Today is National Learn About Butterflies Day

Spring is nearly upon us - although a look out my window tells me it is here as I see flowers blooming, trees budding, grass greening, and birds all around - which since I live in Michigan, this is significant! One of the things which "signals" the arrival of Spring here in West Michigan, is the Butterflies are Blooming exhibit at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park and runs March through April. Since today is National Learn About Butterflies Day, I thought it would be a wonderful time to once again encourage anyone who lives here or will be visiting during this time, to make time to visit as you will definitely be able to learn more about butterflies if you do! You will find information about Butterflies are Blooming at this link.

The Dr. Seuss Quote for Today is - Everything Stinks Till it's Finished

The Dr. Seuss Quote for today is,   "Everything stinks till it's finished!"  Hmmm . . . I definitely do not agree with this saying, because while some things in life are difficult, and even unpleasant, others are pure joy! Even when things are not going the way we want, we are able to have an attitude of joy, so whether something "stinks" or not, is completely up to us! Look at Philippians 4:4-9 . . . 

the little answer book Is For You

 

Do you have someone in your family who once walked with God, but no longer do? Someone who at one time went to and was active in their church, but today they say they are not even sure if God is real? Or, do you know someone for whom these things are true?

The Dr. Seuss Quote for Today is - It is Better to Know How to Learn . . .

The Dr. Seuss Quote for today is, "It is better to know how to learn than to know!" Hmmm . . . I wouldn't say it is "better for us to "know how to learn" than it is for us to "know", but it is important for us to "know how to learn", especially when it comes to knowing and walking with God! I believe it is better for us to "know how to learn" AND it is important for us to "know"! We need both! Thankfully, God doesn't leave us to try and figure things out for ourselves! He gave us the Bible so we can know how to learn . . . just look at Psalm 119:105 -

Tomorrow - March 14th - is National Popcorn Lovers Day!

Yes, tomorrow is National Popcorn Lovers Day - my family certainly has people who could be considered "popcorn lovers" as we do enjoy popcorn! I found the following ideas for ways to celebrate Popcorn Lovers Day on  Popcorn.com . . .

The Dr. Seuss Quote for Today is - Sometimes the Questions are Complicated . . .

The Dr. Seuss Quote for today is,   "Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple!" In many aspects of life we do often "complicate" things when they could be significantly more simple, so I'd have to agree with this saying from Dr. Seuss! One things we might "complicate" is our relationship to God. Sometimes we think we have to be good, do good things and think good thoughts if we are going to have a relationship with God, yet God Himself tells us in Romans 3:23, "All of us have sinned and fallen short of God's glory." None of us are good. We are all sinners. On our own, we fall short of God's glory. This is horrible news because on our own we can not do anything to have a relationship with God. We might try to earn it by being "good", but we can never be good enough. Thank God, He chose to make a relationship with Him possible for us! Romans 6:23 tells us, "Sin pays off with death. But God's gift is eternal life given by Jesus Christ our Lord." Just look at Romans 10:9.10; "So you will be saved, if you honestly say, 'Jesus is Lord,' and if you believe with all your heart that God raised him from death." We just have to honesty say, "Jesus is Lord" and believe with all our heart God raised Jesus from the dead! This is it! It isn't complicated! It is amazingly simple! It is a gift from God, one we can not earn! So, if you have never received this gift and have been trying to "complicate" things by earning what can never be earned, just accept the gift God so freely offers because, "the answer is simple!"

Memories & Signs of Life/Spring

One time eight years ago when my grandsons were younger - seven, four, and two years old - we took a walk outside to look for signs of life/Spring. Things which showed us God's amazing creation. We found flowers (my then sweet four year old grandson picked some for me!) buds on branches, heard birds singing, and noticed how everything here in West Michigan was starting to turn green again!

Make a Difference with illustrate my own - Important Things Jesus Wants Me to Know books

 

You are likely familiar with the Bible people from my illustrate my own - Important Things Jesus Wants me to Know book series - The Lost Lamb, The Woman at the Well, The Man with Leprosy, The Good Samaritan, The Pharisee  & the Tax Collector, The Two Builders, and Martha & Mary so just think how much fun it would be to illustrate these familiar accounts . . . whether you are an artist or draw your illustrations with stick people. As much fun as it would be for you to illustrate these Bible adventures for your grandchildren, think how much more fun it would be to illustrate them together . . . and most importantly, think about the fantastic conversations you will be able to have as you work together to illustrate your books!

The Dr. Seuss Quote for Today is; You Are You . . .

The Dr. Seuss Quote for today is, "You are you. Now, isn't that pleasant?!" Yes, it is pleasant you are "you", but let's stop for a moment and see who God says we are . . . John 1:12, "But to all who did accept him and believe in him he gave the right to become children of God."  John 15:15, "I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know what his master is doing. But I call you friends, because I have made known to you everything I heard from my Father." 2 Corinthians 5:17, "So then, if anyone is in Christ, that person is part of the new creation. The old things have gone away, and look, new things have arrived!" Ephesians 1:4, "God chose us in Christ to be holy and blameless in God’s presence before the creation of the world." Colossians 3:12, "God has chosen you and made you his holy people. He loves you. So you should always clothe yourselves with mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience." Wow! I'm God's child! I'm God's friend! I'm God's creation! I'm chosen by God! I'm loved by God! Yes, being all these things is pleasant! It is more than pleasant! It is awesomely amazing!

Fiona and the Easter Egg Hunt

As I mentioned yesterday, Zonderkidz sent me some of their new book releases to review - today I am happy to let you know about another book - Fiona and the Easter Egg Hunt illustrated by Richard Cowdrey for children ages four to eight.

Help the Children You Love Know God with illustrate my own - Known Bible Hero book series

   

You are likely familiar with the Bible people from my illustrate my own - Known Bible Hero book series - Noah, Hananiah, Mishael & Azariah (otherwise known as Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego), Ruth, Joshua, Caleb, David, Elijah, Jonah, Daniel, Joseph, Hadassah (Esther), and Gideon so just think how much fun it would be to illustrate these familiar accounts . . . whether you are an artist or draw your illustrations with stick people. As much fun as it would be for you to illustrate these Bible adventures for your grandchildren, think how much more fun it would be to illustrate them together . . . and most importantly, think about the fantastic conversations you will be able to have as you work together to illustrate your books!

The Dr. Seuss Quote for today - You have brains in your head . . .

The Dr. Seuss Quote for today . . . "You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose!"  This is true, we do have brains in our head and feet in our shoes and we can steer ourselves any direction we choose, but we also need to keep in mind, God has plans for us! Jeremiah 29:11 tells us, "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'"  How exciting! The God Who created the universe has plans for you and for me! His plans are plans for our good, not our harm, and they will give us hope and a future! If you were looking for good news to brighten your day today, what could be better news than this?!!! This verse shows us God's great love . . . He has plans for us! So, since we do have brains in our heads, let's use those brains to discover God's plans for us! We can do this by looking at the gifts, talents and abilities He has given us, the place in the world where He has put us and spend time in prayer asking God to show us what He wants us to do! Then, we can use those feet He has given us to head in a direction and see if this is the place God has planned for us!

This Special Blessing for You - This Book is a Blessing for the Children You Love!

Friday I received a package from Zonderkidz - yesterday I let you know about a wonderful new book from Sally Lloyd-Jones (you will find my review of Strong: Psalm 1 at this link.) Today I am happy to let you know about a lovely book written by Eric & Meredith Schrotenboer and illustrated by Denise Hughes - you will want this book to share with the children you love!

Give Understanding & Creativity with illustrate my own - Unknown Bible Hero book series

 

If you are not an artist, or artistic person, when you see a book   which you need to provide the illustrations, you may think it is not the book for you. But, in this case with the   illustrate my own Unknown Bible Hero books, nothing could be farther from the truth! These books give you the unique opportunity to engage with the children you love in ways you never have when you read a book about a real Bible person, since you and/or they will be providing the illustrations. This means you get to talk about what is happening, think through what the Bible person is saying, and basically really pay attention to the details so you are able to provide the illustrations! Just think about the fantastic conversations you will be able to have about the Bible people and how what they learned applies to you as well! These books are no ordinary Bible person storybook!