Friday, September 30, 2016

Christmas Knitting Patterns for Everyone on Your List

Christmas Knitting Patterns for Everyone on Your List

Wanting A God You Can Talk To- A short clip


5.21 in Length

How to Make a Purse from Plastic Bags

How to Make a Purse from Plastic Bags

How to Make a Purse out of Plastic Bags

There is also a video on this site.

25 Questions To Stop the ‘Dream Thief’ & End Procrastination

25 Questions To Stop the ‘Dream Thief’ & End Procrastination: We are in a divine season of God releasing new revelation and understanding into our life callings. This happens each year around the Jewish holidays, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. These holidays are both coming in October—so I want to help you prepare to move forward hand-in-hand with God during this season. The dream thief   …Read Full Post

Thinking Ideas Innovation Thoughts People Concept

Come Sit Down lyrics | Big Daddy Weave

The Sons of Thunder (Remember the Prophecy)

Thursday, September 29, 2016

God's Thoughts about us are always positive-Graham Cooke



The way we think rules our life.

Or as 2 Cor. 10:4 puts it,
For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but they are divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, and we are ready to punish all disobedience whenever your obedience is complete. …You are looking at things as they are outwardly. If anyone is confident in himself that he is Christ’s, let him consider this again within himself, that just as he is Christ’s, so also are we.
Our mindset is either a fortress for the enemy or it is a temple for the living God. A fortress is built to keep something out. A temple is built to invite someone in.

God is remodeling our lives.

He is renovating us. He is restoring us. He is rebuilding us. He is renewing us. And the way in which He is doing it is by restoring a better way of thinking as a prime piece of our spiritual walk.
The Holy Spirit is destroying speculations, theories, surmisings, guesses, and pulling down any way of thinking that is against the true knowledge of who God is for us. He is empowering us into a way of thinking that restores our confidence in Christ, that as we consider the issues from within in partnership with the Spirit, we are elevated to the level that God wants us to live on.

Our new nature is the way God thinks about us.

He has no bad thought towards us, because He sees us in the lens of Jesus Christ. Now, He only has a desire to see us conform to the image of Jesus.
Why do you think God put you into Christ in the first place? He put you into Christ, and now “in Him you live and move and have your being.” He put you into Christ so He could accept you, bless you, increase you, advance you, upgrade your life and walk in the Beloved.
Remember this today, that God always tells you who you are. You don’t have to deal with the negative anymore. He only invites us to focus on our new identity and on what He is doing inside of today.

A Higher level of Truth- Graham Cooke




There is always a higher level of truth than the facts. This is the difference between that which is true and that which is the truth.
A negative mindset can easily state the facts, establishing your inability.
I can’t do it. I’m no good. It’s too big. We are not strong enough. We are not big enough. We are not powerful enough. We feel like grasshoppers in our own sight.”

What we are doing is confessing to something that weare not—rather than confessing to who we really are.

Jesus is now in you. You stopped being disorganized or perpetually angry or suicidal or whatever it is that you attribute to your old nature. Those things may have been true for you, but they are dead now.
The truth is that you have a new nature. Start confessing in line with that truth!
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, who empowers me, who enables me. There isn’t anything I can’t learn, and there isn’t anything I can’t do with the help of the Holy Spirit.
This plays out for ourselves and others. Speaking the truth in love is not stating someone’s shortcomings as nicely as possible because that is not the truth. That is only true. But the truth is, “This is who you are in Jesus…”

When we are speaking the truth in love, we are not putting someone down nicely—we are elevating someone brilliantly.

We are saying to people, “You don’t need to be doing that because this is who you are.” You speak the truth in love to empower them. You make them want to become that person.
“This is who you are; you are brilliant. This is who Jesus is for you. That is who Jesus is for you. You can do this because He is with you. This is why you are going to have an amazing, astonishing life. This is why God is going to lift you out of the ordinary into the extraordinary because no one can be ordinary in Jesus. It is not allowed! He is in you. One of His names is wonderful, so what does that make you? It makes you at least potentially astonishing.”
The love of God and His affection for you is the starting place in every situation that we are in. Now, it is our privilege to take negative thoughts captive to better ones for others and even more so, for ourselves!
PS) For more on this transformational way of thinking, take a look at a few of these resources. I hope they help!

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

BOOK REVIEW- THE ANGEL OF SORIANO

The Angel of Soriano: A Renaissance Romance by [Alden,Stella Marie]
Tonight, Aurelia's uncle plans to steal Soriano away from Rodrigo Borgia. Although she doesn't give a fig who owns the town that nearly stoned her to death, her handsome captain is behind bars. She should never have agreed to marry him, especially not upside down and over his shoulder. 
What is it about Bernardo's new wife? The beautiful angel refuses to trust him, not even after he weds her without a dowry. She wields a firearm like a pirate, disguises herself as a male doctor, and nearly drives him mad. And yet he can't go on without her. 
How can a mere man convince a woman like that to come home?  AMAZON  4 STARS

Good story, with really good main characters and secondary ones too. Bernardo's best friend, Fulvio was one of the good secondary people.  He really did have Bernardo's back, all the time.
The story didn't lack for bad guys and women too.    It was amazing how shrill, snobbish and unappealing Lucella and her grandmother were.  Definitely fell into the bad people column. 
 Aurelia's beauty is also her curse, she attracts men like a magnet.  And she's not even trying to.  She just wants to be left alone to practise her healing skills.  She figures she is never getting married anyway because of several things that happened that were never in her control.  You have to read the story to know what they are.  There is plenty of action in the story, as well as Aurelia doing a lot of running from lecherous men.  Lucky for her she's one smart, ingenious young woman.  Some of the things she did to escape made me laugh.  She was extremely creative.  She has many near misses to disaster by the skin of her teeth.  There will be battles, romance, power struggles, mysteries and some sex too.


“I received a copy of this book in exchange for a review”.

Elevation Worship - Resurrecting (Live)

BOOK REVIEW- PROMISE TRAIL

Promise Trail (Redemption Mountain Historical Western Romance Book 6) by [Davies, Shirleen]
Bull Mason has built a life far away from his service in the Union Army and the ravages of the Civil War. He’s achieved his dreams—loyal friends, work he enjoys, a home of his own, and a promise from the woman he loves to become his wife. 
Lydia Rinehart can’t believe how much her life has changed. Escaping captivity from a Crow village, she finds refuge and a home at the sprawling Redemption’s Edge ranch…and love in the arms of Bull Mason, the ranch foreman. For the first time since her parents’ death, she feels cherished and safe. 
In an instant their dreams are crushed… 
Bull is resolute in his determination to track down and rescue Lydia’s brother, kidnapped during the celebration of their friend’s wedding. He’s made a promise—one he intends to keep. Picking the best men, they are ready to ride, until he’s given an ultimatum.
Choices can seldom be undone… 
As their journey continues, the trackers become the prey, finding their freedom and lives threatened. 
And promises broken can rarely be reclaimed… Can Bull and Lydia trust each other again and find their way to back to the dreams they once shared?    AMAZON  4 STARS

Having read quite a few of the books in this Series, I was glad to be able to read what happened when Lydia's brother got snatched from the ranch.  So here was my chance when the book was offered.  I liked it but it was also painful sometimes when looking at many of the challenges they were faced with.  Lydia had faced so much already when she was held captive in the Crow village  but as you can see by the blurb, more are headed Lydia and Bull's way.  I just have to say that even though I understood her making a sacrifice in the book, I wanted to slap her and tell her don't do it! Now, that's not to say that I didn't like Lydia, just this one decision.  Well, there were a few other emotional decisions that she made that were bad ones.  Sitting down and talking to Bull just might have avoided a lot of problems.  She also was still trying trying to heal from her trauma's.  Just trying to be fair here.  Bull was a straight arrow good guy, with many talents besides just being a cowboy foreman.  He had so much honor and would do just about anything for someone he called friend, and for Lydia, who he deeply loved.   Poor Bull, so often he was flying semi-blind when it came to dealing with Lydia.

They are going to have to work through a lot but there will be a HEA for them.  There is also several other HEA for other people in the story, which I enjoyed.  Because there were plenty of other people to the story, who also added their flavor of troubles to be worked through. While this book probably isn't my favorite of the series, I still did like it and liked  that a lot of loose strings get wrapped up.  With all the HEA's in the story, its not a cliffhanger to my way of thinking.  But if you are interesting in one particular couple who had called it quits, then that story probably will be in another book.



I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Monday, September 26, 2016

Heart Attacks & Water



How many folks do you know who say they don't want to drink anything before going to bed because they'll have to get up during the night.
Heart Attack and Water - I never knew all of this ! Interesting.......
Something else I didn't know ... I asked my Doctor why people need to urinate so much at night time. Answer from my Cardiac Doctor - Gravity holds water in the lower part of your body when you are upright (legs swell). When you lie down and the lower body (legs and etc) seeks level with the kidneys, it is then that the kidneys remove the water because it is easier. This then ties in with the last statement!
I knew you need your minimum water to help flush the toxins out of your body, but this was news to me. Correct time to drink water...
Very Important. From A Cardiac Specialist!


Drinking water at a certain time maximizes its effectiveness on the body
2 glasses of water after waking up - helps activate internal organs
1 glass of water 30 minutes before a meal - helps digestion
1 glass of water before taking a bath - helps lower blood pressure
1 glass of water before going to bed - avoids stroke or heart attack
I can also add to this... My Physician told me that water at bed time will also help prevent night time leg cramps. Your leg muscles are seeking hydration when they cramp and wake you up with a Charlie Horse.
Mayo Clinic Aspirin Dr. Virend Somers, is a Cardiologist from the Mayo Clinic, who is lead author of the report in the July 29, 2008 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Most heart attacks occur in the day, generally between 6 A.M. and noon. Having one during the night, when the heart should be most at rest, means that something unusual happened. Somers and his colleagues have been working for a decade to show that sleep apnea is to blame.
1. If you take an aspirin or a baby aspirin once a day, take it at night.
The reason: Aspirin has a 24-hour "half-life"; therefore, if most heart attacks happen in the wee hours of the morning, the Aspirin would be strongest in your system.
2. FYI, Aspirin lasts a really long time in your medicine chest, for years, (when it gets old, it smells like vinegar).
Please read on...
Something that we can do to help ourselves - nice to know. Bayer is making crystal aspirin to dissolve instantly on the tongue.
They work much faster than the tablets.
Why keep Aspirin by your bedside? It's about Heart Attacks.
There are other symptoms of a heart attack, besides the pain on the left arm. One must also be aware of an intense pain on the chin, as well as nausea and lots of sweating; however, these symptoms may also occur less frequently.
Note: There may be NO pain in the chest during a heart attack.
The majority of people (about 60%) who had a heart attack during their sleep did not wake up. However, if it occurs, the chest pain may wake you up from your deep sleep.
If that happens, immediately dissolve two aspirins in your mouth and swallow them with a bit of water.
Afterwards: - Call 911. - Phone a neighbor or a family member who lives very close by.- Say "heart attack!" - Say that you have taken 2 Aspirins.
Take a seat on a chair or sofa near the front door, and wait for their arrival and ...DO NOT LIE DOWN!
A Cardiologist has stated that if each person after receiving this e-mail, sends it to 10 people, probably one life could be saved!
I have already shared this information. What about you?
Do forward this message. It may save lives!
"Life is a one time gift"
   LINK



On a personal note-
Someone I know with a nursing background, carries aspirin in each of their family cars.  It came in handy when her husband was driving alone and began to have symptoms.  It bought him precious time until help could arrive.   That was confirmed at the hospital when he got there..  Without that time he wouldn't have made it.  




Bruce Van Natta (Saved By Angels) on Sid Roth show "It's Supernatural"

"Fasting" Richard Crisco

Elevation Worship - O Come to the Altar (Live)

Sunday, September 25, 2016

BOOK REVIEW- CAN'T FORGET

Can't Forget by [Myers, Colleen S.] 
Four months have passed since the E’mani—those pale alien freaks—destroyed the Earth and scooped up the remains. Elizabeth “Beta” Camden was one of those taken. But she escapes and confronts her prior captors successfully with the help of their enemies. Yet she knows the Imani won’t forget about her. She should stay vigilant and ready. Her heart refuses to listen. Beta falls in love with Marin—he of the hot hands and slit eyes. 
Too bad she was right. 
This time the E’mani don’t come in force. This time the E’mani slip in silently. And any hope she had of a peaceful life is lost. Beta knows what she has to do and it isn’t play house. She leaves in the dead of night to find the E’mani stronghold and end them once and for all. But love is a tricky bitch. And Marin refuses to let her throw her life away. It takes a threat to his safety to make her realize, if she can’t forget her past, she won’t have a future.  AMAZON

I really enjoyed this book.  Yes, I had read the first one, "Must Remember," and now I got to read this second one to see where things went.  Great main characters, great action, great worlds building, great, secondary characters too.  The secondary people were colorful and interesting.  Even the "evil" mad scientist, E’mani, Xade, was so evil it made me want to see him go down in flames.  
A good thing to keep in mind is that this sci- fi adventure is more for a mature adult audience, because it contains adult content .  There is sex, death, loss, and there is torture as part of the story. 
Marin pushed things, he always pushed.  He was a "man"with leadership abilities and he was the Leader of his Clan. One of his styles was to present something and when he met with resistance, he would let it drop.  But he would circle back and push again at a later date and maybe in a different way. Sounded kind of manipulative to me, but I still liked him anyway.  He also had such a loveless growing up, and wanted more with Beta.  He wanted her love and the loving family he could have with her.    And it was clear that he loved her deeply, he was also insecure about her love for him.  You can just imagine how many problems that caused.  

I really liked the expressive way the author wrote. Like: "His slit pupils dilated and the bruised expression in his eyes faded.  His eyes grew languid hot."  See what I mean?  
Some of the gifts that the Fost had were pretty interesting.  One of Marin's had to do with the wind.  Elizabeth was a continual surprise when it came to her gifts and the people's connection to their "earth" or in other words, The Land.  
For those who who want to know there is a Happy For Now ending, because everything isn't wrapped up.  I was hoping that this book would be the end of the story with justice being served.  But it looks like there will be another book to hopefully take us there.  


I love the picture on the cover of the ebook,  it's colorful and dramatic looking.



I received a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Thursday, September 22, 2016

BOOK REVIEW- ALOHA TEXAS: Navy Hero Nick

Aloha Texas: Navy Hero Nick (Aloha Series Book 1) by [Keniston, Chris]
Former Navy Special Forces Nicholas Harper likes his new life as captain of a dive boat in Hawaii.
Powerhouse attorney Kara Lynn O'Conner's world revolves around her small Texas town where life is easy and safe.
Six year old Bradley Russell is about to change everything.   AMAZON 4 STARS

This story was a different set up than what I expected.  But I liked that and the way that it was written.  True, it was a slower paced book but not in a way that dragged.  Nick and Kara's life experience were as different as night and day, in an interesting way.   Nick was used to one nighters with women and being footloose and fancy free, in Hawaii.   Still he was a man who was loyal to his friends and good as a co-business owner. He had a code of honor that he lived by and he lifted his share of the work when it came to his business.   Things get totally turned upside down with one phone call from Kara Lynn O'Conner.  I'm trying to inform but tread lightly here because I want other readers to get to read the story like I did.  It was like one thread was pulled, and the story lines begin to unravel in ways that keep the reader's attention.  Mystery after mystery begins to come out.  And not just Nick's mystery but the mystery of what happened to Kara to make her so skittish at times.  She is a confident, competent loving woman but terror would strike her when she was placed in certain situations.   That is all I am going to say about that.  Bradley was such a good part of the story and there were also Kara's Aunt Maggie and other secondary people who made for a great family feel to parts of the book.   Be prepared for a few more twists and turns and other challenges being worked through.  It also had its moments of sadness, where you could feel your emotions being pulled at.  
It also sounds like the next book with Nick's business  partner,  Billy is going to be a good one too.
There is a short look into that book in the back of this one.   I just might have to put it on my TBR list. 

Tuesday, September 20, 2016

BOOK REVIEW- FRACTAL

Fractal by [Mannino, Rachel]
Anna keeps to herself in rural North Carolina, raising her younger brother and never dreaming she might not be human. A ship descends from the sky and the handsome alien, Varick, proclaims that she is the long-lost ruler of his planet, forced to flee from their world by an experiment gone wrong. 

Determined to discover her heritage as “the Vadana”, she journeys with Varick, her ‘Protector’, to their abandoned planet. Along the way, Varick strengthens her belief in herself as she struggles to be the leader her people need. Anna discovers that as soon as they return, the Council will force her to marry a man she’s never met, even while her heart is drawn towards Varick. 

A romance between the Vadana and her Protector is forbidden above all, and can only end in Varick’s death. A prophet warns Anna and Varick that they can heal their solar system, but they can’t let anything stand in their way. Their growing love for each other will either save their world, or bring about destruction.  AMAZON  5+ STARS

Wow, what a great story.  I loved it and it didn't take long for me to be all in.  I couldn't put it down.  Great story, great people, great science fiction ideas, great twists and turns.  Did I say how much I really loved this story?   Interesting start to the book, right off the bat. Anna's  brother, Brendan and her best friend, Hannah add to the story.   Hannah has Anna's back, in her own sassy way.  She was loyal, at times uncomfortably direct and mischievous and I couldn't help but like her too.   There were also other people in the story who had an interesting part to play. 

The enemies of The Realm kept coming out of the woodwork and kept trying to stop them from safely making it home.  It made for some interesting times.   I really enjoyed the realism of Anna trying to come to terms with all the truth that starts coming out.   Even more real were the doubts that she has when it comes to being the Leader of her planet.  And Varick, her Protector?  Handsome, smart, honorable and good at his job.  Proud to have reached the level of Protector and the fact that he now had someone to protect.   What a great "guy" and so over his head when it came to dealing with this new Vadana. I enjoyed their relationship, even though they had a rocky start.  What became clear pretty quickly was that her experiences of living on Earth had actually helped her as she gets into her new role.  She is definitely NOT the typical, home planet raised future ruler.   If there is going to be a rule or law, it better have some rhyme and logical reason for it.  Just because it was tradition was not going to cut it with her. 
Without giving too much away, I will say early on I had my suspicions about one of the people traveling with them.  Didn't seem like one of the "good guys."  Yep, I had it right.   But it was fun finding out it was true, the motives and how that person tries to stick it to them.  
By the way, what a great cover picture for the book, I liked that too.  I kept going back and looking at it because its so pretty.  Yes, I know, how girly of me.  


I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.  

BOOK REVIEW- ANYWHERE YOU ARE

Anywhere You Are: A Return to Briarwood Novel by [Barrett, Elisabeth]
As the daughter of a music legend, Grace Davingham knows all too well what it’s like to be burned by the media’s glare. Now all she wants is to be left to do her painting and conservation work in peace, with no intention of returning to the spotlight. But after she sprains her ankle hiking and a handsome real-estate mogul comes to her rescue, Grace once again finds herself in the public eye. 
Sexy, successful, and averse to any attachments, Marcus Colby thrives on rigid discipline in order to manage both his real-estate investment company and his personal life. Marc has no time for fun, and no patience for crazy. Which is why meeting Grace—and inheriting an enormous Great Dane who won’t listen to a word he says—has turned Marc’s carefully constructed world upside down. 
Only when Grace and Marc square off over a local controversy do they realize how different they really are. But if opposites attract, their love is destined to bind them together—forever.  AMAZON 3 STARS. 


I liked both of the main characters, as different as they each were.  Marc being so contained and buttoned up and Grace so free spirited.  The Great Dane was a nice addition to the story and added to some of the crazy to their lives.  Well mainly Marc's because Grace really handled the dog quite well.  She fell in love with the dog really quickly,  they bonded without much struggle.  The same can't be said of Marc and Grace though.  They were going to struggle over many different challenges although the attraction was definitely there.  The author did a good job of getting the emotions across in the story.  Not only with the main characters relationship but with all the other people in their lives too.  Grace's family and all the fame that went with them added to the story and was believable.  Grace had been used time and again by many people over the years because of that fame, and she was just looking for normal.  She had finally walked away from the reality show that her family was involved with, she wanted to keep her sanity. She was also talented and smart all on her own.  Don't think that just her family was dysfunctional.  No, Marc had his own kind of crazy family going on.  Just  a different kind of crazy. This story brought in different kinds of problems that the M.C.'s had to overcome, so from that emotional view I would have to say I liked it.  But for me, it was just an okay story, all in all. 




I received a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Monday, September 19, 2016

Kenneth Copeland Ministries - A Word About Angels

Kenneth Copeland Ministries - A Word About Angels

BOOK REVIEW- HOPE FLAMES

Hope Flames by [Burton, Jaci] 
Thirty-two and finally setting up her veterinary practice in the town she once called home, Emma Burnett is on her own and loving it. Independent and driven, she’s not letting any man get in the way of her dreams. Not again.
 
That’s fine with Luke McCormack. Divorced and hardly lacking in female company when he needs it, he’s devoted to the only faithful companion in his life—his police dog. Still, there’s something about Emma he can’t shake.
 
When a series of local break-ins leaves Emma vulnerable, she seeks help from the first man to spark her desire in years. And now they’re giving each other something they thought they’d lost forever…hope.     AMAZON


As I was getting ready to leave a review on Amazon, I glanced down and saw this "Needs some oomph, said one reviewer."  I say, that Nailed it.  Although the people were nice, it was so low-key that it was just okay to read.   Slow moving and kind of bland. The dogs were a nice addition but even they couldn't save it for me. In my opinion, there was way too much "Man, she/he is SO hot, I could really go for that. But wait, I'm SO NOT looking for a relationship."  

You might want to cover your ears for the next comment.
**********************************************************
I was NOT excited by the several references to how Luke tingled all the way to his balls, when Emma smiled, laughed or etc.  Way too much reference to that, to my way of thinking.  
*************************************************************************
Okay, you can uncover your ears now.


I'm glad that there were other people who enjoyed this book but I was disappointed.

Wednesday, September 14, 2016

I Am Local 6: 'Bag Ladies' make plastic bags into beds for homeless

I Am Local 6: 'Bag Ladies' make plastic bags into beds for homeless: Do you have any plastic bags floating around your home? Many of us use them as garbage bags, doggie bags or extra lunch bags. A group of women is using them to help the homeless.

UNION CITY, TN -

Bookworm Dilemma (pic)

Link

Scrap Buster Hats

Scrap Buster Hats

Scrap Buster Hat

Crochet Hook: H/8 or 5 mm hook
Yarn Weight: (4) Medium Weight/Worsted Weight and Aran (16-20 stitches to 4 inches)
MATERIALS:
  • 1-2 ounces of worsted weight yarn for the band
  • Scrap worsted weight yarn for the rest
  • Crochet Hook: H/8 (5 mm)
  • Measuring Tape
  • Tapestry Needle
  • Scissors
SIZE:
All Sizes
Common head circumferences by age inches/centimeters:
Newborn: 13.5/34
3 months: 16/41
6 months: 17/43
12 months: 18/46
2 years: 19/48
3-5 years: 20/51
6-10 years: 21/53
Adult Small: 22/56
Adult Medium: 23/58
Adult Large: 24/61
GAUGE:
Do not use a gauge- instead, measure your head for the best fitting hat.
NOTES:
Instructions are written for baby/child with changes for (adult) in parentheses.

HAT
Band:

Chain 11(13).
Row 1- sc in 2nd chain from hook and in each chain across. Ch1, turn [10(12)sc]
Row 2- sc in BLO each sc across. Ch1, turn.
Repeat row 2 until your hat band measures to 1/2inch(1 inch) less than fit chosen head.
Tip: End with tails on the same side so you can hide them easier!
Match ends and sl st across to seam. FO.
Body:
Round 1- Join scrap color with a sl st at the seam. Ch2. HDC in the end of each band row around, hiding those ends as you go. Join with a sl st to the beginning ch2. FO.
Round 2- Join next scrap color with a sl st. Ch2. Hdc in each hdc, (hiding ends- not gonna keep repeating this- you get the idea) around. Join with a sl st to beginning ch2. FO.
Round 3-6- Repeat Round 2 (4) more times.
Adult sizes only- Repeat Round 2 (twice) more (for a total of 8 even hdc rounds)
Decreasing: 
What does it mean to decrease? Decrease means to turn two stitches into one. It's two stitches at the bottom and 1 stitch at the top. In this hat pattern, we are turning 2hdc into 1hdc. To hdc2tog (half double crochet two together) aka DECREASE, you will yarn over, insert hook in the first stitch, yarn over and pull through 2. Yarn over and insert hook into the next stitch, Yarn over and pull through all loops on hook. 
Round 7(9)- Join next scrap color with a sl st. Ch2. Hdc around, decreasing every 7(9) stitches. Join with a sl st to beginning ch2. FO.
Note: It doesn't matter if it's not exact and there are stitches left over. The effect will be the same by the time you braid the end closed. 
Round 8(10)- Join next scrap color with a sl st. Ch2. Hdc around. Join with a sl st to beginning ch2. FO.
Round 9(11)- Join next scrap color with a sl st. Ch2. Hdc around, decreasing every 6(8) stitches. Join with a sl st to beginning ch2. FO.
Round 10(12)- Repeat round 8(10)
Round 11(13)- Join next scrap color with a sl st. Ch2. Hdc around, decreasing every 5(7) stitches. Join with a sl st to beginning ch2. FO.
Round 12(14)- Repeat round 8(10)
Round 13(15)- Join next scrap color with a sl st. Ch2. Hdc around, decreasing every 4(6) stitches. Join with a sl st to beginning ch2. FO.
Round 14(16)- Repeat round 8(10)
Round 15(17)- Join next scrap color with a sl st. Ch2. Hdc around, decreasing every 3(5) stitches. Join with a sl st to beginning ch2. FO.
Round 16(18)- Repeat round 8(10)
Round 17(19)- Join next scrap color with a sl st. Ch2. Hdc around, decreasing every 2(4) stitches. Join with a sl st to beginning ch2. FO.
Round 18(20)- Repeat round 8(10)
For Baby/Child Sizes Only:
Round 19- Join next scrap color with a sl st. Ch2. Decrease around. Join with a sl st to beginning ch2. FO.
Round 20- Repeat round 8, leaving end tail 1.25feet long.
For Adult Sizes Only:
Round 21- Join next scrap color with a sl st. Ch2. Hdc around, decreasing every 3 stitches. Join with a sl st to beginning ch2. FO.
Round 22- Repeat round 10.
Round 23- Join next scrap color with a sl st. Ch2. Hdc around, decreasing every 2 stitches. Join with a sl st to beginning ch2. FO.
Round 24- Repeat round 10.
Round 25- Join next scrap color with a sl st. Ch2. Decrease around. Join with a sl st to beginning ch2. FO.
Round 26- Repeat round 10, leaving end tail 1.5 feet long.
The Braid:
The braid is attached just as you would add fringe to a scarf or blanket. If you don't want to stitch the ends in, you can sew them on after the braid is complete.
Cut 24(30) pieces of various yarns 2.5(3)feet long. Using your hook to pull through the last stitches you made, distribute pieces as evenly as possible around top opening of hat, (some may have more than others) pulling to match ends as you go. (Try to make these as even as possible.)
ivide evenly into 3 groups (there will be an extra one because of the long tail you left, so 16, 17, 16 -or- 20, 21, 20... or, you know, whatever...). I try to mix them up here- not get all the blue, for example, into one braid. Braid to near the ends and knot tightly. Trim the fringe evenly.
Alternatively, you could make a solid braid to match (or not match) the hat band.

Read more at http://www.allfreecrochet.com/Hats/Scrap-Buster-Hats#9qWubAUfRwSRRAEh.99

Selah - I Turn To You

Tuesday, September 13, 2016

BOOK REVIEW- CATCHING HEAT


Twenty-seven years after the deaths of Detective Abby Hart’s parents, she’s desperate to find the proof that will put the mastermind—the governor’s wife—behind bars. When she joins a newly formed task force and teams up with PI Luke Murphy, Abby is sent to San Luis Obispo to work the cold case of a murdered college student. Realizing their investigation will bring them near the town where Alyssa Rollins grew up, Abby decides to do a little digging of her own into the Triple Seven fire.
Luke is eager to help Abby close the books on a case they both have personal stakes in. But as she uncovers long-held secrets, Abby stumbles into an explosive situation, and Luke fears that her obsession may prove deadly.  AMAZON  4.5 STARS

When I saw this book, I thought "Oh, I've got to read this one!"  I enjoy this author so much and I've read the other 2 books in this particular story series.  I just have to read the last one and find out how it ends.  But inside I'm thinking, "Please, oh please don't disappoint me on this last one."
The opening of this book starts out with a bang.  It catches the reader right away.  I do have to say that as experienced investigators, I was surprised that two of them got surprised by one of the villains and he got the drop on them.   But relax, that does get explained and handled as the story goes on.  

What do I like about this series? 
It's Intense.  
 I like Luke and Abby, and the mysteries that seem about to be solved but then there is just one more twist.  A good point is made that Abby has been seeking justice, answers to her questions since she was 6 years old. Also that Luke and Abby seem to be close to maybe being together and then "bam! "another miss. Of course, you know that I want to see Abby and Luke get together, is it going to happen?  I also like the other continuing people in the story like Woody.   There was just such a closeness between Abby and Woody, they worked together good too.  And I could see that Woody not only respected her as an officer but also felt like she was the daughter he never had.  More than once, especially in this last book, I kept thinking, "Please don't kill off Woody."  Faye is what I consider a minor character, she was helpful, but also caused a lot of questions.   One was, did Luke and Faye really have enough going for them to be a real couple?  Also it caused some unwanted jealousy for Abby as she agonized over the fact that Luke and Faye might keep going with their relationship.  That said,  even though Faye was helpful, it didn't feel like the author dug all that deep into who she really was.    That's okay though, because there were plenty of twists and turns in this story, and a new cold case or two that add to the plot.  I liked some of the other people that they ran across as the team investigated.   
Kelsey Cox was a really interesting, complex "bad woman".  She becomes more like a "rat caught in a trap", and she isn't going to go quietly.   That made for a good element of the story.
Now if you have read the other books in this series, you know that Governor Rollins and his wife, Alyssa have been central people in the story from the start.  It has become clearer and clearer just how cruel and ruthless Alyssa is and this book shows it even more.  The question is and has been, does the Governor know what she has been up to, what does he know, and WHEN did he know it?
Hold on, those questions will be answered. 
This story started with a Bang and it ends the same way.  Very satisfying.
The romance in this is light, so is the references to God.    He is there but not crammed down your throat. 


Tyndale House Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review. 




Saturday, September 10, 2016

Jesse Duplantis Ministries Does God Think That About Me Part 1



28:30 in Length

Jesse Duplantis Ministries Does God Think That About Me Part 2 Beli...



LENGTH 28:29

You have a right to the Favor Of God-Graham Cooke

You have a right to the favor of God.
Favor calls us up to a new place in Christ. We learn how to take responsibility for our blessing. Favor enables us to revel in Abiding in the Goodness of God, and it is yours to accept. The popular teaching, The Favor Series, is focused on giving you an opportunity to break out of your current mindset and be overwhelmed by the love and majesty of the Father.
Of TheFavorSeriesthe hundreds of people who attended the conference or have listened to The Favor Series in the years since its release, this review of the series perfectly summarizes the heart of The Favor Series teaching:
I never knew what was possible in my walk with God, until I heard this teaching. I have not known what it is like to be overwhelmed by God, and to have an expectancy that overcame my deficiencies. Graham faces you up with majesty to the point where you run out of excuses for not experiencing it yourself!
I found breakthrough after breakthrough in my thinking, believing and my trust and faith. I actually feel ahead of the curve now in my life. These messages have caused me to grow up in terms of what I know the Father wants to be for me in Jesus. Every situation has become part of my learning. Problems no longer paralyze me because Favor has given me a sense of Wonder that I have never encountered before in the events of my life.
-Stephanie at Brilliant Book House
LINK

There is also a YouTube video with Graham Cooke speaking about this Series.

Thursday, September 8, 2016

Talk to Yourself...Genius


Studies show that talking to yourself can make you learn more quickly, think more efficiently, and boost long term memory.
One study, printed by the Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, found that verbal stimulation altered ongoing perceptual processing. This means that talking to themselves, especially when repeating the name of an object, significantly helped participants of the study become more receptive to the object they said aloud, making it easier to find the object if they searched for it.
Many experts and studies have actually done research in order to see how talking to yourself helps. Here’s the top five ways, all backed up by science.

1. You’re brain works more efficiently
In an experiment done by Live Science, test subjects that repeated objects not only found them more easily, but had a better memory and enhanced memorization abilities. Speaking something out loud to yourself actually solidifies what you are doing and makes it more easy for your body to understand.
2. As a child, you’ll learn better
Babies and toddlers need to hear their voices when growing up, as “self directed speech can help guide children’s behavior… often talking themselves step by step through tasks.” By talking aloud to yourself as a youngster, you can vocalize directions and become more adept at following them, or any other process.
3. It helps organize your thoughts
Talking to yourself helps validate important decisions, according to psychologist Linda Sapadin. By speaking out loud, you are vocally prioritizing tasks and de-cluttering your mind. Hearing your issue be vocalized also calms your nerves, instead of it bouncing around in your head.
4. You’ll achieve more goals
Repeating something out loud, especially your goals, will help reinforce your attention and focus, along with eliminate distractions. Walking yourself through the steps will make each one more individual and clear, as opposed to blending them all together. By saying it and hearing it, you mentally condition your brain to put more effort into achieving it.  LINK

Marionettes- Who's pulling your strings?

BOOK REVIEW- CANVAS LOVE

New Adult Romance: Canvas Love: Paranormal Fantasy by [Knight, Demi] 
Ty was glasses, spots and braces free and ready for love. He’d filled out nicely and hoped the object of his affections appreciated the hard work he’d done in becoming the man of her dreams. He had reinvented himself so he could be with his one true love, Viola Grant. The only thing was...Viola wanted nothing to do with him, and had even threatened to get a Restraining Order on him if he didn't quit his stalking ways. 
Ty was convinced there was only one thing left to do to make Viola love him. He had to make Viola see the man he’d become. He was no longer “squeaky geeky” from their childhood. Now he was a famous novelist and cartoonist, with the ability to buy her anything her heart desired. She had to see him to finally realize he was the man of her dreams. Ty fell to pieces when got the news of Viola's engagement.

Was this the end? Was Ty destine to be alone forever, because surely he could never love another the way he loved Viola?   AMAZON  4  STARS

SURPRISING.  If I had to describe this book in one word, that is what it would be.  I really liked it and it packed quite a bit into it for the short amount of pages that it had.  It didn't take long for me to be rooting for Ty the underdog of the piece.   That's a LONG time to have an unrequited love but he sure was creative in how he made an income from his frustrated love.  That was a nice twist.  And there will be several.  I zoomed through the pages not only because of the size of the book but because I was enjoying  it too.  I wanted to see how things were going to happen for Ty.  There is a HEA for him but I never saw some of the developments that were heading his way.  
There is also good secondary people who show up as well as a totally unexpected main character, who had not been mentioned before in the blurb.  
Surprises, oh yes!


I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.  

Be FILLED with the Spirit- Ron Moore


By Ron Moore

Description

When you are filled with something, that thing controls your life. Our ongoing prayer is that the Spirit will control us in every moment. 

Ephesians 5:18-21
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
When you are filled with something, that thing controls your life. For instance, if you are filled with anger, anger controls your life. If you are filled with bitterness, bitterness controls your life. If you are filled with alcohol (or personified as “Al K. Hall” in the Women’s Christian Temperance Union youth meetings that my mom made me attend), alcohol controls your life. You get the idea. So, Paul says, don’t be under the influence of sinful appetites that lead to destruction; instead, be controlled by the Spirit of the living God who lives in your heart.
Now for some important theology. In Scripture, we are never asked to be baptized by the Spirit. Baptism is the work of the Spirit at the moment of salvation that places us into the body of Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body… (1 Corinthians 12:13). In Scripture, we are never instructed to be sealed by the Spirit. The Spirit seals us at the moment of salvation, guaranteeing that we are a child of God. …You were sealed in him with the Holy Spirit… (Ephesians 1:12). In Scripture, we are never asked to be indwelt by the Spirit. Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? (1 Corinthians 3:16) These are all one-time-for-all-time events. But the filling of the Spirit is different. It calls for continuous action. Our on-going prayer is that the Spirit will control us for the moment, as we face a difficult challenge, as we wait for the doctor’s report, as we enter into a difficult meeting, as we worriedly watch Wall Street.
Here’s a prayer you can pray for the control of the Spirit.
Father, this is your day on loan to me, and I want to be used by you for spiritual impact. I submit myself, my plans, my activities, and my interactions with others to you. I thank you that I have been baptized and sealed by your Spirit. I thank you that your Spirit dwells in me. Now I ask that your Spirit control every aspect of my life. Take control of my tongue, that my words will reflect your love and grace. Take control of my emotions that I may respond obediently and calmly. Take control of my thoughts, that my mind may be quickly cleansed of those things that will not honor you and be full of the things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and praiseworthy. Control my actions in such a way that others will see my deeds and know that they have been influenced by you. Give me the strength to live this day in a way that pleases you. I submit myself to your control. In Christ’s name. Amen.

Jennifer LeClaire: It's Time to Put On Your Prophetic Armor

Jennifer LeClaire: It's Time to Put On Your Prophetic Armor

Learn powerful prophetic warfare strategies in Jennifer LeClaire's new e-book.
Jennifer LeClaire is now sharing her reflections and revelations through Walking in the Spirit. Listen at charismapodcastnetwork.com.

You have probably noticed that spiritual warfare is increasing in the last days. It doesn't take a prophet to discern the raging culture wars, the bold rise of principalities like Jezebel, or the spirit of the world that has settled into a front row seat in far too many churches. Whether we like it or not, we are in a war.
In this timely e-book, I equip you with the prophetic armor you need to stand against the enemy's schemes. You will learn powerful prophetic warfare strategies, how to identify your mighty prophetic weapons, and how to walk confidently as a mighty warrior of God.
Don't miss this revelation to gird yourself with the prophetic armor that God has already placed in your arsenal.
This is my gift to you. Click here to download the free e-book.
Click here to learn more about my prophetic training courses. 
Jennifer LeClaire is senior editor of Charisma. She is also director of Awakening House of Prayer in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, co-founder of awakeningtv.com, on the leadership team of the New Breed Revival Network and author of several books, including The Next Great Move of God: An Appeal to Heaven for Spiritual Awakening;Mornings With the Holy Spirit, Listening Daily to the Still, Small Voice of GodThe Making of a Prophet and Satan's Deadly Trio: Defeating the Deceptions of Jezebel, Religion and Witchcraft. You can visit her website here. You can also join Jennifer onFacebook or follow her on Twitter. Jennifer's Periscope handle is @propheticbooks.
3 Reasons Why you should read Life in the Spirit. 1) Get to know the Holy Spirit. 2) Learn to enter God's presence 3) Hear God's voice clearly! Go deeper!
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