More Reviews for Topsy Turvy Land

Three more reviews are up!

The Dabbling Mum

Caribooks: Reviews with Care

PreSchool Entertainment

Topsy Turvy Land Review on Amazon

Topsy Turvy Land is now available through Amazon.com. Today I had tears of joy as I read a review left by Michael P. Snyder:

A delight for the imagination, August 19, 2005
Reviewer: Michael P. Snyder (Spring Hill, TN USA)

The kids in my house love this book--the four little ones AND the two big ones. The words and pictures tickle the imagination and highlight the limitless breadth of God's creation. Biblical truth permeates every entertaining page.

The best endorsement I can give this book is this: Last night I allowed my 5-year old and my 4-year old to take three books to bed with them. The five-year old grabbed Topsy Turvy Land, igniting a small skirmish. The peace talks ended with a compromise--a five minute limit on Topsy Turvy Land before swapping with your brother. I guess we may have to buy another copy....or three or four.

Wow! What more can a children's author ask for? Thanks, Michael and family! Here's the link - Amazon.com

My First Interview

Alyice Edrich of The Dabbling Mum interviewed me after Topsy Turvy Land was published. Click HERE to read the interview.

Cleansing Grace

Bitterness pools deep within the soul -

dark and murky with bottom unseen.

Stagnation hides resentment and lost desires,
locked in muddy sediment of unfulfilled dreams.

Daily the cesspit grows deeper.

Can anything stir emotions; cause still waters to flow?

Anger has been the only turbine –
the cause of untold hurt and pain.

Is there nothing that can clear the waters?

Is there relief from the turmoil within?

Can darkness receive light
and hope be renewed once again?

With cleansing God alone can perform,
His love purifies the depths of the heart,
ridding the soul of bitterness
revealing tenderness only grace can impart.

Forgiveness rushes through the depths
with penetrating power unknown to man
Refreshing the capacity to love.

Faith and hope remain.

© Donna J. Shepherd

Topsy Turvy Land Is Here!

After what seems to be an eternity, Topsy Turvy Land is here!

TOPSY TURVY LAND
by Donna J. Shepherd
Illustrated by Kevin Scott Collier
(Hidden Pictures by Liz Ball)

Come visit a place of peace and whimsy where green monkeys and singing snakes live. Children will delight in the lyrical rhymes and vibrant illustrations while searching for the hidden hearts. Full of fun from beginning to end!

ISBN: 0967815967
Format: Paperback, 16pp
Pub. Date: July 2005
Publisher:
Hidden Pictures Publishing
P.O. Box 63
Tipp City, OH 45371

Retail price: $6.99

To order, click here!

Excerpt:

"He made the giraffe with his very long neck,
And the toucan with gigantic beak,
God must have had fun,
Creating each one,
And all in just under a week!"
© 2005 Donna Shepherd

The publisher now has a blog, too. Check it out! Click here!

Kevin Scott Collier, the illustrator extraordinaire, has dedicated an entire page to the book! Check it out. Click here!

Women's Conference

Are you going to be in the Ohio area July 30, 2005? I will be speaking and singing at a Women's Conference sponsored by the women of Redeemer Church and friends, and the Breakfast Club. The theme is Drawing Closer To Christ.

There will be Breakout Forums on Prayer, Music, Devotional, and Bible Study led by members of Redeemer Church to help us “Draw Closer To Christ”. Audiences will be given a chance to share some of their favorite tips on the topic. The Redeemer Praise Band will provide live music, and lunch and snacks will be served.

The registration form can be downloaded from the following web site page: click here!

Update: I sang "In His Presence" and then spoke on drawing closer to Christ. I pray that my words encouraged the ladies. I enjoyed all the speakers, and had a great time getting to know the ladies of the Breakfast Club. Thank you for inviting me.

Treats from the Word

…who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age… (Hebrews 6:5 niv)

We had a visitor at our house for four weeks – a puppy named Molly. She’s a lively Boston Terrier with unlimited energy and need for affection. We’ve had a ball throwing her ball for her to fetch – at least the first fifty times. I’ve yet to tire her out with that game.

My dog, Angel, used to being the ‘top dog,’ had to adjust to having Molly around. For four weeks, she had to fight to get her treats. As soon as I doled them out, each dog gobbled up her treat as if it were the last morsel she’d ever see.

Molly has been gone for a week, and I’ve noticed I’m finding treats lying all over the house. For some reason, Angel delights in leaving them in plain sight. She plays with them, throwing them up in the air, and daring us to try to steal them from her. Eventually she eats them, but she doesn’t feel the urgency now that Molly’s gone.

I talk to a lot of Christians who, when in panic mode, take their Bible, and gobble up the Word, searching the Scripture for answers to their current dilemma. After the crisis has passed, the Bible gets thrown on a bookshelf to gather dust until the next time trouble appears. The urgency is gone.

Angel doesn’t live on those treats. She receives her nourishment from a steady diet of dog food specially designed for her health needs. What we need is a steady diet of the Word. We are spiritual beings, and the Bible is our spiritual nourishment designed by God to meet every need. Why don’t we digest a bit each day so that when trouble comes or the devil tries to steal our joy, we’ll have adequate storage of the Scriptures in our hearts and minds? We won’t go into ‘panic mode.’

I’ve seen a billboard that says, “Seven days without prayer makes one weak.” Even one day without the spiritual nourishment of the Word of God makes a Christian weak. You don’t go without food for your physical body. When we are so blessed to have Bibles at our fingertips, why are we spiritually anorexic?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for Your Word. May I never take it for granted. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

The Privilege of Ministering

So he told them, "Every student of the Scriptures who becomes a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like someone who brings out new and old treasures from the storeroom. (Matthew 13:52 cev)

Earlier this week, the doorbell rang. Since both my son and I expected packages, we raced to the door to see what the UPS man had left on the front porch. "Yes!" I snatched up the package with my name on it.

I carried it into the kitchen, laid it on the countertop, and ripped it open. After I pushed the paper wrapping aside, I pulled out the textbook and study guide for my latest college class. I clutched the book to my chest, and said, "I can't wait to get started on this."

Both my son and daughter looked at me like I'd grown a gigantic third eyeball. One of them said, "Oh, Mom. You are such a geek."

"I know!" I laughed. "And that's one good thing about getting older. I don't care."

I yearn to learn. I admit it. When I attended high school, I actually liked the challenge. Of course, I never made such a confession then. It wasn't 'cool' to like school. Right?

But now I realize what a privilege it is, not only to read, research, and learn, but to read, research, learn, AND write! Prior to 1456, when the first Bible was produced on a printing press, all manuscripts of the Bible were laboriouly copied by hand. These days, you probably have a dusty copy of the Bible some place in your home. We have an entire shelf in our bookcase dedicated to all the different versions of the Bible. I have such great admiration for those who wrote my textbooks and study guides - much more so now that I know the amount of hard work that can go into writing a 400 word devotional or a 1200 word article!

When I'm doing research, I have the entire internet at my disposal. I can read any version I want, and listen to it being read to me if I desire. I can find numerous Bible commentaries, and countless sites with Biblical teaching.

I heard the other day that even the shyest person among us will impact at least 10,000 people over the course of his or her lifetime. And then to think that God might use some of my writing to bless others overwhelms me at times. The counter on this site clicked over the 10,000 mark the other day, and I have to admit, my stomach fluttered at the idea that that many people had viewed the site. I prayed, "Lord, direct people by the power of Holy Spirit who need encouragement to my site today."

It's not about numbers. Or fame. But ministry. I encourage everyone who writes for the Master to remember our purpose - to lift up the Name of Jesus, and draw ourselves and others to Him. And to pause to thank God for the privilege of being a scribe for Him. May we all write beautiful words of prose and poetry, stories and teaching. What a privilege!

In Matthew 13:52, scribes are described as bringing out new and old treasures. The Amplified Bible interprets this as "the fresh as well as the familiar." How can we find the fresh insights the Lord gives us unless we are familiar with His Word? Let's be students always - learning from our Master. Then we can minister in the capacity He wants us to - whether it's teaching, singing, caregiving, praying, preaching, or writing.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for the Word of God, and that Your mercies are new every morning. Help me to faithful to minister Your Word. In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen.

Link to Funny Poem by Donna

Hi, everyone! I have a new poem up on KidVisions in the June edition. It's called Buggy Brain.
There are three definitions for 'buggy.' 1. A small lightweight carriage, 2. an informal or slang term for mentally irregular, and 3. infested with bugs.

Can you tell me which one this poem is about? Or is it two?? *hint, hint.

Click here to read about Poor Mrs. Rose!

Hard Lessons from a Hard Drive

After the LORD finished speaking to me, I got another scroll and gave it to Baruch. Then I told him what to write, so this second scroll would contain even more than was on the scroll Jehoiakim had burned. – Jeremiah 36:32 cev

Recently I lost everything on my computer. All my files. All my mail. All my favorites and email addresses.

I sat in front of my laptop and prayed. Then I cried a bit. Then I prayed some more. I took my computer, which I really wanted to shove over a cliff, to two different computer tech places. They assured me they could recover my files. They couldn’t.

I prayed that somehow we’d figure this out so that I recovered my files.

Guess what? God said, “No.” Sometimes He does that. And it’s hard to take, isn’t it?

I spent a couple weeks without something to which I’d grown addicted. Did you know that addictions come in many different forms? Lesson One.

Lesson Two. I discovered just how much time I had spent on-line. Without the distraction of email and messages boards, I actually studied for an exam for the college course I’m taking. I finished up a children’s book, and got it to the publisher.

Lesson Three? I found I had used my time on my ‘writing machine’ – my loving name for it, to procrastinate my duties in other areas besides writing and studying – like laundry and cleaning. Oh, my. Not what I need – another way to procrastinate!

In March, I backed up my writing files. Thank God. He had prompted me to do that, and I hadn’t done much writing since then because of life’s circumstances. So I did have about a year’s writing on a disk.

And because of His prompting, I had been sending all the files that had to do with my children’s book to an on-line account. So I had everything for it to go on! Praise the Lord!

So now I’m saying, “Okay, Lord. I get it. Lessons learned.”

In the book of Jeremiah, we read that God told Jeremiah to write the words He gave him on a scroll. So Jeremiah called for his scribe, Baruch, to write them all down. Baruch then took the scroll to the temple to read the words of the Lord. King Jehoiakim had the scroll brought to him, and threw it in the fire.

Do you know what the Lord told Jeremiah to do? Get another scroll. Start writing. The second scroll contained all the words the Lord had told him, and more. The New King James Version says, “there were added to them many similar words.”

Someone told me that God must have great things in store to throw such an obstacle in my path. But anything that satan means for evil, God can use for good. I’m not writing Scripture of course, but I do believe God can and will inspire me by the power of the Holy Spirit to rewrite a lot of what was on the computer, and add to them many similar words. I believe God can not only restore, but also give an increase.

Tell me - do you use your time on the computer to shirk responsibilities? Maybe you surf the web instead of writing, or talk to other Christians online instead of spending time talking to God. Maybe my hard lesson will help someone else. First of all, talk to God Himself before writing about Him. Secondly, back up your files regularly. And finally, turn off the computer now and then. It’s difficult at first, but you’ll enjoy the time you spend online much more if you’ve taken care of obligations first.

Now I must get back to writing. I have a lot of catching up to do!

Prayer: Lord, I thank You for Your presence, for Your Word, and for Your goodness. Help me to be faithful to use my time and resources wisely. In Jesus Name I pray, Amen.

New Poems for Children

I've posted a poem on Topsy Turvy Land called Concrete Map, originally on the Inspiration Station. A new one, Guard Dog Rules, is in the new edition along with an illustration done by Kevin Scott Collier. Click here to read!

God’s Design

You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.- Hebrews 10:36

Throughout my teen years and into adulthood, an underlying thread of discontent made its way into the tapestry of my life. I loved God and longed to serve Him in a greater capacity.

When Don became pastor of a small church, we started a Sunday School program, but had no one to teach the adult class.

My husband pleaded with me. “Donna, won’t you consider teaching the adult class?”

The thought of teaching adults petrified me. I’d taught Sunday School for years, but up until that point, my oldest students were four-year olds.

As the new pastor’s wife, I wanted to help any way I could, so after praying about it, I agreed. We ordered the material and I opened up my first book. I thought, Oh, no – this can’t be right. The first series of lessons was entitled, “Sex and the Christian.”

I taught the whole book with a red face and perspiring palms. To this day, my students tease me about my obvious discomfort.

And even though I’ve been teaching for years, I learn something every Sunday. Sometimes I feel like a fraud, because I’m sure I get more out of my teaching than my students. I’ve become more disciplined in my own Bible study, and for every minute I spend in the actual classroom setting, I’ve spent many more in preparation.

I want to be the best teacher I can be under the direction of the Holy Spirit. Even though I felt inadequate at first, God honored my effort. I believe He equips us for the tasks He has for us. One example of this is in the Old Testament, when God chose workers to build the Tabernacle.

Exodus 31:1-3 – “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah: And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship.”

Isn't that a wonderful thought? God filled the workers with the Holy Spirit and gave them the skill, ability, and knowledge for their work. My desire is to be filled with that same Spirit to be equipped for the awesome task of sharing His word.

Teaching has taught me. I’ve learned that while singing will always be my heart’s cry, my experience as a teacher has been more fulfilling than I ever dreamed.

Teaching God’s Word has been a colorful thread in the tapestry of my life. When my life is laid out before God, I pray it will be a vivid display of submission to His will.

Recently my husband has been trying to talk me into preaching one Sunday. I’m still praying about that one!

Prayer: Thank you, God, for the opportunity to minister for You. I pray that I will be willing to step out in faith to do Your will. In Jesus' sweet, precious, Holy Name I pray, Amen.

Review of Seeds of Deception for Blog for Books

A friend of mine agreed to let me post her review:

Georgiana Preskar has given us a source, Seeds of Deception, that makes some very enlightening information available to parents who care about what their children learn at school. The author uses an easy to read, comfortable format, but the book is not pleasant reading since the facts are so disturbing. For example, Ms. Preskar makes wild claims about connections between homosexuality and Hitler's agenda and then compares that phenomenon with mind control in our schools. However, and much to my chagrin, she has researched these claims very well and provides some very convincing documentation.

I am a Christian and a public school teacher who hesitated to read this book, anticipating accusations against "those humanist teachers who are out to get your kids," which is what I often see and hear in Christian circles. In reality, most teachers are very interested in your child's well-being, and the author respects the integrity of the teacher. However, this book identifies the hidden sources of influence that are capable of destroying every Godly thought that you have lovingly and painstakingly nurtured in your child.

Please read Seeds of Deception. In spite of some distracting editing oversights in the text, the book can educate and inspire parents to counter the deception behind a number of the programs now in place in the public school systems of our nation. We are now without excuse for being ignorant of the agenda. - Reviewed by E. Horton

Important Notice from Donna

My laptop has died. Let's have a moment of silence.....

Okay, I'm back. I did put a bunch of writing on a CD in March, so I have some records, but you know how it is. There's a lot on there that I'd compiled in the last two months - especially stuff to do with Topsy Turvy Land, the children's book. If you've contacted me for a copy or to do a review, contact me again please.

My most current mailing list was on the laptop. If you're on either the Topsy Turvy Land or the Devotionals by Donna list, be sure to email me so I can add you back on! Or even easier - sign up using the form to the right of this post!

If you know of friends and family who were on the list, please forward this on by clicking on the little white envelope in the bottom right-hand corner of this post.

I've checked into getting a professional mailing list, because the Devotional list is getting quite large. I'd already had fifty people sign up for the Topsy Turvy Land list!

As soon as I get it compiled, I'm printing it out. Good old paper and ink. Thanks so much, and once again, I'm so sorry for the inconvenience!

Donna

Green-Eyed Monster

A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones. - Proverbs 14:30

Recently I received a book by snail mail - a gift from an author I met on-line. I took the book downstairs and propped it up on the bookrack on my new treadmill. I opened it up being careful not to break the spine. I love the way a new book feels. I love the way I feel - excited about the treasure hidden between the covers.

And what a treasure it was. The writer included an entire book's worth of information in the first chapter. My thirty-minute workout passed by before I knew it.

While I savored the spiritual morsels in the book, I had to quash an uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach - something like literary nausea. Why would I ever try to write another word? Who was I to think I could communicate deep spiritual insights? I'm shallow.

As a first step to rid myself of this illness, I sent an email to the author praising her book. Then I prayed. And prayed some more. If I am to continue to write, I must believe God has a message contained in this container of clay that only I can write. I asked God to replace jealousy with trust. I do trust in His plan, His will, and His purpose for me, and my plea is for strength and wisdom to build on His blueprint for my life.

Admitting my feelings represents a healthy step in overcoming them. James wrote, "But if you have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth" (James 3: 14).

Soon it wasn't difficult to admit I would not have wanted to write the book that induced such envy. Many tears and heartache had been experienced before the author wrote the first word. Deep insight came from passing through deep valleys. Mountaintop highs resulted in magnificent praise.

Paul wrote, "Let us not desire vainglory, provoking one another, envying one another" (Gal. 5:26).

When I read beautiful writing, I desire to give genuine compliments to the author, and praise to God Who inspired the author.

Do you ever find yourself in this same trap? Maybe the ministry isn't writing, but singing or teaching or preaching.

Let us praise God at all times for His goodness and His faithfulness to inspire beauty - whether it comes though us or someone else.

I have green eyes. I don't want them to be green with envy.

Prayer: Lord, I thank You for the burden to work for You, and ask that You anoint me to do the work You have for me. Help me to praise others and encourage them in their ministries. In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen.

A Mentor Named Mary

A wonderful woman named Mary Preston was a mentor to me in my early years of singing, and instrumental in my learning to play the piano. She never had children, but she treated me as I were her own. I share this in honor of Mother's Day.

As a teenager I sang in the church choir. I enjoyed watching the pianist, Mary, as her fingers glided across the ivories providing the upbeat and lively accompaniment to our choir specials.

One Sunday Mary stopped me after church. “Donna, you have a good voice. Have you ever thought of singing a solo?”

The idea of singing by myself terrified me, but I went to Mary’s for the fun of it. We practiced for a while. Afterwards she served the most fantastic chocolate cake I’d ever tasted. I’m not sure how she convinced me – maybe it was the caffeine, but I agreed to sing a solo in church the next Sunday.

Then one day she invited me to her home. Two other women showed up. Mary announced, “These are your backup singers.”

Mary continued to mentor me over the next few years. She invited me to her home often, and on special occasions fixed her famous chocolate cake. Written out, the recipe covered an entire page of single-spaced notebook paper, and required a significant amount of time to prepare.

So what was a special occasion? Anytime I came over. Mary always managed to have a freshly baked cake for me, and we celebrated many truly special occasions – my first solo, the first time we sang as a group, the recording of my first album, which Mary and her husband financed, and eventually, my stepping out to sing in a group that traveled our tri-state area.

Shortly after I got married, Mary found out she had cancer and passed away within no time. After her death, I was blessed to bring her piano to my home and learn to play.

When I think of Mary, I recall her dedication to mentor a young woman like me. In Luke 6:40 (NIV), Jesus said, “A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.” Thirty years later, I’m still singing. I’m a pastor’s wife, and I learned to play that piano and now, like Mary was so long ago, I’m the church pianist.

Often I think of Mary and the encouragement and blessing she bestowed upon my life, and I’m reminded of a woman who sacrificed her time and talent to help a floundering young woman find her purpose.

I still eat chocolate every day, but despite my best effort, I’ve never been able to duplicate Mary’s cake. I pray I’ll be able to duplicate her ministry as a mentor to someone else.

And I’m sure to give that recipe another try!

*To make a cake similar to Mary's, click here.

Daily Grace for Women

It was my privilege to be a contributing writer to Daily Grace for Women, Devotional Reflections to Nourish Your Soul, Honor Books, April 2005. For more information, see the sidebar on the right.

Thank you to everyone who sent congrats and shared in my excitement. God bless you.

Training for Life

This month InspiredMoms.com features inspiring daily devotionals written by their team of Inspired Moms writers and guest writers. The title of the series is Mom, You Have Character!

I wrote one for March 31st called Training for Life. Click here to read!

Giving Up the Goal

Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? - Galatians 3:3 niv

This morning when you started your day, did you have an agenda? Many people, at least the more organized ones, begin by consulting a ‘to do’ list. In our society, being goal oriented is viewed as a good attribute.

It seems as if I fight a continual battle to get and stay organized. I make out my list, marking off the more important tasks, dividing them into categories, and putting a checkmark beside each task as I complete it.

Many times, I barely get the list compiled, and I need to crumple it up and throw it out. Each day is an adventure, and some days I have to give up my goals and let God decide.

I love the way David described life in Psalm 139. We are “fearfully and wonderfully made” and “all the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be.” Did you know that God ordained your life before you took your first breath? Ordain means to put in order by virtue of superior authority.

When life throws me lemons, I try to squeeze the adversity out of it, and let the sweet Holy Spirit calm me while I sip my ‘spiritual lemonade.’ In my distress, I do my best to remember that God is in control. It’s difficult to surrender. Our nature is to try to control, but when we surrender, we give up the goals, and let God decide.

I’ll continue to write my lists. God is not the author of confusion. I desire to set goals that reflect godly priorities, and depend on God to direct me on this path through life – even when my day doesn’t pattern itself after my ‘to do’ list.

When I think of the book mentioned in Psalm 139:16, I wonder what my book of life looks like. How many chapters does it have? I hope it’s a nice, thick book!

Prayer: Lord, I thank you for the very breath of life. I pray that I will live this day as You direct and guide. Help me to live according to the Spirit, submitting my will to Yours. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Pull Up to the Table

If we love our Christian brothers and sisters, it proves that we have passed from death to eternal life. But a person who has no love is still dead. -
I John 3:14 nlt

Do you have a favorite restaurant? What makes that particular eatery different from the rest? Each restaurant specializes whether it’s a hot dog stand or a fancy French restaurant. You won’t get a fantastic piece of fresh salmon by going to a local pizza place, but you can probably order lasagna with homemade sauce or thick crust pizza piled high with the ingredients of your choice.

I added a new place to my list of favorites – a small, locally owned restaurant. I go there for one reason alone- their homemade creamy maple vinaigrette dressing – a concoction so delicious I tap my foot and grin the whole time I eat my salad.

Every Sunday, we drive past many churches to attend the one of our choice. What makes your church different from the rest? Is it the worship style you prefer? Maybe the doctrine lines up with your beliefs.

Each church is different, but one uniting factor should be present in all Christian churches – the desire to lift up the name of the Lord in praise, and to draw people to His Son, Jesus Christ. Churches do not exist to be social clubs, dating services, or community outreaches, although they can and do serve in this capacity, but a church’s goal is different from secular organizations formed for these purposes.

The Apostle Paul wrote, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25).

Hopefully when we attend church, we go for the right reason – not out of obligation or guilt, or to make business contacts. I pray you go to praise the Lord, pray, receive Bible-based instruction, and to recharge your spiritual life. The Church isn’t perfect being made up of imperfect people like you and me, but in a healthy, Spirit-filled church, you can gain strength from the Word of God preached, and from other Christians.

Let us do as Paul said and exhort one another. When we recharge spiritually, we will with boldness witness of Jesus Christ to those in our circle of influence.

In the same way I look forward to sitting down to a dinner with friends, I look forward to the fellowship and strength found in the presence of other Christians. Is your spirit as hungry for the Word and deep, intense fellowship with God and your fellow Christians as your physical body hungers for deep-dish pizza?

Speaking of hunger – I haven’t had a salad with creamy maple vinaigrette for a few days. I think I’ve figured out where I’d like to eat dinner tonight.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for commissioning the Body of Christ, and the ministry of the local church. I pray I will be faithful to minister to my brothers and sisters in Christ, and fulfill my purpose as part of Your Body. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.