Heartbeat is now available online at Amazon and Barnes and Noble
Unveiling a New Release: Heartbeat
A Novel That Touches Hearts and Points the Reader in the Direction of Hope and Faith
Reading is a journey, a journey through time, emotions, and the human condition. It allows us to explore different lives, situations, and realities within the confines of our comfortable reading nooks. And there are times when we stumble upon a book that is more than just an escape; it is an enlightening experience, a heart-touching saga, and a mirror to some harsh realities of life. Today, I am excited to share with you the unveiling of such a novel that is sure to touch your heartstrings and make you ponder about life and the Creator of life.
Heartbeat revolves around three young women, Angela, Jessica, and Sarah who find themselves in the midst of an unplanned pregnancy. Each woman's life takes a turn as they grapple with the sudden change and the challenges that come with it.
Emily is a student at Pleasant Grove University who volunteers her time at a pregnancy care center. The story unfolds as the lives of these four women intertwine, leading them on a journey of faith, courage, compassion, and a common purpose under Heaven.
Heartbeat is not just about the unexpected pregnancies the women face, but it's also an exploration of the friendships that form in the most unlikely of circumstances. It's a story about finding hope and strength in times of uncertainty, about the fears, doubts, and questions that arise with an unplanned pregnancy, and how these women navigate through it all.
Heartbeat is a testament to the power of faith in a sovereign God and the bonds that form when women support each other. It's a reminder that no matter how difficult the situation may seem, there is always hope. God is always faithful and choosing life over death is always the right choice.
One aspect of the novel is its focus on the pregnancy care center, an institution often overlooked by mainstream narratives. The center, with its supportive network, becomes a haven for Angela, Jessica, and Sarah, providing them with the care and guidance they need during this crucial phase in their lives.
This inspiring novel, Heartbeat, is now available online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other online bookstores. This is an opportunity for readers to immerse themselves in a touching narrative that is sure to leave a lasting impact. So, grab your copy today and embark on a journey of faith, love, friendship, and courage.
Sanctity of Human Life Sunday takes place this year on January 19, 2020. This is a day set aside to celebrate the value of human life. Traditionally, people focus on the value of the life of the unborn child but we must also remember our elderly and our special needs children and adults. This is a day to hone in on the meaning of Psalm 139:13-14.
10 Ways to Recognize and Celebrate Sanctity of Human Life Sunday
Ways to Recognize and Celebrate Sanctity of Human Life Sunday
For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. - Psalm 139:13-14
Think about that for a minute. God formed our inward parts. We were woven in our mothers' wombs. We are fearfully and wonderfully made by the One who works wonders and miracles. Isn't that awesome? Years ago, when we first began to celebrate Sanctity of Human Life Sunday, many Christians and others who believe in life at conception would gather on the side of sidewalks and hold signs silently. The signs would usually say something like "Abortion Kills Children" or "Abortion is Murder." Some of the signs would simply display the Bible verse above. Regardless of what was printed or written on the sign, there was to be no loud protesting or unruly behavior. People just stood silently holding signs. I participated a time or two. This type of celebration or silent protest is well taken in my generally conservative community. Last year, I noticed that there are still people who recognize Sanctity of Human Life Sunday by holding signs on sidewalks and that is fine because we do need to boldly defend the lives of unborn children but there are several other ways to recognize and celebrate this important day as well. Here are several ways you can recognize the value of human life while taking action that benefits your community. 1. Volunteer at your local pregnancy care center. Several months ago, I began volunteering at my local pregnancy care center. If you feel comfortable doing so, you can volunteer to speak with patients. Not everyone who comes to our center is a female seeking abortion. We also see women and men who come in for STD testing. Of course, we help pregnant women understand the value of the life they carry. For those who come in for STD testing, we talk to them about their sexual behavior and God's design for intimacy, abstinence, and marriage. Most pregnancy care centers require training for patient advocates.
If you want to volunteer at your local pregnancy care center but you are not comfortable speaking with patients, you can volunteer for other needs. If your center offers support for women and children, perhaps you can help organize baby clothing, diapers, bottles, and the many other things babies need. If your center offers educational materials, perhaps you can organize the training materials and keep folders stocked with appropriate materials so they are ready when the women come in. 2. Host a baby shower for your pregnancy care center.
My Bible Fellowship Class recently hosted a baby shower for the center where I volunteer. Class members brought in both new and gently used baby clothes, diapers, wipes, diaper rash cream, strollers, portable cribs, bottles, pacifiers, crib sheets, burp cloths, a few toys - anything you would take to a baby shower for a friend would be a great contribution.
3. Host a fund raiser for your pregnancy care center.
Pregnancy care centers provide so much support for patients that there are always needs. Hosting a fundraiser will give the center the funds they need to supply any need. Sometimes they need a new printer or other clerical supplies for the center's office. Perhaps the nurses need to replace medical supplies. General funds will give the center the opportunity to purchase needs the the general public might not know about. 4. Support a young mother who has opted to keep her baby or complete her pregnancy. If you know a woman who has chosen to not have an abortion, offer her support. Pay for her doctor appointments. Provide here with transportation. Take her nutritious grocery items to help keep her and her baby healthy. Pay her utility bills. Provide her with gas cards and other gift cards so that she can purchase needed items. Offer to babysit after the baby is born. If the mother has chosen adoption, offer to provide any needs she might have during her pregnancy and the adoption process.
Show the movie at your church or in your home. Invite everyone you know to come see the movie with you. I have personally seen this movie. In my opinion, every person on the planet should see it. It is eye opening in so many ways and on so many levels. I really don't have the words to describe how important it is for you and everyone you know to see this movie. Just get it and show it.
Answers in Genesis has recently updated a DVD by Dr. David Menton. It is called Fearfully and Wonderfully Made. I have not personally seen this movie but according to Answers in Genesis, viewers get a peek into the stages of human development, particularly the very early stages.
My family has visited the Creation Museum twice and it is a site to see. Everyone should go at least once, but multiple trips are recommended because they are always updating and adding features and exhibits. This summer, they will open up their new exhibit called the Sanctity of Life Exhibit. 8. Help with the elderly.
Remember that all life is precious in the site of God. Volunteer at a nursing home or rehabilitation center in your area. Many elderly men and women can no longer drive. Offer to take an elderly person to the grocery store, to a doctor's appointment, or to church. Take an elderly neighbor a meal. If you know an elderly person who is lonely, set aside a regular time to sit with him or her. Sometimes, just sitting with someone and talking with him or her for a little while can greatly improve his or her quality of life. 9. Start a respite program or something similar in your church. Some churches have a respite program. The one we have at our church meets once per month. A respite program provides a safe place for families to leave their special needs children in well trained hands while they run errands or take care of other family needs. Sometimes Mom and Dad need a few hours to take a break or go on a date. This service has been helpful to families in my church for many years. If you have a special needs loved one, then you already know how important this time is for families. If you have never been exposed to special needs families, then trust me. This is huge. Contact your church administration to see if your church offers respite care for special needs families. If not, then maybe you can start one. If your church already has one, then go hang out with them for a while and offer to help. Depending on the needs of the families taking advantage of this time, you might need additional training, but there are always things you can do without the need for training. 10. Keep helping all year long. Sanctity of Human Life Sunday is recognized annually, but all the needs listed above are year long needs. The things I've listed here are only of few of the things I know about. I'm sure there are mountains of things we can do all year long to minister to parents of unborn children, young families, adoptive families, special needs children, special needs adults, and the elderly members of our communities. Get plugged in somewhere whether it be your church, a pregnancy center, a community center, a nursing home, a rehab center, or any other place where volunteers are needed to serve your community.
Of course, pray. Pray for the people God places in your path. Many of them do not have a relationship with Jesus and you are someone who can present the gospel to them.
PIN ME!
10 Ways to Recognize and Celebrate Sanctity of Human Life Sunday
I'm still trying to get it into my head that it is 2020. Twenty-Twenty. TWENTY-TWENTY. That just seems unreal to me. My grandmother and I were very close. She passed away when I was 25 but she was born in 1923. For so long, 1923 didn't seem so long ago but it was almost 100 years ago. Crazy! Anyway, in celebration of the new year, Answers in Genesis is hosting a huge curriculum sale.
The Answers in Genesis Curriculum Sale
New Resources for a New Year! It’s 2020! Get the Truth about Biology, Sexuality, Climate Change, Origins and more! January Specials expire February 29, 2020.
Now is a great time to resolve to teach your children Biblical truths. In a world where false theologies are taught without regard to the truth of scripture, it is more important than ever to ground your children on a firm foundation of Scripture. Give them the tools they need to stand firm as the world around them falls prey to Satan's lies. Falsehoods and confusion are tools of the enemy and the enemy is after our children.
The following resources from Answers in Genesis will help you arm your children with truth regarding cultural issues while educating them to grow into solid, confident, productive Christian adults.
Fearfully & Wonderfully Made
In this presentation, Dr. Menton explains the development of an infant
from the embryo to birth. Explore the amazing sequence of fertilization,
implantation, development of the placenta, and finally the birth
process itself. Fearfully & Wonderfully Made is appropriate for teens and adults.
Watch the following clip featuring Dr. David Menton.
Unplanned
What happened when a Planned
Parenthood clinic director, abortion advocate, and deeply pro-choice
woman observed an abortion? Well, it changed her life. This film is from the co-producers of God's Not Dead. Parents, please be advised of mature theme content.
Watch the Unplanned official movie trailer.
Are People Born Gay?
We need to lovingly show that, regardless of feelings, the choice to
embrace any sexual lifestyle other than God’s design for marriage is
sin, and as with any sin, the only hope for deliverance is the redeeming
work of God’s grace offered through his Son Jesus Christ.
Comparative Religions Curriculum Set
An eye-opening 36-week course with an apologetics foundation, focused on
the history and basic tenets of religions from around the world!
Discover what makes the Creator God in Genesis unique and how all religions fall into one of two categories: man-made or God.
The complete set of World Religions and Cults Books. Includes Counterfeits of Christianity, Moralistic, Mythical and Mysticism Religions, and Atheistic and Humanistic Religions.
Examines over 40 different world religions and cults against the truth of God’s Word
Equips your student to identify a false religion and powerfully refute their tenets
Includes 24”X 40” poster with church and denominational history from Creation to present day
Climate Change
What is the truth about climate change? Are the ice caps melting? Is man
the chief cause of global warming? What should Christians do about
climate change? These and other questions are answered in this Climate Change Pocket Guide.
God's Design for Science Curriculum Set
The God’s Design series is a highly regarded, complete science
curriculum for grades 3 through 8. Covers life science, earth science,
physical science, and chemistry & ecology. In the award-winning,
full-color student curriculum the lessons are short, easy to teach, and
take a hands-on approach using ordinary household items for experiments
and activities. But easy does not mean lacking in substance; God’s Design textbooks and the all-new teacher supplements are comprehensive. Most important, God’s Design authors Debbie and Richard Lawrence
approach science from a biblical worldview, emphasizing God’s handiwork
in the world around us and showing how real science supports biblical
authority and the Genesis account of creation.
I Really, Really, Really Like Fossils
The media teaches children that fossils prove evolution. That's not
true! This book of fossil facts teaches kids how fossils are made, where
to find fossils, and what can be learned from fossils. All from a
biblical perspective! Excellent for early grade school and other young
explorers!
Buddy Davis' Cool Critters of the Ice Age
Here is an exciting Ice Age animal exploration led by popular adventurer
Buddy Davis! Discover elk with antlers over twelve feet long,
rhino-like animals that ate plants, amazing "monster birds" of North and
South America, and more!
Cultural Issues: Creation/Evolution and the Bible Curriculum Pack
Now you can use the popular Answers Books 1 & 2 as apologetics homeschool curriculum. The Answers Books contain answers from scientists in geology, astrophysics, astronomy, biology, chemistry, and more.
God's Design for the Physical World Complete Set
Have fun with electricity, magnetism, and light; learn about machines
and technology with hands-on activities and experiments. This
fascinating series covers studies in motion, energy, and technology. Grades 3–8.
Learn a lot more about all of the above resources and many more including videos, sample pages, and documents here at Answers in Genesis. Don't forget that this sale ends February 29, 2020.
Be sure to check out all the resources available to you. I've only shown you 10.
In addition to the curriculum materials available at Answers in Genesis, I highly recommend a field trip to the Creation Museum and the Ark Encounter. My family has visited both sites. It is definitely a trip you should make with your family. Florence, Kentucky is a great place to book a hotel room. You'll be within minutes of each attraction as they are about half an hour apart. We enjoyed our stay in Florence where we could choose between plenty of restaurants, stores, gas stations - pretty much anything we needed. While you are there, you might as well visit Cincinnati, Ohio which is about 5 minutes from Florence, Kentucky.
I hope this Answers in Genesis Curriculum Sale guide has helped you make the decision to resolve to educate your children in the truths of Scripture while training them up to be mature, responsible adult citizens.
Best wishes to you and your family on your 2020 learning adventures.
Unplanned . . . I'm not sure where to begin with this review so I'll just start typing. I went to see this movie knowing it would not be two hours of entertainment. I knew it would be a difficult movie to watch, but not because I have had an abortion. I have not had an abortion, but I did deliver a 15 week baby. The doctor said my baby probably died at about 13 weeks. Either way, I was straddling the line between my first and second trimester when I delivered my sweet little baby boy. I know first hand how well developed these babies are at the earliest stages of pregnancy. I studied my baby carefully and I have never forgotten those images. They are etched into my heart and mind forever. I am compelled to tell my story and I will do that, but first I must share Abby Johnson's story with you.
Unplanned Movie
Abby Johnson has become one of my new heroines. She must be one of the bravest women who has ever walked this earth. She made an enemy of Planned Parenthood and that is not to be taken lightly. Planned Parenthood is one of the most powerful organizations in the Untied States and yet Abby Johnson is courageously exposing them for who they really are and she is not backing down. Abby Johnson is a warrior voice for the unborn and that is who you will meet in this film.
Abby Johnson is a woman who began her young life as an advocate for women. Her desire to help women in need is what initially led her to Planned Parenthood where she spent 8 years. Abby started out as a clinic volunteer but quickly rose through the ranks to become the youngest Planned Parenthood director in the organization's history. Abby began her volunteer streak at Planned Parenthood because she believed their goal was to reduce the number of abortions, but in time she bought into the daily practice of selling as many abortions as possible to feed the greed of the organization's billion dollar appetite.
Eventually Abby was awarded the Planned Parenthood Employee of the Year award.
But then . . . she saw something that changed everything.
As a volunteer and eventually the clinic director, Abby had remained on the clerical side of the business. She had endured two abortions of her own but she had never seen any of the ultrasounds, not even her own. Planned Parenthood never lets the mothers see the ultrasounds because if they do, the mothers might realize that what they are about to do is to kill a baby.
One particular day, about 5 months after Abby received her Employee of the Year award, she was called into a procedure room to hold an ultrasound probe in place during an abortion procedure. As the doctor inserted the vacuum tube, Abby turned to see the ultrasound monitor. She saw the baby move away from the tube. Then the baby began to frantically fight for survival. Abby watched as the baby was torn limb by limb and then the head was finally sucked into the tube. There was a black space left where the baby had been only seconds before.
It was that experience that changed Abby's mind and resulted in her decision to leave Planned Parenthood. She is now one of the most outspoken pro-life advocates in the world.
Unplanned tells her story. It is not an easy story to tell but Abby tells it because she is called to save the lives of babies. She is called to tell the truth. She is called to expose the lies told to woman after woman - to girl after girl.
I highly encourage you to see the movie. Don't take your younger children, but I strongly encourage you to take your teen girls. Take your teen boys too. The movie is rated R so the theaters should not be letting anyone under age 17 in to see it without a parent, but I know some theaters don't really enforce that. In my personal opinion, every male and every female 14 years and older should see this movie. 12 and 13 year olds should see it only after their parents have seen it first and then decide for themselves if it is appropriate for their 12 or 13 year old. Parents should be prepared to have some hard discussions with their teens before and after this movie. Abby states below in her interview with Glenn Beck that her youngest patient was age 10 and her oldest was age 52. This movie doesn't mess around. It doesn't sugar coat anything and neither should we. We should treat this topic as serious as it is.
Some things you should know:
1. You will see the vacuum abortion that Abby saw (or one like it). It is one of the hardest things I have ever watched. I can't unsee it and neither can you. It is important so please don't let that stop you from seeing the movie. You'll have time to look away if you can't handle it.
2. There are a couple of bloody scenes. Abby has had two abortions of her own. One of those abortions was chemically induced. This movie exposes the truth about how a chemically induced abortion works. In the movie, the process takes place at Abby's home and is much more intense than she had been told. She is in agonizing pain. You'll see clumps and blood fall into her bathtub. The scene ends with her lying on her bathroom floor with blood all around her. It's pretty graphic, but again, something this film needed to include. Abby tells in the interview below that her experience was much worse in real life.
There is another scene where a young girl nearly bleeds to death due to a perforated uterus. By the way, Planned Parenthood never told the girl's family that she nearly died that day. Covering up those instances is a norm at Planned Parenthood.
3. There are a few words used in the film that parents wouldn't want their children to say (and shouldn't say themselves) but nothing shocking.
Watch the official movie trailer here.
Go see the movie! Please take your teenage girls and boys.
Abby's bravery is evident every time I see and listen to her speak. She tells it like it is. She is honest about her college life style which led to two unplanned pregnancies resulting in two abortions (before she knew the truth). She is honest about what those abortions were like. She is honest about the true nature of the Planned Parenthood empire.
I want to share a few other resources with you. Glenn Beck recently hosted an interview podcast with Abby Johnson. He didn't make it easy for her. He asked her some hard questions. This podcast is a little bit lengthy but I believe it is an important supplement to the Unplanned movie. Here you will get to know more about the real Abby Johnson as she answers hard questions. She answers them directly and truthfully. You NEED to watch and listen to this interview. There is SO MUCH in here that you need to know. Much of what Abby exposes will make your stomach turn. I thought about summarizing this interview but I think it is more important for you to watch the interview and hear those horrible things from the lips of someone who has been there. Listen to Abby. Please.
Here is another video showing Abby's tenacity as she testifies in favor of Kentucky's version of the Heartbeat Bill, SB 9. In her testimony, she destroys the arguments of those in favor of abortion.
A Word for Abortion Workers
Abby Johnson not only works to save the lives of babies, but she also works to help abortion clinic workers leave the abortion industry. Her organization is called "And Then There Were None." If you are in the abortion industry but you want out, please contact her organization here.
A Word for Those Who Have Had An Abortions
If you have had an abortion, you need to know that you can find healing and forgiveness. First, I want to personally tell you that you can find forgiveness and healing in Jesus. We all sin and we all need Jesus. I invite you to learn more about Jesus and how to invite him into your life as your Lord here.
Secondly, Abby Johnson's organization can help you heal and find forgiveness and peace. She has resources for you here.
One of the resources available is a devotional called Planned from the Start by Lorraine Marie Varela.
*Images used in this post were obtained from Pixabay and from the downloadable page at UnplannedFilm.com.
