I was given the opportunity to read "Cast of Characters" by Max Lucado and what really stands out the most about the book, is the fact that it is a re...moreI was given the opportunity to read "Cast of Characters" by Max Lucado and what really stands out the most about the book, is the fact that it is a reminder to us all that we serve a loving Father, who loves us, not based on who we are in society, the amount of money we have in the bank, or how society wants to define us, but by how willing and open we are to be His servants and to answer His calling.
The men and women, in "Cast of Characters" are everyday people, both the might be likely and the unlikely with the common thread, that God used them to His glory and through being His vessel, teaches us that all things in and through our Heavenly Father, is possible.
They lived in times that may seem extradorinary to us now, but to them, were ordinary and through their examples and service, continue to inspire us, convict us, challenge us and encourage us.
This is a book that I highly recommend to anyone who feels that they have to be extrordinary to find out that God loves you for you and will use you for you. (less)
A powerful and emotionally charged story,"Color the Sidewalk for Me",is one of those books that you don't want to read unless you have a box of tissue...moreA powerful and emotionally charged story,"Color the Sidewalk for Me",is one of those books that you don't want to read unless you have a box of tissues nearby.
By the time you are done with this book, you'll find yourself in tears and smiling and filling interwined with the characters as if they are flesh and blood.
Set in the small town of Bradleyville, Kentucky, the main character, Celia Matthews, finds herself returning home to help her father recover from a debilitating stroke, only to discover herself being set on a path of healing herself.
Centered around the scripture verse,Matthew 11:28-29, you find yourself by the middle of the book, become so captivated by the characters and so caught up with the estranged relationship between Celia and her mother, that it's hard not to feeel completely pulled in to the story's tale of how God's forgiveness is bigger than all of us.
The story seamlessly moves from the past to the present and back to the present with strong character development of both the major and minor characters whose lives are interwoven with each other.
There is amazing character dynamics that are carefully written out and even though the story builds up with flashbacks from the past to the present, the story build up is done in such a way, that you feel a part of the story.
By the middle of the book, I found myself, having to stop long enough to get tissues , because of the tears that were welling up and feeling that longing pang in my heart as I found myself caught up with both the pain and the love of the characters of,"Color the Sidewalk for Me".
The feel of a small town and more than anything, the intimacy of the characters, makes it so easy to quickly become attached and caught up in their lives and feeling that they could be anyone you know in real life.
Throughout the time I was reading the book, I couldn't help but think of how much it is a reminder that we could try to run from the hurts in our lives, but eventually, there comes a time when we need to learn to give it to our Heavenly Father and allow Him to enter our lives and heal us and part of that is, as He has forgiven us, so we need to forgive others and ourselves.
By the time I was finished, I couldn't stop crying. "Color the Sidewalk for Me" just captured the essence of Matthew 11:28-29 and more than anything was the subtle but powerful punch that Ms. Collins characters delivered God's message of forgiveness and there is nothing too big for Him to handle.
"Color the Sidewalk for Me" just reminds the reader throughout that eventually we have to face our hurts and through His forgiveness, forgive others and ourselves, all to His Glory.
It is a heart-wrenching read because it is just such a powerful reminder how much God does understand our hurts and how as much as we want to try to think we are in control, we're not, He has bigger and better plans for us, and sometimes, it is through others that He helps us heal.
This is a book that I would recommend with a box of tissues to anyone who may have feel like that there is nothing our Heavenly Father can forgive, or may have found themselves, wounded either large or small and thinking there is no hope at the end of the tunnel.
"Color the Sidewalk for Me" is a reminder that there is always hope in and through Jesus Christ.
This is the first time I have read anything by Brandilyn Collins, and it had me wanting to read more in the series, though when I do, I definetely will have to make sure I have a box of tissues nearby so I could try to work on finish reading if the tears didn't get in the way first.
Be forewarn.
You will smile.
You will cry (oh you will cry so highly recommend the box of tissues) and it is promised that you will smile and cry when you are done, but more than anything, "Color the Sidewalk for Me" will have you turning to God and just saying to Him,"I am Yours, Lord".
This is definitely worth checking out of the library, buying for yourself, giving as a gift to someone who loves to read, maybe someone you know who is dealing with past (or present) hurts and need to know that God does love them and not only has forgiven them, but also wants them to learn from His forgiveness to forgive others too.
"Color the Sidewalk for Me" is part of the Bradlyeville Series and if the rest is anything like "Color the Sidewalk for Me", I'm going to need a lot of tissues.
This is a book that I want to add to my bookshelf and just pull out to re-read again and again.(less)
This is a great encouragement for new, mature, world-weary Christians and those desiring a stronger spiritual growth.
It was enjoyable and uplifting t...moreThis is a great encouragement for new, mature, world-weary Christians and those desiring a stronger spiritual growth.
It was enjoyable and uplifting to read and a highly recommended book to share with others, particularly as a reminder of God's providence in our lives and a reminder that He is in control.
Reading the book really challenges the reader to leave life beyond the nominal and instead show how each of the reader can strive to the maxiumn in their lives, in and through our Heavenly Father and by taking up our cross and following Him, to better understand what the Christian journey is about.
The book makes a wonderful gift, if you are in the mood for just an encouraging book about the Christian journey or if you are looking for that next bible study to do with friends or your church and is sure by the end of the study to give the reader more encouragement on what our Father in Heaven can do in our lives.
Well written, the first 142 pages are devoted to focusing on the book and what the author(s) have to share, with the rest of the book, devoted to chapter study questions, for people who feel led in their hearts to use this for small group studies.
With delightful ancedotes throughout each chapter, Learning to Soar, provides an intimate look at how our Father seeks to challenge and encourages us to take up our crosses and follow Him and in the process grow in our personal relationships with Him.
Learning to Soar brings understanding that the circumstances that are thrown our way, are not to cause us to stumble or stop us, but is His way of growing us, refining and reshaping us and bringing us closer to Him. Using timeless principles and biblical based encouragment, Learning to Soar has something for everyone. (less)
The "NKJV Greatest Stories of the Bible" is a beautiful, bound hardcover story book featuring, 250 stories from the Bible, starting from Genesis and e...moreThe "NKJV Greatest Stories of the Bible" is a beautiful, bound hardcover story book featuring, 250 stories from the Bible, starting from Genesis and ending in Revelation that promises to be not only an heirloom for the family, but a wonderful gift idea for the holidays.
What's impressive about this book, is that , although this is not a subsitute for the real thing, the "NKJV Greatest Stories of the Bible" captures the NKJV language, provides scriptural references for where the stories can be found in the Bible and following the chronological order of the books in the Bible, helps people get the essence of the people who make up the Holy Bible.
What was personally liked about the book, was more than just how well laid out the cover is, but turning the pages and reading the stories, it is easy for anyone, of any age, to just pick up the book, open to a story and find themselves captivated by moments from the Bible.
This is the perfect gift to give for the holidays to not only encourage families to have more storytime , but just to own in one's own library for future generations to discover, for themselves, the greatest stories of the Bible. (less)
When I received this book, my kids immediately wanted me to start reading it to them and even I enjoy the cover title; Opening to the current date and reading that day's devotional, I was quickly impressed with the quality of the illustrations that really captured the devotionals being shared and the short but very meaningful devotionals that help guide a child in learning about Our Heavenly Father's desire for us all.
Using the "Little Blessings" illustrations, different versions of scripture and short devotionals that an early reader to first grader can easily read and use for daily devotions, "The One Year Devotions for Preschoolers 2" promises to be a delightful way to start the mornings (or end the evenings) with that day's devotions and teach early beginners of His Word.
In case you were wondering, the translations that are used in "One Year Devotions for Preschoolers 2" are the NIV, TLB, NLT,ICB,TSLB,NKJV, and the NRSV and the verses used makes a great resource for scripture memorization.
The illustrations easily captures the children attention and the book is well-designed for little hands to hold on their own and explore.
This makes for a delightful gift for Christmas or Easter if you are looking for a heart-warming, simple start to teaching your children to enjoy daily devotions and is sure to capture the youngest heart and help children develop a love to spending time learning about Scripture.
Reading,"How to Reach Your Full Potential for God",, I was impressed by the scriptural backing of the book.
Covering seven principles that often refle...moreReading,"How to Reach Your Full Potential for God",, I was impressed by the scriptural backing of the book.
Covering seven principles that often reflect the daily concerns that as Christians, people find themselves struggling or looking how to deal with, Dr. Charles Stanley, provides biblical backed solutions and examples from the Bible of how to seek God's Word, to reach,our individual potential, to serve and worship our Heavenly Father at our best.
What ,"How to Reach Your Full Potential for God",, doesn't do, is be an everyday self help book,but instead emphasize how our Heavenly Father can help you.
Backing suggestions with scripture, ,"How to Reach Your Full Potential for God",, indeeds reaching it's full potential, and is a wonderful suggestion for those who are seeking to develop a deeper and more active relationship with our Heavenly Father and a book, that could easily be recommend,not as "the source", but as a tool for helping new to "young" Christians seeking to have a more substantial relationship with our Heavenly Father.
Dr. Stanley, constantly reemphasizes that,"How to Reach Your Full Potential for God",, does not take the place of the ultimate source of guidance, the Bible, but does help provide useful references that anyone could find value in.
On page 16, Dr. Stanley shares, "The Christian life was never intended to be a matter of book learning or hard knowledge. God wants us to live out the life He created and intends for us to live".
There are some parts of the book that are encouraging and others that for some, may feel convicting due to its bluntness and telling the reader what they need to hear, not what they want to hear, and it lives up to what Dr. Stanley says that,"Anytime we turn fromthe Fatehr's way to our way, we grieve Him. Anytime we choose what we want over what God wants for us, we stifle the Holy Spirit's ability to help us" (pg.38)
However the truth is, reading this book, there was so many quotable quotes, examples and scripture that could be shared that it really helps open doors that God seeks to open.
If you are truly inspired to live a more fruitful and deeper relationship with our Heavenly Father, I recommend,"How to Reach Your Full Potential for God",.
No one is perfect, but no one is so imperfect that they don't have the potential to be used for and in a way that will glorify our Heavenly Father.
"How to Reach Your Full Potential for God",, is a great reminder that it's not about changing or altering who God has made us to be, but about a relationship that aims at maturing and making us better who we are and that is a good thing.
"How to Reach Your Full Potential for God",, is just an overall encouraging book for either general reading, or discovering how to take your relationship with our Heavenly Father to another level and a recommend read to all.(less)
"The Sweet By and By" is a contemporary Christian fiction/romance set in a fictional, rural Tennessee town called Whisper Hollow.
Centering around Jad...more"The Sweet By and By" is a contemporary Christian fiction/romance set in a fictional, rural Tennessee town called Whisper Hollow.
Centering around Jade Fitzgerald, who finds herself confronting a difficult and conflicted past as she prepares for her upcoming wedding to Max Benson. Jade struggles to come to terms with her past and a mother haunted by her own personal choices.
"The Sweet By and By" shows promise as it follows Jade and her attempts to come to terms with her past and the choices she had made, but there were times when the story felt either too forced or too rushed. Reading ""The Sweet By and By" felt like reading a contemporary fiction or romance novel.
This was disappointing because the main protaganist, Jade Fitzgerald is a strong character .There was huge potential to show how God loves the broken and seeks to offer hope and redemption through His redeeming Grace, but it didn't feel like this was reached, but instead skirted the issue.
The Sweet By and By" , really feels more appropiate for the general contemporary market than a Christian fiction market. In addition, there seems to be uncertainty on how the book wants to handle the overall message of salvation and redemption.
Unfortunately, The Sweet By and By" does not take the opportunity to explore redemption through our Heavenly Father. Instead seems to treat redemption as an afterthought. This is an unfortunate miss on capturing how even the most broken can be redeemed through our Heavenly Father, but for a more casual reader, The Sweet By and By", does serve as a good escape for the casual contemporary reader.
Overall, the book does manage to draw the reader in, to feeling like they are with Jade and experiencing the town of Whisper Hollow with her, drawing in readers with a very casual and conversational style and for a light read. (less)
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