A Man of His Word by Kathleen Fuller

Absorb yourself in this delightful Amish story set in the village of Middlefield, Ohio.

Moriah marries the love of her life, Levi. Perfect. She becomes pregnant and it is exactly the way it should be.

Levi sees the world outside of the Amish Community and it is much more appealing. Even his unborn child isn’t enough to bring him back to his faith. Levi’s twin brother, Gabriel, pleads for him to return but the world has dangled its carrot and he’s not returning.

Gabriel longs to be with Moriah but the Amish ways forbid it. Moriah is bound to Levi forever even if he leaves her. She is forced to raise her child alone. The Amish community surrounds Moriah with their love and support and Gabriel continues to fight his feelings.

How does Moriah move on when her life has crashed down? She is unable to marry again and must lean on her family for support. The baby will be fatherless which crushes her soul. She should have been a better wife. How can God allow this to happen?

Moriah’s story is about leaning and trusting God. God will provide and will turn evil into good in His timing, not ours.

What struck me about this book was the love the Amish Community has for one another. They live a simple life. They make their food from scratch, sew their own clothes, and farm. In some ways, I think they have it right.

Just Between You and Me by Jenny B. Jones

Fabulous!!

I loved this book on so many levels!

The characters and story are in-depth. The character development is outstanding. Jenny digs deep into the fabric of each person. You feel their pain. Laugh and cry with them. This novel is nothing short of amazing.

Maggie has the dream career as a cinematographer. It’s full of adventures and Maggie loves a thrill. She fears nothing. Her life takes a turn when she is requested to make a trip back to her hometown of Ivy, Texas. Her plan is to take care of business then leave.

Maggie is easy to love! She is hilarious (I have a sneaky suspicion that Jenny B. Jones is a riot to be around). She returns to Texas and finds that her sister abandoned her niece, Riley. Riley is a feisty ten-year-old, smart-mouthed, and fights Maggie at every turn. She takes out her aggression on her classmates.

In walks Connor, a former classmate of Maggie’s. The past gets in the way and they simply do not see eye to eye. Maggie’s in a slight dilemma. Connor seems to be the only one who can pierce through Riley’s rough exterior. Can Maggie and Connor get along for the sake of Riley?

Maggie has a once in a lifetime offer. One is from the world. The other is from God. How will she choose?

This book is multi-faceted. It’s about love, trusting God, and facing your fears. It’s about letting go and allowing God to work in your life.

If you want to know more about this fabulous author, please visit her website at http://www.jennybjones.com/ I promise you this. You will not be disappointed.

Fearless by Max Lucado

Faith not Fear

There’s the old adage that F-E-A-R is simply false evidence that appears real. We fear of many things that may not ever become a reality.

Max Lucado is a master storyteller. We are afraid of something. I happen to be afraid of spiders. I have seen one too many these past couple of weeks. It’s interesting that I happen to outweigh the creepy, eight-legged creature by a gazillion pounds but I’m still afraid. I can either face it or continue to be afraid. I choose a big candle (still wrapped) to squash it. Smack. Gone. No chance of coming back to life.

As Max illustrates throughout his book, Jesus tells us many times to not be afraid. But, he also tells us that we will not live our life without troubles. Some of us fear death. Unless we are redeemed by the rapture, all of us will die. 100%. No exception. Jesus is faithful though. He states, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me… I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. (John 14:1, 3 NLT). I can only speak for myself, but I’m choosing to trust his Word. I will not escape death but I can meet Him face to face upon my death.

When we fear, worry invades our thoughts. As Max states in his book, “Fret won’t fill a bird’s belly with food or a flower’s petal with color. Birds and flowers seem to get along just fine, and they don’t take antacids.” Isn’t that great? God cares more about us than the birds and the flowers . He takes care of them. Why do we doubt Jesus? Or believe he might forsake us? Be faithful not fearful.

A comprehensive study guide is included. It is designed for groups or individuals. The purpose is to examine your fear, expose it, and then battle it. This is accomplished through the study of the Word. Max provides scripture verses to help solidify what you have learned.

I highly recommend Fearless by Max Lucado for your library. Do not be afraid but be faithful. The body will one day fade out, and then Jesus will walk in.