Brenda Rodgers

Category: Just for Fun

  • Lullaby Confessions: Tropical Encouragement – A Review and Giveaway!

    Our baby girl is about to celebrate her first birthday in only a few months. I cannot believe it! She is growing so fast, and it is amazing to watch the world unfold through her eyes. When she was a tiny infant I was introduced to the soothing music of Lullaby Confessions. And now that she is a “big” baby, she loves their music just as much! Especially their new album “Tropical Encouragement”.

    I had the opportunity to review the Lullaby Confessions: Tropical Encouragement album with my baby girl. This time letting her hear a new album was a different experience because she can actually interact and respond to the music now. As soon as it started playing she started moving her shoulders back and forth swaying to the sound, and a big grin came upon her face.

    What I like most about Lullaby Confessions is that it’s great for any time that you want your children to start slowing down or resting. We listen to it while I’m nursing her or when she’s eating in the high chair. Sometimes when she’s fussy I will turn in on too. I imagine myself even playing it for her when she’s older during homework time or before bed.

    The new album “Tropical Encouragement” has a beachy, island sound which is very unique and fun. It also has uplifting and positive lyrics perfect for little ears, and includes several different musical instruments along with vocal.

    Whether you have babies or toddlers or even preschool and young school-aged children, Lullaby Confessions is the perfect music for your children, and I am thrilled to be giving away one free download of Lullaby Confessions new album “Tropical Encouragement” this week!

    Enter to win below, and be sure to share with your friends! 

    a Rafflecopter giveaway

    ** I was given free music for this review. There was no monetary compensation, and all of the opinions are my own! 

  • One Risk of Blogging

    Today is 5-Minute Friday when we write for five minutes on one specific word without listening to those critical voices. We write simply out of that creative spirit deep inside. Join me, Lisa-Jo at The Gypsy Mama, and many other soul filled writers as we link up today for 5-Minute Fridays. Today’s word: Risk

    Photo Credit: Creative Commons: Martin Howard

    This past week some of us took the risk.

    The risk to write about that one subject everyone is continuing to read while covering their ears at the same time, muting the voices telling them that it’s not God’s best and they shouldn’t be reading it and it really is the ugly word – pornography, while paying closer attention to the voice of lies saying that it’s just fiction and they would never get into that lifestyle and she ends up redeemed at the end and it’s not hurting anyone.

    The risk was in their response but we took it anyway.

    Would our words sound judgmental, harsh, or insincere? Would grace dominant and point our readers back to the One who has a better plan? Would we show that it’s not just about us but the millions of women who are enslaved to sex all over this world?

    We took the risk.

    And some didn’t like it. Their comments were angry and harsh and said that we were the judgmental ones. Our risk made others mad.

    Maybe they don’t like us anymore. Maybe they will slander our name. Maybe they won’t subscribe to our writing anymore or de-friend us on Facebook.

    Jesus took the risk. Sometimes the risk is worth it when it gives Truth the opportunity to make its place.

     This post comes from a risk that some of us bloggers took this past week – the risk to write about the book Fifty Shades of Grey. There was some backlash from Christians and Non-Christians alike. I encourage you to read through some of the posts and the comments. I especially encourage you to read the comment from a reader named “Redeemed” in this post: Fifty Shades of Grey and a Game Plan. It’s her testimony.

    Five Minute Friday

    What has been risky about blogging for you?

  • Choosing the Right Path

    Today is 5-Minute Friday when we write for five minutes on one specific word without listening to those critical voices. We write simply out of that creative spirit deep inside. Join me, Lisa-Jo at The Gypsy Mama, and many other soul filled writers as we link up today for 5-Minute Fridays. Today’s word: Path

    Photo Credit: Elliott Brown: Creative Commons

    Walking along the dusty road that day I came to the edge where the Y made a choice. Looking right, some of it went that way. Looking left, some of it went the other. I chose the other and started walking up the now slanted path again.

    But there were some twists and turns along that path, and a large fallen oak tree in my way. I climbed up one side, bark chipping away without giving me any firm grip of my feet, and finally down the other side, and I wondered . . .

    “I should have chosen the other way, the way that went right, then this tree wouldn’t be in my way and the road wouldn’t be crooked. ”

    His voice whispered back at me, ever so softly, “No, but on the right side there were two mountains, as tall as the eye could see, and a river that flowed fiercely through the valley deep below”.

    All paths bring trouble, I then knew in my heart, and I continued on my way, knowing He was already there.

  • Community’s Coming Over

    Join me today for 5 Minute Friday with The Gypsy Mama where we write for five minutes on a given topic.  No editing. No criticism.  No worry.  Today’s topic is: Community

    I invited Community over tomorrow, so I’ve been thinking about her a lot. Sometimes she can be kind of  fussy, so I always think twice before opening the door.

    What do I wear? What do I bake? How am I going to decorate?

    What about that big, blank wall that stares at me without any art? What will they think of that? Or the jelly stain on the kitchen chair that I scrubbed for hours to get out? Will they notice the crack in the ceiling or where I messed up the paint? What about my glasses with water marks that the dishwasher refuses to fix? Or the mismatched serving dishes that don’t match anything else?

    Maybe I should find something to fit on that wall for the day. And maybe a slip cover will hide the stain. Is it time to fix that crack in the ceiling or get someone to help me paint? Maybe I should replace my glasses and throw in a platter or two.

    But then there’s two women she’s bringing. Women who know no one at all. With courage their stepping inside with Community, holding her hand tight, and hoping to get to know her all the more.

    I wonder if I’ve made Community something that she really isn’t at all. I judged her too quickly, I think, when really her arms are open wide.

    Open to acceptance and love, that bring women together as they are. Open to a lifetime of pain that she wants to embrace. Open to whomever she meets, no matter if the the facade isn’t perfect. Open to sharing a piece of her life with another.

    Tomorrow Community’s coming over. I invited  her some time ago. When the door swings open I will embrace her with tattered and tired arms, to show her that my life’s not perfect. That’s why I need her all the more.

     Tomorrow Community is coming over for the (in)RL conference. Can I admit to you that I’m a little nervous? How does community leave you feeling? How do you feel when community comes over? Please share with us in the comments!

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  • Where Together is Endless

    Join me today for 5 Minute Friday with The Gypsy Mama where we write for five minutes on a given topic.  No editing. No criticism.  No worry.  Today’s topic is: Together

    Just last night I asked to him, “Do you know what’s the best thing about Friday?”

    “What?” he responded

    “Getting to spend two whole days with you.” I answered back.

    And I meant it. Today is Friday and for the next two days I will be together with my husband all day long. That’s a great feeling.

    And it’s an answered prayer.

    For many years my together was with other people, special friends, who I adored. But then they would have to go back home to their lives and I would have to go back to mine.

    But the greatest thing about being married is that there’s no going home. Together is endless, and there is security in that.

    So for the next two days I will be together with my sweet husband. I will soak in all the sweet moments we’ll share. Then on Monday morning when we part for a while, I will look forward to coming back together again in just a few short hours.

    What does the word “together” make you think of today? How does it make you feel?

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  • Old Days, It’s Time to Say Good-Bye to You

    Join me today for 5 Minute Friday with The Gypsy Mama where we write for five minutes on a given topic.  No editing. No criticism.  No worry.  Today’s topic is: Good-Bye

    For a while there you served me well, Old Days. You helped me see myself as I once was and where He’s brought me. You showed me places that need to be healed. And the places that I need to heal in others. Today I understand more of who I am because of the memories you’ve allowed me to replay time and time again.

    But as of recent you’ve become more of a nagging dog beckoning at my feet. Not allowing me to let go of those days of old and grow into who I am meant to be now. Your expectations from when I was just a naive girl are too great for me to bear and suddenly I have become corroded with more regret and guilt than deliverance.

    So today I say good-bye to you, Old Days, and I ask that you don’t come back for a while. Unless you plan to point me back to my Father and remind me of His great love for me.

    Share with us today. What is one thing that you would like to say good-bye to?

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