What Gives You Direction?

When people go on a trip to a location they have never been, it is important they have good directions on how to get there. With a dependable map or GPS it is usually easy to find out exactly how to get from where you are to where you want to be. It is silly for someone to have access to a directional source like this and not take advantage of it. Only a stubborn person would wander around in confusion when a tool was readily available to assist them. It breaks My heart that so many of My children spend years wandering around when they have My Word, the Bible, and My Holy Spirit available to guide them where they need to go. Learn to listen to Me. Learn to humbly follow My directions. My Word is a lamp for you and light to show you where to step. My Spirit is within you to speak to you and guide you, let Him fill you each moment. I love you and want you to know where to go and how to get there. Faithfully follow Me and all will be well.
Psalm 25:8-9 Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways. ⁹ He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.

Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.

Ephesians 5:18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

Dear God,
Please forgive me when I try to direct my own life instead of willingly following You. For me to truly experience the life You desire for me to have, I know I must remain in Your Word and I must allow Your Holy Spirit to lead me. I come before you today humbling myself and choosing to faithfully follow You.
 In Jesus’ Name,

Trident Case–A Review

To say my family is tough on phones is a gross understatement.  I have often said that phone case manufacturer’s should test their products on my family because we are so rough with our phones.  I finally have had the opportunity to use a new phone case for purpose of review, and it has passed my family’s expectations.  I was given a Kraken A.M.S. Case for Apple IPhone 5/5S by Trident Case for purpose of review.  My family has a variety of phone types, a majority of them are Apple products.  I wanted to let my toughest ‘customer’ use this case to see if it would pass muster.
     I received a blue case.  The cases are available in 6 different colors.  Some of the features of the Kraken A.M.S. Case are:
1.  a hardened bio-enhanced polycarbonate shell
2.  3 layers of protection
3.  built-in screen protector
4.  device controls and ports protected
5. manufactured to military standards
6.  drop protection
7. dust filters
8.  rain / wind protection
9.  green protection (degradable, compostable, and recyclable
10. detachable media stand
My 23 year old son has been using this case for several weeks now.  He umpires baseball / softball games and always has his phone in his pocket. Not the smartest place for it with baseballs and softballs flying around.  He has broken more than his share of phones.  Recently, he thought that he had left his phone in his car overnight. In reality, it had fallen out of the car into the driveway.  It rained overnight.  The next day, his phone was discovered.  There was a little condensation inside the case because of cool temperatures and humidity overnight, but the phone is fine.  He drops his phone frequently and has had no issues with breakage of the phone or the case.  Overall, he loves this case.  The case retails for $49.95. I was shocked at this price.Of course, it is useable by anyone old enough to have a cell phone or tablet for which one of the Trident Cases is available.  Most cases we have purchased over the past few years have been much more expensive and much less effective.  I am really impressed with the Kraken A.M.S. case, too.  It really gives high performance at a reasonable cost. My other kids, as well as my husband, are already begging for a Kraken A.M.S. case.  I know what will be coming for birthday gifts!  Shhh, don’t tell them!
When exploring the Trident Case website, I discovered that the company offers cases for many different types of devices.  Cases are available for tablets as well as phones.  I love the design of these cases.  They are not nearly as bulky as some cases, yet they are extremely protective.  On the website, you can view videos of tough tests to their products. These are really interesting!  You can also read testimonials about how their different products work. Trident Cases are manufactured in the United States.  One interesting thing I noticed was that Trident Cases offer Officially Licensed Military Edition phone and tablet cases.  Wouldn’t that be an amazing gift for someone in the military or a family member of someone in the military? Also, “proceeds generated from the sale of merchandise bearing these logos and marks is used to support the trademark licensing program and enhance Morale, Welfare and Recreation programs for America's Armed Forces worldwide.” (Trident Case website)

You can also check out Trident Case on social media:
 Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/tridentcase
 Instagram – http://instagram.com/tridentcase#
 Twitter – http://www.twitter.com/tridentcase
 Google+ - https://plus.google.com/+tridentcase
 Pinterest – http://www.pinterest.com/tridentcase
 Vine - https://vine.co/Trident.Case
 YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/user/TridentCase

Trident Case offers free standard shipping in the US and Canada.  Few companies are able to do that these days because of the skyrocketing costs of shipping.  I was pleased to find this little economic relief perk that Trident Case offers. 
My friends at the Schoolhouse Review Crew have also been using various Trident Case products.  To read their reviews, click on the graphic below.
 

Micro Business for Teens – a Review

My entire family loves to watch a certain t.v. show that highlights entrepreneurs and small business owners trying to enlist the financial and business support of some of the country’s leading businessmen and women.  We watch faithfully every week and it always seems to lead to a discussion about ‘what business can we start?’.  My kids especially love to think about starting a business.  We were recently given Starting a Micro Business, Running a Micro Business, and the Micro Business for Teens Workbook, all by Carol Topp, to use and review.  These tools, available on the Micro Business for Teens website, take teens through the step-by-step process necessary to starting a micro business.

 

     Carol Topp is a CPA who operates an accounting practice specializing in tax preparation, small/micro business start-ups, and nonprofit accounting.  She speaks / presents seminars about money management, nonprofit management, business start ups, and taxes; but, her heart is in helping teenagers, families, and other causes about which she is passionate.

 

      I have operated a few micro businesses in my lifetime.  The one unifying thread to all of those endeavors is that they all failed.  Why did they fail?  Because I had no idea what I was doing!  The Micro Business for Teens program educates teens (and adults like me) from the ground up.  Fortunately, Carol assumes (rightfully so) that her readers don’t know anything about starting a micro business.  I appreciate that so much!  The first book, Starting a Micro Business, begins with a chapter about “What is a Micro Business?”.  From there, Topp gives examples of different micro business ideas that are geared toward the skill sets teenagers typically possess.  Other chapters in this book include: Problems and Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them; Plan it First:  Writing a Business Plan; Financing Your Business Without Breaking the Bank; Taking Care of Business:  Extra Information to Get You Started; and Encouragement:  Final Words to Motivate You.  The Micro Business for Teens Workbook is a companion product which gives teens the opportunity to apply the principles they learn through Starting a Micro Business.  In Running a Micro Business,  teens learn the business skills necessary to properly run and maintain a micro business.  Skills such as sales, marketing, customer service, record keeping, bookkeeping, and time management are addressed. I have learned as much from these books as my teens have!  Thank you, Carol Topp!!!  While these books are geared toward the 10-18 age range, the principles presented are useful for any budding entrepreneur.

  

  I have allowed my teens to work through both books and the workbook independently (after I read them on my own).  They have really gotten excited about the possibility of starting a business.  They are in the ‘writing a business plan’ part of the process.  They are hoping to have their plans in place by the end of the summer.  They won’t let me reveal the nature of their business venture just yet, because they don’t want the ‘competition’ to hear about their idea until it is started. My 16 year old, James, spends some time each day working on either reading or completing workbook pages.  Some of the workbook pages really take some thinking and brainstorming!  Caitlyn, my 14 year old, has been his protégé.  He is teaching her the skills he has learned and helping her come up with some viable ideas for a micro business.  James has really been excited about this.  He had no trouble going through the books and workbook.  All of the products are written in a very easy to read and understand format.  Once their

business is on the ground, I am allowed to update this post and reveal their new micro business. Wish them luck!

 

     Both the books and the workbook can be purchased on the Micro Business for Teens website.  All three products are available as either paperback or e-book formats.  Starting a Micro Business and Running a Micro Business currently cost $9.95 for the paperback version and $4.95 for the e-book version.  The Micro Business for Teens Workbook is available for $14.95 for the paperback version and $9.95 for the e-book version.  I received the paperback version of all of the products.  While on the website, you can also peruse the Micro Business for Teens blog, podcast, and videos.  There is a wealth of information available!

 

     You can also check out Micro Business for Teens on social media at the following:

https://www.facebook.com/MicroBusinessForTeens?ref=ts
https://twitter.com/CarolTopp
http://www.pinterest.com/caroltopp/

 

     My friends on the Schoolhouse Review Crew have also been using these products.  To read their reviews, click on the picture below.

 

 

 

    

 
 

 

 

                                     

What Makes You Wealthy?

I have all the wealth you will ever need. This is true of earthly, temporal possessions as well as spiritual, eternal possessions. My desire for you is that you be poor in spirit. This does not mean I desire for you to be poor financially, although there will likely be times when that is the case for you. My desire focuses around you being poor in a spiritual sense so that you rely on Me to make you wealthy in a spiritual sense. I want you to realize how poor you are without Me and how much you desperately need Me. It is only as you understand how spiritually poor you are without Me that you will live with a realization of how important I am to you. When you live with this kind of spiritual poverty, this kind of humility, I make you spiritually wealthy in this life and in the life to come in heaven. Remember, I have all you will ever need, because I am all you will ever need. Find your wealth in Me, today and forever.

Matthew 5:3; James 4:10; Psalm 149:4

Guard Your Mind – a Devotional

Be careful what you allow into your mind and heart. There are many dangerous messages the devil is trying to put into the minds of My children and most have no idea these messages are even being sent. Attacks by the evil one are usually very subtle. If you are not paying close attention to the things you watch, read, and listen to, you will open the door of your mind and heart to ideas and philosophies that contradict Me and My Word. You would never allow trash to be mixed into the food you and your family are planning to eat, so why in the world would you allow trash to be mixed into the messages you and your family view and listen to? Be on the alert for these attacks that are coming toward you. Have the courage to take a stand and begin to eliminate the dangerous messages that are being sent to you and your family members.
Ephesians 6:10-18; 1 Peter 5:8-9

God is Your Refuge

In the midst of the turmoil and pain you are facing each day, I want you to understand I am your constant refuge. When you are tired, I am here to provide you rest. When you are overwhelmed I am here to help you put everything into perspective. When the pressures of life are more than you can handle, I am here to carry your burdens. When you need security from those who are pursuing you, I am your protector. Just as a cave cut out from the side of a mountain can provide shelter from dangerous storms, I provide the shelter you need. Better stated, I am your shelter. I am all you need. Turn to Me. Lean on Me. Walk close beside Me each moment of each day. Storms will certainly come your way, but do not fear, I am with you through the storms.
Psalm 7:1; Psalm 16:1; Matthew 11:30

Defeating the Giants in Your Life – A Devotional

I am bigger and more powerful than any giant you are now facing or will ever face. One of My children had a very memorable encounter with a giant that is recorded in My Word. You probably know the story as the story of David and Goliath. If you asked David the name of the story, he would tell you it is really the story of God and Goliath. Please understand, I used David to defeat Goliath, but it was Me who destroyed the giant. I am the great over comer. Just as I allowed that young teenage boy to defeat that overgrown giant of a man, I can enable you to experience victory over any giant in your life. Look above the giant and see Me, your great and awesome God. As you keep your heart and eyes fixed on Me, you too will experience great victories over the giants you face.

1 Samuel 17:45-47; Matthew 19:26