Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball

This week I received my complementary copy of Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball. I was excited to review my first book for Waterbrook Multnomah however when I started the book I thought what did I order. Within the first chapter Ms. Paul brings you into a world of mystery, wizardry and fun. She helps you to experience the pain of judgement that accompanies many Christians. I completely related to this as I struggle with judgement of those who aren't Christians or who are Christians that aren't living the way I think they should. I found myself nodding along with Cora as she thought, knowing judgement is wrong however I couldn't stop it.

When Ms. Paul introduced the Wizerbotterdad's and Botterbaw sisters I found myself smiling. These intriguing characters show you the true meaning of love and Christmas without judging anyone for where they are in life. They continue to build the characters up while attending to their own agendas. As you read of their antics you are smiling at their mischievousness and hoping for the best for Cora and Simon.

I found the combination of wizardry and Christianity quite refreshing. At first I was taken aback by this combination however Ms. Paul truly spins a wonderful story of the wizened guiding those who need guidance. She shows how being a Christian doesn't mean you know it all and that there is always someone guiding you along the path set before you. She takes how we all talk ourselves into emotional responses to situations, and shows us how God brings others into our lives to guide us. God uses those who are wiser to show us the path He has set before us.

Two tickets was an amazing journey using unusual characters to help you regain your Christmas Spirit and find God's path for your life again. This book is worth taking a chance on to see where God takes you this Christmas season!

Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball

Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball

I'm very excited to read my first book in blogging for books series. Here is a teaser video for you to view and look for my review as soon as I finish the book.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lr3-m5YpQpU

Leaving and Cleaving

How do you become one? Especially when you both have baggage galore coming into the relationship. You have been married before, maybe even children are a part of the mix. How do you redefine friendships? What is the best way to become one with your new spouse in a world where maintaining individuality is "essential"? Well you throw away everything you had and let God lead the relationship. Yep, that means friendships will be redefined, parenting will be redefined, individuality will be redefined. And guess what it's all good!!!

Have you ever heard friends say things like well, she's got a boyfriend so we won't see her anymore? Well that's because that friend is practicing the leaving and cleaving and redefining her friendships because of her boyfriend. I don't know if I agree with doing this for a boyfriend but once you have committed to your husband then I believe the leaving and cleaving begins. Now don't get me wrong this doesn't mean leave your friends high and dry. This means you will redefine your friendships because you will always put your husband first. You don't get to go partying with your friends every Friday night now. You do get to meet them for lunch or dinner occasionally. You don't get to spend all day on Saturday with the girlfriends at the movies and shopping but you can spend 2 hours shopping with them. It's a give and take to find the balance that will work for you and your husband. I know some will say, I never see my friend Karen anymore. But in reality they do, just on a different timetable because my everything goes to my husband. This is how you leave and cleave. Your friends will get used to it and be happy for the times they can spend with you. And believe me your guilt will dissipate too because in the end you are honoring the commitment you made before God, your husband and your family.

Remember the line of commitment God, Husband, Children, You, Family, Friends. Your best goes to God and your immediate family.

Peace and Love to you!

Love's Motivation

It is amazing what motivates love. I have no idea why God loves me other than He made me. I mean really I sin all the time with my words and thoughts. I try but fail many times over. Then I think about the love my husband has for me. I have no idea why he loves me other than he chose me. I mean really I say things that are hurtful and I don't make life easy. Sometimes I'm even a nag of sorts. So what motivates the love we share. I believe it's the love I have for God.

Do you ever notice when you are in a bad mood and you hang out with someone in a good mood how your mood lifts? Do you ever notice when you don't want to smile but someone tells a good joke, you laugh anyway? Well it's the same principal, when I show my love for God then my husband's love for me grows. Just like when he shows his love for God then my love for my husband grows. There is nothing more loving than sitting down to dinner and holding my husbands hand while he prays over the meal. I mean that makes me love him more even if we just had a disagreement. My heart just melts. Love begets love. So if you are wondering if your spouse loves you maybe you should look at how you are loving God and displaying that love. Love's motivation is God! Amazing huh?

Blessings to you this week!

Getting right with God and Hubby

So today's dare is for us to get right with God and with your spouse. Humble yourself before the Lord and ask for forgiveness then turn to your spouse an do the same. My first thoughts were I don't have anything to humble myself before my spouse for, we are doing great. Then I chuckled a little and said okay Lord, maybe I have a few things. It was like a light bulb went off in my head or the Lord said "Really?" So He showed me just yesterday when I got frustrated and let my mind go to that bad place of complaining. I didn't do it out loud so I thought what my husband doesn't know, won't hurt him, right? But the Lord said you let your thoughts go to that place, now you need to confess your thoughts and let your husband know you turned your thoughts around quickly. This will get it out of your brain and into the open where it can't cause any harm. Stop harboring bad, complaining thoughts. If you let them out, they no longer have control of your brain and you will be free to love unconditionally again!!! What a lesson I had this morning while reading the Love Dare, what a great time to go and humble myself before my husband but first a prayer for my Lord, thanking him for opening up my heart and mind to receive His gifts.

Blessings my friends.

Love vs. Lust

Hmmm. I don't really lust - that's what I was thinking. Really I don't look at other men, I don't want for what the neighbors have, I don't have this burning desire to be a millionaire. This isn't a problem for me. Well, then I read the Love Dare. Lust is a misguided thirst for satisfaction that only God can fulfill (according to Kendrick's Love Dare). Now let's think about lust. Here's where it is, I lust for people's approval. It could be my husbands when I cook a great meal. It could be my parents when I've lost 5 pounds. It could be my own approval for taking a moment to be still. I lust for approval of others when in reality the only approval I need is God's. Lust is something we have to work on constantly. It isn't easy and it doesn't go away overnight. You have to work on it - thinking about that which is pure and holy to keep your mind and thoughts captivated by our Father.

Reality check - are you lusting after/for something? I could be anything. Think about it and turn it over to God.

Blessings to you all!

Love Always Protects

I was raised in a home where we were the "wrong" ones. When something happened at school it was assumed that we did something wrong not the other person or the teacher. Now sometimes we did do something wrong but the problem was that we were never, or rarely, given the benefit of the doubt. So this is the baggage that I bring into our marriage. It is hard to change however I'm slowly chipping away at it and my very patient husband is waiting for the change. Occassionally he will say something like why don't you ever take my side and that's my clue that I've fallen back into the rut again. Protect - our bible says to protect our household - build it up for we can only tear it down with our own hands. Protect and build up your husband, showing him the positives always and the negatives sometimes. Not the other way around! My husband says things like remember it's us as a team. That's another clue statement that reminds me to stick together in public and dispute in private. This is where I need to work and grow and be the protector of our marriage. Oh I'm certain there are a million other ways that Satan will try to pick away at our marriage but this is the one I'm working on now. Protect your marriage, build up your husband and in doing these things we will honor God and the vows we took on that great wedding day!

Blessings!