Upside-down prayers for parents

As a Christian parent, I pray for my children every day, many times several times through the day as I think about them.  However, what I have prayed over my children for over twenty years may not be exactly what I should have been asking God for.  I pray for their safety, to make wise choices, to be a light for Him....all good things.  But Lisa Bergren in Upside-Down Prayers for Parents challenges me to pray in a way that may go against the norm.  For example, day 1 challenges me to pray that my child will get caught doing wrong and that they will find the right path.  How convicting!  As a parent, I would typically pray that my child would make the wise and right choices but we're all sinners and make poor choices.  How much more valuable it would be to my child if he/she were to get caught doing wrong, rather than thinking they got by with something, and then turn to God for direction on the path they should have taken.  How about day 16:  I pray you will lose a job and know that your Provider has not forgotten you.  Seem a bit harsh?  What comfort and security to know that all is in God's hands and that job you think is there forever is only for the moment.  God, as Provider, is the only way we can feel secure in knowing all our needs will be met and that His ways of providing may differ from what we think we need. Or day 24:  I pray your beliefs will be challenged and the roots of your faith will be strengthened.  What growth is experienced when we must defend what we believe!

Upside-Down Prayers for Parents was written as a 31 day devotional for parents.  Each "chapter" begins with a short scripture followed by a few pages of text,  to make the prayer Ms. Bergren is encouraging you to pray seem a bit more understandable as she conveys her thoughts and personal experiences and stories.  Each day also leaves the reader to ponder a fairly thought provoking question and then suggests questions that promote discussion between you and your child whether young, teens, or young adults.  Each entry is simple to read but it may just change the way you think about your prayer life for your child.

Some of these things are just hard to pray for. I think, for me, rather than praying my child will lose a job, suffer loss, face financial hardships, and take crazy risks, I will focus more on praying for what could be gained from those circumstances and let God take care of how that happens.  I have spent most of my adult life trying to protect my children from such things and perhaps that isn't what I should do but God is going to have to work on me a bit to pray hardships on my children. 

Good book and quite thought provoking but get ready for some reading that may challenge how you have prayed for your children!

I did receive this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  I was in no way obligated to leave a positive review.

The Tutor's Daughter

Over the last two years, Emma Smallwood's mother has left this earth and her father has ceased caring much about life himself, even when doing what he loves as a tutor.  When the last of his students departs Smallwood Academy, Emma is determined to find young men to replace them or the bills won't be paid and her father may just give up on life.

Several years back, Mr. Smallwood had two students, Phillip and Henry Weston.  No two brothers could have been more different.  Henry always teased and was unkind, promising Emma she would be a spinster.  Phillip was just the opposite in befriending Emma.  If memory serves her correctly, Phillip Weston has two half brothers who are of age and in need of an education so she writes a letter to his father hoping they will be her father's new students. 

When the return letter arrives, a door is opened when Mr. Smallwood is asked to travel to Cornwall to tutor the two boys rather than them being sent to him. Mr. Smallwood has a glint in his eye that Emma hasn't seen in too long as she agrees to accompany him. After all, a change of scenery will be good for both of them, won't it?  Needless to say, Henry's previous treatment of Emma doesn't leave her eager to see him again.

When they arrive, they find that their arrival wasn't expected.  Strange things begin to happen around the house, especially to Emma, and secrets seem to abound.  What are the Westons hiding and who is behind the strange noises and odd happenings (appearances and disappearances)?

I loved the beautiful English country/seaside setting.  The characters were well developed and the mystery with its twists and turns that usually isn't present in historical romance added to my interest.  Not quite as predictable as some either.  I haven't read any other of Julie Klassen's books the  The Tutor's Daughter leaves me wanting to do so.  Others have compared her to Jane Austin and, while I can see some similarities and Ms. Klassen does love Jane Austin's work, let me assure you that The Tutor's Daughter is much easier to read than anything Jane Austin.  Pick up a copy today.  I don't think you will be disappointed if you are a historical fiction reader.  Check out the book trailer at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZi5NQbkb0A&list=UUOTCh77FT1ZAyg-Mrj97HWw&index=4.

I did receive this book free from Bethany House in exchange for an honest review.  I was in no way obligated to leave a positive review.

Moon Over Edisto

Julia Bennett's life as an artist in Manhattan was pretty much what she wanted.  She had a show opening, a high profile art dealer boyfriend, and was content with that.  Then her past begins knocking at her door in the form of her college friend and roommate, Marney,  who destroyed the home life she thought pretty perfect until that summer almost 20 years ago.

But Marney needs Julia's help.  She needs surgery and wants Julia to help care for her children during her recovery.  Julia has very successfully avoided and has no desire to return to Edisto Island, SC to the place she and her family once vacationed, when they were a family.  From her perspective, she owes Marney and her children absolutely nothing.  Can Julia possibly begin to forgive Marney and, as a result, find true peace and happiness in her own life?

Each chapter is told by a different character's perspective (primarily three--Julia, Julia's mother Mary Ellen and Marney's middle child, Etta) which may be a bit confusing at first.  However, I liked it after I got into the story.  It allows the reader to easily see how both the events of the past and present, when seen through different eyes, are perceived differently and gives better understanding of the characters.  The story was easy to read after sorting through the initial introduction of characters and a great escape to a simpler lifestyle.  It is a wonderful story of forgiveness and restoration.

I originally requested this book because Edisto Island is a vacation spot I have just heard about and thought reading a book set in the area would give me a good feel for the island.  I must say that I think Beth Hart has done a wonderful job of painting a picture of the area. It makes you want to go see the area for youself if you love the seaside.  Close to Chareston, SC, Edisto is fully lowcountry, tranquil, and quaint.  Perhaps Edisto is our spring break vacation spot?


I did receive this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  I was in no way obligated to leave a positive review.

One Month To Love: 30 days to deeper relationships

What is truly important to you?  In the end, it will all about relationships.  Everyone longs to be treasured for who they are, understood, and valued, in spite of our weaknesses. We want deep and rewarding relationships with others.

While not written as a devotional book, One Month To Love:  30 days to grow and deepen your closest relationships could be used for that purpose and what better 30 days to choose that the ones leading up to Valentine's Day?   What would you do if you knew that you had only 30 days to show someone how deeply you loved them, that in 30 days they would be stripped from your life or you from theirs?  Even if you have more than 30 days with those you love, don't you want those relationships to be all they can be?  One Month to Love by Kerry and Chris Shook is broken down into 30 short chapters, one for each day of the month, giving you ideas and tools you can use to ensure that those you care so much about know how important they are and that you have a truly meaningful relationship with them.  Breaking it down into 30 days allows you to put into practice each strategy the Shooks bring to light before moving on to the next day.

Might you be in the position of having fragile relationships in your life, whether it be with your spouse, children, siblings, or parents?  One Month To Love will offer strategies you can use to help bring those relationship to a place of mending and restoration.

The Shooks have broken the critical pieces of relationships into four categories, one for each week:  The Art of Being All There, The Art of Acting Intentionally, The Art of Risking Awkwardness, and The Art of Letting Go.  The ideas are simple, really, and easy to integrate into your everyday life--things such as being in the moment (definitely a shortcoming of mine), offering some intentional out-of-the box offerings of love, expressing your feelings, and letting go of hurt and pride.  Uncertain how you will go about putting into practice these tools?  Each chapter ends with a challenge box offering three ideas of how to do so.

If you do have relationship that aren't what you hoped they would be or if you simple want to strengthen those relationships that are already strong and healthy, One Month to Love will give you insight that will encourage you and change the way you love, not just those you do love.  Will it be easy?  Probably not but what relationship that is valuable to you is easy?  Relationships take time and effort and God designed us to be in relationships both with Him and others.  Make the most of the time you have with those who matter most to you.

For more information on the authors and other publications, visit http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/author-spotlight.php?authorid=75698


I did receive this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  I was in no way obligated to leave a positive review.

Lord, I Give You This Day

Do you remember when you were first saved and you surrendered you life to Christ?  Was that the only time you had to turn over your life and surrender your days to God?  Probably not.  For me, surrendering and recommitting my life to Christ is a daily and sometimes minute by minute thing.  As Kay Arthur pens, "surrendering to God is not a one-time occurrence; it's a matter of continually bowing our hearts before the Lord, laying our desire for control at His feet (something I need to do just about every second says the reviewer), and rising again to do whatever He asks us to do, through the power of the Holy Spirit.  Surrender means inviting the Potter to reshape us and transform us, moment by moment, into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ.  It means taking God at His work, trusting that He can and will use even our most painful circumstances for our good and His glory". 



Easy?  Not so much.  However, in surrendering, it allows God to work through us and complete the work he began in us.  Life changing?  Yes! 

Lord, I Give You This Day by Kay Arthur is a wonderful tool that will help you surrender each day to God's will and care through scripture, narrative, and prayer included in each daily devotional.  Each is short enough to read in just a couple of minutes so no excuses for not beginning each day focusing your attention on the One who made you. 

Most of my reviewed titles end up in one of three church libraries but not this one.  I'm looking foward to beginning each day this year under the teaching and wisdom of an incredibly gifted author and seeing how God uses this book, her words, and the Holy Spirit to change me.  Lord, I Give You This Day would also make a wonderful gift.

Thank you Kay Arthur for another great book designed to draw others closer to God. 

I did receive this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  I was in no way obligated to write a positive review. 

A welcome addition to my Christmas book collection

Everything Christmas.  Just the title makes it almost perfect to me.  There is no better time of the year than the days leading up to Christmas--time with family, anticipation of Christmas day, baking, Christmas carols, special movies.......

Everything Christmas is a book that can only enhance those days leading up to the celebration of our Savior's birth.  There are twenty-four "chapters", one for every day in December leading up to Christmas day.  Each contains quite a variety of pieces from short stories, decorating/craft ideas, recipes, ideas for activities to make for a meaningful season, to historical information about Christmas and traditions from around the world.   Whether used as part of a private devotion or as a family time advent time together,  Everything Christmas will become a book you pick up year after year.  Many advent books have already been written but none that I am aware of like this one.  I thoroughly enjoyed the direction this one took even if it did lack a bit on the true reason for the season.   Don't think that I mean that Christ wasn't included in this book but more as a side-bar rather than the spotlight.  My one regret:  I will most likely wait til next Christmas season to enjoy the recipes and book to its fullest since I didn't have it in time for the 2012 advent season!

Whether you have been making family tradition for decades or are newlyweds attempting to create some new traditions for your family, Everything Christmas is packed full of ideas.  I can't wait for next December!!!!

I did receive this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  I was in no way obligated to leave a positive review.

Secretly Smitten

Over the last year, the town of Smitten, Vermont has seen many changes.  With all the townsfolk pitching in, Smitten has become a tourist destination, particularly for those seeking a romantic getaway.  Authors Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerback, Diann Hunt, and Denise Hunter have also banned together to share four heartwarming stories of the citizens of Smitten.

In "Love Between the Lines", little Mia finds in the attic,  the dog tags of a soldier believed to have been killed in the Korean War.  But this wasn't just any soldier, this man was her great-grandmother's first love.  As far as is known, the man's body and his tags were never recovered.  So, how did they find their way into the attic of this Victorian home?  The grandaughters won't simply leave it alone but long to get to the bottom of the story.

In "Make Me A Match", Zoe Thomas is opening her own matchmaking service.  When single William Singer moves to Smitten as the new city manager, Zoe is moved by his handsome face but knows change is in store and that he will only be around long enough to make those changes.  Or will things really go as Zoe first imagines?

Anna Thomas' knit shop, Sit 'n Knit is the primary setting in "Knit One, Love Two".  When her husband left about ten years ago she wanted to fulfill a dream.  The shop is her life and a place in Smitten where women came to be encouraged and creative.  But love is the last thing she is interested in, especially another military man like her first husband.  But Michael Conners is around quite a bit to help his mother who is a dear customer.  Sparks and words begin to fly but could that be the beginning of something?

"Love Blooms" centers around Claire Thomas.  Everyone had someone to love--except her.  She had her plants.   Not that she didn't love gardening but she was turning 30 soon and she hadn't found love much less a husband and the children she longed for.  She certainly didn't want to end up like her old maid aunts.  When a stranger shows up in Smitten looking for a job, Claire give him a chance.

Secretly  Smitten is the second novel in the Smitten series.   Each story is somewhat of a continuation of the prior one but has a different Smitten citizen as the main character.  They will all warm your heart and keep you wanting more of the Mayberry-like town of Smitten.  Are the stories predictable?  Yes.  But the characters are fun, quirky, and very lovable.  The writing style of the four authors is quite similar so you most likely won't realize that you are reading something by a different author. I thoroughly enjoyed the first in the series but did enjoy this one even more.  If you are looking for a light-hearted fun Christian romance novel, pick up Secretly Smitten.

I did receive this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I was in no way obligated to leave a positive review.  The views are my own.