OF STILLNESS AND STORM

Intimate and bold, Of Stillness and Storm weaves profound dilemmas into a tale of troubled love and honorable intentions gone awry.

"I felt torn between two worlds. Each with its own mystery. One more captivating than the other, but the other more real and breathing."

It took Lauren and her husband ten years to achieve their dream---reaching primitive tribes in remote regions of Nepal. But while Sam treks into the Himalayas for weeks at a time, finding passion and purpose in his work among the needy, Lauren and Ryan stay behind, their daily reality more taxing than inspiring. For them, what started as a calling begins to feel like the family's undoing.

At the peak of her isolation and disillusion, a friend from Lauren's past enters her life again. But as her communication with Aidan intensifies, so does the tension of coping with the present while reengaging with the past. It's thirteen-year-old Ryan who most keenly bears the brunt of her distraction.

My thoughts...

​I admire Lauren for her courage and ​diligence not to mention her outlook while living in a place that is far less than what she is used to. Her heart is set on fulfilling her purpose and though it is difficult she presses forward while trying to be a good mother to a teenage son who does not want to be there. This is an encouraging story of endurance and love. I enjoyed it very much.

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR

For Christians worldwide, the month of December is filled with joy and wonder as we anticipate the celebration of Christ's birth. There is no other time of the year that can compare to the Christmas season for both the young and young at heart.

From December to New Year's Eve, reawaken the wonder, joy, and magic that is Christmas with daily scripture and inspirational readings of stories behind popular Christmas traditions, carols, and movies. Enjoy a wealth of fun activities to help make the most of the season, including heartwarming holiday recipes and homemade gift ideas.

With this soon-to-be-cherished holiday devotional, best-selling author Ace Collins will capture your imagination and help to make each day of December more memorable and meaningful to you, and those you love, by shining a light on the real spirit of the season.

Ace Collins defines himself as a storyteller. He has authored more than sixty books that have sold more than 2.5 million copies. His catalog includes novels, biographies, children's works as well as books on history, culture and faith. He has also been the featured speaker at the National Archives Distinguished Lecture Series, hosted a network television special and does college basketball play-by-play. Ace lives in Arkansas.


My thoughts...

Ace Collins is one of my favorite authors and this book is a wonderful addition to my collection, filled with inspiration it brings joy to your heart as you learn more about the biblical meaning of Christmas. This one chapter a day devotional also has stories behind the popular carols which I enjoyed a lot, he has included gift ideas and recipes for Christmas goodies.

The book would be an excellent gift for anyone but especially those that enjoy Christmas more than any other holiday.

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

A RABBI LOOKS AT THE SUPERNATURAL

Dispelling the confusion, misinformation and doubt so prevalent today, Messianic Rabbi Jonathan Bernis takes you on an adventure into the heart of the supernatural realm. He'll transport you beyond what you can see, hear, taste, touch and smell to uncover the biblical truth about things like angels and demons, miracles, heaven and hell, good and evil. And he will answer questions such as:

· Is there more to life than we know--a purpose and plan for our existence?
· Is there a supernatural realm of angels, demons, seers, prophets, spirits and the like--or is it all in our minds?
· If God is so powerful, how did the devil get so strong?
· If God is so good, why do bad things happen?
· If God is a healer, why are people still sick?
· Are heaven and hell real or imaginary? Where are they? Who goes where?

Above all, you will discover that you are uniquely wired to live a supernatural existence here and now--and that there is a faithful, loving God who longs for you to embrace with confidence His supernatural work in your own life.

My thoughts...

An interesting book that answers questions many of us have asked...are ghosts real? Why do bad things happen to good people? Why do people not get healed from sickness and disease? These are answered and backed up scripturally. Also there are stories from people who have had out of body experiences and have gone to heaven or hell.

Perhaps the most interesting chapter I found is titled, "The Search For Meaning". We all have wondered what is the meaning of life and how do we find it?

These subjects are fascinating and Rabbi Jonathan Bernis discusses these and much more. This is a book I'm sure I'll refer to often.

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

THE REMNANT

In the year 2069 the Apocalypse came and went, but Jesus didn’t show up, as some expected. Instead, a cataclysmic war, natural disasters and pandemics eradicated 90 percent of earth’s population. Now, in 2131, a totalitarian government rules the world from the majestic, opulent capitol of Carthage, Tunisia.

Blamed for igniting the war, religion and religious books are banned. Citizens who will not renounce their religion are sent to work camps. Grant Cochrin, imprisoned in a bleak petroleum camp in what was once North Dakota, leads his family and friends to escape and embark on a long, dangerous quest for a Christian community.

Their resource in this journey? A cherished page torn from the now banished Bible—a remnant of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount handed down from Grant’s grandparents.

What if there were an Apocalypse and Jesus didn’t return? What if the survivors found themselves living in a world ruled by a totalitarian government, where religion is forbidden and all religious texts have been destroyed?

In The Remnant, award-winning author Monte Wolverton tells the tale of a band of concentration camp escapees who trek through the lawless American wilderness on a quest for authentic Christianity, only to come face to face with an unthinkable dilemma.

The Remnant is a fast-paced story punctuated with dry satire, memorable characters and hard questions about religious institutions.

My thoughts...

An unusually interesting book which will leave you with very interesting questions. Steady paced and well written I read it in 2 days. Grant, Dana, & their two teens join with a few friends and plan to escape from a work camp where all religions are banned. The group experiences tough situtations, death, and more. It definitely made me cringe but at the same time I enjoyed the story.

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

The Spiritual Warfare Answer Book By Dr. David Jeremiah

Do you have questions in regard to spiritual warfare?

Trusted pastor and bestselling author Dr. David Jeremiah brings clarity to the complex topic of spiritual warfare. From his years of teaching on this subject, Pastor Jeremiah has selected answers to your pertinent questions concerning victory in the spiritual realm.

The Bible says God will ultimately be victorious and win the spiritual war. But it also says He has given every Christian promises and power to win our daily spiritual battles. The book includes 86 questions with answers such as: How does Satan imitate God? Are demons real? What protection does the shield of faith provide? How can I defend myself against a hostile world? How do I “put on” Christ?

My thoughts...

David Jeremiah has written another must read on spiritual warfare...something every christian needs to understand. His well explained guide is a book to hang on to. I like that he offers scripture to answer questions about this subject in an easy to understand way.

With over 200 pages of topics and scripture references this is a helpful resource. An excellent book.

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

WAVES OF MERCY by Lynn Austin

Geesje de Jonge crossed the ocean at age seventeen with her parents and a small group of immigrants from the Netherlands to settle in the Michigan wilderness. Fifty years later, in 1897, she's asked to write a memoir of her early experiences as the town celebrates its anniversary. Reluctant at first, she soon uncovers memories and emotions hidden all these years, including the story of her one true love.

At the nearby Hotel Ottawa Resort on the shore of Lake Michigan, twenty-three-year-old Anna Nicholson is trying to ease the pain of a broken engagement to a wealthy Chicago banker. But her time of introspection is disturbed after a violent storm aboard a steamship stirs up memories of a childhood nightmare. As more memories and dreams surface, Anna begins to question who she is and whether she wants to return to her wealthy life in Chicago. When she befriends a young seminary student who is working at the hotel for the summer, she finds herself asking him all the questions that have been troubling her.

Neither Geesje nor Anna, who are different in every possible way, can foresee the life-altering surprises awaiting them before the summer ends.

My thoughts...

Waiting for this novel was difficult for me...Lynn Austin writes the best fiction! The stories of Anna and Geesje are fantabulous...how I wish the book was twice as long so I could spend more time with these awesome characters. I still think about Geesje's experiences and the wisdom she had.

A wonderful story of what's really important in life. Very inspiring book!

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

VOICELESS

Battling his own inner-demons, Jesse (Rusty Joiner: Last Ounce Of Courage, Dodgeball, “Days of Our Lives”) encounters a young, pregnant teen overcome with grief that, after an impulsive abortion, has her family blaming Jesse for more than just her final decision. Jesse’s wife Julia (Jocelyn Cruz: Strike One, This Is Our Time) must come to terms with her own choices and decide if she can support her husband as opposition mounts against him. Comedian Paul Rodriguez also stars as Virgil with James Russo as Pastor Gil.

My thoughts...

An emotionally powerful film filled with love and faith. Controversial, has a bit of violence which isn't unusual due to the subject matter. Good actors, true to life.

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.