tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32477453675030050762024-03-05T07:26:52.327-05:00SallyMathenyTell the Next GenerationSally Mathenyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12714597631578160195noreply@blogger.comBlogger286125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247745367503005076.post-8233010584570267302018-09-02T21:30:00.000-04:002018-09-03T16:41:58.520-04:00Big Announcement- We're Moving!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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Sally Matheny</div>
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(<i>Saundra Clay Photography)</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> few of you have already heard that we're moving. No, not the Matheny family. Thank goodness! It was difficult enough just to move to a new website!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Who knew it would be so difficult transferring my blog posts from Blogger to WordPress? If I had known I may not have done it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A family friend came several times to help with the transfer. As soon as he would leave, everything kept crashing. I was afraid I wasn't smart enough to handle the move and was just about to give up. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Then, I made one of the best decisions I've made all year. I recruited a prayer team! I'm so thankful and praising the Lord for them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After that, I just let go of my expectations and said, "Lord, it's in your hands."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If I had not experienced the continual frustration, I would not have had interaction with some special people. God has that special way of bringing good out of something that is seemingly bad.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I learned that the computer woes were not due to my ineptness after all but there was a big snafu with the hosting company.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It's taken months longer than I anticipated to migrate over. But I certanly have been learning a great deal in the process. I'm still learning!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Which will explain why not every one of my old posts is published on the new website yet. Everything has to be reformatted and all the photos removed and reinserted. It's going to take awhile.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Ready to put web design behind me, I'm eager to get back to writing and fellowshipping with you all. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thank you for hanging in there with me. Some of you have been with me since I started blogging in 2012. It took me a while to find my focus. The more I blogged the clearer it became. I also appreciate your mercifulness while I continue to learn <i>how</i> to write well. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It's a scary thing trying to figure out the best way to convey what's in our minds and hearts. Whether you blog or not, we all have a story, a message, something we're passionate to share. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Yet, sometimes our fears of inadequacy, of failure, or mistreatment freeze our mouths shut. Our pens and keyboards lie silent. All because of fear. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I'm here to tell you, you just have to take that first step. And then another one.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br /></span></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For me, praying for the help of Jesus Christ is my strength. But He expects me to do my part of the work as well.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If we're waiting on perfect skills before we ever put them into practice, we'll never begin.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We just have to start sharing </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">our story. Simple. Awkward. Whatever. If it is sincere and is presented with love, God can use it. He can't use our message if we never release our words.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That was a long way of telling you thanks for bearing with me as I stumble and stammer for the right words. I want you to join me in the adventure!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Lord willing, and nothing else crashes, the new website launches tomorrow, Monday, September 3, 2018, at 12:00 noon. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There will be several giveaways. Stop by for a visit at</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.sallymatheny.com/">www.sallmatheny.com </a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Sally Mathenyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12714597631578160195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247745367503005076.post-83907808377539498992018-09-02T20:30:00.000-04:002018-09-05T16:29:35.714-04:00Candy Apple Blessings Book Review & Giveaway<i>by Sally Matheny</i><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Candy Apple Blessings by Maddie Frost</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Perhaps your little one is just beginning to discover the pleasures of each season. Why not introduce the fun season of fall with the board book, <i>Candy Apple Blessings</i>?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This book contains twenty, full-color illustrations on sturdy cardstock that's sure to stand up to little toddler hands.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A dog, cat, and mouse take us along on various fall activities--from making a fall wreath, camping, and taking a hayride, to visiting</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> the pumpkin patch, a corn maze, and a petting zoo. Plus, many more!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Most of the text is rhyming and each page features either special words for a sound or action.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"The tractor chugs all day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We ride on bales of hay.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We cheer and laugh and play!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">CHUG, CHUG, CHUG.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Let's have some hayride fun!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Little ones will enjoy the bright colors and each illustration has plenty of things to talk about and a wide variety of animals to find. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There is a multitude of fall scenes but no jack-o-lanterns are present. The cover of the book has shiny foil apples but no shiny foil is used within the book. I think kids would have enjoyed a few more shiny foil illustrations but they'll have much to enjoy in this delightful, little book.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This board book is published by Thommy Nelson and is classified as a religious book. However, the only religious reference comes on the last page:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"We pray before we eat</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">and thank God for our treats.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">God's love is oh-so sweet!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">God thank you for fall blessings!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This book will be one of the special giveaway prizes on the launch day of my new website- Labor Day, September 3, 2018. I hope you'll pop in for a visit.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Candy Apple Blessings Book Giveaway on 9/3/18</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255</span></div>
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Sally Mathenyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12714597631578160195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247745367503005076.post-64488817373594476242018-08-20T18:27:00.003-04:002018-08-21T10:31:07.148-04:00I Can Only Imagine for Little Ones - Book Review<i>by Sally Matheny</i><br />
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I Can Only Imagine- for Little Ones</div>
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by Bart Millard and Laura Neutizling</div>
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Musician, Bart Millard of<i> Mercy Me</i>, has collaborated with Laura Neutzling to write a children's board book inspired by the hit song,<i> I Can Only Imagine. </i><br />
<i><br /></i> The padded cover of<i> I Can Only Imagine for Little Ones</i> encases twenty-four hardcover pages. Sumiti Collina illustrates colorful pictures depicting multi-ethnic children.<br />
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The book is written from a young child's point of view as he wonders what heaven may be like.<br />
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I can only imagine what God thinks is fun.</blockquote>
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We could jump in the lake and soak in the sun.</blockquote>
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Why maybe in heaven God loves to play ball. </blockquote>
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Everyone gets chosen. There's room for us all.</blockquote>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">The book is recommended for ages 0 - 4. It does not address <i>how</i> someone gets to heaven. That's too abstract for the wee little ones to understand. </span>It's a cute book that ends with an emphasis on the one thing the child knows for sure--that he doesn't have to wait until he's in heaven to spend time with God. Hence, the subtitle of the book,<i> A Friendship with Jesus Now and Forever.</i><br />
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This book will be one of the giveaway prizes on the launch day of my new website which is coming soon!<br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher in return for an honest review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 </span></i></div>
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Sally Mathenyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12714597631578160195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247745367503005076.post-70347215186813190842018-08-10T23:36:00.000-04:002018-08-12T15:09:52.511-04:00Excellent Christian Entertainment: NarroWay Theatre<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><i>by Sally Matheny</i></span></div>
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<i>Photo courtesy of NarroWay Productions</i></div>
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<i>Photographer: Ken Rice</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><i></i>Are you looking for something different, something highly entertaining and yet wholesome in nature where you can enjoy a night out with your family or friends? </span><br>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><br></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Not long ago, I discovered such a place.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">I wanted to surprise my sweet hubby by taking him somewhere we’ve never been before. </span><br>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><br></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Researching online, I stumbled across NarroWay Theatre, located in Fort Mill, S.C., just outside of Charlotte, N.C.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><br></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">The nonprofit theater presents original, Broadway-style shows. At that time, what caught my eye was the WWII-theme production they were putting on called <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Not Just Another Love Story.</i> I love the history of the WWII era and my husband loves the music, so I purchased our tickets online.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Patrons have the option to add a meal to their theater tickets. The meals vary. For this show, it was a chicken plate with sides and cherry pie for dessert. Performers serve the guests at their seats on pull-up trays. I thought it would be fun, so I added two dinner tickets. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">When we arrived at the theater, we were warmly greeted by the performers and ushered to our reserved seats. Unfortunately, I had a migraine that night, but I was determined not to let it dampen our night. The woman who led us to our seats learned of my headache and asked if she could pray for me. How many hosts at entertainment venues do that? I felt blessed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Even before the show began, my husband smiled broadly and said, “Thank you for bringing me here!” We knew by the atmosphere and the people we were in for a treat.</span><br>
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<i>Courtesy of NarroWay Productions</i></div>
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<i>Photographer: Ken Rice</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">After the meal, the production began and what a treat it was! Incredibly talented performers presented a musical with two intertwining storylines. One about a love story during WWII and the other about Hosea from the Bible. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">The acting, singing, period costumes, and the multiple stage set designs were excellent. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Oh, and you've got to try their delicious ice cream floats. The homemade fried apple pies will give even the best of your family recipes a run for their money. I’m not exaggerating. If you’re within a day’s drive of Charlotte, N.C., you should go.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0px;">The performances are always changing. Most will run for one to three months. I really wanted to see <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Gospel According to Tennessee</i> but forgot and missed it. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sampson</i> is running now. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lord of Light</i> sounds like a good one for October—not sure if it’s suited for your littlest ones but I bet the teens would enjoy it. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0px;">The description of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lord of Light </i>on the <a href="http://narroway.net/"><span style="color: #0563c1;">NarroWay website</span></a> says,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #101010; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0px;">“From creation to Revelation, "Lord of Light" is an action-packed, one-of-a-kind portrayal of the unseen battle in heavenly realms. With aerial artists, stunning blacklight effects and sword-wielding angels and demons, this show is a physical representation of what happened spiritually during the three days Jesus was in the tomb. All Hell really does break loose in this sensational thriller!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #101010; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0px;">The production company offers discount days and has special performances and activities for kids. Many of the shows involve live animals, so there’s usually a lamb you can pet or a camel you can ride if weather permits. </span></div>
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<a href="http://sallymatheny.blogspot.com/2018/08/excellent-christian-entertainment.html#more"></a>Sally Mathenyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12714597631578160195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247745367503005076.post-25278918495376438202018-08-10T16:00:00.000-04:002018-08-10T16:00:11.645-04:00Winner of the Gift CardCongratulations to R. McCausey of Six Lakes, Michigan! Your name was drawn from my list of blog subscribers. I'll be contacting you soon about where I should send your gift card to Christian Book Distributors.<br />
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Thanks to all of you who subscribe to the blog via your email. As always, I never do anything with your email address except send you a new blog post each week. Oh, unless you count when I contact you personally to let you know I'm sending a prize your way!<br />
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Stay in touch. I've got another great giveaway coming soon.<br />
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-SallySally Mathenyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12714597631578160195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247745367503005076.post-16504090668056387422018-08-03T14:00:00.000-04:002018-08-03T14:00:07.581-04:00Book Review of Devotions for Sacred Parenting & Gift Card Giveaway!<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><i>by Sally Matheny</i></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Devotions for Sacred Parenting by Gary Thomas</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">“Do you think your children feel more like projects or deeply loved children?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">When I read that, I thought of all the times I have tried to shape my children into productive citizens. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">If you’re like me, sometimes that training-them-to-live-in-the-world mindset overrides the cherish-them-for-who-they-are moments. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">The question above and the devotion that followed in Gary Thomas’ book, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Devotions for Sacred Parenting</i>,<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>sent me immediately to talk with my heavenly Father.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">This devotion tugged at my heart because he talked about a phrase I have often said, “raising kids.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Thomas wrote,</span></div>
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“It can diminish family life to a farm activity—raising crops or raising pets. Kids are so profoundly different. I’m relating to them, caring for them, involved with them. I don’t want the utilitarian aspect—growing them into adults—to become the defining point of our relationship.”</h4>
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<span style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">“We can get so busy trying
to make sure our children complete their homework, display good manners, not
watch too much television, get enough exercise, and eat well that we can forget to enjoy them and relate to them."</span></h4>
</blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Ahhh . . . and that is why I love, love, love this book. It’s not just another book on how to parent effectively. It takes a fresh look at how God uses parenting to transform us, to draw us to Him, and how <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">that</i> makes us better parents.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">This hardback book, published by Zondervan, contains fifty-two devotions followed by reflection questions. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">It is for parents of all ages and stages. My husband and I have two grown children out on their own and one teen still at home. We are gleaning precious reminders as well as introductions to some new things to ponder and pray about.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Normally, I’ll use the books I’m sent to review as giveaways here on my blog. I like this book so much I plan to keep this one. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">*</span>However, I like it so much, I’m hoping you’ll get one for yourself, so I am giving away a gift certificate to ChristianBook.com! <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>A name from the list of subscribers to this blog will be randomly selected as the winner on Friday, August 10, 2018.<span style="color: #0b5394;">* </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Is your name on the list? Check back next week to see who won!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">In the meantime, share with our blog family here, something you cherish about your children-- who they are, what they're teaching you, or ways you enjoy spending time with them.</span></h4>
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<i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher in return for an honest review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 </span></i></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Sally Mathenyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12714597631578160195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247745367503005076.post-51584966887834801272018-07-27T14:08:00.000-04:002018-07-27T14:08:54.913-04:00Sharing the Son Means Leaving the Shade <div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><i>by Sally Matheny</i></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enthusiasm fresh as the morning</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">My enthusiasm glittered with the morning sun. It was my first time serving a meal at the project. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">People slowly filtered into the commons area. My cheerful greetings were not returned. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Instantly, I sensed a divide greater than the table between us. They had come for the food. Nothing else.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">An inexplicable heaviness stifled communication. Icy silence, as well as sharp tongues, severed most attempts at interaction. It was obvious. We were not welcome. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">After helping distribute the food, I retreated under the </span>outstretched<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> branches of a tree. Thankfully, I’d thought to bring a lawn chair. It provided a secure place to perch and watch the crowd. Most of the missions team stayed under the shady tent. Two or three pastors mingled and tried to chisel out conversations.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Then I saw her. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">A young woman, probably in her early twenties, stood off to the side, alone. She was looking around as if searching for something. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">I hesitated. The last woman I had approached gruffly informed me she was waiting on someone. Perhaps this young woman was waiting as well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Yet, she continued to stand there. Sweat flowed down her face. She hugged her drink and chips in one arm and her hamburger in the other. What was she looking for?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Seating was limited. Most people grabbed their food and hustled back to their homes. Could this woman possibly be one of the few who wanted to sit and stay awhile?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Slowly, I eased out from under the tree’s protection. I wondered if she would be like the others and berate me for being there. I was an outsider—different ethnicity, different economic level, a different worldview.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Hi. Are you looking for someone?” I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">She shyly shook her head no. I didn’t recognize any anger in her face. It appeared to be more like discomfort. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Would you like to sit down to eat?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">A simple nod yes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">I looked around at the few tables provided. No empty seats. I scanned the grassy area under the trees. An empty chair sat beside mine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Would you like to sit under the tree? It’s cooler.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9-1GgmV_8OY/V7d5ZajafrI/AAAAAAAAD90/u72Fbw0QftI-zfGEDUUQ_1MWyL382Vh0gCLcB/s1600/aesthetic-357633_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9-1GgmV_8OY/V7d5ZajafrI/AAAAAAAAD90/u72Fbw0QftI-zfGEDUUQ_1MWyL382Vh0gCLcB/s400/aesthetic-357633_1920.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sharing the Son Means Leaving the Shade</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">She nodded and followed me to the tree. The distance was short, but we didn’t arrive in time to claim both chairs. Only my chair was left so I offered it to her.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">As she sat down, I introduced myself. She told me her name but I couldn't hear her over someone yelling. I did not ask her to repeat it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">I smiled, trying hard not to be insincerely cheery. “It’s nice to meet you. I hope you like your burger.” </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">An awkward silence followed. I motioned toward the tent. “I’ve got to go help serve.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">She smiled with another silent nod. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">As I stood under the shade of the tent, I kept looking back over at the tree. The woman quietly ate. A young man chattered away beside her but she wasn’t responding.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Something inside told me to go tell her <i>why</i> we were there. We weren’t just giving away free meals. We were sharing the love and hope of Jesus Christ. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">But the earlier rejections of the crowd stifled my response. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The crowd dwindled. Only a few remained in line. I decided handing out napkins to folks would be helpful. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Would you like a napkin?” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">A few minutes passed. Another expressionless face approached. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Would you like a napkin?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Another five minutes passed before anyone needed my valuable napkin distribution service. <i>This is ridiculous. I should just go talk to her. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">I neatly stacked the napkins on the corner of the table and turned back towards the tree. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">She was g<span style="font-size: 12pt;">one. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">As quietly as she had slipped into my life, she had slipped out. Along with my opportunity to tell her how much God loves her. And how He offers a joy so great, that she’d have a hard time staying so quiet.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Re3-2yy0UDw/V7d4GrBnByI/AAAAAAAAD9o/i29ufJFogXwxZobPfQQUiDfWJnYuu3eOgCLcB/s1600/acorn-1030819_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Re3-2yy0UDw/V7d4GrBnByI/AAAAAAAAD9o/i29ufJFogXwxZobPfQQUiDfWJnYuu3eOgCLcB/s400/acorn-1030819_1920.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plant a seed of hope.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">And for my silence, I am sorry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Perhaps she already had a relationship with Christ. I hope so.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">I understand when we first meet someone, it’s not always the best time to share Christ. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Although often, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">it is.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><sup><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></sup></b></div>
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<b><sup><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></sup></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><sup> </sup></b>”But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 23.05pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Always be prepared </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 23.05pt;">to give an answer to everyone who asks you </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 23.05pt;">to give the reason for the hope that you have. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 23.05pt;">But do this with gentleness and respect.”</span><span style="line-height: 23.05pt;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)</span></div>
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Sally Mathenyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12714597631578160195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247745367503005076.post-21974539090985538882018-07-23T21:00:00.000-04:002018-07-24T09:56:24.352-04:00Going in Circles? Recognize the Progress. <br>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">By Sally Matheny</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1k-YM3ACuB-09IwjdcWlnn_58PBGH1u8zG5Dt_hG2674ZrZJQWk9oUt85hJ5M_LdukonQlXto-ZaUpsO3dcj8HqRUh47Hoa5J_MFVVqqn338JqZOP_MjJd0vgiBNiK51WifoRMD-ALsY/s1600/spiral+staircase+pixabay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1085" data-original-width="1600" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1k-YM3ACuB-09IwjdcWlnn_58PBGH1u8zG5Dt_hG2674ZrZJQWk9oUt85hJ5M_LdukonQlXto-ZaUpsO3dcj8HqRUh47Hoa5J_MFVVqqn338JqZOP_MjJd0vgiBNiK51WifoRMD-ALsY/s320/spiral+staircase+pixabay.jpg" width="320"></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i> </i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;">Do you feel like you’re going in circles and wonder if you’re accomplishing anything? We work like crazy, but often we find ourselves questioning if we’re succeeding at anything. We may understand our goal, but we fail to recognize any progress in achieving it.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0px; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;">Sound familiar? I have days I feel like this. Lots of days.</span></div>
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<a href="http://sallymatheny.blogspot.com/2018/07/feel-like-youre-going-in-circles.html#more"></a>Sally Mathenyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12714597631578160195noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247745367503005076.post-86941046684257528522018-06-29T08:30:00.000-04:002018-06-28T21:22:38.342-04:00Honoring True Freedom<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i>by Sally Matheny</i></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aLx6SsaGBMM/V3sFAZv1z5I/AAAAAAAAD5E/VhnBu8F0eEwfuMTvwOUUxRxI9bu6v12UQCLcB/s1600/giant-flag-882717_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aLx6SsaGBMM/V3sFAZv1z5I/AAAAAAAAD5E/VhnBu8F0eEwfuMTvwOUUxRxI9bu6v12UQCLcB/s320/giant-flag-882717_1280.jpg" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Honoring True Freedom</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In my youth, I did not realize the full value of my
freedom. My understanding only went as far as my own limitations.</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Why can’t I watch that T.V. show?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“When will I get to drive a car?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Where can I go with my friends?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As I grew, so did my perception of freedom.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I learned people sacrificed their own freedom for mine. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I may never fully comprehend the price some have paid, or
adequately appreciate those who are still hammering out the preservation of my freedom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">One reason for my ignorance is because someone cared enough to protect me from that knowledge. I once heard a special agent say if an evil
event didn’t make the news, because his team prevented it from happening, then
their mission was accomplished.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div><a href="http://sallymatheny.blogspot.com/2016/07/honoring-true-freedom.html#more"></a>Sally Mathenyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12714597631578160195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247745367503005076.post-28963046285452220652018-06-24T23:03:00.001-04:002018-06-26T18:29:33.290-04:00The Treasures Found on Our Diamond Dig<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><i>by Sally Matheny</i></span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><i></i><i></i><i></i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ANKcyUG7ISI/WzBNphmzdYI/AAAAAAAAE90/gKxN_COVY1gch9CzgagDUoQVETA1pxzLgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1685%2B%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ANKcyUG7ISI/WzBNphmzdYI/AAAAAAAAE90/gKxN_COVY1gch9CzgagDUoQVETA1pxzLgCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_1685%2B%25281%2529.JPG" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12.8px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
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The Treasures Found on Our Diamond Dig</div>
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(<i style="font-size: 12.8px; padding-top: 0px;">Photos by Sally Matheny)</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">When I first heard of the Crater of Diamonds State Park
in Arkansas, I knew our family had to go. We are all into watching television
shows of folks mining and digging for buried treasures. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">We have panned for gold before since it’s part of our region’s history.</span><br>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Although today, gold is like an elusive family member in
these parts. Diamonds are like aliens from another planet.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">
<br>
</span><br>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Maybe they’re not as rare as aliens, but the last diamond
found remotely close to where we live was in Kings Mountain, North Carolina.
And that was in 1893!</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">So we headed to Murfreesboro, Arkansas where thousands of
diamonds have been discovered. Let me tell you about about the treasures we
found on our diamond dig!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><br></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"></span><br>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 10.66px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 17.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">In
route, we discussed what we would name our diamond, should we find one, because
that is what you really get to do. It's officially recorded in the books.</span></span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 10.66px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 17.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Of course, my boy was coming up with crazy names while I
was thinking how much of the gospel I could fit into a name. Don’t laugh! There
has been a 2.93-carat “God’s Blessing,” a 5.16-carat “God’s Glory” (found after
only ten minutes of searching!), and a 2.85-carat “God’s Jewel” which later sold
for $20,000.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 10.66px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 17.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">So, if the Lord blessed me with a diamond, you bet I was
going to fit Jesus in there somewhere. </span></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 10.66px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 17.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Once we arrived, we paid $10.00 each to enter the world’s
only “Keep What You Find” diamond site.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 10.66px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 17.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Our enthusiasm to “get rich quick” pushed us quickly
through the informational section of the center. I tried to catch a few glimpses
of an instructional video while the guys went to retrieve mining equipment. </span></div>
</div>
</span><br>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 10.66px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 17.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">On average, one to two diamonds a day are discovered at the crater, so we wanted to get started and find one before anyone else. Oh, my, that does sound a bit greedy, doesn't it?</span></span><br>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 17.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RxPc_n2wuoY/WzBLgaBzSEI/AAAAAAAAE9M/p23S37NT1EQB5DWoxUEeRu2kzLyTMiaIACEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_1675.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1203" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RxPc_n2wuoY/WzBLgaBzSEI/AAAAAAAAE9M/p23S37NT1EQB5DWoxUEeRu2kzLyTMiaIACEwYBhgL/s320/IMG_1675.JPG" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>It's all fun in the sun until Mom gets hot and hangry.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Once on the field, my family’s search techniques varied.
My husband picked a spot smackdab in the middle of the thirty-eight acres of
plowed volcanic dirt and sat down to sift one bit at a time.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">My son found a shady spot on the edge and I began
walking. One of those quick glances at the instructional video mentioned
something about just walking around looking for something shiny. I can’t stay
in one place long, so I set out to meander through the plowed rows. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">My plan was for us to search from 8 -12:00, take a break
and eat a picnic lunch, and then search again from 1:00 – 3:00. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Even though we began early in the morning, the
June day heated up quickly. We were glad we brought water. We carried it and the
little shovel and hoe we brought from home in a white five-gallon bucket we
purchased at the park. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">So, from time to time, we’d all gather at our
white bucket of supplies, drink water and show our recent finds.</span></div>
<br>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ye5516O-bTU/WzBNFpr-GmI/AAAAAAAAE9s/XQnWXCKx5iQ6eTYRvzjfuakPNwj6t7ANACEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_1668.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ye5516O-bTU/WzBNFpr-GmI/AAAAAAAAE9s/XQnWXCKx5iQ6eTYRvzjfuakPNwj6t7ANACEwYBhgL/s320/IMG_1668.JPG" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Are we searching wisely?</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><i></i><i></i><i></i>Our pockets quickly filled with rocks we thought looked
unusual enough to hold onto. Perhaps they contained a valuable gem of some sort. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">While we knew most of the diamonds found are smaller than a pencil eraser, we also knew a 16.37-carat diamond had been found there in 1975, so if rocks were shiny,
we shoved them in our pockets. We also crammed in a few just for their unusual
green and red colors. </span></div>
<br>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">After searching for what seemed forever, I finally found
my husband and told him I thought we must have worked through lunch and
probably needed to stop and go eat. I’m one of those you don’t want to get “hangry.” </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">I thought surely it was well past 2:00 when I asked my husband for the time. To
my surprise, I learned all the toil and sweat occurred in only three hours. It
was only 11:30! I was so hot, tired, and almost hangry. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">I wasn’t the only one. The guys said they’d had enough.
What? But we have not found a diamond! I suggested we at least go to the
sluicing station and rinse off our rocks so the park ranger could identify if
we had any treasures.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">And that’s when the truth hit us like a boulder. </span><br>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">We had
not bothered to take time to listen thoroughly for instructions. Sweaty with
exhaustion, we noticed people with more patience and experience working in the
cool water.</span><br>
<br>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">They had carried dirt in their buckets to the station.
The same kind of bucket in which we had only carried bottles of water and other
things for our comfort. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">They were sifting handfuls of dirt and TINY rocks, not at
all like the ones bulging like tumors in our pockets.</span><br>
<br>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">After sifting in the water, their trays of dirt were lifted
out, and quickly flipped over on a wooden board. Then, carefully, bit by bit, they studied meticulously, sometimes with the end of a knife, in search of
anything reflective. The deceiving mica was flicked out and the search
continued.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">I sensed the seasoned miner in the safari hat trying to suppress
a grin as he saw our empty bucket and bulging pockets. </span></div>
<br>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-03HJjIxHICg/WzBNTr5M0OI/AAAAAAAAE9w/Ue8u0HSGxU0-KfyOTJxt2ZLmSUT3ki2yACEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_1680%2B%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-03HJjIxHICg/WzBNTr5M0OI/AAAAAAAAE9w/Ue8u0HSGxU0-KfyOTJxt2ZLmSUT3ki2yACEwYBhgL/s320/IMG_1680%2B%25281%2529.JPG" width="320"></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Trying to save face, I announced, a bit loudly, to my
son, to “go ahead and wash your SOUVENIR rocks.”</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Yes. Yes, I did. </span><br>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">And no, no my son would not do it.</span><br>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">My sweet hubby handled the situation differently. He said, “I’m going to go get a bucket of dirt.” </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">I sat in the shade, too embarrassed to pull the clunky
rocks out of my pockets. I watched my husband dump his out in front of the
pros. He washed them off and set them aside. </span><br>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><br></span>
<br>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Then, he watched the others and
tried his hand at sifting. After a while, we called it a
day and went on a picnic.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">fter I suppressed my hanger with food, we laughed about our experience. The park ranger had kindly identified our pretty souvenir <i>rocks</i>. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 17.33px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">The "treasures" we
found on our diamond dig were not what we had expected.</span></span></span><br>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 17.33px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span><br>
</div><a href="http://sallymatheny.blogspot.com/2018/06/the-treasures-found-on-our-diamond-dig.html#more"></a>Sally Mathenyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12714597631578160195noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247745367503005076.post-32257689492552004602018-06-09T07:00:00.000-04:002018-05-18T18:52:39.294-04:00Chiming In With Humility and Grace <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ed-up74Hx2g/VT7a2Zl02hI/AAAAAAAADQs/BUTpa83wMnI/s1600/wind%2Bchimes%2B%26%2Btree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ed-up74Hx2g/VT7a2Zl02hI/AAAAAAAADQs/BUTpa83wMnI/s1600/wind%2Bchimes%2B%26%2Btree.jpg"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Chiming in with humility and grace.</i><br>
<br></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">After several days of rainy
weather, a sunny afternoon enticed me to sit on the back porch. </span><br>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Enveloped in
the warm rays of sunlight, I closed my eyes. A faint, peaceful <i>ting-ting s</i>tirred from the metal, wind chimes.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Burdened for a Christian family struggling
to find peace, I began to pray. I did not know all the details, but apparently years
ago, their miscommunication hurt some friends' feelings. </span><br>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br>
</div><a href="http://sallymatheny.blogspot.com/2015/04/chiming-in-with-humility-and-grace.html#more"></a>Sally Mathenyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12714597631578160195noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247745367503005076.post-56910896387770217852018-05-18T21:28:00.001-04:002018-08-01T13:15:34.099-04:00Book Review and Giveaway of LIVE FEARLESS by Sadie Robertson<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><i>by Sally Matheny</i></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-44yIu2zQWfY/Wv975ZbIsEI/AAAAAAAAE8g/sZoqA31hRfII11QPpunKzs1j8Zb2YdJDgCLcBGAs/s1600/Live%2BFearless.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="327" data-original-width="225" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-44yIu2zQWfY/Wv975ZbIsEI/AAAAAAAAE8g/sZoqA31hRfII11QPpunKzs1j8Zb2YdJDgCLcBGAs/s320/Live%2BFearless.jpg" width="220" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Live Fearless</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><i></i>What are you afraid of? At some point, I think we all have feared <i>something. </i>And we dealt with it in different ways.<i> </i></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">But, do you know
someone who has an unusual amount of apprehension? So much so it regularly affects their lives?</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">I know a woman who is terrified every time the sky
darkens with a pending storm. I have a friend who must have every detail
prepared for Plans B, C, D, and E before even attempting Plan A. Another friend
fears the worst whenever a family member isn’t feeling well. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of
America, “more than forty million people in the U.S., ages eighteen and older,
suffer from anxiety issues.”</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Sadie Robertson, daughter of Willie and Korie Robertson, was
one of those but has discovered a way out of those statistics. She shares her
journey from fear to faith in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">LIVE
FEARLESS: A Call to Power, Passion, and Purpose,</i> published by Thomas Nelson
this year.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">The book, while written for the young adult audience,
packs enough ammo an even older audience can use it in their arsenal against
fear.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">The hardcover, 200-page book includes special features in
each chapter challenging readers to consider and apply the things Sadie has learned to
their own lives. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">She includes helpful suggestions for those who may be new
to praying. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></i></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">One of my favorite features is the “Work the Word”
sections because as Sadie says, </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">“God’s Word is always able to change our lives, shift our
perspectives, and empower us to live in freedom and victory” but “it won’t
happen just because we have a Bible on a shelf or even go to church and open
the Bible to read along with the preacher.” </span></blockquote>
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">We have to “work the Word” by reading it, studying it,
and choosing to believe it’s true in addition to talking to God about it and
asking Him to use it to transform our lives.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">I also like the quotes highlighted throughout the book
because they are true gems. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Here are a few.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“The key ingredient to overcoming fear is not just
speaking to it, it’s speaking to it in Jesus’ name.”</span></blockquote>
</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“When we’re afraid, we have a tendency to pray and ask
God for peace before we’ll step out and do what frightens us. But most of the
time, we simply need to move forward.”</span></blockquote>
</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“The enemy is afraid of your becoming everything God
wants you to be.”</span></blockquote>
</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">In addition to asking questions for readers to reflect
upon, Sadie includes hands-on practical advice such as how to find a godly
mentor, how to talk with unbelievers, and more. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Time after time, Sadie nails it by presenting the truth
of God’s Word. And I’m not talking about one verse inserted at the beginning of
a chapter. The book is saturated with scripture and Sadie dives right in
talking about it and applying it to life.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">The book is interesting as she shares her experiences and
fears from her childhood, teen years, and her young adult days on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dancing with the Stars.</i> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">But the focus in the book isn’t on what Sadie Robertson
has done. She continually directs readers to her Redeemer and points out what
He has done. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">I really like this book. It is a positive resource pointing
to truth and the power to live fearless.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">I’d love to give a copy of this book away to one of you! All
you have to do is leave a comment below.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">What to say? </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Tell us an area of your life you want to live more courageously.
Share a helpful scripture for those who may be struggling with fear. Or simply
type another word (or more) that mean fearless!</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">I’ll draw a random name from all those who comment and announce
the winner on Thursday, May 24. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
AND THE WINNER IS...<br />
<br />
Autumn Celeste! Congratulations Autumn! I'll be in touch on where to deliver your book. Thanks to all who commented. There will be another giveaway soon!<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><i><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book
free from the publisher in return for an honest review. The opinions I have
expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade
Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 </span></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">
</span>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Sally Mathenyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12714597631578160195noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247745367503005076.post-10124500610615390942018-05-14T15:13:00.004-04:002018-05-15T21:00:13.035-04:00How Can My Ordinary Life Make an Extraordinary Difference in the World? <i>by Sally Matheny</i><br>
<div>
<i><br></i></div>
<div>
<br></div>
<br>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EfkOhnIMVNs/WvnSaZq95QI/AAAAAAAAE70/v-GQRbr7xXcYWKFG6XLLPBsgDl7r83dhQCLcBGAs/s1600/couple%2Btalking%2BPixabay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1071" data-original-width="1600" height="214" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EfkOhnIMVNs/WvnSaZq95QI/AAAAAAAAE70/v-GQRbr7xXcYWKFG6XLLPBsgDl7r83dhQCLcBGAs/s320/couple%2Btalking%2BPixabay.jpg" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
<i>How can my ordinary life make a difference?</i></div>
<div>
<i>(Pixabay photo)</i></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Ordinary. We all feel it. </span></div>
<br>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">As we age, we wonder. Are we making a difference in the
world? </span></div>
<br>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">In the end, we want our lives to have mattered. To have lived
with purpose and in such a way that brought about significant change.</span></div>
<br>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Many people work like a whirlwind, searching and striving
to accomplish some grand <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">something. </i></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><i><br></i></span></div>
<br>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Others have their life gauge set on survival mode or shift
to mediocre living the rest of their days. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">There is another way to live. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Our ordinary lives can make an extraordinary difference
in the world. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<a href="http://sallymatheny.blogspot.com/2018/05/how-can-my-ordinary-life-make.html#more"></a>Sally Mathenyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12714597631578160195noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247745367503005076.post-49556827879348931792018-04-27T19:53:00.000-04:002018-05-07T18:54:15.612-04:00A Story About Two Famous LEGO Craftsmen<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<i>by Sally Matheny</i><br>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<br>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DC7ODPHplPM/WuO1MrHuKAI/AAAAAAAAE7E/jdGPl-UNgsgBUOm442cWEEvQb6cl48OhwCLcBGAs/s1600/Lego%2B1%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="242" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DC7ODPHplPM/WuO1MrHuKAI/AAAAAAAAE7E/jdGPl-UNgsgBUOm442cWEEvQb6cl48OhwCLcBGAs/s320/Lego%2B1%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="193"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(<i>Part Christiansen and part Saway</i>a)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This is a story about two, famous Lego®
craftsmen. It’s not meant to inspire you to build with colorful, plastic bricks—although
it may. Read on and find your motivation. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Have you heard of Ole Kirk Christiansen? Probably not,
but I am sure you’ve heard of his company. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ole Kirk, one of ten children who grew up in an
impoverished home, worked hard as a wood craftsman in Denmark. Years later,
after focusing more on toys than anything else, he named his toyshop “Lego.” Originally,
he made wooden toys, but later, in 1947, his company expanded to make plastic
toys. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ole Kirk was well known for saying, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Det bedste er ikke for godt.” </i>Essentially, that meant, “the best is
never too good.” He insisted his toys be of the highest quality. Not all
toymakers stood by that motto. But we know by their continued success, the LEGO®
company, did and still does. </span><br>
<br>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><br>
</div></div><a href="http://sallymatheny.blogspot.com/2013/08/the-best-of-lego-and-you.html#more"></a>Sally Mathenyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12714597631578160195noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247745367503005076.post-1537631922988225362018-04-20T11:44:00.003-04:002018-04-30T20:43:39.107-04:00Talking with Author Carrie Daws about A NEW HOME FOR ALLIE and a Giveaway!<br>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">by Sally Matheny</span></i></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LLsl0oon660/Wtn-7Fs291I/AAAAAAAAE6g/bQl0aJnX-AUQ19ywpmYDPegsZIJhLkjewCLcBGAs/s1600/Allie%2BFront%2BCover%255B5839%255D.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="961" data-original-width="1248" height="246" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LLsl0oon660/Wtn-7Fs291I/AAAAAAAAE6g/bQl0aJnX-AUQ19ywpmYDPegsZIJhLkjewCLcBGAs/s320/Allie%2BFront%2BCover%255B5839%255D.jpeg" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A New Home for Allie</i> by Carrie Daws</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">This month, Ambassador International releases a beautiful
children’s picture book, A NEW HOME FOR ALLIE. Carrie Daws penned the sweet
story about a giraffe named Allie. Joanie Bruce painted the charming
illustrations.</span></div>
<br>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">The main character, Allie, lives with her parents in
Kenya. Her dad serves in the Animal Jungle Patrol. Allie learns her dad
received orders and her family must move to Somalia. As her new journey
unfolds, so do her concerns about moving. </span></div>
<br>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">I caught up with the author of this book in between her
writing, speaking, homeschooling, and serving our military community alongside
her husband at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. She kindly agreed to share some of
her own journey with us.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<a href="http://sallymatheny.blogspot.com/2018/04/talking-with-author-carrie-daws-about.html#more"></a>Sally Mathenyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12714597631578160195noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247745367503005076.post-46355060752849149392018-04-13T20:07:00.001-04:002018-04-30T20:44:11.518-04:00Giveaway & Book Review of LIVE. SAVE. SPEND. REPEAT—The Life You Want with the Money You Have<i>by Sally Matheny</i><br>
<div>
<i><br></i></div>
<div>
<i><br></i></div>
<br>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU4Rq_oMzz2cR4lp-G_HLlX7n1-EPw-0W0dQ1WCveaVaKuxHVFHC3tGCJ3q5I5l5YVZgyO-M75pJj1aBZrL-aHm0tCnEdITnVEeceI-F3kGWfNBomWwOTstQKDtwGazsJNRKBOdAJ2P_c/s1600/book+live.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="626" data-original-width="397" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU4Rq_oMzz2cR4lp-G_HLlX7n1-EPw-0W0dQ1WCveaVaKuxHVFHC3tGCJ3q5I5l5YVZgyO-M75pJj1aBZrL-aHm0tCnEdITnVEeceI-F3kGWfNBomWwOTstQKDtwGazsJNRKBOdAJ2P_c/s320/book+live.jpg" width="202"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
<i>Are you ready to live the life</i></div>
<div>
<i>you want with the money you have?</i></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><i></i><i></i>Kim Anderson and her husband paid off 93,000 in debt in
two years on ONE income. Then, she wrote this handy little book about it.</span></div>
<br>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Good news spills out from the beginning with
encouragement to start right where you are.</span></div>
<br>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">The book addresses many topics similar in style to that
of financial advisors, Larry Burkett and Dave Ramsey. How to set practical
goals, create a doable budget, and how to make do with what you have. </span></div>
<br>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Each chapter begins with a Bible verse or a wise saying. Helpful,
“Thrifty Little Tips” and “Momentum Milestones” are scattered throughout the
book. The chapters end with an easy-to-read bulleted recap of the content. Some
chapters provide work space for budgeting and setting goals.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><br></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><br></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<a href="http://sallymatheny.blogspot.com/2018/04/giveaway-book-review-of-live-save-spend.html#more"></a>Sally Mathenyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12714597631578160195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247745367503005076.post-42339111442473529522018-04-09T16:01:00.001-04:002018-04-30T20:44:43.642-04:00Book Review & Giveaway of GOD BLESS YOU & GOOD NIGHT and the Winner of I PRAYED FOR YOU<i>by Sally Matheny</i><br>
<div>
<i><br></i></div>
<div>
<br></div>
<br>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uWrJiMDcaQY/Wsu-gy7goOI/AAAAAAAAE5U/o13DRNUwkNkTnFQ1fUIweSuP4ZQJlUdtQCLcBGAs/s1600/Book%2BGod%2BBless%2BYou%2Band%2BGood%2BNight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uWrJiMDcaQY/Wsu-gy7goOI/AAAAAAAAE5U/o13DRNUwkNkTnFQ1fUIweSuP4ZQJlUdtQCLcBGAs/s1600/Book%2BGod%2BBless%2BYou%2Band%2BGood%2BNight.jpg"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>God Bless You & Good Night</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Bestselling author, Hannah C. Hall has done it again. Her
tenth book in the popular A God Bless Book series, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">God Bless You & Good Night</i> is sure to delight little ones and
those who read to them.</span></div>
<br>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">As the title suggests, this is a get-ready-for-bedtime
book. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">The talented illustrator of the series, Steve Whitlow, creates amazing, beautiful,
and humorous illustrations for this book as well.</span></div>
<br>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Each full-color, two-page spread shows a different animal parent
addressing different bedtime rituals. A cute polar bear in striped pajama pants
receives a yummy snack, the otters have fun in their bath, and my favorite is
the baby penguin in his <i>penguin</i> pajamas ready for bedtime. </span></div>
<a href="http://sallymatheny.blogspot.com/2018/04/book-review-giveaway-of-god-bless-you.html#more"></a>Sally Mathenyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12714597631578160195noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247745367503005076.post-68679119291012859382018-04-02T20:13:00.002-04:002018-04-02T20:22:27.582-04:00Review and Giveaway of Children’s Picture Book: I PRAYED FOR YOU<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><i>by Sally Matheny</i></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n8sztxfnj-k/WsLBfZV89MI/AAAAAAAAE4w/eRu7AyLaR047uWLhlPKFXdKYhYigQcfSgCLcBGAs/s1600/book%2Bcover%2Bfor%2BI%2BPrayed%2Bfor%2BYou.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="234" data-original-width="225" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n8sztxfnj-k/WsLBfZV89MI/AAAAAAAAE4w/eRu7AyLaR047uWLhlPKFXdKYhYigQcfSgCLcBGAs/s1600/book%2Bcover%2Bfor%2BI%2BPrayed%2Bfor%2BYou.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I PRAYED FOR YOU Book Giveaway</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">This book is dedicated to “all the mamas who prayed for their babies
and for the mamas-at-heart still waiting.” </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">I’m always on the lookout for books with
beginnings which are suitable for adopted children as well as biological
babies. I PRAYED FOR YOU, written by Jean Fischer, is one of those special
finds.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">A mama bear tells her child of the various prayers she
has prayed for him. The main text of the story does not rhyme but on each page,
is a sentence prayer which does rhyme.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">“Dear loving Father in heaven above, send a sweet baby
for Mama to love.”</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">As Mama bears shares about the things her little one has
done as he has grown, she also shares about the different prayers she has
prayed pertaining to those things. The point of the sweet story is Mama bear
will always be praying for her child as he grows. I liked this book.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">The illustrations by Frank Endersby are beautiful. The
only illustration that seemed a bit odd was the last one. The story progresses
from babyhood to starting school. The very first illustration is of the baby
bear in a cradle. The last illustration shows him in that same cradle. The
story flows well and has a precious ending. But the book shows a growing bear who
plays soccer. Clearly, he would not still fit in that cradle. </span></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BtZx904CSfk/WsLEdcwvT7I/AAAAAAAAE48/Tn4m_5xVqyIQL4wXWiRoCpOG4YumK4FlACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_5453%2B%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="639" height="213" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BtZx904CSfk/WsLEdcwvT7I/AAAAAAAAE48/Tn4m_5xVqyIQL4wXWiRoCpOG4YumK4FlACLcBGAs/s320/IMG_5453%2B%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little bear and book for your little one.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">He has the same blanket as well, but we know some
little ones will sleep with their baby blankets for many, many years!</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Boys and girls, ages 4-8, will enjoy this hardcover book
reminding them of God’s love and the love of a praying mama. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">It would make a
great gift for a baby shower, adoption celebration, or child’s birthday.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">I’m giving this 32-page, hardcover book and a little stuffed bear away to
someone who comments below. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Tell us ONE thing you pray (or have prayed) for a little
one who’s precious to you. All those who comment will have their names placed
in a drawing for the book and the bear. A winner will be randomly selected on Sunday, April
8 and announced here.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana;">
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book
free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <</i><a href="http://booklookbloggers.com/"><i><span style="color: windowtext; margin: 0px;">http://booklookbloggers.com</span></i></a><i>>
book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review.
The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance
with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 </i></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<br /></div>
</span><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Sally Mathenyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12714597631578160195noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247745367503005076.post-59985316342216198202018-03-25T18:20:00.000-04:002018-03-25T18:34:36.809-04:00Christ’s Resurrection: Deny It or Apply It<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i>by Sally Matheny</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4vY2urPECTDmgPwDhcufpAQEkazFFv0pir2P7Dz3vQCkWklF6o1u1c99-Q2hPBonJb44XG614RhAWFkauPIwfQMcefBEHLjJ1fHhzJm1NqTOGCMzcyp8-VUZIoSnl2eFr309qrweHqE0/s1600/cross-918459_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4vY2urPECTDmgPwDhcufpAQEkazFFv0pir2P7Dz3vQCkWklF6o1u1c99-Q2hPBonJb44XG614RhAWFkauPIwfQMcefBEHLjJ1fHhzJm1NqTOGCMzcyp8-VUZIoSnl2eFr309qrweHqE0/s320/cross-918459_1920.jpg" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christ's Resurrection: Deny It or Apply It</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Plastic eggs or real ones? Hollow chocolate or solid? Stuffed
animals or real ones?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">These are the decisions people make around this time of
year. They can even choose a
combination. I’m pretty sure you cannot
go wrong with chocolate—ever. Okay,
maybe in quantity consumed, but as far as the choice of thickness, then
no. Furthermore, combining hollow,
solid, and even crispy chocolates are okay. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Not everything has to be an
either/or selection.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">However, some things in life demand a solid stance on
one side or another.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Easter is drawing near. It’s more than a celebration of
spring and new life. It’s a time to commemorate Christ’s resurrection. Will we
deny it or apply it? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">One of Jesus’ disciples, Peter, provides us with a
testimony of Easter reminders to help us decide.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Easter
reminds Christians to have faith—even in the midst of chaos.</span></b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the
evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV) <o:p></o:p></blockquote>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Peter, a disciple of Jesus, loved Him. He swore his
allegiance to Him. When the soldiers came to arrest Jesus in the garden, Peter drew
his sword. Heart beating wildly in his chest, he tested his courage by swinging
his sword toward the high priest’s servant. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Jesus rebuked him and ordered him to put away his sword.
Confusion silently crept in Peter as he watched Jesus relinquish to the guards.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Following Jesus at a distance, Peter’s mind must have
been whirling. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i>Why doesn’t Jesus change the
situation as He has done before? He’s quieted a raging storm, supplied for many
out of practically nothing, and even brought the dead back to life. Why does He
not take charge of this chaos?<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i><br></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Suddenly, the unthinkable happened. Everything seemed
out of control. If his Lord was bound and beaten, Peter must’ve been wondering what
could possibly happen next. What would become of him? Had Jesus lost His power?
The enemy ensnared Peter in a tsunami of fear.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br></div>
<a href="http://sallymatheny.blogspot.com/2017/04/christs-resurrection-deny-it-or-apply-it.html#more"></a>Sally Mathenyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12714597631578160195noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247745367503005076.post-10208615194274969192018-03-17T23:17:00.001-04:002018-03-19T18:23:21.161-04:00How to Deal with a Child’s Repeated Misbehavior<br>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><i>by Sally Matheny</i></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yVNsWqEkYvg/Wq3SAHzDFII/AAAAAAAAE2k/LkJ_Y7Wnnqss9KOa1rpApGvtVTaNEZzDwCLcBGAs/s1600/child%2Bsilhouette.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="962" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yVNsWqEkYvg/Wq3SAHzDFII/AAAAAAAAE2k/LkJ_Y7Wnnqss9KOa1rpApGvtVTaNEZzDwCLcBGAs/s400/child%2Bsilhouette.jpg" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
Dealing with a Child's Misbehavior</div>
<div>
(<i>pixabay photo)</i></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><i></i>What do you do when your children keep repeating the same
misbehavior? Whether it’s disrespect, dishonesty, or a despicable attitude, you’d
think they’d get tired of listening to the same lecture about the error of
their ways. Or the penalties, which increase in severity with each infraction,
would finally produce the desired behavior. </span></div>
<br>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Alas, any improvement seems temporary. So, how do we deal
with a child’s repeated misbehavior?</span></div>
<br>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Whether the child is six or sixteen, too often, parents
hear, “But I didn’t understand” or “I didn’t hear you” or something similar.
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Half the time we don’t believe that, but to close any loopholes, consider following
through with a few of these steps.</span></div>
<br>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">The
Basics</span></b></div>
<br>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">There are numerous resources available for parents on the
basics of setting <u><span style="color: #4472c4; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-choose-appropriate-consequences-2997354"><span style="color: #4472c4; margin: 0px;">age-appropriate</span></a> rules</span></u>,
discipline, rewards, and consequences. My favorite websites are Focus on the
Family, Christian Parenting, and Lifeway. However, the link I provided is from TheSpruce.com.
I liked the easy-to-understand article there.</span></div>
<br>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">I’ll only mention a few key points beyond what’s in that
article, because I’m thinking if you clicked on this title, you’re already
implementing those and need something more. </span></div>
<br>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Remember:</span></div>
<br>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Maintain eye contact when talking with your child. Make
sure you have their undivided attention when discussing behavior expectations. </span></div>
<br>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Explain in an age-appropriate manner why it’s important
to have the desired behavior. Preferably this is not simply stating, “because I
said so!”</span></div>
<br>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Ask the child to repeat back to you what you’ve said. </span></div>
<br>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Stay calm. Berating or ridiculing children is not the
best answer. Be gracious. Remember all the times in the Bible when Jesus
compassionately restored those who sinned? </span></div>
<br>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Offer do-overs. Start the day with new mercies and a clean
slate. It’s possible for children to experience grace as well as the consequences
for sin. We all know that.</span></div>
<br>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Sincerely listen to your child’s input on the matter.
It’s only by listening and following up with questions that we can begin to
understand the root of the problem.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
</div>
<a href="http://sallymatheny.blogspot.com/2018/03/how-to-deal-with-childs-repeated.html#more"></a>Sally Mathenyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12714597631578160195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247745367503005076.post-70640126042847726142018-03-04T20:56:00.000-05:002018-03-04T20:57:43.144-05:00The Book That Brought Me Home <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QMjDd4Pd02o/U2ampbezKgI/AAAAAAAACKg/bVxzP3ivxGo/s1600/book+Women+Leaving+the+Workplace.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QMjDd4Pd02o/U2ampbezKgI/AAAAAAAACKg/bVxzP3ivxGo/s1600/book+Women+Leaving+the+Workplace.png" width="212" /></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><i>by Sally
Matheny<o:p></o:p></i></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Not long ago, I was asked to participate in a
blog hop for the on-line magazine, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Books
Make a</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Difference.</i> I am to share how a particular book has made a
difference in my life. The problem lies in narrowing it down to one book!</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Books have influenced my whole
life.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> But o</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">ne particular turning point
occurred when I was thirty years old.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">My
life brimmed with children—twenty -eight kindergarten students during the day, and my
own two toddlers at night. In addition to His Holy Word, God used another book
to drastically change that number of children, and to reroute my life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Even though I loved teaching kindergarten, my little girls continually begged me to stay at home with them. I, too, longed to devote more time to their momentary childhood. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, my husband and I were living paycheck
to paycheck. The first time I brought the topic up with my husband he said, "What? I don't know if we can pay our bills on one income!"</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I picked up the book, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Women Leaving the Workplace,</i> by Larry Burkett (Moody Publisher,
1999). It was the book that brought me home for good.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Burkett is well known for
his successful financial advising. Writing with a Christian worldview, he did
a superb job offering spiritual counsel and practical advice for women
considering coming home full-time. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For
months, we followed several of Burkett’s suggestions. We practiced living
solely on my husband’s income. That meant selling our new car in exchange for a
used one. We ate out less often and practiced Burkett’s envelope budgeting
system. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> We </span>talked with our girls about the possibility of me leaving my teaching job. If I "came home for good," we would not have money for
many extra things. I'll never forget how I felt when our four-year-old replied, “Oh, that’s okay, Mommy. I don’t need
anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All I want is <i>you</i>.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Women Leaving the Workplace</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> helped equip us to take a leap of faith and be obedient to what
God was calling our family to do. We were amazed! Not only were we able to pay
our bills, we were able to save, give tithes and offerings, and still enjoy a few treats along the way. The time at home provided more precious moments with the children and opportunities to teach
their tender hearts. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The encouragement and guidance this book
offered made a difference not only in my life, but also in the lives of my
husband and our children. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Besides budgeting, the book contains a
chapter on how to transition back into the workforce. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At one time, I worked part-time as a church secretary
and my children were allowed to accompany me. However, after our oldest completed second
grade, God called us to a new adventure—homeschooling! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Books
were influential in that decision as well, but that’s another story for another day.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
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</div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Share with us. What book has made a difference in your life?</span></div>
Sally Mathenyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12714597631578160195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247745367503005076.post-55770204323279236232018-02-24T18:42:00.001-05:002018-02-27T21:13:42.644-05:00How Billy Graham’s Life and Death Influenced Me<br>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><i>by Sally Matheny</i></span></div>
<i></i><br>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3fPY7-Bff0s/WpHyl2dq5iI/AAAAAAAAEtI/zFSlCF5LtN4B7QSHK8-xg8zsY4g0Wf4yACLcBGAs/s1600/Billy%2BGraham%2Bflickr%2Bphoto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="443" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3fPY7-Bff0s/WpHyl2dq5iI/AAAAAAAAEtI/zFSlCF5LtN4B7QSHK8-xg8zsY4g0Wf4yACLcBGAs/s400/Billy%2BGraham%2Bflickr%2Bphoto.jpg" width="276"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
<i>Billy Graham Influenced Lives</i></div>
<div>
<i>(flickr photo)</i></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">I spent most of the afternoon watching the motorcade transporting the body of the evangelist, Dr. Billy Graham. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">On roads I travel often, the procession went from
Black Mountain to Charlotte. My daughter and her family were blessed to be in the crowds
lining the streets. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Fire trucks parked at the overpasses and hung
American flags from their ladders. </span><br>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Red heart balloons floated heavenward as the
hearse passed by. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">I only meant to spend a few minutes watching the televised procession. But, just
as it has happened numerous times before, God has an amazing way of proclaiming His love
for people through Rev. Billy Graham. So much so, it was too difficult for me to pry away from the television.</span><br>
<br>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Millions of people will join Rev. Graham in heaven
because of his obedience to proclaim the gospel, and their decision to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">A multitude of tributes and testimonies
will present themselves in the days and years to come. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Many will share how their lives were changed by the words
of Rev. Graham. I know his life, and his death, have influenced me.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<a href="http://sallymatheny.blogspot.com/2018/02/how-billy-grahams-life-and-death.html#more"></a>Sally Mathenyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12714597631578160195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247745367503005076.post-9421198445834335732018-02-18T23:09:00.000-05:002018-02-18T23:09:11.676-05:00Who Should We Honor This President's Day?<br>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"> <i>by Sally Matheny</i></span></div>
<i></i><br>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j5micT2bBK0/WopBXUf7v8I/AAAAAAAAEsM/CszMUBL1z182zkHvppKA41FteOkuevUhQCLcBGAs/s1600/rushmore-1897382_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j5micT2bBK0/WopBXUf7v8I/AAAAAAAAEsM/CszMUBL1z182zkHvppKA41FteOkuevUhQCLcBGAs/s400/rushmore-1897382_1920.jpg" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Who Should We Honor This President's Day?<br>(pixabay photo)</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">It first began as a day of recognition of America’s first president, George Washington. </span><br>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Then, it included Abraham Lincoln. Some folks still cling to those two, but others use the day to celebrate all of America’s presidents…well, at least the ones that represented their political views. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">In a time when some people are wanting to tear down statues and monuments, who should we honor on President’s Day?</span><br>
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana;"></span><br>
<a href="http://sallymatheny.blogspot.com/2018/02/who-should-we-honor-this-presidents-day.html#more"></a>Sally Mathenyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12714597631578160195noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247745367503005076.post-40814316177234644482018-02-11T22:44:00.001-05:002018-02-11T22:45:39.625-05:005 Ways to Create the Best Valentines for Children<br>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><i>by Sally Matheny</i></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2FQ9zJZgvU4/WoEKYryyTiI/AAAAAAAAEro/uTlhZCQSoL4lA3BFM6UG8WSC5HuIpsOrwCLcBGAs/s1600/hearts%2Bi-love-you-673301_1920Pixaby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2FQ9zJZgvU4/WoEKYryyTiI/AAAAAAAAEro/uTlhZCQSoL4lA3BFM6UG8WSC5HuIpsOrwCLcBGAs/s400/hearts%2Bi-love-you-673301_1920Pixaby.jpg" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
<i>One Way to a Child's Heart</i></div>
<div>
<i>(Pixaby Photo)</i></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Valentine cards covered the floor the night before the big day. With my second grade class list in hand, I would spend at least an hour deciding which little sentiment best fit each of my classmates. </span></div>
<br>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Valentine’s Day was always a fun day at school. After
constructing card holders out of pink and red construction paper, students
would scrawl their names in big letters across the front. No one wanted to be
overlooked. Everyone hoped for a fat folder at the end of the day.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">The folders were taped to the front of the desks. Later, the
students would weave through the desks, placing valentine cards in the paper pockets.</span></div>
<br>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Usually there was a party with white frosted cupcakes
topped with red cinnamon hearts, chips, and strawberry Kool-Aid. The teacher gave
each student a box of conversation hearts.</span></div>
<br>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">At some point in the day, everyone tried to see who could
find the most words in the word “valentine.” </span></div>
<br>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Finally, we would open our valentine cards. What a treat it was to read the colorful cards. They made me feel happy, liked, <i>special</i>. </span></div>
<br>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">After school, as soon as we got home, my older sister and
I dumped all our valentine cards out on the floor and went through them
again.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">We greatly appreciated the friends who attached candy to
their cards. Of course, my sister still had candy displayed with her cards, all
lined up in neat little rows. In front of me sat a hodgepodge of perforated
poems mingled with empty wrappers.</span></div>
<br>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">It wasn’t uncommon for me to hang on to those valentines
for months. If a special message was written, I may still have it.</span></div>
<a href="http://sallymatheny.blogspot.com/2018/02/5-ways-to-create-best-valentines-for.html#more"></a>Sally Mathenyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12714597631578160195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247745367503005076.post-51408352125846942432018-01-30T14:55:00.000-05:002018-02-07T21:46:45.768-05:00The Christian Faith of Rosa Parks<br>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><i>by Sally Matheny</i></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YoWhYlLxAzE/WnDE-lX_BiI/AAAAAAAAErA/dwboN4-qZLML4qyRk69Y1yBthpQT0SyEQCLcBGAs/s1600/Rosa-Parks-stamp%2Bfree%2Bto%2Buse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="332" data-original-width="214" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YoWhYlLxAzE/WnDE-lX_BiI/AAAAAAAAErA/dwboN4-qZLML4qyRk69Y1yBthpQT0SyEQCLcBGAs/s400/Rosa-Parks-stamp%2Bfree%2Bto%2Buse.jpg" width="257"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Christian Faith of Rosa Parks</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><i><br></i></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><br></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Rosa Parks said, “As a child, I learned from the Bible to
trust in God and not be afraid. I felt the Lord would give me the strength to
endure whatever I had to face.”</span></div>
<br>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">In honor of what would have been Rosa Park’s 100<sup>th</sup>
birthday, the Henry Ford Museum initiated a National Day of Courage on February
4, 2013. Many gave tribute to the bravery of the former Alabama seamstress, who
on December 1, 1955, chose to disobey the unjust segregation law by refusing to
give her bus seat to a white man.</span></div>
<br>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">What many history books and public speakers fail to
mention is the Christian faith of Rosa Parks. Her faith in Jesus Christ was integral
with the choices she made in her life—some of which changed the lives of millions.</span></div>
<br>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><br></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"></span></div><a href="http://sallymatheny.blogspot.com/2018/01/the-christian-faith-of-rosa-parks.html#more"></a>Sally Mathenyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12714597631578160195noreply@blogger.com0