How Can My Ordinary Life Make an Extraordinary Difference in the World?

by Sally Matheny

How can my ordinary life make a difference?

(Pixabay photo)

Ordinary. We all feel it.

As we age, we wonder. Are we making a difference in the world?

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.

Many people work like a whirlwind, searching and striving to accomplish some grand something.

Others have their life gauge set on survival mode or shift to mediocre living the rest of their days.  

There is another way to live. Our ordinary lives can make an extraordinary difference in the world.  

A Story About Two Famous LEGO Craftsmen

by Sally Matheny

(Part Christiansen and part Sawaya)

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. 

Have you heard of Ole Kirk Christiansen? Probably not, but I am sure you’ve heard of his company. 

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. 

Ole Kirk was well known for saying, “Det bedste er ikke for godt.” 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. 

Talking with Author Carrie Daws about A NEW HOME FOR ALLIE and a Giveaway!

by Sally Matheny

A New Home for Allie by Carrie Daws

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.

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.

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.

Giveaway & Book Review of LIVE. SAVE. SPEND. REPEAT—The Life You Want with the Money You Have

by Sally Matheny

Are you ready to live the life

you want with the money you have?

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.

Good news spills out from the beginning with encouragement to start right where you are.

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.

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.

Book Review & Giveaway of GOD BLESS YOU & GOOD NIGHT and the Winner of I PRAYED FOR YOU

by Sally Matheny

God Bless You & Good Night

Bestselling author, Hannah C. Hall has done it again. Her tenth book in the popular A God Bless Book series, God Bless You & Good Night is sure to delight little ones and those who read to them.

As the title suggests, this is a get-ready-for-bedtime book.

The talented illustrator of the series, Steve Whitlow, creates amazing, beautiful, and humorous illustrations for this book as well.

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 penguin pajamas ready for bedtime.

Review and Giveaway of Children’s Picture Book: I PRAYED FOR YOU

by Sally Matheny

I PRAYED FOR YOU Book Giveaway

This book is dedicated to “all the mamas who prayed for their babies and for the mamas-at-heart still waiting.” 

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.

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.

“Dear loving Father in heaven above, send a sweet baby for Mama to love.”

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.

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.

Little bear and book for your little one.

He has the same blanket as well, but we know some little ones will sleep with their baby blankets for many, many years!

Boys and girls, ages 4-8, will enjoy this hardcover book reminding them of God’s love and the love of a praying mama.

It would make a great gift for a baby shower, adoption celebration, or child’s birthday.

I’m giving this 32-page, hardcover book and a little stuffed bear away to someone who comments below.

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.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> 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

Christ’s Resurrection: Deny It or Apply It

by Sally Matheny

Christ's Resurrection: Deny It or Apply It

Plastic eggs or real ones? Hollow chocolate or solid? Stuffed animals or real ones?

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. 

Not everything has to be an either/or selection.

However, some things in life demand a solid stance on one side or another.

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?

One of Jesus’ disciples, Peter, provides us with a testimony of Easter reminders to help us decide.

Easter reminds Christians to have faith—even in the midst of chaos.

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV)

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.

Jesus rebuked him and ordered him to put away his sword. Confusion silently crept in Peter as he watched Jesus relinquish to the guards.

Following Jesus at a distance, Peter’s mind must have been whirling. 

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?

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.

How to Deal with a Child’s Repeated Misbehavior

by Sally Matheny

Dealing with a Child's Misbehavior

(pixabay photo)

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.

Alas, any improvement seems temporary. So, how do we deal with a child’s repeated misbehavior?

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.

Half the time we don’t believe that, but to close any loopholes, consider following through with a few of these steps.

The Basics

There are numerous resources available for parents on the basics of setting age-appropriate rules, 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.

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.

Remember:

Maintain eye contact when talking with your child. Make sure you have their undivided attention when discussing behavior expectations.

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!”

Ask the child to repeat back to you what you’ve said.

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?

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.

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.