Before Amen by Max Lucado ~ building a stronger, faith filled prayer life ~ #review

{About Before Amen}

Before Amen || (Thomas Nelson, September 2014)





We all pray . . . some.




We pray to stay sober, centered, or solvent. When the lump is deemed
malignant. When the money runs out before the month does. When the
marriage is falling apart. We pray.




But wouldn’t we like to pray more? Better? Stronger? With more fire, faith, and fervency?




Yet we have kids to feed, bills to pay, deadlines to meet. The
calendar pounces on our good intentions like a tiger on a rabbit. And
what about our checkered history with prayer? Uncertain

words. Unmet
expectations. Unanswered requests.




We aren’t the first to struggle with prayer. The first followers of
Jesus needed prayer guidance too. In fact, prayer is the only tutorial
they ever requested.




And Jesus gave them a prayer. Not a lecture on prayer. Not the
doctrine of prayer. He gave them a quotable, repeatable, portable
prayer. Couldn’t we use the same?




In Before Amen best-selling author Max Lucado joins readers
on a journey to the very heart of biblical prayer, offering hope for
doubts and confidence even for prayer wimps. Distilling prayers in the
Bible down to one pocket-sized prayer, Max reminds readers that prayer
is not a privilege for the pious nor the art of a chosen few. Prayer is
simply a heartfelt conversation between God and his child. Let the
conversation begin.




Learn more at Max’s website.



My Review:

I must completely agree with this particular part of the book description ". . .prayer
is not a privilege for the pious nor the art of a chosen few. Prayer is
simply a heartfelt conversation between God and his child. . ."  This book describes exactly that - that prayer is not just a "God I need . . want . . please help . . " but should be seen as a special gift given to us.  Direct communication with the Creator!


Before Amen is a powerful and amazing book, well written for those who really desire to strengthen their prayer life and communication with God.  It has made me stop and think of the way I approach prayer.  I see it as a way to give God my requests and expectations, but I should see it for the privilege it truly is.  I need to approach God with reverence yet a child-like heart full of love and desire to spend time in his presence.  This book is Highly recommended by this blogger!

{More About Max Lucado}

More than 120 million readers have found comfort in the writings of
Max Lucado. He ministers at the Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas,
where he lives with his wife, Denalyn, and a sweet but misbehaving mutt,
Andy.


Find out more about Max at http://teamlucado.com/beforeamen/cbd.html.

Disclosure: I received free the item(s) mentioned in this post in exchange for my honest review. Regardless ~ All my reviews are my honest and personal opinion. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.

Expectant Parents – New Resource from Focus on the Family {And, iPad Mini Giveaway!} ends 11/2

While many books for new parents focus on prenatal development and the health of a mom-to-be, Suzanne Hadley Gosselin's Expectant Parents' core purpose is to help new parents understand key issues related to the arrival of a new child in the home, offering practical assistance as they prepare themselves for long-term family success.

Learn ways to strengthen your marriage relationship, set plans and expectations for parenthood, increase communication, and prepare for the new stage of your family life. Pick up a copy for yourself or for expectant friends and enter for a chance to win an iPad Mini!



One grand prize winner will receive:

• An iPad Mini


• Expectant Parents from Suzanne Hadley Gosselin and Focus on the Family

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on November 2nd. Winner will be announced November 3rd on Suzanne's website here.

 

Wishful Thinking $100 Amazon GC #Giveaway Sponsored by Get My Wish ~ Come enter to win YOUR wish! ends 11/4

Welcome to the Wishful Thinking 

$100 Amazon GC Giveaway

Hosted by Mom Loves 2 Read 

Sponsored by Get My Wish

A special thank you to our cohosts: Deals Fanatics  AND Naturally Frugalicious

and all the wonderful bloggers who are participating in this event!

The Holiday Season is upon us and what a better way to kick it off than with a Giveaway!  At Get My Wish, you can easily sign up FREE to start adding new and fantastic items to your Holiday Wish List!  Have an upcoming birthday or anniversary?  make a wishlist and add your favorite items!

Want to share your secret wants with family and friends for the Christmas season?  Make an "All I Want for

Christmas" wishlist you can share with anyone on your email list!



Making a list and checking it twice is so easy even little ones can do it - though Mom or Dad has to be the one to sign up - you can even have different lists for each person in your family!

Whatever the occasion, whatever the gift, Get My Wish has a great way to organize it and share it with family and friends, or just make it for yourself!



Get My Wish is all about making things easier to create, send and share your wishes, wants and needs with friends, family and co-workers all over the world.  They even have a free concierge service that helps find the special gifts for that special person for any occasion.  There are even different wishlist templates to personalize your lists, and Get My Wish makes emailing easy by allowing you to download your email contacts right into your account.

It takes less than 5 minutes to create a free registry, set up a wishlist and add items with descriptions!  Simple. Easy. Ready to Share.  Every Gift bought from one of the partners of Get My Wish will give back to Charity!

Now for the Giveaway Fun.  

Enter below using the Giveaway Tools form for a chance to win $100 Amazon eGiftCode to help with your Holiday or personal shopping. 

Mandatory to create or have a Get My Wish registry. 

Open World Wide, must be 18+ to enter/win.  Giveaway ends 12:00 Noon CST on November 4th.  Entries will be validated.  Winner will have only 48 hours to claim prize - no reply after 48 hours will result in another winner being chosen.

Entry-Form

Disclaimer: Neither Mom Loves 2 Read nor this participating blog are responsible for prize distribution.  Sponsor: Get My Wish is responsible for sending prize to winner after validation.  This giveaway is in no way associated with any social media.  Mom Loves 2 Read did receive monetary compensation for setting up, organizing and running this giveaway on behalf of the sponsor.  ML2R is not associated in any other way with the sponsor of this event.

VeggieTales Beauty and the Beet ~ A story of Unconditional Love #review #giveaway

Beauty
and the Beet Puts a Tune-Filled,

All-Veggie Spin on a Classic Fairy Tale Starring Country Superstar Kellie
Pickler

Available Oct. 14 on DVD and Digital
Download, the Newest

VeggieTales Production Features 10 Original Songs,

Also Offered on a Brand-New Companion CD

About the film:

This brand-new VeggieTales musical premieres Oct. 14 and
stars Kellie Pickler (American Idol, Dancing With the
Stars), who brings her unmistakable voice to the role of
Mirabelle, a sweet-potato singer whose family band is on the brink of
superstardom. BEAUTY AND THE BEET blends the irresistible charm of
VeggieTales with a heartfelt

message about unconditional love. The DVD also includes Mac and Cheese, a giddy new “Silly Songs With
Larry” segment in which Larry the Cucumber reveals the surprising and heretofore
untold history of his family’s unexpected contributions to Italian
cuisine. BEAUTY AND

THE BEET is just the
start of the fun in store this fall for VeggieTales fans, because the gang will also
star in a brand-new Netflix original series, VeggieTales In the House, which premieres Thanksgiving
weekend.

Official Website: http://veggietales.com/vtmain/

Purchase Veggie Tales: Beauty and the Beet
on Amazon

Watch the Trailer:

Mirabelle and her traveling family band, the Veggietones, are determined to make their next gig at Vegtable Square Garden. On their journey, a fierce winter snowstorm hits, and the family gets stuck at a run-down resort! Mr. Beet, the grumpy manager makes me sing - and clean - for their supper. Why is Mr. Beet such a beast? And can Mirabelle's kindness change him? Find out in this hilarious and heartwarming tale of unconditional love!



Review:

What a fun show!  Our family have loved VeggieTales for over 13 years and still find them completely fascinating and wonderful.  All three of my kids (and yes, even me too) could not take our eyes off this show.  My kids have watched it over and over so many times I think they nearly have it memorized and I've only managed to watch half and can't wait to sneak it away from the kiddos long enough to actually watch the whole thing!



VeggieTales is always a family favorite with clean, family friendly shows, fun and humorous animated characters and honest moral stories that teach young ones how to be their best, do their best, be honest, kind, and a good friend, and to show God's love to others even when it is difficult.



Beauty and the Beet is a VeggieTales version of the classic "Beauty and the Beast" story.  It is told in such a way that children of all ages can relate to how aggravating difficult people can be and how easy it is to treat them badly in return.  This movie shows how even the meanest person can be affected in a positive way by showing God's unconditional love even when it is hard.



With beautiful music, wonderful vibrant animations, fun and funny characters and of course a new silly song with Larry about Mac N Cheese that my kids won't quit singing . . . this movie is one of our new favorites.  As a blogger, a Mom, an advocate for good clean family fun, and a VeggieTales lover; I highly recommend this DVD.  It would make a wonderful gift for the upcoming holiday season, or an early gift that the whole family can watch together over the Holidays!

Time for a GIVEAWAY!

Open to US & CANADA - 18 or older please.  Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”

Entry-Form

Disclosure: Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the
giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by
monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for
this review and post.

I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.

Are you ready for ADVENTURE and FAMILY FUN? Read this #review . . . #RinglingInsider

Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey presents Super Circus Heroes

REVIEWED by Susan and Family!

 

October 17-19, 2014

PEORIA CIVIC CENTER

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® Presents Super Circus HeroesSM, showcasing wonders from the marvelous to the magnificent, every day is extraordinary in this action-packed super circus, filled with superhuman athleticism, power and pageantry that will have Children Of All Ages discovering their own

superhuman strength. Amazing elephants, horses, camels and more alongside astonishing acrobats, awe-inspiring aerialists and some over-the-top clowns that will have audiences in stitches… of laughter of course! Come join us in celebrating the bravery, courage and honor that lives inside all of us at Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Presents Super Circus Heroes: far from ordinary, beyond extraordinary!

Click here to purchase tickets for a Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey performance in your area!

Our Review:

What an amazing show!  This was most definitely one of my family's favorite events to date.  My children had never been to a live Circus and were all quite excited to get to go - yes, even my reserved 13 yr old showed some interest in attending!



The first excitement when we arrived was the All Access Pre-Show event - for an entire HOUR before the Circus was to begin - our family could go down on the main floor, visit some of the Circus animals, see and even be a part of different fun Circus events and meet some of the Stars of the Super Circus Heroes performance!

 

It was spectacular and so much fun.  The clowns were it top form, some of the performers gave small shows and even had children from the audience participate in most of the acts!  The animals were so adorable and fun to watch - one of the camels was trying to untie his fellow pony - my girls giggled so hard at the cute camel's antics!



About the All Access Party:

To truly become Super Circus Heroes, families are welcome to come to the arena floor an hour before show time to participate in the interactive super hero training camp at the All Access Pre-show Super Hero Party.



During this special event, the League of Super Circus Heroes will teach participants some of their super human skills such as juggling, wire walking and dance routines. 



Participants will also have an opportunity to meet the performers, take pictures and get autographs. Super heroes in training can try on capes and other spectacular costumes and also get an up-close look at a menagerie of exotic animals including camels and elephants.

It was so much fun!  The kids could hardly take their eyes off the Pre show long enough to actually find our seats!  Not only did we get our 2 hours of Circus Fun, but another entire hour of pre-show amazement!



It is hard to choose just a few favorite moments to share for this review, and since I took over 300 photos!  Yes, and could have taken more if I weren't so caught up in some of the moments I forgot about my camera - I thought it would be best to just add a small slide show of a few of mine and my kiddos favorites of the night . . .

There were adorable little dogs riding on the back of ponies.  Ponies going under the legs of camels.  High flying circus acts, tight rope walkers, strong men, adorable elephants doing amazing feats, acrobatic limber women, humorous clowns, the cage of death with women standing in the middle of motorcycles and so much more.  And the whole night could not have been more perfect thanks to the amazing Ring Master and all the talented stars of the show.

Entertainment for the whole family - any age!

I have not been to a circus since I was about the age of my youngest child, and what I do remember was nothing compared to what we saw last night!  Ringling Bros is definitely "The GREATEST Show on Earth!"

See all my photos here:  MomBlogger's FELD Circus 2014 album on Photobucket

*Want to see it for yourself?  Great!  You can still purchase tickets for the Peoria Shows today - Saturday as well as tomorrow's show on Sunday, October 19th!

AND, check out the link for more show times and venues!



Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey

Click here to purchase tickets for a Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey performance in your area!

Disclosure:

I received something of value from Feld Entertainment as part of their Insider Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.

Get your Spoon River Drive FIX all in ONE Place ~ CREEKWOOD FALL CRAFT BAZAAR TODAY! #local

Get your Craft Fair fix all in one place!

COME JOIN THE FUN 

FIND GREAT GIFTS FOR THE COMING HOLIDAYS, BIRTHDAYS, and MORE!

MORTON: 150 Yordy Rd.



Sat. Oct. 18, 10a-3p. 





FALL BAZAAR:



 Collectibles, hand tools, leather items, designer jewelry, crochet



 blankets, home decor items,



professionally made wreaths, Clothing & Accessories for 18" dolls



 like American Girl, Madame Alexander, Gotz and more



 & so many more wonderful items!

Travel down Main Street down near the Field Shopping Center - watch for YORDY road on the left across from Inspired Arts Academy (where the old Orndorf furniture store used to be)

New release today: Mr. Katz is a Zombie by M. C. Lesh

Catastrophe looms in North Goethalsburg! When twelve-year-old J.D. is tricked into taking possession of a book of spells, his best friend turns their teacher into a zombie. The zombification of Mr. Katz creates general chaos and a not-so-terrific time for near-genius J.D. Teamed with his best friend Rodney, twin troublemakers, and an obnoxious ghost, J.D. must figure out how to change Mr. Katz back from one of the undead before he: 1. Escapes the janitor’s closet; 2. Eats their brains; and 3. Wears J.D.’s spleen as a hat. Can four boys armed with a slingshot, two boxes of jelly donuts, and a handy zombie guide battle their mindless teacher and live to tell? Probably not. You’ll have to read to find out.

My review: If your son or daughter enjoys “Diary of a Wimpy kid”, Mr. Katz is a Zombie is sure to appeal to them. The first book in the Goethalsburg Ghost Squad series, the story is told from bratty J.D.’s perspective. He’s your regular, average kid-only that his parents are professional ghost hunters! This lands J. D. in an awful lot of trouble-naturally through no fault of his own! Take Mr. Katz’ current zombie like state, for example. Clearly his friend Rodney’s doing, but now it’s up to J.D. to save the day. To make matters worse, Rodney and his chaotic brothers are about as little help as the uncooperative ghost Balthazar. But J. D. is ready to take on the battle-even if it’s with a box of jelly donuts!

A fun story for pre-teens with just the right mix of humor and action filled adventure, Mr. Katz is Available on Amazon as of October 14.

About the author: As a child, M.C. Lesh had to hold her nose in order to eat spinach. As an adult, she hardly ever has to hold her nose when she eats spinach, but she still picks onions out of all of her food. She read a lot of books as a kid. Luckily, she didn't have one of those video gaming machines to rot her brain. (Her friend Lorenzo says they appeal to the monkey part of the brain. She thinks that's an insult to monkeys. Sorry, monkeys!) Mr. Katz is a Zombie is the first book in her Goethalsburg Ghost Squad Series. She hopes you'll return to North Goethalsburg to find out what happens when J.D. meets Martin Barton, suspected werewolf and snappy dresser. She also hopes you never have to be too serious, but in the event that you do, her advice is to keep a yo-yo in your back pocket because that is almost always a good idea.

Visit her website: margaretlesh.com.

Twitter @MargaretLesh

Disclosure: I received free the item(s) mentioned in this post in exchange for my honest review, but also bought two more copies for a children's hospital. Yup, spent my own money! Regardless ~ All my reviews are my honest and personal opinion. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.