Sunday Words of Encouragement November 23, 2014

This morning we talked about giving thanks in Sunday School and it was also the subject of Pastor's sermon.
Our SS teacher shared some verses, poems and quotes he had found including: "The art of Thanksgiving is  Thanks-living", "When life is not good, God still is" and 'we should have an attitude of gratitude and realize that gratitude changes attitude.'
He then asked each member of the class to share something specific we were thankful for during the last 12 months, acknowledging first that we would be thankful for spouses, children and parents. These are summarized descriptions of  our answers:

Bible reading that brings us closer to God.
God nuggets - when perhaps even a child speaks something of God that is delightfully awesome.
Relationships with others and that God designed us to need each other.
Church family. Family members finding/listening to God for themselves.
Youth ministry.
Being able to rely on God in times of darkness.
God's continual provision.
Assurance of God's control in our lives.
God's unfailing love.
Staying home with kids.
Being here (alive) even when we might also be homesick for heaven.
Growth even through divorce.
Church family having "our six".
God revealing Himself to us.
Health.
God being always faithful.
Fellowship and family.
Incredible relationship with God who is just waiting to share with us whenever we turn to Him.
Epiphany moments.

Pastor told us briefly about the life of Martin Rinkhart a Lutheran minister in Germany who led his congregation and community during the Thirty Year War that started in 1617, and included years of plague. He wrote many hymns and this is a favorite at Thanksgiving time:

Now Thank We All Our God

Verses for Today:
Colossians 3:15-16 (NIV)
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.

I give thanks today and everyday for all that God has given me and all that the Lord has done for me. I came into this world with nothing and I will go out with nothing. However, I pray that I will be faithful to share and use for God's glory any blessings that I have been given during my life.

Book Review and Giveaway: The Mystery of the Shemitah by Jonathan Cahn

This is a thought provoking study that is also a call to action.

The Mystery of the Shemitah: The 3,000-Year-Old Mystery That Holds the Secret of America's Future, the World's Future, and Your Future!
by Jonathan Cahn

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Frontline; First Paperback Edition edition (September 2, 2014)
• ISBN-13: 978-1629981932

Genre: Non-Fiction, Christian Prophesy
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: September 2, 2014
The book you can't afford NOT to read.
It is already affecting your life…
And it WILL affect your future!
Is it possible that there exists a three-thousand-year-old mystery that…
· Has been determining the course of your life without your knowing it?
· Foretells current events before they happen?
· Revealed the dates and the hours of the greatest crashes in Wall Street history before they happened?
· Determined the timing of 9/11?
· Lies behind the rise of America to global superpower… and its fall?
· Has forecast the rising and falling of the world’s stock market throughout modern times?
· Lies behind world wars and the collapse of nations, world powers, and empires?
· Holds key to what lies ahead for the world and for your life?
· And much more….

Review:
The Mystery of the Shemitah is full of detailed information explaining certain Jewish words and traditions as they related to God’s people and His beloved nation, Israel. Mr. Cahn then shows how those words and the impact, or consequences, of the conditions also fit America as a country that was founded on faith in God and profoundly blessed by God.

Mr. Cahn discusses the harbinger warnings (see The Harbinger) that have been issued to an American society that has drastically turned away from God especially during the past 50 years. Then the author explains the history and purpose of the Shemitah which was to be a ‘Sabbath’ every seven years. This was a time when the people would trust God for provision and allow the land to rest. But when the people failed to honor and celebrate the cycle of the Shemitah voluntarily, it became a judgment forced upon the people and the land by God. (Leviticus 26:31-35 and 2 Chronicles 36:15-19.)

The book tracks the greatest economic and financial crisis of the past 100 years showing charts for stock market crashes. These reflect that 85 percent of the crashes occurred during the Shemitah years. The details regarding the financial turnarounds is even more astounding as 100 percent of the crucial financial events occur during the Shemitah periods.

Mr. Cahn also makes a connection to the falling of the “towers” that might not be as clear without the Jewish understanding of the meanings and importance of the tower walls. Even Christians know the story of the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11, but many are not as familiar, or do not realize the full significance of the destruction of the towers and walls of Jerusalem.

I was struck by the detailed analysis and comparisons that this book presents. The message in the pattern is clear: if America does not cease to worship idols and does not turn back to God then America will suffer consequences of economic and financial destruction. This will also have a global impact around the world and is likely to result in shift of power.

Mr. Cahn is careful to note that he is not stating any specific date for calamity but he is pointing out the signs and pattern of the Shemitah and Tishri connections that are greater than “mere coincidence”. He is saying that the warnings have been given and the people need to take heed and act.

We read this for ladies book club and we were all excited to discuss it. One woman said she had to pause often to contemplate the hardships that her parents and grandparents experienced which most of our generation has not. Another one of our more mature members noted that in her day they did not have insurance and did not rush to the doctor for coughs and cuts. They experienced God’s provision on many occasions such as receiving gifts from others that met the needs of maternity dresses and money just in time for birthing expenses.

We all agreed that this is an important book to read, recommend and share with others. We also agreed that, although the message of the book speaks calamity that we will face, we are all secure in the hope we have in salvation and in God's control of events. We all felt called to pray and spread the message of God's saving grace through Christ Jesus.

A section of the book that particularly struck me states at page 234:

    Without God, there is no true security or safety for America. Without His hand of protection, no matter how many systems of defense the nation employs, they will fail just as they did on 9/11. America cannot defy the God of its keeping and expect that protection to continue. “Unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain” (Ps 127:1). America, without God, is not safe. America, in defiance of God, is even less safe.

This was our Ladies Book Club reading for discussion in November.

Giveaway:

ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY for a print copy

ENTRY FORM HERE

(Don't forget to fill in the form for entry!

I have noticed a few commenters who forgot to enter through the Form.)

For 3 Extra Bonus entries comment on the review, OR
visit THE AUTHOR'S Hope of the World Website and tell me something you like/learned there.

* This contest is open US Only for Print Book.
* This contest will close 5 PM (Central) December 1, 2014.
WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED after December 1, 2014.
Winners will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.

Sharing Beyond Books #178 Comment Giveaway 11/22/14

Hello again on Saturday night and Welcome to Sharing Beyond Books, SBB!

We had fun today making Christmas cookies with my daughter and her three children plus another friend with her four children. I survived for three and one half hours before I went to my room to read in quiet!
Happy Thanksgiving a bit early since it will be celebrated for many of us this coming week.

Thanks to everyone who commented last week.
Not one of twenty of us have taken a book binding class. Many didn't know such a class existed but most of us thought it would be interesting.

~~~~

The Winner from SBB #177 comments is: #17 Elizabeth who can make a GC choice if international or book choice from the ARC/Review titles, Christmas titles or Love titles - all linked near the end of the post.  Please let me know your choice by completing the (new) WINNER FORM.

WEEK #178 (One Question.)

Q1. This week Jess1 asks: 1. Have you ever not purchased a book because you disliked the cover??

A: Yes, I guess I would have to admit to being a cover snob and/or I am guilty of judging a book by its cover. There are bland covers that I tend to pass or, worse, amateurish covers that make me think the book would also be of lesser quality. And lately I have been turned off by too much skin on a book cover.
BTW - If you want a good laugh, and shake of the head, do a google search for bad book covers! Oh My - some are unspeakable!

We know that The Wheel of Time is a very successful series

but I don't think I would have been interested from this old cover.

Image found at The Faster Times.

Thanks to those who are sending in Questions. DON'T BE SHY! Surely everyone has a Q or two you'd like to ask. Input suggestions in this Suggested Question Form. At the end of each month I draw from the suggestions I used during the month and that person will get a book choice or GC. I thank everyone for submitting questions. Thanks for sending in questions! We still have a supply of questions but from the same people so hopefully others will send more in -- even if they are duplicates I'll weed through or try to modify to use.

Your turn to share:

Q1. Jessl asks: 1. Have you ever not purchased a book because you disliked the cover??

SBB Comment Winners can choose a selection from the Valentine and "Love" books, the Christmas Giveaway Books (this is the new link), or the June 2013 Newly Updated ARC/Review List.

SBB Rules:
a) Must be a follower.
b) Share a comment on either of the two questions above.
Open internationally and an international winner may get a smaller book or a $5.00 GC if I decide the mailing is too much.
I will pick a Comment winner from all comments made through Saturday November 29, 2014 at 5 PM  central.

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway November 21, 2014

[** If you are new to Friday Pick Giveaway - Welcome!  Scroll down a bit (below book group #19) for instructions on how to enter.]

This was another good work week - not too busy so I had time to work on a couple of files I needed to work on. The weather has been cold so I have been going to bed a little early to snuggle in warm covers. 

( I meant to post a new set of books but it will have to be next week - We'll have to celebrate the fifth year anniversary of this giveaway!)

[UPDATED NOTE - US entrants I prefer, please, that you pick a book as that is the first purpose of this giveaway - to find new homes for books. The GCs are for the international entrants because postage has jumped up.]

Thank you to all who entered the November 14 Pick. There were no automatic wins again this week.  (Automatic winners are those who requested the book four times and I did not note other people asking for that book during those weeks.) There were no titles blocked. 

CONGRATULATIONS
to Random.org picked Winners from November 14 Pick:
Emily gets First to Flight

Carol M gets Reliquary 

All winners please fill in the Winner's Acceptance Form or email me to confirm your win, send your snail mail address information and let me know if you would like bookmarks - sensual, sexy or sweet bookmarks. {The form is new because Google changed their forms and the old one wasn't letting me print out the responses.}

Happy Thanksgiving!

This month I continue to give thanks for books and for followers of my blog. :-)

Image found at InspiringMoms.

New Book Group #52 October 10, 2014
(Links to be added.)

PAIRS:
Richard Paul Evans, The Looking Glass and The Carousel
SINGLES
Duo Book: Yesterday's Memories by Tara Taylor Quinn and Amanda Stevens
Range of Motion by Elizabeth Berg
At The Stroke of Madness by Alex Kava
Undateable by Ellen Rakieten & Anne Coyle
Behind a Mask by May Alcott
Here on Earth by Alice Hoffman

New Book Group #51 September 12, 2014
10/10 - I just realized I never posted the image for this group.

PAIRS:
Elysa Hendricks, Star Crash (personally autographed copy) and The Sword and the Pen
SINGLES:

Intrepid Encounter by Rebecca Ashley

The Reckoning by Jeanette Baker

Out of This Furnace: A Novel of Immigrant Labor in America by Thomas Bell Reprint Edition

Scandalous Virtue Mass by Brenda Hiatt 

A Stranger's Wife by Maggie Osborne

New Book Group #50! August 8, 2014

SINGLES:
Maybe This Time by Victoria Barrett
The Commander by Kate Bridges
The Cinderella Plan by Margaret Daley
The Mr. & Mrs. Happy Handbook by Steve Doocy
A Garden of Friends by Penny Pierce Rose

New Book Group #49 June 27, 2014

SINGLES:
Jezebel by Katherine Sutcliff
Down by the Water by Caroline Upcher
Miracle by Deborah Smith
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories by Kate Chopin


New Book Group #48 May 30, 2014

SINGLES:
Dangerous by Debra Dier
First to Fight Anthology

New Book Group #47 April 25, 2014

SINGLES:
Once Upon a Honeymoon by Julie Kistler
The Hidden Truth of Cytech's Randall Forty by Vickie Kennedy

New Book Group #46 March 15, 2014
SINGLES:
Sweet Talking Man by Betina Krain
The Last Heiress by Bertrice Small (spine creases)

New Book Group #45 January 31, 2014---(All gone)
Out of Darkness by Lynn Erickson

New Book Group #44 December 14, 2013---(All gone)

New Book Group #43 November 1, 2013 ---(All gone)

New Book Group #42 September 27, 2013 ---(All gone)

New Book Group #41 August 2, 2013

Singles:
Cattle Rancher, Secret Son by Margaret Way

New Book Group #40 June 28, 2013

Singles:
Breakfast in Bed by Sandra Brown - Audio Cassette Tapes (link is for mass media version)

New Book Group #39 May 31, 2013 - Plenty of "summer" titles!
Singles:
Shetland Summer by Janet Lynnford

New Book Group #38 April 20, 2013
Awaken the Senses by Nalini Singh

New Book Group #37 March 22, 2013
Singles:
Anthology: Something Borrowed, Something Blue - this book has spine creases and minor water damage...I thought I had read it and liked it but now I realize it was another anthology I read with Elaine Barbier.

New Book Group #36 February 15, 2013
The Trailsman: Texas Lead Slingers by Jon Sharpe

New Book Group #35 January 11, 2013 (All gone)
New Book Group #34 December 7, 2012--- (All gone)
New Book Group #33 October 27, 2012---(All gone)

New Book Group #32 October 5, 2012
NOTE This book has dog bite damage; it is missing half back cover and the edges of pages in the back third of the book... it does not effect the text but I will understand if no one wants this one - A Courtesans Guide to Getting Your Man by Susan Donovan and Celeste Bradley

New Book Group #31 August 31, 2012
An Honorable Man by Rosemary Rogers (spine creases)

New Book Group #30 July 27, 2012
The Willful Widow by Valerie King (spine wear)
Dancing on Snowflakes by Jane Bonander

New Book Group #29 June 29, 2012
Magic: The Gathering Distant Planes, An Anthology

New Book Group #28 May 18, 2012--- (All gone)
New book Group #27 April 13, 2012--- (All gone)
New book Group #26 March 2, 2012--- (All gone)
New Group #25 January 12, 2012---(All gone)
New Group #24 Pick Books November 25, 2011---(All gone)

New Group #23 Pick Books October 14, 2011
Ghost Writer (Shivers #3) by M.D. Spenser

New Group #22 Pick Books September 2, 2011---(All gone)
New Group #21 of Pick Books July 29, 2011---(All gone)
May, 2011 New Group of Pick books Group #20---(All gone)
3/25/11 Group #19---(All gone)
2/19/11 Book Group #18- Pairs!---(All gone).

I have finally updated the intro and Entry paragraphs here:

If you saw the pictures posted of my bookshelves and boxes you know I do have lots of books! And that doesn't include the other eight or so boxes at my office!! And more books as I find deals too good to pass up! I am sharing my book bounty by these Friday Pick Giveaways.

I started Friday Pick on November 27, 2009 and in four years I have posted 43 groups of 16 (688) books to find new homes! (as of November 2013).

I periodically update the lists - deleting those won. You can still go to the Friday Pick list link to see older posts and the older lists book pictures if you want! I am happy to say that so far about 730+ books have found new homes! YAY. I have to update my print out to check the exact number sent out - a few were never claimed.

Note rules here regarding international entries.

Because postage to overseas can be prohibitive I am willing to give a $5.00 book certificate to international winners - Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders, ARe, TWRP, ClassAct Books, eTreasures, Desert Breeze, etc....you tell me where and I'll set it up. So for my overseas visitors your comment may indicate a smaller book and I'll check postage or note your choice of gift card.

I learned that The Book Depository does not ship to everywhere. The postage for some of the books to far away places runs between $5.00 $7.00 and $6.00 $10.00 and up. Since I would award $5.00 for The Book Depository to an international winner, as an alternative you may choose a smaller book and we will hope the postage will not exceed $6.00. If the postage is more, or if you want to pick a larger book and you are willing to pay any extra postage beyond the $6.00 I will work with you on that. This may not make a difference to many but if it helps one or two of you to give one of my books a home that will make me happy too. :o)

TO ENTER:

Leave a comment and tell me WHICH BOOK you would like to get from the Friday Pick lists.
CUT OFF TIME IS THURSDAY NIGHTS AT 10:00 PM CENTRAL so I do not have to stay up past midnight to do the winner post!
I will randomly pick two winners to announce Friday mornings with the next Pick post.
Automatic wins are those who requested the book four times and I did not note other people asking for that book during those weeks.
WINNERS PLEASE CHECK THE WIN POST ON FRIDAYS AND fill in the Winner's Acceptance Form or email me at mesreads@gmail.com. [I will confirm receipt of the addresses- well I realize I haven't always done this. But if you filled out the form and don't get the book within two weeks nudge me with an email please!] If I have the winners e-mail I will send a reminder in a week or so....

Thanks for helping these books find new homes!!

Repeating this helpful blog tip: You can right click on a link and you will be given the choice to open the link in a new window or tab so you do not navigate away from the screen you are on!! I use this all the time!

1/14/11 New List #17--- (All gone)

12/3/10 Book Set: #16
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown

List #15---(All gone)
List #14---(All gone)
List #13 of Used books! ---(All gone)
Group #12---(All gone)

Group #11
Alien Chronicles - The Crimson Claw by Deborah Chester

List #1
Circle of Stars by Anna Lee Waldo

Pick #2---(All gone)
Pick #3---(All gone)
Pick #4---(All gone)
Pick #5---(All gone)
Pick #6---(All gone)

Pick #7
Prey by Michael Crichton - Audio Tape

Pick #8
The Jury by Steve Martini - Audio Tapes

Pick #9
On Treacherous Ground by Earl Murray

Pick #10---(All Gone)

Book Review: The Red Book of Primrose House by Marty Wingate

This is a thoroughly warm and engaging cozy mystery.
The Red Book of Primrose House
by Marty Wingate

• File Size: 1890 KB
• Print Length: 273 pages
• Publisher: Alibi (November 4, 2014)
• Sold by: Random House LLC
• ASIN: B00KAFXBHE

Genre: Cozy Mystery
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: November 4, 2014
In Marty Wingate’s charming new Potting Shed Mystery, Texas transplant Pru Parke’s restoration of a historic landscape in England is uprooted by an ax murderer.

Pru Parke has her dream job: head gardener at an eighteenth-century manor house in Sussex. The landscape for Primrose House was laid out in 1806 by renowned designer Humphry Repton in one of his meticulously illustrated Red Books, and the new owners want Pru to restore the estate to its former glory—quickly, as they’re planning to showcase it in less than a year at a summer party.

But life gets in the way of the best laid plans: When not being happily distracted by the romantic attentions of the handsome Inspector Christopher Pearse, Pru is digging into the mystery of her own British roots. Still, she manages to make considerable progress on the vast grounds—until vandals wreak havoc on each of her projects. Then, to her horror, one of her workers is found murdered among the yews. The police have a suspect, but Pru is certain they’re wrong. Once again, Pru finds herself entangled in a thicket of evil intentions—and her, without a hatchet.

Review:
Pru Parke has landed a great job as head gardener to restore the garden at historic Primrose House in Sussex. An extra special bonus is that they have discovered the valuable “Red Book” of the historic landscape artist who detailed and sketched the garden plans for the manor house. Pru is excited about the impressive restoration opportunity even if it means that she is separated from her new “fellow”, London Detective Chief Inspector (DCI) Christopher Pearse. Pru will also have the chance to meet other Parkes as she has a lead in her desperate search for connections to her mother’s English family.

Pru has to work with a mixed crew which consist of two brothers who provide brawn, a special, handicapped young man who provides gentleness and holes, and a difficult old gardener who begrudgingly provides history. Pru also has to resist the suggestions of her employer who sends in changing ideas by email or notes every few weeks and wants to host a grand open house in seven months. Things are going on fairly well until accidents happen and it appears there is sabotage in the garden. Then one of the staff is found murdered. The local Detective Sargeant (DS) is a nice officer and a friend of Christopher. However the local DCI is loud and rough and doesn’t want Christopher sticking his nose into his case.

Christopher was glad when Pru did not return to Texas after they met over another murder case. (See The Garden Plot.) He drives up for weekends to visit and is anxious to keep her safe, especially now that troubles are increasing. He suspects that Pru will have a hard time staying impartial in the investigation as she will want to protect her friends/staff and make inquires on her own.

I totally enjoyed the gardening details and life issues that were shared until the mystery began. There were several side interests that kept the book moving along well, including the mature romance between Pru and Christopher with their warm, and often lightly humorous, dialogue. The primary and secondary characters are well developed with distinct traits that add depth to the story. There are clues threaded in different encounters that help Pru (and the observant reader) to figure out the murderer, but will it be in time?

The length was good to make this an easy, fast read. This is a fine cozy mystery and I will soon return to Ms. Wingate to read The Garden Plot (Potting Shed Mystery Book 1) which I happen to have in my Kindle Library. I highly recommend this to fans of cozy mystery and to those who enjoy working in a garden!

I received this book from Random House through NetGalley.