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Wednesday, August 7, 2019

#NetGalley Book Review: Space Dragons by Robin Bennett

This is a fun, middle grade sci fi adventure.
Space Dragons
by Robin Bennett
46754577. sy475
File Size: 2375 KB
Print Length: 116 pages
Publisher: Monster Books (February 5, 2019)
ASIN: B07NDY2394
Genre: Children's Fantasy, Middle Grade
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0


If Stan Pollux had known he would be spending his summer holidays in the outer reaches of our solar system, he would have put on different underpants.
But when he gets kidnapped by the Planet Dragon Mercury, most things suddenly seem small and insignificant. Stan finds himself in a universe of dragons who had once ruled the skies as gods: Mars, Venus, Saturn and even Uranus way out back. This is shaping up to be the best summer holiday in the history of the cosmos until Stan discovers his stupid sister is missing and that Pluto (AKA Hades) is trying to use her to destroy the Solar System. And it will be all Stan’s fault if he doesn’t get Poppy back.
So, all Stan has to do is learn how to fight like a hero in space armour, defeat the dragon god of the Underworld, Hades, rescue his sister and save the world. All before his parents realise she is missing.


Review:
Stan is an eleven-year-old who lives with his parents, five-year-old sister, Poppy, and their dog. Stan gets bullied at school by the tougher boys who make fun of his love of science. They are just beginning the summer vacation when Poppy, breaking house rules, enters his room and accidentally knocks over Stan’s telescope. Stan is so angry he doesn’t realize at first that his favorite rock, a treasure from his grandmother, is missing from his collection. Stan is alarmed when he sees a scary eye starring back at him through his broken telescope.

Stan steps outside the next night to see if the problem is with his equipment or the view from his room. Suddenly he is overshadowed by a darkness and scooped away from his home. Shockingly he finds himself traveling through space on the back of a gray dragon. Once Stan realizes he is within a safe air bubble he begins to be awed by the experience. Still he wants the dragon, Mercury, to explain what is happening.

Poppy is upset when she watches Stan disappear from their backyard. She runs outside hoping to find him but instead she is kidnapped by a monstrous, three-headed dog. Stan is all for letting the dragons and enemy Titans sort out their own problems until he learns that his sister has been captured by the other side. Can Stan find the courage to stand beside the dragons and face the enemies while they try to save Poppy? And can Stan and Poppy work together to prevail against the enemy?

This is a fun story with space dragons named after planets, titan characters and creatures (Cerberus the three-headed hound of Hades) from mythology. The plot is well developed with adventure, battles and sibling relationships that should be enjoyable to middle graders. The sibling relationship is naturally real and there are plenty of laugh out loud comments. I recommend this as fun sci fi for young people.

Source: 2019 NetGalley. This qualifies for 2019NetGalley goal.

Tuesday, August 6, 2019

Audible Book Review: The Curse of the Pharaohs by Elizabeth Peters

This is a fun, entertaining historical mystery.
The Curse of the Pharaohs
The Amelia Peabody Series, Book 2
By: Elizabeth Peters
Narrated by: Barbara Rosenblat

Series: Amelia Peabody, Book 2
Length: 11 hrs and 41 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 09-02-04
Language: English
Publisher: Recorded Books
Genre: Cozy Mystery, Historical, Victorian
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.5.


Publisher's Summary
The sun rides high over the British Empire and the light still sparkles brightly in Amelia Peabody's eye as she returns for her second adventure in archaeology and romantic mystery as recounted in her lively journal, The Curse of the Pharaohs.
It was Sir Henry's intention to ensure that no tomb had been overlooked in the previous expedition. Scarcely had the men been at work for three days when their spades uncovered the first of a series of steps cut into the rock.
The Times gave the story a full column, on page three. The next dispatch to come to Luxor, however, rated front-page headlines. Sir Henry Baskerville was dead. He was found next morning stiff and stark in his bed. On his face was a look of ghastly horror. On his high brow, inscribed in what appeared to be dried blood, was a crudely drawn uraeus serpent, the symbol of the divine pharaoh.
Instead of digging up the treasures of a lost age, it appeared that Amelia and her friend Radcliffe were excavating a deadly curse.
Don't miss the rest of the Amelia Peabody series. You can also check out more of our Most Addictive Series.
©1981 Elizabeth Peters (P)1990 Recorded Books LLC


Review:
Amelia is a strong minded, multi-talented woman in 1892 England. She met her scholarly, archaeologist husband, Radcliffe Emerson, in Egypt. Now they are more or less quiet at home with their precocious 4-year-old son, Ramses. But it is clear that both Radcliffe and Amelia are restless and looking for a way to get back to the field. An effort to get a small dig from the neighbor fails gloriously (well more accurately gory and muddy).

Fortunately, an old friend, Lady Baskerville, appears seeking Emerson’s leadership to take over her recently deceased husband’s dig. Amelia and Radcliffe are not perturbed nor deterred by the fact that Sir Henry Baskerville’s death has been reported a result of a black curse, the Curse of the Pharaohs. Baskerville’s assistant has also gone missing and the photographer is currently ill.

Amelia is bound to share in the adventure with her best friend and husband, Radcliffe. They plan ways to approach the dig and minimize the fearful reactions of the native workers. They also have to deal with a jaunty, Irish reporter, a flirtatious widow, a boisterous, domineering woman who claims Radcliffe was her lover in a former life, and a few other unique characters.

The story is told in first person by Amelia with her intractable and irrepressible strength and humor. Amelia addresses women’s issues and primitive superstitions while determinedly investigating the death of Sir Henry, which she insists is murder, and finding the missing assistant who is her prime suspect. Soon other accidents, ghostly appearances and outright attacks begin to stir other suspicions.

I appreciate Amelia’s courage insisting on working with her husband in her era and the exotic setting. The mystery meanders a little but eventually everything pulls together. This is a fun series that is easy to listen to. There is adventure, mystery and humor. I recommend the series to readers who enjoy strong heroines, archaeological settings and cozy mystery.

Audio Notes: Barbara Rosenblat does a wonderful job with the narration. She provides a fitting setting and era tone as well as good character voices. She also provides good emotions that help carry the humor. I enjoy listening to this series.

Source: July 2007 Audible Purchase. This qualifies for 2019TBR and 2019Audiobook goal.

Monday, August 5, 2019

MBS July 2019 Reading List Wrap Up

MBS 2019 Reading List - JULY
Code for the list is:
A = Audible; ABJ = Audiobook Jukebox; ABB = Audiobook Boom
e = eBook; eA = eBook from Author; eT = eBook from Tour
NG = NetGalley
P = Print; PT = Print from Tour
LBC = Ladies Book Club
TBR = From the TBR shelves prior to 2019
Favorites for JULY:
5.0: Kingdom of Exiles 
4.5: The Highwayman; Every Last Breath; Monster Hunter Memoirs; The Hashtag Hunt; The Library of Ever; and Fate Morgana
  1. ATBR- Audible Book Review: The Highwayman A Longmire Story by Craig Johnson; Genre: Ghost, Mystery, Western; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 5.0.
  2. NG2019- #NetGalley Book Review: Every Last Breath by Juno Rushdan; Genre: Action Adventure, Romantic Suspense, Terrorism Thriller; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0.
  3. ATBR- Audible Book Review: Monster Hunter Memoirs: Sinners by Larry Correia, John Ringo; Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.75.
  4. ATBR- Audible Book Review: A Quiet Life in the Country by T E Kinsey; Genre: Amateur Sleuth, Cozy Mystery, Historical; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.
  5. LBC-TBR- Book Review: Blackout (A Riley Covington Thriller Book 3) by Jason Elam and Steve Yohn; Genre: Christian, Suspense Thriller; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0
  6. NG2019- #NetGalley Book Review: The Fairy in the Kettle Gets Magical by Pauline Tait; Genre: Children, Illustrated; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0.
  7. A2019- Audio Book Review and Tour Giveaway: The Hashtag Hunt by Kristina Seek; Genre: Clean Romance, Inspirational Romance, Romantic Comedy; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.
  8. NG2019- #NetGalley Book Review: Tangled Web by Gail Z. Martin; Genre: Paranormal, Urban Fantasy; My Rating 4.25 of 5.0.
  9. ATBR- Audible Book Review: Eye of the Needle by Ken Follett; Genre: Historical Thriller, Spy Thriller; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.
  10. NG2019- #NetGalley Book Review: The Library of Ever by Zeno Alexander; Genre: Action and Adventure, Children's, Middle Grade; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0.
  11. ATBR- Audible Book Review: Fata Morgana by Steven R. Boyett and Ken Mitchroney; Genre: Alternate History, Sci Fi, Time Travel; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.5.
  12. ATBR- Audible Book Review: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: The Primary Phase (Dramatized) by Douglas Adams; Genre: Humor, Plays, Sci Fi; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.5.
  13. NG2019- #NetGalley Book Review: Kingdom of Exiles by Maxym Martineau; Genre: Action and Adventure, Romantic Fantasy; My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0.
  14. NG2019- #NetGalley Book Review: Birds of a Feather by Vanita Oelschlager, Robin Hegan (Illustrator); Genre: Children, Illustrated, Kindergarten - 3; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0.
  15. ATBR- Audible Book Review: The Curse of the Pharaohs by Elizabeth Peters; Genre: Cozy Mystery, Historical, Victorian; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.5.
  16. NG2019- #NetGalley Book Review: Space Dragons by Robin Bennett; Genre: Children's Fantasy, Middle Grade; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0.


Total read = 16; TBR = 8; New Authors = 11
Audio/Audible = 8 (7 TBRs)
eBook = 1 (1 TBRs)
NetGalley = 7 (0 TBRs)
Print = 0
Review books (other than NG)= 0

Goal Progress:
13 ahead on Goodreads Goal of 150
Total Read to Date: 100 of 150
TBR to Date: 46 of 100 total (I need to push this and the ebooks)
TBR ebooks: 9 of 24
Audio to Date: 54 of 75
NetGalley to Date: 35 of 40
Author Reviews: 5 of 12
Nonfiction: 6 of 12

• ebTBRs: 1 +2 +2 +2 +1 +0 +1
• Author titles: 1 +0 +3 +0 +1 +0 +0
• New to me Series: 5 +5 +8 +10 +8 +8 +10
• Continuing for me Series: 3 +1 +2 +2 +2 +2 +2
• Title with Month in it: 1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +0 +0
• Seasonal title: Winter 1; Spring 2;
• Alphabet letters covered: 12 Jan + 3 Feb + 5 March + 2 April + 0 May + 1 June + 1 July
   (Two letters left: X and Y)

Sunday, August 4, 2019

Sunday Post August 4, 2019/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday August 5, 2019

Sunday Post #318 Chairs, Compliance, and Storms
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.

I ended up with three and a half days out of work after suffering a scratch and bacterial infection in my right eye.
I am very near sighted and wear mono vision lenses: left for close up and right for distance. The first two days it was hard to keep my eye open. I saw the doctor Thursday and he was pleased with the healing. He still recommended that I not wear contacts for several days. My glasses are only intended for morning and night before I put my contacts in and when I take them out. It was difficult to adjust to the straight correction (non mono vision). The doctor suggested that I could use magnifying glasses clipped inside (or sitting inside) my glasses. It's not pretty but it has helped so I could do some computer work.
I spent half of Saturday listening to my books while cleaning closets and drawers, removing clothing that no longer fits, and sewing on missing buttons.
Hubby was nice to drive me around to doctor's visits and stopping at office to sign payroll.
This week we have had weather in the 90s again plus several thunder storms passing through.We are expecting a week of 95+ days. Welcome to August!
I had a good week of reading/listening, finishing four titles: 1 audiobook, 2 ebook and 1 pdf report. I posted three reviews on the blog and posted my usual memes.

I visited 17 blogs last week.
Shout Out this week to Whatever I Think Of! Jamie shares book challenges, writing tips and thoughts and other things.
Thank you to all the nice people who visit me.

These were last week's posts:
  • NG2019- #NetGalley Book Review: Kingdom of Exiles by Maxym Martineau; Genre: Action and Adventure, Romantic Fantasy; My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0.
  • NG2019- #NetGalley Book Review: Birds of a Feather by Vanita Oelschlager, Robin Hegan (Illustrator); Genre: Children, Illustrated, Kindergarten - 3; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0.

Finished Reading:
1. Audio/Smartphone (ATBR)



The Curse of the Pharaohs
The Amelia Peabody Series, Book 2
By: Elizabeth Peters
Narrated by: Barbara Rosenblat
Series: Amelia Peabody, Book 2
Length: 11 hrs and 41 mins
This is a nice, easy listen.
Source: July 2007 Audible Purchase.
Click on book title for full description.



2. eBook/Kindle (NG2019)
46754577. sy475


Space Dragons
by Robin Bennett
This is fun and good for the target audience.
Source: 2019 NetGalley.
Click on book title for full description.



3. eBook/Computer (NG2019)
The Mueller Report audiobook cover art


The Mueller Report
The Findings of the Special Counsel Investigation
By: Robert S. Mueller III, Special Counsel's Office U.S. Department of Justice
Narrated by: Marc Vietor, Mark Boyett, Victor Bevine
Length: 19 hrs and 3 mins.
Definitely a slog, but informative.  
Source: Free Audible June 2019. I had downloaded the pdf from justice.gov but the same pdf comes with the audiobook.
Click on book title for full description.



4. eBook/Kindle (NG2019)



Spring Skies Over Bluebell Castle:(Bluebell Castle, Book 1)
by Sarah Bennett
This is delightful.
Source: 2019 NetGalley.
Click on book title for full description.



Currently Reading:
1. Audio/Smartphone (ATBR)
No Other Will Do (Ladies of Harper's Station Series, Book #1)


No Other Will Do (Ladies of Harper's Station Series, Book #1)
by Karen Witemeyer
Narrator Johanna Parker
Runtime 11 Hrs. - Unabridged
Release Date October 13, 2016
I chose a book without bad language and was pulled right into this one. I am almost done!
Source: Sale at ChristianAudio.com July 2017.
Description:
Men are optional. That's the credo Emma Chandler's suffragette aunts preached and why she started a successful women's colony in Harper's Station, Texas. But when an unknown assailant tries repeatedly to drive them out, Emma admits they might need a man after all. A man who can fight--and she knows just the one. Malachi Shaw finally earned the respect he craved by becoming an explosives expert for the railroad. Yet when Emma's plea arrives, he bolts to Harper's Station to repay the girl who once saved his life. Only she's not a girl any longer. She's a woman with a mind of her own and a smile that makes a man imagine a future he doesn't deserve. As the danger intensifies, old feelings grow and deepen, but Emma and Mal will need more than love to survive.



2. eBook/Kindle (NG2019)


The Girl in Red
by Christina Henry
I like fairy tale retellings and Post Apocalyptic so this drew my interest.
Source: 2019 NetGalley.
From the national bestselling author of Alice comes a postapocalyptic take on the perennial classic "Little Red Riding Hood"...about a woman who isn't as defenseless as she seems.
It's not safe for anyone alone in the woods. There are predators that come out at night: critters and coyotes, snakes and wolves. But the woman in the red jacket has no choice. Not since the Crisis came, decimated the population, and sent those who survived fleeing into quarantine camps that serve as breeding grounds for death, destruction, and disease. She is just a woman trying not to get killed in a world that doesn't look anything like the one she grew up in, the one that was perfectly sane and normal and boring until three months ago.
There are worse threats in the woods than the things that stalk their prey at night. Sometimes, there are men. Men with dark desires, weak wills, and evil intents. Men in uniform with classified information, deadly secrets, and unforgiving orders. And sometimes, just sometimes, there's something worse than all of the horrible people and vicious beasts combined.
Red doesn't like to think of herself as a killer, but she isn't about to let herself get eaten up just because she is a woman alone in the woods....



3. eBook/Kindle (NG2019)
44232457. sx318


You Don't Belong Here
by Sean O'Toole
This is a NetGalley title starting with "Y" for Alphabet goal. Also, I like the idea of the story.
Source: 2019 NetGalley.
Two muskrat brothers become displaced due to a storm and end up in a lady’s backyard. They make a big mess back there, and the lady decides it’s time for them to go. She calls a pest control company who comes and sets traps to catch them. He catches one of the muskrats and relocates him in a forest near a pond. He and his brother had never been apart before, and now he was all alone in an unfamiliar place. Some other animals approached him while he was drinking from the pond. They had never seen a muskrat before and were not as welcoming as he would have liked—until the muskrat proved himself worthy of living there by helping the animals defeat a dangerous foe. The other animals realized that he had some unique qualities and skills and did in fact belong at the pond, and they became friends. And someone special may have rejoined the muskrat to make for a happy ending.



4. Audio/Smartphone (ATBR)



The Ember War
Publisher's Pack, Books 1-2
By: Richard Fox
Narrated by: Luke Daniels
Series: The Ember War, Book 1-2
Length: 15 hrs and 37 mins
This is another pulled from my TBR.
Source: November 2016 Audible Sale.
Publisher's Summary
The Ember War, book 1: The Earth is doomed. Humanity has a chance.
In the near future, an alien probe arrives on Earth with a pivotal mission: to determine if humanity has what it takes to survive the impending invasion by a merciless armada. The probe discovers Marc Ibarra, a young inventor who holds the key to a daring gambit that could save a fraction of Earth's population. Humanity's only chance lies with Ibarra's ability to keep a terrible secret and engineer the planet down the narrow path to survival. Earth will need a fleet. One with a hidden purpose. One strong enough to fight a battle against annihilation.
The Ember War is the first installment in an epic military sci-fi series. If you enjoyed A Hymn Before Battle by John Ringo and The Last Starship by Vaughn Heppner, then you'll love this explosive adventure with constant thrills and high stakes from beginning to end.
The Ruins of Anthalas, book 2: An ancient holocaust holds the key to humanity's survival.
Only a sliver of mankind survived the Xaros invasion. With Earth's defenses in ashes, nothing can stop the aliens' inevitable return. Hope arrives through a cryptic message from a long-lost alien race, promising the means to rebuild the shattered space fleet. Captain Valdar takes one of the last strike carriers, the Breitenfeld, and his shell-shocked crew on a desperate mission to the dead world. Unfortunately humans aren't the only power that received the ancient message....
The Ruins of Anthalas is the second book in The Ember War Saga, a military sci-fi space opera. If you like David Weber and John Ringo with a touch of Isaac Asimov, then you'll love this fast-paced and captivating adventure where humanity survives at the edge of a knife.
©2015 Richard Fox (P)2016 Podium Publishing



Audio/Smartphone (ATBR) -- Set Aside



A Hymn Before Battle
Legacy of the Aldenata
By: John Ringo
Narrated by: Marc Vietor
Series: Legacy of the Aldenata, Book 1
Length: 14 hrs and 28 mins
I stopped at 31% as I wasn't particularly engaged. Maybe I'll get back to it another time.
Source: July 2011 Audible Purchase.
Publisher's Summary
With Earth in the path of the rapacious Posleen, the Galactic Federation offers help to the backward humans - for a price. You can protect yourself from your enemies, but God save you from your allies!
©2001 John Ringo (P)2009 Audible, Inc.



August 4, 2019 - I am still enjoying the devotions and readings with the One Year Bible plan through You Version App. I finished a 3 day study, Serve One Another. I plan to pick out a new study this week. [You can check out audio of the One Year Bible Plan on the companion commentary online.]


I completed four books and posted three reviews. I am up to date with the four reviews to post this week.
I have been adding newer reviews to NetGalley, Goodreads, Amazon and Audible. (Eventually I will add older reviews.)
My NetGalley shelf is at 13 unread. I am now reading titles released in June and I still have one older. [Plus I have 4 old titles (2012-13.)]
I still have four author ebook titles in queue. I didn't read one in July so I have to pull one or two in August.
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: Leslie of Under My Apple Tree, Serena of Savvy Verse & Wit and (yours truly). Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.
I received three new review titles this week through NetGalley.
I picked up seven audiobooks - two free from Christianaudio.com; one Audible with Kindle book and four at Audible Sale.
I selected 10 free kindle titles this week. (Note these are in my Amazon library, NOT on my Kindle until I download and transfer them.) Are your mailbox and TBR piles blooming?

Review Titles
I received three more titles from NetGalley:
7/29/19
43597185Someone to Honor
by Mary Balogh
"First appearances deceive in the newest charming and heartwarming Regency romance in the Westcott series..."
I have read several in this series and really enjoy Mary Balogh's works.


7/30/19
43130400. sy475
by Donna Kauffman; Kate Angell; Allyson Charles
"Every autumn, Moonbright, Maine, is the picture of charm with its piles of crisp leaves, flickering jack-o’-lanterns … and a touch of the sweetest kind of enchantment. "
I saw this at Bookfan and was pulled in.

8/01/19
42589324 

Nothing to Fear
by Juno Rushdan
"Every move they make counts. And the real traitor is always watching..."
I really enjoyed book 1 and am glad to continue.


Won
NONE

Purchased
8/3/2019 I have been eyeing this series for some time. My son texted that the Kindle was on sale for free. I picked up the Kindle book for free and Audible Book for $1.99.
The Black Star of Kingston
By: S. D. Smith
Narrated by: Eric Fritzius
Series: Tales of Old Natalia , Book 1, The Green Ember, Book 0.5
Length: 2 hrs and 8 mins


8/4/19 Audible Sale $5.00 each. (I determined I would spend up to $20.00 and I found these four picks.)
Journey to the Center of the Earth: A Signature Performance by Tim Curry audiobook cover art

Journey to the Center of the Earth: A Signature Performance by Tim Curry
By: Jules Verne
Narrated by: Tim Curry
Length: 8 hrs and 20 mins
Release date: 03-01-11


Fuzzy Nation audiobook cover art

Fuzzy Nation
By: John Scalzi
Narrated by: Wil Wheaton, John Scalzi - introduction
Length: 7 hrs and 19 mins
Release date: 05-10-11


Redshirts audiobook cover art

Redshirts
A Novel with Three Codas
By: John Scalzi
Narrated by: Wil Wheaton
Length: 7 hrs and 41 mins
Release date: 06-05-12

The Space Between audiobook cover artThe Space Between
An Outlander Novella
By: Diana Gabaldon
Narrated by: Davina Porter
Length: 4 hrs and 13 mins
Release date: 05-30-14

Free

8/02/19 ChristianAudio.com August Free title.
Simply Tuesday: Small-Moment Living in a Fast-Moving WorldSimply Tuesday: Small-Moment Living in a Fast-Moving World
by Emily P. Freeman



7/28/19 ChristianAudio.com July Free title.
Grace Abounding to the Chief of SinnersGrace Abounding To The Chief Of Sinners
by John Bunyan


I added 10 free titles this week to my Kindle library. Titles found linked through Bookbub, Bookfun, Ereader News Today, Free Par-tay, Ignite Your Book, Inspired Reads, Pixel of Ink or Kindle ebooks.

Sunday Words of Encouragement August 4, 2019

We shared prayer concerns and praises. Our substitute Sunday School teacher shared a good message about Jehoshaphat from 2 Chronicles 20.

Our church service began with a praise song that fit with the Sunday School message. After praise and worship we shared Communion.
Our pastor shared another Resolution Sermon based Hebrews 11.
Faith is nothing without Action. Faith must be continually exercised.
Faith accompanied by action increases our endurance. Especially for spiritual attacks.

All Christians face spiritual attacks in finances, illness, community and opposition. When pastors seek vision they are often attacked by doubts. We see this in battles our missionaries face.
Some people avoid them; others become fearful of them. Some find triumph while others suffer.
Hebrews 11:32-40.

The Point: We have been equipped with faith to endure and win the spiritual battle.

Faith is required for spiritual endurance.
There attacks against the Church from outside but Churches stand against outward battles. However, Churches often fall as a result of attacks from within.

The enemy is fighting for a whole generation. The enemy is Satan.

We've been equipped with faith; with the power of The Holy Spirit; with numbers in the support of each other.

When we recognize the spiritual attack, then it can be defeated.
God has provided leaders and equipped His people. Ephesians 4:12.
Then we will no longer be like immature children... Each part does its own special work...Ephesians 4: 14-16.

The body is not supposed to avoid spiritual battles. The battle is imminent. We have a vision to go into the community. The ‘gates of hell’ can't hold us back. Matthew 16:18.
The church is equipped to fight the battle. We are to take the battle to the enemy.
Are we ready to face the battle? Together.
No condemnation in church, but rather support. Let us be warriors to face the battle.

I picked this song for today’s message: Warrior.
Verses for Today:
Ephesians 4:11-16 NIV
11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Matthew 16:18 (NIV)
18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.


I pray that God gives me the heart and strength to be a Warrior for Him.





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