God is in the Small Stuff and it all matters 20th anniversary edition Book Review

Posted on May 10, 2019May 9, 2019 by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

This best seller from two decades ago by authors Bruce & Stan has been redone and is even better. I read God is in the Small Stuff twenty years ago when it first came out. It certainly caused a lot of buzz with how encouraging it was. The 20th anniversary edition is just as inspiring.

The 20th Anniversary Edition of God is in the Small Stuff is a delightful reminder that God is in all areas of our lives. He cares about the small stuff and details as well as the big things. I found each of the forty chapters to be inspirational. They provided food for thought as well as for the soul. The messages will certainly help any reader draw closer to God no matter what age.

This is an easy to read inspirational book. The writing is smooth and sentences flow together to create a lovely tale. I enjoyed the writers’ style. The book was well thought, well planned and well organized. It was a light read with deep meaning. I was captivated by the messages and thought about them long after going on to new chapters.

Some of the chapters resonated more than others but they were all encouraging. A few that stood out to me were Realize that God Loves you, Give God Time, What Would Jesus Do, and Families are Forever. I gleaned something from all forty and will refer back to this gem for inspiration and quotes.

I highly recommend this to everyone. This would make a fabulous gift for graduation, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, birthdays, or when visiting someone. Every church library should have a copy. It gets a 5 out of 5 star rating from me.

I received a copy from the publisher but was under no obligation to write a review. These are my own, honest thoughts.

About the Book

Stop worrying, and invite God into the details of your life!

Bruce & Stan’s bestselling God Is in the Small Stuff is back and better than ever in this special 20th-anniversary edition! And their message–God is in all of life’s little details–is as timely today as it was two decades ago. While encouraging you not to disregard the minor, insignificant things in life, God Is in the Small Stuff invites a better understanding of God’s infinite character, reminding you that He is a personal and intimate God, involved in every detail of your life. God Is In the Small Stuff. . .and it all matters features 40 chapters covering topics like “Remember that God Loves You,” “Discipline Yourself (No One Else Will),” and “Contentment Won’t Kill You.” Each chapter includes commentary in the classic, tongue-in-cheek Bruce & Stan style, followed by pithy, often humorous, wisdom.

Yeast Rolls, The Bread of Life, and Auntie June

Posted on May 8, 2019May 7, 2019 by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

My family is blessed with bakers bakers and cooks. Is yours? Are you one of them? We have so many on all the branches of my family tree that one year I decided it was time to corral all of the recipes into one large cookbook. What a fun project!

Going through the old recipes brought the treasured women and men that made or ate each delicacy to mind. I journeyed back to childhood, to church dinners, and even some camping trips. Holidays were relived along with weddings. It’s funny how food and a certain time or person can be connected.

Take yeast rolls and my sweet Aunt Eva June. She has not one recipe in my cookbook for them but four! Yes, she loves hot from the oven, light, fluffy yeast rolls. Even the smell of them brings her to mind. Bread is is absolute favorite treat, even above sweets.

My Aunt is a strong woman of faith and has been blessed by Abba. It would take pages to describe how exceptional she is. She has overcome Breast Cancer in a miraculous way. Only the touch of Jehovah Rapha, our God that heals could provide some of the news she has received.

Yeast rolls aren’t the only bread she loves. She loves Jesus, the Bread of Life and is not shy to enlighten anyone of His power. When we chat she never fails to tell me that she prays daily for us, misses us, and loves us. The goodness of God is always in our conversation, too. Acknowledging His plan for her life she says “He must not be finished with me yet and I want to do what He wants.”

What faith! To fight cancer in her eighties and keep such a positive outlook. She doesn’t need any encouragement from others but gladly gives it to everyone all for the glory of God.

Auntie June’s Best Rolls Ever
Ingredients:	2 pkg. active dry yeast 3/4 melted butter 2 eggs 3/4 sugar 2 1/2 c. warm water 8 to 9 c. flour 3 tsp. salt

Directions:	Soften yeast in water. Add shortening, sugar, salt, eggs, and 4 cups flour. Stir and beat until smooth (about one minute). Stir in remaining flour. This will be a soft dough. Cover tightly and store in refrigerator overnight or until ready to use. When ready to use, work down and make into rolls, dipped into shortening or butter. Let rise until double in size and bake. Bake at 350° for 15 to 20 minutes.

But, Who is Praying for Me?

Posted on April 23, 2019April 23, 2019 by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

Prayer Warriors are constantly praying for someone. There is so much to lift up to God and it seems so little time. We intercede for the sick, lost, hurting, and needy. For the mother whose baby is desperately trying to stay in her womb to grow strong. For the father trying to work overtime or a second job just to make ends meet. For the teenager caught in the middle of making some life changing decisions. For our President and government leaders. Let’s not forget our family and friends.

See what I mean? We have so many people depending and deserving of our prayers. Years ago my niece, Phoebe, and I were talking about praying. She was little and not even in school. A friend had called me and asked if I could pray for her granddaughter. One thing led to another and I told Phoebe if she listened with her heart instead of her ears she could hear who needed her prayers. Many times God will tell us.

A couple of weeks later she was excited to tell me she felt her first prayer request. After dinner the night before she heard her Daddy say that a lady he worked with was going to be out because of surgery. “I don’t even know her name, Aunt Sissy, but my heart heard for me to pray for her.” Wonderful! She did understand what we were discussing. Right then we stopped everything and prayed for the woman. Now in her mid-twenties, Phoebe is still a Prayer Warrior.

On the flip side, I have someone that has been mad at me for over two decades. I can’t say exactly why, buy I have apologized and shouldered the blame in hopes of reconciling with this friend. A few times I have tried to have a “peace talk” with her, but it always goes no where. This last time, I asked how things had been going in her life and told her that I had been praying daily for her and our relationship. Then I asked if she prayed for me and our relationship, too. She looked at me as if my hair had just turned turquoise and laughingly said “no, why would I?”

Out of all the vicious remarks this friend has made, none hurt even a fraction as much as this one did. I thought everyone prayed for the people they loved. Maybe that was it, she had stopped loving me. All I know is that in that moment I felt so lost and alone. No one was praying for me? Prayer is the biggest blessing to give someone.

Ever feel like you are lost and alone with no one to lift you up in prayer? I have great news. You may pray for yourself. Yep, it is allowed. Also, the Holy Spirit will lift you up, too. You might be surprised to find some little Phoebes that have been listening with their hears and are praying for you.

There are no special words needed. No super formula. Just have a heart to heart with your maker. The Bible tells us in Romans 8:26“…but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”

We always have someone praying for us. No need to fret. Easy your mind and rest in the Lord. Oh, and keep praying!

Holy Saturday or Easter Eve

Posted on April 20, 2019April 18, 2019 by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

Holy Saturday, Easter Eve or Black Saturday is the name given to the day between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Some Christians recognize Holy Saturday as the day on which Jesus “rested” from His work of providing salvation. It is the seventh day of Holy Week. When Jesus died, He called out, “It is finished!” He had completed His job. Sin had been atoned for and salvation was now available. Jesus had built a bridge between the Father and us. We can now go straight to Him and not via priests and holy men.

This day is traditionally a time of reflection and waiting like Lent. Jesus’ followers spent this day waiting after his crucifixion on Good Friday. He had said He would rise from the dead so they would be watching for Him. Most likely they would be recalling every word He said to them.

It is also the day when Roman governor Pontius Pilate instructed guards to be posted at the tomb to prevent Jesus’ followers from removing the body to claim that He had risen from the dead. Pilate sealed the tomb, secured it, and posted guards. No one was getting in.

How have you felt reading the activities and what happened during the days of Holy Week? I learned some things when researching for this week’s blog that I did not know before now. I felt like I was there trailing around after Jesus, too. At the end of each day my emotions were raw. How could the people be so callus and blind not to see that Jesus was The Son of God? How could they beat and torture anyone to that degree, let alone Him? I was outraged and heartbroken. I cried heartfelt tears of anguish.

I know the ending. I also know this was God’s plan, but it still hurts. For those of us baptized, when we were baptized we died with Christ (going down under water) and arose with Him (rising up again).

Scripture tells us this in Romans 6:3-11 King James Version (KJV):

^”Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

So, while we await Resurrection Sunday, take a moment to reflect. Just as we were baptized and died with Jesus, we died to sin. We should sever the bond sin has over us and sin no more. After He died for us, it is the least we can do for Him.

Holy Tuesday, Jesus Teaches in Parables

Posted on April 16, 2019April 14, 2019 by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

Tuesday the disciples walked back by the fig tree from yesterday that Jesus cursed. It was now withered and dead. Jesus used that to teach them about faith, true faith. A person or nation that does not produce fruit for God (do His work) will wither and die all the way down to its roots. The tree had leaves so by first sight it looked like it was producing. A closer look revealed no fruit. Then Jesus cursed it so it withered and died.

Are you producing fruit? Are you leading people to God? Helping them find salvation? Does the light of Jesus shine through you? Are you loving, kind, selfless, good, joyful, and have the fruits of the spirit? Don’t wither away. Grow tall and produce fruit. Increase in your faith. Flourish in your love for Jesus. You will be amazed at the things that will happen when you believe and have faith!

“Seeing a fig tree by the road, He went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then He said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered.” Mt. 21:19

“Jesus replied, ‘Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” Mt. 21:21-22

They returned to the Temple and the religious leaders were upset at Jesus for establishing himself as a spiritual authority. He had a large following now. Jesus evaded the traps the leaders set for Him with their questions. He scolded them in Matt. 23 and compared them to tombs – beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people.

Jesus took His disciples to the Mount of Olives and told them parables about end times and His return. Those who wait for the Master’s coming—the wise and faithful servant (Matthew 24:45-51), the five wise virgins (Matthew 25:1-13), and the good servant who uses his resources wisely (Matthew 25:14-30) are a few of the ones.

Do you remember any of these parables from Sunday School or Vacation Bible School? The point is to have faith and be ready for Jesus. He is coming back just like He promised. When? Well, that is not for us to know. We are just supposed to be ready at a moment’s notice.

Holy Monday, Jesus Cleanses the Temple

Posted on April 15, 2019April 13, 2019 by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

After Jesus arrived in Jerusalem on Palm Sunday did you ever wonder how he spent His final week in ministry? What did He do until His crucifixion? On Monday He taught His disciples a parable about faith when He cursed a fig tree that did not produce fruit. Do you remember that one?

They had been out walking and were hungry when they saw a fig tree with many leaves. After they looked for the fruit, none could be found. It was barren. Many believe the tree being cursed represents God’s judgment on those that are spiritually dead.

This story of what Jesus also did might be more familiar. Jesus also went into the temple and cleared it out of the dishonest money changers. They were cheating people and making a mockery of the temple. He went through overturning tables and saying: “Scripture says ‘My Temple will be a house of prayer’, but you have turned it into a den of thieves.” He drove the money changers and their animals out restoring order and respect.

What has stayed with me about this story for many years is that Jesus stopped and braided a whip so that He could think about what He was going to do before just charging into the temple. He didn’t fly off the handle but took time to think about the situation. Maybe He prayed. I would imagine He did.

“So He made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; He scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.” John 2:15

Could you do this? I can’t tell you how many times I have flown off the handle in anger. Acted quickly without thinking things through. Not so with Jesus. His righteous indignation toward what was happening in the temple was just. It needed to be done. He waited to think clearly and make certain it was done correctly. How many times have I wished that I had done things like that? Many!

Jesus had one week left with his disciples before his crucifixion and resurrection. Everything was done in the right way without rushing. Even in a time of righteous anger He still slowed down and gave Himself time to cool off and think with a clear mind. What a beautiful example for all of us.

Can You Imagine the First Palm Sunday?

Posted on April 14, 2019April 13, 2019 by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

Today is Palm Sunday. This celebrates the day Jesus triumphantly enters the city of Jerusalem. It marks one week before Easter. Here in Southern Indiana Palm Sunday can be a beautiful day or it can be snowing. It is very unpredictable. What isn’t unpredictable and remains unchanged is the Palm Sunday message. “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the king of Israel!” John 12:12-13.

Scripture tells us that Jesus rode into the city on a young donkey. The streets were lined with people who threw clothes and palms or small branches, in front of him as a sign of homage and respect. This was what people did for kings. They were treating Jesus like royalty. Using palm branches symbolized peace and victory. Jesus was coming in peace, triumphantly. The crowd of people shouted “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.”

Can you imagine what it was like to be in that crowd? Jesus had come to save the lost, to secure their eternal life and salvation. He was the Messiah, long awaited. Hearts must have been beating wildly at the anticipation of seeing Him. Thought we’re surely running all over wondering what to do – stand, bow, wave, kneel. Did tears fill many eyes? My eyes get glassy thinking about it.

How amazing it must have been to see Jesus. He was the one that raised the dead back to life and healed the sick. He was the teacher everyone spoke of so highly. Jesus changed lives. Jesus was God’s Son. What would we have done in that crowd? Can you imagine?

It makes me think of Heaven and what I will do when I see Jesus. Like the Mercy Me song:

I can only imagine what it will be like
When I walk, by Your side
I can only imagine what my eyes will see
When Your face is before me
I can only imagine, I can only imagine
Surrounded by Your glory
What will my heart feel
Will I dance for you Jesus
Or in awe of You be still
Will I stand in Your presence
Or to my knees will I fall
Will I sing hallelujah
Will I be able to speak at all
I can only imagine, I can only imagine
I can only imagine when that day comes
When I find myself standing in the Son
I can only imagine when all I would do is forever
Forever worship You
I can only imagine, I can only imagine

What will you do when you see Jesus? Can you imagine seeing Him face to face?

Eat, Live, Thrive Diet, A Lifestyle Plan to Rev Up Your Midlife Metabolism

Posted on March 26, 2019March 26, 2019 by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

My Review

Here I am again reading another diet book. I probably have read or opened most every one of them. This one is finally different. A book written by two qualified women for midlife women bodies. Let’s see how this one compares.

I was impressed with the writing style in the book. In parts it was scientific as it explained metabolism and different foods, but it did it in easy to understand terms. The concept is timely and needed. Every woman wants to look and feel better. I know I do. The authors are transparent with their own struggles and trials. They understand what obstacles might pop up and are ready to help readers navigate them. Once I started reading this informative book, I read it cover to cover. I was like a sponge wanting to soak up as much information as possible.

This health book has Christian-based concepts and scripture. It begins with an introduction and is divided into five parts and a total of fifteen chapters. The diet preparation, plan, foods, life changes, and recipes are broken down by sections in paragraphs with sidebars, highlights, charts, and marks. Concluding the book I s a note from the authors, resources, acknowledgments, notes, index, and recipe/ingredient indexes. It is a well research, well planned, and well organized book.

My favorite thing was the Christian aspect. It was there to help but was not preachy. Our mind, body, and soul all need to be healthy to work properly. The authors address this and acknowledge the importance of changing habits lmentally and emotionally, also.

This book taught me many things. I found the plan to be similar to a Keto diet I have tried but yet there are differences. The plan basically emphasises nourishment with “real” food. Processed foods are discouraged. While vegetables can be unlimited, fruits and grains are not. Refined foods are to be avoided and carbohydrates controlled.

As with every plan, there were some things I did not quite think would be for me. The extras that they use are not things I want to buy. The plan itself, yes. That I am trying successfully.

I really liked this book. It would benefit any woman. Younger women would learn healthy lifestyle choices early. Older women could implement this plan and get healthier. I highly recommend it and give it a 4 out of 5 stars. An advanced reader copy (ARC) copy was provided by the publisher, but I was under no obligation to write a review. This is my own opinion.

About the Book

Authors: Danna Demeter and Robyn Thomson

272 pages, paperback

WaterBrook (March 26, 2019)

From the well-known health and lifestyle coaches of the widely popular website Lean Healthy Ageless (formerly Ageless Woman Living) comes a practical, science-based diet book that unravels the mystery of why women gain weight as they age and includes a sustainable plan to permanently lose the pounds and inches.

Eat, Live, Thrive Diet shows women how they can not only lose excess body fat permanently but also improve their overall health in critical areas such as brain function, resistance to disease, slowing down external aging, and increasing energy. This highly effective eating plan is presented in a compassionate voice by two experienced health coaches who share personal experiences of battling weight and emotional eating issues. Whereas most diets are short-lived or require substantial upkeep to maintain, Eat, Live, Thrive Diet is a viable eating plan that women can adhere to indefinitely. In addition to minimizing sugar intake, the plan emphasizes the importance of short-term intermittent fasting–a simple lifestyle change that makes it easier and more effective for many mature women to reach their health and weight loss goals. The book also highlights health risks and drawbacks of many popular fad diets that can be harmful on a long-term basis.

About the Authors

DANNA DEMETRE, RN, is an author, speaker, and cofounder of Lean Healthy Ageless. She has been a guest on a variety of national and local shows to include, Fox News Dallas, The 700 Club, ABC News NOW, and Moody Broadcasting’s award winning Midday Connection. Danna, who is in her sixties, lives with her husband in the foothills outside San Diego.

ROBYN THOMSON, an advance clinical weight loss practitioner, has worked with cutting edge nutritional companies and received training from some of the top doctors and scientists in the industry. Through seminars, workshops, and coaching, she helps people lose weight, improve their nutrition, and get more active. She is in her fifties and lives near the beach in San Diego with her husband, Rob.

Vivir el Dream Book Tour & Giveaway by Celebrate Lit

Posted on March 24, 2019 by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

Welcome to my stop on the book tour for Vivir el Dream. Be sure to check out all sections of today’s blog. There is a giveaway at the end that you will want to enter.

Author Allison Garcia has written a contemporary Christian Latino novel that is packed full of emotion and relevance. It is the first of her pieces that I have read. This author writes with emotion and grit. She doesn’t offer candy-coated fluff. Garcia gives readers real life scenarios even if they are harsh.

In this book, issues of immigration, violence, deportation, and even language are discussed. With our country discussing a “wall” that made this book even more timely. Difficult topics were openly and honestly portrayed. At times I felt my toes being stepped on and other times my feelings were hurt. This is a real to life book.

The writing was candid and made me emotional. Characters were vividly described. I became invested in their stories and got emotional with them. It was easy to imagine things as they played out in this hard hitting book. I was so taken with the characters and their trial that by the end of the book my emotions were raw.

The Christian Faith element was woven throughout this book. There was no doubt this was a Christian book. I was able to pick up some bits of knowledge by reading this. Life lessons are packed into this novel. After reading this I have a better understanding of immigrants.

Definitely I would recommend this book. Contemporary fiction readers will enjoy and those liking Latino Fiction. It is very impactful and stayed with me long after I finished it. I was disappointed there are no discussion questions. This would make a great book group read.

A copy was provided by Celebrate Lit but I was under no obligation to write a favorable review. These are my own honest thoughts.

About the Book

Book: Vivir el Dream

Author: Allison K Garcia

Genre: Christian Latino Fiction

Release Date: May 19, 2017

The fates of an undocumented college student and her mother intertwine with a suicidal businessman’s. As circumstances worsen, will their faith carry them through or will their fears drag them down?

Linda Palacios crossed the border at age three with her mother, Juanita, to escape their traumatic life in Mexico and to pursue the American dream. Years later, Linda nears college graduation. With little hope for the future as an undocumented immigrant, Linda wonders where her life is going.

Tim Draker, a long-unemployed businessman, has wondered the same thing. Overcome with despair, he decides to take his own life. Before he can carry out his plan, he changes course when he finds a job as a mechanic. Embarrassed about working at a garage in the barrio, he lies to his wife in hopes of finding something better.

After Juanita’s coworker gets deported, she takes in her friend’s son, Hector, whom her daughter Linda can’t stand, While Juanita deals with nightmares of her traumatic past, she loses her job and decides to go into business for herself.

Will the three of them allow God to guide them through the challenges to come, or will they let their own desires and goals get in the way of His path?

Click here to purchase your copy.

About the Author

Allison K. Garcia is a Licensed Professional Counselor, but she has wanted to be a writer ever since she could hold a pencil. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Shenandoah Valley Writers, Virginia Writers Club, and is Municipal Liaison for Shenandoah Valley NaNoWriMo.

Allison’s short story, “At Heart,” was published in the Winter 2013 edition of From the Depths literary magazine, along with her flash fiction. Her work, “You Shall Receive,” was published in GrayHaven Comics’s 2014 All Women’s anthology. Winning an honorary mention in the ACFW Virginia 2015 short story contest, “Just Another Navidad” was published in A bit of Christmas. Allison’s book, Vivir el Dream, published May 2017, has won several prestigious awards: 2016 ACFW Genesis Contest Finalist, 2018 Eric J. Hoffer Montaigne Medal Finalist, Honorary Mention in the 2018 Eric. J. Hoffer Awards E-book category, and 2018 IAN Book of the Year Awards Finalist in the Christian/Relgious Fiction category. Her highly-anticipated novel, Finding Amor, was released in September 2018.

Latina at heart, Allison has been featured in local newspapers for her connections in the Latino community in Harrisonburg, Virginia. A member of cultural competency committees for work and a participant in several pro-immigrant rallies and other events in her region, she also sings on the worship team and enjoys get-togethers with the hermanos in her church. With the help of her husband, Julio, and their son, Miguel, she has been able to nurture her love for the Latino people.

More from Allison K. Garcia

Authenticity and Love

When I wrote my debut novel Vivir el Dream in 2012, I never imagined that it was going to win five awards, that I would be invited to churches and universities and NPR to speak about it, or that it would be taught on a college campus. That’s not why I wrote it. Sure, I hoped that people would read it and love it, but I never imagined the impact it would have and the book’s relevance seven years later.

There were two main reasons I wrote Vivir el Dream: authenticity and love.

They go hand-in-hand, but I shall tell you a little about how God sparked the story in my heart.

In 2011, we had three church members deported, and one of them was a dear friend—a good man who loves his family, greeted the congregation at the door, helped take the collection every Sunday and set up the tables and chairs for special programs. To see our friend, and hermano en Cristo, treated in a way that traumatized his children and nearly tore apart up his family, was something that broke my heart. But what broke it worse was seeing how the media spoke about undocumented people and sadder yet, having conversations with other Christians who spoke anger and hatred towards “illegals.”

God spoke to my heart about this. How could my brothers and sisters in Christ be so unkind and uncaring? Hadn’t they read The Good Samaritan? Didn’t they remember about loving our neighbors? It happened again and again, and I realized, with God’s help, that one of the challenges was that people didn’t understand the real story. They were fed a certain stereotype by the media, an image of a tattooed person in a gang or a drug dealer.

They hadn’t actually met anyone undocumented. Or at least they hadn’t realized they had.

In my life and in my job as a counselor, I had met tons of undocumented immigrants, and I had known them the great majority to be kind, hard-working people who wanted the best for their family and were willing to risk it all for the chance at the American dream. I saw love, I saw bravery, I saw strength, I saw faith. And I believe that God showed me those things so that I could reflect that in my novels.

A wonderful thing happens when we’re reading a book. We jump into the shoes of the main character. We understand their plight. Their hopes are our hopes. We feel their story, their dreams, their love, their anguish, their joy. That is one of the great things about reading. We escape our own lives for a while and experience a new adventure, gain a new understanding. We go places and meet people and do things we would never be able to in our own lives.

So that is what God placed on my heart to share with the world: an authentic experience of a mother and daughter who are undocumented Christians.

It’s controversial, but then so was the Gospel. What is more controversial than Jesus’ teachings? To love those who hate us. To turn the other cheek. To give away all possessions to join Him. I mean, what is more controversial than being asked to believe that a man born over 2,000 years was the Son of God and was risen from the dead after three days and that giving one’s heart over to Him will save one’s soul so as to live for all of eternity with God in Heaven?

And yet, that is the very heart of the Gospel.

To love God and to love others.

So, in the spirit of loving God and listening to Him, I wrote Vivir el Dream and published it even when the world pushed against it and continues to do so, perhaps more now than in 2012. All the more reason to love our neighbor more and to hold tighter onto God and His teachings.

I hope you enjoy my book. I hope it takes you on a new, heartwrenching adventure that carries you from the anguish in crossing a desert with your three-year-old daughter on your hip to the freedom in cooking tamales in the kitchen while swaying to cumbia, from the stabbing fear of living in a country that doesn’t want you to experiencing the joy of first love, and from the desperation of staring down an empty barrel to the understanding of truth for your fellow man.

God bless. And happy reading.

Blog Stops

Multifarious, March 16

100 pages per hour, March 17

Stephanie’s Life of Determination, March 18

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 19

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 20

Texas Book-aholic, March 21

janicesbookreviews, March 22

A Reader’s Brain, March 23

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, March 24

Inklings and notions, March 25

The Becca Files, March 26

Real World Bible Study, March 27

Power of Words, March 28

Just the Write Escape, March 29

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Allison is giving away a grand prize of a gift basket that includes 4 Christian novels, secret recipes for some of the Mexican cuisine described in Vivir el Dream, and authentic arts and crafts from Guadalajara, Mexico or by preference, a $40 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/dd7f/viver-el-dream-celebration-tour-giveaway

Listen to What I Mean and Not What I Say

Posted on March 22, 2019March 21, 2019 by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

My Mammaw used to tell us often, “you need to listen to what I mean and not what I say.” To a kid that sounded ridiculously funny. As an adult, I get it. How many times have I lost a word when speaking or switched one for another? Anyone else ever do that?

My husband laughed at me as I asked him recently to put something in the dishwasher in the garage. At the time I was doing dishes and needed something put in the outside refrigerator. My daughter would have chuckled and complied. Not my comedian of a hubby. “Want me to put in dishwasher soap, too, honey?” he asked trying to maintain a straight face. Then I realized what I had actually said. (Watch for him in a comedy club near you – hahaha!)

Words are meant as a means of communications. Sometimes they work smoothly and others they just don’t. We share them with others. Sometimes when life gets tough and trials come, words fail me. They want to stay bottled up inside. Friends are always ready to lend a shoulder and ear, but it isn’t always that easy.

Abba hears us and knows exactly what we mean even before He hears the words. His Word assures us of that. Isaiah 65:24 says “…before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.” Our God is so powerful He know our prayers before we pray them. He always listens to what we mean.

Sometimes my soul is weary or hurts and words leave it. I want to pray but I can’t seem to form the words. Tears fall with no problem. Things in my life or the world seem insurmountable. There is a lot going on that should not be. In Romans 8:26 scripture tells me that “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.” So God hears me even when I cannot form the words. The Holy Spirit knows.

I hope you take comfort as I do in knowing that our prayers are always heard even when we are so down hearted we can only “be silent” with God in prayer and let the Holy Spirit intercede for us. If you misspeak, like I often do, God hears what you mean. He sees us through the eyes of a Loving Father.

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