When your kid is hurting

when your kid is hurting, helping your child through the tough days, by dr. Kevin Leman. Dr. Leman covers the tough issues our children face, school shootings, bullying, social media, divorce, etc. He guides parents on how to help our children grow in a world that’s is just so different than the one we grew up in. I recall as a child coming from a family that was divorced was rare. Very few kids on my school had divorced parents. But now you expect there’s a good portion that are divorced or never married in the first place and still form broken families. Top that off with growing in a cutltire that has the internet at its fingertips. You hear the bad news instantly, the immoral is at your fingertips, it’s a different world our kids are navigating. Any help to parents in this is always welcomed! I wouldn’t necessarily refer to this as a Christian self help book, but I would say that it gives good sound advice! Listening to our kids, helping them deal with anxiety, which is running rampant in today’s society. The pressure on our children is unreal. Teaching them to take responsibility for themselves. You really can’t go wrong with this book. It’s going to give you some great advice on helping your children grow into functioning adults! A definite benefit to add to your parenting library!

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc

Everything she didn’t say

everything she didn’t say, by Jane Kirkpatrick. In this novel we follow Carrie strahorn and the adventures of her life following her husband around to settle in the west. . Life isn’t what she imagined it would look like, she had her dreams and ideas of what life would look like for herself and this wasn’t it! But it was what God planned for her. We follow her through the pages with journal entries and see what life was like a a pioneer woman. The bravery, courage, strength, etc it takes to be a woman in that time.
   I love love love historical novels! They are my favourite genre! So this one has become an immediate favourite! A good book makes you feel good, but a great novel makes you want to be better. That’s what Jane Kirkpatrick has done. It is such an inspiring story of a strong woman! It is a story that encourages and inspires! Well done!

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc

The first love

The first love, by Beverly Lewis.  Maggie has suffered a lot in time. Being diagnosed at a young age with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, she knows what it is to endure pain. Lots of it and often. Not only that, but the emotional pain and scaring of loosing her mother very suddenly too. Her father seems to move on from the death of their mother fairly quickly and in only 7 short months meets and marries Rachel, adding her to their hurting family. A tent meeting arrives in town, Maggie convinced to go by a cousin, attends and is drawn to it. The speaker, the message, the music, the speakers son. The idea of  God wanting and able to heal.
     As with all of Beverly Lewis’s books this one too is amazing. I am a sucker for Amish novels. She makes a simple way of life so appealing. I love wandering through this book with Maggie and Rachel as they persevere through the struggles that come at them. Maggie with her physical pain, emotional pain and navigating the addition of a step mother. And Rachel with suddenly becoming a mother with a large family and the struggle of becoming and parenting the children. It’s such a message of hope. You don’t walk away from a Beverly Lewis book without feeling hopeful. It’s just one of the many beautiful gifts Od has blessed her with in her novels. A brillaiant read.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc

It’s ok not to be ok.

It’s ok. It to be ok, by Sheila Walsh. This book is so much. It’s so much more than just another Christian self help book. It was exactly the things I needed to hear at the time I read it. It’s not about fixing ourselves, it’s about simply Jesus. There’s so much in this book that has me wanting to go back and read it multiple times so I can really grasp it. Being conscious about what you focus and think on,  to face disappointment with Jesus. To find ourselves at our worst moments living out the verse “come to me all who are heavy burdened and I will give you rest for your souls”. There is so much truth in this book that speaks straight to your soul. This book meant the world to me. It really points us to clinging on to the one who we find genuine peace in. I will be talking about this book for some time and recommending it. It’s a book our churches need!!


Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc

You can buy the book at your local Christian retailer or on Amazon.

The 49th mystic

The 49th mystic, by Ted Dekker. In this novel we meet Rachel, she’s been blind since she was little. Yet dreams vividly. In her dreams she sees shadow man, the one who blinded her and has promised to continue blinding her. Yet what Rachel thought were only dreams aren’t as they appear. Shadow man shows up  in her world where she’s blind, he’s never done that before. As Rachel is to undergo a treatment that is supposed to restore her sight, all “hell” breaks loose. Rachel will have to fight to find the seals to discover her true identity and help the ppl of eden. She will have to fight through her fears, and they are many, to find the truth. 
   I love Ted Dekker books, he is such a gifted writer! I was captured up in this book from the moment I picked it up! I took it with me to read while my children played at the park and at the moment shadow man appeared in Rachel’s awake world a leaf fell and landed on me. I jumped!!! It is so good and so suspenseful. He reveals so much truth in his novels and always points us straight to God. There are fiction books out there that change you, this is one of those books. I will be recommending this book to everyone. It’s so good. 

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

A light on the hill

A light on the hill, by connilyn cossette. Moriyah, even her appearance speaks shame. She veils herself to hide it, but she can’t seem to leave her past behind, especially when she’s branded with it. A temple prostitut. She’s certain she will never find love, let alone a having a family.  Yet somehow her father has found someone who’s agreed to marry her. Determined to make the best of it and win him over despite her past she’s surprised to find she catches the eye of another man. A man who could love her for who she is and not her past. Yet how complicated is her situation now.
     I love biblical historical fiction. One of my favourite genres. While I realize you have to keep in mind that these are fiction and not complete biblical accounts, it makes the stories you’ve read and not thought about these things before come alive. I love the story of redemption in this, how mirrored that is to the heart of God for his ppl. No matter our past, our sins, He wants us. I love this book. Such a good read.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc."

The road home

The road home, by Beverly Lewis. After a tragic accident that claims the life of Lena’s parents. She’s left trying to figure out if she can keep the family together in their home. Unfortunately it’s just too much for a young girl to take on. So Lena and her siblings are separated and sent to family to live with. Lena being the only one sent out of the community. She finds a home in her cousins house, where she is much loved and needed. She’s able to work and in a small way support her family back home financially. All whole desperately trying to find a job back home so she can return to her family and to Hans who she plans to marry. Unfortunately her plans don’t seem to be God’s plans, and while all looks hopeless she finds something even better. I love Beverly Lewis books. I haven’t found one I haven’t loved! There’s so much hope and love in this book. Following the characters and seeing their love and integrity always inspires me to better myself. A very good novel that really accessed the heart of God!!

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.