From Psalm to Song

This morning I was reading Psalm 119: 153-176, part of the longest psalm in the Bible.  All of a sudden I realized...I know this song!  Many of the lyrics seem to be taken from the New King James version.  I am in awe when a songwriter can take Scripture and put it so beautifully to music.  Take a listen...

The $5 Cookie Greeting

A few months ago we had a scare after Jacob got hit in the back with a baseball.  Because of the symptoms he was experiencing we took a trip to the ER.  Thankfully nothing serious was wrong.  A few days later Jacob received something in the mail...a box of Cheryl's cookies from one of the families on his baseball team.  He got a big smile on his face and said "Mom, they really like me!"  There is something special about receiving something in the mail, especially for kids.

So when a friend from Jacob's football team got hurt this week, my first thought was to send him cookies!  Problem is that we have a little tighter budget being a single-income family.  But I decided to check it out anyway.  Then I saw this...

The $5 Cookie Greeting, complete with personal note and shipping!  I could handle $5 to bring a smile to a young boy's face. 

I thought I would share this find with you in case there is someone you want to bring a smile to today.

You can check out the variety of Cookie Greetings here.

The Reason by William Sirls

While it's been fun reading some fiction over the summer, this will be the last for a while.  Time to get back to reality! Anyhow...

I have mixed feelings about this fictional story.  The book is well-written and interesting to read.  There are several characters who are each searching for the reason why certain things have happened/are happening in their lives.  Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people?  That's a question that's sure to run through our thoughts every now and then.  With the help of the mysterious "Kenneth", many characters are able to confront their doubts, let go,  and find the courage to "Only Believe". 

It's difficult to explain what I didn't like the book without revealing too much of the story.  While everything that happened is certainly possible, I found the series of events to be a huge stretch from reality.  I also thought it was a bit predictable.  With few exceptions, I knew what was going to happen before I read it.  That took away from the suspense.  Even so, the characters expressed real emotions and I still found myself questioning and rejoicing alongside them.

The message is good.  God loves you.  God is able.  There is a reason why things happen the way they do, even when you can't understand why.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Booksneeze in exchange for an honest review.

Unfailing Love by Karol Ladd

The unique format of this book got my attention.  It is like a commentary on the book of 1 John, going through each verse and explaining all background information to help the reader understand what the words meant to John's original audience.  However, it is written like a Christian-living book; pulling in stories, quotes, and other scriptures to help the reader fully process the themes and learn to apply them.

I started out really enjoying this format.  The author has a clear love of the Scriptures and does a good job adding relevant information and explanations.  Then I began to lose interest.  Sometimes it seemed like the focus of the text moved too much into "related themes" instead of focusing on the words of 1 John.  I also felt that I wasn't learning very much that I didn't already know, which made it difficult to stay focused.  I did like that each chapter ended with summary points, additional reading, and action steps.  There are also discussion questions included in the back of the book to use in study groups.

For those wanting to study the book of 1 John without having to read a dry textbook-like commentary, this would be a good resource. 

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Harvest House Publishers in exchange for an honest review.

Almost Amish by Kathryn Cushman

This book is a light fictional story about a family who agrees to go on a reality TV show where they will experience the Amish way of life.  Two sister-in-laws and their children embark on this journey, each searching for different things.  Julie is tired of life being so busy and juggling her over-committed schedule.  Susan is hoping to use the show to launch her career.  While the Amish life is not "easy", the simplicity ended up teaching both women about themselves and how to better set their priorities.

I enjoyed this story, but didn't find myself very involved in it emotionally.  I tend to prefer books with more drama and depth.  However, I did like the main lesson the book had to teach.  We all have gifts...things that we are good at.  As women we tend to compare ourselves with one another, envying the gifts we see in others rather than recognizing and appreciating what we do well.  Or we can become prideful over our strengths and become frustrated with others who don't adhere to our standards.  I think in some way we can all relate to the struggles these characters faced.

I have always wondered what it would really to be like to be on a reality TV show.  Since this is fiction, I don't know if the way the show was depicted is representative of how these shows really work, but it was interesting to think about.  I don't think I could endure that invasion into my privacy :)

Overall, if you're looking for a light, entertaining read then this is a good book to check out!

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House in exchange for an honest review.

The Choice by Robert Whitlow

Teenage pregnancies are on the rise.  This fictional story is about the choice that each of these young girls must make...what to do with the life growing inside of them. 

The main character is Sandy who gets pregnant while in high school.  We follow her as she examines all possibilities and decides what to do with her baby.  Part way through, the story jumps ahead 30 years and Sandy has the opportunity to help another girl in a similar situation.  I love this...it shows how we can use our experiences and heartaches to speak into the life of someone else and encourage them. 

There is plenty of suspense mixed into this story to keep the pages turning quickly.  While a bit unrealistic at times, I enjoyed the plot.  My only complaint is that I would have liked a few additional chapters added.  I felt it ended a bit abruptly.

I don't want to give away much of the story, but adoption is a major theme.  The author says that his "ultimate hope is that readers of this story...will be encouraged to make unselfish, sacrificial choices." Thank you, Robert Whitlow, for writing a story to honor mothers that entertains us as well :)

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Booksneeze in exchange for an honest review.

Be the Mom by Tracey Eyster

Since I am a mom, a book about overcoming attitude traps and enjoying my kids seemed like a good one to read.  I could relate to each of the 7 "traps" mentioned because they are attitudes that I have struggled with as well at some point during my parenting journey.  While this book would have been more beneficial to read shortly after becoming a mom when I was going through the transition, I still found the author's insights to be good reminders.  The key to overcoming these traps is to recognize them and to align our thoughts with the truth.

My kids are now to the age that they can begin helping with chores.  I still haven't figured out the best way to tackle this.  I tend to do things myself, but I know I need to teach them to share in the responsibility.  I found a neat idea in this book to help make family chores fun!  Tracey suggests writing down each weekly chore on a slip of paper and placing them in a jar.  Each family member would draw out a chore and do it.  There are also slips that say "Mom's Choice", "Kid's Choice", or even "No Chore" to keep things interesting :) 

Another idea that stood out to me was a response to a kid's saying "Whatever".  She had her daughter memorize Philippians 4:8 "Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things."  Whenever her daughter said "Whatever" she was asked to recite the verse.

Be the Mom is simply advice from one experienced mom to another.  It is a book meant to enlighten, encourage, and remind us of the high calling of motherhood.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Tyndale Publishers in exchange for an honest review.