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Love~
Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.      (1 Corinthians 13: 6-7)

This book was provided to me in exchange for my honest review.

I have been aware that my family history of heart disease on my father's side is a gloomy fact. It is not much better on my mother's side. But my father and his family died way too young of heart related issues.

My Doctor has been on me since my thirties to take my heart health seriously. Over the past ten years I have made some great changes but still needed to do more. So when I was asked to review this book I jumped at the chance.

Did you know that cardiovascular disease is the #1 killer in the United States? It kills more people than all forms of cancer combined? Heart related illnesses cause horrible problems.

Dr. Masley~ the author of The 30 -Day Heart Tune Up~grew up in the operating room watching his father perform heroic surgeries to save people's hearts. Yet~ he watched as the patients who survived had horrible recoveries and had more problems related to the surgery later down the road.

He decided early in life to try and find a way to keep people from ever needing heart surgery. He has done just that. He has spent years and years researching and teaching people to prevent and reverse heart disease.

I have read literature in books and online~ I have listened to my Doctor. But never before have I been so convicted to take my heart health more serious.

He explains that people take pills to lower cholesterol and that may lower numbers but the plaque still continues to build up. It just masks the problems that caused it to begin with. And although I thought I was doing good taking my fish oil ~ not eating hydrogenated oils~ eating my fiber and exercising ~ bringing down my numbers~I still was missing the mark on so many levels.

I can honestly say it was an eye opening and a life changing book. I recommend this book if you are concerned about your heart health. He made a believer out of me.

Good Morning Blog Friends~ It is Friday! Yeah! We have a three day weekend and I am excited about that! Do you have big plans this weekend?

Our little country church has been working on our new auditorium. It is coming along nicely and this is what our plans are for this weekend.


 We started this project last summer and boy howdy are we ready to be done. The people are getting weary. This weekend we will trim it out and paint. We are so thankful for the blessings of God and the ability to get it done. Please pray as we try to get it finished in time for a March Revival.

Several years back my Doctor began to fuss with me about my blood pressure readings. They were not extremely high but I needed to start making some changes. And I did but what I found was the blood pressure was linked more to a problem I had.  My problem was~ I felt that I needed to handle and fix every problem that came my way. I felt like I needed to fight every battle that came my way. After all~ I was a Christian and I was to fight the good fight. The problem is most the time the battle is not mine to fight and needs to be turned over to God ~ who is much better at being God than me. Yep~ I am in recovery as we speak.

As I begin to monitor my blood pressure I noticed that my biggest problem was how I handled conflict. If you don't think we have conflict today just get on Facebook.Or decide to change the color of paint in the church. I am here to tell you ~ it happens.

I decided at the beginning of 2013 that I was going to set some boundaries and not get pulled into fussing and fighting or even disagreeing with anyone. I mean I set to work on it and it was not easy for this "large in charge Momma."  I prayed a lot and asked God to help me and He did. My blood pressure has been running below perfect for over a year now.

Last weekend on Facebook I was pulled back in~ and that blood pressure went up again. I developed a migraine and the Holy Spirit gently reminded me that I had done it to myself.

We don't have to show up for every fight. In fact~ God wants to fight our battles~ if only we let Him.

Today I want to focus on the good I can do rather than fuss and fight. How about you?

 This book is just adorable. It is written by Denette Fretz and she did a fantastic job. It is part of a series called the The Next Door Series. Her main objective is to write interesting books for children that will teach Biblical principles.

Joey and Matey live on a farm and imagine their excitement when a family of pirates move next door. They have no manners, eat bazaar food, know nothing about farming at all and steal the money out of the church offering plate.

Dad helps them and invites them to dinner. Mom and the town's people form a brigade to get rid of them. When the brigade threatens them to pay up for their thievery or leave town ~Mom has a change of heart by paying off the pirate's damages. The pirates learn from her kindness.

All in all the book reinforces loving our neighbor. It truly is an adorable book and I think any child in your life would love this book.

This book is provided to me by Thomas Nelson for my honest review. I rate this book 5+ stars. I just love it!

You may pick up a copy of this book at your local Christian Book Store or online at Zondervan by clicking here.

Yesterday morning in Sunday School our Pastor taught a lesson on Stephen. Although he was an amazing Christian we kind-of- like to pass over his story because his end was not so pretty.

The disciples were being persecuted but they decided that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for Jesus' sake. Wow! Simply because they were preaching the Words of God.  (Acts 5:41)

There was a murmuring~ arguing~ fussing because the widows were not being provided for. So the disciples looked out and found a man of honest report~ well respected. He was full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom.  The man they picked was Stephen ~whom they placed over this business that was being neglected. The Bible calls him a man of faith. 

It goes on to tell us in Acts 6:8 that he did many great things and miracles among the people. God had His hand on Stephen~ no denying that. Many times when people try to stand on the Word of God ~ others will criticize them. Sad  to say~ even those sitting in the pews. It ought not be so! They begin to spread rumors and gossip about Stephen. Yet~ the Bible said he had the face of an angel. (Acts 6:15) 

It just gets plain ugly ~read it for yourself in Acts 6 and 7. We all know this hero of the faith was cast of of the city and they begin to pick up stone after stone and stoned him to his death.



I know that when Stephen closed his eyes as those stones were crushing his very skull ~ he woke up a saint not with just the face of an angel. 

Do I count myself worthy to suffer for standing on the Word of God even when it is not popular with fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.? Do I have the face of an angel? Am I holy? Am I wise? Am I filled with the Holy Ghost? 

You see it does not matter what others think or say. It only matters what God says  in His Word. That is our plum line for life. Stephen is a hero because He obeyed God even unto death. 

When I get to Heaven I want to meet this wise ~ Godly man who  wasn't afraid to take a stand. 

I  guess it is all in how you look at it. The fact is we all have a story. We all have had some really horrible things happen in life. This life brings some hard roads to travel at times. I know just this week I am praying for a little girl whose body is rejecting her heart transplant, a lady who is trying to keep on keeping on after her husband of 32 years walked out, a momma who is heartbroken over her prodigal child, and on and on it goes. My heart is touched and I am praying for miracles. 

So how does one keep their joy when the storms come crashing in. It all starts when we  decide to get our joy from the One who who can give us joy in the midst of the circumstances around us.

 I remember at one of those horrible life moments when I thought God had not told the whole story and given me more than I could bear. I remember falling on my face and telling God no matter what others did around me I would choose from that moment to follow Christ and stand no matter what.  I finally found true joy. You see when we truly decide to make God the LORD of our life and walk with him even when everyone else may walk out~ we will have joy. God never gave me more than I could bear. He taught me that when I allow Him to lead ~He would lead me right through the storms. And He did and continues to do so. 

You see joy is a choice. The choice is ours to make. We have to take our eyes off what our husband, children, friends, church are doing and focus on what God wants us to do . And then do it.  Before long even if the circumstances don't change you will find yourself dancing with joy in the Lord .

Today we can choose to have joy! 

About the Book From The Publishers~

You can read the first chapter here. 
This book was provided to me in exchange for my host review by Faith Words.

1 teaspoon olive oil
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
3/4 cup  cooked rice (brown or white)
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 cans black beans, drained and rinsed
1 teaspoon fresh parsley ( can use dried)
salt and pepper to taste


Brown onion and garlic in olive oil.
Add cayenne pepper, salt and pepper, cumin, and rice.
Mix it all well.
Stir in black beans and cook until completely warm.

*It is very yummy served with fish.*

Yesterday~ I mentioned that at the beginning of 2013 I did not know I would need to sell our retirement home that we built with our own hands. But God's leading led us to so just that. I did not know many things that I would encounter in the new coming year. 

A brand New Year lies ahead of each and every one of us ~ and that is exciting! I mean the alternative is not really something I am eager to look at.  A New Year is like entering uncharted territory. The fear of the unknown sometimes can paralyze us and keep us from growing and cripple us from following God's leading in our life. 

What if God asks me to do something hard this year?  What if He asks me to accept that my kids live far away from me ~ maybe but what if it means my grand babies are with them? What if He ask me to move out of my dream home? What if He asks me to wait when I am praying for a miracle?  "What ifs" are scary~ they really are. Yet~ God often calls us to chart unknown territories. Sometimes He may ask us to say a final goodbye to someone we love, give away our treasures, forgive those that are unkind to us, love the unlovable……..and on and on it can go.

In the Bible God called Abraham to pack up his family and move without telling them just where they were going.  (Gen. 12:1-3) Not only did God tell him to go to this unknown land but He required Him to stay and preserve the land. They did not have the option of heading back to the comforts of all they called home. 

We know that it turned out as God planned for Father Abraham. We too need to cling close to One who knows all things and trust that even the "what ifs" of 2014 will be doable because we are in capable hands.