“The Flowering Cross” is a precious children’s book by Beth Ryan.  It has beautiful pictures for an early elementary reader.  The little girl in the book befriends a grumpy old man and, ultimately leads him to the Lord.  I love that her little girl niavete makes her push right past his grumpiness to befriend him when the other kids were terrified of him.  She asks and receives flowers for her Easter Flowering Cross and on Easter takes him to church to see it.  “The Flowering Cross” also teaches the reader how to make their very own cross.

I can’t wait to share “The Flowering Cross” with my own precious grand daughter.  There are “Faith Imprints” and verses to help teach her about Jesus and I am anxious to sit with her and lead her to Him.  I am also anxious to make her her very own cross and start a “flowering” tradition with her!  I would probably recommend this for early elementary to read themselves.  But, a parent could begin reading it to a much younger child …probably a little girl.  I would definitely recommend it!!  

I was so excited when I saw that another one of Patsy Clairmont’s books was offered for review this month!  She always has a way of bringing the Scriptures to life for me!! In her book “Kaleidoscope”, she takes selected verses from the book of Proverbs and makes them understandable to “regular” people.  In true Patsy Clairmont  fashion, she brings in funny little up to date vignettes to illustrate the meaning of each verse.  In the introduction she tells how we all, like children, get SO excited over the little cardboard tubes with pretty colors.  We pick them up when we see them and turn them to make different designs with each twist.  She told of how these little tubes - or kaleidoscopes - are like Proverbs in that it brings so many different beautiful pieces to make us see magnificence.  Each time we read it we see a different picture of God’s design.

I have enjoyed reading books by Patsy Clairmont for many years and this one was no different.  She made me laugh and she made me think about what I need to change in order to live a better life.  I would definitely recommend this – or any of her books, for that matter – to others.

This is one of the best books I’ve read in a long time! Sheila Walsh has been through a lot in her life and yet has shown her human side in “Beautiful Things Happen When A Woman Trusts God”. We see that she stepped out of clinical, debilitating depression to write, sing, and speak to honor and glorify God.  She encourages us not to fear where God has put us and what He has asked us to do – but instead to trust and step out in faith to see what He can and will accomplish in our imperfect lives. I especially like, in the beginning of this book, how Sheila used one of my favorite verses in her journey to trust - Isaiah 43:1-3, “… When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overthrow you.  When you walk THROUGH the fire you SHALL NOT be burned nor the flame scorch you…” If we’ll trust God He’ll take us to our dreams and desires.

I WILL DEFINITELY recommend this book!!

  “How to Reach Your Full Potential for God” by Dr. Charles Stanley is a nonfiction book asking us to explore what God wants for our lives.   He explains to us that we will grow daily into the plans that God has.  We may not feel like we can do what He wants, but He HAS given us the potential, tools, and talents to do ANYTHING that He asks.  We must however keep a close relationship with Him and listen to what the Holy Spirit leads us to.  Dr. Stanley reminds us that, so many of us settle for what’s GOOD, instead of striving for what is BEST.  In this book, He shows us step by step how to get from GOOD to BETTER to BEST – beginning with a clean heart, a clean mind, and 5 other essentials!!

I have been listening to and reading Dr. Charles Stanley’s books for as long as I can remember and have always admired and respected him as a teacher and pastor.  This book was no different.  I learned that if I open my heart and eyes and ask the Lord for wisdom, He WILL direct me and give me what I need to do His will.  I would definitely recommend it to anyone that wants to, and is willing to do what it takes, strengthen their Christian walk with God.

“The Lightkeeper’s Daughter”, by Colleen Coble, is a Historical Christian Romance with a twist of suspense.   It was set in the town of Mercy, California.  Addie Sullivan was found after a shipwreck by the lighthouse keeper when she was only two years old.  He kept her and loved her as his own until he died when she was very young.  When she was a young adult a man came to her home and told her that he believed she was really Julia Eaton.  In the process of finding proof of her birthright, Addie finds love, learns to trust, and fights danger.

When I first decided to review this book, I wasn’t sure if I would like it, because I’ve never really read or enjoyed many historical novels.  I was pleasantly surprised by this one, though! Colleen Coble has woven love and suspense in to this historical novel making it hold my interest through to the very end.  It was entertaining and, as I enjoy, a nail biter at times.

I would definitely recommend “The Lightkeeper’s Daughter” to anyone who enjoys reading fiction.

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     “Jesus Lives” is a small hard-back gift book by Sarah Young.  It is a devotional that covers about 180 days of the year.  It is written as if it were a letter from Jesus Christ to the reader.  Sarah also includes several appropriate verses after each devotion.  This could easily be a devotion for an older teen on up through adulthood.

      I would recommend this devotional to anyone who wants to feel close to Jesus Christ.  As I read I felt a special peace that only comes by being in the presence of the Lord.  Sarah did a good job making each devotional feel like a letter written especially to me..  I truly enjoyed and am still enjoying this book.

This is a fiction book that goes through the hard times in several lives.  When things seemed to spiral out of control in each life, an old man named Jones showed up to ‘talk them off the ledge”.  He helped a hopeless homeless  man find hope and turn his life around.  And he helped many others through various perils in their lives. 

I really enjoyed this book.  Even though it is fiction, it made me think.  I have been through some of these perils in my own life – and am currently going through some… wow! Does jones make me think!! I would definitely recommend this book to anyone that wants a good read… it is both interesting and entertaining.

Jenna Lucado wrote “Redefining {beau-ti-ful}” with her father, Max Lucado.  Her definition for beautiful is “what God sees when God sees you”.  In it she talks of a lot of the insecurities that plague teenage girls today and speaks to the fact that usually the insecurities stem from a fatherless home or lack of a relationship with the father.

I found this book quite interesting even though it was written for a girl between the ages of about twelve to maybe sixteen years old.  Being from a broken family myself in which my father was an alcoholic and spent very little quality time with me, this book spoke volumes to me.  I struggled with many of the insecurities that Jenna discusses …such as being a people pleaser, worrying about my appearance, and fear of failure.  As she discusses though, God looks at our inward appearance – not our outward one.

I also liked that she included words from her dad and beauty tips – like the many uses of Vaseline.

I believe this book would be very useful and entertaining to any teenage girl and I would definitely recommend it to friends and family.   

Dawn Hall begins her cookbook by telling us of her past problems with weight and finances.  She has decided to eat healthier and within a specific budget and has succeeded.  Because of her growth she has decided to help others by compiling some of the recipes she has used into one place. 

This cookbook has recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and desserts.  Also included are salads, appetizers, and beverages.  All of her recipes can be prepared in 5 – 30 minutes, so they are ideal for the busy cook of the family.  Not only has she included the recipes, but suggested menus and grocery lists for each meal.  In addition, most meals have a picture of the final product.  She has even included nutritional facts and point conversion for diabetics.

And, the thing that made me love this cookbook most is that these aren’t fru fru recipes with expensive, unappealing ingredients.  They are down to earth and yummy!

 

Fearless by Max Lucado

Max Lucado offers help for the many fears that face Americans today.  He gives Biblical backup to why we don’t have to be afraid of “Not Mattering”, “Disappointing God”, “Protecting our Kids”, “Worst-Case Scenarios”, and many more.  He uses real life examples to bring his point across, which makes the book a more simple read to the normal lay person. He also has a discussion/study guide in the back for each chapter.

I haven’t read such a helpful and interesting book in a long time!  I found myself studying the Scriptures more and praising the Lord more.  And, I saw fears that I didn’t even realize that I had! I was able to read this book in only a week, reading and studying 1-3 chapters a night.

This is an easy read and WELL WORTH it, in my opinion. I will DEFINITELY be recommending it to family and friends!