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Saturday on the Farm

October 30, 2011 by Linda @ Linda's Lunacy

Fall is well underway, and judging by the weather this week, winter isn’t very far away. We’ve had freezing temps, heavy frost and even sleet this week.

In spite of that weather, I still have some flowers blooming in a pot by the front porch.

You can see the Hibiscus branches in the front right of the picture, and by the chicken. Up from the chicken, is the row of apple trees that are losing their leaves. To the right of the apple trees is the row of raspberry plants. While I was out taking these pictures, I ate 4 raspberries. yum! There are only 3 left on the vines to ripen. I will miss picking and eating raspberries every time I walk around the yard. The kids will, too. Why bother carrying them in the house, when you can stand at the vine and eat them. lol

This Dogwood in the backyard is pretty.  You can see the creek behind and to the right of it. The goat pen is on the other side of the creek.

The turnips, lettuce and radishes are still growing in the garden. We cover them at night, allowing them to get some light and sun during the day. I need to put some boards around them and cover with white/clear plastic. I’m afraid we will forget to cover them one night and they will all die.

What I really need is a greenhouse. lol

 

Here are a few links I found interesting and helpful:
Canning Dry Goods
How to Make a Plantain Tincture
Make Your Own Seed Tape
Simple Steps to Grow a Hundred Pounds of Potatoes in a Barrel
How to Butcher Chickens
Keeping a Harvest Time Gleaning Contact List

 

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Saturday on the Farm

Our Homeschool Week in Review

October 29, 2011 by Linda @ Linda's Lunacy

We had a short week this week. Calen’s 17th birthday was Friday, so we took the day off. All the kids were happy about that. I have to say that I enjoyed taking the day off from school, also.

He insisted on making his own cake. I’m still not sure how I feel about that. I’m glad that he is capable of doing it on his own. But at the same time, I miss doing it for him. I assured him I was more than happy to make his cake, but he still insisted, so I let him. He did a great job! He used a mix, but it was still great. Everyone told him what a great job he did.

Calen is a childhood cancer survivor. I know God has an awesome plan for him. I’m excited to watch it unfold!

 

Hannah finally finished yeast breads in home ec by making some awesome french bread. She even made herbed butter to go with it. So yummy!

She is turning into quite the baker.  🙂  I have to see what she wants to work on next. Quick breads, or chicken dishes or pasta dishes. I’m sure whatever she makes will be delicious and devoured by the family.  🙂

 

Today, they had a couple of friends over to film The Geek Show. It was so funny! I can’t wait to see it after Calen finishes editing it. I’ll be sure to post a link when he’s done.

 

All in all, we had a great week. And yes, regular school work got done, too!

 

 

Here are a few homeschooling links:

Thanksgiving Countdown Calendar
Homeschool High School Driven Crazy Drivers Ed
Sign language lessons
Homeschooling with Chronic Illness
Tracing Outlines of Famous Art Works – I would like to try this, it looks really cool.
What are Social Sciences?
Creating a Literature Lapbook

 

For more homeschool posts, please visit:
Weekly Wrap Up
Weekly Homeschool Highlights

Filed Under: Homeschool

The Seven Prayers God Always Answers by Jason Frenn

October 29, 2011 by Linda @ Linda's Lunacy

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old…or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

 

Today’s Wild Card author is:

 

Jason Frenn

 

and the book:

 

The Seven Prayers God Always Answers: God’s Promises for Everyone, Everywhere, Every Time

FaithWords (October 19, 2011)

***Special thanks to Sarah Reck, Web Publicist | FaithWords & Center Street | Hachette Book Group for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jason Frenn has held more than 50 international crusades where more than 2 million people have heard the presentation of the Gospel. He has seen more than 200,000 first time decisions for Christ. In addition to being a missionary evangelist, Jason is a bestselling author and has a daily live evangelistic radio program on Radio Nueva Vida with a listening audience of 500,000 people covering parts of Oregon, all of California, and Northern Mexico. Jason is a dynamic speaker who speaks to English and Spanish audiences.

Visit the author’s website.

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

The author asks readers: What prayer do you want answered? If you could sit down with God over a cup of coffee, how would you respond if He asked you, “What do you want me to do for you?” What would you ask? The author believes these questions could usher in the greatest breakthrough of the reader’s life. He believes that God desires to answer prayer. Yes, everyone’s. THE SEVEN PRAYERS GOD ALWAYS ANSWERS offers biblical insights into the power of prayer. It is designed to help readers pray and see the results that they pray for.

This book gives insight into the prayers that God always answers. It will help readers to understand God’s heart so that they can pray in accordance with His will. There are many topics of prayer that this book discusses including; praise, thanksgiving, confession, intercession, and petition. Jason Frenn says, “My desire is that this book completely transforms your life!”

 

Product Details:

List Price: $21.99
Hardcover: 272 pages
Publisher: FaithWords (October 19, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0446546232
ISBN-13: 978-0446546232

AND NOW…THE FIRST CHAPTER:

INTRODUCTION

What Do You Want Me to Do for You?

_

hat prayer do you want answered? If you could sit down with God over a cup of coffee and He asked you, “What do you want Me to do for you?”–what would you say? What would you ask? Think about it. His question could usher in the greatest breakthrough of your life. I believe that God answers prayer. Yes, even yours.

While it’s true that God is not a genie, nor is He Santa Claus, He nonetheless wants to “give you the desires of your heart” (Ps. 37:4 nkjv). He understands your needs, and with a heart filled with love, generosity, and compassion, He reaches out to you at this time in your life.

Over the years, people have asked me some very interesting questions about prayer. Quite often they ask, “Is it unspiritual to ask God to help me get out of debt or make more money?” On occasion, some have quietly inquired if it’s all right to pray for a more dynamic and meaningful sex life in their marriage. One person asked me if God cared enough to hear her petition to be a better tennis player. While these prayer requests might seem unimportant to some, to those who are searching for answers, they are very important. In almost every situation my response is the same. God cares more than you think, and yes, you should share your heart with the Lord. There is hardly a conversation with God you shouldn’t have, especially if your heart is genuine and your desire is sincere. The following story illustrates just how much God cares about the details of our lives.

“God, we need Your help. We need Your provision.” Those were the sincere words I jotted down on a piece of paper sitting in a mandatory meeting just before the noon hour. My wife, girls, and I were planning to return to the United States from Central America for a year of itineration (traveling across the country to raise our ministerial budget). We needed no less than $5,000 for travel, a down payment on a used vehicle, security deposit, and first month’s rent, and if anything was left over, clothes for the girls. In short, we needed a financial miracle. That was March 31, 1999. April came and went. Our departure date was May 24.

The last weekend we were in Costa Rica, I spoke at a church called Oasis of Hope. I remember that night vividly. Because we were so strapped for cash, my shoes had holes in the soles. One of the ushers in the church came up to me and said, “Jason, would it bother you if I cleaned up your shoes? It’s just that they are too dirty.” Although it was a bit humiliating, I sat down in the back of the sanctuary while she polished them. Afterward, I thanked her, and she returned to her post.

That night, I shared a simple message of how God is the God of second chances. When I finished, the associate pastor walked onto the platform and, unbeknownst to me, announced that the church was going to receive an offering for us. Afterward, he instructed me to use it however I saw fit. The offering was $1,000. We were overwhelmed with gratitude for their generosity, and we were grateful, of course, to the Lord.

The week prior to our departure, we still needed $4,000. That was when I received a call from my father-in-law asking if I would be interested in translating for an Argentine evangelist at a crusade in San Diego, California, scheduled the day after we arrived. The coordinators needed someone to interpret from Spanish to English. I felt honored by the invitation and told him that I would be glad to help.

Five days later, we landed in Southern California and headed to the crusade. Along the way we stopped at a shopping mall to purchase new shoes. I didn’t want people to see my toes pushing through the soles.

The crusade went well.

The following morning, both the preacher and I were invited to eat breakfast with the pastors who had sponsored the event. I took all three of our girls to the restaurant while Cindee enjoyed some peace and quiet in the room. After we finished eating, the coordinator said, “Thank you so much for serving us in this capacity. You have truly blessed our hearts.” After giving an envelope to the speaker, he turned and gave one to me as well. I assumed that it was an offering for serving as the interpreter. I asked if I could apply whatever was in the envelope to any particular need we had. He replied, “Of course.”

After saying good-bye and exchanging hugs, I said to the girls, “Come on. Let’s go for a walk on the beach and find a park.” They were excited.

I waited until we found a set of swings and a jungle gym before I pulled out the envelope. The girls immediately started climbing like monkeys turned loose in a tree. I opened the envelope thinking, There’s probably a check for $250 to $300. I unfolded the check. At first, my eyes couldn’t believe it. This can’t be right, I thought. The dollar amount read “$4,000.00.” I rubbed my eyes for a second to ensure that my vision was clear. Then I focused on the portion where the check writer spelled out the amount on the check. It read: “Four thousand dollars and ____________ xx/100.”

I jumped up and screamed, “Hallelujah. God is our provider!” Indeed, He is our provider. As I danced around that little park my girls wondered what had gotten into me. In one powerful blow, God erased every financial need we had. There was enough money for us to purchase a used vehicle, set up an apartment, and buy some clothes for the entire family. I was so excited.

Six weeks later, we embarked upon the itineration trail. We were driving from California to Tennessee and spent the night in a hotel in New Mexico. Sitting on the side of the bed in the late afternoon, I received a call on my cell phone.

The voice on the other end was very serious. A man asked, “Is this Jason Frenn?”

I said, “Yes.”

He said, “I believe you translated for a recent crusade in the San Diego area. I am the accountant for the outreach. By chance when you received a check from us, was it made out for the amount of $400?”

It felt like the world’s rotation came to a grinding halt.

I took a deep breath and said, “No! No! The check you gave me was for the amount of $4,000.”

He said, “Four thousand dollars?! Well, that’s where all the money went. There has been a huge mistake, a $3,600 mistake to be exact! We need to resolve this problem. I have no idea what I was thinking. How’s your financial situation? Perhaps we can work out a solution.”

In about seven seconds, I told him the entire story, from my journal entry to the moment when he called me that afternoon.

After I explained everything that happened, I said, “Now, if you are saying that the check amount was a mistake and that we need to give you back $3,600, I am going to need a little bit of time. Because that four grand is gone!”

There was a long pause.

“If you’re telling me that you needed exactly $4,000, I can only assume the Lord led me to write out a check for that exact amount. It must be God’s will. Keep the $4,000. I’ll figure out how I will manage things on my end. God bless you!”

Then he hung up.

Indeed, God answered my request. Through a series of unpredictable circumstances, His provision came at the moment when we needed it. Never too early, never too late, His timing is always impeccable.

It’s been nearly twelve years, and we have seen hundreds upon hundreds of prayers answered. God has never abandoned us, never misled us, nor given us false hopes. He has seen us through thick and thin.

What about you? What are your dreams, aspirations, and desires? What mountain are you facing? What prayer do you want answered?

What This Book Can Do for You

In preparation for writing this book, I surveyed more than one thousand people and asked them one question: “If you could ask God in prayer for three things knowing that He would answer your request, what would you ask?” The answers were intriguing.

The single greatest prayer request was for the spiritual salvation of a family member or friend. The second-largest request was for some sort of financial breakthrough or career advancement. The third was for physical healing, often for someone else. The fourth was for spiritual growth. The fifth most popular prayer request was for physical protection and safety for their children, families, or themselves. Finally, people wanted the strength and opportunity to fulfill God’s call upon their lives.

Odds are, the prayers you want God to answer fall into one of the areas mentioned above, and my desire is that this book will help you pray and see the results that you desire. I pray that you see a major breakthrough, not in one area of your life but in many. I believe that it is God’s intent to help you move beyond the obstacles that keep you or a loved one from moving forward.

This book will give you insight into the prayers that God always answers. It will teach you to understand His heart so that you can pray in accordance with His will. This book will build your faith to move mountains. It will help you experience His power. My desire is that this book completely transforms your life!

Ask for the Impossible!

A man born blind was sitting along the side of the road. Each day, he held out his hand, hoping that those who passed by would drop a few coins into his cup. One day, he heard a distant rumble caused by a rather large entourage heading his way. Up until that time, no one born blind had ever recovered his or her sight (John 9:32). When he asked the person standing next to him what all the commotion was about, his neighbor replied, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”

The famous healer has come to my town, he thought. Waiting for the precise moment when the central figure of the parade was at the shortest distance, he raised his voice and said, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Those close by rebuked him and told him not to bother the Master. But he raised his voice even louder. That’s when Christ stopped, turned to His disciples, and said, “Bring him!” They brought him before the healer. Jesus asked him the question that sooner or later He asks every one of us: “What do you want Me to do for you?”

At that moment, the beggar could have answered, “I’d like a million dollars,” or perhaps “I’d like to be super famous.” Instead, he asked for the only thing that had never been done in the history of the world. He asked for what seemed to be impossible. “I want to see,” he said. Without hesitating, Christ granted his request, saying, “Your faith has healed you.” (Story paraphrased from Luke 18:35-42 niv.)

Just like those who tried to discourage the beggar, there will always be people who feel it’s their duty to tell you how insignificant you are. There will always be people who tell you that you don’t matter, especially when your dreams seem impossible. There will always be people who have the gift of raining on your parade. But God won’t. He cares about you. He always listens, because He loves you. So ask Him for what’s never been done before in your life. I challenge you to ask Him for the impossible.

As a missionary evangelist who has served throughout Latin America, the Caribbean, and the United States, my experience is that God answers the prayers placed within the pages of this book. I write from the experience of someone who lived fifteen years in the heart of Central America and has seen God transform the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. Without a doubt, He is interested in the details of your life. Ultimately, friend, it’s your faith placed in Him that will allow you to see the miracles and the breakthrough you seek.

Our Road Map

This book is about seven prayers that God always answers. These are prayers that aim to motivate the hand of God to direct you, forgive you, free you, provide for you, heal you, bless you, and save you. They are biblical, and I carry a deep conviction that they were born in God’s heart to benefit and bless your life. It’s fair to say that God answers all prayer with a “yes,” “no,” or “wait.” However the prayers discussed in this book all have something wonderful in common. They are prayers to which God always responds positively in one way or another. In a day when people question whether God interacts with humanity and when unbelief is spreading like a virus, this book aims to teach you to pray in such a way that you clearly see the hand of God move powerfully.

This book can serve you in two ways. First, you can apply these prayers to your personal life. Or if you are a leader, you can also apply them corporately to those you currently serve or lead, such as your family, church, or organization.

Each chapter is dedicated to a prayer. Beginning with chapter 1, the chapters are divided into sections that will explain each prayer, lay a biblical foundation, provide powerful testimonies, give different examples regarding how you might implement the specific type of prayer in your life, and teach you to pray in a way that helps you see results in each of the given areas.

As we conclude this introduction, I want to focus your attention on the first question we talked about earlier. I believe that God asks you the same question at this time in your life. At the beginning of this chapter, I gave you a scenario. If you could sit down over a cup of coffee with the Lord and He asked you, “What do you want Me to do for you?” what would be your answer?

As we begin this journey together, I am going to ask you to be mindful of two things. First, make a mental note of the prayers you want God to answer. Second, keep your eyes open to the possible ways He may use to answer them. (Please see Instructions for a Prayer Journal located at the end of the book.)

If you desire to see your prayers answered, fasten your seat belt and prepare yourself for some incredible and miraculous things to happen in your life. If you’re ready to experience something transformational, turn the page, and we’ll begin that journey together!

This is an excerpt from THE SEVEN PRAYERS GOD ALWAYS ANSWERS by Jason Frenn. Copyright © 2011 by Jason Frenn. Reprinted by permission of FaithWords. All rights reserved.

 

 

The Seven Prayers God Always Answers – God’s Promises For Everyone, Everywhere, Every time by Jason Frenn is just that. A book about God’s promises and how to pray for them.

There is nothing magical about this book. Nothing magical about the prayers written in this book. We have a mighty God that has made us promises in His Word. With lots of scripture references, the author guides the reader through the Bible and the promises that God has made to His children. Once we know the promises God has made to us, then we know what to pray for to have our prayers answered.  With chapters on praying for salvation, healing, provision, forgiveness, direction and more, every area of our lives is covered. Every chapter has written prayers to get you started.

There is also a chapter with instructions for a Prayer Journal. I love keeping a prayer journal. You can see in black and white what God has done. There is also a chapter with questions for personal reflection and group discussion. I found The Seven Prayers God Always Answers, with it’s abundant scripture references, to very informative and helpful.

For more information, the author Jason Frenn has set up a website for his book, The Seven Prayers.org

Filed Under: Books, Reviews

Your Pathway to Miracles by Marilyn Hickey

October 28, 2011 by Linda @ Linda's Lunacy

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old…or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

 

Today’s Wild Card author is:

 

Marilyn Hickey

 

and the book:

 

Your Pathway to Miracles

Whitaker House (September 6, 2011)

***Special thanks to Cathy Hickling of Whitaker House for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

At age 80, Dr. Marilyn Hickey, founder and president of Marilyn Hickey Ministries, is still going strong. Known and loved worldwide for her clear, down-to-earth Bible teaching, she’s brought Scripture to life for countless thousands through her radio and TV broadcasts, books, and speaking ministry. In recent years she’s ministered across the U.S. as well as in the Sudan, Israel, Jordan, Egypt, India, China and Pakistan. The author of dozens of books and pamphlets, Marilyn Hickey’s recent Whitaker House releases include: Spiritual Warfare, The Names of God, Total Healing, and Your Pathway to Miracles. She and her daughter co-host the weekly worldwide television show, Marilyn and Sarah.

Visit the author’s website.

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

In her latest book worldwide Bible teacher Marilyn Hickey offers a “how to” for those in need of a miracle. Dr. Hickey teaches readers how to learn to build trust in God, creatively interweaving faith-building Scriptures with her considerable personal experience, such as giving birth to her daughter after being told it was medically impossible. Christian leaders are applauding the results, recommending Your Pathway to Miracles to their congregations and audiences, with Joyce Meyer saying, “it will fuel your faith and give you a new passion to believe God for the miraculous,” and from Richard Roberts: “allow her new book to set you on your own journey for miracles in the mighty name of Jesus.”

Product Details:

List Price: $13.99
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Whitaker House (September 6, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1603743251
ISBN-13: 978-1603743259

AND NOW…THE FIRST CHAPTER:

Everyone Needs a Miracle

What Miracle Are You Seeking?

In the United States and around the world, countless numbers of people are looking for miracles in their lives. When some people say, “I’m praying for a miracle,” they are really talking about wishful thinking or a vague hope that things will get better. Others, however, mean that they are asking God to intervene in their lives based on the reality of His promises. There’s a big difference! Over the years, my ministry has received numerous reports of miracles that have come through prayer and holding on to God’s Word, miracles such as:

My eight-year-old son had leukemia. I called for prayer for strength to go through the treatment. That wonderful prayer partner rebuked the disease and prayed that he be healed in Jesus’ name. Now my son is healed! There is no leukemia in his body! It was such a testimony to the doctors and nurses.

***

I had a nervous breakdown [and when I was feeling the worst I would] listen to you say, “This is the best day of your life!”…Little by little the joy I felt began to increase.…I want you to know that my mind is healed now. I was sick for seven years. I feel the peace of God and the joy of the Lord again.

***

I recently requested that you agree with me to lose weight because I had reached a whopping 203 pounds. Well, praise God, the Lord has done a miracle for me. I went on a diet and have lost 53 pounds, and I’m not through yet.

***

You prophesied that a child who had been kidnapped by his father was going to be returned to his mother. I claimed that word as mine! I had stood in faith for 2 1/2 years before that word; and in less than one month, my son was returned to me. I was tired and weary…ready to give up—your word from God renewed my strength to stand.

***

Everyone needs a miracle of some kind, whether it is one of healing, financial provision, restoration of broken relationships, open doors of opportunity, favor with another person, or another intervention of God. I have experienced many miracles in my life, and I am still experiencing them. Miracles are available to us today because God’s Word promises them. What miracle are you seeking?

Our heavenly Father is a God of the miraculous. From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible is a miraculous book. It is a supernatural gift, a revelation from God, which He has given for our instruction, comfort, and guidance in life. It tells us of many miracles God has provided for His people over thousands of years. Yet the Bible doesn’t talk just about past miracles; it tells us how we can experience miracles in the present and the future. God hasn’t changed. He desires to do miracles for us, too!

For I am the Lord, I do not change. (Malachi 3:6)

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)
A Miraculous Sign

A miracle is something that, without the intervention of God, would never have happened to the person who received it. A miracle may also be defined as something that occurs outside the natural processes of life that we would ordinarily experience in our physical world.

In October 2000, I took a group of travelers on a ministry trip to La Paz, Bolivia, and held a series of citywide meetings in the stadium there. There are many indigenous people in Bolivia whose cultural roots are steeped into idolatry, witchcraft, shamanism, and the like, and who need to hear the life-changing gospel of Jesus Christ.

One of the travelers accompanying us told me she’d had a unique dream. “I dreamed that there were three rainbows in perfect arches in the sky,” she said. “I don’t know what it means, but it could be the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit or some special visitation while we’re in Bolivia.” I didn’t share this conversation with anyone but kept it hidden in my heart.

While we were in Bolivia, we would hold three nights of healing meetings in the stadium, as well as two days of meetings with Bolivian ministers, because we like to pour the knowledge of God’s Word into the hearts of ministers. We had brought books printed in Spanish, and we had special times of instruction and fellowship with them.

The president of Bolivia invited me to join a breakfast meeting he was sponsoring, and I was asked to speak to some of the key leaders in the government. This was an unexpected and wonderful open door for ministry.

Little did I dream what God the Father would do to prepare the hearts of the people for that breakfast and our healing meetings. The first morning of our ministry training school, we were in downtown La Paz teaching the local pastors. About one thousand Bolivian leaders were there, plus the one hundred and twenty-five people from the United States who had accompanied us on the trip. One of our staff people passed a note to me while I was speaking, saying that there were crowds in the street and that traffic was stopped because there were three rainbows in perfect arches over the building we were in. I said to the people, “There is something very unusual happening outside. We must go out and look.”

We walked outside, and, as had been reported, there were three rainbows in the sky above the building. All three were shaped in perfect arches, and each one was a different color. We were able to capture this sight on video. No one knew what to think. I was shocked that God would perform such an unusual miracle right then and there.

We went back to the meeting and praised and worshipped God. Following the meeting, we boarded our buses to go back to our hotel. When we arrived, we saw that the three rainbows had followed us and come to a stop over the hotel. We also found that witches had gathered outside, protesting by ringing bells and banging pans. The president of the country had called a leadership conference of witches, and these witches were very upset with our being there and with the rainbows that were positioned over the hotel, and they had come to speak curses against us. But let me tell you something: You cannot curse what God has blessed.

In both the Old and New Testaments, the Bible says that Jesus took the curse of our sins on Himself on the cross so that we could be blessed. (See, for example, Isaiah 53:4–5; Galatians 3:13–14.) Knowing this, we rebuked Satan and asked God to bring these witches to salvation in Jesus.

When I went to the breakfast, oh, what a breakfast it was, because of all the news that had been on television and in the newspapers regarding our visit and the manifestation of the rainbows. What timing the Lord has! He had given a woman on our team a dream and then brought it to pass as a sign to us and to the people of Bolivia. Because the three rainbows had appeared over the city, I knew what to say to all those attending the breakfast. I asked them, “What is God saying? He wants to bring revival to La Paz, Bolivia. God wants to move on this country, but He can do it only as we surrender our lives to Jesus Christ.”

The breakfast was a wonderful opportunity to praise God. He had already sent a sign of His presence in the form of the three rainbows. The Bible says that miraculous signs will follow those who believe. (See Mark 16:17.) That was a time when signs both went before us and followed us! I built on the sign God had sent by calling the people to repentance. Then, at the stadium meetings, people were Spirit-filled, and literally thousands of people were saved and healed. There were an unusual number of people healed from growths and tumors. People also came and threw their eyeglasses onto the platform because they could see perfectly without them.

We were able to broadcast these meetings over satellite to all the Spanish-speaking countries in the world. It was an awesome time, a time when God showed up and “showed off.”

Why Miracles?
Why does God do miracles in the lives of His people and in relation to situations that concern them? Our experiences in Bolivia draw attention to five significant reasons God does miracles.

1. God’s Miracles Reveal His Power as Creator-King

When God created the earth and everything in it, including human beings, it was a miraculous event that reveals to us His power as Creator, as well as His sovereignty over the earth. The created world continues to reveal God’s nature and power.

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. (Psalm 19:1–4)

The three remarkable rainbows in the sky demonstrated that this same powerful Creator God was involved in our visit to Bolivia. God spoke the world into existence at the beginning of time, and He not only continues to create wonders that glorify Him, but He also brings the things we need into existence as we speak His Word to the circumstances and problems in our lives. As He does so, He manifests His nature and His ways to us.

2. God’s Miracles Reveal the Spiritual Reality Supporting Our Physical World

Miracles make known the existence of an invisible spiritual reality that is the true or ultimate reality in life. Most people live only according to what they can experience through their five senses, but there is a spiritual realm that undergirds, and is greater than, the physical reality of our world, and within which our physical world exists. The Bible tells us that Jesus, who is God the Son, the second person of the Trinity, both created and sustains our world: “All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist [“hold together” niv]” (Colossians 1:16–17).

A miracle sign such as we saw in La Paz, and the resulting outpouring of supernatural healings and other manifestations, revealed to the Bolivian people the presence of God’s spiritual realm and His desire to intervene to meet both their physical and spiritual needs.

3. God’s Miracles Convey His Compassion for His People
God the Father does miracles to bless and deliver His people, because He is loving and compassionate. For example, when He sent Moses to deliver the Hebrews, who were enslaved in Egypt, He told him,

I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey. (Exodus 3:7–8)

In the course of delivering the Hebrews, God performed many miracles, including the manifestations of the pillars of cloud and fire, which were signs of His constant presence with His people, and the parting of the Red Sea, through which He rescued them from their enemies. (See Exodus 13:21; 14:21–30.) And God still saves and delivers today.

God loves all the people of the world. He created them in His image and sent His Son to redeem them. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). When Jesus came to earth, His healings and other miracles were prompted by His compassion. In one instance, when two blind men called out to Him, asking for mercy, “Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him” (Matthew 20:34).

The sign of the three rainbows in Bolivia was a symbol to the people that God knew them and loved them and wanted to move among them in compassion, healing, deliverance, and the outpouring of His Spirit.

The apostle Paul wrote that if God gave His Son to die on the cross for us, “how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32). “All things” includes miracles.
4. God’s Miracles Promote Faith in the Truth of the Gospel
Miracles are also a way in which God the Father confirms people’s faith in the legitimacy of the gospel message, helping to bring them to repentance and into a relationship with Him through Jesus Christ.

[Jesus said to His followers,] “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature….And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;…they will lay hands on the sick, an they will recover.”…And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs.” (Mark 16:15, 17–18, 20)

Likewise, God opened the door and validated our ministry in Bolivia by the manifestation of the rainbows, which drew the attention of the people as they saw the sign personally or heard about it through the media. Then, during our meetings in Bolivia, thousands of people were saved and healed. The healings, including those of growths and tumors, were further signs—“accompanying signs”—that confirmed the ministry of the gospel God had given to us for the people.

Please remember that Jesus said we are not to seek manifestations of signs as a substitution for belief in God’s Word. (See Matthew 12:38–39.) And we are not to seek signs for their own sake, as a form of entertainment. However, God will use miracles to promote faith in His Word so that people will believe and be saved, healed, and experience abundant life in Him.
5. God’s Miracles Reveal Genuine versus False Spirituality
The signs accompanying our preaching of the gospel in Bolivia were a testimony to the people of true, godly spiritual activity in contrast to counterfeit spirituality. The witches who had protested our presence there had gathered for a conference in La Paz at the request of the president, who had also invited me to speak to governmental leaders at a breakfast, so there was obviously confusion in that nation regarding what kind of spirituality should be practiced and promoted. To some people, witchcraft or shamanism may seem innocent and helpful, but these things are false and destructive. The witches had tried to cause a commotion and disrupt our ministry, yet God showed that He is greater than counterfeit spirituality. He poured out His Spirit in a powerful way according to His love, bringing salvation, healing, and deliverance to the people.

Please be aware that false teachers and prophets can exhibit counterfeit signs and miracles. Jesus said, “For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect” (Matthew 24:24). And the apostle Paul wrote,

The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

(2 Thessalonians 2:9–10)

Genuine miracles from God, however, are recognized by those who know His ways and are enlightened by His Spirit. One of the religious leaders of Jesus’ day named Nicodemus told Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him” (John 3:2). And the Corinthian believers to whom Paul ministered were aware that the message and work of an apostle from God will be confirmed by signs and miracles: “Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds” (2 Corinthians 12:12).

Remember that true miracles bring glory to God—not to a “miracle worker.” They confirm the truth of salvation through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross and His resurrection and triumph over the devil and all the forces of evil. (See, for example, Colossians 2:11–15.)
How Do God’s Miracles Come to Us?

God’s miracles—His supernatural interventions in our lives—come to us in different ways. While there may be similarities between these ways, and they may overlap, each is important in itself. Throughout this book, we will explore various avenues through which God brings miracles into our lives. We will also discover what we need to know and act upon in order to receive our miracles. Miracles usually don’t just “happen” in our lives, for, as we have seen, God does miracles for various reasons and gives them as we seek Him through faith in His Word.

Think of yourself as on a pathway to receiving the miracles you desire from God. I invite you to take a journey with me as I relate the adventures of miraculous living that I have experienced in my life, knowing that you, too can experience the same kinds of miracles and live in the realm of the miraculous. The path to miracles is an ongoing one, and we can experience miracles of various kinds throughout our lives.

Let’s be sure not to miss out on all that God has for us. There are consequences of not accepting and receiving the miracles He wants to give us through our faith in Him. The Scriptures say that Jesus “did not do many mighty works [in His hometown] because of their unbelief” (Matthew 13:58). We don’t want to forfeit our miracle opportunities, which are part of the spiritual wonder and destiny God has planned for our lives.

If someone witnesses God’s miracles but observes them only as a spectator and stays in unbelief toward Jesus and His offer of salvation, there is a high cost to him.

Then [Jesus] began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repent: “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.…And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.”

(Matthew 11:20–21, 23)

Not to experience a healing or deliverance God desires for you would be tragic enough, but to lack repentance and refuse to receive Christ would lead to a grim penalty. We don’t want to fall short of God’s purposes for our lives. In this book, we’ll see how to both receive Christ into our lives and enter into the realm of the miraculous. Let us be able to say with Paul, “In [God] we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28).

Receiving Your Miracles

Through Your Pathway to Miracles, I want to show you how to gain a deeper relationship with your heavenly Father and learn how to live in the miraculous according to His plans. He has spectacular episodes for your life as you hold fast in faith. Get ready to be liberated from frustration and defeat as you set your eyes continually on His positive truths and principles, even as you contend with negative circumstances and situations. You will discover…

how miracles begin
the reasons and seasons for miracles
the roles of faith, expectation, positive affirmation, and prayer
the importance of claiming your miracle
how to recognize the miracles in your own hands
keys to removing mountainous problems blocking your miracles
how to access “giant” miracles for big needs
ways in which God gives favor and opportunity
the nature of “miracle packages”
how to persevere to receive God’s miracle when there seems to be no solution for your problem and all seems hopeless.
My friend, whatever kind of miracle you need, read on!

 

 

My Review:

I didn’t receive this book until 3 days ago. So needless to say, I’m not finished with it yet. I am loving it, though. Lots of teaching and personal stories. I love that the author uses a lot of scripture references throughout the chapters. At the end of the chapters that I have finished thus far, she has a page listing more references to read.

Your Pathway to Miracles is looking like a great book for non-Christians, new Christians, and those that have been Christians for years. I’m looking forward to finishing it.

Filed Under: Books, Reviews

This Week’s Favorites

October 28, 2011 by Linda @ Linda's Lunacy

I have a long list of new favorites this week!

 

We Do Not Celebrate Halloween – Resources for Christian Families
Reviewing the Family Food Budget
How to Adapt a Recipe to Make it Healthier

How to Calculate How Much Energy Your Freezer Uses
PVC Pipe Plans – There are several things here I would love to make!
Natural Holistic Whooping Cough Treatments

 

Gluten Free, Dairy Free Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Chili
Apple Pie Bars
Mexican Casserole – Gluten Free
Homemade Enchilada Sauce
Chocolate Cobbler Pie

Brown Sugar Cinnamon Muffins
Homemade Maple Flavored Syrup
Chocolate Dipped Mini Eclairs – yum!
Coconut Flour Cheese Crackers – Gluten Free
Spiced Pumpkin Cupcakes – gluten free and dairy free

 

Make Your Own Swiffer Cloths
Lightweight Crocheted Jacket
Unusual, Unforgettable and Unique Crochet Patterns – Lots of fun projects to try

Crocheted Striped Baby Blanket
Crocheted Baby Blanket – I’m working on one of these right now!
25 Free Scrap Busting Tutorials – lots of great ways to use your fabric scraps

 

I hope you found lots of new favorites this week, too!

 

Filed Under: Linda's Favorites

Marshall Publishing – George Washington Carver DVD

October 27, 2011 by Linda @ Linda's Lunacy

From the Marshall Publishing website:

Our goal is to provide lots and lots of media fun for everyone through award-winning DVDs, Books, CDs, CD-roms, and broadcast and internet programming that will amaze, amuse, entertain, and educate.

Our goal is to produce quality programs to watch today and remember for a lifetime.

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GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER: His Life and His Work DVD

Born into slavery and reared during the Reconstruction years in the South, George Washington Carver struggled through poor health, poverty and prejudice…to become a great benefactor, not only to his people…but to his country as well. Carver is known in history books as the “peanut man” – for his research into and promotion of alternative crops to cotton. As one of the world’s foremost experts in agriculture and horticulture, Carver, through his research and teaching at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama practically reinvented land management in the South. He is said to have compiled a list of over 300 uses for and by-products of peanuts such as cosmetics, dyes and paints, plastics, gasoline and nitroglycerin.

But his work as a creative scientist stretches far beyond that endeavor. He marveled at the world around him and his ability to inspire those closely associated with him may well have been one of his greatest lifetime achievements. As a living example of the importance of hard work, a positive attitude and a good education, Carver was instrumental in changing the stereotype of the time that the black race was intellectually inferior to the white race.

Here then, is the story of Carver’s life…a life that should not be forgotten, for it is full of hope, meaning and inspiration. To commemorate his life and inventions, George Washington Carver Recognition Day is celebrated on January 5, the anniversary of Carver’s death.

For anyone looking for an inspirational story, for historians, teachers and students, and for young and old alike this DVD featuring stunning photography and a superb original music score is certain to be watched again and again.

© 2009 Marshall Publishing & Promotions, Inc. A Kaw Valley Films Production

 

As part of The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Crew, I received the George Washington Carver DVD. I watched it with my four children, ages 16, 15, 13, and 11. It is recommended for 4th grade through adult.

Even as a kid I loved biographies and I remember reading several books about George Washington Carver. I really liked the story of his life. To come from slavery and go on to invent numerous items and devices that are still used is amazing. I didn’t know that January 5th was George Washington Carver Recognition Day. I’ll have to put that on the calendar. That would be a great day to eat something made with peanuts and watch this dvd again. 🙂

I was excited to get this DVD and share his story with my children. I thought the dvd was very well done. The majority of the 29 minutes dvd is pictures with a voice over and a musical score. I know, that doesn’t sound very interesting. But this dvd isn’t just a slide show with a monotone narrator. They keep the story moving with interesting pictures and the narrator speaks with feeling. The music is in the background, it’s not annoying, fighting for your attention. It makes the viewing more enjoyable.

Near the end, there is a little clip of George Washington Carver himself giving a speech. The clip isn’t long, but I was pleasantly surprised to see it.

There is a Study Guide on the website that goes along with this dvd.

George Washington Carver – His Life and His Work is available on the Marshall Publishing website.  The regular price is 24.95. on sale right now for 19.99.  Marshall Publishing has been kind enough to offer a discount to readers of this review. Use code  TOSC1 to save 15% and purchase this dvd for 16.95.

 

See what other Homeschool Crew Members are saying about Marshall Publishing’s videos.

 

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*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services
mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I
only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255:
“Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”


Filed Under: Homeschool Reviews

Baby Boy Afghan and Sweater Set

October 27, 2011 by Linda @ Linda's Lunacy

I posted pictures a couple of months ago of a baby boy sweater and hat that I had crocheted. I recently finished an afghan and booties to go with the sweater.

The afghan is simple 3 row granny square with a single crochet edging. I single crocheted all the squares together and then did a row of single crochet around the whole thing.

The finished measurement is 22 1/2″ by 17″. Not large, but big enough to cover baby in the car seat or cover babies legs on someones lap.

Once I had the afghan and booties done, I decided to go back and change the trim on the sweater and hat. I changed the trim on the hat to green and changed the buttons on the sweater to green.

Then I made the little booties in blue and green.

I love these little booties. So much cuter in person than in a picture.

So now I have a completed baby boy set for my Grandmother’s Hope Chest.

Here are the patterns I used for the baby sweater, baby hat and baby booties.

 

On the a baby girl set!

Filed Under: Crafty Stuff

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For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

John 3:16-17 NKJV


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