REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Jesus Today Devotions for Kids [GIVEAWAY CLOSED]

Are you ready for my first review and giveaway of 2016?

Jesus Today: Devotions for Kids is a children's devotional book, for kids in the 6-10 age range. It's a hardcover book of 150 devotions, with the main theme being "Jesus is a Friend who is always by your side."

My honest opinion:  I love the idea, and the content. This is a unique devotional book that is written as though Jesus is speaking directly to the readers, assuring them He is in control of their lives. Plus, each devotion includes Scripture verses to go with it, which is very important for kids to read and know. The only thing I did not like about the book is the look of it. I guess it is meant to look like an old, worn book, and maybe the publisher has a reason for this that I don't know about, but to me (a detailed person who loves to see things neat and tidy), I just wasn't impressed with a book cover that looks old when it really isn't. However, I would not let the look of the book keep you from purchasing it. The content is good!

Take a peek inside at devotion #32:

When the book is open, the devotion is on the left side. The right side has Scripture verses to go along with the devotion. The verses included with devotion #32 are John 21:19, Psalm 23:1 & 4, and Psalm 18:28.

Enter below for your chance to win your own copy of this book. Entries will be accepted until Saturday, January 30, 2016, at 8:00 p.m. CST. Must be 18 or older to enter. One entry per mailing address.

Entry-Form

"Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway.  If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win.  Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”

OFFICIAL WEBSITES FOR THE BOOK:

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You Have A Purpose

The word of the week is PURPOSE

PURPOSE is the aim or goal of a person : what a person is trying to do, become, etc.

My husband, David, met someone who used to attend church and understood the meaning of Salvation through Jesus Christ, but he was throwing his life away with drugs and alcohol. He was super depressed because he knew he was addicted and was tired of the life he was living. In a brief moment, David tried to encourage the man by simply saying, "God has a purpose for your life." The man focused on David and asked, "Do you really think so?" David answered "Yes" and the man broke down in tears. He felt worthless, and defeated, and stuck; yet someone told him God has a purpose for his life. God had a reason for him to be alive. It was what he needed to hear. It's what we all need to hear from time to time, because we are all sinful and we all have moments when we feel like failures. The good news is that, whatever our failures are, we can always make a new beginning with God. So, remember this:  no matter who you are, or what you have been through, our Father in Heaven has a purpose for YOU. Read the following verses to see what God's Word has to say about your purpose in this world. Then, make a new start today, a new commitment, to try and fulfill the purpose God has for you.


YOU ARE HERE TO DO GOOD
Ephesians 2:10 -  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (ESV)
 
YOU ARE HERE TO SERVE THE LORD AND OTHERS (with the use of your God-given gifts and talents) 
Psalm 100:2 - Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before Him with joyful singing. (NAS)

1 Peter 4:10 - As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace. 

YOU ARE HERE TO ENCOURAGE
1 Thessalonians 5:11 - Therefore encourage one another, and build up one another, just as you also are doing.

YOU ARE HERE TO THINK OF OTHERS
Philippians 2:3-5 - Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus (NAS)

YOU ARE HERE TO GIVE THANKS
Colossians 3:17 - Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. (NAS)
 
YOU ARE HERE TO SHARE THE GOSPEL
Mark 16:15 - And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation."
 
YOU ARE HERE TO LOVE - Love God and Love others
Matthew 22:37-39 - And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ (NAS)

YOU ARE HERE TO IMITATE GOD
Ephesians 5:1-2 - Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

YOU ARE HERE TO WORSHIP GOD 
Psalm 95:6-7 - Come, let us worship and bow down, Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.
For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand. (NAS)

YOU ARE HERE TO BRING GLORY TO GOD (And, you will bring glory to God by doing all of the above.)
1 Corinthians 10:31 - So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 

Make a new start today, a new commitment, 

to fulfill your God-given purpose.

To help remind you of your purpose, here is a Google document that you can print out and keep handy for future reference:  

YOU HAVE A PURPOSE

 

Searching For My Pen Pals from Taiwan

The word of the week is SEARCH

to carefully look for someone or something : to try to find someone or something

When I was in High School and the early days of college (1986-1988), I had two pen pals from Taiwan. I had joined the International Pen Pal Club, and was so excited when I received mail from someone overseas. I was able to learn more about their country, make new friends, and share my faith with them both. One girl was interested in my faith, but not convinced of its truth. The other girl was very interested and eventually said she had become a Christian. Over time, we lost track of each other, so I am now on a quest to find them and see what has become of them. It is my hope that someone will see this, and will have some sort of contact information for either of them.

The first one is Su-Yeng Lin (a.k.a. Lucy). Her birthday is in May 1971. At the time we were writing, she was a student and was living in Chia I City, Taiwan. She had one older sister, and 2 older brothers. Her father died when she was very young. Her mother died in 1987, while we were pen pals. Then, she lived with a classmate for awhile so she could be closer to her school in Taipei City. In her last letter to me, she said she wanted to go back to Chia I City. After that, we lost track of each other. Here are a couple of pictures she sent me.   

The second one is I-Ping Lian (a.k.a. Yvonne). Yvonne was a student at National Taiwan University in Taipei, Taiwan, and was majoring in Business Administration. She was born in July 1968. She had 2 brothers and 2 sisters, and was the oldest of the siblings. She said she had a friend in Los Angeles, and one in New York also. She was the pen pal who was most interested in learning about Christianity, so I shared with her as much as I could. Then, in her last letter to me, she said she had become a Christian. Here is a portion of the letter I received from her:

Is it difficult  for you to read the letter I wrote to you? Do you think the sentences I wrote are funny or not fluent? If I have any defects, please tell me. Now, I am a Christian, too. My friend gave me a Bible. I read it every night. But, I can't understand it very well. I prayed to God to help me in my troubles. Do you think God can hear what I said to Him? How will you spend your summer vacation? I'll sign off. Write back as soon as you can. Sincerely yours, Yvonne

I was so excited about her news and wrote back to her a couple more times, but never heard anything in return. I have wondered for many years what happened to her.

If anyone has any information about these two ladies (they would be in their 40's by now), please contact me, or direct them to this blog so that they can contact me themselves.

In the meantime, if you are interested in making new friends, learning about a different culture, and want to share the love of Jesus with others who may not know Him, being a pen pal is a great way to do all of that. I can not find the address or link for the International Pen Pal Club I was a part of. But, if you do an Internet SEARCH (there's that word again for this week), you will find several different pen pal clubs you could try. I don't have any experience with any of them, so I can't recommend one. I would love to hear your thoughts if any of you have tried one of these clubs.

God Will Be With Us Wherever We Go

 
Today is the beginning of a new series of articles I plan on sharing with you. We'll call it WORD OF THE WEEK. Each Sunday, I will share a word, the word will be defined, then I will share a personal experience or something I have learned based on the word. The topics will vary, but my hope is that these articles will bring encouragement as we focus our attention on God's love for us, and strive to serve Him as we continue our earthly journeys.

The word for this week is CHANGE.

I have a feeling that 2016 is going to be a year full of change for me and my family. 

I'm not talking about the kind of change that jingles in your pockets. I'm talking about the kind that is an inevitable part of life. The kind that can be helpful or hurtful. The kind that everyone experiences many times throughout their lives. The kind that, in an instant, can make something in your life different than what it had been. 

CHANGE: to make (someone or something) different

Some people hate this kind of change, others love it.
Some people despise it, others crave it.
Some people resist it, others embrace it.

Whatever the case, change is something we all must learn to deal with - because change will happen whether we like it or not. It will never go away.

I have experienced many changes in my lifetime - changing schools, changing churches, changing jobs, getting married, buying a house, becoming a parent, losing a loved one, dealing with cancer, and the list goes on - but, the change I want to tell you about today is the most recent change for my family.

At the beginning of December, my husband took a new job in a different county. He has been driving back and forth (50 minutes one way) until we can find a new house and sell our current one. While we haven't yet found a new home, our family knows the time will be coming soon for us to move away from a town we have grown comfortable in - a town we have lived in for over 7 years, a town where we have made forever friends - in order to move to a different town.

Moving is never easy, and we are not in love with the idea yet (especially the kids); but, the verse above says the Lord will be with us wherever we go. We are holding onto that promise, and are looking forward to seeing what new adventures lie ahead. Please join us in praying for God's blessings in this move, and for a smooth transition for us all.


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Encouragement Challenge #45: Review and Choose

Today is the FINAL POST of regularly scheduled weekly "Encouragement Challenges." Can you believe it was one year ago that I started these? Listed below, you will find the links to each of the challenges from the past year. There are a total of 45 (an entire year's worth, minus the 7 weeks I took off during the Summer.) Browse through the list and, for this final weekly ENCOURAGEMENT CHALLENGE, choose one of your favorites and do it again:

NOTE:  Next Sunday, I will be starting a new series of articles that I hope will be interesting and encouraging for you to read. Check in next week to find out more.  

#1 - Pray for Others
#2 - Send a "Thinking of You" Card
#3 - Encourage Christian Prisoners Arrested for their Faith
#4 - Show Hospitality to Strangers
#5 - Share with Others
#6 - Do a Random Act of Kindness
#7 - Encourage Your Ministers and Church Leaders
#8 - Comfort A Hurting Friend
#9 - Send an e-Card
#10 - Send a Video Reminder of God's Promises
#11 - This World is Temporary - Remind Others to Keep Looking Up
#12 - Express Gratitude for Others
#13 - Remain True - Encouragement for Those Who Feel Distant from the Lord
#14 - Encourage Others with the Good News of Jesus
#15 - Pray for Autism
#16 - Encourage A Bereaved Spouse
#17 - Pay it Forward
#18 - Pray for America
#19 - Honor Mothers
#20 - Thank an EMS Worker
#21 - Remember the Fallen
#22 - Give Candy Just Because
#23 - Be Full of Cheer
#24 - Spend Time with Your Children
#25 - Honor Fathers
#26 - Turn Off Technology
#27 - Should These Continue? Let Me Know Your Thoughts
#28 - Meet Together with Other Christians
#29 - Learn About the 5 Love Languages
#30 - Use Words of Affirmation
#31 - Do an Act of Service
#32 - Give A Gift "Just Because"
#33 - Spend Quality Time with Someone
#34 - The Power of Touch
#35 - A Morning Prayer
#36 - Keep Giving Even When it Appears You Have Nothing to Give
#37 - Appreciate Our Military Personnel
#38 - Send Encouraging Words
#39 - Make and Share a Thankful List
#40 - Send A Care Package
#41 - Write Tributes for Christmas Gifts
#42 - Two Christmas Gift Ideas that Share Positive Thoughts
#43 - Share Your Christmas Goodies
#44 - Choose A Word for the New Year
#45 - THIS WEEK - A Review of Previous Challenges

HHMRH Top 10 Posts from 2015

Starting at #10 (without including Reviews or Giveaways), here are the "He Holds My Right Hand" Top 10 Posts of 2015:

#10  Encouragement Challenge #16: 

Encourage A Bereaved Spouse

#9 We Have A New Front Door

#8  Encouragement Challenge #18:

National Day of Prayer 

#7 Goodbye Dear Aggie Cat

#6  Tourette Syndrome: 

What it is and What it isn't 

 #5  GUEST Rein Schmidt:

Does God Really Love You? 

#4  Encouragement Challenge #1: 

Pray for Others

#3  EL's Seizures Keep Returning

#2  Encouragement Challenge #4: 

Hospitality to Strangers

 #1  GUEST POST: Faith Based Activities to 

Suggest to Your Babysitter This Summer 

 

Runner-up Posts That Were Very Close to Making This List:

Encouragement Challenge #20:  Thank an EMS Worker

How to Condense Your Media Cabinet

Encouragement Challenge #17:  Pay it Forward Day

Happy New Year, everyone! Thanks for reading!

NOTE: This Sunday, January 3rd, will be the FINAL regularly scheduled weekly "Encouragement Challenge." Keep watching for more information about what I will be sharing with you in 2016.

Encouragement Challenge #44: Choose A Word for the New Year

This year is quickly coming to an end and we will be ringing in the New Year this coming Friday. So, for this week's ENCOURAGEMENT CHALLENGE, I would like for you to think about what your gifts and talents are - the kind of gifts God has given us for the purpose of encouraging others (i.e. teaching, preaching, writing, listening, playing music, sewing, giving, caring, etc.) Then, choose a favorite verse, or just one word, that will help you keep your encouragement goals on track in the coming year. Once you have chosen it, write it out, or print it out. Decorate it. Put it in a place where you will see it every day when you wake up. Then, live it out to the best of your ability in 2016.

Examples of Encouragement Verses: 

1 Thessalonians 5:11 - Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. 

Hebrews 10:24-25 - And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.  

1 Peter 4:8-10 - Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace:

Examples of One Word:

• Encourage
• Listen
• Care
• Share
• Uplift
• Pray
• Bless
• Believe
• Love
• Forgive

Go to one of these websites for more information and ideas on choosing your word. The second link even has a page where you can make a poster with your word on it:

• MY ONE WORD 
• ONE WORD THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE  

My one word for 2016 is:  Inspire. I hope to keep writing, and to use this blog as a tool to inspire myself and others to love God and remain faithful to Him, to spread the love of Jesus to those around us, and to take time to enjoy this life we have been given. 

  

Please share your word or verse for the year. I'd love to see what you have come up with. 

Encouragement Challenge #43: Share Your Christmas Goodies

Over the years, our family has enjoyed making "goodies" to share with our friends and neighbors during the Christmas season. Some of the items we have made and passed out include:

• Cookies:  Ginger Snaps, Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal Raisin, Cool Whip Cookies
• Chocolate Caramel Oat Bars 
• Brown Sugar Shortbread
• Divinity
• Fudge
• Penuche
• Peppermint Bark
• Granola
• Trail Mix
• Pumpkin Bread
• Homemade Ornaments

We do not make all of these every year, but usually choose 2 or 3 to focus on. We start baking early in the month, then freeze the goodies until time to deliver them. It is a fun tradition we have as a family.

ENCOURAGEMENT CHALLENGE #43:

Pass out goodies to your neighbors this week. If you do not bake or do not like to make ornaments, you can pick up a little ornament at a discount store and give it along with a card. It doesn't have to be anything fancy or expensive. Just share the love of Jesus with others. Let them know they are being thought of during this sometimes lonely time of year.

Encouragement Challenge #42: Two Christmas Gift Ideas that Share Positive Thoughts About Someone You Love

This week, I want to share with you two different ways you can encourage someone you love this Christmas by sharing the positive and uplifting thoughts you have about them...

When I was 13 years old, I received a special, handmade Christmas ornament from my parents. They worked together to draw and cut out a bell shape, type out positive thoughts they had about me, decorate it, and attach a string to put it on our Christmas tree. I kept it all these years because it meant a lot to me. It's the simple things that really touch me the most.

This is the front of the ornament. It was drawn on plain typing paper, but something heavier, like cardstock, might hold up even better.  They used colored pencils to color it, and glued a  piece of colorful fabric around the edge. The little poem was typed on a separate piece of paper, then cut out and glued to the front.

This is the inside of the ornament. The words were typed, then cut out and glued to a piece of cardboard. A piece of gold string was used to attach the two pieces of the ornament together and then hung on our tree for me to see on Christmas morning.

In the Christmas of 1998, I took the example of my parents and typed out 20 different reasons why I love my husband. I decorated the paper, put it into an envelope, and gave it to him as a gift in his stocking that year...

ENCOURAGEMENT CHALLENGE #42:

Use one of these ideas to surprise someone special in your life this Christmas. If you already made a Christmas Tribute for someone last week, choose someone else (a different friend or relative) to encourage with one of these other ideas. Hand deliver them, or stick them in a Christmas card and mail them. Work on these personalized gifts this week and, if you don't celebrate Christmas, do it just because you love them and want to surprise them with a blessing.

Encouragement Challenge #41: Write Tributes for Christmas Gifts

The Christmas season is upon us, so I have an idea I would like to share with you - a gift you can give to someone you love, and it won't cost you anything except a little of your time.

Ten years ago, I came across a poem. (At the time, I thought the author was "Daddy" Silverwood, but I don't know where I found it. I have since seen the poem online being referenced to Clyde H. Box, so I'm not sure who the real author is). The poem is about how we shouldn't wait until our loved ones have passed away to tell them how much they mean to us. This is the poem:

Tell Them Now!

If with pleasure you are viewing

any work a man is doing,

If you like him or you love him, tell him now;

Don't withhold your approbation

'till the parson makes oration

And he lies with snowy lilies o'er his brow;

For no matter how you shout it,

he won't really care about it,

He won't know how many teardrops you have shed.

If you think some praise is due him,

now's the time to sip it to him,

For he cannot read his tombstone when he's dead.

On the same year I found that poem, I used the idea and took the opportunity to make homemade cards for some of my family. On the front of the card, I typed:  A CHRISTMAS TRIBUTE, along with the person's name I gave it to.

This is the front of the card I made for my husband

On the inside of the card, on the left, I typed the poem above. Then, on the right side, I shared my thoughts about the person the card was intended for. The words I wrote for my David are a bit personal, so I'm not gonna share them with you. Sorry. But, here is what I wrote for my Grandma. She passed away a couple of years ago, and I'm glad I took the chance to tell her my feelings before she left this earth:

Grandma – You are one of the most amazing people I know, and I look up to you. I admire your inner strength, your faith in God, and your unselfish acts of kindness. You are compassionate and caring, you have a good sense of humor, and you are someone I know I can trust. I am so proud to have you for my Grandma. Thank you for everything you have done for us. You are a very special lady, and I love you very much.

For this week's ENCOURAGEMENT CHALLENGE, work on making these special tributes for your loved ones. Give them away for Christmas this year. I promise, they will be treasured keepsakes.