Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Enjoyable Book Full of HIstory

The following is a review of the book Unending Devotion, by Jody Hedlund.

Lily Young is an adult orphan trying to find her sister; who she thought was safe with an adoptive family, but runs away.  Lily has a job as a photographer’s assistant and travels in central Michigan to logging camps as part of her work. She goes from brother to brothel seeking to save her sister, often saving others instead.  She uses her faith and strength from God to save young girls who are caught up in the ugly shanty town lifestyles, and end up becoming prostitutes.  She helps rally townspeople to make things better and overthrow a powerful tavern/brothel owner, who makes his own laws. 



I enjoyed this book.  I’ve been a Michigan resident my whole life, and this book brought some unsavory history to me about lumber towns.  It resembles classic stories about newly developing towns and how they were full of men, taverns and lawlessness.   It told of the struggle of building a town, trying to get churches and schools established, so respectable citizens and families would want to settle.  It showed perseverance, and using God’s strength and grace to fight  for what is right, even when the battle is hard.

This book was given to me as a  review copy from Bethany House Publishing Group.  I was not compensated for this review and all opinions are my own.

Saturday, February 16, 2013

Prevail


“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”
 ~ Proverbs 19:21 NIV11

Let.It.Go. Week 2 Online Bible Study Blog Hop

Did God ever redirect my plans and have His path lead to blessings? YES! Lots of little blessings.  Here’s my story of  God’s plan changing my plan.  Last fall my original plan was to go to Sunday service.  I brought the kids upstairs to their Sunday School classroom, only to have my daughter tug my arm and ask me to stay with her, which encouraged my son join her plea, so I stayed.  So, I attended children’s Sunday school instead of my adult service; no big deal, I could catch up on pod cast. My teenage daughter joined us, not wanting to sit alone in the sanctuary.  I don’t remember the Bible story or message that particular week. I do remember a couple of rambunctious 3 year old boys that made me think my teenager and I were in the right place, to help at the right time.

The next Sunday, the same tug and question, but this time, I made my little ones join my service, which is boring to  5 and 6 year olds.  The Sunday school teacher gently reminded me, it is important for them to hear the message intended for them.  So, on the third week of cling-ons my oldest and I once again, joined the Sunday school class, and tried to round up the rowdy three year old so the other children could learn. 

I now teach Sunday school to those rowdy little boys in the pre-school room, with the help of my 15 year old daughter.  I never would have volunteered to do such a task, if my children hadn’t dragged me to there.  I prepared crafts and stories off of the lesson plans given to me, but  I did not know what I was doing.  I kept comparing things to the other teacher who is older and a “real teacher” in the school system. Now, I’ve learned to take my lesson plans, and alter them within the limits of my kids.  My class a bridge somewhere between nursery and school age. 

Each Sunday I go to pre-school to worship.  God is there with me, giving me the strength to find beauty and fun doing His work.  I get smiles, giggles,  snack time,  songs and dance.  I get to color, glue and wipe sticky fingers.  I get to share  my love of God with these precious souls, who I now think of as my kids.  Last week we had six 3 year olds and a 2 year old. It has been a blessing to me, in more ways than I can account for.  I’ve always had faith, but didn’t grow up going to church.  I am not as well versed in scripture as many are.  I am growing and do more devotionals and spend more time with God now. 

Friday, February 8, 2013

Let.It.Go. Week 1





I have joined an online bible study (OBS) group using the book “Let.It.Go” by Karen Ehman.  I purchased my copy on Amazon in the Kindle format. The OBS is hosted by Melissa Tayor and is located at http://melissataylor.org/.  This is my first OBS, I’ve done a couple other books at church with ladies groups. I look forward to growing my faith and relationship with God. I find I really like doing these studies.  I enjoy looking a scripture and applying it to my life.  I hope you do too!




1. WHAT-EVER! – “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.” ~ Colossians 3:23 NIV84    I’ve been sick with the flu this week, so I’ve been doing the bare minimum, so admittedly, I’ve yet to apply this.  I did put it on my phone’s lock screen.  I do that often with inspiring words.  This verse is such a coverall.  Most immediate is the perspective on housework.  I get angry when I have to pick up after others.  Not nice to say, especially since I’m a stay-at-home-mom. When I pick up socks, legos, and things left around, I get mad.  No one follows me, looking for a spot where my things go.  I feel like I am the only one in a house of 5 people who cares, then I feel taken for granted. Now that my rant is over, I’ll go back to how this verse comes into play with these feelings.  If I look at a tidy house as a way of honoring God, and work for Him when I do housework, I feel less exasperated, then when I mumble to myself about my messy family.  When put into play in other areas I just feel if you give it your all, you use work as an example of what can be done when you’re God powered. It translates into a testimony of honoring God.

2. WiReD. –Hi, my name is Daphne Fitzpatrick and I have a tendency to control. I’m a loud, people pleaser, who plays martyr when I take on too much and feel unappreciated. But I have hope and so do you! The quiz results were bordering between easygoing yet, take charge and manipulative depending on the situation.  I hope this study allows me to trust God more often.  I’m already praying more before tasks, just asking for strength and to do His will.  I’m hoping to be calmer, because I will trust more, while worrying and shouldering less.  

3. Ooo! Shiny! – I loved learning about the difference between a tool, toy and tangent. The world really has a lot of choice. I find that Facebook represents all three to me.  Facebook is a tool, when I use to connect with friends and family, gather new recipes or money saving coupons.  It’s a toy when I play a game, laugh at a funny post, or just relax.  It becomes a tangent, when I let it suck my time, read negative things, play games to much, or just spend time clicking because I’m procrastinating on other things.  I’ve learned to use my tiny iPhone screen as a weapon against Facebook tangents.  I only check specific pages, instead of trying to catch up with everything, like I do when I sit down to my computer. Many days I use it as only tool or toy, but tangents come along often enough. This is making me even more aware of the tangent usage. I plan to do that less.

Have a blessed day!

Book Review: A Change of Fortune


A Change of Fortune

This is a book review on AChange of Fortune by Jen Turano.  

This book had everything I enjoy in a novel; God, adventure, romance and humor.   I could not put it down. A lady down on her luck sets out to defend her family’s name and recover a lost fortune.  Lady Eliza Sumner left penniless, to follow her father’s former man of affairs and governess to America.  To find income and a place close to society she poses as a governess and gains employment.  She teams up with a mismatched group of people.  While she ends up in many difficult situations, she begins to fall in love with her rescuer, Beckett, and his children. The characters struggle with their relationships with God after dealing with harsh realities is life. 
This is a review copy from Bethany House Publishing Group.  I chose this book from a list as an item of interest.  I was not compensated and opinions are my own.

Book Review: Whispers in the Wind



This is a book review on Whispers in the Wind (Wild Wild West) by Lauraine Snelling.  This is book two to the Wild West Wind series.  I have not read book 1 or 3. 
Cassie arrives in South Dakota at a ranch with a group of ‘family’, a bunch of people from her former life in a Wild West show.  She has claim to the ranch as it is a piece of property her father jointly owned with a friend before he joined the show.  The show has disbanded, and her father has passed on.  Cassie hopes to make a future for herself and her family there.  She struggles with her new place, as she doesn’t really have any knowledge of domestic skills such as cooking.  The partner, in land ownership has also passed away, leaving his wife and children to run it.  The wife verifies the claim and they all learn to share the land. 
Whispers in the Wind
I thought the story was nice. I wondered what went on in book 1, and what will happen in 3.  I will add these to my reading list.  I am giving it a four star based on really liking the story, however, the book was repeatedly put down and felt like a chore at times.  Having read it all I’m still going to read the rest of the series.
This is a review copy from Bethany House Publishing Group.  I chose this book from a list as an item of interest.  I was not compensated and all opinions are my own.



Growing in Faith



I’ve been growing in my ‘Unglued’ study, by Lysa TerKeurst.  http://www.ungluedbook.com/  . Being involved in this group has involved me in scripture and wrapped me in God’s glory and grace.  I feel like I smile more, can face more and care more. I am walking a closer path.  Some key things or words that inspire me from this series are:

·         Honor God with my words and actions
·         Before acting or reacting, remember I am God’s child and should not feed the enemy
·         Decision making should be Good not Easy
·         Strive to be calm at the beginning of strife, invite Jesus and his ways into the situation
·         Turning around to praise God in all situations

One of the biggest things, for me was being so relaxed I didn’t have crazy woman days (PMS).  Days flew past without me knowing it, and all of a sudden I was shaking my head.  I had allowed skills to calm me to the point where I wasn’t a shrew for those days I think I suck as a human, wow.  TMI? Sorry, had to share, because those days are the worst. I feel so mean, and sad.  I feel like I have no filter and no self control.  I yell, cry and blurt out the least tactful words I ever utter.  Why am I sharing? I’m sharing because we all have those days or moments, when we know we’re not going to behave ideally.  

The growth I’ve experience had me going online for more resources. I like the Proverbs 31 site. I stumbled upon an online bible study group trough it.  It made me think of my mommy friends who are at home with babies and tots and can’t venture out to these groups, without disrupting family life and having to seek a sitter.  I shared the link with them, and my ladies group discussion leader.