My Fave Five this week:-
1. CHRISTmas: Celebrating CHRIST's birth with family. I also loved the candlelight service at church. The feast, fellowship, and fun were fabulous, too :). Giving and serving others always bring me joy. I also like seeing my loved ones being happy and surprised by the gifts I pick out for them.
2. My kids helped bake cookies for our annual Christmas give-away goodies. We enjoyed delivering them (plus my homemade bookmarks) and visiting with our neighbors.
3. My husband has had last Friday and this whole week off. We love having him home with us!
5. Relaxing and reading. You can check out my Top Ten Reads of 2011 here.
"Long after the angels disappear into the heavens, the shepherds return to their flocks, the magi journey home, and the great star sets, JESUS remains. The Child in whom we rediscover God's great love for humanity becomes the adult Redeemer who challenges us to imitate His selflessness and compassion in order that we might transform our world in love. May we allow the miracle of CHRISTmas to continue long after the holiday trappings have been packed away. May we welcome the adult Messiah and His challenging Gospel to recreate our lives--making the peace, justice, and hope of this holy season a reality in every season of the new year." (~Author Unknown)
Have a blessed & Christ-centered New Year, everyone!
My Fave Five this week:-
1. Congratulations to my 17 yo daughter, Alyssa! Her script submission to CSE's Creation Minute audio series has been accepted as a finalist for production! She received a $15 credit in their online store.
2. I finished reading Alyssa's novel manuscript. It's really good :). She hopes to get it published some day soon.
3. Our kids participated in worldmathsday (March 1st) and worldspellingday (March 3rd). They competed against kids around the world in real time. They did a great job at both math and spelling.
4. Life, In Spite of Me by Kristen Jane Anderson with Tricia Goyer. It is a heart-wrenching yet inspiring true story of a young woman who wanted to end her life but instead discovered life in Christ. Her failed suicide attempt turns into a story of hope and purposeful living for God! You can read and rate my review here. If you know anyone who is struggling with depression or suicidal thoughts, please recommend this book to him/her.
5. My Pick-Your-Book Giveaway. The winner (randomly chosen) will get to pick a book of his/her choice from the list (10 great books to pick from such as Outlive Your Life by Max Lucado, Blue Like Play Dough by Tricia Goyer, The 7 Minute Life Daily Planner, etc.). The giveaway ends 3/13.
Charlie Church Mouse Super Pak includes a 3-game set: Preschool (for ages 2-4), Kindergarten (for ages 4-6), and Early Elementary (for ages 6-8). Kids learn age appropriate skills through 18 exciting Bible stories such as Jonah and the Whale, Noah’s Ark, Three Wise Men, Birth of a Savior, The Prodigal Son, Queen Esther, Daniel and the Lion’s Den, David and Goliath, Ruth, and more. Lessons cover colors, shapes, numbers, letters, measurements, addition/subtraction, spelling, synonyms/antonyms, time, etc.
Each story has fun games. In the story of Ruth, there is a game where Ruth tries to gather grain while avoiding the birds and the mole. It is similar to Packman. This was one of my son’s favorite games. Another game from the story of Daniel and the Lions Den teaches kids how to tell time. The animations are colorful and lively but aren’t realistic. For example, in Zacchaeus & The Big Tree, they had a car and in David and Goliath, David’s dad called him on a cell phone telling him to go bring his brothers food and the food he brought was pizza. I recommend Charlie Church Mouse Super Pak because it is educational and entertaining while instilling kids the Biblical accounts that will stay with them throughout their lives. Great value!
~I received this CD-rom for free from LB Games in an exchange of my honest review. LB Games produces quality PC-based Christian interactive games for children, teens and adults. Their games are supported by Focus on the Family, the Billy Graham Center and many preachers who appreciate that their games provide a healthy alternative to other violent games. I share their approval.
MiniMonos is a fun virtual world for kids, focused on sustainability and generosity. Founded by a mom and entrepreneur Melissa Clark-Reynolds in New Zealand, MiniMonos welcomes children from around the world to create monkeys and play on MiniMonos (which means Little Monkeys in Spanish)!
This is not an ordinary virtual world. It helps kids to be aware of how to take care of our earth while each new membership provides clean drinking water for children in India. What a wonderful concept this is! In addition, when they hit their first 50 Gold members, they adopted an orangutan baby for a year.
I was given a free 6-month Gold membership in exchange for my honest review. I signed my 9 year old son up. He has had fun exploring and playing MiniMonos during our holiday break. First, your monkey (your child's avatar) gets to select a universe: Star Tiger, Bounty, or Cyclops. Then there are so many cool places to explore: Treehouse, Einsteins Lab, Traderz, Carlos, Time Square, Mutts Gallery, Hana Cove, El Rio River, Compost Zone, Bea's Place, Butterfly Meadow, Long Beach, Avanga Cave, Recycle Center, Castle Beach, Bimini Rocks, Kittyhawk Bluff, and Leatherback Lagoon. When your child plays games, he/she will earn banana chips which can be used to buy clothes, toys, things to decorate his/her house and yard, etc. For example, in the Holiday Catalog, you will find Christmas trees, wreaths, toys, costumes, and more. You can also design your own holiday cards. Games (Monkey Flight, Monkey Fist, GoGoGreen, TicTacPoo, Monkey Swim, R.A.T.S.) are fun, clean/safe, and help kids think. My son's favorite game is Monkey Fist; mine is GoGoGreen :). The whole virtual world of MiniMonos (including all the games) meets my approval.
Go green, have fun, and help others...great combination, don't you think ?
It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!
You never know when I might play a wild card on you!
***Special thanks to Anna Coelho Silva | Publicity Coordinator, Book Group | Strang Communications for sending me a review copy.***
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Don Colbert, MD, is board-certified in family practice and anti-aging medicine and has received extensive training in nutritional and preventative medicine. He is the author of numerous books, including two New York Times best sellers, Dr. Colbert’s “I Can Do This” Diet and The Seven Pillars of Health.
Joseph A. Cannizzaro, MD, has practiced pediatric medicine for thirty years with specialties in developmental pediatrics, nutrition, and preventive medicine. He is the founder and managing pediatrician for the Pediatricians Care Unit in Longwood, Florida.
Here's a video about the adult version, Eat This and Live!:
Product Details:
List Price: $17.99
Paperback: 192 pages
Publisher: Siloam; 1 edition (September 7, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1616381388
ISBN-13: 978-1616381387
AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:
EATING HABITS OF
THE NEXT GENERATION
Eating Habits and Our Future
How Has an entire generation of hefty eaters changed the face of the world? By starting young. And once again, this unflattering trend originated in America. In the United States, 17.1 percent of our children and adolescents―that's 2.5 million youth―are now reported to be either overweight or obese.
As a result of childhood obesity, we are seeing a dramatic rise in type 2 diabetes throughout the country. And because of the connection obesity has with hypertension, hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol), and heart disease, experts are predicting a dramatic rise in heart disease as our children become adults. The Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) reports that overweight teens stand a 70 percent chance of becoming overweight adults, and that is increased to 80 percent
if at least one parent is overweight or obese. Because of that, heart disease and type 2 diabetes are expected to begin at a much earlier age in those who fail to beat the odds.2 Overall, this is the first generation of children that is not expected to live as long as their parents, and they will be more likely to suffer from disease and illness.
If you do not take charge of your food choices for yourself, at least do it for your children. Children follow by example, by mirroring the behavior of their parents. Don't tell them to make healthy eating choices without doing it yourself. I'm sure most of you love your children and are good parents. But ask yourself: Do you love your children enough to make the necessary lifestyle changes? Do you love them enough to educate them on what foods to eat and what foods to avoid? Do you love them enough to keep junk food out of your house and instead make healthy food more available? Do you love them enough to exercise regularly and lead by example?
If you answered yes to those questions, it is important that you not only take action right now but also that you make changes for them that last a lifetime.
But let me be honest; this is not an easy fight when it involves your children's lives. As the little boxes of information on this page illustrate, the culture in which your children are growing up is saturated with junk food that is void of nutrition but high in toxic fats, sugars, highly processed carbohydrates, and food additives. Consuming these foods has become part of childhood.
You can do it, but you must be prepared to stand strong! That's why I am ecstatic that you have picked up this book. I believe you now hold a key to truly changing your life and your children's lives.
Stand Strong!
If you're planning on taking a stand against this garbage-in, garbage-out culture, expect some opposition from every front. During the course of a year, the typical American child will watch more than thirty thousand television commercials, with many of these advertisements pitching fast-food or junk food as delicious “must-eats.” For years, fast food franchises have enticed children into their restaurants with kids' meal toys, promotional giveaways, and elaborate playgrounds. It has obviously worked for McDonald's: about 90 percent of American children between the ages of three and nine set foot in one each month.
It's All Part of the Plan
Fast-food establishments spend billions of dollars on research and marketing. They know exactly what they are doing and how to push your child's hot button. They understand the powerful impact certain foods can have. That is why comfort foods often do more than just fill the stomach; they bring about memories of the fair, playgrounds, toys, backyard birthday bashes, Fourth of July When your kids can't visit the Golden parties, childhood friends . . . the list goes on. Advertisers have keyed into this and products―most of which are brought learned to use the sight of food to stimulate the same fond childhood memories.
School Cafeteria or Fast Food Franchise?
When your kids can't visit the Golden Arches, it comes to them. Fast-food products―most of which are brought in by franchises―are sold in about 30 percent of public high school cafeterias and many elementary cafeterias.
An Alarming Trend in Children's Health
By teaching your children healthy eating habits, you can keep them at a healthy weight. Also, the eating habits your children pick up when they are young will help them maintain a healthy lifestyle when they are adults. The challenges we face are imposing. The state of children's health today is, according to recent measures, at its most dire. The rise in rates of complex, chronic childhood disorders has been well profiled. Here are some concrete examples of the current state of children's health:
Cancer remains the leading cause of death by disease in children.5
Obesity is epidemic.
Fifty percent of children are overweight.6
Diabetes now affects 1 in every 500 children. Of those children newly diagnosed with diabetes, the percentage with type 2 (“adult-onset”) has risen from less than 5 percent to nearly 50 percent in a ten-year period.
Asthma is the most prevalent chronic disease affecting American children, leading to 15 million missed days of school per year. Since 1980, the percentage of children with asthma has almost tripled.
Approximately 1 in 25 American children now suffer from food allergies.
From 1997 to 2007, the prevalence of reported food allergy increased 18 percent among children under the age of eighteen years.
One in 6 children is diagnosed with a significant neurodevelopmental disability, including 1 in 12 with ADHD. Autism affects 1 in 150 U.S. children, an extraordinary rise in prevalence.
Babies in one study were noted, at birth, to have an average of 200 industrial chemicals and pollutants present in their umbilical cord blood.
These statistics are sobering indeed, and perhaps the most sobering is the rise in childhood obesity. Why? Obesity plays a part in several other chronic illnesses that are also on the rise among children. And there's an unwelcome side effect―more kids are being put on prescription medications for obesity-related chronic diseases. Across the board, we are witnessing increases in prescriptions for children with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, depression, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and asthma. There must be a better way.
Top Three Tips for Parents
1. Lead by example. Your child will have an extremely difficult time making healthy eating choices and exercising
regularly if you don't consistently show him or her how.
2. Take baby steps that lead to lasting changes. If your child is overweight, avoid diets that promise instant
3. Take your time as you replace your child's old habits with healthy ones. This goes hand in hand with tip #2.
You're in this for the long haul. It takes time to adapt to a new lifestyle. Be patient as he or she adjusts to the new eating habits and activities that you will be introducing.
What we need now is an absolute paradigm shift. No longer are the “one drug, one disease” solutions of the past appropriate. These are times that demand out-of-the-box thinking. That's where this book can help. If your child is overweight or you want to lower his or her risk of becoming overweight down the road, there are many positive, natural ways you can address the situation. In this book, Dr. Cannizzaro and I provide you with information and ideas to help you help your child.
Understanding Childhood Obesity
Now that we've shared the bad news about the childhood obesity epidemic in the United States, let's make sure you really understand the terms overweight and obese. Many people have a general sense as to how these words are different, yet in recent years the delineation has become clearer. Various health organizations, including the CDC and the National Institutes
of Health (NIH), now officially define these terms using the body mass index (BMI), which factors in a person's weight relative to height. Most of these organizations define an overweight adult (twenty years of age and older) as having a BMI between 25 and 29.9, while an obese adult is anyone who has a BMI of 30 or higher.12 For children and teens, BMI is measured differently, allowing for the normal variations in body composition between boys and girls and at various ages.
For ages two to nineteen, the BMI (or BMI-for-age) is pinpointed on a growth chart to determine the corresponding age- and sex-specific percentile.
· Overweight is defined as a BMI at or above the 85th percentile and lower than the 95th percentile.
· Obesity is defined as a BMI at or above the 95th percentile for children of the same age and sex.
BMI is the most widely accepted method used to determine body fat in children and adults because it's easy to measure a person's height and weight. However, while BMI is an acceptable screening tool for initial assessment of body composition, please remember that it is not a direct measure of body fatness. There are other factors that can affect body composition, and your child's doctor can discuss these with you.
If you think your child may be overweight, start by talking to his or her pediatrician. (See the box on the next page for some suggested questions to ask your child's doctor.) After determining your child's BMI and targeting a healthy weight range for your child, make a plan together as a family. It's a good idea to include any regular caregivers in this plan as well. Set a goal for the whole family to get lots of exercise and eat a healthy, well-balanced diet. Keep reading for more ways to help your
family!
Wondering About Your Child's Weight?
Five Questions to Ask Your Pediatrician
I understand that you probably don't want to talk about the possibility that your child may not be at a healthy weight. To help make this as painless as possible, I recommend asking your doctor the following questions to get the conversation started.
1. What is a healthy weight for my child's height?
Your doctor will use a growth chart to show you how your child is growing and give you a healthy weight range for your child. The doctor may also tell you your child's body mass index (BMI). The BMI uses a person's height and weight to determine the amount of body fat.
2. Is my child's weight putting him or her at risk for any illnesses?
Based on your family history and other factors, your doctor can help you to determine what health risks your child may be facing. Overweight, inactive children with a family history of type 2 diabetes have an increased risk of being diagnosed with the disease. High blood pressure can also occur in overweight children.
3. How much exercise does my child need?
The National Association for Sport and Physical Education recommends at least one hour of exercise a day. Your doctor will be able to suggest specific ways to help your child, such as walking the dog, playing catch instead of video games, and other forms of activity.
4. Does my child need to go on a diet?
Although an overweight child's eating habits will probably need to change, I don't advise using the word diet because it focuses on short-term eating habits that are rarely sustainable for long-term health. Children (and adults) who become chronic dieters are setting themselves up for problems with their metabolism later in life. A healthier approach is to put your whole family on the path to a healthy lifestyle with gradual but permanent changes. The recommendations in this book are a great place to start.
5. How do I talk about weight without hurting my child's feelings?
Your child might be sensitive about his or her weight, especially if he or she is getting teased. Above all, the message must never be, “You're fat,” or “You need to lose weight.” Instead, it should be, “Our family needs to make better choices about eating and being more active so that we all can be healthy.”
Why Food Choices Matter
All men are created equal, but all foods are not! In fact, some food should not be labeled “food” but rather “consumable product” or “edible, but void of nourishment.” Living foods―fruits, vegetables, grains, seeds, and nuts―exist in a raw or close-to-raw state and are beautifully packaged in divinely created wrappers called skins and peels. Living foods look robust, healthy, and alive. They have not been bleached, refined or chemically enhanced and preserved. Living foods are plucked, harvested squeezed―not processed, packaged, and put on a shelf.
Dead foods are the opposite. They have been altered in every imaginable way to make them last as long as possible and be as addictive as possible. That usually means the manufacturer adds considerable amounts of sugar and man-made fats that involve taking various oils and heating them to high temperatures so that the nutrients die and become reborn as a deadly, sludgy substance that is toxic to our bodies.
Life breeds life. Death breeds death. When your child eats living foods the enzymes in their pristine state interact with his or her digestive enzymes. The other natural ingredients God put in them―vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, antioxidants and more―flow into your child's system in their natural state. These living foods were created to cause your child's digestive system, bloodstream, and organs to function at optimum capacity.
Dead food hit your child's body like a foreign intruder. Chemicals, including preservatives, food additives, and bleach agents place a strain on the liver. Toxic man-made fats begin to form in your child's cell-membranes; they become stored as fat in your child's body and form plaque in his or her arteries. Your child's body does its best to harvest the tiny traces of good from these deadly foods, but in the end he or she is undernourished and overweight.
If you want your child to be a healthy, energetic person rather than someone bouncing between all-you-can-eat buffets and fast-food restaurants, take his or her eating habits seriously. Now is the time to help your son or daughter make the change to living foods.
Isn't it Really Just Genetics?
For every obese person, there is a story behind the excessive weight gain. Growing up, I would often hear it said of an obese person that she was just born fat, or he takes after his daddy. There s some truth in both of those. Genetics count when it comes to obesity. In 1988, the New England Journal of Medicine published a Danish study that observed five hundred forty
people who had been adopted during infancy. The research found that adopted individuals had a much greater tendency to end up in the weight class of their biological parents rather than their adopted parents. Separate studies have proven that twins who were raised apart also reveal that genes have a strong influence on gaining weight or becoming overweight. There is a significant genetic predisposition to gaining weight. Still, that does not fully explain the epidemic of obesity seen in the United States over the past thirty years. Although an individual may have a genetic predisposition to become obese, environment plays a major role as well. I like the way author, speaker, and noted women s physician Pamela Peeke said it: Genetics may load the gun, but environment pulls the trigger. Many patients I see come into my office thinking they have inherited their fat genes, and therefore there is nothing they can do about it. After investigating a little, I usually find that they simply inherited their parents propensity for bad choices of foods, large portion sizes, and poor eating habits. If your child is over weight, he or she may have an increased number of fat cells, which means your child will have a tendency to gain weight if you choose to provide the wrong types of foods, large portion sizes, and allow him or her to be inactive. But you should also realize that most people can over ride their genetic makeup for obesity by making the correct dietary and
lifestyle choices. Unfortunately, many parents forget that to make these healthy choices, it helps to surround a child with a
healthy environment.
REVIEW: I was pleasantly surprised by this cool book. It's packed with valuable information regarding healthy eating and healthy living while also being vibrantly colorful and attractive. The format looks similar to a magazine. Almost every page is accompanied with color photos. Charts, cool facts, and quizzes make the book even more interesting. Topics covered in this book include the basics of good nutrition, healthy diet for pregnant women, breastfeeding, healthy food choices for babies and toddlers, healthy habits from preschool to preteen, what to drink, supplements, exercise, toxins in food, special diets, fighting diabetes through diet, healthier food choices at fast-food restaurants, and more. It's really handy to look up the "Dr. Colbert Approved" lists of groceries and lists of healthy food items from different restaurants before heading out to get groceries or to eat out. I was glad to see a personal note from Dr. Don Colbert introducing his Best Friend (mine, too), Jesus, at the end of the book. Check out this fun, practical health & fitness guidebook for kids! By the way, my 9 year old son and 17 year old daughter enthusiastically looked through some pages by themselves :).
My fave five this week include:
1. Congratulations to our 17 yo daughter, Alyssa, for placing third in the local Bible Bee competition and for qualifying for the National Bible Bee! We will not be able to go to Illinois for the national competition due to the expenses. We are thankful and pleased that she enjoys hiding God's Word in her heart. "I have hidden Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You." (Psalm 119:11) To God alone be the glory!
2. Summer Reading Program at our local library. My 3 kids and I participated in it. We turned our reading logs in for chances to win prizes (we love to read, anyway :)). I won a $5 giftcard for a local coffee shop and Alyssa won a $50 Fred Meyer giftcard.
5. This video by The Way of the Master: Are You a Good Person?.
Note: Please turn off my music playlist at the bottom of this page before starting the video.
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in His blood. He did this to demonstrate His justice." Romans 3:23-25a
It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!
You never know when I might play a wild card on you!
***Special thanks to Audra Jennings, Senior Media Specialist, The B&B Media Group for sending me a review copy.***
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
Dan and Ali Morrow are parents of two wonderful daughters. When they’re not writing children’s books, they like to go on adventures around their Colorado home.
List Price: $12.99
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 36 pages
Publisher: David C. Cook; New edition (August 1, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1434764346
ISBN-13: 978-1434764348
AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER (Click on the pictures to see them larger):
REVIEW:This is a lovely book that helps kids understand God's omnipresence and His revelation through creation. More importantly, it presents how children can have personal relationship with the Living God by inviting Him to live in their hearts. However, sin and need for repentance are not mentioned at all. Psalm 139:1-10 and a note from Lee Strobel (the real Grandpa from the story) are included at the end of the book.
"Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved." (~Helen Keller) It's an encouraging reminder for us when we go through trial and suffering. James 1:2-4 says: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
"May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that You sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved Me." (John 17:23) This verse made me think of the song, "They'll Know We Are Christians." We are one in the Spirit. We are one in the Lord. We are one in the Spirit. We are one in the Lord. And we pray that all unity will one day be restored. And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love. Yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love...
"Educating our children includes more than arithmetic and spelling; it includes building character. No educational pursuit can replace the deep need for a generation of children to be brought up first in the 'nurture and admonition' of the Lord." (~Rick Williamson) That's one of the reasons why we homeschool our kids :).
"Keep me from saying words that later need recalling; guard me, lest idle speech may from my lips befalling...When dangers gather round, oh, keep me calm and fearless; help me to bear the cross when life seems dark and cheerless. Help me, as You have taught to love both great and small, and by Your Spirit's might, to live at peace with all." (~Johann Heermann, 1585-1647, from his hymn, "O God, My Faithful God" in the book, Mr. Pipes And Psalms and Hymns of the Reformation, page 92) That's my prayer!
"In a sense we become gardeners tending the spiritual development of our kids. God places the spark of life in the seed. We can't control that or how the plant eventually matures. But we can make sure the soil is rich, the ground is generously watered, the weeds are kept at bay, and the opportunity for sunlight is freely available...In the long run, the goal of parenting isn't for our kids to be known for how well-behaved they are, but for how well they know and respond to God." (~Mark Matlock, from his book, Real World Parents, page 13) That's my goal, too.
"The only thing that counts is FAITH expressing itself through LOVE." (Galatians 5:6b)"If I have a FAITH that can move mountains, but have not LOVE, I am nothing." (1 Corinthians 13:2b) We can't have one without the other.
"Never miss a chance to stop and make a memory. Sometimes you may even want to orchestrate those moments yourself." (from 52 Things Kids Need from a Dad by Jay Payleitner, page 20) My husband and I never want to miss a chance to stop and make a memory with our kids. They grow so fast.
Note: Please turn off my music playlist at the bottom of this page before starting the video.
Phil Vischer, the creator of VeggieTales, introduces a new DVD series called, What's In the Bible? My kids and I had a great time watching the first two episodes in the series. The first episode, In the Beginning, talks about what the world's most amazing Book is, who wrote the Bible, and Genesis. The second episode, Let My People Go, covers who chose which books to be included in the Bible, what salvation is, and Exodus. Each DVD is filled with funny & interesting puppet characters, animation, catchy songs, Phil Vischer's talk, lessons from each book of the Bible, church history timeline, explanation/definition of "big" words, flannelgraph fun from the Sunday School lady, and more. Comparing this to VeggieTales, some may find it not as entertaining or engaging; however, I think it's a wonderful series that helps teach kids to appreciate and understand God's Word and get them excited to read/explore the Bible themselves. What I don't like are: the bickering between the characters and the boy character in the van who seems rude to his mom and quite demanding. Each DVD is approximately an hour long.
Giveaway: I have 2 certificates from Tyndale House Publishers to give away. One winner will be randomly selected to receive both certificates which can be redeemed for a copy of What's In the Bible? DVD 1 and DVD 2.
To Enter: Please leave a comment here sharing what some of your favorite materials (besides the Bible) you've used to teach your kids about God and His Word are, or how you get your kids excited about reading/studying the Bible. Make sure you leave your email address or blog address.
For extra entries: 1. Read any of my posts (besides this one) and come back to comment about it here.
2. Follow me on Twitter (treasuredbyGod) and tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment here letting me know.
Deadline: March 31st at midnight (Pacific time)
~The DVD and certificates are provided by Tyndale.
1. Beautiful springy weather. Sunny..not too hot...not too cold...just right :). Dazzling daffodils brighten up our property. The magnolias are magnificent. I just can't help but rejoice in the Lord, our Creator who lovingly and generously gives us His beautiful creation to enjoy.
2. Biking. We had lots of fun biking in the beautiful weather.
3. Autism: The Musical, an inspirational documentary about five children with autism, their parents, and their acting coach who put together an original stage production, performed by autistic children. It's very interesting to watch; I could relate to and empathize with the parents because our 11 yo son has autism. Warning: there's some inappropriate language.
4. Listening to my kids recite Bible memory verses. My heart is bubbling with joy when I see my kids take delight in God's Word and help each other memorize the Scriptures. "I have hidden Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You." (Psalm 119:11)
5. Hearing my kids shout out correct answers when watching Jeopardy. They are so well-rounded and smart. I think homeschooling and their love of learning/reading help a lot :).
This week, I'm sharing something different than usual :). I wrote "Pencil with a Purpose" (see below) two years ago to encourage people to participate in the Operation Christmas Child (a project of Samaritan's Purse founded by Franklin Graham). My kids get excited every year around this time. Why? They get to pack shoe boxes!!! Their boxes along with boxes from others will be given out to children around the world who are living in extreme poverty, in constant fear because of wars/fighting, or in disaster-struck areas. These simple gifts will brighten up the children's life with God's love, joy, and hope. These shoe boxes are also evengelistic tools; they give local believers the opportunities to tell children about Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, through Gospel literature and evangelism programs.
This is a wonderful project to get your kids involved in. Kids in America have so much to be thankful for, yet many take their plenty for granted. This is one of many ways we can share with others in need. For details (including how to pack a box and the location of the collection center near you), please visit https://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC/ or call 1-800-353-5949. The collection week this year is November 16-23. If you choose to make your donation ($7 for each box to help cover shipping and other project costs) online using a credit or debit card, instead of putting your donation in an envelope and placing it in your box(es), you will receive an EZ give label (one for each of your boxes). The barcode on the label enables OCC to track each gift. You will receive an e-mail telling you the destination of your gift, along with information about Operation Christmas Child in that country. Isn't that cool? I was always curious about where our boxes traveled to.
By the way, there are so many ways we can give, especially near Christmastime. Many Christian organizations (ex: Samaritan's Purse, Gospel for Asia, World Vision, etc.) have gift catalogs available from which you can purchase lambs, cows, chickens, pigs, goats, fishing boat, Gospel literature, VBS material, wells, etc. for native missionaries and needy children/families. These kinds of gifts touch lives and make a significant impact. Giving (especially secret giving) is such a joy!
"If I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain." Emily Dickinson
"In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord JESUS Himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" Acts 20:35
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Pencil with a Purpose
Pick me...pick me, please! Yes! A 7 year old girl picked me and put me in a clear plastic box next to sweet-smelling candies and a beautiful rag doll. There are more things in this container: a box of crayons, a sharpener, Bible activity pad, a writing pad, bouncy balls, a yo-yo, a jump rope, a toothbrush, a tube of toothpaste, a purple comb, a washcloth with heart shapes all over it, several glittery hair clips, a pair of pink socks and a pair of white socks. Before the girl closed the lid, she placed an envelope addressed to Samaritan’s Purse, and a letter on top. Then her mom and she bowed their heads and prayed for the child who would soon receive this special gift. I have to admit...it’s a little crowded in the box but I’m glad it’s a clear plastic box. I can look out and see the world while having a fantastic adventure. First stop was a local church which was one of 2,000 drop-off locations nationwide. I could see rows and stacks of all kinds of shoe boxes and plastic boxes. Christmas music was being played in the background. I felt festive all of a sudden. From there I traveled in a huge semi-truck to a regional processing center where boxes were inspected and prepared for shipment overseas. Volunteers cheerfully checked each box to make sure that there were no used or damaged items, war-related items, chocolate (which can melt), liquids or lotions (which can leak), breakable items, medications or vitamins (no-no items). A lady looked in my box and she smiled at me (wasn’t she sweet?) These volunteers also took out the envelopes with the donation. Then they secured the boxes by using rubber bands. I was thankful for that because I didn’t want to risk falling out of the box and getting lost. Oh...what a nightmare that would be. Ooh...my next stop was at an airport. I got to be on a plane for the first time. Millions of box gifts were loaded onto ships and planes and delivered to more than 90 countries. I wondered what country I would end up in. How exciting!!! I was so excited and bewildered that I didn’t realize we were in the sky for over 10 hours. Finally, the plane landed and boxes were transported to a rural orphanage by a pick-up truck and by a motor boat, respectively. People speak a different language here. They speak Thai. I’m in Thailand...can you believe it? Tons of children gathered in a small room. The room was filled with excitement and anticipation. How lovely those smiles were! The National Leadership Team explained about the Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse and told the kids that these gifts were packed by caring people from several parts of the world who wanted to share the love of Jesus with them. They introduced the children to God’s greatest Gift of all–Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. Then the team members distributed boxes along with Gospel booklets written in their own language to the orphans who were beaming with joy. I was anxious to see who would receive the box I was in. Then the moment came...when the box was handed to a long, black-haired 8 year old girl. She said, "Kawp Koon Kha" (thank-you in Thai). She quickly opened the lid and took out the items inside one by one. When she picked me up, she looked at the words on me: "Jesus is God’s Greatest Gift." She wanted to know what they meant so she asked one of the team’s staff. The man took the opportunity to share with her the message of salvation through Jesus Christ. She listened attentively. The man invited her to join in the children’s Bible study program after school. She said yes and was so happy (I could tell because she couldn't stop smiling). She also asked that same man to translate the letter she found in the box. She then sharpened me and started to write a letter to the girl who wrote her. She asked the man if he could translate her letter into English and send it for her. He assured her that he would. Now...do you understand why I’m a pencil with a purpose? What better purpose is there than to be used to share a message of God’s amazing love and to spread His joy? I know...my life is short but it has been well spent. Don’t you think? :) ~Written by Urailak Liljequist Copyright 2007 __________________________________________________
Please visit here for the links to other Spiritual Sundays posts.
Please visit here for the links to other blogs that are participating in the Operation Christmas Child Carnival.
Have a blessed week in the Lord, everyone!
This week...
1. I am thankful that my sons have a thankful heart/attitude. They appreciated the games, gifts, cards, cakes, ice cream, other treats, their relatives, family, and friends who came to their birthday party. They remembered to thank everyone :).
2. I am thankful for my husband being the best dad/role model (besides Jesus) for our children. He enjoys spending time (quality and quantity) with the kids. The boys love playing sports with Dad and learning from Dad how to fix things, how to make fire, and other manly stuff; our daughter loves talking with Dad about God, the Bible, ministries, politics, world events, etc. and watching movies with Dad.
3. I am thankful for all the hugs and kisses from my husband and kids. They are affectionate and I love that :).
4. I am thankful for our relatives and the relationship we have with them. I'm glad that they always come to the kids' birthday parties and get along very well even though some of them were divorced and remarried.
5. I am thankful for all seasons. Each season displays God's wonders. If you would like to see the pictures I took around our property throughout four seasons, please click here.
1. I am thankful that my husband and my kids are very forgiving. I have "blown" it again and again, but they keep forgiving me. I can relate to Paul when he said in Romans 7:15, "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do." Praise God for His forgiveness through Jesus Christ our Lord!
2. I am thankful that my kids have always been honest/truthful. They may fail at times in some character issues but I'm glad that honesty is well ingrained in them.
3. I am thankful that my family loves to smile and laugh. My husband and kids have a great sense of humor. I cannot imagine going through a day without smiling or laughing :).
4. I am thankful that Alyssa, my 16 year old daughter, is willing to do hard things for the glory of God. She has been a shy kid. Bravely, she decided to join our local Christian Speech/Apologetics/Debate Club. She is interested in apologetics and desires to be an effective communicator for Christ and defender of the faith.
5. I am thankful that Alyssa has a passion to serve the Lord with whatever gifts/skills He has blessed her with. She (an aspiring writer) just launched an online Christ-centered magazine for the family, More Than Conquerors. Please check it out when you get a chance. You will find a variety of articles, a free book offer, and a fantastic Vision Forum DVD giveaway.
"In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height or depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:37-39
This is my first time participating in the Thankful Thursday meme hosted by Sonya and the Thankful Thursday meme hosted by Laurie.
I know most (if not all :)) of the things on my list are obvious but I still would like to mention them because they are very important in my life.
1. I am thankful for who God is...for all His attributes.
2. I am thankful for God's unconditional love, amazing grace, never-ending mercy, forgiveness, peace, joy, and strength.
3. I am thankful for my salvation through Jesus Christ, my Lord & Savior, my Shepherd & Best Friend.
4. I am thankful for my family. The Lord has blessed me with the most wonderful husband (a man after God's own heart) and three precious children who delight in God and His Word.
5. I am thankful for God's Word which is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. I am thankful for the Bibles in print and the ones on CDs. My boys listen to them at night in their bedroom.
"It is impossible for that man to despair who remembers that His Helper is omnipotent." ~Jeremy Taylor (1613-1667)
"If we can trust God for our eternal salvation, how can we not trust Him to provide for the "little" things of life?" ~M.E.Howard
