The Perfect Love - Book Review

The title of this book is what really caught my attention.  Many people in today's world have a hard time believing that God Really loves them.  Ruth Myers addresses the reasons why people feel this way and through her own life experiences  she shares with her readers her failures as well as her victories.  The Author uses old hymns, quotes and her own words to portray her message.

I found the first few chapters of the book very interesting.  I savored many of the words that I read and began to see and feel God's love for me better than I have in a long time.  I wrote down in a journal some of the quotes that were shared and many of my favorites were from A.W. Tozer including this one:  "God is so vastly wonderful, so utterly and completely delightful, that He can without anything other than Himself meet and overflow the deepest demands of our total nature, mysterious and deep as that nature is."   She also shares many Bible verses on God's love.

I do have to say though that there were a few things that the Author says that I disagreed with.  The main thing was that she stated that we are all sinners and will always be sinners and that God gives us victories over SOME of our sins.  I strongly disagree with that statement.  When God saves the sinner they are to go and sin no more and therefore are no longer sinners.  We are then a child of God.  He can and will give you victory over ALL of your sins.   Another place in the book she tells us of a time that she was praying and she gave God "permission" to do something in her life.  She does state that she knows God doesn't need her permission, but sometimes she needs to give it to Him.  That statement just bugged me.  

So with all that said.  I guess I will give it 3 stars.  :)

**This book was given to me by Waterbrook Multnomah for free in exchange for my review.

Courageous

My family was blessed to be able to see an early preview of the upcoming movie Courageous that will be out in theaters September 30'th.  Our local christian radio station announced that they had 200 free tickets to the early showing.  Thanks to Dakota's fast fingers we got the tickets.  Come to find out all 200 tickets were gone in 61 seconds and there were more than 500 people trying to get them.  O.O 

It was such a good movie.  We laughed and cried.  It is such a blessing to be able to watch good movies with a Godly message.  I encourage everyone that can, to go and see this movie.  It has the potential to change lives.  Through the message of this movie and God's convicting power I believe that this movie will cause men to rise up and be the fathers that God is calling them to be. 

The Wonder of Your Love by Beth Wiseman

Katie Ann is an Amish woman who's husband left her for an English woman.  He then dies in a accident.  Katie Ann found out that she was pregnant after her husband left her for the other woman and never told him.  Now she finds herself a new single mother with trust issues.

Eli is an Amish widower who's wife died 17 years ago.  He raised his 6 children by himself and is ready to enjoy life free of the responsibilities of children.  He's ready to travel and enjoy a slower paced life.  He travels to Canaan for a wedding and a long vacation.  There he meets Katie Ann and there is an instant connection, not to mention many friends who try to play matchmaker. 

Katie Ann and Eli admit to their selves and to each other that their relationship will never work since they are both in different places in their lives, but they decide to remain friends.  A wonderful friendship blossoms and so does love.  They both come to the realization that God's plans are not always our own plans.   They are better. 

The Wonder of Your Love is the second book in The Land of Canaan Series by Beth Wiseman.   This is the first book I have read by Beth Wiseman and I really liked it.  Although it was the second book in the series and I didn't read the first book I was not lost and had no trouble following the story line.  The only negative thing I can say about the book is that I found it a little boring at times.  It was very predictable and it was easy to figure out which way the story of each character was going to turn.  Other than that though it was a good read.   The character of Martha had me chuckling at times with her outspoken ways and her exaggerated health problems.  I was also touched by the forgiving nature of Katie Ann and how she helped the mistress of her deceased husband.  I give it 4 out of 5 stars!

This book was provided to me by the publisher, Thomas Nelson through booksneeze.com in exchange for my honest review.   

A Very Wonderful Impossiblility

"When God wants to do something wonderful, He begins with a difficulty.  When He wants to do something very wonderful, He begins with an impossibility."

Ever find yourself in a situation that you find impossible.  No way out.  Which ever way you turn is wrong.  You want to throw your hands up in the air and say "I give up", but instead you fall to your knees and say "God, I give it up to you.  I've made a mess of my situation and there is no way I can fix it.  I need you, I need your help." 

I've been there, but guess what? God came through as He always does.  Our impossibilities are His possibilities. 

"And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God"  Luke 18:27

Where ever you are right now, if you are finding yourself in an impossible situation, remember that the Supreme Ruler of the universe, the Creator of all things, the One possessing all power....He wants you to love Him with all your heart, mind and soul.  If you you do this, he is sure to take your impossibilities and turn them into a possibilities.

"That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith:  that ye being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God."

                                                                   Ephesians 3:17-19

Sierra Jensen Volume 1 Book Review

I decided to read this book for review thinking it would be a good read for my daughter as she is getting older.  I do enjoy reading young adult books at times, but I was very disappointed in this volume of books. 

The Sierra Jensen series has 12 books in all.  Volume 1 consists of books 1-3. 

Book 1:  Only You, Sierra

Book 2:  In Your Dreams

Book 3:  Don't you Wish

I know that I am an adult/mother reviewing a young adult book and I am sure my review reflects my age, but I am a mother and I have to go on what I feel is a good read for my daughter.  The Sierra Jensen series is not it.  I found Sierra very immature and shallow.  Some of the "excuses" she gives her parents and those in authority  are dishonest which is definitely not something I would want my child to pick up on.  The writer tries to portray Sierra as a strong and mature christian and with everything else I read I found those passages hard to swallow.  Plus there were parts of the book that were just plain boring.  I would not recommend this book to young readers.    

I also want to note that before I began reading the series my 13 year old daughter started to read it.  She read about 9 chapters and then quit.  She found it boring and was disturbed by the way the Jensen family played along with grandma when she was confused and having memory lapses.  I teach my children never to lie even if it makes someone else feel better a lie is a lie and she felt that their playing along with grandma was dishonest.   


**I recieved an e-copy of this book from Waterbrook Multnomah in exchange for my honest review.

Craft Time

I've been spending a lot of my time crafting lately.  Here is a sample of what I've been up too! :)

Bethany helped me make these waxed dipped pine cone fire starters!  I love the way they look in this basket.  I can't wait to sit them next to the wood burning stove and toss some in when I start a fire this winter.

 We also dipped some wax ornaments.  These were made from styrofoam sheet cut outs.  The cut outs we used were cookie cutters!  I love making these!  So much fun.  I still have to put finishing touches such as jute hangers on them and maybe some ric-rac embellishments on the gingerbread men!

Our house smells so good!  A mixture of Mocha and Apple pie!  Smells like fall!

I've also made a bunch of homespun coasters and some pot holders/hot pads.

Believe it or not that is not all.  I've also been making hair bows, aprons, "upcycled" denim skirts, baby gowns and homemade laundry detergent kits.  We are going to be selling all these homemade crafts at a homeschool craft fair in October.  I guess if my stuff does not sell my family and friends will get a homemade Christmas this year. ;)

Billy Graham Said What?

I love reading quotes and for a good part of my adult life I have read quotes by Billy Graham via the Internet.  I know when it comes to the Internet that sometimes people are misquoted so I was excited to find a book that was composed only of Billy Graham's quotes put together by his son Franklin Graham. 

The book has over 100 topics that are listed alphabetically.  It covers about every topic you can think of from abortion to worship.   At the beginning of each topic it begins with a key Bible verse, then the quotes on the topic follow.   Some of the quotes were very familiar to me while others where knowledgeable information that every child of God knows, then there were some quotes that I would stop, read again and sit and meditate on the words of wisdom that were just shared with me. 

I would recommend this book as a resource.  It is not the kind of book to sit down and read from front to back.  Instead, I feel that it would be best read in bits and pieces.  With it being categorized into topics, it makes it easy to find the area in which you are looking for, the topic that may be helpful to you at the right moment.   

Here are a few of my favorite quotes that I found on the pages of the book.

"God does not comfort us to make us comfortable, but to make us comforters."   Billy Graham

"The will of God will never take us where the grace of God cannot sustain us."  Billy Graham

"The Spirit of God Takes the Word of God and makes the Child of God."  Billy Graham

**This book was provided to me by the publisher through booksneeze.com in exchange for my honest review. 

A Must Read!

Out of Control by Mary Connealy - The Kincaid Brides Book 1

Julia Gilliland is a young lady that loves geology and loves to explore caves in search of fossils.  Exploring gives her a chance to get out of the house and away from her father.  She feels at peace with herself and a closeness to God when she is exploring.   She is determined to find proof that there is a God.  All she has to do is find the fossils to prove the Great Flood of Noah's Day.   If she does this her father surely will see her as a special and she will earn his love.  But one day as she is exploring, a mysterious intruder steals the rope she uses to climb out of the cave.

Rafe Kincaid is a man that seems to be in control of everything.  His ranch, his brothers, his life.  But Rafe is struggling with a painful past.  A time when he was out of control and was not the man he should of been for his brothers.  He is determined never to feel that way again.  So he stays away from the one place on his family's ranch that brings back the painful memories...the cave.  One night he decides to go back to the cave, one last time, in hopes to find peace with the place that ruined his and his brother's lives when they were young boys.  A women screaming was the last thing he expected to hear.  He must save her.  Then with a kiss lives are changed.

I had never read any of Mary Connealy's books before I read Out of Control and I will assure you that this may of been my first read of hers but it most definitely won't be my last.  

This book has it all.  Love, humor, suspense, inspiration, and mystery.  It had me on the edge of my seat in suspense, laughing out loud at the banter between Rafe and Julia, and reflecting on the greatness of God and how he is always present.  From the highest mountain top to the lowest dwellings. God is there.  In the good times of our life and in the bad times.  God is there.   When we are in control and when we are out of control.  God is there.

I give this book 5 stars!!

Thanks you Bethany House Publishers for providing me with this amazing book to review in exchange for my honest review!