tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30853995313865033562024-02-14T23:47:06.977-06:00ONLY A LITTLE WHILE (The Wiser Way)"If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Rivers of living water will brim and spill out of the depths of anyone who believes in Me this way..." John 7:37-38(MSG)Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06231710849467044102noreply@blogger.comBlogger401125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3085399531386503356.post-39434558983703861492021-01-19T19:19:00.000-06:002021-01-19T19:19:23.847-06:00Book Review: In Search Of Wisdom: Life-Changing Truths in the Book of Proverbs by Joyce Meyer<p><span style="font-family: georgia;">In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Proverbs 3:6 </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">Publishers Description</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8IfAcGgIHvRrmPHVLX5zVTGrZaR5-zpsaIIxvpMHGWjsv8ZWYUOAJ4WcsUZ9p750xbVWkf2horryPJRicJ9-h8bzo6OmQ9Pn9nVe3zrL5pslBwzVzKnJdvCHrV3aX2n53XaM0CJ4XJOA/s499/41Io5OGVXpL._SX329_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="331" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8IfAcGgIHvRrmPHVLX5zVTGrZaR5-zpsaIIxvpMHGWjsv8ZWYUOAJ4WcsUZ9p750xbVWkf2horryPJRicJ9-h8bzo6OmQ9Pn9nVe3zrL5pslBwzVzKnJdvCHrV3aX2n53XaM0CJ4XJOA/w212-h320/41Io5OGVXpL._SX329_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" width="212" /></a><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">#1 New York Times bestselling author Joyce Meyer takes us on a journey through the wisdom of Proverbs that leaves us transformed and prepared to face daily choices and challenges.</span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;">The book of Proverbs is a treasure trove of spiritual and practical wisdom that equips us to live our best lives. Knowledge is important, but if it isn't converted into action, it fails to create transformational change in our lives. It is important to gain a thoughtful and practical understanding of the seven foundational principles in the book of Proverbs:<br />Wisdom, <br />Understanding, <br />Prudence, <br />Knowledge, <br />Discretion, <br />Discernment, and<br />Fear of the Lord.<br /><br />If we desire to possess these qualities, we must make a commitment to a deeper understanding and implementation of these values in our daily lives.<br />Featuring inspiring questions to promote thoughtful reflection, In Search of Wisdom will enlighten you with God's understanding and teach you the foundational principles and secure God's help in practicing them.</span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">My Personal Review</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/154601764X?pf_rd_r=W9NDETYTHKVS184S270R&pf_rd_p=5ae2c7f8-e0c6-4f35-9071-dc3240e894a8" target="_blank">In Search of Wisdom: Life-Changing Truths in the Book of Proverbs</a></u> by Joyce Meyer serves as a beautiful map of the book of Proverbs!</span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">This is an excellent book that imparts practical wisdom on how to make daily decisions that will grow us closer to the Lord and keep us physically, emotionally, and spiritually safe. In the author’s usual manner of concise Biblical teaching, Joyce Meyer clearly defines that in order to obtain wisdom, we must first understand that by definition, “wisdom is not just the ‘gathering’ of knowledge, but the ‘proper use’ of knowledge." </span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The work is organized into chapters that coincide with the book of Proverbs. The idea is that there are seven basic foundational principles to gain wisdom. If we can practice these principles, we will gain a deeper Biblical comprehension and thereby strengthen our walk with the Lord, which in turn, will help us manage our lives better. The principles uncovered within the book of Proverbs are: wisdom itself, understanding, prudence, knowledge, discretion, discernment, and the fear of the Lord.</span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">What I love about this latest teaching treasure, besides it’s <i>extremely timely release</i> in a day where we are surrounded by confusion and turmoil, is the unashamed way that the truths of the Bible are addressed head on. Joyce does not mix words about hot topics, but rather addresses them directly from a Biblical stance. She reminds us that the fruits of our actions when we follow the guidance within the book of Proverbs, will be a blessing to not only our own life, but the lives we come in contact with on a daily basis. </span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">My take away from the book, <u>In Search of Wisdom</u> is threefold. First, the book serves as an uplifting reminder that God has given us an instructional manual within the book of Proverbs that is as relevant today as it was at the time of it’s initial writing. In our shifting world of unstable ideas, it is a beautiful gift to find a concrete list of behaviors that will help us live safe, content, abundant lives. Second, this latest work by Joyce Meyer could easily be used in a small group Bible study of Proverbs. There is enough material within each chapter to spark lots of exploration of God’s Word and open dialogue about how that applies to our lives. Finally, the book is one of encouragement and inspiration. As time goes by and life delivers new challenges, the reader will find new nuggets of truth and fresh perspective to handle many situations; it is a book that can easily be reread many times over! </span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Thank you to FaithWords a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc. for this complimentary review copy of In Search of Wisdom by Joyce Meyer. I was not required to give a favorable review, but to simply read the work in it’s entirety and give my honest opinion.</span></span></p></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06231710849467044102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3085399531386503356.post-59137689971621568762020-11-11T17:59:00.000-06:002020-11-11T17:59:10.618-06:00Book Review: The Return by Nicholas Sparks <div class="separator"><div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><h1 style="text-align: left;"></h1><h1 style="text-align: left;"></h1><h1 style="text-align: left;"></h1><h1 style="text-align: left;"></h1><h2 style="font-family: georgia; text-align: center;"></h2><div class="separator"><div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm+37%3A8&version=NET" style="font-family: georgia;">Psalm 37:8 (NET</a>) <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm+37%3A8&version=NET" style="font-family: georgia;">Do not be angry and frustrated. Do not fret. That only leads to trouble.</a></div></div></div><div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;">Book Review: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Return-Nicholas-Sparks/dp/1538728575/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2XF6FP973CQPQ&dchild=1&keywords=the+return+nicholas+sparks&qid=1605116722&sprefix=The+Return+%2Caps%2C194&sr=8-2">The Return </a>by Nicholas Sparks</span></h1></div><div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><h4><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1348" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj7LDCelZTmfUdLQYGOZiMVtk6g7hJUEw5ZBoNsQy2NZOJVyxu_AOfBJ0SCk-qXS-Q1F6LqLkWTRmRzvXS05DniTIf4eEyXxFQLl_lmr18qfm271KWvkgAMB9o-GhDJ_a4x63j3e3wEUk/w286-h320/91JRZQT3GML.jpg" width="286" /></h4></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h4>The Return is a great reflective read!<br /><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></h4></td></tr></tbody></table></span></h1></div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><h2><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large; text-align: left;">Publishers Description</span></h2><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">In the romantic tradition of Dear John, Nicholas Sparks returns with the story of an injured Navy doctor -- and two women whose secrets will change the course of his life in this #1 New York Times bestseller.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Trevor Benson never intended to move back to New Bern, North Carolina. But when a mortar blast outside the hospital where he worked sent him home from Afghanistan with devastating injuries, the dilapidated cabin he'd inherited from his grandfather seemed as good a place to regroup as any.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Tending to his grandfather's beloved beehives, Trevor isn't prepared to fall in love with a local . . . yet, from their very first encounter, Trevor feels a connection with deputy sheriff Natalie Masterson that he can't ignore. But even as she seems to reciprocate his feelings, she remains frustratingly distant, making Trevor wonder what she's hiding.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Further complicating his stay in New Bern is the presence of a sullen teenage girl, Callie, who lives in the trailer park down the road. Trevor hopes Callie can shed light on the mysterious circumstances of his grandfather's death, but she offers few clues -- until a crisis triggers a race to uncover the true nature of Callie's past, one more intertwined with the elderly man's passing than Trevor could ever have imagined.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">In his quest to unravel Natalie and Callie's secrets, Trevor will learn the true meaning of love and forgiveness . . . and that in life, to move forward, we must often return to the place where it all began.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><h2><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">My Personal Review</span></h2><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Return-Nicholas-Sparks/dp/1538728575/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2XF6FP973CQPQ&dchild=1&keywords=the+return+nicholas+sparks&qid=1605116722&sprefix=The+Return+%2Caps%2C194&sr=8-2">The Return</a></u> by Nicholas Sparks is an entertaining and engaging read! </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I patiently waited until Veterans Day to post this review. Why? Because it's main character is a Navy Veteran who struggles with PTSD. I can't think of a better day than today to champion a book that will not only entertain, but also bring potential help to a population of our countries's heroes who might suffer with emotional trauma. Now, lest you think this is a self help book, think again, it's definitely not! True to his previous works, Sparks will not disappoint you as he holds to a model of chivalrous relationships and endearing romance woven throughout the book.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The author manages to craft a story of mystery, love, and hope while gently giving glimmers of perspective into the life of an injured war veteran, Dr. Trevor Benson, the narrator in the story. His voice is very authentic as he shares his trials with both the physical and mental manifestations of PTSD. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The gem in this work, however, is the way in which the author cleverly interjects tools to assist those that are experiencing this delayed stress syndrome. The novel, <u>The Return</u> utilizes the main character, Trevor, to model a very healthful lifestyle of conscious choices to regain his life back. The tools presented to the reader include, but are not limited to Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and honest evaluations of one's own feelings of fear. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The acknowledgment that some of the greatest challenges to a healthy mental life circle around the fear of rejection, judgement, anger, and disappointment is clearly presented in this book. Recognizing that we can only control our own behaviors and as such we are not responsible for other's behaviors is also a theme tucked away within the story. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Here's my takeaway after reading <u>The Return</u>. I love it! It's good for someone who is wanting to escape and relax with a good mystery, as well as those introspective folks like myself who are always thinking beyond the words. You really get two for the price of one in this book...entertainment and advice! </span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><u>The Return</u> captures your attention from the beginning, as a trail of clues grows throughout the chapters and the reader is left to figure it out. There are also stepping stones of hope carefully placed at equal distance throughout the book. The author's mission to impart wisdom with threads of tangible help to victims of PTSD while still entertaining the audience is priceless.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Yep....this is a good one. It's strikingly obvious to me why <u>The Return</u> by Nicholas Sparks is on the "#1 New York Best Sellers" list, along with all of his other novels; It's uplifting, relaxing, tender, intelligently written and has a steady rhythm that 2020 so desperately needs! Enjoy!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Thank you to Grand Central Publishing an imprint of Hachette Book Group for the complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review of this book, but simply asked to read the work in it's entirety and give my honest opinion.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr><tr></tr></tbody></table></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06231710849467044102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3085399531386503356.post-29839802275011777102019-11-07T18:13:00.004-06:002019-11-07T18:13:51.224-06:00Bible Review: NIV Life Application Study Bible~Third Edition <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm+119%3A105&version=NIV">Psalm 119:105 (NIV)</a></span><br />
<span class="text Ps-119-105" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: 16px; position: relative;">Your word is a lamp<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-16004A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16004A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> for my feet, </span><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-119-105" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">a light<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-16004B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16004B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> on my path.</span></span><br />
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<ul style="break-inside: avoid-column; color: #333333; margin: 1em 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Now </span><b>thoroughly updated and expanded</b><span style="background-color: white;">, offering even more relevant insights and spiritual guidance for applying God’s Word to everyday life in today’s world. </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">With a fresh, new interior page design and comprehensively updated study notes and features, this Bible will help you better understand God’s Word and provide you with practical ways to apply it to your life every day. The Life Application Study Bible—It’s how to do life!</span></ul>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Study the stories and teachings of the Bible with verse-by-verse commentary. Gain wisdom from people in the Bible by exploring their accomplishments and learning from their mistakes. Survey the big picture of each book through overviews, vital statistics, outlines, and timelines, and grasp difficult concepts using in-text maps, charts, and diagrams.</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Enhanced, updated, and with new content added throughout </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Now more than 10,000 Life Application® notes and features </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Over 100 Life Application® Bible character profiles </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Introductions and overviews for each book of the Bible </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">More than 500 maps & charts </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Dictionary/concordance </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Side-column cross-references </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Index to notes, charts, maps, and profiles </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Refreshed design with a second color for visual clarity </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">16 pages of full-color maps </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Durable Smyth-sewn binding, lays flat when open</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Presentation page</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Single-column format</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Christian Worker's Resource- a special supplement to enhance the reader's ministry </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Full text of the Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Black Letter</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Text Size: 8.5 Point</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Note Size: 7 Point</span></li>
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<b style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">MY PERSONAL REVIEW</b><br />
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<a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/niv-application-third-edition-leathersoft-brown/9780310452942/pd/45294X?event=AAI#customer_reviews">John 1:1</a><br /><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.</span><div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnmCKM1LVBdWVBqEOuPO_tR3yxNKUTg91HsilWrVHcWcr98th3ImZ-f9MXsTxsvbjyOJbOmuPBpYg0ePoGPwf8WK8W323vam_AtJwYYc0tw9o2uWiIpUJBipdT92SEMJrSN2s_8TKQViw/s1600/IMG_6209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnmCKM1LVBdWVBqEOuPO_tR3yxNKUTg91HsilWrVHcWcr98th3ImZ-f9MXsTxsvbjyOJbOmuPBpYg0ePoGPwf8WK8W323vam_AtJwYYc0tw9o2uWiIpUJBipdT92SEMJrSN2s_8TKQViw/s320/IMG_6209.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;">Beautiful two tone brown with stitching,<br />this Bible looks great on a table or<br />even better....in your hands!</td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px;">The <a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/niv-application-bible-third-edition-hardcover/9781496433831/pd/433837?event=AAI"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(4, 46, 238); color: #551a8b;">NIV Life Application Study Bible~Third Edition</span></a>, </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">for the remainder of this review referred to as the "NIV LASB~3rd", is an incredible update to your previous edition study Bible, or will make a wonderful first study Bible for anyone who has not had the opportunity to own a "study bible" up to this point. With a claim of "over 75% of the Bible's features being application oriented", relating scripture to your life has just taken on a whole new meaning!</span></div>
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Diving right in, I want to mention just a few things right off the top about the NIV LASB~3rd. First, I want to clarify that this is a <i>study </i>Bible with emphasis on<i> application </i>in your life<i> </i>and as such, when you put it side by side with non-<i>study</i> Bibles, you will immediately see a huge difference in organization of content, as well as, a greatly increased volume of notes, maps, outlines and other tools to assist your comprehension of the history and context of the designated passages. Secondly, if you are comparing this Bible to other <i>study</i> Bibles that are <i>not assigned </i>the "<i>life application"</i> title, you will also see stark differences in the notes, as the <i>non-application </i>Bibles will not generally address the final question of "how does this passage <i>relate to me</i>?" The NIV LASB~3rd will answer that question and so many more!</div>
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I want to examine the NIV LASB~3rd from two perspectives. The first one being that of comparison to a general <i>non-study</i> NIV Bible. The second angle is to differentiate the NIV LASB~3rd to it's previous editions, begging to answer the question, "do I really need to update my older NIV LASB edition?" Spoiler alert...the answer is...yes.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnF0v_J7D2fP1JrAGyCsj3eIYrsF-Psynz-9kCDL4K0UqXLIe21UN04Ne1UY2l8OMUjaoxwhJWK6SPIyS8La8Ojpv9QRfRH6T57oWRbvUerh6SO38Li6PmyMleckiTc7oILK9aqSwQArw/s1600/IMG_6202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1371" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnF0v_J7D2fP1JrAGyCsj3eIYrsF-Psynz-9kCDL4K0UqXLIe21UN04Ne1UY2l8OMUjaoxwhJWK6SPIyS8La8Ojpv9QRfRH6T57oWRbvUerh6SO38Li6PmyMleckiTc7oILK9aqSwQArw/s320/IMG_6202.jpg" width="273" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;">Here are a few of our Zondervan NIV Bibles.<br />So much goodness!</td></tr>
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Let's start by exploring the features of the <a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/niv-application-third-edition-leather-brown/9780310452836/pd/452836?event=ESRCG">NIV LASB~3rd</a> to reveal the immense difference in this Bible versus a <i>non-study</i> Bible. The NIV LASB~3rd has such incredible fluidity and includes all of the following categories in a beautiful color scheme that sets the Bible passages apart from the commentary making it easier to access the information. Each book is set up in the exact same way, so before long your muscle memory is taking over and your eyes are looking right to the section you want without having to hunt all over and flip back and forth from page to page. It has an unending supply of resources to assist you with your search for truth. It's a beautiful thing to behold! Obviously a <i>non-study </i>Bible is <i>also filled with truth,</i> it's just more challenging to sift, sort, comprehend, and apply.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The NIV Life Application Study Bible~3rd Edition Features include:</span></h4>
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<ul>
<li><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Notes</span></span></li>
<li><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Book Introductions: divided into a timeline, vital statistics, overview, blueprint, megathemes, and maps.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Outline</span></span></li>
<li><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A Harmony Of the Books of Kings & Chronicles (3rd Edition only)</span></span></li>
<li><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A Harmony of the Gospels</span></span></li>
<li><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Personality Profiles</span></span></li>
<li><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Maps </span></span></li>
<li><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Charts & Diagrams</span></span></li>
<li><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Cross-References</span></span></li>
<li><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Textual Notes and Section Headings</span></span></li>
<li><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A Christian Worker's Resource (3rd Edition only)</span></span></li>
<li><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Master Index</span></span></li>
<li><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Dictionary/Concordance</span></span></li>
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There's the question again, do you need to update your older edition (1988 and forward) NIV LASB with the new 3rd Edition? For that answer, this interview (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2019/10/like-a-smartphone-the-life-application-study-bible-is-updated-an-interview-with-ron-beers/">click here to read</a>) with the general editor of the NIV LASB~3rd, Ron Beers, on the Bible Gateway Blog may give you some clarity. He likens this new Bible edition to the Smart Phone updates that keep us current with the times. I enjoyed this analogy and I would agree with him, a new updated edition will only serve to enhance your experience with this Bible. </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Here's why I think it's a great investment. There are enough </span>intriguing<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> updates to make it worth your money to purchase this latest version. One of the newest features is </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">"</span><b style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px;">A Harmony Of The Books Of Kings & Chronicles</b><span style="font-family: Georgia;">." </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16px;">This new section provides a </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16px;">timeline </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16px;">of the books of Kings and Chronicles. It does an excellent job to assist the reader in understanding the interaction between the timing, location, and accomplishments (</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16px;">albeit</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16px;"> good or bad) of each king's reign. It even identifies which prophets were </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16px;">prophesying</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16px;"> during the leader's rule. It is a fantastic </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">systematic summary of the northern and southern kingship reigns with plenty of reference scripture to lead you on an </span>in-depth<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> search, if you so desire.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKx5e8i25RsweKs4N0upRk01mxNzlaTaPBr0yeGDuJc-PcU_Q1IL51aJJGTHVw_ujzL1FWZQWqPbVBit_PicTIt7jcKrUAKkJQIPXnJWo_3Z5yv9PFr8MIQ1LzaIYcsJbRwPZ4ZJ5vwYk/s1600/IMG_6208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKx5e8i25RsweKs4N0upRk01mxNzlaTaPBr0yeGDuJc-PcU_Q1IL51aJJGTHVw_ujzL1FWZQWqPbVBit_PicTIt7jcKrUAKkJQIPXnJWo_3Z5yv9PFr8MIQ1LzaIYcsJbRwPZ4ZJ5vwYk/s320/IMG_6208.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> is also a new feature titled: "</span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><b>A Christian Worker's Resource</b>". It's located towards the back of </span>the NIV LASB~3rd directly<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> before the <b>365 Day Reading Plan</b> and <b>Master Index</b>. </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It has been created to equip and empower the Christ follower for witnessing, mentoring, and even leading a small group. One of the sub-sections within this titled, "So You Have Been Asked To Speak", provides ideas for leading a small group or Bible study. The direction found within these two pages claims that "you'll be able to put together a talk that is both informative and challenging-to any audience at anytime." While I haven't had the opportunity to utilize the plan yet, I love the ideas and structure and now have a great place to quickly access when the need arises.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYd9sP-0Y_bt7mloXxZ-pMD_6E4HePiH4fksfoZ20_bHvtDVq6sundCYSgnTO1iTd40C_i6gfZhd6wO58Hzi8ETMwgzUQ3y7JwZlvnTZ7OMzNejkw9tsZ9KvQSAoVqTlmmrGrbbTmAs_Y/s1600/IMG_6294.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1123" data-original-width="1600" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYd9sP-0Y_bt7mloXxZ-pMD_6E4HePiH4fksfoZ20_bHvtDVq6sundCYSgnTO1iTd40C_i6gfZhd6wO58Hzi8ETMwgzUQ3y7JwZlvnTZ7OMzNejkw9tsZ9KvQSAoVqTlmmrGrbbTmAs_Y/s320/IMG_6294.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;">Side by side comparison of NIV LASB~1st<br />with the NIV LASB~3rd Edition.</td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia;">Besides the addition of several new features, I also recognized the consistent subtle content differences between the </span><b style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia;">Personality Profiles </b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia;">under the headings: strengths-accomplishments and weaknesses-mistakes within the 3rd edition as compared to the 1st edition. This is a feature that the old edition has, however, the new edition is using a bit different language, some extra characterizations, and a few noted omissions from the older version. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia;">Let's compare one of the profiles so you can see what I mean. We'll look at the "</span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia;">Eve Profile</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia;">". </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia;">The first edition states that Eve "displayed certain characteristics of God", whereas the NIV LASB 3rd omits these words. The first edition states "The female shares in the image of God", compared to the 3rd which states, "Women share <i>equally</i> in the image of God". Finally, the "occupation assigned" for Eve in the older edition defines her as a "wife, helper, companion, co-manager of Eden". The new </span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">edition only states that she is, "The Co-Manager of Eden". </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia;">These are intriguing differences. There are enough distinctions that I want to ponder them further. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The <i>content</i> of the NIV LASB~3rd has a plethora of historical information, commentary, cross references, notes, maps, charts, diagrams, and leadership tools. Clearly the expansive team of contributors are a group of individual professionals who are dedicated to the Word of God. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It even includes an abbreviated </span><b style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">365 Day Reading Plan </b><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">that </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">is a perfect "tour of God's Word", as it leads the reader from Genesis to Revelation in a "streamlined look at the entire Bible". </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The <i>design, physical appearance</i> and functionality of this specific Bible is gorgeous. The "lay flat" design provides a completely horizontal page by page viewing when the book is open. The distracting arching and flopping of pages during reading is <i>a thing of the past </i>with this quality work. The pages with their two tone color, as described in the product description, truly does help to clarify what is part of the outline and feature content as opposed to the scripture presentation. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There are really only two items about this Bible that are a slight issue, but one has a solution and the other one will actually develop your gift of patience. The first challenge is the font is crazy small at 8.5 for the scripture and 7 for the notes. Now, having said that, if you have "young eyes" and some bright light, this won't bother you at all. However, if you have "older eyes", say over half a century like mine, then you might want to consider getting the <a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/niv-application-third-edition-hardcover-letter/9781496439499/pd/439499?event=ESRCG">large print </a>option, although you will have to wait a bit longer because it doesn't release until 4/2019. The second difficulty is that the pages are incredibly thin. I'm sure that was necessary to try to keep the book more compact, but the result is that the pages stick together while you're trying to turn them. This isn't a deal breaker though, because again, you will develop perseverance and self control while you carefully peel apart each page. Once you have gotten through every page of the Bible, they no longer do that....so problem solved...read the whole Bible!! :) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In conclusion, </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I am not a theologian, nor am I currently attending seminary. I am, however, a lover of Christ and continually desirous of growing closer to Him. I have found incredible insight through studying the Bible and immeasurable peace by "hiding His Word in my heart" through scripture memorization. If you want to deepen your relationship with the Lord, spending time in His Word will certainly help you attain your goal! The Bible literally tells us that the Word of God</span><i style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> is God</i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">! If you're looking for a great Study Bible for yourself, or perhaps someone on your Christmas list, you should look no farther; the NIV Life Application Study Bible~Third Edition will not disappoint you! It is an excellent Bible and after many hours of study and comparison, I would highly recommend it!! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Also, keep in mind that not only will your money be going towards something that could potentially enrich your love of God and open your eyes to how Christ is moving in your life today, but in addition, every NIV Bible you purchase helps <a href="http://www.biblica.com/">www.biblica.com</a> translate and give Bibles to people in need around the world. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It has been an honor and privilege to be able to review this <a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/niv-application-bible-third-edition-hardcover/9781496433831/pd/433837?event=AAI">NIV Life Application Study Bible~Third Edition </a>as part of the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/bloggergrid/">Bible Gateway Blogger Grid (BG2)</a> program. Thank you to Zondervan and Tyndale House Publishers, Inc for this complimentary review copy in exchange for my honest assessment of this work. </span></div>
Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06231710849467044102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3085399531386503356.post-30059670764370002242019-10-25T13:49:00.000-05:002019-10-25T13:49:00.579-05:00Help! My Bible is Alive: An Interview With Nicole Unice by Jonathan Petersen of Bible Gateway<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br /><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+27%3A13&version=NIV">Psalm 27:13 (NIV)</a></span><div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+27%3A13&version=NIV">I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.</a></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Help-My-Bible-Alive-Understand/dp/1641580216/ref=sr_1_1?crid=T6UHG88CT74Z&keywords=help+my+bible+is+alive&qid=1571955387&sprefix=The+Bible+is+alive%2Caps%2C178&sr=8-1">Nicole Unice:Help! My Bible Is Alive!</a></td></tr>
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Jonathan Petersen, Content Manager for <a href="http://biblegateway.com/">BibleGateway.com</a>, recently did an interview with Nicole Unice, author of the book: <u><a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/bible-alive-learning-understand-gods-word/nicole-unice/9781641580212/pd/580213?event=ESRCG">Help! My Bible Is Alive! 30 Days of Learning to Love and Understand God's Word</a></u>. The link to that interview can be found by clicking <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2019/10/the-bible-is-alive-and-wants-to-interact-with-you-an-interview-with-nicole-unice/">here</a>.</div>
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Reading the article challenged me in many ways! One area that piqued my interest was her discussion about Bible study habits. She speaks of our western culture and what I would term as a "pathological distraction" as she references the statistic that the average American attention span is merely 9 seconds....less than a goldfish! Ouch!!! That's kind of scary! </div>
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This trend is a difficult finding as it relates to growing closer to the Lord, because as she shares, we need to spend some dedicated time in the Bible each day in order to consistently study the scripture and hear the voice of God. Without this focused time in the Word of God, we will end up missing the guidance and blessings that He intended for each of us to receive.</div>
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If you would like to learn more about the book: </div>
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<a href="https://biblegateway.christianbook.com/bible-alive-learning-understand-gods-word/nicole-unice/9781641580212/pd/580213?event=ESRCG"><u>Help! My Bible is Alive</u> </a>and how to set up a consistent "distraction free" time with the Lord, access her interview <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2019/10/the-bible-is-alive-and-wants-to-interact-with-you-an-interview-with-nicole-unice/">here</a>. It's definitely worth your time and attention! </div>
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Do you ever find it difficult to concentrate and still yourself as you're reading the Bible? It is a challenging task to consistently take hold of the living Word of God and allow The Holy One of Israel to transform our lives for His glory, but with the right tools, I believe it's an obtainable goal! </div>
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Enjoy your day today...and wherever you are, take time...hopefully more than 9 seconds.....to enjoy God's Word and observe the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living!</div>
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Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06231710849467044102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3085399531386503356.post-20235237885624157592019-02-07T17:18:00.001-06:002019-02-07T17:18:09.209-06:00Book Review: Forties on Fire: Honor Your Moods, Rediscover Your Sexuality, and Thrive Throughout Your 40s by Kathryn Kos<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Proverbs 3:8</span><div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.</span><div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYiDCaN2EOtzTM6d8XAt3-YctOmO2RjwKbH90Eucep-oVlk0ZhyuGUIKNXZ6QSTCohgrbWZgwqPxyf0EeGoSyFFjTS1-frQZFKiKR00Cfzy9P9AUczuabJNl0DaS0CLXz9x378zXAC1e8/s1600/Forties+On+Fire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="313" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYiDCaN2EOtzTM6d8XAt3-YctOmO2RjwKbH90Eucep-oVlk0ZhyuGUIKNXZ6QSTCohgrbWZgwqPxyf0EeGoSyFFjTS1-frQZFKiKR00Cfzy9P9AUczuabJNl0DaS0CLXz9x378zXAC1e8/s400/Forties+On+Fire.jpg" width="250" /></a></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<b>Publisher's Description</b></h3>
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<strong>Take Your Forties by Storm with Simple, No-Nonsense Steps to Balance and Wholeness</strong></h2>
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Your 30s and 40s are loaded with surprises. More fatigue. Less “You Time.” Trampled romance. Dissatisfaction with your body. Mood swings. The often overlooked season of perimenopause lurking around every corner.</div>
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Sound familiar?</div>
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Now raise your hand if you wish you could move past these symptoms of imbalance and live the life you’ve always dreamed.</div>
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You would, right?</div>
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Good news: Kathryn Kos is here to help, with her myth-busting, action-boosting book, Forties on Fire: Rediscover your Sexuality, Learn to Honor Your Moods, and Thrive Throughout Your 40s and Beyond. </div>
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Kos is a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner with an M.Ed. in Rehabilitation Counseling and by taking a functional approach to health, Kos helps her clients find the root causes of their conditions to help them find healing once and for all.</div>
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Now she’s bringing these insights to readers, in a compassionate, compelling guide jam-packed with tips you can put to use today.</div>
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Inside this book, you’ll learn:</div>
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How to honor your emotions without letting them rule your life</div>
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How to turn back aging – mentally, physically and emotionally</div>
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Why sunlight matters so much to your health</div>
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How to recapture your sexuality and feel like a teenager again (in a good way)</div>
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How to add simple movement back into your life</div>
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The importance of R&R in grounding and fulfilling you</div>
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<strong>The role of perimenopause in how you feel and how you can embrace it in your life</strong></div>
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… and more.</div>
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For anyone interested in simple personal development, holistic wellness and vibrant sexuality, this is a must-read. Filled with simple steps to help you take action and improve your own life, you’ll find it easy to rediscover the real you.</div>
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If you’re ready to wake up with pizzazz and reach bedtime with enough energy left to read or … ahem … anything else, it’s time you hear what experienced nutrition and wellness counselor Kathryn Kos has to say.</div>
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<strong>Ready to meet the strong, cheerful, actualized woman you know you can be?</strong></div>
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Don’t wait. Buy this book NOW to build the happier, healthier, stronger business you’ve always known you could have.</h3>
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<b>My Personal Review</b></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This book is a great resource for women as they travel into the perimenopauseal phase of life!<br /><br />I loved this quick read, <u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Forties-Fire-Rediscover-Sexuality-Throughout/dp/173070915X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1549581406&sr=8-1&keywords=forties+on+fire+honor+your+moods">Forties On Fire</a></u> written by Kathryn Kos. Her credentials as a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner with an M.Ed. in Rehabilitation Counseling bring a validity to her message that transfers easily to the reader. From the beginning of the book, where the author explains what is happening within our bodies during perimenopause, and throughout the remainder of the book, which is directed toward healthful habits to ensure a smooth transition into the next season of life, you will find a steady stream of applicable information. <br /><br />Kos’ communication style is a good balance between lay person terms and clinical jargon. She manages to educate us without tipping over into verboseness and confusing the reader. She infuses encouragement and wise counsel throughout the book. One such nugget was, “How we feel does not define who we are. You are not your thoughts!” This is a truth that I think many women are still trying to figure out. She challenges us to find the root cause for our emotional state of being, because there is definitely a mind-body connection. Her message that, “You are always enough,” is a breath of fresh air. <br /><br />The summation of Forties on Fire is that our spirituality, nutrition, supplementation, sex, grounding, prayer/meditation, sleep, play, and sunlight all work together to provide a beautiful canvas for an eminently salubrious life. Kos has done the research in these areas and provides the reader with plenty of references for further study if so desired. It appears to me that each one of the afore mentioned categories could be a book unto themselves, and if I’m not mistaken, I think that is the point of this book….to dig a little deeper and own your health! <br /><br />I am a Registered Nurse with over fifteen years experience working in our local hospital’s Cardiac Intensive Care. I have always found it odd that we are called “Healthcare” Workers. “Healthcare” Workers isn’t really what we are at all. In fact, we are actually “Diseasecare" Workers. We take care of people with illnesses and chronic diseases when they reveal their ugly heads. What if we could get to a place where we rarely ever needed the hospital? Wouldn’t that be fantastic?! Reading this book could be a step into your whole person health. Kos’ gives a message to find a Functional Medicine Practitioner. That is excellent advice! Forties On Fire by Kathryn Kos is a spring board into a healthier version of you…the whole you…mind, body, and spirit. <br /><br />Thank you to Archangel Ink for this review copy of Forties on Fire: Honor Your Moods, Rediscover Your Sexuality , and Thrive Throughout Your 40’s by Kathryn Kos. I was not required to write a favorable review, but simply to give my opinion of it’s content upon a thorough reading.</span><div>
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Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06231710849467044102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3085399531386503356.post-45992044575262436662018-05-20T18:19:00.001-05:002018-05-20T18:19:33.859-05:00Book Review: The Audacious Molly Bruno~Amazing Stories from the Life of a Powerful Woman of Prayer by Marie Armenia <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Molly's "Life Lesson List" has the<br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">PUBLISHER'S DESCRIPTION</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">THE AUDACIOUS MOLLY BRUNO, written by her daughter MARIE ARMENIA, is a holy and hilarious mentoring resource for women who desperately long for wisdom from a Godly mother-someone who is a living example of practical experience and steadfast faith. It is also a wakeup call for older women of faith, encouraging them to embrace the calling of Titus 2:3-5 to mentor younger women about what's truly important in life.<br /><br />"When I think of my mother's prayers," author Marie writes, "I remember the prayer she prayed every morning without fail, 'Lord, please send someone my way today that I can tell about you.' Everyone (and I mean everyone) who met Molly Bruno fell in love with her. This includes the Kendrick Brothers, who wrote and directed the film War Room. During filming of the movie, they met Molly, calling her the modern-day Ms. Clara of War Room. She inspired them, just like she inspired everyone around her. When she prayed, she got answers. <br /><br />Molly lived a lifetime of believing she could boldly approach the very throne of God 'with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.' My mother didn't teach me how to pray any more than she taught me how to breathe. I saw her pray REAL prayers, using REAL words addressed to a REAL God. I learned by observing my mother's prayer life that the last thing on earth that should be edited is a prayer. Shameless audacity. Those words remind me of my mother's approach to prayer. She had no fear of God's displeasure or that He might scold her for asking for impossible things. She had no need to edit her heart to the One she loved. She knew He knew her heart. Having settled this between herself and God, she asked. And asked again. And got incredible answers time and time again."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My Personal Review</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Audacious-Molly-Bruno-Amazing-Powerful/dp/1546033203/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1526410443&sr=8-1&keywords=the+audacious+molly+bruno">The Audacious Molly Bruno</a></u> by Marie Armenia is a beautifully written book that will encourage your heart and fuel your faith! </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Marie Armenia (daughter of Molly Bruno) shares her story of growing up in a home where prayer was at the heart of everything. Watching her mother carry all burdens to the Lord in prayer served to teach Marie that she could trust in a loving Father for all of her needs as well.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My take-away from this relaxing and recharging read was threefold. First, it is extremely well organized, as the author tells you what she is going to say, says it by thoughtfully breaking down the chapters in a sequential and easy to follow format, and then winds it all up with a simple list of "Molly's Life Lessons" to remind us what we just read. This methodical journey allows the reader a higher level of retention and thereby increases our level of potential application. I love this, because so many times I come away from a book thinking how great it was, but when I actually try to sum it up, I stumble because it was not presented in a systematic way. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Secondly, I am taking away a sense of feeling loved and accepted by Christ. After reading these sometimes humorous and always authentic stories about Molly's adoration and commitment to the Lord, I feel inspired that Jesus is truly wanting my devotion! I have a greater appreciation for just how much God desires for us to have Him at the center of our life. After reading her stories, I get a sense of His longing for us to come to Him in prayer for everything!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Finally, this book solidified the importance of a mother's role in her children's lives. Marie communicated so clearly how her mother lead by example; Molly lived out what she believed. This genuine spirit of honesty and openness is what allowed Marie to know Christ in an intimate way. Watching her mother witness to others and pray with and for them is what drew Marie to the foot of the cross. This is so empowering to hear as a mother. I think sometimes we diminish our impact on our children's lives. This book certainly creates a clear picture of the responsibility that we have as parents to model what we want our kids to live!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thank you to FaithWords Publishing for this review copy of <u>The Audacious Molly Bruno</u> by Marie Armenia. I was not required to give a positive review, but simply to read this work and give my honest assessment.</span></div>
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Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06231710849467044102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3085399531386503356.post-16360995787455903902018-04-09T21:46:00.000-05:002018-04-09T21:46:21.634-05:00Book Review: THE RESCUE~Seven People. Seven Amazing Stories....by Jim Cymbala with Ann Spangler<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+19%3A10&version=NIV">For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+19%3A10&version=NIV">Luke 19:10</a></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An encouraging read and hope filled book!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Publishers Description</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A Wall Street broker, a party girl, a student, a homeless man, an addict, a teenage mom, a drug enforcer - all of them spiraling out of control. Each has a reason to despair and a wound that won't heal. Until something unexpected happens - something that will change their lives forever.</span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />The Rescue by Jim Cymbala tells the powerful, true stories of men and women whose lives should have ended badly but didn't. What happens to each of them will take you by surprise and give you hope. If you or people you care about are facing challenges beyond their strength, it may be time to experience The Rescue.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My Personal Review</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Rescue-Seven-People-Amazing-Stories/dp/0310351170/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1522418477&sr=8-1&keywords=the+rescue+jim+cymbala"><u>The Rescue</u> </a>by Jim Cymbala with Ann Spangler is an inspirational book that is certainly worth your time and money. It is a quick read, but is packed with some extremely powerful stories of people going through immeasurable hardships. Each individual account reveals a season of difficulties and trials in their life. Each chapter is a new story and is narrated by the person in much the same way as an autobiography. (I liked this type of presentation, as it gave a depth of authenticity that would not have been there otherwise.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The beauty of each chapter is revealed in the end, as the reader discovers that the answer to each of their circumstances is the rescuing power of Jesus Christ. Some of the stories within the book are very difficult to read. They're perspectives are full of such darkness that frankly, I had to put it down and take a break occasionally, because the depth of despair is a bit overwhelming. Pushing through to see how Christ brings His redemptive love to the dilemma is the reward, however, and is undeniably worth it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thank you to Zondervan & Handlebar Publishing for this review copy of <u>The Rescue</u>. The opinions within this review are my own. I was not required to write a positive review, only to provide an honest assessment of this work.</span></div>
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Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06231710849467044102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3085399531386503356.post-90610023910787214292017-12-07T20:30:00.002-06:002017-12-07T20:30:36.454-06:00I Am With You In All That You Do<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew+10%3A+29-31&version=NLT">Matthew 10:29-31</a></span><div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">His eye is on the sparrow....& I know He watches me.<br /></td></tr>
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Phew! What a day! If you're like me right at this moment, then you feel a tiny bit frazzled. Or maybe a LOT bit frazzled. Don't worry...don't stress...do NOT come unraveled. It will be okay....</div>
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Off you go now and get a warm cup of tea...decaf of course...and return here so you can read this amazing devotion found in Sarah Young's devotional book: <u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Jesus-Calling-Enjoying-Peace-Presence/dp/1591451884/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1512699907&sr=8-1&keywords=jesus+calling">Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace In His Presence</a></u></div>
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Remember my sweet friend, He is sitting right beside you...you are never alone!!</div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I AM WITH YOU IN ALL THAT YOU DO, even in the most menial task. I am always aware of you, concerned with every detail of your life. Nothing escapes MY notice--<i>not even the number of hairs on</i> <i>your head</i>. However, your awareness of My Presence falters and flickers; as a result, your life experience feels fragmented. When your focus is broad enough to </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">include Me</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> in your thoughts, you feel safe and complete. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">your perception </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">narrows so that problems or details </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">fill </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">your </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">consciousness,</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">you feel empty and incomplete. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Learn to look steadily at Me in all your moments and all your circumstances. Though the world is unstable and in flux, you can experience continuity through your uninterrupted awareness of My Presence. <i>Fix your gaze on </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>what is unseen,</i> even as the visible world </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">parades before your eyes.</span></div>
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Matthew 10:29-31; Hebrews 11:27; 2 Corinthians 4:18</div>
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Lord, </div>
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Please continually remind me of Your loving presence in my life. Slow my anxious heart down and let me see this world and the people in it with Your vision. Allow each of us to know that we are never without You. Even in our darkest place, shine Your word of truth into our hearts.</div>
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In the mighty name of Christ,</div>
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Amen</div>
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Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06231710849467044102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3085399531386503356.post-48518929300169453172017-10-25T10:37:00.000-05:002017-10-25T10:55:56.800-05:00Book Review: The Chords Of War by Christopher Meeks and Samuel Gonzalez Jr.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://www.virtualauthorbooktours.com/chords-war-christopher-meeks-sam-gonzalez-jr-tour/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="460" data-original-width="1423" height="103" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid02RQJ-GHZFODVLxtMxWUJl8R4dyxsFsVnxX3KLcxpDizP6UGhSGrLoricWkr0xUSt5CCVko_GscbrfLdf82DLo_I1W3cG5zN_S8VPHTCbdfpW19a_GEYdt-DCKvLYXSG1chngcS-KYA/s320/Chordsof+war+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I'm very excited to be a part of this Book Tour for the book <u>The Chords of War</u> by Christopher Meeks and Samuel Gonzalez Jr.! When you're finished reading about this recently published book, feel free to take a few minutes to look around by accessing the buttons at the top of the page or scrolling down the right side of the page and checking out some of my other book reviews and posts. Enjoy and remember....it is "Only~A~Little~While" that we are given to walk around down here on planet earth...so find your purpose!</span><br />
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PUBLISHERS DESCRIPTION</span></h3>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Chords of War is a suspenseful & eye<br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Inspired by Sam Gonzalez's true story, The Chords of War is the tale of punk rock teenager Max Rivera from Florida, who seeks purpose as he tries to understand why his life always teeters between music and mayhem. After he's kicked out of his band on tour, he joins the Army to change his life. It's after 9/11, and he finds himself under fire in Iraq, part of the surge in Baquabah. In order to deal with his teen angst and raging hormones among daily patrols, coordinated battles, and women fighting alongside him, Max creates a new band with soldiers. Will Max and his friends make it?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">PRAISE for <u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Chords-War-Novel-Inspired-Adolescence/dp/0986326534/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1507580942&sr=8-1&keywords=chords+of+war">THE CHORDS of WAR</a></u></span></h3>
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"<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">The Chords of War</span> brilliantly shows that the chaos, destruction, and terror of war can spawn primal desires, not only to survive, but also to love, to create, and, if you've got a guitar and the chops, to rock the hell out."</div>
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- <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Graham Yost, </span>acclaimed writer and television showrunner (<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">Justified, The Americans, The Pacific, Speed</span>)</div>
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"<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">The Chords of War</span> is a compelling read that paints those who fought in Iraq as real, honest people, rather than the cliched versions we're often given. It's not your usual war-novel, and that's good--that's why it should be read."</div>
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- <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Michael Anthony, </span>U.S. Army, Author of <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">Mass Casualties</span>, and <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">Civilianized: A Young Veteran's Memoir</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">"The Chords of War<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"> </span></span>breaks clean of Vietnam and World War II war-writing traditions by incisively portraying the war experience of millennial-era men and women agonizingly stalled between adolescence and adulthood."</div>
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- <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Professor and Lt. Col. (Ret.) Peter Molin</span>, U.S. Army, Rutgers University</div>
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"Music comforts and guides Max as a millennial taking his turn on stage in the forever war. But the overture of his former life does little to prepare Max for the melee of modern war: the forte-piano highs and lows, the crash of life and death stakes. A very compelling coming-of- age story representative of many from Generation Y who have answered the call-to- arms to defend our nation."</div>
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- <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Dario DiBattista</span>, Editor of <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">Retire the Colors: Veterans and Civilians on Iraq and Afghanistan</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">MY PERSONAL REVIEW</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Chords-War-Novel-Inspired-Adolescence/dp/0986326526/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1507776399&sr=8-1&keywords=the+chords+of+war">The Chords of War</a> </u>by Christopher Meeks and Samuel Gonzalez Jr. is a suspenseful and eye opening fiction novel! It is definitely out of my usual genre for a book choice, but I am thrilled that I branched out of my comfort zone. I was not disappointed. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Right off the top, I must mention, that if <u>The Chords of War</u> were a movie, it most certainly would be given an "R" rating for profane language, violence, and sex. These elements are a disturbing part of the book, but I felt a necessary addition to enhance the authenticity of the characters. With that key piece of information to steel yourself as you begin turning the pages, you most definitely should read this important work. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I chose to read this book, because I wanted to learn some of what our men and women in the military experienced while serving in the Iraq War. My goal is to have a better understanding of what they have endured, so that I might contribute to a helpful dialogue of encouragement with our veterans. The last thing I ever want to do is sweep their horror under the rug. In loving and in living, there is no room for dismissiveness toward another's pain. Collectively, if we are informed, we can become increasingly relatable to this latest generation of veterans who have returned home to our doorsteps. This is not the time for ignorance or cowardice. As an American, I honor them by getting to know their story.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">While the book is fiction, it is noted that <u>The Chords of War</u> is inspired by the true story of Samuel Gonzalez Jr. during his deployment in Iraq. The smooth transition from his life before deployment and his life while in active duty in Iraq is phenomenal. Not only is this novel entertaining, suspenseful, intriguing, and fun, but conversely heart wrenching and difficult to comprehend. It has been a very long time since I have actually cried while reading a book, but this one had me in tears during several sections. The connection the reader feels to the characters is firmly constructed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As Max Rivera, the main character, narrates his way through the pages, the reader sees the struggles of an independent young man trying to reach for a life of security and intention. His enlisting in the armed services to improve his life station, becomes a step in his process of trying to grasp at his life purpose. One of the catalysts to igniting his voluntary sign up occurred during a viewing of the movie, Platoon. He explains that the film was "...neither 'pro-war' nor 'anti-war'". That description of the theatrical portrayal of the Vietnam War in <u>Platoon</u> is exactly the way I feel <u>The Chords Of War</u> is designed. The book immerses the reader into the war itself, where the events seem to take on a corporeal existence. That's quite a feat in an of itself, but in addition the author is able to take it a layer deeper to a spiritual level. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">While there are no clear calls to a belief in a divine existence, there are a handful of mentions of God and Jesus Christ. The developing storyline and talented writing naturally leads you to ponder what lies beyond this physical body.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">My takeaway from this book is multifaceted. First, I believe it points to the fragility of life. We are, after all, here for "only~little~a~little~while" and then we are not. How you process that information and what you believe happens after the "we are not", is mentioned as a teaser a few times within the novel. Second, <i>the relationships that we are so privileged to experience in this world are what is significant</i>. Albeit indirectly, the book teaches that it is not our bank accounts or our material wealth, but rather the people that we have been blessed to form bonds of friendship and trust with that should consume our attention. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><u>The Chords Of War</u> expanded my comprehension of the war that the United States and Britain fought in Iraq. It helped to define the conflict in my mind as to why we engaged initially and how our troops found themselves increasingly in the midst of a civil war between Shiites, Sunnis, and Kurds. The novel clarified how the confusion of the Iraqi people, created by massive amounts of propaganda against the U.S., placed the American & British soldiers in increasingly precarious situations. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Finally, Christopher Meeks and Samuel Gonzalez, Jr's book, <u>The Chords Of War</u> brings a spirit of hope. Yes, it is one man's journey through the battle zone, but he is determined to find that solitary thing that will help himself and others to survive. His answer is music...it is his "oxygen mask". What is your "one thing"?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Thank you to White Whisker Books (Los Angeles) for this review copy of <u>The Chords Of War</u></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">by Christopher Meeks and Samuel Gonzalez Jr. While I <i>was </i>required to read this book in it's entirety, I <i>was not</i> made to give a favorable opinion, but simply an honest assessment of the written work.</span></div>
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Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06231710849467044102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3085399531386503356.post-30144760728262101792017-10-23T09:15:00.000-05:002017-10-23T09:15:02.604-05:00Book Review: Helicopter Mom: Stop hovering over your children and lift! by Bethany L. Douglas<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm+40%3A8&version=MSG">So I answered, “I’m coming. I read in your letter what you wrote about me, And I’m coming to the party you’re throwing for me.” That’s when God’s Word entered my life, became part of my very being.Psalm 40:8 MSG</a></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This book teaches you how to lift<br />
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I’ve seen things, bad things. Things that make mother’s grip their children tighter and awaken with nightmares in their beds. I know fear- at 3000 feet and going 150mph- I stand in its face and say “no!” I’ve learned to take fear by the horns and wrestle it to the ground; will you join me and learn how to as well? We’ve all heard the term ‘helicopter mom’- parents who ‘hover’ over their children in an attempt to keep them happy, safe, healthy, and alive. They hover because they fear. Helicopter Mom directly addresses the real life terror that all parents face with fearing for their children. Specifically designed for mothers, it gives a Christian, Biblical perspective on how to overcome these fears from the unique point of view of a helicopter flight nurse and mom who has vast experience in ‘hovering’. It takes lessons learned over my years as a flight nurse and puts them into practical, every day, Christian applications. There are anecdotes, stories, aviation information, and more that all knit together to bring about Biblical lessons and encouragement that all parents can easily relate to. Each chapter takes helicopter and EMS/nursing stories and knits them into an ongoing narrative that slowly paints a full picture of how to overcome fear. It is a sassy, funny, in-your-face, yet spiritually grounded journey that will have people laughing and learning spiritual truths all at the same time. This is a totally different approach to ‘self-help’ books, strap in and get ready to lift!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">MY PERSONAL REVIEW</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Helicopter-Mom-Stop-Hovering-Children/dp/098392886X/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1508628697&sr=8-3&keywords=helicopter+mom" style="text-decoration: underline;">Helicopter Mom</a> by <a href="http://www.bethanyldouglas.com/book/">Bethany L. Douglas</a> is a must read for anyone experiencing fear in their life. This book speaks to the weakness all mother's inherently have, regardless of their background, which is the tendency to give into fear for the lives of their children. The author specifically addresses the "what if'" notions that have an inclination to plague us as mothers, however, everything in the book can be seamlessly applied to any anxiety situation presenting itself in one's life. If you are a parent, you owe it to yourself to read the nuggets of truth that are found in the Word of God that Douglas illuminates in this book. If you battle worry in any form, this book is for you as well.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><u>Helicopter Mom</u> is a unique work that delivers a powerful punch to the fear that is affecting many of us in epidemic proportion today. Because the author is a Mom of three children, including one with special needs, her resume is sound. In addition to being a mother herself, she is also a flight nurse, so she sees life and death situations on a regular basis. </span><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">The extremely frightening experiences Douglas faces during her nursing job serve as a segue into the nightmare scenarios we conjure up about our kids. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">With literary talent and seemingly effortless transition, Douglas brings the reader to a place of profound understanding of the terror that might be the driving force behind hovering and controlling parental moves. Somehow, despite the weightiness of the subject matter, the author interjects humor at points that literally had me laughing out loud. <u>Helicopter Mom</u> also encourages a reflective spirit and Biblical study as the book helps to uncover the hidden issues that may lie within the reader. A</span><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"> foundational message presented throughout the book is the </span><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">reminder that God is sovereign and because of this single fact, we can let go of our fears and place them in the hands of the Lord.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">My takeaway after reading <u>Helicopter Mom</u> by Bethany Douglas is extensive. I'll try to be brief, but there is <i>so much goodness in this one</i>, that it's going to be hard for me to sum up. I'll do my best. First, I have to mention the cover, because it is beautiful and has a colorful artistic flare that cannot be missed. Next, I believe this book will resonate within the depths of your heart as the sincerity from the author is palpable. The candor within the pages creates an ability to be honest with yourself about struggles that are warring within you. Third, this book begs to be revisited frequently and would make an excellent choice for a Women's Bible study. Finally, <u>Helicopter Mom</u> reminds us that our ultimate pilot is Christ, so we mustn't panic on the journey, but rather we should apply the word of God to every fearful situation. The intentional action of scripture application in the midst of fear will shift our perspective to the strong arms of God and allow us to LIFT (Living~Intentionally~Fearlessly~Truthfully) above the fear. Excellent read!</span></div>
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Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06231710849467044102noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3085399531386503356.post-87837440376166101822017-10-19T15:09:00.000-05:002017-10-19T15:09:55.286-05:00Book Review: The Father Effect by John Finch with Blake Atwood <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A wonderful hope filled book!</td></tr>
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Based on the feature film of the same name, THE FATHER EFFECT is a must-read for the millions of men and women who have lost their fathers through divorce, death, or disinterest.<br /><br />John Finch always struggled after his father committed suicide when he was eleven, but it wasn't until he was raising his own three daughters that he truly understood their futures relied on his coming to terms with his difficult past. To move forward, he needed to forgive both his father for choosing to leave, and himself for not being the best father he could be.<br /><br />This journey led to THE FATHER EFFECT, a book containing practical help for anyone, man or woman, with a deep father wound from losing a dad through divorce, death, or disinterest. Through positive lessons on forgiveness and approachable advice on how to change your legacy as a parent, partner, and person, THE FATHER EFFECT is the ultimate healing tool for anyone who has suffered the absence of a dad.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Father-Effect-Hope-Healing-Absence/dp/1478976861/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1508443523&sr=8-1&keywords=the+father+effect">The Father Effect</a></u> by <a href="http://thefathereffect.com/">John Finch</a> with <a href="https://www.blakeatwood.com/">Blake Atwood </a>is a beautiful transparent work filled with hope and healing for those who find themselves living with the wounds created from a fatherless home. John Finch writes with a great deal of candor and vulnerability as he reveals the story of his life beginning in his early years with his father's suicide and continuing to current day where he now makes it his life ambition to provide guidance to those who have experienced a "father wound."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Father-Effect-Hope-Healing-Absence/dp/1478976861/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1508347007&sr=8-1&keywords=the+father+effect">The Father Effect</a></u> has received much praise from the fields of Christianity and psychology. The work expounds upon the author's life, drawing from first hand experiences regarding the extreme emotional wounds that were created from his father's absence. The beauty of the book is the way in which John Finch uses<i> his</i> journey of distress and suffering to explore potential areas of similar hurts within the <i>reader</i>. Not only does Finch assist in uncovering your pain from a missing Dad, but he takes it a few steps farther as he gives sound advice on how to deal with the reader's personal injuries through the application of forgiveness. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">John Finch redirects frequently to remind those with a history of a missing father, that their heavenly Father is the perfect role model. The book is consistently reassuring the reader that Jesus Christ holds the key to powerful regeneration. Mr. Finch gives very specific suggestions on how to break the cycle of feeling rejected. His encouragement that it is possible to change one's life legacy from a continual sense of alienation and abandonment to an accomplished life with amazing relationships is believable, since he has gone through similar situations and come out on the other side with health. Finch warns, however, that without change, the fatherless will almost certainly find themselves in a cycle of serious depression.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I loved that this book compassionately discusses depression and addresses the misinformed attitude of many people who act as though the depressed person can "will or hope their way out of depression." Finch describes it this way, stating, "Trying to free yourself from depression is like building a ladder out of toothpicks when you're stuck at the bottom of a hundred-mile-deep hole. No matter what you do, the hopelessness of your situation only worsens." This analogy speaks of a complexity of understanding beyond what could be contrived from someone who has not suffered with depression. How refreshing it is to see a courageous author in the Christian world give validity to the real illness of depression, and attempt to provide tools to help eradicate it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">After reading, <u>The Father Effect</u>, I have a greater empathy for the people in this world who are suffering from a missing father in their lives. I now comprehend that those affected by a missing Dad, might be men or women. The message is very clear from this book, however, that you do not need to be the victim. You can, and in fact <i>must, </i>if you want to have an abundant life that the Lord intended for you, step out in faith and forgiveness to break the chains of helplessness and hopelessness. This debut novel provides an avenue of confident expectation and concrete direction for an audience of lost and hurting people. Throughout the pages, John Finch educates, encourages, and equips men and women to make a daily choice to fulfill the roles that the Lord has placed before them. It is an essential read for anyone who loves the Lord and is suffering in silence due to a missing father. <u>The Father Effect</u> is also for anyone who would like to grasp a greater knowledge of what this population is experiencing, so that they may then reach out in love to help them renew their life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Thank you to FaithWords Publishing for this review copy of The Father Effect by John Finch and Blake Atwood. I was not required to give a positive review, but only asked to give an honest review of my assessment of the book. </span></div>
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Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06231710849467044102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3085399531386503356.post-67401242414707152742017-09-21T14:29:00.001-05:002017-09-21T14:29:56.333-05:00Book Review: The Awakening of HK Derryberry~My Unlikely Friendship with the Boy Who Remembers Everything by Jim Bradford with Andy Hardin<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+25:40&version=NIV">Matthew 25:40</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br />“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Awakening of HK Derryberry is the inspiring story of how one man was willing to step out of his upper middle-class world into the life of a young, disabled boy with a dismal future. Little did Jim Bradford know the transformational potential of that friendship—for HK and himself.<br /><br />HK Derryberry came into the world with the odds stacked heavily against him. He was taken from his unmarried mother’s womb three months prematurely when she was killed in a car wreck. After ninety-six days of seesawing between life and death, HK’s grandmother took him home.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />One Saturday morning Jim Bradford, a successful businessman in his mid-fifties, happens into Mrs. Winner’s Chicken and Biscuits and sees a nine-year-old’s head pressed down against a black plastic boom box with a crooked antenna and three strips of silver duct tape stretched across the battery cover. He can’t help but notice the long, white plastic braces on each of the child’s legs. Mr. Bradford learns that HK’s grandmother is forced to bring him to the fast-food restaurant where she works, leaving him to sit alone all day at a small table, with only his boom box for company. On subsequent Saturdays Jim feels drawn back to the restaurant to meet with HK and begins spending every weekend with him.<br /><br />Eventually it becomes apparent that buried beneath HK’s severe disabilities is one spectacular ability. He is diagnosed with Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory (HSAM), which involves superlative powers of recollection that enable him to remember everything that has happened to him since the age of three. Less than one hundred people have been diagnosed with HSAM, but none of them have the physical disabilities of HK Derryberry.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">My Personal Review</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Awakening-Derryberry-Friendship-Remembers-Everything/dp/0785216200/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1506021136&sr=8-1&keywords=the+awakening+of+hk+derryberry">The Awakening of HK Derryberry</a></u> by Jim Bradford with Andy Hardin is a unique work that will both inspire and enlighten you! It is definitely a book to be read by all those who have the privilege of working with people who have special needs, anyone who has a child with extra challenges, as well as anyone who would simply like to understand some of the complexities and mountainous battles that this population tackles on a daily basis.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I enjoyed the narration of this book, immensely. As I read it, I felt as if I were sitting at the table having a cup of coffee with the author as he tells the story about meeting and doing life with his friend, <a href="http://hkderryberry.com/">HK Derryberry</a>. Before the book is complete, the reader feels like they personally know both Jim and HK. I think this is because the author's tenderness and compassion are tangible! As HK's physical challenges are unveiled, I found myself feeling protective of him and completely encouraged by his zest for life. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In addition to the wonderful narration, reading <u>The Awakening of HK Derryberry</u> is an educational experience. I appreciated learning about the latest computerized reading device to assist readers with braille, called Braille Lite, as well as developing a new awareness that people with cerebral palsy often react the opposite ways in highly charged emotional situations. HSAM (Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory) was another area of completely new information to me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Finally, and what makes this book a winner in my mind, is the tenacious spirit of HK and his grandmother, Pearl. HK's life has been anything but simple and yet he choses to concentrate on joy and share it with others. HK focuses on what is good and pure about our human existence. He takes the raw painful things that humanity has thrown at him and flips it into an expression of love, hope, compassion, perseverance, ambition, and redemption. His optimistic spirit is contagious!! His grandmother modeling a selfless life filled with determination, courage, and grace is no doubt the catalyst that ignited the prevailing "can do" attitude that defines HK. Simply beautiful. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">I have never left a message for the characters in my books when reviewing them before, but there is always a first time for everything! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">I don't know if they will ever even read this review, but here it goes...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif;">HK~ She would have <i>definitely</i> loved you!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif;">Jim~Your sensitivity and obedience to the leading of the Spirit is bold!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif;">Pearl~Thank you for stepping into the unknown!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Thank you to W Publishing Groups, an imprint of Thomas Nelson for this review copy of <u>The Awakening of HK Derryberry</u> by Jim Bradford with Andy Hardin. I was not required to give a favorable review, but only to read the book in it's entirety and give an honest opinion of the contents.</span></div>
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Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06231710849467044102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3085399531386503356.post-2419172312515309182017-08-18T07:24:00.003-05:002017-08-18T07:24:28.062-05:00God's Word Will Never Become Obsolete<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Oh, how I love all you’ve revealed; I reverently ponder it all the day long. Your commands give me an edge on my enemies;<br /> they never become obsolete. Psalm 119:97-98</span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDLb5a9x_Wvk5H_kdzASW9oQIIJe8W53huX2akwBWBcl-1hdkUXAjuEp99cV5ATBQJL46vKj8QYi828cIxhxwJ9C2shNxyUCvbYLUXzldmvjaID6FFp8FVpVUbpq3WuqkWFCDof98mZQQ/s1600/IMG_3815.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDLb5a9x_Wvk5H_kdzASW9oQIIJe8W53huX2akwBWBcl-1hdkUXAjuEp99cV5ATBQJL46vKj8QYi828cIxhxwJ9C2shNxyUCvbYLUXzldmvjaID6FFp8FVpVUbpq3WuqkWFCDof98mZQQ/s320/IMG_3815.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Word of God never needs an update!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I love when the Lord reveals His majesty through the beauty of nature! It's difficult to miss the connection to His creative spirit when I am running through a grove of trees in the middle of the forest. Nothing can clear my mind quicker and allow me to focus on the greatness of our God than moving through a quiet piece of the woods.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This physical setting brings to the forefront of my thinking, the enormity of our God and the complexities of His working in and through every situation in my life. Sometimes the Lord reveals His purposes...and other times He does not. I cherish the times when <i>He does</i> unveil His reasons, however, in those times that He remains silent and seemingly unwilling to explain His decisions, I must trust Him all the more. Those are the seasons of my life when following Him translates into the tangible faith of the scriptures. They are the times when I must believe without seeing. I must cling to His word and His promises and know that I have prayed...and He has heard. I must stand up...and when I fall back down...stand up again. As the verse above says...I must know that His words will "never be obsolete". I must breathe in and breathe out and stand firm on His promises.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Father God~</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">You are the beginning of all things. You are the end of all things. You have spoken us into being and we are Your children. May You continue to reveal your perfect will into our hearts so that we may accomplish Your purposes through our lives each day. Equip and empower us to carry through with Your plans with awe and reverence.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Praise be to the mighty name of Jesus!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Amen </span></div>
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Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06231710849467044102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3085399531386503356.post-10397567152019407982017-06-30T09:48:00.002-05:002017-06-30T10:03:20.035-05:00Book Review: REMARKABLE FAITH by Shauna Letellier<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+11%3A1&version=NIV">Hebrews 11:1</a> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.</span><br />
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">PUBLISHERS DESCRIPTION</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoNl4Y8ovUzUFbHQZkeSsuDtlQa0AyFfFxMItUZPRxh2Y1HjZCuJD9m_hR9t79Lc0smmVG72ACrErKX7kbraA25G_OIFj9uqBzTkU6xg5X1wRJVP6tmcchy2G56iyAGgZpILHtUoY5zm0/s1600/Remarkable+Faith.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="327" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoNl4Y8ovUzUFbHQZkeSsuDtlQa0AyFfFxMItUZPRxh2Y1HjZCuJD9m_hR9t79Lc0smmVG72ACrErKX7kbraA25G_OIFj9uqBzTkU6xg5X1wRJVP6tmcchy2G56iyAGgZpILHtUoY5zm0/s320/Remarkable+Faith.jpg" width="209" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This book will draw you into the<br />
Word of God where you<br />
will find rest for your<br />
weary soul.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This collection of inspirational vignettes, based on eight of the Bible's unlikely examples of faith, will give readers a fresh intimacy with Jesus.<br /><br />REMARKABLE FAITH tells the stories of people whose faith was of such quality that Jesus himself marveled at it-people who were broken, needy, and dependent. These eight inspiring vignettes weave history, theology, and fictional detail into their biblical accounts to bring relief and a new perspective to those whose faith feels unremarkable. Written to encourage and relieve discouraged Christians who wonder if their faith is a disappointment to God, this book will demonstrate that remarkable faith-the kind Jesus marveled about-isn't about achieving or performing. Readers will discover they can exchange their performance-based evaluation of their faith with a fresh, life-giving intimacy with the Jesus who delights in transforming inadequacies into irrepressible affection. </span></div>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">MY PERSONAL REVIEW</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Remarkable-Faith-Marveled-Unremarkable-People/dp/1455571687/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1498774372&sr=1-1&keywords=remarkable+faith+by+shauna+letellier">Remarkable Faith</a></u> by Shauna Letellier is a touching book filled with Biblical truths and written with deep conviction. It's an encouraging read for both the Christian and non-Christian alike.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As described in the previous publisher's description, <u>Remarkable Faith</u> highlights eight unnamed figures in the Bible whom the Lord defines as having amazing faith. At first glance, these people may appear to have an insignificant part of the Bible story, but Letellier contends that their lives are marked by an outstanding belief in Christ that sends them running to Him with open arms. After reading and pondering each of their stories, I would absolutely agree.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The book is very thought provoking in that it makes the reader stop and analyze each of the actions and presumed motives of the chosen characters. As your imagination flows thinking about each day that the characters come in contact with the Lord, much is revealed within their hearts, as well as our own. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Each chapter is devoted to the story of these individuals and ends with a meaningful prayer that begs reflection. The author is continually thankful throughout the book for Christ and the gift of worship, the ability of the Lord to hear us, and His exchange on the cross for us to be given new life. The assertion that "remarkable faith is often grown in the broken soil of desperation," is made clear by her eight illustrations. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This is truly a wonderful read filled with hope and encouragement, in addition to the word of God. <u>Remarkable Faith</u> is a must read for anyone who is searching their heart for the true meaning of Christianity or struggling with their sense of significance. Letellier doesn't shy away from tough questions as it relates to suffering or rejection and the role each of these play in our lives as Christians. As is stated within the pages, "Remarkable faith is not an archaic memory. It is a present reality. Will Jesus find faith when He comes again? Yes, He will."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><u>Remarkable Faith</u> by Shauna Letellier will be released July 11, 2017. This great book can be pre-ordered by clicking <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Remarkable-Faith-Marveled-Unremarkable-People/dp/1455571687/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1498774372&sr=1-1&keywords=remarkable+faith+by+shauna+letellier">here</a>. Thank you to FaithWords a division of Hachette Book Group Inc for this review copy of <u>Remarkable Faith</u>. I was not required to write a favorable review, but only to give my honest opinion of this work. </span></div>
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Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06231710849467044102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3085399531386503356.post-6715215926613998802017-05-21T18:04:00.000-05:002017-05-21T18:04:10.954-05:00Book Review: Whispers of Rest by Bonnie Gray<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: courier new, courier, monospace;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah+31%3A3&version=NIV">Jeremiah 31:3</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: courier new, courier, monospace;">"I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness."</span></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">PUBLISHER DESCRIPTION</span></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1WuRmNlbwDKks7P4jlVRU2TCdspusVob2L5nFDvm9NT4FE4W5ZSy79DqK_xoBP-Xlx40fRkVj1b4b3eML_NVQz53OG391oSlpv9NzLnCyCTxWvtScFCo4Sl4A6KcVTZOK-5ng0svKV2U/s1600/WHISPERS+OF+REST.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1WuRmNlbwDKks7P4jlVRU2TCdspusVob2L5nFDvm9NT4FE4W5ZSy79DqK_xoBP-Xlx40fRkVj1b4b3eML_NVQz53OG391oSlpv9NzLnCyCTxWvtScFCo4Sl4A6KcVTZOK-5ng0svKV2U/s320/WHISPERS+OF+REST.jpg" width="209" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Life is noisy. But what would happen if every day - for the next 40 days - you soaked in God's love as He intimately whispered words of rest just for you?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Rest-Days-Gods-Revitalize/dp/1455598208/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1495402488&sr=8-1&keywords=whispers+of+rest+by+bonnie+gray">WHISPERS OF REST</a> is a 40-day devotional detox for your soul, a spiritual journey to refresh you and guide you to greater peace, while helping you discover who God truly made you to be: His beloved. Renew your spirit with powerful affirmations of God's love with uplifting words of Scripture, journaling prompts for reflection, and practical challenges to spark joy. Bonnie will lead you to places of rest, where you can deeply experience the Savior's presence in your everyday life.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This beautiful guidebook will create space for your soul to breathe:</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Soul Care Tips & Trail Notes - Reduce stress and nurture your body and spirit.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Daily Beloved Challenges - Brighten your day by taking simple soul care actions.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A Simple Prayer Practice - Deepen your intimacy with God through easy-to-enjoy prayer prompts, inspired by classic devotional practices.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A lot can happen in 40 days. A new rhythm. A new heart. A renewed faith.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Transform your life as you take the journey to say yes to God, embrace your true identity, rediscover your dreams, and begin your healing. Dare to enjoy each day fully and celebrate your calling as the beloved.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">MY PERSONAL REVIEW</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Rest-Days-Gods-Revitalize/dp/1455598208/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1495313745&sr=8-1&keywords=whispers+of+rest+by+bonnie+gray"><u>Whispers of Rest</u> </a>by Bonnie Gray is a beautiful forty day devotional organized in an easy to follow format. The book draws the reader into a more active awareness of the Lord's presence and encourages a deeper relationship with Christ. It is a work designed to be lingered over and journaled through, allowing the Holy Spirit to lead and quiet your heart to experience the truths found in the Word of God.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This journal/devotional is arranged in a forty day sequence rather than the popular 30 day readers, because as the author points out "there's something special about forty". Bonnie Gray explains that "in <i>forty days</i>, Jesus found His voice in the wilderness intertwined with God's words. In <i>forty weeks</i>, the seed of life in a woman's womb transforms into flesh, a baby with a heartbeat and a name. For <i>forty years</i>, God whispered 'Good morning' by sending manna falling like dew, nourishing the body and soul." This concept of the significance of the number forty has always intrigued me, and therefore, this book was an automatic draw. I was not disappointed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><u>Whispers of Rest</u> is meant to be read on a daily basis. The idea is to develop (or redevelop if you've gotten out of the habit) a quiet time with the Lord whereby you will hear God's personal words to you. The book also instructs the reader to take time for Him to hear your expressed heart in return through "private conversations" with God. The author also challenges the reader to work through the devotions with friends.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The daily reading of scripture, reflecting on where you are with God through journaling, praying, and resting enough to refocus on Christ are the model Gray provides. She uses inspirational quotes and scripture, prayer prompts, a daily prayer, a one word prayer (to be a touchstone from Scripture throughout the day), a soul care tip and practical suggestions to decrease stress in your life. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">My takeaway from this 40 Day Devotional is what you would expect...and then some. In a noisy world of hurried, worried, competitive, social media frenzy this book will give you permission to stop and shut the door on all of it...if only for 30 minutes a day. During this time, <i>you will be transformed; y</i>ou can not help but be changed as you quiet your heart and mind and openly come before the throne of God. The scripture that floats into my head from Romans 12:2 seems ever so fitting to describe this book.</span><br />
<br /><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+12%3A2&version=NIV"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Romans 12:2</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">(NIV)</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This book is a winner! In fact, I liked the book so much, that I ordered an extra copy to give a friend so that we can experience the closeness of Christ together. Bonnie Gray has successfully managed to communicate who we are as a child of the most high King. We are BELOVED. We are Christ's BELOVED sons and daughters and as such, we have the distinct honor of abiding in that love. While dwelling in the love of Christ, it is there that we will learn to live as a beloved child of the Lord. Taking this 40 day journey through <u>Whispers Of Rest</u> by Bonnie Gray has the potential to rekindle a flame in your heart, renew and refresh a latent passion, and to "dare, dream, and shine" as Christ whispers His good, pleasing and perfect will into your life! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><u>Whispers of Rest</u> by Bonnie Gray will be released on Tuesday, May 23, 2017. If you would like to preorder at an amazing price, you can do so by clicking <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Rest-Days-Gods-Revitalize/dp/1455598208/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1495402488&sr=8-1&keywords=whispers+of+rest+by+bonnie+gray">here</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thank you to Faith Words a division of Hachete Book Group, Inc for this review copy of <u>Whispers of Rest</u> by Bonnie Gray. I was not required to write a favorable review, but rather to give an honest evaluation of the work.</span></div>
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Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06231710849467044102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3085399531386503356.post-22059605243038840652017-04-14T20:05:00.001-05:002017-04-15T10:20:06.821-05:00Book Review: The Dog Who Was There by Ron Marasco<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Fu_PUy3no2qyw84M8NqX3EWQ0tCc9okQzNsoTpkvBQ86rPudYiPZsDtktSfZ1eq6LbGpzIcat7UfY7uisSup5kM7IONqrNCtYCiZMZB4ZWCz6JcGv5jjbroJ4yJiy5gwtag0GH6Lox8/s1600/The+Dog+Who+Was+There.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Fu_PUy3no2qyw84M8NqX3EWQ0tCc9okQzNsoTpkvBQ86rPudYiPZsDtktSfZ1eq6LbGpzIcat7UfY7uisSup5kM7IONqrNCtYCiZMZB4ZWCz6JcGv5jjbroJ4yJiy5gwtag0GH6Lox8/s320/The+Dog+Who+Was+There.jpg" width="209" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just in time for Easter, this endearing read<br />
will capture your heart.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">No one expected Barley to have an encounter with the Messiah. He was homeless, hungry, and struggling to survive in first century Jerusalem. Most surprisingly, he was a dog. But through Barley’s eyes, the story of a teacher from Galilee comes alive in a way we’ve never experienced before.<br /><br />Barley’s story begins in the home of a compassionate woodcarver and his wife who find Barley as an abandoned, nearly-drowned pup. Tales of a special teacher from Galilee are reaching their tiny village, but when life suddenly changes again for Barley, he carries the lessons of forgiveness and love out of the woodcarver’s home and through the dangerous roads of Roman-occupied Judea.<br /><br />On the outskirts of Jerusalem, Barley meets a homeless man and petty criminal named Samid. Together, Barley and his unlikely new master experience fresh struggles and new revelations. Soon Barley is swept up into the current of history, culminating in an unforgettable encounter with the truest master of all as he bears witness to the greatest story ever told.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dog-Who-Was-There/dp/071808392X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1492119923&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Dog+who+was+there">The Dog Who Was There</a></u> by Ron Marasco is a creatively sensitive work that will capture your heart. This quick read is filled with beautifully descriptive writing and well written narrative. It's an excellent choice to devour on a relaxing and reflective weekend. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The main character, Barley is a sweet and loving dog. Hearing the interpretation of life through the eyes of a canine, in and of itself would be entertaining enough, but because the book is set in the Judean countryside during the first century, it adds yet another layer of interest. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The instant attachment to Barley begins within the first few chapters of </span><u style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Dog Who Was There</u><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> and grows as the pages proceed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What I love about this read is the ability of the writer, Ron Marasco, to draw you into each moment of the dog's experiences. From the beginning of Barley's journey until the end (which is a fantastic surprise, I might add), I felt like I was there with him. The depiction of the "greatest story ever told", being the crucifixion, is a very touching and insightful fictional narration which closely parallels the gospel story in the book of Matthew. The overbearing theme throughout the book is one of forgiveness. At one point, the question is posed..."How do we overcome evil? The answer: "Look for the good and forgive." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This is an excellent read. I would highly recommend it! Thank you to Thomas Nelson Publishing through the BookLook Blogger program for this review copy of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dog-Who-Was-There/dp/071808392X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1492119923&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Dog+who+was+there" style="text-decoration: underline;">The Dog Who Was There</a> by Ron Marasco. I was not required to write a favorable review, but only to give an honest opinion after reading the work in it's entirety. </span></div>
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Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06231710849467044102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3085399531386503356.post-79187284830377795602017-01-20T18:46:00.002-06:002017-01-20T18:46:38.361-06:00Book Review: Child Of The River by Irma Joubert<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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A compelling coming of age story with an unlikely and utterly memorable heroine, Child of the River is a timeless tale of heartbreak and triumph set in South Africa at the dawn of apartheid.<br /><br />Persomi is young, white, and poor, born the middle child of illiterate sharecroppers on the prosperous Fourie farm in the South African Bushveld. Persomi’s world is extraordinarily small. She has never been to the local village and spends her days absorbed in the rhythms of the natural world around her, escaping the brutality and squalor of her family home through the newspapers and books passed down to her from the main house and through her walks in the nearby mountains.<br /><br />Persomi’s close relationship with her older brother Gerbrand and her fragile friendship with Boelie Fourie—heir to the Fourie farm and fortune—are her lifeline and her only connection to the outside world. When Gerbrand leaves the farm to fight on the side of the Anglos in WWII and Boelie joins an underground network of Boer nationalists, Persomi’s isolated world is blown wide open. But as her very small world falls apart, bigger dreams become open to her—dreams of an education, a profession, a native country that values justice and equality, and of love. As Persomi navigates the changing world around her—the tragedies of war and the devastating racial strife of her homeland—she finally discovers who she truly is, where she belongs, and why her life—and every life—matters.<br /><br />The English language publication of Child of the River solidifies Irma Joubert as a unique and powerful voice in historical fiction.<br /><br />International bestselling author IRMA JOUBERT was a history teacher for 35 years before she began writing fiction. Her stories are known for their deep insight into personal relationships and rich historical detail. She is the author of eight novels and a regular fixture on bestseller lists in The Netherlands and in her native South Africa. She is the winner of the 2010 ATKV Prize for Romance Novels.</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">My Personal Review</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Child-River-Irma-Joubert/dp/0718083105/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1484940868&sr=8-1&keywords=child+of+the+river+by+irma+joubert">Child Of The River</a></u> by Irma Joubert and published by Thomas Nelson (HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc) is a wonderful story of perseverance and hope. The author, Irma Joubert has published eight novels to date, one of which I have read (The Girl From The Train) and thoroughly enjoyed. The author's writing is extremely detailed and historically accurate as she uses events from the past to create a canvas for intriguing storylines and endearing characters.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Child-River-Irma-Joubert/dp/0718083105/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1484940868&sr=8-1&keywords=child+of+the+river+by+irma+joubert">Child Of The River</a></u> is laid out in an easy to follow format complete with a very helpful glossary of African terms in the beginning and ending with discussion questions at the conclusion of the book. The main character, Persomi's narration is flawless as the reader travels with her throughout three decades of her life. She is raised in a very rundown South African home located in the bushveld. Persomi is surrounded by poverty, dysfunctional family relationships, and conflict. Despite these uncontrollable circumstances, and in fact probably because of them, she manages to become an intelligent, empathetic woman with a strong conviction of the sanctity of life. Her personality draws the reader into her heart of emotions and intelligent logic. Found within the pages of this work are beautiful descriptions of the natural beauty of Persomi's homeland. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I was not only entertained by this novel, but as with any good historical fiction book, I learned from it. I had no prior knowledge of the post World War II time period as it related to the political climate in South Africa. My eyes were certainly opened to a country in civil unrest and cultural division that was brought about by the segregation of non-European and nonwhite people. Several of the legislative acts that were used to advance this social system, that is referred to as the Apartheid, are seamlessly woven into the action of the story. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><u>Child Of The River</u> is a riveting book that stirs a compassion and understanding for the delicate balance of the human heart and demands attention to the uniqueness of each life. It draws attention to a time, not so very long ago, when racial tension led to decisions that had devastating consequences. This book has much to offer in terms of educating the reader about the past, present and future. It is definitely a book that I would highly recommend to all readers, but especially those with a special interest in history and sociology. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thank you to Thomas Nelson (HarperCollins Christian Publishing Inc.) for this review copy of <u>Child Of The River</u> by Irma Joubert. I was not required to write a favorable review, but to simply give an honest opinion of the book. </span></div>
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Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06231710849467044102noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3085399531386503356.post-51080410944006281942017-01-02T12:17:00.000-06:002017-01-02T12:17:17.655-06:00Book Review: Indigo by Krista Wagner<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"> and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise;<br /> you perceive my thoughts from afar. Psalm 139: 1-2 (NIV)</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFnCCIU57n1BvEH1X5nqPaNhyphenhyphenGgohScIwHaqB9CpTb0c4XESZtifWuFNKrYYPYqqkAAt9GBzTPVReZB2o2kKnr57WxJMGUVDzdSCVXgXlCBNvKK2OMp-b1uD47RHCqHISCfafg4Zwqi_w/s1600/Indigo+Pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFnCCIU57n1BvEH1X5nqPaNhyphenhyphenGgohScIwHaqB9CpTb0c4XESZtifWuFNKrYYPYqqkAAt9GBzTPVReZB2o2kKnr57WxJMGUVDzdSCVXgXlCBNvKK2OMp-b1uD47RHCqHISCfafg4Zwqi_w/s320/Indigo+Pic.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This book addresses some very important<br />
themes and leaves the reader with a sense<br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">When emotionally driven Indigo falls for flirtatious Brian, her senior year quickly spirals out of control. Faced with the afflictions of her cruel peers, Indigo is quickly becoming numb to the world, and if she doesn’t start to care about herself soon, she will be dead.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">My Personal Review</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/indigo-Krista-Wagner/dp/1540685578/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1483312734&sr=8-2&keywords=indigo+by+krista+wagner#customerReviews">Indigo</a></u> by Krista Wagner and published by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (December 10, 2016) is a page turning novel that covers a lot of heavy subjects in a small amount of space. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This newly published book by Krista Wagner is very consistent with the author's previous works, in that the subject matter is always informational and one of depth and conviction. If it's entertainment you're looking for, you will find it too, as <u>Indigo</u> is a fiction read and is full of surprises. </span>The important lesson to learn about the necessity of making good decisions in life is loud and clear. There is also a prominent message about suffering consequences when we make bad choices. The significance of our relationships with God, family and friends will linger long after the reader has put this work down.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><u>Indigo</u> manages to quickly connect the reader with the main character, Indigo Star Rush. This vibrant deep thinking young lady is in the midst of her senior year at her local high school. As the story progresses, the reader hears the voice of Indigo as she experiences some difficult times with relationships and the roller coaster of emotions that quickly follow. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><u>Indigo</u> is classified in the Young Adult genre. It reads like a diary and could most certainly help struggling upper teens (16+ due to heavy themes) approach subjects such as bullying, premarital sex, lust, unhealthy family relationships, suicide and insecurity. This novel could potentially open dialogue between a parent and child in situations where conversation has been limited. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You will definitely be left with a sense of hope for the future upon completion of this book. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Psalm 139 came to mind after reading </span><u style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Indigo</u><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, as the Lord </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">really does know our every thought. </i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We are never alone in our struggles, because Christ is with us. Another clear point taken from this work, is the powerful reminder that it is our responsibility to treat others with kindness and respect. We never know what careless words or hurtful actions my compound another's suffering. </span></div>
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Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06231710849467044102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3085399531386503356.post-51143574833751933572016-12-25T20:46:00.001-06:002016-12-25T20:46:29.883-06:00Merry Christmas!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Luke 2:11</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5_nSHJPMaLdRvbgr1Rt7kYWusZpzaE1TJxj5Yfso0wrjKHl2gGwJGQkehOFkV44rJeRloYpPavTw4P2P2toz8XOV_1gkyGRVN6rmJHp25CMDV6WLh71QnBSUpXNh_37VZLzh8xtbljkw/s1600/Mom+and+Dad+Christmas+Eve+2016+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5_nSHJPMaLdRvbgr1Rt7kYWusZpzaE1TJxj5Yfso0wrjKHl2gGwJGQkehOFkV44rJeRloYpPavTw4P2P2toz8XOV_1gkyGRVN6rmJHp25CMDV6WLh71QnBSUpXNh_37VZLzh8xtbljkw/s320/Mom+and+Dad+Christmas+Eve+2016+.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Mom and Dad at Christmas Eve Candle Light Service.<br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Merry Christmas!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is my favorite pic of the entire weekend. I had the privilege to join my parents for the celebration of Christ's birth at their church...Wesley United Methodist Church. It was beautiful. I grew up understanding that Christmas is about our Lord. It is a celebration of the birth of Christ....our Savior!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am thankful for family tonight...and for the gift of a Savior...Jesus! He truly is the light of the world!!</span><br />
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Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06231710849467044102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3085399531386503356.post-79283554490675121582016-12-09T13:43:00.001-06:002016-12-09T13:43:08.884-06:00There Will Always Be Enough...The Future Is In His Hands<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">So that there will be enough to eat when the seven years of famine come. Genesis 41:36</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidVbefAaRuyuCspJjt4e0BYLXhwH7bydWj8M86eRGFGedvdlUmuv-uw-RcUk_urEMlbnaQH4kjCpbxdO13sxmtRm6O30zVRPs4zdRn8qfWE_Ro3rqSArKdDQwPQTVO9V4Q-3dg2bCZ0zo/s1600/IMG_6094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidVbefAaRuyuCspJjt4e0BYLXhwH7bydWj8M86eRGFGedvdlUmuv-uw-RcUk_urEMlbnaQH4kjCpbxdO13sxmtRm6O30zVRPs4zdRn8qfWE_Ro3rqSArKdDQwPQTVO9V4Q-3dg2bCZ0zo/s320/IMG_6094.jpg" width="222" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Lord holds today and tomorrow<br />in the palm of His hand.<br />Do not be afraid.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">One of my all time heroes of the faith is Corrie ten Boom. I love her writing and her life story! She was filled with faith and courage. She has mesmerized me sense high school where I was originally introduced to her kindness, compassion and strong belief in Jesus Christ. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Many mornings, my daughter and I begin our day reading one of her devotionals together from a book called: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Each-New-Day-Simple-Reflections/dp/0890660077/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1481310710&sr=1-3&keywords=each+new+day+corrie+ten+boom">Each New Day</a>. I have the original version published in 1977, however there is a new version with a beautiful cover and perhaps organized in a different manner, available on Amazon. (Click <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Each-New-Day-Reflections-Strengthen/dp/0800722523/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1481310710&sr=1-1&keywords=each+new+day+corrie+ten+boom">here</a> if you're interested in purchasing it. It is Christmas time you know...great gift idea!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Anyway, this morning's reading was beautiful...as always. It is a gentle reminder for me and maybe you today, that we don't need to fear tomorrow. The Lord holds today & tomorrow in the palm of His hand!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The following is a copy of the December 9 Devotional:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Joseph filled the barns in the time of plenty to be prepared for the time of famine. (see Genesis 41:29-36) Gather the riches of God's promises which can strengthen you in the time when there will be no freedom. Nobody can take away from you those texts from the Bible which you have learned by heart.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Lord Jesus,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">We do not fear the future because we know You who have the future in Your hand. What a joy to know that You are the same yesterday, today, and forever.</span><br />
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Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06231710849467044102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3085399531386503356.post-89658443562576733362016-12-08T17:02:00.002-06:002016-12-08T17:02:35.061-06:00Movie Review- To Joey With Love: A Story of Life, Love & Hope<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+13%3A13&version=MSG">1 Corinthians 13:13 (MSG)</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Before I begin...let me just say that I am having a drawing for a free DVD copy of this amazing film. Look to the right side of my blog. See the Rafflecopter? It starts at midnight tonight and will end December 20, 2016. I will email the winner! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Be sure to stop back by my blog or my Facebook Page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/OnlyALittleWhile/">@OnlyALittleWhile</a> and sign up!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The movie, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLlfb34RCVo">To Joey, With Love: A Story of Life, Love & Hope That Never Dies </a> (click on the preceding title for the official trailer) is presented by Provident Films a Hickory Films production. The film will be released in DVD format & ON-Demand December 20th, 2016. (Order by clicking <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Joey-Love-Feek/dp/B01LTHNHL6/ref=sr_1_1?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1481211723&sr=1-1&keywords=to+joey+with+love+dvd">here</a>.) It is classified as a PG film in the documentary genre. It was written, filmed and directed by Rory Feek. Production is by Aaron Carnahan. </span><br />
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<b style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">Movie Critic Reviews </b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZV8npLGQToqez5qwXsJJSWEyk7ze4G10RdcYvXBhRCGj3B8Hu5W2z8b1_MlBiPI_cdYQW6kUE4MiHi39swPOUGvUoE5va7o3nr768lOhKL5Qmi46oCy8jAq2r9lDwfGTSPTQdNOVPbTM/s1600/To+Joey+With+Love.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZV8npLGQToqez5qwXsJJSWEyk7ze4G10RdcYvXBhRCGj3B8Hu5W2z8b1_MlBiPI_cdYQW6kUE4MiHi39swPOUGvUoE5va7o3nr768lOhKL5Qmi46oCy8jAq2r9lDwfGTSPTQdNOVPbTM/s320/To+Joey+With+Love.jpg" width="224" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A beautiful film that captures the true<br />meaning of the message to<br />"trust steadily in God", as described in <br />1 Corinthians 13:13.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"I walked away with a greater appreciation for the brevity of life and with a goal of loving those around me even more."</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Christian Examiner</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"The movie leaves viewers with an urgency to live every day as if it is a gift, thank God for what He has given, and enjoy the simple moments of life."</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Movieguide®</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"The film will inspire you to love deeper, and to grab every opportunity in every moment."<br />Christianity Today</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Joey-Love-Feek/dp/B01LTHNHL6/ref=sr_1_1?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1481211723&sr=1-1&keywords=to+joey+with+love+dvd">To Joey, With Love</a></u> i</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">s a touching documentary narrated by Rory Feek. The film chronicles the story of the past two years with his wife Joey Feek. Their journey through the birth of their first and only daughter, Indiana is highlighted, as well as Joey's diagnosis with cervical cancer. The emphasis is placed on the path of learning to trust God's plan for their lives, rather than relying on their own direction. It is a compilation of live footage filmed mostly from their home which is about an hour from Nashville, Tennessee. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />Here's my take-away from this movie. First, I found myself wishing from the very beginning that I had been a part of the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/JoeyAndRoryFans/">Joey+Rory Fan Club</a>. The brief shots of some of their concerts made my heart warm, not only due to the beautiful music, but also because of their interactions with one another. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /><br />Secondly, I found the movie to be extremely transparent and pure. Much of the time, I had the feeling that I was viewing something sacred. Let me explain. Because the filming is live and this family is simply <i>living</i> their "story", there really isn't any "acting" going on. The impromptu footage shows clips from the actual birth of their daughter (albeit discrete footage), daily chores on their homestead, phone calls, physician consults, morning routines, meals, prayer circles and lots of spontaneous family interactions. Watching such natural and unposed scenes will illicit a broad spectrum of feelings. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The range of emotions experienced by the viewer runs the full continuum from happiness and laughter to fear and sadness. As you participate in Rory, Joey and Indiana's lives, you realize that this is not a film for my "entertainment" per se, but rather it generates a reflective experience creating a pause and recognition of the sanctity of life. This is a movie with the potential to assist in bridging the gap between this temporal world and the next. The sincere way that Joey and Rory applied the promises that God has given us in His Word is somewhat mind boggling. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Finally, I think the <b><i>target audience</i></b> for this movie is very broad, but somewhat unique. It is most certainly for <b><i>anyone who has been blessed by "Joey+Rory</i>"</b> music. If I had known this couple prior to this film review, I would be very encouraged to see how God gave them, as Rory says, "A great story." Watching the movie would give me a peace about Joey's ultimate healing. It would ease a sadness that most certainly must be present for those who knew her as a public figure. In my opinion, <b><i>any believer in Christ</i> </b>who watches this movie will be inspired and challenged as they walk through a day with this couple. I also feel <b><i>anyone dealing with cancer</i>,</b> either personally or through a family member/friend, will find hope and comfort through the viewing of this film. Hearing Rory's faith filled statement that he gave when the news that the medical treatments were no longer deemed curative for Joey, uncovered a bold and empowering way to accept the will of God. He said, "We came home. Not to die. But to live." A final potential audience is<i> <b>anyone searching for truth,</b> </i>as this couple's faith is tangible and will intensify the urgency to discover a loving Savior in Christ.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In conclusion, <u>To Joey, With Love</u> is a very moving work. It has much to say about the preciousness of life and the choices we make with regard to how we live each day. It teaches us to confront the fact that we "only have a little while" to walk in a steady trust in God and live a life filled with hope and an extravagant love for one another!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1 Corinthians 13:13 </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEHumP7jBnq_ioa-S8_pS7yHOM0YaxysQNW67NwY6DlF-q4XDaHN4vP3_g8CqM2sgCuv95G2rOPDB689yvrc0h-ZUcoiYxVbL9K2tBD9rog67f0daFrGmo58uIk7xWxigW9RlanhEx7Og/s1600/Joey%252BRory+Hymns.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEHumP7jBnq_ioa-S8_pS7yHOM0YaxysQNW67NwY6DlF-q4XDaHN4vP3_g8CqM2sgCuv95G2rOPDB689yvrc0h-ZUcoiYxVbL9K2tBD9rog67f0daFrGmo58uIk7xWxigW9RlanhEx7Og/s320/Joey%252BRory+Hymns.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This CD was released in 2016. Christmas shopping anyone?</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Joey+Rory released a new CD in 2016, titled: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hymns-That-Are-Important-Us/dp/B01843CZZC">Hymns That Are Important To Us</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It is on my Christmas wish list! (Hint..hint to my family who are reading this.) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thank you to Icon Media Group for allowing me to view this review copy of <u>To Joey, With Love.</u> I was not required to write a positive review, but only to watch the film and give my honest opinion. </span></div>
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Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06231710849467044102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3085399531386503356.post-10855307299844213372016-11-14T12:46:00.000-06:002016-11-14T12:46:39.150-06:00Book Review~ The Prayer of Protection: Living Fearlessly In Dangerous Times by Joseph Prince<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm+91&version=NIV">I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust." Psalm 91:2</a></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Prayer-Protection-Living-Fearlessly-Dangerous-ebook/dp/B01CO4AWOI/ref=dp_kinw_strp_1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4UIzElMECCAbZp3prCvGazFdFWOVrgvbwzd3tfP_KlVOJ7Gjlhxa-LIotCh65mwncEgnbomHSDGii8HrA4ofJFWxngi1C2NNmvN34FQMk7aLx13BwMa47gve8V5F08OQJUlK-P-AipXc/s320/Prayer+of+Protection.jpg" width="212" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This book is a beautiful reminder of the<br />
confidence we are given when we are<br />
hidden<i> in Christ</i>!</td></tr>
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In these days of danger, trouble, and evil, New York Times bestselling author Joseph Prince reveals how God's children can have round-the-clock protection through the power of prayer.</span><br /><br /><br /><u style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Prayer-Protection-Living-Fearlessly-Dangerous-ebook/dp/B01CO4AWOI/ref=dp_kinw_strp_1">THE PRAYER OF PROTECTION</a></u><span style="font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif;"> unveils the Bible's ultimate psalm of protection, Psalm 91, to help you understand more about how God guards His children. Joseph Prince offers simple keys and practical advice to finding and resting in the secret place of the Most High, where no evil can even come near you. You'll begin to live unafraid and with boldness as you allow the certainty of your heavenly Father's love and the sure promises of His Word to guard your heart against every fear. Come under the wings of the Almighty and live life divinely protected, </span></span><div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif;">positioned, and free from all fears with our covenant-keeping God!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">My Personal Review</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Prayer-Protection-Living-Fearlessly-Dangerous-ebook/dp/B01CO4AWOI/ref=dp_kinw_strp_1">The Prayer of Protection~Living Fearlessly In Dangerous Times </a></u>by Joseph Prince and published by FaithWords is an insightful work; it provides reassurance and comfort that we can live a protected and peaceful life in Christ.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://www.josephprince.org/">Joseph Prince</a> clearly communicates to the reader that the promises of protection located in Psalm 91 are relevant and tangible for each of God's children, today. His newest book, <u>The Prayer of Protection</u> breaks down Psalm 91, verse by verse with the intent to strengthen the reader's walk with Christ through the faith building truths that are found within this wonderful chapter in the Bible. The author points out that our culture breeds fear and weakness, from the constant media frenzy of negativity, to the belittling commentary about our God. This continual saturation of fear mongering can force us into an unfruitful paralyzing state. He asserts that as Christians, we need to stand firm in our hope in the Lord; we need to cling to the Word of God and not allow insecurity to take a stronghold in our lives.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The book is divided into twelve chapters. Each chapter carefully inspects a verse or two from Psalm 91. The prevailing message of getting the Word of God into our hearts is emphasized throughout the book, as Pastor Prince writes, "It is so important for you to invest time in getting God's living and powerful Word into your heart." He also contends that "we must involve the Lord Jesus in our lives every day, because only Christ can deliver us and keep us safe." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I love the personal faith building testimonies that are scattered throughout this book. These illustrations of perseverence serve to provide examples of God in motion. The stories from other's trials create a fantastic sense of applicability that is inspiring. I also enjoyed the depth of which the author explores various words from the verses and uncovers their meaning within the Bible. In so doing, Prince unveils an understanding of the truths to a much deeper level. He continually stresses the importance of quoting the written Word of God, which will, "put up a shield of faith and release power as you declare that your God shall deliver you..". </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The author reminds us that when the Lord Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, He did not merely "think" about scripture, </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He spoke it out loud. </i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The enemy will always try to keep <i>you</i> self-occupied and in <i>fear</i>. God wants you <i>Christ-occupied</i> and in faith." The author challenges the reader to memorize Psalm 91 and speak it with authority over your most difficult situations and watch what God does. He encourages us that worship through praise will activate angelic forces to guard us against all sorts of enemy attacks.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Finally, I was drawn into this book simply based upon the sincerity of the grace and mercy message that it contains. As we know, it is already so difficult to live in this world on a day to day basis, so a book that encourages hope, security, strength, confidence and love through the grounded roots of the gospel of Christ and the written Word of God is a HUGE winner in my mind! As Prince writes, "God has already foreseen the problems that we will face in this day and age, and His protection and covering over us is all-encompassing." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><u>The Prayer of Protection</u> by Joseph Prince does not teach a formulaic "name it and claim it" ritualistic memorization of chanting nonsense, but conversely Prince pleads for each of us to have a relationship with Christ and then utilize this book as a tool to be explored slowly with an open Bible and a receptive heart to the Word of God. It also beckons to be read in an intimate small group where transparency within the setting would allow the Spirit of God to break chains, bring down walls of insecurity and draw people together through the chord of Christ. Whether you read this book in a quiet devotional setting with the Lord or in tandem with others, I would highly recommend you read it! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Joseph Prince has provided a free 30-day <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">prayer plan available to correlate with the book’s teaching and further your experience. Please click the following link if you would like to participate: <a href="http://www.faithwords.com/divineprotection/">http://www.faithwords.com/divineprotection</a>. He also provides a link within the book that will provide answers to the perplexing suffering of Job through a free audio message of bonus content. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thank you to FaithWords, a division of Hachette Book Group Inc., for this review copy of <u>The Prayer of Protection</u> by Joseph Prince. The opinions within this review are my own; I was not required to write a favorable review.</span></div>
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Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06231710849467044102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3085399531386503356.post-81413592815059327902016-10-03T14:54:00.001-05:002016-10-03T14:54:04.595-05:00Book Review: Think Better Live Better (A Victorious Life Begins in Your Mind) by Joel Osteen<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians+10:5&version=NIV">2 Corinthians 2:5</a><br />We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a fast and friendly motivational<br />read!!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Bestselling author Joel Osteen shares how reprogramming your thoughts to remove negativity will lead to a more blessed, fulfilled life. Your mind has incredible power over your success or failure. THINK BETTER, LIVE BETTER offers a simple yet life-changing strategy for erasing the thoughts that keep you down and reprogramming your mind with positive thinking to reach a new level of victory. As a child of the Most High God, you are equipped to handle anything that comes your way. To claim your destiny, start thinking about yourself the way God does and delete the thoughts that tear down your confidence. When you train yourself to tune out the negativity and tune into your calling, you'll begin to live the wonderful plans God has made for you. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>About the Author</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">JOEL OSTEEN is the author of eight New York Times bestsellers. He is the senior pastor of America's largest congregation, Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas. More than 45,000 people attend services there every week. His televised messages are seen by more than 10 million viewers each week in the United States, and millions more in 100 nations around the world. His 24-hour channel on SiriusXM Satellite Radio and millions of social media followers have prompted numerous publications to name him as one of the most influential Christian leaders in the world. He resides in Houston with his wife, Victoria, and their children. You can visit his website at <a href="http://www.joelosteen.com/">www.joelosteen.com</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>My Personal Review</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><u>Think Better Live Better</u> by Joel Osteen provides the reader with encouragement and direction to take positive control of one's thought life and in so doing, unleash the abundant life that God has designed for each of us.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The book's foundation is built upon the truth that "We are who <i>God says we are</i>..." not who "other people say we are". Pastor Osteen reminds us that we are "born into royalty, created to reign in this life" and we should never forget those truths or we will miss the greatness God is calling us to. <u>Think Better Live Better</u> is a quick motivational read that will ignite your passion and desire to serve the Lord. This book has a steady flow of interesting stories to spur you on and breathe faith into your walk.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The continual reminder that we need to "reprogram of our minds" if we are repetitively thinking negative thoughts is clearly communicated. The use of analogies adds an interesting layer to the book. My favorite description of what it is like when we think negatively is when Pastor Osteen compares our lives to being stuck in a cocoon. He explains that "the enemy would love to keep me in my cocoon, thinking these wormy thoughts. He wants us to struggle, to be insecure, to be burdened by addictions and bad habits. It all starts in our mind." But, the author goes on to clarify that we can break out of the cocoon by speaking the truth of scripture over our minds. Anytime the self limiting thoughts creep in we need to confront them by saying, "I can do all things through Christ. I am strong in the Lord. If God be for me, who dare be against me?" </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The totality of this book is based on scripture and taking back our lives for the Lord through meditation on the Word of God and focusing on the promises that are found in the Bible. Osteen references Joshua 1:8: "If you will meditate on God's Word day and night, you will prosper and have good success." The author champions us to concentrate on the "promises of God... not the problems" of life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><u>Think Better Live Better</u> gives several examples of people in the Bible, who would never have met the full potential that God had in mind for them had they listened to the labels other people had placed on them. We are challenged to care more about the label of the Lord than what the naysayers will say. Speaking the truth over our situations and not allowing fear of tomorrow to grip our today is another excellent piece of advice found in the pages of this book. </span><br />
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<u style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Think Better Live Better</u><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> by Joel Osteen is currently available for preorder by clicking </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0892969679/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1474990649&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=think+better+live+better+by+joel+osteen&dpPl=1&dpID=519bn-xFxRL&ref=plSrch" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">here</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. It will be released tomorrow, October 4, 2106. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thank you to FaithWords Publishing for this review copy of <u>Think Better Live Better</u> (A Victorious Life Begins In Your Mind) by Joel Osteen. I was not required to write a favorable review, but to simply give my honest opinion of this work. </span></div>
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Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06231710849467044102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3085399531386503356.post-79966181538101327942016-09-15T17:30:00.003-05:002016-09-15T17:30:21.612-05:00Book Review: The Loyal Heart (A Lone Star Hero's Love Story) by Shelley Shepard Gray<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Robert came to Galveston to fulfill his promise to a dying man and look after his widow. He didn’t expect to find love in the unlikeliest of places.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Robert Truax, former Second Lieutenant and Confederate officer in the Civil War, made a promise to his comrade Phillip Markham. If anything happened to Phillip, Robert would look after his beloved wife, Miranda. She was his life, his world, his everything. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is an excellent Historical </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After the war, Robert is left to pick up the pieces and fulfill his pact. When he arrives at Miranda’s home in Galveston, Texas, things are worse than he imagined. Phillip’s name has been dragged through the mud, everyone in town believes him to be a traitor, and his widow is treated as an outcast. Even more disturbing is her emotional well-being. Miranda seems hopeless, lost, and so very alone.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Robert had thought his duty would be simple. He would help Miranda as quickly as possible in order to honor a promise. But the moment Robert laid eyes on her, his plans changed. He’s mesmerized by her beauty and yearns to help her in any way he can.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He makes it his duty to protect Miranda, turn her reputation around, and to find some way to help her smile again. But it doesn’t prove to be an easy task—Robert knows something about</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Phillip that could shake Miranda to the core and alter her view of the man she thought she knew so well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Acclaim For Shelley Shepard Gray</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Gray is a master at integrating rich details and historical accuracies to create an engaging tale that will take the reader back in time. Strong secondary characters are well integrated. It is a shame to see this series end."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> -ROMANTIC TIMES 4-Star review of Whispers In the Reading Room</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Full of vivid descriptions and beautiful prose, Gray has a way of making readers feel like they are actually in Chicago during the World's Fair...the mystery surround the 'Slasher' keeps the reader engaged throughout."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> -RT BOOK REVIEWS, 4-Star review of <u>Deception On Sable Hill</u></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">My Personal Review</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I loved this Historical Christian Fiction book surrounding the Civil War era. It is a believable story filled with interesting and extremely well developed characters. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0310345391/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1473968666&sr=1-1&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=the+loyal+heart&dpPl=1&dpID=51O2X9MxyJL&ref=plSrch">The Loyal Heart</a> </u>by Shelley Shepard Gray is the first book in a 2 volume series of the Lone Star Hero's Love Story. (The second book:<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0310345421/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1473978579&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=an+uncommon+protector&dpPl=1&dpID=51ZiCk3Dr5L&ref=plSrch"> <u>An Uncommon Protector</u> </a>will be released 2/07/17.) The story begins with the conversation of some Confederate prisoners of war making a pact to always look out for one another. They are being held captive on Johnson's Island in Ohio, surrounded by Lake Erie and little availability to escape. The author does a fantastic job of describing their dismal outlook and the hopelessness that most surely would have been a part of their lives on a daily basis. Immediately, the reader is struck with a connection and desire to know what happens in the lives of these men.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The drama that unfolds upon the release of the soldiers is created quickly within the first few chapters and spins a web of talented writing filled with suspense, mystery, devotion and a bit of romance along the way. It is such a cliche...but in all sincerity...<i>this one was hard to put down!</i> The main character, Miranda Markham pulls at your heart strings as she navigates the waters of grief. The loyalty to his comrade Phillip, makes Robert Truax's character shine as well. The development of the house staff was so good, I could almost audibly hear their voices and see the expressions on their faces.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This book caused me to do some research of the Confederate States of America Officers' POW Camp located on Johnson's Island, Ohio. Additionally, I did a little digging into Galveston, Texas, both during and after the Civil War. When the storyline is so interesting that you want to do more study of the time period that is being dramatized, I think you can safely label it as a "good Historical Fiction" book. I also found myself learning a lot of new vocabulary words within this read. Gray does not sell her readers short and assume that the average adjectives will do, rather she ceases every opportunity to tap into the English language with a plethora of variety. I love that!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is the first book written by Shelley Shepard Gray that I have had the privilege to read, but I will definitely be reading the next book in this series! I can't wait to see where she takes us! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thank you to Zondervan for this review copy of <u>The Loyal Heart</u> by Shelley Shepard Gray through the BookLookBlogger program. I was not required to write a favorable review, but simply to read the work in it's entirety and give my honest opinion. </span><br />
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Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06231710849467044102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3085399531386503356.post-47947732528140745362016-08-22T20:17:00.001-05:002016-08-22T20:17:51.879-05:00Book Review: Successful WOMEN of the BIBLE by Katara Washington Patton<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: center;">The second book in a new series that brings the experiences of favorite Bible characters to challenges of contemporary life.</span></h4>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/145553885X/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1471890739&sr=1-1&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=successful+women+of+the+bible&dpPl=1&dpID=51X3QbmMFaL&ref=plSrch">Exceptional read filled with lots of insight!</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Contemporary "success" is often defined in financial terms or by number of Twitter followers. But for women of faith, success is so much more. And it turns out the timeless qualities of success are exemplified by women on the pages of their favorite book, the Bible. Deborah's model leadership is just as relevant today as it was in the age of the Hebrew judges. Esther's courage to stand up for a cause, Miriam's joyful support of others, Priscilla's exemplary partnership skill, Lydia's business acumen, and other characteristics of women in the Bible are embodied in lively storytelling. Busy Christian women--often working and raising a family--crave examples of success. Here are distilled principles they can use to succeed in today's noisy culture. The lessons of these icons of the faith apply, even in the age of Facebook and Instagram. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Katara Washington Patton has written and edited Christian books for children, teens, and adults and has created supplemental materials for books by T.D. Jakes, Beth Moore, and Joyce Meyer. She served as general editor and writer of Aspire: The New Women of Color Study Bible. She holds a M.Div. from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/145553885X/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1471890739&sr=1-1&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=successful+women+of+the+bible&dpPl=1&dpID=51X3QbmMFaL&ref=plSrch">Successful Women of the Bible</a></u> by Katara Washington Patton~published by Faith Words~ is a beautifully insightful book that has significant spiritual application for women everywhere!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I absolutely loved <u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/145553885X/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1471890739&sr=1-1&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=successful+women+of+the+bible&dpPl=1&dpID=51X3QbmMFaL&ref=plSrch">Successful Women of the Bible</a></u>. I'm confident that, if you are a woman, you will see some of your strengths and perhaps a few pitfalls of your weaknesses amidst the pages of this thoughtful read. The author, Katara Washington Patton carefully analyzes the lives of some prominent women of the Bible to create an engaging work that will encourage your heart.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The author clearly defines behaviors that will lead to a closer and more effective walk with the Lord as she evaluates eleven different women of the Bible. She also highlights the importance of women standing together in courage and unity to accomplish certain difficult tasks, citing the story of the "Daughters of Zelophehad", which I might add, I had never studied...so that was a treat! She describes them as a "group of women in the Bible whose <i>interdependence</i> changed the history of a people and further inspires an <i>independent</i> gal like myself to <i>value interdependence</i> even more than <i>independence.</i>" (Italics my own.) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Patton challenges women to "learn that depending on others is not a sign of weakness, but interdependence" that "could actually make me and others stronger." As an "older gal" myself...I can verify from some years of experience... that Patton's statement is definitely true in my life! When I see the amazing women that the Lord places in my life as "teammates" rather than "competition", I am much more sensitive to the Spirit's leading and therefore more apt to accomplish His kingdom purposes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The format used in this book allows a clear picture of what attributes to recognize within yourself that will assist you in experiencing the complete plan that God is calling you to. At the end of each chapter, Patton takes the creative liberty to write a fictional letter from the Biblical character that singles out their love and devotion to God! I loved Priscilla and Esther... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"I am Esther, queen of the land. Called for such a time as this. <i>It's not just about me. </i>I can and will influence and impact other's lives. God always has a plan and a plan of escape for those trapped. I will seek to do all that I can to be<i> a voice for the voiceless</i> and lift up the ones without, <i>sometimes scared</i>, <i>but always trusting in God</i>. <i>I</i> know I have been placed on this earth for more than myself and my comfort. I am the voice, I am the arms, I am the eyes of those who need it the most. I know God is all over my life and is directing my story, so I listen for His prompting and His cues so I might follow."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Successful <u>WOMEN of the BIBLE</u> by Katara Washington Patton will be released tomorrow- 8/23/2016 and can be purchased <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/145553885X/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1471890739&sr=1-1&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=successful+women+of+the+bible&dpPl=1&dpID=51X3QbmMFaL&ref=plSrch">here</a>. It's an incredible read. I highly recommend you snatch it up...you will definitely be refreshed!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thank you to <a href="http://www.faithwords.com/index.html">Faith Words</a> for this review copy of <u>Successful Women of the Bible </u>by Katara Washington Patton. I was not required to write a favorable review, but rather to give my honest opinion of it's content. </span></div>
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Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06231710849467044102noreply@blogger.com0