Seasons of Opportunities

I just received from Thomas Nelson the Sisters in Faith Bible to review.  Of course, I have not read it cover to cover, but that is one of my goals for the new year! It looks amazing! I have, however, given it a good once over and LOVE what I see so far. I have read several of the passages of Scripture and the thoughts that have been incorporated as a side note with those passages. This Bible and additions to it have much to offer the reader. I know I am going to gather much insight from reading it this coming year. This is a hard back Bible, KJV version, with a concordance in the back. It includes a feature index for the Sisters in Faith additions, and a place to write notes. The front cover says: Encouraging and Empowering African American Women with God's Truth.  I am not an African American woman, but the authors that contributed to this Bible wrote features ALL women can relate to. They included articles on how a woman interacts with God, family, others, her career

I have to say I do not honestly remember much of what I got for Christmas as child. Off the top of my head, the two Christmases I remember, were one, when all of us siblings received bicycles (mine was orange) and two, when we got a train set. It was so exciting to set it up all over the living room with my dad. But my favorite Christmas memory is not the gifts we received but the legacy my parents gave us. Every Christmas morning we would hop out of bed, eat a Christmas breakfast one or both of my parents fixed, then we would gather round the tree as a family. My dad would get out his Bible and read the Christmas story of Jesus being born in a stable, and the shepherd hearing the good news from the angels and coming to visit him. We would thank God for his gift to us of salvation through His Son Jesus. Then we would open gifts. This will always be my favorite Christmas memory. I am so thankful for parents who gave us so much more than gifts at Christmas. They gave their time, t

Recently, I participated in a ladies Christmas Tea, at a friends house. It is becoming a yearly tradition for our home school group. We get together, without the children if possible, and just enjoy an English tea, with plenty of delicious delicacies, but best of all is the fellowship.  After tea, us ladies gather 'round the Christmas tree for a time of sharing. Each one shares something, a recipe, a memory, a tradition, a story... Then we have a gift exchange and always plenty of laughter. It is something precious to look forward to each year at Christmas. I for one, have not been too great at making Christmas traditions. Our family has a few, if you can call them that even. My oldest daughter and I usually watch Christmas movies, one we make a point to watch every year is The Christmas Card .  We often bake cookies and deliver them to some of the elderly in our neighborhood. In an attempt to keep our hearts focused on Jesus, I do my best to practice advent with the ki

Eight-year-old Robert is eager to share his wish list with Santa at the mall on Christmas Eve. When he meets Glenn, who has only one request for Santa, Robert is confused over what he should do. Can he cast aside what he wants and ask Santa to bring his new friend a special gift? Inspiration Behind A Christmas Kindness How is it that children have the ability to reach out and help others in ways adults don't always think to do? One year, our oldest daughter--then only eight--went door-to-door in our neighborhood collecting money for Toys for Tots. Coordinated by the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve, this program collects new, unwrapped toys each year and distributes them as Christmas gifts to less fortunate children in our communities. This summer, my girls ran a lemonade stand so they could bring money to a local animal shelter. Why don't I think of doing such things? I guess it's easier to write a check and send it in the mail. But what effort is involved in that? My child

Have you ever had feelings of inferiority? Maybe thought God couldn't use you because of your gender? In  this book J. Lee Grady, looks into the lives of 22 mold breaking women of the Bible. Women have for centuries dealt with abuse, feelings of inadequacy and inferiority. Lee brings out the gifts God has given His daughters. Some of the women referred to are: Sarah, Ruth, Esther, Mary, Priscilla, and many others, a few of them we do not often hear about. As a woman I have dealt with many different emotions and feelings like those of "not being enough", or "not measuring up". Circumstances in our lives can contribute to those ideas. I looked forward to reading a book written specifically to women about biblical women and how they were used by God. And although I cannot say that I agree with everything Lee Grady had to say and how it measures up with scripture, there were some things in this book I was able to take to heart. I do believe that God has a purpo

"Those who know Your name trust in You, because You have not abandoned those who seek You, Yahweh." Psalm 9:10 This is a great series from Robin Lee Hatcher. Her most recent book Betrayal just recently released. Zondervan has provided both of these book for me to review in exchange for my opinion, and has also graciously provided both for a giveaway ! (Be sure to enter at the end of this post)  This new novel, will capture your heart. Julia Grace has no desire to enter into another marriage. But with her dead husband's half brother threatening to take away her Wyoming ranch. Julia realizes marriage may be the only way to keep what is rightfully hers. A man well acquainted with betrayal, drifter Hugh Brennan finds himself drawn to the attractive widow. Yet, when he looks into Julia's eyes, he recognizes the same hurt that haunts him.  Betrayal will take you to the high desert of western Wyoming, through the crags of the Rocky Mountains, and into the souls o

She came to America searching for her brother. Instead all she's found is a web of danger. Cara Hamilton had thought her brother to be dead. Now, clutching his letter, she leaves Ireland for America, desperate to find him. Her search leads to a houseful of curious strangers and one man who claims to be a friend- Rourke Walsh. Despite her brother's warning. Cara trusts Rourke, revealing her purpose in coming to New York. She's then thrust into a world of subterfuge, veiled threats, and attempted murder, including   political revolutionaries from the homeland out for revenge. Her questions guide her ever nearer to locating her brother - but they also bring her closer to destruction as those who want ot kill him track her footsteps. With her faith in tatters, all hope flees. will her brother finally surface? Can he save Cara from truth about Rourke...a man she's grown to love. My Thoughts: It took me a little while to really grasp all that was going on in thi

Todd and Sonja Burpo authors of the book Heaven is for Real , have released this new book Heaven Changes Everything. What if we lived every day in light of eternity? Would we live differently? What priorities would change? In their newest book the Burpo's are encouraging their readers to "live every day with eternity in mind". Each chapter is a short reading recalling excerpts from their first book and how those thoughts affected them and the way they lived. It is a devotional type reader, with short chapters that could be read as a thought a day.  This book is a great reminder that we are here for a greater purpose than just our everyday life and its challenges. So many times we allow material things to take precedence over spiritual, until we end up living discouraged depressed lives instead of the abundant life God has for us. His plan is so much greater, that we need to put on our spiritual goggles and live in light of eternity! This book would make a great g

The first three books of the Mysterious Ways series followed the adventures of Charlie Smith in the late 1800s, as he came of age, sought - and sometimes fought for - his fortune, and learned who to trust and who not to trust. Now, The Crimson River fast forwards to 21st-Century Denver, with Charlie Smith's descendant as a main character, and with flashbacks to the late 19th Century. The plot involves a hunt for buried treasure based on clues found in Charlie's diary. Beloved characters from the first three books enter the picture again. They struggle against greedy antagonists and their own conflicted motives. The reader is kept guessing with plot twists that provide suspense and intrigue as well as romance and inspiration. You can read an excerpt of this book HERE Buy from Amazon.com or BN.com The author, Donna, says she is "the mother of three grown daughters, the mother-in-law of two wonderful men, and the grandmother of three of the world's sweetest b

From the first time I read Cindy Woodsmall I have enjoyed her books. Especially these short Amish fictions. This is a great collection of two previous books and one new title. They are all centered in the same Amish locations and the characters in all three books tied together, yet each can be read individually, as each story is about a separate couple.  The newest book, The Dawn of Christmas, is about two individuals, Sadie and Levi,  who have both been hurt by members of the opposite gender. They have both lost their faith in marriage, and trusting their hearts to others. But they both love God and are seeking His will for their lives. Through a odd circumstances the two meet. Because their opinions of the opposite gender are so alike, they quickly become friends, knowing they have nothing to worry about since they understand each others boundaries. And yet, God has other plans for them, and the friendship deepens into something more. Both of them are afraid of what the relation