BOOK REVIEW!
A Word to the End Time Church, by Georgie Newman, is an amazing book about Christianity and how and why Christians come to believe in the Lord.  I loved reading this book because it was a much easier read than many books about Christianity or books written by Christian authors, and I felt like I could easily relate to what Ms. Newman was saying.

I also found that it was full of useful information that helped me understand why many people are so hesitant to believe in God, what possible reasoning these people have for being so hesitant,  and why it is important that we as Christians do our duty to the Lord and tell non-believers about the Gospel and what it has to offer.

I was very touched by Ms. Newman's story of how she came to believe {I'll admit, I even teared up by it!}, and it amazes me that many more Christians have stories just like hers to tell.  This book truly is a testament to how good the Lord is, and I think that most Christians will find it an enjoyable book. 

A Word to the End Time Church is also probably a very good book for someone who is still searching for the truth to read, because it's written in such an easy and flowing way.  The story and facts are easily understandable and I definitely think it's a wonderful introduction to Christianity!

If you're interested in reading A Word to the End Time Church, you can find it online for only $11.69.

The Key to the Kingdom Book - review (And a giveaway)

The Key to the Kingdom Book - review (And a giveaway)

"Every locked door holds something behind it . . ."

http://www.keytothekingdombook.com/

About the Author: (From the website)

Jeff Dixon was raised in Florida and has always been fascinated with the man Walt Disney and the theme park he created. Dixon feels that any guest who would take the time to look would discover a story that will never be completed. It is against this canvas that Dixon paints this mystery, adventure, and thriller. The epic drama carries the reader across the state of Florida to discover details that most people have missed. Each discovery and revelation will have the reader wondering if they are reading fact or fiction. In a quickening pace, the characters find themselves on a collision course with an unthinkable outcome! Fans of Walt Disney will love the history and tourists will find a travel guide that takes them on a trip most guests never get to take.

About the Book: (From the website)

Grayson Hawkes learns how imaginative and elaborate Walt Disney World is when he accepts an invitation one sunny day from a trusted friend landing him in a world he never knew existed. Barely escaping a late night encounter, he finds himself desperately trying to solve a mysterious disappearance while trying to stay ahead of those who are chasing him. He navigates through the kingdom where knowledge of seemingly unimportant Disney facts and some divine help are the only way he can discover the lock that can only be opened by an ancient key. His world becomes even more complicated when he is captivated by mysterious woman, causing him to make a series of choices that takes his faith to the brink. Within the walls of Walt Disney World is more mystery than one imagination can contain. Here Disney Trivia is not a game; and the ancient key is the only way out!

My review:

We are avid Disney fans, who visit often, I enjoyed following the search in the book, knowing exactly where they were in the parks (this really made me want to go back!)  As I tried to unravel the clues and solve the mystery! Other than the fact that the main character  is a pastor, there is little spiritual content. The story is suitable for most ages and contains no graphic violence or offensive language.  I love that Disney trivia was woven throughout the book, even as a seasoned Disney veteran, I learned a few cool tidbits.

You do not have to be a Disney fan to enjoy A Key to the Kingdom book, if you are a fan of mysteries this is a great book for you. You will follow "Hawk"  as he tries not to be found by people chasing him,  meets a mysterious woman, find out who is a friend or foe…and must solve a puzzle at the same time! You will get sucked in, and won't want to put it down. 

Buy it:

You can pick the book up at amazon for $10.87

 

Disclosure: The reviews and or opinions on this blog are my own opinions . No monitory compensation was received. 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 Commissions 16 CFR Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsement and Testimonials in Advertising .

Midnight Rising: Warning Signs for This Generation

Midnight Rising: Warning Signs for This Generation

I recently had the great opportunity to review "Midnight Rising: Warning Signs for This Generation" by William Anderson Simpson.

I have been somewhat fascinated with the coming times and the promise of salvation for quite some time now.  I've read most of the Left Behind books and tried to read Revelations - simply needing a formal bible study on that one to understand all of the analogies!

This book is provocative and a great source of reading about the coming Rapture, with evidenced proof with paralleled scripture.  Insights into the book of Daniel and Revelations opens our eyes to the possibility of the End Times being much closer than we may anticipate.

Revelation describes the Nation of the Beast and Anderson argues that this nation is none other than the United States of America.  Anderson reveals quite interesting arguments in a layman's manner and challenges us to be open to the Word and its promises to us.

I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend this book to anyone that is interested in the prophesies of the end times in the Bible and the role that the U.S. stands in it.

Bravo!

"Sand to Pearls" Book Review

About the Book:
"Do you wish that you had a blueprint for a rich, fulfilling life? Many of us mistakenly think that if we were prettier, smarter, had less obligations or a fulfilling romantic relationship we would, at last, be joyful and content.

Chasing after false illusions of success can propel us to make unwise and detrimental choices. Often we remain stuck in our uncertain reality because we don't know how to move forward. Blinded by our insecurity, we forget that God has the potential and power to intervene and guide us toward wiser, fulfilling choices for our future.

International speaker and author of Beauty Unleashed, Heidi McLaughlin shares from her personal discoveries about how God can turn resentment into freedom, regrets into rejoicing, and shame into radiance."

About the Author:
"For over two decades, Heidi McLaughlin, international speaker and author...has been teaching, mentoring, and inspiring women to discover their most valuable, unexpected gift: the endowment of their genuine, beautiful self. This passion emerged through her personal discovery of how God restores all our brokenness and then helps us to unleash our full potential and beauty. Her favorite activity is sitting across from a woman over a freshly brewed cup of coffee and exchanging heart connection stories."

You can follow Heidi on Twitter and become her friend on Facebook.

My Take:
Sand to Pearls is a wonderful book about personal growth through allowing God into our lives. It teaches about what things we think that are irrational and lead to fulfillment, resentment and even depression. And then it shows how to get past that by asking God for His help.

This is a book geared toward Christian living, but as I've said before, religious Christian and religious Jewish morals tend to be very similar. Even passages from the New Testament can help a Jewish person with moral guidance, since the ideas presented there are similar to ones you would find in the Torah.

I love how Heidi begins each chapter by presenting what it is we have all been doing wrong while giving personal accounts of how she went wrong...and then turned onto the correct path. Then, she gives us choices that are meant to enrich our lives. For example, in chapter 5 (Resentment or Sweet Reasonableness - which happens to be the chapter that most spoke to me) one of these choices is "Your husband forgot to take out the garbage - again. Choose to overlook it; the world will not come to an end." This can apply to so many things. No one is perfect, so overlooking the small errors that a spouse makes can lead to a much happier marriage.

After the choices, she shows us how to "Stop and ask God to help...change sand to pearls." She uses the acronym of STOP - Scripture, Thanksgiving, Observation and Prayer - to guide a person through the way to change. For example, in chapter 5, you begin by asking "God, what resolved hurt is causing me to feel resentment?" Then, you go through the STOP steps to obtain His help.

Sand to Pearls is a very helpful book on practical living and how to become a better, more "bold" person. Choosing a path that leads to your own inner happiness while walking with God.

Cost: You can buy Sand to Pearls for $11.04 from Amazon.com ($$$)

Overall: We give Sand to Pearls a 9/10!

We were sent Sand to Pearls free of charge for the sole purpose of this review; no other compensation was received. All opinions expressed are my own.

This is a MamaBuzz review. The product was provided by Heidi McLaughlin for this review.

Book Review and Giveaway: Sand to Pearls by Heidi McLaughlin

Book Review and Giveaway: Sand to Pearls by Heidi McLaughlin

Synopsis: Illusions of success and instant pleasure can seduce us into making poor choices. We long for fulfillment but are haggard from life’s trials and overwhelmed by what the future holds. Broken, we feel unworthy to ask God to intervene in our lives. Blinded by it all, we often overlook that God has the potential to use everything in our lives--whether good or bad.

It's time to S.T.O.P. and let God help us make bold choices to enrich our lives with freedom, fulfillment and incredible beauty!

McLaughlin shares from her personal discoveries how God heals and restores all failures and pain. If God can take a tiny grain of sand and turn it into a gorgeous pearl, then He certainly can turn our worst decisions and biggest mistakes into a magnificent new beginning!

About the Author: Heidi is the author of Beauty Unleashed ... Transforming a Woman's Soul. This is her second book. Heidi is married to Jack, a pastor at Trinity Baptist Church in Kelowna, BC. She is a mom and step-mom of five children and grandmother of seven. Besides her speaking engagements and writing, she is the Controller at a VW/Audi Dealership.You can find her at writing at her blog, Hear's Connection, on Twitter and on Facebook!

Review: This book is for anyone who is in need of personal growth, be it from getting out of a bad relationship/divorce, fighting with parents/siblings, or trying to make changes in the personal lives. I wasn't too sure of it when I started reading it, but while it has Christian beliefs and prayer in it, most of the ideas about letting go of past hurts and resentments and living for YOU, will speak to anyone wanting to change their lives, no matter what denomination they are.

Her chapters deal with friends/frien-enemies,  self-sabotage, resentment, instant pleasures/no patience, blended families, comparison/contentment, fear/fortitude, regrets/rejoicing, shame/radiance, panic/prayer, and career/calling. As you can see, most of us would find parts of ourselves in those chapters, and areas we know need fixing/working on!

McLaughlin gives excellent examples, and quotes other Christian and lay authors on the different topic, to help illustrate the points she is making. Then she includes a STOP program at the end of every chapter for you to follow.

McLaughlin's STOP program is very simple and easy to understand:

• S- Scripture verse- there is a verse for every situation, and for reflection on your current problem
• T-Thanksgiving- be thankful for what God has the power to accomplish/has done for you already.
• O-Observation- what wisdom is God unleashing for you in the verse above. How can you change your actions to better suit it
• P-Prayer-ask God to change your struggles to joy, sand to pearls.

The chapter on blended families, and the Mission Statement that McLaughlin and her current husband made before they blended their families, should be read by anyone in the same situation. She has some really great ideas on how to 'make things work' for everyone involved. If you know of a friend that has sought out a Christian life, but is having issues over their past, this book can help them get thru and over that hurdle!

I think this book should be read by ALL women, and definitely recommend it for college age women, so that they can start now an changing how they react to situations, and learning how to handle hurts, so that they will not haunt them and bring down the rest of their lives, knowingly or unknowingly. if you have a friend or family member who needs help to live a more practical, Christian life, this is the book!

Glimpsing God

Glimpsing God

What would you do if in the span of 2 years, you had your heart stop, you found out your daughter had been hit in the head with a steel baseball bat and suffered a cracked skull that would require surgery more than once, you get involved in a car accident with all of your kids that leaves one of thm almost lifeless, you discover that three of your five kids have a rare genetic brain disorder, and then your husband is involved in a car accident that leave him permanently disabled?

Would you question God?

Would you ask Why God would put you and your family through this?

If He is God, couldn't He have prevented all this?

What if you were doing all the right things as a Christian, going to church, volunteering in the church, paying your tithes, and praying as often as you could, what then?

I don't know about you, but I would have thought God up and abandoned me several times. Yet, we know God is never to blame. We live in a world where our faith is constantly put to the test, but none in this case as much as Rachel Alkire does in her dramatic true story called Glimpsing God.

Yes, all the above is detailed out along with Rachel's thought that often go hand in hand with what we might consider if we had to deal with everything. Yet in the midst of everything, time after time, God showed the goodness that comes from every single one of those circumstances and in the end, created such a strong faith for both her and her family to come to know God more intimately.

I received this amazing story compliments of Bring It On Communications for my honest review and LOVED it! I taught me that seeing things through the eyes of another is often easy to see just how powerful and mighty our God truly is, and no matter what happens in our life, He never leaves us. This one is a powerful testimony that would be a great gift for anyone wanting the answer to why God does what He does. This rates a 5 out of 5 stars!!!

If you would like more information about the book, the amazing author and where to purchase a copy for yourself, simply click on the link below. This one is now part of my permanent library of faith along with my Bible. It's available in paperback format for now.

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Deep River Books (June 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1935265202
• ISBN-13: 978-1935265207
• Price: $11.69

Glimpsing God by Rachel Alkire

Sand to Pearls Review & Giveaway

I can honestly say that it’s been awhile since I’ve read a book that has really moved me and inspired me….but lately, I’ve been reading Sand to Pearls by Heidi McLaughlin. I must say that this author is gifted not only in writing, but in expressing things to readers in a way that is very real and applicable to their lives.The ideas and thoughts she shares are not some high-up, far-off ideas that are so filled with expectations that one could never hope to achieve them, but they’re right on the reader’s level. The author has been where we as women are at, and she shares many of her own struggles and heartaches and frustrations, even funny moments from her life.

Sand to Pearls is about Making BOLD Choices to Enrich Your Life. Heidi truly does focus on the choices that we make as women and how they can make or break us in our physical, spiritual, and emotional lives. Throughout the chapters in this book, Heidi deals with certain topic matters, such as the “shoulds” in our lives, sabotage, friendship, resentment, contentment, forgiveness, etc. She not only shares stories and tidbits from her own life, but she also shares encouragement and advice for turning our thoughts and hearts around to where they should be. She offers step by step approaches to tackling our choices head on. At the end of each and every chapter, she uses the acronym STOP (Scripture verse, Thanksgiving, Observation, Prayer) for a time of reflection and prayer.

This book is full of “meat.” Heidi uses Scripture throughout, as the basis of her teaching; she also refers to several authors, experts, etc. There are inspirational quotes throughout, as well. I found the words of this book to be rich and meaningful; it was a book that could be read as a life study book, as a devotional book, as a leisure book, even in a discussion group with other women. This book would be great to read together with a group of girlfriends and discuss struggles and choices together. I found this book easy to read, easy to digest, but full of thought provoking power. I would definitely recommend it to any woman; I would even read it again, using it as a reference at times. The chapters on friendship really spoke to my heart, as it’s so easy to become so caught up in our own little worlds, with everything that is going on, everything on our to do lists, activities we’re involved in, work and the busyness of life, etc.

You can purchase Sand to Pearls for $12.99 from Deep River Books. This book is one book that every woman should read, especially if she longs to grow spiritually, making the choices God would have her to make. Be sure to Add Heidi McLaughlin as a Friend on Facebook, and follow @heidiheart on Twitter.