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Hayley and Harley hippo believe they must be close to God to talk to Him and that there are rules to praying, according to Harley’s book, The Rules of Prayer. But the two quickly learn through their friends that the rules are too restrictive. And there really aren’t any rules.

As you all know, I do not do book reviews. However, occasionally, I do offer you book blog tours to make you aware of new books. But I could not resist the invitation of Joyce Meyer’s representative to give a review of Joyce’s first children’s book, Every Which Way to Pray, which was inspired by her adult book, The Power of Simple Prayer.

Just inside the cover of Every Which Way to Pray is an overall look at the whimsical place called Everyday Zoo. The adorable illustrations by Mary Sullivan are expressive and colorful.

The reader is also introduced to the wacky cast of characters that live in Everyday Zoo. Living there are siblings Hayley and Harley hippo and their friends Pouch (a pelican), Sarge (a bear), Midge and Pidge (ostriches who are quite possibly twins), and Miss Bimble (a sheep).

Harley and Hayley think that, in order to be close to God, they must be up high. Skipping through the Everyday Zoo park one day, Harley thinks he sees an angel. Hayley and Harley move closer to find it is only Pouch the pelican sitting on a rooftop.

“I guess that’s not heaven up there, is it?” said Harley disappointed.
“No...but the view is heavenly,” Pouch chuckled.
“At least you’re closer to God up there,” Hayley called out.
“We’ll NEVER get that close to God,” grumbled Harley. “Hippos can’t fly or climb. We’re stuck here on the ground.”
“You don’t have to be high in the sky to be close to God!” Pouch squawked. “That’s what prayer is for!”

Hayley and Harley looked surprised. They had always thought of prayer as hard work. At least, that’s what it said in Harley’s book, The Rules of Prayer.

With the help of their friends, the siblings learn that there really aren’t any rules to prayer and they can talk to God without being in church or dressed in one’s Sunday best, without using holy words or a soft voice.

Pouch tells Hayley and Harley to talk to God like a friend. Sarge tells them prayer is simple. He says they can talk, listen, praise, thank, and ask advice. And then he adds, “It’s got to come from here...your heart.”

Joyce teaches young children a valuable lesson through these lovable and comical characters that one can pray anywhere, any time, and in any way.

*I recommend this book.
**For ages 4-7, but younger ones may also enjoy the pictures and the story.
***The book is available from numerous stores plus Amazon and iTunes for iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, as well as through the Joyce Meyer website.



****This product was provided to me free of charge for the purpose of this review.

(I felt led to repost this.)

Whirring lawnmowers. Annoying blowers. This was how my morning started. How could I attain quiet for a conversation with the Lord?

I walked to my family room window and looked out. Bazillions of beautiful blossoms arrayed the trees, and, at the same time, spewed out their allergy-packed pollen as thick as fog, prompting tissues to peek out of all my pockets. A brisk breeze released the grip of the “helicopters” on the maple trees, as the tiny descendants concealed the ground in a blanket of ancestry.

These sights and sounds heralded the profusion of nature’s new, spring season.

As I stood there gazing at God’s hand of creativity, a brief, spring sprinkle fell delicately on our patio, animating the dried seedlings to hop and dance.

Giggling at the delightful sight of dancing seedlings, the thought crossed my mind: sometimes the blustery winds of a new season blow against us, and we succumb by loosening our grip on the Lord as our Vine of nourishment. In letting go, we find ourselves lying on the ground, disconnected from our fellowship with Him.

When this happens, we usually misunderstand the point of what has come our way. Yes, sometimes the enemy blows his hot blast of affliction upon us, but, other times, it is God’s sweet breath of purpose.

Along with His wind of purpose, God occasionally sends showers, whether as gentle dews or great downpours as an answer to our prayers. Either way, we are not always hopping and dancing at the answer He provides.

When we learn to welcome, with open hearts, all the elements of each new season in our lives, whether heat, cold, rain, or drought, as being the gentle guidance of the Lord to rejuvenate us and bring about a new season of growth in our lives, praise and thanksgiving will begin to emerge from deep within us.

Starting down in our toes, praise will begin to bounce around, creep up into our throats, and dart out our mouths, causing our spirits to delight and dance before the Lord.

When you feel like a dried seedling lying on the ground, do you welcome the spring rains of circumstance that fall upon you? Do you understand that they are sometimes the answers to prayers? Do you dance in praise to the Lord for them?

As the saying goes…

Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass...it’s about learning to dance in the rain.

Joel 2:23 says, “Rejoice in the LORD your God! For the rains He sends are an expression of His grace.” (The Life Recovery Bible NLT)

Prayer: Lord, May I recognize those things that come into my life as being elements of guidance and growth so that I may follow Your lead and welcome them with dancing feet in praise and thanksgiving. In Jesus’ name, Amen.



This post is also shared with Weused2bu.com. I hope you'll hop over and visit them!

"Your will be doneOn earth as it is in heaven.”(Matt. 6:10 NKJV)
(This is the fourth segment of The Model Prayer series.)

God’s will...in heaven...perfect; on earth...not so much.

What is God’s will?

God’s will is what He desires, purposes, and has determined to be done on earth. It is His established kingdom rule in heaven being accomplished on earth by, for, and through His people.

God reveals His will in several ways. One way He chose to reveal some of His will is in His Word. He first gave His revealed will to His people Israel through the Law as a standard of righteousness.

Believers in Christ are not under that Law, as Paul told the Roman church, “You are not under law but under grace.” (Rom. 6:14b NKJV) As God has offered us grace through Christ, He is now our ultimate standard of righteousness.

Do we truly seek God’s will and to live according to His standard of righteousness?

What are we not to do?

To stubbornly and arrogantly insist on our own way. Which means disobedience to God’s Word and His will. In the New Testament, the “self-willed” and “presumptuous” are those “who walk according to the flesh.” (2 Peter 2:10 NKJV)

Paul wrote to the Roman church about those walking in the flesh, “The carnal attitude sees no further than natural things. But the spiritual attitude reaches out after the things of the Spirit. The former attitude means, bluntly, death: the latter means life and inward peace. And this is only to be expected, for the carnal attitude is inevitably opposed to the purpose of God, and neither can nor will follow His laws for living. Men who hold this attitude cannot possibly please God.” (Rom. 8:5-8 Phillips)

What did Jesus say about doing His own will? “I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.” (John 5:30b NKJV)

Are we seeking our own fleshly will or God’s holy will?

What are we to do?

Scripture tells us...

* “...do the will of God with all your heart.” (Eph. 6:6b NLT)
* “For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother.” (Mark 3:35 NKJV)
* “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” (1 Thess. 5:18 NLT)
* “He who does the will of God abides forever.” (1 John 2:17b NKJV)

Just as Jesus, our nourishment “comes from doing the will of God.” (John 4:34 TLB)

Are we seeking the will of God with all our hearts?

What is the proper response of God’s people?

* To act with Godly behavior.
* To present our bodies as holy, living sacrifices to the Lord, not conforming to the world, and allowing the Lord to transform our way of thinking, as the Word says, “Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” (Rom. 12:2 NLT)
* To carry out what He reveals to us. The Word requires that we live “by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matt. 4:4 NLT)

Learning to let go of our tight rein on our lives is essential; handing the reins over to the Lord and His will may seem scary but being in God’s will is the safest place on earth.

Isn’t it more advantageous to be in agreement with His will?

“Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” (Eph. 5:15-17 NIV)

What is your response?

~~Lord, Your will be done!