This eleventh book in the Kate Burkholder series by Linda Castillo did not disappoint me at all! In the prologue, a grandmother and her two young granddaughters go on an outing to a neighboring farm that is abandoned. Playing around and picking walnuts, the three are content and show a picture of a loving Amish family. Then, the grandmother is brutally murdered and the scene is very graphically described. She screams for her young granddaughters to run, but only one gets away. When police chief Kate Burkholder arrives at the horrible scene, even she is sickened by the horrific crime, but even more so when she discovers that a young girl has been abducted and the clock is ticking. She calls in her lover Tomasetti who is an FBI agent. This book is a suspense novel and a police procedural, but it is unique in that it gives the reader a view of life among the Amish. It was interesting to discover that the Amish are no different than others in the “English” world in that they keep secrets, even when their revelation could mean saving a life. I always look forward to the new LInda Castillo books each year and thoroughly enjoyed this one, although I think the description of the murder scenes was more graphic than I remember in the past. Although this is book eleven in the series, any reader can jump right into this one and read and understand what is happening because the author does a fantastic job of character development in each book. Readers of suspense and police procedurals will definitely enjoy this new Kate Burkholder novel!

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 is a very graphic novel, so it is not for everyone. But if you want to know more about the Amish community while enjoying a suspenseful police procedural, then this is the book for you! Available now at your local bookseller and online.

This was a lovely story of a librarian who was bullied in high school and lacks self-confidence as a result. It is also the story of a young man who grew up “rough”, moving from foster home to foster home and living with parents who did not act responsibly. Lacy loves her job as a librarian and Paris thoroughly enjoys his as a graphic designer. Neither is looking for any kind of relationship, but the way their relationship develops is the crux of the story. There are some interesting characters in this novella that were in previous Sweetwater Springs novels, but this wonderful little story can also stand on its own. My favorite recurring character is Dawanda, the lady from the bakery who serves cappuccino and “reads” your future after you enjoy your drink. A new character was introduced, Mr. Jepson. With a hurting heart and loss of hope, Mr. Jepson is grumpy and rude towards everyone. I really enjoyed reading the development of his character and how he ended up opening his heart. This is a story that you can read and enjoy in one day. If you haven’t read Annie Rains’s books before, this is a great one to start with because it gives you the flavor of how she writes…with love flowing from every page! Readers of romance will definitely want to read this little treasure!

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 totally clean read will be available on August 6, 2019.

In my devotional this morning, I read the story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal. The wicked king Ahab had led the people of Israel to sin and choose to worship false gods. So Elijah challenges the prophets of the false gods.

Notice that Elijah doesn’t say that he is going to do anything extraordinary. He is simply making a sacrifice of fire to the Lord and expects the Lord to do the extraordinary. When the prophets of Baal put their sacrifice on the altar and called on their false gods for the entire day, nothing happened. Then, it was Elijah’s turn.

Elijah prayed and asked God to answer Him so that the people would believe and turn back to Him. The fire of God fell, consumed the sacrifice and even the water around it. That is how God acts…when we call on Him for a righteous reason. Elijah didn’t pray for God to act so that he would look good and be justified. No, he prayed so that God would be glorified before the people.

Now, let’s take a good look at the gods that we call on. We need affirmation, so where do we go?

In our society of technology, we turn to the tech that we know best. We seek friends, solace, and approval from these apps on our electronic gadgets. How much time do you spend on these sites? Do you give God equal time? What is your purpose for going on the sites? I don’t think it’s to seek God as Elijah did, do you? Of course, if we are not using our electronic gadgets, we are using the electric ones…the TV, radio, even the computer. All of these things can be good if they are used correctly. But God never meant for them to replace Him. These, I think, are the Baals of today’s world. And like the people of Elijah’s time, we have built altars to them, spending a majority of our time each day with them, hoping to receive what we need from them. But, as Elijah said, He wanted God to send fire and show Himself to the people. God answered. I am praying today that those who read my posts will give quality time to God, revering Him for who He is and for what He has done. In Him, we can find all of the answers to life. I am not going so far as to call electronics and electric devices evil, but I am saying that we all need to be careful how much of our time is spent on them so that we end up neglecting the Savior of our souls. God deserves our praise, the first fruits of our time, our energy, our all. I’m talking to myself as much as I am to my readers. I need to spend more time just being with God. I don’t expect Him to send fire down to consume a sacrifice. I want to be the living sacrifice that He desires and I want to be filled with the fire of His Holy Spirit. I hope that you will join me in this quest. Let’s join together in prayer for our people, those who are dying without knowledge of the Lord. Blessings for a day filled with Him!

As a teacher, I was involved in judging competitions various times. I always thought that it was a good thing that I had a score sheet in front of me because sometimes my own prejudices for or against a student would have weighed heavily on my scoring. These days, I’m glad that I am not called on to judge. God is our final judge, so for me to go around judging others and their actions is just wrong in so many ways.

That is not to say that we don’t recognize sin for what it is and speak against it as the Holy Spirit leads us. But we have to be careful about treading into those waters. Sometimes in my zeal to point out the wrongdoing of others, I have offended them so grievously that their view of the Lord is totally skewed. You see, I have a tendency not to offer grace and mercy as He does. I just point out the sin. Then, one day, the Lord spoke clearly to me and told me that He did not mean for be to be the conscience of the world. I am a sinner saved by grace just like everyone else. For me to go around saying to people that what they are doing is a sin, when the Holy Spirit has not led me to do so, is in itself a sin because I am presuming that God cannot deal with that situation Himself. I must admit that sometimes it is hard not to point out obvious sins, like adultery or using the Lord’s Name in vain, but God has not called me to be the “Jiminy Cricket” of the world. He has called me to get my own life straight and He will take care of the rest of the people. That is hard to accept sometimes, especially when we see sin so rampant around us. And He will let me know if and when He wants me to call out people about their sin. We can still call sin what it is, like saying that homosexuality is a sin or abortion is murder. However, I think that approaching an individual about their sin must be preceded by much prayer and wisdom. We must make sure that we are not being offensive, showing the love that the Lord would have us show others. We cannot show others love by slamming them about their sin. Imagine if that is how God treated us. Every day, I would be tiptoeing around, just waiting for the Almighty to assault me. Not a nice visual image, huh? Well, neither is our approach to sinners sometimes. We were not appointed to be the judge. That is God’s job and I am thankful for that truth. I pray that He will help me to remember that in the future and to pray for the sinners and ask the Lord what, if anything, He would like me to say and whom I should approach, if anyone. Love the sinner, hate the sin, and speak nothing unless the Holy Spirit leads! Blessings for a day filled with His grace, wisdom and mercy!

Winchester Series, Book 3

The third book in Debra Webb’s Winchester series deals with some really heavy issues. Cecelia Winters has just returned home after being in prison for eight years for killing her father Mason. Her brother Marcus has taken over her father’s church, a group of people who act more like a cult than any worshippers that I have ever heard of. Her sister Sierra seems to still love her, but Cece strongly suspects that Sierra is taking drugs. Her brother Levi, who was supposed to pick her up from prison, is a no-show in most of the book but promises to be a central figure in the next Winchester book coming out in August. I really enjoyed the strong characters in this book. Cece combined a winsome desire to trust others as well as a willful desire to be free of the charges against her. Deacon Ross is an FBI agent who wants to find out what happened to his friend Jack and is planning on nailing Cece to the wall if she had anything to do with it. The action is fast-paced and the plot is compelling and thought-provoking. The ending was unexpected and unpredictable. I did seeing the return of some characters from other favorite books, like Sheriff Colt Tanner. There was also a “cameo” appearance by Rowan Dupont from Ms. Webbs’s series about the undertaker’s daughter. This book can, of course, be read as a stand alone since the story is a totally independent one, with some crossover with characters and the same setting. Readers of romantic suspense will not want to miss this phenomenal new book by Debra Webb!

Disclaimer

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. 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 is available as a paperback on July 16, 2019 and as an e-book on August 1st. Caution: language and violence

Have you ever done something that you thought was pretty great and then no one even noticed? You wait for those words of affirmation, of praise from your family or peers and it just doesn’t come. So, what do you do? Sulk? Go on and try to do greater things? Or do you just quit and refuse to act until someone recognizes you? This was me about ten years ago. We had a prize in our county for “Teacher of the Year,” and I really wanted that recognition. So, I did the best job that I could in my classroom, but that was what I normally expected of myself. More than that, I became a sponsor of two large organizations in the school, thinking that would earn me the recognition that I thought I deserved. Honestly, I worked myself to death trying to get affirmation. But one day, I realized that the only teachers really receiving recognition of any kind were the ones teaching the core classes, those that had to give standardized tests and get the students to pass them. Year after year, it was the same people receiving the praise and the awards. My recognition came from my students who told me how much they appreciated my efforts for them. So, as the year approached for me to retire, I gave up sponsorships and became content without the recognition. I realized that I was doing the best job I could and if I never got an award, that would be okay because God was the One whom I wanted to please and I knew that He appreciated and recognized my efforts.

Now, I’m giving this day to praise for God. I know that I don’t do that enough. After all, not only is He the Savior of my soul, He has also rescued me from death multiple times, provided for me financially, spiritually and emotionally, and He has blessed me with a beautiful family. So, today is a day to praise God, to recognize Him. I hope that you will join me in my Praise Day. I am not only praising God for what He has done but also for who He is!

Photo from Pinterest

There are many more Scriptures that tell of praise for the Lord, but these are the ones that I have chosen to focus on today. I pray that you will join me in meditating on these verses and giving God the praise due Him, not just today, but every day. I confess that many times, I get too busy with life, look at all of the prayer requests that I need to bring before His throne and say a quick praise and move on to my list. Today, no lists. No requests. Just praise. Because He is worthy of all praise and honor and glory, I give Him the praise that He deserves. He doesn’t need my praise, but I need to praise Him so that I am reminded of what a great God I serve. If you are a Christian, you serve the same God, and will join me in praising Him today. Instead of Prime Day, it is Praise Day in my house. Blessings to you and your household on this day!

What a powerful book to help everyone in their prayer life! Written in prose that is Scriptural and concise, this book is one that every prayer warrior needs to read over and over again. The instructions in this book are practical and necessary to make our prayer lives an effective part of our daily living. We are encouraged to become intercessors for ourselves and those around us as we enter the throne room of God. This book helps us to declare victory over our spiritual enemies and to get ready for the battles in our lives with strategies that will really work. I loved this book and highly recommend it to anyone who is struggling with their prayer life. I also recommend it for those like me who want to have a prayer life that really touches the people and places that are part of our daily lives, those who want to make a difference and don’t know where to begin to pray for all of the problems. This is the book for you! It touched my life and I am certain that it will touch and change yours, too!

Disclaimer

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. 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 fantastic book is available now from your local bookseller and online. Get it today and learn how to be a more effective prayer warrior!

This is a romance like no other that I have read and it’s a really good one! It reminded me of the TV series, “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” that comes on the Hallmark Channel. It’s about a dead letter office in D.C. and a girl who works there named Penny. Penny has a routine that is interrupted when she gets multiple letters from someone named Thomas to someone named Clara. Determined to deliver the letters to Thomas’s true love, Penny goes to seek her out. Failing at that mission, she makes up her mind to travel out west to find Thomas and tell him in person what has happened to Clara. The setting is believable and very rustic, with the old west calling and settlements along the way being established. The characters were realistic and humorous, also. I really liked Margaret, the lady with the Bed and Breakfast and Honey, Penny’s dog. Of course, I liked Penny and Thomas as well! Penny was a girl with a purpose and determination seldom seen in young people. Thomas had the same kind of determination, wanting to become a farmer in an unfriendly wilderness. I enjoyed the visual image of Azure Springs and the conflict between some of the characters. Mostly, I enjoyed reading the letters that Penny and Thomas wrote, letters that told us about the events in their lives and how their hearts were involved in those around them. I highly recommend this book to fans of Christian historical fiction!

Disclaimer

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. 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 Christian clean read is available now at your local bookseller and online!

Anyone who has ever had children or even been around them for any period of time knows that children have a tendency to blame others when something is done wrong. There is a character that lives in all of the houses where children reside; his name is “Not me.” I’m sure you know him. The milk is left on the counter and you ask who left it out. The response is generally, “Not me!” The evidence is there; the milk was left out and spoiled but no one will accept responsibility. I think that accepting responsibility for your actions is a learned behavior. We teach it to our children by becoming amateur detectives and continuing to ask questions until we determine the one who did the wrongdoing. We don’t have to make a big deal about it, but we do have to train our children to take responsibility and tell the truth. As a Christian, I know that God loves me so much that he sent His Son to take my blame for all of my sins.

God’s love is so encompassing that it is hard to conceive of such a love that turns our sin around into forgiveness. But we are not to just continue to sin lest we hurt the heart of the Father who has forgiven us so much. The Holy Spirit speaks to our conscience, just as we act as detectives to our children, and tells us that what we did was wrong. That is, if we don’t already know that, which I think most times we do. Nevertheless, the Holy Spirit pursues us, wanting us to be right before the Father, and so we confess just as we should.

Strive means to try hard. It indicates effort on our part. It is not always easy to confess and accept responsibility for our sins, but it is a necessary part of having a good and open relationship with God. We don’t fear going before His throne because we have a clear conscience before Him, knowing that we are His beloved children and that He wants us to take responsibility for our actions. Like a child, sometimes it is easier to blame others. “But, Lord, you know that my friend tempted me and so I went to the bar and got drunk.” (Note to my readers: I made up this scene. I have never actually committed this sin, but I have indeed committed many others.). The friend may have done the tempting, but you did the action. Just as Adam and Eve were tempted in the Garden of Eden and CHOSE to sin, so do we at times and must accept the responsibility for our sins, confess them before the Lord and ask for His forgiveness. Like a loving parent, God does not stop loving us because we fall short of His expectations for us. He just wants us to confess, stop doing that sin and move on.

Every day is a new day, full of opportunities and choices. Each day, God gives us strength to make the right choices. He wants us to be blameless before Him and that is a real possibility because we can always tell Him what we have done wrong and ask for His forgiveness. But, better than that, we can always count on Him to give us strength to live the way we should, representing Him and His grace and mercy to a lost world.

Photo courtesy of a friend from church named Mike.

God gives us favor and honor. He gives us every good thing that we can conceive of because he helps us to walk in a way that is blameless. God wants us to succeed, just like parents want their children to succeed in all that they do. As a loving Father, He helps us to succeed and rejoices when we do. I hope that you all have a blessed day, remembering how much God loves you and how He strengthens you daily. Choose to do the right thing, and be blessed and blameless!