True Faith and Allegiance

In light of the impending presidential election, I thought it would be insightful to read Alberto R. Gonzalez' new autobiography, True Faith and Allegiance.

Wow! What a well-written, concise story of his life - being raised in a poor Spanish family and making it to Attorney General under President George W. Bush.

Not only was this book a heart-warming story of succeeding in life, but it was so informative on how the government works in Washington D.C., or rather, how it used to work. Mr. Gonzalez does a great job on giving many details to each story, many of which include very intimate details about his friendship with the President of the United States. These are real men. Men who backed up their beliefs with actions, not caring if anyone was behind them or not. Their consciences spoke very loudly. Albert Gonzalez' time in service in the White House was from 2000-2007. He endured the junk of politics and explained what really happened before his resignation.

Most importantly, he relates how his faith endured through it all. His faith in God and trusting in the Lord were integral parts of this story. And that is always the most encouraging part of reading books like these.

Three words that come to mind when describing Gonzalez and Bush: trustworthy, genuine, and strong.

As a part of the Booklook blogger's network, I received a free copy of this book.

Riley Unlikely - Book Review

It's amazing what God can do when there is a willing and passionate heart! It defies all age, gender, and economic status.

Riley Banks-Snyder, journals her passion through her new book, Riley Unlikely. Her journey started at age 13 and was sparked by other family members pursuing missions. She chronicles life from this point forward and her words on paper on like healing balm to one's faith. Seeing God supply again and again reminds the reader that He is able to complete what He calls one to do.

Riley was just an average girl with an above average expectation. And God has used her in mighty ways. She trusts God to work what He has given her the vision for and He does. She has impacted so many children for the kingdom of God by equipping them with the simple task of learning to read and write.

What an inspirational story of what God can do through one little girl, who is now a married woman. It also speaks to the fact that her parents trusted in God for their daughter's life as well and gave her the ability to be used by God when they could have said, "Wait until you are older."

Note: As part of the Booklook Blogging Network, I received a free copy of this book.
 

Greater Than Gold - Book Review

Most of the world were enraptured in the Olympics last month. This is an event that seems to capture the attention of most people and breaks any barriers of race, religion, economic status, etc.

And most, evangelical Christians had their eyes on and their ears open to diver, David Boudia.

So when his book came out and up for review I was ecstatic to be able to find out more about this outspoken Christian man.

Greater Than Gold, written by David Boudia alongside with Tim Ellsworth, is an easy read that chronicles David's journey to find happiness. Like so many athletes, there seems to be a black hole when it comes to "making it to the top." It never quite satisfies. And that is what Mr. Boudia find out himself. The change in his life that occurred was a miracle...just like all of us that come to know Christ and have allowed Him to transform us looks like. As you read his book, there is a definite line of "before Christ" and "after Christ". He writes with transparency and humility.

He is the real deal. I think we all saw that even at the last Olympics in Rio. He reminds us that life is greater than our achievements. It is more than our happiness. It is about the peace of God ruling in our hearts and our goal in life being for His glory.

Note: As a part of the Book Look Blogger's Network, I received a free copy of this book.

With All Due Respect - A Must Read For Parents of Tweens or Teens

Boy, parenting is hard work!

Parenting teens is even harder work!

I think all parents wish there was either a fast forward button on parenting or a go-into-coma-and-wake-up-when-it's-over button as they enter those tween or teen years.

I thought as a parent the first one was the hardest and yet, to my surprise, my youngest has been a challenge in her own right. So I was very excited to be able to read and review this newest book titled, With All Due Respect, by Nina Roesner and Debbie Hitchcock.

Most of us raising our children think things will be great if we do the job we need to do when they are little. Teaching them manners, respect, and first-time-obedience. And yet, most of us have a huge wake up call when the teen years hit because we have to adjust our parenting to slowing release
control. This, for me, has been the most difficult part.

Nina and Debbie have done a great job in helping us tackle this and other important aspects of how we treat our teens as "people" and pointing us to the Lord as the One who ultimately will give us the answers. Each chapter is short and concise, with an application that will sometimes tear your heart out, but is very necessary.

A huge shout out to these brave souls who point us up the difficult mountain but hold our hands as we go. Mistakes will be made. But seeking forgiveness is key.

For all of you who are headed this way or are in the throws of it, I highly recommend this guide.

As a part of the BookLook Bloggers Network, I received a free copy of this book.

The Longing in Me - Book Review

Many of us (in my age group) remember Sheila Walsh as a contemporary music artist who came on the scene in the '80s. Her story is much more.

This is my second book review of a book written by Sheila Walsh. The Longing in Me is the story of
how her first marriage came to be and how and why it ended. But bigger than that is the story of how Jesus got ahold of her life after so many others tried to destroy it. Sheila was raised in a very dysfunctional home, where many things occurred that many of us could never imagine. As Sheila aged, she reached out for security in many different forms and ended up in an abusive relationship. Through all of this God was drawing her heart and giving her the longing for something bigger.

As she writes this journey down in ink, she brings us through a study of the life of King David. In a beautiful way, she likens so many of the areas in our lives we struggle with to the life of this "Man After God's Own Heart".
God takes us through so many trial in life to teach us to trust in His sovereignty as we see His amazing love poured out on us. We are all pieces of the big story. Everything in our lives that happens both good and bad, is to push our gaze on the One who holds all things together, even when it seems they are falling apart.

Sheila Walsh does a great job in encouraging us in this journey.

As a part of the BookLook Bloggers Network, I received a free copy of this book.

Hope Heals - Book Review

Wow! Wow! Wow!

Just Wow!

I haven't read a book for a long time that I had to keep putting down to cry. But not to cry because of sadness. But to praise the Lord for His hope. To praise Him for the bad times. To praise Him because He knows what is best for our lives.

My next book review is one that took me only one day to read because I could not put it down!


Hope Heals, written by Katherine and Jay Wolf, is their incredible story of a the seeming destruction of a new life started together. After having been married a short while and having a surprise pregnancy ending in a beautiful baby boy, life dramatically changed. Katherine suffered a stroke. The kind of stroke that normally kills its victim. But God had different plans. I couldn't imagine going through all they did. Katherine went from being a physically beautiful woman to a woman who many people in the world would stare and gawk at. But as the story unravels, her beauty becomes a powerful expression of character and deep faith in their Creator.

And Mr. and Mrs. Wolf do an amazing job at giving God all the glory for their lives and story. The incredible pain that they went through, the rallying of other believers walking alongside them during this ordeal, the testimony to numerous staff members at the hospitials; all these things make this story such an encouragement. No matter what your life is full of or empty from, this is a book that will minister to the very depths of your heart.


As a part of the Booklook Blogging Network, I received a free copy of this book.

Forgiving My Daughter's Killer - Book Review

I am always interested in stories of forgiveness.

Kate Grosmaire and her family went through an incredible ordeal and has written a book about this journey. Forgiving My Daughter's Killer is a wonderfully written memoir about this journey. The Grosmaire family lost a daughter and sister at the hands of someone they had grown to love. Kate writes in a way easy to read and easy to feel the pain that they went through. The amazing thing is the love and forgiveness that they extended along the way. I can't even imagine the heart wrenching pain and constant battle of feelings that they fought through and, yet, they always came back to forgiveness. This story is a little different from a random murder in the fact that the killer was her boyfriend whom they had come to see as part of their family. This makes this an even harder task to take on; forgiving someone you trusted to keep another loved one safe.

This story is beautiful picture of God's love and forgiveness for mankind and how mankind can exhibit an small part of this.

On a personal note: God is part of this story and yet, as a believer, I had to take into consideration the world-view or spiritual direction of this family. Their Catholic beliefs differ greatly from my own in understanding the Bible. Salvation is by faith alone through grace; without works or anything added to it. Christ is the One who gives the ability to forgive because we realize how much we have been forgiven our own sins. Our faith does not "get us through", rather, the Lord and our trust in Him is our anchor in storms such as these. I do not believe we confess to a priest for forgiveness; it is through Christ alone. The courage and focus of the forgiveness in this story was for the human sake not for the glory of God. I believe the reason we forgive first in obedience to Christ, and then, there are wonderful results and out workings of our choices. I acknowledge that this family has gone through so much and to share this story was extremely difficult, I am sure. But I was saddened to see just where their faith lies. That was a huge part of this story.

Note: I was given a free copy of this book as part of the booklookbloggers network.

My Name is Mahtob: Book Review

I am intrigued by autobiographies!

My Name is Mahtob, written by Mahtob Mahmoody, follows the story of a little girl's life before, during, and after the kidnapping of her and her mother across the borders of many countries. They were taken from America to Iran in the early 80's by Mahtob's father. He was an Iranian who lived in America from the age of 18 until his departure with his victims. He became a radical Muslim after moving to Detroit, Michigan. But enough about him. Because this story is really about the resolve and determination of a girl who becomes a young woman. A beautiful young woman.

As Mahtob describes her journeys it is remarkable to just imagine what she went through, and yet, the bulk of the story that impressed me was how she conquered her fears and anxieties. Forgiveness was key to this! After returning to the United States, she was diagnosed with Lupus, that almost killed her. Yet again, she is spared. As she aged, she realized her faith and belief in God was vital to continuing on....you see, her father didn't give up. He continued to try to contact her and even did things to increase those fears; living day to day with weird "coincidences" happening that only increased her dread.

Through many important people that God placed in her life, she was able to finally forgive him and change her entire view of life. Thankfulness and seeing her daily blessings was key to overcoming this mental anguish.

The story invites the reader on a journey that will not be easily forgotten! It may even cause one to examine one's own way of handling life's circumstances. Most importantly, it will confirm to the reader that no matter how hard life seems, our faith in God and attitudes makes the hope attainable.

As a part of the booklook blogging network, I received a free copy of this book.