Take Me In -- One of My Favorite Songs

On the way home from church this afternoon I was listening to my Kutless CD (Strong Tower) when one of my favorite songs came on -- Take Me In. This song says it all for the Christian.  We no longer have to stand on the outside looking in, going through a man to reach God.  Instead, we have the awesome freedom to go directly to the Lord Jesus Who is always ready and willing to hear us. 

God made a way for the ancients to come to Him, to have their sins covered, by going to the temple and offering sacrifices through the priests.  The priests would then sprinkle the blood on the altar, the mercy seat (the place where sins were atoned), in the holy of holies.  No one other than the appointed priest was allowed to go directly into the presence of God in the holy of holies (Hebrews 9:6-7). 

When Jesus came to earth in the form of a man, He willingly gave His life on the cross.  When He died, the veil that separated the holy of holies from the rest of the temple (separation from direct contact with God) was torn from the TOP to the bottom (Matthew 27:50-53).  Listen to what the writer of Hebrews says:

When the Anointed One arrived as the High Priest of the good things that are to come, He entered through a greater and more perfect sanctuary that was not part of the earthly creation or made by human hands.  He entered once for all time into the most holy place -- entering, not with the blood of goats or calves or some other prescribed animal, but offering His own blood and thus obtaining redemption for us for all time.  Think about it:  if the blood of bulls or of goats, or the sprinkling of ashes from a heifer, restores the defiled to bodily cleanliness and wholeness; then how much more powerful is the blood of the Anointed One, Who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself as a spotless sacrifice to God, purifying your conscience from the dead things of the world to the service of the living God?  ... Since what was given in the old covenant was the earthly sketch of the heavenly reality, this was sufficient to cleanse the earthly sanctuary; but in heaven, a more perfect sacrifice was needed.  The Anointed One did not enter into handcrafted sacred spaces -- imperfect copies of heavenly originals -- but into heaven itself, where He stands in the presence of God on our behalf.  There He does not offer Himself over and over as a sacrifice (as the high priest on earth does when he enters the most holy place each year with blood other than his own) because that would require His repeated suffering since the beginning of the world.  No, He has appeared once now, at the end of the age, to put away sin forever by offering Himself as a sacrifice.  Hebrews 9:11-14, 23-26 (read the notes on these verses!)

This means that, as the writer of Take Me In states, I no longer need a high priest to sacrifice for my sins.  Jesus did that for me.  And as such, I can go directly to Him (there is nothing separating me from Him) if I have accepted Him and am covered in His blood.  He took my sins (and yours) upon Himself when He died on the cross, and took them directly to God in heaven, covered by His blood. 

Take me into the holy of holies by the blood of the Lamb, because I want to see Your face, Lord.

~ Reese

BOOK REVIEW: Hidden Falls, Episode 1: Ordinary Secrets

Season One, Episode1: Ordinary Secrets

By Olivia Newport

Published in 2013 

Shiloh Run Studios, an imprint of Barbour Publishing, Inc.

It sounds like a new TV show, one shown on a weekly basis, that leaves you in suspense waiting for the next week.  One that is full of interesting characters and gives a glimpse into one day in the lives of the characters, not enough for the whole picture or even the whole truth (things may be very different than they seem), but enough to make you wonder...  

In the first episode, which happens to be Ordinary Secrets, the scene is set for a gala honoring the town's most loved teacher, Quinn.  That's his last name, by the way.  His real name is Ted or Teddy, or Theodore, something like that, but everyone just calls him Quinn.  He has been the high school history teacher for thirty years now, and because of the impact he has had on his students and his town, a gala has been scheduled to honor him.  The only thing is, he doesn't want to be honored.  He seems to be a humble man who enjoys helping others, but does not want public recognition.  

Throw in the town mayor, Sylvia, who is also the owner of one of the local shops and who has loved Quinn for nearly all of the thirty years he has been in town, who even went RING shopping with him at one point, and you start to get some suspense.  Then add former students who left years ago and are returning only because of their love for Quinn.  One in particular, Ethan, is finishing up his fifth of six years of his neurosurgical residency; if it weren't for that handwritten note from Quinn, Ethan would not have showed up.  A personal request for a heart to heart with Quinn cannot be refused. There is a newly arrived trial lawyer by the name of Jack Parker who along with his family is escaping big city life and it's accompanying problems.  Liam is a respected financier who is afraid of commitment and is also hiding a secret; his younger brother Cooper is with the sheriff's department.  Nicole is an ace reporter who works the crime scene in the big city and once dated Ethan for a long period of time, but that relationship fell to the wayside with their differing life decisions.  Lauren, a girl who returned home and works for the church, is nervous about an upcoming church project in which she seems to have no control but in which Quinn has assured her everything has been handled.  And we can't leave out Dani, a woman who does odd jobs for everyone around town but is uncomfortable in public settings.  There you have it, a great mix. You get a glimpse of each character's life, just enough to know that there might be some secrets buried under the surface, but we'll just have to dig.  

This episode opens on Saturday morning of the big day, and ends just as everyone is about to be re-introduced to their teacher and mentor, Quinn.  A loud noise goes off -- no problem, someone set the cannon to the wrong time (cannon?).  Introductions continue, the curtain is raised, and...........  Hmm, come back next week to find out what happened!

Ordinary Secrets is the first episode in a series of thirteen which are set to be released on a weekly basis beginning January 24, 2014.  It will take no time at all to read this first episode.  There is a Facebook page set up where you can interact with other readers, get insights from the characters and join contests -- who doesn't love contests?  And especially great is this offer,  getting a free copy of  the first episode.  Are you going to join the fun and see what happens next in Hidden Cove?  I hope so...

In order to comply with new Federal Trade Commission regulations, please note that this book was provided compliments of Handlebar Publishing's book review program.

Prayer & Wisdom

As I was reading in my Bible this evening, I was so impressed by a prayer of the apostle Paul for the church in Colossae that I wanted to share it with you.  This is a very relevant prayer for all Christians, one I want to read frequently and apply to myself, which comes from Colossians 1:9-14:

Father, may they clearly know Your will and achieve the height and depth of spiritual wisdom and understanding.  May their lives be a credit to You, Lord; and what's more, may they continue to delight You by doing every good work and growing in the true knowledge that comes from being close to You.  Strengthen them with Your infinite power, according to Your glorious might, so that they will have everything they need to hold on and endure hardship patiently and joyful.  Thank You, Father, as You have made us eligible to receive our portion of the inheritance given to all those set apart by the light.  You have rescued us from dark powers and brought us safely into the kingdom of Your Son, whom You love and in whom we are redeemed and forgiven of our sins [through His blood].

Lord God, please help me to apply this to my life.

Here is another beautiful portion from the same book, chapter 3 verses 16 - 17:

Let the word of the Anointed One richly inhabit your lives.  With all wisdom teach, counsel, and instruct one another.  Sing the psalms, compose hymns and songs inspired by the Spirit, and keep on singing -- sing to God from hearts full and spilling over with thankfulness.  Surely, no matter what you are doing (speaking, writing, or working), do it all in the name of Jesus our Master, sending thanks through Him to God our Father.

 Awesome words of wisdom!

~ Reese 

Taken from Compass, the Study Bible for Navigating Your Life, The Voice Translation published by Thomas Nelson.  See earlier review:  http://reeseone.blogspot.com/2013/10/book-review-compass-study-bible-for.html

BOOK REVIEW: The War on Christmas

Battles in Faith, Tradition and Religious Expression
Bodie Hodge, General Editor
Published by Answers in Genesis, 2013

What is Christmas to you?  What should Christmas be?  What is myth, tradition, or the truth behind our celebration?  Trusted Bible scholars at Answers in Genesis have set about to answer these questions and many more.  This book is a collection of essays by several authors answering questions and countering traditions, which makes for some overlap in content.  However, if you have a question or wonder about a Christmas tradition, or why we should even celebrate Christmas, this book will help.  It is an interesting book which relies heavily on the Bible (as it should since we are supposed to be celebrating Christ's birth), but also presents archaeological and astronomical evidence as well as customs and traditions of the time of Christ's birth.  By the way, you do know that Christ is not part of Jesus' name, right?  It is a title which means "the anointed One, the Messiah", and the angel who appeared to the shepherds used the title for Jesus (for unto you ...is born a Savior, Who is Christ the Lord).  

Why title the book "the War on Christmas"?  Did you know that there actually is a "war" on Christmas?  We see evidence of this every day -- schools that don't allow Christmas plays, winter break instead of Christmas holidays, the pure commercialism of Christmas.  The traditions of Santa Claus and Saint Nick, some of which are based on good, but do not relate in any way to the birth of the Savior.  Yes, there is a war going on...

When we think about Christmas we generally think about the Baby in the manger.  But why did He even come? Why was it so special then and now?  Because this Baby is God's own Son, Who grew to be a sinless Man who was sacrificed for the sins of the world.  

What was the order of events surrounding the birth of Christ; what did the angels really say; were there three kings?  Did Mary have other children after Jesus?  Was Jesus really born in a stable?  You'll find all this and more in The War on Christmas.

I hope you will not only enjoy the book, but also be inspired to remember the real reason for the celebration.

In order to comply with new Federal Trade Commission regulations, please note that this book was provided compliments of Handlebar Publishing's book review program.

BOOK REVIEW: Compass, the Study Bible for Navigating Your Life

Published by:  Thomas Nelson, Inc. 2012

I am a die-hard King James Bible reader.  I love the language of the translation, and have never felt I was in over my head, as many claim to be when they read this translation of the Bible.  Maybe it's because I have been reading it all of my life.  Several years ago I received a different version of the Bible, made a comparison of some of my favorite parts and areas I consider very important doctrinally, and found that comparing the two versions was enlightening.  So when Shelton Interactive offered to allow me to review the new Compass, the Study Bible for Navigating Your Life, I was thrilled.  I was especially excited to see this new translation, because it features The Voice translation by Ecclesia Bible Society (I had previously reviewed The Voice in it's New Testament form).  

Let me just say I can't put this Bible down.  It has become my at home go to translation.  Yes, I still carry my King James to church, but now I compare the two and even find I like how the Compass Study Bible translates into more understandable ways of speaking (not modern language, but in ways of saying things and getting the point across).  

If you are familiar with The Voice, you already know that the translation is written in script format, such as when a person is speaking the speaker is identified, followed by what the speaker says; instead of saying something like "then Jesus said" it will say "Jesus:" followed by His words.  I find this much easier to read and understand.  This also eliminates the need of red lettering for the words of Jesus.

Another feature of the Compass Bible is it's paragraph formatting.  I could never understand ending a verse before a sentence or thought has ended.  But that could be just me and my way of reading.  I have personally found that when a translation is written in verse form, you may be tempted to end at the end of the verse, instead of completing the thought/sentence, and thereby lose the meaning of what is being said. 

The Compass Bible also uses the term "Anointed One" in place of "Christ".  We have all fallen into the trap of using the term Christ as a last or second name for Jesus, when in fact it is actually a title used of the Son of God, meaning "Anointed One".  Another term used is "The Logos" meaning the Voice.  Remember John 1:1 which in the King James translates "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."  The Compass translates this verse as "Before time itself was measured, the Voice was speaking.  The Voice was and is God."  

Let me give you one more comparison, using John 10:24-30:

KJV:

24  Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt?  If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.

25  Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not; the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me.

26  But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.

27  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

28  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 

29  My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

30  I and my Father are one.

the Compass:

... 24and Jews gathered around Him.

Jews:  How long are You going to keep us guessing?  If You are God's Anointed, the Liberating King, announce it clearly.

Jesus:  25I have told you, and you do not believe.  The works I am doing in My Father's name tell the truth about Me.  You do not listen; 26 you lack faith because you are not My sheep.  27My sheep respond as they hear My voice; I know them intimately, and they follow Me.  28 I give them a life that is unceasing, and death will not have the last word.  Nothing or no one can steal them from My hand.  29 My Father has given the flock to Me, and He is superior to all beings and things.  No one is powerful enough to snatch the flock from My Father's hand.  30 The Father and I are one.

Especially important to note is that this translation uses the "word for word" in some places, and the "thought for thought" method in other places.  When you get your copy of the Compass, make sure to read the preface. 

Other features are the commentaries in the middle of the page where they apply to the Scripture, instead of at the bottom as is traditional.  Comparable verses are listed at the bottom of the page, although they seem to be few.  There is a topical index of words and ideas, and a topical index for notes, both of which are sufficient, but not as in depth as you might find in other translations.  There are great introductions to each book of the Bible, as well as a Transition from the Old Testament to the New Testament which includes an essay on the Covenants of God and one on the names of Jesus.

In my opinion, the Compass Bible brings out the beauty of the language of the Bible, gives a clear and concise translation of the Bible, and holds true to the doctrine of the Bible (man's preferences for interpretation are not chosen over what the actual translation would be). Overall, I believe you will learn much from this translation of the Bible, and maybe even be inclined to read and study the word of God more, falling deeper in love with the Anointed One, the Messiah, our Savior.

In order to comply with new Federal Trade Commission regulations, please note that this book was provided compliments of Shelton Interactive's book review program.

It's been a long and relaxing weekend

Crepe myrtle, sage and cannas in my back yard.

This has been the strangest weekend for me.  I worked last Sunday afternoon and evening getting payroll ready to be processed a day early since this week had  a holiday in it.  So I was able to take off Friday and have a four day weekend.  I have been extremely busy at work lately and it has carried over into getting home late most evenings, so Thursday I didn't really know what to do with myself.   Yesterday was much easier, and today was fun!  Tomorrow starts Vacation Bible School so next week will be busy, too.  I am very thankful I was able to take these four days off!  

Because of the rain and thunder storms my son and I opted not to go to any fireworks shows this year.  Or any parades.  I guess when you hit the big 17 you just feel like a kid if you go to a parade.  Well, being a 40 something woman, sometimes I think it's nice to feel like a kid and go to a parade.  However, we just hung around the house after going to WalMart (to cash his paycheck) and then his favorite store, Game Stop.  Why would you want to go to Game Stop?!?  It's so BORING!  But we didn't forget why we celebrate the Fourth.  I am very grateful for all the sacrifices that were made for me and my family to live in a free country, and to worship in a manner we choose.   Of course we remembered my grandfather, my son's great grandfather, who passed away a couple of years ago.  He served in World War II and was highly decorated.  My son thinks of him as a hero (I do, too!).  I think it's really great that not only I and my siblings, but my children got to spend a great deal of time with our Papa.  He was an awesome man, and we miss him.

Elephant ears, monkey grass and hostas in backyard corner.

This is Alabama, and although it is generally very hot and very humid this time of year, it has rained All Week Long...  no joke, and the temps have been hanging around the upper seventies (we are used to high 90s this time of year).  I had planned do do yard work this weekend.  The yard really needs it and I am sure the neighbors would appreciate it.  There's been a lot of yard work going around and every one's yards look wonderful.  Then there is my yard.  Let's just say that all this rain has made my bushes try to become trees.  It's so embarrassing!  So yesterday afternoon I took advantage of a lull in the rain and laid into those bushes.  They gave it back, though.  I had leaves and limbs hanging all over me when I was done (I have loropetalums, and they stick to stuff and itch).  We are scheduled to have rain all next week, so I'll probably be out there butchering my loropetalums again very soon.  If I don't, they get out of hand very quickly.  Next I need to get after the holly...I hate that stuff.  Maybe I can just chop it down...My yard looks wonderful now, and with all the rain and the great temperatures, everything is starting to look like a beautiful garden.  Like it should.  Like my mother, I enjoy working in the yard.  Planting flowers, etc.  When I come in from working in the yard, I am often quite filthy.   I don't know how people can garden and not get really dirty.  What are they doing that I am not?  Well, enough about yard work.

My attempt at a dishcloth

Yesterday I also touched up a painting my sister found in my parent's barn.  Cleaned up the frame, and hung it over the piano.  Elizabeth, awesome idea!  It looks like it was made to hang there!  Then I found a pattern online showing how to knit washcloths.  I had made a few out of yarn and love them, they work so well.  So I was looking for a different pattern, and I found one that uses crochet thread.  You just hold two strands together and knit on the diagonal.  I am halfway finished, knitted while I watched movies, and it looks great!  I'm sure it will work well, too.  I also found a site that showed how to make face scrubbies.  Crocheted.  Really cool.  Made up a bunch of those.  I'll be sharing with my sister.

Today I decided to do a little painting.  I had a blank canvas and tons of photos, and my sister (once again the one with the good ideas) suggested that I paint one of my floral photos for my room.  This is what I came up with:  

Now I am waiting on the roast to finish cooking, will cook some rice and pop in some french bread, and dinner will be ready.    Right now it smells really good!  There is enough food that dinner will be ready for the rest of the week.  Especially since we start Vacation Bible School next week, and we get fed at the church every night. 

How has your weekend gone?  What did you do on the Fourth?  And don't worry, this was an extraordinary weekend for me! 

BOOK REVIEW: Prairie Song

PRAIRIE SONG
By:  Mona Hodgson
Published by:  Waterbrook Press 2013

Although Prairie Song is the first book in a new series called Hearts Seeking Home, by Mona Hodgson, it picks up where the story left off in the series The Quilted Heart.  Prairie Song follows Anna Goben, her mother and her grandfather as they leave their home in Missouri for the promised land of California.  Anna hopes the trip and the new home will be the catalyst that will change all their lives.  They suffered a terrible trauma during the war (Civil War) in the death of Anna's brother.  Now they have an awefull secret -- her mother is an alcoholic -- and her grandfather has given up on life.  This is a family who is just living from day to day and not experiencing a life of contentment or joy.

Anna is right.  The trip brings about change in her family, if not change as she had hoped. And along with friends who leave Missouri with her family, she finds new friends along the trail.  And could she also find love?  Will she need to give up being the one in the family everyone leans on?  Can she really do that?  She has always sacrificed her life for the well being of others.  Now she finds that might have been a big mistake.

This book has not yet been released for publication.  However, you can pre-order on Amazon.com or with your favorite retailer.  As usual, I am looking forward to reading all the books in this series -- when they come out!

In order to comply with new Federal Trade Commission regulations, please note that this book was provided compliments of WaterBrook Multnomah's book review program.

Shakespeare Theatre, Montgomery, Alabama

One of the many lakes in the park

 Shakespeare Theatre, Montgomery, Alabama

Several days ago I wrote the following, and just want to share.  If you are ever in the area you might want to check out the Shakespeare Theatre and the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, both located on the grounds of the Blount Cultural Park.

This is incredible. I am sitting at a picnic table in front of the Shakespeare Theatre in Montgomery, Alabama, in the Blount Cultural Park. I dropped my son off with my brothers in Pike Road this morning. Of course I am not going to drive all of the way back home and then back again when he is finished. It's a little more than 25 miles one way! So I am at Shakespeare, enjoying this beautiful morning. It's a little after 8:30, the birds are singing, there is a soft breeze blowing, and it's not yet hot, which is wonderful. The sun is shining, the geese and ducks are on the pond and on the lawn, and walkers and joggers pass on the trails behind and in front of me. And I am being lazy! What a great way to spend a morning, with nothing pressing to do – but wait. And get caught up on my book reviews. Did I mention the smells? Sort of sweet, sort of green, all good and full of smiles. I think next weekend I'll bring Bella and we will walk, then crash and read. The wind is blowing stronger now, but not hard. I look across the small lake and see the wind blowing the leaves of a tree, making the light bounce off the leaves and looking like lights twinkling in the wind. The gentle ripples of the lake are glittering with light, too. Wish I could capture that on film.  Such an idyllic place to be in the morning.  I'm going to have to go back soon with my camera.  Cell phone photos don't do justice to the beauty here.

 Looking forward to going back very soon.

Sculpture in the park

BOOK REVIEW: Seven Steps to Knowing, Doing and Experiencing The Will of God for Teens

Seven Steps to Knowing, Doing and Experiencing The Will of God for Teens

Seven Steps to Knowing, Doing and Experiencing The Will of God for Teens

Experiencing God at Home

By: Tom Blackaby, Mike Blackaby and Daniel Blackaby

Published by: B&H Publishing Group, Nashville, Tennessee, 2013

I was very pleased with this book! It is written by the son and two grandsons of the famous Henry Blackaby who wrote Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing The Will of God. I have never read the elder Mr. Blackaby's book, but I am certainly now entertaining the idea of finding it and reading it. His son and grandsons have made that great of an impression on me.

I just about guarantee that if you have a teenager in your life and you give them this book, they will learn much about how to learn about and serve God in their daily life. More than likely they won't be able to put the book down. It is written in such a way that it captures the attention. It shares personal experiences of each of the Blackaby's – some humorous, some challenging – as well as snapshots from history in helping to outline how to know and do God's will.

There are seven steps outlined:

• God is always at work around you;
• God Pursues a Love Relationship with You;
• God Invites You to become involved with Him in His work;
• God speaks by the Holy Spirit (this step is broken into four parts);
• God's invitation leads to a crisis of belief;
• Adjustments;
• You come to know Bod by experience as you obey Him, and He accomplishes His work through Him.

Each chapter is followed up with study questions and ample space to write your thoughts. This book is written in an engaging, thoughtful, sometimes humorous manner, and will hold your attention and make you think. It just might help you grow to know God in a more personal way.

Why not read this book along with your teen? It's not too simple for adults to learn from, and you might learn how to relate to your teen while you're at it!

In order to comply with new Federal Trade Commission regulations, please note that this book was provided compliments of Shelton Interactive's book review program.

BOOK REVIEW: Experiencing God at Home

Experiencing God at Home

By Tom and Richard Blackaby

Published by B&H Publishing, Nashville, Tennessee 2013

As an adult, what is the most difficult area of your life? Where do you often have to make the hardest decisions, and sometimes experience what are your greatest failures or greatest accomplishments? If you are a parent, it would be in raising your family. And if you are a Christian, it is raising your children to become followers of Christ, to accept Him as their own. That's what this book sets out to accomplish. It applies guidelines from Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God. It is the belief of the authors, and my belief as well, that it is harder today to raise Christian, God-fearing children, than it has ever been. If you don't believe it, think about your own youth and compare it with the experiences and temptations our own kids have to deal with today.

The Blackaby's use their own families as examples of how to raise Godly children, and don't polish the stories to make their families look good. Do you think your kids are going to make it easy to raise them as Christians? No, their natural bent, as well as yours and mine, is to lean towards sin. Isn't that our birthright? Our inheritance from our long ago first ancestors? And just how self-centered is this generation? I have heard from my own children that it's “all about me”. They are right. You see it everyday everywhere you look. Haven't you heard the phrase calling this the “me generation”?

Here's a statistic that hits home for me: “Some studies indicate that roughly 70 percent of children who grow up attending church with their family will walk away from church – and often God – when they become teenagers and young adults.” I can attest to that. My own teenage sons who grew up in church and both made professions of faith as kids, politely refuse to attend church any longer. Fortunately I still see the impact of what they learned in their lives through their kindness to others and their casual, unsolicited comments on faith.

You may find yourself alternately laughing and crying as you read this book, and hopefully on your knees asking God to use you to influence your children to follow Him. You will find not only practical examples of how to and not to raise your children, but also study guides at the end of chapters. And have you ever heard that the only person you can ever change is yourself? You'll find ideas for that in this book, as well. And when you change yourself and allow God to work in your own life, maybe you will be surprised that it flows through you and allows your family to want to learn to follow Him, too. Nothing, however, comes without great effort and much prayer. And unfortunately sometimes that is not enough. We all have the gift of free will. Sometimes we must endure the heartache and continue to trust God. Don't give up!

I don't want to give away the contents of this book – you are going to be in for some surprises! Talk about Biblical examples of parents in the Bible – how many of them were successful? Who were failures? You might be surprised! Take a chance, read the book, and challenge your family to a closer walk with God. And share this book with others!

In order to comply with new Federal Trade Commission regulations, please note that this book was provided compliments of Shelton Interactive's book review program.

BOOK REVIEW: Sammy Experiences God

SAMMY EXPERIENCES GOD

By Tom Blackaby and Rick Osborne

Illustrated by Isabella Kung

Published by: B & H Kids, Nashville, Tennessee, 2013

Normally I don't mention illustrators, because I normally don't read children's books anymore since I have teenagers. However I read this book, and I must say I was highly impressed by the illustrator. The illustrations take up the whole page, edge to edge, of every page of this book. The text is superimposed on top. On top of the illustrations are representations of the main character's sketches.

Sammy is a young boy who loves to hear his dad read Bible stories to him. He calls them “God adventures”. While his dad reads, Sammy sketches what he learns. One particular night he asks God if he can be in a God adventure. Over the next few days Sammy desperately tries to re-enact what he has learned in the Bible. Stories about Jacob, King David, Moses, Elijah, Abraham, Paul and Timothy. Each time he is disappointed, because God doesn't show up as he expects Him to. Finally, Sammy is taken on a fishing trip with his grandfather, and his grandfather points out the secret. It was there all along.

This book is not only filled with wonderful illustrations, and a great story for kids, it also has talking points on each page. At the end of the book is a list of ideas on how to make the story behind the story – actually the story of the Bible, more real to your child. As the book says, “God doesn't want our kids to experience Him just in their heads but in their hearts and lives as well. That's a journey that can take time and guidance.”

This book is a great teaching tool for your own children, or any other kids you know. 

In order to comply with new Federal Trade Commission regulations, please note that this book was provided compliments of Shelton Interactive's book review program.

BOOK REVIEW: I Am a Church Member: Discovering the Attitude that Makes the Difference

 I Am a Church Member: Discovering the Attitude that Makes the Difference
By Thom S. Ranier

Published by: B & H Publishing Group, Nashville, Tennessee, 2013

This little book is packed. With ideas, attitude and conviction. Seven small chapters focusing what I can do to be a better church member. Each chapter is summed up with a pledge and study questions. The book is less than 100 pages long so it doesn't take long at all to read. However, I would suggest reading and studying one chapter at a time, absorbing what Mr. Ranier is saying, and learn how to apply that to your life before continuing on to the next chapter. This book is as much about what a church member should not be as what one should be.

I mentioned that this book is convicting. It is! One of the most convicting chapters for me is chapter 4, I Will Pray for My Church Leaders. Do you know how hard it is to be a Christian leader, especially in this day and age? You think the devil comes after you, but a Christian leader who is sold out to God, who is trying to do as they believe God would lead them, is under constant attack. I had forgotten. I was moved to tears and had to confess in prayer, and then begin praying hard for my pastor. And I have seen God moving in my church since that time, or maybe God has removed the scales from my eyes and allowed me to see, and pray more specifically.

If you want to improve your walk with Christ, and if you want to grow as a Christian, I would highly recommend this little book. This is one that I will be passing along, but asking for it to be returned so I can read it over and over and remind myself of what I should be doing. By the way, the author is the CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources and is a pastor and researcher. As such, he has his finger on the heartbeat of modern Christians.

In order to comply with new Federal Trade Commission regulations, please note that this book was provided compliments of Shelton Interactive's book review program. 

BOOK REVIEW: The Winnowing Season

The Winnowing Season

Amish Vines and Orchards Book 2

By:  Cindy Woodsmall

Published by:  WaterBrook Press, 2013

 

This book continues the story of Rhoda Byler and Samuel and Jacob King, as begun in Cindy Woodsmall's previous book A Season for Tending.  If you love Amish fiction, this book is for you.  The tornado that devastated the King apple orchard is now taking it's tole on Rhoda, Samuel and Jacob.  Tensions are high as they try to rebuild, while at the same time preparing to make the move to Maine where they plan to form a new Amish community while at the same time expanding their business. Rhoda, Samuel and Jacob must deal with their pasts before they can have a chance at the future. 

 

Problems arise when Rhoda is called before the church on the night before she is scheduled to leave for Maine.  If she fails to attend, her brother and his family will not be permitted by the church to go to Maine.  Rhoda must show her quiet strength and her faith in God.

 

Jacob must deal with a reappearance of someone from his past.  He is engaged to Rhoda, but he has commitments that prevent him from traveling with Rhoda to Maine.  His past commitments show up time and again.  Will they cause harm to his relationship with Rhoda?

 

And what about Samuel?  He is constantly trying to smooth the way for others, mainly by asserting his control and doing what he feels is right for those he loves, not allowing them to make decisions and take the consequences for themselves.  Will he learn to loosen his control, or will he destroy any chances he may have with his family and friends?

 

The Winnowing Season is full of questions and answers, not all of which are answered in this book.  So...you will have to read the third installment of the series, titled For Every Season.

 

The Winnowing Season is a stand alone book, but if you haven't read the first book in the series, I would recommend you start there.  You won't want to miss anything!  You can find Ms. Woodsmall's books at her website:  http://www.cindywoodsmall.com/.  You can also read her blog and check out the Amish Recipes section.

In order to comply with new Federal Trade Commission regulations, please note that this book was provided compliments of WaterBrook Multnomah's book review program.