A Season for Tending by Cindy Woodsmall

A Season for Tending

Amish Vines and Orchards, Book 1

By Cindy Woodsmall

A great story line:

This was the first time for me to read a book by Cindy Woodsmall. Knowing it was a series made me a little hesitant to go ahead and read since I like to have all of a series when I read so I don’t have to wait. I really enjoyed the book. It had good reading, and even though it left you wanting to know more of the story, enough of it was told to say it was a good book with a good story. Although I will have to keep my eye out for the 2^nd book b/c I will want to see the next phase of this story. The plot kept you going at many different angles so it kept you interested throughout the entire book. I enjoyed the plot of Rhoda the best. Her world fascinated me on how well she gardened, canned, to moving past a tragic lost that she kept herself at fault, even though it wasn’t. There wasn’t much of a devotion to learn or bible verses that this writer concentrates on, but the Amish’s simple life was enough for me for this story. It did show that their are many seasons a person must go through in life. This book was given to me by WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group in exchange for my honest review.

Being thankful for what we do have!

My youngest is all about Toysrus right now. They have all the toys and he doesn’t have them all. I am trying my best to make him realize all that he has been blessed with by all the mounds of toys he already has. But he is focused right now on all the info commercials and toysrus! It really didn’t help that we got the big book of toys from ToysRus yesterday.

When we relate this to our relationship with Jesus, it makes me see that if we constantly ask for more without being appreciative for what we have and the blessings we do get – WHY would God want to bless us with more? If we really aren’t thankful. Just something to think about while I try to work with my lil’ one about learning this.

Review: Prayers of a Stranger: A Christmas Journey

Prayers of a Stranger: A Christmas Journey

by Davis Bunn

This was a great inspirational book. The main characters have suffered a great loss in life and the future doesn’t look much promising, still they hold to their faith. It was an uplifting story about how God places people in our life to support us during our time of need and how God places us in situations where we can use our past to help others. We might not know how many people are out there praying for us and lifting us up, but we should place our trust in God’s hands and watch his story unfold. There were many side stories in the main story of this book, but one special one to me was being able to forgive and accept back a special person in ones life even after damage has been done. I love reading books where you see God’s will working in the lives of not just one, but how one or two people can make such a difference in this world that we may thing is so big.

This book was given to me by Thomas Nelson though the Booksneeze program for my honest review. I would strongly recommend everyone reading this book, but be sure to keep a tissue close by because it hits the heartstrings a few times, in a good way.

Review of The Widow of Saunders Creek

This was the first book by Tracey Bateman for me to read. As a former Army Wife the subject intrigued me, and I thought reading about a person moving on would be worth the read. I found this book to be very interesting. Not too many times do you run across a book talking about hauntings and ghost and trying to explain them vs the biblical realm. I love how it is broken down and how we must realize the evil spirits among us in this world and how the devil tries to deceive. I found myself brought in wanting a great outcome to come for Corrie since she had been through so much; I found myself on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would come next in the story. The verses before each chapter were some of my favorite to see.

I also enjoyed the character of Eli. His storyline and everything he stood for gave for a good reading. I feel it was hard in his community to keep his faith and stand his grounds, but he was a man of great faith. I think this would be a good read for anyone!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Multnomah Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

To Heaven and Back - Easy reading & encouranging

To Heaven and Back  by Mary C. Neal, MD
I opted to read this book after reading another book about someone's journey and wanting to "compare" their stories. I found ea. entirely different and inspiring. In this book it more about lessons learned and experiences of death and life after such an enounter.
The book is so easy to read like someone is sitting there telling you their life's stories... Each chapter has either an inspiration or inspiring quote which is really touching.
It was so great to read about each encounter this doctor had with miracles and her death and return from death and the life she chose to live after that. It also shows how we can get caught up in life, and how we have to chose to return to live daily for Jesus. I love her daily list of reminders and the 3 most important lessons she learned - which were verses from the Bible.
Just by reading this it inspires you to live each day to the fullest and realize we are here for a purpose greater than our day to day life that is so easy to get caught up in. We are truely part of God's bigger plan.
I am thankful for the Waterbook press and their blogging program that provided this book for my honest review.

Children's book: God Gave Us Love by Lisa Tawn Bergren

This book has a great explanation of love!
My child was excited when a book that he could hold and read came in the mail! He loved sitting and letting me read it to him over and over. The only negative I could say is it has a lot of words on it and he would be ready for me to turn the before I finished reading.
I loved the way it gave all the meanings of love and all the types of love - mommy/daddy love, loving even when we might not like someone, grandparent love, and esp. God's love! It talks about sharing God's love, and how love makes us better people and better as a family. I loved all the meanings the book gave and a way a child can understand.
I received this book free from WaterBrook Press a division of WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group as part of their Blogging For Books Review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

The eyes of your heart?

Years ago a song same out, "Open the eyes of my heart Lord" …. And while I sang it, I began to pray that God would show me his ways and open my eyes to things of Him. As the years have passed, I can tell God has opened my eyes and convicted me of things that I was doing. A lot of it had to do with my entertainment choices – movies, tv shows, and books. I started feeling convicted and actually sickened at time when certain shows or subjects would come on TV. I mean there have been times I’ve cried or wanted to literally throw up. It is sad b/c if it really breaks my heart that bad, can we imagine what it does for our Creator? One area was I had to quit basically watching shows that included the supernatural or murder. I would watch some witch type shows, spirits talking to other shows, or just the common murder mystery shows. I started having nightmares where I could tell that God was telling me to take a step away.

I know there are verses out there and I can’t put my hand on them this morning, but I know God doesn’t want us putting all this junk in our minds and our spirit! Our inner most parts should be longing for our God, not for the things of this world.

Here lately books have come out that people are raving out. I’ll go read reviews and I see it is all about either murder or sex. Really? Why are people raving about this? Why do people want to read about people killing other people or some book that wouldn’t even get an R rating on a movie? I guess b/c I have been praying that simple prayer for years, I see things differently, and I know that I couldn’t dare try. It just hurts my heart seeing so many "Christians" putting out there they are reading these books, but I can only pray that God will open their hearts…. So I say a prayer and move on… I just wish and pray that more people would look toward more positive media to promote more positive uplifting things for our children to see and be exposed too… so just a thought… when was the last time you asked for God to Open the Eyes of YOUR heart?