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Book Review: “Beyond Hope’s Valley” By Tricia Goyer

May 9, 2012 at 11:10 pm | Posted in Books | Leave a comment
Tags: Amish, Book Review, Christian Fiction, Romance Fiction, Tricia Goyer

Tricia Goyer in her new book, “Beyond Hope’s Valley” Book Three in the Big Sky Series published by B&H Publishing Group takes us back into the life of Marianna Sommer.

From the Back Cover: Where does her heart belong?

After an extended stay in Montana, where Amish traditions are different than in her home state, Marianna Sommer returns to Indiana for two reasons, first to help her brother and his girlfriend prepare for a baby and their wedding. Second, to plan her own wedding to Aaron Zook — a marriage she’s been dreaming about ever since childhood. And yet, although she had missed the idyllic farms and families of her upbringing, Marianna is surprised that Indiana is somehow making her long now for Montana.

As months pass, secrets that were hidden in winter’s frozen grasp thaw and take on a life of their own. The truths about a child, about a past relationship, and about God’s plans are being revealed. Walking through a valley of questions, Marianna must hold on to hope as she decides where and with whom her heart truly belongs.

Marianna Sommer is a Amish girl who has left her childhood home in Indiana and Aaron Zook, the man she is pledged to marry, to move to the wilds of Montana where the Amish and the Englischers live and work together in close community. There she met Ben, an Englischer, who taught her that it is possible to have a personal relationship with God. The romance built between them when Aaron arrived to take her back to Indiana. Due to her brother and his fiance planning to get married and her pregnancy, not caused by him she is delaying her marriage. Meanwhile Ben has written a love song for her and is touring the country singing all the while waiting, hoping that she will return to him. “Beyond Hope’s Valley” is all secrets and the damage that they can cause. It is also all about waiting on God and listening to His voice. Ms. Goyer brings this theme out so clearly in the book and we enjoy every moment of these character’s lives. “Beyond Hope’s Valley” is all about families and relationships and that is what makes this book a winner. I enjoyed this book a lot and am sorry to see this series end.

If you would like to listen to interviews with other authors and professionals please go to www.kingdomhighlights.org where they are available On Demand.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book for free from Litfuse Publicity Group for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Pearl Girls™ Mother of Pearl Mother’s Day blog series: Sheila Walsh

May 9, 2012 at 7:59 am | Posted in Ministry | Leave a comment

Welcome to Pearl Girls™ Mother of Pearl Mother’s Day blog series – a week long celebration of moms and mothering. Each day will feature a new post by some of today’s best writer’s (Tricia Goyer, Sheila Walsh, Suzanne Woods Fisher, Bonnie St. John, and more). I hope you’ll join us each day for another unique perspective on Mother’s Day.

AND … do enter the contest for a chance to win a beautiful hand crafted pearl necklace. To enter, just {CLICK THIS LINK} and fill out the short form. Contest runs 5/6-5/13 and the winner will on 5/14. Contest is only open to US and Canadian residents.

If you are unfamiliar with Pearl Girls™, please visit www.pearlgirls.info and see what we’re all about. In short, we exist to support the work of charities that help women and children in the US and around the globe. Consider purchasing a copy of Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace or one of the Pearl Girls™ products (all GREAT Mother’s Day gifts!) to help support Pearl Girls.

And to all you MOMS out there, Happy Mother’s Day!

Joy Comes from Perseverance by Sheila Walsh

One of the most important lessons I have learned in my own life is the joy that comes from perseverance. Eugene Peterson, borrowing a phrase from Friedrich Nietzsche, wrote his book “A Long Obedience in the Same Direction …Discipleship in an Instant Society.” He points to the Psalms as the way believers have always learned to pray what they live and live what they pray but it is not a short journey. It is an intentional commitment to keep walking even when you are worn out.

*If we want to see lasting results in any area of life it’s important to keep walking in that direction.

*If we want to have a better understanding of the Gospel of John then it takes time and commitment to dig deeper day after day.

*If we want to be thinner this summer than last summer then the work begins now not then.

So too in our relationship with Christ…..

*If we want to know Him at a more profoundly intimate level, that also takes an intentional seeking after Him every day.

As a grown woman I have come to love the beauty of this gift. Passing this “mined treasure” onto my son on the other hand has been an interesting challenge. We live in such a fast paced, attention-challenged culture where the latest thing can be delivered to your doorstep by tomorrow for a few dollars more. But, as you know, by the time it is delivered it has already been replaced or updated!

How do we speak then into the lives of our children to help them understand and value perseverance?

For me…part of the puzzle meant a large piece of poster board, scissors, some photos and a bottle of Elmer’s glue. My son, Christian and I spread everything out on a sheet in the game room as I explained our project. “We’re going to make a family faith-tree,” I said. “These are photos of family on your dad’s side and on mine. Many of them have gone on to be with Jesus but the seeds they planted into our family continue to grow.” Then we wrote down their names and when they came to faith in Christ (as many as I knew). It was quite something to see when we were finished.

“Your life matters Christian. Running your race well matters.”

That night we read these words from the writer to the Hebrews,

“We are surrounded by a great cloud of people whose lives tell us what faith means. So let us run the race that is before us and never give up.”

Hebrews 12:1 (NCV)

###

Sheila Walsh is a Bible teacher, speaker, singer, and best-selling author with more than 4 million books sold. Sheila Walsh is the creator of the award-winning Gigi, God’s Little Princess® and her new series, Gabby, God’s Little Angel. Meet Gabby in Gabby’s Stick-to-It-Day. As a featured speaker with Women of Faith®, Sheila has reached more than 3.5 million women by artistically combining honesty, vulnerability and humor with God’s Word. She resides in Dallas with her husband Barry and son Christian. Visit www.sheilawalsh.com for more information about Sheila, her other books or Women of Faith.

Exciting News – the latest Pearl Girls book, Mother of Pearl: Luminous Legacies and Iridescent Faith will be released this month! Please visit the Pearl Girls Facebook Page (and LIKE us!) for more information! Thanks so much for your support!

God Took A Day Off Why Can’t I? by Andrea Moore

May 9, 2012 at 7:54 am | Posted in Books | Leave a comment
Tags: Non-Fiction

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old…or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

Today’s Wild Card author is:

Andrea Moore

and the book:

God Took A Day Off Why Can’t I?

Miller-Moore Publishing (January 1, 2012)

***Special thanks to
Milcah Lewis for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Andrea Moore is a life coach, author and speaker who is passionate about equipping and inspiring leaders within the community and church to be their best. After receiving a degree in Communications from The University of Alabama, where she co-captained their Division I volleyball team, she immediately entered the radio & television industry. Andrea quickly realized that she was more interested in making news than reporting it, so she has spent the last 16 years crafting a Biblically-based message in her counseling, coaching and writing. She resides in Austin, Texas with her husband, Eric, and their three young men.
Visit the author’s website.

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

God created the world in six days, and then He did something very unexpected for the omniscient, all-powerful designer of every living thing – He took a day off.

This book is a guide to rejuvenation and increased productivity through a Sabbath rest. It’s for anyone who has ever wondered why God would take a break, and for everyone who feels like they could use one too.

In this book, we will discuss:

· What is a Sabbath?

· Why we need one?

· How to have one?

Product Details:

List Price: $15.00

Paperback: 107 pages

Publisher: Miller-Moore Publishing (January 1, 2012)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0984007415

ISBN-13: 978-0984007417

AND NOW…THE FIRST CHAPTER:

Good is not always

God

Two lumberjacks set out, as they did every morning, to work in the forest. The younger lumberjack challenged the older man to a con- test to see which of them could bring down the most trees that day. As soon as the whistle blew, the youth began chopping furiously and built an early lead while his opponent stopped regularly to take a break.

Puzzled by his opponent’s unusual strategy, the young lumber- jack pressed forward. As the day wore on, he continued chopping as fast as ever, but his lead wasn’t what it once had been. It seemed that whatever work he did while the other man rested, was equaled as soon as he got back to work.

Whenthe whistle blew, the challenger, exhausted and in pain from pushing himself all day, turned with astonishment to offer his congratulations to the older lumberjack. Approaching the veteran he said, “I don’t get it. I worked all day long without a break, yet in spite of taking several breaks, you still won. What’s your secret?”

The veteran, still in good spirits and ready to head home to his family, glanced at the enormous pile of trees he had felled. He replied with a grin, “Son, I wasn’t just sitting. I was sharpening my ax.”

_God_T_{ook a D}_a_{y Off, W}_h_{y Ca}_n_{’t I?}

Mixing wisdom with effort

“Ifthe ax is dull, And one does not sharpen the edge, Then he must use more strength;

Butwisdom brings success.”

ecclesiastes10:10 (nKJV)

Too often we feel ineffective and unsure of what we should be doing. When I was single, I would feel guilty for resting while my married friends were overwhelmed with all they had to do. I loved to serve others and help meet their needs, but I would often findmyself offering to assist out of a false sense of obligation.

“For ye have the poor always with you…”

Matthew26:11a (KJV)

The word pooristhe Greek word^ptochosmeaning: one who lacks something.

There will always be pressing needs surrounding us, but this does not mean that God wants us to meet all those needs.Instead, we are to stay closely connected to Him at all times so that we are ready, willing and able to be led by Him, to be used as He sees fit – directly or indirectly.

Over the last couple of years, I have been an advocate for a wonderful foster/adoption agency, Family Link. My husband, eric,and I have aways wanted to adopt, but have not felt it is our time just yet. Instead, God has allowed me the privilege of serving orphans in an- other way, as an advocate. I’ve been able to impact more orphans than I ever imagined by sharing with others about the great opportunities

Goodis not always God

available to help nurture these precious children.

We must not ignore needs. Instead, we can be willing to allow God to use us in the manner that He chooses; whether it’s meeting the needs directly, or prayerfully looking for those who can.

The proper pace

Within the first six years of our marriage, Eric and I had three beautiful and energetic little boys while serving in the ministry togeth- er. And as if that weren’t enough, I continued to try to fulfill every need I got wind of.I enjoyed serving within the local church and communi- ty because of my passion for teaching and mentoring. Yet, too often I’d race through my Bible, gathering material for ministry purposes and squeeze in just enough time for my appointments. Allowing God to replenish me was not on the schedule. I merely coasted along in cruise control, heading towards empty.

Thankfully I continued to experience the Lord’s goodness through the encouragement of the people He placed in my life. But even that was not enough for me to escape the fact that I would not be able to continue the roller-coaster life I was living.

Duringthis season, I remembered a conversation I had with

oneof my instructors at Fuller Theological Seminary. After witnessing several of my attempts to fill every need I became aware of, he pulled me aside and said, “Andrea, this is a marathon, not a 40 yard dash.”

Istill remember the concern on his face as he spoke those words to me. That’s the moment I began my journey to achieve better

_balance_in_m_{y li}_f_e.

GodTook a Day Off, Why Can’t I?

Good can be the enemy of the best

“A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight.”

_P_rov_e_r_{bs 11:1 (}_K_JV)

Theword abominationinHebrew is made impure.

^tow^‘ebah^{meaning disgusting}^{thing, thing}

Didthis mean that the good things I was running around doing for the Lord were seen by Him as an abomination because they shifted my life out of balance?

Asa natural do-er, I am more inclined to tackle an activity than

sitquietly with the Lord. evenin writing this book on the Sabbath

rest, I had to discipline myself to first seek the Lord before doing other things. In order for any of us to discern what is best, we must spend regular time meditating on His word, with His people and in His pres- ence.

Many of us feel a responsibility to live by the motto: “See the need and take the lead.” Over the last sixteen years, serving in the church and community, I‘ve seen the endless sea of needs and wants. They never end – kind of like the laundry at my house.

Ibelieve God looks at our hearts and is honored by the desire that we have to serve Him. Yet I wonder why we keep racing toward each finish line as though it is the last, barely stopping to refuel before we start the next race.

We must allow God to fill us first. In this way, we give to others from our overflow, rather than from the grace that is meant to sustain us through the day.

_{As a li}_f_{e coach, I}_f_{eel it is beneficial}_f_or_y_ou_t_{o ta}_k_{e a}_f_{ew min-}

_Good_{is not a}_lway_{s God}

utes and identify where you are right now and where you need and want to go:

How satisfied are you with the time and energy that you invest in each of the areas listed on the chart below?

Usea pencil to rate each area of your life on a scale from 1-7, with 7 be- ing the highest.

Draw a line connecting your ‘score’ in each section to the next one, working your way through all eight areas. This will reveal your current state of balance. (Please feel free to change the headings if there are others more applicable to you.)

You can return to this exercise later and modify your wheel as you begin to implement a Sabbath.

_As_y_ou_e_xperien_c_e_r_egular_re_{st in the Lo}_r_d,_e_xpect_y_our_re_sults_t_o_c_han_g_e.

GodTook a Day Off, Why Can’t I?

AsI take a regular Sabbath, areas of my life are going through a transforma- tion, and I’m not seeing the kinds of problems I feared in taking a regular day off.

BONUS:There are two additional wheels in the back of the book as a gift to you. You can chart yourself, either now or later; include where you wish you were or even how your time is being invested once you incorporate a regular Sabbath.