Encouragement and Helps for Spiritual Growth

Online Helps for Staying in the Word of God - http://www.biblegateway.com          

Free Bible Courses - www.bbnbi.org        

 

Our Daily Bread Devotional -  http://www.rbc.org/odb/odb.shtml

 

See the Power of God in Changed Lives - Cardboard Testimonies

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvDDc5RB6FQ (Thanks to Barb Campbell [MS] for this link!)

 

 

Tips and Tidbits

Puppets with a Heart - Great TV Show for Your Kids ~ Tune in to the new television season for Mary Rice Hopkins and Company, one of our very own Heart to Heart friends!  Not only will your kids be entertained by watching, but there is great spiritual teaching as well for the young and old alike!  Watch on TBN each Saturday morning: 8:30 PT, 9:30 MT, 10:30 CT, 11:30 ET   For a sample of what you will see and hear, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXG5tFXcqQM, where you will find multiple links to Mary's wonderful ministry!  Mary is a friend of mine, as well as a Heart to Heart friend, and I've had the privilege of being at one of her concerts and an entire day of wonderful sharing of her song and puppet ministry.  You will not be disappointed!  If you are unable to get TBN, go to the link above or to www.maryricehopkins.com

Free Online Bible Courses ~ Great Bible scholars teach on many different topics at the Bible Broadcasting Network Bible Institute, can be found at www.bbnbi.org.  Thousands take these courses, offered in many languages.  They mentioned on the radio that many pastors take these Bible courses, but even more who are not pastors and are just wanting to be more grounded in the Word.  

Kids Eat Free ~ For a less expensive Family Night Out to a restaurant, go to http://kidseat4free.com/ and insert your zip code to find out the restaurant location and days that offer free meals to kids.  Do a search ("Kids eat free") for other helpful links.

Thirteen Things an Identity Thief Won't Tell you ~ http://shine.yahoo.com/event/financiallyfit/13-things-an-identity-thief-wont-tell-you-2299 277/  ~ Thanks to Paula Archer for this link!

Interesting Baby News ~ Watch these numbers!  Ella Rose was born on 08/09/10 at 11:12 p.m.!   And she weighted almost 6 pounds, 7 ounces!  http://news.yahoo.com/video/cincinnati-wlwt-18191085/girl-born-on-8-9-10-at-11-12-21349417  My guess is she will also be a whiz in math in a few years!  ~ Thanks to Joyce Quam in Virginia for this link!

Subscriber Found Blue Dawn to Work in Cleaning Showers ~ "I tried your tip about cleaning the shower with blue Dawn...it worked beautifully!  Thank you for passing on such a great idea...it was very helpful." ~ Holly Powell in Virginia  (This tip was in the August newsletter).   

Little Round Table ~ You've probably seen the round cardboard tables, selling for very little in department stores.  They also come in particle board, some having a shelf.  I find they are one of the most nifty pieces of furniture to fill up a corner of a bedroom, living room or dining room, as well as a decorating opportunity and storage unit for just a few dollars.  You can easily make a round tablecloth using a good quality sheet that matches your room or you can purchase one.  A wide four-inch band of ruffles gives extra weight to the tablecloth so it will hang well, but that isn't necessary.  Decorate the top with framed photos, a flower arrangement, teapots, or books.  Then use the space under the table for hidden storage!  

Tips and Tidbits

Bird Photography Worth Seeing ~ www.markhancoxbirdphotography.co.uk   This is amazing!

Bringing Up Girls ~ A brand new book (April, 2010)  by Dr. James Dobson is available to purchase, beginning this week!  (www.focusonthefamily.com) He said it took much longer to write this book than his book on boys, since girls are so much more complicated.  Bringing Up Boys was published over seven years ago, just in time for our first grandson, so there is good help for all parents and grandparents of boys or girls.  Dr. Dobson had more than 3,000 pages of research for his book on girls!  Wow!  Did you know we were such complicated creatures?  I suppose our husbands know that by now!
Great Resource for Parents and Teachers ~ Dancing in the Dessert is a new release by Mary Rice Hopkins -- a CD for the entire family!  Children will learn about Moses and the Israelites through songs such as:  "Put 'em in a Basket," "Plagues," "Grumble," and "Ten Commandments."  Adults will be encouraged to hold steady in their own desert journeys by listening to:  "God Made A Way Through," "God Can Do," "Up This Mountain," and "What Seems Impossible.”  Order by phone (818-790-5805) today!  You may also want to receive Mary's monthly newsletter which contains a complete Bible lesson with story, activities, and projects which can be used either at home or at church.  Visit www.MaryRiceHopkins.com.

Tips for Good Skin and a Lovely Complexion ~ Protect your skin from the sun, stay away from sweets, and never smoke.  Wash your face each morning and night.  Use a good moisturizer.  Drink plenty of pure water and eats lots of fruits and vegetables.  These tips will go a long way to having good skin.

Teach Yourself How to Sew a Felt Jewelry Bag ~ http://www.threadsmagazine.com/item/12951/teach-yourself-to-sew-make-a-felt-jewelry-bag   There is no edge finishing to this easy project, since felt doesn't unravel.

Abstract Flowers Inspired By Georgia O'Keefe ~ A fun way to draw flowers.  Beautiful and colorful too!

Great Gardening Site ~ http://www.gardenguides.com has all kinds of good information, including how to deal with unwanted critters in your lawn and garden.  For garden crafts and fun things to do with your children such as butterfly and bird watching, and more, go to http://www.gardenguides.com/garden-crafts-activities/

Why Doesn't My Hydrangea Bloom? ~ http://www.creativehomemaking.com/gardening/hydrangea-bloom.shtml

How Girls' and Boys' Brains Are Different ~ http://www.babycenter.com/0_brain-development-is-the-difference-between-boys-and-girls-a_10310673.bc?scid=preschooler_20100323:3&pe=2UfZZbo

Need a reason to skip spring cleaning? ~ Many substances we come across every day might actually increase a person's risk of developing breast cancer. The main culprits seem to be bleach, flame retardants and some plastics.  www.thebreastcancersite.com 

Which Plastics are Safe and Which Are Not? ~ www.thebreastcancersite.com  
Women who are concerned about their risk of breast cancer could choose to avoid plastics which are numbered 3, 6 or 7. Plastics that are reported to be safe include those with a 1,2,4 or 5 stamped on the bottom.  Make a note of this!

Dangers of the Twilight Series ~ What's all the fuss over Edward and Bella?  Listen to these very enlightening radio broadcasts: Helping Parents Navigate the Vampire Phenomenon (Part 1 of 2)   http://www.listen.family.org/daily/A000002527.cfm

http://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/protecting_your_family/book_reports/t/twilight.aspx

More on The Twilight Saga ~ Escaping the Vampire Within.  Addressing The Twilight Saga, this brand new book by Kimberly Sweet Powers, offers young women a real immortal hero through Christ.  Kimberly, a graduate of Cedarville University, is the executive director of Walk the Talk Ministries, a national nonprofit youth ministry.

How to Receive Double Gas Points at Kroger ~ Gift cards purchased at Kroger count toward double gas points (sometimes four times the amount spent), so if you know you will be spending money at any of these stores or restaurants, purchase a gift card the day before.  It takes about 24 hours after your purchase to activate your gift cards. 
        The following gift cards are available to buy at Kroger: J.C. Penney, Kohl's, Target, Macy's, Joann's, Sears, Belk, Home Depot, K-Mart, Best Buy, Office Max, T. J. Max, Bath and Body, Michael's, Old Navy, Gap, Baby Gap, e-Bay, Foot Locker, Barnes and Nobel, Toys R Us, Babies R Us, Marshalls, Disney, Cabellas, Pottery Barn, Land's End, Overstocked.com, Shell Gas, and others.  Restaurants include Cracker Barrell, Bob Evans, Charley's, and Red Robin.
        Kroger's Gas policy rules allow up to a 35 gallon purchase in one transaction, with a possible savings of $1 discount per gallon of gas, so the savings is substantial.

Disney Park Discounts ~ Mary Hunt at www.cheapskates.com suggests saving money by heading over to www.MouseSavers.com.  She says it is a wonderful website that is without a doubt the best source for discounts at all of the Disney Parks as well as the others in the Orlando area, including Universal Orlando.  At www.MouseSavers.com, type in the park you are interested in visiting.

Make Your Own Word Search Game ~ Miranda Ching in Hawaii says, This is the neatest "gadget."  You can make word puzzles with this just by typing in your title and list of words.  It will even make an answer key for you!  I just made a valentine puzzle, but you could put any word list you want here.  Through this page, you're limited to "Heart" graphics, but there are probably other pages at this site set up for other holidays with appropriate graphics.  What a time saver if you need a "custom" word search game!  Have fun!  http://www.awesomeclipartforkids.com/worksheets/valentinewordsearch1.cfm

Make Your Own Personal Coloring Pages from Photographs you have taken!  Our daughter-in-law, Rachael, sent us a coloring page of Paw Paw and Grammie with our three precious grandchildren!  Rachael colored the picture herself and almost two year old Daniel added his own creative touches!  It was sent with my birthday card, along with a DVD of lots of fun videos of Daniel, which we both really loved!  I proudly hung the colored picture on our refrigerator!  Rachael used www.crayola.com/colorme for this personalized piece of art!

Lies Women Believe ~ Nancy Lee DeMoss wrote a book by this title, as well as another edition for young women - Lies Young Women Believe.  You will find a blog, videos and biblical help, especially for young women. http://www.liesyoungwomenbelieve.com/


Help for My Life is a ministry of Radio Bible Class.  You will find biblical help for any struggle in your life.  www.helpformylife.org

Christian Courses is a service of Radio Bible Class - www.christian courses.com  Take courses free or as certificate courses.

Make Your Own Personal Alphabetical Website List ~ Arrange in Alphabetical order according to topics, and keep in your Inbox to click when needed.

Never Ever Give Out Bank Numbers, Social Security Numbers, or Other Personal Information Over the Phone! ~ Not even if you get a call from someone saying they are with your bank, your insurance company or anyone else.  This happened to my husband today.  He asked that a certified letter be sent asking him for that information.  Never, never give out that info over the phone!  People are desperate to get their hands on your money!  Don't fall for that trick, and if you have Caller ID, report them.