Tag: Faith

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Book Review: When God Writes Your Life Story

When God Writes Your Life Story

We have a God who delights in impossibilities and who asks, “Is anything too hard for Me?” ~Andrew Murray

As Christians, we often settle down in comfortable mediocrity. We stay in the safe zone and don’t try to push past what is necessary. Yet our God is a God of impossibilities. He is our guide into the endless frontier of the Christian adventure. Will we follow? Or have we forgotten that we are to be pilgrims?

When God Writes Your Life Story is one of the handful of books that have had a huge impact on my life. I love it because it got me excited about my faith. The authors encourage the reader to realize just how big God is. Living in obedience to Him can be absolutely breathtaking. When insist on holding the pen and sitting on the throne of our lives, we won’t be happy. But when we surrender the pen to God and let Him write the story, amazing things are right around the corner. Of course, it won’t always be easy. We are warned that in this world we will have tribulation, but God has promised that he has overcome the world.

The God of the Universe wants to write your life story. And when He does, you mustn’t expect a mediocre tale.

Authors: Eric and Leslie Ludy
Audience: YA and up
Genre: Inspirational Non-Fiction
Pages: 235
Publisher: Multnomah

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Book Review: Never

Never

“Listen to me, kid. It don’t matter what happens. It don’t matter what anybody thinks or does. All that matters is that you keep fightin’ and never, you hear me? never give up.”

I think this is the first time I’ve given a self-published book a five star rating. I found “Never” through a blog scavenger hunt the author did to celebrate the book release. When I downloaded the free sample, I didn’t know what to expect. The sample definitely hooked me.

Travis Hamilton, a scholarly young man, is an unlikely suspect for murder. When he is convicted and sentenced ten years labor in Dead Mines, his brother Ross is determined to clear Travis. Ross knows his brother cannot survive the sentence, and he knows Travis is not the murderer. But the web of deception is more tangled than either brother imagined. As their journeys increase in difficulty, both brothers turn to moral convictions that must “never” be abandoned, no matter what the cost. Can Travis survive the evil rule of the mine boss? Can Ross reach the bottom of an ever deepening mystery before it’s too late to rescue his brother?

Some of Travis’s experiences in the mine might make this book unsuitable for young children. If it was a movie I’d give it a PG rating. That said, this story was refreshing. Even in Christian fiction, it’s rare to see heroes sticking to what they believe as tenaciously as Ross and Travis. The author did a wonderful job showing principled good winning over unprincipled evil. I’ll be looking forward to reading more from this author.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Author: J Grace Pennington
Audience: Tween–YA
Genre: Historical Adventure
Pages: 318
Publisher: Self-Published

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Book Review & Giveaway: Sir Bentley and Holbrook Court

*Giveaway Closed*

Big day today! I don’t know if any of you have noticed the countdown box in the sidebar, but today marks the beginning of another book giveaway. This time the book is a signed copy of Sir Bentley of Holbrook Court. I hope you’ll take the time to read the review and leave a comment. Leaving a comment will automatically enter you in the drawing for the book*. The winner will be announced in a week on Thursday, November 22.

Bentley mounted Silverwood, look down at his parents, and launched the powerful steed into the kingdom…a kingdom waiting for one young knight to discover the truth of a Stranger.

When Bentley refuses to kill two Followers, his fate is sealed. His days as a Noble night have ended. Now he must leave Chessington in search of the Truth. He learns that the man called The Stranger was, and is, the Prince. The Son of the True King. In his pursuit to follow in the footsteps of his Prince, Bentley becomes a peasant and ventures into Holbrook. He becomes one of the farmers and discovers oppression, injustice, love and a cause to fight for. The day is coming when Holbrook will need a knight of the Prince.

This may well be my favorite book in the Knights of Arrethtrae series. Bentley’s quest for Truth and desire to serve the Prince illuminate truths about God and our responsibilities as Christians. A paragraph from the back cover of the book sums up the reason I love this series so much. “Journey to Arrethtrae, where these knights of noble heart live and die in loyal service to the King and the Prince. These knights are mighty, for they serve a mighty King.” I think that we, as Christians today, often forget to walk in the truth that we are in a battle and should and can fight that battle as mighty warriors, for we serve a mighty King. Never forget, the King reigns…and His Son!

Author: Chuck Black
Audience: All Ages
Genre: Christian Allegory/Adventure
Pages: 208
Publisher: Multnomah

Come back on Wednesday for an author interview with Chuck Black!

What do you like about the Kingdom Series or the Knights of Arrathtrae Series? Why would you like to win a copy of Sir Bentley and Holbrook Court?

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*Due to cost of shipping, this book cannot be mailed outside of the continental United States.

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Book Review: Saving Levi

Hopefully by the end of the month, I’ll be able to pull together a list of my favorite orphan/foster care/adoption books in honor of National Adoption Awareness Month. In the meantime, I figured I’d do an extra book review. This will be the first non-fiction book review for the blog. Enjoy!

It would be 24 hours from the time Levi was left to die in the field until I first saw him.

Lisa Bentley and her family were serving in a small, Chinese orphanage when they met the little boy that would become their son, Levi. He had been found in a field, left to die. Seventy percent of the baby’s body was covered in third to fourth degree burns. His survival seemed doubtful. As he fought for his life, Levi drew people from around the world together.

I’d been eyeing this book in CBD catalogs for some time and I finally purchased a copy at a homeschool conference several months ago. It’s a riveting story. Of course, when adoption and orphan care is involved, it doesn’t take much to make me like it! 😉 There are so many stories out there that showcase the very real truth that God cares about orphans. This book is one of those stories.

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Poem: His Hands And Feet

He’s a father, a father
To many sons and daughters.
To those who live in loneliness,
To those that wander in distress.

He sees the child by the road
Hungry, dying all alone;
Bids you take that child’s load,
Bids you quiet every groan.

For these souls he gave his life,
Rescued them from endless strife.
Jesus bids us come and see,
Asks us now to set them free.

You have felt his heav’nly love.
You will dwell with him above.
Here below, his hands and feet,
To go to every town and street.

If we do not help them now,
Who will bend to wipe their brow?
If God’s people do not care,
Who will then salvation share?

We who see can’t walk away.
God within us bids us stay.
Asks us now to wash each wound,
And tell of One who’s coming soon.

(Copyright 2012 by Leah E. Good)

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Poem: When I Don’t Understand

Lord, in the times I don’t understand,
Even then let me trust what You’ve planned.
You name the stars and count grains of sand.
You are the one holding my hand.

You are the one who suffered for me.
It is to you that I bow the knee.
Humbly I stand at Calvary’s tree.
Open my eyes, Lord, help me to see.

Only You can turn darkness to light.
Only Jesus can give blind men sight.
Only You can turn weakness to might.
Only you, Lord, can turn wrongs to right.

In this life I might not understand.
You are the rock upon which I stand.
This, Lord, my life, I place in your hand,
Trusting always in your perfect plan.

(Copyright Leah Good 2012)

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Book Review: Roses for Mama

“I need to–to find ways to teach them. Encourage them. Just like Mama did with me.”

It has been three years since their parents death. Seventeen year old Angela and her nineteen year old brother Thomas work hard to keep the farm running and raise their three young siblings, but are their efforts enough? Angela worries that she will not train her charges as well as her mother would. When a wealthy man comes to town and begins courting her, Angela dreams of a new future for all of them. But when Carter realizes she plans to bring her family with her, he calls of the wedding. Will Angela’s responsibility keep her from marriage?

This is one of my favorite books and has been re-read many times. Angela’s devotion to her family is refreshing. The story pulls you along like the current of a gentle stream.

Author: Janette Oke
Audience: Young Adult through Adult
Genre: Nostalgic
Pages: 224
Publisher: Bethany House

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Come back next week for a book giveaway of Kristiana Gregory’s newest book, Stalked!

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Book Review: A Journey of Faith (Prairie River)

[Nessa] didn’t know how to disagree with a preacher, or if she was even allowed to, so she merely wrote, “Thank you, anyway, kind sir, but I am not going to marry you.”

Nessa has lived in an orphanage since she was a young child. Now, as her fourteenth birthday approaches, she worries about the marriage arranged between herself and the preacher, who is much older than her. Staying at the orphanage is not an option, so Nessa decides to flee. She arrives in Prairie River, Kansas with a depleted supply of money and no plans. Can she make friends and find a new life in Prairie River?

I read the Prairie River series several years ago and loved all of the books. I recently found one of the books at a book store and purchased it. Re-reading that book got me started and I have since re-read the first three books. I highly recommend them as good, clean and entertaining reading.

Author: Kristiana Gregory
Audience: 9 and up
Genre: Christian Historical Fiction
Pages: 212
Publisher: Scholastic