A Pryzr's Journey

Yep! She did it again! - Another Dawn by Kathryn Cushman

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Carter) — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 16:00:00 +0000

I had to look through my older posts, and I found, as I suspected, I had done a review for a Kathryn Cushman book. Yep! She wrote it in first person, which I think all of you know my views on, and Yep! I still liked the book, despite that.

Another Dawn tackles a couple of very difficult subjects. The first of which is who is in control of your life, and on the flip side, who is actually better to be in control of your life. (This particular subject is not one of my favorites. Possibly because it's one I struggle with frequently.) :-) The other is how our decisions affect people around us (both known and unknown), whether we want them to or not.

Grace Graham has basically been given an ultimatum. Her sister said come take care of dad or you're not in the family. The timing works outs because things are getting a little hard for Grace with her job and her fiance', and this is her M.O. Things get hard, so it's easier to run. So she packs up her four-year-old son and heads back home for a couple of weeks. However, when decisions she made years ago begin to come out and affect people in the small town of Shoal Creek, Tennessee, what will she do? Will she face the consequences and stick it out or will she run away again?

I found myself being swayed for and against the heroine, Grace, several times. I could understand this point of view. I couldn't understand why she did this or that. I love books that can do that.

There's a couple of plot lines I would have liked to see develop a little more, like her fiance's roll in the story, and her dad and mom's history within her life, but all in all, I think it's a good book.
I don't know that this book will make it to my must read over and over shelf, but I could probably read it again and still like it.

I would definitely recommend this as a read you will enjoy.

This book was provided to me for review by Bethany House Publishers.

The Final Summit

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Carter) — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 12:32:00 +0000

Humanity is coming to its end in a self-destructive pattern. The mission, whether he accepts it or not, is for David Ponder (formerly of The Traveler) to lead the final summit of all travelers from all times to come up with the solution.

Andy Andrews, comedian, keynote speaker, and author of such books as "The Traveler", "The Noticer", and "The Butterfly Effect", has given us a glimpse, once again, into David Ponder's life. David Ponder was introduced to us in the book, "The Traveler", were he learned through time travel, the 7 Decisions to a successful, meaningful life. Once again, David Ponder is able to confer with other travelers, men and women who changed the course of history, to come up with a declaration for mankind that will put them back on the right track. While it is not necessary to read "The Traveler" prior to reading this book, I highly recommend that you do as you will get some insight into being a Traveler.

This book is written in an allegorical (parable) style that is very easy to read. The stories that you will read will move you as you get a glimpse into the lives of extraordinary people. If you love history, this book will knock your socks off.

I have only recently discovered this author and have loved every book I have read by him, anxiously awaiting each book that comes out. I have a hard time reading non-fiction, but can zip through fiction, and Mr. Andrews books allow me the best of both worlds. I get the lessons I need from non-fiction in a style I am willing to read over and over again.

This is a book and author I highly recommend. It is also great for book groups with directional questions at the end of the book.

This book was provided to me for review by Thomas Nelson Publishers.

Book Review: Jungle Warfare by Christopher Cunningham

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Carter) — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 16:15:00 +0000

Those of you who know me, know I don't do non-fiction well. Maybe it was all the textbooks I read as a student because I was bored, but now non-fiction is not my favorite genre. JungleWarfare was a unique book for me. Christopher Cunningham is a leading sales rep in the medical field who brings his expertise in sales and combines it with his love for Christ and his desire to live a life filled with integrity and honor.

The book is a 22-day "Battle Plan" designed to help you recenter your world where it belongs, firmly rooted in God. It takes the Basic Field Manual given to his grandfather when he enlisted in 1943 and breaks it down in small, bite-size lessons for you to digest on a daily basis. This is a book that, while geared for those in sales, is a definite must-read for anyone. It will definitely help you focus your life and position yourself for what God has designed and equipped you to do.

This is a book that will stay in my library, and will try to make it one of my annual re-reads. It is written simply and does not overcomplicate anything. It was truly enjoyable.

This book was provided to me for review by Thomas Nelson Publishers.

Book Review - Hatteras Girl by Alice J. Wisler

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Carter) — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 19:21:00 +0000

At the beginning of the year, I resolved to do my best to post at least one book review a week. I had a stack of books I had promised to review for publishers and friends. I felt very bad seeing this stack of books, knowing that I loved to read, but was not accomplishing what I said I would. So this year, I made a RESOLUTION! Resolved: To read and post one book review a week.

The first two books went quickly and easily. I finished last week's on Monday. It was great. That left me a whole week to re-read a book by one of my favorite authors, Lori Wick, and still complete my book review book. I read my Lori Wick book and started my book review book. After a few chapters, I picked up the next book in my Lori Wick series, The Californians, and finished that one. Then I read a few more chapters in my book review book, and picked up the next book in the Lori Wick series, and the next. Then I realized I really needed to get my book review book done, so I picked it up and pushed through to finish it.

Hatteras Girl is centered on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The main premise of the story is about a single Korean-American girl who has two dreams. One to be married, and one to be the owner of The Bailey House with her best friend, Minnie. Both were childhood dreams, and it looked like they were going to come true and be intertwined. What more could a girl want?

Well, for starters, a girl might want a main character who put a little more thought into her life. While Jackie Donovan (a good Korean name) is very easy to relate to, she seems a little shallow. There does not seem to be a lot of depth to her, except when it comes to Bailey House, but even then it's still not that deep. You are left to assume she has a relationship with God by the fact that she goes to church and there is one page where she and her good friend, Buck, talk about God. Other than that, she seems to leave God out of every decision.

There are other parts of the book that are fairly predictable. I figured out who she would end up with early in the story, even though they never really had but one time of really close interaction. The plot itself had a lot of holes in it for me. We never really got below the surface of anything. Even when she ended up with her man, it was a little unexciting for me.

All this to say, I really didn't hate the book. I am still not a great fan of first-person stories, and this one was a prime example, but I found myself liking the character if I did want to yell at her a couple of times. I was very intrigued by her roommate, and would love to see a story about Minnie and her young son, Zane, as they heal from the loss of Minnie's husband and find life and joy again. I thought the book had a lot of potential, I just wished that it had more depth to it.

All in all, I think Ms. Wisler shows promise and will definitely follow her to see how she grows in further books.

This book was provided to me for review by Bethany House Publishers.

Book Review - A Rush of Wings by Kristen Heitzmann

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Carter) — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 15:25:00 +0000

Twenty-three-year-old New York socialite, Noelle St. Claire is running. From who or what she's not sure. All she sees are images here and there, but she knows she needs to hide to be safe. As her father and fiancee' wait back home, will she find the answers she needs at the ranch nestled in the Colorado Rockies? Will she find the safety and love that she desires?

Then there's Rick Spencer, the owner of the ranch where Noelle St. Claire ends up. Can he break through her shell to help her find God and see that only He can heal her hurt? Will his faith stand up to everything that is coming?

It is very rare for a book to grab my attention from the very first page, but the flight of Noelle St. Claire did just that. Kristen Heitzmann is a master of descriptive phrases and leaves nothing out in any of her settings. The characters were well developed, letting you into their lives quite easily. There were a couple of scenes where I thought the characters went a little quickly into the situations, but all-in-all it was a very-well told story. I look forward to following one of the secondary characters, Morgan, in his book, "The Still of the Night".

This book was provided for review by Bethany House Publishers.

Book Review - Amy Inspired by Bethany Pierce

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Carter) — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 14:47:00 +0000

With rejections piling up, she could use just a little INSPIRATION...

Amy Inspired could almost be described as a coming of age novel except the main character is 30 years old. Amy Gallagher is a 30-year-old College Professor who teaches Freshman English and Creative Writing at a small college in Ohio to support herself while she pursues her real passion, writing. With an eccentric roommate, off-the-wall professor friends, and a love-sick freshman surrounding Miss Gallagher the story will make you smile and at times just shake your head.

Amy is forced to examine her past to see how it affects her present circumstances and future decisions. She learns that maturing means adding experiences not changing who you are. Bethany Pierce does a wonderful job of weaving this story. It took me a couple of chapters to actually get into the story, but give yourself some time and let the characters come alive. After reading the author's notes at the end, I wonder how much of this story is actually autobiographical.

All in all, this was a good solid book with good characters.

This book was provided for review by Bethany House Publishers.

Book Review - Beguiled by DeeAnne Gist & J. Mark Bertrand

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Carter) — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 23:52:00 +0000

From the picture on the front cover, I thought I was getting ready to read a story set in the 1920's or 1930's set in Charleston. I know, I know, if only I had read the back cover, I would have known, but very rarely do I read back covers preferring rather to be surprised by the story. Surprised is a pretty accurate term when I started reading about Rylee Monroe as she unclipped a leash from a dog collar. Wait, this story is about a dog walker? Did they have dog walkers in the 1920's. As I kept reading, my dog walker had roller blades, so I finally figured out it was set in present day.

The story is set in a wealthy neighborhood in Charleston, South Carolina. Rylee Monroe is a sweet, caring dogwalker who's only ambition is to make sure the needs of her ailing grandmother are met. She surrounds herself with her family of dogs and is quite content until she becomes unintentionally involved in a string of robberies committed by an unusual burglar. Who the burglar is and why he/she is doing what they're doing is the premise of the book, and just where does the mysterious newspaper reporter, Logan Woods fit into the whole picture.

I must say that this book had me guessing a couple of times, which is a good thing and most books are not able to do. I have to say, though, my favorite part of the book was the Authors' note at the end. It was very charming and actually made me want to visit Charleston even more than the book did.

I would highly recommend this book. I am looking forward to reading more books from each of these authors individually and hope they will collaborate again.

This book was provided to me to review by Bethany House Publishers.

Book Review - Never Say Never by Lisa Wingate

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Carter) — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 03:47:00 +0000

I opened this book to the first page, read the first sentence, and said to myself, "Oh no, it's a first person book". I've said this before, but I really don't like books written in first person because most of the time the way the character is acting or reacting is against my personality or character and I just get so frustrated. I end up wanting to beat the main character in the book. However, this is a book given to me to review so I push through to Chapter 2 and...

"Oh rats, there's two main characters." That's it, I basically told myself to give up because not only was the book written in first person, but there were two main characters who were so totally opposite of me that I knew I was going to hate this book.

I love surprises! Ok, no, I don't really, but that's an entirely different subject. This book actually surprised me. I found myself slowly, but surely getting drawn in to the characters. There were a couple of slow parts where I really found myself wondering did I need this much detail, but it turned out in the end, I did.

The story follows two characters, an older southern belle from Daily, TX, Donnetta, on her way to take a cruise with her two friends, and Kai, a drifter who has never put down roots in one place too long, a trait she got from her daddy. There are twists and turns as these ladies attempt to outrun a hurricane, meet up with some good ol' Cajuns from the Texas bayou (which I didn't even know there were any bayous in Texas), and then try to rebuild after the storm.

I also liked the way the author through in a free lesson about telling those you love how much they mean to you on a daily basis. That was unexpected, but we can all use that reminder.

All-in-all, I would be happy to recommend this book to any of my friends and welcome the opportunity to read more books by Lisa Wingate.

This book was provided to me for review by Bethany House.

Book Review - Not a Sparrow Falls by Linda Nichols

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Carter) — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 00:40:00 +0000

Have you ever wished you could run away from your past? Have you wanted to hide out and just pray that it never finds you? Mary Bridget Washburn needed desperately to get out of the life she was currently living, but can you really reinvent yourself when you're on the wrong side of the law? Once given the opportunity, will she be brave enough to take it and do what must be done? Can God really use someone with her past to heal the hurts of a family in crisis?

Not too far away is a father who is caught between secrets from his past and a congregation that is divided in whether he should be their pastor; a daughter at the beginning of her teen years, who is scared and desperately wants someone, anyone to show they care; and twin babies who just need someone to love and care for them.

This book is a powerful reminder of the power of intercessory prayer, God's grace and mercy, and the way God can use his people if we'll just get out of His way. Linda Nichols seamlessly weaves all these truths throughout this book. You will find your heart racing as Mary runs for her life, pray with the intercessors when Satan is trying his best to wreak havoc in different situations, cry when they cry, and laugh when they laugh.

Not a Sparrow Falls will warm your heart in many ways, and leave you wanting more.

This book was provided to me by Bethany House Book Reviewers.

The Power of Respect by Deborah Norville

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Carter) — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 05:30:00 +0000

The concept of this book is fantastic. If you want to go farther in life, get along with people, harmony in your home, remembering to respect those around you will go along way. Remembering that the woman checking you out at the grocery store is a person just like you, more than likely, with the same problems that you have will go a long way to helping you show respect and making her day, and yours, go a lot smoother. This principle is true in every facet of any relationship you have no matter how small or insignificant or how great and dynamic. This is a concept that has definitely gone by the wayside for many people. In today's society there are only a handful of people that are willing to remember there are others around them that are just as important as they are.

My only complaint about this book is that the author, very eloquently said it all in the first chapter or two. Every other chapter was the same concept presented in a slightly different way, but ultimately saying the same thing. It has taken me almost 9 months to muddle my way through and I actually couldn't bring myself to finish it. I felt like I was literally beating my head against a wall hearing the same thing over and over.

If you have not heard this concept before, you might thoroughly enjoy this book, but for those who practice respect on a daily basis, it will probably not be anything new.

The Silent Gift by Michael Landon Jr. and Cindy Kelley

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Carter) — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 05:16:00 +0000

Imagine your life lived in a cocoon not penetrable by sound, or for that matter, much of anything. Now, imagine your life as the mother of a little boy, whose less-than-ideal entrance into the world, left you with a love so strong that you would do absolutely anything to protect that little boy, but not strong enough to break through his silent cocoon.

In this book, Michael Landon Jr. and Cindy Kelley bring you immediately into a time of desperation and confusion in the height of the Great Depression as the mother of a little boy who is deaf and mute, but endowed with a gift far greater than either one of them can comprehend. You will go through the ups and the downs of their lives; from the palace to the prison and back up again. You will be brought to the brink of desperation and cheer with them as their lives begin to make sense. You will be brought to tears at the hard and lonely times of this little family as time and time and time again they have to fight for everything they have only to end up exactly where God wanted them with the maximum amount of lives being touched.

This book was provided to me free of charge as part of Bethany House Book Reviewers.

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Carter) — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 04:58:00 +0000

This Insight Edition of Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen was a blast to read. I have to admit, I didn't know what I was getting myself into. At first, I thought all the little sidebars were a little annoying, but as I got further and further into the book, I found myself actually looking forward to them.

This book is a classic written in the beautiful prose of the 18th Century writer, Miss Jane Austen. I can't remember the last time I had read one of her books, but I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this book. It even inspired me to rent the 1995 movie with Emma Thompson and Hugh Grant in it. I love the contrasts between the two sisters, the overly dramatic, romance-seeking Marianne, and the calm, steady, level-headed, Elinor.

I look forward to seeing more books like this from Bethany House. This is a great way to get re-acquainted with the classics.

This book was provided to me free of charge as part of Bethany House Book Reviewers.

The Rose Legacy by Kristen Heizmann

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Carter) — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 04:29:00 +0000

First of all, I owe a huge apology to Bethany House. This book and a few others that I will be posting reviews on were sent to me by Bethany House, I think at the end of last year, but with some major upheaval in my life I haven't been able to take the time to review them. I am finally getting back into the swing of things and wanted to get these reviews out there.

I have never read a Kristen Heitzmann book before so I had no knowledge of writing style coming into the reading of this book. The Rose Legacy is part of a series set in the Rocky Mountains during the gold rush era. The book begins with Italian beauty, Carina DiGratia making an arduous trek from Sonoma, California to Crystal, Colorado. She has left behind a loving family, except for a wicked sister who stole her fiance' from her, a deed she will never forgive or forget. She is out to prove that she is not the innocent that people believe she is. Unfortunately, she has a hard time living down that reputation, even among a city full of strangers.

Ms. Heitzmann, cleverly pulls you in and points you in several different directions at once. Making you second guess who you think the villain is with every turn of the page. There were a couple parts in the story that I thought were a tad tedious, but all-in-all, the book left me wanting to read the second and third installments in the Diamond of the Rockies series.

I have already recommended this book to my friends and will continue to do so. If you are a fan of historical romance and mysteries, this is a good, clean, entertaining book that, I believe, you will find hard to put down.

EUREKA! I have found it...

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Carter) — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 05:44:00 +0000

God has seen fit to usher my husband and I in to a new place in ministry, and as part of this step, my husband and I are delving deeper and deeper into the truths of God. If you go back to my very first post, you'll see that I vowed to become a Praise Warrior, and as a result, this blog is part of my journey. I want to be able to change the world around me, but only with God working through me.

Today as I was reading in Genesis 33, I found it! My prayer for this year.

11..."You have been telling me, 'Lead these people', but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, 'I know you by name and you have found favor with me.' If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people." The Lord replied, "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." ..."If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth" And the Lord said..., "I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name."

God has given me direction..."Lead these people". He has said He knows me by name and I have found favor with Him. My deepest desire, my utmost cry, is that He will teach me His ways, so I may know Him and continue to find favor with Him. I do not want to go anywhere that His Presence does not go. I don't want to be indistinguishable. The only way people with know that I am God's is if His presence goes with me.

Father God, I cannot do anything you have asked of me without You, without Your Presence going before me. Do not let me go without it. Teach me about You. Let me learn Your ways until I know the sound of Your heartbeat. I am nothing without You. I can do nothing without You. But in You I can do ANYTHING!

Book Review - Leaving Yesterday

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Carter) — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 04:23:00 +0000

It's a mother's worst nightmare. Knowing that your child has gone into a world you know nothing about. All you can do is sit by and watch while your child, seemingly throws their life away. Then what happens when you are confronted by a situation that could end what little progress they've made. What do you do?

Author Kathryn Cushman tackles this very question. She has been forced to watch her son's life spiral out of control into a world so dark that it doesn't look like he'll ever survive. Just when it seems like he is getting his life together, she is confronted with evidence of an even greater evil.

How would you react? Would you keep the correct moral idea or would you do whatever it took to shield your child. Alisa Stewart is faced with just such a dilemma, and while it's easy to look at the situation from the outside and say with certainty what you would do, Ms. Cushman does an excellent job at getting inside the situation and making you actually go through this nightmarish situation with the main character.

I will admit I was a bit skeptical when I opened the book and saw the author had written in 1st person. I really struggle with this type of book as I very rarely can identify with the main character in that way; however, I was quickly pulled into the story and could very easily put myself in Alisa's shoes.

I would highly recommend that you give this book a try. It makes for great reading, while teaching you something you probably didn't know about yourself.

This book was provided for review by Bethany House Publishers.

Book Review - Levi's Will

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Carter) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 22:47:00 +0000

Levi's Will, by W. Dale Cramer, is a novel about an Amish young man and his journey through life banned from everything he knows. It delves into the psychology of how our upbringing can shape our lives, and the lives of those around us, whether we know it or not.

We first meet Will at what we find out later is his father's funeral. The book jumps back and forth between the present day setting of the novel and the years leading up to that time. The author cleverly weaves his story teasing the reader with little bits and pieces that, in time, will add up to the whole, and give the reader the understanding of what events shaped his life. This was a remarkably told tale that did not let me get ahead of myself as, I confess, I am prone to do. I am always trying to "figure out" the ending, but this lead me in several different directions that kept me off balance for the majority of the book.

While it is not meant to be a whodunit book in anyway, I enjoyed trying to figure out the little bits and pieces that made Will who he was and explained the reasoning behind the choices he made. My heart ached for him as time after time he tried to reconcile with his Amish family, but every time was turned away by the patriarch.

All in all, Levi's Will was a well-crafted book that kept my imagination held the entire time. Then to read the acknowledgments at the end and know that this was, in part, his father's story, was heart-warming as well.

This book is a definite must-read for anyone, especially those who love Beverly Lewis' amish books.

This book was provided for review by Bethany House Publishers.

I Know Better Than You

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Carter) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:52:00 +0000

My husband and I have two daughters. One is ten, the other twelve. We have entered a new face in our relationship with our twelve-year-old. As a person of the advanced age of twelve she knows more about everything than we do. I'm not sure where she gets the idea that she's always right. It's certainly not from me. Just because I am right most of the time, but I digress. :-) I have disagreed with her over how many times she has cut her hair in a certain style or whether 420*2=840 or whether or not she has actually done something she was told to do. Driving home today from dropping the girls off at school, I was thinking about a passage in a book where the character was arguing with God.

God was telling the character that there was something better for him if he would just let go of the past. The character told God he had let go. God told him he hadn't. The character corrected God and said he had. God told the character to let go and trust him. The character said no.

I replayed this scene in my head today and thought about one of recent my conversations with my daughter. This wound will feel better if you let me clean it out. No it won't. Yes it will. Will it hurt? It might, but it will heal faster. I don't want to be hurt. Trust me, it will help. No it won't, and she walked away until it hurt so bad she had no choice, but to let me help her.

I do this so often with God. He puts something in my heart and tells me to do it. I tell Him I'm scared. He says I'll give you grace. I say, but what if it doesn't work. He says trust Me, it will heal something in you and something in someone else. I say it's too risky, and I don't want to look stupid. (That's really important to me. I don't want to fail or look stupid. 'Cause it's all about me.) He tells me again to trust. I say, I'm sorry, I can't, and then I wonder why someone else gets my blessing.

One of the areas God has been dealing with me is my past. Hurtful things that were said and done that I took to heart and then let them lead me into an almost 18-year depression were released off me this year. The only thing is I don't think I have completely let them go. I am selfish. I enjoy the misery. I enjoy the martyrship. I enjoy rehashing everything that was said and done because it is familiar. However, God didn't call me to that.

God called me to be set free and to go forward to heal others in situations like mine. He has reiterated that word several times this year with the most recent being last week at our staff retreat. He gave me a gift that was to be employed to help release strongholds in others lives, but I tell Him it's too hard. I tell him I have released it, and He tells me I haven't, and then I am like my twelve-year-old daughter arguing with the God of the universe, who knows me better than I know myself, and I am trying to tell Him that I have released everything. Then when He calls me on my bluff, I get mad and walk away and pout.

What issue has you arguing with God? What do you keep trying to tell Him you have taken care of, when you both know you haven't let it go. There are blessings out there that you can't imagine for following His commands and directions. Don't sell yourself short, and most importantly don't sell short your God. He chose you for this particular time and place. He knows your giftings and has a destiny set aside for you. Trust Him today and move forward.

Book Review - Things Worth Remembering

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Carter) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 12:04:00 +0000

It's been a long time since I read a book where I really just wanted to reach in the book and slap one of the main characters. Unfortunately, Things Worth Remembering by Jackina Stark, was such a book. The book takes place during a five day time span leading up to the wedding of one of the main characters, and is told in first person from both the mother and daughter's point of view. This is probably another reason that I'm not thrilled with the book. I don't usually like first-person stories as it makes it harder for me to identify with the character.

It's easy to discern early on that there is a rift between the mother and daughter from early in the daughter's teen years. My only question was why the mother and father allowed the daughter to be downright disrespectful for 9 years. Over and over the daughter character is portrayed as a pouting, sulking, spoiled little brat, who should have been called onto the carpet way before her wedding week and by her parents and not her fiance'.

I was impressed with the author's portrayal of a family going through the affects of an affair. I especially liked the way the husband handled this with true human emotion, but was able to also see areas in his own life where he might have contributed (being too busy at work, etc.). I also liked the way they healed together, slowly, but surely.

Overall, the writing style of Jackina Stark was very good. I would be interested in trying another book of hers, but this particular book will definitely not be staying in my library. Please remember this is only one person's opinion, and while it is very strong, I know friends of mine, who did like the book.

This book was provided for review by Bethany House Publishers.

Book Review - Watch Over Me by Christa Parrish

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Carter) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 02:09:00 +0000

..."Who outside of God himself would have known a brilliant, deaf kid, a vegan hippie, and a toeless soldier would find themselves some sort of family?"

I was a little skeptical when I started reading this book. I usually don't like to read books where the couples are already married because the authors don't always use real solutions. The main characters struggle and struggle and then, presto!, they're back together again and God did it all without showing how they work it through. This book is definitely not one of those.

This is a story about a marriage, that maybe shouldn't have happened at all, and how two people can let life's situations carry them away from each other. Then when God throws a curve ball at them, they try to once again control the circumstances themselves and fix it. It isn't until their whole world falls apart, yet again, that they both finally realize that they can't do it on their own. They have to let God be the solution. Your heart will go out to the young boy in the book that slowly steals the book and the attention. That character was very well written and brought to life.

There were several places, especially towards the end of the book, that I made note to use when I speak on marriage topics. All in all, a well-written book that captures your imagination and takes you with the characters on their journey. It is a book that I would definitely recommend and an author I would like to read more.

This is a Bethany House Book.

Her Rescue Might Be the Miracle They Needed

Things like this don't happen in Beck County.

Deputy Benjamin Patil is the one to find the infant girl, hours old, abandoned in a field.

As police work to identify the mother, Ben and his wife, Abbi, seem like the obvious couple to serve as foster parents. But the newborn's arrival opens old wounds for Abbi and shines a harsh light on how much Ben has changed since a devastating military tour.

Their marriage teeters on the brink and now they must choose to reclaim what they once had or lose each other forever.

Yes. No. Maybe.

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Carter) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:43:00 +0000

At the front of the sanctuary of our church stands a locked, small, dark brown trunk. In this trunk, as has been every year since December 31, 2006, the top prayer requests for people in our church. Specific requests that we are asking God to answer in 2009. The prayers are placed in there on the last Sunday of the year and are left there until November 1st when the trunk is opened and the prayer requests are sent back to each person. I have not seen them, but for some people it is the salvation of a loved one. For others it is a new job or a raise in their current job. Some are asking to find a spouse. All are requests that are near and dear to each person's heart.

I am no exception. On the last Sunday of 2008, I wrote down the top 8 or 9 requests that I had for 2009. In the past I had made them somewhat generic and not necessarily measurable. Requests like that my daughters grow closer to God or my husband and I grow closer together and to God. This year, however, I asked for some distinctive requests that it would be easy for me to see a yes or a no.

Now, I confess, I forgot to write them someplace other than the card, so I have to wait another 5 weeks before I can see them, but there are a couple that I remember and. Because I work at the church office, I have the distinct pleasure of writing down prayer requests and praises that come in for our prayer team, and I hear or see that God is answering request after request in the Time Capsule. I proceeded to get a tad melancholy (just call me Eeyore) and wondered why God had not answered, but one of mine.

That's when it hit me. The fundamental truth that I have known, probably as long as I have been a Christian, some 28 years, but consistently forget. The one God had to hit me upside the head with a 2x4 to remember. He has answered. He has not forgotten me or ignored me. He has answered, but some of His answers happen to be no.

How many times do we cry and lament that God has not heard me? We tear our sackcloth and wail as though we were King David in the Psalms that the Almighty God has forgotten poor, little ol' me. When He hasn't. He answered, but for some reason we think that the only answer that is truly an answer from God is a yes. However, like any loving parent, sometimes He has to say no to protect us, to correct us, to grow us in His image.

It's so nice to know that I have not been forgotten. I am still a loved and cherished child of the King. He loves me enough to not give me things that are not good for me. He loves me so much He is willing to incur my all-knowing human temper tantrum when I don't get my way, so that He can gently shape and refine my character so I can become even more like Him. How absolutely, unequivocally awesome is that! He loves me enough to say NO!

Book Review Beautiful Mess - The Story of Diamond Rio by Diamond Rio with Tom Roland

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Carter) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 04:33:00 +0000

"It's the journey, not the destination". This saying by country music group, Diamond Rio's Jimmy Olander, is the summation of their book, Beautiful Mess. The book takes you through the formation of the group as the Tennessee River Boys, a performing group in the Opryland theme park, through 20 years of metamorphosis. Author, Tom Roland, a Nashville-based entertainment writer, introduces you to each of the Diamond Rio band members individually,and shares their history with you. He also takes you step by step through the formation of the band into where they are today.

The book, Beautiful Mess, The Story of Diamond Rio, is a well-written and thoughtfully laid out book. I do not know if it is something that will attract people who are not avid followers of the band or of the country music genre. There were parts of the book where I could feel the emotion and the pain of the band members, such as when the lead singer, Marty Roe, was having vocal difficulties and was having night after night of horrible performances. I think there were a couple of times I actually winced at the descriptions being able to picture them in my mind. Likewise, when the book talked about their song, "One More Day", and I started seeing everywhere it was used during 2001 including post 9/11, there were actually tears in my eyes.

I will admit, there were parts of this book that were extremely slow for me, not being a huge fan of biographies. However, for the country music aficionados out there, this book will show you a side of Diamond Rio that you probably have not seen before. They are a good group of guys that have worked together, played together, and served together in their community. There is a humanitarian side of them that I did not know, but was impressed to read about.

Although this is not a book that I gained great Biblical knowledge from, it was a book that I was glad to have read. I have liked Diamond Rio's songs and will continue to enjoy them even more in the future knowing what stand-up guys are behind the songs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDl3sxHdHw8

http://brb.thomasnelson.com/

The Words of the Godly

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Carter) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 05:10:00 +0000

Today was what I would classify as a rough day. I got some unexpected news that I really didn't like. I called my husband and commiserated with him. He let me vent, but for some reason that didn't make me feel better. I don't understand it (tongue in cheek). From that point on, I was melancholy in mood (think Eeyore), which in turn colored the way I looked at the rest of my day.

My daughters came home from school and my oldest asked me what was wrong. I told her nothing, but she has learned to read me and knew that I wasn't telling the truth. I couldn't tell her what had happened earlier because I knew she wouldn't understand, so I just brushed off her inquiry jumping to a different subject.

After work I took my girls to go get hair cuts. I walked in the door, saw our children's pastor and immediately told him what happened. He let me vent and I went on my way still not feeling better. I saw his wife and though I wanted to tell her what had happened, I couldn't because my girls were in the room and I didn't want them to hear. So I sulked and mourned about the fact that I couldn't really vent to her about what was going on.

I came home and continued being melancholy in mood. Being melancholy is not a good state of mind because it is really just a selfish poor me state. So fast forward a couple of hours and I was lying in bed thinking how horrible this day had been when I got the idea I should have gotten about 8 hours ago. Pick up the Bible and read it to see what God had to say for my situation. Sometimes I really hate it when I do this because I don't always want to hear what God has to say. I wanted a good, old-fashioned, vengeance is mine, kind of scripture.

"The words of the godly encourage many..." What were my words today? Were they at all encouraging? No. I made sure the people around me knew how miserable I was. If I was living in Bible times, I would have put on my sackcloth and gone to sit in my ashes, so everyone would take pity on me.

I am resolving, right here and now, amidst such a great cloud of witnesses (okay, all 3 of you who subscribe to my blog right now), that I am going to strive to implement this verse above. The words of the godly encourage many. How can I do this? When I have a bad day I go to my source of joy and let Him turn my attitude around, painful though it might be. I choose to encourage others around me so that in turn I will be encouraged.

Another mile marker in this pryzr's journey. "The words of the godly encourage many..."

Book Review: Love & Respect

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Carter) — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 03:16:00 +0000

Love and Respect
by Dr. Emerson Eggerich

"What if your son grew up and married someone like you?"

A wife has one driving need – to feel loved.

A husband has one driving need – to feel respect.

When either of these needs is not met, the Crazy Cycle will begin.

Love and Respect is a book by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs, a former pastor, and a marriage counselor with over 30 years experience that explains a simple, but revolutionary message that will profoundly change the way you look at and respond to your mate. Backed by scientific and biblical research, Dr. Eggerichs and his wife, Sarah, have been taking this message across the country since 1999 and are changing the way spouses are reacting to each other.

I had heard Dr. Eggerichs speak at a marriage conference I attended several years ago, and I figured this book would be mainly review for me. I confess, the first few chapters were a little hard for me to get into, but the sentence above caught my attention and from there I was hooked. Love and Respect was definitely not merely a review of what I had previously heard or been taught. Dr. Eggerichs plainly explained the three cycles that every marriage can go through and how to go from Crazy to Energizing to Rewarding to make your marriage the best it's ever been. This book explains the best ways to react to your spouse (love for women/respect for men), why they work, and gives the scriptures to back it up. My favorite part of the book was during his explanation of the final cycle where Dr. Eggerichs stated that our ultimate goal in giving love and respect to our spouse is not just to please our spouse, but to be in obedience to God. This is the crucial key that is so easily forgotten.

STAND

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Carter) — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 05:02:00 +0000

I love mentors. I love the whole concept of having someone in a different season of life coming along side of you to teach you how to make your journey just a little bit better. I also love that God gives you more than one mentor for different areas in your life. I have someone that I am getting to know that I feel God is going to use to mentor me in my writing. He's given me someone that I look to on how to relate to people (because God knows I need help with that!). And one of my favorite mentors is someone God gave to me to show me how to be a strong and steadfast PRYZR.

I was talking with "Mama" yesterday and she was sharing with me about a Word she received from God for some of the women in our church. This Word (using the KC paraphrasing) was that a lot of women are needing to get ready to fight and we don't know how. They have not had to or have chosen not to stand up and fight the enemy and have relied on other people to do their fighting for them.

I confess, I didn't get this at first. I agreed with what she was saying, but I didn't really get it until about halfway through the day. Then I got it!

STAND - I love this word. Being the egghead that I am, I went to the dictionary to look up it‘s meaning. It can be a noun with the meaning "to remain stable, upright, unaltered". It can also be a verb with the definition "to engage in" or "to remain unaltered".

Ephesians 6:10-20 teaches us about the armor of God. Those of you who know it, say it with me. The helmet of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness, the sword of the Spirit, the shield of faith, the belt of truth, and the shoes that are ready from the gospel of peace. And then...wait for it...here it comes...the command from the General at HQ. “…and after you have done everything to stand. STAND FIRM.”

Get ready. The fight is on! But our instructions are simple. All we have to do is stand (remain stable, upright, and unaltered). Don't back down or run away from the fight. Face it head on. It's not going to be easy, but all we are required to do is stand. He does the rest.

Teachers

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Carter) — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 05:06:00 +0000

This past Sunday evening I was attending a birthday/going away party for our Pastors' 18-year-old daughter, Lacie. Lacie is leaving on Thursday for Colorado Springs to attend a one-year School of Worship. While at this fun fiesta, I was speaking with our children's worship leader regarding my daughters and worship.

The Dilemma

My youngest daughter, who just turned the ripe old age of 10 years old, has joined the worship team for our elementary kids class, G-Force. I asked Ashley, the worship leader, how Kaitlynn was doing and was given a glowing report. (On the inside, this was a big swipe of the forehead, "Whew!!" as you never know what you're going to get sometimes with Kaitlynn.) She told me Kaitlynn was taking her responsibility as a leader very seriously and it has transferred over to another area for Kaitlynn as a teacher's aide in the 2's & 3's class. Ashley told me Kaitlynn was now stepping up even more as she helped in worship for that class also, even to the point of volunteering to pray and teaching the kids to actively participate in worship.

I have to say this absolutely floored me. I have been praying for years that my daughters would become young women with hearts for worship. I tried very hard to model this attitude for them, but a lot of times for me I have a hard time shutting my brain off and letting the worship take over. Sometimes I despaired as I watched them in our family worship times as they just didn't seem to "get into it". Maybe they just knew Mommy wasn't getting it totally either.

The Aha Moment

But on this typically hot, summer evening in Chandler, Arizona, I had an "AHA" moment. I looked around at the strong young women that surrounded my daughters, Lacie, Ashley, and others, who I have watched become great worshipers with hearts sold out for God and asked myself how they got there. I knew their parents were big worshipers, but there was more to it. It seems to me as they were slowly put into situations where they had to learn to lead others to the Father's throne and this is where they learned the most about worship. It became so real to them as they learned to lead and that's when it changed from head to heart knowledge.

So many times we try to just model the way, but we don't grow the people around us up to where they can teach others. People can and do learn by example, but the majority of people need "hands on" situations to push them over the cliff. I desperately want to become a person that is consumed by my need for God, and maybe, just maybe, as I learn to teach those around me and grow them up to teach those around them, I will become that which I most desire to be.