Book Review: Embraced By God by Babbie Mason

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here is a wonderful devotional book to help you discover God’s unconditional love for YOU!   Embraced By God: Celebrating Who & Whose You Are is a 21 day devotional, broken down into seven different themes or promises with three devotions focusing on the each of the themes.  The promises are: God’s passion for you is unconditional, God’s picture of you is beautiful, God’s presence in you is perpetual, God’s provision for you is immeasurable, God’s plan for you is exceptional,  God’s power in you is accessible, and God’s promise in you is incomparable.  

In each chapter the author, Mrs. Babbie Mason, gives gives you four areas to contemplate by encouraging you to take personal action with. She asks you to “Think About His Love”, “Read About His Love”, “Pray About His Love” and to “Be About His Love”.  I found this book to be deep in someways because it touched my heart, yet like having a conversation with the author.  It’s one that any woman struggling about herself and if she is loved, especially by God, should absolutely read.  I highly recommend it!

I was given a complimentary copy plus one to give away of
Embraced By God: Celebrating Who & Whose You Are
from Litfuse Publicity

in exchange for posting my honest review and opinion.
and the additional information provided below: 

Enter Today and Save the Date-3/6!

About the book:

Have you ever wondered, “Does God really love me?
Do I really matter to him?”

HE LOVES YOU.

As a matter of fact, God loves you just as much as he loves His own Son.

In the pages of this heartwarming, thoughtful and life-affirming 21-day journey, award-winning gospel singer, songwriter, and teacher Babbie Mason reminds you, when you know you are loved by God and that you are in His eternal plan, you’ll never again wonder if your life matters.
Click for more information

 

About Babbie Mason:  Babbie Mason is a Dove Award-winning and Grammy nominated gospel singer, songwriter, author, creator of the Embrace: A Worship Event for Women ministry, professor of songwriting at Atlanta Christian College and Lee University, and a television talk-show host. She was inducted into the Christian Music Hall of Fame in 2010 and has appeared on numerous national television and radio programs. Babbie has been honored perform for Presidents Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, George H. W. Bush, George W. Bush, Lady Margaret Thatcher, Colin Powell, Steve Forbes among many others. Babbie performs a holiday special at Carnegie Hall every year. Babbie lives near Atlanta on a farm with her husband Charles. 

Blog tour schedule

BIBLE GIVEAWAY! Common English Thinline Bible RECORD TIME BEST SELLING TRANSLATION!

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ast week I wrote about the CEB Common English Thinline Bible and also had a giveaway of one.  Please look back at this blog post for the particulars on this Bible and you can also see who will be receiving the copy (a young man leaving for the Army in January). 

I would like to share some exciting things about the Common English Bible.  It is the bestselling translation in record time, being #10 on the CBA Bible Translation Best Seller list for the month of December, achieving this status after being in stores less than three months!!!  It was also named among the top ten religion stories of 2011!!!  I thought this was pretty neat to read, and kind of be a part of with receiving this and being able to share some with my readers here!

The one I am giving away is this pictured CEB Common English Thinline Bible which is a two tone, brick red and tan.  There are new editions of the Common English Bible that are available, including a Reference Bible and a Daily Companion Bible. Check out this web page to see the various Bibles available in this version, their style and features.  There are also Reference books for the Common English Bible such as a dictionary and an oversized map guide (with National Geographic maps).

What a great way to start the new year with reading God’s Word in an easy to understand language. Visit this webapge for free CEB downloads to get a feel of how this Bible reads.

The giveaway for this Bible has ended but a new one will be starting next  so please come back to sign up again.  The winner is announced in the comment section below.  Thanks!

www.CommonEnglishBible.com
Twitter @CommonEngBible (#CEBtour)
Like on FB: LIVE THE BIBLE
Facebook Group Page

I was given a complimentary copy of Common English Bible (CEB) from
The B & B Media Group, Inc.
in exchange for posting my honest review and opinion. 

Guest Post: A Question We Often Ask When Bad Things Happen…Why?

GUEST POST: A Question We Often Ask When Bad Things Happen…Why?

“When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don’t throw away the ticket and jump off. You sit still and trust the engineer.” –Corrie Ten Boom

As we travel across the United States, we pray for divine appointments.  What I mean by a divine appointment is an encounter with another person that God puts in our path –  someone who either encourages us or that we encourage in some way spiritually.

Recently, as we were traveling, we stayed in an RV park.  And as we were getting ready to leave, I took a shower in their public showers.  I finished drying my hair, getting dressed and I was just about ready to leave when Teri walked in.  We started talking and one thing led to another and before I knew it, she was telling me her life story.

I asked her if I could pray for her right there and she agreed and let me pray for her.  As we talked more, I found out that Teri had layer upon layer of hurt and heartache in her life – wounds that were deep; issues that I will never understand.  She had been sexually abused by her father as a young child.  Not only that, her mother, who was addicted to prescription medications and drugs, gave her to her father to have sex with him.  As she would cry afterward because of the pain and while her mother was cleaning her up, her mom would say hurtful things to her.  These things left deep scars and deep wounds in her.

The amazing thing is that Teri wasn’t even supposed to be there at that time that day.  She was actually going to go to the bank and had several errands to run, but felt like God told her to come to the RV park.  I told her I believed it was a divine appointment.

We talked about forgiveness and how I will never understand this side of heaven why certain things happen.  One of those things that I won’t understand fully is why this type of abuse happened to her and many others around the world.

One day as I was struggling to understand the answers to some “why” questions in my own life, God gave me a powerful illustration.  He showed me that for me to try to understand “why” and figure out my life is like teaching a two year old physics and calculus.  No matter how much you try to explain these subjects to a two year old, they will not understand it.  Their brains are not developed to the point to fully comprehend these topics.

I believe in the same way, God has shown me that I’m like that two year old trying to understand why bad things happen to people in this world.  There are certain things that I believe I will not fully understand until I get to heaven.  Why?  Well, because I still have a human brain.  I am not God.  So, on that day, as Teri and I talked about how important forgiveness is – even though she has every excuse and every right in the world to not want to forgive her mother for what had happened – that forgiveness is truly what will set her free and allow her to begin healing from the inside out.

We prayed together again.  After we finished praying, Teri hugged me and I saw hope in her eyes.  Even though I don’t have all the answers, I do know the One who does.  He reminds me to bring my concerns, my questions, and the things I don’t understand to Him.  He is able to carry them.  Many times He does give us understanding and clarity this side of heaven, but when He doesn’t, like the quote I shared in the beginning of this post by Corrie ten Boom, “I want to sit still and trust the engineer.”

Shelley Hitz is the co-author of Forgiveness Formula: Finding Lasting Freedom, along with her husband, CJ.  In this book she talks more about this topic, “when bad things happen.”  Visit their book website to check out their full virtual book tour schedule and special gifts with purchase at: www.TheForgivenessFormula.com

Bible Review & Giveaway!! Common English Bible (CEB)

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f you are looking for a special last minute gift, I can give you an idea for one of the best ones you can give that would be at your local Christian book store.  How about a new Bible?  I like this Bible – a lot.  I was given the great privilege of receiving this CEB Common English Thinline Bible which is a  two tone with brick red on the upper part and tan on the bottom part.  It is a really nice size, yet very easy for me to read (with my trifocals).  Here are some of the specific features:

Measures: 5 3/8″ x 8 3/8″
Font: 9 point type
Pages: 1264
Ribbon marker
Double column format
Black letter text
Presentation page
In-text subject headings
Study and reading helps
Topical index
8 full-color maps by National Geographic

I like to know the background of a Bible translation, found this information very fascinating to read, including the fact that it took 120 biblical scholars and editors, 77 reading group leaders, and more than 500 average readers from around the world who joined together to clearly translate the Bible’s original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek languages into 21st century English.  In total, more than 700 people worked jointly until it’s completion.

I will be sharing more about this Common English Bible (CEB) next week.  In the meantime, I am hosting a giveaway of this Bible.  All you have to do is tell me you are interested in it either in the comment section here or on my FaceBook page with this post, and I will choose one winner next Friday (December 23 @ 11 pm EST) and one the following Friday (December 30 @ 11 pm EST) with my new blog post.  (GIVEAWAY CLOSED! WINNER IS MARKED IN COMMENTS . . . Look at current blog posts for newest giveaways.)

Be sure to join or follow:

www.CommonEnglishBible.com
Twitter @CommonEngBible (#CEBtour)
Like on FB: LIVE THE BIBLE
Facebook Group Page

I was given a complimentary copy of Common English Bible (CEB) from
The B & B Media Group, Inc.
in exchange for posting my honest review and opinion. 

Book Review: The Gospel Story Bible by Marty Machowski

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re you looking for a way to start the new year, possibly with family devotions?      I just received The Gospel Story Bible: Discovering Jesus in the Old and New Testaments and I highly recommend it.  It is a nice, brightly colored hard-covered book, with over 300 pages.  It covers Genesis through Revelation in 158 stories and clearly presents God’s plan of Salvation.  Each story ends with “Let’s Talk About It” which includes three questions for discussion.

The stories are short enough to keep a child’s attention, yet detailed enough to give the accurate story from the Bible.  The stories ends with how it pertains to us now and the need for God’s salvation.  This book is also very much eye captivating! Each story page is a different glossy color and has modernistic type colorful drawings. I am very impressed with The Gospel Story Bible and believe it would be ideal for most homes and would make a great Christmas gift!

I was given a complimentary copy of The Gospel Story Bible 
from The B & B Media Group, Inc.
in exchange for posting my honest review and opinion.
Below is more information provided by The B & B Media Group, Inc.

Marty Machowski’s new offering for families transforms hearts one story at a time

Sometimes it’s easy to forget Jesus in the midst of frantic schedules, family squabbles and conflicting priorities. For many Christians, God often becomes little more than an afterthought after days absorbed and depleted by the busyness of life. But the truth is that he is the hero of every story—including the mundane, ordinary ones we experience on a regular basis. That is why Marty Machowski beckons families to take time out from the daily grind to be transformed by the message of the Good News in his latest release, The Gospel Story Bible: Discovering Jesus in the Old and New Testaments(New Growth Press, November 2011).

Based on the ESV Bible, this uniquely illustrated Bible storybook uses 156 stories to present God’s plan of salvation in Christ from its opening narrative in Genesis to its finale in Revelation. This easy-to-read storybook written for children from preschool to high school introduces readers to many captivating people, places and events from the Bible’s Old and New Testaments. At the same time, Machowski skillfully connects the individual stories to the overall gospel narrative of how God redeemed a broken world through sending his son Jesus to save his people. Each story ends by connecting to Jesus and his gospel of grace. By sharing these Bible stories with each other, young and old will learn together the life-changing habit of recognizing the presence and workings of Christ in every moment of their day.

“The gospel is deep enough to keep the oldest and wisest parents learning and growing all their lives, yet simple enough to change the heart of the first grader who has just begun to read,” says Machowski. “That’s what makes The Gospel Story Bible ideal as a storybook for a preschooler, a devotional for a grade school student, a refresher for the adult believer or an introduction for the new one. Parents and children will learn together to read the whole Bible as one story, with one hero—Jesus Christ.”

Vibrant illustrations by A. E. Macha, child-friendly discussion questions and Scripture references accompany each story to help lead families in exploring the Bible. Parents and teachers will be delighted to discover how easily even a young child can understand the original text of a story that he or she has already come to love. A companion to the family devotional Long Story Short: Ten-Minute Devotions to Draw Your Family to God and the soon-to-be-released Gospel Story Sunday school curriculum (February 2012), The Gospel Story Bibleis also a great resource for churches, Sunday school classes, home-schoolers and Christian schools who want to teach their children to apply the gospel to every situation and make Jesus the most important part of their everyday lives.

About the Author: Marty Machowski is a Family Life Pastor at Covenant Fellowship Church, a Sovereign Grace Ministries church in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, where he has served on the pastoral staff for twenty-three years. Marty leads Promise Kingdom, the children’s ministry of Covenant Fellowship. He is also the author of Long Story Short: Ten-Minute Devotions to Draw Your Family to God and the forthcoming Gospel Story Sunday school curriculum. He and his wife Lois and their six children reside in West Chester, Pennsylvania.

Book Review: The Christmas Shoppe by Melody Carlson

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ust in time for Christmas is this newly published book by Melody Carlson, The Christmas Shoppe.    It’s a quick, easy reading book that might just be the one to take along with you on Black Friday as you wait in those long lines!  The story is of a small town that keeps track of everybody, so when an unknown, older woman, Matilda Honeycutt, who doesn’t seem to fit into their culture, buys a local building through an auction, there are a lot of stirrings in the town.  The local councilman is one most upset by the transaction and encourages the negative rumors to spin through the town.  

Matilda continues with developing her thrift store, filling it with second hand items, and despite the rumors, she is the welcoming one to those around her.  Those who enter her shop are expecting to tear it apart, come out changed in unexpected ways.

The author, Melody Carlson, has written several Christmas books which I have enjoyed reading.  My older daughters love any books by Melody Carlson, and here is another dreamy book to read.  I appreciate that The Christmas Shoppe is not a “romantic” type book, but a fun, easy reading “fluff” book that was charming to read.

Read an excerpt here.

I was given a complimentary copy of The Christmas Shoppe from Revell,
a division of Baker Publishing Group
in exchange for posting my honest review and opinion.

Book Review: Real Moms Love To Eat by Beth Aldrich

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s a mom who loves to cook AND eat,  with having had a dozen kids, I can always find the right reason for making an additional meal or extra snacks with kids coming and going and many celebrations from birthdays to new jobs, engagements, getting a license, first deer, etc. I’ve gone on numerous diets through the years, and it’s funny, when I am really dedicated to it, I realize how much that I snack and “try” foods throughout the day.  I eat what the kids have leftover on their plates, I eat while I am making meals to sample it, I skip a meal, but am snacking on what I am making for the kid’s lunch, such as a spoonful of peanut butter or  munching on potato chips. I eat the brownie or cookie dough as I’m making a special treat, and eat late night snacks with my husband when we are finally alone.  I eat when I am stressed, especially chocolate.  And, I just plain like food.  I am slowly working on losing weight and have lost over 25 pounds in the last year, especially before my oldest son’s wedding. (My goal is as we marry off each child, I lose weight – gained it with each child, so sounds like the perfect reversal, huh?!?!).  Yeah, I guess I am a real mom who loves to eat!  

So, with our daughter’s upcoming spring wedding, more goals need to be set and more weight to be lost! What great timing with Beth Aldrich’s book, Real Moms Love to Eat, coming out January 3, 2012.  I know crash diets don’t work. I’ve lost . . .  and gained, lots more.  I need to add in more permanent changes which is what  this book shares, gradually making life-style changes that will last a life-time.  The book gives 21 days of meal ideas along with recipes to help towards this goal.  The author writes in a fun, conversational engaging way that keeps her readers attention.  Several chapters definitely caught my attention:   “Make Over Salt, Fat, and Sugar (Your Dysfunctional Friends)” and  ”Tame the Food-cravings Dragon“.  I need something realistic that keeps me on track with goals and it looks like Real Moms Love to Eat will give great encouragement to help me with my love affair with food. 

And, since I am a blogger, and if you are too, we get even additional ADVANCE encouragement!  We can get a preview of Real Moms Love to Eat and spread the word about the author’s Beth Aldrich’s  “Food Affairiate” program for bloggers. And even if you are not a blogger, you can pre-order the book and enter for some special prizes.  Check it out!

“I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Beth Aldrich – Real Moms Love to Eat blogging program, for a chance to get 3,000 My SocialMoms Rewards points. For more information on how you can participate, click here.” 

Book Review: Reclaiming Lily by Patti Lacy

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eing I am adopted and have a heart towards kids who are adopted, Reclaiming Lily was a book I really wanted to read.   When I was adopted in the early 1960′s adoption was for the most part, a “hush-hush” type thing.  There was no such thing as “open adoptions” or even open talk of it.  I have dark eyes and hair like my adoptive dad, so there was no need to explain to others that I was adopted.  I believe this was the case in many adoptions during this time which left more adopted kids wondering their past and the reason for why someone would give them up.  I believe adopted kids even with open adoptions and fully understanding the love of both sets of parents, still struggle.  And, I can only imagine the struggles adoptive parents go through in showing their unconditional love, fearing losing their child and the siblings desires to know their separated siblings.  So many of these emotions were portrayed throughout Reclaiming Lily.  I found this to be a hard-t0-put down book, quite emotional and heart stirring.  I highly recommend it!

I was given a complimentary copy of Reclaiming Lily from B & B Media Group in exchange for posting my honest review and opinion along with the information provided below:

About Reclaiming Lily:     A storm the size of Texas brews when Gloria Powell and Kai Chang meet in a Dallas hotel. They have come to discuss the future of Lily, the daughter Gloria adopted from China and the sister Kai hopes to reclaim. Kai is a doctor who had to give up her little sister during the Cultural Revolution and has since discovered that an inherited genetic defect may be waiting to fatally strike Lily.

Gloria’s relationship with her daughter is tattered and strained, and the arrival of Kai, despite the woman’s apparent good intentions, makes Gloria fearful. Gloria longs to restore her relationship with Lily, but in the wake of this potentially devastating diagnosis, is Kai an answer to prayer…or will her arrival force Gloria to sacrifice more than she ever imagined?

About the Author:Patti Lacy graduated from Baylor University in 1977 with a BS in education. She taught at Heartland Community College in Normal, Illinois, until she retired in 2006 to pursue writing full time. She and her husband, Alan, have two grown children. Visit Patti at http://www.pattilacy.com.

Book Review: Along Wooded Paths by Tricia Goyer

(see below for more info)

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here’s just one thing I didn’t like about this book . . .  I have to wait for the next one to find out how the story ends!  I think one of the things I appreciated the most about  Along Wooded Paths is the way the author, Tricia Goyer, weaved the lives of both the “Englisch” and the Amish, and how the Mariana, the young Amish girl in the story, begins to look at what she believes and why, something we all need to do with our “religious” beliefs, convictions and our faith walk.   

Though this is the second book in a series, you can easily read this book without having had to read the first book, Beside Still Waters.  I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and definitely will be looking forward to reading the sequel! 

I was given a complimentary copy of Along Wooded Paths: A Big Sky Novel from B & B Media Group in exchange for posting my honest review and opinion along the provided information below:

About Along Wooded Paths:  All she wanted was a simple Amish life . . . But now Marianna Sommer finds herself depending on Englisch neighbors. Although proud of living apart from the world, she and her newly relocated Amish family have discovered that life in the remote mountains of Montana requires working together.

As Marianna begins helping those different from herself—and receiving their help—her heart contemplates two directions. She’s torn between the Amish man from Indiana whom she has long planned on marrying and the friendly Englischer who models a closer walk with God than she’s ever seen before.

Who should have young Marianna’s heart? What is God asking her to sacrifice? Her traditions? Her community? The answer is found along the wooded paths. Read an excerpt 

About the author:  Tricia Goyer is the author of thirty books including Songbird Under a German Moon, The Swiss Courier, and Blue Like Play Dough: The Shape of Motherhood in the Grip of God. She won Historical Novel of the Year in 2005 and 2006 from ACFW, and was honored with the Writer of the Year award from Mt. Hermon Writer’s Conference in 2003. Tricia’s book Life Interrupted was a finalist for the Gold Medallion in 2005. In addition to her novels, Tricia writes non-fiction books and magazine articles for publications like MomSense and Thriving Family. Tricia is a regular speaker at conventions and conferences, and has been a workshop presenter at the MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) International Conventions. She and her family make their home in Little Rock, Arkansas where they are part of the ministry of FamilyLife.

For more about Tricia and her other books visit www.triciagoyer.com

Tricia is celebrating the release of Along Wooded Paths with a Fabulous Facebook party on October 18th. She’ll be giving away prizes and a sneak peak at the next book in the Big Sky series.

 Then during the second half of the party she’ll be hosting a LIVE AUTHOR CHAT on her website and announcing something BIG! CLICK the button (below) to RSVP for the party – then go here to sign up for the Live Author Chat.  

Book Review: Hell is Real (But I Hate to Admit It) by Brian Jones

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grew up hearing many “hell, fire and brimstone” type sermons. Now, hell seems like a word not mentioned often except for an expletive word.  I believe we can get comfortable in our Christian lives and forget the eternal consequences of those that do not believe.  We have heard in the news and recently published books, those that doubt if hell really exists.  Be prepared for, Hell Is Real (But I Hate to Admit It) to renew your concerns for those around you and their eternal where-abouts.  

The author, Brian Jones, even went through seminary, and spent four years as a pastor, not believing there was a hell.  I appreciate the way he shared when God gripped his heart and it landed him flat on his face, begging God, and later others for forgiveness.  He was surprised with some, including those in leadership, of their lack of response.  

Hell Is Real is an easy reading book, which is one that should be read by all, especially to set our hearts on fire to encourage Believers to be more concerned of the eternal destination of others. Brian Jones shares many stories throughout, along with a lot of Scripture. He writes that the lack of our care and urgency in sharing about hell, Christians “will inadvertently create the single greatest holocaust human civilization has ever seen.”

I highly recommend this convicting book.

Watch the video trailer!

I was given a complimentary copy of
Hell Is Real
from B & B Media Group
in exchange for posting my honest review and opinion.

BIBLE Review: God Girl Bible

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ne of the things that thrills my heart  is when one of our older kids asks for a new Bible. It thrills me too with our younger ones, but some of that can be the excitement of wanting their first Bible.  Our daughter just had her 15th birthday several weeks ago, and one thing she wanted for her birthday was a new Bible.  She specifically wanted one that had room to write notes by the verses and one that looked “girly”.  I love how God works these desires of our heart out because Revell Books sent me an e-mail asking if I would review a Bible along with one of my teenagers. God Girl Bible  is definitely a “girly” Bible!  I’ve seen her reading  it numerous times in this last week, and her coming up to me to share different things she has found.  

Her eyes lit up as soon as she saw it, so I know she liked the look of it!  The picture above does not show the details of this Bible.  The cover is a soft imitation leather. The pink on the side is a deeper pink and a soft (not bright) white top and back.  The branches that show in the picture are engraved into the cover – it’s not colored as it shows.  The print is a deep, dark purple.  It’s very easy to read (even for this mom who wears trifocals).  It is a classy looking Bible.

So, I asked her what she liked about the God Girl Bible best, and she said the introductions to each book of the Bible.  It usually gives about two pages information, including, who the author is, when it was written, “The Gist” of the book (summary), “Things to look for”, and “Must-Know Terms and Verses“.  She also really likes the different reading plans at the end of the Bible.

As a mom, I like the little “comments” throughout that can catch my daughter’s eye and help her think more of what she is reading.  There are “Ask Yourself” boxes scattered throughout, which ask questions such as “Does a certain problem keep coming up in my life”  Could I be doing something that keeps making this thing happen to me?”  There are 200 half-page devotions also throughout the God Girl Bible .

Check this out to see if this would be the Bible for a girl in your life!  Here is a blog page about the God Girl Bible.  You can also learn about the version for this Bible, God’s Word Translation.  And one of the neat things is the outreach there is that goes with this Bible at GodGirl.Com from Hayley DiMarco, the contributor for this Bible.

I was given a complimentary copy of
God Girl Bible
Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
in exchange for posting my honest review and opinion.

Book Review & GIVEAWAY: Gabby, God’s Little Angel by Sheila Walsh

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couple of our children have gone through times of nightmares or being scared to go to sleep at night.  We pray with them and talk often of how Jesus sees them and never leaves them and also that there are angels with them.  This book, Gabby, God’s Little Angel is a perfect book to read to young ones, affirming that angels are watching them and that the job God has for them as well.  

Gabby, God’s Little Angel is the story of “Gabby”, an guardian angel in training, to watch over a little girl named Sophie who is going to ride on a pony named Glitter.  Sophie is worried about it, as one of her first experiences on a pony was not good.  The book is based on the Scripture verse:

  The Lord is your protection . . .  .
He has put his angels in charge of you.
They will watch over you wherever you go.
Psalm 91:9, 11

I appreciate that the author, Sheila Walsh, also does not reference to people, children or babies that have died, as our angels.  Instead, at one point the Gabby says about a playground that she never really played on the ground and doesn’t know if that would be a lot of fun!  Instead this shows me that Sheila probably believes, as I do, that angels are a totally different being God has created, separate from human beings.

Gabby, God’s Little Angel is geared for children ages 4-8, yet when I read it to my four year old son,two of my girls older than 8 were listening intently.  :)   The book is more geared towards girls, though my little guy did not seem to mind.  I hope Sheila comes out with a more boyish one of this angel storyline!  I highly recommend this book!

AND . . . I have a copy to give away!  Here’s how you can get multiple entries:

1. Just leave a comment below!
2. Mention about this giveaway on YOUR blog with a link back here
3. Mention about this giveaway on YOUR Facebook with a link back here
4. Twitter about it with a link back here (here’s a shortcut link:  http://wp.me/p97XK-3dI )
5. Join my Facebook Writing Canvas blog page
6. Leave a note on my Facebook Wall.

For EACH one that you do above, please leave a SEPARATE comment with this blog post.  I will have an random number generator pick one of the comments (I will number each comment).  This will close on Thursday, October 13th at 10 pm EST and the winner announced on Friday, October 14th.

This is open to those within the continental USA only, unless you can pay for shipping.

I was given a complimentary copy of  Gabby, God’s Little Angel
from Litfuse Publicity Group
in exchange for posting my honest review and opinion.

* * *

Listed at:

COMMENTS ARE CLOSED!  A WINNER HAS BEEN CHOSEN!

 

 

Book Review: Megan’s Secrets: What My Mentally Disabled Daughter Taught Me about Life by Mike Cope

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f you’ve read my blog for awhile now, you know I don’t go long without mentioning my missed children in heaven.  Though the story the author wrote of his daughter in Megan’s Secrets: What My Mentally Disabled Daughter Taught Me about Life is so different than the story of our two children, so much I could relate to.  It also reminded me again to treasure our gifts of life.  Megan was a little girl that only lived ten years but she taught a lifetime of lessons to many, especially her father, which he wrote, divided into four parts in his book:  God is a Heart Specialist, Weak is the New Strong, Life Together is Our Only Hope, and The End is Not the End.

Though we did not nor do not have a mentally disabled child (but do have a heart-disabled child) I think anyone that wants to understand what a family goes through when they lose a child would greatly benefit with Megan’s Secrets.  And of course, the family that has gone through a loss, would so as well.  One of the subtitles of his chapters was “Intubated by Friends” where he shares the story of his son getting in an accident ten years after his daughter died.  Oh, could I relate, as just five weeks after our 16 year old son died, two of our sons were in a serious accident.  As we left our home to rush to the accident another son was on the floor crying out saying “Not again, not again” and we said the same thing and pleaded to God to spare our sons’ lives.  He did, and he did with the author as well.  I appreciated what he wrote:  

“As I look back now, I realize that we survived the wreck because of intubation.  Not just the breathing assistance Chris received from physicians – but the breathing done for us by friends when we couldn’t breathe for fear, the praying done for us when we were too tired to pray.  It’s the same way we’d survived the death of Megan.  It’s how we survive all of life’s disappointments and losses.”  

The author shares about grief, a word so much many just cannot comprehend until you are in the midst of it, how friends will get back to their normal lives and “faith would help but not be a magic salve.”  Wow!  I’ve often thought so many meant well, but they drifted off, and don’t remember after many years the birthdays and death date we still go through, seemingly alone.  Mr. Cope writes how going through the death of a child is a private club which no one wishes for more members and there are no recruiters.  When I read what his friend, Ted wrote to him, I agreed with his picture of grief:  

” I have decided that grief is more like a dance than a journey.  There are steps forward and backward and side to side.  It doesn’t really seem like there is progress, just moving around a dark room in different directions.  The song is slow and sad.  I wish there were more choreographed steps to the dance.”  

Throughout Megan’s Secrets he writes the things he learned in Megan’s brief life.  It reminded me to treasure that child-like faith we can find in our own children.  It reminded me too of the things Matthew taught us in his 16 years, especially his willingness to share his faith and not be ashamed. 

Megan’s Secrets was a heart-touching book to read.  I highly recommend it.

I was given a complimentary copy of
Megan’s Secrets: What My Mentally Disabled Daughter Taught Me about Life
from The B&B Media Group
in exchange for posting my honest review and opinion.

Information Article: Boy Scouts of America

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of
Boy Scouts of America for SocialSpark.
All opinions are 100% mine.

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 arlier in the year, I wrote a book review for The Legacy of Lord Baden-Powell: Father of Scouting by my son’s  grandma-in-law, Eleanor Clark.  Mrs. Clark has a passion and goal to see one million new boys recruited into Boy Scouts of America.  Why you ask?  Mrs. Clark told Christian News Wire:

“A country is only as strong as its youngest citizens. Reach the children with fundamental values, and you reach a nation. Scouting does just that, I’ve seen it in my children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.”

Many young boys are latch-key kids, going home after school to an empty home where both mom and dad are working or living in a single parent home where the parent is at work.  With the school year having just begun, with making new friends and meeting new teachers, possibly even in a whole new school environment, being involved in a stable Boy Scout’s after school can help him build his confidence and continue friendships after school.  

Boy Scouts also gives the opportunity for the family to be involved.  Sometimes us parents just need the push to stop, pause and do something with our children, and with Boy Scouts, this gives the opportunity. They teach the boys wholesome value, beliefs and integrity while building and encouraging family relationships. We have  friends who have been involved in Boy Scouts, where the fathers and sons have gone on camping trips and done community services together which has not only taught the boys good ethics but helped develop the father/son bond.  

To Be A Scout no longer just means learning how to tie various knots or cook a meal over a fire. A new curriculum is being introduced to the Scouts called STEM which stands for: Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.  A Robotics badge can be earned while the Scouts develop these critical skills.  Also, the above mentioned book, The Legacy of Lord Baden-Powell, can also earn an activity badge for reading the book, answering questions and recruiting a new scout. 

Boy Scouts is one avenue available for families to help strengthen bonds and to encourage wholesomeness and values.  Check into it in your local area.

Book Review: A Lancaster County Christmas by Suzanne Woods Fisher

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know how I can get into a frenzy worrying about one of my children getting home late.  I think one of a mom’s worst nightmares would be to have a child missing.  A Lancaster County Christmas by author Suzanne Woods Fisher, is the story of an English couple who get stranded at an Amish family’s home and are caught up in the search for the Amish couple’s only child.  The English couple have grown apart in their marriage,  The Amish woman has deep pains dealing with infertility.  The Amish and English woman strike up a friendship, both hurting in different ways, that brings a bond.

 A Lancaster County Christmas is an easy, quick reading book.  I’ve read other books by Suzzanne Woods Fisher that I have liked more, but this was a charming yet predictable story that gave a new look at forgiveness and miracles that can still happen.  Christmas is not the “focus” and is a good story to read any time of the year.

I was given a complimentary copy of
A Lancaster County Christmas
from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group,
in exchange for posting my honest review and opinion
and is now available from your favorite bookseller.