SEE Them!

I've been questioned by non Christians how we hear from God. Is it an audible voice booming down from the heavenly clouds or is it something subtle like a breeze that comes out of nowhere, gently caressing your face and then it's gone. I would have to say it's both and probably more.

I believe when you are actively spending time with God, through morning devotions, reading your Bible, praying, and following in the path that He has laid out for you, it becomes easier to hear his voice. Sometimes it sounds like your own voice in your head and the way I can tell the difference is how it measures up to God's Word and my will.

Sometimes music can even lead us to something God wants us to address. For me, it has been extending my own world beyond the population of one. The song by Matthew West addresses the point perfectly. If you haven't heard the song before I would encourage you to listen to it. But more than that, let it move you to do something beyond listening and push you to the doing part. Here are the lyrics:

In my own little world it hardly ever rains
I've never gone hungry, always felt safe
I got some money in my pocket, shoes on my feet
In my own little world: population -- me

I try to stay awake during Sunday morning church
I throw a twenty in the plate but I never give 'til it hurts
And I turn off the news when I don't like what I see
It's easy to do when its population -- me

What if there's a bigger picture?
What if I'm missing out?
What if there's a greater purpose?
I could be living right now
Outside my own little world

Stopped till the red light, looked out my window
I saw a cardboard sign said, "Help this homeless widow"
And just above that sign was the face of a human
I thought to myself, "God, what have I been doing?"
So I rolled down the window and I looked her in the eye
Oh, how many times have I just passed her by?
I gave her some money then I drove on through
And my own little world reached population two

What if there's a bigger picture?
What if I'm missing out?
What if there's a greater purpose?
I could be living right now
Outside my own little world, ooh, my own little world, ooh

Father, break my heart for what breaks Yours
Give me open hands and open doors
Put Your light in my eyes and let me see
That my own little world is not about me

What if there's a bigger picture?
What if I'm missing out?
What if there's a greater purpose?
That I could be living right now

I don't wanna miss what matters
I wanna be reaching out
Show me the greater purpose
So I can start living right now
Outside my own little world, my own little world, my own little world!

So the point, opportunities for us to increase our own little world population exist every single day. But I warn you, you have to also question your motives. Are you doing it because you feel lead or simply to try and fill your heavenly warehouse with more rewards? God's going to test all the things we do to see if they past the fire test. Only those that fall in line with His perfect will, pass without being burned up.

God creates these divine appointments every day. They could be the fact you have a little extra cash laying around and it could really bless someone. Perhaps getting the man sitting outside the local Starbucks a cup of coffee and a muffin. Perhaps it is giving someone money who asks, or even offering to help someone out without expecting anything in return just because you can.

The thing that God brought to my attention yesterday was two simple words. My A-ha moment.
"SEE THEM." Which meant not simply noticing they are there but to look them in the eyes as the song suggests. How many times do we avoid eye contact, because they might just ask us for something and we simply don't want to give them anything. But we are missing something greater.

The ability to thaw and break our hardened hearts. To feel again, something more than what is in it for us.

One of my intuitive senses is to be able to look at someone and get an idea of what they are going through despite what they tell me. Sometimes I see pain, shame, anger, hurt, and a desperate need to matter. Yet we miss it because we don't see them. We don't want to see them, because then we would be accountable to God someday for why we didn't do anything.

These people are crying out not to be ignored any more. To matter. To know that not everyone will simply pass them by. Lord, let the ones reading this be impacted in the most amazing way to act as Your hands and feet today in some way. Like the words from Clarence in It's a Wonderful Life , Strange isn't it? Each man's life touches so many other lives, and when he isn't around he leaves an awful hole, doesn't he?"

Oh how I pray that each time, you come across ANYONE, you look them in the eyes. That you offer a simple smile, a kind word, a compliment. I hope God pushes you so far out of your comfort zone, to go out of your way to do something, that when you do, the emotion you feel afterward will be enough to leave you smiling for a long, long time and the memory never fades.

I hope that when you see someone, that you simply pray and ask God how He wants you to handle it. I guarantee it won't be nothing. So my goal for you today, is for you to increase your own little population to include a whole lot more people. This is the time to make a difference, but remember, check your motives. But I promise you, it will be worth more to you, than what you do for them.

Remember what the Bible says in Hebrews 13:2, "Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it."

Child-Like Faith

As the Christmas season approaches, I tend to get excited. The essence of this time of year causes us to celebrate the joy of the season. The smells of cinnamon and nutmeg on a steaming hot cup of cocoa, to the warmth of a crackling fire while the ground outside is covered in a blanket of snow. The streets filled with holiday shoppers, the Christmas decorations laced throughout the stores, the soothing lulls of traditional Christmas carols add to the all around sense of what Christmas means. None more sacred than the story of Jesus' birth is the reason for all this celebration.

I wasn't brought up as a Christian, but I do remember attending Christmas Eve mass with my mother, which was such an awesome experience to be out late and the silent reverence of being inside a church with beautiful stained glass windows. I remember the stories of St. Nicholas but failed to catch the meaning of the Nativity except that it was simply something we got to place beneath our tree. I remember watching the Little Drummer Boy in the midst of all those children's Christmas movies that came out this time of year as well.

It seemed like that was my child-like idea growing up that Jesus was special. He was part of the divine and untouchable. He was to be worshiped and respect. I lacked the idea of what a true relationship with God was like until I became a Christian and got to know Him through the Bible and through celebrating Christmas much different than when I was a child.

Now I understand what child-like faith means. Jesus reminds us in Matthew 19:14, when the disciples rebuked those who had brought little children to Jesus. He reminds them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." This is that child-like faith Jesus is speaking of.

If you have young children, they have such incredible imaginations. You can tell them anything, and they won't question it, they simply take it on faith that it is. Ask any child if flying is possible, they will undoubtedly tell you it is. Without question. I remember believing when I was a child and saw Mary Poppins for the first time, that if I possessed an umbrella and opened it, I could literally float from a high place and be just fine. I tried it, from the roof of my house and I have to tell you, despite my child-like faith, it didn't work.

It's sad when reality dispels those child-like faith moments. When we learn that Santa isn't real, or that magic is just a slight of hand or illusion. That the moon really isn't made of cheese and fairy tales are simply stories of make-believe in a book. That wishes on stars sometimes come true, but more than often, they don't. Or we simply don't remember making them.

Jesus loved children, that is clear in everything we read in the Bible. Jesus sees value in children even though they haven't reached their potential just yet. Children approach life differently than we do. Just watch a child look at ants for the first time, that child-like sense of wonder and awe that they get as if they're seeing it for the first time. The reason is that they are. The first time watch an ant march across the sidewalk or a leaf falling from the tree, or a snowflake falling. Don't miss that moment. It's so rare to us because we've seen it all before. See it from their eyes.

Children aren't jaded by their opinion of the world yet. They are imaginative, light-hearted, humble, and adventurous. They are fearless, simply ask any parent, they will undoubtedly confirm that with a resounding YES!!!

So where does that child-like faith go?

Like Peter Pan fears, we simply grow up. Like my experience with an umbrella, we realize that the things we believe aren't true. Our expectations because jaded. We rationalize things, and lose our fear and sense of adventure, rationalizing the outcome before we even try. We hide things deep inside for fear of letting others see the real us. We begin playing it safe and settling for whatever life hands us. Rather than living by faith, we complicate things and get in our own way. We even try to prove our worth to God by doing things not by faith, but out of a sense of what we should be doing instead of letting our hearts lead us. We believe we are content, but are grasping at straws for trying to achieve that something more we believe might make us happy after all.

I believe we need to get our child-like faith back. Open ourselves up and letting people see us for how we are. To ask for help when we truly need it instead of pasting on our fake smiles and saying everything in our life is O.K. when it is falling apart. We need more than anything to believe in ourselves again like a child does. He never doubts whether he can do anything until he proves he can't. We need to remember that God didn't choose people to make a difference from the finest and most qualified people.

It's just the opposite. He chose flawed people. People like you and me, that doubted themselves. People like David, a lowly shepherd but whom would be crowned King, slay a giant no one else would, and from his descendants would come the greatest gift to the world. 1 Corinthians 1:27 puts it all into perspective, "But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong."

Isn't it time to discover our child-like faith again and go out with God's help and do something incredibly amazing and stop letting the world dictate what we are capable of. I believe in you, imagine what possibilities might exist if you tried, knowing you would never fail? What would you do?

More importantly...

Why aren't you?

Husband's Need Help Too!

Sharing a story I got a few days ago that really hit home for me in so many ways, I just had to pass the message along for others who could benefit! Enjoy!

A Plea for Understanding

by Charles R. Swindoll

Read Job 2:1--9

I want to confess that for too long in my ministry I took unfair advantage of Job's wife, especially since she was not present to defend herself. I think it was probably due to immaturity on my part. Furthermore, I hadn't been married long enough to know better than to say those things. I cannot leave this one snapshot of Mrs. Job in the story without clarifying the record in her defense.

Now that you've seen the incredible disaster they shared, isn't it a little easier to understand how she could suggest, "Job, darling, let's just pull the plug. Don't go on. You can't keep living like this, I can't stand it. Curse God, and let Him take you home to be with Him." I think so. She's reached her limit and is willing to let him go. I'm not justifying the woman's reasoning as much as trying to understand it.

Always guard your words when your husband is going through terribly hard times. I want to confess something about us men. Mainly, I want you to remember: going through sustained hard times weakens most men. For some reason, hardship seems to strengthen women; we admire you for that.

But we men are weakened when times of affliction hit and stay. In our weakened condition we lose our objectivity, sometimes our stability. Our discernment is also skewed. Our determination lags. We become vulnerable, and most men don't know how to handle themselves in a vulnerable state of mind. So in light of all of this---hear me---we need your clear perspective, wisdom, and spiritual strength. Most of all, we need you to pray for us as you've never prayed. We need not only your prayers, we need your emotional support. We need you to take the initiative and step up.

We need your words of confidence and encouragement. We even find it hard to say, "I need you right now." My wife could tell you that she lived with me for our first ten years of marriage before she ever thought I needed her. I finally admitted it and learned how to say it. In the lonely hours of a man's great trial, nobody's words mean more to him than his wife's words. That is one of the God-given reasons you and your partner were called to be together. When we husbands lose our way, you wives help us find our way back.

Coming Signs in the Sky

image courtesy of photo bucket

I've just finished reading The Harbinger by Jonathan Cahn, and if you haven't you might just want to pick up a copy and prepare to have your mind blown away. Ever since I was a Christian, I have held a long fascination with Bible Prophecy, especially the book of Revelation. It is the only book in the Bible in which the reader is given a blessing for reading, hearing and obeying the words of that book and for me, it has been a true blessing to be able to share what insight God has provided through a series of revelations to me tonight.

In fact it was so strong despite how tired I am at this moment, God asked, or should I say urged me to share this with you. See if it doesn't make you really stop and think about the current state of things.

In the book the Harbinger, America is following in the same footsteps as ancient Israel. Both were founded on the blessings of God and both agreed to stand by those decisions. However in both cases, as time went on, the people fell away from God. In an effort to draw them back to Him, he released His hand of protection on them, slowly at first. For Israel, it would be an attack from the Assyrian nations in order to cause Israel to turn back to God and to repent from their sinful ways.

On 9/11, God did the same thing with America and allowed a limited judgment to fall on this great country who was once the most blessed in the world. Because we, too, have fallen away from our godly foundations, God has lifted His hand of protection. Six days later, we would have the first of our economic issues, the greatest collapse in Wall Street History at that time. It also coincided on a Sabbath year on the Elul 29, or Hebrew calendar day. If you do the google research you will see that Elul 29 in the year of 2001, was Sept 17, 2001. You can also google to see what happened on Wall Street that day.

Back to Bible History, the Sabbath years were years in which all credits and debts were resolved, in which land would be allowed to rest from farming, all the slates cleared. That is exactly what happened in respect on Sept 17, 2001, through foreclosures and bankruptcies, debts and credits were resolved and the slates washed cleaned in a sense.

Then again 7 years later in 2008, on the Elul 29, which is Sept 29, 2008, the economic shock would be a bit more abrupt and lasting a considerably longer. Ah, so what right? Here is where I love the number 7 and it's significance. 7 in the Bible is God's number. The number of completion. The world was completed in 6 days, but God rested on the 7th. The Sabbath years happen every 7 years and were supposed to provide for a time of rest from labor, debts and restoration. But it's what happened on that day that can't be explained no matter how you slice it.

Ready to have your mind blown away?

On Sept 29, 2008, the Sabbath Year according to the Hebrew calendar, the worst economic crash to hit Wall Street since the Great Depression. On a single day, the bell on Wall Street did not ring, that should have been a sign in itself. But the stock market lost 700 billion dollars that day, which equates to 7% of the stock market was wiped away. 777 points was the number that fell that day!!!

Coincidence?

Hardly. How can so many things transpired to make those exact numbers add up by the events of two Shemitah or Sabbath years combined that impacted Wall Street during all the time in between down to the final moment. Only one answer God.

No other answer simply exists to make that kind of event happen.

So my question is now this....

When is the next Sabbath or Shemitah for the 29th of Elul?

September 13, 2015.

So big deal, so what..??

There are simply too many signs to be ignored that God is calling us to see.

1. September 13, 2015 is another Shemitah or Sabbath year. Something big is coming to shake up the economic world even more than 2001 and 2008 combined and it will affect America if we don't return back to God in a hurry.

2. September 13, 2015, also falls on a Jewish Holy Day, the Feast of the Trumpets.

3. On the evening of that day, there will be blood red moon. Part of a 4 Blood Red Moon Tetrad that has only occurred 7 times since Jesus Christs first coming. There will not be any more in the rest of the 21st century.

Are we missing a bigger picture?

I believe so. We know that this will be a greater judgment to impact America if we don't heed God's warning to return to Him. One that will shake it to its core. What it is, remains unknown at this time.

It is interesting the correlation to the number 7 throughout it all. 7 years since Christ's return the first time, it comes on the Feast of the Trumpets and Revelation reveals that Jesus' Second Coming would happen with the sound of a Trumpet. Could we be in the last days of the end times before the rapture of God is coming?

Isn't it interesting that the movie Left Behind was rereleased from Hollywood this year?

Each time the Blood Red Moons appear as a tetrad something happens to impact Israel. Will this be the revelation of Ezekiel 37 and 38 in which war is declared on Israel from Iraq and it's surrounding allies, enemies of ISIS that have been threatening to wipe Israel off the face of the map?

I'm not sure, but I believe in my heart that God is speaking loud and clear and that we better turn to Him. We are never promised to know the day or the hour of His return, and I don't believe it will be Sept 15, 2015, but it could happen before then. We are simply running out of time if you aren't sure what your eternity lies.

Now is the time to heed God's call while there is still time. 2 Chronicles 7:14 spells it out loud and clear:

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." 

The key words are "if my people" meaning us. Turn back to Him, God, repent, pray and turn our lives back to God and follow Him, He will sustain judgment for now. 

Remember "If!"

We still have time.

Please share your thoughts on this with me in the comment box. I'd love to hear them. Again pick up a copy of The Harbinger from Jonathan Cahn, for more information on God's call to America beginning with 9/11. It's worth the read.

What Does It Mean to be Qualifed?

Today while doing my study on the book of Ezekiel in the Bible, I had time to reflect on a few things. First of all I read my chapters, then take time to go back through commentaries that really explain the origins of the passages to gain a deeper insight. Sometimes you have those moments, where more than just a light bulb comes on. It feels like you've been hit with a bolt of lightning instead. This was one such case.

I wrote down a simple statement that I loved because I thought it really opened up a lot of depth in the words it implied.

Here's what I wrote: "A qualified leader is useless if the people refuse to be led."

I love it because of all the insight you can gain just from the simplicity of the truth found in it. In fact, I've had a lot of feedback where I have posted it.

For me it was in the context of what I was reading about not only in Ezekiel, but Jeremiah and Isaiah as well. All these men were called by God to be prophets to administer warnings to the people of Israel who were falling away from their Mosaic covenant with Him. They were supposed to adhere to the laws God gave them, but instead were forming alliances for their security with Babylon and Egypt for protection from their enemies.

Instead of trusting God, they were basically saying, "We got it this time God! We're good." So they pushed him aside and instead creating peace treaties with Egypt and Babylon. In order for those treaties to be valid, they had to worship some of the idols that Babylon and Egypt worshiped.

No problem right?

Well initially it seemed that way, because nothing bad was happening to them for doing it. No judgment for God. So they thought God might just be O.K. with what they were doing. In fact, they began to take additional steps and live full out idolatrous lives. Still nothing.

Even their religious leaders were basically telling people it's fine. Don't worry about it. Which compounded the problem.

So God involved these prophets as a warning that if they didn't stop what they were doing, God would have no other choice but to unleash judgment. I mean, when your child willfully disobeys, we may casually say something, but with each willful intention, we have to take drastic measure to bring them back to obedience.

That is just what was happening with God.

He even asked Ezekiel in Chapter 22: 30-31, "I looked for a man among them who would build up a wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none. So I will pour out my wrath on them and consume them with my fiery anger, bringing down on their own heads all they have done, declares the Sovereign Lord."

You would think, "Why couldn't God have used Ezekiel? After all if God was using him to preach his warnings to the people of Israel, isn't he the one?" Yes and No. Yes he was qualified, but the problem here takes us back to my quote. "A qualified leader is useless if the people refuse to be led."

Ezekiel was more than qualified, the problem was the hearts of the people. They didn't want someone to tell them playtime was over. They wanted to keep on doing what they were without any judgment coming.

Here's where I found my "Aha!" moment.

Look at the state of current country.

Once a blessed nation, founded on Godly principles despite what current government leaders have tried to rewrite in our history timelines.

We wonder why no great leader will rise up and fix things and restore this great nation again. Why would we, as a nation, want a godly person to be president or in any role in leadership for that matter?

We, as a majority, don't, because then playtime would be over. We'd have to conform the the laws of God again. We already removed the prayers from the schools, the 10 commandments from the government offices, and are trying to rewrite the laws of God to allow everything to acceptable and tolerant now. We won't elect a godly leader in any form because the people don't want to be led.

Is it any wonder why these poor leaders stay in office? Because they are the ones granting playtime to the sinners. They are giving them everything they want, just like the religious leaders in Jerusalem and Judah were. This is why things are so chaotic and we shake our heads and wonder why we can't get it right. Because people want to keep on doing what they want because no consequences have happened to them up to this point, so it must be O.K.

Makes you really take a hard look at our country today and wonder just how much of history from Israel and America are going to overlap one another. Make no mistake, God is being merciful and patient, but He won't wait forever.

If we refuse to change from our idolatrous habits, judgment will be coming. Look at what happened with 9/11. Our hedge of protection is being removed slowly, and we'd better wake up and realize just because nothing is happening doesn't mean God is lenient, He is simply hoping we turn this around.

If we want a godly leader to lead us, we need to want to be led. Until they happens, it doesn't matter how qualified a leader is, we have to be willing to follow.

So does that mean we throw our hands up in apathy as some would suggest?

The answer is NO! We can act as go-betweens in the troubles around us, "standing in the gap" to bridge chasms of indifference and oppression. We can do what we can to stem the tide of evil and tell others of the opportunity to know God through Christ. And we can intercede for others in prayer. 
I'd love to know your thoughts on this, so please share in the comments below. 

Greater Sins?

I remember growing up, I heard my parents use the words "little, white lie." They used them when they tried to justify their actions that they believed were necessary in order to avoid some sort of conflict, like not telling someone the answer to "So what did you get me for my birthday or where were you today?" and they would reply with a vague answer that was a lie of sorts.

A lie is still a lie.

A better way to have handled those situations would have been to disclose, I can't tell you because it would ruin your birthday, you'll have to wait. Or I can't tell you where I was because you will ruin the surprise I have for you and if I tell you where I was, then you will know what it might be.

However the Bible does speak of greater sins. But before we get to that, let me clarify that sin is sin.  The Bible is very clear that breaking any of the 10 commandments is sin and even goes a bit further to explain them. Also it does say if we break one, we have in a sense broken them all. When we sin, we are sinners.

We can confess that sin to God in sincerity and repent from it. As believers in Jesus Christ, who by faith believe in Him for salvation once we do that, and agree to attempt to not do it again, we are forgiven as though it never happened no matter how great that sin is. Even murder can be forgiven. Not necessarily forgotten but forgiven by a repentant heart who knows Jesus.

But in regards to greater sins, for believers and those of us that know what we are doing is just plain wrong, and do it anyway. We are held accountable for a greater sin.

2 Corinthians 7:1 makes it quite clear. It is the sins of the Spirit that we need to be concerned with. "Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates the body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God." NIV

Jesus also answered this in John 19:11, "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin."

This was Jesus' response when He was questioned by Pilate over Jesus' claims of being the Son of God and Pilate telling him that he had the power to set him free.

So even Jesus was acknowledging greater sin whether he was referring to Caiaphas or Judas since both men were responsible for handing Jesus over to be arrested and yet they both knew that what they were doing went against what was true and right. To knowingly go against what is true, defines greater sin.

Anytime we sin, knowing we shouldn't do it, but do it anyway, especially as believers in Christ, we are all guilty of a greater sin. Knowledge brings responsibility.

Don't think because you have suffered from the consequences of your sin, that God is lenient or condoning your behavior. God's justice is delayed not denied. Just because God hasn't acted yet is not His approval of what you are doing. God will respond by He is simply giving us the time, by cutting us some slack to repent, stop sinning and return to the fold.

The Bible's response? "The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." ~ 2 Peter 3:9 NIV

So just remember that when you are trying to justify your actions and wonder what God thinks. I know for me, I am convicted much more to act accordingly because I don't want to be accused of a greater sin in God's eyes. As Christians, we simply know better. We are held to much higher standards than the world. so be careful of the example you are letting others see in your life.

Amazing Opportunities

 

I've been a book and product reviewer for almost 5 years now. The reason I started it was because I needed a hobby in my husband's opinion. At the time, he was traveling about 75% of the time, and it was hard being separated from him for such long periods of time. Being a dedicated wife and mother, was a full-time job and aside from that, I didn't really have many outside interests. I loved that at the time, companies were just beginning to really expand on the idea of Christian themed novels in just about any genre you could imagine, including my favorite horror and suspense.

At first it was just the companies that were beginning to reach out to bloggers who were posting at least 5 times a week and they would offer you a book at a time. That was great for most people, but for me, I literally inhaled them the moment I got them, like a parched person in a desert, these books were life-giving water to my book lover's heart.

In fact, my dad still reminds me every time we get together of just how much time I used to spend isolated from my day, getting lost in the worlds of the books I read. Talking to my step mom, both avid book lovers at heart, we get that gleam in our eye when we think about how wonderful it is to step inside a book store, to feel the weight of the book in our hands as we flip pages, and why people don't understand our love of a paper book over an electronic download. There is something to be said for flipping pages instead of swiping them. There is that essence of the smell of ink on a page and nothing gives a book lover greater joy than adding to their collection. It is why we collect them and love nothing more in our minds than having a library filled with the books we have loved and adored reading.

Only book lovers can understand that! Everyone else simply shakes their heads until you put it in terms they can understand like shopping to some women, buying shoes and purses, watching sports, hunting or fishing or whatever your passion is.

Book Reading is that for me.

It provides a virtual escape to another place to interact with interesting characters we might never get to meet in a very safe place. I actually have had time leaving my characters hanging in some life or death situation when I have to step away for a time. But I do, even though it's painful.

I got the rare opportunity to be a part of an exclusive tele-conference yesterday for one of the companies I work with on promotions and get to listen to Kirk Cameron talk about his latest venture, Saving Christmas, coming to theaters starting November 14th and lasting only 2 short weeks.

His reason for making the movie was to simply restore the joy that seems to be missing in our homes because of guilt, commercialism or simply being too stressed out during the holidays. We forget what the real reason is supposed to be about, even though the Bible doesn't specifically call for the celebration of Jesus' birth, nor does December 25th appear as the actual date of Jesus' birth. It's all about the joy of celebrating with friends and family what Jesus is doing in our everyday lives. The love we share being with family and friends and the traditions that we hold on to and value.

I was immediately impressed and aware of his true passion for the project and how strong he is in his faith to God. His love of his family is apparent in everything he does. I applaud him for using his "celebrity status" for promoting God and His Word through a number of projects like Fireproof, Monumental and now Saving Christmas geared to get to the heart of what's important. From our marriages and families to our foundational beliefs as a country and now the importance of Christmas in a growing world that would hate us for even mentioning the words Merry Christmas!

I would encourage you all to take the time on November 14th or any time for the two weeks that the movie comes to theaters to see how we can get our Christmas joy back into our Christmas celebrations and how we can incorporate those into sharing our faith with family and friends. Sometimes the love of God we show to others through our actions by being a bitter Christian allows people to see that being a Christian isn't so fun after all. I mean looking at us and how we are, why would they want to jump on and join Jesus?

Let's stop being so judgmental about the things happening around us, and instead show the love of God a whole lot more. The most important part of this movie from Kirk's perspective is simply this, "What is he hoping people will take away from watching Saving Christmas? To get their joy back in celebrating Christmas instead of feeling bad for what they are or aren't doing. It's about rejoicing, pulling out all the stops, to celebrate God with Us!”

For those of you that haven't had an opportunity to visit my book/product reviewers blog, Reviews From The Heart yet, you might want to stop by. I am hosting a couple of giveaways that end this month and it's simple to enter. You never know if you just might be the lucky winner. The giveaways are listed in order on the right hand side of my blog, Reviews From The Heart. Simply click on the picture and it will provide you details of what you need to do to enter that giveaway!