The Lightkeeper's Ball by Colleen Coble

I just finished A Mercy Falls novel by Colleen Coble called The Lightkeeper's Ball.  Socialite Olivia Stewart is an heiress in New York City at the turn of the century who finds herself in a difficult situation.  Her father has recently been killed, and her older sister has died under suspicious circumstances across the country in California where she was to marry Harrison Bennett, one of the wealthiest men in America.  She needs an advantageous marriage to keep her and her mother living well, but she also wants to find out what happened to her sister.  She leaves the city under the guise of her English title, Lady Devonworth, to learn more about Harrison and the cause of her sister's death.  What begins as a scheme to solve this mystery turns into an exciting novel full of drama, suspense, mystery, twists, and romance. 

I very much enjoyed reading this novel and was truly surprised by some of the twists Coble threw into the story.  I haven't read the other two titles in the Mercy Falls series, The Lightkeeper's Daughter and The Lightkeeper's Bride, but I am interested in giving them a chance. 

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Here Burns My Candle by Liz Curtis Higgs

Author Liz Curtis Higgs has always been one of my favorites.  She has a fascinating way of re-telling a Biblical story set in Scotland of old.  Here Burns My Candle is a take on the Biblical book of Ruth and is set in 18th century Edinburgh during the Jacobite Rising.  Lady Elisabeth Kerr is a Highlander by birth and a Lowlander by marriage.  She is caught between the auld ways and those of her husband, Lord Donald Kerr, and the novel follows this family as secrets come out amid Prince Charlie and his rebel army riding through the streets of Edinburgh in September 1745.  Due to circumstances, Lady Elisabeth is left with her mother-in-law, the dowager Lady Marjory, to sift through family secrets and pick up the pieces as they lose everything they hold dear. 

I would highly recommend reading Here Burns My Candle, and I am looking forward to reading the follow-up novel to find out how Lady Elisabeth and Lady Majory's journey ends. 

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

God Gave Us the World by Lisa Tawn Bergren

Following in line with the other great books in this series, Lisa Tawn Bergren's book God Gave Us the World follows Little Cub as he learns something new about God and His creation.  Little Cub takes a trip to a museum exhibit called "Bears Around the World."  He has all kinds of questions about why bears from the different parts of the world look different from him, so Mama Bear explains to him where God has put the different bears to live, what they eat, and the kind of fur they have.  Little Cub is curious about why God didn't just make all the bears the same.  Mama Bear teaches Little Cub that God created all the bears and each bear has a special purpose for being in the world.

My two children really enjoyed this book and brought up thought provoking questions of their own.  They loved the bright, colorful pictures, and were quick to point out the difference they noticed in the bears and where they lived.  This is a great book for families to use when teaching young children about their roles in God's world and about diversity among the people around them.  We loved it!

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

Turmoil in the Middle East

Dear Friend,

The media is full of reports of turmoil in the Middle East and North Africa. Uprisings have rocked the governments of Egypt, Tunisia, and Jordan. Angry crowds are protesting in Lebanon, Syria, Algeria, and Yemen. South Sudan has voted to secede from Sudan, and demonstrations have broken out in the capital city of Khartoum.

This is a critical time of unrest and uncertainty, and Christians need to join together in prayer for this volatile region.

I've probably spent more time working in this part of the world than any other. Over the years, Samaritan's Purse has helped hundreds of thousands of suffering people with medical care, food, and other aid. We have helped train and equip hundreds of pastors, distributed thousands of Bibles, and even built over 400 churches in Sudan. More than 2.5 million children in the Middle East and North Africa have received shoe box gifts from Operation Christmas Child.

Please join with us in praying for the Christian minorities who could face increasing persecution in the days ahead. Pray that God will use these current crises to open doors and hearts to the Gospel and that many will find "peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1). Ultimately, we know, true peace will come to this region only when Christ returns in power and glory.

One of our most faithful ministry partners sent a note saying, "Throughout the Middle East, there is a new generation of evangelists ready to continue the work of our Lord until that blessed day when He returns to us. I ask you to pray that they will be fearless in their work in any circumstance."

We are committed to lifting up Christ in the region in any way that we can. Thank you for your prayers and support.

Sincerely,

Franklin Graham
President, Samaritan's Purse

Out Live Your Life by Max Lucado

I recently read Max Lucado's new book, Out Live Your Life: You Were Made to Make a Difference.  The world is a difficult place to live in current times with poverty, disease, natural disasters, and other reasons for hopelessness.  Closer to home, many people we come in contact with on a daily basis are lonely and looking for a reason to hope.  Max Lucado uses 16 easy-to-read chapters to explore ways to make a difference in the world around us, both near home and internationally, by living out our one and only life.  We have one chance to make it count.

After reading several other books dealing with similar issues (like Radical and The Hole in Our Gospel), I felt Out Live Your Life was the encouragement I needed to start living my life the way God intended.  I feel like it is possible for me to make a big difference in my world without feeling overwhelmed myself.  What a waste it would be if I leave this world without making a difference to someone else who needs hope.  Each chapter begins with a Bible verse and then ends with another Bible passage and prayer that corresponds with the chapter.  I really liked that about the book.  I also like the fact that 100% of the author's royalties will benefit children and families through World Vision.  I would recommend this book and give it 4 out of 5 stars.

Disclaimer:  This book was provided by Booksneeze for the purpose of this review.

Merry Christmas!

"Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son."

1 John 4:10

Fall Social on the Farm

Michelle's P & P

Congratulations to Jason, Michelle, and Parker!  Keep them in your prayers as we await the arrival of baby girl Merritt!!

100 Prayers God Loves to Hear: 100 Praise Songs

My kids and I were very interested when we found 100 Prayers God Loves to Hear: 100 Praise Songs in our mailbox.  It is a book created by Stephen Elkins and includes two CDs with 100 praise songs for children.  The book is a great collection of prayers for all occasions, and it is a very useful tool for teaching children how and when to pray - anytime, anywhere, and about anything.  I would characterize the book and songs as creative and fun!  

My children are five and three and LOVE the songs on the CDs.  My three-year-old son insisted on repeating the songs over and over, while my five-year-old daughter enjoyed looking through the book and listening to the stories, prayers, antecdotes, and Bible verses.  Both of my kids give this set five stars!

I received this book for free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as a blogging book reviewer.

God is at work!

Continue to keep Greg and Sarah Mann in your prayers as they minister to the Palaung people in Thailand.  Praise the Lord for the new believer who just last week found the Lord in the middle of a field by her home.  The Manns are expecting a baby in the next few weeks, so keep them in your thoughts and pray for a safe delivery and healthy baby girl.