VBS in Asia

Did you know that in South Asia, Vacation Bible School (VBS) programs are taking place right now? Action songs, Bible lessons, puppet shows are used to display Christ's love to the children. Most of them get to hear the Gospel for the very first time. Many have come to Christ through VBS. Check out this wonderful story of God's miraculous healing, "Doctors Fail, VBS Teacher Prays".

Would you please pray for the VBS in Asia and for the children and their families? Would you also please consider sending children to VBS through scholarships (only $5 per child)? Let's make an eternal impact for God's glory and for God's kingdom!

Giveaway: The American Bible Challenge T-Shirt and Poster

The American Bible Challenge Season 3 premiered on May 22nd on Game Show Network. Our family enjoys watching it. Have you ever watched it? The American Bible Challenge is a fun game show that promotes the Bible, its teachings and relevance in American culture. If you want to encourage your family and friends to learn more of God's Word in a fun & exciting way, invite them to watch The American Bible Challenge on GSN.

5 Things You Didn’t Know about The American Bible Challenge:

1. All the money won in every single episode is donated to charities
2. All of the questions come from the Old and New Testament
3. Your Bible knowledge will be tested in physical challenges as well
4. The American Bible Challenge is the highest rated TV program in Game Show Network history
5. It is nominated for two daytime emmy awards: Outstanding Game Show, and Outstanding Game Show Host Jeff Foxworthy

Did you know the 5 facts above? Do you think you would win big if you (your team) were a contestant on the show?
https://twitter.com/BibleChallenge
https://www.facebook.com/theamericanbiblechallenge

GIVEAWAY: One of my blog readers can win 1 official "The American Bible Challenge" t-shirt and 1 11x17 official Season 3 poster. Open to the U.S. residents only.
Deadline: 6/7 at midnight (Pacific time)
To Enter: Leave a comment here with your email address. Please share what your favorite Bible verse is.

~ This post is sponsored by Game Show Network & The American Bible Challenge.

How Can You Pray for Them?

"Pray without ceasing." 1 Thessalonians 5:17

"Let us pray! Our life is praying;
Prayer with time alone may cease:
Then in heaven, God's will obeying,
Life is praise and perfect peace."
~Charles Spurgeon

It is so important for us to live a life of prayer, enjoying a constant intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father. We should always remember to pray not only for our own needs or our loved ones but also for others, especially the lost, the unreached, and the needy. I really appreciate these 2 following links (provided by Gospel for Asia) where you can find prayer needs/requests so you'll know how to pray for different ministries and countries.

http://www.gfa.org/pray/people-ministries/

http://www.gfa.org/pray/vbs/
Please pray for the Vacation Bible School ministry in South Asia. Please pray that many (children, their parents, people in their villages) will be touched by Christ's love and the Good News of salvation.

 

Friday's Fave Five #96

It's time for another Friday's Fave Five (hosted by Susanne at Living to Tell the Story)

My Fave Five this week:
1. We had a wonderful time walking 2 miles for Steps for Life (an annual fund-raising event for Pregnancy Resource Centers) on Saturday. Isaiah has raised a total of $1,815 this year. Soli Deo Gloria!

2. Even though the forecast said it was going to rain throughout last Saturday, we're thankful that the rain was held off until nighttime when we got home. After the walk, we were able to help my mom move into her new home.

3. I thoroughly enjoyed my brother's delicious Raspberry Coffee Cake :).

4. I've recently finished reading aloud about David Brainerd to my sons (I love reading aloud stories of faith heroes and missionaries). Here are a couple of my favorite David Brainerd's quotes: "We should always look upon ourselves as God's servants, placed in God's world, to do His work; and accordingly labour faithfully for Him; not with a design to grow rich and great, but to glorify God, and do all the good we possibly can."

“Farewell, vain world; my soul bids you adieu.
My Savior taught me to abandon you.
Your charms may gratify a sensual mind,
but cannot please a soul for God designed.”

By the way, I just want to encourage those who have struggled or are struggling with depression. Charles Spurgeon, David Brainerd, and William Cowper struggled with depression throughout most of their lives yet God used them mightily for His glory and for His kingdom! Surrender all to Jesus; He will use you in a mighty way. May the Holy Spirit refresh your soul and encourage your heart! I'm praying for you and I'm always here for you (whenever you need listening ears or anything). Cling to Christ, our Hope of Glory!

5. You can enter to win The American Bible Challenge hat, t-shirt, and poster on my blog at http://fivesavedbygrace.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-american-bible-challenge-and.html. Ends 5/30

 

Honor Mom and Rescue a Child in Asia

Mother’s Day is this Sunday, May 11^th (tomorrow). I love being a mom and I am truly a blessed mom. I'm very thankful for my three delightful blessings from God! I am also thankful for my mom whom I still pray that she will totally surrender her life to Christ. As you celebrate this Mother's Day, so many mothers and children are suffering in Asia. They struggle to survive and they are desperate for hope. Because of poverty, more than 20 million children are trapped in child labor and prostitution in order to support their family. Gospel for Asia's Bridge of Hope is making a difference in Asia by providing food, education, medical care, Christ's love, and the Gospel to the children. Often their families have put their faith in Jesus as a result.

It only takes $35 a month to give a child everything he/she needs--school supplies, a daily meal, medical checkups and more--to attend a Bridge of Hope Center. 100% of your sponsorship is sent to the field to support your child. Nothing is taken out for administrative expenses. Gospel for Asia hopes to see 2,000 Bridge of Hope children sponsored by Mother's Day. Would you please consider sponsoring a child today in honor of your mom? You can make an eternal impact that lasts! You get to be an artisan of hope to these children and mothers in need. What a unique and beautiful gift given in honor of Mom! You'll be making your mom smile and another mom in Asia smile :). Please visit www.gfa.org/mom/ or www.gfa.org/sponsorachild/mothers-day/.

When you sponsor a child, you'll receive a packet including your child’s photo and letter-writing materials. You can correspond directly with your child. I'd like to introduce you to our sponsored child, Rohan. He is 10 years old and lives in India. Below are his picture, his latest letter, and coloring page that we received. We're always excited to hear from him and we keep him & his family in our prayers. Let's rescue these children in need, show them that their Heavenly Father deeply loves & cares for them, and help them find eternal hope in Christ!

“As we celebrate Mother’s Day and thank God for the influence of our mothers and wives, please remember the millions of children and mothers who have never heard of Jesus, [the One] who will provide for them.” ~K.P. Yohannan

This post is linked up with Fellowship Fridays @Christian Mommy Blogger, Faith-filled Friday @Missional Women, Spiritual Sundays, Essential Thing Devotions, Sharing His Beauty @The Beauty in His Grip, Playdates with God at The Wellspring, The Weekend Brew @My Freshly Brewed Life, @Chronicles of Grace, and Inspire Me Monday @Create With Joy.

Book Review: It's a God Thing

God is not dead! That's for sure. He is very active in His children's lives! This book confirms that fact. Don Jacobson and K-Love Radio Network together compiled 46 amazing true stories of everyday miracles.God is constantly working (mostly behind the scene where we never see). Once in a while, He allows us to witness His glorious works in our lives and in the lives of others. I really enjoyed reading all the astonishing testimonies in this book. From a miraculous healing to a stunning life-saving, from a love story to an attempted suicide story, from a drug addiction to a hostage situation, from a car accident to a boat accident, from miscarriages to adoption, It's a God Thing demonstrates over and over again that God never leaves us nor forsakes us. What a loving & caring God we serve!

From these stories, readers can clearly see God's presence, power, provision, protection, love, grace, and mercy. The book made me smile at God's never-ceasing goodness and faithfulness. God's redemption and transformation are also beautifully displayed. It's truly mind-boggling that God of the universe is so attentive to even the tiny details of our lives. Some of my favorite stories from the book are not major miracles but rather little things that show how wonderfully sweet and super cool (aka awesome) our Heavenly Father is :). If you pay attention, you will be able to see His fingerprints here and there everywhere. I personally can attest to that. It's a God Thing is an encouraging and inspiring read! It will help refresh your soul, renew your hope, remind you of God's incredible love & inexhaustible grace, and strengthen your faith.

~ I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Christian Book Store

A to Z Challenge Reflection

 

I am one of the Blogging From A to Z April Challenge survivors! Congratulations to all who completed the challenge! And thanks to the A to Z April Challenge Team! You can find the links to my posts from A to Z here. The challenge was lots of fun for me. It helped stretch my thoughts and vocabulary. "X" was probably my most challenging letter :). I like the fact that there was no theme requirement so there's more flexibility. However, I focused my posts mainly on my Bible study which I was doing daily anyway. I look forward to participating in this challenge again.

reflect on your experience and let us know what you enjoyed, what you could’ve done better, and where we can improve. - See more at: http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/2014/04/z-end-atozchallenge.html#sthash.qjePfXc7.dpuf

the A to Z Challenge Reflections post.

We ask that you reflect on your experience and let us know what you enjoyed, what you could’ve done better, and where we can improve. - See more at: http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/2014/04/z-end-atozchallenge.html#sthash.qjePfXc7.dpuf

the A to Z Challenge Reflections post.

We ask that you reflect on your experience and let us know what you enjoyed, what you could’ve done better, and where we can improve. - See more at: http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/2014/04/z-end-atozchallenge.html#sthash.qjePfXc7.dpuf

Friday's Fave Five #95

It's time for another Friday's Fave Five (hosted by Susanne at Living to Tell the Story)

My Fave Five this week:
1. My daughter (who is away at college) called me on Monday to thank me. She said that a survey about mother-daughter relationship in her psychology class made her realize how blessed she is to have me as her mom :). She thanked me for always being loving, caring, and supportive. I cried. I thank God for blessing our family relationship to be Christ-centered and filled with love, grace, and laughter.

2. I finished the Ultimate Blog Challenge (blogging at least once a day everyday in April) and the A to Z April Challenge (26 posts in an alphabetical order). You can find the links to all the posts from A to Z here. 

3. I like these quotes.

And do it all for God's glory!



 







4. Yesterday, I made Strawberry Cream Cheese Cobbler. It was yummy! I used this recipe I found on Facebook.

5. Only 15 days left to give to Steps for Life 2014, an annual fund-raising event for Pregnancy Resource Centers! Please consider giving through my 12 year old son's page. Any amount is greatly appreciated. Life is a gift from God! Let's choose life and save lives!  

Bonus:  You can read my review and enter to win a copy of Impact by Tim Irwin here. You can make an impact with your life whether you're a leader in your family, class, office, organization, community, church, ministry, or small group. If you desire to be an effective leader, check this book out. It's an easy-to-read leadership manual filled with practical ideas and insightful advice. What kind of legacy do you wish to leave? Live and lead accordingly.

The giveaway will end on May 9th at midnight Pacific time.