Review Moment: Bible Origins - The Underground Story

 

This book is one of the more unusual books I've reviewed as it combines New Testament Bible stories with graphic novels. As a picture book author, I appreciate the artwork and colorful illustrations. I'm not a big fan of paraphrased scriptures, but as long as this book is balanced with other translations, it would be a good way to get kids interested in the life and times of the early Church and discover just how exciting those times were. 

I would recommend this book for children a bit older, at least ages 8 and up. 

If you are looking for a way to share New Testament history, this book is both educational and entertaining. @HarperBooks #HarperBookspartner

To purchase: https://amzn.to/4wRPOxj

Joyful Moment - A Divine Sign

 

Every morning, as soon as my eyes open and I'm fully awake, I thank God for another day and ask Him to watch over my family and myself. Psalm 37:23 NLT says, “The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.”

On the way to my daughter's house one afternoon, I stopped for a red light. I'm cautious at this particular intersection as the road declines, and people are apt to run that light at the last second. When the light turned green, I started to press the accelerator, but a flash caught my eye. I paused to look at a sign at the First Baptist Church on the corner that said “Coming this Sunday – a Sermon from Galatians.”

In the time it took for me to read the sign and once again start through the intersection, a speeding car ran the light right in front of me. Had I not paused, I surely would have been broadsided by the careless driver.

Many times, we Christians ask for a sign from God. In the New Testament, Jesus rebuked the Pharisees when they asked for a sign. He knew they demanded a sign to discredit Him because of their unbelief and determination to destroy Him (Matthew 12:14).

The sincere believer in Jesus won't put God to the test (Matthew 4:7), but can receive signs of God's presence, power, and protection.

Do you believe God delights in every detail of your life? I do. I thanked God all the way to my destination, then had to smile at the irony. God gave me a literal, brick and mortar, flashing sign that saved my life.

Dear Lord, Thank You for the signs in life that You care about Your children, and for the many times You have intervened and protected me when I was unaware. I humbly ask for Your continued protection over the lives of my loved ones and myself. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen. 

Joyful Moment: Walking in Faith

In John 6, we read that the disciples had gotten into the boat and started across the sea, and here comes Jesus. Can you imagine? He's walking across water like it's a street of gold - what he's used to walking on, you know.

Jesus gets into the boat and verse 21 says, "Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going."

They are in the boat and then they are at the shore.

I couldn't help but think how confused and amazed those in the boat had to be. They didn't have the hindsight that we do - Jesus would do much more amazing things than that in the future. Rising from the dead comes to mind.

Are you still a bit confused and amazed that Jesus could walk on water? I am! But that's where faith come into being. I have not seen Jesus walk on water with my own eyes, but I believe it happened. I believe that the same Jesus who was present at the creation of water could decide to walk on it - and did. 

How about you? Have you read a familiar passage in the Bible lately and discovered something new or had the Lord speak to you through a verse lately? 

Let's pray: Lord, thank You for your mighty power to create and sustain the heavens and the earth and all that is in it - including me. To think that You are Lord of all, yet Lord of one. I pray for eyes to see what faith has in store. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen. 

Note: The art is generally attributed as Mark Mabry who created it as part of his "Reflections of Christ" project. 

Review Moment: Sister Circle Series (6 book series) by Nancy Moser and Vonette Bright

I have sisters of my own, but I also consider my good friends as sisters. That's one reason to love this series. I've read every book and enjoyed the characters, their growth, their questions about life and relationships, their struggles and joys. Evelyn had my heart from the beginning. Each chapter has a scripture, but the spirituality is woven throughout and not the least bit overbearing or preachy. I rarely read books twice, but I may start this series over just for the heartwarming and cozy feeling I get when I visit the ladies. Highly recommended.

Link to purchase: Sister Circle Series

Review Moment: Make Their Day by Karen Ehman

What a fun book! When life gets so busy you don't have time to come up with ways to show your loved ones how much they mean to you, this book's contents might come to your rescue. Some ideas are simple, while some require more time and money, but there are 101 from which to choose, so you're sure to find a few ways that will work for you. I appreciated the Bible verses and the focus on godly hospitality. During stressful times, it's important to focus and take time to show kindness and love for our family and friends. I'm planning to use the ideas in this book myself. 

I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers for an honest review.

Product details

• ASIN : B08MXYPRM1
• Publisher : Bethany House Publishers (February 2, 2021)
• Publication date : February 2, 2021
• Language : English
• File size : 15311 KB
• Text-to-Speech : Enabled
• Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
• X-Ray : Enabled
• Word Wise : Enabled
• Print length : 142 pages
• Page numbers source ISBN : 076423904X

Devotion: Valentine's Day - Say, “I Love You” to Someone Today

“But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:9

February is the month of love. A lot of people think Hallmark thought up Valentine’s Day, but few know how it really originated.

One legend says Valentine was a priest during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men. Valentine defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When his actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.

Other stories suggest Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons where they were often beaten and tortured.

According to another legend, Valentine actually sent the first 'valentine' greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that he fell in love with a young girl -- who may have been his jailor's daughter -- who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, he wrote her a letter, which he signed 'From your Valentine,' an expression still in use today.

Since America has been at war, there is a heightened awareness of the fragility of life. If you haven’t told your spouse, your children, or your loved ones you love them, why not do it today? We don’t know what tomorrow holds or even if there will be a tomorrow and of course the Lord could return at any moment for His Church.

Even if you don’t have a sweetheart, perhaps you can think of someone who could benefit from an expression of love from you. Just think – there may be someone in your life who won’t be hugged or told someone loves him or her if you don’t take the initiative.

What about your church family? What is one of the ways we know we are in the body of Christ? I John 4:7 says, “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.”

Lastly, but most importantly, I want to tell the Savior of my soul, the Maker of my heart and the Creator of love itself that I love Him.

Say, "I love you" to someone today!

Prayer: Lord, I thank You for all those who love me, and for the privilege of loving others. Most of all, I thank You, God, for Your love, mercy, and grace shown through Jesus Christ.

Donna J. Shepherd © 2012 All rights reserved. No portion of this Website may be reproduced by Crossmap or any other website without dated written permission from Donna. - Thanks!

*First posted 2-14-06

Moment of Devotion: Indescribable Gift

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! – 1 Corinthians 9:15

For many Christmases, I decorated a tree for every room – even the bathrooms. I had a tree with kitchen items, one with intricate, old-fashioned ornaments, another with all the ornaments my children made, and a teeny tiny tree in the bathroom with miniature ornaments. The trees were of all shapes and sizes and colors, like all white lights or big fat colorful bulbs or fiber optic trees with changing lights.

Of all the trees, my favorite was the one with ornaments my children and I made like felt crafts with school pictures inside or sloppily painted candy canes. Most visitors oohed and complimented the big, gold, fancy tree in the family room, but the most beautiful tree in the house held the handmade ornaments that brought back memories of wonderful times spent with my family.

What part of the holidays is most beautiful to you? The smiles on your children or grandchildren’s faces? The parks with thousands of lights strung for miles on end? The warms glow of Christmas trees with lovingly wrapped gifts underneath? Or it might be a table of food spread for your family to enjoy.

All these things are beautiful, but the most beautiful sight is the Nativity. I have many throughout my house and one in the front yard to remind all who come to my home that the holiday is beautiful because a Savior was born and laid in a not-so-beautiful manger in a smelly stable. Jesus brought grace and salvation to an ugly world. He is the Gift. Let us not forget His love and grace that’s indescribable.

Dear Lord, thank You for the precious and holy gift in the form of a baby that we celebrate this CHRISTmas. In Jesus' sweet and beautiful Name, I pray. Amen. 

Poetry Moment: Ideal Meal - a Fun Thanksgiving Poem

A Thanksgiving poem - for fun!

Ideal Meal

The Thanksgiving turkey
Tasted like jerky
With lumpy potatoes
And sour tomatoes
The dressing too sodden and moist.

The rolls didn’t rise
And Mama’s sweet pies
Were bitter to taste
Gooey as paste
But in spite of it all, we rejoiced.

We thanked God above
For His bountiful love
For freedom to meet
And for food to eat
Taking time to tell God how we feel.

For even though dinner
Wasn’t a winner
We all overlook
That Mama can’t cook.
Thanksgiving is more than a meal.

© 2008 Donna J. Shepherd

Video Moment: Meaning of Easter - David Garibaldi

 I watch this every year. Beautiful reminder.

The Night Before Christmas

I love these lyrics that so beautifully capture the beauty of the Holy Birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Be blessed and Merry CHRISTmas.


 

Devotion: Better Than It Was

Better than It Was

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.  

- Colossians3:23-24 (ESV) 

Today I listened to a recording on NewLife.com about procrastination. The two counselors giving advice had a good deal to say about perfectionism and the phrases and attitudes our parents had. My dad's favorite saying was, "If you can't do something right, don't do it at all." While his heart was in the right place and he meant that you need to do things properly, for me, it meant that if I didn't have time to do a task perfectly, I just needed to put it off.  And as life always has a way of getting in the way, I never could find the time to do many of the things I longed to. My ‘to do’ list got longer and longer and more and more overwhelming.

Dr. Milan Yerkovich talked about his own perfectionism and how his wife’s attitude freed him. I love Kay Yerkovich's saying and will adopt it from now on:  "It's better than it was." If I can't clean the entire house and instead, only get to one room, well, it's better than it was. If I can't write the entire devotional that I long to, as long as I can get a few words written, my book is better than it was. If I'm unable to read ten chapters in the Bible and pray for an hour a day, but have time to read a few key verses and pray with a sincere heart, then my soul will have been fed and you know what? I’m better off spiritually than I was.

Yes, in my advancing years, I’m adopting a new, less perfectionistic, and less stifling motto. I won’t be a slacker – I'll always offer my best, but my best will be all that I can do at the time with God’s help.

The Apostle Paul told the church in Corinth, “Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 1:31b). I have many goals, but I’ll never accomplish anything if I wait for the perfect time and place. The key word for me is ‘Do!’ – not wait. Let’s get busy working for God’s glory.

Now where did I put that list? 

Mom Moment: For Mother's Day

I wrote a poem called Mom's Retreat and I'm certain I'm not the only mother who's ever escaped to this special place. To read it on CWAHM.com, click HERE and leave a comment there or here on this blog. Thanks!
Happy Mother's Day. - Donna

*************

Accused Without Cause - Devotionals by Donna (with Audio)

Today I listened to Mark 15. I have Audio Bible bookmarked and love to listen to the Bible while I work.

One verse caught my attention: "And the chief priests accused him of many things: but he answered nothing.” – Mark 15:3

Jesus stood before Pilate while the chief priests accused Him of perverting the nation, rousing troublemakers, creating riots and dissension. In addition, they charged Him with forbidding the payment of tribute to Rome, and teaching people to not pay their taxes. Third, and most serious, they charged Him with wanting to be king instead of Caesar. Pilate marveled at the fact that when accused of these crimes, Jesus did not speak up in a defensive manner.

Have you ever been falsely accused? I'm one of five children. When we were little and Mom couldn't get to the bottom of a story, she'd discipline ALL of us. Oh, how exasperating it was to be disciplined for something I didn't do!

To think of Jesus, Who had never sinned, having to endure the mocking and jeering crowd of accusers both amazes me and breaks my heart. He did it for me. He did it for you. Why would He do it? The only possible explanation is His compelling love.

The curse He suffered was not for His own sin, but for ours. Clearly, Pilate thought Jesus to be innocent, undeserving of the death penalty so aggressively sought by the Jewish authorities, but His accusers forced Pilate to make a decision about Jesus.

We must all decide what to do about Jesus. I hope you’ve chosen to accept Him as your King.

Our response to Christ’s suffering on our behalf should be one of gratitude. Only because of His sacrifice do we have hope for eternity.

Jesus' death was followed by His resurrection, ascension, and sending the Holy Spirit. We have the Holy Spirit indwelling us, enabling us to obey Christ and follow Him.

“The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). Because Jesus gave Himself for me, I want to give my life to Him. How about you?

Oh, and I'm sure you know - sometimes I was the culprit, and my siblings were the exasperated ones!

Prayer: Lord, I thank You for Your sacrifice, and the Holy Spirit, Who helps me live for You. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

*Posted 3-25-05; Audio 4-23-11

Fun Moment: I Know Jesus Loves Me

On an Easter Sunday, to introduce my husband's sermon, I sang the song “Redeemer” written by Nicole C. Mullins. One of the lines in the chorus says, “I know my redeemer lives.” Then my husband preached an Easter sermon titled “I Know He Lives.” During his sermon, he spoke of the tremendous love of Christ.

So after church when a little girl about seven came running up to Don exclaiming, “I know Jesus loves me!” he thought she must have been paying attention to the sermon.

“I know, Honey! Jesus loves you.”

She grinned even wider, followed him a few more steps and said, “Pastor, I know Jesus loves me.”

Don turned around, patted her on the head and said, “Praise the Lord. He does!”

Finally, the little girl sighed in exasperation and said, “I KNOW 'Jesus Loves Me.' Don’t you want to hear me sing it?”
_______

Review Moment: Cook'n Recipe Management System

In February 2012, I posted a review of Cook'n, a Recipe Management System. My original review can be found here: http://reviewsbydonnashepherd.blogspot.com/2012/02/review-of-cookn-recipe-organizer.html

Cook'n has been the #1 recipe software program for more than 20 years, and the best way to organize your recipes. I liked the program very much, but now - a new version has been released with even more features. Are you on Pinterest? I have entire Pinterest pages devoted to recipes. I'm excited that Cook'n can even sync Pinterest recipes. Yes! 

Watch  the video for more information and visit the website for more videos and to purchase: http://www.dvo.com/. You can like Cook'n on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/Recipe.Organizer

Interview Moment: Authors' Garden

Post by Donna J. Shepherd, Writer, Speaker, Singer.

Joyful Moment - One Lovely Blog Award

I received the One Lovely Blog Award. 

Here are the rules for accepting this award: 

• Thank the person who nominated you for the award. 

Thank you, April Boyer, for blessing me today. 

• Add the One Lovely Blog logo to your post. 

 • Share 7 things about yourself.

 • Nominate up to 15 bloggers you admire and inform the nominees by commenting on their blog. 

7 things people might not know about me: 

1. I used to live across the street from a Native American Mound. 

2. I first sung in front of the church at the age of 9. 

3. I have at the very least six books started at any given time. 

4. I love to cook. I don't like to clean up. 

5. I have become a Bird Nerd and have multiple feeders and camera ready.  

6. I went to the top of the St. Louis Arch.  

7. I usually have over a dozen Christmas trees in my house.  

Now to nominate other bloggers deserving of this award. All of these are truly lovely and worth discovering. 

• http://djsthoughts-dj.blogspot.com/2014/11/aaaawhow-nice.html (Diana Jenkins - DJ's Thoughts) 

• http://kit-grady.blogspot.com/ (Kit Grady Creations) 

• http://aheart4heaven.blogspot.com/ (Elaine Bridge - A Heart 4 Heaven)

There were many more I could have nominated, but I'm sure the love will spread from here. Congratulations, fellow blogging friends. Pass on the blessing. 

Writers' Moment: "Writing on Purpose"

My devotion "Writing on Purpose" is featured this week on @RobinLBayne blog "Between Sundays." I hope you are blessed. 

Between Sundays: Week Fifty-Seven: Donna Shepherd: Writing On Purpose  

Post by Donna J. Shepherd, Writer, Speaker, Singer.

Back to School! - Devotion for Children

Devo for Kids is on CWAHM. Click HERE for Topsy Turvy Time!

Fun Moment - Quadruplet Babies Laughing

If this doesn't bring joy to your heart, I don't know what would. These babies are precious.