Review and Giveaway: "Deny Yourself " by Lisa Chan

New film helps women navigate an “all about me” society selflessly

"If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow me." Matthew 16:24

How often have we read over this scripture without even considering what it truly means?  What does it even look like (in a practical sense) to deny yourself and take up your cross?

Lisa Chan answers these questions in her second DVD of the True Beauty series.  You may recall my review of her Be Still late last year.  In the same video format, she examines this very question.

Here are a few thoughts from the DVD:

"We want to feel total acceptance and love from God, but we don't like talking about laying down our lives and denying ourselves to follow after Christ."

Our culture is extremely self-indulgent and has a "I want it all mentality" ...  How do we live out our Christian life while all of this "self" focus is in our face?

Jesus stretched out his arms, endured the cross, and separation from God and yet we don't want to forgive someone that has really hurt us in life.  Rather we want God to forgive our sins while we hold a grudge against the other.

Denying yourself gives you freedom and allows you to experience true joy in Christ.

Push through selfishness, push through fear. He came to give us the abundant life, but we must be willing to seek Him with all that we have.

MY REVIEW:  I really enjoyed this second installment in the True Beauty series.  Lisa has a very poetic way to share the scriptures and relate it to our life.  Her DVD's bring such peace while I am watching and listening.  It very calming to my "hurried" soul!  She tackles a hard scripture, yet allows the listener to seek from within to answer the question for themselves.  Lisa has included another personal reflection guide with her DVD.  In my opinion, this reflection guide allows you to get the most out of the lessons learned in the DVD.  She proposes many good questions that take soul searching and personal reflection.  These are the types of questions that will force us to grow as Christians.

Here are a few good questions ... (without giving them all away!)

What message from the world have you bought into that makes the cost of following Christ seem so overwhelming?

When did you last follow Christ to the point of denying yourself?

Have you missed out on anything while you were busy following God?  Was it worth the cost? Would you do it again if given the same chance?

I hope you will take the time to consider these questions and search for answers within your soul.

One final challenging thought she suggested is this, "Many want the salvation Christ offers, without the submission that comes with it."   Are you one of the many?

WATCH IT:
Watch the trailer: HERE
Watch Lisa: HERE discussing God is Better
Watch Irene: HERE discussing The Simplicity of the Word

BUY IT: HERE

WIN IT:  David C Cook publishers have graciously offered up a copy of the new DENY YOURSELF DVD and Reflection Guide to one Go Long! Go Green! reader.   Please leave a comment below with a way that you have found you have denied yourself to follow Christ OR if you regret choosing your "self" over following Christ!  Please include your name and email address in your comment.

It is encouraging to one another to see practical ways we can "deny ourselves" and follow HIM!!

This giveaway is open to ALL and will end on Sunday at April 14th at midnight. The winner will be drawn via random.org and will have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be drawn. Please, no PO Boxes.

Disclaimer: I received this product free of charge. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I was not monetarily compensated for this review.

What Sophia has been up to ...

Since the school year has begun, we have many weekly events on our calender!!  We have school two days a week, I have BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) weekly, dance every Thursday, small group every other week, MOPS every other week!  Whew, I am tired just typing it!  Not very much time for me to work shifts, but that's ok! :)  I have the rest of my life to work, right?  

Having a tea party!  We usually have a few of these per week!

We have joined the Hands and Feet Dance Studio this year!  I LOVE having Sophia involved in this Christian dance program!  Her two teachers, Emma and Meredith, are incredible role models for Sophia!  They have a passion for the Lord, dance, and teaching!

From their website:

"We felt like the Lord was calling us to start a dance studio in our home around two years ago. We wanted to call our studio Hands and Feet because we really like the song “Hands and Feet” that talks about being God’s hands and feet and going where He sends us. We feel He is calling us to be His hands and feet by having a Christian dance studio. In March of 2011, we were also able to go on a mission trip to Haiti and again this July using the money we earned by teaching dance classes. We are praying that we will be able to return to Haiti again soon using the money from teaching classes this season, if that is the Lord's will!"

Her first day of dance!  Consignment sale bargains - her whole outfit, shoes included  $5!

She wrote her name for the FIRST TIME!  Now to get her to do it again ... that is a chore!

Ready to perform for the family!

A few dance moves!

Here she is in action ... they are working on their jazz routine!

Thankful for God's blessings in our lives as we figure life out together!

"Be Still" REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.  The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress." Ps 46:10-11.

Every year life gets busier and busier.  There is always 1 more load of laundry to do, 1 more errand to run, 1 more room to vacuum, 1 more text message to answer, 1 more piece of junk mail to sort through, and 1 more __________.  You fill in the blanks!  You and I both know we can all totally identify!  If you can't identify, please tell me what rock you are under ... I would LOVE to come join you!!

Recently, I was contacted to review Lisa Chan's new devotional/teaching series titled "Be Still."   It is the first of a three part series.  (You might recognize the name "Chan" -- Lisa is married to the well-known Christian speaker and writer Frances Chan).  Lisa address' our insane business of life in "Be Still."  She states on the DVD, "Although our life gets busier with each new year, God stays the SAME ...  He encourages us to "Be Still,"  but how exactly do we do this?"

Lisa reminds us that once we stop, "Be Still," and listen, we will begin to see things we wouldn't normally see.  Your stillness allows God to talk to you and help to guide you in His way.

She references the well-known story of Martha and Mary in Luke 10:38-42.

³⁸ As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. ³⁹ She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. ⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

⁴¹ “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, ⁴² but only one thing is needed.^[a] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

She asks the question: "Why don't we choose to sit at His feet as Mary did?"  I know that is a very difficult question to answer, let alone act upon.  It is so much easier to consume ourselves with the business of life, and get swept away, as opposed to sitting, quietly, waiting for the promptings of the Lord.  

Lisa reminds us of the passage in John 15:4-5, the Vine and the Branches.  

⁴ Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

⁵ “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

We can do nothing good apart from Him.

I will leave you with the same question Lisa asked of me ... "How can you truly know God if you aren't still before Him?  

WATCH IT: HERE  and HERE

BUY IT: HERE

WIN IT:  Lisa Chan and crew has graciously offered one very lucky Go Long Go Green reader a copy of "Be Still."  

To enter, please leave a comment with your name, email address, and why you think this DVD would be of benefit to you!

  

This giveaway is open to ALL and will end on Thursday September 13, 2012 at midnight. The winner will be drawn via random.org and will have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be drawn. Please, no PO Boxes.

Disclaimer: I received this product free of charge. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I was not monetarily compensated for this review.

Trying to be more like Jesus

I am quickly learning how God has an awesome way of humbling us through the innocence of our kids.  Many of you probably read my previous blog post Raw Confessions.  I mentioned I have been really short on patience over the past two months.  It seems that Sophia always knows what buttons to push at that perfect time!  I am sure your children probably know your "zero to very hot" buttons to push as well!  I have been so disappointed in myself on how I am handling her "button-pushing."  I know I have been short with her, which then leads to many tears and frustrations!  Nevertheless, I am fighting clear disobedience and disrespect, both of which need addressed, but in a better manner.

I can't remember what she did (or didn't do) yesterday that irritated me, but I told her she needed to go sit in her bed for a reflection time.  A dear friend of mine shared with me that she uses the word reflection time, but she wants her daughter to reflect on what she SHOULD be doing, instead of what she did that was wrong.  She said that she felt reflection time provided for learning and growth.  I told Sophia she was to pray to ask God to help her to be more respectful and obedient to her mommy!  I always tell her that she can get out of her bed when she can come out and show me a happy heart.  She honestly will sit in her bed until she can come out with a happy heart (= a huge smile).  It is hard to be in a bad mood when you are forced to smile!

She had been back in her room for awhile and I went back there, peeked my head around the corner, and found her praying to God that she would be more obedient!  It just melted my heart.  I gave her another 10 minutes, then asked her if she had a happy heart.  She said "No mommy I don't have a happy heart yet.  Can I please get my bible and bring it into my bed so that I can learn how to be more like Jesus."  I was so humbled by my 3 year old.  I told her she could read her bible in her bed and she came out 20 minutes later with a delightful attitude and very happy heart!

Wow, if only I took the time to search myself and have a happy heart when I am frustrated with my day/situation/life.  I need to take my 3 year old daughters advice and learn how to be more like Jesus!
 

Playing babies and acting like the mommy!

Has God used your children to humble you?

The Pelican Bib Review and Giveaway

As a mom, it is always a hard chore to find a BPA/PVC/Phthalate free bib that doesn't leak, break, or come off easy!!  I was excited to try out The Pelican Bib because it promised all of the things that I wanted!!  I have to say moms, it succeeded!!!  The bib has an ergonomic shape to it and a firm "lip/beak" that actually works to catch all of the crumbs!!  I have found so many bib's that "claim" to catch the crumbs, but I can only think of two that actually live up to that claim!!  When you have a messy eater like myself, you need that feature!!

Happy girl eating her Cutie! :)

 Here is the awesome fastener at the top of the bib!  Looking at it, it looks like it would slip off easy, but it doesn't!  It actually fits snug while on the child!  It is really easy to get on and off for mom, but nearly impossible to pull off by the kids!!  (Isn't that an amazing feature MOMS?)

Easy on for moms, hard to get off for kids!

The Pelican Bib comes in 4 colors, but one size!  I wish they had two sizes for purchase!  I wish I would have had this bib when Sophia was a bit younger and starting to eat all those solids!  Right now, at (almost) 2, it fits, but doesn't cover her midsection as well as I would like.  With that said, the length is great!  You don't need a super long bib to just get in the way!  I find when they are this size, they actually catch the crumbs!

Notice the curvature ... 

All in all, this is probably one of my FAVORITE bibs in our collection!!  It is very easy to clean!!  I know this will come in handy in the future as well!! :)  This would also be a perfect gift for a friend or family member expecting .... give the gift of CLEAN, STAIN-FREE clothes!! :)

Here is some additional information from their website!

The Pelican Bib™:

• is constructed of soft, molded plastic (100% non-toxic) for easy wearing and durability.
• is great for babies and toddlers alike!
• includes a convenient and comfortable adjustable neck fastener.
• has a generously sized crumb catcher for all of baby's spills!
• has a comfortable, ergonomic design.
• measures 8" from the neck down and 9.5" wide at the crumb catcher.
• allows for easy clean-up. --Just rinse off or wipe with a damp sponge!
• is available in four fun colors: pink, blue, red and white.
• is made of FDA approved, food-grade material.
• is proudly made in America and is safe for children: Lead-free, BPA-free, PVC-free and Phthalate-free.
• is a recyclable, eco-friendly product!

BUY IT: Click here to find the bib at a store near you!

WIN IT: The Pelican Bib Company has generously offered 1 Pelican Bib to one lucky Go Long! Go Green! reader!! 

Links you might find helpful for the entry form!

Go Green Go Long on Facebook
SGsMama on Twitter

Pelican Bib on Twitter

Pelican Bib on Facebook

Pelican Bib Web Page

This giveaway is open to the U.S. and will end on Monday December 20, 2010 at midnight. The winner will be drawn via random.org and will have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be drawn. Please, no PO Boxes.

Disclaimer: I received this product free of charge. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I was not monetarily compensated for this review.

We LOVE Mondays!

At least for now, b/c we have our Bible Study!!!  This translates into Mommy's time away, being encouraged in the Word and Sophia's time to run around and play with kiddos her age!) 

Thanks Amber for taking such a cute picture of me!

What a winning combination huh?

Have a great Monday!!!

Digging into THE WORD

With the start of a new school year, churches usually start up their Women's Bible Studies.  This fall I have had the priveledge and honor to be participating in this incredible Beth Moore Bible Study.  The Patriarchs: Encountering the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  Basically she starts with Genesis 11 and continues through the whole rest of the book!  We are studying Genesis verse by verse, precept upon precept and it is so amazing!  I have read over most of the verses in Genesis throughout my Christian life (12 years), but missed so many key scriptures, lessons, and parts!  

A few of my favorite Beth Moore Quotes from the study thus far (we are in week 8):

"Anyone who closely encounters the one true God of glory knows instinctively and immediately that none is like Him."

"The weaknesses of God's children do not strain the strength of God!"

"Faith makes us independent, but not indifferent." -F.B. Meyer

"Anything you have to manipulate to get is rarely yours to keep."

"Try not to think of God's perfection as His confinement -- as if to say He can "only" do what is perfect.  Rather, God is free from the confinement of all imperfections.  In other words, His perfection does not limit Him.  It frees Him."

"Sometimes the greater miracle that results when we don't get what we were so convinced we wanted and end up with something far more glorious!"

"The healthy child of desperation is devotion while the troubled child of desperation is obsession."

"One of the most obscure traps the Devil sets for the deeply spiritual is to tempt to love loving God more than we actually love God.  Certainly nothing is wrong with enjoying the life surrounding our pursuit of God, but our growth is gravely stunted until our focus shifts decisively from our Bethel (House of God) to our El Bethel (God of the House of God).  Without the El, Bethel is just an empty house."

I have done MANY of her bible studies in the past, but this is my favorite, by far!!  I have been so touched by the stories of Genesis.  These scriptures move my heart to repentance and a deeper love for my Lord and Savior!  

I would highly recommend this study to anyone that would love to learn more about "The Book of Beginnings" in an amazing way!!  

Be Blessed Today!!