. Just kidding, she gave it to me because I told her I liked the bull dog on the cover so much. Well, turns out that bulldog, named Jelly, have a pretty big role in the story.

Main character, Jeanine Talbott, has two young kids she homeschools and a husband who's a career military man. When her husband receives orders to re-locate, Jeanine let's him pick out and buy their new house. She’s reluctant to leave where they currently live because she feels bad for her kids having to move from the home and friends.

When she arrives at the new house she sees that her husband has bought a house next to a Civil War graveyard. As soon as the husband is called to leave on an army mission, strange noises are heard coming from the cemetery. This is upsetting for Jelly dog who manages to escape his yard, goes to the cemetery only to find a body...a fresh one.

Jeanine and the kids find themselves in the midst of a great mystery involving treasure hunters and town secrets. This was a fun read that any mom or even a young person would enjoy. I could really relate to the main character's feelings towards her kids and her husband and how familiar her life was to mine, except that I don't homeschool. Looking forward to more from this author!

Other readers have commented:

This book was different from most that I read...a little mystery, some suspense, and a dash of romance. Very unique and definitely worth the time!

I loved this mystery that twisted its way through a cemetery, underground tunnels and peoples lives and histories. We are "homeschooled" on how we can use knowledge, our own talents, love for family and friends and a commitment to God and following Him, to find the solutions for many problems, mysterious and otherwise. A good read for the entire family. I'm a grandmother and I loved it.

The Mountain Mover

I love the New Year! Don’t get me wrong, I can’t stand winter, but I adore the promise that a new year brings. Nothing really changes between December 31, 2013 and January 1, 2014, but there’s just something wonderful about a new start.

One thing I do every year, personally and corporately, along with my church family is read the Bible. For me, this all began two years ago reading through the Bible, from beginning to end. And it’s true, no matter how many times you read stories from the Bible, you can always glean new information you never noticed before. Last year was a chronological reading of the Bible. This year, 2014, is something completely different. We are going to read through the four Gospels, four times. In addition, I’ve added the reading of Psalms four times too.

On January 17^th I read Matthew, chapter 17. This is the chapter when Jesus led Peter, James and John up the mountain of transfiguration. After that amazing experience, Jesus finds out from a father that the disciples failed to heal his demon-possessed son. Jesus got mad at his disciples and then healed the boy. The disciples wanted to know why they couldn’t drive out the demon…

“Because of your little faith,” He told them. “For I assure you: If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Matthew 17:20

Sometimes I feel just like those poor old disciples must have. If all that’s needed is a mustard seed amount of faith, then I must have faith the size of a… (Wait, need to look something up) Then I must have faith the size of a quark! I’m always praying for more faith. Like the song says, ‘oh for faith to trust Him more.’ It’s not that I don’t have faith in God. I believe completely that nothing is impossible with Him. But why can’t I believe this truth concerning myself?

Move a mountain, Lord? I’ll get right on that. Have faith and be patient until my books are published? Got it, Lord…being totally patient over here!

Then God spoke.

I prayed for my talent to be used more. Boy did He answer my prayer and what a blessing it’s been. The last quarter of 2013 was filled with so many dramatic performances, articles and writing, writing, writing. When my minister handed me what appeared to be a huge stack of work to be edited and re-worked for Easter I said, “Great, I’ll get right on this!” But as soon as he was out of sight, I looked at the papers in my hand, my jaw dropped open, I groaned loudly and the first thing that came to mind was…this is like a flippin mountain of work.

A mountain, where did that even come from? Oh, I see what you did there Lord! This is one of those lessons You’re so good at. So to say the least, I’ve been doing a lot of praying and I actually have faith that God is going to move that mountain. Thank You, Lord for reminding me of the mountain…the mustard seed…and to a lesser extent, the quark.

Creative Commons Photo Compliments of:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gigi62

My One Word

When I first saw a friend’s Facebook post on her “One Word” I had no idea what she was talking about so I did some investigation. Apparently this has been going on for several years without me knowing. Who knew! Being the bandwagon jumper that I am, of course I had to participate.

The premise of “One Word” is sort of like a New Year’s resolution. But unlike a laundry list of resolutions that are here and quickly forgotten, you choose one word to focus on all year long. What kind of word? A word that motivates you, a word you can strive toward, a word that gives you vision, a word that urges you on toward a specific goal. If you can’t think of one, ask God where He’s leading you and He will provide the word for you.

My one word is:  ENCOURAGE, ENCOURAGED, ENCOURAGER, ENCOURAGING

I chose a Bible verse to go along with my one word:

That is, that you and I may be mutually ENCOURAGED by each other’s faith. Romans 1:12

Why encourage? Because, I need encouragement every day to do what God has placed before me. I need encouragement:

1.     To study my Bible

2.     To be a good wife

3.     To raise my son

4.     In my writing life

5.     In leading FBC’s drama group

I need to encourage:

1.     My husband

2.     My children

3.     My sisters and brothers in Christ

4.     My pastors and church leaders

5.     My Christian writing community

The list could go on and on!

Lord, I pray that 2014 would be a year of encouragement. Let me be encouraged to do everything you would have me to do and give me the opportunity to be an encouragement to someone who needs it. Amen!

Daily Reflections On The Names of God: A Devotional By Ava Pennington

Every name God calls Himself and every name His people called Him holds clues to who He is, how He relates to His children, and the promises He has made—and kept.

Daily Reflections on the Names of God: A Devotional is published by Revell Books and endorsed by Kay Arthur, founder of Precepts Ministries International. It examines the biblical names of God through 366 daily readings and helps readers discover what those names mean for their own faith.

Daily Reflections on the Names of God offers you a wonderful opportunity to spend time each day getting to know God more intimately by exploring 122 of His names and attributes. Using three individual devotions for each name, you will discover something new about who God is, who you are, and how you relate to others.

One year from now, will you be able to say that you know God better than you did before? Revitalize your devotional life with an intimate journey through the names of God. Come, settle down with this book, and know God more fully. The next 366 days will pass quickly—make each one count!

This week only, Ava's devotional is available for only $3.99 from Christianbook.com! Stop by and pick up a copy before time runs out. 

http://www.christianbook.com/daily-reflections-names-god-devotional-ebook/ava-pennington/9781441244963/pd/40294EB?event=AAI

Oh Little Town Of Bethlehem - 1868

Words by: Phillips Brooks, Music by: Lewis Redner

Micah 5:2 says, “But you, Bethlehem, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.”

Many considered Reverend Phillips Brooks an intimidating man. Not because of his bold preaching style, or that he was a native Bostonian. It wasn't because of his ninth generation Puritan stock or even his Harvard education. It was because he stood nearly six foot six and weighed more than three hundred pounds that made him so daunting.

In fact, his preaching underwent much criticism. People of his day said his doctrine was thin at best.  Nonetheless, he is considered one of America’s greatest preachers and went on to introduce the famous deaf, blind, mute, Helen Keller to Christianity.

Reverend Brooks upheld the cause of the North in the American Civil War and adamantly opposed the institution of slavery. On December 24, 1865, toward the end of the War Between the States, Brooks went on a trip to the Holy Land.

“I traveled by horseback from Jerusalem to attend a five-hour Christmas Eve service at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. I remember standing in the old church in Bethlehem. Close to the spot where Jesus was born, the whole church began ringing, hour after hour with splendid hymns of praise to God. Again and again it seemed as if I could hear voices I knew well! Telling each other of the Wonderful Night of the Savior’s birth!”

Three years later in 1867 as Brooks prepared for the Christmas season he desired to compose an original hymn for the children to sing at their annual program. The words to the song came quickly to Brooks. He gave the hymn to church organist, Lewis Redner and asked him to come up with a tune to go along with the poem.

Lewis wrestled with his assignment claiming the words gave him no inspiration. But on the night before the children’s program, he awoke with the music resounding in his ears! Quickly he wrote down the melody and fell back asleep. The following day, a group of Sunday school teachers and thirty-six children sang “O Little Town of Bethlehem.”

The last stanza…usually omitted from our hymnbooks says:

Where children pure and happy, pray to the blessed Child,

Where misery cries out to Thee, Son of the mother mild;

Where charity stands watching and faith holds wide the door,

The dark night wakes, the glory breaks, and Christmas comes once more.