40 Day Sugar Fast: Where Physical Detox Meets Spiritual Transformation

-->"Wake up! Be alert! Throw off the sin that's entangled you and run."

Until I did my first 40 day sugar fast, I never realized how much I turned to sugar. When I had a bad day I ate several cookies to make me feel better instead of turning to The Comforter. When I had a great day I would eat a piece of cake as a reward or celebration instead of thanking The Giver. Sugar had this powerful hold on me and I didn't even know it.

When we seek for comfort, satisfaction, rewards, etc. from something other than our Savior, we are making that an idol. We are putting it before God. As Exodus 20:3 states, "You shall have no other gods before me."

Wendy Speake has given us 40 daily devotionals to get us through the 40 day sugar fast. Each devotional will help you look for ways to seek Jesus instead of the sugar. You will seek satisfaction in our Lord and not in other things.

She brings it to our attention that not only do we make sugar an idol, but we can make many things idols...other foods, our phones, social media, alcohol, hobbies, shopping, streaming shows, a number of things. Wendy poses this question to help you identify an idol, "Would taking away __________ devastate me?"

When we break free of the hold that our idols have on us and we seek true satisfaction in Jesus, we will feel better physically and have more clarity. If you are longing for a true and satisfying relationship with your Lord, instead of a false and temporary remedy then this is the book for you.

Love Does Change Everything

Love Changes Everything: Finding What's Real in a World Full of Fake is an excellent book!  I know God loves me and that God is love, but Micah made me think of God's love in new ways.  He used the book of the Bible Hosea to prove the depth of God's love for us.  My eyes were really opened to the richness and fullness of real love instead of the fake love.

I have heard and read about Hosea and Gomer before, but now that I've read Love Changes Everything I'm going to go back and read Hosea again with new eyes and a fresh heart.

Micah did an excellent job helping me to understand the frequently used scripture:  John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall have everlasting life."  There is nothing wrong with hearing this frequently, except I think I became numb to the extent of God's love.

I have a better attitude toward God and a better self image due to this book.  I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone.  Experience God's love in a new way.

Brave Beauty

Brave Beauty is an excellent book for young girls.  It would be a great book for a girl to read on her own, it would be a better book if read with a mother or grandmother or an excellent book for a Sunday school class.

I love the way the author, Lynn Cowell, gives Biblical answers to modern day questions, concerns and issues that young ladies face (and people say the Bible is outdated).  This is such a positive book for such a negative world that these young girls are living in.  There are thought-provoking questions and self-searching suggestions after the end of each devotional.

There are 100 mini devotionals.  That's enough to get one devotional a day for more than three months.  Each devotional addresses things that young girls deal with every day (such as self-esteem and bullying, just to name a few).  If read daily, a girl could get positive encouragement each day before or after facing the negative world (in school, on social media or sadly sometimes at home even).

The mini devotionals are perfect for a girl who thinks she doesn't have a lot of time.  There are powerful messages packed in each devotional.  This could be a great jumping off point for mothers and/or grandmothers to talk to the young ladies in their lives about issues the girls are facing outside of the home.  Could be great conversation starters for families that want to draw closer to one another and to God.

If you have a young lady in your life, I would suggestion you give her this book as a gift.  A better gift would be to read it with her daily.

Get Out of That Pit

This is the first book by Beth Moore that I have read and I was not disappointed.  She knows how to take a serious subject (like sin) and find the humor in certain situations without diminishing the seriousness of sin itself.

Beth walked the reader through the ways a person can end up in a pit of sin.  She explained that God does not desire for His children to be in a pit of sin and is willing to help His children escape.  Beth gives the reader encouragement that God still loves us and provides a way to escape.  She opens the readers eyes to the hope that God is offering each and everyone of us.

At the end of the book there are thought provoking questions on each chapter.  Making it a good book to do as a weekly ladies study.  Also, at the end of the book there are prayers for  you to say daily (if you struggle with how to talk to God or not sure where to start).

I really enjoyed Beth's book.  Some of the stories she told trying to get her readers to relate to being in a pit of sin I found humorous.  I could definitely relate to some of the real life stories she told.  The scriptures she gave on how we could get out of our own pit (and we all have been in a pit some time or another whether we want to admit it or not - Romans 3:23) were inspiring and offered hope.

I found this book very helpful and encouraging, some of it serious and some of it humorous, but enjoyable as I read every page.  If you feel something amiss in your life and  you're not sure why, this book may show you what's wrong and provide hope in God for an escape.  If you know you are in a pit and don't want to dwell there this book is for you.  If you are in a pit and are not even sure how you got there much less how to get out, Beth will shine a light for you and point you in God's direction.  She even has suggestions on how not to get back in that and/or other pits of sin that Satan is setting for you.

Rasmus and the Vagabond - Book Review

This book is an excellent read for preteens.  It has a good clean story line that is easy to follow, but keeps your attention.  This book makes you want to keep reading to see what happens next.

The author, Astrid Lindgren, makes you feel like you are right there with Rasmus as his adventures unfold.   When Rasmus was hiding and afraid of getting caught, you could almost feel your heart beating faster right along with Rasmus,  I would hold my breath so as not to give us away.  I love the surprise ending too.

My nine year old son related to nine year old Rasmus while reading the book with me and he loved it.  He couldn't put the book down.  My son finished the book before I did and wanted to know if there was another one.

I think this is great choice of books for young children, especially boys that are looking for adventure.  It would also make a fantastic read for the whole family.

Hacky Sacks for the Kiddos

My nephew asked me if I could crochet him a hacky sack.  So I searched the internet for patterns.  I found all sorts of free patterns for crocheted hacky sacks.

They don't take much yarn to make, so this is a great project for using up scrap yarn.  I even have some that I used several small pieces of yarn to make 1 hacky sack.

The ones using varigated yarn are great.  But my favorite look is the spiral one.  It is more complicated and takes 2 different colors of yarn, but it looks great.  (Spiral - top pic - it is the one in the bottom, right corner:  grey and burgandy;  in the bottom pic - it is the one in the top, left corner:  red and peacock blue).  Spiral pattern can be found here.)

I tried several patterns that I found and my favorite pattern for a regular hacky sack can be found here.  I modified it slightly to get the look I wanted (will try to post modifications later), but I did several exactly like the pattern and they look great!  She even has instructions on how to fill them.  She used old pantyhose (I used trouser socks.  I could get 4 hacky sacks out of 1 pair of trouser socks.)  Use what you have or what you can purchase cheap!

So then as I began to make one for my nephew, my boys wanted one and then I began to think it might be neat to give all my nieces and nephews one at Easter time.  So I kept making them.  (I think I made even more since the pictures were taken.)  They are fun and easy to make.  

The first few I stuffed with rice and then I found a bag of Poly Pellets that I had purchased awhile back and it was just laying around.  They boys and I have decided that we like the weight and feel of the ones stuffed with Poly Pellets best.

Note:  I had my Poly Pellets for awhile and when I went to my local craft store to purchase some more, they no longer carried them.  They called another one of their stores to see if they still had some in stock and they did so I was able to get more, but when they are gone, they are gone.  I did a quick search on Amazon and you can purchase some there.

These also make great stress balls.  Would be good for someone in a hospital, nursing  home, or hospice, someone that has to have therapy.  Can you think of other uses?

Another Handmade Book

I think I have discovered a new hobby.  (I don't need a new hobby, but I am really enjoying this one none the less.)

This book has a cover.

It also lays flat when opened.

I have found this GREAT YouTube Channel (Sea Lemon) that has all sorts of book binding methods along with other crafts.  She is fantastic.  I am now addicted.  I watch her for instructions, but I also watch her for ideas and enjoyment while I fold the laundry.