So, as many of you know I've had to downsize my book collection a little bit because of my current living space. I thought, since I haven't written anything on books lately, I would let you in on the books I brought and why I chose those ones! Basically, mini reviews for books that I love but that aren't all that new.
Book #1 - The Truth About Guys by Chad Eastham
I love this book because it's straight to the point, truthful and - best of all - funny! Chad is a phenomenal writer (I recommend his two other books as well!) and he writes from the heart. Also, he doesn't push getting a boyfriend or anything, the idea that he pushes in all of his books is getting to know Christ and really loving yourself. Without those two things it's impossible to really fall for someone in a healthy situation!
Book #2 - The Healer's Apprentice by Melanie Dickerson
If I had to pick a favourite book, this one would definitely be in the running. Melanie takes a fairytale that we all know and love, Sleeping Beauty, and adds a twist of reality to it. She sets in back in old time Germany and adds a Christian element, which I really appreciate. I really love her writing style as well, and her characters are amazing.
Book #3 - The Bride Backfire by Kelly Eileen Hake
This is book 3 in the series but it's my favourite, and you don't have to read all of the books to get the story in this one. I love of Kelly is able to create characters that are loveable and relatable. She is a very talented writer (so is her mom!).
Book #4 - Faking Grace by Tamara Leigh
Tamara is definitely one of my favourite authors. She has the ability to be incredibly witty in one sentence and then in the next one she can be very deep and spiritual. I love her characters because they are very true to life, and the lessons that her characters learn are also true to life. Though I haven't had the chance to read all of her books yet, I would still recommend reading her books!
Book #5 - The Rose of Winslow Street by Elizabeth Camden
See my review here.
Book #6 - The Princess by Lori Wick
This book has been around for a long time but I hadn't heard of it before a few years ago. I love love love it. The plot is fantastic and it's definitely a page-turner. Beware because you will want to read the whole book in one night because you want to know so badly what happens! She is a great author and I love her characters in this book.
Sadly, this is all the books that I have had the chance to squeeze on the shelf here (as well as some Susie Magazines and LouLou fashion magazines) but I am on the lookout for a good library which means that more review will be coming soon!
Monday, September 10, 2012
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Monday, September 3, 2012
God's Faithfulness
Wow, this is my first official Monday blog post - a little late, almost Tuesday, but it's here.
I heard this quote today that really struck a chord in my heart. "Don't doubt in the dark what God showed you in the light."
I think that this is a challenging quote to all Christians. We are doubters, just like Thomas the disciple. No matter how perfect we think we are, no matter how long we've been a Christian, we will always doubt until the day Jesus comes back to get us. What can help us in our doubt is being focused on God and His faithfulness. He is faithful no matter what.
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
I heard this quote today that really struck a chord in my heart. "Don't doubt in the dark what God showed you in the light."
I think that this is a challenging quote to all Christians. We are doubters, just like Thomas the disciple. No matter how perfect we think we are, no matter how long we've been a Christian, we will always doubt until the day Jesus comes back to get us. What can help us in our doubt is being focused on God and His faithfulness. He is faithful no matter what.
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him.”
therefore I will wait for him.”
The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him;
to the one who seeks him;
it is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the Lord.
for the salvation of the Lord.
-Lamentations 3:22-26
If God has shown you the path that He wants you to take it will be incredibly obvious. He is not out there to trick us, in fact that's what Satan likes to do. If you are prayerfully and faithfully seeking God's will for your life then you just need to listen and keep taking one step at a time. God doesn't often give us the whole picture before He sets us on our life journey. He likes for us to have to lean on Him, because that is the only way that we will ever truly live. God's faithfulness is great and He is full of great love for us.
You will be okay. The light at the end of the tunnel might be dim but it is there. He will find you where you are if you call out to Him.
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
-2 Corinthians 4:18
We have to pray with our eyes on God, not on the difficulties.
- Oswald Chambers
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Solid Ground
Every time I look at You, You're smiling at me
Every time I walk to You, You're running to me
Every time I lift my hands, You're reaching for me
Even in the eye of the storm I look to You, beloved I'm Yours
All I see is a hurricane
All I feel is an earthquake
When I'm weak you are stronger now
So I walk on water like it's solid ground
Every time I wander off, You're looking for me
Every time I cry to sleep, You're weeping with me
Every time I get back up, You're dancing with me
Even in the eye of the storm I look to You, beloved I'm Yours
All I see is a hurricane
All I feel is an earthquake
When I'm weak you are stronger now
So I walk on water like it's solid ground
I walk on water like it's solid ground
~Lyrics from: Solid Ground by The Museum
Every time I walk to You, You're running to me
Every time I lift my hands, You're reaching for me
Even in the eye of the storm I look to You, beloved I'm Yours
All I see is a hurricane
All I feel is an earthquake
When I'm weak you are stronger now
So I walk on water like it's solid ground
Every time I wander off, You're looking for me
Every time I cry to sleep, You're weeping with me
Every time I get back up, You're dancing with me
Even in the eye of the storm I look to You, beloved I'm Yours
All I see is a hurricane
All I feel is an earthquake
When I'm weak you are stronger now
So I walk on water like it's solid ground
I walk on water like it's solid ground
~Lyrics from: Solid Ground by The Museum
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
C.S. Lewis
"God who foresaw your tribulation has specially armed you to go through it, not without pain but without stain."
"A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word 'darkness' on the walls of his cell."
"We may ignore, but we can nowhere evade the presence of God. The whole world is crowded with Him. He walks everywhere incognito."
"Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less."
"A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word 'darkness' on the walls of his cell."
"We may ignore, but we can nowhere evade the presence of God. The whole world is crowded with Him. He walks everywhere incognito."
"Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less."
CD Review - The Struggle
The Struggle - Tenth Avenue North
These guys are some of my favourite musicians for sure so I bought this CD as soon as I could.
I have to say, though, that I was a little disappointed. While this CD has phenomenal lyrics (I seriously don't think I can stress that enough), about God's love, his faithfulness and his redemption, this album was lacking in musicality in comparison to their past two CDs. That would not stop me, however, from recommending this album to anyone because of how amazing this band and their passion for God is. With lyrics like: Hallelujah/ We are free to struggle/ We’re not struggling to be free/ Your blood bought and/ Makes us children/ Children, drop your chains and sing (The Struggle) and We’re all strangers here/ So it’s alright if you can’t/ Stop the tears that you cry/ ‘Cause some day we’ll touch the face of our God/ And the sorrow will disappear/ Until then, we’re strangers here (Strangers Here) it's hard to go wrong.
My favorites: The Struggle and Worn.
These guys are some of my favourite musicians for sure so I bought this CD as soon as I could.
I have to say, though, that I was a little disappointed. While this CD has phenomenal lyrics (I seriously don't think I can stress that enough), about God's love, his faithfulness and his redemption, this album was lacking in musicality in comparison to their past two CDs. That would not stop me, however, from recommending this album to anyone because of how amazing this band and their passion for God is. With lyrics like: Hallelujah/ We are free to struggle/ We’re not struggling to be free/ Your blood bought and/ Makes us children/ Children, drop your chains and sing (The Struggle) and We’re all strangers here/ So it’s alright if you can’t/ Stop the tears that you cry/ ‘Cause some day we’ll touch the face of our God/ And the sorrow will disappear/ Until then, we’re strangers here (Strangers Here) it's hard to go wrong.
My favorites: The Struggle and Worn.
Thursday, August 23, 2012
CD Review - The Upside of Down
The Upside of Down - Chris August
It was just a good week for CDs this week... Owl City (check out my review for it here), Tenth Avenue North (review coming next week) and Chris August.
I have to say that I was really impressed with Chris August's first release, No Far Away, and so my expectations were very high for this CD (as they usually are). Expectations = surpassed.
Chris kept this CD totally him but added onto his amazing sound with awesome vocals and beautiful melodies. I really appreciate the fact that he can do a variety of styles and he shows that off a little in this CD, going from bluesy in Water Into Wine to more rock in Center of It. This whole CD is packed with awesome worship, definitely a must have for fans of his first album and one to check out for people that haven't heard him before.
My favorites: Center of It and The Upside of Down.
It was just a good week for CDs this week... Owl City (check out my review for it here), Tenth Avenue North (review coming next week) and Chris August.
I have to say that I was really impressed with Chris August's first release, No Far Away, and so my expectations were very high for this CD (as they usually are). Expectations = surpassed.
Chris kept this CD totally him but added onto his amazing sound with awesome vocals and beautiful melodies. I really appreciate the fact that he can do a variety of styles and he shows that off a little in this CD, going from bluesy in Water Into Wine to more rock in Center of It. This whole CD is packed with awesome worship, definitely a must have for fans of his first album and one to check out for people that haven't heard him before.
My favorites: Center of It and The Upside of Down.
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
CD Review - The Midsummer Station
The Midsummer Station - Owl City
I am a huge Owl City fan so I wassomewhat excited very, very excited to hear this CD and I was not at all disappointed!
Lots of people I know tell me that they think every Owl City song sounds the same, not so with this album! Every song is completely Owl City but with a definite twist from how he's done things before. Because he wrote and produced with other people for this CD (something he's never done before) I felt like it gave him the freedom to mature his sound and have more creativity throughout his songs. His typical humor is sprinkled all over this CD but he brings a more thoughtful side to some of the songs as well which is very refreshing.
My favorites: Bombshell Blonde and Embers
I am a huge Owl City fan so I was
Lots of people I know tell me that they think every Owl City song sounds the same, not so with this album! Every song is completely Owl City but with a definite twist from how he's done things before. Because he wrote and produced with other people for this CD (something he's never done before) I felt like it gave him the freedom to mature his sound and have more creativity throughout his songs. His typical humor is sprinkled all over this CD but he brings a more thoughtful side to some of the songs as well which is very refreshing.
My favorites: Bombshell Blonde and Embers
Monday, August 13, 2012
Pairing Neutrals
Add some subtle drama to your LBD by pairing it with a brown clutch and brown boots. Unexpectedly elegant.
Add a creamy green jacket to a neutral outfit to add a bit of colour to a subdued and classy look.
Creamy colours go great together. Add a black belt to add a bit of drama to an otherwise soft outfit.
Add a thick sweater over top of a neutral dress and opaque black tights for a easy, pulled together look for everyday.
Pairing neutrals is a great way to get the best bang for your buck out of your wardrobe. Think of adding blacks and browns and creams together to create outfits that you wouldn't usually wear.
Monday, August 6, 2012
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