Disney Side Celebration party

I love Disney, even if I do have some unrealistic ideals about what love should be because of some Disney stories. But nonetheless I love Disney and so do my kids. Even A's middle name was chosen because of Belle from Beauty and the Beast because she is such a strong female. (Her middle name is Arabelle).

I was excited to have a Disney Side home celebration. I received a box of goodies to host a party so that all of our friends could show off their Disney side as well. The kids loved the activities and goodies. They enjoyed getting their tattoos and making pictures to use for the cheering posters that we got. And the parents thought the activities were so cute as well. We had the party at our church nursery so that we had more room for the little ones to run around with too. My son D loved all the party supplies because he's such a big fan of Mickey and that's what his birthday party was a couple of years ago.

Hopefully one day we'll actually be able to go to DisneyWorld and we can share that with the kids. but we gotta have Hubs home for more than a few days lol. But anytime we get to party Disney style, we'll do it. Check out Disney Side Celebrations for some ideas to make up your own party.

Thrive- Digging Deep, Reaching Out by Mark Hall- review

I have only recently started to listen to Christian music on a regular basis, thanks to a mid-week worship service that I've been attending for the last few months. I found a band, Casting Crowns that I just love and so many of their songs just speak to my heart. Well Mark Hall, lead singer of the band has come out with a new book called Thrive, which also happens to be the name of the new album they released as well.

Just the first line of the book; "You were meant to do more than just survive" (pg 9) really hit me, as well did the rest of the book. It's broken up into two sections: Digging Deep, which deals with how to dig into your faith, and learning to go deeper with God. And the second section is called Reaching Out, which talks about how to give back to the world around us once we've gotten deeper with God. Each chapter is short and to the point with a great message and at the end is a point to remember. Mark uses so many things from his life as a pastor and singer to give life to this book. Mark is such a great story teller that I just loved the book. I also have a few favorite songs from the new album as well; such as All You Ever Wanted. That song spoke straight to my heart. If you get the chance to pick this up, it's totally worth it!


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.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 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

InScribed Series review

There is a new set of books out there for women called the InScribed Series. I love their tag line: InScribed: leading women to not just survive but thrive, encouraging them to immerse themselves in the person of Jesus Christ. I was asked to review them, and was thrilled to do it. Each book is on a different topic and each writer has a different way of presenting their information. And I just love the covers of each book along with on the inside of the cover there is a Bible Verse and what appears to be a message in the author's handwriting to the readers.

 

Each book is meant to be used for some type of Bible study. My favorite out of them was the Dive Deeper, because I love to dive into my reading and studying and Jennifer gives an awesome way to do that as she goes through the book of Ephesians. I also enjoyed Amazed and Confused because I've never really studied any of the minor Prophets and having the chance to take a look at the book of Habakkuk and see how Amazing and Confusing God can be in our lives was awesome. And it had great questions to reflect and use for study at the end of the chapters.

 

Living So that by Wendy using verses that focus on the "SO THAT" part of life, and the one that I love is "Jesus came SO THAT". I'm going to be going along with the Proverbs 31 ministry Online Bible study of Living So That that starts on April 6.

 

Leaving Ordinary was a great way to get me to think about the tabernacle outside of the way it is described by Moses in the Old Testament. I have always had a hard time with how it had to be built and all of that and so thinking of it in another way brought it into a whole new light for me.

 

All of these books are amazing and would make for a great group study or individual study as well.

 

Book Descriptions

Leaving Ordinary by Donna Gaines
The deepest longing of the human heart is to know and be known by God. God longs for an intimate relationship with us as well. But how do we develop that kind of relationship with a holy God? It is one thing to long for such a relationship, but quite another to experience intimacy with Him. In Leaving Ordinary, Donna Gaines shares from her personal experience how prayer can become the channel that links the believer’s heart to the heart of God.
God gave the pattern of the tabernacle to the Israelites. It was a temporary and portable dwelling for His glory. Through it God taught them how to approach and worship Him before He led them to their reward—the promised land. Using the tabernacle and its articles as a guide, Donna teaches readers how to interact with God in that secret place of true intimacy that leads to worship. Your ordinary daily practice of prayer can become an extraordinary encounter with the living Lord. Leaving Ordinary is essential reading for anyone who desires to enter into and experience the reality of God’s presence.
Living "So That" by Wendy Blight
In today’s world, it’s tough to make everyday decisions, let alone decisions that honor God. Our culture is increasingly driven by selfish desires. However, as Christians, our lives should not be self-centered and static; they should be others-centered and active, making a difference for the Kingdom of God.
Living "So That" is a fresh approach to understanding God's Word, focusing on many of the powerful "so that" verses in Scripture, including Jesus Came So That. . .; God Spoke So That. . .; Pray So That. . .; Trials Come So That. . . . Through her approachable style, personal examples, and biblical teaching, Wendy equips readers to take what they study in the Word of God and practically live it out in order to impact the world around them. The result is a renewed appreciation for the power and applicability of Scripture. Through practical examples and biblical truths, Wendy helps readers gain a new perspective on daily living, equipping them to apply these biblical truths to present-day decision-making.
Amazed and Confused by Heather Zempel
Most people have prayed for something or someone in earnest, seeking God’s will, only to be left confused by God’s response. Sometimes we ask, “Why would a good God allow bad things to happen to good people?” In Amazed and Confused, Heather Zempel tackles this question head-on by exploring the book of Habakkuk.
When the prophet Habakkuk prayed that God would bring change to the backsliding nation of Israel, this issue came to the forefront. Habakkuk begged God for revival and that He would turn the hearts of faithless people back to Him.
God’s answer to Habakkuk was, “Take a look at the nations and watch what happens! You will be shocked and amazed” (1:5, The Voice). The vision God gave Habakkuk was one of warfare and exile. How do you respond when God answers your prayers in a way that seems out of line with his character and promises?
Amazed and Confused proceeds systematically through the book of Habakkuk, exploring the prophet’s prayer, God’s response, and the prophet’s journey from confusion to worship. This interactive Bible study is the perfect choice for those who are hurting and confused about God’s responses to their prayers.
Dive Deeper by Jenifer Jernigan
Equip yourself to fall deeply in love with God's Word through this unique, interactive Bible study. Delving into the book of Ephesians, Dive Deeper is a tool for women—those who might be satisfied and content with their Bible study and for those who find themselves fearful or numb—to dive deeper into the living and active Word of God.
Dive Deeper comes from Jenifer Jernigan's heart. As a preacher’s daughter, she grew up with some pretty heavy expectations to live up to. Jenifer found herself becoming numb to the things of God because the Bible stories were all too familiar. She longed to break through the serene surface of her safe place and dive deeper into scripture. She wanted to fall in love with the stories she knew so well. Over time, Jenifer learned to do just that. Her unique methods are shared in this one-of-a-kind study. Dive Deeper takes readers by the hand and jumps with them into the exhilarating waters of Bible study.