Participation required...

While I was a student at Oklahoma Baptist University, there were a couple of pertinent questions that always got asked. Name? Major? Hometown? These are the three questions that were always asked when meeting a fellow student for the first time. As I became involved in Bible studies and ministry groups on campus, I discovered another pertinent question: What is your life verse? 

My life verse in college was Proverbs 3:5-6. (There's a really nifty story about the summer Olympics that goes along with it but that's for another post.)  Back to this post, I would have to guess that the life verse of at least 50% of the other students was Jeremiah 29:11.  This was an oft-quoted verse at OBU. 

I like the concept of this verse but I think many people have the wrong idea about what it means (besides not knowing the historical context of how it relates to the Babylonian captivity - but again, that's another post.) Yes, God planned each one of us and formed us in the womb (Psalm 139).  He created each of us with a plan and purpose in mind.  

However...these plans and purposes do not come about on their own. There is a another ingredient that is needed. Participation. God also created each of us with a free will.  We have a choice of whether or not to follow God's plan for our life.  I, myself, have spent the last few years of my life only partially participating, and I believe that God has so much more for me.

My Thoughts on Sex and the Single Christian Girl

Purity seems to have become almost a dinosaur in our world today.  It may not be extinct, but it's certainly not as prevalent as it used to be. I'm sure we all heard the "True Love Waits" story and how we should "save ourselves" for our future spouses.  Movies and other media give us a different view of true love, however.  Purity is so much more than just waiting for "the one," and many things in the world tempt people into abandoning their purity. 

Using experiences from her own life and from real people, Mrs. Ellis discusses how to fight these things that tempt people away from purity, namely Satan. As an older, never-married, not-much-dated, single woman, I was almost afraid that I wouldn't be able to relate much to this book. I was very pleased to find that this book is not targeted for a specific demographic, and that any single women (and even those who are married) will draw a lot from this book.

Mrs. Ellis provides very relevant, Scripture-based strategies to help any woman with maintaining purity in our dark world. She stresses that sexual purity is not just for dating relationships, but that it is very vital in our Christian walk.  She provides hope for those who may fear that it is too late for them to have purity.  Mrs. Ellis tells us how to fight the lies the enemy uses to draw us away, and also how to stay strong in Christ. I cried through many chapters because the message of the book really touched me in many ways.  I would recommend this book for all single women of any age, and also married women, because purity is important to everyone.

*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a honest and unbiased review. My opinions are my own. 

My praise for this book cannot remain "Unspoken!"

Dee Henderson has outdone herself again in her latest thriller.  It was very hard to anticipate anything in this book, as Ms. Henderson keeps the reader guessing until the end.  As usual, I was unable to put this book down until I had read the last word.  

Unspoken is the story of Bryce and Charlotte.  Bryce Bishop is a vintage coin dealer.  Charlotte Graham comes to him with a business proposition that quickly turns into a major acquisition.  Bryce knows that there is more to Charlotte from the first, but with her past she has a hard time letting people get through to her private life.  She has a few people she lets close, but with very good reason.  Bryce realizes almost immediately that he wants to be one of those people; however, unwrapping Charlotte is like unwrapping a roll of vintage coins.  Careful planning and much patience have to be used to make sure the coins and the wrapping aren't damaged.  Of course, one never knows what will be found in a roll of coins, and Charlotte is no different.  What Bryce expects may not be what Bryce gets.  Ms. Henderson does a fantastic job of showing how Bryce "unwraps" Charlotte to discover what is at her very center and helping her discover her real value.  

The book is a MUST-read for anyone who has read and enjoyed any of Dee Henderson's books in the past.  It is also a must-read for anyone who has not read one of her books.  If you like suspense with romance mixed in, then this book would be an excellent read for you.  I must warn you though, once you get started, don't expect to put the book down anytime soon.  It hooks you from the first and does not let you go.  You will not want to put the book down for the fear that you might miss something important.   I know.  What will you miss by putting a book down for the night, but it is SO good and intense that you will not want to put it down.

This book can be read as a stand-alone book, but there are characters from Full Disclosure in this book as well.  If you haven't read that book yet, you will want to read it as well.

*Thanks to Bethany House for my review copy of this book.  I received a free review copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. *

Review of "Take Charge of Your Emotions" by Dr. Linda J. Solie

So, I am not the biggest fan of non-fiction.  However, every once in a while, the title of a non-fiction book will catch my attention.  This book is one of those books.  The title of this book promises a lot, and I can tell you that it does deliver.  It's not a "read this and your life will be instantly changed" book.  Dr. Solie provides solid steps for changing the way you think.  She doesn't provide simple steps that are going to just gloss over problems and thoughts.  She walks the reader through steps that can be applied to many areas in life.  She also provides realistic examples to which the reader can relate.  Dr. Solie makes the reader focus on self-talk, which is the basis for anger, depression, and anxiety when it is all negative.  She tries to get the reader to focus on helpful self-talk, which helps people overcome the negative feelings.  Dr. Solie really emphasizes the connection between negative self-talk and negative feelings.

I took her seven steps and applied them to a situation.  Instead of focusing on the my initial feelings and gut reactions about the situation, these seven steps allowed me to look at the situation from a different view point.  It allowed me to change my self-talk, and help me to be more positive about the situation and not so negative, which helped to eliminate the anger, depression, and anxiety that I had originally felt about the situation.

I would recommend this book to anyone who struggles with any feelings of anger, depression, and anxiety.  This book would be especially helpful for people who struggle with negative self-talk.  I know that negative self-talk is usually a precursor to any negative feelings that I have.  I plan to continually apply these steps to my life to help me overcome these negative feelings.

*Thanks to Bethany House for a complimentary copy of this book in return for an unbiased review.*

"Fired Up" needed a little more heat...

Fired Up by Mary Connealy is the story of Dare Ryker and Glynna Greer.  Dare is a self-made doctor and Glynna is a widow with two children trying her best to make a life for her family.  This is the second book in the Trouble in Texas series.  I did not read the first book, and I'll admit that it probably would have helped me enjoy this book a little more.  This book would work as a stand alone book, as Mrs. Connealy does reintroduce all the characters from the first book.  I could tell there was a lot more to the relationships between the characters that would have been better understood with the help of the first book.

The action in the book starts at the first and does not let up until the end.  Dare is busy treating the people in the town and trying to figure out who is trying to harm him.  Glynna is trying not to kill all the people in the town with her cooking, while also trying to be a mother to her two children.  Dare and Glynna are drawn to each other, but have a lot of hurdles to overcome in the form of Glynna's son, the person trying to harm Dare, and things in their past that they need to work through.  

This is a good book with lots of action and romance.  Some of the scenes are a little slow, but that doesn't take away from the book as a whole.  I enjoyed and look forward to reading the first, and the next book in the series.

*I was provided a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.*

"Rebellious Heart" in all of us

Rebellious Heart is the first book by Jody Hedlund that I have read.  I have had another one of her books on my ereader for a while and had never actually read it until I read this book.  After reading this book, I am a fan.  This is the story of Susanna Smith, a young woman who longs to learn more and also wants to help the less fortunate more than she is able.  She has the means but hindered because she is a woman.  Benjamin Ross is a young lawyer who wants to change the world but is hindered by his lack of funds.  Susanna and Benjamin each have what the other needs to accomplish their dreams.  Benjamin is attracted to Susanna's intelligence from the start.  She doesn't want to fall in love with him but her rebellious heart takes the decision out of her hands...

Their tale is a glimpse into life in colonial America.  This book was a real page turner.  Ms. Hedlund provided the perfect blend of drama and romance to keep me turning the page.  There were a few instances when the drama was so intense I was almost afraid to turn the page because of the fear of what was going to happen.  There is a lot of action in the story.  Susanna is very determined in what she is doing, and will let nothing stop her. Benjamin gets drawn in, to help her and also protect her.  I don't want to say to much more - you really need to read the book for yourself to find out.

There were a couple of scenes that I didn't find very believable for the time period, but this did not detract from the story as a whole.  I thoroughly enjoyed the whole book.  It was extremely well written and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical romance with drama and suspense thrown in.  Maybe your heart will be like mine and fall in love with this book.

*I was provided a free copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.*

Learning to live with differences

After hitting the back space button many times, I just have to come out and say it.  I'm difficult to live with, and I have difficulty with people who are different than me.  My survival mode most of the time is to shut myself away and just carry on with my daily life.  But you know, that is not what we as Christians are called to do.  We are called to be separate from the world, but we are also called to be salt in the world, to show the world the light of Christ.  I think my salt shaker has been a little closed lately but that's for another post.

So if you know me and don't know that I'm a dog lover then you don't know me.  I prefer dogs, but I have a soft spot for any lost creature.  (there's the beginning of another post as well)  About 2 months ago, I went for a quick walk with my nephew and dogs and found a kitten up by the highway.  I brought her back home with me, because I didn't want her to get ran over.  The dogs are both wanting a piece of her as I'm walking back home with her.  She was very friendly and I intended to only keep her long enough to find her real owners (she's a very friendly cat) or find her another home.  Well, to make a long story short, my dog Qia decided to adopt her.  I don't know what happened but sometime shortly after I found her, Qia and Luci became fast friends.  

I could really learn a lesson from Qia.  If she can learn to be friends with a cat, I should be able to do the same (with the cat and other people as well).  I generally try to be a friendly person, but I don't try to love people as I should.  It is something I really need to work on...

(Coco when Luci first showed up - more of my type of reaction, she has since learned to live in harmony with her)