First of all, I’m thrilled to tell you about a new {FREE} e-book by my friend Arabah Joy! She has compiled a beautiful book called The Family Table, full of ideas encouraging families to make the most of time around the dinner table.
This beautifully designed book is packed with over 50 ideas,activities, games, and recipes to spark intimacy, connection, laughter, service, hospitality, and making memories as a family.
New e-book from ArabahJoy.com
I’ve also asked women like Mary DeMuth, Marci Ferrell, Jennifer Walker, and others to share snapshots of what goes on around their family tables… as well as their favorite family recipes!Yum!
To receive this wonderful book, visit Arabah Joy at her blog, and simply sign up to receive her blog posts via e-mail. She has an honest and beautiful way of writing that challenges her readers to move beyond the status quo. You won’t be disappointed with her e-mail posts.
Arabah Joy ~ Showcasing the sufficiency of Christ and demonstrating how to appropriate it in our broken, barren places. www.ArabahJoy.com
Congratulations, my friend, and thank you for sharing this compilation with us!
~
Another FREE e-book (available through Sept. 28) is I’m No Angel, by Kylie Bisutti.
In December 2011, 21-year-old Victoria’s Secret model Kylie Bisutti stunned the fashion industry when she chose faith over fame and fortune and made the switch from supermodel to role model.
In I’m No Angel, Kylie shares her story–from her early years struggling to make it big in the cut-throat world of modeling, her “big break” winning the Victoria’s Secret Runway Angel competition, and the disillusionment and spiritual warfare that followed, to the moment she realized that she could no longer reconcile her career with her Christian beliefs, surrendered her life to God, said goodbye to the runway, and dedicated her life to preaching a message of modesty and inner beauty.
Along the way, Kylie talks about her personal struggles with inadequacy, low self-esteem, and her near-constant quest for approval in a world where you can never be thin enough, pretty enough, or sexy enough. She helps readers understand that true beauty lies within and that real fulfillment comes from knowing, loving, and serving Christ.
Kylie appeared on Life Today earlier this month and I just happened to see her there. She did an interview with James Roberson’s son before the show, then visited with James and Betty. The links to both are below. I’m really excited about her book being free – and can’t wait to read it and talk with Abigail about it’s truths. Girls and women of all ages need to be reminded that the beautifully perfect women we see in the media simply isn’t a true picture of womanhood. Kylie is a great role model for all of us.
PS: I found two more free books for September 24 only – and wanted to pass them along as well.
Grasp God’s Presence in Everyday Life
Bestselling fiction author Tracie Peterson turns her storytelling talent to this enlightening devotional that will open the eyes of your heart to God’s ever-present love.
Discover the Abundance of God’s Eternal Presence
Like a conversation with a dear friend, these intimate devotions will help you feel a rare bond with Tracie. Using quiet moments from her own life, she reassures you that God can and will be found in the details of life. From this simple, discovery she’ll help lead you to a more vital, overflowing relationship with Him.
The 7-Day Prayer Warrior Experience is a free eBook from bestselling author Stormie Omartian, developed using excerpts from Prayer Warrior and Prayer Warrior Prayer and Study Guide. Are you equipped for spiritual battle? Take the next seven days to “put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11). Join Stormie as she explains the pieces of armor, what they mean, and how they can help you be a prayer warrior in your spiritual battle. With devotional thoughts, suggested prayers, ways to dig deeper, and opportunities to connect with Stormie and a whole community of prayer warriors, The 7-Day Prayer Warrior Experience will empower you with the truth that “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).
Today is my mom’s birthday… And that makes me smile. In fact, she makes me smile. We love to laugh together, and have all kinds of silly “family sayings” that make sense to no one except family. My mom is/was a great mother, homemaker, wife and helpmeet to my dad, and set the standard high for my sister and me to follow.
My dad was the “up front” person in their relationship, and Mom was happy to be his support. In fact, it wasn’t until Daddy died that we realized what a great leader Mom was, and that she, too, was funny.
Like a modern Proverbs 31 woman, Mom would rise up early, stay up late, bake full breakfasts and suppers, sew all of our clothes, keep our house clean, keep the laundry done, teach Sunday School, lead the WMU, and work part time as our college years loomed on the horizon. In my years of sickness, she was a lot like M’Lynn in Steel Magnolias. Like Shelby, I would look to my mom to know if I was going to be ok, and she was the one who never let me give up. She was a true “Steel Magnolia.”
Until I became a parent, I didn’t know how blessed I was to have the home life that Mom and Dad provided for us. They both worked hard, obeyed the Lord, taught us about God and His Word, and modeled for us how to walk with and trust Him. We didn’t own a lot of the material things that would label us as wealthy or privileged, but we were rich in what mattered the most.
“Nanny” is still here with us recovering from her surgery, and it has been a true privilege to take care of her. We’ve enjoyed lots of hours of talking and visiting, laughing, coffee, and watching HGTV, Food Network, and Say Yes to the Dress, etc… (along with lots of physical therapy!) Though I’m sorry that she has been in pain, and though the days haven’t been easy, our family will treasure this time we’ve had with her.
Mom, thank you so much for living your life for the Lord and your family. We are blessed because of you, and we love you so much! Thanks for being a Godly woman, a model wife, a wonderful mother, and a true friend.
Hi friends~ I don’t know about where you live, but in the Mississippi Delta, we finally have had a few cooler mornings, making us feel like Fall could be around the corner. {However, last week our weather man said that it was going to cool off for the week… and it did… the highs for the days were down to 91! haha}
My mom is recovering from her surgery on schedule and is doing very well with her physical therapy! She’s been a great patient to care for, and will continue to stay with us through the end of the month. Thanks so much to those of you who have prayed for her and for us during this time.
Due to limited study time, I’ve been taking a break from teaching and writing, but I did get to spend a wonderful day on Saturday with the ladies from Carrolton Baptist Church in Carrolton, MS. It was the sweetest fellowship, and I’m so thankful to have had a part in what God did on Saturday. So a big shout-out to the ladies of Carrolton Baptist Church!
Back to Fall…Whatever the weather, it’s time to bring out the pumpkins in both decor and in deliciousness! Are you feeling Fall-ish yet? I’m hoping to make something with pumpkin this week. Can’t wait! Here are a few fall favorites from my “Fall” Pinterest board. Looking at it just makes me happy! 🙂
Free Fall Subway Art. (Six different pictures) Download here.
Twinkle Light Pumpkin. Instructions here. By the way, I learned that to preserve the inside of the carved pumpkin, add one of those little packets that come in boxes of new shoes or purses.
I know it’s been unusually quiet here on SmellingCoffee lately. My sweet mom is recovering from surgery and I am her primary caretaker at present. {She is a good patient, is easy to care for, & is doing well. We praise God for all of that! 😉 We continue to covet your prayers for her as she heals. Thank you.} With everything going on in & outside of the home right now, I just haven’t had the mental energy to publish much. But I do have a folder rich with post drafts and one of these days they’ll see the blogy light. 😉
However, because I have been extra burdened to pray for our national & world leaders/decision-makers in light of the Syria situation, I wanted to hop on here and post God’s Word from my quiet time this morning. I know you are praying too. I have no other commentary to make except a plea to the Lord, Mighty Commander of Heaven’s Army, to step in and lead… For His glory around the globe!
Psalm 46
(1-3) God is a safe place to hide,
ready to help when we need him.
We stand fearless at the cliff-edge of doom,
courageous in seastorm and earthquake,
Before the rush and roar of oceans,
the tremors that shift mountains.
Jacob-wrestling God fights for us,
God-of-Angel-Armies protects us.
(4-6) River fountains splash joy, cooling God’s city,
this sacred haunt of the Most High.
God lives here, the streets are safe,
God at your service from crack of dawn.
Godless nations rant and rave, kings and kingdoms threaten,
but Earth does anything he says.
(7) Jacob-wrestling God fights for us,
God-of-Angel-Armies protects us.
(8-10) Attention, all! See the marvels of God!
He plants flowers and trees all over the earth,
Bans war from pole to pole,
breaks all the weapons across his knee.
“Step out of the traffic! Take a long,
loving look at me, your High God,
above politics, above everything.”
(11) Jacob-wrestling God fights for us,
God-of-Angel-Armies protects us.
Good morning! It as been a full week around my house & my mind hasn’t had the energy to complete a blog post. I’ve started quite a few but have fallen asleep before they were publish-ready. But in this morning’s quiet time, I came across three verses in my journal that were such great instructions, I had to hop on here & quickly share them.
When we come upon those days or seasons of disabling overwhelmededness (is that a real word?) these are God’s instructions for our “next step” – what we are to do when we don’t know what to do:
When we don’t know what to do, whatever it is that we do, do it this way:
*Do EVERYTHING in the name of the Lord Jesus, (Col 3:17)
*Rolling my works upon Him, (Prov 16:3)
*Because He is completely dependable. (1 Thes 5:24)
In other words, whatever it is that must be done in daily living, do it in the Name of & by the power of, and for the glory of Jesus Christ, no matter how mundane it is. At home, at work, at service, at play, even at rest, say to the Lord, “Jesus, I am ____ in Your name. Please be glorified as I ____.” As you are doing that, ROLL everything else that must be done for the day, week, month, or year upon Jesus Christ (because sometimes things {that are just too heavy to pick up} must be shoved). All the while you are rolling, remind yourself over and over that God is Completely Dependable.
He WILL lead & strengthen & help & hold us as we follow this simple plan laid out for us in His Word. Praise His Holy Name!
Many blessings upon each of you today and in the days to come, my friends!
In & through the beautiful & peace-bringing name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
