Stranded by Dani Pettrey

Spoiler alert!!
There is no way to do a review of this book without a spoiler! I will try my best to keep it to a minimum!!
I have not read the first two book and this book is third in a series. I believe from the end of the book it is the final installment as it wraps up all the loose ends.
The author has only published these 3 books so far, but she is a very gifted writer and the genre is fiction, Christian mystery/suspense. i normally do not care for fiction but have never read from this genre so I thought I would have a go of it. The author is also a home schooling mother of two children.
I enjoyed the way her character set has a coming to Jesus approach. The story takes place in Alaska and opens with her friend beibng taken hostage. THe book has a happy ending and a sex slavery ring is broken. Basically the travel agency was screening women to abduct them and it was a Russian tie-in.
I did not care for the topic. But the writer did a good job. She closed all the doors and left nothing dangling and best of all; she had all characters give credit to God. I love to see that happen, I think we all do.
It is a thick book but the print is large and I read it in a day. The main character of course falls in love and it comes to fruition in the final passages of the book.
The writer does a great job. If you enjoy romance and suspense or mystery, you are in for a real treat with this author.

Wounded by Gods people by Anne Graham Lotz

This book gets a permanent spot in my book collection. it is an easy 1 day reader of only about 230 pages with large print.
I decided to read this book solely based on the fact that I really enjoy reading Billy Graham, and have always loved to watch his televised events; what an amazing man of God. This topic Anne, chose also sparked my interest. It is a look into the life of Hagar, and how she was mistreated. The hand maiden of Sara, she was asked by Sara, to have a child with Sara's husband Abraham, because the angels said that he would have a son and Sara, was in her 80s and thought that she could not carry a child. however, when Sara, did become pregnant, Hagar, was cast out of the family and home. Some thanks for being a good maid!! No wonder Ishmael grew up to hate and be filled with bitterness. The author dives into that abyss of bitterness many Christians feels, who feel like they have been wronged in life by a church or Christians in a church. Anne talks openly about how she feels she has been wounded by Christians who did not live as they should be living.
The authors advice basically, is that everyone makes mistakes and we often think of these incidence as deliberate when they are in fact very accidental. After all, we are emotional creatures. The author talks about how god can renew our hearts and heal the tears and bruises if we allow Him to do so for us.
An interesting note; I just finished reading a blog page that talked about how God can heal our hearts and how we must safe guard what we allow into our hearts. It goes right along with this book, which is interesting because noone knew I had selected this book, so only God could have been driving.
God loves both the hurt and those who hurt, or the wounded and the wounders. This is a book about finding the strength to forgive. The author says, 'Maybe you are among those sho have been so deeply hurt by the church that you no longer want anything to do with God.' The author believes that the grace of God can heal any wound. So do I.
  Psalm 147:3 God heals the brokenhearted &  binds up their wounds
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for writing a review. If you think that in any way earned this book a favorable review then you might want to read some of my other reviews.

NIV Worship Together Bible By Thomas Nelson Publishers

 

Heres what the publisher says:

Worshiping God is one of the believer’s highest callings. Music and song have been a timeless way to glorify God throughout history. Scripture itself is full of musical and poetic praises dedicated to the Lord. Using a unique combination of songs and reflections, the NIV Worship Together Bible blends modern-day worship and culture with the beloved Word of God. This Bible helps you embrace God as your loving Father and shows you how to exalt him through song and reflection. The musical inspiration in this Bible will remind you of the importance of constantly striving to be Christlike. As Pastor Jack Hayford, the author of the song “Majesty,” once put it: “Worship changes the worshiper into the image of the One worshiped.”
Features:
The complete text of the world’s most popular modern-English Bible, the NIV

• Lyrics to the top 50 worship songs
• Song notes and reflections from the songwriters
• Simple chord charts for the Top 20 worship songs
• Essay that explores the purpose and history of worship music
• Foreword by Matt Maher
• Index to organize songs by scriptural reference

As for me, I think it is the perfect Bible for any worshiper who loves music. It also might be the perfect Bible for anyone who does not worship but who loves music.
I enjoy the songs and history behind the songs.
I sat down with hte Bible while it was raining and lit up a few sea salt candles and fluffed the old feather pillows and I sure njoyed reading Exodus. Something about a man with the guts to stand up to the king of all Egypt, and say to him, God says for you to....
Doesnt really matter what God wanted from the Pharoah; matters that Moses had the courage to tell the king what god instructed Moses to tell him. Maybe Moses thought people would think him crazy; who knows?
But Moses did what god told him to do.
It got me thinking, do I have that kind of courage?
I felt really comfortable with this Bible. Like it was made for me. I love music. I love God. It is a natural fit.

Finding God in the Dark by Kluck and Martin

As a social worker I have a soft spot in my heart for foster parents because they really can make a great difference in the life of a child. Klink and his family adopted boys and its telling is a large part of his story. Both authors talk about the moments in thier lives when their faith was pushed up against a wall and suffered but maintained their love and trust in God through it all. These two writers are not the best to team up, but it didnt really work against the rythmn of the book. it is not really an inspiring book, but mroe like a book that says we struggled but we didnt give up on God. I was not inspired, but I can see how some people will be deeply impacted. It is worth the time it took to read it. I enjoyed the way they talked about joy and how God uses joy to help them focus on God and not material wealth. It is a dramatic read and there will be tears! I received a free copy of this book from Bethany House publishers in exchange for writing a review, but that did not get this book a good review, this book earned its own good review. it is a short paperback and a fast read for an airport or doctors visit while in the waiting room. Anytime you have a few hours to spend with a good book. It is a good book.

Finding God in the Bible by Darren Wilson

I enjoyed this writer, Darren Wilson, his work is laid back and has a hippie twist. The News Boys meet Willie Nelson, in musical terms! Its a softback, a fast read and he offers good insights into seeing that ours is truly the only LIVING God, the only real God. Its a wonderful book and the dvd is great! Wilson is a very good articulator. He has a hippie come to God approach; like Jimmy Buffett meets Rick Warren or The News Boys meets Willie Nelson. He puts spin on his take of how to develop a relationship with God, how to see where God was in the past so you can see where God is in the present and where God will be in the future (hint) the answer is here. I received a free copy from the publisher, Bethany House in exchange for writing a review; however that did not earn the book a good review! I saw a bumper sticker one time that read, 'Gods original plan was to hang out in a garden with some naked people'. I loved it! I think Darren Wilson would love it also because it sums up the feel I have for his writing. He focuses on with this book an aspect of seeing God as a friend, not an ice cold ruler. Wilson has kind of a hippie approach, love God and give God a chance; talk to God just like you talk to any close friend. This is a great book to help someone get a deeper friendship with God and not take such a stoic approach that keeps us distant from God. We don't need to see God as distant but as here with us and approachable. That seems to be the focus of this work. Also the DVD, Father of Lights is great!! It drives home Wilsons point: God loves us and wants to be friends with all of us, not deity and creation but friends.