Peace: who, what, when, where, why, how? (Bible review and giveaway)

** Note, if viewing on a phone, turn horizontal for optimal reading. 

In a world full of chaos and uncertainty there is an something that can bring peace and calm to your life, regardless of the circumstance, and I have found ample evidence of this throughout my life, in various difficult and troubling circumstances. That "something" is the Word of God. 

Today I am delighted to share a new Bible that focuses on the peace that reading His Word can bring, the Peace of God Bible, published by Thomas Nelson, edited by Jeremiah J. Johnston, PhD*. 

• Who~ Anyone and Everyone! You were made for peace, and to be a peacemaker. The story of the Bible is the story of peace—peace with God and with one another. 
• What~ Peace of God! But peace isn’t simply a feeling of calm or ease. It is a way of experiencing life as we were always meant to—in relationship with our Creator and with each other. We can recover a completeness that was once lost but is restored in the gospel.
• When/Where~ Any Time, and Any Place ~ Today is a great day to read God's Word! 
• Why~ Why the Bible? Because it is our sword (Protector) and guide  (the Lamp that lights our path), and God's instruction book, showing not only how to live, but also how to find and experience His Peace.
• How/Where~ Read, Memorize, Meditate. These are all excellent activities, and to answer this "where" question, of course, any Bible will do, but the Peace of God Bible makes it much easier to focus on finding peace through God's Word in a number of ways, and be equipped to share that peace with others.

Features include:

• Book introductions to help reveal the part peace plays in each book of the Bible
• Aesthetically, this text of this Bible features line-matched, double-column typesetting in clear and readable 9.5-point NKJV Comfort Print®
• Bottom-of-page translators’ notes and cross-references are useful study tools
• 365 devotionals based on a key verse or passage to guide you in how to receive and live by God’s peace. These can be found as you read through the Bible. If you would like to be more systematic, over 100 of the devotions are listed in a topical index to help you study on your own how God's peace can shape different relationships in your life. If you would like to use the 365 devotions daily for a year, you can find the references where they are found, by book, in the Features Index at the end of the Bible.  

          

• 365 peace notes can also be found in the Features index. These offer short, powerful insights to help you understand more deeply the wholeness you have in Christ. I would appreciate these a little more if they included (even in tiny font) the references of Scripture that they were drawn from, but they are good thoughts to carry through the day. 
  

• 3 Articles in the front pages explore what the peace of God is, how to find or recover it, and how to experience eternal salvation because of what God has done for you~ This is a great Bible to gift someone who is seeking to know more about the Gift of Salvation, and/or is looking for real and lasting peace~ the Peace of God! 
•  Concordance and previously mentioned Index of Features
  
  

I am drawn towards music on a daily basis, and love when I find songs that relate to whatever I am thinking about. When it comes to peace, and God's provision, there are so many good songs! 

Christian Musician Leanna Crawford's Still Waters (Psalm 23) includes these lyrics:

Great Aunt Maurine said at a hundred and three

"Write scripture on your heart for when you need it

'Cause anxiety hates Psalm 23

and later on...

Lord, I believe You can set mе at ease
Turn this broken piеce in me to peace and quiet
I know there's power in Your word
So I'll say it over and over 'til my soul's reminded

Jonny Diaz's song Breathe saysBreathe, just breathe

Come and rest at My feet
And be, just be
Chaos calls but all you really need
Is to just breathe

What does "rest at My feet" mean? I believe that Diaz is pointing us towards God's Word, and the Peace that passes all understanding that can be found there, especially if we are regularly reading and writing Scripture on our hearts, as mentioned in Crawford's song. 

Music is great, but the Bible is greater, it is the source of peace, the still water, or the anchor that holds when the water isn't still. 

The Peace Of God Bible is focused on showing how the scriptures point to 

finding not only peace WITH God, 

but also 

knowing the Peace OF God.

You can find purchasing options for yourself or as a gift at PeaceofGodBible.com, with links to Christian Book Distributers, Mardel, or your local bookstore (the Thomas Nelson site includes a local Bible Bookstore location finder, which is pretty nice!), or if you prefer to support some small change for a family, you can shop through my affiliate links on  Amazon [Brown Leathersoft] (Same Bible I received, list price is $59.99, currently $45.98). There are other color options (including a pretty purple, floral embossed Leathersoft cover), Hardcover, Softcover, and Genuine Leather. Prices currently range from $29.48 for the paperback to $89.59 for the Black Genuine Leather cover.

Here is a short video trailer for the Peace of God Bible, so you have a better feel of the size in hand. :) 

Thank you for reading this far~ please feel free to enter (and share!!!) this giveaway below. 

I love being given the opportunity to share physical copies of God's Word for Free! 

Blessings~

Many thanks to HarperCollins Christian Publishing for providing a sample of the product for this review. 

Opinions are 100% my own.

*Jeremiah J. Johnston, PhD, is an elected member of the preeminent New Testament scholarly guild Studiorum Novi Testamenti Societas (SNTS) and ministers internationally as president of Christian Thinkers Society. Jeremiah loves the local church, and also serves as pastor of apologetics and cultural engagement at Prestonwood Baptist Church.

#PeaceOfGodBibleMIN #MomentumInfluencerNetwork  @nelsonbibles, @_jeremiahj 

Review: Alexander Maclaren Study Bible

Hello, Dear Readers!

I am back with another Bible review, the Alexander Maclaren Study Bible, NKJV, HarperCollins Christian Publishing. 

I was intrigued by this Bible, because although Alexander Maclaren was considered by many to be one of the best preachers of the 19th century (he was known as as the "Prince of Expositors"), and held positions in the Baptist Union of Great Britain, I was not particularly aware of him historically, being much more familiar with his contemporary (the "Prince of Preachers"), Charles H. Spurgeon. 

I was also interested, given my background as a Baptist PK (Preacher's Kid), in that he would have been a contemporary of my GGG-Grandfather, Hugh Duncan. Hugh, who would emigrate to Montana and become a Methodist circuit-riding preacher was born two years before Maclaren, also in Glasgow, Scotland. Just a lot of connections that I find interesting, and I only wish my dad was still around to have a conversation with about Maclaren.  

A little more background on Maclaren, before I dive into the review of the Bible. As mentioned, he was a contemporary of Spurgeon. They were both highly acclaimed ministers in Great Britain. Maclaren was more of the quiet, scholarly type, focusing on exegesis (critical explanation of a text and what its original intent and meaning is), and his published sermons were globally received with acclaim for remarkable biblical insights delivered in a poetic style vs Spurgeon's active ministry, which included traveling and preaching to large crowds, and establishing a college, orphanage, and publishing house (you could say he was the Billy Graham of his day). That being said, scholars continue to read and study Maclaren's works, and their poetic, timeless relevance are now available for us to enjoy in this new study Bible. 

Now about the Alexander Maclaren Study Bible. 

• Physically, it is very pleasing and impressive. The copy I was sent was the Black/Gray Leathersoft Comfort Print (It also comes in Brown Leathersoft, a light Blue Leathersoft, and a Hardcover version). 
• Little aesthetic details that I appreciate~ there are two bookmark ribbons (of different colors), and the gilt edges of the pages, which in this case are silver with a design.

• 
  The easy to read 9pt "Comfort Print"font used in this Bible is "exclusive to Thomas Nelson Comfort Print® type fonts uniquely created for the NKJV, KJV, NET, NIV, NASB. These exclusive family of fonts are expertly designed reflect the history and legacy of each translation, and also use the latest in the art and science of typography design to create a smooth reading experience."*
  
• 
  One of the first things I noticed was the huge concordance in the back. One of my favorite tools to use when using a study bible, and although not exhaustive, quite convenient!
• 
  Center-column cross-references that link topics throughout the entire Bible. 
  
• 
  Book introductions exploring each book’s background and key themes with insights from Maclaren’s work
  
• 
  Bottom of page study notes (over 1,400) in Maclaren's words gleaned from his over 1,500 published sermons. 
  
• 
  380 Christ Connection notes showing the relevance of Christ to all Scripture
• 380 Life Application notes to help you live out the Bible’s principles
  
• 209 Passage Outlines based on Maclaren’s sermon outlines help to guide in a systematic study of key texts
• 
  Index of Features just pior to the Concordance shows where the 3 previously mentioned features, the Christ Connection notes, the Life Application Notes, and the Passage Outlines can be found in each book of the Bible.
  
• One of the features mentioned talks about 8 included essays, but I was only able to locate 2 of them, curiously enough also the only two that are pictured on the website~ so, something to look for, I suppose? 
• p820 (in Isaiah) What is the Significance of Christ's Death?
• p1436 (in Hebrews) Why Did Maclaren Regard the Bible as Unique?

Ultimately, I am looking forward to using this Bible more, to discover fresh insights from a preacher that might have been a friend of my GGG-Grandfather! 

Purchase your copy of the Alexander Maclaren Study Bible today on Amazon or Thomas Nelson!

Blessings ~

 

Many thanks to HarperCollins Christian Publishing for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.

#MaclarenStudyBibleMIN #MomentumInfluencerNetwork

*https://www.thomasnelsonbibles.com/comfort-print/

Who am I? (Where to find the answer ;) )

Hey friends~

Long time no posts from me~ so sorry, if you've missed me! :)

Today I am posting a review for a new Bible from Thomas Nelson Bibles , 

the Life in Christ Bible (NKJV). 

Today (and honestly throughout history), many people often wonder "what is the meaning of life?" in general, and what is the meaning of their life specifically. It is evident by the rampant depression, anxiety, and general dissatisfaction and disregard for life we see increasing around us, that people are not finding relevant and encouraging answers to that basic question. 

A number of years ago, rapper Lecrae released a song "Identity" that always comes to my mind when talking about a person's identity (imagine that!), and is one of his songs that I can get behind. I believe it totally relates to this whole question of "Who am I?"   

"Identity is found in the God we trust and any other identity will self destruct..."

So, where does one find out about their identity in the God we trust?
The Bible is the best answer (in my opinion), and the Thomas Nelson Life in Christ Bible can help you discover why YOU matter (hint~ it's not because of anything you DO, but because *you are made in the image of God). God has a purpose for your life in this moment. You have a part to play in what He is doing in the world, but knowing why you are here starts with knowing who God says you are. 

Whenever I get a new Bible, I want to know what sets it apart from any other Bible. Generations ago this wasn't an thing, but today there are Bibles for college students, Bibles for youth, Bibles for Children, Bibles for Women, Bibles for Men, etc... This doesn't mean that the text of the Bible is different depending on the audience, but that the included notes and helps are geared toward that specific audience. 

The features included in the Life in Christ Bible are intended to help you explore not only how the gospel of Jesus Christ makes you a new person, but also to help you learn how "who God says you are" can change how you think, speak, work, and move through the world.

I appreciate the overview in the front of the Bible, as it details three basic goals for this particular Bible, which I would like to share with you here:

The concept that every human being (Christian or not) is made in the image of God. That sin did not destroy this image of God in people, but severely damaged it. Scripture shows that people can discover that they have intrinsic worth as image-bearers of God. There are eight themes that explore this view:

• I Create
• I Reflect
• I Discern
• I Matter
• I Reason
  
• I Relate
• I Rule
• I Worship

This focus also clarifies that the gospel is not just about salvation from sin (as critical and wonderful as that is), but restoring identity and relationship between God's image-bearers and Himself, by knowing "My Identity in Christ" with 17 themes:

• I Am a Citizen
• I Am an Ambassador
• I Am and Heir
• 
  I Am Adopted
• I Am Chosen
• I Am Complete
• I Am Forgiven
• I Am Holy
• I Am Justified
  
• I Am Known
  
• I Am Loved
• I Am Reconciled
• I Am Redeemed
• I Am Righteous
• I Have A Family
• I Have A Purpose
• I Will Be Glorified

The third goal is to connect the true identity of the image-bearer made new in Christ with Faithful Living, the the answer to why am I here,  Living My Identity In Christ with 15 themes:

• I Live with Compassion
• I Live with Faithfulness
• I Live with Forgiveness
• I Live with Generosity
  
• I Live with Gentleness
  
• I Live with Goodness
• I Live with Hospitality
• I Live with Humility
  
• I Live with Joy
  
• I Live with Kindness
• I Live with Love
• I Live with Obedience
• I Live with Patience
• I Live with Peace
• I Live with Self-Control

Now, I am generally not a fan of seeing "I" in such quantity, with a focus on the individual "me," but in this instance, it is a call to learn how to be the best one can be, so that our lives manifest the goodness of God. Imagine what a world we could live in if every image bearer of God truly lived their identity in Christ as outlined above. There would be no more call of "Maranatha! Lord Jesus, Come!" Because He would already be here. The best way to work towards people in every tribe and nation coming to know their true identity is for each of us to begin (or continue) to strive to live daily exhibiting the attributes mentioned. 

Many notes for each theme are included, each tied to a specific verse or section of Scripture. A number of longer articles can be found throughout the Bible, exploring themes such as Age and My Identity, Consumerism and My Identity, Disability and My Identity, Gender and My Identity, Marriage and My Identity, Parenting and My Identity, Technology and My Identity, and more. I skimmed through some of the articles, and was pleased to see that they tend to hold to a Biblically sound and gracious tone.

 
As an example, I was curious how 'Marriage and My Identity' would be treated, and found it interesting that the article found in Ephesians 5, subtitled "Representing Christ to the World," deals solely with the comparison of Christ to the husband in a marriage. It totally skips the "Wives submit to your own husbands" section (which, to be fair has been totally overdone and twisted by too many people), and leans into the reality of  a Christ-following husband's headship as a reflection of Christ's sacrificial relationship to the church. Not overbearing and autocratic and self-serving, but loving and encouraging. In short, men bear a great responsibility for the health of their marriage. They have big shoes to fill. 

Here is a short video showing the size, and sharing the inside of the Bible in hand. 

This Bible is available in Hardcover, Leathersoft, and Bonded Leather. For the purposes of this review I received a brown Leathersoft style. The Leathersoft and Bonded Leather Bibles offer two ribbons (Old Testament and New Testament placement!) and all of them are printed in Thomas Nelson's exclusive, easy to read "comfort print," which I can verify is easily readable for 50+ and 60+ eyes.

 

Before I finish, I would like to mention that along with the various notes included, this is also a reference Bible (Although that text isn't quite as easy on the 50+ and 60+ eyes 😅 ), and includes cross references and translation notes. There are also the typical maps, tables of monies, weights, and measures, a topical index, and a selection of reading plans found in the back of the Bible. 

If you (or a loved one) are confused about who you are, why you matter, and what the sense of life is in today's world, order a copy of The Life in Christ Bible, and explore that focus, which will lead you to the ultimate answer of who you can be for eternity~ a Child of the one true God. 

*Giveaway has ended

Blessings~

 #LifeInChristBibleMIN #LifeinChristBible @nelsonbibles

Many thanks to HarperCollins Christian Publishing for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own and are not influenced by monetary compensation.

Anne (with an 'e") Wilson~ Debut Album Review and Giveaway! (ends Thursday evening, 5/5)

Hi all! 

I am so pleased to be able to write this next review, as it is always easier to write a good review about something you are excited about, or just really like, in general. I think I can honestly say both apply here. 
~>Many thanks to Universal Music Group for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation<~

Anne Wilson is a new Christian Singer/Songwriter (definitely not to be confused with Ann Wilson of "Heart" fame), who just released her Debut Album, "My Jesus," on April 22nd. 
You may have heard her title track this past year on Christian Radio or on your favorite streaming platform, or if you were fortunate enough to attend the Zach Williams Christmas or Spring Concert tours, where she was a special guest artist. She showed up >>for me<< as a recommended artist in my "discover weekly" list on Spotify a couple of weeks ago, so again, I was delighted to be asked to join this review/giveaway campaign and share her music with you all. 

In addition to hearing the music, I was given the opportunity to join Anne's Album Launch Livestream Event this past Wednesday, and I enjoyed getting a glimpse of this talented young lady. She only *just turned 20 this February, and she writes and sings with a wisdom beyond her years. Fun little fact from the livestream~ She spent a year and half pounding out 130 or so songs, the cream of which made it on to her debut album. I can attest to the determination and work ethic that feat requires~ pretty great in one so young.  Some other fun facts learned at the livestream: 

• Anne Wilson is the first female solo artist debut single to reach #1 on the Billboard Christian Airplay chart
• Anne Wilson’s debut single “My Jesus” was the longest #1 single on Billboard’s Christian Air-play chart of 2021 at 7 weeks total
• “My Jesus” was nominated for a 2022 Billboard Music Award for “Top Christian Song” against Kanye West(For those interested, the awards will broadcast live coast-to-coast on May 15 at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT on NBC. It will also stream live on Peacock).
• “My Jesus” Hit #1 on Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 and #19 on the Rolling Stone Top 25 Trending charts
• Anne Wilson was featured as Billboard’s October 2021 Chartbreaker Artist in their 21 Under 21 issue

On a more serious note, one of the main threads throughout much of her album is a recurring theme of hard times and despair defeated by the power, glory, grace and love of God. One might wonder at the veracity of a barely 20-something effectively handling the deep and dark right next to the deep and redeeming light, but Anne has walked a tough road herself, and many teens and young twenties experience more discouragement, hopelessness, and distress than some of us want to acknowledge. 

In Anne's case, during one of the most vulnerable and difficult time in anyone's life (15 years old) she suffered the tragic loss of her 23-year-old brother in a car accident. This loss clearly impacted her, but she turned to God for comfort and peace, which is evident in many of the songs throughout the album. What a gift to be able to empathize with others based on shared experience and then turn that into music to minister to the soul. For more on Anne, you can read her Biography here, and listen to her talk about that time and her story here. 

 

 Album Impressions ~ One thing I found interesting (and appreciated) was the way Anne incorporated a couple of lines {or stanzas} of old hymns in many of her songs, giving a definite nod to gospel hymn roots, without feeling like she was borrowing too much or reworking them. I actually noticed a couple, and then listened for some of the more subtle uses throughout. {see the brackets in my little snippet summations)
 

1. Prelude (Scatter) ~ short instrumental
2. Scatter ~ An anthem declaring that the battle is the Lord's, and we can stand firm in the knowledge that He *will* scatter our enemies. {Glory, Hallelujah, My God is marchin' on}
3. My Jesus ~ The title track~ another anthem~ so much has been said about this one already, I don't feel the need. 
4. Devil ~ This is a "fightin' " resurrection song (!😁!) with a refrain of "You brought life to me and death to the Devil. {I was blind but now I can see} 
5. Sunday Sermons~ Fun, foot-stomping track that honors the impact of being brought up "in church."{Jesus loves me, this I know}
6. Hey Girl ~ A tune that joins a few others that walk a line on the side of "Daughter of the King," combating the very real feeling of "not being enough," when in fact, we are each worth so much that Jesus gave His life for us... 
7. This House ~ This is fantastic~ a rockin' take on the concept of a the parable of the wise man and the foolish man~ without a firm foundation (the word of the Lord), "this house gonna fall" {My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood, my righteousness...} I found it interesting that she changed the wording to "my righteousness," which emphasizes that His righteousness does, indeed, become our righteousness, since we have none of our own. 
8. Mansions~ A lively little hopeful tune addressing {When we all get to heaven}
9. Mamas~ (with Hillary Scott) ~ Sweet tune for all the Mamas (and/or mama figures) in our lives. 
   Featuring Hillary Scott (from Lady A[ntebellum])   “Mamas (Official Music Video)” will release 5/4 for Mother’s Day and includes footage of Anne surprising her mother with the song, as well as footage of Hillary Scott and her daughters.
   
10. No Place Like Home ~ A loving tribute to her brother Jacob, and the reality that while we say there is no place like home (here on Earth), there truly is no place like our real home (in Heaven). 
11. God Thing ~ I use "It's a God thing" as a phrase fairly frequently, and I appreciate that there is now a song pointing out that the big and the small things point to Him and His work! Miracles still happen.  
12. That’s What We Need~ Hard hitting, truth spitting reminder that there is One Way, One Truth, One Life, and that Love should be our standard. 
13. Something About That Name~ A fresh take on the name above all names, and the dichotomy of its use by saints and sinners, in joy and sorrow, tender but loud... nicely done! 
14. Closer To God~ Explores how God can be close, even when we don't understand what we are going through.
15. My Jesus (feat. Crowder) ~ fun remix. 

I love the fact that so many established musicians like Matthew West, among others, have taken Anne under their wings~ encouraged her, written lyrics and music with her~ mentored her, really, while letting her  Country, Gospel Rock roots shine through. I also value the hope that Anne represents as a shining example to those who are distressed by this old world, and those who fear for future generations. There *are those young people who know and love God, and will continue to be beacons, reflecting His light, and drawing the lost safely to the shore of God's amazing grace, mercy, and love. 

There truly isn't a track on this album that I don't enjoy! See for yourself! 
Stream or purchase Anne’s new album now!

You also have a chance to win an autographed copy of Anne's Debut CD in my quick giveaway that ends this THURSDAY, May 5th. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

.

Blessings~

#AnneWilson #AnneWilsonMIN #MomentumInfluencerNetwork 

Compact Air-Filled Sleeping Pad (Review)

One of my last non-homeschool-related reviews had to do with road-trips to my daughter's college and sleeping in her dorm, and so does this next one... :)

When hiking up three flights of stairs it's nice to be able to carry as little as possible, and when sleeping on a dorm floor it's nice to have some extra padding... so I was very interested to try out the Ultralight Sleeping Pad by VENTURE 4TH on my last trip.

There were a couple of features that I was particularly pleased with~

• The size and weight~ it only added a pound to my load up the stairs, which really isn't much at all, and it packs down really small also~ 8"x5"x2"... so much more compact than a yoga mat or a traditional air mattress. For size perspective that is an iPad2 and a quarter... 
• The amount of time and "air" it took to inflate. Due to the unique cell channel design and the strong, but lightweight material, it really did take only 12-16 breaths of air to inflate the mattress. No air pump or natural breeze required! 

When I first opened the package at home, and tested it out on my living room rug I figured I would try to mimic some of the great outdoors by placing a LEGO figure or two under the pad to serve as "stones." Amazingly enough, I couldn't feel them AT ALL! Wow! My Middlest son is going to appreciate this when we go camping...
*Note, when I first inflated it there was an area that didn't fill up with air. However, the second time I inflated it it was fine, it just needed to be loosened up.

It isn't a "soft cushy" pad, but rather has firm support that will smooth out annoying bumps from small rocks and stones.

I only had a couple of suggestions that would make this a better product in my opinion.

• If the fabric could be "flocked" (which hopefully wouldn't add much weight) it would be just a smidge less slippery. It wasn't terrible by any means, but sippery sleeping bags, and a pad without any grippy texture at all meant a little more sliding around (and slippery sound) than is optimal. 
• For non-hammock/non-tent-with-minimal-floor-space sleeping, I found the pad to be not quite wide enough for my legs that like to sprawl. However, for campong/backpacking purposes it is actually probably just right, so take that suggestion with a grain of salt, maybe? 

All in all, I think this is a fabulous product for hiking/backpacking, camping, and even having a space free of stones and pebbles at a park or outdoor event. Convenient, compact, and easily inflated.

Blessings~

(Actually received at a discount, not free ;) )

Survival Hax: (Hammock Hax?)

So... when I applied to review this sleeping bag it was an abnormally temperate fall, and I was hoping to use it to extend my outside "hammock time" relaxing with a book or kindle. However, by the time my package arrived, the temperatures had dropped a little too dramatically for me to use this 3-season sleeping bag for *my* intended, outside-the-box purpose. That being said, the timing was actually very good for me to bring it along when it was time to go pick my daughter up from college for Christmas break. It's a 7-hour drive and with an 8am "final" Final, I thought it would be best to come out the day before, sleep over, and be able to pack up when she was done. 

First benefit~ it is a very light sleeping bag~ which is a consideration when carting bags to the 3rd floor (but 3 flights of stairs, because we come in the basement). I was pleased that it was neither as bulky nor as heavy as our previous sleeping bags.

It also comes with a very nice carrying bag with straps that cover over the drawstring at the top, which I think is probably a safety measure, and if you were backpacking, I think you could use these straps to compress it even more so it would take up less space in your pack. 

As far as the bag itself goes~ there are a couple of things that I want to mention.

• The fabric is very soft and smooth, and extremely comfortable. 
• The head of the bag has a nice roll that worked perfectly to keep my pillows (picture taken before I unpacked them) from sliding and disappearing from beneath my head. 
• The zipper is unique in that you can unzip from the bottom to let some air in if your toes are getting too toasty or you just want to stretch your leg out a bit. This is a huge bonus in my mind, as I frequently have a foot hanging out from under the covers.  

Although I didn't have the opportunity to use the sleeping bag outside in my hammock as I had hoped (before the weather turned colder), I look forward to starting my hammocking a little earlier this spring, with this sleeping bag as an insulating layer while I hang out in the yard or lakeside watching Middlest fish. 

If you or someone you know might benefit from a new sleeping bag (NOT for winter use), Survival Hax is offering my readers 70% off when purchased either directly on the Survival Hax Website, or through Amazon, using the code SLYP75BG. 

What would YOU use this sleeping bag for? 

Hope that you 

Blessings~

#survivalhax #sleepingbag

Matthew West ~ All In (Review and Giveaway)

Hey, friends! It's been awhile since I've had a review and a GIVEAWAY! :)
What a nice way to start out the Fall Season! 

This time it's Matthew West's new album All In

Here are my quick impressions/what the songs are about,  plus a few bonus videos from Matthew West to give you the real story. :) ~

Track 1: All In 

~ No testing the waters here~ he's all in!

Story behind the song:

Track 2: Broken Things 

~ Encouragement that God can and does use broken things to accomplish mighty things

Story behind this song, too... 

Track 3: Mercy is a Song 

~ More encouragement~ Mercy is a song, and Freedom is a choir singing...

Track 4: Amen 

~ This one is a high energy tune that will be a favorite in my house. ;)

Track 5: The Sound of a Life Changing 

~ Kind of a cool auto-biographical song/looking to the future for other's lives

Track 6: Something Greater 

~ Another song about life~ (And BGV's by Carrie Underwood... :) )

Track 7: Jesus & You 

~ Love song to his Lord and his wife. ;)

Track 8: The Beautiful Things We Miss 

~ Encouragement to slow down and not miss the beautiful things... 

(Teary eyes are a possibility with this song... ;))

Track 9: 1 Song 

~ drilling it down to Hallelujah! Thank You, Lord! Amen, I'm made new! 

(In a style a little reminiscent of Nico and Vinz' "Am I Wrong" ~ I like it. ;) 

~ disclaimer: I know next to nothing about Nico and Vinz beyond that song. ;) )

Track 10: Power Love Sound Mind 

~ not rap, but spoken word with a melodic chorus~ not a spirit of fear...

Track 11: Never Ever Give Up 

~ Up-beat encouragement ~  a good, positive  "amp up" song.

Track 12: Dream Again

~ When the doors (and the World) seem closed and against you

~ an anthem of starting over and giving it up to God

~ letting Him show you how to dream again...

Track 13: Becoming Me (Featuring Lulu West)

~ another family-inspired song that pulls the heart-strings

~ (and Lulu has a very sweet voice)

Track 14: You Are Known 

~ written as a note from the One Who Knows...

Summing up~ the entire album is about being "All In" in relation to the Lord, to family, community, and even to his career as a singer/songwriter. From his liner notes: "... these songs are written in the hopes that they will be arrows straight to your hearts reminding you that the goal is to reach the end with no regrets." Essentially encouraging us to understand our position, and seek to hear "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."

The album is now available for purchase. Great gift idea to tuck away for a holiday or special event.

More information...

Matthew’s heart behind the album:

Matthew wrote his new album All In with the goal of encouraging himself and others to get up off the sidelines of their faith and really live it out – to go all in in your time with God, all in with your family, all in with your community, and all in battling your fears that may hold you back from becoming who God made you to be. Along that same theme, Matthew will be launching a 6-week All in Challenge on his social media starting 9/18, and each week Matthew will be challenging his fans to go all in in a different part of their lives. What does it look like when a heart that knows Jesus takes a step and holds nothing back? How can we go All In in the places that mean the most?

If you would like to enter my giveaway, please make sure to wait for the Rafflecopter to load.... :) 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blessings~

Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255:  “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”):  Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway.  Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation.  I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post. Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway.  If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller /FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days on the same blog, you are not eligible to win.  Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again.  Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

HOT Glue gun Review

Being a crafty type, being a mom, and being a homeschooler, glue guns are one of those tools that are somewhat regularly in use. For YEARS, I've only used the low temp glue guns, due to having small children around, and wanting to avoid potential hazards. However, my youngest is now 10, and I *think* I can relax my guard just a little bit.

I was please to be offered the opportunity to review a HOT glue gun, because sometimes the low temp guns just don't quite have what it takes to STICK. :/


The Cobiz Hot Melt Glue Gun with 60/100 W power options has been working well for my intended projects, as well as at least one un-intended project.


Same youngest mentioned above had a run in with a bad hop baseball, which broke the earpiece near the temple of his glasses. When his glasses broke before we tried super glue (nope) and duct tape, but they were extremely shaky "fixes." With this new Hot Melt glue gun, I am happy to say that the glasses are holding up pretty well, and will hopefully make it until he's due for his next appt in a month, when he can get new glasses! (Did I mention this is the second time the frames have broken~ insurance won't pay twice... ;/ )

I haven't had quite as much free time as I would like to try out some cool projects with my son (we have some mica that wants to be attached to something... but we haven't found the right something just yet)

However, I wanted to check it out, anyway, so I made a nifty little "pallet" coaster to hold my icy water cups on the side table in the living room, in the hopes of reducing condensation damage to the table

Glue gun heating up~ I could wish that the wire stand was a little more sturdy~ makes me a little nervous, but haven't had any trouble with it yet... 

See how fine the glue drops? I'm pretty happy with that! :) 

A couple of notes: The glue gun took a little longer than I expected to heat up and allow me to feed the glue stick through the first time (closer to 10 minutes), but it was much closer to the target 5 minute time the next time I used it.

I didn't actually use the 100W power because the projects I had required small streams of glue, and my understanding is that the higher power creates a thicker stream of glue.
The 60W stream of glue from this gun is FAR superior to anything any of my low temp glue guns ever put out... Those popsicle sticks aren't budging! :)

All in all, I'm pretty impressed and pleased with this glue gun, and can't wait to put it into action getting my crafty on. ;)

Blessings~