Reading, Writing & Pondering

At first Josie can't wait for the summer between her sophomore and Junior year. She has a lot she is looking forward to--until her classmates start making fun of her after her. Jose's mom has just published a book with about a teen girl who has some embarrassing moments--and they assume the book is about Josie so start teasing her about it and playing pranks. Then in An Unexpected Role by Leslea Wahl, Josie's summer takes a whole new turn when she decides to spend the summer with her Aunt in South Carolina. That is when the real adventure begins and Josie learns who she really is and what she is about. An Unexpected Role is written for teenage readers--and specifically for Catholic youth. This book starts out with some moments for Josie that would be embarrassing for any teenage girl I think. I didn't like the book at the start because of that and Josie's family didn't seem to be really hearing how hard this was for her. At the same time, though, Josie w...

Honestly, it has been awhile since I took time to celebrate Lent and focusing on the way to the cross through the Easter season. I picked up this journaling devotional, Journey to the Cross , to use this year. It is written by Mary Carver and the (in)courage team--some of my favorite writers who live the Christian life and honestly reflect their thoughts to other Believers. I have read through the first week's devotionals. There are readings from women who know what it is like to live the Christian life in today's world where we are overwhelmed with distractions and a lot to do. I like that each day is a little different. Some have more to read and some have more questions. Each one will turn my thoughts to God, to gratitude, and/or to living for Jesus. There is plenty of space to write in the journaling areas and I like that. The front of the book also has a Lent calendar to check off that you have done each day's reading and a place to write down the biggest lessons...

Deron Spoo says there are 10 words in the Bible that can sum up God's plan. His new book, The Bible in 10 Words , reveals those words.  The Bible in 10 Words is divided in to chapters that mostly contain the 10 words that Spoo talks about along with an introduction and a conclusion. I can tell you the 10 words but you are going to want to read the book to find out why they are important: Light, Dust, Breath, Garden, River, Eat, Alone, Naked, Afraid, and Sweat. Spoo shares why each word is important by beginning each chapter with a Bible verse and a quote about the word. He concludes each chapter with a prayer, questions to ask yourself or others in a group setting and more verses to think about relating to each word. At first glance, The Bible in 10 Words may not sound like a very interesting book. However, Spoo is both  an interesting writer and a great communicator. He shares some fascinating stories about each word and really brings the Bible to life through this b...

In Want and Plenty by Meredith McDaniel is a beautiful book--both in content and in design. Drawing from the book of Exodus and other Scriptures, McDaniel shares her heart and Scripture woven together to speak to Christians today. Each reading shares some encouraging words and Scripture for the reader to think about.  There are some questions also throughout the reading along with a set of questions at the end of the reading. In Want and In Plenty is designed to use alongside your journal in order to get the most out of it--in fact part of it is intended to be guided journaling. The questions at the end of the chapter are ones that truly provoke you to think about how things are in your own life. At the very end, McDaniel includes a song to listen to that goes along with the chapter. I like how In Want and In Plenty is designed. I like the gentle illustrations between the chapters. I like the questions that make me think. I like the song at the end that further helps me t...

Life on earth is hard. No doubt about it. If you are a Believer, you may sometimes wonder where God is in all of the hard stuff when it doesn't "feel" like He is nearby. In Acres of Diamonds , Jentezen Franklin offers encouraging words to the Christian who needs it. Instead of complaining and whining about the hard stuff of life, Franklin encourages us to remember that this hard stuff will yield "acres of diamonds" if we give it time and continue to look to God. What are Acres of Diamonds? Franklin reminds us how diamonds are formed. Heat and pressure in life will yield in victory if we don't run from them. Acres of Diamonds is based on a small booklet called Acres of Diamonds by Russell Conwell. If you haven't read it or heard of it, don't worry about it because Franklin includes it in the appendix for your reference. I read it several years ago but it is nice to refresh my memory with the complete copy in the back for reference. Acres of Di...

Welcome to Isaiah’s Legacy Blog Hop – Stop #8 1 Week ~ 24 Blogs ~ 3 Incredible Prizes! Learn a little about Isaiah’s Legacy and enter multiple giveaways while picking up CLUES at each stop. Compile all the clues, submit the final PHRASE at the last stop, and you’ll be entered to win one of 3 Grand Prizes! What are the prizes? They’re completely unique to the winners! Mesu will contact each winner personally to chat about what they would most like to see in Israel, and then she’ll SHOP for just the right gift while touring Israel, March 6-19! She’ll then purchase a personal and memorable gift specifically chosen for each of those three winners and ship them to each one when she returns. How fun is that?! How does the Scavenger Hunt & Blog Tour Work? · Begin at Stop #1. At the end, you’ll find a CLUE and a link to the next stop. Progress to each stop IN ORDER. · Collect all the clues—in order—and submit the full phrase at the last blog stop in th...

Shulle is a special eight-year old girl. She has lived with her father in a small village and has helped him navigate his life as an autistic person. Naturally her Uncle Shebna thought of her and brought her to Jerusalem to help Manasseh grow in to the young king he needs to be when his father, King Hezekiah, passes away in ten years as Yahweh has decreed. Sadly, Shebna's guidance isn't as altruistic as it appears at first and Shulle is guided into an entirely different life as she helped educate and influence Manasseh. As expected, Manasseh becomes the twelve-year-old child-king of Israel when his father passes away. Shulle becomes the queen and Isaiah's Legacy chronicles how their life together could have been lived based on historical facts gathered by author Mesu Andrews. As I read the first section, I struggled with Isaiah's Legacy . It is well-written but it also shows how the evil one is at work in the world. At one time, I was in an abusive situation, a...

I don't know about you but some days I feel invisible to both people and God. In Holy Guacamole by Carrie Stephens she reminds us that God sees as someone special like a bowl of guacamole at a restaurant instead of the mandatory side of beans and rice that many people leave on their plate. Stephens writes twelve chapters in Holy Guacamole that are part essay and part autobiographical with some solid Biblical advice throughout the book.  She reminds women that lots of followers on social media don't save us. Perfectionism can't save us. Buying more stuff and having all the things we want can't save us. Worldly success doesn't save us.  Competing with the other women around us being the best doesn't save us. Jesus and looking forward to our heavenly home is really all that will fulfill our empty hearts. I enjoyed Holy Guacamole . Stephens has a good sense of humor and it shows in her writing. She writes as a friend talking to another friend. She is vulnera...

I was so excited to read The Tea Chest by Heidi Chiavaroli after looking forward to this book for several months--and it did not disappoint. In this dual time line book, Chiavaroli tells the stories of two strong women. Emma Malcom who lives in Boston in 1773 as the daughter of a hard man who is loyal to the crown. He has also promised her hand to Samuel Clarke even though her heart belongs to Noah Winslow, a Patriot. Lieutenant Hayley Ashworth goes home to Boston to tie up lose ends and find healing from a childhood of neglect and abuse. She hopes to be the first woman inducted in to the elite Navy SEALs. She and her childhood sweetheart discover a hidden document at the bottom of a tea chest that leads to a bigger treasure than Hayley could have hoped for. I liked both Hayley and Emma's stories in The Tea Chest . They aren't necessarily pretty stories. However, they did seem true to life and they could offer hope to those who face struggles today that need to be ove...

Naked and Unafraid is based on the Bible story of King David dancing naked in the streets while he wife criticizes him from a window. Through this book I learned that David wasn't actually naked when he was dancing--but he was minus his kingly robes. I also learned a lot of helpful tips for doing life and relationships a better. Naked and Unafraid is divided in to 5 sections: Risk Exposure, Abandon Smallness, Push Past Criticism, Own Your Story, and Fight For Your Future. Each sections has four chapters. Each chapter has a handful of study questions at the end--making this an excellent book to use for small group discussions, besides reading it on your own. Naked and Unafraid is the second book that I have read and reviewed by Kevin Gerald. I liked his book, Good Things because it was encouraging, uplifting and centered on the Bible. I had hoped that this book would be too and I was glad to discover that it is all of those things too. Gerald used a lot of Bible stories a...

In Secrets of the Pastor's Wife by Christina Ryan Claypool, Cassandra Martin has a few secrets she has been hiding for several years. For fifteen years, Cassie has been married to John--the new lead pastor at Maple Avenue Community Church. Throughout that time, her secrets have been getting a little heavier and heavier. It seems they have some communication struggles in spite of their seemingly happy marriage. Cassie wonders if maybe those hidden secrets are contributing to their struggles. Throughout their married life, John and Cassie have moved frequently. Life became busy. John was busy with church and ministry. Cassie was trying to be a good wife and to help supplement their income. However, when they move to Maple Grove, Cassie meets coffee shop owner, Katherine "Katie" Montague and finds her to be a reliable confidant--and things begin to change in her heart. I was drawn in to Secrets of the Pastor's Wife from the first page. Though it is fictional, thi...

It is no secret that life can be stressful. I know a lot of families where both the husband and wife are on the go--and often in different directions. Relaxing and Unwinding together sounds great--but do you have trouble thinking up something different and fun to do? Randy Southern's new book, 52 Uncommon Ways to Unwind Together is full of activities to consider. 52 Uncommon Ways to Unwind Together begins with information related to the five love languages in Gary Chapman's books and he writes the forward to this book to help readers know what those are and how to use them to have a better relationship. Each of these 52 activities is described briefly and then includes directions to "go the extra mile" for a super fun activity and "making it work for you" talks about the best ways to implement the ideas for the activity to work best for your situation. There is also a brief touch on "speaking the right language" to say which love language the...

Collision of Lies is my first book by Tom Threadgill, but I already am anticipating my next one from this author. Collision of Lies hooked me from the first page. I liked how Threadgill layered in both the mystery and the characters. I found it easy to follow who the characters were and how they fit in to the story even though there are quite a few characters in this book by the time the reader turns the last page. I was disappointed that there wasn't more of a spiritual element to this book. Yet, it is a clean read with some fascinating elements. I just didn't feel like any of the characters were Christian Believers. I found the plot to move along for the most part fairly quickly, although I felt there were a couple of spots that were slower. Still it was not a deterrent to me wanting to find out what was going on in Collision of Lie s and I kept turning pages to solve the mystery. I thought Threadgill wove a story with a mystery that kept me guessing. I had no idea wha...

The Land Beneath Us by Sarah Sundin is not only a good story but it is a book that I found spiritually stimulating. Sundin surprised me with this plot initially. Clay was looking for something to live for and Leah was looking for a place to belong. I wasn't expecting some of the challenges that these characters faced early in this book--although I did expect the happy ending and I was glad for it. This cover grabbed me right away. I purchased the first two books in this series (The Sea Before Us and The Sky Above Us) and I honestly intended to read them first, but I must admit I did not. However, while I may have recognized some of the characters from previous books in this one if I had read them first, I was still drawn in by this plot and read The Land Beneath Us within a couple of days.  There was a couple of places Sundin made me giggle at things that were said but she also touched me deeply as I shed tears in other places. Of course, I would recommend this book to anyone ...