Book Review: My Father's Voice by Janice Elizabeth Duval

My Father's Voice by Janice Elizabeth Duval is a well-written and engaging devotional that will encourage you to nurture your relationship with God. 

For many years I've used devotionals to help me explore quality time with God. Though I read my Bible regularly, I truly appreciate the stories of others struggling with their Christian journey or seek the words of someone whose faith inspires me. I enjoy new perspectives on well-known verses and the reminders of how much God cares for me each day.

Duval shares many stories from her life that I can relate to. I loved "Whose Bumper Car Are You In?" and "Bumper Cars and More." The devotional titled "Who Missed Your Bat?" brings the reader back to the days of their childhood. My favorites were the ones that talked about spiritual warfare, like "Hawk in the Trees." 

The subtitle of this devotional is "Learning to Recognize My Heavenly Father's Voice." Through Duval's stories, we witness how God speaks to His children. We learn of His gifts (even those that might not seem like gifts at the time). We learn to listen to the Holy Spirit and are encouraged to let the Holy Spirit work in our lives. 

Perhaps one of the most insightful things Duval said is this, "The Good News is supposed to make us deliriously joyful and happy... but we sometimes make being Christian a chore." I know I found that to be true in my own life at times. 

I will cherish and read more than once My Father's Voice. If you are a woman seeking for ways to begin or to nurture your relationship with your Heavenly Father, this is an excellent devotional to get you started.

Highly recommended!
 

Publisher: Higgins Publishing

Pages: 222

Genre: Devotional

Paperback/Harcover/E-Pub

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

Task it Tuesday - Sep 29

Originally created by The Geeky Blogger, Task it Tuesday is a weekly meme to help you--and me--get things done. The challenge is to post a task or list of tasks you want to complete before next Tuesday. These tasks can help you with your blogging life, reading life, personal or professional life.

How is it possible that the end of September is here? We are expecting some much needed rain, which will make the garden happy. Today, my chauffeur duties have been reduced. The Lil' Princess passed her license test this weekend. It seems strange not to create a work schedule around drop off and pick up. That didn't stop me from having to make lunch for her, though, so I'm not feeling too bad about this whole situation yet.

Here's what I need to accomplish this week: 

• Daily Bible reading
• Walking three days
• Prospecting
• Stage new listing
• Continue fall cleaning 
• Look into getting a small dumpster 
• Office luncheon Thursday
• Virtual Mass Save Audit
• Finish My Father's Voice
• Start reading Systemology

I hope you're having a nice week. What do you wish to accomplish?

Mailbox Monday - Sep 28

 

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.

The end of September is here. We are now full swing into fall, my favorite time of year. This is the view outside my office window. I can't wait to go walking tonight.

This week turned out productive, but not as productive as the week prior. Real estate and editing kept me busy, I wrote a short story, and I baked some yummy treats--apple crisp, applesauce, and lemon blueberry bread.

The tart warmer is now filled with a crisp apple scent to keep me motivated. I have a week involving tons of tasks I need to get done.

Last week my physical mailbox remained empty, but I downloaded these to my Kindle. I must be in a mystery mood. 

What was your week like? Anything you're looking forward to reading this week?

Task it Tuesday - Sep 22

Originally created by The Geeky Blogger, Task it Tuesday is a weekly meme to help you--and me--get things done. The challenge is to post a task or list of tasks you want to complete before next Tuesday. These tasks can help you with your blogging life, reading life, personal or professional life.

Wow! What a week it has been. I accomplished more than planned, made that decision that had I been praying about (which didn't end up going as expected), and finally pulled the plug on some old blogs. 

Here is what I needed to accomplish last week:

• Daily Bible reading--DONE
• Finish social media calendar for book promotion--DONE
• Walking three days--DONE
• Two client meetings--DONE
• Stage new listing--Finishing tomorrow
• Continue fall cleaning--First floor done, maybe starting the second floor Sunday
• Change decorations--DONE
• Keep reading Morning Star--DONE
• Finish Chapter 5 in editing project--Halfway there
• Clean the shed roof
• Look into getting a small dumpster
• Set up Mass Save audit--DONE

The nice thing about fall cleaning, or spring cleaning for that matter, is that you go through things and consider what's worth keeping and what should be donated or discarded. My motivation to accomplish so much stemmed from the decision, which didn't work out. While I am disappointed, I've discovered God knows much more than me about what is best. So, while this door is closed, a window will open somewhere. 

This week's list looks like this:

• Daily Bible reading
• Walking three days
• Two client meetings
• Stage new listing
• Continue fall cleaning 
• Complete three marketing proposals
• Finish Chapter 5 in editing project
• Clean the shed roof
• Look into getting a small dumpster 
• Three meetings
• Virtual BusinessWest event
• Bring the Lil' Princess to her driver's test Saturday
• Start reading two books

Here's hoping you have a blessed week. I leave you with an inspirational quote.

Mailbox Monday - Sep 21

 

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.

Well, it's Monday again. I am giving the new Blogger a try because, eventually, it will be all I have. So, I better try it from time to time so I don't lose my mind when the Legacy version is gone (update: looks like it is gone). 

Last week was a productive one. Fall cleaning on the first floor is done. The fall decorations are up. I finished that social media calendar for book promotion I had to work on, and I've been walking more. With the cooler temperatures, cooking and baking woo me into the kitchen. This weekend, I made banana bread, white bread, and some yummy macaroni and cheese. I'm hoping to make applesauce and apple crisp this coming week. 

Banana bread

Dwight and Travis checking out the fall decorations

Our fall mantle

Though no one will accuse me of being an interior decorator, I enjoy the simple things I can do.

My physical mailbox remained empty last week, but I grabbed this seasonal offering through Kindle Unlimited.

That's it for me this week. What was your week like? Any great books arrive? 

Task it Tuesday - Sept 15

Originally created by The Geeky Blogger, Task it Tuesday is a weekly meme to help you--and me--get things done. The challenge is to post a task or list of tasks you want to complete before next Tuesday. These tasks can help you with your blogging life, reading life, personal or professional life.

How are you today? I hope you're having a good week. I listed a new property yesterday and am staging another one today, so the week started off a bit crazy. I get to meet my sister for breakfast on Thursday, though, so that will be nice.

My list is fairly the same from last week. Some of the tasks moved to this week and others are continued from last week. A couple are new.

• Daily Bible reading
• Finish social media calendar for book promotion
• Walking three days
• Two client meetings
• Stage new listing
• Continue fall cleaning
• Change decorations
• Keep reading Morning Star
• Finish Chapter 5 in editing project
• Clean the shed roof
• Look into getting a small dumpster
• Set up Mass Save audit

That's it for me this week. I hope you can tackle your to-do list.

Mailbox Monday - Sep 14

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.

After a busy weekend, I came to post at my blogs and discovered Blogger had changed to the new version. I'm like, stop it. Between the pandemic, wildfires across the Pacific Northwest, Tropical Storm Sally potentially turning into a hurricane headed right for Louisiana, and all the civil unrest across the nation, Blogger needs to be the one thing I can count on to stay the same. I reverted to the Legacy version.

Now, on to better things. Here are some photos from the weekend.

Travis likes that there is more room to get into the pantry now.

Not to be outdone by his brother, Dwight wants to investigate the pantry, too. 

Just when I think I will give up on the garden, it grows things.

Growing wild on the outskirts of our yard.

As for books, nothing in the mailbox. Good thing, since I haven't felt much like reading. I did, however, pick up this one from my publisher's website. Colleen has several books that I want to check out.

Here is a short blurb:

Thirteen-year-old Tyler and his twelve-year old-sister, Cat, are in big trouble: at home, at school, and with the law. The verdict is in and they hate it: a year living in the mountains of eastern Oregon in a log house in the wilderness.

That's it from my neck of the woods. Hope you have a great week.