A Fall Rose

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A unexpected final bloom. How marvelous is a rose?! Even a short smell activates the happy sensors in the brain and increases the body's immunity! Is it just me, or does it require more faith to believe that this beautiful, fragrant, therapeutic gift of nature happens by chance than to believe it is intended here by a loving Creator who cares for my wants and needs? God, just like the rose, is available to meet my needs, all that's required of me is to pause and allow it. "Let the peace of Christ rule your hearts..." Col. 3 

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Top 10 Reasons Why People Don't Read the Bible

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I've spent 15+ years in ministry, and I've noticed a problem:
people who say they believe the Bible haven't actually read it, and people who don't believe the Bible don't want to read it. My response to both groups is this: YOU ARE MISSING OUT! Why? Because the Bible is the best proven source for life-changing joy and peace. And since it's misquoted and misrepresented all the time, you need to actually read it yourself in order to know if you do/don't agree with it or do/don't want to read it.

When I mention this, it usually surfaces at least one of these 10 barriers that prevent folks from completing it. Do you relate to any of these?



10 Reasons Most People Don't Read the Bible, Refuted 1. I'm not religious. The Bible is the best-selling book of all time. Jesus has been hailed by secular sources as the most influential person to ever walk on the earth. Most people, even those who don't worship God, agree that Jesus was a good person with a …
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Writing is cathartic, and when things in life are confusing, challenging, or painful, God promises to be our refuge. In ancient days, people would write about such things in psalms to God. I googled "writing your own psalm" to see if there was already a post in existence, and while I found many, they were mostly focused on poetic expression, song-making, and required a lot of study, reading, and prep.

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Simple & Free Advent Activities for All Ages, Updated

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2019 update: This is one of my most shared posts. I've updated the links and added a section for middle school/high school as our kids have grown. If you don't know this about me already, I don't make any profit from this site. There are no ads of any kind. This is purely a labor of love for you who are reading.
This is a list of ideas and resources for you as you desire to focus on Christ during the Christmas Season. You will see that these are free and simple, but you can amp them up according to your capacity and personality.

(If you'd like a beautifully written perspective on why, see this op article from the NYTimes.)

The best activities are not the ones loved just by the children, but the ones loved by both children and parents. 

Your enthusiasm and follow-through matter! What everyone else is doing on Pinterest doesn't matter!

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