If you read my movie review last week of I Am...Gabriel, then you know how much I enjoyed the movie. I think it should be a part of every Christian family's movie collection. That is why I am so excited that I can help make that happen for two of my readers.
A. Larry Ross Communications, who provided me the review copy, has now provided me with two additional brand new DVD copies of the movie for giveaway!
So leave me a comment on this blog post telling me why you think you'd enjoy this movie. (The comment must appear here. Email entries cannot be accepted). I will randomly select two winners to receive one copy each!
DETAILS: To be eligible to win you must provide a valid email address with your comment, and if selected you must provide me a valid U.S. mailing address, within 14 days of my email notification to you. Entries will be received until 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 16. The two winners will be announced here on the blog (and notified by email) on Monday, Sept 17.
Kelly Combs is a Christian wife, mom, writer and speaker. You can learn about Kelly by visiting her website at www.kellycombs.com
A friend of mine was sharing with me her success on Weight Watchers. The program works by tracking what you eat. Each food is assigned a point count, and you are given an acceptable number of points daily to keep you in the healthy range. For instance, if you are given a target of 26 points a day, you could have 4 for breakfast, 8 lunch, 10 dinner and 2 snacks of 2 points each.
Counting your points is eye opening! While fruit has zero points (eat all you want!), a slice of chocolate cake has 14. You quickly learn that everything you eat has a cost, both literally and figuratively. But if you meet your goal, and stay within 2 points of it, you become a lifetime member.
As Christians, I can't help but notice sometimes we act like we are on "Sin-watchers." We have an "acceptable number" of sin points we allow ourselves to stay in the "godly" range. Telling a white lie might be 1 point, while jealousy is 2. But as long as we stay away from the biggies, like adultery (12 points) or murder (15 points) we're okay.
God doesn't see it that way. You see the acceptable point range for sin is zero. So every sin counts against us. Jesus said that sin is so offensive to God that lusting is as bad as adultery, and calling someone a fool is equal to murder! Still think you're in the "acceptable" range?
But Jesus died on the cross to pay the cost of our points. He took on all of our sins, so that when God see us, he only sees the fruits (zero points!) of Jesus' sacrifice.
In some ways, it would be good if there was "Sin-watchers." We could watch our points accumulate and be more aware that everything we do wrong has a cost. We would take better care of our behavior, and be more appreciative of the sacrifice Jesus made so that our points don't add up against us.
Losing weight is hard! And so is being godly. But with Jesus as our Savior, when we step on the scales of justice they'll point to "forgiven" and we'll meet our goal: Eternal lifetime membership.
Kelly Combs is a Christian wife, mom, writer and speaker. You can learn about Kelly by visiting her website at www.kellycombs.com
My 8 year old made this bracelet for me. She strung each bead and presented it to me with pride. Of course, I love it!
My 13 year old however later whispered to me, "Some of the letters are mixed up. You should take it apart after she goes to sleep and redo it." The funny thing about her comment, is that I too suffer from perfectionism and not too long ago may have entertained that same thought.
But not anymore. My younger daughter worked very hard on this gift for me. It is not perfect, but it is by her own hands. And when I see it, I am filled with love and I smile at her imperfections, because I know how hard she worked and that she did this for me. Even with the mix ups, you can clearly see what it was meant to be. "Kelly."
I believe that is how my Heavenly Father sees me. I try to do things for Him, but more often that not I end up mixed up. I might submit a devotional for publication that is rejected. I might tell someone the gospel, but they reject it. I might try to be godly, but gossip. I'm not perfect.
But because of Jesus, God knows I work very hard on my gifts for Him. They are not perfect, but they are by my own hands. And I believe, when He sees them, He is filled with love for me and smiles, because He knows I work for Him.
What failures are holding you back from working for God's glory today? He loves you even with your imperfections. You are more special to Him, that this bracelet is to me. You are His, and He made you! He forgives our mixed up messes, and sees what we were meant to be.
Kelly Combs is a Christian wife, mom, writer and speaker. You can learn about Kelly by visiting her website at www.kellycombs.com
From the DVD: "Promise, Texas is no place to raise a family: the fields are dry, businesses are failing, and kids can't wait to grow up and move away. Some folks say the town is cursed. Just when things are at their darkest, a mysterious boy wanders out of the wilderness with nothing but the clothes on his back and a strange mat tucked under his arm. He has a message of hope for the people of Promise, but it's hard for some to receive. The slow death of this small town reflects the condition of their own parches souls. When the boy demonstrates the love of God through signs and wonders, they begin to discover the power of prayer. Still, not everyone in town sees his presence as a gift, and the Sheriff is on a mission to expose who the boy really is. In the end, with his back against the wall - surrounded by skeptics - the boy is forced to reveal his true identity."
My review: I was excited to watch I Am...Gabriel, produced by EchoLight Studies, if for no other reason that the star power attached to it. Directed by Mike Norris (Walker Texas Ranger - his dad is Chuck Norris), and starring John Schneider (the movie credits him with Smallville, but he will forever be known to me as Bo Duke from Dukes of Hazzard,) and Dean Cain (Superman in Lois & Clark), the movie has recognizable names that you often don't find in Christian productions. The movie and star power didn't disappoint! I Am...Gabriel makes several important points.
First, "if you lose hope, you lose everything." The town is hopeless, filled with brokenness, emptiness, guilt, anger and sadness. The young boy, "Gabe," has the ability to speak truth to the town people's heart and give them hope.
Second, prayer is critically important. When Gabe asks a woman, "Do you talk to God?" she answers, "I go to church." "But do you talk to God?" he presses. The woman admits she really doesn't. He encourages her to pray, and make a prayer mat like his, not only for herself but for everyone in the town of Promise. Like many "good Christians," she sets to work making the mats and shares with Gabe in great excitement the number of mats the women in town have made. He gently reminders her, "Making the prayer mats is one thing. Using them is the most important." As a Christian who often gets wrapped up in "works" and misses the relationship with God, I related to this interaction.
The Dove Foundation gave this movie a 5 out of 5 rating, and I couldn't agree more. If you are looking for an uplifting, inspiring, feel good movie for the entire family, I highly recommend I Am...Gabriel. It will become a family favorite that you're sure to watch again and again.
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Here is a video trailer for the movie. (If you are receiving this post via email, you may have to visit my blog to see the trailer.
Kelly Combs is a Christian wife, mom, writer and speaker. You can learn about Kelly by visiting her website at www.kellycombs.com
It started off simply enough. We were sitting around the restaurant table, the evening of our first full day of vacation, sharing about our favorite parts of the day. My husband, ever the diplomat, shared 2 things, one about each specific daughter.
"I enjoyed biking with G, and jumping the waves with C." Then as an afterthought he added, "And of course I enjoyed spending time with mom." How my 8 year old responded was the thing, "Well you might as well," she said. "You're stuck with her."
Stuck with me. In an 8 year old's mind we were married, that was it. Stuck together. And you know, that may not be a bad thing.
As a formerly divorced woman, I know that there are some big problems in marriage. But I also know that we sometimes make little problems big. What would happened if we lived our married lives as people who "might as well enjoy it, we're stuck together." What would happened if we quickly forgave the little things and worked hard to fix the big things. Would the big things become smaller if we let them go?
Not all of them. My first marriage contained some "big things,"and I'm glad I'm not stuck there . But the words of an 8 year old can give all of us some thing to think about. Marriage is hard. But you might as well enjoy it...and stick it out.
Marriage should be honored by all. Hebrews 13:4
Kelly Combs is a Christian wife, mom, writer and speaker. You can learn about Kelly by visiting her website at www.kellycombs.com
Rosie and Scamper is the first book in the four book series "Sonrise Stable," by Vicki Watson. It is a sweet series that, in the words of the author, are "stories about family, friendship, horses, and a great God who works all things in our lives for good."
While learning to ride at Sonrise Stable, eight-year-old Rosie dreams of the horse shows she will win with her pony, Jet. Two years later, nothing is exactly the way Rosie planned it -- she's riding a new pony, Scamper, and learning that life isn't always easy. But it's as Rosie reaches out to the new girl next door that she truly begins to see that God works all things together for good in our lives.
Sonrise Stable is owned by Rosie's Grandma, (and names Sonrise - not Sunrise - to give "Grandma" a chance to share her faith.). Grandma is a strong horsewoman who loves God. Rosie loves to visit Grandma and learn about horses, but her adventures also give Grandma lots of opportunities to teach Rosie about Jesus.
This series would be wonderful for any young girl who loves horses, adventure, or reading about other girls. The main character in the series is 8, but the book is written at higher reading level. I would recommend this book for 9-12 year olds, or for the advanced younger reader. If you have a hard time finding reading material for your advanced reader that is appropriate for her age, this would be the perfect book. It is also great if you are a parent or grandparent who likes to read chapter books to your younger kids.
My daughter enjoyed Rosie and her adventures, and I think the young girl in your life would too.
Kelly Combs is a Christian wife, mom, writer and speaker. You can learn about Kelly by visiting her website at www.kellycombs.com
I received a free copy of this book/Ebook/Product to review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations. I am part of The CWA Review Crew.
Has this every happened to you? You're at church, singing a praise song, and suddenly as you really pay attention to the words, you realize they don't reflect your personal life at all. You realize that you have become a singing hypocrite.
This happened to me a few Sundays ago. We were singing "As the Deer," and as we sang I realized that what I was saying didn't match my life.
"You alone are my strength, my shield." God ALONE, my strength? I am most likely to pull myself up by my won boot straps, than to lean heavily on God to be my strength. My shield? Do I allow God to protect me? Or do a live a calculated and careful life, trying hard to keep out of harms way, protecting myself. I live a safe life. Do I trust God...alone...to be my strength and shield?
"To You alone may my spirit yield." Yielding to God alone? I think I'm more like the Apostle Paul who said, "I do not understand the things I do. I do not do what I want to do, and I do the things I hate." It seems I yield to the things I shouldn't, yet when God tells me to do something - my stop sign comes out. I lack the trust to truly yield to God.
"You alone are my heart's desire." God alone as my heart's desire? Then why I am running to the coffee and dark chocolate all the time? If you were to ask me my heart's desire I might say being a mom, writing a book or seeing my future grandchildren grow up as heart's desires. God, ALONE, as my heart's desire? I've got some work to do.
So that was when I realized I was a singing hypocrite. Or am I? Maybe that was a divine moment with the Holy Spirit to change me. Maybe that was the moment where I stopped being a hypocrite, and started focusing on God, alone. Maybe that was the moment where I stopped singing a song, and started singing a prayer. How about you? Are you ready to stop singing about it, and start living it?
Kelly Combs is a Christian wife, mom, writer and speaker. You can learn about Kelly by visiting her website at www.kellycombs.com
