A Survey for You!

My dearest followers,
     Usually on Tuesdays, I have a "The Truth About {}" Post. Due to some blog changes I recently made, I decided to have this survey to get some opinions. You would not believe how much they help! Thank you so much for taking it! It will only take a couple minutes :) Here is the link as well, please click here








Thank you so much!
Sincerely,
Libbi H.

Book Review: Peace Be With You by David Carlson

     Love. Doesn't that seem to be lacking in our culture today? With wars, lawsuits, and crimes running rampant, it seems that we have a little more hate in our culture then we do love. This is one of the reasons that David Carlson decided to do research in the monasteries and retreat centers across New Mexico. Interviewing many of the inhabitants, David deduced the theory that as Americans, having a war is unbiblical, and more, UN Christlike. Through this book, David asks if we as the body of Christ are really doing our job as believers, sharing the love of Christ in a world that only knows hate. Or, are we simply sitting on the sidelines and cheering on those doing things against God's perfect will.
     I was bitterly disappointed with this book. Rather then encouraging the body of Christ to do our best to help our brothers and sisters in need, it is somewhat condemning, making the reader feel as if a "bad" christian if he was not fighting the war on the war on terror. Unfortunately, I disagreed with the majority of the philosophy of this book. I was disappointed, because I have liked most of Thomas Nelson's books up until now.  I wouldn't really recommend this book to anyone, sadly, it was one of those books I just disagreed on the doctrine. But that is another post in and of itself
Sincerely,
Libbi H.
P.S. Thomas Nelson fave me this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Awakening by Stovall Weems

 "This will be your best year ever- IF it is your best year spiritually."  ~Stovall Weems

        Have you ever wished there was some kind of caffeine for your spiritual life? You know, something to wake it up, and propel it forward? In this awesome, easy to read book, Pastor Stovall Weems shows the keys to "Awakening" a slumbering spiritual life. He does this effortlessly, weaving together all the components of a alive, refreshing, and vibrant spiritual life. He shows you how to "de-junk" your spiritual system, cleansing and removing the toxins so that your life can be made more vibrant through fasting and praying.

     I absolutely loved this book! It is not a usual thing for me to find a book that I am willing to read through slowly, chewing and digesting the contents. I could not believe how great this book was! I agreed with all of Pastor Weems theology, and I believe I am going to do one of the fasts in the back of his book in a couple of weeks or so. Criticisms? The only one I could think of is that he hasn't written any more!(That I know of :) I absolutely loved this book, and I am going to have to read it again! I never knew what a grand effect fasting had on the human body. It was awesome!

     I would recommend this book to anyone, just so long as they can read! One thing that helped when I was reading this book was that I did not just read it straight through, I read a little bit every day until I finished. When reading this book, you would be best served to read it in small portions to start with. I highly encourage you to read it, and make sure to let me know if you do!
Sincerely,
Libbi H.

   By the way, Waterbrook Multonohmah gave me this book for free to review honestly.

The Truth About {Modesty}Part 1

(via Google)

     What is modesty? Most people would think of an old, cranky lady, wearing something of a burlap sack, and nit-picking every item of clothing that wasn't like hers. That is not modesty. Modesty is a way that we, as daughters of the most high God AND the spouse/future spouse of a wonderful gentleman, can attract attention away from our figures, and towards our awesome God!
   Immodest clothing is a problem with women, and especially teenagers. Low-cut shirts, skin-tight shirts, and see-through shirts are becoming more and more accepted by the average female. Even mature women continue to try to dress this way even with God’s dislike of
immodest clothes. Song of Solomon 8:4 says, “Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires.” When women wear a shirt that is too tight, or a skirt that is too short, they are arousing things in the men who see them that should still be sleeping. When something is cooking, and you take it out of the oven before the time it is supposed to, you can create a disaster! It will not be nearly as good as it would have been if you had left it in the oven or, “asleep,” until the right time.
     When a woman decides to wear immodest clothing, they are not only exposing themselves to EVERYONE in the world, they are also causing their brother in Christ to stumble. Of course, Christian men should have self-control, but as ladies, we can make it so difficult to maintain.  Imagine this scenario:
 You are on a diet, which you started less than a week ago; you really felt this diet would be a great thing for you. So far, you have done well, and you have not eaten anything except salad. Then your friend calls, “Want to go out to lunch?” You agree, and you suggest saladtopia. Your pal says that nothing is wrong with saladtopia, but he thinks it would be fun to go to McDonalds; since it had many choices including salad. You hesitantly agree, and the date is set. When you get to McDonalds, you quickly order a salad. As you sit down, your friend walks over to the table with a Big Mac, a large fry, a large sweet tea, and an apple pie. You sit twirling your salad pretending the slimy green leaves were French fries…it is not working. Your friend asks, “Wanna fry? I have plenty!” Just one, you think to yourself. Before you know it, you have consumed the entire box.
     As ladies, we have the ability to make or break a guy, and the above scenario shows us the degree of difficulty a guy can have when fighting the temptation of lust. So, what clothing is modest? While there is not a specific modesty code for everyone, the two basic guidelines I use are:

·         No skin-tight clothes. The best type of clothing is not to the point where you can see every curve. I tend to lean on the side of wearing small tents, but that is totally a matter of opinionJ.  The saying I have always heard is this, “Clothes should be fitted enough to show that you are a woman, but loose enough to show you are a lady.” If you aren’t sure, ask your brother or father if they think the shirt/skirt/pants/dress is too tight.

·         None of the three “B”s. You should not be showing the skin of your belly, bottom, or breasts. If any of these are showing, then the outfit is most likely{ In fact, really likely} immodest. 

No skirts above the knee, no shorts more than a couple of inches above the knee, no see through shirts, no undergarments showing, etc.

For more opinions on modesty, check out the modesty survey here.

    Modesty does not mean "unfashionable." There are  so many ways to remain modest, all the while remaining with fashionable clothing. While it may take more effort in a clothing store, it is possible! With today's accessory obsession, there are scarves, shoes and jewelry that add many dimensions to any outfit, and a smile adds more natural beauty to an outfit then any miniskirt ever could!
     In all, I hope that God reveals his standard of modesty to you as his perfect plan for our life.
Sincerely,
Libbi H.

Romans 12: 2

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. 

 

For further reading, please check out:

Secret Keeper by Dannah Gresh

The Beauty of Modesty by David and Diane Vaughan

Do Hard Things by Alex and Brett Harris

I Kissed Dating Goodbye by Joshua Harris

Book Review: Fresh Brewed Life by Nicole Johnson

    Is your life feeling a little bland? Are you cracking under pressure? You my friend, need a fresh-brewed life. In this witty, knowledgeable book, Nicole Johnson shares her personal triumphs and tribulations, all the while showing us christian girls how to "freshly brew" our life, after all, you can only drink old coffee for so long before it is, old! While everyone has to face the daily grind, Nicole shows how you can use it to make a wonderful life!She uses ten helpful "guidelines" to jump start everyone's fresh brewed life. With helpful tips, refreshingly funny stories, and a base in scripture, this book is a sure hit!
     I thought this book was very cute, and I enjoyed the beginning thoroughly! She is a funny, interesting author, who actually made me laugh out loud at a couple of sections. One disclaimer I must add: I was unable to read the sixth chapter, for personal reasons only. This said, I would recommend this book to a married woman more quickly than I would an unmarried woman. I absolutely adored the cover of the book, simple, colorful, and enticing! It seems to call to you, wishing for you to read it! I would definitely give this book a high score in my "book rating" list, and my mom actually loved it as well! I urge you, if you are married, to pick up this book very soon!

Sincerely,
Libbi H.
Thomas Nelson gave me this book for free as a trade for my review.

Eshakti Discount!

     So, my dear friends, have I got a gift for you! Many of you have read my review of Eshakti, but if you haven't, make sure to check it out! For those of you who do not know, Eshakti is the best thing since sliced bread; You get to pick out a fashionable clothing piece, and then you can customize it to your specific size and liking. Being tall my entire life, this online store has been a dream come true! They have many different choices of clothing: pants, skirts, dresses, and shirts all customized to fit you! It is the greatest thing since sliced bread. Truly. So I have an awesome discount for you: $20 off your purchase at Eshakti.com! To use this awesome deal, at the checkout, enter the code LIFEISFUN0811 Any time before September 12th, 2011. 
  I do  hope you will go and take a look around! They have some wonderful stuff!
Sincerely,
Libbi H.  

The Truth About {Fear}

 

      We all have been afraid at one time or another. From a five year old afraid of the dark to an adult afraid of losing their job, every human being has encountered fear at one point. I  struggled with fear most of my life, until the time when I was around 12 years old. It had come to the point where I could barely look out the window at night without being afraid someone was looking right back at me. I would run up the stairs at our bi-level house, barely breathing as I ran past the window. I was certain someone was outside waiting for me.
      At this point, as a girl who grew up in the church, I knew all the right things. I knew that I was not called to a spirit of fear, that no weapons formed against me shall prosper, and that I was covered by the blood of Jesus. Back then, they were more words on a page then passages to live by. My mom started making me say a verse every time I even thought I could possibly be scared. That verse is 2 Timothy 1:7
" For God has not called us to a Spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind." That scripture changed my life. Slowly but surely, I began to believe it. It is truly amazing how much saying something makes you believe it {That is for another post...}
     I AM FREE! The devil no longer holds me captive with fear. I have been redeemed! Though the devil still tries to make me worry and fret, I just remind the devil that I am NOT called to a spirit of fear, and he can't scare me!
    During this past year, I have thought often about God's word, He has been revealing to me some of the truths not often seen at first glance. Let's dissect this scripture,

2 Timothy 1:7
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power love and a sound mind."

     God didn't call us as Christian to live fearfully and in constant terror of what could happen to us. If we are living in fear, there is no way that we can also be living in power, love, and a sound mind. The reciprocate is also true; If we are living in the power, love, and sound minds that God called us to, there is no way we will be scared.
    If you have ever met someone who is constantly afraid, most of the time, they are not a very powerful person. Likewise, scared people are almost always imagining things that aren't there: Monster in the closet, murderer behind the bush, giant alligator in the bathtub... In other words, their mind is not sound.
    In 1 John 4:18{AMP}, John writes,
"There is no fear in love [dread does not exist], but full-grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear brings with it the thought of punishment, and [so] he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love [is not yet grown into love's complete perfection]."  Again, the truth is confirmed, if we walk in fear, we will not walk in love. If we walk in love we will not walk in fear.
     As Christians, we want to live the life that God has so intricately and perfectly planned for us, we want to fulfill the calling on our lives. If we are constantly afraid of things on earth, we will NEVER reach the fullness of our calling. Fear will always hold us back. Let us push forward toward the prize, never letting fear take hold of our hearts. Then, we will be able to run after our calling with power, love, and a {very} sound mind.

Romans 8:15

"For {the Spirit which} you have now received {is} not a spirit of slavery to put you once more in bondage to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption {the Spirit producing sonship} in {the bliss of} which we cry, Abba (Daddy)! Father!"

Book Review: Culture Shift by R. Alber Mohler Jr.

     America is losing her heart. She is becoming a dirtied, hopeless, and heartless criminal. With issues ranging from debt to the horrendous crime of abortion, America needs a shove in the right direction. And quick. Not only are Americans consumed by are technological cravings, but we are almost as dependent on technology as we are on food. Imagine going 30 days without one single electronic item. No phones, computers, TVs,iPods, cars, and the list goes on. If you are like the majority of America, you just started hyperventilating, sweating, and shaking. It is scary how much America relies on technology. Not only this, but 4 out of every 10 women in America has had an abortion. That means that for every ten babies conceived, only six are birthed. R. Albert Mohler shows these truths in a different light then many of America's citizens would. American culture needs a shift. And fast.

     I thought this book was a much needed wake-up call to America; exposing the dark areas of this country in a way most churches wouldn't dare. What he speaks on in so relevant to America's Christians today. WE as the body of Christ need to stop sitting and start working toward a better future! In fact, one of my favorite quotes from the book is,

            

        "How are Christians to think about these new cultural challenges? Some Christians prefer not to think seriously about these issues. This falls far short of an acceptable posture, however. Those who do not think seriously about how Christians should respond to these challenges will find that the dominant culture will simply pull them into its vortex. They will simply fail to live and think as Christians."

 (If you would like to read an excerpt of the book, click here)

     The only downside of this book is that at certain times, it was a bit hard to get in to, and slightly uninteresting at other parts. I would recommend this book especially to anyone entering a seminary. This book would also be great for any high school student about to enter college. Overall, it was a great book, and I sincerely hope you will read it!

Sincerely, 

Libbi H.

P.S.I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.
P.P.S. Make sure to rank my review here!

A Giveaway...

   So my dearest friends, I love blogging, and I especially love the beautiful blog backgrounds! I have been growing weary of my previous one, and so I decided to enter in Lucia Marie's Giveaway of one of her blog designs! Just head on over to her blog right here { http://one-beloved.blogspot.com/2011/08/la-lemonada-blog-designs-giveaway.html}
Hope you check it out!
Libbi H.

To Be or Not to Be...

My dear followers, I have something of a dilemma. I love photography, truly I do! I love the fun of taking pictures, and sharing them with family and friends. My dilemma is that I am not sure if I should start a photography blog, or even a business. Of course, I am not good enough to charge for it! I just love taking pictures! I put up a poll, so make sure to vote, and leave me any suggestions you might have if I wanted to start a photography blog. I look forward to hearing from you! All your comments will be taken into consideration. And the above picture (If you haven't figured it out) was taken by me. Feedback? I would love to hear your opinion. Also, if you think I should do a photography blog, what should the name of it be? Thank you so much for your comments, I truly appreciate them!

Book Review: Inside Threat by Jason Elam and Steve Yohn

        In this final book, of the Riley Covington Thriller Series, America is under attack. After the suspicious death of the United State Senate Chaplain,  a funeral is to be held, in the national Cathedral. Nothing out of the ordinary. Khadi Faroughi, Riley's Muslim crush, is simply doing her job protecting the photo-op hungry Senator Andrews. Until she gets a call. And 24 men rush into the National Cathedral with guns. And explosive vests. And knives. No pressure. as Congressman and civilian alike are slaughtered mercilessly, Riley has to do what it takes to save the hostages, even if it means risking his life.

~

     I have come to love this series. Starting with Monday Night Jihad, this has been one well researched and beautifully woven-together story. I never had realized before how fragile life is, and the true cost of loving our enemies. I love how they put the place, date, and time above every chapter. It definitely helped to understand the book. I would recommend this series and this book specifically to ages 15+, though it really depends on the unique person. A thirteen year old may be able to cope with the gore a lot more easily than a sensitive 19 year old. The one thing I disliked was the ending. Though I cannot tell you all the details without spoiling it, I must say, I cried very very hard. Even with that said, I would still rate this book about a nine on a scale of one to ten.

Libbi H.

P.S. The opinions expressed in this are my own, because I agreed to receive a book from Tyndale publishing in exchange for an honest review

    

Heavenfest 2011

Heavenfest + one Libbi +3  1.5 liter bottles of water (4.5 liters total) - 97.7 degrees Fahrenheit + meeting KJ52 = One very good day! This year I went with my (newly) 13 year old sister Abby, her Friend Abby B. , and my cousin Victoria. Though we saw a few people from church, it was mostly us! We had an awesome time, I mean, corn dogs and kettle corn always help! My favorite part of the day was when I was about to go to the VOX tent, and I noticed a golf cart by the side. In the golf cart was none other than KJ52! I went up to ask for a picture and an autograph, and instead I got to talk to him for about ten minutes! It was wonderful. Really. It was much more fun...er...Funner this year than it was last year. I would encourage any of you Coloradans to go next year if you are able to!

Sincerely,

Libbi H.