An Unbroken Heart (Amish Fiction)

An Unbroken Heart by Kathleen Fuller (Amish Fiction)

This is a series of “An Amish of Birch Creek Novel.” This book stands alone. You can pick it up and read it without feeling like you have missed part of the story. It is written around the verse, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 There are trials in this story that the characters face, but they see God working in their lives. So many times we try to rush our circumstance, while God is staying just be Strong and Couragous while you are in this trial. This was a good read, and I would recommend it to any one that loves reading! "I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review."

The Goodbye Bride by Denise Hunter

This was a book that had you by the first chapter. A woman wakes up in a wedding dress and can't remember where she is. She basically has lost the last 7 months of her life. Here you find her finding her life, facing her past, and learning to live. If she wouldn't had fallen, there is no way to know where she would had ended up. It isn't till the end of the book that she realizes that God is always there for her, and no matter what life throws at you - You are not alone! We let our past get a grip of us, we want to bury hurts deep within, when really we need to just put them out on the table to allow God to help us move past them. I would recommend this to anyone that loves reading a good book! Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

2016 ~ The word ~ JOY

Each year many look for their word for the year or their verse for the year. This year I have really thought about it. I have been tested many times, and I keep finding the word JOY in my verses. So for 2016 ~ JOY.

Here are the verses that I have stood out to me the most this year:
James 1: 2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

Philippians 4: Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stay true to the Lord. I love you and long to see you, dear friends, for you are my joy and the crown I receive for my work.
4 Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! 5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.
6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.

Here's to a year of learning no matter what happens, we must find the JOY in the Journey! Allow God to grow us into people with more endurance and more joy than ever before!

Jesus Speaks by Steven Scott

Jesus Speaks : 365 Days of Guidance and Encouragement, Straight from the Words of Christ

I first got curious about this book when I saw who all had endorsed it. Next I saw Jesus Speaks and a daily devotion, so I thought why not. It is a hard back book with a slip cover. The slip cover is beautiful, but once the cover is gone, you are left with a tan book. I really wish the picture would had been on the front of the hard cover, but then again I could see this being a "classic" book since it is broken down by the day. It begins with a verse in red, meaning he is using words that Jesus spoke - Yes this is the name of the book, but I didn't get it until I got the book. I LOVE how you read in the beginning where this author spent 2 years studying all the red words in the Bible. He had previously written a book called The Greatest Words Ever Spoken, where he discusses the words spoken by our Jesus. Each day of this study references back to his "Greatest" book. Each daily devotion is a verse that Jesus spoke, then it is like Jesus talking to us, followed by another verse in red which is Jesus mentioning the topic in the first verse. This would be great to have. I think the verses actually being in red just stand out and mean a little more, b/c you know deep down that our Lord spoke them to our hearts. I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review.

Keeper of the Stars by Robin Lee Hatcher

This is a simple romantic story brought about by a tragedy. It is a good read. It does jump between the different characters in the story and also from Penny’s brother Brad. It allows you to get to know the person that is missing in the story and the closeness between them. This story shows you how God can lead circumstances to His good. It is a story of healing after a loss. There is a set of discussion questions at the end, so this would be good for a book club. I would recommend this book. Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

When Love Returns, The Zimmerman Restoration Trilogy, Book 3

Author: Kim Vogal Sawyer
I had only read one other book in this series, and I was eager to see how this story line ended. You can pick this final book up and read it without knowing anything previously. It might actually make you want to pick the others up and read. This is an inspiring book of Restoration, Frogiveness, and Trust. This story is about a woman that gave away a daughter to adoption, adopted a daughter, and how she learns to move on. This final story brings in the lives of the 2 daughters, and how they learn to move on after finding out about it all.
After reading this, the following comes to my mind: He restores the broken. His plans are not our plans. Forgive others as Christ has forgiven us. I would recommend this book to anyone that loves reading, loves being inspired, and loves Amish fiction. There isn’t Amish talk in this book so anyone that loves reading would love this book. I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review.

Just Be Held & Keep on fighting!

The song that Casting Crowns sings - Just Be Held

"Hold it all together
Everybody needs you strong
But life hits you out of nowhere
And barely leaves you holding on

And when you're tired of fighting
Chained by your control
There's freedom in surrender
Lay it down and let it go

So when you're on your knees and answers seem
so far away
You're not alone, stop holding on and just be held
Your world's not falling apart, it's falling into place
I'm on the throne, stop holding on and just be held
Just be held, Just be held

When your eyes are on the storm
You'll wonder if I love you still
But when your eyes are on the cross
You'll know I always have and I always will

And not a tear is wasted
In time, you'll understand
I'm painting beauty with the ashes
Your life is in my hands

Lift your hands, Life your eyes
In the storm is where you'll find Me
and where you are, I'll hold your heart
I'll hold your heart
Come to Me, find your rest
In the arms of the God who won't let go."

I remember the 1st time I heard that song and I broke down. At that point my sister was fighting with her husband for his life. She still is as he is about to go on the heart transplant list and wait to get a new heart. You talk about putting your life in God's hands.. that is truly trusting God. It is scary. You know someone's life on earth has to end so you can continue to live. My son was just informed of this and is now more worried for his Uncle life. My heart breaks for my sister and my nephews. Their life still has atleast one more upheaval to go.

I think of their trials and know mine isn't near as bad, but the enemy allows us to beat ourselves up. "You aren't good enough." "You are the reason that person has an issue with you." "You don't have life together enough."
I find in life I feel like if I took a few steps back in life - who really would miss me? Then I have to think.. I am here for a reason. God wants me to just turn to Him. I need to keep going forward and trusting Him. I have 4 little eyes on me and in the end, if I can lead them to the Cross that is ALL that matters in this life. This life is hard. Sometimes we need to just back away REST and Be Held and then continue on this life. God Cares about You and that is enough! The world wants you to think otherwise, but don't let the world win!