overcoming

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 →

Shift Your Brilliance

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Shift Your Brilliance: Harness The Power Of You, INC.Shift Your Brilliance: Harness The Power Of You, INC. by Simon T. Bailey

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

“Brilliance is a decision. It’s time to disrupt your current reality and experience your Shift Into Brilliance”

Shift Your Brilliance: Harness the Power of You, is an interesting book. On one hand it appears to be a run of the mill, typical self-help “listen to me and succeed” handbook. Yet on the other hand it is far more than that. The author, Simon T. Bailey does appear to “drop” a lot of names in the stories he relates through this teaching. But, in my opinion, the name-dropping is what makes this book credible. Not only do we hear about the “who” of the success stories, we also hear the methods of the successes.

As for myself, after 20 plus years in the same industry, just not the same employer, I have seen the entire gambit from “that’s how we’ve always done it” to “okay, who’s got some big ideas”. I did very much enjoy this book and especially enjoyed this passage… “Shifting your brilliance is, in essence, using a fresh set of eyes to see the same thing everyone else see, but in a unique way and responding brilliantly as a result. “ That is not sage advice for your chosen career field, but I think is advice for life.

More about this author at: www.simontbailey.com

*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,

View all my reviews
This book is available online at
Deeper Shopping Books and Bibles

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The Illusion of More

~ Ann Cuddy-Sullivan ~ Leave a comment

Read this and let your imagination run away with the beauty of the words….

“….. God’s display of talent is nothing short of supernatural. He put on the original magic show.
With a spoken thought the Creator turned an infinite void into an ever-expanding universe. Giving voice to His own imagination. He ignited the inferno of countless stars and sent worlds spinning into orbit. Like an inspired painter doodling on a three-dimensional canvas. He sketched out continents and colored in the oceans. Then, with mere words, God brought life — to Life!

“Grass, please.” And with the echo of His voice, a carpet of green covered the world. Continue reading →

The Top 8 Things to Think About

~ Ann Cuddy-Sullivan ~ Leave a comment

This article was originally posted on Charisma Magazine/News.  My attempts to “share” the link were not successful, so I have copied the entire article – unaltered.  The original link is:

http://www.charismanews.com/opinion/clarion-call/44394-the-top-8-things-to-think-about

Breathe

The news is negative. The enemy is pulling out all the stops because his time is short. Christians need to take a deep breath and focus on the things of the Spirit. (CreationSwap/Paul Burger)

Look at your life. Life is hard. Look at the news. In our fallen, sinful world, evil swirls about like a violent dust devil, clouding the air of absolute truth and muddying the waters of pure grace that flow to eternal life through Christ Jesus. Continue reading →

Lost and Found

~ Ann Cuddy-Sullivan ~ Leave a comment

Lost & Found – Finding HOPE in the Detours of Life by Sarah Jakes

What a remarkable story!!!  I was captivated by this book from the first page… and by the end, I was in awe of the wisdom of this young woman.

While I have not experienced any of the circumstances that Ms. Jakes has, I somehow found myself in this story.  Perhaps because I too thought that God had so given up on me…  that He was just soooo tired of giving me just one more chance to “get it right”.  In this book, I found the words to my own song: 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 →

To Heaven and Back

~ Ann Cuddy-Sullivan ~ Leave a comment

 I hadn’t had the chance to read this story when it first came out.  This is a true don’t miss.  I can’t wait for the movie to be released, which I understand is to be in April 2014.

 Heaven Is for Real Movie Edition: A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and BackHeaven Is for Real Movie Edition: A Little Boy’s Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back by Todd Burpo

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Heaven is for Real – a Special Movie Edition by Todd Burpo

The cover of this book says it all… “A little boy’s astounding story of his trip to Heaven and back.

I had heard bits and pieces of this young boys (Colton Burpo) story from interviews on the 700 Club and other programs, but I had not had the chance to read his story. I was excited to get the chance to review this book. To say that this story is “astounding” is an understatement. This book took my emotions on a roller coaster ride and didn’t let go until the last page. The author, also a Pastor and Colton’s father, has an ability to relate his story as Colton’s father from his son’s near death illness, to the discovery of Colton’s trip to Heaven and back that is truly a gift. I was totally drawn in by this story and I did not think it implausible. It is a simple and heartwarming story that just might answer some questions for those who wonder if Heaven is real… In the wide-eyed innocence of a 4 year old, yes it is. And in Colton’s words…”He had to have Jesus in his heart! He had to know Jesus or he can’t get into Heaven!” (page 57) That should give us all something to ponder. 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 →