Reviews

Book Review: Isobel’s Mission of Courage

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http://www.celebratelitpublishing.com/posts/book/isobels-mission-of-courage/

Isobel’s Mission of Courage provides a snapshot in the life of someone with breast cancer. But it is so much more. It is the tale of a family adjusting to a new town and the people they meet there.

Author, “Susan K. Beatty is passionate about finding courage through faith and grit, particularly through the trials of breast cancer. Her daughter is a metastatic breast cancer ‘thriver’ and has been an inspiration for her writing.”

I love the framework of the book, as I have walked through chemo with three friends. I found the progression of symptoms to be spot on, in describing the horror and acceptance to be dual companions in the process of losing hair, taste buds and energy.

An interesting twist is added with the appearance of a homeless woman, Noolie. Isobel can’t keep herself from taking on a project, and zones in on finding a way to help Noolie. She enlists the aid of her family and opens a new window into her own motives as she takes a look at why it is so important for her to serve.  

Isobel’s Mission of Courage presents an honest intersect of faith and the pain of unanswered questions. When Noolie’s story unveils, she asks, “If God saved me, then why didn’t He protect me?”

Isobel’s Mission of Courage is a Faces of Courage Novelette, and an encouraging glimpse at what it means to live out faith in difficult circumstances. Isobel’s husband reminds us, “It’s easy to remember to ask for help when we feel weak. But when we feel strong, we tend to forget we need as much help if not more.”

You’ll be encouraged to lean on God more and to walk side by side with others in the throes of life!

Sally

Disclaimer:  I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Reviews

Book Review: Different Like Me

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Different Like Me by Xochitl Dixon

Different Like Me is a timely reminder of God’s beauty in each of us, as He links us together in the journey of life. On the outside, we may look different, but on the inside, we experience the same feelings of worry, hurry and fear. It’s reassuring to know we’re not so different, after all, because differences separate us, but likenesses unify us.

Xochitl Dixon created a helpful conversation tool with Different Like Me. From the back cover, “You’re different from everyone else. And sometimes that leaves you feeling like a fish out of water. You might feel like you don’t belong. But you’re wonderfully created by God – and so is everyone else! Join a diverse group of children working together to get their giant balloon to a surprise destination. Enjoy their journey, watch their progress, and celebrate their arrival as even a ‘fish out of water’ finds belonging.”

Xochitl (soh-cheel) Dixon writes through daily struggles with chronic pain, showing compassion for those who suffer. She is a regular contributor to the Our Daily Bread devotional and the author of Waiting for God: Trusting Daily in God’s Plan and Pace. Through blogging, Xochitl shares her journey and yearning to nurture spiritual growth through prayer and the study and application of Scripture.

The author also provides a page for parents, adding discussion questions to think about in standing down bullying and embracing diversity. She offers gracious perspective and speaks in winsome ways to cultivate conversation.

Different Like Me is a celebration of life in fun-to-read rhyme. Get a copy to share with your family, and enjoy the beautiful pages created by artist Bonnie Lui. Xochitl’s service dog, Callie, even makes a debut!

Sally

Callie
Reviews

Book Review & a Giveaway: Classic Marriage

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#classicmarriage

Classic Marriage: Staying in Love as your Odometer Climbs is not just another book about marriage. Classic Marriage takes a look at words like romance, soul mates, forgiveness, covenant, and your spouse’s eulogy. What? A eulogy? Yes, and so much more. Are you one who dislikes reading? Hang on for the ride, ‘cause Phil and Michelle Rayburn invite you to look at the Jeep engine with the tranny pulled out (that’s the transmission). Phil’s dry sense of humor adds commentary and Michelle provides illustrations of car upkeep, home remodel, boat anchors and piano tuning.

Michelle and Phil Rayburn have been married 30 years and wrote the book to cheerlead others on the journey. Michelle says, “I want our story to help someone else hang on for dear life when they consider letting go. You can do it with God’s help.”

Classic Marriage takes a look at the cost of improvements needed for maintenance. Not in terms of dollar signs but heart changes of humility and selflessness. When pride is set aside, the result is priceless. Instead of surviving marriage, the Rayburns want you to thrive, and provide realistic conversations about the daily choices to love your spouse instead of focusing on piles of dishes, laundry, and junk in the back yard.

Michelle describes the marriage-covenant relationship as a bond, much like super glue. When broken, both surfaces are torn apart in the process. Instead, she offers the alternative to see marriage as ministry to each other, to offer forgiveness in the trenches of life, and grace to walk together.

Michelle says, “Over the course of thirty years, I have had plenty of moments where I wanted to do the nice thing. I wanted to apologize. I wanted to make the first move. But I didn’t want it bad enough to set aside my pride to follow through with action. Every time, it was an opportunity lost.

“Pride is a liar. It looks like a shell that would protect a vulnerable heart from getting hurt, but instead it extends the hurt and blocks healing.”

Don’t let pride keep you from cherishing your spouse today. If we wait to make a list of all the things we appreciate in a eulogy, it will be too late to affirm your spouse. Now is the time!

I am giving away a copy of Classic Marriage: Staying in Love as your Odometer Climbs to one reader in the continental United States. Leave a comment on my blog (at the top of this post, under the title) and answer this question, “What trait of your spouse do you admire?” You will be entered into the drawing to be held on Thursday evening, August 13. I can’t wait to hear your answers!

Sally

Disclaimer:  I received a copy of Classic Marriage from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.

My honey with his classic!

Retreats

Book Review & a Giveaway: Miss Tavistock’s Mistake

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Miss Tavistock’s Mistake

Lies, deception and jealousy all contribute to Miss Tavistock’s Mistake, but will she make amends before it’s too late, or will her story take on a life of its own?

Linore Rose Burkard wrote Miss Tavistock’s Mistake as Book One of The Brides of Mayfair, set in the early 1800s in Yorkshire, England. Linore is “the author of historical romance, contemporary suspense, contemporary romance, and romantic short stories.”

Linore makes good use of imagery to bring the reader into her story world. Descriptions of fashion, decorating, hair styles and vernacular all contribute to transporting one into another time and place.

The characters are well-developed, pitting three brothers against each other and an orphan, coming of marriageable age, in their midst. The brothers struggle with their own vices and Miss Tavistock creates havoc between them:

The eldest, an earl.

The middle, a sea captain.

The youngest, a scholar at university.  

Which one will she chose? Will her charade keep her from all of them?

Linore brings in events from history, bringing it alive in full color. The inclusion of the fete in June of 1811 describes the lavish style of celebration for the Prince of Wales’ becoming Regent, and the surprising mob at the palace. Get your own copy to find out more, and escape for a time to a world of intrigue and romance.

I am giving away a copy of Miss Tavistock’s Mistake to one reader in the continental United States. Leave a comment on my blog (at the top of this post, under the title) and tell me what you like best about reading fiction. You will be entered into the drawing to be held on Saturday, July 18 at 4 pm. I can’t wait to hear your thoughts!

Sally

Disclosure of Material: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookCrash.com book review program, which requires an honest, though not necessarily positive, review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR Title 16, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Reviews

Book Review & a Giveaway: I Am David

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#iamdavid

I Am David, too, because I fail at times, I fulfill my calling at times, and I find God ready to hear me, at all times. I Am David is an exploration of ten things that made King David a great man used by God, and known as a man after God’s heart.

Jimmy Evans is the author of I Am David, and more than 16 other books, the Senior Pastor at Gateway Church, in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, and as an overseer of New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He and his wife, Karen, co-host MarriageToday, a ministry he founded.

I Am David is packed with insights into the battle we are all fighting. Evans says it takes courage to win the battlefield of the mind, and to rise above past pain. But, “You won’t discover your true greatness until you find it on the battlefield.”

Are you in a battle? Evans replies, we all are, and given armor to stand firm. He says, “Courage is not defined by how few fears a person has… but a commitment to do the right thing in spite of fear.”

This look at David’s life is inspiring because it shows how the Lord can work with a life surrendered to Him. And, it affirms how much God values us and seeks to free us from our own stubbornness. It had never occurred to me that the same man who faced Goliath ran from his own son. But, Evans says David “was not a man who hid behind his accomplishments, nor did he hide behind his problems, failures, and fears.” David fully relied on God to be his fortress.

When your enemy says, “Just who do you think you are?”

Evans advises us to firmly reply, “It’s not about me; it’s about the God in me who has made me who I am and called me with His unique calling. Christ in me is my qualification. His righteousness is my authority, and His Word is my reality. In Him I am called to enforce the devil’s defeat and bring heaven on earth!”

Get your own copy and soak the words into your heart. David’s leadership inspired revolutionary thinking!

faith-focused thinking

I am giving away a copy of I Am David to one reader in the continental United States. Leave a comment on my blog (at the top of this post, under the title) and answer this question, “What trait of David do you admire, and why?” You will be entered into the drawing to be held on Friday, June 12 at 4 pm. I can’t wait to hear your thoughts!

Sally

Disclosure of Material: I received a complimentary copy of this book from The Blog About Network book review program in exchange for a fair and honest review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR Title 16, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Leadership, Reviews

Book Review & a Giveaway: The Unbeatable Recipe for Networking Events

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The Unbeatable Recipe for Networking Events

Do you attend networking events for work? Should you? Robby Slaughter says, “Yes!” and provides the formula in his treatise, The Unbeatable Recipe for Networking Events. Whether you are self-employed or work for a big corporation, a people person or an introvert, you will find takeaways in his book to help you grow in connecting with other people.

“Robby Slaughter is a workflow and productivity expert, and a nationally known speaker on topics related to personal productivity, corporate efficiency and employee engagement.” He is the founder of AccelaWork and the author of The Efficient Professional Series.

The premise of The Unbeatable Recipe for Networking Events is to provide fail-proof methods of connecting with others in your business, in order to gain rapport. Robby says the principal challenges for professionals are not technological, but psychological. He then proceeds to break down those challenges into doable action steps.

The interesting part of Robby’s formula stems from his thesis statement. He says, “Networking events are the most effective way to populate my personal database with the people I am about to serve.”

It is refreshing to see a purpose statement not self-serving, but to begin with service. And he continues on that thread throughout the book, providing tips for things to do at networking events, talking about the power of your own story, and the emotional response of a business card.

Whether you are an author attending a writer’s conference, an enthusiast attending a garden show, or in sales at a trade show, this book will give you confidence to put your best handshake forward and glean from the people you meet. It is “a key part of your strategy to help others.”

I am giving away my signed copy of The Unbeatable Recipe for Networking Events to one reader in the continental United States. Leave a comment on my blog (at the top of this post, under the title) about your favorite networking tip, and you will be entered into the drawing, to be held in three days, May 30.

Sally

Disclosure of Material: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Faith, Reviews

Book Review : #beYOU: Change Your Identity One Letter at a Time

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#beYOU

What does it mean to #beYOU: Change Your Identity One Letter at a Time? Kolleen Lucariello says, “There are some things we are never too old to learn.” She tells of looking for purpose when her children left for college and realizing God views us differently than we view ourselves.

Kolleen Lucariello is the mom of three, and wife to Pat. She is Executive Director of Communication and Content at Activ8Her, Inc, “a ministry that serves as a catalyst for women to activ8 growth in three areas: spiritually, leadership skills, and relationship skills.”

#beYOU is a call to transformation. Kolleen uses each letter of the alphabet to examine a life submitted to the Lord and the remodel of a person’s character. After unpacking the word representing that letter, the chapter exercises take the reader to the next level by adding the ABCs.

            Activate: start the work

            Become: come into existence and #beYou

            Confess: declare in faith

#beYOU is not just a nice devotional, it is an agent for life-change. I do not recommend speed-reading through to the end; take time to digest the meaty discussions and process what they look like in relation to your day-to-day interactions.

Kolleen’s unique insights bring refreshment to a thirsty soul. She reminds us “God desires that we walk in the fullness of who He created us to be.”

Topics include loneliness, acceptance, and compromise. Kolleen’s vulnerability makes me feel like she understands me and the battles I face. The illustrations she uses pull fresh meaning out of Bible passages, and encourage me to dig deeper into those passages for myself. One example is from Chapter E: Established. Kolleen says we can liken David’s miry pit to quicksand. Yet, God, our Rock, pulls us out of our muck to stand with firm footing in His Word.

In Chapter F: Forgiven. “Holding a grudge is like a high-paying job; I pay the high cost.”

And, the Samaritan Woman, “The woman who once avoided the crowd became the woman running to the crowd.”

#beYOU provides an in-depth look at our identity in Christ and in finding security “where I can see myself the way He sees me.” I wholeheartedly recommend this for your library and for those on your gift list. It will delight and inspire you!

Sally

Disclaimer:  I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Encouragement, Faith

Top Ten Lessons I Learned from Jigsaw Puzzles

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I love to get lost in a puzzle. It takes me to a world of creativity and provides the brain a break from facts and figures.

10. The finished puzzle is more beautiful than the imitation on the box. When we get to heaven, it will be indescribable!

9. Enjoy the journey – the fun is in the challenge. When it is done, the experience is over, so make the most of the process.

8. Not everyone likes jigsaw puzzles. And that’s ok. It’s ok to be on your own adventure; not everyone else has to be a part of your puzzle.

7. The picture on the box doesn’t always represent the finished puzzle. One puzzle came in a generic package; you had to figure it out on the fly. Life is a lot like that… ya gotta figure it out as you go.

6. Sometimes you have to look at a puzzle from a different angle to see nuances of colors and shading. When I sit at a different spot at the table, the picture presents a different view. Many times I need a new perspective in order to finish the job in front of me.

5. Some pictures on the box are at a different magnification than the puzzle. Sometimes my view of life’s problems get blown out of proportion. When I look at it too long, I lose sight of the desired goal.

4. The colors on the piece can be deceiving. A piece may look completely out of place, until it is in the right place. Just so, the moods of my day don’t determine a true picture of my circumstances.

3. Some puzzles have a tighter cut or angled ones. So, too, life doesn’t always fit neatly in the designated peg. Work hard; press in with prayer.

2. Forcing a piece to fit in makes it more difficult when the right one needs to go in that spot. If I force something to work into my life, it creates emptiness when the Lord wants to complete me. God’s timing requires waiting until He wants to use that piece.

1. Holes in the picture just mean the puzzle isn’t finished. Life has holes, too. We have questions. We’re looking for missing pieces. It doesn’t mean I’m a ruined picture, just not finished, yet.

Is life puzzling? Let prayer help you sort out the pieces.

Sally

Faith, Reviews

Book Review: Old Paths and Ancient Markers

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Old Paths & Ancient Markershttps://mkgantt.com/books/

Old Paths and Ancient Markers is a call to action. It is a fitting of armor for the battle waged against the truth of God’s Word. M.K. Gantt says, “We are faced in our generation with a committed, concentrated, and full-frontal assault on the integrity and authority of the Word of God.”

“In his more than fifty years of public ministry Michael Gantt has served as a youth pastor, senior pastor, and gospel musician. He has written and directed numerous musical dramas for the stage. Michael is the author of six books including Cry Mercy, Cry Repent, and Sleeping Near the Ark. He is a frequent speaker for local congregations as well as men’s conferences, writers’ conferences, and mission events.”

Old Paths and Ancient Markers presents a clear case for Truth. Not individual truth, but Truth established for all to follow by the God who decreed it. As disciples who guard the treasure of the Gospel, we are a part of a long line of those who preserve the integrity of the message for the next generation.

Michael contends there is no place more important to the expansion of the kingdom of God, than the home. The home is God’s plan for sharing the message, teaching its values, and growing disciples. The home is where God intended His love to be modeled, lived out and passed on. It is the place where sacrificial love is best revealed.

Chapter 13 provides a vulnerable reveal of Michael’s life. It shows how his passion for the family was shaped in growing up without one. And then, in his years of having one, neglecting it. His own wakeup call became a clarion call for other fathers to also rise to the challenge to invest in their children. He says it is never too late to reclaim your family, and reminds of David’s army when Ziklag had been ransacked. God told David to “Pursue, overtake, and recover!”

Old Paths and Ancient Markers makes you squirm, yet eager to join the charge to reclaim the family as God’s center for instruction. It is a timely reminder to all disciples to stand up and be counted in the current events of our nation. We can no longer let someone else determine our value systems and morals. God’s Word is constant and true. It will never be out of date because God’s mercies are new every morning.

Get a copy of Old Paths and Ancient Markers for yourself. Use it as a study for your small group. But most of all let it point you back to the Bible as your measuring stick. It is the precious Word of God!

Sally

Disclaimer: I received this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Faith, Holidays

Life at a Standstill

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The Cross

Life has come to a standstill across the globe. The corona virus altered our lifestyles. The disciples experienced it, too. Their days had been full of activity as they traveled with Jesus. But life came to a standstill when all of their hopes and expectations were hammered onto the cross with the body of Jesus. Then, to make matters worse, His body was gone. Stolen, they assumed. Life certainly didn’t turn out like they anticipated.

Has your hope come to a standstill, along with your schedule?

Good news! Jesus hasn’t disappeared; He is here in the midst of upheaval. He walks the road of life with us because He rose from the dead and is now interceding at His Father’s side, on our behalf!

Jesus suffered torture and crucifixion, so that we could have forgiveness of sins and a relationship with God. He wants our “new normal”

And that’s the power of Easter, to reboot life as we know it, and turn it into a victory over death. Jesus brings life! Ask Him to open your mind to understand it.

Read Luke 24 and see for yourself. Jesus is alive!

Sally

Photo & Design Credit: David & Marilyn Reynolds

Help for the Helper: Purpose for the Planner, Respite & Renewal for the Caregiver

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