An Invitation into the Hearts of Two Women

Plain Wisdom:

An Invitation into an Amish Home and the Hearts of Two Women

Cindy Woodsmall (Author)

Miriam Flaud (Author)

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See search resultsAre you an author? Learn about Author CentralPaperback: 240 pages

Publisher: WaterBrook Press (March 15, 2011)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0307459349

ISBN-13: 978-0307459343

Two friends from different worlds—one Old Order Amish, one Englischer—share the truths that bring them together.

When I first heard of this book, I wanted to read it. It just sounded so interesting. I have always enjoyed Amish fiction and anything nonfiction I can learn about the Amish life. When I had the chance to choose Plain Wisdom from Blogging for Books, I jumped at it. What a special thrill for me to be able to read something that I never thought I would be able too.

This was a special book, in that it gave inside looks at an Amish fiction author and an Old Order Amish friend. Cindy and Miriam share how they met and ended up become close friends. Even though they were from two entirely different worlds, they found out they had so much in common. They were willing to pull together and share with the world about their unique friendship. Both Miriam and Cindy share glimpses of their family traditions, lifestyle and their love of God. They even share some family recipes.

I enjoyed this book so much. It really touched my heart several times with some of the things they shared. The example that Miriam gave on God’s grace from her sister was such an eye opener. One other time Miriam shared “encouragement from God isn’t about assuring us the journey will be easy but that the work accomplished will be fruitful.” I hope Miriam and Cindy get another chance to write a book together.

I rated Plain Wisdom 5 out of 5 stars and posted a review on Amazon.com and Goodreads.com.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”



The Promise of an Angel

By Ruth Reid 

Paperback: 304 pages

Publisher: Thomas Nelson (May 31, 2011)

Language: English


Format: E-Book

Ruth Reid’s first novel “The Promise of an Angel” includes two good topics—the Amish and angels. I was a little hesitant about including the angel at first but the more I got into the story the more I enjoyed him. Another unusual thing about this Amish story is it takes place in a Michigan Amish Community.

The story line is very interesting and flows very well. It starts out with a barn raising and Judith’s younger brother gets hurt and she sees an Englisher by Samuel’s side and he just disappears and no one else saw him. What made this story so different is this Amish community wanted to shun Judith because of her faith and not because of her disobedience to Scripture. Some of the characters were rude and obnoxious and you wanted to reach out and shake them but that is also what makes this story so good. The way Ruth weaves the Englisher angel in the story just made me keep reading to see what else he would do. I enjoyed the way she used him as such an inspiration to her. Even when the going got rough, Judith’s faith remained strong.

“The Promise of an Angel” is the first of “A Heaven on Earth Series. I think the most negative part about the series is we will have to wait until April 2012 to be able to read the second of this three part series.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this e-book free from Thomas Nelson through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

iShine New Living Translation Tween Bible

iShine NLT Tween Bible

For Boys and Girls

1024 pages

Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers (February 1, 2011)

Boy’s ISBN: 978-1-4143-4814-8

Girl’s ISBN: 1414348150

Trim Size: 4 1/8 x 6 1/8

The iShine Bible was created especially for tweens and uses the clearly understandable New Living Translation (NLT). It comes in a leather-like binding that will appeal to tweens. The boy’s iShine Bible is Backstage Blue with black and orange accents. The girl’s iShine Bible is Lip Sync Pink with Rockin’ Ruby and silver accents. Its compact size makes it easy to carry.

Some special things you will find in the iShine Bible are colored sections that will help you learn that you are a V.I.P. in God’s eyes.  V. you have value in God’s eyes; I. your identity is found only in Jesus Christ—and wow does that mean a lot!; P. because of the V and I, you have a special purpose in the world.

I really like the question and answer section at the beginning called iShine Index. It is especially designed to appeal to tweens and seemed to be written at the level they would understand and not feel like they were being talked down to or even go over their head. Included at the back of the iShine Bible is a list of Great Chapters of the Bible; Great Stories of the Bible and Great Verses of the Bible to Memorize.

To me this is a great step up for the tweens. They feel too old to use a Children’s Bible but aren’t quite ready for a Teen Bible. I also was glad to see it in the NLT. This is my favorite translation, because it is easier to follow and understand and I think it will be so beneficial to our tweens. I would recommend the iShine Bible to anyone who had a tween whether a boy or girl. They can grow in their faith by digging into a “cool” Bible that will grab their attention and also their friends.

I rated this Bible 5 out of 5 Stars. I also posted a review at www.Amazon.com and www.Bookreads.com.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Tyndale Publishers as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions’ 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Learn how to positively handle the disappointments of life and discern the comforting truth found in God's Word.

Learn how to positively handle the disappointments of life

and discern the comforting truth found in God's Word.

A Deeper Kind of Calm

Steadfast Faith in the Midst of Adversity

By Linda Dillow

ISBN-13: 9781600060755

Trim Size: 5 1/2 x 8 1/4

Cover: Paperback

144 Pages

I chose this book because of the subtitle Steadfast Faith in the Midst of Adversity. With everything that I have gone through in my lifetime so far, I like to read anything that can help me and to also help me help other in the storms of their lives.

A Deeper Kind of Calm: Steadfast Faith in the Midst of Adversity  is a wonderful book. I learned so much in the short time it took to read it, but will be going back to it time and time again.

Linda dives into 4 Psalms: 77: remember what God has done, 46: hide in His presence, 63: cling to him and 84: praise him for all we cannot see, to help us find comfort in our suffering. She calls are times of trials as “valleys of weeping”.  We have all gone through some type of trial, some big and some tiny ones, but we still suffer pain when we go through them. Sometimes that pain seems unbearable.  Linda shows us that instead of turning to worldly tings to try to ease our pain, we should turn to Scripture.  Using these 4 Psalms, Linda walks us through truths that are part of us drawing into God’s presence.

I enjoy all 4, but the one on Clinging to Him as my one and only lifeline really spoke to me.

A 4-week Bible study is included at the end of the book, which I read the questions but am now working on doing those weeks study separately.

I gave this book 5-stars. I will be recommending this book to my friends and wouldn’t mind leading a small study using it with some of my friends.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from NavPress Publishers as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions’ 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Dad’s Ultimate Guide to His Tween Daughter

What Happened to My Little Girl?

Dad’s Ultimate Guide to His Tween Daughter

By Nancy Rue with Jim Rue

Paperback: 160 pages

Publisher: Zondervan (March 29, 2011)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 9780310284727

Nancy and Jim Rue have once again written another great book. What Happened to My Little Girl? – Dad’s Ultimate Guide to His Tween Daughter  is a wonderful guide for fathers as they learn to relate to the transitions their little girl will be making toward woman hood.

We need to remember that our daughters learn as much from their fathers as they do their mothers.  This little book focuses on 14 issues including appearance, body and mood changes. Nancy and Jim will guide you in helping your daughter live as a girl and not a mini-teenager.  That is one thing that I feel we should be doing for our girls today. It seems we are pushing them harder and harder to be grown up and not giving them a chance to be little girls. They go over peer pressure, consumerism and “I am entitled to this”.  They give God-centered activates and many ideas to help you raise your daughter to be respectful, confident and God-centered young lady.

At no time do the authors suggest that there is such a thing as a perfect dad nor that they are giving you everything you need to know about raising your tween.

I give this book a 4-star out of a 5-star rating. I will also be passing this book on to a dad of a tween girl.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Zondervan Publishers as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions’ 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."



Unleashing the People of God for the Purpose of God

Radical Together

Unleashing the People of God for the Purpose of God

By: David Platt

Multnomah Books / Paperback

176 pages

Publication Date: 2011

ISBN: 1601423721

David Platt moves from showing the Christians how to take back their faith in Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream, now he has taken it one step further in Radical Together: Unleashing the People of God for the Purpose of God. In Radical Together,  David challenges us to become radical communities of faith. He encourages us to work together to spread the Gospel to the world with 6 ideas to help us accomplish this task.

We are urged as individuals and congregations to pray about everything, question everything, but to be willing to sacrifice to accomplish the Great Commission.

Radical caused many of us to look at our lives and see changes we needed to make. Radical Together will cause the same thing to happen to churches. If you want to see a change happen read this book.

I gave Radical Together 4 out of 5 stars.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

You Can't Change Your Past, but You Can Change Your Future

 

REGGIE

You Can't Change Your Past, but You Can Change Your Future

Reggie Dabbs (Author),

John Driver (Contributor)

Paperback: 240 pages

Publisher: Thomas Nelson (March 29, 2011)

ISBN-10: 0849946263

When I chose Reggie: You Can’t Change Your Past, but You Can Change Your Future, I thought I was getting a book about a young man that spoke to teenagers and motivated them. Goodness was I wrong, but also right. He speaks to all ages and will motivate you. You are captured by the poem he wrote in high school that changed the way he saw his future.

I don’t have to know your name to know your pain…

I have my own.                

I don’t have to see your home to know your shame…

I have my own.

But someone loved me just the way I am,

And someone loves you just the way you are.

Reggie to me is a motivational speaker to all of us. He tells “His Story”, and what a story he has to tell. Reggie Dabbs, along with John Driver, tells about his start in life, the many obstacles he had to face. You will think you are on a roller coaster. You will be told things that will surprise you but the way Reggie tells them is so different. He holds your attention.

Reggie spends a lot of time with high school students and he gets their attention from the first words he speaks. He has a wonderful way of telling Biblical stories. In fact, the way he explained Moses, I saw Moses in a different way. Saw things that I had read over in my Bible and just overlooked.

I would very much like to be able to hear Reggie speak one day. He is a huge, African American man but he has a large, loving heart and is on a mission to speak to the youth of our world. His examples of showing faith in action and God’s power to love all and to heal all wounds are just so perfect. He uses humor, illustrations, Bible stories, and his adventures all over the world to tell “His Story” to teens and adults. He knows he can’t change our pass but he will surely show you a way to change your future.

After each of the ten chapters are questions to get you to explore more of what Reggie Dabbs is telling us. This will help with a book club reading and discussing or also for a youth group to do together.

I would defiantly recommend this book to everyone. You will see God’s love and Reggie’s love and how they interconnect and about how important it is to love others.

I gave Reggie a rating of 5 stars out of 5.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”