The Blessing by John Trent and Gary Smalley

Do you have a tough time be sensitive to your spouse and children? And how about friends and relatives? If you do, then get a copy of “The Blessing” by John Trent and Gary Smalley. This book is in 4 parts: Why is the Blessing So Important?; Understanding the Blessing; When the Blessing Doesn’t Work and Living the Blessing Challenge. Each part has a number of chapters that further describe the topic.  This book is very well planned out and makes it easy to find what you are looking for.

In addition, this book teaches us how to be a blessing to someone. How to speak to them, how to acknowledge our children and appreciate them. If you grew up in a dysfunctional family this book will help you find the things that were missing in your life as a child. We all have need of acceptance, and this book teaches us why we don’t feel accepted and how we can change that. This book is chunked full of awesome information we all need. Grab a copy and sit down and read it. You will be amazed what you will find and how it can change your life. 

I received this book free from Booksneeze.com blogging for books 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 55.

Billy Graham Quotes by Franklin Graham

 

Billy Graham in Quotes by Franklin Graham 

A note from Franklin Graham: "My father, Billy Graham, is known for speaking out about the one and only thing that matters in this world: the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. He remembers the call of God seven decades ago to preach the Word of God to all those who would listen about salvation that comes only through Christ. He took this high calling with seriousness and boldness in obedience to God and once said, 'I will travel anywhere in the world to preach if there are no strings on what I am to say.'

 

 Book Description

"My father has always prayed that his words would reflect God’s standard of truth as the basis to claim, 'I have given them Your word' (John 17:14). In this book, I believe you will see that he has faithfully spoken God’s Word that quenches the thirst of those seeking to draw from the wellsprings of Life. It is highly meaningful to see these statements now collected in one volume."
Drawn from an unparelleled collection of both personal and published works, Billy Graham provides input on more than one hundred topics, such as suffering, joy, money, addictions, peace, and many more.

MY REVIEW

I chose the book to review because I enjoy reading Billy Graham books, and although his son Franklin wrote this book, I thought there would be quotes from his many other books as well as his preaching. There are so very many quotes in this wonderful book and they cover every imaginable topic you can think of.  A few of them are, Comfort, Commitment, Children, Addiction, Age, End Time, The Cross, Hope, Worry, Worship, Youth, Race, Salvation, Sin, Joy Love, Loneliness, Jesus, Marriage, Prayer, Pride, and this list goes on and on.

As I read through the book, I highlighted some of the quotes that stood out for me so thought I would list a few to give you an idea.

There are thousands of lonely people who carry heavy and difficult burdens of grief, anxiety, pain, and disappointment; but the loneliest of all is one whose life is steeped in sin.

The light of God’s presence in our lives is a purifying flame that will draw us near to Him.

The Bible is God’s book of promises, and, unlike the books of men, it does not change or get out of date.3 Let the study of the Bible become central in your life— not just so you will know it, but that you will obey it.

The secret strength of a nation is found in the faith that abides in the hearts and homes of the country. 

Life has its share of joys and laughter—but we also know life’s road is often very rough. Temptations assail us; people disappoint us; illness and age weaken us; tragedies and sorrows ambush us; evil and injustice overpower us. Life is hard—but God is good, and heaven is real!

And there are so many more I that I loved, but this will give you a feel of what the book is like.This book would be a great resource for your home. It is important to have books to find help with different subjects as we need it, and this book is one of those.

I received this book free from the Thomas Nelson through the BookSneeze.com 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 55.



 

Money Secrets of the Amish

Book Description
Discover the money-saving and wealth-building secrets of America’s thriftiest people, the Amish.
Author, journalist, and descendant of the Amish, Lorilee Craker, was just like the rest of us, feeling the pinch from the financial fallout of 2008. As a freelancer, her income was going the way of the dodo—family dollars seemed like an extinct myth, the bank account some archeological evidence of past prosperity.
Then, inspired by a news segment covering her people, the Amish, and how they emerged from the economic crisis unscathed, she realized it was time to get back to her roots and learn a thing or two about their time-tested approach to personal finances. While the middle-class was wringing its hands over the family budget and the wealthy were weeping over their slashed portfolios, the Amish were content as always, spared from the cares of the world and worldliness. They not only had financial health to support their lives, they exuded a wholeness that eludes so many when the financial bottom drops out.
In Money Secrets of the Amish, readers go on an “Amish money makeover,” learning the choices, secrets, and disciplines that safeguarded the contentment and the coffers of America’s favorite plain folk by spending less, saving more, and getting happier doing it.

My Review
The Amish and their ways of saving and making money have always been of interest to me, so I wanted to read this book to see what it was about. True, it is about the author’s way of saving money and pinching pennies, and she is not Amish, she was born a Mennonite, but it is some very good ideas in this book. It would have been more interesting written by an actual Amish person, but until one breaks out and writes a book about money, this one is great to read!

Having said that, it is a great help to anyone, especially couples and singles alike just starting out and wanting learn how to manage money better. It is also great for someone wanting to budget their money better. Some of the ideas in this book she has added from other books, or remedies she has heard and quoted from other people. There are a number of website references in this book as well. After each chapter there is a page titled “MY AMISH MONEY MAKEOVER” With tips and a place to write down notes for yourself.

A lot of these things I have heard about before, either from my grandparents and mom and dad, or from other sources, but its nice to have them all together in one book. Things like pay your bills on time to avoid extra charges, shopping at second hand stores and yard sales, using some of your ‘garbage’ such as egg cartons, all have been around for a while, and they are ideas a lot of people already use, but there are a few tips I hadn’t heard before. Also she has a lot about recycling, which is always helpful to learn how to use thing you would otherwise throw out.

Overall, I like this book. The author well organizes the book into sections that make it easy to find something you are looking for. And if you are one of these people that love finding ways to save money, this is a book you would like to have around. My son is trying to do better budgeting his money, and this is a helpful resource for him, learning how to pinch pennies. So go out and buy you a copy, and don’t just read it, do what it says, and you might just save a bit of money to pamper yourself with something you really don’t need, but just really want!!

I received this book free from the Thomas Nelson through the BookSneeze.com 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 55.

Indivisible by Kristen Heitzmann

 Indivisible by  Kristen Heitzmann

Chief of Police Jonah Westfall is puzzled over 2 raccoons found with limbs cut off, with the two then sewn together where the limbs were cut. Later, two cats were found in the same area, same thing had happened to them. Why would someone do this to innocent animals? With this, and Westfall’s issues with Tia Manning, things are getting difficult for Westfall. The two cannot get over their not so good past, and keep hurting one another as time goes by. Something has got to happen. And Westfall needs to find out who is attacking these animals. And why.

This is a good action fiction thriller that keeps you turning the page until the end. It has several twists and turns and it’s difficult to figure out what the outcome is. The author created unique characters and intertwined them in the story, giving you a feel that you were part of the action. I like her style of writing, mixing mystery, suspense, a few gruesome scenes, and excitement until the end. Grab a copy of this book by Kristen Heitzmann  and settle in for a good read.