How To Love Your Neighbor Without Being Weird

I have been honored to be a part of the launch team for this wonderful new book which will be releasing in May of this year.  I am so excited to share this book and website with you.

A small preview of the book is this and have you ever asked yourself these questions? 

1) “I want to love my neighbor, but I don’t know how.”

Most of us feel guilty about Christ’s command to love our neighbor, but let’s be honest – we don’t even know most of the people living around us.

How can we love people we don’t even know? Besides, doesn’t it count as “loving our neighbor” when we send money to missionaries and put out yard signs for our church? Are we supposed to just knock on our neighbors’ doors and tell them about Jesus?

2) “They’ll think I’m weird.”

How to Love Your Neighbor Without Being Weird helps you overcome fears about getting to know your neighbors and sharing your faith. You’ll learn simple, practical ways to get to know your neighbors, using your God-given personality. As you venture out of the comfort of your living room and into the lives of your neighbors, you’ll form authentic friendships, create a safer community, and find fulfillment in obeying Christ’s #2 command.

 For more information about the book and to help you in your neighborhood go here....

http://www.howtoloveyourneighbor.com/

Let me know what you think.  

God bless,

Pat

Proud of my town-feeding the kids-spring break!

     This has been something that has been on my heart for a long time.  So I was excited a  few years ago different ones started stepping up and doing things to help this problem.  The problem?  Lots of kids eat breakfast and lunch at school and for some that is all they eat so when no school, there is little to no food for some.

     

This week is spring break for the public school kids and the Salvation Army, United Way and Boys and Girls Club and many more that I don't know have stepped up to feed as many kids as they can. One thing they are doing is sack lunches for anyone who wants one but focus is on the kids.

If all goes well this week they will serve over 5000 sack lunches.  They contain a bottle of water, a sandwich, a pack of pb crackers, and a piece of fruit.

Not only are they feeding at the boys and girls club but they are driving around and finding neighborhoods with kids and any child can receive a free lunch.

I know several groups including our church have outreach programs to help in the summer time so I know these are not the only ones but I am just so proud to live in a town where we do have people who do stuff like this and are willing to volunteer to do it.  Proud to be from El Dorado, Arkansas.

Does your church or town have similar programs?  If not, maybe you could be the one to help plant the seed to grow one where you live,

God bless,

Pat

Is Your House A Home?

Is Your House a Home?

     First what is the difference?  A house is is the physical place you live, eat sleep and it keeps you safe from storms and things that happen in life.  Home is a place you want to be at to feel love, protected and supported, it is physical and emotional.  What are some things you can do make your house a home?

1) Its not just about furniture and decorations.  It is about emotions and the lack of stress.  Play soft music, light a candle.  Do a quick cleanup before people come home-nobody wants to come to somewhere they have to step over and around stuff just to come in. Make it a place of kindness, caring and helpfulness.

2) Take a few minutes to take a deep breath before you even go in the door.  I read a story about a man one time who every night when he got home would stop at a tree outside his home and touch the leaves.  Someone asked why he did that and he said it was his worry tree.  He would leave all his cares and worries of the day, work etc outside with the worry tree and he did not carry them into his home and family.  

3) Make a place you are.  Is it just the place to change clothes and sleep and maybe eat?  No make it a place to spend time.  Plan a game night,movie night or family dinner.  Spend time with the ones you love and show them you love them.

4) Make memories, share your home with friends and family.  Don't worry about what it looks like or what needs done.  It doesn't have to be perfect, just some place that people, friends and family want to be, to laugh, to enjoy, to love.

     Is your house a home?  What tips do you have to make a house a home?  I would love to hear your thoughts and ideas.

God bless,

Pat

Simple Woman's Daybook March 16th

For Today...March 16th

Outside my window... it has been sunny and warm and almost like spring

I am thinking...  about my fairy garden and how I am going to do it this year, accidentally left it outside too long in the winter and it died

Also bought this for my almost 5 year old granddaughter who wants a garden party for her birthday and this is her present from me and Papaw

I am thankful... that I have friends I can count on even in the midnight hour

I am wearing... jeans and a red tshirt

I am creating...  plans for a Mom's meeting with a sarcoidosis theme

I am going... to enjoy this week, the grands are out of school for spring break

I am wondering... if I will be able to get my "free" bike fixed so I can ride this summer, it is one of the old school bikes but it needs some tender loving care

I am reading... 

"Unbound"

About the book:

Author: J. B. Simmons
Book: The Omega Trilogy (Book One)
Genre: Hybrid fantasy/sci-fi/End-times/Thriller/Christian.

Elijah Goldsmith has nightmares he needs to ignore. Why would a rich kid from Manhattan dream three straight nights about a dragon and the destruction of St. Peter’s Basilica? He’s never even been to Rome. It’s bad timing, too. He’s graduating soon and applying to be a spy in the International Security Agency. That’s where he meets Naomi. She’s the kind of girl who makes boys like Elijah want to share their secrets. Were they brought together to learn what his secrets mean? There’s more to their sparks than they think. This is 2066, the year the world ends.

I read this copy in/on:in exchange for my unbiased review

but you can buy it on amazon.com 

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Unbound+by+JB+Simmons

My personal thoughts on this book/magazine: This is not a book I would want to read but I did appreciate the opportunity to try it

I am hoping... for the weather to not be too stormy this spring, we live in tornado alley

I am learning... that I need to rest physically, mentally and spiritually

I am pondering... how we can get the back yard fixed to be more of a place we will use

In my kitchen...I made turkey burgers since it was just me and Billy and we weren't too hungry

In My Garden...

nothing at the moment but I am hoping to have a salad garden this summer

A favorite quote for today...Bless and be blessed by blessing others for no reason other than to be a blessing and expecting nothing in return

A peek into one of my days...

One of my favorite things... 

From the board room... 

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/146718900337080283/~ Post Script ~

Jesus Loves Me and Jesus Loves You!

https://youtu.be/c8gKXu6J2wE

God bless,

Pat

I Messed Up Again, I Failed, I Didn't Make It........But I Am Still Trying!

     At the beginning of the year, I made several goals for myself and one of my big ones is to read the bible through, to read it daily, to read it faithfully.
     I do good for awhile and then I fail again.  I have tried reading it in the morning, reading it at night, reading with this plan and that.  Yet, I fail time and time again.

I fail time and time again and yet, God never fails; he also never gives up on me.  I may not have read every day or according to a certain plan but I have read.  Another thing, I don't need to look at my bible reading as something to check off my list.  I need to look at my bible reading as time spent with me and my Father, my Savior.  

So 1000 times I've failed but I have not quit because I am still trying.

I am linking up over at 

God bless,

Pat

Spring Cleaning Ahead!

     Everywhere I turn I see a reminder that time springs forward this weekend.  Springing the clock forward makes spring seem even closer.  Now I am not sure the weather agrees since I am still seeing ice outside but spring is coming.  Officially on March 20th and I guess honestly when the Lord decides.  

     When I think of spring, I think of spring cleaning. I think of cleaning, decluttering, getting rid of unwanted things, fresh and sunny.  Now, I  was thinking house cleaning but as I was thinking on this I thought maybe we need to spring clean our lives too.

     So, now if you were going to spring clean your life, where could we start?  Maybe the same place we would start with our homes.  

     We might need to declutter some things-what kind of things have we let in our lives we need to get rid of?  Maybe it is a habit that needs to be broken?  Do we let things come before our family?  Do we let things or even others come before God and our quiet time with Him?

     We might need somethings fresh-like starting a new devotion or reading our bible daily.  Maybe we  can get outside in nature and try prayer walking or having our quiet time outside with the birds singing and the sun shining.

     One of my favorite verses is:Psalm 51:10

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

    So as spring approaches have you thought about what areas of your heart and life needs to be cleaned?  I am praying now that God will show me the areas in my life that might need cleaning or decluttering.  So who will join me?

God bless,

Pat

A New Heart!

I have been going through some down times this year.  My kids and family have gone through some major trials this year and though I know God is in control of it all; I have let it really get me down.  I have struggled in every area of my life.  I am tired of struggling and why should I when my Father is the King of Kings.  He hasn't gone anywhere, it is me who has moved away, me who has doubted, worried and feared.  I am ready for a change so this is my prayer that God will give me a new heart, a new desire and a new will to go forward in Him.  

I found this song while searching for this graphic and I wanted to share it with any of you who might need a new heart too.

http://youtu.be/2fVliokreqE

Now, I do know Jesus as my Savior and He does live in my heart.  I am saved and that is not the problem, I have just let life and stresses take over.  However, if you do not know Him as your personal Savior and you need your heart made clean then please let me know or talk to someone and please get it settled before it is too late forever.

God bless,

Pat

Back from Blog break! Simple Woman's Daybook March 2, 2015

 
     I let life, weather and circumstances overwhelm me and took an unexpected blog break but I am back and hopefully can be more faithful, thanks if you are still here....

Joining Peggy @ The Simple Woman’s Daybook

FOR TODAY – March 2, 2015

Outside my window…I see a cloudy, drizzly day and cold

I am thinking…of my Moms meeting tonight and how much I always enjoy the fun, food and fellowship

I am thankful…for second chances and a God who never quits even when we do

In the kitchen…pork loin roast with potatoes and carrots in crock pot and lima beans on stove-smelling divine

I am wearing…jeans, breast cancer tshirt and slip on shoes

I am creating…a plan to do better about posting on my blog

I am going…(I should be going) for a walk today, Jenny and I are supposed to start training for a 5k walk for breast cancer in the fall

I am wondering…how I will get caught up and be able to enjoy life and not just feeling like surviving

I am reading…The book of Proverbs, one a day in March

I am hoping…that spring will be here soon 

I am learning…that I matter too

Around the house…so much organizing needs to be done

I am pondering…some things that need to be organized and planned for

A favorite quote for today…

One of my favorite things… watching the grands running and playing outside

A few plans for the rest of the week:  cleaning, preparing for upcoming meetings, church and grands

A peek into my week…

God bless,

Pat