Sunday, May 17, 2015

Go ahead and give it a try if you want

3 stars
Go Ahead & Like It by Jacqueline Suskin

What do you like in life?
For what are you grateful?
Have you ever made lists of the things you like?
That is just what author Jacqueline Suskin encourages readers to do in her new book Go Ahead & Like It.

Suskin believes making these lists is a celebration of the sacred, and that the lists become our appreciation guides of life. Sometimes we just don't have enough appreciation for what is around us and what God has given us. This book is a reminder of that.

The book is full of artwork and lists Suskin herfelf has made over the years in hopes that it will help prompt readers to make their own lists. I wish the book had blank journaling pages for my own lists, but there is only one page for readers to do that. The simple addition of blank pages would have made the book more useful and a wonderful keepsake. But, if you need inspiration to help you be more grateful in your life, go ahead and give it a try if you want. Hopefully you will like it.

One of my lists after reading the book:

I like ...
  • The smell of rain
  • Cool breezes
  • Seeing my dog’s nose twitching when she catches the scent of something that intrigues her
  • My pillow. Ahh, my pillow!
  • Art





*I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this unbiased review.

Sunday, May 3, 2015

Love knows no borders: Heading to Colombia

As a Christian, I believe churches have a priority of sending people out. Jesus Christ gave us the mission of making disciples for Him for the transformation of the world. Thus, we are to seek Kingdom expansion! Every church has a responsibility to spread the Gospel beyond its own four walls, and we are to constantly be looking outward—whether locally or to the remotest edges of the world.  We are to proclaim the Word of God in truth and love.

As a people on mission for Jesus Christ, we share the passions of God’s heart for one another, for our nation, and for the nations of the earth. Therefore, my husband and I will be partnering with God to be world changers by being a part of a team that will be planting two churches in very unchurched areas in Colombia during an 11-day mission trip in October.

We want to reach as many people as we can with the love of God. We are invited to be the catalyst to get a movement started in Colombia.

First, we desperately need your prayer.  We believe revival begins with prayer. Your prayers will be the fuel that will allow us to be successful as we follow God’s leading in our ministry in Colombia. With your prayer support, great things can happen.

Second, as you can imagine, a trip like this requires financial support. It will cost about $6,000 for both my husband and I to go (with those funds also going to help build the foundation of the church plants, water purifiers for the communities, supplies for the church plants’ ministry and more). So you are not only supporting us, but the church plants as well. We are digging into our savings as we are committed to being obedient to what God is calling and leading us to do in participating in His worldwide mission. But we still need your help. If you would like to give, please let us know.

… And since this is a book blog, I couldn’t go without mentioning the “Mission Journal” by Ellie Claire that I just picked up to take on the trip. It is full of blank pages for me to fill out while on the risk-taking mission trip, and also includes inspiring Scripture and quotes. At the bottom of each page it asks: “What is God teaching me?” and “How is God changing me.” I can’t even begin to imagine the answers to those questions, but know it will be profound.

Blessings!