I don’t think anyone hasn’t had a time they prayed or longed or a miracle in their lives.  I believe many have experienced them, but don’t recognize what happened because they just chalk it up to luck or chance. Often times we miss them because we are moving at such a fast pace and fail to see God’s touch.   In the life of a child of God, there is no such thing as coincidence.  He is very actively involved in our lives and needs.

This book was so uplifting!   I myself had witnessed many miracles in my time and they have been left a deep imprint on my life.  Some brought about enormous changes; others met a momentary need in a supernatural way.

I could relate because the accounts were of people just like me that find themselves in what seem to be impossible situations with only 1 outcome – BAD.   Some experiencing them probably thought these are things that “only happen to other people”.    I heard a saying many years ago that stuck with me and I love: “God loves impossible situations to show Himself strong.”  Then we KNOW without a doubt the help cold have only come from Him and He can receive all the glory.  That is exactly what these stories are about.   If God has done it for others, He can do it for us too!

I liked that these were so varied from the filling of small momentary needs to nothing short of extraordinary events of healing and protection.  They certainly gave me a fresh reminder of hope for some of the circumstances my family is facing right now.  It was refreshing to read something positive after all the negative stories and reports we see daily in the news.

No, God does not always “fix” all our problems, but even should He say “No child, this is my will for you”, this book gave me great comfort at seeing testimonies of His power.  I would love more books by the authors like this, and would also like to contribute stories of my own “real life” miracles!  I am going to keep it and read it when I a booster shot of faith!

I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. 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

Always being interested in learning more about my future home, Heaven, I thought I would give this book a try.  When sharing with a friend that I was going to read it, they said, “What can it really say.  We don’t know that much about Heaven even from God’s Word.”

Their comment made think, “What more could this book say?”  Well it had a lot to say!   No, the author didn’t reveal anything I didn’t’ already know about Heaven but he did do something much more important.  He opened my mind to applying what I do know to my life right now here on earth.  Page after page I wanted to highlight comments and truths that made me think, “Wow, I never looked at it that way!”

Heaven isn’t just something that will affect me “someday”.  As a born again Christian, it has an impact on my life right now!

With this being the only life we know, we become bogged down in the details of the here and now, the problems, and just surviving day to day.  This book gave me a different focus.

The author also presented a thought I have had for a long time.  That our discontentment with this life and always looking for perfection comes from the way God created us.  We were meant to live in peace and happiness before sin came into the world.  That dissatisfaction is a yearning for what awaits us in Heaven.  This knowledge should help us let go of the unattainable in this life and accept what we have.

Mr. Schaffer also addressed some misconceptions we have about Heaven. While no one wants to go to Hell of course, some of these false ideas make us concerned about what eternity in Heaven will be like.   A common one is that Heaven will be boring.  He boldly brings out the things we can’t bring ourselves to admit and shares biblical truths that correct our false impressions.

Instead of a few rote recitations of verses about Heaven that one might expect from the title, there were many other scriptures references that help us understand how our eternal home influences us today.

At the end of the book there is a section for each chapter with very thought provoking discussion questions, and biblical passages for further study.  Sometimes Reflection and Focus exercises are included to personalize what you have read.

I learned so much from this book!  Its message was one of hope and joy expectation.  Our time on earth is so short and our focus should be on serving Christ, not bogged down in the cares of this world.   This book is definitely a keeper for my library.  I plan to read it again and use it as a Bible study.  It would also be great for study for church classes.   Trust me; you want to read this book!
I received this book free from Discovery House Publishers. 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

Lynn Austin is at the top of my favorite authors!   I couldn’t wait to read this book!

The Civil War is over and the lives of the wealthy northerners and their slaves are changed forever.  Those from the North don’t want to accept it and the slaves don’t know how to accept it.

The Weatherly family returns to what is left of their once grand home in Virginia.  Eugenia, the matriarch of the family and widowed by the war, plans to continue life as before.  She purposes, through sheer strength and determination, to rebuild the life they once had.  She has lost one son in the war and looks to her surviving son to return and take his father’s place.  Daniel comes home angry and shattered by his experiences in the war.  He too cannot accept the defeat and seeks revenge on anyone associated with that loss. He could care less about leading the family.

Her 16 year old daughter, Olivia, is spoiled and selfish and is more than happy to comply with her mother’s plans.  Twenty-two year old Josephine realizes that their focus must be on surviving the reality of their life now, not reconstructing the past.  Although practical in her outlook, she is angry with God for not rewarding her “goodness” and answering her prayers during the war.   She has turned away from Him.

The only slaves that remain on their plantation are Lizze and Otis and their 3 children.  They have no clue how to handle their new found freedom and realize they have no place to go.  For the first time, Josephine begins to see them as flesh and blood people with feelings and attempts to treat them as equals.  This only enrages her mother more.

Josephine and her family face hardships they have never experienced: lack of food, clothing, and money.  She begins to understand that this a small taste of the lives their slaves have always lived.   The only difference in Lizze and Otis’s life is that they know their children will never be sold or face mistreatment as they did.

I was astonished at this historical novel.  Ms. Austin was a genius not only in how she presented the historical facts about the Post Civil War era, but also in capturing the personal details and emotions that so many different groups of people faced in its aftermath.  I never dreamed of what these people actually dealt with.

In many ways the wealthy families coming back were almost as poor as the slaves, but their situations were made worse because they had no skills or knowledge to care for their daily needs and homes.  A culture shock confronted them as they were stripped of their money and lavish, snobbish lifestyles.  They were broken people with only their self-righteous pride left.

The soldiers left as strong, courageous young men only to return shattered emotionally, mentally and some physically.  Handicapped individuals then did not have all the medical help and devices to make life easier.  Many wished they had died rather than live as a cripple.  Some carried the guilt of being alive because their friends died.

Then there were the slaves who finally had freedom but had no means or knowledge to embrace it.   Their fear of their master’s abuse was replaced with fear being killed by angry ex-slave owners.  If they went away,  they had no means to support themselves nor any place to go.  In staying they are treated with the same disrespect and left with the workload of a household of slaves.  This was a very confusing time for them too.

Also there were the southerners who fought for the slave’s freedom and wanted to help them in making a new life.  They found themselves in danger and hated by the bitter white men of the north for whom they blamed for their losses.  On the other hand the slaves feared trusting them because they were white.

As if If all this wasn’t remarkable enough, Ms. Austin includes one more very important aspect.  In a crisis God is always at work whether we realize it or not.  We are either drawn closer to Him or turn away.  Not only was I a part of the character’s thoughts and emotions, but she also enabled me to experience their spiritual journey in such a tumultuous time.

I will never look at this era the same again.   She brought history and the characters alive!  This book is a masterpiece you WILL want to read!

I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. 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

Novellas aren’t always my favorite to read, but I really liked this one.  Each one was complete in its self and gave me 3 different Christmas/Amish fixes for the holiday!  This book would be great to read anytime of the year though.   All of the stories were very well written.

“A Perfect Secret” is the story of Rose and Luke.   They had been friends for many years.  It was more or less expected they would marry, but his proposal doesn’t bring Rose the happiness she thinks it should.   Their relationship is well, boring.  He seems almost afraid to show her affection and she wonders how could she live a life time like this?  She wants excitement and romance!   Does she really know who Luke is?  Does he really know who she is and does he care?  The community is hit with a string of thefts, something very uncommon among the Amish.  Rose becomes enthralled by the mystery and decides she will find out who the thief is.  The culprit falls into a trap she sets and she risks following the bandit into the woods.  Her discovery intrigues and shocks her, causing her simple life to suddenly become very complicated.   A surprise ending to look forward to!

“Christmas Cradles” was such a sweet story.  Midwife, Anna Stolis, covers for her aunt’s midwifery practice while she goes on a short vacation.  The weather is turning bad and forecast to grow even worse.  Samuel Mast has volunteered to drive the midwife to nighttime emergencies, but he is sick.  His son Asa is taking his place.  Three babies are due and Anna is hoping they will wait until her aunt returns.  Of course they don’t and all three mothers deliver the same night.  At 26 Anna is considered past marrying age, and somewhat buxom. She didn’t have much hope in marrying.   Asa is a great surprise when he arrives.  Tall and handsome, not to mention she was expecting a man old enough to be her father!   All through the night they go from delivery to delivery in a horrible storm.   Anna finds herself falling in love with Asa’s kind and gentle ways and thinks he might also be interested in her.   Their time together proves to be challenging in many ways more than just the deliveries and the weather. Will unexpected information about Asa’s past threaten end her hopes of marrying him?

“A Marriage of the Heart” was my favorite of the three.  Abigail’s mother died when she was very young.  She never had a mom to teach her how to take care of a household, very important in the Amish life.  Her father was distant, harsh, and unloving which made her feel even more insecure.  All she can think about it getting out from under his roof.   The only thing worthwhile she feels she has is her beauty.  Joseph who has just returned to the Amish community doesn’t give her the attention the other boys do.   In retaliation she falsely accuses him of taking advantage of her.  She is shocked when her father, in a rage, demands they marry.  Then she gets excited thinking this may be her ticket out of her home.  Her hopes come crashing down when her new husband offers for them to live with her Dad!  Now she is married to a man she doesn’t even know, still in her father’s house and now responsible for caring for 2 men when she doesn’t have a clue how. On top of being newlyweds that are married in name only, everyone is acting like they are love birds, and they struggle to keep up the pretense.  She harbors hopes that Joseph will want to go back to the English world he just returned from thus helping her escape from what she believes to be a stifling, boring life.  When she finds out Joseph had a drug addiction he still struggles with, she wonders what she has gotten herself into.  Their journey to learn about each other is humorous and touching.  Can they ever overcome this forced marriage and truly be a happily married couple?

To be perfectly honest I wish there had been a dozen more stories like this.  A book you will want to read!

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com&gt; 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

The Bible is the only book we need for any area of our life and this definitely includes raising children!  When I was raising my girls I had a book similar to this but it only had the topics and the scriptures.  This book has that and so much more!  It is so many tools rolled into one; a biblical reference for teachable moments, answering children’s questions on different topics, a personal or family devotional guide, a scripture reference for memorization, and a prayer guide.

The first part of the book has a great deal of information recognizing opportunities for teaching your children scripture and also how exactly to go about it.  I thought this was great as many parents want to do this but don’t know how.

Topics are listed from A – Z.   Under each subject is the definition of that word.  Some might think this not needed, but you would be surprised how many words we assume our children know the real meaning of when they don’t.

Next there are several scriptures to memorize pertaining to that subject, and a set of discussion questions to help look deeper into what you are studying. These could be a real springboard into a great devotional time.

This is followed by the “Take Action” section that gives suggestions to make the concept a part of daily life. Many have a parenting tip to help you guide your child in understanding and applying the truth that has been presented.  Sometimes there is a related topic listed so you can take the study even further.

At the end of the book are two more tools.  The Scripture Appendix contains the complete texts of the Ten Commandments, the Beatitudes, the Love Chapter, the Fruit of the Spirit, the Armor of God, Colossians 3:12-14, and 2 Peter 1:5-9.  Assigned to each of these is a symbol.  These symbols appear when verses from these scriptures are listed under one of the topics.  This way you can reference back to these larger portions of scripture.  In addition the author lists 15 famous verses to memorize, memorization methods and how to pray scripture for your child.

As you can see this is a priceless reference and study tool not only for families but also church teachers and youth leaders.  This would also be a fantastic gift for a family, a child, or even new parents!  What is even better is so easy to use!  My only disappointment was that this did not come with scriptures from King James Version.

I received this book free from Moody Publishers. 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

I can always count on Cindy Woodsmall for a good book, and A Season For Tending was just that!  Rhoda Byler is a young Amish woman with a strong discernment for the needs of others and a true gift of using herbs as medicine.  Unfortunately, one in her Amish community that has a grievance against her has led many to believe she delves in “magic”.  She and her family suffers greatly because of the gossip and slander.  In spite of the hardships her family remains close and supports her.

She is a gentle, peace loving woman, but one true to her convictions.  Isolated by wagging tongues she finds her joy and purpose in her magnificent garden.  Her green thumb and love and knowledge of plants makes it produce like no other, which unfortunately fuels the fire the wagging tongues fan.  From this amazing garden, she has created a small but successful business.  Her accomplishments are always overshadowed by the false guilt she carries over the death of her younger sister.

Samuel King and his brothers are fighting another kind of battle struggling to keep their famous apple orchard running.  Family failures, careless choices, sibling’s secrets, and natural disasters make it an uphill battle. One they seem to be losing.   Rhoda and Samuel’s lives and futures are thrown together when Leah, Samuel’s little sister, is found in Rhoda’s garden after a night of rumschpringe gone bad.

Upon meeting Rhoda and finding out more about her talents, Samuel is convinced that they both hold the solution to each other’s business woes.  Rhoda isn’t sure and wants to make sure it is God’s will.  Her distrust of people and rejection by the Amish community continue to cloud her judgment.  The more unconvinced she becomes the more convinced Samuel becomes.  Will Samuel’s plan work?   Can Rhoda risk all she has to see?   You will find yourself caught up in the frustrations and doubts of the characters as they struggle to find an answer.   There were times I wanted to step into the book and have word with each one!   I found it inspiring that in all the unfair losses Samuel and Rhoda faced, they had the courage not to quit, even though they had every reason to.   Each time they looked past themselves and saw how their choices would affect those around them.

I liked that this book showed the Amish as real flesh and blood people with struggles the same as everyone else.   I had never really considered what worldly activities Amish youth dabble in nor the heartache and difficulties it causes their families.

Ms. Woodsmall brought to light the damage superstition, vengefulness, and unforgiveness of others and oneself can do to not only individuals but also families and communities.  This is a beautifully written book.  I can’t wait to read the sequel!

I received this book free from Waterbrook Press.  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

This was my first book of Ms. Heal’s and I was very impressed to say the least!  What a fun book!  It has so many different aspects, suspense, mystery, history, social issues, and humor, challenges faced at different stages of life.  She blends and weaves all these into a very enjoyable and interesting story! I must say I have never read a fiction book quite like it!  I especially liked the interaction between the characters.  The humor and conversations made them very real!  Some were so clever I even read them to my husband!

Abby is a personal tutor to teenager, Merri.  They accidently stumble upon a computer program that allows them to go back in time and see the day to day lives of those in past.  There are only certain places it will work and it reveals details of those who have lived at that location.  A true life version of “If Walls Could Talk”!   Something I have always wished I could experience!   When they share this information with their friend John and he becomes involved in their exciting adventure.

They accept a job house sitting a beautiful Victorian home and looking out for two 85 year old twin sisters next door, Eulah and Beulah.  The pair, dubbed the “Old Dears”, is hilarious in their antics and ideas.   Very quickly Abby and Merri log into their program and find the house they are staying in was the twin’s childhood home.  In fact, they learn more than they are comfortable with about the sister’s past.  Through the twist and turn of events and their computer, they are taken back to the time of Lewis and Clark find themselves even witnessing a murder! There were so many times I wished I could grab their laptop and control the program myself. Not to mention take it a few places of my own!

Ms. Heal didn’t just include history, she brought it to life with detailed descriptions of not only the daily lives of the people, but also the thoughts and feelings they might have experienced.  At points I truly felt “transported” back to that time.  She also touched on the important subject of domestic violence.  It isn’t just a problem now but has been throughout history too.  Something I had not considered.

I thought her involvement of the elderly sisters as respected, valued and loved was wonderful. It sends a strong message that our senior citizens and their life experiences are not only important, but also how very enjoyable spending time with them can be.  A much needed point to be made in a time with the elderly are neglected and not appreciated and esteemed.  Their love and delight in being with the John, Abby, and Merri, reminded me of how many older people are longing to open their hearts and homes to the younger generation.

Though not a major part of the book, Merri’s dealings with her mother’s constant working and overlooking her and her father’s neglect and drug abuse shows the effect such parenting failures have on children.

So many wonderful things in one book and a surprise ending too!   I look forward to reading Ms. Heal’s first book and her future ones!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review. I am not required to write a positive review.

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I always enjoy Judith Miller’s books and this one was exceptional.   She does an amazing job of not only writing a wonderful story but also giving such insight in to the beliefs and daily lives of the Amana Colonies during the late 1800’s.   I had not heard of this fascinating religious group until a few years ago.  They were a communal group that lived by very strict guidelines and shared all their resources and possessions.

Dovie Cates is a young woman who has recently lost her mother.  She knows her mother grew up in the colonies but is confused that she never spoke of her life there.  Wanting to feel closer to her mother and learn more about her past,  she persuades her father to let her go live her mother’s cousin, Louise, who still lives in the colony.  Her cousin, Karlina, Louise’s daughter is excited to have Dovie come because she wants to learn more about the world outside.  While thrilled to be there, Dovie does find some of the rules and guidelines in the colony difficult to follow.  She discovers herself in situations where she feels she must choose to follow God or the rules the colony implements for the protection of the members.

Much to Dovie’s disappointment her cousin Louise is very secretive about her mother’s past.  No amount of questioning loosens Louise’s lips, so Dovie takes matters into her own hands, snooping and doing a little detective work, even in places she shouldn’t be looking.   From the bits and pieces of information she gathers Dovie writes her own story of her mother’s past, but is all she imagines true?   She finds herself struggling with staying, fitting in, and breaking her heart and the heart of one she has grown to love.

This was an excellent book!  I had trouble finding a stopping place when I was reading.  The author’s detailed description of life in an Amana colony enabled me to put myself in that time and place!   I was also reminded of the valuable lesson of not assuming all I see or hear is true.  There may very well me important facts missing that can totally change what appears to be the truth.  Also, the wisdom in not making emotional and impulsive decisions based on circumstances which could result in causing me or others harm.  I highly recommend this book to everyone!  You won’t be disappointed!!

I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. 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