The God Guy Bible

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I was thrilled to receive this Bible, and especially liked that it was the full sized, hard cover edition. So many times I have purchased Bibles on line to find they are hand held smaller Bibles which do have their place but for the intended audience (teen Boys) this one was ideal!

This Bible is durable, simply designed and sleek.
The features I loved about this book were the intros, including quick facts about the author, the audience, themes, and the profiles of God Guys you'll find in the Bible. I also found the prayers and "Know This" devotions to help dive deeper into the Word each day to be particularly useful, especially as it relates to a young mans life.
The "Ask Yourself" sidebars that encourage the reader to consider what the Bible means for their daily life is a great tool to get the reader thinking on a deeper level.


This Bible even combines the online world which is so important to our teens today. On this site (Godguy.com) guys can interact with Michael and other God Guys diving even deeper into their Bible study. The only draw back I could find to this Bible was the color of font it is brown, and I found it a little hard to read. Other than that small detail,
If you find yourself searching for a Bible for that young man in your life this could be just what you are looking for.

"Bible has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

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From the Back Cover:

Become the Man You're Meant to Be
Combining the clear everyday language of GOD'S WORD Translation with inspirational writing from bestselling author Michael DiMarco, the God Guy Bible is jam-packed with these timeless features:

Devotions and Bible study helps. We know that reading the Bible can be challenging. That's why we've included lots of extra features to create a Bible that can grow with you.

book intros including quick facts about the author, the audience, themes, and more
profiles of God Guys you'll find in the Bible
prayers and "Know This" devotions to help you dive deeper into the Word each day
"Ask Yourself" sidebars that encourage you to consider what the Bible means for your daily life
a Quick Relief index of helpful verses on topics and issues you face every day

GodGuy.com. An online community where Michael can mentor you personally and share tons of resources--spiritual mentoring courses, worship music, live online events, and even free Bible studies.

So what are you waiting for? If you're looking for a Bible that grows with you as you become the man God meant you to be, then the God Guy Bible is for you!

About the Author

Michael DiMarco is the CEO of Hungry Planet, a company that creates cutting-edge books that connect with the multitasking mind-set. Michael has written or cowritten a number of books, including God Guy, Devotions for the God Guy, B4UD8, and Almost Sex. Michael and his wife, Hayley, live with their daughter in Nashville, Tennessee.

Raccoon encounter

Wowzers,                                  And he kinda looked like this!

Friends,

 there is a raccoon in the chicken coop!

I went down to tuck the chickens in with the kids tonight and found the biggest coon I have ever seen cozying up to the cluckers, boy was I surprised!

Shoot, Should have seen me, here is a re-enactment of the moment....

Dear daughter #1 "Wow mom look at that big cat",

 Me "kids get out of there, that Is NOT a cat it is a big raccoon!"

So I bravely start to growl, yell and throw things. (Can we say "Craaazzyyy)

Raccoon calmly looks at me and disappears onto the roof. I can still hear him up there though.

Did I mention he was fat and quite large? (Probably full from our chicken)

The coop door blew shut with all the wind and we arrived home later than usual after a lovely day in town, visiting friends and participating in Mobile school activities.

So said chickens were all lined up in the tree and on the fence just waiting to be dinner, to one very happy raccoon!

Son #1 comes running down with the pellet gun and says "Where did he go I will get him!" My brave son to the rescue.

Ha! Only in the country, my friends, only in the country can you have this much excitement!

I am laughing as I write this as things always seem to be "exciting" when dear husband is on the road.

On a serious note, I was pondering things today as I am apt to do.

I thought that today I would do a blog about how life is like a roller coaster: So here it goes.

Sometimes you just need to buckle up and hold of for the ride.

 Ever feel like it would be rather nice to just ride a merry go round? I mean it is predictable, safe and fun (It is my favorite ride).

Thing is it doesn't take you anywhere....It is not a challenge, and it doesn't change,..hmm.. Sounds good eh?

 I just love how God has designed us.

Here we have this drive placed in us, but half the time we are chasing the wind, thinking happiness is right there just a tickling our fingers, often though it rushes right on through, blowing faster than you can reach. But then, in the next instant we are onto a new current, alive, dancing, and loving the feel of the cool air, waiting for the next gust to flip up our hair and tickle our nose.

We are so darn fickle, life is so good!

Yet we always yearn for more, why is that I wonder? I was thinking could it be that it is our fathers hand we feel and not the wind at all. Is our father steering us to what really matters, and not just the meaningless chase of the dandelion fluff of life?

 I dunno just a thought for today.

 Buckle up friends, take a risk, and enjoy the ride, who knows what is around the bend?  

Oh, and please get off the merry go round it’s for babies!

Oh and watch out for racoons in your coop...

Another Article from Sheri Rose's Bible study

	Article 6:Feeling Unworthy of Love
	Article 6 Article 5 ▶ Article 6 ▶ Article 7 ▶ Article 8 ▶ Feeling Unworthy of Love May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. (Ephesians 3:19) By Sheri Rose Shepherd Bestselling Author and Bible Life Coach learn more ▶ There is a battle within most women's hearts to believe they are worthy of love. If we believe the lie that we do not deserve love and are hiding behind feelings of unworthiness, even the most loving man in the world will not be able to break down the wall around our hearts. Can you imagine if every night when you went to tuck your children into bed they refused to let you hug them or express your love because they did not feel they deserved it? As a parent, you would embrace them every time you could to prove to them they were indeed worthy of your love. If they refused to receive it because of how they felt, it would break your heart. I believe that is how our heavenly Father feels when we refuse to let Him love us. But there's so much more at stake when we feel unworthy of love. When we are locked up inside, we cannot become the women we want to be in our men's and children's lives. If we do not love ourselves and do not let God lavish His love on us, it will hinder us and hurt others. There are many reasons we may fight feelings of unworthiness. Some of us had fathers who never expressed how much they loved us, and others had mothers who did not feel they deserved love and did not know how to show love, so we began to see our worth through their eyes and not through God's. We may have been abused verbally, emotionally, or physically. Maybe our first love made us feel we were worthless. Some of us had all the love in the world from our families, but we felt rejected by our peers. The list of things we women believe when it comes to love is endless. But the truth is, how we feel will never change how loved we are by the Lord. And nothing that we have done or that has been done to us can keep God from loving us. The question is, will we open our hearts and let His love in? I believe if God wrote us a love letter, it might read like this . . . My Beloved Daughter, I love you with an unconditional, everlasting love so you can be free to love. My precious daughter, don't allow those who have hurt you to keep you from experiencing the joy of loving others. I know giving a piece of your heart away involves risk, but I am here to heal your heart when someone hurts you. I want you to choose wisely whom you allow in your heart, and I also want you to give those you love the freedom to fail. Remember that no one else can love you as perfectly and completely as I do. Don't look for a perfect love in people, or you will always find disappointment and heartache. If you allow your soul to settle into Mine and become one with Me, you will never doubt that I am forever and always devoted to you. Your Prince Jesus, who can't stop loving you May you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. (Ephesians 3:18) For more teaching from the Your Heart's Desire book and Bible study, visit www.biblelifecoaching.com. Watch the trailer:

My Un-inspired life

Just look at that happy Neuron!

I have been wondering what to write this week.  

 Ever have a time where you are completely UN- inspired by life?

Today it was a gloriously beautiful day, and as I drove to the home school co-op. (One of my favorite places lately, there are wonderful women and a wealth of learning adventures)

As I drove, listening to the chatter of my children, I pondered life unscripted.

I mean I would never in a gazillion years imagine me schooling my children, living in the middle of nowhere, and enjoying it. (Most days)

God is pretty amazing, I still can’t seem to figure out his plan for my life, but I guess sometimes you just have to trust and go with it, I mean it would be extremely boring to know everything. Uh wait a cotton picking minute I think I would love to know a few things, like what in the heck is Onomatopoeia, and why at my age do I need to know this?

Yes my smart friends I had to learn it today, it is a word in which sound is associated with the meaning of the action or object it represents, yep fascinating, I know…..

 I am getting pretty good at cheating, (insert gasp) most times I have no clue what my wonderful teacher is teaching the kids, I don’t think I learned this stuff as a kid, either that or I was not paying attention.

 So I have learned to look at the teacher’s notes, ask the kids, fade into a corner or just plainly give blank looks, eek!  Today I was assigned to teach the “art and baking projects” at least I felt confident doing these things! LOL I think my poor teacher has given up on me.

So here I am tonight feeling like I am floundering, trying to get it right, but not really getting it, get it?
 I know God has a plan. I just don’t know where to go from here. I guess in life sometimes you just have to wait it out, Pray and try to stay positive in the down time.

 I keep repeating to my kids, in that sing song voice I reserve just for them (crazy grin) Neurons are nifty and dendrites are dandy……hopefully I grow an abundance of them quickly, because they would come in handy about now.

Too bad you couldn’t roll on over to the corner store and pick up a pack of neurons, stick them into your noggin and move on with your day, how easy would that be?

But you know friends sticking with easy, predictable and safe are not where growth happens, it is in the hard, ugly and stinky and the darn right uncomfortable that life meets living.  ~Pinching self-~ Yep, I seem to be living!

2 Timothy 3:16-17

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

Gluten Free Banana Bread

Coconut flour banana bread

Banana bread

gluten-free, high fiber
What you need:

• 2-3 very over-ripe bananas
• 1/3 cup butter, plus more for pan
• 6 eggs
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 tablespoon vanilla
• 1/2 cup coconut flour
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 cup nuts (optional; I used sliced almonds)

How to do it:

1.  Melt butter. Stir in eggs, bananas, vanilla, & honey.
2. Add flour, cinnamon, salt, baking soda, & baking powder.
3. Gently mix in nuts
4. Generously grease a bread pan, then pour in batter.
5. Bake at 350° for about forty minutes, until a knife comes out clean. This won’t raise like the traditional stuff does, but I personally found it just as tasty. This recipe was from one of my Bible study friends. I love Banana bread, hot outta the oven slathered in butter, yum! Hope you enjoy this great substitute!

Chi spice Coconut muffins

You had me at Chi, honey!
 Fall makes me want to bake. Gluten free baking is a whole new adventure, and I love adventure so here is another recipe from my Bible study friend.

She came across it as a Chi Spice Coconut Flour Cupcake recipe by The Urban Poser. It has been adapted, and is more a muffin type delicacy, yumm Gluten free is getting a whole lot better!

Coconut Spice Muffins

1/2 Cup Coconut Flour

1 1/2 Tsp. Cinnamon

1/2 Tsp. Ground Ginger

1/4 Tsp. Ground Cloves

1/4 Tsp. Nutmeg

1/4 Tsp. Salt

1/4 Tsp. Baking Soda

5 Eggs

1/2 Cup Coconut Oil, Melted

1/2 Cup Raw Organic Honey or regular

1 Tsp. Vanilla Extract

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line baking cups with cupcake liners. 

2. Sift together dry ingredients in a bowl.

3. In a separate bowl, mix together wet ingredients. I mixed them on high with a hand mixer until they were really well combined.

4. Reduce speed to low and mix in the dry ingredients while continuing to beat. 

5. Once the mixture is well combined, pour into your cupcake pan filling each about 2/3 of the way.

6. Bake for 25 minutes.

7. Let cool.

Enjoy!

Another article by Sheri Rose Shepherd

We Are on the Same Team and Fighting the Same Enemy As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17)
By Sheri Rose Shepherd Bestselling Author and Bible Life Coach
learn more ▶
Think about what makes your heart melt when you watch a great love story. It's not the hero's physical strength or his beloved's beauty, is it? No, you and I are drawn to the power of true love and its inexplicable ability to prevail over tragedy and adversity. The greater the conflict, the stronger the love must be in order to resolve the issue. When the hero does whatever it takes to save the relationship, our hearts soar with renewed hope. Likewise, as we seek to truly listen and understand our men when differences between us create friction, we set ourselves up for more satisfying and loving relationships. The Author of love and life and the Designer of our differences knew there would be conflict between men and women. The real problem comes, though, when we get accustomed to seeing relational problems solved in the time it takes to eat a bag of popcorn. Our hero and his beauty have less than two hours to defeat the dragons and overcome unspeakable challenges. You and I are not going to magically resolve deep relationship conflicts in our own wisdom and definitely not in less than two hours. When I met my husband, Steve, I was sure we were a match made in heaven. In fact, we have had the privilege of being in ministry together for most of our marriage. I wish I could tell you it's been an effortless, wonderful life for the two of us, but I would be lying to you. I learned to fight loud and strong by watching my parents. My brother and I would hide together in my bedroom as our parents tore into each other during arguments, often screaming and throwing things. Because of my broken family, when I first got married I was sure that every conflict between me and Steve would end our marriage. Steve was raised by parents who had stayed married, so it was impossible for him to relate to my fears and worries. He was raised in quieter surroundings. His parents dealt with conflict quite differently from mine. There was no rage. No yelling. No broken furniture. His parents rarely fought—and never in front of their children. But his family also had no system to resolve conflict. That meant issues went unresolved—though not unnoticed. Steve's and my fighting techniques were drastically different. However, neither of us had been equipped to deal appropriately with marital conflict. That led to major challenges early in our marriage whenever we attempted to resolve a disagreement. To make things even more difficult, when I married Steve I was a new Christian and had not yet learned how to channel my anger properly. I tried everything to get him to react or resolve conflict with me, and as I waited, I became more bitter and he became more distant. One day I couldn't take Steve's calm, cool responses anymore. From my perspective, he obviously needed some lessons on how to fight for our marriage. I'd had enough of his "let's work it out peacefully by ignoring our problems" act. In my mind, he was being polite only to annoy me. "Why don't you ever show some emotion and prove to me you care about our marriage?" I yelled. Steve stood there quietly, shaking his head and looking down at the ground. Then suddenly, he turned toward the mirror on our bedroom closet door and kicked it as hard as he could, smashing it to bits. Wow, I thought, what a performance. He sure learns fast. Suddenly I began to laugh hysterically through my tears. I was so shocked I wasn't sure if I was relieved or ready to run from what I saw. His toenail was jutting out at a bizarre angle as he asked me, "Is that enough emotion for you? If it would help, I could probably throw myself on the floor and work up a good cry." We both began to laugh together as we attempted to pick up the glass fragments scattered all over our bedroom floor. In that moment I realized how much we had shattered each other just because we were different and had not been trained on how to resolve conflict. Our marriage was not the problem; it was our hearts. Neither of us had a teachable spirit. It took several years, a lot of tears, and one expensive closet door mirror to repair the damage inflicted during those early years. We still have conflict, as all couples do, but we now understand that we are on the same team and that it's okay not to agree on everything. After twenty-five years of marriage, we've decided it's worth letting go of the little things and fighting to understand one another. Conflict comes no matter who we marry. We may be fighting about different things with different men, but there will always be major differences between men and women. I once heard a pastor say that if spouses agreed on everything, only one of them would be needed. Let's not allow our differences to divide us any longer! For a sneak peek of Sheri Rose's Your Heart's Desire Group Experience, or to learn more about her ministry, visit www.biblelifecoaching.com. Watch the trailer: