Sunday Words of Encouragement May 14, 2023 -- Contentment

We shared prayers in our Sunday School. Then our substitute teacher shared a powerful video on prayer and a personal testimony of God’s favor. We were reminded not to focus on our laundry list of prayer requests but to Praise God and trust he knows our needs and the desires of our hearts. Psalm 37:4

Our Pastor gave a wonderful sermon. It wasn’t focused on Mothers or Mother’s Day but on Contentment, sufficiency, and great gain. 1 Timothy 6:6-8.

Pastor noted that he had been observing a young mother at a store and the thought came to him: Does she believe she is sufficient? Or does her husband? Or teens?

God's plan is for us to be content. We might question why we are like we are. But we are chosen by God because He created each of us. We are each fearfully and wonderfully made; unique and special.

Like a stone mason or a carpenter, God uses the chisel or grinder to fit stone or wood to build His Church. God created us with a plan and then He works on us, like the potter works the clay, to use us as He wants. Jeremiah 18:1-6; Romans 9:19-21.

God's plan is for each person to live Godly life. We are to have a saving relationship with Him; to surrender to Him. We are to be a living sacrifice, focusing on God, rather than the world. Romans 12:1-2. We are to desire the things of God.

Jesus says in Matthew 5:6, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”

God transforms as we pursue Him. We need to come to God with the attitudes: “Create in me a clean heart…” (Psalm 51:10-12) and make me the person you want me to be. We need to pray for God to change our view from the world view where we are self-focused, to an eternal view of God..

Spiritual exercise should be a priority. It is nice to look good but it is the character that matters most. As we seek treasure in the kingdom we will also see fruits of the spirit.

Godliness with contentment is great gain. We get there by:
1. Daily prayer time.
2. Daily time reading the word of God.
3. Pursuing a relationship with God

These efforts will lead to contentment. God will provide what we need. We don't have to do anything to impress another because we please God and will be find our worth in Him.

Great gain comes with blessings. Our lives can be sufficient serving Him. He provides the resources we need.
We brought nothing in our lives and can take nothing. 1 Timothy 6:7.
If we have food and clothing we can be content. 1 Timothy 6:8.
Our lives should be driven by eternity! God provides our needs when we are living to please Him.

I think this is a good song for today: Jireh.

Verses for Today:
1 Timothy 6:6-8 NIV
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.


Lord, I pray that you continue to allow me to draw closer to You and to find my sufficiency in You. Thank you for reminding me to be Content in You.

Book Review: Get Up & Grow, 21 Habits of Successful People by Duke Matlock

I plan to incorporate several recommendations from this inspiring book.
Get Up and Grow: 21 Habits of Successful People
By Duke Matlock

Paperback ‏ : ‎ 130 pages
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Morgan James Publishing (March 13, 2018)
Genre: Christian Growth, Christian Self Help, Non-Fiction
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0.

Get Up and Grow is about developing habits that foster personal and professional growth in four critical areas: spirituality, success, health, and margin. In six chapters, Get Up and Grow will enable you to shift your paradigm and create a culture of growth and investment in your life. By utilizing your mornings as opportunities for development, Get Up and Grow will change the way you view success and will create the space to see exponential growth.

Review:
This is an easy read and full of good recommendations. A glimpse at the Table of Contents shows the good topics that are covered. I can understand that these are all good habits to encourage for morning routine. Unfortunately, not everyone is a morning person, including me.

Over the past year particularly, I have been taking an extra half hour to an hour in the morning to start my day with Bible reading and prayer. This does start my days off well. I may add reading a chapter in an inspirational book which I would find doable.

The Chapters on Health Habits and Habits on Margin suggest actions that are not necessary to do in the morning time. I could do better at planning meals, preparing a to do task list, reviewing the list at end of day, and planning for rest. I’m not as likely to add the exercise in the morning even though I surely should!

Our Pastor gave this to Board members in March. I started to read it daily but then set it aside. I finished reading it in the week before our May meeting so it would be fresh in my mind. I enjoyed the learning process. This is a book that can be read a bite at a time, over 21 days, or during several days. I am glad to have the paperback as I did place some markers. Having read it once, I plan to go back and re-read. I also am ordering copies for my children and a couple of friends. I recommend this as a good development tool.

Source: March 2023 gift from Pastor. This qualifies for 2023Print goal.

Audio Book Review: Snow Melts in Spring by Deborah Voghts

This sweet romance, with a vet, football player, and an injured horse, was not as strong as I had hoped.

Snow Melts in Spring
By Deborah Vogts
Narrated By: Emily Durante

Duration: 8 h 19 min
Release date: 05-01-10
Publisher: Zondervan
Genre: Christian Romance, Country Romance, Small Town Romance.
My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.75; Narration 4.0.

Summary
She loves the land. Mattie Evans grew up in the Flint Hills of Kansas. Although her family has lost their ranch, she still calls this land home. A skilled young veterinarian, she struggles to gain the confidence of the local ranchers. Fortunately, her best friend and staunchest supporter is John McCray, owner of the Lightning M Ranch. They both love the ranch, and can’t imagine living anywhere but in the Flint Hills. He’s haunted by it.Gil McCray, John’s estranged son, is a pro football player living in California. The ranch is where his mother died and where every aspect of the tallgrass prairie stirs unwanted memories of his older brother’s fatal accident. Gil decides leaving the ranch is the best solution for his ailing father and his own ailing heart. But he doesn’t count on falling in love.Falling in love isn’t an option. Or is it?When Mattie is called in to save a horse injured in a terrible accident, she finds herself unwillingly tossed into the middle of a family conflict. Secret pain, secret passions, and secret agendas play out against the beautiful landscapes as love leads to some unexpected conclusions about forgiveness and renewal.

Review:
Mattie is a vet whose heart is to remain in the community of Flint Hills of Kansas, near lands that she loves. Her father lost the ranch where she grew up and they moved to the City. Mattie was fortunate to take over the local business of an aging vet. As a young woman, she is still struggling to gain the confidence of the local ranchers especially since some of the patients she has treated have died in spite of her best efforts.

John McCray, the aging owner of the Lightning M. Ranch, is a strong supporter and friend to Mattie. They both love his ranch and his animals. But John’s health and the condition of the ranch are deteriorating. He longs to have his estranged son, Gil, return to revive the ranch.

Gil is a pro football player who is ready to retire from football. He has a dream to purchase a ranch in California and built a horse breeding stable. When Gil gets a call that his beloved cow horse, Dusty, has been injured in a car accident, he comes home to check on Dusty and maybe make amends with his father. But Gil isn’t looking to move back to the family ranch. He lost his mother and his brother there and his memories are painful.

Gil finds young vet Mattie striving to safe the life of Dusty. She seems sincere but can he trust her to do the best job? Gil also questions Mattie’s relationship with his father. Mattie doesn’t like Gil’s condescending attitude, but she is determined to treat Dusty as best she can and to remain a caring friend to John.

As Mattie and Gil work together, they are drawn to each other. But it is clear they have different dreams – Gil wants to go to California and Mattie wants to stay in Kansas. Is there any way they can find a future together?

The story is sweet and it has a nice ending, but it didn’t bring me a total sense of joy. I had trouble accepting Mattie’s character because she is full of self-doubt, fear, and gloom. This is not a sound Christian position, but rather a self-centered, self-focused perspective. Gil’s character also has some self-condemnation, bitterness, arrogance and stubbornness. There are glimpses of a charitable foundation that could have been better developed. I did like the forgiveness, rehabilitation, and surrender messages that come late in the book. Sadly, I felt distracted by the weakness of the characters, particularly Mattie.

The story plot is adequate with nice descriptions, interesting vet procedures, and some character conflict to keep the reader engaged. The writing has some cliches but the pacing was solid. There are more positive reviews so not all readers reacted to the characters as I did. It is certainly a clean romance with some nice finishing messages that could be enjoyed by fans of sweet romance.

Audio Notes: Emily Durante does a fine job with the narration. Each character has a distinct voice and energy. I am glad that I had the book in audio format.

Source: 5/8/2021 Two for One Credit Deal at Audiobooks.com. This qualifies for2023TBR, 2023Audiobook, and 2023Season goals.

Audio Book Review: Silver Dollar Duke by Sally Britton

I enjoyed this story and gentle romance.
Silver Dollar Duke
Written by Sally Britton
Narrated by Marian Hussey

Run Time 9h 37min
Release Date: April 17, 2021
Publisher: Pink Citrus Books
Genre: Historical Romance, Religious & Inspirational, Romance, Western Romance
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

Publisher Description
The last thing Dannie needs is a Victorian gentleman on her ranch, playing cowboy while she’s trying to save her family’s livelihood. Will high stakes and high emotions lead to heartbreak?
Evan Rounsevell, second son to the Marquess of Rothwell, is running as far from his family and responsibilities as he can. His fascination with cowboys takes him from English shores to the Arizona desert, but the days of showdowns are over, and Tombstone, Arizona, is a respectable town. With no funds left, and no desire to call on his affluent family for rescue, Evan seeks a position as a cowboy at a ranch on its last leg.
Daniella Bolton’s fiancé left when the drought of 1893 crippled the KB ranch, but that’s just fine by her. She doesn’t need a man to help her save her family’s land. Especially not an Englishman who looks down on her style of living, like Evan does. She loves her life on the ranch, and no outsider could ever understand what it means to be loyal to the land and her family’s way of life.
Being a cowboy is harder than Evan thought, but as he works to earn his place on the ranch, his heart opens up to the beauty of the desert… as well as that of Dannie Bolton. Watching Evan fight for the ranch she loves makes Dannie realize that not all men are afraid of hard work and troubled times, and loving Evan might be just the salve her wounded heart needs. But when Evan’s family summons him home right when Dannie needs him most, the feelings of betrayal from her former fiancé’s flight return tenfold.
Does Evan dare risk his tenuous relationship with Dannie to fulfill his family responsibilities? Or will leaving Arizona be the worst mistake of his life?

Review:
Dannie is determined to help her father and brothers keep their ranch which has struggled through several years of drought and increasing transport costs. Dannie had a year or two of education back East and has good reason not to trust the polished men of the East. When a Victorian nobleman from England accepts her brothers’ invitation to the ranch, Dannie isn’t ready to welcome him.

Evan Rounsevell, second son to the Marquess of Rothwell, has always dreamed of learning the Cowboy way. He’s read the ‘Penny Dreadful’ stories and even met Buffalo Bill. When faced with the limited role of managing his father’s and brother’s estates, Evan chose to travel to America and go West. He made his way to Tombstone, Arizona but has run out of money. That’s okay, he is willing to work on a real ranch if he can just get a chance. He is set on going on a trail drive before he has to return to England.

Evan gets that chance with Dannie’s father. The other cowhands are quick to call him “Duke”. Most find that he is a hard worker and willing to learn. At least one is jealous that Duke seems to be getting close to Dannie. Evan finds overcoming Dannie’s attitude is a challenge that he is ready to face.

Dannie and Evan slowly become friends. But Dannie is particularly reluctant to let her heart get involved since she doesn’t trust the charmer and she knows he will be returning to England. But as their relationship grows, can they walk away from their chance to find love and family?

This is a lovely and engaging story. I wanted to push Dannie to get past her former heartbreak as I found her continued struggle frustrating. Duke/Evan is a wonderful character, and I liked the perspective he brings to the second son situation and his desire for a life of his own dreams. Still, he is honorable enough to realize he is supposed to return to help his family.

The religious aspect is a gentle development and not preachy. I will look to read more by Ms Britton and I recommend this to fans of clean romance set in the historic West.

Audio Notes: Marian Hussey does a very nice job with the narration. She provides clear, distinct voices and emotional energy that fit the story. I am glad I had this in audio to enjoy.

Source: 3/14/2022 Purchases from Chirp $1.99. This qualifies for 2023TB, 2023Audiobook, and 2023Color goals.

Sunday Post May 7, 2023/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday May 8, 2023

I am linking with Sunday Post at Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? now at The Book Date (at Wordpress)

What Are You Reading? is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

My life is changing. Heather has accepted a new job in Panama City which she will start 5/15. This is the first time in 22 years she will work for someone other than me. She will be doing the tasks she knows and loves so I think this will be a good move for her so she doesn't have to drive an hour and a half each way to work and she'll be closer to her children and able to attend their events easier.

I am still looking at options for my office as I do want to find someone to take over the title office and my law practice so I can at least semi-retire. This may take some time to resolve.

The week had other issues for me as it brought the first anniversary of my husband's death. Then I got a full price offer to sell our second property, an A Frame 30 miles away hat my husband truly loved. We would have lived there except it was too far for me to go to work each day. I had listed the property a couple of months ago but the contract to close in two weeks sort of punched my heart.

Meanwhile, I got a new lawn service as my yard needed attention. They did a good job and told me they found this snake skin on top of the hedge at my front porch.

I guess I had been coming home in the dark and didn't see it till the night before they cut the hedge. It was too dark to take the pic but fortunately he left it out for me the next morning.

Princess is feeling better. I plan to get them to the vet for their annual checks this week or next.

My continuing prayers include prayers for more unity in all nations, a calmer social atmosphere, and for revival. We are also praying for family and church.


I think I went through the week in a daze. I didn't even notice the weather. I think it was pretty nice. The forecast is rain for most of this coming week but day temps will still be in high 80s, even 90 already.

I finished three audios this past week and posted two reviews and two memes.

I visited 17 blogs last week.
No Shout out this week. (I've been pretty tired this week and I'm ready to get this posted.)

Audiobooks.com is still sharing some free listens for children.

• Sunday Post April 30, 2023/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday May 1, 2023.

• NG2023: #NetGalley Audio Book Review: The Instructor by T.R. Hendricks; Genre: Military, Suspense, Thriller; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.
  

• ATBR: Audible Book Review: Oracle by Andrew Pyper; Genre: Horror, Supernatural, Suspense, Thriller; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement May 7, 2023 - Battling Evil Spirits.

Finished Reading:
1. Audio Smartphone (ATBR)

Snow Melts in Spring
By Deborah Vogts
Narrated By: Emily Durante
Duration: 8 h 19 min
This is a sweet romance with a vet, football player, and an injured horse.
Source: 5/8/2021 Two for One Credit Deal at Audiobooks.com.
Click on book title for full description.

2. Print (P2023)

Get Up and Grow: 21 Habits of Successful People
By Duke Matlock
I plan to activate several recommendations from this inspiring book.
Source: March 2023 gift from Pastor.
Click on book title for full description.

3. Audible Smartphone (ATBR)

The Wicked Wyckerly
By: Patricia Rice
Narrated by: Eliza Jane Cornell
Series: The Rebellious Sons, Book 1
I have enjoyed this author and saw that this free title would be unavailable on 5/7 so I downloaded to read in one day. I'm glad I did.
Source: 2/6/2021 Audible Plus title.
Publisher's Summary
NYT and USA Today best-selling author! Nominated for the prestigious romance Rita award!
John Fitzhugh Wyckerly has been the spare heir all his life, supporting himself with gambling and charm. The news that he's inherited the bankrupt title of earl of Danecroft shatters his indolent world. Even penniless, he's always paid his debts, but now the estate's creditors are closing in. He can fake his death and run for cover or accept overwhelming responsibility and find a rich wife - one who will also accept his illegitimate terror of a daughter.
On his way to find an heiress, he meets Abigail Merriweather, who is neither rich nor aristocratic, but she can tame The Terror and stomp cockroaches. Unfortunately she needs a wealthy, powerful man who will fight her father's executor and retrieve her four half siblings. When an unexpected inheritance falls into Abby's lap, she sets out for London to seek a lawyer.
Can Fitz charm his practical Abby into trusting him to save her siblings when it's doubtful that he can even save himself? And can Abby surrender reason and logic for the folly of love offered by a man who can have any woman he wants but insists he wants only her?
©2010 Patricia Rice (P)2015 Audible, Inc.

Currently Reading:

1. Audible Smartphone (ATBR)

Broken
By: S.J. West
Narrated by: Brittany Pressley
Series: The Watcher Chronicles, Book 1
Length: 8 hrs and 43 mins
This title showed as being unavailable by May 23 so I am listening now.
I am enjoying the beginning and concept.
Source: 9/27/2022 Audible Plus
Publisher's Summary
At the tender age of seven, Jess Riley's parents were ripped out of her life by the Tear, a ripple of white light in the sky which randomly transports people from Earth to alternate realities and distant planets once a year. On the night the Tear first appeared, the Watchers, a mysterious group of men possessing supernatural powers, made their presence known to the leaders of the world, earning their complete trust to deal with the turmoil the Tear caused.
Now 22 years old, Jess is an agent working for the Watcher Agency searching for a way to bring her parents back home. When the leader of the Watchers, Mason Collier, recruits her to join his team, Jess quickly discovers she is meant to play a major role in sealing the Tear forever. Mason and Jess instantly find themselves drawn to one another but they both resist their mutual attraction for different reasons. Broken by past events in their lives, they each struggle to overcome their fears and find the strength to take a chance on one another.
©2013 S.J. West (P)2016 Audible, Inc.

2. NetGalley App Smartphone (NG2023)

Titanium Noir
by Nick Harkaway
I started this and then paused for other books.
I like how it started- interesting main character.
I only have this available another 5 days so I hope to finish it this week.
Source 3/4/2023 NetGalley.
Cal Sounder is a detective working for the police on certain very sensitive cases. So when he’s called in to investigate a homicide at a local apartment, he is surprised at first to see that the victim appears to be a rather typical, milquetoast techie. But on closer inspection, he finds the victim is over seven feet tall. And even though he doesn’t look a day over thirty, he is actually ninety years old. Clearly, he is a Titan—one of this dystopian, near-future society’s genetically-altered elites. There are only a few thousand Titans worldwide, all thanks to Stefan Tonfamecasca’s discovery of the controversial T7 genetic therapy, which elevated his family to near godlike status. A dead Titan is big news... a murdered Titan is unimaginable.
But Titans are Cal’s specialty. In fact, his ex-girlfriend, Athena, is a Titan. And not just any Titan—she’s Stefan’s daughter, heir to the Tonfamecasca empire. As Cal digs deeper into the murder investigation, he begins to unweave the complicated threads of what should have been a straightforward case, and it soon becomes clear he’s on the trail of a crime whose roots run deep into the dark heart of the world.
A virtuosic mash-up of Philip K. Dick and Raymond Chandler by way of Marvel—the story of a detective investigating the murder of a Titan, one of society’s most powerful, medically-enhanced elites, Titanium Noir is a tightly woven, intricate tale of murder, betrayal, and vengeance.

 Again, I expect to get to a third book (an audio), which I will pick when I get there.

May 7, 2023 - I am doing the daily readings of BibleProject plan: The Full Story - "From the beginning to the Amen".
I don't know whether I will do a YOU Bible App or a print book.

I finished three audio titles and reviewed two. I had one left from last week so four to do.

NETGALLEY STATUS--
I still have two more audios on my NetGalley shelf.
I still have the two old NetGalley ebook titles.

I have one author review in my queue that I need to start reading on my computer. (I need to look back and see which one this is.)
(Plus a few that I received from Facebook links and newsletter sign-ups, not specific review requests.)
Still many titles through InstaFreebie and many new author requests I haven't replied to.

Welcome to Mailbox Monday.

Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week and explore great book blogs. This Meme started with Marcia at A Girl and Her Books (fka The Printed Page) and after a tour of hosts has returned to its permanent home at Mailbox Monday. Thanks to the ladies sharing hosting duties: Serena of Savvy Verse & Wit, me, and newest to the team, Emma at Words and Peace.
Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

Small mailbox this week.
No review titles and no wins last week.
I picked two for one credit at Audiobooks.com.
I got no free Kindle titles last week.
Are your mailbox and TBR piles blooming?

Review Titles

NONE

Won

NONE

Purchased

5/5/2023 Two for One Credit at Audiobooks.com. Both are sci fi selections.

Quant
Series: #1 of Colony
Written by: Richard F. Weyand
Narrated by: Derek Shoales
Duration: 7 hours 28 minutes

Warlord Rising
Series: #2 of Great Insurrection
Written by: Michael Anderle, David Beers
Narrated by: John Skelley
Duration: 7 hours 22 minutes

Free

No new titles added to Kindle library. 
Free titles might be found at Bookbub, Book Adrenaline, Ereader News Today, Inspired Reads, or Kindle ebooks.