Dear Weary Moms, This One's For You!

Today my sweet baby girl turns 5! She was born on April the first, so she's an April Fools Baby! She was very high energy as a baby and rarely wanted to sit long to be rocked once she could walk and so I remember the day we decided to move the rocking chair out of her room so we could put a brand new doll house in the rocking chair corner.

It was Christmas Eve. She was 3 1/2. I had to hold her tightly to get her to stay on my lap and then it happened - she fell asleep on me. And for the last time, I rocked her to sleep in her room in that old rocking chair. It was a bitter sweet moment as I looked at my little angel in my arms, I remember a tear trickling down my cheek as I knew it was our last night to rock together in that corner of her room.

Are you are a weary mom today? This poem by Karen Kinsbury is one of my favorites titled:Let Me Hold You Longer I think it will comfort you.

(Warning: If you have a child age 5 or older - get your tissues ready!)


Long ago you came to me,
a miracle of firsts,
First smiles and teeth and baby steps
a sunbeam on the burst.


But one day you will move away
and leave to me your past
And I will be left thinking of
a lifetime of your lasts…

The last time that I held a bottle
to your baby lips
The last time that I lifted you
and held you on my hip.
The last night when you woke up crying,
needing to be walked,
When last you crawled up with your blanket
wanting to be rocked.

The last time when you ran to me,
still small enough to hold.
The last time that you said you’d marry
me when you grew old.


Precious, simple moments and
bright flashes from your past-
Would I have held on longer if
I’d known they were your last?


Our last adventure to the park,
your final midday nap,
The last time when you wore your favorite
faded baseball cap.
Your last few hours of kindergarten,
those last few days of first grade,
Your last at bat in Little League,
last colored picture made.


I never said good-bye to all
your yesterdays long passed.
So what about tomorrow-
will I recognize your lasts?


The last time that you catch a frog
in that old backyard pond.
The last time that you run barefoot
across our fresh-cut lawn.

Silly, scattered images
will represent your past.
I keep on taking pictures,
never quite sure of your lasts…


The last time that I comb your hair
or stop a pillow fight.
The last time that I pray with you
and tuck you in at night.


The last time when we cuddle
with a book, just me and you
The last time you jump in our bed
and sleep between us two.
The last piano lesson,
last vacation to the lake.
Your last few weeks of middle school,
last soccer goal you make.


I look ahead and dream of days
that haven’t come to pass.
But as I do, I sometimes miss
today’s sweet, precious lasts…


The last time that I help you with
a math or spelling test.
The last time when I shout that yes,
your room is still a mess.


The last time that you need me for
a ride from here to there.
The last time that you spend the night
with your old tattered bear.


My life keeps moving faster,
stealing precious days that pass,
I want to hold on longer-
want to recognize your lasts…


The last time that you need my help
with details of a dance.
The last time that you ask me for
advice about romance.


The last time that you talk to me
about your hopes and dreams.
The last time that you wear a jersey
for your high school team.


I’ve watched you grow and barely noticed
seasons as they pass.
If I could freeze the hands of time,
I’d hold on to your lasts.


For come some bright fall morning,
you’ll be going far away.
College life will beckon
in a brilliant sort of way.


One last hug, one last good-bye,
one quick and hurried kiss.
One last time to understand
just how much you’ll be missed.


I’ll watch you leave and think how fast
our time together passed.
Let me hold on longer,
God,to every precious last.

In the midst of fevers, spit up, diapers and dishes we moms can grow weary. We can forget all the firsts and LASTS that our children are progressing through as we wish for the next season - one we dream to be easier.

Today I hold my Alexis a little closer. So proud that she's such a sweet 5 year old and yet sad that the preschool days are forever gone. 3 months ago in our old house, she loved Barney and the Mickey Mouse Club. But when we moved to our new home, she grew up overnight and informed me those shows were for babies. I now realize that another last had just passed us by. The door of the preschool chapter of our lives just slammed shut in my face. Gone forever!

Weary moms enjoy your children today! Psalm 127:3 "Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him."NLT


Walk with the King!

Ps. Lexi's tutu is from a fellow blogger who I have followed since the very beginning of blogging in 2008 at Shabby Tiara . Her blog is filled with beautiful things! Stop by and enjoy!

I Am the Donkey

I am taking a break this week from our Proverbs 31 series to focus on the message of Easter. Next week I will return to this series.

Word Filled Wednesday:
I Corinthians 3:5-7 "What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe - as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So, neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who makes things grow."

As I reflected this past Sunday on John 12:13, Palm Sunday and those who cheered "Hosanna! Hosanna!" as Jesus rode upon a donkey - I remembered something I once heard Elizabeth Elliot say. She said "as the people cheered for Jesus, the donkey did not pause and accept the praise as his own. It was the rider who was being praised - NOT the donkey."

In the same way, as I carry Jesus to the world via my blog, facebook, twitter, and youtube, I am reminded that all praise I receive belongs to Jesus. Apart from him I can do nothing. And apart from his word, I literally have nothing worthy to blog about.

I am the donkey carrying Jesus to the world and I pray that at the end of the day it is Jesus in me you see. I Corinthians 3:7 sums up my feelings "So, neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who makes things grow."

I am nothing - just simply a planter - God is everything and as the missionary David Livingston once said "People talk of the sacrifice I have made in spending so much of my life in Africa... I never made a sacrifice. We ought not to talk of 'sacrifice' when we remember the great sacrifice which He made who left His Father's Throne on high to give Himself for us."

No sacrifice is too great for Jesus. It is not a sacrifice to submit to my husband - it is my honor. It is not a sacrifice to care for my children - it is my honor. It is not a sacrifice to care for my home - it is my honor. And it is not a sacrifice to daily be a donkey carrying God's truth to my blog readers - it is my honor.

I pray today that in your sphere of influence, you would find it an honor to carry Jesus to everyone who crosses your path inside and outside your home. My pastor said Sunday in his sermon: "If the message doesn't get out via us, it doesn't get out!" We must share the love of Jesus with the world!

Love God, love your husband, love your children and take Jesus to the world - shine like lights in the darkness! It is an honor!

Walk with the King!

I am participating in Seven Clown Circus Wordful Wednesday. and 5 Minutes for Mom Wordless Wednesday.

Tasty Tuesday: Easter Morning Breakfast Resurrection Rolls

This is what we have for breakfast every Easter morning. These are so fun because when the rolls are done baking - they are empty inside - JUST like Jesus' tomb!

The pictures included in this post are from Easter last year!

Resurrection Rolls

Ingredients:

1 can refrigerated crescent roll dough

8 large marshmallows

Melted butter

Cinnamon Sugar

Directions:

Give each child one triangle shaped section of crescent roll. This represents the tomb.

Each child takes one marshmallow which represents the body of Christ.

Dip the marshmallow in the butter and roll in cinnamon and sugar mixture. This represents the oils and spices the body was anointed with upon burial.

Lay the marshmallow on the dough and carefully wrap it around the marshmallow.

Make sure all seams are pinched together well. (Otherwise the marshmallow will "ooze" out of the seams)

Bake according to package directions.

Cool. Break open the tomb and the body of Christ is no longer there!!

Celebrate God's love!

I am participating in Tempt Your Tummy Tuesday, Dining With Debbie , Balancing Beauty and Bedlam and Tuesdays at the Table recipe exchanges. For more blogger recipes go to these links.
Walk with the King!

The Importance of Intimacy In Marriage

I Corinthians 7:5 says:"Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control."


I've received a lot of emails asking me about intimacy since the Rachael Ray Show aired in November. Here's a few of my thoughts on this topic, plus I share in the video my all time FAVORITE book on the subject!




If you have further questions, I prefer to dialogue via email rather than on the "world wide web". I have recently added a note on my contact page that I want to be sure my readers are aware of, the wait time for a response to an email from me is around 10 days. So if you emailed two weeks ago and have not had an answer to it yet - I'm working on it.


Please be patient with me as I LOVE hearing from my readers and am working feverishly to give you all the wisest answers I can. I pray over my answers and I like to take some time with each email to find the appropriate scripture passage and counsel.

I love you all and care deeply about your walk with God and your marriages!


Walk with the King!

PS. Now go love on your husbands and have a wonderful day!!

My Cell Phone is a Cleaning Tool

I just read an article over on In(Courage) where Melissa shared how she keeps her home clean "enough". She gives full details that you must read when you have a minute (plus if you've never been to this website before - it is awesome!) but here's the summary for keeping her home clean "enough":

1. Have a Morning Routine

2. Keep Clean Sinks

3. Do Cleaning Frenzies

4. Nightly Clean the Kitchen Up

So I'm evaluating myself against her plan. I have a morning routine that includes the children doing all sorts of chores (I use chore packets you can read about here)- I love our morning routine! This routine keeps our home presentable and in order. On days when we miss it (like Sundays) the house is honestly awful. I cannot stand beds unmade or clothes on the floor! (but that doesn't mean it does not happen!)

As far as clean sinks go, my mom was always wearing yellow rubber gloves and scrubbing sinks when I was a kid. I think I developed an aversion at a young age because of that! Lol! I'm trying to place the blame somewhere other than myself (wink)- I don't know why I don't clean my sinks daily? I am very flawed in this area. Although we do wipe the counters with Clorox Wipes if that counts!

Number three is my favorite and the reason why I'm writing this post!!! "Do Cleaning Frenzies". Do you do cleaning frenzies? I do regularly.

Here's how my frenzy works. I set my cell phone alarm to go off in 20 minutes, then I focus and clean clean clean for 20 minutes straight. It's absolutely amazing how much I can accomplish when I work for just 20 minutes straight. This seems obvious that just 4 or 5, 20 minute cleaning frenzies could make the house sparkle - but the first time I did this I amazed myself! As a blogger, it seems I have a magnet that draws me to my computer. My cell phone has become an excellent cleaning tool to keep me on track!

Actually, I have turned this practice around and many times I set my cell phone alarm for 20 minutes and then begin to work on my computer. When it goes off, I am done with the computer and move on to other tasks that are on my list. Otherwise, the computer sucks me in and in a blink of an eye, an hour has passed!

So, if you haven't tried using your handy dandy cell phone alarm yet - I highly recommend that you give this a try. My cell phone is an excellent cleaning tool! Yours can be too!

Proverbs 31:13 "She works with eager hands".

Walk with the King

I am participating in Kelly's Korner - Show Us Your Life Cleaning Tips.

Book Review: The Daniel Fast by Susan Gregory

Fasting is a Christian discipline that is rarely talked about in the Christian church, so I found the book, The Daniel Fast by Susan Gregory, to be refreshing and enlightening. America has been plagued by an epidemic of obesity - we love our food -and for some they love their food more than they love their God! Fasting was a part of the Jewish culture and great men and women of God through out the Bible, participated in fasting and prayer. Our ultimate example is Jesus our Savior, who went into the wilderness for 40 days to fast and pray.

Have you ever gone on a fast? In the last few years I have begun to practice this spiritual discipline. Sometimes it's been with my Good Morning Girls group, often it's with my husband and once with an old friend from high school who now lives in Texas! The support through out the day of emails, texts and prayers has gotten me through some rough days of fasting - (I do love my Diet Coke! I know for others giving up coffee is a struggle!)

What is so great about this book is it provides a step by step plan - including how to prepare, some recipes that follow the restrictions and daily devotions for doing a 21 day Daniel Fast. I have not done a fast that included food so this sparked my interest - maybe I can do this!

Susan Gregory says in The Daniel Fast, "The definition of a biblical fast is to restrict food for a spiritual purpose." Susan explains there are three types of fasts - an absolute fast, a normal fast, and a partial fast. The Daniel Fast is a partial fast - abstaining from some foods but not all. Daniel abstained from all foods except foods from the seed and water. So this book explains how to follow his example.

Do you wish you had the deep faith of Daniel? One that could lock the jaws of lions in a den? I think we all wish we could have that type of walk with God and yet are we willing to do what Daniel did in order to have what Daniel had? Fasting is not so you can impress God with your "super" Christian ways - but it is for you. It is done to draw us nearer to God and without the aspect of extra prayer and time in the word - it is just a diet.

Fasting was created by God as a tool to bring us into closer relationship with Him. If you are interested in doing a 1 day, 3 day, 7 day, 10 day or 21 day fast - go to Susan Gregory's website to learn more about the Daniel Fast here. You can also read a past post I wrote on fasting here.

"Sometimes you are so hungry, the only way to be fed is to fast."Susan Gregory

Walk with the King!

PS. Your Hands Are Beautiful

Word Filled Wednesday: Proverbs 31:20 "She extends her hand to the poor, Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy." NKJV

It's week 12 of our Proverbs 31 series and I'm loving it!!! Thanks for sticking with me. So far we have seen that she rises early, works eagerly and vigorously, shops wisely, is extremely productive and she uses her evenings to get work done too!

In Proverbs 31:20, there is a feature of this beautiful woman pointed out for the first time - it's "her hands". Up until now, her hands have been furiously working sewing, planting, cooking and shopping. And here they take center stage as she reaches out to those outside of her home with them.

Look down and examine your hands. Are they young or old? soft or calloused? sun spotted? Do your veins show? Do you think your hands are beautiful? Often our hands are one of the first places to show our age - they have worked hard serving our husbands, children, and the needy. What a blessing it is to have two hands!

My sister Jennifer, once shared this story with me and it so touched me I wanted to share it with you all - she wrote it out for me here: ******

"P.S. Your Hands Are Beautiful." This was what my in-laws wrote inside my birthday card at the end of their very nice note to me.

A few weeks before my birthday, I was at a family get-together, and something came up about "hands". I'm not sure how exactly the conversation went, but I know that I made the comment that the one place I have started to see my body aging is in my hands. When I look down at them, which I realized is frequently during the day, they have begun to look different, older to me.

My mother-in-law said that the one thing she remembered about her own mother was her beautiful hands. I remembered her sharing about this before, and I believe that she meant more than just the outside beauty of beautiful skin with perfectly groomed nails. Those who had the privilege of knowing her mother, Louise Oliver, know that her life was one of active service to our Lord and that she did have beautiful hands because they did beautiful things for His glory.

When I read my birthday card with the message, "P.S. Your hands are beautiful", the full meaning of that small statement touched me.




It reminded me of what Paul said to the church at Thessalonica. I Thessalonians 4:11 says, "Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anyone."



These verses should cause us to look at the work that we do as women and ask ourselves, am I leading a quiet life?

Am I minding to my own business, the tasks that God has called me to do?

Am I working faithfully with my hands in my daily life as an act of worship to my Lord?

Is my work winning the respect of outsiders?

Am I bringing glory to my Lord with the works of my hands?



Would God think that my hands are beautiful?"

******

Dear Reader, Do not be discouraged as you toil day in and day out for loved ones within and outside your home. When we use our hands for God's glory he is pleased. Look down and examine your hands now a second time with a new perspective. Do not judge the beauty of your hands by the outside - but rather by lives they have touched.



Walk with the King!


Ps. Your hands are beautiful!

Tasty Tuesday: Easter Story Cookies

A few years ago my sister gave me this recipe. This is a great way to share the truth of God's word in an interesting and meaningful way with your children and grandchildren!

Ingredients:
1 cup whole pecans
1 tsp. vinegar
3 egg whites
pinch of salt
1 cup sugar
zipper baggie
wooden spoon
tape
Bible


Preheat oven to 300 degrees (this is important to do before you start the mixing)

Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested, He was beaten by the Romans soldiers. Read John 19:1-3.

Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30.

Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11.

Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. Read Luke 23:27.

So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 cup sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him. Read Ps. 34:8 and John 3:16.

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isa. 1:18 and John 3:1-3.

Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. Read Matt. 27:57-60.

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matt. 27:65-66.

GO TO BED! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the Oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20 and 22.

On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter, Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read Matt. 28:1-9.

Easter is about so much more than bunnies and chocolate eggs. Make a memory with your children as you teach them about the amazing sacrifice of our Savior.

I am participating in Tempt Your Tummy Tuesday, Dining With Debbie , Balancing Beauty and Bedlam and Tuesdays at the Table recipe exchanges. For more blogger recipes go to these links.

Walk with the King!

My Husband Does Not Respect Me

It's time for another Mailbag Marriage Question:

A reader writes:

"I found your blog months ago through a link from Rachel Ray. I have since made it one of my favorites. Just this morning, I watched your video post about “Respectfully Changing Your Husband’s Opinion”. I really got a lot from it, and it was a nice reminder for me to be more respectful and less “chatty” and “pointy” with my opinions.


Here is where I struggle; not getting the respect in return. I try to keep my mouth shut and not vocalize when he continually does things that, in my mind, are disrespectful, but it’s getting harder..."(then the writer gave a recent scenario of a way that her husband disrespected her and I fully agreed - it was disrespectful.)

Here's my answer**

Because our husbands are human that means they are sinners. And because they are sinners that means inevitably they will hurt us. Happy marriages are made up of two people who are willing to forgive over and over and over and over again.

It appears that the writer of this letter has a husband who is a "repeat offender". He continually does disrespectful things. Are you married to a man like this? If I could talk to the husband and say "please be more considerate" I would. But this blog is written to wives, so I want to tell wives how to handle this problem.

First, I would tell my husband how it made me feel. For example I would say, "When you say _______ that hurts my feelings because it makes me feel ________." Or "when you don't bother to call, it makes me feel _______". Do give voice to your feelings, our husband's cannot read our minds.

If voicing your feelings is met with resistance, I would say, "I'm not saying that's how you meant it to feel, but I am saying that is how it feels to me." Do not assume the worst intentions in your husband. Just simply tell him how you feel. After that, let it drop. If you back a man into a corner by talking about it over and over and over, it will be harder for him to come to you and apologize. Give him room to let it sink in and pray that God convicts him of his harsh behavior.

Now your job is to not stew. If you replay the scenario over and over in your mind and keep track of all the times your husband has wronged you, you will become a bitter old woman.

Hebrews 12:15 warns: "See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many."

Like a weed that must be pulled by the root - you must uproot these bitter thoughts that silently play like a recording in your head. Put a plan in place. Filter your thoughts according to Philippians 4:8 which reads: "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy think about such things."

When I have a critical, negative, bitter thought I ask myself - "is this a noble thought? Is this pure? Is this lovely? Admirable? Praiseworthy?" If it is not - I must do what 2 Corinthians 10:5 says "Take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." I must make my mind obedient to Christ.

Do not let those thoughts swirl in your head because eventually everyone in the family can see it in your demeanor, your lack of joy, and even in your words - though you may think you are hiding it. Replace those thoughts with thankful thoughts full of grace. Forgive your husband and pray - ask the Lord to give you eyes to see your husband as he sees him.

This is not something that will happen overnight - it's a life long journey of guarding your mind and your marriage. The enemy would LOVE to get a foothold using bitterness - so beware - and put Philippians 4:8 as a filter over your mind.

And remember you respect your husband because of who God is and his commands. You respect your husband because of who you are and your character. You respect your husband because you have been given grace and you freely give it. You respect your husband because of your vow at the marriage altar. And you respect your husband because you do indeed love him and desire to please him.

Walk with the King!

DVD Review and Giveaway: What's In The Bible by Phil Vischer

In our house we are HUGE Veggie Tales fans. Veggie Tales creator Phil Vischer has a newly released video this month titled "What's In The Bible?" It covers questions children ask such as:

Who wrote the Bible?
Who picked the books of the Bible?
How do we know we can trust it?
How do all of these stories fit together to tell ONE story?


For a sneak peek check out this trailer:

And for a chance to win a copy of What's In the Bible leave a comment below - there will be TWO winners chosen on Saturday, March 27th at 8am!!!

To purchase your own copy go to: What's In The Bible or Tyndale. www.whatsinthebible.com and www.tyndale.com

Walk with the King!

And the Winner is...

The winner of Start Here by Alex and Brett Harris is...

Heather J

Congratulations! I have your email address and will be contacting you!!


Walk with the King!

Celebrating Jesus With Your Kids this Easter

Easter is now only 15 days away and as I walk through all the stores - the bunnies and baskets are EVERYWHERE! I love Easter! Easter has always been a BIG holiday for my family - we do it up like Christmas with a big dinner and huge overflowing baskets! This is the day our Savior rose from the dead - this is HUGE!!!!! One of my favorite activities to do with the children leading up to Easter are these Resurrection Eggs - which can be purchased at your local Christian bookstore, amazon.com and last year I saw them at Walmart!

The store bought Resurrection Eggs come with a booklet and a story for each egg BUT these can also be homemade! A few years ago some women in our church homemade sets of these eggs and gave them out to all the children in Sunday School. Wasn't that lovely of them!!! You could do this too! Here's what you need.

Supplies:

1 dozen plastic Easter eggs

an egg carton

the items listed below

Directions: Fill each egg with the item listed (or a picture of the item) and a print-out of the corresponding scripture(number the eggs). Place the eggs in the decorated egg carton. Open and experience the eggs together with your children.

1. (Bread - crouton) Matthew 26:26 While they were eating Jesus took a piece of bread, gave a prayer of thanks, broke it, and gave it to His disciples. "Take and eat it," He said, "This is My body."

2. (Coins) Matthew 26: 14-15 Then one of the twelve disciples, named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and asked, "What will you give me if I betray Jesus to you?" They counted out thirty silver coins and gave them to him.

3. (Purple cloth, representing a purple robe) Mark 15:17 They put a purple robe on Jesus. . .

4. (Thorns or toothpick) Matthew 27:29 Then they made a crown out of thorny branches and placed it on His head, and put a stick on His right hand; then they knelt before Him and made fun of Him. "Long live the King, of the Jews!" they said.

5. (Scourge-a small piece of rope or thick string) Mark 15:15 Pilate wanted to please the crowd, so he set Barabbas free for them. Then he had Jesus whipped and handed Him over to be crucified.

6. (Cross) John 19: 17-18a He went out, carrying His cross, and came to "The Place of the Skull," as it is called. (In Hebrew it is called "Galgotha.") There they crucified Him.


7. (Nails) John 20:25b Thomas said to them, "Unless I see the scars of the nails in His hands and put my finger on those scars and my hand in His side, I will not believe."

8. (Sign) Luke 23:38 Above Him were written these words: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

9. (Sponge) Matthew 27:48 One of them ran up at once, took a sponge. He filled it with vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink.

10. (Spear) John 19:34 One of the soldiers plunged his spear into Jesus' side, and at once blood and water poured out.

11. (Rock) Matthew 27:59-60 Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a new linen sheet, and placed it in his own new tomb, which he had just recently dug out of solid rock. Then he rolled a large stone across the entrance to the tomb and went away.

12. (Empty) Matthew 28:6 He is not here He has risen just as He said.

My favorite part of these eggs is watching the kids as they listen and take it into their hearts. This is a great tool for sharing the gospel with unsaved children or for leading your own child to the Lord. Do you have a fun Easter tradition? Feel free to share it in the comments section!

Walk with the King!

Book Review and Giveaway: Start Here by Alex and Brett Harris

Alex and Brett Harris are twin brothers who as teenagers wrote the book "Do Hard Things". This book inspired teens around the world to make the most of their teen years. But their readers were left with the question - "How do I get started?" Thus, the book "Start Here" was born.

The Harris brothers blog at Rebelution and this is how they describe their book:

"We wrote this book because we know a lot of you want to do hard things for God, but you don’t know where to start. We wanted a book we could hand to any teen who is ready to tackle some hard things — whether it’s a big project, a fundraiser, or struggling to balance everything God has already given you. Read this book, then go out and do hard things!"

Is it strange to admit that though this book is written for teenagers, I was deeply motivated by them? Here's a few of the golden nuggets I personally gleaned!

1. "We don't get it together and go - you more often get it together by going." pg.33 I have felt this way with blogging. As far as the technology has gone, I had NO clue what I was doing on day one. I have come a long way and I got it together simply by just grinding away and doing it!

2. "Some obstacles and opportunities will not become visible until you are in the middle of your project." pg. 32 So true! The ministry of Women Living Well has taken many twists and turns that I could never have planned for, imagined or manipulated into happening. Being on the Rachael Ray Show is one of the twists and opportunities that I never expected!

3. The Obstacle of Pride - Proverbs 27:21 says "The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but man is tested by the praise he receives." I have been flattered by some generously kind emails. In the book the story of Corrie Ten Boom hit me HARD! For starters, I am named after Corrie Ten Boom - so when I hear a quote by her, my ears perk up and I listen intently.

Here's the story recounted from page 55: "When people come up and give me a compliment - 'Corrie, that was a good talk,' or ;Corrie, you were so brave,; I take each remark as if it were a flower. At the end of each day I lift up the bouquet of flowers I have gathered throughout the day and say, 'Here you are, Lord, it is all yours."

Beautifully put Corrie!

4. "Busyness does not mean I am diligent. Busyness does not mean I am faithful. Busyness does not mean I am fruitful."pg 56 Bummer, cause I feel so busy - but it's not a proper gauge!

5. "The best way to remember God's calling in all our decisions is to know God more. When we set aside time - whether on a Sunday or another day, whether in the morning or late at night - to simply be with God and not "do" anything for Him, we become better equipped to serve Him." pg. 61 Ultimately, it's about our walk with the King!

This book is a great read and I am so pleased to have one to give away to one of my readers! If you are a teen, have a teen at home, in your church or in your extended family that you think could benefit from this book - leave a comment below. I will be randomly choosing a winner on Saturday, March 20th at 10pm.

If you do not win, you can purchase a copy at RandomHouse.com

Walk with the King!