The Story of Your Life by Matthew West

Matthew West

www.matthewwest.com/about/
"Songwriters are known to be an intrspective breed whose personal experiences shapte their music, and over the years Matthew West has definitely plumbed the depths of his soul for sweet inspiration. Yet on his new album, West looked to his audience to provide grist for his creative mill."

826 National

826 National: About 826 National

"826 National is a network of nine nonprofit organizations dedicated to helping students, ages6-18, with expository and creative writing. Our mission is based on the understanding that great leaps in learning can happen with one-on-one attention, and that strong writing skills are fundamental to future success. "

kidsatrandomhouse

kidsatrandomhouse.co.uk

This is a great site to find wonderful children's books

Room to Read Blog

Drawing a Line in the Sand on Literacy: "

Literacy is defined as "reading skill and reading habit," and it has the power to unlock doors to opportunity. As Room to Read focuses on enhancing literacy skills in the nine countries where we work, we're introducing literacy pilot programs that include additional teacher training, curriculum development and supplemental classroom materials. Joel Bacha, Room to Read's Southeast Asia Program Manager for Literacy, describes a visit to a school in Cambodia where our literacy pilots have been initiated.

Walking with the principal toward the grade 1 classroom at Tatouk Primary School in Siem Reap province, we notice several students watch our approach through an open window. The principal explains that the grade 1 reading program is different this year: the students are more active – from his office, he can hear them sing songs and play games, and overall they seem to be enjoying school more. In today’s class, there are about 40 students. The teacher asks for volunteers and half the class raises their hands. The teacher calls on one girl who comes to the front of the class and chooses a letter. She holds it up to the class, and everyone calls out the name of the letter, “Shri-la.”

After we observed the class for 10 minutes, the teacher had the students go outside and line up in two lines. She asked them to draw the letter shape they had just learned in the air. Then the students bent down to write the letter in the sand. When they were finished, each student checked their neighbor’s work to see if they had drawn the letter correctly. For those who needed more help, the teacher provided extra guidance, and in some cases, the teacher directed students to help each other. To reinforce the lesson, students wiped the area in front of them clear and practiced writing the letter again in pairs. Afterwards, they washed their hands, returned to the classroom and pulled out their notebooks. The teacher wrote the letter on the board several times and the students followed by writing the letter in their note books at their own pace.

The literacy program is seen as important in Siem Reap where a large percentage of students are not reading at grade level by the time they reach grade 3. The program aims to promote a balanced approach for teaching reading where students are exposed to phonics instruction and structured reading time. Part of the challenge has been the limited training for teachers and the complex Khmer script which students are expected to learn in a short amount of time.

Earlier this fall, 36 grade 1 teachers from 20 schools in the local school district participated in a Room to Read literacy teacher training. However, while many grade 1 teachers are used to teaching phonics, teaching reading is still new. The teachers were introduced to interactive teaching and learning methods for phonics, reading and writing in the Khmer language. One of the teachers commented, “The extra activities in the [My Reading] book are really helpful. The students are learning better [than last year] because they are interested in the activities. I thought that trying the “new” way would be difficult. It takes more time to try at first, but once I get used to the activities, it seems better for students.”

For more information about our pilot programs and our work in Cambodia, visit our website."

Women of Faith

Women of Faith Book Club: Faithful: "

What’s your dream 40th birthday celebration? It’s probably not serving as maid of honor at your spoiled younger sister’s wedding. That certainly wasn’t how Cyd hoped to spend her birthday, especially since she’s not even dating anyone herself. Dana’s day isn’t going any better—she just caught her husband in bed with another woman. Meanwhile, Phyllis found the perfect godly guy . . . unfortunately, she’s already married to someone else. Will these three friends find the strength to be faithful to the covenants they’ve made with God―and each other?
25% OFF Faithful while it is the featured Book Club selection – Click here to buy now!

EXCERPT – Faithful by Kim Cash Tate
Cydney Sanders jumped at the ringing of the phone, startled out of slumber. She rolled over, peeked at the bedside clock, and groaned. She had twenty whole minutes before the alarm would sound, and she wanted every minute of that ..."

Women of Faith

Generous Heart: "

God wants us to live lives thrown wide open to his love and abandoned to his care. He calls us to love others with a generous heart. (1 Cor. 13:4-5) Sheila Walsh"

Women of Faith

The Solitary Heart: "

O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever. — Psalm 107:1 NRSV
For those of you out there who live alone, I can tell you from experience that it’s important to have a grateful heart about living by yourself. And in many ways, each one of us is essentially alone. We “exist within our own unique epidermal envelope as a separate thing,” Thomas Wolfe once wrote. But that can be a wonderful thing.
Living alone has taught me not only to tolerate solitude but revel in it. I’ve learned to confront my fears and become comfortable with my inner self. In fact, solitude isn’t a luxury but a requirement for me now. It gives me good mental health. When I’m alone, I process life’s experiences, think through choices, replenish my energy, and face myself without other distractions. Sometimes that’s pleasant; sometimes it’s not. But ..."

The Official Netflix

XBox and Windows Phone 7 News: "Greg Peters here from product development for Netflix. We have some great news to share with our U.S. and Canada members. Netflix members in Canada can now instantly watch thousands of movies and TV shows streamed from Netflix to the TV via the Xbox 360. All you need is a Netflix membership, a broadband internet connection and an Xbox LIVE Gold membership. All Netflix members will be able to search for TV shows and movies from their Xbox 360, making it even easier to find something to watch.

Netflix members in both the U.S. and Canada also now have the ability to instantly watch TV shows and movies on their Windows Phone 7 handsets. The application is available in the Marketplace and is free.

Enjoy!

"

HealthCorps Blog

Best Seasonal Fall Produce: "

Pomegranate trees and persimmon trees are dropping their fruit in southern California, while upstate New York has bushels of apples falling to the ground. This is a great time of year to enjoy pumpkin as well, but don’t forget about the other seasonal fruits and vegetables that pop up in season.

read more"

Wild Olive Tees - Get Your Verse On!



wildOlive

Sweet Tea for Surrendered Sisters

Pat Layton: Christian Author and Speaker
Equipping women with Eternal truths for Everyday life.

(In)Courage

The Sustainability of Words: "

“That’s my song playing on the radio!” We stop everything we’re doing and hone in on the words. Now we’re dancing up a storm, crying our eyes out, or filled with strength to face the day. Something we’ve read encourages us to live our dreams or make “that” change. Their sheer expression of delight tells us they love the gift we’ve given. The perfect timing of “I Love You and I really appreciate all you do” can’t be compared.

Words can be written, spoken, sung, or even unspoken in body language and gestures. It can lift you up and fill you or break you down and defeat you. It’s amazing how much power a simple word can have when a certain tone or expression accompanies it. We are surrounded by words in all shapes and forms everyday and all day long. What are we reading, listening to, watching, or saying? Is it replenishing or depleting?

During one of my quiet times I clearly heard God ask me, “Are you living a sustainable life, Jeri?” I knew he wasn’t speaking about the environment. I knew in my spirit he was asking me about my everyday living. Again I heard him, “My words are a gift for you to use. How are you using it?” Wow! It blew me away. My words really aren’t mine. They are His gifts to me. Yet, so many times I don’t even think about it. I just start talking.

My favorite form of words is writing. I love to write cards, tweet, and send emails to encourage people. I especially like to write to authors and speakers and let them know that what they’ve shared has affected me. Just recently, I’ve started to write articles. It’s so amazing how many different ways you can say “one” thing!

So, I’m choosing what I’m talking about, writing about, and listening to. As often as possible, I’m going to practice speaking life – into my husband, adult children, neighbors, friends, and family. I’m inspired to be an encourager even if the person in front of me is going through something that makes me feel uncomfortable. I’m praying God can use us to speak, write, and sing sustainable words from Him that will carry them and strengthen them when they’re away from us. More importantly, I’m learning and growing in the truth that apart from Him I can do nothing. As long as I’m having daily time with Him, He’ll give me all I need – even the right words!

I’ll leave you with these life words that are filling me right now:

Proverbs 11:25 – A generous man will prosper. He who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.

Deuteronomy 30: 19 – This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live…

Sustainable words prosper, refresh, and speak life into us and others – forever.

By Jeri Taira, God’s Dreams For Me

"

Here's My Cup Lord

You Can’t Lead Without Being Followed: "

*The reverse is also true…

You know, God is really speaking to me through these ministers He has allowed me to hear via television. Where Joyce Meyer speaks of Power Thoughts, Joel Osteen reminds us to speak faith into our circumstances, and Marilyn Hickey admonishes us to not to speak of our lack– “For in him you have been enriched in every way–in all your speaking and in all your knowledge–” 1 Cor. 1:5 NIV

He is saying ‘Hear my voice; Heed my words.’

*There’s that verse again! (Thanks Jerry!)

“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.” Ecc. 9:10-11 KJV

“In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.” 11:6

“What you do is the best reflection of what you believe.”—Sarah Bowlin

Help me to receive truth so that I can receive mercy.

“We have to be, to become what God intended.”—Karen Grassle as Caroline Ingalls, Little House on the Prairie

"

Thank Goodness for Mercy

Thank Goodness for Mercy: "

It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23 KJV

Moca’s sad, weak eyes looked up at me conveying her discomfort while her head, seemingly too heavy to lift, remained on the floor. My miniature dachshund’s brown tail that usually wagged upon seeing me lay limp. Moca, who had feasted on a delectable baby bird, was now paying the price with what I thought was just a bad tummy ache. After a couple of days with no improvement, I gathered Moca’s ten-pound body and carried her to the car. She lay still in my arms even as I walked into the vet’s office where she usually tried to escape the upcoming torture by running the other way. Upon examining Moca, Dr. Truban diagnosed pancreatitis and immediately hospitalized the sick puppy.

After a week of IV fluids and antibiotics, Moca was allowed to come home but had to return to the vet for weekly check-ups and blood work. Dr. Truban, who’d taken care of Moca, was usually available for these appointments but one day was out of the office and his partner, Dr. Brinegar, filled in for him.

“What’s going on with Moca? Dr. Brinegar asked as he walked into the exam room.

“Well, Moca ate a baby bird a few weeks ago and…”

Dr. Brinegar’s eyes grew wide with dismay and he looked first at Moca and then back at me. “I love birds,” he said. “In fact, I love those feathered creatures so much I even specialized in birds in vet school.”

Looking at Moca I thought; You, Puppy, could be in big trouble. The man who holds your very life in his hands loves birds. And he knows you ate one.

Knowing Moca brought this illness upon herself and that she did so by ending the life of an innocent baby bird could have impacted the amount of compassion Dr. Brinegar had on Moca. His mercy level could have plummeted upon hearing this dreadful news. But it didn’t. Dr. Brinegar gently picked up the guilty puppy.

“Come here, Girl. Let’s see how you’re doing.” It was soon evident Dr. Brinegar didn’t care what sin had gotten Moca into her predicament; he only wanted to help her get well.

Thank goodness for mercy.

Aren’t we glad that the One who holds our very life in His hands has the same kind of mercy on us?

In the Old Testament book of Psalms, King David, whom God referred to as a man after His own heart, cried out to God for mercy after a time of great sin in his life. King David’s affair with Bathsheba led to the subsequent murder of her husband Uriah. Sadly, the child born of this affair died and as a result of all of this, King David ended up a broken man. But King David knew his healing could only come from God and he cried out in Psalm 51:1,

“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.”

When we, like King David, go to the Lord and confess our sin, the details could affect the amount of compassion God has on us. His mercy level could plummet upon hearing the dreadful news. But it doesn’t. He gently pulls us into his arms. “Come here, my child. Tell me all about it.” It’s soon evident Our Father only wants to heal us from our sin and restore us to a right relationship with Him. Thank goodness for mercy.

Our Father, thank you for Your mercy. Thank you that it is new every morning. Great is your faithfulness, Lord unto us.

Blessings,

Susan D.

Find Susan at her personal site, HERE.

"

Issue #385 - Ministry Toolbox - Pastors

Issue #385 - Ministry Toolbox - Pastors

Radicalis

Radicalis

Say yes to God!
Rick Warren invites you and your team to join the Radicalis generation, February 22-25 201

Saddleback Church ~ Lake Forest, CA

Christian Advice, bible questions and answers - Positive Encouraging K-LOVE

Christian Advice, bible questions and answers - Positive Encouraging K-LOVE

Oakland Athletics News

Gonzalez gets lift from bats in series win: "Powered by a pair of home runs and a couple of timely hits, the A's found themselves on the winning end of a 6-4 game and subsequent series win over the visiting Red Sox on Wednesday afternoon."

Scrapbookgraphics – Digital Scrapbooking

Scrapbookgraphics – Digital Scrapbooking

Church of God 7th Day

2011 General Conference Convention

Like A Warm Cup of Coffee

The Relevant Agenda is Up!: "

I am so giddy.

The Relevant Conference agenda is now up! You can see it here.

If you are not yet familiar with Relevant, you can read the mission here, see who is speaking here, and while you’re at it, go ahead and buy your ticket and book your room here (can you smell the chocolate?!). :)

Oh what fun we are going to have! (Thank you thank you thank you wonderful sponsors - if it weren’t for you Relevant wouldn’t happen!)

See you in October!

P.S. If you haven’t already, you can grab your Relevant Flair here!

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"

Room to Read Blog

Room to Read Profiled on CBS Evening News: Literacy in Developing World: "

Last Friday, CBS Evening News, anchored by Katie Couric and watched nightly by 7 million U.S. viewers, aired a fabulous segment on Room to Read and our Local Language Publishing program. This marks the first time a major U.S. network television news program has covered a specific Room to Read program and its significance cannot be overstated.

In March of this year, CBS producers traveled to India to meet with the local author, Manju Gupta, and illustrator, Mehul Navodit, who collaborated on the Room to Read title, Machho’s Ocean Journey. Their inspiring stories were included in the segment showcasing Room to Read India’s efforts to cultivate local talent to create age-appropriate and culturally-relevant children’s books published through our Local Language Publishing program. The story follows Manju and Mehul into their homes and through their creative processes as they work on new Room to Read manuscripts and illustrations.

"Drawing makes me enjoy that kid in me," Mehul said in the piece. "To see your work got published, you feel a lot of confidence -- like what you are doing is actually good.”

Manju agreed. "When I write on my own... It's my soul which is giving out,” said Manju. “My potential has been made use of for the right purpose. It's the best thing."

We hope you have a chance to read and watch this story that captures the powerful impact Room to Read’s Local Language Publishing program is having on the lives of not just the children, but also on the hundreds of authors and illustrators in the developing world that now have the opportunity, thanks to Room to Read, to share their talents with their local communities and in their local language.

WATCH the CBS video story here.

READ the CBS online story here.

To learn more about our Local Language publishing program, click here.

"

Tammy Trent

Turn! Turn! Turn!: "

The challenge of “moving on” from our past and into our future is much easier said than done, especially when soo much is undefined and at times can be far from a secure feeling in our lives. But what most of us can probably say about “moving on” is that we KNOW it’s something that will be good for us, better for us and something that God is calling us to. A place where the sun is shining a little brighter and the air is more lovely to breathe.

But there is far more to moving on than just getting out of bed every morning and hoping for the best as we put one foot in front of the other. Do you ever find yourself walking over to the mirror, still with sleepy eyes and wonderful morning breath, (mine smells like roses-haha) saying back at yourself, “God where are you today? Will you show up?”. I know I have! And Ohhhh yes, God will ALWAYS show up, but I believe He requires us to do a little work ourselves. Like actively making new plans, speaking over our lives as mighty overcomers, taking on our future with courage and redefining what really needs to be redefined around us. At the end of the day it ultimately means that we need to understand and accept that things have changed in ours lives and now DO something about it. Ecclesiastes 3:1 – To every thing there is a season and a time to every purpose under the heaven.

So here’s my kick in the pants and reminder to all of us. Turn! Turn! Turn! Moving on is a process, so stop waiting for what you wished had happened different. It is finished. It is time. The wait is over. So jump in and start that process today. God has given and placed in you GREAT ideas, hopes, solutions and dreams for your life. Pray for courage and wisdom to step up and step out and then begin to take back your life and allow God to fulfill the dream He birthed in you. But you cannot do it alone. God is your helper and as the greatest leader in your life you have NO reason to be afraid anymore, especially of man or unGodly voices in your life. Listen to the Holy Spirit, His voice brings peace. Trust the word of God and let it light your pathway.

Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world. I John 4:4

A fellow traveler,

Tammy Trent

P.S. Our (Trent and my’s) new children’s book, THE LOG FAMILY is currently at the printer. Yay. I’ll keep you posted and will make an announcement as soon as the first shipment arrives. You will be the first to order it here before it ever hits the stores. "

The Daily Beast - Blogs and Stories

Why Business Hates Obama: "Financial reform might irk Wall Street, but the president's real problem is with small businesses-the engine of any serious recovery. Joel Kotkin on what he could have done differently.
The stock market, with some fits and starts, has surged since..."

The Point

Challenge 2010 - Verse 14: "14 verses!! We are well over halfway and on the downhill slide toward 24 Bible verses memorized in 2010. Yee haw!!! Ya'll, we have done good!! Even if you have only memorized 11 or 9 or 5, you have still done good, my friend. Keep it up. You will never be sorry that you exerted this effort to learn God's Word. You never know when you will need one of those verses on the spur of the moment, so keep memorizing.

This is a short and, hopefully, sweet post, because for some unexplained reason I am battling a bit of vertigo. What the heck??? Where did that come from? Anyway, I'm gonna go see if I can do something to stop this blasted stuff from becoming worse while ya'll leave your verses in the comments. But first, here's my 14th verse:

Psalm 139:14 (NIV)

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Have a great weekend, friends.

"

Wild Olive Tees - Get Your Verse On!

new arrivals!: "

Our new ‘beloved’ is here. In azalea with a deep plum flower, ‘beloved’ has had a makeover… just in time for summer.

We have also redesigned ‘chosen’ for girls. Available in sizes 2, 4 and 6. ‘Chosen’, on a soft pink tee, is all girl. Daisies and even a hint of pink glitter.

Hope everyone is enjoying the summer season!"

Faith Imagined

Foot Promise: "

Instead of dividing time by years, I try to envision all existence as one beautiful gift. Life is a single, intricate creation, bound together by a name that we tend to whisper about –Jesus, Messiah, Christ, Lord. Jesus was at God’s side during our world’s inception, He hung on the cross at its redemption and, finally, He’ll break through the skies at its completion.

Jesus stands firmly in the center of creation, watching as His divine purpose comes to fruition. He takes small but amazing pieces of His will and places them at His feet. They are called His promises. Then He puts the desire for those promises in each of us.

The promises are beyond our abilities, but we are drawn to them like a magnet to metal. The world tries to sidetrack us with tantalizing distractions that urge us to wander. As we seek Jesus, though, He compels us forward by faith.

We struggle onward in a life that isn’t easy. We learn to rely on the joy, peace and hope found in the core of God’s spirit in us as Christians. We slowly loosen our grip on the world, and we walk into the unknown, holding onto the only truth that we can rely on: We are loved. Though our bodies, minds and hearts grow weary, our souls attain eternal rest in Him.

When we finally arrive at our promises, we realize that they were only the lures. We walked by faith to the feet of Jesus, and He skimmed off our sin in the process. We now understand the purpose of our pain and the significance of our struggle. We look up at the face of Jesus and hand Him the weight of our promises, and He pulls us up into the power, the majesty and the beauty of His glory.

"

Desiring God Blog

Meet Tullian Tchividjian: "

(Author: Jonathan Parnell)

Tullian Tchividjian (cha-vi-jin) will lead one of the seminars at this year's National Conference. His session is entitled, 'Giving Thought to Gospel 'Math': Why Jesus + Nothing = Everything.'

Tullian is the senior pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Ft. Lauderdale, FL and the author of three books:

• Unfashionable: Making a Difference in the World by Being Different,


• Do I Know God?: Finding Certainty in Life's Most Important Relationship,

and most recently,

• Surprised by Grace: God's Relentless Pursuit of Rebels.

He is also a contributor to the forthcoming book, Don't Call It a Comeback: The Old Faith for a New Day (set to release January 31, 2011).

Tullian writes regularly at On Earth as it is in Heaven, another blog on The Gospel Coalition site alongside those of conference speakers Thabiti Anyabwile and Kevin DeYoung. He's also on Twitter (@PastorTullian).

Tullian is a graduate of Columbia International University and Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando. He is the husband of Kim, the dad of Gabe, Nate, and Genna, and the grandson of Billy Graham. To hear the amazing story of how Jesus saved Tullian, check out his interview with Justin Taylor.

Register for our National Conference now to see Tullian this October.

Other 2010 National Conference Speakers

• Thabiti Anyabwile


• Francis Chan


• Randy Alcorn


• Kevin DeYoung


• R. C. Sproul


• Albert Mohler"
  
  

Christian Book Press

CBP Illustrator Stephen Von Mason Makes Waves with his Students: "

For children, being creative and exploring new things is a vital part of learning and growing. Children's Book Press illustrator Stephen Von Mason (Brother Anansi and the Cattle Ranch, Just Like Me, Honoring Our Ancestors) gave his 5th and 6th grade students at the Making Waves Academy in Richmond, CA the opportunity to write, illustrate, and bind their own books recently. The children started by writing a story planner, and ended up with a final book bound on rag paper with their own color illustrations.

Explaining the importance of persistence and dedication in completing a difficult project, Stephen says, "When they were finished many said, Wow...this was hard. They learned life lessons that projects like this are long and arduous and it takes hard work and focus to finish a job and come out on top."

Stephen's students also were inspired by Children's Book Press titles. He says, "Many, many students read CBP when they were younger... Mr. Sugar Came to Town, Brother Anansi, Invisible Hunters, Family Pictures, and more...CBP inspired them a great deal."

Teachers and Children's Book Press donated books to be awarded to the first, second, and third place winners in each class. You can see the winning covers below.

read more"

Breast Cancer News

Male BRCA2 Carriers Have Increased Lifetime Risk of Breast Cancer: "Men who carry the BRCA2 genetic mutation have a 7.1% chance of developing breast cancer by age 70 and an 8.6% chance of developing the disease by age 80, according to the results of a study published early online in ..."