Her Only Wish by Shelley Shepard Gray is an excellent book. It is the second in a series but I didn't know this until I finished the book. Betsy has a life list. This is a list of things she wants to complete while she is visiting her friend in Florida. She has on her list learn how to play golf and play one round of golf, and learn how to swim.
This simple list caught on and enriched lives of other. Some of the people in influences is the friend of the man who gives her golf lessons, and the woman and sister who give her swimming lessons.
Betsy is Amish and she has always been protected by her parents so these things would not have happened back in her home in Kentucky.
The story that was told around these events was touching and heart-lifting. I loved this book.
I was given this book by Revel and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
Crowned with Glory is a beautiful book in both its message and its illustrations. All children would be filled with delight at the rhyming words and the beautiful, colorful drawings.
Azira's story from childhood through adulthood opens up opportunities for parents and children to discuss God's plans for each of them, including those who may feel different from others. It is not made just for girls, little boys need these same words of affirmation. They also need to know that as adults these words have meaning to us since we were created by God and we are part of His plan also.
I received this book from WaterBrook Kids in exchange for my honest review. All opinions included are my own.
This is an interesting book which shows us how God wants us to be happy. Plus it shares how he would like us to accomplish this. Our happiness is important to God. He did not create us for unhappiness.
This book is broken into sections. The first section talks about the happy soul.
The second section talks about the secrets. These include: Focus on God; Resolved to follow God's Way; Attached to God's Word; Dependent on God's Provision; Confident in Who They Are; Surrendered to the King.
It is not always easy to remember about how our souls can be happy, especially in difficult times, however, this book is a good guideline.I recommend this book highly, especially if you are looking for encouragement.
I received this book from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
I found this to be a nice reminder to any and all teachers who get burned out, discouraged, or just not sure what to do next.
I taught in a Christian school and this book was written from a Catholic teacher's perspective but really none of that matters. As teachers we can all learn lessons from the gospel to help us overcome hurdles.
I felt that all of the author's thoughts were relatable and give encouragement. I would highly recommend this to teachers, no matter what the time of year.
I was given this book by NetGalley and Ave Maria Press. All opinions are my own.
We have all felt nudges in our lives, in fact, we have even felt them from God. In "One Small Step: The Life-changing Adventure of Following God's Nudges", Matthew Barnett talks about these nudges from God. They are the ones that tell us to help someone out, even if you don't know them. Matthew Barnett followed one of these nudges when he opened the Dream Center in Los Angeles. In this center all are welcome who might need a place to stay. It doesn't matter what their background, they are welcome...free of charge. The nudges that we feel may not be as big as this but who knows where it will lead...God does.
I recommend this book so highly. I am a believer in God's nudges and when he does he gives you all that you need to fulfill it.
I was given this book by Chosen Publishing in exchange for my honest review.
Jennifer Sienes, the author of Providence, takes difficult topics and handles them with such grace. Within each chapter of the book she provides viewpoints of different characters of the book. Melissa the mother, her kids, and her employer all are finding their ways to deal with the suicide of Trevor, Melissa's husband. Where this may seem a gruesome topic, Jennifer handles it just right. She goes through the feelings of each one and creates a story that is difficult to put down. As with her other books, Jennifer was able to create another beautiful book. I received this book from Celebrate Lit for reviewing purposes, but all the opinions in this review are my own.
I was given this book by NetGalley and Bethany House in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
I found Someone Like You to be a love book. The author, Victoria Bylin, has a talent with words and she was able to show God's love for us and how He always looks out for us, even in our troubles. This book show how God's love is filled with redemption for each and every one of us. I felt like the story was woven together beautifully and the characters were well-rounded. I recommend this book.
This post was begun and then the book was in my mailbox. The timing of its arrival was not lost on me. The day had been emotionally overwhelming, the one year anniversary of the pandemic was duly noted, and I was tired of waiting.
I received this book from Blue Sparrow Publishing in exchange for an honest review. All opinions stated are my own.
Before I begin I would like to let you know that unlike other positive reviews I have not read a book written by Matthew Kelly before. This book is written for everyone, no matter where you are on your spiritual walk.
Set as a series of devotions, none of the entries are very long and at the end are ideas to bring the entry to the heart. There is the Point to Ponder, a Verse to Live, a Question to Consider and a short prayer.
When you come across this book I recommend that it be picked up and applied to your life.
I have been fighting fear quite a bit for the last few months. Generally, they are health related, so when I saw this book available for review I decided to read it.
This book, Fight Your Fears, shows ways to help overcome fear by using Scripture as the foundation. With Scripture as the base dealing with fear has less chance of making me crumble. The author, Kristen Wetherell, gave wonderful examples from her own life to bring these methods to life.
I especially liked how she placed a scripture to memorize, along with questions and additional reading, if needed, at the end of each chapter, as well as a prayer.
I do feel stronger through the use of this book.
I received this book from Bethany House Publishing in exchange for my honest review. All opinions given are my own.
A Jesus Freak is one who is willing to for Jesus no matter what. As I read each of the stories they would lead me to reflect if I would do whatever it takes for my faith in Jesus. Would I be willing to lay down my life for Him? This is such a powerful book I believe each of the stories should be read and thought about. This makes it a book I would recommend to the highest level.
I am so glad that this book was revised. Thank you to Bethany House for providing me this book and thank you to dc Talk and The Voice of the Martyrs for being willing to bring this book back.
The titles of each chapter are:
Reframing Uncertainty
Where Is God?
Shhh! Be Still
Breaking Habits
Help Me Decide
Practice Presence
Winning or Whining?
Beholding Beauty for the Big Picture
Rest When Shadowed by Worry
Named and Known
Gratitude Brings Focus to the Blur of Uncertainty
Remembering Restores Certainty.
The length of each chapter made it doable to read one a day, however, it would be possible to read more. By reading at this tempo I was able to reflect on what I had read throughout the day.
This book should remain on my bookshelf for a while, as I return to it to refresh the teachings that I have learned.
I was given this book by Bethany House Publishing in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
Isaiah's Legacy by Mesu Andrews is a lovely book to read during this time. There are so many messages in this book: God's love for us no matter what, unconditional love, and the mercy of God.
There are three characters which are followed: Zibah, Shulle, and Manasseh. It is set during the reign of Manasseh. The women in the book demonstrate the lack of control they had over their own lives which left me feeling frustrated for them. Then I began to think of the things in my life that I have absolutely no control over and I see how turning things over to God is the best thing to do. It is tempting to scream or yell but by taking it to God it allows them to feel God's love for them.
As I said this is a lovely book but it is a book with powerful lessons for us.
I was given this book by the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
In Dying to Meet Jesus Randy Kay shares his experience with dying and meeting Jesus. Throughout this book the author shares the questions we have about God and this Earth. I could tell that Randy Kay has a calling to share the love and his experience he had with all.
I recommend this book to all.
I was given this book by the publisher in exchange for my review. Each of the words and opinions are my own.
![If for Any Reason by [Walsh, Courtney]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41e12mX%2BVPL.jpg)
In this book, If for Any ReasonI, Courtney Walsh goes to Nantucket. Emily Ackerman has inherited her grandfather's house, so this means she must go to a place that she has not been in 18 years. While there, she finds her friend from when she was a child, Hollis McGuire, a former professional baseball player. Emily also uses her time here to find answers about her mother's death many years ago.
Becoming Us by Robin Jones Gunn is the first in the Haven Makers Series. It follows a small group of 5 women who join in a friendship, some willingly and some with trepidation. I loved the group, however, I felt the worry of one member, Emily. Her small family's future is uncertain, so she feels uncertainty in joining a group of women, who in other circumstances, would fill a void she feels in her life.