Sometimes life is messy and the road that we are on is bumpy.  Sometimes we are on a dark path and we don’t know where we are going to end up.  But, we can trust in God and His love for us.  No matter what we are going though, His love is there for us.  I have a favorite chair that I always relax in; that’s what God’s love is to me—like a favorite chair, he is there to comfort me and to hold me until I feel better and strong enough to tackle the next task that life has for me.  How about you?  Do you know and trust in God’s love?

This book is absolutely amazing, with an ending that will blow you away!  Elyse is a shy teen living with a mom who is addicted to painkillers, so she hasn’t been much of a caregiver.  Elyse gets the lead in the new school play, “Romeo and Juliet” and immediately develops a crush on the drama teacher.  Gabe, the other main character in the book, is dealing with a girl who is obsessed with him and will do anything to keep him.  The story of these two teens is told realistically and in a way that the reader wants to reach out and help them in some way.  The book is fast-paced, drawing the reader into a story that is so complex that you will never see the ending coming.  This teen novel is well-written, with excellent character development and short chapters that make it easy to read and fascinating.  

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 I have 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 Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

God has a good plan for your life.  He has in mind your future and wants you to live with hope in Him and His good plan.

Do you say that you are a Christian?  Then, you are called by God’s name and this verse is for you.  We are called to humble ourselves before God…to see ourselves as we really are.  We are called to pray and seek God’s face.  Prayer is entering into God’s kingdom.  Jesus taught us how to pray in the Lord’s Prayer.  He also includes a praise of the Father (humbling ourselves) and seeking God in His Holy Place.  Then comes the really hard part—we are told to turn from our wicked ways.  You are probably like me and saying, “But I have no wicked ways.”  Really?  I still lose my temper, say things I should not say and do things that I know God would not have me do.  No one is perfect that walks on this earth; so repent and turn away from evil.  Then comes the promise that God will hear from Heaven and forgive our sins.  But, better than that, He will restore our land.  One version says He will “heal our land.”  What does that mean?  I think it means that he will restore our land to the time of belief and dependence on God.  Our nation has become one that is dependent on man, on government, when we should be dependent on God alone.  God is good and does not lie, so we can depend on Him to keep His promises.  But we have to do our part:  become humble before Him, pray, seek Him and turn away from sin.  Not easy, but God wouldn’t ask us to do it if He didn’t already know that it’s possible.

This is the most feel-good book that I have read this year, and maybe ever.  It’s the story of a girl with a bright future, about to get engaged to her dream love, Chip.  Then, the unthinkable happens, a plane crashes and she survives, but just barely.  In the hospital and a paraplegic, Maggie feels like giving up.  But she has a cast of supporting characters, including her mom, her dad and her estranged sister Kit who comes back home just to rally her out of her blue funk.  She also has a taciturn physical therapist who doesn’t seem to like her, his job or anything else.  But Maggie keeps struggling on, determined to make the best of the life that she has left.  The book has some parts that left me tearing up and other parts that had me laughing aloud.  The characters are so realistic that it is like watching a movie of a life that really happened.  The sympathy that I felt for Maggie was real: the anger I felt at those who hurt her was just as real.  I can’t say enough good things about this book except that you just have to read it to believe it!  It is insanely well-written!  

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 I have 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 Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Jesus said that He is the Light of the World and those of us who follow him will walk in the light of life.  What does that mean? I hate walking into a totally dark room, even though it’s my home and I know where everything is.  I stil hesitate when going into a dark room and quickly reach for the light switch.  This is an analogy for the darkness in our world.  Jesus left us to be a light to the world, and people who are in the darkness are reaching for the light that we have within us.  It is up to us to tell others about the good news of Jesus so that they, too, can share in this light and no longer fear the darkness.  The worst darkness is death, eternal separation from God for those who don’t know Jesus as Lord. If we want to help others escape that eternal darkness, we have to share the light.  Then our light spreads to others, and their light spreads to others and the darkness is dispelled.  Dispel the darkness; be the light in the world that Jesus left you to be!

What What does it mean to be crucified with Christ?  Honestly, I think that each Christian needs to answer this question in their own minds and hearts.  For me, it means that I  do a devotional each morning, reading God’s word and praying so I can start my day getting closer to the One who created me.  It also means that I ask God each day and throughout the day what He wants me to accomplish that day.  It means always being in an attitude of prayer so that I am always in contact with my Heavenly Father.  It means that I am Jesus’s hands and feet left on this earth to complete His mission, so I am to tell others about Him anytime I can.  It means that my needs are less important (not important at all, really) than the needs of God’s Kingdom.  It means that I am dying so that Jesus can shine forth in my light. It means that whatever small glory or praise comes my way goes straight to the Father; I thank Him for all that I am and all that I will be and do.   My prayer is that when people see me, they will get a small glimpse of what Jesus was like.  What is your prayer?  Are you being crucified with Christ?

Imagine an immovable mountain placed in front of you, between you and your enemies, anyone or anything that wants to harm you.  That is my vision of God and how He takes care of me.  He places himself between me and those things or people that would harm me so that nothing can get to me.  Remember when you were young and you hid under a blanket, thinking no one could see you?  God is our blanket of protection.  Our enemies may be able to see us and are always trying to attack us, but God is our hiding place.  He is also our strength.  Sometimes, I feel so tired and weak…the after effects of having a stroke and also the effect of aging.  But God daily gives me the strength I need to get through the day.  He is good!  He is worthy to be praised!  God is my fortress and my strength!  Who is yours?

The last thing Jesus did before He was taken up into Heaven to be with the Father was to bless His disciples.  What does it mean to be blessed?  I have long thought, incorrectly I now believe, that to be blessed meant to have enough of everything…food, clothing, a nice car, a nice home, etc.  But I have come to realize that material possessions have nothing to do with God’s blessings.  He blesses us with His power and His Spirit so that we can be His representatives on earth to others who are hurting, to others who also need to be blessed and receive the Bread of Life.  So, my prayer for all who read this is that you receive His blessing so you can then be one to others.

Genre:  Suspense

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This is the story of a narrator who is losing her mind, or is she?  Rose Denton awakens in the middle of the night in a field, sitting in her car on which she discovers blood.  But when she tries to find someone or something injured, there. Is nothing and no one around to explain the blood. She drives home and cleans her car, then has to deal with the reality that she may be culpable for a horrible crime.  She also finds out that a young worker is missing from the hotel that she was supposed to stay in that night, and her daughter’s boyfriend is also missing. Did she have anything to do with their not being around any more?  Rose has a marriage that is falling apart and a relationship with her daughter that is non-existent.  She also has a memory that continues to fail her.  The drama in this novel is real, but the pace is slow.  You just want to tell the narrator to get on with it and let you in on the secrets that she is guarding so closely.  Rose is not a very good narrator as she continues to get off the track of the story, with a lot of side issues with her boss, her job and a co-worker.  The book was an enjoyable read, but not fast-paced or action-packed.  It does fool the reader with a lot of clues that lead you in the wrong direction, so the ending is a surprise.

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 I have 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 Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”