The Message of Christ is Urgent.

I would like to welcome my guest Vanessa Lumby! She has a fantastic message and I wanted to help spread the word. She writes a weekly devotional for Daughter of Delight (you can read all of their devotionals here) and has a blog of her own at www.vanessalumby.blogspot.com.

I think I’m the only one who listens to the flight attendant's safety demonstration on airplanes. I’m a nervous flyer, so  as soon as the cabin door is sealed, I’m on high alert. So you better believe that when the flight attendant requests my attention for a safety demonstration, they have got it.

A big pet peeve of mine is when the flight attendant is standing there, giving passengers information that could save their lives, the other guests are texting, already asleep, or reading.

But not me. I don't care how many times I've seen the safety demonstration. I will definitely know what to do if the plane goes down. Most of the time I want to get everyone's attention. I want to wake them up, snatch their phones, and slam their books shut. I want to say, "Don't you see? The attendant is trying to save your life!" But, I don't. I listen, take mental notes, and prepare to be the only passenger that makes it out alive.

But what I definitely  don't do is say anything to those rude passengers. If I did, I'd look crazy. I'd appear to be overreacting. No one would understand my urgency.

Doesn’t this sound like our evangelical lives? There are people standing up and teaching others how to be saved, but the world pays no attention. They’ve heard this message a hundred times and have grown numb to the instruction.

I Know Who Goes Before Me...

In your best Bob Marley Impression, sing with me:

'Don't worry...about a thing,

Cuz every little thing

Is gunna be alright'

And it's not just Bob Marley saying that. Luke 12:22-26 says:

“Do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear.  Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.  Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!  Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?  Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?”

And Deuteronomy 31:8 says: 

"The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."

With that said I present to you some amazing news.....drumroll please........

Must Read of 2015! Continued...

So I am back again with another Must Read of 2015! The first book I reviewed was Unstoppable (which you can find here). While that book was a motivational book I bring to you a Christian fiction story. 

Summer is halfway over, meaning that prime reading season is halfway through. If you are looking for another book to cram in this last half then grab Reservations for Two. I will admit, I am the kind of person who judges a book by its cover. With that said, I was a bit reluctant to choose this book as it looked a little too sappy for me, I can't do Nicholas Sparks book. However, when I began reading I was proven wrong. Yes, there is a love story involved but this book is a story within a story. For you thrifty folks, you're getting two books for the price of one! This is the second book of three but it can be read without reading the first, although now I am itching to get the first. The third book is released in 2016 and you better believe I will be purchasing it!

It took me less than 48 hours to complete this book, not because it is short but because it draws you in and you don't want to put it down. Of course, I only got a few hours of sleep the first night and read my the light on my phone but I just had to figure out what happened next. I have read some books where I tend to get bored or can guess what will happen next but this book is a drama, mystery, and love story all on one. Juliette, the main character, brings you back in time of World War II as she reads letters from her family's past to figure out who her family really is. Right when you think the big mystery is going to be solved, you're pulled right back to the present time with Juliette's anything but normal life, love life, and family.

Reservations for Two: the two being myself and this book!

*Note: This book was given to me for review by Blogging for Books. 

5 Ways to Stay Connected to God while on Vacation

I am gearing up for a 12 hour road trip with my toddler to my parent's house for a week. (Please say a pray for me!) This is my 'vacation' for the year (as we have recently moved from England back to the states). While on vacation, no matter the location or length, it can be tough to stay connected spiritually while you are trying to disconnect from the rest of the world, from your work, social media, texts, phone calls, grocery lists, laundry piles, and to-do lists. 

When you are relaxing on the beach or in the mountains it can be easy to let your 'spiritual duties' slip and while I believe some of that is ok, we need to discipline ourselves a bit more on staying connected to God. God knows that we need to take a break sometimes. I mean, why would He have created the beautiful scenery if He didn't want us to sit back and enjoy it? Here are some of my tips to stay connected to God while on vacation:

1. Know things are going to be different: Know that your daily schedule will be thrown off. Your Bible reading, journaling, devotionals, and prayer time will more than likely be at different times of the day or you may not get to them on some days. And that is ok because there are other ways to stay connected to God than these.

2. Pray: The easiest way to stay connected is through prayer. I get a lot of prayer time in while I am away. It may not be deep, spiritual prayers and I may not hear back from God like I would when I am in my quiet place but He is still listening. Vacation is a great time to give God constant thanks. If you are able to take a break from work and life then you are truly blessed! If you woke up and took a breath, you are blessed and have a reason to give thanks to the Lord. Even if it is for a night one town away...you are blessed! Thank God for everything that you see, tell Him how awesome He is, tell Him of His splendor

3. Worship music: Play worship music any chance you get, in the car, on your phone while you are getting ready, before you go to bed. Being able to squeeze those few minutes in here and there to worship the Lord will pay off.

4. Bible App: If you are in the majority and have a smart phone or tablet, download a Bible app. Most are free so it will not cost you anything. Having the Bible on your phone or tablet allows you to access your Bible at any time, at any place. Taking your Bible with you is not always the most convenient thing to do while on vacation so having it on your phone is perfect...because I mean, who goes anywhere without their phone nowadays! :)

5. Spread the love: This is one of the easiest things to do. Simply share the love of God where ever you go. Be the light in someones life. Make someone smile, give them a complement, lend a helping hand. Taking a break from your day job gives you more time to focus on the work of the Lord!

That's it! Those are my tips for staying connected while getting disconnected. You don't need to feel guilty for taking a break from a Sunday church service to go away. God doesn't tell us to go to church. We  are the church, not a building with pews and a pulpit. 

(But that's another topic for another day:)

Are you going on a vacation soon? Or maybe a staycation? What are your favorite way to stay connected?