A Match Made in Texas by Karen Witemeyer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
“There’s a Secret Matchmaker at Work in Frontier Texas!” “In the small town of Dry Gulch, Texas, a good-hearted busybody just can’t keep herself from surreptitiously trying to match up women in dire straights with men of good character she hopes can help them. How is she to know she’s also giving each couple a little nudge toward love?” Continue reading
Let Me Fall: The Love Story Between God and His Dimwitted Daughter by Beth Pensinger
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
“Anyone who’s struggled with an addiction of some sort would agree that finding lasting contentment from the actual addiction is much like a dog chasing its tail – only a lot less adorable.”
“Let Me Fall is the love story between God and His dimwitted daughter. I’m the dimwit in case you were wondering.”
“Let Me Fall is where my literal world figuratively collides with God as He shows me once more of who I am and who He is. My story isn’t a formula for falling in love with God. But I would be thrilled if it is a catalyst for others to do the same.”
I won this book through a Goodreads.com giveaway. I was so excited for it to arrive, as I was intrigued just from the title alone. I have to say, I was not disappointed!! I loved this book. Though the author states that this book is her story through her addiction… this book spoke to me in a very different tone. It spoke to me in the words that God knew I needed to hear. What a blessing this book was to me. It is not a book that I will read one time and put up on the shelf.
Thank you Mrs. Pensinger for being dutiful to that heavenly nudge and putting pen to paper.
*Disclaimer: I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway. All opinions are my own, and no monetary compensation was received for this review.
*Reviews of this book were posted at the following locations:
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Deeper Shopping, and Goodreads
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Pathways to the King: Living a Life of Spiritual Renewal and Power by Rob Reimer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
“The Church in America desperately needs revival. We have fewer people attending church now (percentage wise) than ever before in the history of the United States. But how do we experience revival? How do we usher in God’s kingdom on Earth and see the next great spiritual awakening? It starts with you. God wants you to draw near to Jesus and to be a carrier of His kingdom, and He wants you to expand the kingdom to others – just like Jesus did. Pathways to the King provides you with 8 Kingdom pathways that you’ll need to incorporate and internalize in order to experience and expand God’s kingdom on Earth. When you begin you walk down these pathways, you will develop intimacy, authority, and power in Christ and become a kingdom-minded person living out the compelling life of the Spirit.”
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It served as both a wake up call and a reminder for me that I have been becoming complacent in my walk. I was “OK” with the way things were… instead of being hungry for more, and wanting all that God had for me – like it was all those years ago when I first met Jesus. Not only do I need revival, but also the Church needs revival.
The author brings out 8 pathways that we need to walk in order to bring about a fresh revival and renewal – both corporate and personal. We are called to internalize the pathways – personalizing our identity in Christ, pursuing God, purifying ourselves, praising, praying kingdom prayers, claiming promises, passing the tests, and persisting – in order to walk in continuous revival.
This book is filled with great information that just makes sense. There are probably 100 “blubs” (for lack of a better word) scattered throughout the book. They are wonderful nuggets of wisdom and truth that will certainly give you something to ponder through your day. A personal favorite – “If you believed the things that God believes about you, it would revive your soul”!! While this book is an easy read, I feel that this book deserves great attention and certainly more than just one reading to fully absorb the message that is so desperately needed in our Country.
*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book through the “For Readers Only” group at The Book Club Network, in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own, and no monetary compensation was received for this review.
*Reviews of this book were posted at the following locations:
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Deeper Shopping, Goodreads, and to be featured on my blog at http://titus3.wordpress.com
This book is available online at
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A Melody for James (Christian Romantic Suspense) by Hallee Bridgeman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
“Solitary strangers meet during a stormy stopover. Hours later, their hearts hum a harmonious duet.
Melody Mason has the hottest female voice in the country music scene. But the cheers of throngs of adoring fans mean little in the absence of the handsome stranger who rescued her years before. Widower James Montgomery has never forgotten her. He prays God can bring her back.
Incredible events finally bring them face to face again. Together at last, they realize the bond between them has miraculously risen to a crescendo, melodiously marrying them like strong symphonic chords. Uncannily, they learn they share more in common than they could have ever imagined. They know God reunited them for a purpose.
Sinister forces threaten to destroy their newfound happiness. The couple must work in close concert, placing all their faith in God as they solve the deadly mystery that ties their lives inexplicably together.
Fire, loss, and bloodshed cannot shake their faith in God to see them through as they face a percussive climax that leaves hearts and lives forever changed.”
A Melody for James is a wonderful Christian suspense story of a chance-encounter, a new love, a broken heart, sweet romance, and repentant hearts along with dread, secrets, intrigue, unimaginable loss and bloodshed all wrapped up in an unshakable faith in God that guides and protects Melody and James and those they love.
This book is a great story that will get its hooks in you from the very beginning with its twists and turns and suspense. You do not want to miss this book.
*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book through the “For Readers Only” group at The Book Club Network, in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own, and no monetary compensation was received for this review.
*Reviews of this book were posted at the following locations:
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Deeper Shopping,and GoodReads
This book is available online at
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Daily Reflections on the Names of God: A Devotional by Ava Pennington
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
“What is your understand of who God is and how He works? Is it a biblical perspective, or have you been molding your understanding of God to fit your desires and expectations? If your perspective is not biblical, then it’s time to look at who God says He is and how God says He works.” (Daily Reflections On The Names Of God – Introduction – page 9)
Daily Reflections on the Names of God is a great devotional, that I have added to my quiet time. Unlike many devotionals, it is not dated and it has a great topical index to help you through whatever might be going on in your life.
In the introduction, there is a key for each devotion by a clever use of “arrows”. As we read a devotional, are we looking up, looking in or looking out to indicate where the devotion is focusing on? Each of the 366 days contains a bible reading, an explanation/study, a short prayer and thoughts to ponder for the day to learn who God is according to how He revealed Himself in His Word.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone that wants to dig deeper into God’s words and His promised for us.
I received this book through The Book Club Network (http://www.bookfun.org/) for my honest review, which I have given.
This book is available to purchase at:
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The Long Awakening, a memoir by Lindsey O’Connor
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The riveting true story of a life-threatening coma, a miraculous awakening, and the long quest to regain what was lost.
From the front flap: “The day our baby came into the world was the day I left. A day that began all smiles and excitement and anticipation and joy ended with running and panic and blood and tears. And then coma.I lay suspended in the deep, my newborn unknown. Nothingness. Layers where dark pulled from below, light called from above, and me, trapped in between, longing to break the surface. To live.
Forty-seven days later when I first saw my husband’s face leaning close to me, I knew where, and who, I was. But other things took much longer to know. Learning to restitch life–and love–when everything’s changed, and finding who we are afterward, can be the longest journey of all.
I’m Lindsey O’Connor, and this is the story of my long awakening.”
I just finished reading this book. This is, by far, one of the best written books that I have read in a very long time. It is a story of being alive just outside of deaths door. It is a story of love and despair. It is a story of returning back to life after being snatched back from the brink. Surviving the 47-day medically-induced coma is just the start to this beautifully written and brutally candid story.Be warned tho, The Long Awakening is no mere memoir…. if you pick up this book you will not soon put it down.
This book is available online at:
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This post was originally written in August 2011. This is something that I wrote a few years back. With all of the storms that have been beating up New England in the last couple of weeks… well I decided to repost it.
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Growing up in northern New England, we are used to having massive winter storms. I learned from my parents at a very young age about being prepared. The preparations for an upcoming storm typically included making sure that there was “Blizzard” food in the house (milk, cereal,bread, etc… especially with 4 children) and the vehicles were gassed up. It’s not that we weren’t going to be able to get out of the house for months after the storm, as usually within 8 hours after the end of the storm, we would be out and about. But then again, you never know. (In December 2010 a freak ice storm resulted in 14 days without power for 100’s of thousands of folks – never know) Mom and dad were always prepared.
So much has gone on around here the last few days that it is making my head spin. I won’t go in to too much detail, but suffice to say a member of my extended family is walking a real fine line in breaking the law and is asking Michael to be complicit in it! His refusal to do that, to lie for this person is causing some major issues here.
I wrote a note to some friends and family other other night asking for adivce on how I should handle things. In my role in this persons life, I have no persuasion power over this person, I am merely someone on the fringes with no input, yet on the receiving end of the end results. So, I have to tread lightly in some matters, regardless of my thoughts. This matter has caused significant arguements between them and us… especially when I hear comments like… “it’s no big deal, it’s not hurting anyone” and my favorite – “everybody does it”.
So as I said, I sent out a note asking for help and advice. Not a single response! What???? It wasn’t until yesterday when I read in my devotional “Quietness and trust accomplish far more than you can imagine…When you trust Me in a given area, you release that problem or person to my care.” (Jesus Calling by Sarah Young – page 267) Continue reading
So we’ve just entered the last week of the “When A Woman Says Yes To God” online bible study that I’ve been participating in. This really has been an eye-opening time for me. I’ve learned so much about myself and my walk with God during this time. I’ve discovered that I’m tired of “dancing around the edges”. I’ve found that I am hungry for more of Him. I’m finding that I have no desire for useless noise (ie television)… I am savoring the quiet. I am anxious to wake up in the morning to see what blessings and knowledge the day will hold.
In the last Chapter of the book, the author – Lysa TerKeurst – challenges the reader, that after reading and studying this book still says NO to becoming radically obedient to God, to spend the next 30 days praying and asking God to reveal Himself to her and fill her with a desire for Him like never before. (pg 143)
I read this paragraph a few times and I wondered why it pertained only to the reader that says NO to being radically obedient to God. I have said Yes to God, and with apologies to the author, but I am going to spend the next 30 days asking God to reveal more of Himself to me and fill me with a deeper desire for Him like I’ve never felt before.
So what do I really want?
(note: I do not take credit for this list, I found it a few years back)
Never again will I confess “I can’t” for “I can do all things thru Christ which strengthens me.” Phil 4: 13
Never again will I confess lack, for “My God shall supply all my need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Phil 4:19
Never again will I confess fear, for “God has not given me the spirit of fear, but of power, and love, and of a sound mind.” 2 Tim 1:7
Never again will I confess doubt and lack of faith, for “God has given to every man the measure of faith.” Rom 12:3 Continue reading
Saved Because of His Mercy 