You are:
- Wanted
- Pursued
- Loved
- Called
- Of Great Value
- A Peculiar Treasure
- Set Free
- Covered
- Promised
- Spoken For
You are all of these things… and more. Continue reading
God’s Unfailing Love
Extreme Prayer
Extreme Prayer: The Impossible Prayers God Promises to Answer by Greg Pruett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Extreme Prayer by Greg Pruett
“What do you do when your whole spiritual life falls apart? It is in these heart-hungry moments—when we feel overwhelmed or alone, struggle with unanswered prayers, aren’t sure what to do, or are crying out for God’s help—that we are surprisingly poised to pray the most effective kinds of prayers possible. Access the power of extreme prayer – and watch as God’s immeasurable glory is unleashed in your life.”
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Prone To Love
“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
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A Starfish At A Time
A Starfish at a Time by Dana Wynn Steele
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
“Join the Steele’s on the never ending roller coaster ride of their family life as they share the ups, twist and turns of an ever changing family which now numbers nineteen, with more anticipated. Dana Wynn Steele shares the stories of their special needs children and their adoptions including one during her battle with breast cancer.”
This book took me off guard just a bit. From it’s sweet colorful cover, and it’s precious title, I expected a totally different story that what came to life under the cover. This is a remarkable book with true tales of the lives of babies and children, most times born into drugs, abuse and chaos and being trapped in a system that was at it’s best, designed to preserve and protect them. Though at times, that system so completely failed them.
The author – Dana Steele and her husband, Alan, saw this travesty and opened their hearts and home to these children. From newborn babies to young adults – every one of them just wanting a forever family, a family to call their own, the Steele’s took each of them in and loved them. Yes… like saving one starfish at a time.
A warning to the reader, there are some passages and stories about the abuses and horrors these children endured that some may find disturbing. But, for better, for worse, they are the stories of these children.
*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
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Determination
Determination — So this is week 2 of the Made To Crave Online Bible study. I am so glad that this is the the Word of the Week. Because it is taking everything inside me to stay focused. It’s crazy how easily we can get side-tracked. Oh I’ll read that chapter after I make the bed or do the dishes. Oh Look…. there’s a movie on that I wanted to see. There are nights, like last night, in fact for the entire day, that I was so focused… nothing could get me off track… and then there was today. Yikes!!!! But I am determined. Determined to do something with all of this. Determined to recognize my weaknesses, and to recognize that where I am weak, HE is strong. Determined to accept that it doesn’t matter what “they” say, I am made for more. That where I am right now, is not all there is. Scripture says that He came that we might have life, and life more adundantly. I don’t want just an abundant life. I want all that He has planned for my life and I don’t want my life without HIS hand guiding it. I want more of Him. I want the blessing of God on my life and my family. Continue reading
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The Road To Mercy – A Review
The Road to Mercy by Kathy Harris
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
“Tragedy, Love & Secrets meet on a journey of faith. Josh Harrison, a contemporary Christian singer, and his wife, Bethany, face a difficult decision that also tests their faith. A rupture in Beth’s carotid artery leavers her on the brink of death even as she’s pregnant with their first child. While Dr. Ben Abrams urges her to terminate the pregnancy to save her own life, she and Josh step out on faith and decide to carry the bay to full term. During the next few months, Josh struggles with his faith, and Beth hides a secret that may destroy their marriage. She also discovers a decades-old connection to Dr. Abrams that could change his life forever.”
I Loved This Book! Right from the beginning, I didn’t know what to expect, it clearly is a book that doesn’t fit the formula. Be warned, once you start this book, you will not want to put it down.
Love, forgiveness, sin, challenges, secrets, betrayals, redemption, mercy and most of all… a deep abiding faith in God and His Mercy. Don’t skip the prologue; it will all make sense at the end. The Road To Mercy… well there’s more than one meaning there for sure. This is a great read with a powerful message that you don’t want to miss.
*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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Pathways To The King – A Review
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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Castles of the Heart – A Review
Castles of the Heart by Hale Meserow
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
“A Love story, a tale of immense personal courage, a gritty fight against entrenched racism, and a life lived in God’s care, all set in the beautiful back country of western North Carolina and the frenetic bustle of New York City…”
Castles of the Heart is a delightful book that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. There were several strong female characters developed throughout the book, with the lead character as Starlight O’Bannion. The story follows the life – from the moment of conception – of Starlight. We are with her during her formative years, as she rises herself from the backwoods mountains of North Carolina to attend a most prestigious college to become a top ranked female attorney… something rarely heard of pre-world war 2. We are with Starlight at her marriage, her sudden young widowhood and the birth of her daughter.
As with most women of that era, Starlight is a strong and powerful woman, except when it comes to love. She again walks down the bridal aisle. We, the reader, can see where it is headed, but the young Starlight doesn’t.
With her professional life on a meteoric rise and her personal life in ruins, Starlight takes on the legal case of her life – to save the son of a lifelong family friend. I will stop this review there as much more will give away the entire ending.
I truly did take pleasure in reading this book. Though the length of the book did take me back a bit at first, I found the story to be an easy and enjoyable read. While there is clearly a Christian aspect to the entire story, I did not find it preachy or pushy.
*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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A Melody for James – A Book Review
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
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Uniform Decisions – A Book Review
Uniform Decisions: My Life in the LAPD and the North Hollywood Shootout by John Caprarelli
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
“February 28, 1997, Los Angeles, California – After a botched robbery at a Bank of America branch in North Hollywood, two robbers, armed with fully automatic assault rifles and wearing full body armor, fired more than 1,100 rounds as they battled police.
Eleven officers and two civilians were wounded. The two robbers, Emil Matasareanu and Larry Eugene Phillips Jr., were killed by gunfire. Officer John Caprarelli was one of the first officers at the scene.
Before a national TV audience, he confronted one of the robbers, provoking a gun fight and exchanging numerous shots before the gunman fell. Officer Caprarelli was awarded the LAPD’s highest honor, the Medal of Valor, as well as a National Top Cop Award.”
I have members of my family that serve as police officers, firemen and first responders. I have always admired them for their dedication to their chosen fields. It takes a certain type of person to do those jobs; they is not for everyone. And after reading this memoir, I now have more admiration for them. These are dangerous and thankless jobs. They are the ones that run towards the trouble, when we are running away from it. The stories and anecdotes written by the Author give us a small, yet rare, glimpse into the life of a 27-year career police officer – both his personal and professional life.
It is the last half of the book, though, that totally captivated me. Without divulging much of the story… It is the detailed minute-by-minute account of the infamous North Hollywood Bank Robbery. I was totally captivated by the retelling of the account and could hardly put the book down. If you are a fan of police crime drama shows, as I am you will enjoy this book.
“It is said that working the streets as a police officer is hours of boredome sprinkled with econds of terror. I can vouch for that. It was quite a ride.” – John Caprarelli
*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, CBD, GoodReads and Deeper Shopping
This book is available online at
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Saved Because of His Mercy 