FOCUS ON TODAY

Hebrews 3:15:.....while it is said: "Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in rebellion."

Do you realize when you are focused on tomorrow, next week, or even next month, the chances are you have totally missed out on recognizing the blessings of today!  For instance, have you noticed the beautiful day we are having, have you been fed, what about what you are wearing.  Unfortunately, we tend to take these things for granted and fail to see them as blessings, much less daily blessings.  Matthew 6:30 tells us "today" is what is important.  We are not guaranteed tomorrow.  To live by faith our decisions should be based on what we can do today.  Let God take care of tomorrow.  Focusing on the big picture, we tend to become overwhelmed.  "The power of walking in faith is having enough faith to get through today.  When we set our focus on today we begin to plant the seeds of tomorrow and we will reap a harvest!" (1)  The only way to walk in God's will is to walk in faith.

So, does this mean we can sit idly by?  No, we need to plant the seeds of tomorrow today.  What does this mean?  We don't plant corn seeds and worry about harvesting tomatoes.  Corn seeds yield corn.  So, plant the seeds you are able to plant today.  Then we will joyfully anticipate our harvest!! Learn to trust that the blessings will come and let the the excitement in the surprises of tomorrow fill our heart.

Take care dear friends!!  See you at the House!
(1) FAITH by Heather Bixler

FAITH - Matt 14:22-23

Have you ever said, "Yes I have faith and it is SO strong!!"  I have been known to say, "My God is a God of miracles and I believe (have faith) this, or that will happen!"  Yet, when a friend is healed from back pain, or a lump is removed - I am amazed!  Where is my faith!!  In my heart, which I gave to Jesus thirty-three years ago, I do believe.  But, my head has problems believing what I can't see (Hebrews 11:1).  I choose to have faith, now I need to work on living by faith on a daily basis - not on a "need to have" basis!! My struggle is giving God complete control of my life.  Join me as I make this journey!!  Take care dear friends.  See ya at the house!!

EYES OF JUSTICE by Lis Wiehl with April Henry

One of the Triple Threat is murdered!!  The other two are devastated.  Then they are told they cannot participate in finding the killer and bringing him or her to justice.  They try to keep a low profile until the killer strikes again!  What is going on?

I received this book for review on Tuesday and finished it on Wednesday!!  Could not put it down!!  Had a hard time adjusting to one of the Triple Threat being murdered.  Then to be told they could not participate in bringing the killer to justice - WRONG!!  They find an ally in a private investigator who is a "bit" quirky and unorthodox, but she helps them try to pull the pieces together to identify the killer.  Then the killer strikes again!  Super good book.  If you are a fan of Lis Wiehl and the Triple Threat series, you will definitely want to read this one.  If you have not read any of the series, you may want to read the others before you read this one.  Not absolutely necessary, but gives a certain cohesiveness.

Disclosure:  I received this book free from the publisher's bloggers review program.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions are my own.

WNNER!!

We have a WINNER!!  Wanda Reed in MO has won the book ILLUSION, by Frank Peretti.  Congratulations Wanda!  And thanks for your comment on my blog.  I will be in touch to get the book in the mail to you.  Have a great day!  See you at the House!!

BOOK GIVEAWAY

Here it is!!  I have a copy of Illusion by Frank Peretti to give away.  So here's the deal - go to my blog, Great-grammyB.blogspot.com and comment on my review.  I will enter your name in a jar and on March 24, 2012 I will draw a name.  Leave me your email address and I will notify you as soon as I draw a name.  Thanks!!  Believe me you will enjoy it.

ILLUSION by Frank Peretti

I was so excited when I found out Frank Peretti had written a new novel!  And then I was given the opportunity to review it!  Could it get any better than that -- as a matter of fact, Yes, it could!!!  It may have been a while since we have had a new novel from Mr Peretti, but this was worth waiting for.  It is not so much like his previous novels.  This is a love story.  Dane & Mandy Collins have been married for forty years.  They have a popular magic act.  They have finished a show in Las Vegas and are headed to Idaho when they are involved in a head on collision.  Mandy was driving and was trapped in the car.  Dane tries to rescue, but she dies in the hospital.  But did she?!?  Actually she wakes up in her hometown at the age of 19, but in present time!!She is thought to be crazy, winds up in the mental ward, escapes and discovers a strange magical ability to pass invisibly through time and space.  She begins performing magic on the street and in a coffee shop.

Dane is having a difficult time trying to adjust to life without Mandy.  He hopes by going to the coffee shop he will discover a new talent that he can mentor.  What he discovers is a teenager who in every respect is identical to the young beauty he first met and married some forty years ago.  Difference is - she doesn't know who he is and has never met him!!!

It just gets better.  There are also some people who know who she is, where her abilities come from and how she travels through time - are they the good guys?  I guess you will just have to read the book.  I highly recommend it.

Disclosure:  I received this book free from the publisher's bloggers review program.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions are my own.

BEAUTIFUL DAY!!!

Another beautiful day in NC!!  Do you ever get tired of looking at God's handiwork?  Granted some days are more beautiful than others, some places more so than others, but, seriously, what an awesome God we have!!!  I just can't believe that it all just evolved.  I have to believe that everything was planned, right down to that little bitty ant that aggravates you when you are trying to have a picnic - or that mosquito that loves to bite when you want to enjoy a night on the front porch!  But that's okay, 'cause there is a plan for everything, we just don't know what that plan is, nor do we need to know.  God is in control and for me that is all that matters.  Well, I have to get busy cleaning my house, not my favorite thing to do.  So, take care dear friends - see you at the House!!

So Excited!!!

I am so excited!!  I have been chosen to review Frank Peretti's new novel!! He is one of my favorite Christian authors and has not written a new book in quite a few years.  I am so looking forward to receiving my copy for review.  Keep checking back - as soon as I can I will publish my review!!  Plus, I will have one to give away.  Now I have to decide what kind of contest to have with that as the prize.  Have any suggestions, just send me a comment and I will consider all I get.

Bobby & I so far are having a really good new year!  Now, he did have to have shoulder surgery yesterday, but Praise the Lord, everything went better that fine!!  In fact he didn't even have to stay overnight.  I brought him home yesterday afternoon.  Now, don't ask me what kind of patient he is - because all I will say on that is that he is typically a man!!  Wives, you know what I am talking about!  But, we love them so much that we can look over any crankeness and just pray they get better soon!!  I am teasing about this, because Bobby really is a good patient.  I can remember a time when I would not have been able to say that, but the more we both grow in the Lord, the better our outlook is on ALL things!!

Enough for right now.  I plan on being better with my blog, so, let's see how that goes!!  Take care dear friends and I'll see you at the House!

HEART OF ICE by Lis Wiehl & April Henry

     Triple treat novels deal with three independent and intelligent women - a TV reporter, a Federal prosecutor, and an FBI agent.  In this third book of the series, Cassidy Shaw, TV reporter, has made friends with Elizabeth Avery, a fitness instructor.  Cassidy introduces Elizabeth to her two best friends, Allison Pierce, federal prosecutor, and Nicki Hedges, a FBI special agent.  She envisions all of her friends getting along and doing things together.  What she doesn't know is that Elizabeth has dark secrets.  There are several plots in this one book, but the authors tie them all together and doesn't miss a step.  Allison and Nicki are working on two seemingly unrelated crimes.  And Elizabeth is doing anything it takes to reach the goal she has set for herself - even  murder!  I like the way the authors bring everything together and at the same time give you information on the personal lives of the Triple threat ladies.

Disclosure:  I received this book free from the publisher through Booksneeze.com book review bloggers program.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are my own.

AWAKENING by Stovall Weems

     "In a world filled with Twitter, Facebook, and so much noise and clutter, we can easily get distracted and "gunked up" spiritually---bogged down in our relationship with God.  But according to Stovall Weems, there's a powerful, new school way to hit the reset button and find the thriving life God promises."

     Has your walk with God slowed down, maybe even gotten a little bit stale?  If so, this is a book you should definitely read.  In His own words, Jesus has said that he came to earth so that we could experience an abundant life.  Awakening will show you how to get off the sidelines.  You should get the passion, zeal, and authenticity that describes the person who loves God!  You will get a 21-Day Plan to help give you the principles that ensure a lasting, vital relationship with God.  That plan includes prayer, personal devotions, and fasting.  Expect great things to happen!

 

Disclaimer:  I received this book free from the publisher Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing group.  I was not required to give a positive review. 

Praise & Worship

Why is it so hard for us to worship the one true God?  Why is it so difficult to remember to thank Him in ALL things?  Those of us who call ourselves "Christian" are so blessed, but we fail so terribly in letting the world, even just our small corner of the world, know how blessed we are!  The easy road is giving into the picture the world has of our God.  Why would we want to take a chance on being ridiculed for our beliefs?  Are we afraid we will end up being "one" against the world?  I had the privilege last night of watching a young man once again prove his naysayers wrong.  Even if you don't like or watch football, I'm sure you have heard of Tim Tebow.  Before I go any further, let me say this is NOT written to Praise & Worship Tim Tebow!!  I simply admire anyone who just doesn't hestitate to give his Lord & Saviour ALL the praise & glory for his accomplishments.  He came from behind again last night and won.  It wasn't pretty, but it accomplished what I think he is all about.  Camera people, announcers, etc are talking about what IT is that this young man has that takes on his critics and changes their minds about him.  I watched the camera show a large group of players, Jets & Broncos, kneeling in a circle praying after the game.  I listened to an interview that continues to give Jesus Christ the praise & glory for what takes place on the field.  And through all this, I wonder why am I so reluctant to express my faith as openly!!  Am I afraid I will be disliked?  So what!!  I will be the first to admit my faith is simply not as strong as I would like.  But, everyday, I work on it.  I am learning to turn more & more things over to the Lord!!  Hopefully, before long, I will have turned everything over to Him and "I will have learned in whatever state I am, to be content!" (Phil 4:11)

If I have offended anyone with this, I won't apologize.  If you happen to agreed with me, please continue to pray that as Christians we will grow stronger and more outspoken.  Take care.  See you at the House!!

Invasion by Jon S Lewis

     A combination of mystery and science fiction, this is one good read.  It deals with a young man, Colt McAlister, who is having the time of his life - spending his days on a surfboard and nights on the beach with friends.  Then things take a drastic change - his parents are killed and he has to go live with his grandfather.  After moving in with his grandfather, he finds out that his mother, who was an investigative reporter, was going to  expose a secret mind-control program run by Trident Biotech.  What if agents from this company wanted to make sure she couldn't go public?

     Colt decides he needs to find out just what happened to his parents.  He has one friend in his new high school, and another "friend" , Oz, who seems familiar.  They form an alliance to find out what is going on at this company and subsequently are drawn into a world of aliens, shapeshifters, flying motorcycles, and invisible gateways!  Not my normal type of read, but amazingly good.  Of course it is listed as juvenile fiction, but I still enjoyed it and will read the next in the series.

     I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Waking Hours by Lis Wiehl with Pete Nelson

"All towns have secrets.  Some have Demons.  Welcome to East Salem.  A deceptively sleepy town where ancient supernatural forces are being awakened."

That introduction grabbed me from the beginning.  And I was not disappointed!  A local high school girl is found murdered.  The manner of her death is quite shocking and the only suspects are teenagers who don't remember anything that happened.  Forensic psychiatrist Dani Harris is intrigued by the circumstances surrounding this death.  Dani is also bothered by dreams that awakened her every night at 2:13.These dreams are filled with blood, water & destruction.  Are these events related?  Then let's add former NFL linebacker Tommy Gunderson.  Someone close to him is implicated in the girl's murder and he finds himself working closely with Dani to solve this mystery.  She also happens to be the only girl who could resist his charms back in high school.  An awesome mystery full of suspense, romance and the supernatural.  Reminds us that the battle between God and Satan is not over.  Highly recommend this book and am looking forward to the next one in the series.

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Reflections

     It has been awhile since I last posted on my blog.  It can't be because I haven't had anything to say!!  Let's just say I have been in a reflective mood - thinking about things in the past, wondering about the future and trying to stay in the here and now.  I don't know where all of this is leading me, but I plan on following.  Hopefully it is a God-Thing!!

     One thing that has been on my mind a lot is how many friends I have who are battling with cancer right now.  We have a young man in church who is just eat up with cancer.  It is just about all over his body.  Yet, he is the most positive person I have ever met.  I would like to believe that if I am ever in that position again I would be just as positive.  But, unfortunely, I know myself too well - I am a big wimp!!  I just don't like pain or discomfort.  I do try, but there are times when things just seem to get the best of me.  Then I feel like I have let God down, and so, I try to pick myself up and go forward (not backward!).  But, God is so good!  He doesn't hold those times against me.  In fact, He helps me get up and get going!!  How awesome is that!!

     Here are a few things cancer cannot do (anonymous):

Cancer is so limited....

It cannot cripple Love

It cannot shatter Hope

It cannot corrode Faith

It cannot destroy Peace

It cannot kill Friendshop

It cannot suppress Memories

It cannot silence Courage

It cannot invade the Soul

It cannot steal eternal Life

It cannot conquer the Spirit

     Take care dear friends.  See ya at the House!

Desiring God, Mediations by a Christian Hedonist by John Piper

     "Desiring God is a paradigm-shattering work that dramatically alters common perspectives on relating to God.  Piper reveals that there really is no need to choose between duty and delight in the Christian life.  In fact, for the follower of Jesus, delight is the duty, because Christ is most magnified in His people when they are most satisfied in Him."

     I must confess I did not finish reading this book.  Don't misunderstand it was not because I didn't believe in what he was saying.  I just had a hard time following his lead.  My God is an awesome God!  I sincerely try in ALL things to be thankful and satisfied.  Do I succeed - not all the time.  But, that would be because I have placed other things ahead of God.  When I keep Him first in my life then I look forward to His leading.  I must say that this book was more than I could understand.  Possibly it simply was not the right time for me to read it.  This may be the right time for you.

     I received this book for free from Multnomah for this review.

FRIENDSHIP

     Believe it or not my devotion this morning was about the importance of friends.  Several studies have shown that the more friends you have the less likely you are to die young.  "The writer of Proverbs said that a good friendship is to the heart what oils and medicines are to the body.  Encouraging our friends -- and being encouraged by them -- is a conduit of blessing to our lives.  We should cherish our relationships, pray for our friends, and fellowship warmly with those whom God brings across our paths.  It's good for what ails us!!"*

     I can remember a time in my life when we had moved to an area that we really did not know anyone.  It felt like we were in another country.  All of my friends were miles away!  It has never been easy for me to meet new people, much less cultivate a new friendship.  I got so depressed that I was physically sick.  Eventually I began to notice that people in the church were reaching out, but I was so into "ME" that I didn't see it right away.  To this day, some of my dearest friends are in that town and I do miss them something fierce!!  But, we stay in touch and I know one day I will see them all again, if not on this side of heaven then on the other side!!  Plus, we now have FaceBook, and it is so easy to stay in touch!!!  Bottom line here is - friends next door or across the country are important to our heart and our body!  So, take care dear friends.  See you at the House!!

*Turning Points Devotional by Dr. David Jeremiah

Wall of Fame!!

     Every place we have ever lived I have tried to have a Wall of Fame.  I'm sure most of you know what I'm talking about and probably have one yourself.  This is where I hang pictures of family and friends.  Well I have finally finished the wall for this home.  When you have 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild, it does take a while to find just the right pictures to frame.  All my family are just beautiful and/or handsome, so it was a bit of a problem.  Not to mention my friends!!  But, I accomplished the impossible and finished the Great Wall yesterday!!  And, I have to say, it is pretty cool!!  In the middle of all these pictures is a copy of our wedding picture.  It is hard to believe it was taken almost fifty years ago!!  Of course if you look at the picture and then at us, you might not say that!!  We look every bit of fifty years older!!  Oh well, that's life!! 

     Today's chore is "clean bathrooms"!  I better get busy.  My daughter-in-law and great-grandson are coming for a visit, and heaven forbid that I put it off a day!  That would mean that tomorrow I would have to clean the bathrooms and deep clean the kitchen.  I'm too old to have to do all that in one day!!  So, I guess I better get busy.  Take care dear friends!  See ya at the House!!

My Plan for the day!

Summer is here!!!  It is hot and I am LAZY!!  (Right about now Bobby would say, "So what else is new!!")  Sad thing is - he's right! (again!)  Seems to me, the more time I have to accomplish whatever - it takes me longer to get motivated.  Does that make sense?!?!  I have so many projects, that I think I get overwhelmed and can't decide what to do first.  Takes me so long to decide that I forget what I'm trying to decide!  It is a sad thing when you lose your mind!  Do you think I dwell on this too much?  Maybe so.  I need to suck it up and get busy!!  I am so blessed!  It is time to quit complaining and count my blessings!!  So, today I will work in the spare bedroom and try to get it organized.  After that, I will go through our books and decide what we are going to give to the church library.  That is the plan and I am sticking to it!!  Take care dear friends.  See ya at the House!!

Good Morning Friends!

What a beautiful day!! On my weekly chore list, this is the day for errands. Doesn't that sound like fun? Believe it or not, I'm actually looking forward to heading to Greenville to shop. Of course, I also have to have more blood drawn (not looking forward to that!!), but it will be okay! Are you familiar with Ollie's Bargain Store? I Love that store! Needless to say, we will be looking around in there today. Maybe we will find a really good bargain. You can only hope! We are also going grocery shopping, but have to eat first. I learned early in our marriage - do not take Bobby Burroughs in a grocery store if he is hungry! I used to find the oddest things had just jumped into the basket - sardines, okra & tomatoes, olives!! YUK!! Anyway, that is the plan for the day. What do you have planned? Whatever it is, take care. See ya at the House!

The Big Picture

"When you look at your life, what do you see?  Is your glass half empty, or is it overflowing?  Have you focused your gaze on one little sliver of time riddled with problems and Pain?  Or have you put down the magnifying glass, broadened your vision, and seen the big picture?  It's important to do that because the big picture looks fantastic from afar, especially when you're able to take in the dazzling glow that comes from behind the clouds, Whatever trial you're going through, it will pass.  The salvation of God, however, will never fade away!"  (copied)

This was my devotion this morning!  And I have to say, it hit home!  I find myself looking only at the NOW and not the whole picture.  We have a lot going on in our life right now - physically, emotionally, and financially.  I'm afraid lately I haven't  been looking down the road much less behind the clouds!  Praise God, He is so understanding and forgiving.  He will bring people, things, writings, whatever it takes into our lives to remind us (again!) that He is still in control!!  He will take care of whatever problems we may have, if we will just trust Him!!  We have made it through many trials and tribulations with God's help.  Now, I need to focus on that, and put Him back in control.  Friends, please continue to pray for us and especially that we will remember each and every day where our strenth comes from!!!  Take care.  See ya at the House!!