Coming Soon.......

My daughter-in-law, Andria, and I have something in common.  Other than her husband, my son, Mike and my three wonderful grandchildren, Kirstyn, Reagan and Bransen.

We both love to read, voraciously. It allows us to escape from the sometimes humdrum way life can be as well as the overwhelming aspect of it. But, Andria also has another love for it that I do not share. She has a couple of websites, http://www.readingteen.net/, and http://readingtween.blogspot.com/ where she, as well as her 3 children (my wonderful grandchildren) posts reviews of some of the most current books out there. I do not share this love of review because I read for enjoyment and it takes away from the relaxation and ability to lose yourself in the story, for me.

The following is taken from her 'about' page.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS BLOG IS TO PROVIDE A PLACE WHERE TEENS, PARENTS OF TEENS, AND PEOPLE WHO JUST LOVE YA BOOKS CAN FIND REVIEWS ON BOOKS, FIND SUGGESTIONS ON WHAT TO READ (AND MAYBE WHAT NOT TO READ), AND DISCUSS WHAT THEY THOUGHT ABOUT THE BOOKS.  WE WILL TALK SOME ABOUT BOOK CONTENT, BUT FOR THE MOST PART, WE'LL LEAVE THE DETAILED CONTENT ON THE WEBSITE, PARENTALBOOKREVIEWS.COM.  OUR GOAL IS TO HELP TEENS FIND FANTASTIC BOOKS, AND TO GIVE SPECIAL ATTENTION TO AWESOME BOOKS THAT ARE "CLEAN READS".  WE HOPE YOU FIND THIS BLOG HELPFUL, INFORMATIONAL, AND MOST OF ALL ENJOYABLE!

Now that I have shamelessly advertised her work and websites, let me tell about my passion.

While I love to read, my very favorite thing on earth is music. Andria once told me that when she reads a good book she can hardly wait to share it on the blog to ignite others desire to read it. (my translation). This is the way I feel about music. While I love all types of music, from A Capella and Instrumental to Classical and Rock and everything in between, my favorite is Contemporary Christian and there are so many types within that genre that there is something, literally, for everyone from babies to the most senior Christian.

Christian music tells a story of joy, forgiveness, servant-hood, and others that just won't come to mind but especially hope and redemption. I have occasionally included a link to a song that goes along with my post.  Now, I want to do more with that. This particular blog is for women, as indicated in the blog name, SISTORIES. I am currently working on an additional site, that would be beneficial for males and females and teens and senior Christians. It won't be dedicated to music only. It will include ways to live a life of discipleship, from the music you listen to, to the books you read.It will include stories and scripture to keep your mind, body and soul healthy.

I will be enlisting the help of my children concerning the content and stories of this website. They don't know this yet. =). They each have their own unique insight into living the Christian life. I'm amazed at their walk with the Lord at this age and stage of their life. They are so far ahead of me at that age.

I have been negligent in keeping up with my blog. I'm a recovering procrastinator. Hang in there with me. You won't be disappointed.

I pray God's blessings on all who read this post.

~Sharon

The Odd Life of Timothy Green Review

"The Odd Life of Timothy Green" is a lovely story, using magical realism, of a couple unable to have children of their own. After coming to that crumbling realization, they spend an evening writing down the positive characteristics and qualities their child would have, had they been able to. They then bury these notes in the garden and awake to find a child that they soon realize is the child they dreamed of. As time goes on they recognize these qualities in Timothy.

I loved this story because of the great message it gives of family and the positive relationship between parent and child. Timothy is a wonderful example of honesty, generosity, sweet spirited, not afraid to fail and is even comfortable with his differences. He hides these differences only at the insistence of his parents because they are afraid of him being teased or bullied, anticipating these problems based on their own history which also plays a part in other decisions they make.

It's also a story of the differences in all of us and about not giving up when all seems lost. Some differences are unique and some are ordinary but they can all offer something to a relationship if we have our hearts open and learn to appreciate them.

Some differences we quickly recognize and appreciate as positive influences on us even though the relationship may be short lived. Then, there are people that have been in our lives for a long time and we have lost sight of what brought us together in the first place. We become consumed with our own self-worth and cease to see what is right in front of us.

I enjoyed this movie and while I buy few movies, this will be one I buy and keep for future viewing.


~Sharon

SPOILER ALERT

There are a few things to be cautious about when viewing this film with a child.




1. Timothy magically appears and disappears in the same way.

2. An adult dies in front of Timothy in a hospital.

3. Timothy is bullied in school without realizing it as such.

4. Timothy is saved from drowning at a birthday party.

5. There is the use of "hell" and "oh God" (as an exclamation), as well as hurtful words, "stupid," "loser," "freak," etc.

6. The Greens drink quite a bit of wine while dreaming of the child they would want to have if they could.




For more movie trailer clips, click the following link.

http://disney.go.com/the-odd-life-of-timothy-green/videos.html

Whither Thou Goest

But Ruth replied, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.  Ruth 1:16

We have left family behind for more than 20 years now. Our first 3 moves kept us in Arkansas even though we weren't in the same city as my mother and sister. We left great friends, two of whom I've written about already, Tim and Wanda Makool. Our forth move took us from our youngest son and his family (our other two children and their family had already moved from Arkansas) and my mother, my sister and Rick's mother and brothers.

There was a lot of guilt in the move that took us out of state, away from our family. I felt I had abandoned them. Each time we leave a church family I have that same guilt.  There were those, in each church, that didn't want us to leave, anymore than we wanted to leave them.  We had grown close as family, as it should be.  Leaving family, whether blood or church, is always hard.

I follow my husband because I know it's the right thing to do. Not just because he's my husband and I love him and would go anywhere with him but also because his desire is to go where The Lord would have him go, to do God's will, no matter where that takes us. I trust him. But even more than that, I trust The Lord!!

I know that I'm not the only wife that has followed her husband to places unknown, as it were.  They've left family and gone into situations that felt fleeting and left them feeling insecure.  It's easy to become resentful of our husbands when we put our trust in the 'job' that took us there, or anger because their is no job.  That seems to be the case more and more these days in our economy.  

When I look at Ruth and put myself in her place I realize my insecurities are nothing compared to what she must have felt. Here she is a young widow making a decision to be totally dependent on Naomi. She's willingly leaving her family to go into the unknown with no husband to provide for her.  But because of Naomi's faithfulness, Ruth had come to know the one and only God.  A God that would provide for them both.

That same God still exists today.  We can depend on Him to provide our every need.  We don't have to be afraid of the unknown. We don't have to worry about tomorrow.  We can overcome the fear that brings about resentment and anger.  We can face the unknown with joy and the calm assurance that God has our back.

Matthew 6:25-34

25“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his lifeb?

28“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Are you willing to hand it all over to Him and face the unknown?  It doesn't have to be a drastic move like Ruth made.  It can be any number of things.  Face your fear, God has your back!

~ Sharon 

The Makools

I've shared with you a bit of our history concerning our journey from 13 years of living outside of Christ to our walk with God that lead us to now 20 plus years of ministry. We were at the end of our marriage.  Divorce was imminent.  Our lives had fallen apart and there was no hope in sight.  At least I didn't think so.  But God used this to bring Rickey to Him and as a result Rickey brought us along with him. A decision that  I will be forever grateful for to both God and Rickey.  


What I want to share with you today is who He used to help keep us on track until Rick was ready for the call God would place on his life, our lives. 


The Makools.


When Rick and I began our journey with Christ, we had to give up a lot.  Our life style had to change.  Our friends had to change.  Most Christians don't know what it takes to do that.  Leaving your friends behind is a hard thing to do because you feel alone and if someone from the church doesn't step in to replace those friendships, a lot of people return to what they know to avoid that loneliness. That's exactly what the Makools did.  They replaced what we had given up with something better.  A couple that had our best interest at heart.  A couple that had the same goals that we now had.  Friends that would be there for us through thick and thin.


 8Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.  1 Peter 4:8-10 


We did everything together.  If we weren't at their house, they were at ours. We were together every weekend and often with other Christian friends fellowshipping, eating, playing games.  We just loved being together. We became more like family than friends.  Their children called us Aunt and Uncle. Our children loved their children like brothers and sisters. They are a big part of who we are and where we are today. 


I can honestly say that if we hadn't had that relationship I don't know if we would be in the same place spiritually that we are today. They will never truly know how much their love meant to us, how instrumental they were in our spiritual growth.


There's so much more that I could say about them and their children.  How much we love and appreciate them.  But, I will simply ask you a question.  Who are you helping to walk that path to freedom? 


It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Galatians 5:1


13You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. 14The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  Galatians 5:13-14


I thank God for sending us the Makools and pray God's abundant blessings on them for eternity.


Who were "the Makools" in your life?  Leave me a comment.




~Sharon

FRANCINE RIVERS GIVEAWAY

Today is the last day to get the free e-book "Leota's Garden" by Francine Rivers.

Be sure to sign up for the giveaway of the complete Francine Rivers library as well as prizes for 1st - 4th place winners.

Grand Prize—complete Francine Rivers Library

Subsequent Prizes –

First Place Prize (1)—1 copy each of Her Mother’s Hope/Her Daughter’s Dream

Second Place Prize (2)—1 Mark of the Lion boxed set

Third Place Prize (3)—1 copy of A Lineage of Grace

Fourth Place Prize (4)—1 copy of Sons of Encouragement

http://www.tyndale.com/blog/?p=1042

~Sharon

It's All About Love

The Closer, 4th season finale, Brenda to Fritz on their wedding day, "I love you with all my heart, the problem is sometimes I think my heart is only "this" big."

Our capacity to love is limited by our humanness. But, when we make the decision to follow Christ and live his example our capacity to love grows.  It grows not because of anything we do but because God Is Love.  If it weren't for God's love we wouldn't know what love is.  We wouldn't know what it looks like, feels like or that it even exists.

Matthew 22:36-40 says,  36“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”  37Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’^b 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’^c 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Why?  Because God loved us so much that he sent his Son to die for our sins, sins that belonged to us and not him.  Because Jesus loved his Father so much that he was willing to do what was asked of him, no matter what.  Who else has love like that?  Not me.  I would die for my family, I dare to say we all would.  But for someone I don't know?  Someone that has hurt me deeply, ridiculed me, beaten me and accused me of being evil?    I don't think so.


My son, Michael, spoke to a group of teens, at a church we were working with in Arkansas telling them, "If your boyfriend/girlfriend doesn't know God, isn't living for Him, they don't know how to truly love.  A wise statement that was.  


1 John 4:7Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.8Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love............16And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him........19We love because he first loved us.

Without Him we have nothing, we are nothing.  At what capacity do you love?


~Sharon


"Love One Another" The Greatest Command- A Capella

Book Review:   Not God's Type by Holly Ordway




Title:Not God's Type

SubTitle:A Rational Academic Finds a Radical Faith

Publisher:Moody Publishers

Imprint:Moody Publishers

Pub Date:05/01/2010

ISBN:9780802431943

                       Author:Ordway, Holly

                       Category:NONFICTION - ADULT: Biography & Autobiography

My Review:

I was so blessed by this book!!  Those of us that were raised in Christian homes have no idea what it’s like to not have, that knowledge of and connection to, the Lord readily available to us. We take so much for granted. 

It’s obvious from her writing style that Holly is highly educated and while some of us may not share her love for the same type of literature or poetry, she doesn’t go above our heads with her words.  She has made it so easy to see things from an non-believers perspective.

Even though I have been a Christian for 20+ years, Holly showed me things that I may not have learned otherwise.  I was reminded, from her perspective, just how God uses things, circumstances and people, through the Holy Spirit, to affect someone for His cause, His purpose. I’ve learned to call those Godincidences instead of coincidences.  For Holly, poetry was her awakening to God.  Her fencing coach was the catalyst that helped bring her face-to-face with God’s truth.  God knew he was the best person for the job.  He didn’t push Christianity on her or make her feel less than him because she wasn’t a believer but lived it for her to see so she wouldn’t feel intimidated or even disgusted but his faith. He waited for her questions, her interest in the truth. 

Once Holly made that leap of faith she didn’t sit back and wait for opportunities to live out her new Christian life but went looking for them.  We all can learn from her in this avenue.  It’s easy for us to reach a point of apathy when we make Christianity harder than it is.  Not that it’s easy but by living the greatest command we don’t have to worry about the do’s and don’ts.

God uses many avenues to reach the lost.  What works for some wouldn't work for others.  God knows just the right thing or person to use for each individual person he is drawing to Him. "He knew our members before we were born"  "He knows the number of our hairs". He knows everything about us.  What if her coach hadn't been open to letting God use him? But because he did there is yet another champion for the Kingdom.  How many times have we missed the opportunity that God put before us?

This book is definitely one that I will keep on my bookshelf.

~Sharon