Seasons of Opportunities

I fell in love with this book the very day it came in the mail. The photo on this hardback book doesn't even begin to do justice to the interior photography and design. It is packed with the most amazing pictures of God's creation and little tidbits of information concerning each creature displayed. It contains Scripture, songs, quotes and inspiring devotionals that will encourage and lift your spirit. I have enjoyed reading many of them and look forward to reading the rest. Every day Francine comes up with a great observations that come from the time she has spent considering the world around her. At the end of each day she gives a chance for reflection, application, and time to connect with God. The photographs

Although very good, this book took me a while to read. Frank shares the story of his journey to finding true faith written as a letter to his daughter. It is detailed and personal. Frank analyzes his life from a psychological point of view from childhood to adulthood. He details the events and people that impacted his life and influenced the person he has become today. Although Frank grew up in a pretty dysfunctional home life, he still speaks highly of his parents and brings to light their positive traits and reinforces their strengths. He talks in length about how those ideals have stuck with him, as well as, how the negative way his parents related to him as a child affects how he relates to people today. He shares his disappointment in the Catholic church and the questions that led him to desire to know truth. His journey to faith is a compelling and interesting one.

This book is a story of a young man who lived in the big city of Chicago. His life is going along just fine, such as any normal high school kid's would go. He was involved in school, sports, and had a pretty ideal family life. Then tragedy hits and he looses his parents in an accident. His whole life is turned upside down. He ends up moving to a small rural community in Texas and really struggles to fit in and get a grip on life again. Thankfully a coach there helps him gain the confidence he needs again to succeed.  Ace Collins writes about new beginnings, facing challenges, developing friendships, and getting through hard times. I enjoyed reading this book even though I am not really a football fan so a lot of the sports stuff was kind of not

Dawn at Emberwilde by Sarah E. Ladd Isabel Creston never dared to dream that love could be hers. Now, at the edge of a forest filled with dark secrets, she faces a fateful choice between love and duty. The book started out kind of slow for me, but as I got to know the characters and the plot began to take place, it picked up speed and I became more interested in what was going on.  Isabel lost both her parents and after spending years in a girls school, was forced to move to Emberwilde to live with her estranged aunt and uncle, of whom she has no recollection. Emberwilde is dark and mysterious, full of mystery and superstitions, including legends that encompass even Isabel's mother.  Isabel and her half-sister Lizzie have mixed emotions about being thrown into this new situation and even more so when they discover things are not as they seem at the estate. As two men vie for her heart and

WINNER is Becky Every Day with God is the latest 365-day devotional (one for boys and another for girls) from VeggieTales. The updated content and art offer the perfect opportunity for parent and child to share time together each day. Each entry includes a Bible verse, short devotion, Thought of the Day, and prayer. The content will help children learn more about God and develop a daily practice to keep Him close in their lives. The book is perfect for bedtime reading, family devotion time, or as a fresh way to start each day!              Reading Age: 4-7 Available for boys and girls

My son (11) read this book in a day. He really enjoyed it. This is what he had to say: "I think this is a very good book, and would like to read the other books in this series. The main character, Sebastian, was my favorite. He is an elf, who wants to play basketball and spends most of the story chasing the coach around to recuperate the magic feed corn that belongs to Santa, which the coach stole. Sebastian is funny and always getting into trouble. He has a crush on a girl and they like each other, but I was glad it was not so much romance that kids wouldn't want to read it.  The part I enjoyed the most was at the end, when Santa surprises the other characters in the book. You'll have to read it to find out the surprise. There are several lessons taught in this book. The coach learns about kindness and that winning isn't everything. Sebastian learns to stay focused. There are some interesting details about the Christmas story hidden in the plot. It wasn't too...

"I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me."   —Psalm 16:7 (ESV) Every day runs its course, and all tasks but one must come to an end: to search God and know Him. Of this there can be no end. In these 365 daily reflections on the wonder of God and the way of His Word, Tozer prompts us to seek God earnestly and love Him with our whole heart. Known for his steadfast devotion and incisive ponderings upon the Christian life, A. W. Tozer is a wise and trustworthy counselor. As the daylight dims and the night winds down, let  Evenings with Tozer  rest your heart in God’s eternal wisdom. "Tozer is one of the great Christian writers of this century. Reading him is like drinking at an oasis in the desert." —Dr. J. I. Packer, Regent College, Vancouver, Canada Available on  Amazon

The Witnesses by Robert Whitlow When I started this book, I was intrigued with the story. Then it suddenly changed, so I was a bit skeptic; but when it all tied together, it made perfect sense. I was totally into the story by about a quarter of the way through and didn't want to put this book down. I found myself reading every spare minute I could find, and didn't want to put it down. The plot was a unique blend of past WWII history and the modern day, in which a grandfather and his grandson share a special gift. The grandfather, who had fought in WWII, battles the memories that keep coming to mind of the war and the choices that he made. Things he

As an instructor in both ancient Hebrew and Aramaic, Chaim Bentorah is convinced that there are powerful truths buried in the original language of God's Word that most Christians have never been exposed to. The Word of God is like the heart of God: it is a well that never runs dry .  In this book, you will discover things about God and your relationship with Him that you may never have considered. By delving into the multiple layers and nuances of the ancient Hebrew language, you will discover that God is revealing His heart to you through the depths of His Word in new and exciting ways.  Hebrew is a language of poetry and pictures. With Bentorah's expertise, you will see how to examine not just word definitions, but also the origin of the words, their place in the culture and idioms of the day, and even their emotional context. Through this devotional, you will walk the road less

It's starting to feel just a little like fall in our area. Not really full blown, but some of the trees are starting to change and ditch their leaves into the driveway. I think it is such a beautiful sight. Personally, I am a warm weather kind of gal, but after long days of summer heat, a little coolness in the air is refreshing. This week I took a shopping trip with my daughter. She has been doing some coupon shopping lately and is getting good at it. I used to do it years ago, but time and other things kind of got in the way. It has been fun to start back doing some here and there. Kroger had some pretty awesome deals this past week. I also rode a bike! Yikes! To say the least, not being used to it, the seat was quite uncomfortable, but my daughter wanted me to ride with her to the playground close by, so I left my comfort zone for a bit and just did it! It's probably not something I want to do every day but every now and then, I think I can handle it.

From The New York Times bestselling author of The Wedding Dress comes The Wedding Shop. Oh my Soul!! This book was such a hit with me! Haley, successful, done-it-all-and-more type woman, finally returns to her hometown of Hearts Bend. Life has dealt her some serious blows and she is not sure where to go from here. Her mother, an over achiever demands "new years goals" from all family  members annually, a childhood tradition. But this new year,  Haley has no idea where her life is headed. As a kid, Haley and best friend Tammy, played in the old abandoned wedding shop in town. Together they vowed to one day restore the shop and run it. As memories come to life, so does Haley. Her goal - restore the wedding shop! But it's not going to be easy. Many obstacles stand in the way. With the cards stacked against her will she be able to fulfill her childhood dream and also find restoration for her soul?

Flossy is the bossiest girl around. She's bossy at home and she's bossy in school. She's bossy to her friends and she's bossy to her cat. Sometimes she's even bossy to her teacher! Flossy doesn't understand why no one will listen to her. One day, Flossy meets Edward, a boy who may be just as bossy as she is. Has Flossy finally met her match? My Thoughts: Flossy is very bossy! She is always telling everyone around her what to do including her cat, her dog, and her MOM! When given time-out in her room, Flossy spends it mumbling about who is "really" bossy - her or her mother. She is also bossy at school to her classmates and teacher. Then she meets a boy who is just as bossy as she. They butt heads with their bossiness til they both end up in time out! In conclusion, they each learn to be a little less bossy and a bit more suggestive of their ideas.

 Fishing.... Seems to be the trend these weekends... But I love it! As I strive to be INTENTIONAL in bonding with my family and my teenage grand-kids, if fishing is what they love to do, then a fishing we will go. Plus, what better place to read than soaking up some sun, enjoying a warm breeze, with my favorite people in the beautiful nature created by the Creator. Not only that... but this weekend was a success! Nine fish! Ten, if you count the teeny one I caught and released. We had a good fish fry (baked for me, thank you, with a bit of lemon juice and lemon pepper for flavor).

Winner - aperry (comment 1) Once upon a time there lived a man and a woman.  They were the happiest people on the planet. True, they were the only people on the planet, but they were still terrifically happy. Unfortunately , things didn’t stay happy and wonderful for long . . . The Bible is full of exciting stories that fill children with awe and wonder. But kids need to know how all those classic stories connect to Scripture’s overarching message about God’s glorious plan to redeem his rebellious people. In  The Biggest Story , Kevin DeYoung—a best-selling author and father of six—leads kids and parents alike on an exciting journey through the Bible, connecting the dots from the garden of Eden to Christ's death on the cross to the new heaven and new earth.

When a chance encounter leads to love, can Annette and Peter overcome the odds or will they be forever separated? This is the first time I have read a book by Janine Mendenhall, but I found it captivating, infuriating, and difficult to put down especially as we got closer to the end of the book. The main characters consist of a young girl, Annette, who is struggling to find her "way in the world" after being a bit spoiled by her father, and attacked by a stranger. Her rescuer, Peter Adsley, is a pastor who wants nothing more than to minister to those in need and find a suitable wife to share his life. Both of them are struggling to identify God's hand in all that happens in their lives, and trust Him in spite of their circumstances. Every time things seem to get better, they take a turn for the worse. God's plan is bigger and growing them into the people He wants them to become. 

I am excited about this devotional and eager to begin using it with my family. It contains ten specific devotions on prayer. These begin with praying for your family, then moves on to friends, your church, schools and teachers, our nation and also includes personal problems such as sickness and grief. Each devotional begins with a quick prayer and a verse, then a short story. Teresa incorporates questions, a prayer and Scriptures about the topic at hand. At the closing of each lesson there are interactive prayer or service activities to do with your family. These may consist of something as simple as writing prayer requests on a paper and keeping

  NASHVILLE, Tenn.  – From writer/director Pat Necerato comes  Voiceless , a film that tackles the controversial pro-life vs. pro-choice debate with conviction and compassion, and presents that the true choice is one the church must make. In the film, a young, reserved war veteran-turned-community outreach leader puts his life on the line to stand against an abortion clinic that has taken up shop across the street from his Philadelphia church. Battling his own inner-demons, Jesse (Rusty Joiner:  Last Ounce Of Courage ,  Dodgeball , “Days of Our Lives”) encounters a young, pregnant teen overcome with grief that, after an impulsive abortion, has her family blaming

Happy Labor Day!! Are you taking a break from your labor today? Or are you doing some extra labor that you've been putting off for a while? I am hoping to get some serious work done around my home and yard today, with school being out and having a "free" day.  But... I am not sure how much I will actually get accomplished, since my grandson wants to go fishing and my daughter has a friend over. But time with the kids is of more value... so the rest may once again go on the back burner for another day.

This book is written as a series of letters to the younger generation, although personally, I feel many generations would glean from reading the content of this book.  Terry uses his personal stories and experiences to encourage this generation to step up to the plate and become all God wants them to be. Each chapter(letter) is thematic and Terry addresses such subjects as Prayer, Sacrifice, Service, Submission, Authority (the use and misuse of it), and so much more. Terry calls this generation to step out and become armor bearers, to follow their dreams, but also to support their leaders; to be a generation of action, not just talk. He stresses the importance of a healthy prayer life, humility, knowledge of the Word, recognizing God's voice and waiting on His perfect timing. 

Gratitude: A Prayer and Praise Coloring Journal  invites you to bring creative journaling and the calming act of coloring into your quiet time with God. This beautifully designed interactive prayer book from Tyndale’s Living Expressions collection helps guide your thoughts as you pray about concerns such as health, overcoming stress, personal relationships, and more. Gratitude  gives you a way to celebrate and give thanks to God for the many blessings he provides. Filled with over 100 designs to color, plenty of space for journaling and sketching, and 40 needs-based prayers,  Gratitude  helps you express your devotion to God with your whole heart! Available on Amazon