Voices of the Faithful Vol. 1 by Beth Moore

Voices of the Faithful, a year-long devotional, contains 365 inspiring stories of Christians serving around the world. Each month is themed: January--God's Character, February--God's Word, March--Prayer, April--God's Grace, May--Witnessing, June--Persecution, July--God's working, August--Contentment, September--God Before Me, October--Spiritual Warfare, November--Compassion, December--Christmas Around the World. Whether you are looking for a daily devotion for your quiet time or need a resource for devotions with family, friends, for opening a group meeting, or some other function, Voices Around the World will encourage, challenge, and uplift you. Each days story relates how God has worked in the teller's life.

I found this devotional very encouraging. Living in the midwest, I appreciate hearing about those serving in other countries and learning of their experiences. It never fails to amaze me how the Lord is working in someone's life in another part of the world and the message they received is very apt for my own life.

If you like Voices of the Faithful, you'll love Voices of the Faithful book 2 which is devotionals for women by women in the mission field. I truly enjoyed both books. Beth Moore continually publishes materials that encourage women in their walk with Christ and challenge them to look deeper causing growth.

For more information on Beth Moore and her work at Living Proof Ministries click on her picture.




Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson as part of their Blogger Review Program. 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 Commision's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising

Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball by Donita K. Paul

Cora Crowder, a believer struggling to balance the commercialism of Christmas with her newfound faith, searches for gifts that will be meaningful for her family. In her quest for meaningful gifts, she stumbles across a quaint little bookstore--Warner, Werner, and Wisbotterdad's--where she not only finds a gift for her uncle, but runs into her bosses boss, Simon Derrick, who is also looking for a special book.

Both books turn out to be just a little different than expected especially when a ticket is found in each to the Christmas Ball--a little known Ball with very little information available.

Fun times ensue as Cora and Simon try to find out more about the Ball and in the process, learn more about each other. Will Cora finally find the family she has always searched for? Will Simon find someone who can love not only him, but the family he is committed to caring for?

Enchantment sparkles on every page of this contemporary fairy tale, Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball by Donita K. Paul. I absolutely loved reading this tale. Paul created a delightful tale with twists, turns and secrets that kept me turning page after page to see what little gem would be hidden in the next pages. Cora and Simon, the main characters, were so "real" with real hang-ups, real jobs, and real families. While the characters charmed me with their real-ness, the Ball and the makers thereof awakened my inner princess. I wanted to go to this Christmas Ball and wear the magic dresses that fit as though made specifically for the wearer...which they were, of course. If you are looking for a great read this winter season, Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball is the book for you.

For more information on Donita K. Paul and her wonderful writings, click on her picture!

Please take a moment and rate my review: click Thank you! I appreciate your feedback both in the comments and through the review process.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Waterbrook/Multonomah as part of their Blogger Review Program. 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 Commision's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising

Passport to the World: Your A to Z guided Language Tour

Passport to the World: Your A to Z Guided Language Tour comes complete with a passport and country stickers to make your child's learning about other languages fun and creative.
Each two page layout relays information on a variety of topics: language, country, fast facts, greetings from a friend, how to speak the language, money, country proverb, traditional picture, current picture, other images about the country, and additional tips on ho you will learn interesting facts about each country or language. The book includes a world map with the included countries and the language spoken.
Also included is a brief history of languages and how they started. The brightly colored pages and and conversational tone of the book makes it very readable and entertaining for children ages 8-12.

I think this is a great introduction to the world outside America. Children can get a little taste of the language and culture of other countries. This would be the perfect starter book for younger children or a great supplement to a unit study of world history. Each two-page layout offers a number of interesting facts that springboard into more in depth conversation or broader research on the internet.

Double Shot by Erynn Mangum

Maya Davis is happy her best friend is marrying Maya's high school sweetheart. Why wouldn't she be? She has an engagement ring of her own from her childhood friend, Jack. While Maya is excited to spend the rest of her life with Jack, she finds that actual planning of the wedding a bit tedious and very time consuming. Between her job, Bible study, and a family emergency she just doesn't know how she will get everything done in time for her wedding just three short months away. Her mother and her best friend assure her all will fall into place with their help, but then a mighty wrench is thrown into her well-laid plans when Jack gets the opportunity for a promotion...in a city 12 hours from Hudson. Would God really encourage her to move so far from her family? Can she be happy there?

Double Shot is a typical Christian romance. As I read, I was dissappointed in the lack of character development and repetetive thoughts. Maya kept complaining about not having enough time to plan for the wedding, but then she's married and everything goes off fine. As a reader I thought there were a lot of loose ends that ended up to neatly tied in the end. While I found the characters "real" enough, I thought many of the peripheral characters were more deeply developed than the main character Maya. I appreciated the humor in the story (ie. When Maya is looking for scriptures to support her point about moving and they are all cons!) This was a nice light read, but I would have liked to have had more showing and less telling in the overall story.

For more information on Erynn Mangum and the other novels she's written, click on her photo.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from NavPress Publishers as part of their Blogger Review Program. 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 Commision's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising

Build Your Church Library

Reading is a lifelong passion of mine. Growing up on a farm in rural South Dakota, I spent hours reading in my room, on the deck, in the shanty in our grove. A book could take me miles away, not to mention to warmer climes, in the long cold days of winter. I have continued pursuing my passion for books as an adult. Often neglecting housework, sleep, or other mundane task for the pleasure of a few hours buried in a novel.

A year ago, a friend told me of the opportunity to get "free" books from Christian publishers and all I had to do was read them and tell other people about the book on my blog. What a great deal! I also found that this was a great way to stretch my library budget. Over the past years, I've read both fiction and non-fiction books, children's and juvenile books, and biographies and mom-books. Blogging has stretched my library budget so now we have an incredible library with up-to-date books in every genre.

Our church also has a website with a library page. I've linked this page to my blogs about each book to let the members know what new books have come into the library and to tell them a little bit about each book and my opinion of it. It's a great way to keep people informed of what's going on in the world of Christian publishing as well as the new books that on the church shelves.
As someone who is always on the lookout for ways to make my library "dollars" go farther, I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity. Thanks to this program, 46 new books have been added to our church library.

A few of the publishers offering books to blogger reviewers are Thomas Nelson, NavPress, Waterbrook/Multonomah, and New Leaf Publishing. If you are blogger and interested in reading and reviewing books, go to Thoughts From the Tub to get the links to these publishers and their blogger reviewer programs.

Just another secret from the life of this pastor's wife.

Mary Did You Know?

Mary had the priviledge and honor of raising the only perfect child. At his birth, she knew He was the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He was Immanuel, God with Us. God with her. She was blessed, but along with her blessing came tremendous pain and heartache. In this Christmas season, we celebrate the birth of baby---The Savior of the world.


Remember Jesus is the Reason for the Season!
Just another thought from the Secret Life of a Pastor's Wife.

Blogger Reviewers

About a year ago, I came across an opportunity to review books. I love to read and if someone is willing to send my free books so I can read and blog about them, I am more than happy to oblige. I started with Thomas Nelson Publishers, but have added several more to my list and have received a ton of books in the past year.

Here's how it works: If you have a blog, you can click on the publisher's below. This will take you to the sign up page for their blogger reviewer program. They will tell you how to go about ordering the book you would like to review. The publisher will then send it to you. In turn, you agree to read the book and write a 200-word blog about the book. You will also have to post a comment on another bookseller site (ie Barnes and Noble, Amazon, Christian Book.) Then you will notify the publisher (in the format they've requested) that you have completed your review and then you can select another book.

NavPress Blogger Review Program

BookSneeze with Thomas Nelson

Bethany House Publishers

Waterbrook/Multonomah

New Leaf Publishing Group

* A word to the wise: Only request books you really want to read because you cannot get another book from that publisher until you have read and blogged about the requested one. :)

You do not have to like every book you read, but you must read them. And I've found it's more fun to read the ones I like!

Have a great day and Keep up the God work!

Super Simple Cinnamon Rolls

Recipe: Pillsbury Frozen Biscuits
1 stick butter
1/8 cup cinnamon
1/2 cup sugar


White Frosting
2 tablespoons butter (melted)
1 1/3 cup powdered sugar
add milk by tablespoon till frosting is the desired consistency.



Preheat oven to 400.
Melt butter
Roll the biscuit in the melted butter. Then roll it in the cinnamon and sugar. Place in 9x12 pan. Repeat with each biscuit.
Pour the remaining butter over the biscuits and then the remaining sugar.
Bake for 18-24 minutes.
Remove from oven. Immediately frost.
Best served while still warm.



Live, Love, and Laugh over a pan of super simple cinnamon rolls.

Memory Makers

After every concert or social event at the middle and high school level, my older girls take pictures with their friends in the school commons. Usually they are dressed up so it's a perfect picture taking moment. They then doctor them up on Picnik with "stickers," words, fun coloring, frames and other neat effects.

So I took a page from their book and snapped a couple of photos with Selah and her friends after the Christmas program at school. They were dressed in their holiday finery and looked lovely. It only took a couple of minutes to grab the shots and voila--I have lovely memories of Selah and her friends.

I picniked the photos adding snowflakes and words and then uploaded them to shutterfly and made both 4x6 and wallet size prints that Selah can give to her friends as a Christmas present.

There you have it! Another super simple way to make memories and Christmas presents.
Remember to Live, Love, and Laugh this Christmas Season.

Flight of Shadows by Sigmund Brouwer

The term "freak" receives a new definition in this speculative ficiton thriller by Sigmund Brouwer. Caitlyn Brown has lived as a "freak" her entire life, but she has never been truly comfortable with her condition. In Flight of Shadows, Caitlyn has the opportunity to surgically remove the cause of her freakishness and reach gain her freedom. However, the same thing that makes her different also makes her very special; hunted by researchers who hope to gain the secrets of her DNA. Caitlyn is on the run and from her past experiences has learned not to trust anyone except her two friends, Billy and Theo who are somewhere in the city waiting for her to make contact.

Before she has an opportunity, she is forced to reveal her deformity and also reveals her location to those who have been searching for her. She now has no choice but to allow, Razor, a man able to slip through all levels of this new society seemingly untouched, to help her even though she can't bring herself to trust him. Will Caitlyn's new friend betray her to the highest bidder or help her reach her ultimate goal, freedom?

In Flight of Shadows, Sigmund Brouwer has created a dark, oppressive America ruled by greed and selfish ambition. Speculative fiction takes us to a place that may exist in the not-to-distant future. Brouwer challenges his readers to think about the ramifications of research science, the effects of war in America, and how our lives would be different in a country ruled by the highest bidder and not a moral center. Brouwer weaves not only a terrific tale, but a thought provoking treatise on a country without conscience.

For more information on Sigmund Brouwer and his many books, click on his picture to check out his website.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Waterbrook/Multonomah as part of their Blogger Review Program. 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 Commision's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising

Shutterfly Christmas Card

Cranberry Snowflakes Christmas 5x7 folded card

Make a statement with custom Christmas cards at Shutterfly.

View the entire collection of cards.