Reading, Writing & Pondering

  I grew up watching Oprah Winfrey. I admire her for her success and for how she gives back to others. I took a couple of her classes when she featured Brene Brown on her show and they changed my life. This new book for children, Little People, Big Dreams could certainly inspire young people to dream big and become who they wish to be.  This book starts out be talking about Oprah's early days and some of the challenges within her family. It also talks about how important books were to Oprah as she grew up. I didn't realize she was the first black woman to read the evening news on Nashville' local TV station. I also wondered about her name and that was explained early in the book. Little People Big Dreams: Oprah Winfrey is a hardcover book that measures roughly 8 by 9 1/2 inches in size and is 32 pages long. It is aimed at children ages six to eight. I think it would be especially inspirational for young girls who need inspiration and hope to become who they want to become...

  If you struggle with fear/anxiety, Christine Caine has a new release out from Thomas Nelson, Whom Shall I Fear? that is now available that may be a helpful book for you. Whom Shall I Fear? contains 100 devotions. It is divided into 4 parts: A Call to Rest, Fighting the Good Fight—with prayer, In Spirit and In Truth and His Joy, Our Strength. All the readings are 2 pages long with a Bible verse, a reading written by Christine Caine, and ends with a prayer. This may be a good gift for a friend facing challenges—and there is a gift inscription page in the front of the book.   From the Publisher:   Learn to live to the life you are called to with the courage and joyful endurance that come from fully trusting in the God who fights for you. What would you do if you woke up each day without fear? What  wouldn’t  you do?  Today is the day to stop giving power to fear and start living the life you are called to. Whom Shall I Fear?  by bestselling author ...

    I'll be honest, I am a middle-aged woman. You probably guessed that. However, I have loved Strawberry Shortcake since I was a child--and it still makes me happy to see her new books. Strawberry Shortcake and the Berry Besties Festival by Jennifer Moorman is a fun Strawberry Shortcake picture book complete with STICKERS in the back.  I especially love the theme of Strawberry Shortcake and the Berry Besties Festival. The story is about Strawberry Shortcake and her friends teaming up for a fundraiser for needy animals. I am also a huge fan of dogs, cats and helping shelters. This story also shows how we can help each other out when things go wrong. The story is fun to read and one that I think children will enjoy--especially fans of strawberry shortcake and her friends, as well as animal lovers. Strawberry Shortcake and the Berry Besties Festival is aimed at children ages four to eight. The book is 32 pages long and measures a little over nine inches square. The illustra...

    Does your prayer life feel stale? Like all you do is ask God for stuff? A Sacrifice of Praise and Thanksgiving by Wendy Speake is a 30-Day devotional and ask fast that just may rejuvenate your prayer life.  I know people who like to do a gratitude journal during the month of November to go along with Thanksgiving. This is a good devotional to go along with Thanksgiving too, although it can be done any time of the year. The book is based on Psalm 100. Each day there is a verse to focus on, a reading, and ends with a prayer and some journaling that you could do. From the publisher:  When life is bright and blessings abound, are you quick to feel grateful and lift a song of thanks to God? What about the seasons when heartache and hopelessness overwhelm, and deep soul-sadness threatens? When life feels awful, do you find it awfully hard to persevere in praise and rejoice in God’s goodness? Discover strength and renewal in times when praise feels more like a sacrific...

  Loneliness is widespread, even in a world where we’re constantly connected. Having lots of acquaintances or followers doesn’t necessarily mean having meaningful friends hips.   Make Friends With Anyone by Wayne Francis could be a helpful book for those who are wanting to make new friends in real life, not just on-line. Make Friends With Anyone starts out by explaining the foundations of friendship. The author is a pastor and he feels the Bible sets the foundation for friendships so the first part does have a lot of Scripture. This part felt rather abstract to me but I understand his point. Francis then expounds on the various depths of friendships. He uses visiting the ocean and beach as the basis for his depths of friendship. There are sunbathers, surfers, snorkelers, scuba divers, and submariners as his descriptors for types of friendships starting with the least in-depth to the most depth in relationships.  In the last section of the book, the author encourages the...

  The Good Farmer and The Worried Donkey by Hannah E. Harrison is a beautifully illustrated and written picture book aimed at children ages four to eight. This sweet book tells the worried donkey's story. Charlie the donkey goes from working for a miller who sometimes got angry at him because he wasn't strong enough and didn't always do things correctly. The miller then sold the donkey to a farmer. Charlie worried about disappointing the farmer. However, the farmer is patient and caring and helped the donkey along the way in his new role. I think The Good Farmer and The Worried Donkey is a sweet story to help children see that God loves them--no matter what. Through this story, children learn that God is always there to help, even when they doubt themselves. They also can learn that God is patient and caring in the process.   I love the sweet watercolor pictures of both the donkey and the farmer--as well as all the farm animals and fields. The last page in Good Farmer a...