Day 2 of Preparing Your Heart for Advent

It's impossible to think about the Christmas story without remembering the reason that we celebrate Easter.  When we go back to Bethlehem, we see the baby in the manger, Joseph, Mary, the shepherds, and the wisemen (the latter of which did not show up the same day as Jesus' birth, by the way!).  Oh, and we'll throw in the camels, donkeys, sheep, and horses that you always think of when you see the manger scene.  I'm sure it was quite a sight in actuality, but I'm not sure it's at all like we picture it at Christmas.

What was the point in the manger?  What was the point and significance of Mary?  What was the point in God bringing His Son to earth?  All of these things are significant to understanding Christmas.  I mean understanding the true meaning of Christmas....not the Santa Claus Christmas.  And yes, I did say Christmas...not Holiday.  These are things that we'll look at over the next couple of weeks as we prepare our hearts for Advent and for the celebration of our King.

For now, let's consider salvation.  We know that anyone who believes in Christ Jesus will be saved.  But if you say this to someone, you often hear back, "But He can't save me.  I did ________."  No sin is too bad to save.  All sin is equal in God's eyes.  As humans, we're the ones that have created levels of sin because I think it's a way that we judge people. 

I'd love for you to read Ruth 1-4 today.  You're probably familiar with the story of Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz.  It's a wonderful depiction of love, faithfulness, and God's sovereignty played out.  However, when you get to the end of Ruth 4, you see a genealogy.  I want 2 people to stand out to you: Perez and Boaz.  Why?  Because of who their parents were.

Perez came from Judah and Tamar.  You can read their story in Genesis 38:6-30 and 1 Chronicles 2:4.  Long story short, Perez is the result of Judah and Tamar's incestuous relationship.

Boaz had a mother known as Rahab.  That's not all she was known by, though.  Usually when  you hear about Rahab, it's Rahab the harlot.  Or prostitute.  Whichever you prefer to say.  And she also began as someone who was not a believer, as well.

So what does all this mean?  I think that Ann Marie Stewart sums this up quite well.  "The Book of Ruth reminds us that God welcomes all who believe in Him no matter their background or faith.  He not only came for all, but His bloodline demonstrates His salvation for all." 

What's the point of Christmas without Christ?

Day 1 of Preparing Your Heart for Advent

Isaiah 53:1-9



(1) Who has believed our message? 

To whom has the Lord revealed his powerful arm?

(2) My servant grew up in the Lord's presence like a tender shoot,

like a root in dry ground.

There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance,

nothing to attract us to him.

(3) He was despised and rejected--

a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. 

We turned our backs on him and looked the other way.

He was despised, and we did not care.

(4) Yet it was our weaknesses he carried;

it was our sorrows that weighed him down.

And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God,

a punishment for his own sins!

(5) But he was pierced for our rebellion,

crushed for our sins.

He was beaten so we could be whole.

He was whipped so we could be healed.

(6) All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.

We have left God's paths to follow our own.

Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all.

(7) He was oppressed and treated harshly,

yet he never said a word.

He was led like a lamb to the slaughter.

And as a sheep is silent before the shearers,

he did not open his mouth.

(8) Unjustly condemned,

he was led away.

No one cared that he died without descendants,

that his life was cut short in midstream.

But he was struck down

for the rebellion of my people.

(9) He had done no wrong and had never deceived anyone.

But he was buried like a criminal;

he was put in a rich man's grave."

Book Review: The House of Hope by Elisabeth Gifford

This book got me hooked from the name of the book and the picture on the cover to the book's description.  The Hope Foster Home is a foster home that Robyn and Joyce Hill started so that they could take care of the abandoned orphans in China.  Many of them were medically fragile babies that were abandoned because the child would most likely die without treatment.  In fact, some were left to die and they would have had it not been for Robyn and Joyce following the Lord's leading and taking in these children and doing everything within their power to see that the children lived and even went to their forever homes. 

Throughout the book, they share stories about different children.  They share where they came from, how they came to the Hope Foster Home, what surgeries they needed, how the Lord provided, and in many cases, where they are today.  It was a  book that I couldn't put down because of many reasons.  Adoption and taking care of ophans is very biblical and you can't help but see the love of Christ being played out in the lives of everyone at the House of Hope and the love they have for these children that have been left with no one. 

It hasn't all been easy for Robyn and Joyce.  They've had to sacrifice and fight for where they are now.  They've overcome losses and trials, as well.  But one thing they never doubted: God had a purpose for them in China and He was going to use them to carry it out.

This is a book to be enjoyed by everyone.  It will make you fall in love with the children at Hope Foster Home and you will hop online to join their foundation and to become active with their mission.  I'm sure of it!  Oh, and 100% OF THE PROCEEDS OF THIS BOOK GO TO FUND THE WORK AT HOPE FOSTER HOME. HERE IS THE LINK TO THEIR SITE: http://www.hopefosterhome.com/

You can find more reviews of this book by going here: http://litfusegroup.com/blogtours/text/13438821)

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I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

What do you think?

Can you tell this guy is in love with these two kiddos?

Book Review: Remembering Christmas by Dan Walsh

One word can sum up Rick....selfish.  Oh, he works hard...for himself.  He cares for others....when it's convenient.  He doesn't mind being told what to do....as long as it doesn't interfere with his plans.  So you can imagine how things could potentially turn out bad when his mom needs her son to be there for her because her husband, Rick's stepfather, has a stroke.  Did I mention that Rick has never liked his stepfather? 

Well, Rick decides that he should be there for his mom, so has goes and is actually quite supportive of her and stands by her side as she goes through this trial.  As the time goes on, he finds himself staying there longer than he planned and his attitude becomes less happy and joyful.  He helps out at the family bookstore, but too many people that tend to sour his mood come through those doors, which doesn't help his positive outlook on the situation.  How will all of these people, and perhaps a young lady, help him see himself for who he really is and to learn where he came from and about his family?  There's no more running from the past this Christmas.  It's time to deal with those things that he doesn't want to deal with.

This book is a lovely story of loyalty and understanding Christmas in a new way. If you're looking for a Christmas book to read, pick this one up. 

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I received this book free from Revell Publishers, an extension of Baker Publishing Group in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.  You can get this book from any major bookstore.

Music Therapy and pediatrics

Music therapy and cancer

This was just a master class!

A Music Prodigy I Envy!

You absolutely HAVE to watch this, especially if you're a music major!  You'll be amazed at this boy's talent.  It's incredible!

Dueling Horses

These are my horse-riding, loving, and oh, so much fun babies with such wonderful (and sometimes tiring) personalities.  I love these precious two!
Both of the babies have a love for horses.  I don't really know where it came from, but if they see a horse, they have to go and look at it and pet it (if they're at Pop's) and we talk about horses a lot.  There's a horse and donkey on our road and if I take a different way home where we don't pass them, B always asks me where they are.  Otherwise, it's a daily game for us: what are the horse/donkey doing, where are they, and do they have enough water in their pond?

Since I haven't started them on riding lessons, they like to each take their own horse and tie it up, gallop, and even head butt them.  They both play so well together....when they're on their horses!