Review and Giveaway: The Mustard Seed

The story of The Mustard Seed begins with Sara, a ten-year-old girl in a small country town, who startles her family when she inexplicably begins to heal others afflicted with fatal conditions, making her overnight an unlikely media celebrity. As if that weren’t enough, she insists all the while that the healing was done not by her but by Jesus, whom she sees walking on a lake!

But was she really alone in seeing Jesus?

As the story unfolds, Sara’s life takes an unexpected twist that bewilders her entire community.

Besides being a compelling read, Sara’s story makes for an exhilarating spiritual experience.

My review:
I quite enjoyed this book! It was an easy book to read and I certainly did NOT want to put it down! It was really quite gripping, and very easy to relate to the characters. I was thankful I was reading the ebook late at night all by myself as I had tears streaming down my face at different times. It was also nice to see a book that showed the simplicity that Jesus wants His followers to have. We adults tend to overthink everything and over complicate life, yet Scripture says that we need to have the faith of a child. Simple and trusting.
I would recommend this book to anyone of any faith background. Even though I did not see eye to eye with the authors choice of doctrine, it was still a very encouraging read.

If you would like to win a copy of this ebook, see the directions below to enter the contest!

1. Leave a comment. This can be done daily.
2. Post about the giveaway on your Facebook or Twitter, please do this one, I would really appreciate it. I will give you 5 entries if you do this one, just post the link in a separate comment.
3. Sign up for my RSS feed to hear about other giveaways and other stuff when I find time to post, leave me a comment letting me know that you did, or if you already are signed up.

Please be sure to leave a comment below, otherwise I will not know you have shared my blog etc.

I will draw the blessed winner on March 30th.

Review & Giveaway: Jesus Today: Devotions for Kids

About Jesus Today: Devotions for Kids
Jesus is the Friend who is always with you. Jesus Today: Devotions for Kids will pour this powerful truth into your children's hearts as they learn that He knows everything about them and loves them more than they can imagine. Each devotion is based on Scripture and is written as though Jesus is speaking directly to you, assuring that He is in control, that He is good, and that an amazing future awaits all who put their hope in Him. Adapted from the ECPA 2013 Christian Book of the Year-winner Jesus Today, this devotional has the same themes as the adult version, as well as written-out scriptures. It is a great choice for families to read and discuss during devotional time together.

Hardcover: 368 pages
Age Range: 6-10 years

About Sarah Young:
Sarah Young's devotional writings are personal reflections from her daily quiet time of Bible reading, praying and writing in prayer journals. With sales of more than 14 million books worldwide, Jesus Calling has appeared on all major bestseller lists. Sarah's writings include Jesus Calling, Jesus Today, Jesus Lives, Dear Jesus, Jesus Calling for Little Ones, Jesus Calling Bible Storybook, Jesus Calling: 365 Devotions for Kids, and Peace in His Presence -- each encouraging readers in their journey toward intimacy with Christ. Sarah and her husband were missionaries in Japan and Australia for many years. They currently live in the United States.

SOCIAL*CORNER

Official Website
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My Review:
we have enjoyed reading these during our devotions, a nice change from our regular routine of Bible reading. I love that there are verses taken from both the Old and New Testament...so often these days the focus is on the New Testament and Tanakh is forgotten! We will continue to enjoy reading this book morning and evening!

Enter now to win your copy!!


"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.”

1. Leave a comment. This can be done daily.
2. Post about the giveaway on your Facebook or Twitter, please do this one, I would really appreciate it. I will give you 5 entries if you do this one, just post the link in a separate comment.
3. Sign up for my RSS feed to hear about other giveaways and other stuff when I find time to post, leave me a comment letting me know that you did, or if you already are signed up.

Please be sure to leave a comment below, otherwise I will not know you have shared my blog etc.

I will draw the blessed winner on Feb 10th for a copy of the book Jesus Today: Devotions for Kids

Review & Giveaway: Captive

About the movie:
Based on a miraculous story about the power of faith, Captive is an "amazing, inspiring" drama about the spiritual collision of two lost souls, Brian Nichols (Golden Globe Nominee David Oyelowo), on the run from police and desperate to make contact with his newborn son, takes recently widowed mother Ashley Smith (Kata Mara) hostage in her own apartment. Fearing for her life and desperately hoping to see her daughter again, she turns to Rick Warren's The Purpose Driven Life for guidance. Ashley and her captor face a crossroads where they discover hope and light in the midst of despair in the moving film that Dick Rolfe, CEO, Dove Foundation hailed as "powerful."

DVD Release Date: January 5, 2016
Runtime: 96 minutes
Rating: PG-13 (for mature thematic elements involving violence and substance abuse)

There are over 30 minutes of bonus content on this DVD including Journey Through Darkness: Filming Captive and Faith and The Purpose Driven Life. Also included with this DVD is a Digital HD copy that can be instantly streamed and downloaded.



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My husband and I enjoyed this movie, and will probably allow our 14 yr old son to watch it. Love the story of hope it offers and pray that many others that watch it, will feel the hope that is found in a relationship with Yeshua(Hebrew name for Jesus). I absolutely love movies based on true events and this is one that I am proud to have on my shelf and would quickly recommend. It gives a very real look at how hard it is to break addictions when you are on your own, even if you DO have a family member around that you want to be a better person for. Like I said, a movie filled with hope... It is so hard to find good movies these days! Enter now to win your copy!!!

"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.”

1. Leave a comment. This can be done daily.
2. Post about the giveaway on your Facebook or Twitter, please do this one, I would really appreciate it. I will give you 5 entries if you do this one, just post the link in a separate comment.
3. Sign up for my RSS feed to hear about other giveaways and other stuff when I find time to post, leave me a comment letting me know that you did, or if you already are signed up.

Please be sure to leave a comment below, otherwise I will not know you have shared my blog etc.

I will draw the blessed winner on Jan 31st for a copy of the DVD Captive.

The Narrow Way Crochet

I would like to take time to share this awesome local business with you! I recently bought a wool hat from The Narrow Way Crochet and absolutely LOVE IT!!!! It is comfortable (it fits very well due to giving them the measurements of my head!) warm and very pretty.

Okay...so I need lessons in taking "selfies" and I could have smiled more. But you can see the beautiful colors of this hat! Grey, brown, and there is even some cream in there!


So what sets this company apart from many others? Well, they are local and not an overseas sweatshop. I will go out of my way to buy locally every chance I get and as often as the pocketbook allows!! I've been to their farm and was able to visit the sheep and they gave us a tour and explained how they wash, card and spin the wool (with an old fashioned spinning wheel!!!) and then crochet beautiful things! You will want to visit their website and check out all their beautiful handiwork!

Also, when you check out the Farm link, you will see that The Narrow Way Crochet is just PART of a family farm...they offer so much more.

Review & Giveaway: I'm Happy For You {SORT OF...not really}

About I’m Happy For You (Sort Of…Not Really):
Our cultural obsession with comparison is undercutting relationships and sapping contentment. With disarming candor and humor, Kay Wills Wyma explores how to trade comparison for compassion and rediscover what life is all about.
It’s easy to get caught in the comparison games we play with our appearances, our kids, and our homes. Kay reminds exhausted families about tried and true remedies from the pressures of competitive living.
In her warm, relatable style, Kay confronts the comparison epidemic raging in our homes, our neighborhoods, and our social-media feeds, offering remedies along the way.
With candor and humor, I’m Happy For You (Sort Of…Not Really) explores the troubling effects of living in an excessively competitive culture—and reveals simple yet effective ways to escape the comparison trap.

About the Author:
Kay Wills Wyma is a blogger, mother of five, and the author of Cleaning House through which she has appeared on The TODAY Show, CNN, Glenn Beck, The New York Times, Focus on the Family, and more. Before becoming a stay-at-home mom, she held positions at the White House, the Staubach Company, and Bank of America. Kay lives in the Dallas area with her husband, Jon, and their family.

My Review:
This has been the most delightful book I've read in a long while and it came at such a perfect time! Just hours before getting this book in the mail to read, I had attended our monthly homeschool support group. Guess what was talked about? You guessed it, comparisons!! The dangers of comparing our lives to others. So when I opened my mail and saw the title....well, I literally laughed out loud!

In chapter 2, Kay shares the term, "Ctrl-Alt-Delete" and this alone will help us all to regain a proper perspective when we find ourselves in the throes of discontentment and envy.

Ctrl: Control the thought process by pausing to recognize the problem

Alt: Consider an alternative perspective

Delete: Eliminate comparison--or at least tone it down

Now of course there is more in the book on each of those terms and what they mean and how to do it, but I don't want to spoil it for you!!

As we enter the holiday season, I pray that you won't have to deal with comparison issues, however, I highly recommend this book if you do or think you might or that your sibling might. Kay's sense of humor is incredible as she helps us to see the problem areas and then gives us wonderful ways to eliminate them, and she does this without making us feel inadequate. While humorous, the book also encourages change in our behavior and thought patterns, changing the comparison into compassion.

Check out Kay's blog HERE

If you'd like to listen to her interview on Focus on the Family about her book "I'm Happy for You" check it out HERE

I'd love to have you enter the giveaway, here's how to enter!

"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. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”

1. Leave a comment. This can be done daily.
2. Post about the giveaway on your Facebook or Twitter, please do this one, I would really appreciate it. I will give you 5 entries if you do this one, just post the link in a separate comment.
3. Sign up for my RSS feed to hear about other giveaways and other stuff when I find time to post, leave me a comment letting me know that you did, or if you already are signed up.

Please be sure to leave a comment below, otherwise I will not know you have shared my blog etc.

I will draw the blessed winner on Dec 10th for a copy of the book I'm Happy for You {Sort of...not really}

Review and Giveaway: The Bridge Builder

About Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein:
Founder and President of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews and Goodwill Ambassador for the State of Israel, Rabbi Eckstein has devoted more than 35 years to building bridges of understanding between Christians and Jews and broad support for the State of Israel. He is recognized as the world's leading Jewish authority on evangelical Christians. Rabbi Eckstein received Orthodox Rabbinic ordination from Yeshiva University in New York. He holds master's degrees from Yeshiva University and Columbia University, where he also completed studies for his doctorate. Rabbi Eckstein has served on the faculties of Columbia University, Chicago Theological Seminary, and Northern Baptist Seminary. He currently serves on the executive committee of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee.

About the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews:
The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews was founded in 1983 by Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein to promote understanding between Jews and Christians and build broad support for Israel and other shared concerns. Their ministry's vision is that Jews and Christians will reverse their 2,000-year history of discord and replace it with a relationship marked by dialogue, respect, and cooperation. Among the many things they do as an organization, they also create materials for teaching about the significance of connecting Israel and Christianity through such resources as A Woman of Valor: Celebrating The Proverbs 31 Women In Our Lives, A Man Of Faith: Reflections On Godly Leadership From The Ancient Shepherds Of Israel (both devotionals by Rabbi Eckstein), and Seven Fruits of Israel: Recipes And Devotions From The Holy Land (by Yael Eckstein).

About the book and author:
Hardcover; 272 pages
Zev Chafets is the bestselling author of fourteen books of fiction, media criticism, and social and political commentary. He has been a frequent contributor to the New York Times Magazine and is a former columnist for the New York Daily News.

BOOK RELEASE DATE: AUGUST 11, 2015

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SOCIAL • C O R N E R

Official Websites: IFCJ
Rabbi Eckstein

Twitter: @TheFellowship
@RabbiEckstein

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FellowshipFan
https://www.facebook.com/RabbiEckstein

Website to Purchase: Amazon






Wow, this book is an awesome one! Not only is it an eye opener about the recent history of the Jews as they came to America, but also how politics played out in regards to how the US and Canada failed to support Israel in the years after the Holocaust. And sadly, the United States continues to snub Israel, while Canadian Prime Minister Stephan Harper has taken a stand FOR Israel. His stand for Israel makes me proud to be Canadian. But back to the book, Rabbi Eckstein made it his mission in life to bridge the gap between Christians and Jews, to focus on the common ground we share and support one another. It caused him to be shunned in his own orthodox community, even at his daughter's bat mitzvah, he was not allowed at the Bimah to speak, simply because he entered a Christian church to share his ministry. Apparently this is equal to idolatry!! Yikes! I look forward to finish reading his biography and will update this blogpost when I've finished. It has been an inspiring read so far!! May we all act according to our convictions and not worry about what others will say about us. It only matters what our Heavenly Father says!



"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. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”

Giveaway Time
We will be giving away a copy of this book!

1. Leave a comment. This can be done daily.
2. Post about the giveaway on your Facebook or Twitter, please do this one, I would really appreciate it. I will give you 5 entries if you do this one, just post the link in a separate comment.
3. Sign up for my RSS feed to hear about other giveaways and other stuff when I find time to post, leave me a comment letting me know that you did, or if you already are signed up.

Please be sure to leave a comment below, otherwise I will not know you have shared my blog etc.

I will draw the blessed winner on Sept 11th, just a few short days away!

Review: FamilyLife's Passport2Purity Getaway Kit 3rd edition

About the getaway kit:
(1) Tour Guide for the parent, (1) Travel Journal for the preteen including 25 follow-up devotions, and (8) CDs containing 5 sessions, scripture memory songs and downloadable MP3s: Session 1: Beginning the Journey - Challenges, Traps, and Choices; Session 2: Running With The Herd - Friendships and Peer Pressure; Session 3: Ready For An Upgrade? - Changes in Him, Changes in Her; Session 4: Destination: Lé Pure - Setting Boundaries; Session 5: Crossing The Date Line - Seeing Dating Differently

Passport2Purity from FamilyLife® on Vimeo.

Learn about the traps your preteen will soon face as a teenager and how Passport2Purity will help you to guide your teen through those difficult years.

Your child begins the journey into adolescence in a world of sexting, bullying, online stalking and moral defiance. Innocence is under attack, and you cannot win the battle with a single awkward talk or a strict set of rules. The primary defense for your child is a strong relationship with you and with God. FamilyLife developed Passport2Purity (P2P) to assist you in building heart-to-heart communication with your preteen while laying a foundation of purity that will prepare him or her for the turbulent years ahead. Through the shared listening experience, object lessons and guided conversations of a P2P weekend getaway, you can set your son or daughter on a journey of moral integrity - and strengthen the bond between you. It is designed to be used by a mother and daughter or a father and son when the child is a preteen. It is suggested that the materials be completed over a weekend away from home, as the child may be more open to discussing the topics away from his or her normal environment. If this isn't possible, the material can be completed over a period of four or five weeks.

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S O C I A L • C O R N E R

Official Website: http://familylife.go2cloud.org/aff_c?offer_id=2&aff_id=1022&url_id=18

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Passport2Purity-Getaway-Kit-by-FamilyLife-Version-3/278981062285397

Twitter: @FamilyLifeToday @DennisRainey @BarbaraRainey

Official Website to Purchase: https://shop.familylife.com/p-1988-passport2purity-getaway-kit.aspx?utm_source=FL&utm_medium=image&utm_campaign=hpresource

It was my great pleasure to take part in this review! As part of our family's homeschool we have used the God's Design for Sex series, and this is the perfect ending for that series of books, which spans a very great range of ages beginning at age 3 or 4 when questions first arise about where babies come from.

This kit includes everything a nervous parent could possibly need for having that "scary" talk that most would rather avoid. If this is you, PLEASE buy this kit!!! My parents gave the sex talk to my sister and I after we were teens and it was really already too late. It is so much better to err on the side of too early than too late. We will go through it with our oldest, even though we've kinda done the talk all ready, and also with our daughter who will be 10 this school year. Just reading the through the material and listening to the "parents only" session has me feeling excited and full equipped to take this on! I came from a family where sex was not a welcome topic to talk about. I want to change that, I want my children to feel okay about talking to us about anything. So Check out the link above and buy your kit today!!!