Special Features - Summer 2024
SUMMER READING - 2 Book Reviews ~ Ana Avila
God Does His Best Work with Empty
by Nancy Guthrie
“When all you can see are the empty places, put your confident hope in what you can’t see. Put your hope in a God who is for you.”
This is a small book, but it is packed with so many truths. It can be read individually or with friends in a Bible Study or Small Group setting. It is divided into 8 weeks. Nancy Guthrie dives into the “why” we – since the time of Adam and Eve – try to fill our emptiness with meaningless things that are never meant to fill us. All of us are created with that God-shaped void that can only be filled with God Himself. As we ask Him, He meets each of us in our emptiness and pours into our hearts His love, joy, peace, grace and meaning. I highly recommend this faith-encouraging book.
“God does His best work with empty – as He fills it with Himself.”
B.L.E.S.S. – 5 Everyday Ways to Love Your Neighbor and Change the World
by Dave & Jon Ferguson
Do you sometimes feel as though you want to reach out to others to share your faith but don’t know how and even where to begin? Well, you are not alone. This is a very practical book that teaches and exhorts us to step out of our comfort zones with Christ’s love. It is a simple guide to share the hope of the gospel with those God puts in our lives.
B.L.E.S.S. is an acronym for:
B – Begin with Prayer
L – Listen to Others
E – Eat Together
S – Serve in Love
S – Share the Story
Think about how we can B.L.E.S.S. others with the greatest news ever!
Enjoy your reading and have a Happy Summer.
Song Recommendation from Ana Avila:
Friendship Bracelets Crafted the Easy Way ~ Allison Frassoni
Materials Needed:
- String (cotton or embroidery floss) – various colors – you will need 7 strands
- Old cereal box -- or thin piece of cardboard
- Pen
- Scissors
- A cup or something to trace a circle
Instructions:
- Trace circle on cereal box or thin cardboard and cut out.
- Use pen to mark dot in the middle of the circle, poke hole through the dot.
- Cut 8 evenly-spaced slits around the circle. It doesn’t need to be perfect, but there does need to be 8 slits.
- Cut 7 pieces of string (7 different colors are recommended -- at least for the first time you try this method), and make them a bit longer than you believe you need for your bracelet.
- Line up 7 strings and tie a double knot with all strings at one end.
- Thread the strands through the back of the hole, and make sure the knot stays on the back side.
- Place each of the 7 strands into slits that you cut around the circle. There will be 1 empty slit. As you are crafting the bracelet keep this open slit at the bottom of the circle in your hand.
- Count to the right 3 strands and lift that strand and move to the empty slit. Continue to turn the circle so that the open slit always stays at the bottom. Repeat -- count 3 strands, move that strand to open slit – Repeat.
- The Friendship Bracelet will start to form on the back after a bit. Once it is long enough you can pull it through the back side, knot it and cut off excess.
- That's it! Leave enough room to connect ends together and you have your bracelet. This is the easiest way ever to make bracelets for all your friends!
