Sunday Morning

 

Christmas Prayer

 

CHRISTMAS PRAYER

Loving Father, help us remember the birth of Jesus, that we may share in the Song of the Angels, the Gladness of the Shepherds, and the Worship of the Wise Men.

Close the door of hate and open the door of Love all over the world.  Let Kindness come with every gift and Good Desires with every greeting.

Deliver us from evil by the Blessing which Christ brings, and Teach us to be merry with Clear Hearts.  

May the Christmas morning make us happy to be Thy Children and the Christmas evening bring us to our beds with Grateful Thoughts, Forgiving and Forgiven.

For Jesus' Sake........ Amen.

(Robert Louis Stevenson)

Sunday Morning

 

Sunday morning

 

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.

Helen Keller

A Beautiful Disguise

 

A Beautiful Disguise by Roseanna White is the start of The Imposters series. I have read several of Ms Whites books and always enjoyed them. Set in 1909, this story is quite unique including a circus, a trained lion, and monkey. 

Although some of Ms Whites previous books have had similar story lines (undercover investigators), this one felt slower with a lot of detail about the characters and the unique setting. The mystery was intriguing. As the first book in the series, a lot of the background was being laid. It is a clean historical fiction story but I didn't really see the circus type element as particularly believable. If you enjoy Whites other historical romance books with Christian elements, you will enjoy this one too.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

A lost gift

Do you remember the days when entertainment centered around people?

You invited people to your home, fellow-shipping and singing around the piano In the days before my time, before radio and TV, we entertained ourselves. I love to read books by authors Jane Austen

 

and Maud Montgomery and glimpse into times past when an evening of entertainment consisted of a skit, or a play or someone filling an evening by playing the piano or singing an aria. Since the days of electronics, we have even lost the art of correspondence of letter writing.

 

We now correspond instantly around the world, where it used to take weeks, sometimes months to hear from people in other states and countries. Now we text the person sitting across from us at the dinner table.

We have forgotten how to entertain ourselves. Perfection has wedged its way into our thinking.

It's a lost gift. During the days ahead, when family and friends gather around to celebrate the upcoming Christmas season, I hope the spark of fellowship and enjoyment will help us to remember how to entertain ourselves and relish time with others.

Bread for the Journey

  

He changes the times and the seasons.

Daniel 2:21

Harvest

 "...... No, lest while you are gathering up the tares, you may root up the wheat with them.

Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, 'First gather up the tares; and bind them in bundles to burn them up; but gather the wheat into my barn. ". (Matthew 13:29-30)

Autumn is God's reminder to us of a time coming when we shall be "gathered" as His harvest.

Jesus told us the fields are "white unto harvest" (John 4:35). His prayer was for us to ask the Holy Spirit to send out "laborers" into the harvest (Luke 10:2).

Are you wheat or tare? If wheat, are you praying for the Holy Spirit to send workers into the harvest? And, as you see world events and evil abounding, be encouraged! Jesus told us the good is there growing also ~ Harvest time is coming. (shared by my friend Helen)

Sunday Morning

 

The Wind Blows in Sleeping Grass

 

This was the most unusual story that I have read in a while. Pete returns to Sleeping Grass Montana. He comes back to memories of abandonment and  self recrimination. He has fought all of his life, trying to win the battles in his head. 

Eighty year old Wilma can't believe her second chance at restoring her relationship with Pete. She has been harboring guilt for so many years. She befriends Pete and his pot belly pig Pearl but has a hard time revealing her involvement in his past life.

The secondary characters brought sunshine into the story. Pete's sister and nephew, Windy Ray, Lily and Wilma's friends, Edna and brazen Gladys were well rounded characters. 

Pete takes a stand that every life has value. It all starts with overcoming hardships, forgiveness and the importance of friendship. There is a bit of violence through out the story and I was saddened and disappointed with the ending. 

I received a complimentary e-copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own

Autumn

 

Words to live by

Sunday Morning

 

Countdown

 

Lynette Eason's Countdown: Extreme Measures is an exciting book that features great dialogue, moving action which fans of Terri Blackstock would enjoy.  

Raina Price has been hiding for fourteen years. But when she comes in the cross hairs of a killer, she seeks the help from U.S. Marshall Vincent Covelli, who will do anything to keep her safe.   

 It is a captivating suspense, clean with elements of faith. The story is surprising and has a satisfying conclusion. 

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, which I received from the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Prayer

 

"We cannot run our spiritual operations on the prayers of the past generations. Many people believe in the efficacy of prayer, but not many people pray. Prayer is the easiest and hardest of all things. It is the simplest and the most sublime, the weakest and the most powerful. Its results lie outside the range of human possibilities; they are limited only by the omnipotence of God." E. M. Bounds on Prayer

And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray.
(Luke 18:1)

The 4th of July

 

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
The Declaration of Independence July 4, 1776

God Bless America.

The Lost Manuscript

 

The Lost Manuscript is a romantic historical treasure hunt.  A mystery with a missing person that leads to the discovery of a long lost manuscript. 

Ellora Lockwood and her estranged husband Alex join together to search for her grandmother, who mysteriously disappeared while searching for the manuscript. While on this journey, they decide whether their marriage was worth fighting for. With all the hurts and misunderstandings, there is an element of faith as Ellie finds that God has taken her grief and given her joy alongside with her grief. 

The secondary characters were good companions to the story. They added much to the filling out of the main characters. 

Although the story starts out slow, it picks up as their adventure takes them along the English countryside of Alnwick England. There is the element of hope and second chances. A good clean read. 

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley.  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Memorial Day

 

"I have never been able to think of the day as one of mourning; I have never quite been able to feel that half-masted flags were appropriate on Decoration Day.

I have rather felt that the flag should be at the peak, because those whose dying we commemorate rejoiced in seeing it where their valor placed it. We honor them in a joyous, thankful, triumphant commemoration of what they did. "

~Benjamin Harrison

In memory and honor of those who have fought and died to keep our country free.

Summer in the Spotlight

 

Summer in the Spotlight by Liz Johnson returns to Prince Edward Island as a conclusion to the series of the Ross brothers.

Levi is a man of few words. When he saves Kelsey during a hurricane, his childhood crush returns with a force. When Kelsey needs help with a benefit to help rebuild the destroyed Victoria Playhouse, Levi steps up to lend a hand.

The chemistry between the two builds into a sweet love story. Revisiting Oliver and Eli and Mama Potts just adds to rounding out this heartwarming story. Where Levi and Kelsey must face their past before moving forward, overcoming paralyzing fears. A delightful clean romance.

I received a complimentary ebook copy from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Forever in My Heart

 

"If there ever comes a day when we can't be together,
keep me in your heart,
I'll stay there forever."
Winne the Pooh

Diana Grace

5/9/53 - 9/26/04

Happy Easter

 

Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?" 

She said to him, "Yes Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world." (John 11:25-27)

"He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said" (Matt. 28:6)

May the light of the Savior's love shine on you today.

Happy Easter!

The Heart's Choice

 

The Heart's Choice by Tracie Peterson and Kimberly Woodhouse is a historical fiction set in a small town in Montana. 

The story revolves around one of the Carnegie Libraries which was donated during the 1900's Mark Andrews returns to his hometown to manage the Library much to his fathers dismay. 

After witnessing a murder when she was a child, Rebecca Whitman's desire to learn about the law and court system leads her to become the first female court reporter in Montana. When something just doesn't seem right during a murder trial, the only one who listen is Mark.  As they travel to unravel the evidence they need, Mark and Rebecca end up spending more time together which leads to a budding romance. Good clean novel with a deep faith message. 

I received a complimentary ebook copy from the publisher, through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Words of Wisdom

 

 Everything is an affair of the spirit. If God has a way of dealing with you in your life, it is the only way. Every little thing in which you would have your own way has a mission for your redemption. And he will treat you as a willful little child until you take your Father's way for your own.

George MacDonald
(Unspoken Sermons)

Imparting Grace

George Washington's birthday

 

"The blessing and protection of Heaven are at all times necessary but especially so in times of public distress and danger. The General hopes and trusts that every officer and man will endeavor to live and act as becomes a Christian soldier, defending the dearest rights and liberties of his country."

~George Washington's birthday - February 22.

Happy Valentines Day

 

Memory Lane

 

Memory Lane by Becky Wade is the start of a new series, Sons of Scandal. 

Remy Reed has been hiding away on a little island in Maine. Reclusive and hurting, she works on her "art." She glimpses out over the water and sees a man struggling to swim. She rescues him, but he is battered and bruised and doesn't know who he is or how he got in the water. 

The story started out great. Loved the banter between the two characters. But about half way through I found the story dragged a bit. Too many characters to keep up with, and a lot of descriptions. There were some past traumas that some readers may find uncomfortable. It has a mystery that kept me reading to the end. 

I received a complimentary ebook copy from the publisher, through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.