tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11742503099000600172024-02-20T21:08:14.824-08:00Refreshed, Restored & RedeemedAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11738993707711863972noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1174250309900060017.post-43846522738397748202013-09-19T13:20:00.001-07:002013-09-19T13:20:23.869-07:00Rock Harbor Search and Rescue by Colleen Coble <br />
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Search and Rescue is an exciting, fast moving tale of dogs, suspense anticipation and mystery- a perfect combination for its middle school and young teen audience.<br />
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Emily lives with her Dad, Step Mum and siblings. She makes jewellery which she sells in order to finance the purchase of a Search and Rescue puppy. However, after a market sale she is unjustly accused of stealing a neighbour’s necklace worth 1000 dollars. The necklace is particularly rare as it has been blessed by a local chief to protect the wearer against the local legendary evil spirit called the Windigo.<br />
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Although this is a relatively easy, enjoyable read for its targeted audience the language is nevertheless challenging as are some of the adult concepts introduced; being unjustly accused of something, the need and desire to discover the truth, to need to prove someone’s innocence, feelings of revenge and forgiveness and differing spiritual beliefs.<br />
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These topics are those that concern young adult minds as they start to explore their own ideas and values. I felt the author explored them in an interesting, non-judgmental way with the Christian point of view being carefully introduced without being intrusive.<br />
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Although I have not yet read any of Colleen Coble’s adult novels I quickly warmed to her characters portrayed in this book as I followed them through their struggles, misunderstandings and resolutions.<br />
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I would recommend this book to all middle school and young teens.<br />
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Disclaimer: I received a free galley from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. <br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11738993707711863972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1174250309900060017.post-40272290363092285712013-09-14T06:17:00.000-07:002013-09-14T06:17:34.080-07:00Fear not...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMIg5lGEgJ7_aaFdQl0_5i7pRrN_AN3qj4E3HTp9A4H7hYmdArDoGNzgZYpKFMpN6qz8VEc-IAARQj62F9AHPpgDKU2nKW_f788uP9F5IOZvgAKNYQcE2ZAypM5f-tJhy7ft2VwIAWZxo/s1600/Fear+not+image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMIg5lGEgJ7_aaFdQl0_5i7pRrN_AN3qj4E3HTp9A4H7hYmdArDoGNzgZYpKFMpN6qz8VEc-IAARQj62F9AHPpgDKU2nKW_f788uP9F5IOZvgAKNYQcE2ZAypM5f-tJhy7ft2VwIAWZxo/s320/Fear+not+image.jpg" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11738993707711863972noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1174250309900060017.post-18999125521919370192013-07-19T04:19:00.001-07:002013-07-19T08:59:39.323-07:00Five Minute Friday....Belong.<br />
<a href="http://lisajobaker.com/five-minute-friday/" title="Five Minute Friday"><img src="http://lisajobaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/5minutefriday.jpg" alt="Five Minute Friday" title="Five Minute Friday" style="border:none;" /></a><br />
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Belong<br />
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Some things just seem to belong together naturally like Fish and Chips,Adam and Eve and a pair of socks. <br />
Can you associate with those feelings of frustration when you can't find that missing sock...and there is always one!<br />
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Another of the same colour, bought at the same time just won't do...it hasn't washed or worn the same. It doesn't belong.<br />
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I have always had the sense that I belonged to God. Even as a little girl I remember not being able to go out for Play times with my friends as I recovered from a kidney infection. For a while I was excluded, different.. I didn't belong. I remember so clearly sitting outside the Headmistresses room reading a bible.I knew it had the answers to my need to belong...but at that tender age I didn't really understand. But it comforted me,calmed me and guided me.<br />
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There have been other times I have experienced that not belonging, feeling, not part of the 'group.' <br />
I used to isolate myself, lick unseen wounds and relive the not belonging.<br />
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Gradually my sense of not belonging has diminished as my sense of belonging to God has increased. <br />
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I belong to Him and we fit together perfectly...a pair of pretty pink socks with bling, well worn and washed clean.<br />
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Without my God I am never going to belong but with Him I am a perfect fit and belonging to Him means everything.<br />
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Hope you will join in the fun...for more details on <a href="http://lisajobaker.com/2013/07/five-minute-friday-belong/">Five Minute Friday</a> click on this link<br />
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Have a wonderful week full of God's Blessings,<br />
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Sandra<br />
xxx<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11738993707711863972noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1174250309900060017.post-2442029532984021592013-06-26T12:26:00.001-07:002013-07-03T06:42:45.328-07:00Bread and Wine<div><a href="http://www.incourage.me/bloom/"><img src="http://www.incourage.me/in-buttons/in-bloom125x125.gif" border="0"></a></div><br />
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I feel so excited to have received a sponsored copy of the (in)courage Book Club for the summer study.<br />
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It is called <a href="http://www.incourage.me/channel/bloom/bloom-current">Bread and Wine</a> and is by Shauna Niequist.<br />
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When I first looked at this book for the (In) Courage summer study...I thought a cook book...how disappointing. This book is so much more than I had first realized.<br />
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It is about community, it is about feeding friends souls with love.<br />
I cried when I shared with Shauna as she relived the loss of her twins and her subsequent pregnancy...it was my story in written words....and it healed some more as I shared her pain a little.<br />
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I am a foodie....but I dislike cooking...I always feel as if my Home Economics teacher is peering over my shoulder...tutting...I think I may need to work on that insecurity some what!<br />
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But...and this is important...I have already experimented with one of the recipes...ok it is only the vinaigrette...but I wanted to start somewhere rather than not start at all...and I was really pleased with it and myself.<br />
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A lovely read...and quite a lot more. <br />
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Have a wonderful week,<br />
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Sandra <br />
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xxx<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11738993707711863972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1174250309900060017.post-70523849236415055992013-06-22T05:51:00.000-07:002013-06-26T05:59:10.715-07:00Five Minute Friday...<a href="http://lisajobaker.com/five-minute-friday/" title="Five Minute Friday"><img src="http://lisajobaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/5minutefriday.jpg" alt="Five Minute Friday" title="Five Minute Friday" style="border:none;" /></a><br />
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This week it's:<br />
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<a href="http://lisajobaker.com/2013/06/five-minute-friday-rhythm/">Rhythm</a><br />
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....in my life lately has been a little bumpy, jarring, out of tune with a few wrong notes flung in here and there.<br />
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I have been challenged - as always -when Father God has revealed a new direction- it has been releasing, exciting, time consuming and rewarding.<br />
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My heart has gradually come back into rhythm with His - often missing a beat with the grief and loss, stuttering with anxiety, pounding with scared anticipation - as all the time He has gently soothed me back into His all powerful beat.<br />
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Oh how the rhythm has changed for my new friend as she walks the lonely path of widowhood, her new name and identity.<br />
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For her there is barely any discernible rhythm at all - just pain.<br />
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Gratefully I know and trust - as will she - that the rhythm of life belongs to Him and that although she barely clings on, her rhythm will be restored as He nurtures a new song in her heart.<br />
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With love and Blessings,<br />
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Sandra<br />
xxxAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11738993707711863972noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1174250309900060017.post-62667156161753999882013-06-14T05:52:00.001-07:002013-06-26T06:08:04.439-07:00Listen....<br />
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Listen....<br />
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to the hustle and bustle as you try to settle your thoughts.<br />
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I listen to the cars,lorries, buses and that noisy screech of a motor bike as they pass by.<br />
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I hear the dog sharing his frustration with the world because his owner has left him alone.<br />
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The children screaming with anticipation as they launch themselves into the oh so cold water of the swimming pool.<br />
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I accept each sound as being part of the noise of my community.....but what emerges when I listen with greater detail, <br />
with more concentration and focus, <br />
caught up in the solitary, the unusual, the gentle murmurings that are so easily missed or discarded.<br />
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I sense my dear Lord and Saviour gently calling to me. <br />
Hear my voice, dear daughter.<br />
Recognize it, celebrate it, cherish it....take care not to miss it.<br />
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May you have a Blessed week,<br />
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Sandra <br />
xxxxx<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11738993707711863972noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1174250309900060017.post-78651994801751437612013-06-01T02:00:00.000-07:002013-06-14T08:23:19.853-07:00So True........<br />
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People are unreasonable, illogical and self-centered.<br />
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Love them anyway.<br />
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If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.<br />
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Do good anyway.<br />
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If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.<br />
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Succeed anyway.<br />
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The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.<br />
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Do good anyway.<br />
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Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.<br />
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Be honest and frank anyway.<br />
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The biggest people with the biggest ideas can be shot down<br />
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by the smallest people with the smallest minds.<br />
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Think big anyway.<br />
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People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.<br />
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Fight for the underdog anyway.<br />
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What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.<br />
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Build anyway.<br />
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People really need help, but may attack you if you help them.<br />
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Help people anyway.<br />
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Give the world the best you've got and you'll get kicked in the teeth.<br />
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Give the world the best you've got anyway.<strike></strike><br />
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Author Unknown (similar version by Mother Teresa)<br />
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Have a wonderful week,<br />
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Sandra<br />
xxxxAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11738993707711863972noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1174250309900060017.post-62417728859934510882013-05-31T08:31:00.000-07:002013-05-31T08:55:05.744-07:00Imagine....<a href="<a href="http://lisajobaker.com/five-minute-friday/" title="Five Minute Friday"><img src="http://lisajobaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/5minutefriday.jpg" alt="Five Minute Friday" title="Five Minute Friday" style="border:none;" /></a>"></a><br />
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My first time at joining in with <a href="http://lisajobaker.com/2013/05/five-minute-friday-imagine/">Five Minute Friday</a>...so here goes...<br />
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Imagine...<br />
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....a life without choices, a life where I knew what would be my future,minute by minute.<br />
Sometimes when I am faced with too many or with difficult choices I long to have a life of no choice. <br />
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I want to be guided, put on the correct path.<br />
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I yearn for someone to tell me what to do.<br />
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Isn't it strange that when I feel I am being forced or pushed into a corner over a decision that I need to make that I react so strongly. <br />
I fight, <br />
I kick and push and push to expand my boundaries and let me search, explore, consider more options, more choices, another footpath.<br />
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Gradually over the last few weeks I have come to accept the latest choice I have made concerning my immediate future.<br />
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It has hurt. <br />
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I am grieving over the loss of 'being useful...of making a difference in people's lives'<br />
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Thank you Lord I have not had to make this decision in isolation.<br />
Thank you for guiding me so gently, for whispering confirmation,for comforting me....for letting me make that choice.<br />
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Imagine a world without His love and His gift of freewill.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBqr3XYDzt1jnt1ikk-ZIkiFxFiukU6a_pL-lEFIqSOT_ZWBumFV_WiIMgx2N-AkE6NUqvaqrPI51XJH-t3e9shfjRbb69jAnfbGKuy99Hb8WUmq225wfOhDSu3NNL2lrf4L-v0tbmfL4/s1600/boy+and+elephant.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBqr3XYDzt1jnt1ikk-ZIkiFxFiukU6a_pL-lEFIqSOT_ZWBumFV_WiIMgx2N-AkE6NUqvaqrPI51XJH-t3e9shfjRbb69jAnfbGKuy99Hb8WUmq225wfOhDSu3NNL2lrf4L-v0tbmfL4/s320/boy+and+elephant.jpg" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11738993707711863972noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1174250309900060017.post-10250279742925117112013-05-06T08:05:00.001-07:002013-06-26T13:42:32.850-07:00The Sky Lark's Song.I actually followed my own advice today…and took a walk along the beach with my Spanish rescue dog, Chloe....she has issues..like leaves moving without warning, people walking near her and horror of horrors...other dogs.<br />
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Today has been particularly hard as I resigned from some charity work with needy families and homeless. I shared the vision of its inception and have worked so closely with these dear people.....but the season is over and I knew I had to leave it to others.<br />
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As I walked along the promenade, the tears of loss and sorrow gently ran down my cheeks.<br />
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I listened as Father soothed me in Spirit and gently helped me dismiss the lies I was telling myself. I am not a failure, I am not unworthy. In my sadness the enemy was trying to twist those feelings and emotions.<br />
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Then He showed me His wonder.....the beautiful notes of a Sky lark pierced my senses and I was returned to the summer days my earthly Dad shared with me his love of nature. We would all lie on a comfy blanket of meadow flowers, overwhelmed with their sweet perfume....and listen to the Sky Lark’s song.<br />
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Joy in the midst of sorrow.... His Wonder in the midst of pain......my Father God is so gentle with me and I love Him.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11738993707711863972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1174250309900060017.post-44840312663706068402013-05-01T12:04:00.000-07:002013-05-08T00:59:03.603-07:00Why we need both Roses and Thorns..<br />
My first time to comment on a post…<br />
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Roses…....finding (in)courage yesterday….....it was such a God given blessing.<br />
There are women out there who truly care about other women.<br />
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My wonderful husband standing and sitting with me last night for a couple of hours as I revealed my unhappiness and loneliness with my work (volunteer) situation. I feel so much clearer and freer this morning…this has been building up for a while but now I see God’s hand in the whole situation.<br />
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Thorns…..working in what currently feels like a really unhealthy place emotionally and spiritually…but knowing God is at work in me and others makes it bearable.<br />
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Thorns…not having other women who can share my Roses and Thorns. <br />
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I love roses but my favourite flowers are poppies.... so a Poppy picture!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmEM6JnekdSkvih8SNlyNPFGYL1XDBa2GJJDoTwmh_uhSLfJYT-4YvjlZ-HFk9oM6PqF6_pP-k44Yz-Qyc53pQuZfFCHouss6PpsCx9Jx77iBfgPMj-l6M1CIXKy6hoWx8TycUfSBusQk/s1600/Poppies+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmEM6JnekdSkvih8SNlyNPFGYL1XDBa2GJJDoTwmh_uhSLfJYT-4YvjlZ-HFk9oM6PqF6_pP-k44Yz-Qyc53pQuZfFCHouss6PpsCx9Jx77iBfgPMj-l6M1CIXKy6hoWx8TycUfSBusQk/s320/Poppies+blog.jpg" /></a><br />
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This is my comment on the <a href="http://www.incourage.me/2013/05/why-we-need-both-roses-thorns.html">above article</a>....what a difference a night makes.<br />
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Yesterday I was, unusually for me, so low. But finding the (in)courage website has been a real catharsis...and I am again reminded of God's perfect timing and love.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11738993707711863972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1174250309900060017.post-63574955278679702842013-04-30T07:30:00.001-07:002013-06-26T13:40:23.125-07:00There has always been the Promise of more....because I know my life is lacking something...but I find it difficult to concentrate at the moment.<br />
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At times like this I believe God is pulling me out of the comfort of misery and disenchantment into the challenging and uplifting.<br />
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My instinct is to place myself in seclusion, often invite myself to a pity party and chastise myself for having no friends and wasting precious time doing nothing. See I told you it was not pretty or did I forget in my apathy.<br />
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At times like this, and yes, I recognize the emotions and feelings,I start looking over the wall to see who and what awaits me.<br />
He is always there, He never left, it was me that drifted away.<br />
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Well I'm fed up with drifting, of doing nothing or worse attempting to do a little something in my way.<br />
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I'm grasping hold of your hand again, Lord and asking you to support me while I regain some strength and enthusiasm for your work.<br />
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I came across a wonderful <a href="http://www.incourage.me/">website</a> today.I know it is an answer to my sketchy prayers.<br />
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Have a look, I know you will be encouraged...I am....and with His help perhaps I can continue to be an encouragement again. <br />
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http://www.incourage.me/2013/04/treasures.html<br />
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<a href="http://www.incourage.me/2013/04/treasures.html"></a><br />
Sandra<br />
xx<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11738993707711863972noreply@blogger.com0