Not of This World by Lisa Chan - Review & Giveaway

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, or thieves do not break in or steal; 

for where your treasure is, there your heart is also.

Matthew 6:19-21

Do you have treasures here on earth?  

What are you pursuing here on earth?  

What are you chasing?

Do you ever feel as if this world is not my home?

Are you pursing the things not of this world?

Are you storing up treasures in Heaven?

In Lisa Chan’s new video Not of This World, she walks with you through what it means to let go of the spoils of this world and store up your treasures in Heaven.  The things that tie us to this earth might be small but are we treasuring these things and distracting us from the purpose that we are called to be and do on this earth.  Lisa Chan challenges us to look at what we value here on earth.

True Beauty Not of This World TRAILER from Flannel Staff on Vimeo.

“Things on this earth can capture our hearts and they distract us from God and His purpose for us and they distract us from our love for Him” 

- Lisa Chan

I absolutely LOVE this video series by Lisa Chan and highly recommend it.

My friends at David C. Cook have graciously offered to give away

a copy of Not of This World to one blessed Saved Sister reader.

You can enter to win below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 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.

Fire Fall Down

Picture yourself among the disciples:

A sound roars from the sky without warning, the roar of a violent wind, and the whole house where you are gathered reverberates with the sound. Then a flame appears, dividing into smaller flames and spreading from one person to the next. All the people present are filled with the Holy Spirit and begin speaking in languages they’ve never spoken, as the Spirit empowers them.
Acts 2:2-4




Blessings,

He Speaks To Me

Five Minute Friday is where gather with my sweet friends
to write our hearts on a page for 5 minutes prompted
by the friend who encourages us to write bravely - Lisa-Jo.

I love this community more than words can express. 
They are my people.

Today is about SONG.

God often uses the lyrics of a song to speak to my heart.

Sometimes it is to reinforce scripture that I have been reading that day. 
Sometimes it coincides with a conversation that I had recently. 
Sometimes it is a word of encouragement for the day.
Sometimes it is about a prayer that I barely whispered to Him.

Some songs speak only in a moment and there are ones that don't let go of me. These songs that grab hold touch something to deep in me. These are usually the ones that bring me to a place of worship when I least expect it and most need it. This place where I lift hands and lower knees all to Him.
Sometimes they break apart the hard and turn me inside out. 
The tears come and I come undone.

This is one of those songs.



I will sing of your strength; 
I will sing aloud of your 
steadfast love in the morning. 
Psalm 59:16

What song is God using to speak to you?

Blessings,

What I'm Reading - Her Restless Heart Women's Bible Study

My Thoughts

As a leader of a Bible study group for moms, I am constantly looking for studies that we might do in the future. One of the things I like about Her Restless Heart is that it covers topics that most women can identify with - restlessness, the longing for love and acceptance, and the desire for more. I also like that there is a companion fiction book of the same name. Through the characters and their stories shared both in the study and the novel, you learn more about God's love. 

Each week is set up for five days and includes a scripture for the week and a short video segment. Each day of study includes a Bible reading, questions to reflect on and respond to, a daily prayer, and points to ponder throughout the day.

I also really liked that the author included several recipes in the back of the study. This would make a fun theme for a celebration at the end of the study.

You can purchase this book here:

Amazon.com - Her Restless Heart Women's Bible Study

About the Book

Her Restless Heart is the second study in the Faith and Fiction Bible study series that uses Christian fiction as a backdrop for exploring biblical themes. Just as Jesus used stories (parables) to teach important principles, inspirational fiction can open readers to greater understanding of themselves and spiritual themes.

Based on a novel of the same name by acclaimed Christian fiction author Barbara Cameron, this six-session Bible study explores the heart’s longing for love and acceptance and the Bible’s answer to this universal human need. The Participant Book has five daily readings per week, each including Scripture, reflections on the day’s topic with questions and space for writing responses, prayer, and a suggestion for the day—a question to ponder, Scripture to consider, or action to take.

About the Author

Barbara Cameron is the author of more than 35 fiction and non-fiction books, three nationally televised movies, and is the winner of the first Romance Writers of America Golden Heart Award. She currently resides in Edgewater, Florida. Find out more about Barbara at BarbaraCameron.com, AmishHearts.com, and AmishLiving.com. 

Show more

Show less

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 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.

Pay It Forward

Each Sunday I gather a group of girls in a circle

sharing Jesus and loving on them. 

I listen to their hopes and dreams shared bravely

and their prayers lifted with open hands and hearts.

These are my moments to pay it forward.

I look into these beautiful faces bursting with anticipation 

for all God has in store for them 

and pour words of love and encouragement into their hearts.

I tell them...

The most important thing you can 

and will ever do is love God with all you are.

You must love the Lord your God with all your heart,

all your soul, and all your strength.

Deuteronomy 6:5

You are precious, honored, and loved by Him far beyond measure.

Others were given in exchange for you.
I traded their lives for yours
because you are precious to me.
You are honored, and I love you.
Isaiah 43:4

You may get frightened or discouraged along the way, but you need to 

remember that He will be with you to give strength and courage.

This is my command—be strong and courageous! 

Do not be afraid or discouraged. 

 For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

Joshua 1:9

There may be steps along the path that you don't understand,

but trust Him with each one and to look to Him to lead the way. 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart;

do not depend on your own understanding.

Seek his will in all you do,

and he will show you which path to take.

Proverbs 3:5-6

You should lift everything up to Him in prayer, find joy in every moment 
of the journey with Him, and give thanks over and over again for it all.

Always be joyful. Never stop praying. 
Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will 
for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

He prepares the way and has His hand on you.

You go before me and follow me.
You place your hand of blessing on my head.
Psalm 139:5

It is important to remember that everything is from Him, through Him, and for Him. 
It is all for His glory. Everything should point to Him.

For from him and through him and for him are all things. 
To him be the glory forever! Amen.
Romans 11:36

These are just a few of the truths that I get to speak into their lives. 
Then I am blessed to watch God work in them and through them.

We will not hide these truths from our children;
we will tell the next generation
about the glorious deeds of the Lord,
about his power and his mighty wonders.
Psalm 78:4

Isn't that really what it's all about anyway?
This legacy of truth we so long to pass on to our children.
We pay forward these words that give life 
to our dreams that God has placed in our hearts. 
All for His glory.

Empowering and encouraging to dream God-sized dreams.
I not only am blessed to do this for my sons in the every day,
but also for these precious girls that God has placed in my life.

That's part of my God-sized dream for sure.

How are you paying it forward?

My friend Holley Gerth invited me to join a group of dreamers that she affectionately calls her God Sized Dream Team. What a blessing to be part of this group. 

We will be gathering each week on Tuesdays at Holley's to encourage each other to dream those God sized dreams.

Won't you join us?

What is your God-sized dream?

Holley had written a love letter to dreamers. Her book You're Made for a God-Sized Dream is full of words of encouragement and will speak to your heart.

Blessings,

Vast and Beyond

Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens;

your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds.

Psalm 36:5

Blessings,

Orange Main Session - Andy Stanley

Here are my notes from Andy Stanley's main session.

I want to encourage you to rethink your approach on how you teach and talk about the scriptures to kids and students. We have for generations perceived ourselves to be the majority. It effects the words we use. We aren’t the majority anymore, but we are so accustomed to speaking as the majority. I wish we could all take a big step back and not act as if we were the majority. In the first century they knew they weren’t the majority. They were lion food. Outcasts. Once upon a time there were a handful of people who believed that Jesus rose from the dead.

 

Our approach determines people’s response to what we have to say.

-  We have to approach each child differently.

We must adapt our approach depending on who our audience is.

-  In 1 Corinthians 9:19-23, Paul adapted to speak to each person’s differences.

-  His goal wasn’t to be right, and make a point. His goal was to reach some.

- The approach may change, but the goal always remains the same.

You inherited an approach that assumes biblical authority.

- You do not believe what you believe because the Bible says so.

7 Guideline to Communicate Scripture

- Choose a passage of scripture and stay there. Bible story – is it a story? Its better than a story. It’s history.  Make it interesting and clear. Bring your energy to the text. Stop using all your energy for the illustration. You read things to discover if they are true.

- Give people permission not to believe or obey the scriptures. We do not want our children to think that the reason we do this is because it is in the bible. 1 Corinthians 5:12-13 – What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church. All the local church is supposed to do is one another one another. When people see that, they want that. Let’s be so good at what we do they can’t help but lean in. The attraction of the church is look at all those one anothers one anothers not this is what is in the bible. The authority of the local church was look how they love one another not this is what the bible says.

- Teach in a manner that emphasizes the identity of Jesus over the authority of scripture.  They believed in Jesus because He rose from the dead not because the bible says so. The foundation of our faith is a moment in history – Jesus rose from the dead.  People must come to terms with the identity of Jesus and his authority before they can believe. The foundation of your faith is a group of people that expected to find a body and didn’t.

- Don’t refer to the bible as a book. Never say god wrote the bible. It’s way better than a book.

- Cite authors not the Bible. James was the brother of Jesus. What would you have to do to convince your brother that you were the Son of God? We should not expect people to believe that Jesus rose from the dead because the bible says so. We believe because the witnesses said so and they saw it.

 - Acknowledge the odd as odd. There are some odd things in the Bible. Just say they're odd. We believe the Old Testament is true because Jesus believed that it was true. Anyone who predicts his own death and resurrection, I just go with what he says. Jesus said the Old Testament was scripture.

- Don’t create the impression that one must choose between faith and science. You want people who understand why things work like they do. 

And so my judgment is that we should not make it difficult 

for the Gentiles who are turning to God.

Acts 15:19 

Let's not make it difficult for our kids.

It Is Wonderful

It is wonderful each morning to tell about your love
and at night to announce how faithful you are.
Psalm 92:2

Blessings,

Deny Yourself by Lisa Chan - Review & Giveaway

Then Jesus said to his disciples, 

"Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves

and take up their cross and follow me."

Matthew 16:24

In Lisa Chan's second video in the True Beauty: Finding Your Identity in Jesus series, she shared about the struggle to fight against our nature and deny ourselves to follow Christ. He asks us to lay down our lives to be His disciples. What does that look like in a world that is so self indulgent? How do we live out what Christ has called us to in the midst of a loud world?

Along with Lisa's teaching, Irene shares her story about her broken marriage. She had come to a place where she was considering divorce after many years of hurt, when her husband asked for her forgiveness. Irene admits that she struggled in this.

Jesus then spoke to her heart saying,

"Irene, I stretched out my arms like this and I took my last breath for you, but also for your husband. You want me to forgive you, but you're not willing to forgive."

This truth changed everything for her. This is just the beginning of Irene's story and how God is working in her marriage. I so loved hearing her heart.

Lisa relates some personal stories of moments that God asks her to surrender and how hard that was for her. She goes on to state that moving into that place of surrender actually brings joy and contentment. 

We live in a world that shouts "Do more. Be more. Have more." This is in opposition to God's way of things. We have to ask ourselves in we believe what He said when He asks us to deny ourselves.

Don't forget we're living for something bigger, 

so stop looking at things through your own lens.

- Lisa Chan

I loved this teaching and I believe it is something that
other women will be challenged and encouraged by as well.

My friends at David C. Cook have graciously offered to give away

a copy of Deny Yourself to one blessed Saved Sister reader.

You can enter to win below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 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.

Into the Wilderness

Behold, I will allure her and bring her into the wilderness,
and I will speak tenderly and to her heart.
Hosea 2:14 

Blessings,

You Meet Me Here

Today I am joining Lisa-Jo and friends for Five Minute Friday.

This is where we come together writing for 5 minutes without editing or overthinking.

I love this community.

Check out what everyone's is sharing on the word HERE here.



Oh how I love this place.
This time of the evening when everyone is tucked into bed and the house is quiet.
And You meet me here.
After all that goes on in the day, I come to You with everything.
Some days the only thing I can do is sit and absorb the silence.
Other days I come with prayers and can't stop the flow of words.
Prayers that I lift up to You.
Knowing that You hear each one even when I can't put them into words.
I know that I come to this place in the morning, 
but I long for these moments in the evening as well.
I just can't end the day any other way.
I come to You.
Sometimes so full of joy and sometimes broken.
But I know that You want me here no matter how I come.
It's overwhelming to think that You desire this time with me even more than I do.
This place is ours. Yours and mine.
Before I lay my head down, You speak to my heart.
You tell me You love me.
And there is peace.
Goodnight, Abba.

It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning,
your faithfulness in the evening.
Psalm 92:2

How can I pray for you today, friend?

Blessings,

A Peek Into My Small Group

I have had a few people as me what small group looks like for me in our children's ministry. I lead a small group of girls in third through fifth grade.

Here is a peek into my small group.

We are dismissed from large group time to break out into our small groups. One of my girls will grab our small group bucket which contains our activities and supplies. As we gather in our circle, I will ask how everyone's week was and if anyone has something about it that they would like to share. Now in a group of girls this could take some time, so I usually limit it to just a couple of stories.

I ask everyone to open their Bibles so that we can read our Bible verse together and talk more about it. For example, this past weekend our Bible verse was Proverbs 3:5, so I first asked if Proverbs was in the Old or New Testament. As the girls were looking up the Bible verse, I told them about Solomon and how he asked God for wisdom and that Proverbs was written to share that wisdom. We will then read the verse aloud a few times as not everyone has the same translation and the girls enjoy reading how it is worded in their Bibles. Then I asked the girls what they think it means to trust God with all of their heart. Then I asked the girls if we should only trust God for some things and not others. Then I asked what it means to them when the verse tells us not to depend on our own understanding. We listened to everyone's answers and discussed each of them. We do this on a regular basis with our weekly Bible verses.

At this time we will move on to our activity provided with our curriculum. Sometimes I will add a craft to our activities which the girls can take home as a reminder of what they have learned and a way to share with their families. This past week we made beaded bracelets with a heart on them to remind us of our Bible verse. This activity time is when my girls are most talkative. They share about what is happening in their lives, talk about our Bible story, and really connect with each other. 

I guide the conversation by asking questions, but for the most part I am listening more than talking during this time.

Towards the end of our time together, I ask the girls if they have any prayer requests. We listen as each one shares. I repeat each one and remind the girls to be praying for each other through the week. The girls will also share any answered prayers during this time. Then we pray together. I ask the girls if they would like to pray out loud and explain that no one has to do so. We do "tap a knee" circle praying. Once a girl is done praying, she will tap the knee of the girl beside her. If someone doesn't want to pray aloud, then she will tap the knee of the girl beside her. This goes on until the circle comes back to me and then I will close the prayer.

Most times the girls are released to their families from our small group. If we happen to have time left before pick up, then I usually break out playing cards (Uno is our favorite right now) or blank paper and colored pencils (I get lots of artwork to hang on my fridge this way). We continue our conversations in the extra time.

Although I am a big believer in planning and preparing for each week, there have been times when the Holy Spirit has prompted me to put all plans aside in our time together. This happened once when one of my girls shared that they were being bullied in school. We spent our time in group discussing this issue and I watched these girls encourage and love on each other. You can't plan those moments.

I love these sweet girls and am so very blessed to be part of their lives. They are smart and funny and sassy and so very precious. In this circle, I have watched them grow in their faith, love on each other, and become a tribe.

What does small group look like for you?

Blessings, 

My Life A Prayer

I pray to God
—my life a prayer—
and wait for what 
he’ll say and do. 
Psalm 130:5

How can I pray for you today?

Blessings,