Book Review: Fixing My Eyes on Jesus by Anne Graham Lotz

Right away, Fixing My Eyes on Jesus by Anne Graham Lotz grabbed my attention. One of my prayers is to fix my eyes on Jesus, to see and seek Him alone. This is a year-long devotional. One short devotional entry for each day of the year. 

The devotional for each day starts out with a Bible verse. Then a short, encouraging devotional that helps you focus on Jesus. Usually there's a practical application for you to think about your own life and see how you can seek God.

As a busy mom, I find this devotional e-book perfect for me. It is short and helps me keep thinking about what I have just read throughout my day. Many times the day that I read encouraged me. Lotz doesn't include a short prayer at the end but it is easy to add that yourself. I usually pray and ask God to help me or to thank Him for being God and loving me.

I started reading this from mid-April to now (May 16). My favorite entry was from May 10. I will share with you a short excerpt.

May 10

Is God Looking for You?

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls.

Matthew 13:45

God is looking for a few good men and women. Men and women who are willing to go against the current of popular opinion, to hold firm convictions in a world where "anything goes," to speak the truth when it's not politically correct, and to walk with God when everyone else is running away from Him.

God is looking for those who believe that what He says is more important than what anyone else says. He's looking for people who know that what He thinks is more important than what anyone else thinks and that what He wants is more important than what anyone else wants. God is looking for those who believe His will is more important than their own....there's more but you'll need to get your own copy.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this e-book free from the publisher 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 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Book Review: The Winnowing Season by Cindy Woodsmall

The Winnowing Season by Cindy Woodsmall is book two of the Amish Vines and Orchards series. 

This book is about the move to Maine to start a new old-order Amish settlement. Samuel King bought an abandoned orchard and hope to revive it with the help of Rhoda Byler. Landon, Rhoda's friend/co-worker, Jacob & Leah King who are Samuel's sibblings and Rhoda's brother Steven and his family also moved to Maine. I really like that Cindy reviewed the story so far before starting off in the new book. Sometimes you forget things that have happened previously. 

This is a book that I found hard to put down. I kept wanting to know what else was happening with the characters. Lots of work was to be done to fix up the orchard. " The farm had been abuzz for two days, and sometimes they seemed to make great progress. At other times it seemed they hadn't lifted a finger to unpack." (page 122). So many adventures were happening throughout the book." The sound vibrated clearer and then stopped. She continued on, and it started again. A small white home came into view. Was that a woman sitting in a chair? The trees blocked Rhoda's view, so she kept going. When she came to a clearing, she saw a woman with grey shoulder-length hair holding an instrument between her lefts and a bow in her hand. The woman's eyes were closed as she played."

I am anxiously waiting for book #3 to come out. 

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group, through the Blogging for Books program, for my honest review.

Here are a few interesting links about the author and the book:

• Cindy's Website
• Cindy on Facebook
• More Info
• Read Chapter One
• Author Bio

Book Review: Learning to Love by Heidi & Rolland Baker

The book Learning to Love by Heidi & Rolland Baker is an amazing book. It was great to see how God's moving in the country of Mozambique, Africa. I recommend that you find a copy of this book and start reading it.

I had a friend who was involved with Iris Ministries for a few years and I got to hear a little bit of how it was in this country. This book explained so much more. God is definitely alive and well in the world, including in Mozambique.

This book has four parts; Passion and Compassion, The Cup of Joy and Suffering, Going Even Lower, and Not by Might. There are black and white photos interspersed throughout the book. Heidi and Rolland take turns sharing stories from their time in Mozambique. I found those stories interesting. I kept wanting to read more. It's wonderful to read how God is working throughout the world. They shared miracles and hardships. Times when God came through just in time. At the end of each chapter there is a time to reflect which is a Bible verse.

I found this book encouraging for my own faith in God/Jesus Christ. Once in a while, Heidi would write something that would make me think or encourage me. "I pray that we will lay down our little lives in His love, like tiny seeds, asking Him to water us with the Spirit of the Living God - seeds that are planted to bring forth life as He shows us how to live....Before anything else, beloved, we are His, hidden in Him." (page 27).

I leave you with this thought: This is based on Philippians 2:1-2. "Are we united with Christ? Does our relationship - the love that we have for Jesus and the love that He has for us - does this love encourage us?...Does this love make us more like Jesus? Do we have the same love for others as He has shown to us? Do we have any tenderness when we are shopping at Walmart, any compassion when we go out for a bite at our favorite restaurants?...My prayer is that you and I would become more united and more like-minded with Christ, having the same love that He has. 

I received this book from Chosen Books for free in return for my honest review.

Book Review: Cassie & Caleb Discover God's Wonderful Design by Susan Hunt, Richie Hunt

Cassie & Caleb: Discovering God's Wonderful Design is by Susan Hunt, Richie Hunt.

It's a nice devotional for children that teaches God's truth. It has many colorful pictures. The children Cassie & Caleb are sister and brother. Each day's devotional starts out with a Bible verse which is basically the topic for that day's story. At the end of the chapter are some discussion questions, Bible passage to read and discuss, and suggestions on how to guide your children to pray. This book also has some questions from the First Catechism which is geared for young children. It teaches the basic truths about God, Jesus, etc...

This book definitely is God-focused and the short-story would help the children learn more about God and how to be followers of Jesus.

I received this free e-book from NetGalley in return for my honest review.

myfridgefood - Smothered Chicken and Veggies

I'm making this for tonight's supper. Yum! Just realized I forgot the mushrooms...oh well...

myfridgefood - Smothered Chicken and Veggies

Crayola's Big Colorful Birthday Adventure contest

To celebrate their 110th birthday, the 8 original crayons are throwing a birthday bash at the new fun-omenal Crayola Experience, the world's only interactive Crayola family attraction. Right now, they're out on a colorful adventure to spread the news, and you're invited to join the fun!

How can you join in on the fun? You can FOLLOW the crayons on their adventure, LEARN more about each color and enter to WIN a trip for 4 to celebrate their birthday and the Grand Opening of the all new Crayola Experience this coming May, 2013!

Visit the Crayola Facebook page and click "enter now" for your chance to be first in line when the Crayola Experience reopens.

The new Crayola Experience features four floors of new interactive exhibits and one-of-a-kind attractions that will bring the magic of color and your child's creativity to life! The winner will be among the first to experience the fun, along with a three- night, all-expenses paid stay. It's an experience your kids will never forget - and neither will you!

*Crayola provided the information that I am posting.*

Sounds like a fun place for kids.

Book Review: Plain Admirer by Patricia Davids

I enjoyed reading Plain Admirer by Patricia Davids.

Joann Yoder, a single Amish woman was working at Miller Press for 5 months and loved it! Then her boss, Otis Miller, lets her know that she is being fired. He needed the spot for his nephew, Roman Weaver to come in to work. Joann was not happy. She loved her job of being an assistant editor and office manager. What to do? She ends up going back to her old part-time job in the bookstore and also as cleaning lady for Miller Press. Her dreams of being able to move out of her brother's house and buying a cute, little home in town went down the drain. But before she leaves Miller Press, she has to train the nephew to do the jobs she did. Joann does not really get along with him.

Later in the book, she bought a nice fishing pole but when her brother saw it, he found it too worldly and prideful and threw it in the small lake. Joann thought it lost forever. One day when she returned to her special fishing spot, she found her fishing pole leaning against the log with a note attached. Oh how thrilled she was to see it again. She wrote back to say thanks and this began a correspondence with the secret fisherman who found her pole. She enjoys the notes and it brightens her days. What will happen next? You'll need to read the book to find out.

I found the ending, or near the end of the book to be a bit rushed but that's ok. I don't really want to expand on that so as to not spoil the story. It's a great book to read, especially if you like Amish fiction.

I received this free e-book from NetGalley in return for my honest review.