Crazy Faith Coffee Is A Welcome Addition To Our Days!

I think all of you know that I am a coffeaholic. Seriously, the perfect beverage truly is coffee, so I was excited to learn about this coffee offered exclusively at Family Christian Stores.

Introducing Crazy Faith Coffee! John and Josee Waller spend each morning together with God and a cup of coffee. They created Crazy Faith Coffee with the idea that Crazy Faith gets you off the couch and out the door. No matter what is holding you back, Crazy Faith Coffee will move you forward-- with a jolt of caffeine.

I love the concept of this coffee as well as the flavor. As Christians, we need to have a crazy faith and be actively doing what the Lord has called us to do believing He will lead us each step of the way. And He always does! Sometimes we need a good jolt to help us get out the door and do what we have to. This coffee is exactly what you and I both need to get that little extra jolt in the morning. The flavor is fantastic. It's a rich, bold, and does offer a wonderful awakening sense as you sip it. A really neat thing is that the coffee is Organic and Fair Trade. I love that! It comes in regular and decaf and right now is only available in ground.

But the really neat thing is the story behind the coffee and the wonderful inspiration you get inside the coffee. Each bag comes with a small sealed pouch with a nifty little card in it. On that card is an inspirational story from the creators of Crazy Faith Coffee, John and Josee. The story will touch your heart and inspire you!

The bags of coffee come with a really easy to use pull tab on the front of the bag that has a resealable strip under it, so you can always keep your coffee fresh and sealed and not lose any of that wonderful flavor!

Crazy Faith Coffee is something I would highly recommend to you for multiple reasons. You can find it at your local Family Christian Bookstore or you can purchase it online from their website HERE!

Ooh, and check out the fantastic mugs they have too.

This reviewer received the product free or at a discounted price in order to bring you an honest review. No other form of compensation was given. All opinions are those of the reviewer.

You Have A Brain and A Giveaway For You #FCBloggers

The target audience for Ben Carson's book, You Have a Brain, seems to be the adolescent African- American. He would be an excellent role model for this group, which contains a high percentage of youth struggling to believe that they can have a successful and meaningful life, given their circumstances. A large portion of the book is autobiographical, describing Carson's refusal to give up his dream of being a doctor despite the disadvantages of his childhood.

The book's title echoes a phrase Carson's mother used to say to her children often: “You have a brain, you figure it out;” “You have a brain, you can handle this;” “You have a brain, what do you think?” Carson praises his mother throughout the book for her guidance and inspiration. He also names many other people who helped him as he matured. Yet one easily sees that it was Carson's own decisions and determination that allowed a Detroit boy from an impoverished single-parent family to become an internationally respected brain surgeon and author of more than a half dozen books.

Like many books about successful people, this one contains dramatic incidents which easily gain the reader's attention. Unlike many such books, Carson never seems to be boasting. His humility is refreshing.

The story of Carson's life should convince the reader than this is a wise man who has the right to share life principles – which he does in the latter part of the book. His challenge is: Since “you have a brain, THINK BIG.” Each letter in “THINK BIG” stands for one of eight concepts which Carson believes helped him achieve his goals in life, such as Talent, Insight, and Books. Each is explained clearly, using illustrations which have been shared in the earlier portion of the book. This author has the ability to take weighty and complex concepts and make them easy to understand. He does not descend to the all-too-common “you can do it because you're you” pep talk. He asserts that success is possible, but stresses the need for wise choices and persistence.

The “G” in “THINK BIG” stands for God. Carson acknowledges the role of faith in his mother's life as well as his own. He is not “preachy.” but not bashful about his beliefs. Just as he shares his love of books and in-depth learning, he shares his love of his Creator and calls God “the greatest single influence in my life.”

Ben Carson's story and advice in You Have a Brain present a fine role model for African-American youth, but this book should not be limited to that audience. Carson's book can be inspiring to anyone of any age or ethnic background when they realize that they do, indeed, have a brain and accept the challenge to THINK BIG.

You can purchase a copy of Ben Carson's boo, You Have A Brain HERE!

Family Christian Stores has generously offered to give one of my readers their own copy of the book. Please use the Rafflecopter below to enter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Open to Continental US Residents only. Must be 18 or older to enter. Limit one entry per household/address. All entries will be verified. Winner will have 24 hours to respond to winning notification if if no response then another winner will be chosen. Contest ends at 12:01 AM 5/2/15. The Minister's Wife Stamps and Saves is not responsible for the delivery of the prize. The company sponsoring this giveaway is solely responsible for the delivery of the prize to the winner(s). The Minister's Wife Stamps and Saves is not responsible for lost or misdirected emails or physical mail. This giveaway is in no way administered, sponsored, or endorsed by, or associated with, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google, Instagram, or any other social media. Void where prohibited by law.

We received samples of the products for the purpose of review. All opinions expressed here are those of the author

Do You Have Glory Hunger? FInd Out and Enter The Giveaway

  

Guest post by Rick S Jones

“Grasping for glory is one sure way to miss it.” 

That observation is one of many quotable insights in JR Vassar's book, Glory Hunger. This short [141 page] study explores several aspects of the human quest for praise, using a scriptural perspective.

Vassar describes “glory hunger” as the desire “for recognition, affirmation, applause, and love – to have a yes spoken over me ...” He identifies this desire as one which was part of mankind from creation, which was corrupted at the Fall. People seek praise and acceptance from the wrong sources, i.e. any source except God. The dangers of seeking glory from the people around us, whether Christians or not, are explained, and so is the cure.

The truth which frees us from the quest for glory is the realization that “I'm, not defined by how good I feel about myself or how good another feels about me. … I'm defined by what the Lord says about me. The Lord is my judge and he has justified me. He has declared me righteous in his court and has set his love and affirmation upon me forever.” Certainly, once we get that truth through our heads, the concern over glory from man should fade away.

Vassar is honest enough to relate that the battle still rages in him, and bold enough to point out that it still rages in all of us to some degree. He then implores us to focus on the great glory of God. “A vision of God's greatness and a zeal for his clout and fame are the only things that will displace a zeal for personal clout and fame.”

I was surprised that certain passages of scripture with great relevance to the subject were not mentioned at all, like I Corinthians 4:7 and Hebrews 13:5,6. There was only a passing nod to John 3:25-30. I would have enjoyed examples of struggling against the temptation of worldly applause faced by people like Martin Luther, Billy Graham and Tim LaHaye, and insights on various facets of the subject by Francis Schaeffer and John Piper. The lack of these things does not make Glory Hunger a poor book. It just ended too quickly for me. Vassar does such a good job on this important subject that I wish the text was about 50% longer.

The impact this book made on me is real: while writing this review, I found myself vaguely disturbed by the two pages of endorsements which begin the book – all that human praise, while a standard publishing practice and one I don't condemn, seems odd in connection with the points made by Vassar.

The book includes the web address for a free study guide.

You can purchase of copy of JR Vassar's book, Glory Hunger HERE At Family Christian Stores!

Family Christian Stores has kindly offered to give a $10 Gift Card to one of my readers! Use the Rafflecopter form below to enter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Open to Continental US Residents only. Must be 18 or older to enter. Limit one entry per household/address. All entries will be verified. Winner will have 24 hours to respond to winning notification if if no response then another winner will be chosen. Contest ends at 12:01 AM 2/20/15. The Minister's Wife Stamps and Saves is not responsible for the delivery of the prize. The company sponsoring this giveaway is solely responsible for the delivery of the prize to the winner(s). The Minister's Wife Stamps and Saves is not responsible for lost or misdirected emails or physical mail. This giveaway is in no way administered, sponsored, or endorsed by, or associated with, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google, Instagram, or any other social media. Void where prohibited by law.

We received samples of the products for the purpose of review. A small gift was given as well. All opinions expressed here are those of the author.

Veggie Tales Noah's Ark DVD & A Giveaway

I have been waiting for this! I am a huge Noah's Ark fan, and have been for years! It is my favorite lesson in the Bible.

Veggie Tales has finally made a Noah's Ark DVD! I am so excited. Family Christian Stores was kind enough to send me a screener copy that my husband and I got to watch. I have to say I just love it! I was not disappointed at all.

Of course like all Veggie Tales things in the story are a little exaggerated and stretched to fit the world of Veggies, but as a whole, the DVD kept us not only entertained we could see the values and truths that were being taught right from the start. The theme is God's Plan For Us.

Poor Shem has a serious problem with letting God be in control instead of him. He had big dreams and goals for the life he was going to have with his new wife. But when they get home from their honeymoon, Noah and his brothers (played by Bob and Larry) have started building the ark. Shem is horribly disappointed and struggles with learning to let God be in control.

Of course there is a Silly Songs with Larry part way through the story. It's very funny and a catchy tune about Larry's golden Easter egg. I'm sure you and your kids will enjoy it!

The whole way through the theme of letting God be in control of plans is accomplished through the storyline and the fun songs that are spread throughout. They were a lot of fun and I can see kids enjoying them a lot.

With this and all Veggie Tales, watching the DVD with your kids opens the door to discussion about what really happened in Bible times and how your kids can apply the lessons from Noah to their lives. We used to love doing that with our boys when they were younger and still do with the kids we work with.

Now the DVD, Veggie Tales Noah's ark, is not available yet, but you can pre-buy it. The very cool thing is that when you pre-buy it your get a FREE copy of Veggie Tales Rack, Shack & Benny too. That's two DVD's for the price of one! To pre-buy all you need to do is click on one of the images in this post or go to your local Family Christian Store and order it there.

But you can also win a $10 Family Christian Stores Gift Card using the Rafflecopter below. With that and the pre-buy, you could get both DVD's for under $5! WOW

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Open to Continental US Residents only. Must be 18 or older to enter. Limit one entry per household/address. All entries will be verified. Winner will have 24 hours to respond to winning notification if if no response then another winner will be chosen. Contest ends at 12:01 AM 2/12/15. The Minister's Wife Stamps and Saves is not responsible for the delivery of the prize. The company sponsoring this giveaway is solely responsible for the delivery of the prize to the winner(s). The Minister's Wife Stamps and Saves is not responsible for lost or misdirected emails or physical mail. This giveaway is in no way administered, sponsored, or endorsed by, or associated with, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google, Instagram, or any other social media. Void where prohibited by law.

We received samples of the products for the purpose of review. No other compensation was given. All opinions expressed here are those of the author.

Donate A Bible To A Woman Who Needs Peace ~ #FamilyChristian

Each day in America, 3,300 women wake up and believe abortion is the only solution to an unplanned pregnancy.

For only $5, you can inspire courage and healing for these women in need, to help them choose life for themselves and their unborn child. The InspireLife™ Bible Campaign is a unique, hands-on way to share compassion and faith with women in crisis by offering them the hope of the Word of God.

Purchase this Bible for yourself, or donate it to your local pregnancy resource center. When you donate the Beautiful Everyday Holy Bible, you'll receive a free bookmark to take home as a keepsake.

Thank you for joining Family Christian and Care Net in sharing God's Word with women in need.

Just click the image above to donate today! 

Check Out What's In The Bible Volume 4 and Enter To Win!! (Flash Giveaway)

I can honestly say that I am a big kid at heart! I still love watching kids cartoons and shows and I still love toys. I'm really looking forward to having grandkids someday so I can play with them and their toys!

In the meantime.... I do have several friends who do have young children who I love to be with and share some funs things with. The DVD I just got to watch is one of those things I am going to share for sure!

The creator of Veggie Tales has a wonderful series of DVDs for kids that I can wholeheartedly get behind. The series is called "What's In The Bible?". I watched Vol 4, and it was wonderful! (As of the writing of this post there are 13 volumes and all just as good as the one I watched!)

Here are the details:
Host Buck Denver and his friends make understanding the Bible easy as they take your family through the stories in What's in the Bible? Volume 4: Battle for the Promised Land. We know the stories of Moses, Noah, David and Jesus, but in this groundbreaking series, we learn how they all fit together to tell one big, redemptive story. There are two episodes on the DVD:

•  Finally, the Promised Land! Covers Joshua and tricky questions about fighting and killing in the Bible. 
• Cycle of Misery Covers the time of the Judges and the Bible’s romance story - Ruth!

What I really love is that the whole thing is geared to children yet they don't treat the kids like they are too little to understand how deep and amazing Scripture really is. They take the time to explain words and concepts in talking about each book of the Bible, things like redemption, holy, & apostasy. I was extremely impressed with how well they did at explaining each of the books covered in this volume and how detailed they got even with explaining the cycle of sin that the Israelites found themselves in during the time of the Judges.

To be completely honest, there are concepts and words explained in this DVD that many adults in church don't know the meaning of. Whole families could benefit from this series! The characters in the DVD are so much fun. There is lots of catchy music and funny moments that keep your attention and make the whole learning experience fun. I believe this would be an awesome addition to your video library and I would encourage you to get the whole series!

You can purchase a copy of What's In The Bible: Volume 4 HERE!!

It's on sale right now through 12/24 for $9.97!! That's a great price!

Family Christian Stores has generously offered to give one of my readers a $10 Appreciation Certificate. Hint, hint, that the price of the DVD!! Use the Rafflecopter below to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Open to Continental US Residents only. Must be 18 or older to enter. Limit one entry per household/address. All entries will be verified. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to winning notification if if no response then another winner will be chosen. Contest ends at 12:01 AM 12/22/14. The Minister's Wife Stamps and Saves is not responsible for the delivery of the prize. The company sponsoring this giveaway is solely responsible for the delivery of the prize to the winner(s). The Minister's Wife Stamps and Saves is not responsible for lost or misdirected emails or physical mail. This giveaway is in no way administered, sponsored, or endorsed by, or associated with, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google, Instagram, or any other social media. Void where prohibited by law.

I received a sample of the product for the purpose of this review. I was not compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own.

Messy Beautiful Love ~ A Book and A Giveaway!

When you are in a committer marriage it's hard to admit to others when things aren't as good as they may appear. Author Darlene  is open and honest about her relationship with her family and the struggles they go through. Let's face it, family life can be tough and things happen in our world that can make it tougher if we aren't careful.

In each chapter Darlene shares a tip for wives to help them work on their marriage and making it more godly. It's refreshing to read her honest feeling in her own life. It frees us as the readers up to be honest with ourselves and to others. 

Some of the tips she gives us as readers are as follows:

• Walk in compassion and grace. 
• Be patient when the going gets tough. 
• Give up your right to be right. 
• Appreciate him for who he is (not who you want him to be). 
• Allow him to lead. 
• Handle conflict wisely. 
• Communicate with loving respect.

That's just the beginning. The whole purpose is not just to help your marriage be better, but to also help you through your marriage reflect God's glory as a couple together.

This book gives the reader (myself included) hope for improvement no matter what state your marriage is in. it's a wonderful addition to anyone's library.

  

About this author:
Darlene and her husband Michael live in Manitoba Canada. Married 24 years, they have four children (three still at home), two birds and a pug who is everyone’s baby. Their lives are basically surrounded with three things: faith, music and everything books. An award winning and New York Times best-selling author who is nothing without the grace of God.

You can connect with Darlene on her blog, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Thanks to Darlene and Family Christian Stores one of you can win your own copy of the book Messy Beautiful Love! use the Rafflecopter below to enter!
  a Rafflecopter giveaway

I received a copy of the book through Family Christian Stores for the purpose of review and giveaway. All opinions expressed ehre are my own.

Save Big With Family Christian Stores Cyber Monday Sale Starting At Midnight!!

 

Starting at midnight EST you can get awesome savings from Family Christian Stores online sale! Save 25% off your entire purchase of regularly-priced items with coupon code: CYBER. Click the link here or the image above to start saving!

***PLUS***

 

Get savings on select DVDs as well! Save $5 & 50% Off Our Most Popular Videos! Shop Family Christian's Huge Video Sale Now!

Click the link or the image above right here to start saving!

Help Feed A hungry Family For Thanksgiving!

I love this kind of a sale. Helping someone who is in need and finding the things I use for my family in one place. Check out the new Family Christian catalog and save starting tomorrow through the 21st and a family will receive a FREE Thanksgiving meal! That's a very good thing.

Click the image above to start saving and helping!

I received this information as an Family Christian Blogger.

VeggieTales ~ Beauty and the Beet DVD Available Soon!!

Mirabelle and her family band, the Veggie Tones, are on their way to a gig at Vegetable Square Garden when a fierce winter snowstorm strands them at a run-down restort. Mr. Beet, the grumpy manager, makes them sing-and clean- for their supper. Why is Mr. Beet such a beast? Can Mirabelle's kindness change him? Stars Kellie Pickler as Mirabelle.

You can order your copy of this new VeggieTales DVD by clicking the image above or click the following link! Available on DVD October 11, VeggieTales "Beauty & the Beet". PreBuy now at Family Christian for just $12.97! I'm sure you and your kids will love it!

I received this information as a Family Christian Blogger. From time to time I receive products to sample and as gifts. No other compensation is given. All opinions expressed are my own.

Mercy Rule DVD Review and Giveaway

Disclosure: I received a sample of the product below for review purposes only.

Kirk Cameron's self-stated goal with the movie Mercy Rule was "something fun and inspiring, something that builds our faith in God and our strength as a family." With realistic crises, believable character development, and [for the most part] a good use of humor to balance the tension, he succeeded in meeting most of these goals -- but not the most important one.

This is certainly a "baseball adventure" [again, Cameron's words] which the whole family can enjoy. There are several young actors present, and none of them disrupt the story with amateurish performances. Mercy Rule never resorts to crude humor, and does not ignore the difficulty of trying to live a principled life in a corrupt world. The relationships between family members demonstrate how honesty and loyalty provide much needed stability in times of trouble.

And if you're really serious about learning as a family from the movie, it includes a study guide and "family discussion questions." Cameron says that in Mercy Rule the viewer can see the Miller family "learn life's lessons of mercy, patience, sacrifice, legacy, and trusting God." This movie should be praised for the difficult, rare, and commendable achievement of demonstrating and celebrating all but the last of those lessons.

No clear link is seen between strength as a family and faith in God. This family had "a form of godliness" but where was the evidence that it knew of "the power thereof"? The commitment to being a "no quit family" and to living honorably could easily be attributed to their respect for the wisdom of "Pops," the deceased patriarch who founded the family business, not to any reliance on the Bible for guidance or on God for strength and protection.

Still, if you're looking for a good family film, here it is. It's something you and your children could watch together or you could allow your children to watch alone knowing it is safe an wholesome.

You can purchase your own copy of Mercy Rule HERE! (Search for Mercy Rule DVD).

But thanks, to Family Chrisitan Stores one of you can win their own copy of the DVD. Just use the Rafflecopter for below to enter!

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

I am an Family Christian Stores Blogger. All opinions expressed here are my own.

The Talleys ~ Beginnings Is A Wonderful CD

Disclosure: I received a copy of the following product for review purposes only.

The Talleys have been performing Southern Gospel music, with a brief break in the 1990s, from 1984 until today. Their lineup has changed, but the group has maintained a level of excellence which would make any of their 30+ albums worth hearing.

Beginnings offers 2 songs each from 5 albums first issued between 1984 and 1992. Even then, their tight harmonies and rich arrangement styles -- for which they are known now -- are evident.

This album should appeal to any fan of Southern Gospel music, and would be a treat for younger fans who might not have access to the early songs of the group. It is also wonderfully reminiscent of some great popular Christian songs that still have a strong Gospel message today.

You can purchase your own copy HERE (Search for The Talleys Beginnings).

I am an Family Christian Stores Blogger. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Pre-Buy Jan Karon's New Book ~ Somewhere Safe with Someone Good

Jan Karon has been my Mother's favorite author for some time now. She has just loved her books, especially the ones set in Mitford! Each one has been a treasure to her.

I'm sure she would love this one as well! Jan takes us back to Mitford on another wonderful adventure through the fascinating people in that quaint town. 

You can pre-buy the book at your local Family Christian Store or by ordering online HERE!

And according to the listing online be one of the first 150 people to purchase and receive a special copy signed by author Jan Karon! That's pretty neat!

(I received this information as a Family Christian Blogger. Periodically I receive small incentives for sharing on my blog. I am not compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own.)