Where do you go when you need help?

How frustrating it is to run into a problem and not know how to solve it!  You go to people who you feel should be qualified to help, and you get run of the mill answers.  No real help at all.  Instead the question is posed, "are you in the Word and have you been praying about the situation?"  Yes, we need to be in the Word and we do need to be praying about the situation BUT, and this is a very big BUT, we sometimes need tangible assistance.  We need to be pointed to someone who can help us, who can let us know that we are not alone, that others have gone before us.

Did you realize that sometimes God allows us to go through hard times and then He brings someone  to us who is going through similar situations, and we can be of assistance to them?  What we have learned from our experiences, information we have gleaned, resources we have gathered can and should be shared with those who have come to us seeking help.  Reassurance that God is there, and that the Word of God is a powerful and effective tool should be first and foremost.  And believe me, prayer plays a big part, too.  But God gives us additional tools to be effective in helping others. 

Some of us have gone through divorce, lived through affairs, dealt with physical and/or emotional abuse, lost children either through death or other circumstances, dealt with rebellious teenagers, the list goes on...  Why don't we compile lists of resources, along with the Bible and prayer, that can be used to help our fellow Christians the next time they come to us? 

Reese
Prov. 3:5-6

I just found these, one was in an e-mail to me from Women of Faith:
http://lifechangemoments.com/
http://www.womenoffaith.com/blog/2012/01/laughter-lightens-the-load-by-marilyn-meberg/ 

BOOK REVIEW: Accused

Accused: Pacific Coast Justice Series No. 1
By: Janice Cantore
Published by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
Copyright 2012

Anytime I can't put a book down or I lie awake in bed reading until midnight (or later), I know I have a really good book.  That's what happened last night with Janice Cantore's new book Accused, the first in a new series called the Pacific Coast Justice Series (release date scheduled for February 1, 2012).  Although I am a prolific reader, I have never read any of Ms. Cantore's books before.  Let me just tell you, I will be reading the other books in this series, the second of which, Abducted,  is scheduled to be released during the summer of this year.

Carly Edwards is a ten-year veteran on the police force in Las Playas, California, working night patrol.  The story begins with Carly being partnered with a hot shot temporary replacement for her regular partner, Joe King.  As the story unfolds a shooting has occurred, with Carly and the hot shot firing shots and subsequently killing the suspect.  Carly is removed from patrol and reassigned to juvenile, which she is none to happy about, while an investigation looks into the shooting, which has become high profile.  Unfortunately it's now been several months and Carly is still stuck in juvenile, when what appears to be a chance for redemption arrives with the disappearance of the town's well loved mayor, Teresa Burke.

I don't want to give away the story, but there is an ex-husband who is a Sergeant on the force, a police reporter who Carly feels ruined her life with his story of the shooting, drugs and smuggling.  Somehow Carly ends up on the run along with another fellow police officer who everyone thinks has gone off the deep end. By the way, it's believed that Carly herself has gone off that deep end,too.  This book keeps you guessing who really did it.  Is it just one person, or are there more involved?

Throughout the book is beautifully woven the plan of salvation. Carly says she does not believe in God.  Will she make the right choice and follow God's call, or will she continue on under her own power, trusting in luck and her own skills?

Why not check out Ms. Cantore's website and learn more about her life as a police officer and how she combined work and her faith, and how she uses that today in her writing.  While you're there you can find out about other books she has written, and read her blog.  I think I'm due a trip to the library in the morning to see if I can find other titles by this author!

In order to comply with new Federal Trade Commission regulations, please note that this book was provided compliments of  Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

New Format

Hey, everybody.  Hope you all are having a great start to a brand new year.  Hard to believe half the month of January is already gone! 

I am trying out a new blog format.  What do you think of it?  Let me know what I need to tweak! 

Thanks for reading...

Reese

BOOK REVIEW: Then Sings My Soul, Book 3

 

Then Sings My Soul, Book 3
By: Robert J. Morgan
Published by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Copyright 2011

Let's be honest.  Who really wants to read a dry, boring old book about hymns?  Today's world is so filled with praise music, contemporary music, whatever you want to call it.  Words are projected on an overhead screen, and we rarely ever use hymnals anymore.   Today's music is catchy and vibrant, and has everyone clapping their hands and swaying to the music.  It's uplifting, and it praises our Savior!  That's where Robert Morgan's book Then Sings My Soul Book 3,The Story of Our Songs: Drawing Strength from the Great Hymns of Our Faith  comes into play.

Mr. Morgan sets forth a case for never forgetting the songs of our past.  He begins with the history of hymns -- did you know the first recorded hymn is in the Bible?  Beginning in Exodus 15:1 a hymn is sung by Moses and the Israelites, having left Egypt and crossed over the parted Red Sea.  This is just the beginning of hymns in the Bible.  As pointed out by Mr. Morgan, hymns were a large part of the life of the Jew BEFORE the time of Christ, and continues on to this day. 

After discussing hymns in the Bible Mr. Morgan begins with the history of hymns in the early church, Medieval hymns, German hymns, English hymns and songs more modern.  This is followed by actual hymns (beginning in 100 a.d. with The Gloria Patri, otherwise known as Glory Be to the Father) and continues on to present day.  Some of these hymns I had heard and sung before, some I had not.  Alongside the story of each hymn is the actual hymn itself.  It was very difficult for me to read through the hymns instead of trying to sing the hymns.  But I suppose that is what was intended by the author.  I even got up a couple of times and tried some out on the piano, to the chagrin of my sons.

Closing Then Sings My Soul Book 3 is a section on how to use hymns today.  I am from the generation where hymns  and not much else were sung in church.  It took me a while to become a fan of praise and worship music.  However, I am learning to do as Mr. Morgan suggests and blend both hymns along with praise and worship into my life.  I have learned to love them both.

Unfortunately a lot of people today agree with my earlier comment about hymns being dry and boring.  They are not.  They are our Christian heritage.  A great deal of doctrine can be found in them.  However, we shouldn't adhere to one genre to the extent of ignoring the other.  Again as Mr. Morgan points out, we need to learn to blend our praise and worship music with the hymns of old.  Let's not lose any of our music!

This book and it's predecessors Books 1 and 2 would be a great addition to the library of anyone interested in music, music history, involved in church music, or just for those who love Christ.  I hope you will enjoy this book as much as I have!

In order to comply with new Federal Trade Commission regulations, please note that this book was provided compliments of  Thomas Nelson, Inc.

My Learning Curve

View from Cooter's Pond, Prattville, Alabama

I love to take pictures, and occasionally I get some decent shots.  However I have lately been wanting to take some night shots. When my mom recently upgraded her camera I inherited her "old" one, and I decided that now is the time to try some shots.  


The first thing I needed to do was to find out HOW to take those night shots. If you just point and shoot, everything is going to be dark.  It's been years since my college black and white photography class, and I have forgotten everything I learned.  Since I had read in the users manual that there are such things as f-stops and apertures that need to be adjusted, and since the directions didn't explain it so I could understand (probably just me!), I went online during lunch Wednesday and found just what I was looking for.  PhotonHead is for those who want BRIEF essays on how to use your camera, as well as the history of photography -- did you know that as early as 500 years before Christ it had been discovered what can happen in a dark room?  Don't laugh, just read the article.  Very interesting!!  In any event, PhotonHead's site helped me out a lot. I quickly read up, then that evening went out and experimented. 

Looking towards Montgomery, across Cooter's Pond, from the lookout point, Prattville, Alabama

All of the shots in this blog post were taken after dark, and by increasing the amount of light coming into the camera I think they turned out okay for a beginner!  The first photo has a little bit of shake too it, though.  I was in such a hurry to get a sunset over water that I didn't take the time to put the camera on the tripod, and when you increase the amount of light coming into the camera you are increasing the time it takes to take the photo.  And I shake...  

I am going back to the site soon to scout out a location without as many branches obscuring the view.  Next time I'll be better prepared.  And maybe next time I'll take along a friend for safety reasons.  It probably wasn't a very good idea for a woman to go by herself to a deserted public park to take photos at night.  And my dad and brothers will probably want to skin me if and when they find out.  But I had my pepper spray and my car keys and my cell phone in my pockets!

Looking towards Montgomery, across Cooter's Pond, from the lookout point, Prattville, Alabama

The second and third shots shown were taken at the top of the lookout at the same park. I have been wanting some shots of Montgomery at night, and remembered this place when I was taking the shots of the sunset over water.  I hurried to the site and set up quickly, and snapped off a lot of bad shots but a couple of good ones, too.  Had a good time experimenting with the different light settings on the camera.  

From the lookout point at Cooter's Pond, Prattville, Alabama

As I was getting ready to leave, I had even taken my camera off the tripod and was heading back to the car, I looked up and there was another beautiful sunset.  And to think I almost missed it!  I was so afraid it would be gone before I could get the camera set back up, but I was able to snap off a few shots.  Sometimes it pays to pay attention to your surroundings!

Although I know you can edit photos using various photoshopping programs, the only editing on all but the last photo was the addition of my name and date.  The last photo I decided to play around with and enhance the color.  It is the same photo as the one before it, just with the colors enhanced.

What a fun project!  I can't wait to get out there and try again.  Why not go out and try some pictures of your own?

Reese

BOOK REVIEW: The Christmas Singing

The Christmas Singing

By: Cindy Woodsmall

Published by WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group 

Copyright 2011

What would you say if the one you loved, the one you intended to marry, suddenly became distant, cold and broke off the relationship with you?  Hurt, betrayed, angry even?  That's what happened to Mattie in the new book called The Christmas Singing by Cindy Woodsmall.  When Mattie learns from Gideon that he no longer loves her, and in fact has betrayed her with other women, her life is shattered and she moves as far away from her Amish community as she can.  She builds a new life for herself in the same town as her brother and his family, setting up a prosperous bakery where her creativity is appreciated and earns a good living.  She even develops a new relationship with Sol, an Amish man who loves to hunt.  Mattie and Sol have the kind of relationship where they do not get into each others' business.  It's a comfortable relationship, a relationship where boundaries and distance is understood, but no deep, passionate love is found.  However, that's exactly the way Mattie wants the relationship to be.  It is understood that she and Sol will one day marry, but neither is in any hurry.

Through an accident possibly brought about by Mattie's absentmindedness, Mattie returns home to live with  her family for a few months.  There she cannot help but run into Gideon, to whom she gives a cold shoulder and does her best to ignore.  Mattie has to learn to let go of hurt and to truly forgive.  And what happens when she does, and when she learns the truth about what happened between herself and Gideon, changes her life forever.

This is a story of forgiveness; of learning to look beyond our own personal ideas and understanding the hearts of others.  Once we look beyond ourselves we often see things much differently, and in the truest light.  By the end of The Christmas Singing my tears were flowing so freely I could hardly read!  I will definitely encourage anyone to read this book and take to heart the lessons taught by Cindy Woodsmall.

In order to comply with new Federal Trade Commission regulations, please note that this book was provided compliments of  WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Company.

Merry Christmas

From my family to yours, we are wishing you a joyous and very merry Christmas!

Don’t forget the REASON we celebrate...“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
Reese

Book Review: For Women Only in the Workplace

For Women Only in the Workplace

By: Shaunti Feldhahn

Published by WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group 

Copyright 2011

For Women Only in the Workplace by Shaunti Feldhahn is an in-depth, statistics laden look at how men and women relate at work.  There are so many points that Mrs. Feldhahn brings out, so many differences in how men and women look at work differently. For instance, men think in boxes which they can conveniently close so they can  work out of another box.  Whereas women tend to think out of several boxes at the same time.  These differences can cause strain on the working relationship.  Men are able to open the "work" box after having closed the "personal" box and be all business.  They take nothing personally, or rather their personal relationships are generally not affected by their work relationships.  Which is why, according to Mrs. Feldhahn, men can have a problem working with someone but then can go out and play golf with the same person  (not happening with us women)! However, and this is pretty big, we women do not separate our lives.  What happens in one box can be tossed into another, so that what happens at work gets carried over into our personal life and vice versa.

You will not find For Women Only in the Workplace to be an easy, quick read.  But it is filled with statistics and first hand examples from the man's point of view, all geared to let women know why men act as they do and what they think when we women act as we do. I must admit that my flaws were pointed out to me numerous times while reading this book (take a sneak peek at For Women Only in the Workplace), and there are things I found I can change in my own work life.  If you want to know what's going on in the work world, what you might be doing "wrong" according to men and how to correct it, I would recommend this book.  

In order to comply with new Federal Trade Commission regulations, please note that this book was provided compliments of  WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Company.

BOOK REVIEW: Night of the Living Dead Christian

Night of the Living Dead Christian 

By: Matt Mikalatos

Published by Tyndale House Publishers 

Copyright 2011

Do you like monsters?  Vampires, zombies and werewolves?  Then you really have to read Matt Mikalatos' (check out the author interview here) new book called Night of the Living Dead Christian.  This a light hearted, whacky, not-so-way out there telling of a person's search for Christ.  How do we get rid of sin?  How do we truly become a Christian?  In fact, what really is a Christian anyway?

Mr. Mikalatos uses portraits of himself and his family throughout the book.  In fact, he is the narrator and the at-first enemy, soon-to-be friend of the main character Luther Anne Martin (Martin Luther, anyone?), his neighbor.  Mr. Mikalatos, along with a mad scientist and a robot/android, seeks to find the way to rid Luther of his base werewolf ways, all the while fighting off and trying to keep from becoming monsters themselves!!  They run into vampires, a werewolf hunter, a horde of zombies who think of themselves as Christians but are really just puppets of their leader, a half zombie who isn't sure he wants to follow said leader, and eventually face Luther's estranged father who shares a secret about his own past. 

What will happen?  Will Luther ever get rid of his madness?  Will he understand what Christianity is really about?  Will Mr. Mikalatos learn how to share his Christianity so that others can understand and make decisions for themselves?  Will they outsmart the werewolf hunter? 

Check out Matt's website for a link to the first chapter, along with more information on this book and his previous book entitled Imaginary Jesus.  Hope you enjoy the book!  In fact, post a comment for a chance for your own free copy of this very interesting book.  Make sure to check back with me so I can get your mailing information, or you can shoot an e-mail to reesewalley@yahoo.com.

In order to comply with new Federal Trade Commission regulations, please note that this book was provided compliments of Tyndale House Publishers.

The Christmas Singing, by Cindy Woodsmall

If you like reading great stories of Amish life like I do, you can get a sneak peak of the new book by Cindy Woodsmall called The Christmas Singing.  You can read the first chapter and decide for yourself if this is a book you would like to pick up for yourself or for Christmas gift giving.  If you are interested in purchasing the book, you can go directly to http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/; when you are ready to check out you can request free shipping on this title or any other by using code CHRISTMAS11 at checkout.  By the way, the code also gives you a 30% discount on the book.  Can't beat that deal!  The Scent of Cherry Blossoms, also by Cindy Woodsmall, is coming out soon.  Check the Waterbrook site frequently for release dates.

Hope you all have a safe and enjoyable holiday season.

Merry CHRISTmas!

Reese

Life Application Study Bible Giveaway!

Good morning, everyone!  I don't normally promote giveaways, but I just heard about a great one going on for the new Life Application Study Bible on Face Book.  "Like" them and immediately receive a free copy of their Life Application Bible Study on the Book of Luke.  Hurry on over!  Sign up every day for great prizes, including the Life Application Study Bible Family Pack (one random winner daily) and an Apple iPad2 (weekly drawing)!

Don't wait, check it out today.

"Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed." II Timothy 2:15
Reese

What Christmas Means to Me…

One of my earliest memories of Christmas happened when we were living in Indiana. One evening my parents went into their room to wrap our Christmas gifts and we kids, all six of us, clustered as close to their door as we could without getting into too much trouble. One or two of us climbed into the rocking armchair, leaning dangerously over the back, and in our excitement it tipped over. There were just so many exciting sounds coming from our parents’ room we could hardly stand it!

Needless to say Mama and Daddy didn’t get much peace on Christmas morning with six kids trying to get them up so we could unwrap our gifts. Finally they came up with the brilliant idea of allowing us to open one, and only one, gift Christmas Eve. That placated us for a while… Eventually even that turned into opening ALL our gifts on Christmas Eve, and we would have a party. Soon certain foods were expected each year. Foods such as Cheerios Nuggets (yes, it was the 70s). Or Christmas cookies with slopped on icing; just how well do you think kids under 12 decorate cookies? Ummm…one year someone got a spanking because I counted the cookies and there weren’t as many as we thought there should be, but I don’t want to talk about that right now. We had ginger ale and lime sherbet punch. No presents could be opened until we were ALL finished eating. Now that was really rotten because the food was great, but the anticipation of opening those presents was almost greater.

There were always loads of presents under the tree! One year my parents bought each of my brothers a tool box -- yep, a REAL tool box -- and filled them with Legos. That was back when you had to use your imagination to create things from Legos. Then one year they bought us Hungry, Hungry Hippo! I don’t know what possessed them to buy that game, it was soooo loud. Back to those Legos. I’ll admit it, I was jealous. I wanted some, too!

Living up North it was expected that there would be snow on the ground, and a lot of it, for Christmas. This meant sledding. There were too many of us to have our own sled, so Daddy made sleds out of paneling and we’d put the slick side down and race around. Boy, was it ever fun to go flying down hills! Dare I tell you the hills I’m talking about were the clover leafs on the highway? We weren’t the only ones using them for sledding, I promise you! We would come home soaked clear through our socks and long johns.

Now that we are grown things aren’t much different, unless you count that there is no snow here in the South for Christmas. We still celebrate on Christmas Eve. Instead of six of us kids, we have grown to twenty-something of us plus whatever extended family might be visiting. There is always fun in the chaos, and believe me there’s a lot of chaos when we all get together!

But in the midst of all our frivolity we remember the most important part of Christmas, the true reason we celebrate. The birth of Jesus Christ the Son of God. Can you imagine what it might have been like to be around when Jesus was born? What about if you could have been one of the shepherds or one of the wise men, or if you could have been like Anna or Simeon who both waited in the temple until they were able to see the Messiah? What if I could have been one of His younger brothers or sisters? Would I have realized Who He is? Would I have chosen to follow Him? Would I have followed Him just because of His miracles, or because I believed He was the Messiah, the sacrificial Lamb, the only One Who could forgive me of my sins? John 3:16 is a verse we all know, “For God so loved the world, that He GAVE His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” I also remember Romans 2:8-9 which says, “For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves. It is the GIFT OF GOD, not of works lest any man should boast.” Christmas means…Jesus!

Reese

BOOK REVIEW: Restless in Carolina

Restless in Carolina 

By: Tamara Leigh

Published by Multnomah Books

Copyright 2011

A blond with dreads, dirt under her nails and an attitude.  What an image!  But the family thinks that image must be changed to make a presentable, professional front to impress the environmentally friendly developer who is needed to save the family home and acreage from development into tract homes, or worse still a shopping center or industrial park!  How far will heroine Bridget Pickwick-Buchanan go to entice just the right buyer, and why is it her job, anyway?  In the process can she give up mourning her husband who has been dead for four years?  Can she move on with her life?   What about her presently non-existent relationship to God?  As far as Bridget is concerned, that relationship can stay just as it is, non-existent. 

But now there is not only one developer vying for the family lands, but two! One presents the front of wishing to purchase the property to make into his personal estate, which would be the perfect place to raise his family (by the way, he does not yet have a family...).  The other, the original developer Bridget was after, doesn't quite meet her expectations for the property with his development plan.

Combined with the hassle and headaches involved with finding just the right buyer, mix in family illness, family SCANDALS, a really smartalecky five year old twin niece and nephew, and WIDOW SNIFFERS!  Are these men out to get her money, what little is left of the scandalous family name, the property, or are they sincerely concerned about Bridget herself?

This book makes for a great read (check out the preview here).  I loved Ms. Leigh's use of terminology of the South.  Including the whole droppin' the Gs from word endin's.  Get the book and enjoy the fun!  Although this is the third book by Ms. Leigh on characters in this seemingly disfunctional family (I am just itchin' to get my hands on those first two books), Restless in Carolina is a great read on it's own.  Enjoy! 

In order to comply with new Federal Trade Commission regulations, please note that this book was provided compliments of WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.