“Unseen” by Jack Graham

Posted on August 18, 2013 by Becky

Book Cover UnseenThis book is about the unseen world all around us.  There is a spiritual dimension in this world, as well as, the next.  The spiritual world here is made up of both good and evil.

Even if we don’t acknowledge the spiritual world, it still exists.  The author tells us how to combat against the evil forces in this world–how to successfully live here.  He gives ideas about ways to pray, suggestions for Bible reading and urges us to stay aware of the spiritual dimension.  The reader is encouraged to align their thoughts with God’s thoughts.  Mr. Graham reminds us to put on the full armor of God, and explains what that is in depth.

Sadly, the author knows that we will have times of trouble.  He relates that in his own life his father was brutally murdered.  Despite that horrible ordeal, Mr. Graham wants us to remember that Jesus has overcome everything in this world.  As Jesus said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world.”–John 16:33  Mr. Graham tells us following Jesus and His ways got him through the horror of the murder of his father.  That event is what brought understanding to the author about the spiritual world.

This author also talks about the spiritual world to come and the victory we will have there.  It is a wonderful place that includes reunions with loved ones, independence from pain, freedom from sadness and the joy of being with the Lord.  It is a place where, at last, we will find liberty from all the constraints of this world.

This is a great book for many different reasons.  It gives good advice for people who are having difficulties, and gives solid instruction about dealing with them from a spiritual perspective.  The book also gives direction for any Christian whether they are in the midst of troubling times or not.  Finally, we get the hope of the next world along with descriptions of what to expect there.

This is a book every Christian should read.  It is eye opening and gives good direction for everyone no matter what stage of life they are in.  I would recommend it for someone going through difficult times.  I would also recommend it for someone who has been blessed not to have experienced difficult times, but wants to be proactive for the future. In the spirit of unseen warfare around us, I seriously suggest the reader pray for lack of distractions and good concentration when reading.  This book gets five stars and my recommendation.

The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book through Bethany House Publishing for the purpose of review. All opinions expressed are my own, and I have not been compensated in any other manner. Despite my receiving the book free, it has not influenced my judgment, and I have given an honest opinion.

The author’s website:  www.jackgraham.org

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/PPTMinistries

More information:  http://bakerpublishinggroup.com/books/unseen/343890

http://bakerpublishinggroup.com/authors/jack-graham/4085

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“Prized! Your Journey as His Daughter” by Noelle Toscano

Posted on August 13, 2013 by Becky


Book Cover Prized LargeThis is a book that encourages women.  It urges us to appreciate how much God cares for us, and loves us, despite the messes we may get ourselves into.

A variety of subjects are covered.  For example, there is great information about not trying to be everything to everyone.  Instead, be yourself and try to please God–instead of trying to please everyone else around you.  This is great advice for anyone no matter what their age.  When the author followed that advice, she ended up in a relationship that resulted in marriage.

The author was also very transparent about mistakes she has made in relationships.  She talks about regrets that she has had as a result, but also how God is forgiving and, with Him, we can go on with our lives and be blessed.

Although the book was targeted toward teenagers, I think it would be a better match for adults.  A lot of the information would be helpful for teens, but for the most part, the writing style seemed on a more adult level.  Because of that, I don’t know if a teen would stick with it to glean the good ideas from it.  I believe lots of adult women would enjoy this book and should read it for themselves–and benefit from it.

This book would be good for mom’s to read, and then talk about the book’s topics with their teenagers.  It would also be a good jumping off point to bring up other subjects that would also be positive mother-daughter discussions.

I thought the cover had good eye appeal, and that it would attract people to it.  I was surprised by how thin the book is, it is only 58 pages.  The author has a nice writing style, and the incidents she includes from her own life are very interesting.  I give this book 4 stars.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Crosslink Publishing, in exchange for a free book review through the  http://www.bookcrash.com book review program.  All opinions expressed are my own, and I have not been compensated in any other manner. Despite my receiving the book free, it has not influenced my judgment, and I have given an honest opinion.

The author’s website:   http://noelletoscano.com/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Noelle-Toscano/523430627678034

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“Rules of Murder” by Julianna Deering

Posted on August 13, 2013 by Becky

Book Cover Rules of MurderThis is a whodunit written in the classic English mystery style of the 1920’s and 30’s.  Handsome Drew Farthering is single, rich and the heir apparent to Farthering Place, a grand estate in the English countryside.  His best friend, Nick, is the son of the head butler.  After the death of Drew’s father, his mother, Constance, married Mason Parker.

The story opens with Drew and Nick arriving back at the manse and discovering his mother was throwing a grand party, complete with fireworks, that weekend.  The house is overflowing with guests.  Mason’s American niece Madeline and two girlfriends are scheduled to arrive the next day, one of the first stops on their European tour.  Upon Madeline’s arrival, Drew is immediately smitten with her.

The night of the party, a body is found in the greenhouse, and Constance is discovered dead in her bed.  Drew and Nick are hopeful they can discover the identity of the murderer.  Per Drew’s request, Madeline agrees to give up her tour of Europe to stay and help solve the murders, as well.  Madeline also wants to help and support her uncle during his time of grieving.

This story has many twists and turns, with more bodies showing up as time goes by.  There are lots of interesting characters and events. The reader is led in many different directions when trying to solve the mystery.  Even though I thought I had the mystery figured out, I was completely wrong.  The author really fooled me.

I liked this story, it is a clean mystery.  This is the first book in the Drew Farthering Mysteries series.  I am a great fan of classic English mysteries, especially works by Dorothy Sayers and Agatha Christie.  Because of that, I am pernickety about the work of modern authors who attempt to write as if they were from that time period.  Julianna Deering did a good job creating that illusion.  She does enough period references to make this story really feel like it was written between the two world wars.  Her characters were well developed and believable.  This tale kept me guessing “whodunit” to the very end.  I liked that faith was part of the story, although I do wish it had a bit stronger presence. The next book in the series will have a lot to live up to, and I look forward to reading it.  I recommend this book and give it five stars.

The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book through Bethany House Publishing for the purpose of review. All opinions expressed are my own, and I have not been compensated in any other manner. Despite my receiving the book free, it has not influenced my judgment, and I have given an honest opinion.

The author’s website:  www.juliannadeering.com.

Facebook:   https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJuliannaDeering

More information:  http://bakerpublishinggroup.com/authors/julianna-deering/4079

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“IndoctriNation” by Colin Gunn and Joaquin Fernandez Astonishing Exposé

Posted on August 2, 2013 by Becky

Book Cover IndoctriNation

 

 

 

 

 

 

Astonishing Exposé

This book is a companion book to the film.  I did not review the film, so this review will be about the book only.  “IndoctriNation” gives convincing evidence that home schooling is far better than public (government) schools or private schools.  It also shows how much politics is involved in the public schools, as well as, the agendas that are being pushed through the teaching methods and curriculum.

“IndoctriNation” warns about what a physically dangerous place public schools are for all involved–both students and teachers.  The book cites many examples of horrible violence within the schools.  The most eye opening being the 2009 report showing violent crime victimization was higher inside the walls of public schools than out on the streets.

Each chapter is written by a different author, so the reader gets different perspectives and information on the subject.   I especially liked the ones written by Erwin Lutzer, Ken Ham and Voddie Baucham, Jr.  But each chapter had the same overriding theme:  if you care about your child, get them out of public school.

This is a great book for people who know nothing about homeschooling, the state of today’s public schools, or the politics involved.  Even if the reader thinks they know everything about the subject, I believe they would learn something from this book.  It is very detailed and comprehensive.  I recommend this book and give it five stars.

The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book through Master Books, a division of New Leaf Publishing for the purpose of review. All opinions expressed are my own, and I have not been compensated in any other manner. Despite my receiving the book free, it has not influenced my judgment, and I have given an honest opinion.

Author Website:  www.colingunn.com

Author’s information:  http://www.nlpg.com/joaquin-fernandez; http://www.amazon.com/Joaquin-Fernandez/e/B00B2G1CPS/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1375493998&sr=1-1 and http://www.nlpg.com/colin-gunn

Publisher:  http://www.nlpg.com/indoctrination

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“We Laugh, We Cry, We Cook” by Becky Johnson and Rachel Randolph

Posted on July 31, 2013 by Becky

Book Cover We Laugh We Cry We Cook

I had thought this was going to be a cookbook, and though it does have some recipes, mostly it is a book about mother and daughter team, Becky Johnson and Rachel Randolph.

Becky and Rachel both provide some interesting reminisces about their lives together, and Rachel’s life after she has married and started a family.  Some are so funny that I could hardly read them I was laughing so hard.  Becky’s description of taking young teenage Rachel to Nashville, and Rachel’s adventure at Babies-R-Us are just hilarious.  They also include some really touching moments the two of them have experienced.  Rachel’s story of becoming a vegan, and how she has eaten since then, is really interesting.  Of course, there are lots of memories from both Becky and Rachel that involve food.

There is one caveat I had with this book.  In this day and age when drinking is so pervasive and dangerous, it was troublesome that drinking was referred to so often as a natural outgrowth of people gathering together.  It is disappointing that a Christian book would portray drinking in such a positive light.

It is true, the Bible doesn’t say it is wrong to drink.  However, it does say it is wrong to get drunk.  In my experience, people who drink rarely stop before they get partially or completely inebriated.  After experiencing death on both sides of my family that was the direct result of alcoholism, I view alcohol as a poison–and a poor example when young people witness adults partaking of it in their families.

Although this is a quick read, the love Becky and Rachel have for each other, and their families, comes shining through.  People who enjoy reading about other’s lives–especially stories that include food–would like this book.  I give it four stars.

The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book through Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Publishing for the purpose of review. All opinions expressed are my own, and I have not been compensated in any other manner. Despite my receiving the book free, it has not influenced my judgment, and I have given an honest opinion.

 

Author’s website: http://www.welaughwecrywecook.com

 

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“Prairie Song” by Mona Hodgson Liked it with Reservations

Posted on July 27, 2013 by Becky

Book Cover Prairie SongThis is a tale about a group of people who leave St. Charles, Missouri, in wagon trains to go to California.  The story takes place shortly after the Civil War.

The book mainly focuses on two characters.  The first is eighteen-year-old Anna Goben who, along with her mother, Wilma, live with her grandfather.  Since the war death of her brother, Dedrick, her mother has become an alcoholic, and the zest for living has left her grandfather.  Anna’s hat and candle making business has been the only income keeping the family afloat.  Anna has been pushing for her family to join the wagon train, and make a fresh start in the west.  Anna is very hopeful the trip, and a new place to live, will help her mother overcome her alcoholism as well.

Young  war widow, Caroline Milburn, also a friend of Anna, would like a new start, too. She has been unhappily living with her sister and her surely, alcoholic brother-in-law.  All women on the wagon train must have a man in the party, so Caroline agrees to be a nanny to a family she doesn’t know in order to join the wagon train.

Although it is hard for everyone to leave their friends and relatives, the wagon train sets off west.  Anna is constantly on guard to keep liquor away from her mother, and check for hiding spots she might keep it in.  Despite that, her mother becomes drunk and almost drowns Anna and herself, along with two wagon train workers, when she falls into the river.  The head of the wagon train threatens to kick the entire family out of the wagon train if Wilma has any more incidents with liquor.  Anna is devastated by her mother’s actions, and exhausted from trying to carrying Wilma’s burden of addiction for her.

Along the way, the people in the wagon train experiences adventure, hardships of the trip, some mysterious thefts, illnesses, false accusations and romance.

I really liked how this author writes. This book is well written, the characters are believable  and the reader is immediately drawn into the story.  However, I truly felt like I was reading a book that was at least book two in a series.  There were characters and events referred to that weren’t part of this story, so it made me feel like I was left out of the loop.

Upon investigating, I found there was another book series this author has written.  That series had some of these characters, so I must assume incidents and characters in that other series are where references in this book come from.   I really believe this should be book four in that other series, instead of book one in a new series.

The ending in this book didn’t wrap up a lot of the story lines going on.  Some came to a conclusion, but other didn’t, including the fact that the wagon train has only made it as far as Nebraska on their California trek.  The reader is left to wonder about the unanswered questions.  I loved the book, what there was of it.  But because of incomplete story lines at the end, and confusing references throughout the tale, I can only give this book 3 stars.

The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book through WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for the purpose of review. All opinions expressed are my own, and I have not been compensated in any other manner.

Author’s website:  http://www.monahodgson.com/

Author bio:  http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/author-spotlight.php?authorid=108368

More information:  http://www.amazon.com/Mona-Hodgson/e/B001H6SQZC/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1374910697&sr=1-2-ent

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/Author.Mona

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/MonaHodgson

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“Courage to Change” by Elizabeth Maddrey

Posted on July 15, 2013 by Becky

Book Cover Courage to ChangeThis is the story of Phil Reid, a lawyer who had been married, and was an alcoholic.  He became a follower of Christ, changed his life, and quit drinking.  His wife, Brandi, was unhappy that he no longer drank with her, was furious that he had become a Christian, and ultimately kicked him out of their home.  Eventually they divorced, despite all his efforts to stay married and convert his wife.

In spite of Brandi remarrying, she has constantly made a pest of herself calling Phil when drunk, and crying for help, or money, or both.  She often comes to where he lives, and makes scenes so bad the police are called.  As time has gone on, she has gotten worse.  Her actions have been getting more violent, including breaking into Phil’s home.  Despite changing his telephone number and address, she continues tracking him down.

Allison is a lawyer at the same firm as Phil.  She has liked him for a long time but has never gotten his attention, other than becoming really good friends.  Then one day when they were going to share a piece of cake from the office, Phil tells her that he will never remarry because he has been divorced.

Heartbroken, Allison starts dating one of Phil’s clients, Marcus.  Allison also develops a strong friendship with Marcus’ teenage daughter, Lindsay, who is pregnant.  Although Lindsay really likes Allison, she isn’t ready for anyone to date her dad.  At the same time Lindsay admits this, Phil seems to have changed his mind about dating, and is acting very interested in Allison.

There is a secondary story woven in here, too.  It revolves around Lindsay’s pregnancy, including her boyfriend’s terrible behavior towards her.  Also, Marcus’ anger about the entire situation, and the legal maneuvers he wants to pursue as punishment.  Lindsay must decide if she will keep her baby, or put it up for adoption.  Allison attempts to influence both Lindsay and Marcus to make the best decisions for all involved.

Does Phil desire to date Allison in a serious way, or is he just wanting to rekindle their good friendship?  If Phil is serious, will Allison’s parents get past their disapproval of a divorced man marrying her?  With Brandi’s behavior getting so much worse, will she physically harm Phil or Allison?  Will Lindsay come to a decision that will make both her, and her dad, happy?

This story was well-written and the characters were very real.  I liked all the twists and turns in the tale.  It was realistic about the temptations and dilemmas Christians face while trying to live out their faith.  Lindsay’s story was also very interesting, added depth to the book, and gave very good information about adoption, and the real issues a pregnant teen would need to face.  The ending was very exciting!

The one thing I did question was the book cover.  I wasn’t quite sure how that tied into the story-line.  It doesn’t do anything to diminish the quality of the story, but it did arouse my curiosity.

This is the second book in the series “Grant us Grace.”  This book is a stand-alone story.  I did not read the first book, but didn’t have any problems following this story.  I really enjoyed “Courage to Change,” recommend it, and give it five stars.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Hope Springs Books, in exchange for a free book review through the  http://www.bookcrash.com book review program.  All opinions expressed are my own, and I have not been compensated in any other manner. Despite my receiving the book free, it has not influenced my judgment, and I have given an honest opinion.

Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ElizabethMaddre

Her website:   http://www.elizabethmaddrey.com/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/ElizabethMaddrey

More Information:  http://chalfonthouse.com/hopespringsbooks/hopesprings-authors/elizabeth-maddrey/

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“Intentional Walk” by Rob Rains

Posted on July 13, 2013 by Becky

Book Cover Intentional WalkThis book covers the first year, 2012, that Mike Matheny became the manager of the Saint Louis Cardinals baseball team.  More specifically it is the story of the Christian players on the team.

Eighteen men gave testimonies of their Christian faith in this book.  These stories cover the gamut of age, and the amount of time they have had a relationship with Jesus.  Some are young, some are older, some have been Christians for many years and some have been Christians for a short time.  Seventeen of the eighteen men are, or have been, baseball players.  The one exception is Rip Rowan who is the Cardinals equipment manager.

The overriding theme that all the men wanted to stress is that God doesn’t play favorites with baseball teams.  Just because a team has a little or a lot of players who are Christians on it, that won’t influence who will win.  Hard work, weather, the environment and the emotional state of the players are some of things that contribute to the game’s outcome.  Being a Christian gives the players a richer life and peace, but it isn’t an automatic ticket to winning a baseball game. They believe their baseball career doesn’t get special favor because they are a Christian.

Each of the men blend the story of their baseball career with their story of faith.  A lot of the men talk about a Bible verse that is a favorite or has meant a lot to them.  They also talk about what it is like to be a Christian, as well as, a Cardinal baseball player.  All of them mention what a large group of guys are part of the Bible studies, that child care is even provided so families can be included.  The men state what a great support system that has been for them as players, and as Christian men.  When they first came to the Cardinals, many of the men were surprised about how large and well-attended the group is.

The players also talk about the highs and lows of their baseball careers, what path they took to become a Cardinal baseball player, and some of the day-to-day life as a Cardinal.  Some sacrifices have had to be made for their jobs.  One example is Mike Matheny forgoing attending many of his children’s his activities, including his son’s graduation, to be present at a Cardinal game.

I thought the book was very interesting and gave great insight to the life working in the world of baseball–especially the Cardinal baseball team–and the life of men following Christ.  I think fans of baseball, and Cardinal baseball fans in particular, would really love this book.  I enjoyed the book, recommend it, and give it five stars.

The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book through Thomas Nelson Publishing for the purpose of review. All opinions expressed are my own, and I have not been compensated in any other manner. Despite my receiving the book free, it has not influenced my judgment, and I have given an honest opinion.

Follow on twitter:  https://twitter.com/RobRains

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“Road Trip to Redemption” by Brad Mathias

Posted on June 28, 2013 by Becky

Book Cover Road Trip to RedemptionThis is the story of Brad Mathias, his wife Paige, and their children Jessica, Bethany and Caleb.  Brad believed his family was doing well, coping with the normal ups and downs of life.  That is until the night God literally told Brad and Paige to go to Bethany and, “Ask her to reveal what she has hidden.”

Months of thinking that Bethany was just going through a faze, or being a difficult child, came crashing down with her revelation.  Parental guilt overflowed that he hadn’t seen the pain she was in, and confronted her sooner.

About a decade earlier, Brad had not been close to God.  He had an affair, separated from his family, and divorce proceedings started.  Brad had lived in another state away from his family during all of this.  Paige had a renewal of her Christian faith, and didn’t finalize the divorce.  Next, Brad developed a real relationship with Jesus Christ, and eventually the two reconciled, and he moved back home.  Their new found faith allowed the two of them to rebuild their marriage into something stronger than it ever had been before.

Unfortunately the separation, turmoil, and upheaval from that time had long lasting negative effects on each of his children. Because of that, Brad felt he had been unsuccessful as a parent, and never felt truly confident in his parenting abilities from that time forward.  Now this incident made him believe that all those thoughts were true, and he had failed once again in the parenting department.

Nine months later, Bethany was doing a bit better.  She was in counseling, taking medication, Brad and Paige had attempted to connect with some good heart-to-heart conversations.  But things weren’t at a place Brad was happy with.  The joy was missing from Bethany’s spirit and countenance.  Bethany was still in a very delicate state, as if she were just one breath away from crumbling apart.

After Brad’s discovery of his faith, he changed careers and joined the staff at his church. He and his family attended church regularly, but Brad wondered how deep each of his children’s faith really was.  Brad prayed fervently for his children’s faith to be real, to have meaning, to be something to lean on and draw power from during difficult times.  He asked God for a break through among them to achieve closer relationships for his entire family.

Brad felt the Lord was telling him to take his family on a road trip into the wilderness of Canada and the USA.  He questioned this often.  Brad loved hiking and exploring in the Rocky Mountains of both Canada and the United States.  Because of that, he wondered if this was some wishful thinking on his part, or was God really leading him to take his family on this trip?  Could it be possible for a family road trip bring healing?

His kids fought as siblings do, so short trips with all the family in the car had hardly been bearable.  They had never done a long trip as a family.  A multi-thousand mile trip with everyone squished in one vehicle for hours on multiple days did not sound doable.  He was sure his wife would shoot down the idea.  But when he broached the subject with Paige, she surprisingly supported the idea.

The trip turned into a family reunion of sorts.  Brad’s brother and his family would come too, following behind them to Canada in their own car.  Brad’s parents would fly out ahead of them to Canada, and be there when everyone arrived.  They would all meet up for a time of hiking, exploring and relaxing with each other.

Brad made an onerous driving schedule that involved driving 900 miles or more for three days to get to Canada.  During that time, the kids togetherness consisted of them making sarcastically cutting remarks to each other, or retreating into a comatose-type state with electronic gadgets.  The first two days of travel involved them driving through torrential downpours and literally dodging tornadoes.  Brad really wondered if he had heard God correctly about going on this trip.

Once they all made it to Canada, however, things slowed down to a nice pace.  For the first time, he got to share his beloved wilderness with his children–hiking, viewing pristine lakes, soaking up the wonder of God’s creation.  Much to Brad’s delight, his children appreciated the wilderness.  With all of the extended family together, they made wonderful memories, and felt like their communication had gotten to a bit deeper level.  Brad felt his family’s faith had begun to grow, but it had not gotten to the point he wanted it to be.

One morning on the journey home, Brad felt impressed by God to, “Tell them I have something special to show Bethany this morning, but all three will see something just for them today.”  He was torn about telling his family that message and that it was from God.  Would it be something that really happened, or was he indulging in wishful thinking? If he said it, and nothing happened, what would it do to his family’s newly growing faith–especially Bethany who was still very fragile?

Brad felt this message had to do with a moose.  Bethany had been begging the entire trip to see this animal, and Brad had been praying the whole time it would happen.  But Brad had told her moose sightings were very rare, and in the area of the of the country they were in now, it would be even more rare.   He really was fighting not to say anything about this message, but the impression just kept getting stronger and stronger until eventually Brad had to give in.  He told Bethany that God was going to let her see something very special that day, and to make sure she had her camera.

The visibility that morning was almost zero because the thickest fog they had ever seen surrounded the road and all the cars.  Brad wondered how they would see anything in fog like that.  Suddenly, Brad felt he should pull over immediately, so he complied.  After his family piled out of the car, the fog seemed to lift, and there was a female moose.  She was calming eating, not spooked at all by the gawking humans.  Bethany was thrilled, and took many pictures.

Afterwards in the car, Brad reminded Bethany how very rare it was to see a moose, and female sightings were rarer still.  He explained that God had arranged for that moose to be there just for her to see.  Bethany felt very special, and the incident helped her in many ways.  She felt favored by God that He would arrange a desire of her heart, and that He was listening to her prayers.  Her confidence was boosted, and her faith strengthened from that day forward.  Brad was happy to see the return of smiles and joy to her face.

Later that same day, Caleb and Jessica also had special moments.  Caleb had a literal mountaintop experience when he took a trail to a mountain top, and felt the power and majesty of God–his faith also increased from then on.

Right before sundown, Jessica and Brad witnessed a very rare sighting of three perfect rainbows.  Their beauty was intense and awe-inspiring, and a great reminder that God keeps His promises.  Jessica felt she had been singled out by God to see something special.  The Lord became more real to her because of this trip, and her faith also grew from then on.

A road trip might not be the prescription for everyone’s recovery, but for the Mathias family it was just what the Great Physician ordered.  The vacation did what Brad had prayed for:  strengthened each family member’s faith and made it real, the beginning of true healing of the scars from the past year, and a new closeness for them all.

I enjoyed reading the Mathias family’s story.  After of the first part of the book, the story slowed, but the book really got my attention again once they started their road trip.  I liked reading the details of the vacation mixed with the thoughts and emotions experienced at the same time.  I was delighted to read the Mathias family received such blessings from an activity that I cherish–the family trip.  Some of the best memories in my own life occurred on family trips.  I recommend this book and give it five stars.

The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book through Tyndale Blog Network (Tyndale House Publishers) for the purpose of review. All opinions expressed are my own, and I have not been compensated in any other manner. Despite my receiving the book free, it has not influenced my judgment, and I have given an honest opinion.

More information:  http://www.tyndale.com/Road-Trip-to-Redemption/9781414363943#.UciD__k73JY

Website:  http://roadtripparenting.wordpress.com/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/RoadTrip-Parenting/264961390198477

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/bradmathias

Related Site:  http://www.ishinelive.com/#sthash.xelXfWtC.dpuf

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“A God for all Seasons” by Patti Tingen

Posted on June 22, 2013 by Becky

Book Cover A God For All SeasonsMrs. Tingen writes this book from a unique perspective–she arranges her writings to harmonize with the four seasons of the year: winter, spring, summer and fall. She has a beautiful way of writing that is very endearing. Biblical truths are described in down-to-earth, easily understood ways, and touches of humor abound. The author sees God in many everyday situations that will make you take a second, or even third, look around you.

This is a very positive book, and it offers hope for everyday, as well as, during times of trouble. Mrs. Tingen commiserates with individuals experiencing difficulties. The author speaks about an extremely trying period in her own life. She shares scripture and touches of God that helped her when walking through this long and painful season. It was inspiring to read that Mrs. Tingen’s faith did not disappear during hard times, but actually increased.

Besides encouraging Bible reading and prayer, the author recommends keeping a journal for many reasons. First, for the therapeutic exercise of recording in a journal life happenings, thoughts and prayers. Secondly, she suggests looking back at the journal later to see what positive situations have occurred, prayers that have been answered, and circumstances that didn’t seem positive at the time of writing, that God has used for good.

When reading this book, a favorite hymn from my childhood often came to mind. Written by Jonathan Oatman, Jr., “Count your Many Blessings” began running through my thoughts–especially the line, “…count your blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.”

From my own perspective, reading the book was a joyful, hopeful and encouraging experience. I believe anyone would enjoy this. I especially think someone who is going through trials will rejoice and savor the encouragements that are found in this little volume. This is an easy read, so it is not difficult to start soaking up the book’s positive encouragements, and love of God. The story of the three ducks was wonderful! I recommend “A God for all Seasons,” and give it five stars.

The author has provided me with a copy of this book.  All opinions expressed are my own, and I have not been compensated in any other manner. Despite my receiving the book free, it has not influenced my judgment, and I have given an honest opinion.

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Read an excerpt:  http://assets.booklocker.com/pdfs/6359s.pdf

More information:  http://www.amazon.com/Patti-Tingen/e/B009N5Z3UU

 

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