Book Review: The Promises She Keeps by Erin Healy

A captivating read!

It's her destiny to die young. The man who loves her can't live with that.

Promise, a talented young singer with a terminal illness, is counting on fame to keep her memory alive after she dies. Porta is an aging sorceress and art collector in search of immortality.

When Promise inexplicably survives a series of freak accidents, Porta believes that she may hold the key to eternal life.

Enter Chase, an autistic artist who falls in love with Promise and fascinates her with his mysterious visions and drawings.

Soon, all are plunged into a confrontation over the mystery and the cost of something even greater than eternal life . . . eternal love.

My Personal Review:

The Promises She Keeps by Erin Healy is a beautifully written novel filled with suspense, courage, and intrigue.

The Promises She Keeps by Erin Healy is another incredible work! As with all of the novels I have read from this author thus far, this book manages to unravel a compassionate and mysterious story line in tandem with factual information that is applicable to our society. Through Erin's creative mind, she provides the reader with an in-depth look into the life of both a person suffering with cystic fibrosis and the challenges of living and relating to a person with Autism.

Erin Healy's sensitive writing and delicate handling of the challenges a person living with Autism deal with on daily basis sheds light into the diagnosis in a candid way. In addition, the main character suffers with a disabling diagnosis of cystic fibrosis and Healy also brings information to the reader about the reality of this illness. 

How author, Erin Healy manages to combine a believable fiction thriller with authentic characters living with modern day problems never ceases to amaze me. The Promises She Keeps merges hope, love, and perseverance all into one fast lane. It gracefully touches the fragile issue of our own mortality. This piece stirred within my soul a reflection of a purpose for life reaching far beyond myself; it revealed a focus to serve others and bring them the gift of connection through a simple smile and a kind word. I'm confident you will enjoy this read!

Run by Kayla Morris

If Your revelation hadn't delighted me so, I would have given up when the hard times came. Psalm 119:92(MSG)

From the "Voices From the Middle 9" comes this poem by a young lady with whom I have had the privilege to watch grow from a tiny baby into the beautiful and intelligent young lady that she is today. We will need to watch for more works from Kayla Morris in the future; At a mere fourteen, she is a promising author!

I'm excited to be posting this poem on my blog, as it is Kayla's first publication! It speaks to my "running" heart, and I hope you too will enjoy it's depth. We must never give up in our endeavor to stand for what we believe in. I was so blessed to read this and I hope you will find meaning in it as well. I want to thank Kayla for allowing me to post this on my blog.

RUN 

by Kayla Morris

She knows how to run
But not how to take a stand

RUN by Kayla Morris

Running is all she does
As she runs longer and faster
She feels as though the fears are fading
Fears recede
Emotions dull
Excitement becomes real
She runs with the fears in her pockets
The depression under her soles
She feels as though her fears can never catch her
But as her running slows
Fears build like stone
Emotions grow like fire
Excitement reduces to a bare nothing
She wears the pain on her face and in her words
That's why she took a stand
That's why she stopped running
She has no pain, she has no fear
Now she knows not how to run
But how to take a stand

Heaven...I'm Depending On It

Your Word and truth are dependable as ever; that's what You ordered-- You set the earth going. Psalm 119:91(MSG)

Heaven...I'm depending on it.

It's especially fitting that I find myself reading this particular verse in Psalm 119 today, on this Memorial Day Weekend. As I work my way through the 119th Psalm, verse by verse, letting the Word guide my writing, it has frequently been the case that the words of scripture completely correspond to the happenings of the day. 

As I sit listening to the rain and watching the storm clouds roll overhead, I ponder today's verse. What I realize is that I have a decision to make. I either depend upon the word of God, or I don't. Oh it sounds so simple...but it's really not. Not for me anyway, and if I'm guessing, it's not always easy for you either. As I reflect upon this Memorial Day and I think about those that have gone before me, the questions seem to outweigh the answers as it relates to heaven. I think this is especially true when we lose someone who is extremely close to us. Where did they go? Why did they have to leave when they did? Why is it that we all must die anyway? Why did they have to go to a place where we can't communicate with them? If there is a place called heaven, what's it really like anyway?  

We live in a temporal world. The here and now is all we know. To imagine a place that exists beyond the clouds and rely on an afterlife beyond this present time frame, seems a bit shaky, does it not? Seems like the makings for a great fairy tale, right?

The older I get, however, the more I recognize the faith that it takes to really depend on the Word of God. To accept the truths from the chapter of John where Jesus tells us that "He goes before us and prepares a room for us"...that in "His father's house there are many rooms.." takes a lot of courage to believe. We just don't know what to expect. It's nothing like what we have ever experienced before. And yet, here we are, needing to grasp that He set the world in motion. Attempting to comprehend that all things were created by Him and for Him and for His glory is a challenging task for our finite minds. I find myself reaching into the depths of my heart to accept that our time on earth is but a sniff of our life and this really isn't our home. 

Hmm...yes...I'm depending on heaven, because if I'm wrong, then I've lost nothing. If I'm right, I've gained an eternity with the King of Kings and a guaranteed reunion with my loved ones!

Father,
You know my heart today, and the burden within. May you comfort those who are deeply grieving the loss of a loved one. Place their heart in the palm of Your hands and give them the assurance of a heavenly home with You. Clear our minds and cradle our spirits today, I pray. Help us each to depend upon You to an ever increasing measure. Place us in the center of Your will each day that we reside here on earth.
Thank You Lord~
Amen   

Book Review: 7 Men and The Secret Of Their Greatness by Eric Metaxas

In Seven Men, New York Times best-selling author Eric Metaxas presents seven exquisitely crafted short portraits of widely known―but not well understood―Christian men, each of whom uniquely showcases a commitment to live by certain virtues in the truth of the gospel.

A MUST read for every parent!
This book brings a clarity to the
definition of "greatness" as defined
by the lives of seven men from
history. 

Written in a beautiful and engaging style, Seven Men addresses what it means (or should mean) to be a man today, at a time when media and popular culture present images of masculinity that are not the picture presented in Scripture and historic civil life. What does it take to be a true exemplar as a father, brother, husband, leader, coach, counselor, change agent, and wise man? 

What does it mean to stand for honesty, courage, and charity, especially at times when the culture and the world run counter to those values?

Each of the seven biographies represents the life of a man who experienced the struggles and challenges to be strong in the face of forces and circumstances that would have destroyed the resolve of lesser men. 

Each of the seven men profiled―George Washington, William Wilberforce, Eric Liddell, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Jackie Robinson, John Paul II, and Charles Colson―call the reader to a more elevated walk and lifestyle, one that embodies the gospel in the world around us.

My Personal Review:

7 Men And The Secret Of Their Greatness  by Eric Metaxas is a wonderfully well written book that brings to light the intentions of seven men, who by their own selfless actions, changed the course of history for countless lives. 

7 Men  by Eric Metaxas was an excellent read! I chose this book specifically because I had the privilege of listening to Eric Metaxas a few years ago as he spoke about his book, Bonhoeffer. His undeniable attention to detail  combined with his obvious intelligence level (glad I have a Kindle to quickly decode some of his vocabulary) will hold the reader captive. 

In this book, 7 Men the author chooses seven men in history and proceeds to summarize their lives and highlight their convictions and courage to stand up for what they believe in. The men span across cultures, countries, and centuries, however, they all have a common thread running through their life, and that is the spirit of humility driven by a desire to serve others.

I found this book to be an essential tool for parents in general, but specifically for those who are trying to raise up Godly men in the 21st Century. 7 Men by Eric Metaxas, gives tangible examples of men in history who have lived a life filled with challenges and yet these men were able to rise to each occasion and bring about an outcome that was reflective of a love for God and His people. This is a fast and insightful read that I am confident you will find not only enjoyable, but useful. 

Pre-order this book today.

After reading this book, I am very excited to read Eric Metaxas' new book which will be released in September, 2015 titled: 7 Women and The Secret of Their Greatness. He gives a sneak peek to this new informative work on "great women" in history at the end of his book, 7 Men. It includes my "faith hero", Corrie Ten Boom! I canNOT wait!!

Thank you to Thomas Nelson Publishing for this review copy of 7 Men by Erick Metaxas provided through the BookLook Bloggers program. I was given this copy in exchange for an honest review of this work. The opinions expressed within this review are my own.

Book Review: Miracle On Voodoo Mountain by Megan Boudreaux

For He has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness. Colossians 1:13(NLT)

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

"It took months of God waking me up in the middle of the night before I realized I was the one He was calling to leave my comfortable American life and move to Haiti."

This is an eye opening read! 

Miracle on Voodoo Mountain is the inspirational memoir of an accomplished and driven 24-year old who quit her job, sold everything, and moved to Haiti, by herself-all without a clear plan of action. Megan Boudreaux had visited Haiti on a few humanitarian trips but each trip multiplied the sense that someone needed to address the devastation-especially with the children, many of whom were kept as household slaves on the poverty-stricken and earthquake-devastated Caribbean island.

God guided her every step as she moved blindly to a foreign land without knowing the language, the people, or the future. From becoming the adoptive mother of former child slaves, to receiving the divine gift of the Haitian Creole language, to starting, building, and running a school for more than 500 children, "the amazingness of what God did after I made the choice to be obedient is incredible," said Megan.

Three years later, six acres on Bellevue Mountain in Gressier is the home of the nonprofit Respire Haiti at the former site of voodoo worship, and in the area that many still come to make animal sacrifices, Megan and her staff of nearly 200 are transforming this community as they educate, feed, and address the needs.

About the author:

Megan Boudreaux, at the age of 24, founded Respire Haiti, a non-profit to fight for the freedom of Haiti's estimated 300,000 child slaves. Megan followed God's call to begin a feeding program and transform a barren hillside into a refuge and a school for 500 children. A medical clinic is nearing completion with future plans for a church, community center, and library. Megan has adopted four Haitian children and in 2013 she married her best friend, Josh Anderson.

My Personal Review:

Miracle On Voodoo Mountain by Megan Boudreaux tops my list as one of the most touching and inspirational books I've ever read!  This young woman tells her story of God calling her to step out in faith and obedience to change the lives of hurting children in Haiti and specifically in Gressier.  Megan shares how she lives out a daily trust in God and watches in amazement as He literally turns mountains into His harvest field.

Miracle On Voodoo Mountain is Megan's story of God's stirring within her heart to make a permanent difference in the lives of the children in Haiti.  This work journals how she followed His leading to the Caribbean Island of Haiti to assist enslaved children, despite what appeared to be insurmountable odds.  This book is sure to impact the reader, as it reveals the dire situation that the children of Haiti are born into. 

Megan Boudreaux's courage and insightful spirit are endearing, as she candidly describes unthinkable scenarios in the lives of the child slaves for whom she has been specifically called to help.  The slavery, abuse, and neglect of children in Haiti is rampant and rather than "swoop in" and remove them from the chaos, she has chosen instead to "move in" and bring the needed change to the people for a lasting impact.  She began with meeting the basic needs of the children through feeding programs.  After those needs were being met, God grew her vision to build the "Respire Haiti" community.  It has been created on Bellevue Mountain to provide Christian education, medical care, food, and the love of Christ to the people of Gressier in a continuous gap free delivery system.

This is my "trailblazing friend", Katie
holding a needy child on her recent trip
 to Haiti.  Katie has a servant's heart &
a love for bringing lasting hope to
desperate kids in dire situations.  (Read about
her in one of my previous posts by clicking here.)
  

The exploration of the Haitian culture through the eyes of this spirit filled young woman as she sets out on a pilgrimage of love for the children is without a doubt one of the most moving writings to date.  The author describes the emotions evoked from the cruel treatment of children and the practice of Voodooism that saturates the island in a manner that unmistakably transfers to the reader.  This work creates a veil free look at the stark reality of the consequences of poverty in a land not so very far away.  It will bring hope to your heart and boldness to your prayers as you read of Megan's dependence and allegiance to Christ.  

Miracle On Voodoo Mountain  brings James 1:27 to life;  It states, "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this:  To look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."  

I would like to thank Thomas Nelson Publishing through the Booklook Bloggers program for this review copy of Miracle On Voodoo Mountain by Megan Boudreaux. I was not required to write a favorable review of this book, but simply to read the work in it's entirety and provide my honest opinion.