Three Hearts

Cissie Graham Lynch, Franklin Graham's daughter, has just begun an internship with a branch of Samaritan's Purse, Children's Heart Project.  Hundreds of children in Mongolia are awaiting medical help and will die without it.  In this film, three children are chosen to receive the surgeries they so desperately need and travel to the United States where they are welcomed into homes and receive the gift of life. Along with their medical needs, they each have a need for a Savior, having been raised Buddhist.  In some ways, their lives are saved in several ways, both medically and spiritually as the Gospel is shared with them repeatedly during their seven week stay in the states.

I must admit that, when this film first started, I was a bit disappointed.  My family looks forward to weekend movies together and this was our Saturday night choice.  However, that disappointment didn't last long at all.  Just like the children and their mothers wove their lives together with their host families, I felt drawn in and became part of their lives.  I could feel their mother's pain as they watched their children being wheeled into surgery, knowing the risks involved and that they may never see their child alive again.  I could feel the joy when one of them prayed to receive Christ as if it were someone I had known for years.  It was a wonderful reminder of the preciousness of live, the awesome privilege I have of growing up in a country that is Godly, and the need to reach out to those who doing have at their disposal the wealth of advantages I have living in the United.  States.  This film left me thankful and wanting to do more to save these children all over the world who need both physical and spiritual healing.

I receive this DVD free from the publisher and was not in any way obligated to share a positive review.

God Gave Us Love

In a sturdy board book, just the right size for toddlers, Grampa Bear shares God's love with Little Cub and how it is God's desire that we share His love with everyone even when we don't feel like it.  Grampa explains that showing love to others is like showing them just a little bit of God's love.  Grampa Bear is quick to add that nothing we can do can separate us from the love of God and then shares how much God loves us by sending His son.  Just like Little Bear is loved and oh so special to God, little ones who read this book will sense that same feeling of being loved and treasured by God.

The colorful simple watercolor illustrations by Laura J. Bryant are eye catching and add to the pleasure of the short story. While the board book will be a nice addition to any child's library, I do feel that the concepts of loving the unlovely and the different kinds of love spoken about in the book (Mom and Dad kind of love, loving the unlovely) may be a bit over the heads of those children who will be reading a board book.  However, the other side of me says that it is never too early to begin instilling these thoughts and concepts into our little one's heads. This book is also available in hardcover which may be the format I would choose due to the depth of the concepts as mentioned.  Having not read the other books in the series, I am going to find a way to do so.  Thank you, Lisa Bergren for providing God centered reading material for our children that allow them to begin to learn the nature of God.

The book was provided to me free for the purpose of an honest review.  I was in no way obligated to provide a positive review.

Unlocked

I have just read a book that brought about every emotion I have--laughter, tears, anger.....Holden Harris is locked inside the world of autism.  Every day is the same with the same routine which includes watching a movie of his childhood.  He hasn't touched or spoken to his parents since he was three.  However, his world begins to change when he responds to the music of his High School's production of Beauty and the Beast  starring his childhood friend, Ella whom he also hasn't seen since he was three years old.   Even locked in his own world, Ella understands Holden more than anyone has since he was diagnosed.  Does Ella hold the key of bringing a sense of "normalcy" to Holden's life?

Thank you, Karen Kingsbury, for yet another touching story.  I must say I have never read a Kingsbury book that I didn't love and Unlocked is no exception.  If you are a teacher or the parent of an autistic child, this is a must read.