Big Dreams

“For I know the plans I have for you, ” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11

Carson and Chase spend a lot of time talking about what they want to do when they grow up. Carson wants to be a Veterinarian and live on a farm in North Florida with a lake and raise Guinea Pigs and take care of hurting animals. That is a big dream.

Chase wants to work at Sea World and swim with the dolphins and the whales. He wants to own a preserve and have all sorts of animals there that he and his buddy, Josh, take care of. That is a big dream.

I used to have big dreams when I was a kid. Then I grew up … and I allowed life to steal my dreams.

A few years ago, my life turned around and I wrote a book about the hope and healing I had experienced through Jesus. Most authors dream of selling a million copies of their books. My book was never about the sales, but rather the lives helped.

I had an idea the other day … why couldn’t I GIVE AWAY A MILLION COPIES in E-Book Format? That’s a BIG DREAM … but I serve a BIG GOD!

So … here goes. I am dreaming big. Will you help me achieve my goal?

Please forward this email to your friends and family … let’s see how many lives God can affect through email … through the Internet … through a book about healing and hope!

Chili and Chocolate Cake is not your average inspirational book; and is as unique as the title. The author shares her message of forgiveness, restoration, and hope for hurting women– especially those who have experienced the loss of a child through abortion, miscarriage, or stillborn birth. This book is a shining testimony to the power of God to heal the broken heart. Author Joyce Schneider’s dramatic life and the miraculous change from a tortured young women to a great woman of God will encourage every reader. God even used the stablilty gained from preparing chili and chocolate cake to weave the thread of His grace throughout her troubled life. Get ready for an outpouring–from the barren days of the past, to springs of living waters; rivers that will refresh long after you close the pages of this book.

All the details are on my website:
http://www.alifedecision.org

Thank you for your support!

Father, thank you for dreams. Thank you for giving me the encouragement to step out of my comfort zone and make a difference … for you!

I Love You Jesus!
  In Your Name I Pray,
  Amen

God’s Blessings To You!

Love,
Joyce

 

 

Book Review: “The Shack”

William P. Young’s The Shack is one of the most remarkable novels I’ve ever read. Creative, intriguing, and gutsy, this engaging work addresses the age-old question of why/how a loving God can allow suffering and evil to exist in this world.

When “The Great Sadness” threatens to engulf him with tsunami severity, Mackenzie “Mack” Allen Phillips receives a cryptic note in his mailbox one winter afternoon. There’s no return address. No postal mark. No signature. The typed note is signed “Papa” – the word his wife, Nan, uses for God. Unbelievably, the sender asks Mack to meet him at the shack – the site of an immense tragedy about four years prior.

Against his better judgment, Mack gingerly, reluctantly finds himself on the road to the wilderness area where his young daughter, Missy, was abducted during a family camping trip and subsequently murdered. What and Who he finds at the shack travels with Mack through his blistering rage, sorrow, confusion, disillusionment, and accusation as well as infinite amazement, forgiveness, grace, and finally, immeasurable joy and wonder – without the clichés and canned answers on either side of the equation.

Set in the Pacific Northwest, this intense, beautifully written story is “ghostwritten” by the author as “told by” Mack, whose unspeakable personal loss leads him on a Bunyanesque journey into eternity – and some startling surprises.

Refreshingly, The Shack isn’t about churchianity, sitting in a pew on Sunday, skimming through a Scripture reading so you can mark it off your daily to do list, or textbook academia that’s as dry as the Atacama. It centers on relationships that are as bold and dazzling and mysterious as a  new harvest moon. The imaginative portrayal of the Trinitarian God is especially delicious and exhilarating in this regard, and within biblical bounds.

Of the nearly 200 books I read last year, The Shack is among my top ten titles. I read the whole thing (250+ pages) cover-to-cover in just over 24 hours. It’s THAT good. As in, brilliant. If you don’t read anything else this year and want something fresh, authentic and amazing, don’t miss The Shack.

(Note: The Shack is a novel, as in fiction. It neither purports nor pretends to be a theological treatise. So if you’re of the American Gothic persuasion, never mind.)

Reviewed by: Kristine, author, blogger, homeschooler, professional mom and chief wrangler at the ‘ole testosterone ranch.

Book Review: “For the Tough Times”

For The Tough Times: Reaching Toward Heaven for Hope

by Max Lucado
Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2008

For The Tough Times: Reaching Toward Heaven for Hope
is one of those little books that packs a big punch. We all have hard times in life, times when we feel like God doesn’t care and times when we question the whole point of it all. Max Lucado turns to scripture to try to provide some answers. He begins with a reminder that “God has always turned tragedy into triumph,” and that “God has a different agenda [than we do]. He dwells in a different dimension. He lives on another plane.” God loves us and wants the best for us. He sent His Son to die for us. He will never leave us. Sometimes, however, it is very hard to understand God’s plan for our lives.

Perhaps the most interesting section of the book is when Lucado explains that Satan is actually under God’s control. He can only do what God allows. He is a creature, created by God. He is not equal with God. Lucado maintains that God uses Satan to 1)Refine the Faithful, 2) Awaken the Sleeping, and 3) Teach the Church. He uses scripture and evidence from life to illustrate that this is true.

“For the Tough Times” is a very insightful book which brings great comfort during difficult days.

Some good quotes from this book:

It does us twice as much good to think about God as it does to think about anyone or anything else.

Would you like some peace? Then quit giving your neighbor such a hassle. Want to enjoy God’s generosity? Then let others enjoy yours. Would you like assurance that God forgives you? I think you know what you need to do.

The Holy One dwells on a different level from the rest of us. What frightens us does not frighten him. What troubles us does not trouble him.

- Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur
http://spiritualwomanthoughts.blogspot.com

“Marley & Me”

I haven’t set foot inside a commercial movie theater since 1993. No, I’m not kidding. Ticket prices, higher priorities, other interests and an utter lack of interest in most of the junk Hollywood cranks out these days disguised as “movies” have kept me away from theaters for years. So you know something unusual – maybe even remarkable – drew me into the theater yesterday to see Marley and Me.

Truth is, I wasn’t planning on seeing anything. But my husband and older sons were on an all-day youth group outing, leaving me home with youngest, who wasn’t exactly jumping for joy about being left behind. I called the local cinema center on a lark, got the usual unintelligible recording, but deciphered just enough of it to catch something about a family and a yellow Labrador retriever. I’ve been a sucker for yellow Labs ever since Old Yeller. In fact, our good dog, Eve, is a yellow Lab. So Marley and Me was a no-brainer.

I bought two matinee tickets for Josiah and me and walked into a theater that was two-thirds full, oppressively stuffy, and had the soles of my shoes sticking to the floor. I almost turned around and walked out. Only reason I didn’t was because I didn’t want to disappoint Josiah. I’m glad I stayed. Marley and Me was a pleasant surprise.

This charming, rambunctious, family-oriented movie is about a “clearance puppy,” aka; “the world’s worst dog,” and the havoc and happiness he wreaks within the Grogan household. Based on the best selling book from ex-Philadelphia Inquirer columnist John Grogan, Marley and Me has Owen Wilson playing Grogan with deadpan good humor and Jennifer Aniston as his wife, Jen.

The movie opens just after the Grogan’s wedding in southern Michigan which is accompanied by a blizzard. The couple moves to “some place warmer” – Florida – where both husband and wife land jobs as reporters. John reports largely uninspiring stories reports for the Sun-Sentinel until his hard-boiled editor (Alan Arkin) asks him to take on a twice-a-week column.   Self-described as “full of surprises,” John reluctantly accepts and soon finds his niche writing columns about “regular, every day stuff:” his wife, their growing family, and the uproarious antics of the rascally, rambunctious Marley (named for the singer Bob).

This movie portrays the stresses and strains, exhaustions and joys of family life realistically, without stereotypes or clichés. Jen eventually gives up her career to stay home full-time with the Grogan’s sons, who are later joined by “whups,” their third child, a daughter. The family gets a minivan, moves into a larger home in Boca and eventually settles to Pennsylvania where Grogan writes for the Philadelphia Inquirer. Dissatisfied with hard news reporting, Grogan eventually finds his way back to what he loves most and does best – writing a column about “regular, every day stuff.”

Meanwhile, Grogan’s “regular, every day” family life – complete with dirty diapers, messy houses, thunder storms, homework, soccer games and snowball fights – is subtly contrasted with the ostensibly more glitzy, glamorous life of Sebastian Tunney, a hot bachelor reporter. A choice scene occurs toward the end of the movie in which Grogan runs in to Tunney as Tunney’s passing through Philadelphia on assignment for yet another plum story. Tunney inquires about the family and Grogan proudly pulls out a snapshot of Jen and the kids and of course, the four-legged rascal, Marley. They exchange a few pleasantries before Grogan mentions that he has to get going because his son has a soccer game. The two friends shake hands and promise to “get together some time.” Tunney flashes his trademark toothy grin and roams down the sidewalk, hitting on yet another young woman while Grogan, clearly the richer and more fulfilled of the two, heads back to his wife and kids and that crazy, loveable yellow lab that has a few surprises himself.

I forgot all about the over-warm theater, the stale air and sticky cement floor about halfway through this movie. It was delightful. I walked out of the theater hugging my son and hurrying home to hug my good dog and the rest of my family.

Marley and Me isn’t Gone With the Wind, but it doesn’t pretend to be. It’s a gem of a little “sleeper” and has a gentle, unpretentious quality to it that all dog lovers – and everyone else – can enjoy. Go see it. Bring Kleenex.

Caution: Marley and Me contains a few brief scenes and lines that may be inappropriate for very young viewers.

***

Reviewed by Kristine, author, blogger, humorist, professional mom and homeschooler and chief wrangler at the ‘ole testosterone farm.

Hearing God’s Voice – Priscilla Shirer

~ Dionna Sanchez (http://www.EmphasisOnMoms.com)

Be Yourself

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~ Dionna Sanchez (http://www.EmphasisOnMoms.com)

Forgiveness

~ Dionna Sanchez (http://emphasisonmoms.blogspot.com)

How You Live

~ Dionna Sanchez (http://www.EmphasisOnMoms.com)

It’s a Tough World

The world is out to get your family.

Sex and pornography are aimed right at your son and husband. It comes at them unashamedly through the Internet, e-mail, cell phones, movies, video games, and television.

Sex is also being aimed at your daughter. She is being told that she is only valuable if she dresses a certain way, looks a certain way, and acts a certain way. And it’s going to be a battle for her to learn to see her beauty as God sees it.

Materialism, violence, self-esteem, values, and morals are all on the battleground and society is not afraid to take them on!

Talk to your kids. Explain your decisions. Watch what your kids watch and keep the lines of communication open with them. Don’t try to avoid sensitive subjects but discuss them with honesty, maturity, and love.

It’s a tough world out there but we give it far too much power at times. Put the power into your family’s hands with God at the helm by being informed and aware. Then you’ll win the battle.

By Dionna Sanchez
http://www.EmphasisOnMoms.com

Movie Review: “Marley and Me”

I haven’t set foot inside a commercial movie theater since 1993. No, I’m not kidding. Ticket prices, higher priorities, other interests and an utter lack of interest in most of the junk Hollywood cranks out these days disguised as “movies” have kept me away from theaters for years. So you know something unusual – maybe even remarkable – drew me into the theater today to see the comedy/drama Marley and Me.

Truth is, I wasn’t planning on seeing Marley and Me – or anything else. But my husband and older sons were on an all-day youth group outing, leaving me home with our youngest. Josiah wasn’t exactly jumping for joy about being left behind. So I called the local cinema center on a lark, got the usual unintelligible recording, but deciphered just enough of it to catch something about a family and a yellow Labrador retriever. I’ve been a sucker for yellow Labs ever since Old Yeller. In fact, our good dog is a yellow Lab. So Marley and Me was a no-brainer.

We bought two matinee tickets and walked into a theater that was two-thirds full, oppressively stuffy, and had the soles of my shoes sticking to the floor. I almost turned around and walked out. Only reason I didn’t was because I didn’t want to disappoint Josiah. I’m glad I stayed. Marley and Me was a pleasant surprise.

This charming, rambunctious, family-oriented movie is about a “clearance puppy,” aka; “the world’s worst dog,” and the havoc and happiness he wreaks within the Grogan household.   Based on the best selling book from Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Josh Grogan, Marley and Me has Owen Wilson playing Grogan with deadpan good humor and Jennifer Aniston as his wife, Jen.

The movie opens just after the Grogan’s wedding in southern Michigan which is accompanied by a blizzard.  The couple moves to “some place warmer” – Florida – where both husband and wife land jobs as reporters.  Josh reports mostly mundane stories for the Sun-Sentinel until his hard-boiled editor (Alan Arkin) asks him to take on a twice-a-week column.  Self-described as “full of surprises,” Josh reluctantly accepts and soon finds his niche writing columns about “regular, every day stuff:” his wife, their growing family, and the uproarious antics of the rascally, rambunctious Marley (named for the singer Bob).

One thing I especially appreciated about this movie is that it portrays the stresses and strains, exhaustions and joys of family life realistically, without stereotypes of clichés.  Jen eventually gives up her career to stay home full-time with the Grogan’s sons, who are later joined by “whups,” their third child, a daughter.  The family gets a minivan, moves into a larger home in Boca and eventually settles in Pennsylvania where Grogan writes for the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Dissatisfied with hard news reporting, Grogan eventually finds his way back to what he loves most and does best – writing a column about “regular, every day stuff.”

Meanwhile, Grogan’s “regular, every day” family life – complete with dirty diapers, messy houses, thunder storms, unfinished homework, soccer games and snowball fights – is subtly contrasted to the ostensibly more glitzy, glamorous life of Sebastian Tunney, a hot bachelor reporter. A choice scene occurs toward the end of the movie in which Grogan runs in to Tunney – on assignment for yet another plum story – and passing through Philadelphia.

Tunney inquires about the family and Grogan proudly pulls out a snapshot of Jen and the kids and of course, the four-legged rascal, Marley.  They exchange a few pleasantries before Grogan mentions that he has to get going because his son has a soccer game.  The two friends shake hands and promise to “get together some time.”  Tunney flashes his trademark toothy grin and roams down the sidewalk, hitting on yet another young woman while Grogan, clearly the richer and more fulfilled of the two, heads back to his wife and kids and that crazy, loveable yellow Lab that has a few surprises himself.

I forgot all about the over-warm theater, the stale air and sticky cement floor about halfway through this movie.  It was delightful.  I walked out of the theater hugging my son and hurrying home to hug my good dog and the rest of my family.

To be sure, Marley and Me isn’t Gone With the Wind, but it doesn’t pretend to be.  It’s a gem of a little “sleeper” and has a gentle, unpretentious quality to it that all dog lovers – and everyone else – can enjoy.  Go see it.  And be sure to bring Kleenex.

Caution: Marley and Me is rated PG.  A few brief scenes and lines may be inappropriate for very young viewers.

Shared by Kristine, author, blogger, homeschooler, professional mom and chief wrangler at the ‘ole testosterone ranch.