Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Jesus Freak...TEST

We watched this...



And then this...


Then my husband asked my girls which one they liked best. One replied with the first one and I started to question their taste in music. I could tell my oldest was having problems choosing so I helped just a little, nudging her in the right direction..."Toby Mac is in the 2nd one!"

"I like the 2nd one!"

That's right. Toby Mac will convince even my 8 year old! 

Friday, January 25, 2013

Book Review: Dirty GOd


Book Review
Dirty God
Jesus in the Trenches
by
Johnnie Moore
 

It takes a lot for me to read a book in a sort amount of time. The times it has happened are pretty rare, and my husband was impressed with how fast I read Dirty God. It was amazing to me too! There was something about this book I just couldn't put down. Moore did a great job of sharing stories and Biblical accounts to share his point of view. I was really drawn to God's grace through this book. Perhaps it came just at the right time for this people pleaser to hear these words.

I often think to myself that God's grace is amazing, but it's just too good to be true. He must want something more from me than just to accept it. I often find myself bending over backwards to make people happy. I never like to have people upset with me. It's just how I am. This book really reached out to me and helped to see the truth I have always known and helped me really experience what I have always heard.
"He doesn't simply tolerate out need for second and third chances; he doesn't begrudgingly make a way for our repentance. Instead, he takes pleasure in helping us "turn our hearts back again." He will move mountains and call down fire and trust us one more time, even when our track record would make any sensible person do the opposite."

Maybe it's because I have been longing to live in this kind of life. A life where I am fully alive in God's grace and fully giving it to others. I want to live a life where others start to wonder why I act this way and the only possible answer is God.

I love that Moore gives good practical ways that we can take it and use this in our lives. He talks about getting God's grace and then talks about how we should turn around and give that same grace out to others.

"Most of the time, grace is most evident in the small things and in everyday moments. It's evident in how we respond in the office when someone treats us unjustly. It's visible in the little decisions we make when faced with an opportunity to serve ourselves or someone else. It's evident in the practice of virtues like hospitality, patience, kindness, goodness, and self-control. It's visible when we run upon someone in need at the most inopportune moment, or at times when we have every reason in the world to retaliate and, instead, we turn the other cheek.
But on occasion, in a rare and probably difficult moment, grace must rise to a higher place. It must exhibit itself in a more extravagant form, a form more akin to the way in which grace waged war against sin on the cross."

I read the story of the Amish school girls who were killed and the way the Amish community poured out grace on the killers family. I thought to myself I want that, yet I find it difficult to give grace in the small things. This book has challenged me to change the way I see grace. To change the way I receive it from God and the way that I give it out to others. Highly recommend this book to everyone!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Guest Post: Networking Parties for Mommies 2013


Today I would love to introduce you to Michele from Mommy Blogger Directory. It's a great little blog with wonderful information and resources for blogging moms. It's also a great place to find new blogging friends. Michele has a little to share with us today about networking.
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Networking is easier than ever for working moms in 2013, and one of the greatest innovations in technology today is the ability to take instant credit card payments with your smartphone. Learn how incorporating an instant credit card payment feature on your smartphone can make a huge increase in your sales. Advantage can help you get there!

When you sell products with your networking program, like Mary Kay or Pampered Chef, you can really improve your sales by being able to take credit card or debit card payments with your smartphone. Many customers don't carry cash or checks, and having to turn down a potential sale because you don't take credit cards can really hurt your business. Having this great device allows you to make credit card sales from the comfort of your home and you can even email your loyal customers a receipt for their purchase. Imagine being able to increase your sales by as much as 30% in 2013 simply by having the ability to take credit cards with your smartphone!

As a busy mom, it's important to you to be able to make a sale at any opportunity. With a credit card app on your iPhone or other smartphone, you can forget the hassle of trying to procrue payments out of customers who don't carry cash or checks with them. You can make a sale anytime by simply swiping a credit card, and know that you are doing your networking business a great service in doing so.

It's time to use technology to your advantage, and since most customers carry plastic over cash, having the ability to take credit cards with your smartphone is the best way to increase your business and keep your customers happy.