Faith in Action - Bill Myers

So Many Books...

I have read so many books since my last post!! I love reading way more than typing about the books I read. One day I will get voice recognition software that will type what I say. Until then posts will probably be infrequent due to my slow fingers, ugh.

Well, on with the books...

Sisterchicks in Wooden Shoes by Robin Jones Gunn

I have read another Sisterchicks book & thought it was ok, but this one was great! I loved the characters and their love for each other. They felt very real and well-developed. I could tell that Gunn had traveled to the places she was writing about because they were so vivid & enticing. I felt as if I was traveling with them through fields of tulips and the land of Corrie Ten Boom. Frequently when I read it is for pure pleasure, but this book had me writing life truths down & looking up scripture. Bravo!! I definitely recommend this for your summer reading list.

Serenity Bay by Bette Nordberg

This is not a book that I enjoyed. The subject matter is painful but that wasn't the real issue with this book for me. I felt like there were times when the author cut chunks of the story out leaving me feeling as of I had jumped from one place to another without enough reality to ground the story. I read it all the way through and was very disappointed at the end...not a book I would recommend...sorry.

A Curse Dark as Gold by Elizabeth C. Bunce

Always on the quest to fill the reading appetite of some of the 5th grade girls at my school, I choose this book. I really enjoyed it! It is a retelling of Rumplestilskin with a great deal of imagination. The story is well crafted and the characters have great depth and believability. I was rooting for Charlotte and really enjoyed the ending of the book. Definitely one I recommend!

Pretense by Lori Wick

This was recommended to me by a good friend who says it is one of her favorites. I can see why. This story follows a family through many sorrows and triumphs. I was a book I got lost in.  Thank you, Stephanie, for challenging me to read this. I enjoyed getting to know that characters in the story and felt a part of their lives as I was reading. One more for the summer reading list.

Covenant Child by Terri Blackstock

I enjoyed this book immensely. It was a simple read with profound truths about the love of God. I realized after reading  that God has more for me, but I am blocking that for myself. Of course that is a very oversimplified statement but this book really made me think. I love that!!

Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall

Get ready... I saved the best for last. This moving story is a true story about modern day slavery, the redemptive nature of Christ, and the love of man for his family and friends. I waited to read this until I had plenty of time. It's not long but it engrossed me. Towards the end of the book I was reading one day when my daughter came to talk to me. As I was sitting there reading with tears streaming down my face she wanted to know why. I told her it was the end of a good book. I don't think she believed me. This book is no respecter of persons, men and women alike will be moved by this story! Put this one at the top of your summer reading lists!!  

Well, that's all I have for now. We'll be traveling a good bit this summer so  hopefully more reading. Let us know what you're reading....

Pirates!

I am a Librarian and I like to keep up with what the kids are reading or what books I want to recommend so I am frequently reading young adult literature or books for elementary students. Over spring break I am reading Isle of the Swords. It is a pirate story and I am loving it! I love the adventure, the language, the word pictures... I can see the island that the author writes about. I felt the terror as one of the main characters was whipped. I could taste the fear as they were being hunted by the evil and ruthless pirate Thorne....  Can you tell I am into it?

Why am I so drawn to fiction? I love historical fiction! It is my favorite genre to read. The more historical the better. I am drawn to the way the characters in this book are so fearless. They know how to use weapons. They don't shy away from a battle. They are resourceful when cornered. They are chivalrous. I could go on and on....

It's interesting that these are also the things I long for in my spiritual life. I want to walk through this world fearless, confident in my faith and in my God. I want to know and use the weapons that God has provided me... to be knowledgeable  in the Word of God, to be in such close communion with my God that I can walk through this world confidently and securely. 

These are the things I want to remember:

2 Corinthians 12:9

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."

James 4:7 ( this verse makes me think Jedi, but that's another post)

"Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

Exodus 20:2

"I am the LORD your God"

Beginnings

i stink at blogging... why i am trying again i have no idea. i think it is mainly because i like reading other peoples stuff so maybe they would want to read mine....

why paraclete? in the greek paraclete means encourage, to come along with and i hope that's me. it's also used in reference to the Holy Spirit... definitely not me.  

we'll see how it goes...