"Tea with Me" : Theme Gift Books that help encourage fellowship moments

I have always enjoyed the fun of using a cup of tea  as a theme for sharing special moments with other ladies. My Granddaughter's and I shared some very special occasions together as we enjoyed the fun of having a tea party together. It is a fun theme for so many different social opportunities. In our home we used the Tea Party as a tool to teach  good manners to Grandchildren. 

Gift Books that build around the theme of Tea have a special appeal as holiday gifts. I will love to share with you some of my favorites. The only thing better would be if we could share this list over a cup of "TEA".

Tea is useful as a tool for Teachable Moments: "Just Mom and Me Having Tea"

Product Description

"Just Mom and Me Having Tea is a perfect venue for mothers and daughters to strengthen their special bond and grow in their Christian walk. Flexible lessons chock–full of creative ideas and activities cover topics important to girls (ages 6 to 9), including:

• the  joys of being a good friend
• how God makes everyone special
• the benefits of helping others

This keepsake journal will save forever cherished moments mom and daughter create during this spiritually enriching journey. Perfect for busy moms and Bible clubs."




Tea is useful as a tool for creating fun memories: "Let's Have a Tea Party!: Special Celebrations for Little Girls"

Product Description: Ages 9-12

A tea party is one of Emilie Marie's most favorite things, and you're invited as her very special guest! Her creative invitations, yummy recipes, and ideas for fun activities will inspire you to dream and share a tea party with your best friends.

Tea is useful as a tool for Ladies Devotional Groups: "Tea For All Seasons" by Mary Pielenz Hampton

Product Description

Turn group or individual devotional time into special, celebrated moments. Mary Pielenz Hampton's insightful devotions and savory recipes with color photography from a beautiful Victorian bed and breakfast help women plant "tea with the King of Kings."

From the Back Cover

Turn group or individual devotional time into special, celebrated moments. Mary Pielenz Hampton's insightful devotions and savory recipes with color photography from a beautiful Victorian bed and breakfast help women plan "tea with the King of Kings." Enjoy the informative history of tea, the savory recipes, the rich teas, the insightful devotions and Scripture verses. Delight your eyes with the gorgeous, full-color photographs. And discover a new way of celebrating communion with God-one that unlocks the full bouquets of spring and the secret essences of winter-in A Tea For All Seasons.

Devotions for Children and Family Reading Time

As Christmas gift giving time draws nearer, Higher Ground eReading Club has selected a few daily devotional books for childen and family reading time.  These devotionals make great gifts for families, grandchildren, or any special young person in your life, ages 4-8:
  
Devotional for the Childrens Hour by Kenneth Taylor  (ages 4-8)

Product Description

The 48 thoughtful devotionals in this book are excellent tools to help introduce elementary-school-aged children to Bible doctrine. They're brief, and are made memorable by illustrations, questions, hymns, and suggested Scripture readings.

Right Choices by Kennth Taylor
Ages 4-8

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Best-selling author Kenneth N. Taylor does much more than tell children what is right and wrong in his latest work, Right Choices. He incorporates a solid biblical foundation and illustrations to help young children discern what God says is right and wrong. Each of the 26 spreads begins with a poem and includes pictures, Bible verses, prayers, and text discussing one topic. "Wrong" topics include lying, cheating, stealing, fighting, and making fun of others. "Right" topics teach children to honor their parents, talk to God often, be patient, keep promises, and read and obey the Bible.

About the Author

Throughout his publishing career, Dr. Kenneth Taylor's dream was for all peoples of the world to read and understand God's Word and experience its power at work in their lives. From his earliest children's books to his generous support of Christian ministry, this vision was (and still is) reflected in his work. Ken Taylor, founder of Tyndale House Publishers, died in June 2005 at the age of 88.

The Right Choices Bible [Hardcover]

Ages 4-8

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Over 60 fun and exciting stories in which one or more Bible people had to make a choice.

By A Customer

This review is from: The Right Choices Bible (Hardcover)

We bought this book for our son when he turned six. This book was the highlight of his day and helped to create in him a real desire for reading every night before bedtime. The book was comprised of stories where someone in the Bible had to make a choice. At the end of each story, the book asks if the person made a good choice or a bad choice. It asks other questions about the story as well, and it gives the child an activity to do and finishes with a short prayer. It is a wonderful book and I hope Mr. McDowell writes another one.

Help, Lord, I'm Having a Senior Moment

Yesterday, my mom (89 years old) and I were looking for interesting reading to download to our Kindles. She asked me to put in an on-line search for books for "Seniors". I did and we come up with a delightful book. The book is written as notes to God from one growing old. We are both enjoying the humor and the wisdom of the book as we read the comments connected to the struggles of an aging body and the joys of a maturing spirit. Best express in this poem quoted in the front of the book:

"Senior Moments"  by Karen Taylor

This book tells not of youngsters

and the way they spend their days.

It's all about us old folks

and our fuddy-duddy-ways

Sometimes it's hard to figure

what life is all about.

My brain is finally working,

now my body's giving out.

Enjoy reading this book and others visit our eReaders featured selection:
http://astore.amazon.com/highergroundereadingclub-20

Through His Spirit: The Person and Unique Work of the Holy Spirit

Who is the Holy Spirit? What are the gifts of the Spirit? How do I pray and walk in the Spirit? Through His Spirit will speak to the heart of all believers and help them to understand the personal work and fruitful purpose of the Holy Spirit in life of a believer.

Through His Spirit is our series book selection for the Higher Ground eReading Club. Come join us on Facebook and read discussions from other readers and post your own comments as we grow together Through His Spirit. http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Fellowship-Seekers/127039147309719?sk=app_2373072738

New Selections for Fall eReaders

The administrators of fellowshipseekers.com Higher Ground eReading CLub have posted their new Fall 2010 Selections.

Are People Getting in the Way of Your Ministry?

Instruments in the Redeemer's Hand by Paul David Tripp


In his book, Instruments in the Redeemer's Hand by Paul David Tripp, the desperate need for us to apply Christ- like love in all our relationships floats to the top of all christian ministries like oil on water.
Tripp points out:
"The church is not a theological classroom. It is a conversion, confession, repentance, forgiveness, and sanctification center, where flawed people place their trust in Christ, gather to know and love him better, and learn to love others as he has designed. The church is messy and inefficient, but it is God's wonderful mess - the place where he radically transforms hearts and lives."

If you are being wore down by the pressures and disappointments of your christian ministry, Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands, will help you to re-direct your focus and build relationships with others by entering their world through Christ-like love.

Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands: People in Need of Change Helping People in Need of Change (Resources for Changing Lives)

When People Are Big and God is Small

As Christians we are instructed in the Word of God to not be "a respecters of people", but peer pressure and fear of people can drive as away from a Christ centered life. When People are Big and God is Small is a excellent study for anyone to guard against peer pressure.
A perfect suggested reading for teens.

The focus of the book is to how a healthy fear of God will result in people having less control and power over our lives.
Some of the helpful points are:

1. Time spent with God will reduced our fear of "what others may think".
2. Jesus did not try to be a people-pleaser.
3. Choosing to please people rather than God is idolatry.
4. When we fear God we stop putting our own needs first.
5. We can learn to love people more; while we learn to need them less (only God can truly provide our needs).

David:A Man After God's Own Heart

Looking to purchase this book and join us at Higher Ground E-reader's Club.
The book is also available in Kindle Edition.

Quick Scripture Reference

If you are active in a Fellowship group or a ministry related activity you will find this topical scripture reference guide an essential resource. The reference is very user friendly. I like to use it to add a quick scripture post at the end of cards, emails, and letters. It helps you to apply the word of God directly to the problem or need. The link will connect you to the general reference guide for counseling. But their are additional editional with selection for woman and also youth related ministries.

No Time to Read

Lots of us lead very busy lives, aways on the go. We really would enjoy reading a good book, studying a new skill, expanding our minds, but we have very little time to sit down to read or to study. I find that this site offers an wonderful selection of audio learning and also teaching. It may become your favorite site:
http://www.learnoutloud.com/

Speaking of teaching if you are looking for a excellent christian study for your church or fellowship group. Here is a DVD series that anyone can teach. Just pop in the DVD and your classroom lesson is ready to teach.

Growing to Be Like Christ: Purpose Driven Life Series, DVD By Zondervan Spiritual maturity doesn't happen by accident. The six sessions in this study equip you for the basic habits of spiritual growth: relying on the Holy Spirit, cultivating time in the Bible and prayer, seeing life's obstacles as opportunities for growth, and partnering with Christians who are committed to supporting your growth. Here is a realistic, practical path to growing strong in faith and Christian character. Teachers featured on Growing to Be Like Christ are Steve Arterburn, Doug Fields, John Ortberg, Anne Ortlund, Todd Wendorff, and Lance Witt. Harnessing the creativity, flexibility, and convenience of audio-video technology, this groundbreaking series is the first ever to integrate superbly crafted study guides with powerful new-media capabilities and apply them to the unique setting of group Bible study. It's so easy that anyone in your group can facilitate a dynamic group session. No need to be a seasoned leader. Just slip the DVD into your player and have everyone follow along with their study guides (CBD# 46743). Guidebooks and corresponding DVDs are carefully coordinated. The study guide is not included with this DVD.

A Quiet Time with God

It is so important to place into your everyday routine a time to focus on your relationship with the Lord. A quiet time of Bible reading, devotions, and prayer.
This was a habit that was a required part of our daily work assignments in Bible college. The program that we used in school was to keep a quiet time diary. This was a short 5 to 10 minute study of a scripture using a simple Bible study method to focus on the meaning of the Scripture. What does the scripture say, and what does the scripture mean to me? Follow this in a journal and add your prayer list. You will find yourself growing in leaps in bonds in your spiritual life. I like to add readings from some of my favorite devotions. My Utmost for His Highest - Vest Pocket
Of course we all know how outstanding His Utmost for His Highest is as an everyday devotional, but I am using Daily with the King as a quiet time devotional. It is very inspiring and very quotable. Daily With The King: A Devotional for Self-Discipleship
If you would like to connect to a quiet time link for daily reading, I think you will enjoy tracking this link: http://www.Family-Times.Net

How to stay healthy and trim!

I was enjoying browsing through the book offers for my recently purchased kindle when a book title catch my eye that promoted a walking program. I love to incorporate a walk into my fitness program so I downloaded the "kindle edition" of

Leslie Sansone's Eat Smart, Walk Strong: The Secrets to Effortless Weight Loss

.



One of the ideas that the book really emphases is to EAT LESS and WALK MORE. That is so simple this equation really stuck in my mind. Eat Less+Walk More=Trim and Healthy. I began to do some research into portion control to develop the front side of the equation (Eat Less) and I found a wealth of information at the FDA Website at www.usda.org, including charts, menu plans, and serving size diagrams.

I quickly printed out a chart for portion control and stuck it on the refrigerator. As I began to visual these serving portions I relieved that our family was eating double these amounts in almost all categories. Now, how do I apply these standards to our everyday eating style? I began to look for some portion control aids. I found two products I think will really help me to shrink down our families serving sizes. The first tool will help me to adjust my eye to the correct serving sizes during preparation of meals, and the second is a visual aid to help correct portion servings on an individual dinner plate. With this two new weapons in my arsinal, I think I can go to war with over-the-edge portion servings and win. OK, the next step is develop the second part of the equation,WALK MORE. I will let you know how this works out for me and also the reaction of other family members.



Want to check out portion control products for yourself. Follow this link:

Name Your Link

Good Way to Start the New Year

A new year is like a gust of fresh air, but soon passes, leaving us right where we left off. Well, jump start your spiritual growth with this foundational study by Charles Ryrie and you will be off and running in the new year.

I just recently purchased this book for my Kindle and was excited about using clippings from it to support a local bible study group. Having read the book years ago while I was in Bible college, I remembered it to be clear and very informative on issues of living a victorious Christian life. As I began to study the book again, I realized that I had a real treat ahead of me. I had forgotten just how simple and clear Ryrie turns a very complex idea into plain and simple logic.

I can't encourage you enough to order this book or look for it in your church or local library. It will help start your new year of reading off with a GIANT Step!