Beautiful Word
Recently, I was afforded the opportunity to receive two Beautiful Word Coloring Bibles. Since I have two daughters, this was perfect so that one didn’t feel slighted by the other receiving a gift and them not having one, too. Even though they are older now, I still consider their feelings, of course, and if I do for one, I do for the other as well.
My girls enjoy doodling and coloring, so I knew this would be the perfect fit for them. I gave one to my youngest daughter as we headed out on a trip this past weekend. She isn’t one for long car rides, but she didn’t seem to mind once I handed her this bible. She loved the stickers that came with it, and pretty soon, all we could hear was her coloring in the back seat.
Two nights ago, our oldest daughter received her bible, and almost immediately, she commented on the presentation of the bible. Yes, it is for younger girls, but it is still the Word of God, which we could all benefit from reading and carrying with us no matter our ages.
With my youngest daughter attending a Christian school, she can carry this bible to class with her if she desires. My oldest daughter attends a church in Summerville now, and she, too, can carry it with her to the services. If their minds begin to wander, they can doodle or color in their favorite scriptures in this bible, as there are over 600 illustrated in ready-to-color line art. Since it is the New International Version (NIV), it is written in terms they can both grasp without having to figure out what the verses mean, unlike the King James Version. I’m not knocking that version at all, but for me, it does help when it’s easier to read and interpret the message behind the scriptures.
For a little “teaser,” I’d like to share with you the following links:
Both are pretty cool, right?!
With Christmas two months away, now is the perfect time to consider the little girls in your life that might enjoy this Beautiful Word Coloring Bible as well! Click here for more information or click here to buy directly from the retailer.
“Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”):
Many thanks to Telling Ministries LLC and HCCP for providing this product/product information for review. 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.
#beautifulwordgiftset
#FlyBy
In The Blink of An Eye
My oldest daughter was on her way to work this morning when her vehicle spun around, completely out of her control. One minute she was traveling along not even thinking about her commute to work, and the next minute she was in a ditch!
In the blink of an eye …
That is how fast our entire world could have been turned upside down.
My husband and I were getting ready for work when I heard the phone ring. “I’m okay … but I need help. I was getting on the interstate, and I don’t even know what happened. But I ended up in a ditch. ”
Imagine those words first thing in the morning and the fear that would well up inside of you!
I can’t possibly remain calm when I hear those words … out of the mouth of MY CHILD!! Now, I don’t get all emotional and start screaming and crying, but I do have a sense of urgency in my voice as I loudly exclaim to my husband, “She needs help … she’s in a ditch … go … this is where she is … help her …”
And so he did, and in the end, he was able to use our Suburban to pull her Tahoe out of the ditch.
The long and short of it is that it rained all night long, she applied the brakes as she was going around a curve, and then discovered exactly what I meant by the word “hydroplaning.” I know my children grow weary every time they hear me go into a “story” of what happened to me at various times in my life. I hope they know by now that I don’t do it so they have to suffer through my boring stories as they fight back their yawns. I do it because life taught me a lesson, and I didn’t want them to have to learn that same lesson the hard way like I did. Insert story about how Shirley was going to work one rainy morning as a 20-something year old also, applied the brakes, and slid right into the back of a car. I told this story so she, and her younger sister that just started driving, will see the importance of not slamming on brakes or pressing the brakes hard in rainy conditions. She found out exactly what I was referring to when I said that I had no control over the vehicle at that point when it started hydroplaning, I could only hold on for the ride at that point.
Today’s event has a happy ending, THANK GOD! She escaped with no physical injuries, and much to our surprise, the Tahoe she was driving did not sustain any damage as well. Lucky? No … my child was BLESSED by God above and the angels that were riding with her!
She did gain something from my stories after all, as I have also told them not to snatch the wheel of the vehicle. Thankfully, she held it steady, as if she had snatched the wheel and over corrected, I would not want to even begin to imagine what else could have happened.
In the blink of an eye …
Our entire world could have been shattered. But I thank God that tonight I will still be able to have my daughters gathered around the dinner table as we tell each other about our day.
The point I’m trying to make is not only to drive safely, especially in wet conditions. More importantly, love the people in our lives that God has given to us. Hold them close to our hearts! Make sure we tell them OFTEN and show them even MORE how much they mean to us and how important they truly are to us! They give our lives meaning and purpose, and they need to know that! If you haven’t told those close to you, now is the perfect time to do so.
The year 2020 has been challenging for a LOT of people, our family included, but thankfully, God has protected our family – not just from the Coronavirus – but from what could have been a very bad accident. My heart is forever grateful to God above!
Take Back Your Life
With all of the struggles the year 2020 has brought into our lives, we need to find something positive to cling to at these “unprecedented times.” A lot of people have been struggling not only with the COVID-19 pandemic but loss of jobs and income as well as health issues they had prior to this virus wreaking havoc on the entire nation. My friend is one that immediately comes to mind in this. She has struggled with her health after developing Postural Tachycardia Syndrome, also known as PoTS. With this came the inability to stand or sit without feeling lightheaded, nauseous, and dizzy. Having these symptoms, she was unable to work and lost income during the weeks she sought medical help. As if this wasn’t enough, she also had other issues that came up against her which left her feeling depressed and anxious. After an ambulance ride to the emergency room resulting from three back to back panic attacks, she felt helpless and as if everything was out of her control. You almost feel as if your own body has turned on you when things like this start to happen.
As you can imagine, I longed to help my friend. I could see her sinking further and further into despair. Wanting desperately to surround her with love and provide some sort of comfort to her, I prayed for her and over her daily. Tears would fill my eyes when I would think of her, and I struggled to find some way to help her through this difficult time in her life.
Then along came this book, Take Back Your Life. I love devotionals anyway, but this one grabbed my attention with the title. I immediately thought of my friend! As I picked it up and started thumbing through it, I realized that it was an interactive book which would allow the reader to ponder the questions asked and take time to answer from the heart. A time of reflection is welcome, especially with what all is going on in the world today, and often time will help get us back on track. Digging deep within our souls and providing honest answers to tough questions will open our eyes to things we have become blinded to as we go about our daily routines.
I don’t ever like to give someone a book without going through it first. I would like to make sure the content of the book will provide encouragement and not have a message to the contrary that would bring them further down. This was just perfect because there were TWO books in my possession now, one for my friend and one for myself. While we wouldn’t be doing a book club together, it was comforting knowing we would be reading and applying the same material in our lives, even though we had different sets of circumstances we were trying to get through.
The day I gave her the book was one that had been extremely challenging for her. I was not sure whether now was the right time or if I should wait, but I took a leap of faith and slipped it into her bag. Later she commented on the book and asked right away if it was hers to keep because the first thing she does when she gets a book is to get a pen and a highlighter to mark as she goes through. Shortly thereafter she expressed how much she appreciated the gift and how she was getting so much out of it already! Then I knew I made the right decision for sure in giving it to her and the timing of the gift as well.
What I like about this book also is that you don’t feel rushed to get through it. You simply take the next 40 days, a day or chapter at a time, and strive to use what you’ve learned to TAKE BACK YOUR LIFE!!
My friend still struggles with PoTS and a few other things that have plagued her, but her outlook has improved. I’m not going to say with 100% certainty that this book “changed her life.” But what I will say is that I believe it was one tool used to assist in changing her outlook and encouraging her in a godly way. With lots of people praying for her, and with some new medicine, a new book, and a new outlook on life, she is showing great improvement. I’m looking for things to completely turn around for her in the near future. I am certain I will witness her return to the positive, bubbly, wide eyed blonde with the sparkling smile that makes everyone feel so welcome in her presence.
Click here for a great 4 day devotional for children 8 through 14 years old.
#TakeBackYourLife
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 and HCCP for providing this prize for the giveaway and review. 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.
Thank you #FlyBy!
