God's Eternal Masterpiece

I was impressed. So impressed in fact that I knew I had to share on my blog about this amazing family business! Jesse and Becky have eight kids and they have been homeschooling for eighteen years. My husband and I worked with a couple of their children at a camp for the summer a few years ago and let me just say - they amaze me!

My family has known their family for quite some time and I knew that they had this business but after I started teaching and homeschooling my own children - suddenly their business takes on a whole new meaning! This family sells books, and homeschooling materials, and devotional books, and church materials, and DVDs and audio Cd's and you name it stuff! 

This may sound like a NORMAL business but here's the thing - either they have USED it themselves and loved it or it has been recommended to them at least THREE times by other people THAT THEY KNOW. Do you know what this means? No more purchasing something that may not be helpful! No more purchasing something that you don't like! Everything they have in their store is TRIED and TRUE! For a rookie like me who is just starting to look for books and resources to help teach my family, this is a GOD-SEND! 

CAN YOU BEAT THAT? 

And guess what - I want them to FLOURISH! Their ministry is amazing! I'm thinking of doing ALL of my Christmas shopping through them and with this special 15% off that they are offering to Stringer Mama readers - we all can go shopping crazy! Okay - be good stewards but PLEASE check out this family website! You will be glad you did! 

Here are some things I have MY eye on! 

 

  

By the way - God's Eternal Masterpiece did not come to me, I went to them and asked if I could do this for them so trust me - I'm not being reimbursed for telling you about their business - I just really think you should check them out! 

For 15% off of your ENTIRE order 

use Coupon Code - SAVE15

(this only works one time per customer)

Now head off to God's Eternal Masterpiece and check them out! Then head back over here and let me know what you think! 

In HIS Grip, 

               

Few of My Faves: Books I ENJOY Reading to My Kids

Here's another list of a "Few of My Faves!" Have you ever been caught by your kids to read these books to your kids and you are just reading and reading and they are having a blast and asking for more and more and more until you can't take it anymore? Well here are some books that I LOVE to read to them and every time they bring one of these books to me, I can't RESIST sitting down and having some book time!

1. "The Monster at the End of This Book" by Jon Stone - this is a Little Golden Book that I read when I was a little girl with my mom and she read it in such an animated voice that I always was put into a FIT of giggles! And now my kids giggle the same way! LOVE it! It's about Grover who is afraid of the monster at the end of the book and tries to get you to not turn any more pages by tying them down, building walls, etc. to keep from getting to the end of the book!

2. "Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel" by Virginia Lee Burton - this is such a fun book about an old steam shovel that is challenged to dig a basement for the town hall and people come to watch and the more people that watch the faster she digs. Great opportunity for voice animations! Not just for boys since the steam shovel is named Mary Anne!

3. "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" by Eric Carle - Love this book about a caterpillar who overeats and feels sick until he eats his "veggies!" Very fun!

4. "God Gave Us You" by Lisa Tawn Bergren - I love this book because it is such a beautiful way to tell your child where they came from and how much their mommy and daddy love them. Grab some tissues if you're prone to tears like I am!

5. "Love You Forever" by Robert Munsch - This book goes through the life of a little boy and his mom and how his mom will always love him no matter what happens. Another MAJOR tear-jerker for mommy but such a great reminder in those mommy tough days!

6. "The Little Engine That Could" by Watty Piper - How can I NOT include this one! My kids LOVE this book and it's fun to read too! I've heard there is a movie based on this book but how can it possibly compete with the book?

7. "The Jolly Postman or Other People's Letters" by Janet and Allan Ahlberg - This book is fun because its DIFFERENT! Each page holds a letter for a different fairy tale. For example there is a letter for the Big Bad Wolf about the Grandma pressing charges so he will get out of her house, or a postcard from Jack to the Giant about the great time he's having with the goose that lays the golden eggs. Very fun!


8. "The Best Loved Doll" by Rebecca Caudill - This book is simply precious! Little girls everywhere should have this book! It's about a little girl who has several dolls and has to choose between her dolls and chooses her old and broken but favorite doll.

So there you are! Few of My Faves! Now it's your turn to link up your list of FAVES!!! Once again it can be any of your favorite ANYTHINGS! Just make sure you link your post back to mine! Thanks and have fun!

Book Review: "God Gave us the World" by Lisa Tawn Bergren

I was pretty excited to see this book come out as a book selection I could review! I really really love this author and "God Gave Us the World" definitely did NOT disappoint! I gave it to my kids for Valentine's Day today and we had a great time reading it together. My kids love books and this one definitely kept their attention all the way to the end. At the ages of 2 and 3 that's important!

It's a sweet little conversation between Mama Bear and Little Cub who is very inquisitive about the world around her. They go to a museum and find out about bears that are different than they are and where and how they live around the world. It's fun and really emphasizes how God made each one of us special and how we are all part of God's amazing creation. I really liked how Little Cub thought it was strange how other bears eat trees (bamboo). Mama Bear was quick to explain that "Even though other bears eat what you might not like, we're all bears. God made us all. God made the world and everything in it."

I love the emphasis on diversity and the beautifulness of God's creation because He made us all different. It's a valuable lesson that we want to emphasize to our kids. It's important to see others as beautiful creations that God has made and that God loves just as much as He loves us. This is a book we will definitely read over and over and treasure for a long time.

This book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah. All opinions are strictly my own.

Few of My Faves: Books to Grow By

There are times in my Christian life where God really GRIPS me. God teaches me a lesson that I needed at just the right timing! Often those lessons have taken place through the avenue of reading GOOD BOOKS! Each one of these books has provided a life-changing moment or moments that has left me FOREVER different and closer to God in my walk.

1. God's Word - You know, I could totally say that this is a no-brainer that this would be at the top of my list of books to grow by but then I would have to confess that for the majority of my Christian life I DID NOT RECOGNIZE how much I needed to stay in the Bible in order to grow closer to God. It's so very important to life and godliness!

2. Discliplines of a Godly Woman by Barbara Hughes - This book challenged me on many many levels of my walk with God as it pertains to being a woman. I had to read this book in pieces because one, I'm a mom and that's what happens with ALL of my reading and two, this book needs to be absorbed not simply read in order to make the most impact!

3. Loving God With All Your Mind by Elisabeth George - I've read this book and gone through the study guide twice now and this book is WONDERFUL! My mind always needs focused to the right place and thinking on what is good and true and this book speeds that along greatly!

4. For Women Only by Shaunti Feldhahn - I truly enjoyed this book primarily because of all of the conversations it sparked between myself and my husband. I do want to mention however, that this book is a little scant on Biblical focus. It addresses a large survey done among men that conflicted with what women perceived in men. So if you're struggling with communicating with your husband or you feel as though he doesn't understand you - maybe it's you! This book helps!

5. More Love to Thee by Sharon James - A friend recommended this book to me and I'm SOOO glad she did! This is a biography of the life of Elizabeth Prentiss author of the hymn "More Love to Thee."She was a normal woman who went through many trials and sickness in her life but constantly strived to live a life pleasing to God even if she didn't understand her circumstances. She was a Pastor's wife and a mom and I could completely identify with her and her thoughts! FANTASTIC!

6. Safely Home by Randy Alcorn - You may wonder why I put a fiction book as a book to grow by, but trust me, this book will make you grow! This is a book about being a Christian in China and it is eye-opening! This book is REALLY REALLY hard to put down so don't start it if you don't have enough time to devote to it! This book completely changed my world-view and broadened my horizons. I became completely thankful for the country (regardless of it's faults!) I claim as my own. I also was humbled by my lack of faith and dependence on God and His Word. My father-in-law, an avid reader gave this book to me for Christmas one year because it had the same impact on him!

7. Don't Make Me Count to Three by Ginger Plowman - This is hands-down the best book on biblical parenting I have EVER encountered! This book mixes just enough biblical principles with practical methods that provided me with a solid path of where we were going in the parenting world! So thankful a fellow mom recommended this to me!

8. Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World by Joanna Weaver - This book hits me to my core. I am a MARTHA!! I struggle with focusing my priorities OFF the practical and focusing them on God and the spiritual. While being a Martha isn't all BAD I definitely need to balance the two Mary and Martha values in my life and this book helps me do that! LOVE it!

I'm sure there are more books that have helped me grow in my Christian walk and I know that there will be more to come. Even writing this blog post has caused me to remember to get back on my reading! You would think that pregnancy would help me slow down a bit and read more but for some reason, I haven't been reading much at all lately. I think the next book I will pick up is a book I haven't read since I was a young teen "The Hiding Place" by Corrie Ten Boom. She is one of my heroes of the faith and I'm shocked at how many people have NOT heard of this woman! She is INCREDIBLE! What book comes to mind when you think of a book that caused you to GROW? Please SHARE!!! :0)

I decided to not do a linky to this post because of lack of interest but feel free to put a link in the comments if you want to do your own Fave list!

Book Review: "The Goodness of God" by Randy Alcorn

This book is a BLESSING! I was completely encouraged and uplifted by Randy Alcorn's writings. You may remember I just finished reviewing "If God is Good" also by Randy Alcorn and I thought it was amazing but it was somewhat heavy material and LARGE. So when I got this book I was completely excited that it was basically a condensed version of the other book. This is a book that I can completely give to anyone who is struggling to see God in the "midst of suffering." It can be so difficult to see God in times of trials and pain but what this book points out so well is that is when we can see God most clearly if we just simply look for Him. We as humans cannot understand Him or how or why He does what He does. But we can have the faith and the confidence that God IS GOOD. 


Right now we're uncertain what God has for our future. It can sometimes seem as though God is silent and not doing anything in our lives. My extended family is currently going through some major heartaches. Loved ones around us have lost loved ones. Reading this book is such a blessing and a reminder that although what we see may be dark and ugly, it's all part of a master painting that will completely display God's glory and God's goodness. We just have to wait to see the whole picture. 


The Goodness of God by Randy Alcorn is available to purchase in ebook form from WaterBrook Multnomah 


This book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah. All opinions are strictly my own.

Book Review: "If God is Good" by Randy Alcorn

As I'm sure you have probably noticed, I am a human and like most humans, okay, all humans, I do not understand why God runs things the way He does. I often struggle with not the good things that God brings into my life, but the hard, the difficult and the unfair.

"If God is Good" by Randy Alcorn answers so many of those questions we all have in our minds. One of those he asks in his book, "Why doesn't God once and for all command the devil to stop inflicting evil and suffering on human beings God loves?" This was the exact major question in my mind that caused me to not be able to understand God Himself. By reading this book, I was truly challenged that it's not whether or not I understand that God is good; it's just that He is good and I need to trust Him and His goodness.

So if you are a human, as I'm sure you are, it would be an excellent idea to pick up this book and gather a new understanding of a very supernatural and powerful, GOOD God.








I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

Book Review: Parenting in the Pew by Robbie Castleman

This book was sent to me by God! I'm completely serious! I found this book in a thrift shop in Peoria while shopping with my MIL. I was completely blessed by it! I need to give you some background to our situation. My husband is looking for a church as many of you know and we've been to SEVERAL churches in the past year that are looking for a pastor. I don't know how many of you have ever been in this position but as the wife to the potential pastor, this is DIFFICULT!!! Most of these churches do not have a nursery and even if they do have kids programs, Children's church or a nursery, my kids are too scared to go to them due to the strangeness. So they end up with me wherever I am. As a pastor's wife with her man up in the pulpit it is so hard to have her attention split between her husband and her kids. I truly feel a huge responsibility that I need to be there listening attentively to my husband to encourage him by my presence but also to be the first to praise him following the message (and sometimes but not often offer critique - but I do that part much later!). Our church here at home does not have a nursery or children's church and we have battled learning how to sit still in church every single Sunday we are there. If one kid is sitting still, the other is causing problems or is tired or hungry or SOMETHING or just simply being sinful! (Yes, pastor's families do have this problem too!) Our church is a church plant that is meeting in one room with a restroom. There is nowhere for me to take my children out to be disciplined except to the bathroom but trust me, EVERYONE knows or can hear what's going on in there! I was truly at my wits end about my kids in church. I was ready to stop teaching Sunday School just so someone else could take care of my kids so I could hear at least one message without my kids distracting me completely. I was ready to stop going to church because I simply felt we were such a distraction to others around me. I desire for my kids to sit still and be a blessed part of the worship service but alas it was not happening. So when this book popped out at me with it's 0.25 cent sticker price, I was amazed at how God brings things around for us at exactly the right time (and the right price!). 

Robbie Castleman has done an amazing job at encouraging frustrated moms (and dads) who struggle with discouragement or the desire of not going to church because they don't get anything out of the service for themselves. She attacked that problem head on and adjusted my terrible view of worship and what it's really about. Her first chapter is entitled, "Daddy, I'd like you to meet my children." I did not quite understand at first what she meant by that but later learned that church is about God (duh you may say, but how quickly we seem to forget this when our kids are being naughty in the pew!). We are coming to church because we want to worship and praise Him. It has NOTHING to do with whether or not I am fed spiritually or whether my children are presenting themselves as the model children. She teaches throughout the book that teaching your kids to be a part of the service in small ways can help train your kids to love church and not just tolerate it or have it be the worst 45 minutes of the week because they have to sit still. 

There was a lot in this book that will go far in helping me teach my kids to behave and become a part of the service. But the biggest thing that impacted me was changing my perspective of why I was doing this with my kids. I'm there to worship and to point my kids to worship alongside of me. They still don't sit perfectly still and they talk loudly sometimes during the middle of the sermon, but teaching my kids the joy of pointing to the words in the hymnal or hearing my son praying (loudly I might add) at the same time as the speaker, is really what real worship is all about. 

I can't recommend everything in this book - her theology is unpeggable because she tries to reach out to any and all church systems but she definitely nailed it when it came to worshiping God. I must also say that I don't agree on all counts either because I will probably still use children's church and the nursery on occasion simply because I feel that when my husband becomes the pastor, my first priority is to be a helpmeet to my husband when he needs it. But for now, I'm parenting in the pew and loving it! (most of the time! ;-)  

Books Under My Pillow

I love to read! From the time I was a little girl I have loved to read. I have tons of precious books that I have read over and over. I have many favorites! Since becoming a mom and taking on other responsibilities, my reading has included books like "I'll Love You Forever," "The Cat in the Hat," and "The Best Dressed Doll." I'm not complaining, in fact I love sharing my love of reading with my kids! A couple of days ago I sat on my daughter's bed and realized that there was something under her pillow. I lifted it up and lo and behold, there is a STACK of books! I asked Aimee why her books were under her pillow. She replied by saying "So I can read them to go to sleep!" I said "Ok, but why are they under your pillow and not in the book box?" Aimee looks at me like I'm crazy and said "So I don't get out of my bed mom!" I laughed so hard because she was right! If she got out of her bed to get the books she would have disobeyed mom and dad. The girl was simply planning ahead! If my mom is reading this I'm sure she is laughing because of another little girl who used to read books and hide them in unusual places for that perfect opportunity to have a good read! Well mom, it's payback time! But you know what? I don't mind it a bit!

In My Reading Basket

I love to read and since I've become a mom, reading has taken on a whole new meaning! I often times forget to do it and make it a priority. It has become a precious time when I can read my Bible, my devotional book, my magazines, and whatever else is stuck in there to read. Here is what is in my reading basket RIGHT now! 

1. My Bible - My biggest joy to read and always must be read FIRST!

2. "Me, Myself, and Lies" by Jennifer Hothschild - our ladies Bible Study Book - EXCELLENT and very convicting! 

3. "Oceans Apart" by Karen Kingsbury - I fell asleep last night reading this one, I love the author because she has such a variety of plots and stories in her books. 

4. "Don't Make Me Count to Three" by Ginger Plowman - my friend Erica gave me this book and it is awesome! She takes Biblical principles and illustrates practical ways to train your kids "in the way they should go."

5. "Toddler Wise" by Gary Ezzo and Robert Bucknam - I've just started this one and I liked Baby Wise so much I thought this would probably be good too. 

6. "Saint" by Ted Dekker - Okay, this may not seem to be a type of book that I would read but to be honest, I enjoy books and movies that are psychological thrillers! Books that play with my mind and I have no clue what is really happening! This author definitely does that and he's CLEAN!!! :-) 

7. My monthly "Better Homes and Garden" magazine - I love magazines because they let me in on the world as it relates to my world! And in short little segments that I can read while waiting for something like Dr. appts or   potty training my kids! 

8. "Family Circle" magazine - love this one because it does the same for my parenting world! 

9. "Real Simple" magazine - My FAVORITE magazine ever, this one isn't in my reading basket because as soon as I get it in the mail, every other book becomes 2nd choice (except for my Bible of course!). Love the tips and tricks about organizing and making life simpler! 

That's what's in my reading basket. I keep it by my bed so my kids won't get into it and so I continually remind myself to pick up a good book to read! What's in your reading "basket?"

Book Review: "More Love to Thee" by Sharon James

I have made a new commitment to finish a book every month. Notice I did not say read and finish a book every month! I find myself starting several books at a time and never finishing them. Today I finished one! I have picked this book up several times and only got through maybe a chapter in one sitting because there was so much meat to chew on! This book was recommended by a friend from college and I was very blessed by this biography on the life of Elizabeth Prentiss. She was the author of the hymn "More Love to Thee" and the book "Stepping Heavenward." Elizabeth was born in the 1800's and I was intrigued by the many similarities of her life to my own. She was a wife, mother, and Pastor's wife who felt very incapable of the positions given her. She was extremely humble and always desiring to follow God and greatly mourned her sin which prevented the holiness she craved. It was so encouraging to me to see inside her and see the same struggles, thoughts and desires that I struggle with on a daily basis. She loved being a mother but she was faced with her children's death, the struggle of being pregnant or the desire to not be pregnant. She adored her husband and respected him and his opinion which was a huge example to me. She loved being a pastor's wife and loved how she could help people in the ministry that she owned just as much as her husband did. Overall, I learned that despite my failings, I can still strive to be a woman dedicated to following God and not allow my short-comings to hinder me in drawing closer to Him. May my heart always desire to give "More Love to Thee."

My Reading Challenge

I have been challenged to read this year and although I haven't read a ton of books yet, I thought I would compile a list of the books that have really had an impact on my life as a mom, wife and future Pastor's wife, as well as a child of God. I have seen a huge difference in my growth as a Christian when I take in not just the Bible but what other godly people have to say about their own walks with God. So here is a list that just might interest you too!

"From One Ministry Wife to Another" by Susie Hawkins
"Miserly Moms" by Jonnie McCoy
"Disciplines of a Godly Woman" by Barbara Hughes
"Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World" by Joanna Weaver
"For Women Only" by Shaunti Feldhan
"Though None Go With Me" by Jerry Jenkins
"Safely Home" by Randy Alcorn
"Loving God With All Your Mind" by Elisabeth George
"BabyWise" by Ezzo and Bucknam

I'm currently reading:

"More Love to Thee" by Sharon James
"Having a Mary Spirit" by Joanna Weaver
"Raise a Smarter Child by Kindergarten" by David Perlmutter

Planning to read soon:

"You Can Still Wear Cute Shoes" by Lisa McKay
"Stepping Heavenward" by E. Prentiss
"Shepherding a Child's Heart" by Tedd Tripp
"How Am I Smart?" by Dr. Kathy Koch

These are what I've come up with so far - I'm excited to be reading such good books but I have been finding it easier to read these books instead of reading the most important book of all - God's Word. Reading His Word on a daily basis has been a huge struggle for me and until recently - as in the last week really, I have not been reading it unless I was directed to in church or by my husband. My husband has been trying to encourage me to get in God's Word and I am so thankful that he cares and loves me enough to push me towards faithfully reading. He tried everything - doing devos with me (which was willingly received but it never went beyond that time we spent together) or asking me if I read my Bible that day.

I was reading "Having a Mary Spirit" and it was made clear to me that if I don't read God's Word I am FAILING in my walk as a believer. I don't know what my holdup was exactly. I used excuses to my husband (and to God) such as "I'm too busy" or "I just don't think about it" or "I don't get anything out of it" or "God just doesn't feel close to me." Now I realize how EXCUSISH those reasons are. I know I just made up a word, but it fits! Satan (and sometimes it was all me and my sin nature) seemed to be whispering in my ear all the reasons why IT WASN'T IMPORTANT to read my Bible regularly and how I WOULD GET ALONG FINE in my spiritual walk if I didn't read His Word. EXCUSES! God has been trying to fight this battle for some time but the sinful excuses would always resurface. Even now that I have started to read God's Word every day, I find those excuses trying to pop up in my mind.

I remember when I was growing up that I told my mom that I was too tired to read the Bible at night and how I'm NOT a morning person and my brain doesn't function well enough to read it then anyway. She responded by telling me "What better way to fall asleep then on the pages of God's Word?" I kindof smiled and nodded at my mom then but a couple of nights ago it happened and I remember my mom telling me that and it made me realize that my attitude has changed. I know now that God has been "setting me up" to learn the importance of being in God's Word and if I want to grow closer to God at all, I need to listen to HIM. I wish I had learned this lesson a long time ago but I didn't and God chose this time in my life for the Holy Spirit to finally reach inside and open my eyes to it.

I am very thankful that God fights my battles for me and will continue to fight this battle for me. I know it's far from over and will continue to be a battle every day to remember to reserve time to read His Word. But I am becoming more like Christ every day and those battles are easier won.

So even though I encourage others to read good, godly books by godly men and women, I encourage you more to read The Good Book written by a godly God most of all.

"Elizabeth Prentiss: More Love to Thee"

I am reading this book and I am completely blown away at how God is using it in my life. It's about the woman who wrote the hymn "More Love to Thee" and other books and poems. She lived in the 1800's and her thoughts about being married, being a mother, and being in ministry alongside her husband are so similar to mine it's amazing. I just finished the part of how she lost 2 of her 3 children within months of each other. Her attitude is so similar to mine when I lost my unborn child. The fear, pain and questions are so alike I find so much comfort in knowing that I am not the only one to feel these things. I have never been one to find biographies very interesting but I was challenged to read good books and this was one of my first choices. I am so glad it was - God is so good in directing me to it - I know it was Him what else could it be?