When I was in high school, I was very shy, so I didn’t participate in many extra-curricular activities. Whatever I did, I made sure that I did it with my group of close friends. However, I really desired to be in the National Honor Society, so when I was not inducted my junior year, I asked my friend Sharon what was wrong with me. Why didn’t I get accepted? She advised me that I needed to participate more. So my senior year, I threw myself into extracurricular activities, including the yearbook and the Spanish Club and the school newspaper and literary magazine. I was even elected as the president of the Spanish Club, much to my surprise. The end result was that in the Spring of my senior year, I was inducted into the coveted NHS. Then, I went to college, taking my shyness and lack of desire to participate with me. Nevertheless, my friend Sharon was at my college and after spending my sophomore year in the Spanish House (for Spanish majors at my college), during my junior year, I applied for and was accepted to be a junior counselor in a freshman dorm. That was fun, but it wasn’t what I really wanted to be doing. Then, my senior year at Mary Washington, I was elected to be president of the Spanish House. I was subsequently chosen to be a member of the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa honor society. Shortly before graduation, I married my husband and added the title of Mrs. to my name. That has meant a lot to me for the last forty-six years because it is a title that I never expected to have and didn’t really aspire to. Added to that was the title of “mama” to three wonderful children.

But what I had prepared diligently for was to be a Spanish teacher and I did that task and many others in eleven different schools, even becoming the department chair here in Virginia before retiring. However, one award evaded me…I really wanted to be selected to be Teacher of the Year. I just did my job to the best of my ability because that is the only way that I know how to do things. I came in early and worked with students. I stayed late to help students. I volunteered for various committees. And yet after about a dozen years in the school system and numerous nominations for the coveted title, I was never selected. I remember talking with my dear friend and colleague at lunch one day and we came to the conclusion that since the main departments were larger and it was all a popularity contest, we would never be selected, regardless of how much work or how many hours we put in. Plus there was the whole standardized testing thing for the core subjects and the core teachers were basically taking turns garnering that award annually. English would win, then math, then history, then science, and then they would rotate again. But those of us who were the supplementary subjects did not receive recognition for our efforts. When I pointed that out to a superintendent one year during a meeting with him (I was also president of the local education association, so I attended the school board meetings and met with the superintendent as needed for myself or my members), the next thing I knew, a new award was conceived called “Apple of the Eye.” I did receive that crystal apple award one year, but it didn’t satisfy my desire for the Teacher of the Year Award. Nevertheless, I retired disappointed, without ever winning that award. When I awakened this morning, this whole scenario that I have described above ran through my mind. So, as I was talking to God and releasing the bitterness that comes with unfulfilled desires, God spoke to my heart about my real reward and my real title.

I am called to be a servant, not to be a distinguished member of the faculty or a president of anything. There is no competition in Heaven, or on earth for those of us who are His children. The only person we compete with is ourselves, to be better each day. Our reward is to appear before the Father and to be told that we did a good job. That has become more important to me than all of the accolades that I could possibly ever receive here. My pride at my accomplishments is lying at the feet of Jesus, the One who has made me able to do and to be all that He wants me to me. I am not boasting of what I have done. No, I am saying that none of the above things means anything in the face of eternity with God. Do I think that God is going to care about my golden Phi Beta Kappa pin? Of course not! It is what I do for Him that really matters. Do I tell others about Him and His love? Do I serve when called on to do so? Do I meet the needs of others when I can? My titles and awards will one day be left behind.

I am trying to live my life in such a way that others will see Christ in me and want a like relationship with our Savior. Isn’t that what really counts? We can’t take all of our awards and titles with us when we die. It all ends. Only what is done for Christ will stand forever.

What I want to hear now more than anything is approval from Christ.

Isn’t that what each of us craves? We need to move through each day knowing that God is using us as His instrument in this world, if we will just listen and obey.

You Can Have Me by the Sidewalk Prophets

This book is a thrilling roller coaster ride with twists and tunnels where hidden clues are there for the very astute reader. What a wonderful book! The story of Caroline, the wealthy socialite with a million dollar mansion at the beach, and Aiden, a bartender with a crush on Caroline and her house, is told from both points of view so that at times the story seemed confusing, that is until the very satisfying and explanatory ending. Caroline doesn’t seem happy in her marriage, since her husband showed up at her housewarming party with another woman. It was inevitable that she seek out Aiden’s companionship and bared her heart and soul and deepest secrets to him. She needs his help and isn’t afraid to ask for it. In helping Caroline, Aiden risks everything, including his freedom. Just when you think that the ride is about to end in a certain way, another twist is brought in and you are again left guessing about what is really happening. The false trails that the author uses were wild but extremely compelling and original. Fans of psychological thrillers and suspense will definitely want to read this latest book by Michele Campbell and will definitely not be disappointed!

Disclaimer

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

This suspenseful and thrilling book will be available on July 23, 2019, but it is ready for you to pre-order it now! Recommended for mature audiences because of content.

All of us have decisions to make on a daily basis, and many of us are in a quandary about which way to go. This is absolutely the best book that I have read to help to make those difficult choices in our lives. Based on Biblical principles and practical advice from life experience, this book gives you a clear path to making decisions without hesitation and without regret. With chapters that appeal to the soul of the person on the brink of making a life-changing decision, this book also offers a prayer at the end of each chapter as well as an exercise that you can do to help you to sort out what the next right thing to do is. I loved how the book was written and the advice that it gives is a challenge to make decisions that are the right ones because you have thought them though, prayerfully. This book will appeal to anyone who is faced with choices that seem overwhelming and for those of us just trying to make everyday choices that are so numerous.

Disclaimer

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

This practical guide to making decisions is available now at your favorite bookseller!

Do you recall when you were very small and in bed and heard a strange noise? I remember vividly burrowing farther under the covers, with the thoughts of a young child that what can’t see me can’t “get me.” Now, I’m older (by a lot!) and I still sometimes find myself burrowing under covers, hiding my fears and trying to pretend that I’m not afraid when I am. But God doesn’t want us to be afraid.

When we are afraid, we are supposed to turn to God to take care of our fears. What do I fear? Right now, I fear not being able to return to my what is normal for me…eating regular food and doing my regular exercise routine, feeling stronger and more like the “old me.” For five months now, I have eaten fish and drunk protein shakes. No other kind of meat at all, so my protein has generally been low on a daily basis, mostly because I just do not like fish. So I fear what the lack of protein will do to my brain that was already damaged by a stroke. I fear that my esophagus won’t heal properly and I will continue to have difficulty eating. After all, the surgeon said that it had been badly damaged over the years of having stomach acid in it, so it will take a long time to heal. Do you see where this is going? My fears are about me…me…me! And God wants me to focus on Him. When I do, then my fears are dispelled and I can go forward in His strength, knowing that He created me and knows how to keep my body (and my brain) going. There is nothing going to happen to me today that God doesn’t know about and can’t handle! And the same is true for you, too!

In context, this Scripture is directed to the Israelites as they were about to go into the Promised Land and fight the current inhabitants. Nevertheless, I am appropriating this wonderful Word for me, too. God is going before me. He has never failed me and He won’t fail me as I continue to struggle with this recovery period. He will not leave me, no matter what is happening in my life. So I am not to be afraid or to be dismayed. Dismayed according to Google means to cause to lose courage or to cause to be distressed. Is there anything that dismays God? Of course not! He is God, and since I am giving over to His broad shoulders my cares, my anxiety, then there should be nothing that distresses me either. God is capable and He loves me. He doesn’t want me to worry at all…not about the small stuff or the big stuff. Have you turned over your fears to God? Let Him calm your heart even as He is now calming mine. The swirling waters that are my mind are quieted in His presence. Let Him calm you and show you what a good God He is. Blessings, my friends, for a day filled with God’s care for you!

There is so much to get done on a daily basis. Even retired, sometimes I feel overwhelmed with all that I have to do because some days I am still promising to do more than I can get done. Nevertheless, I continue to add to my commitments and then sometimes I have difficulty sleeping because I am trying to figure out how to get it all done. Well, God has the answer, of course!

Have you ever kept the phone close beside you because you just know that someone is going to call and invite you to do something with them, something that you really want to do? I remember doing that in college, only our phone for the Spanish House where I lived was a landline in a “phone closet.” Each time it rang, I was hopeful (as were the other girls in the dorm, most likely) that the call would be for me and it would be a friend calling to whisk me away from the cares of studying and take me into the world of fun, just for a few hours. I must admit that, as shy as I was, the calls were infrequently for me, but when they were, I was elated, so excited that I could hardly speak. I could leave behind the math and the biology that were a challenge to me and just have fun for a few hours.

Now, I have discovered that God is calling me daily to leave the cares of this world behind. He tells me in His word to just listen and come to Him. He is always there. I don’t have to wait for a phone call. I just have to get close to him, to come to Him who has never moved or changed. He then restores to me the strength to do what I have to do and the wisdom to choose what I say “no” to so that I am not so overwhelmed. Is it wrong to leave the world and its worries behind and withdraw to be with the Lord? That means that for that time that I’m with the Lord, I am not fulfilling the commitments that I have made. But what it also means is that I come away refreshed and ready to work harder and longer doing the tasks set before me. So, if you are feeling overwhelmed, then perhaps you need to come and listen to the Lord. Just withdraw from your cares for a period of time, much as Jesus withdrew from the crowds and went away to pray. Jesus was our example to go away with God and to be renewed in spirit and mind. I hope that today is the day that you become refreshed in Him, His love and His strength! Blessings for a day that is filled with God and His Spirit!

What a feel-good book this was! If you want a light romance that is clean and heartwarming, then this is the book for you! I love the Hope Harbor books because all of them leave you with a feeling of “Ahhhh, that was just what I needed!” With so much negativity in the world, the books that Hannon writes are full of positive thoughts and love. Is there conflict? Yes, of course, but Hannon does a masterful job of working out all of the thorns by the end so that the reader is left with only roses. Kudos to Ms. Hannon for a well-written book with characters that are real, lively and full of heart!

Disclaimer

I purchased a copy of this book from Barnes and Noble. The opinions expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review.

Available today from your local bookseller! And if you haven’t read the Hope Harbor series before, I recommend ALL of them, although they do not really have to be read in order. Christian fiction at its best!

This book was not at all what I expected based on the title, but it was a spectacularly good read nevertheless. I expected a tale about love and the beach. What I read was a story of a magazine writer named Ella who has temporary memory loss after she was in a car accident and miscarried. In her loss of self, Ella tries to put herself back together by repeating an interview with an adventurer names Nathan. The story of Nathan and Ella and Ella and Damien is told slowly, like a slow burn or a teaser at a movie theater. What happened between Ella and Nathan is a mystery, only to be revealed at the end of the book. The mystery that unravels is what kept me reading long into the night, really wanting to find out who Ella really was and why she couldn’t remember what had happened to her. Her memory loss was not total amnesia, just a loss about the accident and what had happened to the baby that she had lost. The characters were believably portrayed with realistic emotions and scenes that played like a TV show, with some pauses for me to catch my breath and reflect on the action. I did not identify with any of the characters but I did enjoy finding out about them. Readers of psychological suspense will enjoy this latest book by Kerry Lonsdale.

Disclaimer

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

This book will be available on July 9, 2019. Recommended for mature audiences because of its content.

Told from the points of view of Cora and her friend Sybella, this is a perfect middle school book to teach about the value of a lasting friendship. Cora is lonely because her mom has moved to Europe to do research and it seems that Sybella is not as close a friend any longer. Cora’s reaction to Sybella’s distancing herself is a lesson to all of us that we have to communicate to really know what is going on. There are diary entries and messages that Cora desperately sends to her mother that make the book flow and move along in a quick pace. I think that middle school students can learn a valuable lesson in this book about friendship as well as a lot of information about recycling.

Disclaimer

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

This book will be available for purchase on August 1, 2019. I recommend this book for grades 5-8.

My mother used to tell me this a lot, so much so that I think that I chose to forget her advice because it was tiresome to me. But now God is speaking the same thing to me so I am paying attention!

In this age of social media everywhere, it is very easy to be caught up in debates online. We can Tweet or post a video instantly, thus proving our point. But to what avail? Why is it so important that we be right all the time, or at least right in our own eyes? The only thing worth posting is about Jesus and His salvation. I belong to many book groups online and post on there about the books I’m reading. But I have stopped posting political memes and other things that are controversial because that is not my purpose. God is showing me that I need to speak what I want to say and then be silent. I can really get myself into trouble with too many words. We all can! We need to be aware that the other person may not agree with us and our strong views politically may turn them off from listening to us about Jesus, the Only Way to be saved. Plus, I have more peace in my heart and life when I am not creating or contributing to strife online. It has been a real change for me lately because I am very conservative and my sons and all of their friends are liberal. So, I had found myself debating online for hours…a big waste of time because I was not changing anyone’s mind and I was not presenting Christ as the King of my heart. So, God spoke to my heart and just told me to stop. I can read what they have written without responding…at all! What peace that has brought to my day! I can go to bed at night without an argument running through my mind about what I should have written and what I will write in response to them as soon as I get up in the morning. Instead, I am hearing praise songs in my head as I go to bed at night. How awesome is that! I know that I am forgiven, saved by grace and headed to Heaven because of His mercy and grace. That’s enough for me to know and share. I’m learning how to be more wise with my lips and with my online words. How about you? Do you debate or just let it go? I’m encouraging you to let it go unless it matters for God’s Kingdom. Blessings for a day filled with wonder and His love and grace!