AIO: Taking the Plunge

Product Description

In the all-new album, Taking the Plunge, your favorite Adventures in Odyssey characters are faced with life decisions and hard lessons.

Will Penny “take the plunge” and say yes to Wooton’s marriage proposal? Will Eugene solve a mystery about missing money? Will Buck make the right kind of new friends? Will Olivia discover how to create a perfect family?

My Review

It had been forever since I've listened to Adventures in Odyssey! How I've missed it. I was so glad when I ordered this set. No matter how old you get, you can always learn something from Whit's End. Though so many of the characters I'm not familiar with some of the new characters now, but they still have the old familiar ones of Connie and Eugene and of course Mr. Whitaker! It wouldn't the same without him. 

I'm already liking the new (for me) characters Wooton and Penny! Definitely lessons to learn for all ages! That's what I've always loved about AIO. It transcends age and limits! If you want something to listen to on the car ride to work one early morning or late afternoon or if you have a trip with the kids, than pop in this 2- disc set, 6 episodes, over 2 hours of fun and learning life lessons!

It's Good to Be Queen by Liz Curtis Higgs

Book Description

Sheba Journeyed Across the Desert with a Caravan of Riches,
 Only to Find the Greatest Treasure of Them All.  So Can You.
When it comes to famous queens of the Bible, we know the good one, Queen Esther, and the bad one, Queen Jezebel. Now meet the wise one, the queen of Sheba, who traveled to Jerusalem to test the mind and heart of a king.
 
Her quest for wisdom will surprise you, challenge you, inspire you, change you. This wealthy royal from antiquity will show you how to live boldly, seek after truth, ask the right questions, encourage others, receive graciously, and honor the Lord above all.

Shedding new light on this ancient biblical role model, Liz Curtis Higgs unveils timeless wisdom for all who aspire to please the king of Kings.

My Review

I love Liz Curtis Higgs books like these. I've only read a few but they are so intriguing and insightful! I never had never thought so in-depth about the Queen of Sheba before this book. You've probably heard this said to you or said it to someone yourself, "Who do you think you are, the Queen of Sheba?" Liz Curtis Higgs shines a much different light on this Queen that I will never be able to hear those words the same again. There's things we can learn from this queen in the Bible!

The lessons we can learn from the Queen of Sheba: We need to be bold, having faith. Being open to what God's plans for us. Seeking wise and trustworthy council. Being humble. Being honest with God and others. Encouraging everyone you come across. Praising God in all things. Giving graciously and generously! Receiving graciously to honor God and the giver (that's one I've struggled with!) Ending with by loving well the rest of your life. 

This book is filled with so much truth and great advice. At the end there is also a Study guide which is pretty cool! Great for Bible groups or just by yourself!

I give this book a 5 out of 5!

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for this honest and unbiased review as part Blogging for Books blogging program.

Be Still: Part I

It's been a little while since you've really heard from me, of my thoughts and my heart. Believe me when I tell you there's been a lot going on in both. The last couple of weeks have been a true test of faith. I won't bore you with details, but I am going to share with you some of the things I've learned. I'll separate them into two or three posts to give you all a chance to breathe between cake bites and milk, or tea if you prefer.

My family and I went to a book sale last month, we all had such a great time! I found so many books, for myself and my sister (I'm really good at iSpy, so my sister was really glad to have me around). It was a great start to a marvelous weekend. Usually I get a ton of books, but this time I decided I would keep it under $20 and sure enough once I had cut all the ones I didn't need or really truly want I got just under with 50 cents to spare! The rest of day was beautiful, sun shining and wind brushing across our cheeks so gently.

Saturday was just as fine a day. Our family doodled and doddled and cruised around town. Enjoying the lovely day as we may. I couldn't have had a better day, I thanked God. Well, you know how that ole Devil despises happiness and praise. And, he will do anything to shift our focus away from God.
That night we ate a local restaurant and all, except my mom praise the Lord, got food poisoning.
First my dad and younger sister got it so bad they both had to go to the emergency at 3am that night. The next day my youngest sister and I were sick, but thankfully we were spared from having to go to the emergency room, ours wasn't as severe. In fact, my sister had to go back again to the ER due to complications from the whole ordeal; her chest cavity was inflamed and she was having a hard time breathing. She's well now, thank the Lord! We are all well again.

First lesson from this story: watch what you eat! If the food looks
bad or doesn't seem cooked or is cold when it should be warm or is warm when it should be cold or something just plain doesn't seem right with even just one piece of food ...WALK AWAY.

Here's the thing though, even if you do get sick, whether its food poisoning, a common cold, or something much worse, don't forget that though your body may be weak your spirit is still strong. Cause that's what the Devil is really up to, he's out to crush our spirits by putting our bodies against us. But here's some wise words I'd like to share:

"The human spirit can endure a sick body, but who can bear it if the spirit is crushed?" --Proverbs 18:14 (NLT)

Seriously! When have you ever honestly heard of someone being able to bear a crushed spirit? They can live without legs and feet or hands and arms, but the spirit... It's worse to have a crushed spirit, believe me!
See these bodies aren't made to last (since sin entered the world) anymore, they are of this earth {Genesis 2:7} but God has new heavenly vessels waiting for us in Heaven.

"For we will not be spirits without bodies, but we will put in new heavenly bodies." -- 2 Corinthians 5:3

God has guaranteed it {2 Corinthians 5:5} by giving us his Holy Spirit. I'm honestly looking forward to it; excited to tell the truth. Since I know what he has made for me up there will be beautiful. The pain, the sickness, won't last forever but His love endures forever. It's easy to forget when your hurting and sick, I'm just as much at fault as anyone for doing it. He loves you, wants to help you; he does help you. But instead we say: "Just gotta let it run its course, I'll be fine." As if we are to bear, or are bearing, it on our own! Think about this a moment.
To anyone who's been helping you: fetching your water, a wet cloth, a bowl of chicken noodle soup, or keeping people from disturbing you as you rest, would you say, "It took a few days, but I got all better! I'm right as rain, fit as a fiddle, just had to give it some time"?

Wow.

If you were that helpful person, wouldn't you feel like you'd just been slapped in the face? You'd think "how ungrateful." Oh you know you would, don't fib sweetie. *wink* I know I would. I know I'd also feel like such a heel for not giving credit and my sincere thanks to the one who helped me get well. I wouldn't be able to look them straight in the eyes! How could I be so ungrateful?

Second Lesson: Remember to Thank Him {Psalms 136:1} even in your weary state. Even if its just a quick whisper, for He loves a thankful heart. And next time you're sick or weary from these earthly bodies, remember it is only your body that is ill, not your soul {Matthew 10:28}. Don't let that silly ole Devil get you down in the dumps, he can't win cause Jesus already has! Your soul is secure if you keep believing Jesus is your Savior and live for Him.

Alas this is only the beginning of the story. "Be Still: Part II" will be coming soon. I can't wait for you to come back, I really do enjoy our little chats. Sorry I couldn't offer you an apple but I'm afraid they weren't quite right. Maybe next time though, yes? Oh maybe you like pears, I love pears.

God bless you!

Emma of Aurora by Jane Kirkpatrick

Description

The Change and Cherish trilogy, based on the true story of Emma Wagner Giesy:

A Clearing in the Wild
When Emma’s outspoken ways and growing skepticism lead to a clash with the 1850s Bethel, Missouri colony’s beloved leader, she finds new opportunities to pursue her dreams of independence. But as she clears a pathway West to her truest and deepest self, she discovers something she never expected: a yearning for the warm embrace of community.

A Tendering in the Storm
Determined to raise her children on her own terms, Emma suddenly finds herself alone and pregnant with her third child, struggling to keep her family secure in the remote coastal forest of the Washington Territory. As clouds of despair close in, she must decide whether to continue in her own waning strength or to humble herself and accept help from the very people she once so eagerly left behind.

A Mending at the Edge
As a mother, daughter, sister, and estranged wife, Emma struggles to find her place inside—and outside—the confines of her religious community. Emma reaches out to others on the fringe, searching for healing and purpose. By blending her unique talents with service to others, she creates renewed hope as she weaves together the threads of family, friends, and faith.


My Review

Excellent wouldn‘t begin to tell the tale. But Jane Kirkpatrick did it with the Change and Cherish Trilogy (read chapter one free). I wasn’t really sure what to expect from it. I had never heard of Emma Wagner Giesy or the Bethel community. But every time I picked up the book I found myself reading more and more without even realizing it. That is how good it was.

In the first book, A Clearing in the Wild, you got to know the people and the community. Brother Keil was definitely an interesting one. I fought many times the urge to smack him in hopes it would clear his head and get him to see some of the things he was saying were wrong and manipulative! But Emma used that to her advantage, which I knew she would later regret going behind her husband’s back. Christian was a fine character indeed. Somehow he understood Emma better than the others. Though he did get frustrated with her a time or two; you really see how much he loved her more. I was sad when brother Keil came and made Christian out to be a failure on their mission for the new colony. But I was glad Emma was able to show that Keil was wrong and that they had listened to God and done their best.

In A Tendering in the Storm, I was shocked to tears. I had really hoped to see more of Christian, his death caught me by surprise. I was so sad. I hurt for Emma and her expected third child. I liked that we got to read from Keil’s wife’s point of view. It really opened your eyes to her gentle spirit, which in the first book it didn’t seem she really had. She truly loved her husband even though she didn’t agree with everything he said or did.
Later, I wanted to shout to the mountain tops and back to her though. Some things you can’t control but that’s when you ask for help, especially from the Almighty. I kept praying (though I knew it was fiction) that things would change for the better for her, but they didn’t. In fact, it got worse. A lot worse. Sometimes it takes falling all the way to the bottom before we look up to see the light. Thank heavens she did in time. My heart was racing in the last chapters and sighed with relief by the end.

Lastly, A Mending at the Edge was a beautiful and fantastic ending. Emma begins to learn from her mistakes and lets God grow in her. She continues to be unique in the colony but in a way that glorifies God and helps many others who had been wounded and scarred or still made mistakes as she did. They end up learning from her and growing as well. I wished she could have married Karl Ruge. He was one of my favorites throughout the series.
Brother Keil softens a lot through this one and they both begin to respect the other, which I was glad. I liked the things Emma learned because I learned from them too. Like (pg 1102) how our talents are from God and that by thinking less of them or even that no one wants them is demeaning to the one who gave them to me. I hadn’t really thought of that before. It was like God was saying that directly to me.

I really enjoyed reading this book, even after the end where Jane Kirkpatrick comes in and tells you about the real characters and what parts were fiction and what parts were facts, historically. Jane Kirkpatrick outdid on this series. She is an amazing author who I will be undoubtedly reading from again. This is the second time I’ve been surprised by a book that I knew nothing about or hadn't heard of before (the first was Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte) and it is now one of my all time favorite’s as well as the author.

WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group provided this book to me for free in exchange for my honest and unbiased review as part of their Blogging for Books program. 

Please rate my review and feel free to leave a comment :)