Animated Stubby

For those of you who have fallen in love with the characters you have created, I think you will know the excitement when you see your "baby" come to life on the big screen. :-)

My new friend - Leferna from The Character Studio Dot Com has created the cutest little clip with an animated Stubby for Give Your Author a Kiss Month.
It's guaranteed to transplant a smile on your face.

Soul Business

Those of us who were raised in church can probably remember this little song.

I will make you fishers of men, fishers of men, fishers of men.
I will make you fishers of men if you follow me.

I can remember performing the motions while singing it - casting the line with my imaginary fishing pole. It was my beloved grandmother who taught me that song, and it was my grandmother who gave me a sample, a living example of loving souls for Jesus. One of her favorite verses is found in Proverbs 11:30.

He that winneth souls is wise!

Grandma only had a fifth grade formal education, but Grandma's wealth of experience made her the wise matriarch of our family. She loved broken people and had a desire to help struggling souls. In the eyes of the world, her education was inferior, but through the eyes of eternity - Grandma was one of the wisest women I've ever known.

The "soul business" is a tough business to be in - lots of ups and downs, defeats and triumphs! My friend sent me a piece from Oswald Chambers today. It ministered to me. I thought it might give some weary traveler a refreshing drink for their parched soul. Here it is:

If you are going to live for the service of your fellowmen, you will certainly be pierced through with many sorrows. If your motive is love for your fellowmen, you will be exhausted in the battle of life. But if the mainspring of your service is LOVE FOR GOD, no ingratitude, no sin, no devil, no angel, can hinder you from serving your fellowmen, no matter the consequences. You can love your neighbor as yourself, not from pity, but from the true centering of yourself in GOD. -- Oswald Chambers

It reminds me of a beautiful promise in the Bible.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9

Now let's go fishing,
Dixie

Empty Tomb

The resurrection story never grows old. Today I woke with a sense of gratitude of all our Lord has done for us. I thought of the night He was born in Bethlehem and how there was no room at the inn. How different Jesus' response is. He always makes room. "Whosoever will may come."

My grandmother and mother used to sing an old hymn of the Church that sums the thought up best.

There's room at the Cross for you.
There's room at the Cross for you.
Though millions have come.
There's still room for one.
Yes, there's room at the Cross for you.

My godly grandmother believed when love reigned in a home... the walls of that home were made of elastic. Everyone was welcome. Many times she added more water to her kettle full of soup so it would stretch to feed a few more.

We rejoice today because the tomb is empty... our hearts are full!

Stories for Children Book Review

Just had "Stubby's Destiny" reviewed by Mr. Wayne Walker at Stories for Children Magazine. I thought some of you might enjoy reading it.
Enjoy,
Dixie

BOOK REVIEW
STORIES FOR CHILDREN

BOOK: Stubby's Destiny
AUTHOR: Dixie Phillips
ILLUSTRATOR: Kim Sponaugle
PUBLISHER: Guardian Angel Publishing Inc. (2008)
ISBN-13: 978-1-933090-23-3 (print)
ISBN-13: 978-1-935137-18-4 (eBook)
READING LEVEL: Ages 3-7
RATING: 5 stars
REVIEWED BY: Wayne S. Walker, reviewer with Stories for Children Magazine

Could a boring donkey ever be chosen for something great? Stubby is an orphaned donkey colt who wants to be like the horses whose steady hoof beats go "Clippety-clop" down the cobblestone street. His friend, Sly the stallion, tells him to change his posture and tries to give him some lessons to help him reach his divine destiny, but Stubby continues to have trouble and wonders if he will ever be used in the royal service of the king. However, one morning, when he goes to get a drink, he is grabbed by two men who say, "The Lord has need of him." Someone lays a cloak across his back, and a strange man with the kindest eyes gets on him while people shout, "Hosanna! Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord." Can you guess what important event in history this is?
What a wonderful way for children to hear or read about the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, by looking at it from the animal's viewpoint! This kind of approach helps to make Bible stories more personal for youngsters. Author Dixie Phillips and illustrator Kim Sponaugle, whose Angel Eyes was previously reviewed in the December, 2008, issue of Stories for Children and is still available on our website under "Past Reviews," combine their talents to tell an irresistable story about a defeated donkey who feels that he was born wrong and is just about to give up but finds that he is at the right place at the right time. Children will find it delightful. Also, it can bring hope to youngsters who are hurting and might feel that their situation is hopeless. I give it five stars.

Related website: www.floydslighthouse.com (author), www.writing4littleones.blogspot.com (author's blog), www.GuardianAngelPublishing.com (publisher),

Stubby's Debut

"Stubby's Destiny" now has a song and cute music clip. It was so fun to hear Stubby's voice for the first time. If you'd like to see Stubby's debut just click on the YouTube video above this blog. I'd love to hear some feedback. So please leave some comments. LeFerna from www.thecharacterstudio.com is the creator of this clip.

Hee Hawlelujah,
Dixie

This Little Light of Mine

In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16 NIV

Our four children are grown. Two are married and our baby daughter will be getting married this summer. My husband and I have spent the past two years adjusting to our "Empty Nest Syndrome."

When the children were at home, their father and I were constantly reminding them to turn off the lights whenever they left a room. Today I realized that we were teaching them wrong. We don't want them to ever turn off the "lights" again, but our prayer is that each one of them will keep the "lights" burning brightly in every room of life.

Let my life be a light shining out through the night.
May I help struggling ones to the fold.
Spreading cheer everywhere to the sad and alone.
May my life be a light to some soul.

Thank you, Lord, for our children. We pray that the Light of the World would shine brightly in and through them. Amen

Eternal Investments

But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:20,21 NIV

We hear so much talk these days about investments and portfolios. Our economy has once again proven that this life is unstable and temporary. Jesus taught us to store up treasures in Heaven.

This past week we took some of the students from Lighthouse Academy, the Christian school in our church, to compete with several other Christian schools on the Western Illinois University campus in MaComb, Illinois. Students, ages 13 and older, competed in academics, platform, athletics, music, arts and crafts. There were months of preparation before the competition began. Many adults sacrificed as they poured into the lives of the young people.

As I sat watching the various competitions I thought of all the money and time that some of our adults had invested in each student. I couldn't help but think of the words of Jesus.

But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Every person that invests in the life of another for Jesus is making "eternal investments." You may not hear the applause of men, but if you can quiet your soul I believe you will hearing the clapping of the nail-scarred hands.

Invest in someone today. The dividends are out of this world.

Changing the world one child at a time,
Dixie