God’s Love

The Singing Quilt

~ Ann Cuddy-Sullivan ~ Leave a comment

Every once in a while a book comes along that touches your heart.  The Singing Quilt by Kathi Macias is one such book.  It is not often that I read fiction, but I have to say that I did not want this book to end.  I wanted to know more about the lead charecter… I wanted to follow along with her new life in Christ.  Sadly though… the book came to an end.

Below is my public review of this book

The Singing QuiltThe Singing Quilt by Kathi Macias

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“Can another woman’s courage inspire the impossible? Jolissa Montoya, a shy, young Hispanic girl, believes God is calling her to work with disadvantaged children in the inner city. She is convinced that what God has spoken to her heart is impossible. Until one day when she shares her concerns with a confidante who shows her a quilt – a quilt that depicts the life of a courageous woman.” Continue reading →

Love. Period.

~ Ann Cuddy-Sullivan ~ Leave a comment

Love. Period.: Loving Those Who are Not Like YouLove. Period.: Loving Those Who are Not Like You by Rudy Rasmus

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“What would happen if we truly loved those who are different from us in race, background, abilities, gender, economic status, identity, or physical condition? How would our communities change if we stopped being afraid of those who don’t fit our definition of “loveable”? How would our hearts find greater joy if we acknowledged the risk of living without conditions – and did it anyways?”
Continue reading →

SuperGal vs. God

~ Ann Cuddy-Sullivan ~ 2 Comments

I’ve thought for years, that I should write my story….  the story of those 56 days that started in December 2005.  The story of my husband’s home-going.  As I read this book, I thought that I was reading my own story.  This author, Lori Hynson,  she get’s it.  She was so able to write not just my story – no matter how similar the circumstances – but the story of every SuperGal out there.  This book has left me thinking through alot of old lately.  Memories I should have put away a long time ago.  Thank you Lori. Continue reading →

Psalm 46:1

~ Ann Cuddy-Sullivan ~ Leave a comment

“God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble” PS 46:1

God IS…
It struck me as I was reading this the other day that God IS… it does not say that God “was”… it says…. God “IS”.   God is not past tense. He is with us today, just as He was with Adam, Moses, Abraham, and Isaac… all the saints that have gone before us. He is present and available to you and me just as He always has been throughout all eternity.  It continues to boggle the mind that the same God that walked with Adam in the cool of the evening in the Garden (Genesis 3:8), is that same God that “IS” today.

 God IS our REFUGE…
He is our safe place, hiding place, our shelter from danger, our shelter from the storms. He is our safe haven, our sanctuary. I found this definition interesting… a place to flee Back To. Interesting… “Back To” suggests that I’ve been there before and I can go there if I need???

ps 46 1a
God IS our REFUGE and STRENGTH…
Strength is not just physical power. It is also defined as courage, authority and influence. It is the inherent capacity to endure. It is also a stronghold or fortress. I know that everything is under Him; He has authority over all. I know that nothing can hurt me, attack me, or remove me from the REFUGE I seek in Him. He is our stronghold … our fortress. Continue reading →

God, Grace and Gumption

~ Ann Cuddy-Sullivan ~ Leave a comment

It wasn’t my plan, but I spent the entire day yesterday reading a most amazing book – Miss Brenda and the Loveladies by Brenda Spahn and Irene Zutell.

As the subtitle reads…  “One woman’s brush with prison… A community of women fighting the odds for survival on the outside…”

Some years back in another life, I had a family member end up in prison after being convicted of murdering her sister.  She ended up in prison at the young age of 18.  Scroll forward 15+ years…  unable to cope with the free world, with no skills and no one to give a second chance to a murderer…  and then wondering why she ended up back in prison??  Continue reading →

Total Turnaround

~ Ann Cuddy-Sullivan ~ Leave a comment

Are you experience trials or setbacks in your life? Through challenges are a normal part of life, they don’t have to become your entire life. Isn’t it time you had a Total Turnaround? Your breakthrough is waiting. Discover how to receive the victory God has made available for you, and experience your Total Turnaround today!

These are the words from the back of the latest book that I jsut finished reading ~Total Turnaround – 12 Keys to Breathrough in Every Area of Your Life  by Danette Joy Crawford. 

My first thought when I received this book….  “Just how many more self-help books are there out there?”    I was wrong, this is more than a self-help book.  Total Turnaround has helped me to discern the areas in my own life that perhaps I am not experiencing total victory.  Continue reading →

Where Courage Calls

~ Ann Cuddy-Sullivan ~ Leave a comment

Where Courage Calls: A When Calls the Heart NovelWhere Courage Calls: A When Calls the Heart Novel by Janette Oke

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Where Courage Calls by Janette Oke and Laurel Oke Logan – A special companion story to Hallmark Channel’s When Calls the Heart TV series.

“Her courage and her heart will be tested in ways she never expected. Beth Thatcher has spent her entire life in the safe, comfortable world of her family, her friends, and the social outing her father’s wealth provides. But Beth is about to leave it all behind to accept a teaching positing in the rugged foothills of western Canada. Despite the many challenges, Beth is determined to make a difference in the rustic frontier town. But when her sister’s visits from the East, reminding her of all the luxuries she’s had to give up, will Beth decide to return to her privileged life as soon as the school year is over?” Continue reading →

Prone To Love

~ Ann Cuddy-Sullivan ~ Leave a comment

“I know many who can hypothesize about Love.  I know many who can debate the theology, they can tell me the Greek definitions and Hebrew pronunciation, and there is nothing wrong with that.  There is beauty in loving God with all of our minds.  But infinitely more important is loving God with all of our heart.  Love’s not rote discipline:  it’s a response birthed from an encounter, from a revelation of our heavenly Father.” Prone To Love – pg, 50 

Those of you that follow this blog know that I read…. alot.  I make no secret that I receive books via several publishing companies and other sites at no charge to me, in exchange for my review of the book.  I am not required to give a positive review.

I have been blessed to read some amazing and insightful books.  I’ve also read a few that just didn’t do it for me.  And I’ve also discovered that I do enjoy reading good Christian fiction – from time to time.

That being said…  Of the nearly 40 books that I have read in the last 6 months, I have not encountered a book that has affected me like “Prone To Love” by Jason Clark. Continue reading →

Empowered

~ Ann Cuddy-Sullivan ~ 4 Comments

made to crave coverSo this week I started an online bible study through the Proverbs 31 Ministry website, called “Made to Crave“, based on the book by the  same name by Lysa TerKeurst.  This isn’t your typical Bible Study.  Nope, this one has challenged me from the first page.

It has asked me to confront some of my deepest emotional triggers when it comes to my food issues.  For example…  the author asks “Is it possible that I love and rely on food more than I love and rely on God?”  Yikes.  Now that’s a loaded question for sure.

When it comes to comfort, joy, happiness, sadness, reward, lonliness where on the spectrum do I turn?  Do I rely more on food?  Well, if the number on the scale represents anything… I would have to be honest and say yes.

Continue reading →