Family – Page 6 – Abba's Prayer Warrior Princess

Must Read Monday: Daily Question for You & Your Child

Posted on August 27, 2018August 24, 2018 by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

The Daily Question for You and Your Child by Waterbrook is a delightful daily journal for parent and child. This hardcover book has a place on its cute cover for a picture. The cover is designed so that both girls and boys may use it. While older kids will enjoy the questions, the cover will be a bit juvenile for them.

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Waterbrook has given customers a three year journal to mark the growth of children. Each date has a specific question along with places for three answers. One for each of three years. Parents with three children can adjust to include all three children in one book with replacing names for years.

It is a great interactive book. Questions include “What is your favorite thing God has created?” “What is your favorite shirt and why?” These are simple questions that would receive different answers as children grow and mature. It would make a nice keepsake for when the child has grown with a family of their own.

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Journals become a chore after a few weeks, but this one certainly has potential to stay the course. Questions could be asked before nightly prayers or at the dinner table. Even parents could get in on the discussion to aid in kids opening up more.

This book would make a great gift. As I stated earlier, it would make a treasured keepsake, too. Pick up two so that you could present a completed one and blank one to a mother or father-to-be. Grandparents would benefit from quality time discussing these questions, too. Parents would, too. Don’t all children need to spend time with their parents and grandparents talking about God?

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I highly recommend this for anyone with kiddos. The age is so widespread and depends on the person answering. I rated it a 5 out of 5 stars because I love sentimental, nostalgic things. Completed it would be a treasured book in this Gram’s library.

I received a complimentary copy from WaterbrookMultnomah. Opinions are my own, honest ones.

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I Wish I Had or I’m Glad I Did

Posted on August 22, 2018August 21, 2018 by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

I wish I had…. How many times have we all started a sentence with those four little words? I wish I had gone to see her. Perhaps, I wish I had said or even had not said that. The list of “I wish” is endless unfortunately.

A few days ago a friend died. It was unexpected for most everyone. I listened to mourners and read tributes from so many people. The majority of people started theirs with “I wish”. “I wish I had called him instead of texted that morning.” “I wish I had told him I loved him the last time I saw him.” “I wish I had taken more time to talk when he called.”

Cliche as it might sound, maybe it is time to give up the wishes and regrets. It is time to live life doing those things. There is a song that talks about “Live Like You are Dying”. What if we lived like our family and friends were instead? Would we treat them differently? Yes, I certainly would.

My words would be much more thoughtful and kind. I would definitely consider others’ feelings and needs. All of the things I wanted to say would get said. There are things I have learned thatI would share. It would be a priority to discuss Jesus and salvation. How will I know if I don’t ask?

Do they know that in times of sorrow, Jesus is my comfort. He is my strength. In Psalm 46:1, the Bible tells us “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” This is so true. I cannot make it a day without Him. He shelters and strengthens me. I draw my peace from Him.

John 14:27 gives us Jesus’ assurance that “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” This is the “peace that passes understanding” that we sang about in Sunday school. A pure peace is given to us by Jesus when things are in chaos.

Scripture says “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” That is my goal. To make certain my family and friends have one of those mansions. It has already been bought and paid for by Jesus. All I can do is give them the good news and pray they accept the keys.

No more wishing for me. It is time for action. Live each day purposefully. Say the “I love you” and “thank you”. Make the phone call. Take the time. Go to lunch. Share the love. Talk about Jesus. Say goodbye to “I wish I had” and hello to “I’m glad I did.”

What are your I wish sentences that turn into regrets instead of sweet memories? How about doing something now instead being disappointed later?

Vacations are Nice, but I Yearn for Home

Posted on August 2, 2018August 1, 2018 by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

Have you been on vacation this year? Most people take an annual vacation and often more than one. Some people have a favorite spot to visit each year while others enjoy seeing new places. Me, I like both. Seeing new places is great. The sights, experiences, and tastes of somewhere I have never before been is an exciting adventure. A new treasure could be awaiting me there.

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My favorite getaway is a cabin high in the Smokey Mountains with my family for the week. I could handle that vacation at least once a year and probably more. The majesty of God’s beautiful mountains take my breath away each time we drive to Gatlinburg. Like a child I become excited when I see a chipmunk, raccoon, or bear off of the cabin’s deck while having coffee in the morning.

After vacation, there’s no place like home

Vacation, an extended period of recreation spent away from home or in traveling, is nice for a time, but after it is over it is nice to be home. Like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz emotionally repeats “there’s no place like home” and I agree. No matter how good vacation has been, we are always happy to be home when it is over.

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My maternal grandmother often would tell me “you know, this old world is not our home.” That was confusing to a child, but the older I got the more she explained. Finally I understood. Mammaw was talking about Heaven. She would tell me her soul longed for “home” and to be with loved ones there. When she spoke of Heaven it was beautiful and biblical.

“In Heaven there will be no sickness or pain, no tears, and affliction. We will be whole with perfect bodies.” She would laugh when I asked what we would do all day for eternity. “Probably the same things we do now only better” she would brightly say and break out in song “This world is not my home, I’m just a passing through. My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue….”

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What about you? Do you ever feel like you are waiting to go home? This world, like a vacation, is nice for a while, but your heart is yearning for someplace better. It is homesick. I know I am. Vacations are wonderful. This world is a nice place, too, but Heaven is our home. Our Father is there. Jesus is there. Our family should be, too. We have a home there.

Gather your treasures and pack for your trip home. What will you take? There aren’t a lot of things allowed. The main thing on your list should be loved ones. Make sure you have shared Jesus and His salvation with your family and friends. You will want to see them after your vacation or theirs.

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“For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.” Hebrews 13:14

“In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14:2-3

Reflections from a Word Nerd

Posted on July 25, 2018July 24, 2018 by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

Since I have been young, words have fascinated me. Numbers do nothing for me, but words are exciting and powerful. Okay, I will admit to being a word nerd. Reading, writing, even listening to meaningful lyrics move me and put me in my sweet spot. Even if you are a numbers person, words affect you. Some words or phrases bring certain people to mind.

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My dear mother has a quaint way of terming kisses. Our family doesn’t kiss each other we “give sugar.” My hubby does not decide or conclude, he “reckons.” When Dad is sincere about something, he states it “quite frankly.” Pappaw Reeves was never hindered but “stymied.” According to him, planets were never just in a straight line but in a “sygyzy.” My Granddaddy was a Lockmaster at Dam 43 near us and my hubby worked in Engineering in a ship building company. Many times both men replaced left and right with port and starboard, the nautical and aeronautical terms for left and right, respectively. 79193B57-AC0C-44EA-9510-0B1FBE551571

Just think how important they are and moving in weddings. In our wedding we had the song “Whither Thou Goest” sung. Just hearing that phrase or the word whither takes me back decades to a church altar where I plighted my troth to my husband. Isn’t that more romantic than saying at my wedding? Words can be magical when used correctly and thoughtfully. They have power to transform and transport.

For me, I love poetic, old fashioned words and Southern phrases. Women in my family swoon over thing and say “I swan or swanee” because no proper lady should ever say I swear. We don’t sweat but perspire. One does not simply hug my Auntie June but must “hug her neck.” Most importantly, never did I nor have I heard my grandparents, parents or aunts and uncles say what my Grandmother deemed “ugly words.” Never.

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Ugly words or swearing abound in society today. Using the Lord’s name in vain, cursing, and horrible four letter words are rampant. Even name-calling seems to be at an all time high. Tattoos are permanently imprinted on bodies with words that should not be written, spoken or seen. 14BC4EB3-1B26-459A-95DC-A93412EF1357 Clothing prominently sports things that are “ugly” and offensive. Even some “Christians” have attire proudly proclaiming “Yes, I am a Christian and I cuss a lot.” What?! So, I wonder how our Father feels about that? Or if these people consider the example they are setting? Ugly words take away from a person’s beauty. They can sting and hurt.

When I think of my Savior there are many words that come to mind. Beloved is the first and means dearly loved. Definitely Jesus loves us dearly. No doubt about that. Redemption is another one. It means being saved from sin or evil. Christ sought us out before we were born and bought us with his blood on the cross. He paid the entry fee to eternal life for us. That fee was his own life. Absolutely, freely given to us in love is our gift of salvation, which means deliverance from harm or destruction.

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Tell me about you? What words do you relate to people? Better yet, what words do you think people relate to you? What if our words appeared on our skin? Make them pretty words to inspire, bring about happy memories and smiles. Don’t leave behind ugly words as your impression or influence on this world. Let your children and grandchildren read “hug my neck” and “give me sugar” or remember you when they hear nice, virtuous, sweet words. Don’t let #*@$ or worse be your legacy.

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In Every Thing Give Thanks

Posted on June 27, 2018 by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

The Bible says in all things give thanks, be thankful. Do you have trouble with this, too? Maybe that isn’t the easiest to do, but I keep trying. If the electricity is out, I am thankful I don’t need to get cleaned up to go out. Perhaps the glass dropped and broke, but I am thankful I wasn’t cut.

Are you seeing the pattern here? Being thankful is finding your silver lining in the dark cloud. It is knowing that things could have gone much worse but didn’t.

Sometimes being thankful is far, very far, from what I want to do. What I want to do is complain and list everything that is wrong. Maybe I want to enumerate all of the things that have failed or caused me pain and convince myself it will stay this way or possibly get worse. That, my friends, is the deceiver whispering doom and gloom in my ear. Does he do that to you, too.

Even in the darkest circumstances we can have things for which to give thanks. Years ago a young family member of mine was in a horrific accident. Damage was done to the face and I was devastated that something so terrible had happened to someone I loved with my whole heart. While many mourned the tragedy I was struck with thanks that there was still life in the body and sight in both eyes. Both could easily have been taken in that instant. Was God there at that time? Absolutely! Otherwise the outcome would have been much different. We had much to be thankful for that day and still do.

Look around at God’s wonders and beauty. There is so much He has made for us. It won’t be long and you will be thankful without even realizing it. Rejoice and be glad in the day He has given you. I try to do that in the simple things. Are you glad you were able to start your day with coffee and a devotion? Me, too, I was more than glad. I was thankful. Be thankful for the new adventure the day holds just for you. Listen to the melody of the birds as they sing. Think about the One who created a tiny creature that can do such a marvelous thing as fly! I am thankful I am able to witness that. Go into a bakery and just stand still for one deep sniff. Can you almost smell that tantalizing sweet, buttery pastry now? Now buy one. Wow! How thankful are you for those tastebuds? Touch the softness of a newborn’s little hand and marvel at the perfect way God created us. Be thankful for God Himself.

Life holds so much for us that our loving Creator has giving. Take it and see how good life can be. Be thankful in all things today. Find the good among the bad. So, what are you thankful for right now?

What Do You Really Know About Mother’s Day?

Posted on May 11, 2018 by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

Why we celebrate Mother’s Day is pretty obvious. Right or is it? Who doesn’t want to celebrate the wonderful mothers in their family, especially their own sweet one? Did you ever wonder when we began to celebrate Mother’s Day? That’s a seldom known answer. I studied up so I could share it with you, but what I found made me realize the why we celebrate is a bit deeper.

Before the Civil War a woman from West Virginia named Ann Reeves Jarvis began a series of clubs to help teach women about caring for their children. “Mother’s Day Work Clubs” did not just teach women how to care for their children, they taught them the right, proper way. Women were able to dispel myths and incorrect information by attending these meetings. The meetings helped unify ladies after the Civil War and they promoted reconciliation between Union and Confederates in 1868.

It was not until 1908 the official Mother’s Day holiday was celebrated in a small way. Ann Reeves Jarvis’ daughter, Anna wanted to carry on her mother’s efforts after she died in 1905. Anna thought a day to celebrate and honor the sacrifices mothers made for their children would be perfect. She received financial support from a Philadelphia department store owner in May 1908, and she organized the first official Mother’s Day celebration at a Methodist church in Grafton, West Virginia. Also on that day, the department store owner held a Mother’s Day event at one of retail his stores in Philadelphia. Thousands of people attended.

A few years later the holiday had more support. There were many states, towns and churches celebrating Mother’s Day as an annual holiday in 1912, but it was not a national holiday. Anna Jarvis kept trying and set up the Mother’s Day International Association to help with her cause. Finally in 1914 President Woodrow Wilson officially established the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day.

It is interesting to note, Anna did this all in her mother’s memory and for mothers everywhere as she never married nor had children. She just wanted to honor her mother’s memory and great sacrifice. Mothers give up so much for their children, but it is willingly with love. Their freedom is gone, money disappears, sleep is rare, calmness is replaced with chaos, and peace often with concern. Ask any mother if it was worth it and all (or most everyone) will say absolutely.

This Mother’s Day remember it is more than a casual “Thanks, Mom” day. It is a sincere “Thank you for all you have sacrificed for me, Mother” day. Reflect on what she has done, given, given up, and sacrificed for you. Originally Mother’s Day was to honor a mother or woman’s sacrifice for children. Is it still?

My sweet, dear Mother sacrificed more than she will ever let me or my sister know. I am certain of that. She is a great woman of faith, adored and treasured. Just hearing her voice makes my day better. Yes, I am a mama’s girl and proud of it. Thank you for EVERYTHING, Mother. You are appreciated and loved.