Free E-Book: Ask for the Rain Compiled by Larry Sparks

Position Yourself to Experience Holy Spirit Outpouring!

Ask the LORD for rainIn the time of the latter rain. (Zechariah 10:1)

God is pouring out His Spirit and revival rain is falling across the Earth. How should you respond? Ask for more!

How can revival impact your everyday life? Maybe you’ve thought revival is for “super-charged” Christians—not for everyday people going through everyday life. Wrong. God wants your everyday to be overflowing with Holy Spirit power.Do you feel like there is more to being a Christ-follower than rhetoric, rules and regulations? The truth is, you were created for a dynamic relationship with the living God. Don’t settle for scattered showers when there is a great outpouring available.

God is seeking ready ground to pour out His revival rain on.

Are you ready?

File Size: 2262 KB
Print Length: 226 pages
Publisher: Destiny Image (April 26, 2016)
Publication Date: April 26, 2016
Sold by: Amazon.com Services LLC
Language: English
ASIN: B01CN2HGGI

Purchase here!

Book Review: The Christian Christmas Condition by Scott Rankin

Author Scott Rankin asks readers to join him along a journey of considering many favorite Christmas traditions and viewing them from God's perspective.

The Christian Christmas Condition brings you through history to uncover how traditions like the Christmas tree were repurposed into symbols and celebrations of Christ's birth. But, is that how God wants it to be? Are we honoring Him and glorifying Him when we re-purpose a pagan tradition? Is it right to tell our children about the existence of Santa Claus and his expectations of being good to get gifts? When we finally tell them Santa Claus is made up, how can they believe us when we tell them an unseen God who loves and provides for us is real? These and other topics of discussion may have you reconsidering your holiday traditions.

I have to be honest with you: this is not an easy read. It's an excellent book, and it poses important questions to Christians about family traditions, but you can't help but feel uncomfortable by them. Who wants to be told their time-honored tradition of an evergreen tree harkens back to the time when Romans celebrated a festival where no one could be arrested or convicted for a variety of horrible crimes? I sure don't.

One, however, can't argue against the Biblical stories of Gideon and other ordinary men and women whose obedience to God came with great rewards ...just like the rewards our obedience gains for us. Rankin put together the puzzle pieces into an inspiring and encouraging way to allow us to see how Christmas can be so much more. I love how he reminded readers that God didn't focus on His Son's birth. He focused on Jesus as our Savior ...an act that was thirty-three years in the making. His birth isn't the important part. His death and resurrection are.

Am I ready to pitch my Christmas trees in the fire? I can't say that I am. However, Rankin has given me a lot to think about. I'm glad he shared how his family phased in changing their Christmas traditions, because, admittedly, he also felt there was nothing wrong with the Christmas tree and Santa Claus traditions when his wife first questioned them. Rakin encourages each of us to discover the direction God desires for us and reminds us not to be afraid to ask the question, "What does God say about this?"

Paperback: 196 pages
Publisher: Scott Rankin Publishing (November 25, 2019)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1734084804
ISBN-13: 978-1734084801

I received a copy of this book from the author. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Mailbox Monday - June 22

Mailbox Monday is a meme started by Marcia of To Be Continued. Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. It now has a permanent home at the Mailbox Monday blog.

It is the last Monday before vacation. Yee-haw!!!! Theo is ready.

I hope you had a nice weekend. We celebrated by visiting friends and spending dinner out with the kids.

My mailbox held one book for review this week.

I also received this one in my Inbox. It's a short story that I should be able to polish off while we are away.

I picked up this Kindle freebie on June 19.

What did you find in your mailbox this week? Anything fun you would like to share?

An Imperfect Christian Mom's COVID-19 Diary #9

 

The author of Common Sense (Thomas Paine) opened his article, "The American Crisis" with these words:

These are the times that try men's souls...

For each of us living through the pandemic, that could mean something specific or shared. We all experience the isolation of closed schools and offices, only curbside pickup at many stores, and the inability to sit inside our favorite restaurant. Then came the riots. Weeks of isolation prior to the incident that sparked these awful riots didn't help. I pray for this world and for peace. 

Personally, the pandemic has meant the loss of my father-in-law to COVID-19 and the closing of one of my publishers affected by slowed book sales. One other sad moment, though not related to the pandemic, is our little country church going up for sale.

I knew it was coming, but as long as they didn't list it on MLS I could avoid thinking about it. The property went under contract in less than two weeks. That's no surprise considering the tight housing inventory. Our little church was a former barn, and it had a house where the pastor used to live. Both are now in disrepair considering how the current congregation neglected them after the original members left. 

Some of my favorite memories at that little church include: my wedding day, celebrating the in-laws' 60th wedding anniversary, renewing our vows after 15 years of marriage, the many years of vacation Bible school the girls attended, and the many nights crafting for the annual Christmas bazaar. Oh, how much love and money people dumped into that little church can't be counted.

The only thing that makes the loss even remotely tolerable is knowing the original congregation consisted mostly of middle-age folks and senior citizens. Within the next 10 years, it would probably have closed, anyway.

This might sound trite, but in these things--the pandemic, the rioting, losing my father-in-law and our little church on the hill--God is present. He provides strength. He provides comfort. He will bring about justice--now or later. One can't always understand His ways. I sure don't. 

• Why did over 100,000 people have to die so far? How many more will we lose?
• Why has the burden on parents increased by adding balancing homeschooling on top of providing for their families?
• Why did the tragic death of George Floyd and others need to turn into an additional loss of life and property?
• Why was a faithful group of believers separated from their place of worship?

There are days the answers to these and other questions require more than human understanding. Yes, we are living in trying times, but we can make a difference. We can work together to bring about solutions. We can pray for our country, its leaders, and those around the world. We can learn how to live a "you-first" life in a "me-first" world. 

Each day, I try to be a better person. Some days I succeed. Other days, I fail so desperately I'm sure no hope exists for me. In the end, there is only one thing I know: Jesus purchased salvation for me no matter how unworthy I am. It is the salvation available to every one of us if we want it. 

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
~ Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV)

But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
~Romans 10: 8-13 (ESV)

An Imperfect Christian Mom's COVID-19 Diary #8

 

A whirlwind of emotions this week. We heard the investigation into the COVID-19 outbreak at the Soldiers' Home in Holyoke is wrapping up soon. Will the families get answers? Probably not ones we can trust. The attorney for the superintendent that was placed on paid leave because of this fiasco held a press conference this week. He pointed the finger at the state. Well, the state officials have been pointing their fingers in his direction, claiming they weren't informed of the situation. 

Sometimes it feels like it's all a game to everyone except the families who have suffered as a result. Lawyers and politicians have no idea what we've gone through. Nothing will bring my father-in-law back. No investigation will change what happened. But, change is necessary to protect the remaining and future residents of the Soldiers' Home. So, the families continue to keep the story out there in the media. We continue to share memories of our loved ones. We continue to try to find a way to contribute and make a difference.

This week, I spoke to a woman whose father befriended my father-in-law. They had a group of eight guys hanging out, sharing stories, and enjoying one another's company. Five are gone now. What must it be like for those who remain? What must it be like for the staff that remains? I shuddered to think of it. 

I'm eager to hear they are open to visitors again. There are people I want to see and veterans who I would like to spend time with. We all must heal together. 

The good thing is that going back to work has helped a bit. I'm also writing some. If my mind stays busy, the darkness can't take over. I opened my Bible app today to Psalm 55:22: Cast your burden on the Lord, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved. Oh, I needed to hear that today. If I were a better Christian, the darkness would be drowned out by the light. If I spent more time in prayer, my frustration would subside. I am reading the Word, but definitely not enough. In some ways, I feel unworthy, since I should immediately flock to the comfort of the Word in times of trouble. Why haven't I spent the long nights when I struggle to sleep reading my Bible? 

Brighter days are coming. They might not come easy, but they will come. I feel it will be easier once I find a new church. That needs to be a focus once life returns to some form of normal. I miss singing. I miss fellowship. I miss that time dedicated solely to something to refresh my soul. 

Mailbox Monday - Apr 27

Mailbox Monday is a meme started by Marcia of To Be Continued. Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. It now has a permanent home at the Mailbox Monday blog.

Oh, my, what a week!  I'm finally crawling out of the dark hole of loss and grief to get back into my regular routine. Well, the new regular routine anyway. I could actually get used to ordering my groceries online and having them delivered.

I enjoyed a nice, long bath yesterday and some reading. This review will appear at The Book Connection on Thursday.

My physical and digital mailboxes held gifts for me this past week.

Ketty Lester's autobiography arrived, and I am so excited. I knew she sang, but I first saw her as Hester-Sue Terhune on Little House on the Prairie.

I bought these for my Kindle.

What was in your mailbox? Has your reading increased since the pandemic, decreased, or stayed about the same? What are you most looking forward to once life resumes to some semblance of normal? For me, it's got to be going out to a family dinner again with everyone.

Take care. Praying you stay safe and healthy.

Mailbox Monday - May 13

Mailbox Monday is a meme started by Marcia of To Be Continued. Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. It now has a permanent home at the Mailbox Monday blog.

We are back to Monday again. I hope my fellow moms had a nice Mother's Day. The weather was yucky, but at least Saturday I got a chance to clean up the flower beds and move some of the plants I've been wanting to move for the past couple of years.

The family treated me to a bunch of nice cards.

Then we all went out to eat. 

My mother-in-law is staying with us, which is nice. I've been struggling with a bit of depression lately. All this nonsense with the church really has me down. I need to find a new church, but don't really want to. I'll bring her to church somewhere while she is here, but it isn't the same. Hopefully she is okay with it.

On the book front, I treated myself to two books. One had been on pre-order. The other I bought while shopping at Walmart yesterday.

That's it from me this week. Hope you enjoy all your new books.

Interview with Rachel Marie Martin, Author of The Brave Art of Motherhood

Rachel Marie Martin believes in the power of the human spirit to overcome, to thrive and to find deep joy and because of that she pours out her heart via these platforms: she is the writer behind the site FindingJoy.net, partner of BloggingConcentrated.com, co-host of the Amplify Podcast, and a featured writer for The Huffington Post. Her top blog post, "Why Being a Mom is Enough" has surpassed 1.9 million Facebook likes and she has had her articles translated into over 25 languages. Her site reaches millions of visitors and has a robust, engaged Facebook community. Her articles have been featured in The Huffington Post, iVillage, The Today Show, Star Tribune, iVillage, Stuff New Zealand, PopSugar, Parents, What to Expect, Mamalode, NBC Parents, Dr. Greene, and many more. Her first book, "The Brave Art of Motherhood", published by Penguin Random House, was released on October 9, 2018.

She speaks worldwide about a variety of empowering topics ranging from motherhood to social media marketing to website strategy to writing to creating an authentic community. She believes in living each day intentionally and loves working with others to cultivate a vision, realize their potential and see their dreams become a reality.

WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK

Where did you grow up?

We are from St. Michael, a suburb of Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota. We moved to Nashville just over two years ago. My folks were church planters, among other things, and are retired now. My extended family still lives in Minnesota, but have grown to love having family in the South to visit during the long winters. The lack of snow been quite a change for the kids, but they have acclimated and look forward to school getting cancelled for the tiniest of reasons.

When did you begin writing?

I’ve always been drawn to computers. I have a memory of my dad purchasing a TI99 desktop computer and teaching me to code. Fast forward to college years and the AOL floppy disk to Yahoo! Groups to the start of blogging. The internet has always been a place for me to connect and became a vessel for my thoughts and words. As stated above, I started writing Finding Joy just about ten years ago. In the beginning, it was a bit of a hobby, but as time went on and it began to grow I gradually made the pivot from hobby to career. And honestly, for the last six years, this has been my full time job for myself, my partner Dan, as well as several others who are part of our team.

What is this book about?

Your heart matters and it’s easy to forget yourself in the middle of motherhood and think that “I’ll take care of myself” tomorrow. But life is short and there is no greater gift to yourself, your family and your friends when you are brave and fight for your heart, purpose and happiness again.

How is it similar to other books in its genre? How is it different?

Well, I think it’s similar in the fact that most motherhood books embrace how much motherhood matters. I can’t think of one book that would ever negate that universal truth. I would say that it differs in the way that it’s not about motherhood as in making a better pot roast or organizing, but is rather about your own heart in the midst of motherhood. It’s a reminder of strength and bravery and is the friend in the motherhood ring with you believing in all you can do and showing you what you have already done.

What is the most important thing readers can learn from your book?

You are a given a choice every day - wait to live fully or dare to live fully - and when you decided that every single day is a gift the decision to fight for that day becomes easy.

Where can readers purchase a copy?

All the usual places of course (ie. Amazon, Barnes&Noble, BAM, Target, Kindle, Audible) and I have autographed copies and special bundles at BraveArtofMotherhood.com

What is up next for you?

Finding Joy is a full-time job and I’m grateful that it’s my life. I will continue writing and continue developing programs that motivate and inspire. I’m hopeful to also continue to speak, to write another book when the opportunity presents, and to start a podcast.

Brokenhearted

(stock photo I used for VBS one year)

This was one of the hardest weekends in a long time. After weeks of going back and forth, and a great deal of prayer, I left my church. Out of respect for people there, I won't go into great detail, but it became obvious over the last few months that it was time to find a new place to worship.

My heart is broken. We got married in that church. Our daughters grew up there. We've made so many good friends in the twenty years we worshiped there. I never thought this day would come. I've served on the Church Council for over a decade and held different leadership roles. I simply can't believe I won't be walking through those doors next weekend.

As brokenhearted as I am, it was the right decision. We must all be true to ourselves. We must stand up for what we believe. We must pray for God's direction and listen to what He says, even when it's hard.

Please pray for me, my friends. Please also pray for the church I left behind, that they will continue to seek God's will for their little church.

Mailbox Monday - Feb 11

Mailbox Monday is a meme started by Marcia of To Be Continued. Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. It now has a permanent home at the Mailbox Monday blog.

We are somehow at Monday again. It was a rough week around here. We lost our oldest cat. He's been with us for over 14 years.

Killer, A.K.A. Miller, was the sweetest cat. He would greet you in the morning and hang out around the bathtub at night when I would read. He loved catnip. He was also such a great daddy to Giggles (above) when we brought her home from the shelter. She's been a bit lost without him.

In my book world, there has been a lot going on. I just finished a great book yesterday. If you like reading about business men, Houston, or books about partnerships and friendships, this is a good read. 

Between Kindle freebies and books I've requested or ordered, the mailbox has been busy.

I bought these ones:

These two are review requests:

Then I picked up a couple freebies.

I'm reading one of The Daughter's of the Mayflower books right now. Hopefully I can get it done as I don't get too far behind on reviews.

Hope you have a blessed week.

Coming in April: Grumpy Mom Takes a Holiday by Valerie Woerner

“Filled with grace, hope, and practical ways forward for every momma.” — Candace Cameron Bure, actress and New York Times bestselling author

Most days motherhood often looks like bottomless piles of laundry; a sink full of dishes; sleepless nights; and unshowered, nonstop, endless days. If that’s all there is, then no wonder “Grumpy Mom” sometimes sneaks into your heart and home.

If you can relate, you’re in good company—Valerie Woerner gets it and has experienced Grumpy Mom more often than she’d care to admit. In Grumpy Mom Takes a Holiday, Valerie shares what she’s learned so far about sending Grumpy Mom packing and embracing a joyful, intentional motherhood that is so much better than you thought possible.

As you journey with Valerie, you’ll be inspired and equipped to find energy in the most unlikely places, pursue your own dreams, be set free from mom guilt, feel content despite unfinished to-do lists, spend purposeful time with God amid the daily chaos, and discover more joyous moments of motherhood.

So, take a holiday from Grumpy Mom, and enjoy life as the mom God made you to be.

You can read an excerpt here.

Mailbox Monday - Oct 1

Mailbox Monday is a meme started by Marcia of To Be Continued. Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. It now has a permanent home at the Mailbox Monday blog.

Welcome back to Monday. Here we are on the first day of October (my September flew by). As always, there is a lot going on in my world.

• Had a closing last week and preparing for one tomorrow. Sold a condo listing this weekend and will list a new property this week. Meeting past clients this week and next week to discuss listing their properties. God is good! 
• Finished two books for review.
• This morning I am editing a chapter for a client.
• Fulfilled one of my goals that has been on my list for two years!
• We were thrilled to welcome a new pastor to our church on Sunday. 

As far as books go, it's been a busy mailbox.

I also snagged this Kindle freebie over the weekend.

What did your mailbox look like?

Book Review: Prayer, Marriage and the Leadership Roles of the Husband and Wife by Bishop Ken Giles & Pastor Sheila Giles

In this slim book, Bishop Ken Giles and Pastor Sheila Giles share their decades of combined experience of counseling others with readers.

Prayer, Marriage and the Leadership Roles of the Husband and Wife helps married couples and those considering marriage to learn the important role prayer plays in creating a healthy marriage and also encourages men and women of God to secure their leadership positions.

It's doubtful one could argue that time in prayer is necessary to our Christian journey. It is how we communicate with God: it allows us to give Him thanks and praise; it allows us to confess our sins; and it allows us to ask Him for help. The authors are spot on in stating that prayer and marriage go together.

In some ways, however, this book could be considered controversial. In this modern world, the traditional view of marriage with the man as the head of the household and the woman taking care of the kids and the household chores seems outdated. While the reader might not necessarily disagree, it's possible by the time they get to the Christian Marriage and Family Structure Assessment Inventory quiz at the end, some women might be lighting torches on fire and carrying pitchforks

Now, we have a very traditional marriage and it works for us, so little about what was in this book bothered me. My only concern is that this heavy-handed approach could make some people turn away from a God who is more about love for us than anything else. He is mercy. He is compassion. He wants us to be in relationship with Him. It is in knowing and experiencing the abundant love of our Heavenly Father that makes obedience to His Word easier. I truly wish more of that could have been communicated throughout these pages.

If you are looking for ways to refocus your marriage or to learn more about leadership roles of men and women in marriage according to His Word, then you may wish to explore Prayer, Marriage and the Leadership Roles of the Husband and Wife by Bishop Ken Giles and Pastor Sheila Giles.

Publisher: BishopKenGiles.org (2016)
ISBN-10: 1948951010
ISBN-13: 978-1948951012

I received a copy of this book from the authors. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Book Review: The Lifegiving Home by Sally & Sarah Clarkson

If you are looking for a heartfelt and meaningful story of how to create a home that is both inviting and warm to family and others, The Lifegiving Home by Sally and Sarah Clarkson is a great choice.

In this joint mother/daughter effort, they share their perspectives on creating a lifegiving legacy in your home through rhythms, routines, and rituals, growing relationships, celebrating life, being in service to each other, and shaping a certain family culture based on love, and combining personalities, history, events, and traditions. This book addresses how we have lost our center in the hectic, busyness of day-to-day life that our current modern, consumerist culture encourages.

The last point mentioned is why I requested to review this book. At the end, however, I can't say I'm any closer to finding a way toward creating the kind of home I've always envisioned we would have. The Clarksons sound like lovely, god-fearing people, whose goal is to inspire others. Sally and her husband founded Whole Heart Ministries in 1998 and Sarah is an award-winning author who also leads workshops on reading as a means to transform a child's mental and spiritual development. They have a clear calling from the Lord to serve others. While one can't argue that more time in prayer and with Scripture is key to making any change, getting from where you are in your crazy life now to the type of home culture you desire is a step-by-step process. While The Lifegiving Home is a vital part of that process, it may not be the starting point for some of us. I have to admit to enjoying Sally's chapters more because they are more conversational, whereas Sarah's style is more academic. Coupled with The Lifegiving Home Experience, a twelve-month guided planner, the reader may have more success creating the home culture she seeks.


Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: Tyndale Momentum (February 2, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1496403371
ISBN-13: 978-1496403377

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Book Spotlight: Prayer, Marriage and the Leadership Roles of Husband and Wife by Bishop Ken and Pastor Sheila Giles

This book communicates how God has created, through the covenant relationship of marriage, leadership roles that are established in spiritual unity.

Marriage is an institution established by God. God ordains a man and a woman to be husband and wife to fulfill his purpose of expanding His likeness and kingdom through their rule and dominion over His creation. Within the institution of marriage, the man is responsible for carrying out and communicating God’s vision. The woman enables, strengthens and encourages her husband to carry out God's vision for himself, the marriage and family. The husband and wife become one flesh. No other human relationship, including that of parents and children, is to have priority or greater importance than that of the husband and wife to one another. The Leadership roles of the husband and wife are paramount to God's plan of blessings in the marriage, family, generations and broader society. Therefore, obedience to God and His word establishes God's order and facilitates the proper working and functioning of the marriage and family. Thus, establishing the peace, joy and increase the Lord has purposed in and through the marriage and family.

Prayer will become the highest priority in the lives of those who read this book. Especially, to those considering marriage, currently married and responsible for children.

If more believers prayed about whether, or not, to get into marriage, there would be far fewer looking to get out of marriage. Furthermore, when the marriage is conceived in prayer; there is a greater likelihood that the marriage will continue in prayer and the blessings that go along with obedience to the Lord.

Bishop Ken Giles and his wife Pastor Sheila Giles have decades of combined experience in Ministry and Christian Counseling. They both did undergraduate work at Prairie View A&M University Texas and were active in evangelistic work. Pastor Sheila Giles has served in church leadership for over two decades. She has a Master of Divinity from Houston Graduate School of Theology.

Bishop Ken Giles began full-time ministry in 1993 as an inner-city Missions Leader in Dallas, Texas, while at Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship under Dr. Tony Evans. He later served there as Assistant Executive Director of their nonprofit corporation. In 1998, he returned to his hometown of Beaumont, Texas, and served as Pastor of Outreach at Cathedral of Faith Baptist Church and Executive Director of their nonprofit corporation. In 2000, Lincoln Bible Church was planted in the Beaumont/Port Arthur area and is now located in the Greater Houston Texas area where Bishop Ken Giles and his wife, Pastor Sheila Giles provide servant leadership. Bishop Giles has a Master of Education Administration from Prairie View A&M University and a Master of Theology from Southeast Texas Theological Seminary.

Purchase here!

Mailbox Monday - Happy New Year!

Mailbox Monday is a meme started by Marcia of To Be Continued. Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. It now has a permanent home at the Mailbox Monday blog.

Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles, and humongous wish lists.

Happy new year, everyone! I pray you all had a safe and fun time last night. I hung out at home and accomplished what I wanted to: signing up for a few reading challenges for The Book Connection, putting my TBR pile spreadsheet in order and updating it with the new books, signing up for STORYSTORM 2018, and contemplating my personal, real estate and writing goals for 2018.

Nothing new in my mailbox, but I downloaded a few Kindle freebies (as if I need more of those).

Trouble, the Sherlock of black cat detective, finds himself in Turnout, MS on Christmas Eve. Teddy Adamson, that heart breaker, has just walked back into Billie Dean Bailey’s life. But more dire happenings are going on under the mistletoe. Who ends up dead and why? Was it the maraschino cherries in the Tizzington sisters’ fruit compote? Or was it something more sinister? Find out in this short story of Trouble’s latest escapade in the Familiar Legacy Mystery Series.

Golden Scroll Award, Book for the Year—CAN Book of the Year

Regardless of the storms of trials, temptations, worry, uncertainty, or regrets that you're facing, you can find peace in all kinds of weather. These short devotions will increase your faith and trust in God, allowing you to experience the peace you desire. Its conversational style, personal testimonies, practical illustrations, and solid biblical teaching provide the tools you need to overcome the devastating effects of worry.

When worry strikes, find strength and reassurance in God's arms.

The perfect follow-up to The Last Week, Borg and Crossan's The First Christmas is an account of the two nativity narratives in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. Borg and Crossan focus on discovering the actual literary story that the Gospels tell. Borg and Crossan feel that history has biased our readings of these texts; we are all so familiar with the nativity story that we don't really hear it anymore. The First Christmas will help us see the nativity story afresh and be able to appreciate the powerful message the Gospels contain.

I'm looking forward to a relaxing day at home before we are all back to our schedules tomorrow. Hope you have a blessed day.