Bible App for Kids!

​I was just telling my hubby that it would be so cool if they had a Bible app for kids, that was somewhat animated, and would read to them.  I had looked through my You Version app, and didn’t see any there to download.  I went on my Ipad and looked through apps, and sure enough!  You Version made a Bible app for kids!  It’s pretty entertaining.  You can have it read a chapter (like a story book - not actual Bible) to them.  Then, at the end it does have a question.  After they have read the story, they can color a picture from the story.  Pretty cool!  I can’t wait to show Sam!  He always brings his “God Book” to church, and looks at the pictures.  I would love to have him hear the stories, though.  I will update sometime when I get it downloaded for him.  He’s in bed, as should I be!

   We had a beautiful wedding today.  It was a lot of fun.  Then, we got home, and loaded the ATV’s.  After church tomorrow, we are taking the ATV’s out on a trail ride.  Looking forward to the day.

Here’s what the Bible app looks like, and the coloring page:

I’m back!

​It’s been a long, long time since I’ve updated my blog.

   All the children are grown, and graduated.  We have 4 boys still living at home, which we love!  It’s our way of helping them out until they can afford their own house.  One daughter just got married last month.  We have 14 grandchildren (7 boys, 7 girls).

   I am still very active in the church, helping out where I can.  I do the video editing for the church, and make all the DVD’s and CD’s for any who want them.  This year, I surprised the mom’s and dad’s, by asking their kids questions about them for a gift for Mother’s Day & Father’s Day.  It was a lot of fun, but also a lot of work.  There were times I thought I was in way over my head.  I also direct the Living Last Supper play.  And, always (hopefully) I am a support to my pastor-hubby.

   We have started gardening with raised beds.  I’ve also taken up pressure canning, and water bath canning (right now we are canning tomato products).

   Life is good, and full!

Blessings!

~Debbie

My View on Hymnals vs. Power Point

I recently read an article, on how giving up our hymnals is not good, and gives 5 things you lose when you give up the hymnals.

Let me address some of them.  There are pros and cons to both sides.  Our church has both hymnals, and the Power Point.  At the beginning of every hymn in the Power Point slide, it gives the page number from the hymnal, so you can use the hymnal if you wish.

Their first thing they say you lose, is an established body of songs.  What?  How did we lose any??  We actually have 2 or 3 hymnals in our Power Point, and we are free to use any song that is written, and have the freedom and ability to add in more songs.  Can you add in more songs to your hymnal??  Nope.

Lose a deep knowledge of the songs.  No, we added in other songs, along with the hymns.  And, having 2 or 3 hymnals at our disposal is wonderful!  Our pastor will often give hymn histories, along with singing the hymn.  It makes it so rich and meaningful.  Honestly?  Looking through the hymnal, even the old ones I grew up with, I don’t know a LOT of the hymns in there.  

Lose the ability to do harmonies.  If you are a good vocalist, you do not need a hymnal to teach you how to harmonize.  If you still want it, grab the hymnal and look at the music.  Let’s just say a lot of people can not read music.

While on the subject of reading the music- MOST hymns have been changed (by the musicians) so that you can sing them as a congregation.  (I.e. they hold out the ending note, before going to the next verse). Singing as a congregation is totally different than  singing a solo, and even a soloist will take liberties with a song.  Most times, the hymn is not played according to how it is written.

You lose the ability to sing skillfully.  Read my above - most people can’t read music.  Also, usually the hymn is not played according to how it is written.  You are always welcome to grab a hymnal, and learn to read music there.

You lose the ability to have the songs in your home.  Well, you are always welcome to purchase a hymnal, and have some good old worship time in your home.  Our church would update the hymnals, a few times over the years, as they would get worn out, or the songs were outdated.  We offered them for free to families to take home.  

Let’s look at some of the positive aspects of having Power Point hymns on the wall.

1.  You are more free to raise one or both hands in worship.  Yes, you can raise 1 hand while holding the hymnal in the other.  You just are more free to worship.

2.  You are able to clap your hands during a song.  Holding a hymnal makes this difficult.  :)

3. Some people get lost in a hymnal, with repeats, and dc al codas, etc.  In Power Point, it’s all in there in the proper order.

4.  You can move to a song quicker, and are more able to let the Spirit lead.  Rather than taking the time to call out a page number.  This is especially helpful when the worship team does a medley of like songs.  You can put them together, and transition from one song to the next without calling out the next song/page number.  Let the Holy Spirit be free to move!

Why Moms love pictures, and teens hate them

An open letter to my children, and other teens/tweens:

As a mom, we love to take pictures. Why do we take pictures?  To preserve memories!  AND--we are proud of our children!

I know, that as the children grow up--they don't like their pictures taken--but, as a mom, we LOVE our children, and WANT to take pictures of them.  But, when the kids get to be teens, or even tweens, they start shying away from the camera, and even blocking the lens.  Hey, we ALL lived through that awkward stage!  If you don't want us to post them on Facebook, or a blog--tell us--but don't deny us the chance to take your picture.

One day, you kids will be grown up and gone, and all we mom's will have left, are our memories (well, hopefully I will still have my memory!  LOL), and the pictures that we took.

So--young people, even though you don't like your picture taken--PLEASE let your mom take them--that is all she will have left after you move away.  So, don't rob me of this pleasure!

Blessings!
Debbie

Passing On God's Mighty Work to Our Children

Oh, how I love Psalm 44:1, "We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what work you did in their days. . ."  We read this verse a couple days ago in our normal morning Bible reading, and I have been thinking about this.

We, as parents, need to be telling our children the ways that God answered prayers, or things that God has taught us, etc.

One thing we used to do, was have a prayer journal.  We would write out each prayer request, and the date that we started praying as a family.  Then, when God would answer that petition (no, it wasn't always how we thought it would be answered), we would write that date down as well.  How powerful it was--to look back at all the answered prayers!!  Some were small (where did that child's shoe go???), and some were big.  But, it showed the children that God does hear us when we pray.

We also need to be passing on things that God has done in our lives.  What has God spoken to you about?  Tell them the times when your faith was put to the test.  Tell them what you did right (or wrong), and how God was still able to use this for His glory.  Our children need to see that God still moves.  And, it not only strengthens their faith, it also strengthens our faith.

Sometimes, we might need to write it down in a journal--because how often (and quickly) do we forget?  I know, just by going back through my blog, or on Facebook, I look at a post, and think, "Wow--I totally forgot about that!"  (I know--old age, but still--it helps to have it written down.)

Now, excuse me, while I gather my children and tell them the story of the time I gave all my money to the Lord, and how God was faithful to me, and supplied my every need. . .

Book Review "The Witnesses" by Robert Whitlow

Robert Whitlow's "The Witnesses" is a Christian legal thriller.  Both Parker and his grandfather, Frank, have a special gift.  They have an uncanny ability to see into the future.  This will either be a huge blessing, or an awful curse.  Some unsavory characters locate Frank, to force him to tell the location of some treasure.  Parker, the young lawyer, is also able to look at people, and know if they would be good on a jury, or as a witness to help a case, which a boss could really take advantage of.

Enter Layla Blocker, a cute photographer, who has some serious issues with her lawyer father, Tom Blocker.  Tom Blocker senses Parker's gift, and will test it out, and try to woo Parker from his law firm.  Will Parker leave his law firm, and join Layla's dad, and lose the gal he is beginning to care for?

The book will intersperse events from the past, as well as present day, to give you insight into the guilt, and heaviness that Frank is carrying.

I enjoyed this book.  It's a good, clean, fun to read legal thriller.  I have mixed thoughts on the "gifts" that Frank and Parker have.  Both Frank and Parker know details of things they couldn't normally possibly know, but they are not Christians at the time. Frank's gift started way back, when he was a young man.  Parker knows which jurors to pick, or which line of questioning to use, when he doesn't know the people.  I am not against spiritual gifts, but in this book, both Frank and Parker had this gift before they became a Christian.  After they are converted, Frank lays hands on Parker to impart to him the gift he has, like the passing of a spiritual inheritance (although Parker already has the gift).

Aside from my mixed feelings on their gifts, the book is really good, dealing with forgiveness- both of others, and ourselves, and restoring relationships.

BookLook Bloggers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program for my honest review. 

Finally Summer!

Well, this has been a whirl wind of a time!

A couple months ago, we were at a conference, and hubby could not urinate!  We made it home, and to the doctor.  Long story short--he just had surgery this last Monday, with an enlarged prostate (it was squeezing the urethra and limiting the flow of urine, as well as the prostate grew up into the bladder, about the size of a knuckle, and was also limiting his urine output.  I know!  Way tmi!!  But, things are hopefully normal now, and he just saw the doctor and doesn't need to go back in for 3 months.

We have also had another graduation - Andrew!  That means, this fall, I will only have 2 in school!!!!  Wow!  It seems unbelievable!

Also, Josiah and Sarah sold their house on May 20th, and don't have another home to move into, so on May 22nd, they moved in with us.  We went from a family of 6, to a family of 11 with a dog overnight.  The dog only stayed 1 week.  We had a nice time with them here, even though there were a lot of us in the home, it went smoothly!  They moved out Father's Day weekend to her sister's home, until they can find a new home.

We took a vacation to Washington DC.  That will be another post.  Sam did not enjoy his time there, as it was a lot of walking, and his legs and arms were hurting.  A.  Lot.  He was miserable and wanted to go home.  Aside from the traffic, and losing our van the first day, we had an enjoyable time.  Like I said,  a whole other post.

This week, we had hubby's surgery, and we are laying pretty low.  Today, I worked on the bulletin, calendars (we do one for activities, and one for birthdays/anniversaries), and I am also working on stuff for Sports Camp, which is the posters, fliers, and updating the webpage with an announcement, and registration form, and changing the church sign.

Tonight, hubby has a wedding rehearsal, and tomorrow is the wedding.  He is resting now, as the little bit of walking at church wore him out.  He is on restrictions of no 4 wheeling, and to just lay low.

Blessings!