Conquer Your Fears and “Live to Give” Webcast

Thomas Nelson Author and Hoops of Hope founder, Austin Gutwein, to host September 6 online event to focusing on themes his latest release, Live to Give.
On September 6 at 8 PM EDT, Austin Gutwein will be hosting a live Facebook web event to encourage participants to conquer their fears and use their talents to help others. The webcast will center on the themes Gutwein writes about in his latest release “Live to Give: Letting God Turn Your Talents into Miracles” (Thomas Nelson/August, 2012). At the conclusion of the webcast, the winners of a month-long social media fueled “Get and Give” contest will be announced, including the winner of a Kindle Fire and $250 donated to the winner’s charity of choice.
Join Austin on the evening of Thursday, September 6th as he shares about his own experiences and encourages others to conquers their fears and “live to give”. Austin will also be taking audience questions and interacting with participants. PLUS – there will be several “Live to Give” giveaways – books, gift certificates and much more! RSVP today and tell your friends.
Based on the John 6 story of Jesus feeding the 5000, in “Live to Give” Gutwein challenges his readers that regardless of age and talent, God can use them to make a difference. Even though God could take care of everything Himself and doesn’t really need our help, He desperately WANTS us to help Him care for others. Gutwein walks young people through discovering and embracing their unique God-given strengths and abilities, then figuring out how to use those talents to help others. Sometimes doing that takes a leap of faith on our part, and often becoming fearless in the process.
More about Austin: At eighteen years old, Gutwein speaks with wisdom and has the experience to reinforce his message. When Austin was just nine years old, he watched a video that showed children in Africa who had lost their parents to AIDS. Gutwein realized these kids weren’t any different from him—except they were suffering. Feeling called to help, he took his love of basketball and decided to shoot free throws to raise money for orphans in Zambia. On World AIDS Day in 2004, he shot 2,057 free throws to represent the 2,057 kids who would be orphaned during his day at school. Through sponsorship from parents and friends, Gutwein raised over $3,000 that day to give hope to eight orphans in Zambia.
Over the past eight years, Gutwein’s efforts have created Hoops of Hope, the largest free throw marathon in the world. With an estimated 40,000 people in more than 25 countries participating, Hoops of Hope has raised more than $2.5 million to build schools, medical clinics, dormitories for orphanages, and the only computer lab in Zambia.
Enter to win a Kindle Fire and have $250 donated to your favorite charity. Click for the banner for details and entry or visit http://litfusegroup.com/blogtours/13528976/livetogive.

Learn more about Austin and Hoops of Hope at www.AustinGutwein.com and www.HoopsOfHope.org.

Life is...

... routine, messy, exciting, scheduled, impulsive, tiring, boring.

We are finally coming into a routine of our own, but then of course there are situations that throw us for a loop, like a clogged septic tank pipe which left us without being able to drain water for a day.... 

The kids are doing well, for once we are pretty healthy.  We are trying to figure out an allergy? to apple juice for Chloe.  It is either that or the mixture of milk in the morning and apple juice for snack...  Whatever it is, it drives me nuts!  Jacob is loving the farm life, and of course getting into routine with friends again!  He goes to AWANA, Kid's Bible Class and enjoys small group along with Sunday School and Children's Church!  Isaac is growing like a weed, almost 3 months old now!  I forget how much I love little baby boys! 

Greg is coming into his own at work.  I think he is really enjoying his new job.  He is learning so much new stuff and will start playing with Auto-CAD this week.  He has started a accountability partner relationship, which is good for everyone I think! He is excited about our upcoming garden and doing our own starts, so that means planning and building a greenhouse!

We are also getting excited about the upcoming calves and piglets we will be getting soon!  The farm life is pretty exciting for us! 

I am doing well.  Struggling with a few issues that I have, but overall doing good.  Trying to catch up in Perspectives and Experiencing God, really loving them both and learning so much about God and myself!  I am loving my chickens and trying not to keep adopting new ones!  We will be getting chicks soon, so that will be an experience! 

Tomorrow will be another book review, so come check it out and enter in another giveaway! A special congrats to Tara over at http://taraleann.blogspot.com/ who is getting a copy of The Beautiful Wife book, Prayer journal, Mentor's Guide and a copy of Mornings With Jesus 2012!!!!

I hope you all are doing well, and you take this extra day of the year to do something special!

Crazy Life

I used to yearn for the days when our lives would be crazy, when we would have different activities during the week.  Now we are there! 

Back when the hubby and I first got married we hadn't made it a priority to find a church and be active in it.  We attended one for a while, then when we started traveling with his work, we would attend one here or there, but were never in a place long enough to really get involved. 

Now we are settled, have found a home church and well, looking at our calendar we attend some church function about 5 times a week!  And we aren't even on committees (such as facilities, women's ministry,etc!). 

And you know what?  I LOVE IT!!!  :)  I love being part of a church family where there are many different things going on!  Where you are pushed to learn more and advance on your walk with God.  Just like your house at home, the church needs it's members to help make it run! 

I really don't know where I was going with this... Just enjoying where we are in life!  I know in the next few weeks life is going to get even crazier!  Our Perspectives class is starting up, we will be doing our first Veggie Tales movie Premier, and then... Jacob will be starting some spring sport!!! 

I am actually having to keep a calender of different events so we don't forget anything!  I used to dream of the day when I would have to actually do this! I know I have wierd strange dreams.  Oh and the kids haven't even started school yet!

Oh I love where God has brought us and although I am looking forward to what is in the future, I will cherish the stage we are in now and not try to live for tomorrow, but enjoy life today! 

Courageous... what does it mean?

So I was planning on writing about my verse for 2012 this morning, but on the way home from taking Greg to work, I was given the prompt to write about being COURAGEOUS and what it means... So now I am researching a little so I too can learn to be courageous. 

I am sure you have all heard the lyrics to Courageous by Casting Crowns...

We were made to be courageous
We were made to lead the way
We could be the generation
That finally breaks the chains
We were made to be courageous
We were made to be courageous

We were warriors on the front lines
Standing, unafraid
But now we're watchers on the sidelines
While our families slip away

Where are you, men of courage?
You were made for so much more
Let the pounding of our hearts cry
We will serve the Lord

We were made to be courageous
And we're taking back the fight
We were made to be courageous
And it starts with us tonight
The only way we'll ever stand
Is on our knees with lifted handsMake us courageous
Lord, make us courageous

This is our resolution
Our answer to the call
We will love our wives and children
We refuse to let them fall

We will reignite the passion
That we buried deep inside
May the watchers become warriors
Let the men of God arise

We were made to be courageous
And we're taking back the fight
We were made to be courageous
And it starts with us tonight

The only way we'll ever stand
Is on our knees with lifted hands
Make us courageous
Lord, make us courageous

Seek justice
Love mercy
Walk humbly with your God

In the war of the mind
I will make my stand
In the battle of the heart
And the battle of the hand

In the war of the mind
I will make my stand
In the battle of the heart
And the battle of the hand

We were made to be courageous
And we're taking back the fight
We were made to be courageous
And it starts with us tonight

The only way we'll ever stand
Is on our knees with lifted hands
Make us courageous
Lord, make us courageous

We were made to be courageous
Lord, make us courageous

{ From: http://www.elyrics.net/read/c/casting-crowns-lyrics/courageous-lyrics.html }

I know the song is written (and the movie) more toward the husband/father, but if you just switch out a few words, it is for moms/wives too!  We are called to have strength of mind to carry on in spite of danger or difficulty (definition of courage from www.wordcenteral.com).

Isn't that something we do everyday with our kids?  With our spouses?  But do we carry that strength over to speaking out about our faith?  Now in our country there really is not that much danger for speaking out about our love for Jesus...  Most likely we will not be killed for loving Jesus (at least not right now, but we do know that day is coming...)  the worst that happens is a little ridecul from others... Just look at Tim Tebow... There is a man who is speaking out about his love for Jesus every chance he gets, and yes many of us love him, but there are so many others that make fun of him and tell him to stop, but does he?  No, he stands up and tells everyone even more how much he loves Jesus!

Joshua 1:9
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

1 Corinthians 16:13
Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.

I just love the line:
The only way we'll ever stand
Is on our knees with lifted hands

Isn't that the way it is... we are to stand strong, but when we are the strongest is when we are on our knees, humbling ourselves to God, surrendering our lives to Him and yet being so free? 

Ok, well I think that is all for me today... If you haven't seen the movie Courageous it comes out on DVD on Jan. 17th and I really recommend it!  Don't just watch it for your husband, look how you could take the lessons in the movie and apply them to your life!  Well I hope I make a little sense this morning... It is early for me, and well, I am still adjusting to 3 kids! Just keep asking yourself daily: 

How can I be more COURAGEOUS for God today?

1 John Study with Good Morning Girls

Today kicked off the fall session of Good Morning Girls and the study of 1 John!  I got up a little earlier with no trouble, had some breakfast, made my cup of coffee and settled on to the bed with Bible, notebook and pen... 

This 12 week study breaks down the book of 1 John to, most days, only a verse a day!  They use the SOAP method

S~ Write out the SCRIPTURE of the day
O~ Write out 1-2 OBSERVATIONS from that scripture
A~ Write out 1-2 APPLICATIONS from daily scripture
P~ PRAY over what you learned

So simple! 

Well, today was 1 John 1:1
 
"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched- this we proclaim concerning the Word of life."


Question I am leaving with you today... 

Are you proclaiming the things you know, things you have touched, have seen, have heard concerning the Word of life?

I know I am not doing it as much as I should! 

My prayer is that I will proclaim the things I have seen, heard, touched that glorify Him and spread the Good News of Jesus Christ so that others may come to know Him and love Him and spend eternity with Him in Heaven.

life struggles.

Boy what a busy summer so far, and I really haven’t even left the house!


Our good news is that we found out that we are having a baby boy due in December!!! Jacob is so excited for a little brother and Chloe… well she doesn’t really have an opinion yet.  This pregnancy is going well. I am very tired sometimes, but oddly enough I do not sleep very much at night. Only after 5:30 when Greg leaves for work, do I get a few hrs and then a nap in the afternoon. Jacob is once again very understanding for mommy’s tiredness and lets me sleep in some mornings and take a nap in the afternoon.


Our car is still not working, Greg isn’t sure what the issue is with the battery and thinks there is some electrical short somewhere. He is working long hours again, and unfortunately his boss is not paying for the overtime, again. It is a struggle for us everyday as working for someone who doesn’t pay for the work done. We still do not have health insurance, and are working on something (ok praying for something to change).


I am still struggling with staying here in New England. But it is getting better as I look forward to everything that is planned for this coming year! Another year of MOPS, where I am on the steering team, another year of AWANA, a new class Greg and I will be taking “Perspectives” in January, along with other fun activities throughout the winter months. We are taking a trip back to CO for a little over a week this August, and it will be good for us to visit family and get away for a little.

I started to think about if we were to move back to CO, what difference would it make. Yes we do have some family there, however they are a lot older, mostly great aunts and Grandparents. Any cousins that Jacob, Chloe and Baby Boy have live hours away. Yes financially it would be easier, there is no overhead in the cabin, however we are up in the mts, with our closest neighbors, a good 10-20 min. walk away.
I think that a lot of my struggles come from being “trapped” in the house for so long. (Yes I do distract my husband a lot of the time and get him to do other things then work on the car, so it is partly my fault!) I am hoping that once we get the car going again that the kids and I can escape to the beach, a friend’s house, or even to the store for errands.
I am currently reading One thousand Gifts, and am working on finding thanksgiving in everything~ even being stuck in the house (I am sorting through everything and growing our yard sale pile everyday along with sort of keeping up with laundry and the house being clean)

Well that is about it for me...  I will post my long entry on the garden tomorrow! :) 

Yikes...

Well, I am truely very sorry to everyone for my absence for... almost a month!  We have had some crazy times here... 

First... It is summer, which means yard work, garden to tend, and trying to squeeze in some fun in the backyard pool (ours is a turtle sandbox filled with water!). 

Second... I am a space head, if you know me, you know this to be true.  My poor renters back in CO...  they put up with me forgetting to do something or putting it off and then forgetting!  I swear by the time this baby comes out I am going to be a walking zombie! 

Third... we just had a tragic accident outside our house.  A semi truck was speeding and not really paying attention and didn't see the railroad crossing arm down, ran through it and into the Amtrak going by...  He died instantly, but as some of our pictures can show, it was a close one for us.  Our house is about 30 feet from the tracks, and had either train or truck been going the other way, or faster, or been a freight train, or any number of different things, the truck could have gone into our living room.  BUT... God protected us!  It was like there was a bubble around our house.  Not even a piece of trash (it was a truck full of trash) was on our side of the street!  We are so thankful for this and in shock still of it all.  You can google Amtrak crash in Maine and find out more about it all if you want. 

1st Pic: most fires are out, just spot fires, probably about 40 mins after crash.

2nd Pic: Crane going through picking up metal debris, most of that load was the cab of the truck.

3rd Pic: Cleaning up all the trash, you can see the trailer on its side

Other than that, lets see...  we are about 21 weeks along with #3, and will be finding out our exact due date/gender next Tuesday!!! 

Our garden is going well, I want to make a whole post on it tomorrow.  But once again, we have our work cut out for us.  We have gone from one large garden and a pepper patch, to one large garden, a pepper patch, a herb garden which extends for more peppers and some cauliflower and broccoli and then our squash and zuccini along with some muskmelon plants in a four plot...  Oh the work we have in store...

I am also making my way through One Thousand Gifts and will be doing a discussion on it later this month, or next, depending on timing of everything! :)  If you haven't picked it up, please do, it is an amazing book!