Bling From the King: Gems of Encouragement from God’s Word (& Book Giveaway!)

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By: Linda Newton, Author of "I Want Something Better Than Jewels: 3 Days of Biblical Insight for a Woman Seeking God." See at the bottom of this article how you can win a copy of Linda's book! With Valentine's Day happening on February 14, we tend to think of February as the "Love Month." But I have learned that it's hard to love someone else until you can adequately love yourself. Jesus instructed, "love your neighbor as yourself" so this month we're going to examine what that look like. I have the privilege of working everyday in a counseling office with capable caring women who don't know how valuable they really are. I see smart, beautiful ladies who don't realize all they have to offer. I see amazing teenage girls with … [Read more...]

Connect Again with Your Spouse – Book Sale $1.99

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With Valentine's Day just around the corner this cute little book has the potential to add some spark to your marriage regardless of where it is at. The book "Life Brighteners for Couples: 90 Notes to Touch Your Spouse's Heart" has 90 notes grounded in biblical encouragement - each one perfect for slipping into your mate's briefcase, purse, back pack or Bible. It's a great way to reconnect, especially when you have had a rough day or your typical conversation seems to always go back to something to do with your illness. In honor of Valentine's Day we are marking this book down from $7 to JUST $1.99 at the Rest Ministries Comfort Zone Bookstore through February 15th. Some other great books we recommend that are available at our … [Read more...]

Love Letter Contest by Focus on the Family

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Focus on the Family has announced that they are having their first "Love Letters Contest." If you'd like to tell your spouse how much you love them, this is a great way to do it & possibly even win a prize. Just visit the Focus on the Family website & explain to them "why you want to grow old with your spouse." Each day from Feb. 1-11 they will choose their 4 favorite love letters & each couple will win a prize. February 12 they will choose the Gr& Prize recipient from all of the daily winners. This will be a "unforgettable trip to the live Focus on Marriage™ simulcast on Feb. 27 in Colorado Springs, CO." Click here to enter the Love Letters Contest! Gr& Prize Includes: - Round-trip transportation to Colorado Springs, CO - Two … [Read more...]

The Christmas Shoes Video – Tear Jerker!

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The Christmas Shoes – If you need a good cry? this is the video to watch. (Get a tissue!) … [Read more...]

A Soldier’s Christmas Prayer

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Dedicated to the soldiers in all the armed forces—& their many families—who are serving & sacrificing this Christmas. We are proud & blessed to live in a country where we can openly celebrate the birth of our Savior. Thank you! 'Twas the night before Christmas, he lived all alone, In a one bedroom house made of plaster & stone. I had come down the chimney with presents to give And to see just who in this home did live. I looked all about a strange sight I did see, No tinsel, no presents, not even a tree. No stocking by the fire, just boots filled with s&, On the wall hung pictures of far distant l&s. With medals & badges, awards of all kind A sober thought came through my mind. For this house was different, so dark … [Read more...]

A Talk Over Tea – Too Many Angels?

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I was exhausted & sore, but also bored, & a Saturday evening with television shows featuring violence was not about to put me in the Christmas spirit. So I went to rent a movie, glad to get out of the house & get some fresh air. Something in me sparked as I drove past the fabric store with all of the Christmas decorations, & before I could convince myself otherwise, I had pulled into the parking lot. As I walked in, I was surrounded by glitz & multiple miniature Christmas trees with branches heavy with ornaments. Beside me stood a woman & her husb& & she was telling him something. Then he raised his voice a bit so that I could overhear the conversation. “But you already have seven angels! Why do you need another one?” he … [Read more...]

Send a Soldier a Free Card This Season

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Numerous people have reported feeling better after helping others & this should come as no surprise as the Bible tells us “He who refreshes others will himself be refreshed” (Proverbs 11:25.) Take just a moment today to go to www.LetsSayThanks.com & pick out a thank you card to send to a soldier. Xerox company will foot the bill to print it & send it off to a soldier who is currently serving in Iraq. You can't pick out who gets it, but it will go to a member of the armed services. … [Read more...]

What are the Nicest Things Someone Did For You?

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During this season of thankfulness we asked our readers “What did someone do for you that made you feel special?” As you will see, it’s not the presents, but the presence of a friend that encourages us to keep pushing forward when we wonder if we will make it through this life. . . Do something special for someone today. They’ll never forget it! My chiropractor came to my home & worked on me without charge.—Jerry Ann My 9-year-old daughter made me a cup of hot tea when I had a horrendous migraine. I hadn’t even asked her for anything. —Beth Right after my father passed away a friend turned up at my house with a teddy bear as big as she was. Then she took me out for a “mystery journey”—her treat. First, to her … [Read more...]

How is Faith Related to Pain Tolerance?

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How is faith related to pain tolerance? Can a person with great faith endure more than a person with little or no faith? What can we learn from people of great faith that will help us live with chronic illness? In the early years of my husb&’s illness, pain made him angry. He fought against his pain, often lashing out. To suggest he give it to God only frustrated him. He was the one with an uncooperative body. How could I know how he felt or what he suffered? Yes, he believed in God & in Jesus Christ, but that belief was not faith. It was head knowledge, not heart knowledge In our thirty years together, my husb& & I have “grown up” in the Lord. Our faith has changed & deepened. Dependence on God has replaced resentment with … [Read more...]

Emmanuel Faith Community Church Reaches Out To Ill at Turkey Time

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I received this email from Emmanuel Faith Community Church & thought it simply wonderful. If your church has an outreach ministry to people at thanksgiving, let them know that there are many chronically ill people too who would love fellowship &/or food. I always say. . . remember that the Bible tells us not to "announce it in the next bulletin" or to say "call us if you need anything" but "Go out quickly into the streets & alleys of the town & bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind & the lame,"' (Luke 14:21). Thank you, Emmanuel Faith Community Church, for reminding of this! Dear Chronic Illness Support Group Members: Each Thanksgiving since 2003, the Married & Company Sunday School class at Emmanuel Faith Community … [Read more...]

New Marriage Book “Cracks the Code”

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I am honored to call Pam Farrel a friend. She is the author of many books such as Men are Like Waffles & Women are Like Spaghetti & Woman of Influence: Ten Traits of Those Who Want to Make a Difference. She was a recent guest on Invisible Illness Week, talking about Coping with Chronic Illness in Your Marriage. Her newest book with her husb& Bill is The Marriage Code & it is hot off the press! Here is a bit about it. I can't wait to read it as I know it will be a wonderful resource to add to my books on making marriage a blessing. (Or at least, how to underst& why your spouse does what he does...) Codes are all around us: access codes for banking accounts, to make reservations for travel, or to gain entry into buildings or our own … [Read more...]

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