"The Sweetest Gift"

Somehow music usually helps me through difficult days and seasons
and although this one does not fit my situations it is very touching and new to me
so

this title helps me  remember that every year, every moment
JESUS is the Sweetest Gift {although it's not directly what this song says}

"I'm not gonna lie Christmas really hurts this time 'Cause you're not here to celebrate with me Tears fill my eyes The memories flood my mind As I place your ornament upon our tree Although this year I have a broken heart It gives me hope and joy as I remember where you are You're with the Son of God You're with the Prince of Peace You're with the one who's celebrating And that thought amazes me Sometimes I still break down Grieving that we're apart But the sweetest gift is knowing where you are You're with the Son of God" for more of the lyrics, go here

because JESUS is the true Reason for this Season
every season

After this first week of December, which quite often is hard for me, pondering about what God might want for my new One Word, I couldn't help but reflect on the one for 2018: BELIEVE, because this One Word also helped me through this year as I faced times when I held closely my faith and all iBelieve. God could not have given me a more important Word than this one. Our Lord Jesus walked with me through His Word, His Promises, and alongside me all year long (even on the 2nd and the 6th, this past week), a broken heart, a broken spirit (Psalm 51:17),  a broken 'alabaster jar' (Mark 14:3-11) poured out ... what a precious gift Jesus is and gave us! The Greatest Christmas Gift! (thanks Ann Voskamp!)
JESUS
"The Sweetest Gift" I know
... Let's Unwrap all Jesus is ... 
this Christmas, this year & next
as we wait with
expectant
hearts
for
His Coming
        Growing In     Faith          Together

Life is sweeter with Jesus
holding you

Prayers for comfort and peace
[A Prayer for the Grieving at Christmas]


*I really like this video done by The Piano Guys too! Be blessed!

"New Every Day: Navigating Alzheimer's with Grace and Compassion"

"New Every Day: Navigating Alzheimer's  with Grace and Compassion" by Dave Meurer

is a light read of a very difficult subject and provides much needed information on Alzheimer's and caregiving!

I requested this book during October, which is Emotional Wellness Month, not just for someone I love who has Alzheimer's, but mostly for my own wellness while caregiving for that someone, who returned home from ICU for a stroke under Hospice Care. ('Hospice is Not a Bad Word' - great chapter and so true). Since then, my loved one has made great strides of progress in recovery, so it most certainly was timely for me, and I definitely learned much about the second part of this title 'with Grace and Compassion' from reading from Dave's wise, yet humorous perspective. I needed a bit of humor for sure after 3 months of caring under distress instead of 'navigating' well to bless the One and the person, in need of loving care when all any of my Christian fruit was wearing thin and noticeable to others, even with staying in the Word each morning and evening. I needed a break.

At first, not being familiar with this author or his style, I thought that it might be a bit inappropriate for a humorist author to write on any disease, with humor. He even addresses this in one of his chapters. As I began the book, I wondered how I could review this book favorably, not understanding the rationale or lack of order to the book until I arrived at the third chapter, entitled 'Non Chapter Note' which clarified this and Dave Meuer admitted to this inconsistency. Eventually, I began to get his humor and rationale for this approach, finding myself actually being able to laugh aloud. So my recommendation moved from low 2 star to at least a 4 star because of his heartfelt, realistic approach to sharing practical information through his own experience with his mother-in-law. Since he is somewhat directly removed, but constantly involved and concerned as part of her care team, he is able to step back and observe, giving highly beneficial information weaved between real-life stories that has helped me immensely. 

There are many chapters that I am sure I will need to go back to and read again, such as 'Medicare and Medicaid - How They Will and Won't Help' (which I'm just beginning to learn about) and 'Moving In, Moving Out and Moving On'. These are just 2 out of 30 chapters (if you count chapter 3, the non chapter). My favorite chapter, most likely because it hit home personally (though each chapter held parts that did) was 'Resentment, Fear and Other Hazards of Caregiving' however my insecurity increased slightly with my knowledge, as I looked at parts of Alzheimer's I have not yet had to face so that fear increases as you read, and then I briefly am thankful. However, I had a dear loved one that passed away this year as Alzheimer's robbed her of her gentle way and even speaking for the last few years of her life and knowing her loved ones, which I can't even imagine at this point. Dave Meurer shared with vulnerability and honesty some very difficult aspects. I have found this immensely helpful to read, learning to 'relax, adapt and especially laugh again' at a time when I was forgetting the healing that comes in laughter. 

When I set aside any of my preconceived ideas against humor in this heart breaking and horrible disease, I was able to see much value in Dave's approach and benefited (will continue to benefit) from the moments I found a laugh along this journey, from someone who knows what we face as caregivers for someone with dementia and beyond. 

Although this addresses Alzheimer's disease, I think any caregiver would benefit from reading this and perhaps if their loved one suffers from another debilitating disease, it may help more because they can step back from their own circumstance and read on a different disease, appreciating the practical, helpful guide that Dave Meurer has taken the time to write with just the right balance of humor and insights with information to help you 'navigate' resources. I also found that 'New Every Day' includes a Christian perspective, especially in the last 2 chapters ('A Life More Real Than This' and 'A Few Final Thoughts') however, it does not overdo in any way or come across preachy, he uses Scriptures appropriately and supportively; which makes this book versatile so that others will gain much from it as well.  This book has helped me in my day to day journey of caregiving of the person and myself. The chapters became easier to read with his dose of humor in such a difficult road now and in the future. I truly appreciate that he did include a chapter from his wife as well. In many ways, this book has encouraged me to look for other books written from caregivers and people dealing with Alzheimer's, more specifically from a spouse's point of view. Dave Meurer has taught me to laugh again and appreciate what's 'New Every Day' for me as a better human being caring for an Alzheimer's sufferer with more grace, compassion and understanding. 

Disclosure: I received this book free through  Revell, the publisher, in return for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTCs 16 CFR, Part 255

December 2nd & the 6th ... Difficult Days but "You Say"

This song is in my head and on my heart for quite some time now and beckons me to share it here although it has nothing to do with this date, December 2nd nor the upcoming December 6th (which both mark the date of significant loss of a loved one) and always starts my Christmas season out with remembrance of each one, sometimes difficult, sometimes not, but never goes by without me noting a difference in the day ... sometimes it's then that I look at the date, and realize why - because these special people made a lasting imprint for years on my life, and now they're missing from my life. 

The one for today, especially at this season of the year, is my precious mother. It's been far too long to dwell in the pain or grief of such a loss - more than 30 yrs. but I still miss her and probably always will, this side of eternity. I tried to rationalize the reason for this song with anything with either of these people and I come up with nothing like ... it's because they taught me this or made me feel like this ... just anything at all that deals with a connection ... and there's none to these significant people, but it's very much connected to My One Word for 2018. In fact, I'd like to say, it's become my theme song for this One Word (and in case you've forgotten what my One Word is - it's repeated often, perhaps the most) ... so, see if you can pick it out or remember as you listen or read the lyrics of Lauren Daigle's "You Say":

"I keep fighting voices in my mind that say I’m not enough Every single lie that tells me I will never measure up Am I more than just the sum of every high and every low? Remind me once again just who I am, because I need to know (ooh oh) You say I am loved when I can’t feel a thing You say I am strong when I think I am weak You say I am held when I am falling short When I don’t belong, oh You say that I am Yours And I believe (I), oh I believe (I) What You say of me (I) I believe The only thing that matters now is everything You think of me In You I find my worth, in You I find my identity, (ooh oh) You say I am loved when I can’t feel a thing You say I am strong when I think I am weak And You say I am held when I am falling short When I don’t belong, oh You say that I am Yours And I believe (I), oh I believe (I) What You say of me (I) Oh, I believe Taking all I have and now I'm laying it at Your feet You have every failure God, and You'll have every victory, (ooh oh) You say I am loved when I can’t feel a thing You say I am strong when I think I am weak You say I am held when I am falling short When I don’t belong, oh You say that I am Yours And I believe (I), oh I believe (I) What You say of me (I) I believe Oh I believe (I), yes I believe (I) What You say of me (I) Oh I believe (oh) "

So, it would have made more sense to write a tribute to my mother or have a song that reminds me of her or a favorite of hers, but truthfully, I cannot think of one, nor did I share a relationship with my mother that was close or affirming, like I've seen with other mother-daughter relationships. I think this is mostly because I recall so much of our time together with her being 'not well'. She suffered quite a lot and so letting her go at the age of 65 seemed to be the best for her and a blessing. Yet as I now approach that age (next year), I can better understand and I'm not suffering of any chronic illness or on as many medications as she took plus needing an oxygen tank daily must have been so debilatating and such a cross to bear. 

[photo of my mom]
I guess the one truth I did learn was that there will be suffering in this world (John 14:27) yet we must press on as best we can. Now I try to hold on with a hopeful expectation to Revelation 21:4 and Romans 8:18. My mother, being a devout Roman Catholic, probably would not have known those verses yet believed these truths anyways and have been familiar with this message, knowing it full well in her earthly living. I truly believe that because of what I've seen in her lifetime and now mine, the basic truth found in Romans 5:3-5:
"More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." ESV
You may be asking yourself, like I started this, wondering what's the connection between this song, your new theme song for 2018 and your mother or sharing these together with suffering?
It's basically found in what I have come to BELIEVE - and as this song speaks to me and my heart, my life, the core of lyrics that voice how I've felt for much of my life however I've been blessed to know and have a personal relationship with Jesus, that speaks truth into my being, especially when I battle or stuggle with lies. It's very difficult to rejoice in suffering or see others suffering. I may not physically suffer like my mom did, but I've known suffering as many of us do encounter along our life journey ... Yet this song reminds me of where my worth and identity lies - that I belong to God, I am His, no matter what - what God says of me, is really all that matters or counts, which has produced in me - endurance and hopefully character! Now that's the correlation of living with this hope that iBelieve which does not put me to shame because of God's love poured into my heart by the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ. This is so tied to all iBELIEVE, not given to me by my mother, but shown to me, by the suffering I saw her go through and how that impacted me. I love my mother and know God loves me and her enough!
Every word in the song "You Say" is true to me and speaks volumes to me from God's heart to mine, encouraging me to
BELIEVE
... when ...
'I can't feel a thing'
when
'I think I am weak'
when
'I am falling short'
when
'I don't belong' (either told or feel that I don't)
when
'I don't measure up'
when
I'm just not enough
when
I fail
when
I just need to know
what HE says of me
(not my mother, not my father, not my siblings, or my spouse)
NOT EVEN
a dear friend or church family or my past
just what
YOU SAY
LORD
i Believe
because
I am Yours!
You
are
Enough
even when I am not

"GOD WILL MAKE A WAY..."

... but this isn't just about 

Don Moen's

awarding winning song,

it's the title to his new 'memoir' 

his first-ever book,

"God Will Make a Way

Discovering His Hope in Your Story"

by

Don Moen with Robert Noland

... released on October 16th, 2018, and I couldn't wait to get my hard bound copy to review. For me, to not only read a book by Don Moen, one of my first, personal, favorite worship leader and song writer, which is an honor and delight, but to read one with this song as it's title and theme of hope, starting out with learning the 'story behind the song' for him - because this song (among many of his songs that I love) holds a significant personal meaning for me in 1990, and I never knew the tragic family story from 1987 nor the verse in Isaiah 43:19 until reading this book, followed by listening to his DonMoen.tv video of the story at YouTube. Such an inspirational moment of hope from God to Don Moen to give hope to his loved ones when they really needed "God to make a way". In the same way, as this song, this book pours forth much hope, even now for me, once again in a place where I needed to be reminded of how "God will make a way." Since we each face hard times in our lives, we need a song or book like this to see us through ... and to get us beyond what's happening, to a renewal of hope and fresh faith, to believe God is supernaturally still working behind the scenes of what we see with our eyes to what the Way Maker (God) has done and is doing that may not be so easily seen.

"God Will Make a Way ..." has a Forward by Manny Pacquiao, an Introduction (which is Don's 'personal note to the Weary and the Leary' - me, when I received this book) and 12 Chapters of "God Will Make a Way ..." Through the Storm, Through Our Surrender, Through His Calling, Through Our Trials, Through the Movement of His Spirit, Through Providing His Platform, Through His Miracles, Through Our Testimony, Through Life's Interruptions, Through Our Cooperation with Him, Through Our Worship in Spirit and Truth ... right back to the statements of hope and faith asked in his Introduction, bringing us or leaving us with "God Will Make a Way ... Through His Hope" with a beautiful ending prayer, as he prefaces with: 

"If I was somehow able to sit down with you for a few minutes, this is what I would want us to agree in prayer together for your life ..."

... and as you read through this encouraging book, this is exactly how you feel, as if Don Moen is sitting with you, sharing with you, encouraging you on ... through his personal stories, scriptures and song lyrics that will be familar to those who know his worship songs, with the same worship filled heart that leads us in spirit and truth to the throne room of God in so many of his lifetime of worship albums. He humbly leads us through his life and story, behind the scenes of his songs and ministry, while making a way for us to discover God's hope in our story, whatever our circumstance(s) may be. My only wish is that each of his chapters would have ended with one of his worshipful prayers as only some did (2,3,10,13). I enjoyed the middle section of 4 pages of personal photos that put faces with the people and stories included. I have so many parts marked that I thought I would share in my review, but since there are so many I didn't, so you'll really have to read the book for yourself because I'm sure these personally applied to my life and others will encourage you in your life with whatever you're facing as this book did for me, changing my "nots" into hopeful declarations with a new message of grace (2 Corinthians 12:9-10) because not only can God make a way, He will, even when there doesn't seem to be a way! I read and reread pages time and time again, and know that I will in the future, when I need to be reminded, but the last chapter ... 'through His Hope', with his ten Praise Principles, will be one I will open often, because like Don wrote in that chapter: "Living without hope creates mental, emotional, and spiritual ache in the soul, that leads to a desperate desire to numb life ..." so instead "I Will Sing, I will praise ... " 

I can't say enough about "God Will Make a Way" ... and how thankful I am for having had the privilege to read and have this book added to my library. It definitely is worth it to me to break free from the crushing weight and reality of life's circumstances, thoughts and feelings that devastate us or cause despair and doubt. And who better, than a beloved worship leader, pastor, producer, artist and song writer, to show you the way to the Way Maker, who ultimately is our anchor of Hope, Jesus? 

Disclosure: I received this book free through BookLook Bloggers, from the publisher, in return for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTCs 16 CFR, Part 255

{Ok, maybe I'm a little biased as a fellow Minnesotan to Don Moen}

"... PRAYER ... and the Promise that Changes Everything"

This is not an actual Book Review, but more like an announcement of a new book (actually 2 books, and 1 will be an Online Bible (Book) Study (OBS) with FaithGateway starting October 8, 2018). However, both books, without even reading them yet, I guarantee are worthwhile considerations to add to your wish list of books to get. I have read enough of these two authors that with sight unseen (which means book unread) I can vouch that each book will help you grow as a human being and a fruitful Christian. The truth is I am doing a sample of one of the books at You Version and I just received my order of the other one as an ebook deal in Kindle. I decided I needed to find time to get online and write this post, so that if you also are interested that you can take advantage of the very best prices. Clearly, the FaithGateway one, available through their OBS, which will also share the author in video teachings, is lower at this time through them so you will register for their 5 session study with a great teacher. 

Honestly, I jumped online to share just the one I quickly purchased, but as I started, I couldn't help but think about the one I'm currently doing with a small group of sisters in Christ, at YouVersion, so I'm sharing them both, but my priority:

"When you call to me, I will answer you." (Psalm 91:15 GW)

...if anyone understands  desperation for God to answer you answer your endless prayers it would be me...
but because I know and have read other books by Cherie Hill and connected with her years ago personally on her websites through emails, etc. enough so I feel as if I know her when she writes it's as if she gets you and is speaking right with you. Cherie is clear in her messages, insights and her heart  for God and His people.

Her Introduction immediately drew me in with these words, so if given a break and a few free extra hours, I will continue & finish

"I don't know what you're going through at this moment, what you've been through in the past, or what lies ahead in your future, but God does. He's the One who answers prayers and brings about the miracles you desperately need. That's why you need prayer-it's God's gift to you

Cherie Hill knows what prayer is (check out Scripture Now and see) ... and in this book she addresses the "toughest dilemma every Christian faces: doubt." ... "In this encouraging, affirming exploration of our constant battle with unbelief, author Cherie Hill offers a deeply personal, compelling approach to transforming your own faith by honestly examining your doubt." As an author, Cherie Hill relates to us from a compassionate, understanding heart that knows, with a deep, spiritual insight and much Biblical wisdom. As with all of her books, reading this will be 'eye-opening, heart changing and faith building' and without a doubt, Cherie will pack this book full of God's promises in His Word, prayer promises that will help us take our stand and the 5 chapters will transform your life journey and definitely your prayer life! right into "Your War Room" she will move you to be honest and trust God as you talk and listen to Him - give her and "The Problem of Prayer and the Promise that Changes Everything" a faith trial run, I know you'll be glad you did.
And as far as the other book, you will be changed also, just click on the links to find out more about "unexpected - a journal of faith - leave fear behind, move forward in faith, embrace the adventure".