Book Review: Shaken by Tim Tebow

The book Shaken by Tim Tebow is a wonderful read. It is an inspiring story of how God is in control of all no matter what the circumstances–whether your plans for your life are shaken or if they are going as you think they should. It was a very inspirational book that isn’t for profsessing Christians only. One person can make a difference when they rely on God for direction for their actions. Definitely recommend. 

 

I was provided this book by Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review about the book.

 

Book Review -Back In the Saddle by Ruth Logan Herne

Back in the Saddle by Ruth Logan Herne was a very good book. It was an easy read that left me in anticipation of the second book in the series. The story was an investor gone bust- Colt- that returns to the family home that he had so wanted to get away from. The family dynamics of the brothers, sick father, housekeeper, and ranch hands are very believable and help to hold interest in the book. Though, the outcome of the book was predictable from the beginning, the story line of how the characters romance blossomed really was enjoyable.

I was given this book to review for free by Blogging for books. The opinion expressed above is my true opinion, and was not in any way influenced by others.

Together at the Table

Together at the Table by Hillary Manton Lodge was a wonderful conclusion to the Two Blue Doors trilogy. In the book Julietta resolves the questions about her family tree that have been dominating her thoughts since she found unexpected items in a cutting table that she inherited from her Grandmother. History took an unexpected turn that drew family members closer together, and also allowed Julietta to prepare for her own future in an unexpected way. Very easy read that drew me in from the first–I couldn’t wait to find out what happened romantically and historically, and was satisfied with the happy ending on both counts. I recommend reading all of the series.

I was provided this book for review by blogging for books, but my opinion is my own and has not been influenced by anyone.

Safe House – Book review

Safe House by Joshua Straub is a wonderful book about how to help your children to feel safe emotionally so that they will be able to thrive in their environment. It is a Christian book that helps to see ways to encourage children to be responsible, self regulating children and offers assistance to parents that is easy to follow and actually works! I’ve tried several suggestions with my daughter and have had wonderful results.

 

A wonderful read for anyone who has influence over children! Highly recommend. 

I received this book for free for an honest review for Blogging for Books.

Book Review: Ties that Bind by Cindy Woodsmall

Ties that Bind by Cindy Woodsmall is a wonderful book that leaves you wanting to know more about the characters. Ariana Brenneman is an Amish 20 year old that dearly loves her family and the Amish ways. She was hurt deeply by Quill Schlabach, a formerly Amish friend that has decided to leave the Amish life and help others that desire to leave as well. Ariana has a twist of fate come into play, and at the end of the book she is being forced to leave the Amish life that she loves. I so want to know what happens next, and can’t wait for the second installment in this series. Easy, and captivating read.

Book Cover for Ties that Bind

I was given this book to review by Blogging for Books. My opinions about the book are my own.

Book Review: Reservations for Two

Reservations for Two by Hillary Manton Lodge was a very good read. It is the second book in the Two Blue Doors Trilogy, but if you hadn’t read the first book, you would be able to understand the book. It tells the story of Juliette, a former food writer that is in the process of opening a restaurant, uncovering secrets of her family’s past, and pursuing romantic endeavors at the same time. I would highly recommend this book for a leisurely read.

A Review of “Thrive”

It has taken me a very long time to read the book Thrive by Ariana Huffington. The book has a great premise–there needs to be a better balance between work and home life, but there are a lot of statistical details that caused me to put the book down more than I do most books that I read. I loved how she suggested to have the third metric in our lives. As I read I found myself constantly thinking of my Bible and how Jesus life shows us to live. The third metric seems to line up with the Biblical way of managing time and making priorities other things instead of just work. Interesting read.

“I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review.”

Shake It Off

Have you ever had a message given to you that keeps coming at you from different directions that you really weren’t expecting? Well, that is what has happened to me recently with the message Shake It Off. First, I attended the P31 Women’s Retreat in September, and the song by Taylor Swift was used as a mood setting song. Visualize 200 women in a room with hands raised shaking them to symbolize leaving other peoples opinions behind so each woman can move forward with her Best Yes decisions, and focus on who God says that she is and not what others say. Secondly, my pastor preached a sermon this past Sunday called Shake It Off based on Acts 28: 1-6, and it really hit home with me.

Acts 28 Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. ² The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. ³ Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. ⁴ When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.” ⁵ But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. ⁶ The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.

Preacher Keith explained that vipers/snakes in the Bible are often used to refer to spirits that are sent your way by the enemy. We have to choose not to become a victim to the snakes, but rather to shake them off through standing firm in what the word of God says about us, and moving on. Satan knows that he can’t take away our salvation, so he will do anything that he can to rob us of our relationship with God, to take away our witness, or to steal our joy. Often he will send a snake our way to do so. Snakes can be anything that can get in the way of our relationship with God.

By nature, snakes are sneaky, self centered, self promoting, and self defending. God has called each of us to do something, and even the Apostle Paul carried wood. Don’t expect others to do things for you that you can do yourself. When snakes appear in your life, you must immediately take action and shake them off. Choose not to listen to the words that you know aren’t really true. Don’t keep carrying the past hurts and pains that have become snakes to you–the Bible says that we can walk on snakes. Reasons to shake it off: Snakes have an unchanging nature of their breed, the receive undeserved attention, they spread unwanted poison, and they cause unhealthy reactions.

The Savior Jesus Christ deserves the attention in our lives, not the snakes that we have chosen to carry around. Once you shake the snake off you have flexibility and credibility, but you need to make sure that you don’t give the action of shaking it off more attention than you are giving the cross. The very best way to handle snakes is to avoid them.

Obviously, God is trying to say something to me through two Shake It Off messages in as many months. I’ve been in serious prayer about the things (snakes) in my life that I need to shake off and move forward by dropping the snake at the foot of the cross.

Do you have anything in your life that could potentially be a snake to you? Well, it’s time to Shake it Off!

Refreshing leisurely read

Well, I finally did it! I took a break and read a for fun fiction book, and it was wonderful!

I read A Table by the Window by Hillary Manton Lodge, and it was a very refreshing read! The story is set in Portland, Oregon, and is about a food writer/chef. The story has a tinge of mystery, real world issues (online dating), and family drama! The book has recipes peppered throughout, and though I’m not a cook, there were actually some that  I will probably end up trying.

I read the book in a day, and am eagerly awaiting the second installment in this series. The writer leaves you wanting to know more!

Check out the author at her site http://www.hillarymantonlodge.com/blog.html or better yet–read the first chapter for yourself!

“I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review.” In exchange for my honest opinion of the book. This is one to check out! 

 

 

Run For God

Well, this past 12 weeks I’ve been on a journey that I really didn’t plan to embark on. Yes, it was one of those #SayWhat moments for me! Earlier in the year–I think it was April–my church started advertising a Bible Study called “Run for God” written by Mitchell Hollis. The mission statement in the book (Run for God pg 7) is “Preparing people to be better witnesses for Christ physically, mentally, and spiritually.”

I started getting the nudging in my soul to sign up, but I really didn’t want to. You see, I’m not physically fit–quite the opposite, in fact. I need to lose over 100 lbs, have a desk job, and walking for 15 minutes at a time, or up a flight of stairs was challenging for me, but that nudging just wouldn’t STOP! So, I talked to the organizer and signed up. The first meeting I was out of town, so I didn’t go, and I tried to find every excuse possible to not go to the second meeting, but…that nudging was still there, and I was convicted to go. I knew that I could hang with the Bible study part of plan, so there I was. 

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” Hebrews 12:1

Walking into that Bible study really changed my perspective. The leader had personally lost 90 pounds, so he understands my battle, and had very enlightening commentary, not to mention that he and his wife and children provide a wonderful example of a Christian family. Every week at least one member of the group would hang back with me, and walk our work out portion of the class rather than run their own race, to make sure that I knew I was part of the group. 

“You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?” Galatians 5:7

I learned that each person in our group was at a different spot in their race, Physically, mentally, and spiritually. All of us are striving to love God with all of our heart, mind, and soul, and need encouragement from one another because it seemed that we are all our own worst enemy. The focus has to remain on God, and you have to train in order to succeed. This is applicable to both our physical bodies, and our spiritual life. “Are you expecting great things with no spiritual sweat?” Run for God pg 65

The 5k was yesterday (August 17th). It was a wonderful experience for me. I didn’t sleep much Friday night. I was very nervous and filled with many questions–Would I be able to finish? What would the runners not with our group think about this out of shape walker? Then, I don’t care–I’m doing this for God and to prove to myself that I can do it. The self doubt and correction continued until I cranked up the praise songs on the way to the race. God gave me a peace about the event. I just wanted to finish, and it would be wonderful if I didn’t finish dead last.  

Our group met as a team and prayed before the event. Prior to meeting up with my group I had the opportunity to talk to several runners, all of who were very nice and supportive. Then we were off. The course did have quite a few hills, but it was an out and back course which proved very good for me. I was the only one on our team walking the event, so the other members on my team that were running would yell encouragement and claps at me as they passed! It was SO encouraging, and inevitably came at just the moment that I needed it to keep going. The runners that I had met before the race also offered encouragement as they passed! 

Then, when I had probably 1/2 mile to go I saw our leader running toward me. He joined me in my race, and walked with me, talking to me, and offering encouragement. I get teary eyed just thinking about what happened next–as I started to round the bend for the finish line–there they were–ALL of the  Run for God team members. They joined me for the last section of the race, encouraging me, and letting me know that they are proud of me. They dropped off just at the end to let me cross the finish line on my own. I completed my first 5k in just under 57 minutes! AND…I was not the last one to finish the race, though by the end of the race–I really wasn’t concerned about that anymore! 

The picture above is of our team just after the race. I am the one in the maroon shirt on the right side of the picture. 

Am I a runner now–no, but I’ve learned that -I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Phillippians 4:13

A HUGE thank you to all of the members of my Run for God team. Each of you holds a special place in my heart! 

To all of you who doubt if you can do something–take a chance–you may be very surprised, as I was, at what is waiting for you to experience!