Putting your neck on the line

Dear Mr. or Mrs. Turkey,

I apologize in advance for your fate. First of all because you have spent the last three months in my freezer since I chose not to use you during typical turkey devouring season. Secondly, because you like many things became an experiment today. You see, my bachelor’s degree is in chemistry, and I like to experiment, since I no longer have a lab to do so in and stay home with children and teach. So please forgive me for cooking you in my crock pot, for not knowing how to remove the giblets, or where your neck is stored. Believe me, this is much more traumatic for me than it is for you. I am a recovering vegetarian.

Sincerely,

The Chef

P.S. Please excuse my husband when he carves you. If I have left anything by mistake, it may surprise him and cause his knife to slip unexpectedly.

I want to live with reckless abandon, to show the Lord, that I can live a life fully devoted for Him without regards for the worldly consequences for Him. And, in my thirty-first year on this earth, I seem to be going through a midlife crisis (hope it’s my first). I have teased about a nose-ring, pink hair, and packing a bag and leaving for weeks on end to somewhere tropical.

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Behind the Scenes - Angela Meyer - Bruised Reed Inspiration

Each week in Behind the Scenes, readers get a little insight into the background of their favorite books. This week Angela Meyer talks about the inspiration behind her new book, 'Bruised Reed.'

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A Pure Heart

My lip recently encountered the back door of the van. It was a rental and the edge of the door protruded further from the handle than in our own van. When I pulled it down, I stood too close and whacked myself with the door.
   I went back into the store I just left and got some ice. I’m sure I looked ridiculous driving down the road holding a plastic bag to my upper lip. Due to the ice, my face was not black and blue, but I still felt the bruise underneath. It left quite an impression.
   Every time we encounter the world, it leaves an impression. We may not see the evidence on the surface of our life, but underneath the swelling is there. Our words and actions may not change right away but our thoughts and intentions will slowly begin to shift if we don’t take measures to lessen the impact.

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Remember when?

There was a time in my life when, like Narnia frozen in 100 years of winter, my life felt shrouded in perpetual darkness. We've all been there, that place where life is in crisis mode and our prayers bounce back from the ceiling. We wonder, "Why is this happening to me?" and "When is it going to end?"  
   Perhaps you even waiver in your faith. I did. It took nearly ten years before the darkness melted away. I was tempted many times to turn away from God, but the thought of eternity in hell prodded me to hold on. My faith in God had taken a terrible beating. I often tempered my prayers with "God, help my unbelief" (see Mark 9:24).
   Like King David, when God seems more distant than the stars, we have to encourage ourselves through the dry and difficult times. But how do we do that?

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Behind the Scenes - Shanna Groves - Everyday Life

Each week in Behind the Scenes, readers get a little insight into the background of their favorite books. This week Shanna Groves shares what life is like when she's not writing books like , 'Confessions of a Lip Reading Mom.'

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Do You Worry Too Much? Yeah, Me Too

Worrywart should have been my middle name. Even before the age of 10, my brain was wracked with numerous anxieties. My childhood was defined by weight worries, fitting in worries and school worries.
   At nine I started subscribing to Weight Watchers and exercising to Richard Simmons workout tapes because I was concerned that my belly pooched out too much in a swimsuit. Forget peer pressure. There was more than enough pressure coming from me to make all A’s at all costs.

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In control

Then the Lord said to Cain, "Why are you angry?  Why are you looking so sad? Do what is right. Then you will be accepted. If you don't do what is right,  sin is waiting at your door to grab you. It longs to have you.  But you must rule over it." ~ Genesis 4:6-7 (NIRV)

Two of my grandchildren were visiting me a few years ago and the younger one was pitching a great fuss because I didn’t give her a certain cereal.
   The older one shot her a motherly look and said, “you get what you get and you don’t throw a fit!” Her sister grudgingly sat down and ate. After breakfast, the girls turned on the cartoons and quickly forgot all about the cereal battle.
   I know my granddaughter won’t come up to me years from now and ask, "Grandma, do you remember when you didn't give me the cereal I wanted?" But it is something I have done. Throughout my life, I have said, "I remember when so and so did such and such to me."
   I have an anger problem.

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Behind the Scenes - Alycia Holston - Book Inspiration

Each week in Behind the Scenes, readers get a little insight into the background of their favorite books. This week Alycia Holston describes her inspiration for her children's book, 'While the Giant is Sleeping.'

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Nighlights, dog food and Parmesan cheese

I had just returned from one of those shopping trips that makes your cart look like you were trying to win the contest for how much you can fit in one cart without anything falling out. As I put the groceries away, I discovered three items I'd left behind - nightlight bulbs, dog food and Parmesan cheese.
   Like it or not, they couldn't wait and would require another trip to the store. My bark machine surely wasn't going to wait until the next restocking trip and my youngest feels more comfort when her little light shines. As a one income household with three children, pasta is often on the menu and while the cheese wasn't a neccesity, it sure makes those dinners a little more fun.

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Morning by morning

“They gathered it morning by morning, every man as much as he should eat…” Exodus 16:21 NASB

Each morning the Hebrew children gathered manna, their daily bread, off the ground before it melted. Every morning, I gather God’s manna, His word for the day from the Bible. But sometimes life disrupts those morning meals.
   My husband is not a breakfast eater, so for the first few years of our marriage, my only requirement in the morning was to give my husband a kiss before he walked out the door. However, when we added kids to our household, my morning routine changed.

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Behind the Scenes - Sharon Spiegel - Character Inspiration

Each week in Behind the Scenes, readers get a little insight into the background of their favorite books. CrossRiver authors will share the joys and headaches in their writing process. This week Sharon Spiegel talks her inspiration for the characters in her new book, 'Generations.'

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The Knock-out Punch

I’ll be the first to admit — I am obsessed with the familial promises of God throughout scripture. There is one passage I focus on quite often when praying for my family members.

“…Be not afraid of them, remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and ‘fight for your brethren, yours sons, and your daughters, your wives and your houses. And it came to pass when our enemies heard that it was known unto us, and God had brought their counsel to nought that we returned all of us to the wall, every one unto his work.” - Nehemiah 4:14b-15.

   There's a battle raging for the lives of our children and grandchildren. We don’t wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities in high places. (Eph. 8:12) But the victory over the cunning tricks and traps the enemy brings against our family is ours when we do battle on our knees.

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It's not 'The Great Suggestion'

The old song may be right. It does seem like all God’s children want to do is stay around His table. No one wants to work in the fields.*

We relish our padded pews and air-conditioned sanctuaries. We actively participate in our small group fellowships and pot lucks, but we rarely see active soul winning or any other form of fulfilling the Great Commission. We call things discipleship, but there’s no spiritual depth being achieved. We call things soul winning, but it’s really just sheep shuffling.

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