Sunday Words of Encouragement December 31, 2023: Give, Pray, Fast!

We started the service with lovely worship. Then Pastor shared his message from Matthew 6:1-21. Give, Pray, and Fast.
Our church participates in 21 days prayer and fasting which will start a week. Pastor reminded us that God still works, so get ready for 21.

God calls us to righteousness not justice. He expects us to do the right things. He doesn’t ask us,
God tells us.
V2 When you give to the needy (alms)…
V5 -7 When you pray…
V 16 When you fast…
V19-21 where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

God does things in His timing. He rewards obedience.

Giving to others in need puts money in its place. Our heart goes where we spend time or invest.

Pray in secret place. Public spiritually is an offshoot of private spiritual life. Prayer is a conversation with God. Simplicity is recommended.

V9 Jesus gave us the model prayer, The Lord’s Prayer. Prayer aligns us in God's will in mercy and grace. Pray puts our will in place with His Will.

Fasting is giving up food. Fasting puts flesh in place. Be mindful when you are fasting to invest the time in the Kingdom – read and study scripture, listen to praise and worship. Fasting is the intentional practice of acknowledging our weaknesses and relying upon God's grace.

Consider your time, talent, and treasure. We are made to give from our overflow so we must be filled spiritually to do this. Psalm 23:5 …my cup overflows.

I found this video song to fit today’s message. Walk With Jesus.

Verses for Today:
Matthew 6:19-21 ESV
19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.


Lord, help me each day to follow your command to Seek You First.

MBS - 2023 Audiobook Challenge Year-End Status

It's time for year end check in on the Audiobook Challenge hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer & That's What I'm Talking About. 

My goal was the 100 Club level and I am at 120 audiobooks with one more expected to be finished by 12/31.
I have read 145 books to date so for sure the majority of my reading is on audio.

My reading lists and reviews are linked HERE (or in the blog header under "Reading Lists") and at Goodreads. 

MBS November 2023 Reading List Wrap Up

MBS 2023 Reading List - NOVEMBER

Code for the list is:
A = Audible; 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 2023
Favorites for the month:

5 Stars = none
4.75 Stars = none
4.5 Stars = none

1. ATBR: Trick or Treat Murder by Leslie Meier; Genre: Cozy Mystery. 4.0
2. ebTBR: Outage Boxed Set: Books 1-3 (Outage Horror Suspense Series) by T.W. Piperbrook; Genre: Horror. 3.75
3. ATBR: Upland Autumn: Birds, Dogs, and Shotgun Shells by William G. Tapply; Genre: Nonfiction, Collection. 4.0
4. A2023: Quant Series: #1 of Colony by Richard F. Weyand; Genre: Sci Fi, Space. 4.25
5. ATBR: A Study in Scarlet Women by Sherry Thomas; Genre: Historical, Mystery.
6. The Cold Dish by Craig Johnson; Genre: Mystery, Thriller. 4.25
7. ATBR: Bunker (Book 4) Lock and Load by Jay J. Falconer; Genre: Post Apocalyptic. 4.25
8. Christmas in Three Rivers by Liz Isaacson; Genre: Christmas, Romance. 4.25
9. ATBR: The Singularity Trap by Dennis E. Taylor; Genre: Sci Fi, Space. 4.0
10. ATBR: Wizard's Alley by James Haddock; Genre: Fantasy. 4.25
11. The Forever, Books 1-2 (only Book 1) by Craig Robertson; Genre: Sci Fi, Space.
12. Existential Crucible, Book 1 by Ryan W. Aslesen; Genre: Post Apocalyptic, Zombies. 4.25
13. Harvest Wishes (Starlight Inn) by Jessica Anne Renwick; Genre: Contemporary, Second Chance. 4.25

This Month
Total read = 12 (Forever not counted at GR)
TBR = 10
New Authors = 8
Audio/Audible = 10 (8 TBRs)
NetGalley = 0 (0 audio) (0 TBRs)
Author Review books (other than NG) = 0
Nonfiction = 1
eBook = 2 (2 TBR)
Print = 0 (0 TBR)
DNF - 0

Goal Progress (to Date meaning through the end of the given month)
*Goodreads Goal Read to Date: 126 of 125
*TBR to Date: 101 of 90
*Audio to Date: 114 of 100
*NetGalley to Date: 16 of 10
Author Reviews: 7 of 12
Nonfiction: 8 of 10
*TBR ebooks or Print: 11 of 8
New Authors to date: 79

• Series: 92 of 75 (25 continuing, 67 new)
• New to me Series: 67 (24 Yes to continue; 15 likely to continue, 22 maybe, 6 unlikely)
• Finished for me Series: 2 (maybe? Not sure if the Bobiverse is done)

Special Goals
• Seasonal title: 4 of 4: Winter, Spring, Summer, Autumn

• Alphabet letters covered: (22 of 26) -- 9 January (A, C, D, F, H, L, P, R, S); 6 February (B, E, G, I, T, Y); 5 March (K, M, J, O, U); 1 April (W); 1 May (N); 0 June; 0 July; 0 August; 0 September; 0 October; 1 November (Q),
NEED: V, X, Z

• Locations: 12 of 8
      River, Mountains, Kingdoms, Castle, Junkyard, Deadlands, Shore, Paris, Park, Ranch, Harbor, Alley

• Numbers: 11 of 12
      Forging Zero, Cat o’ Nine Tales, Six Crimson Cranes, One Heart to Win, The Fifth Victim, The Fourth Monkey, 1984, Robinson Crusoe 2244. 299 The Preparation, Two Necromancers; Christmas at Three Rivers

Groups of Five: (Places and Numbers above)
• Times of Day: 4 of 5
      Moonshine, Morning, Midnight, Nights
• Occupations: 10 of 5
      Warrior, Cowboy, Vet, King, Cop, Pirate, Instructor, Wizard, Sheriff, Tutor
• Colors: 6 of 5
      The Far Blue Mountains, Six Crimson Cranes, Silver Dollar Duke; Altered Carbon, Black Sheep; A Study in Scarlet Women

Sunday Post December 24, 2023/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday December 25, 2023 - MERRY CHRISTMAS!

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.

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Last week was a bit awkward at work as we did a couple of mail away closings and an in office closing got postponed. One staff member was out with a stomach bug on Monday and another was out the rest of the week with flu or cold symptoms. We postponed our lunch from Thursday and were closed for Friday.
I went shopping Wednesday night and managed to get thing for everyone. What's left will be gift cards.

My daughter has fought fever all week long. I have had low grade fever this weekend. Our plans for Christmas day are still up in the air. Not sure if they are coming to see me or I am driving to see them. I have cleaned and decorated the table, but didn't put up a tree. 

Especially at this Christmas Season I pray for the Advent messages:  Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. 

The weather has been nice but we have rain Sunday night and Christmas day. The last week of the year (including my birthday) may be a bit cooler (in the 50s) but no rain.  

I've finished five audios. I am doing short reviews for some of them on Goodreads. 

I visited 12 blogs last week. Still no new Shout Outs lined up - maybe I can start again in the new year.

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

• Sunday Post December 17, 2023/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday December 18, 2023.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement December 24, 2023 - Remember the Gift!

• Songs for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 2023. MERRY CHRISTMAS!.

Finished Reading:
I have had time to listen to audios while cleaning, baking, cooking and wrapping! I have really worked on the group that expires 12/31. I will continue with some series, but not all.

1. Audible on Smartphone (ATBR).

Initiate: Animus, Book 1
By: Joshua Anderle , Michael Anderle
Narrated by: Scott Aiello
Series: Animus Series, Book 1
Length: 9 hrs and 13 mins
4.5. I enjoyed this young recruit being turned into a warrior. I will listen to more in the series.
Source: 6/30/2022 Audible Plus, expiring 12/31.
Click on book title for full description.

2. Audio on Smartphone (ATBR).

Zanna's Gift: A Life in Christmases
By: Orson Scott Card
Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki , Emily Janice Card
Length: 2 hrs and 14 mins
5.0. This short story is a beautiful and touching story of loss, remembrance, and sharing love. The narration was lovely and added to my enjoyment of the story. This "Z" title to finish my 2023 Alphabet Challenge. :-)
Source: 12/3/2022 Audible Plus Catalog.
Click on book title for full description.

3. Audible on Smartphone (A2023).

Shadows of a Lost Age
Dustfall, Book 1
By: Glynn James, J. Thorn
Narrated by: Kevin Pierce
Series: Dustfall, Book 1
Length: 8 hrs and 23 mins
4.0 I wrote a brief review at Goodreads.
Source: May 2023 Audible Plus, expiring 12/31.
Publisher's summary
"With every light comes a shadow." - Dustfall
In a ravaged tribe on the edge of humanity, the suspicious death of a chief thrusts a man into a dark realm for which he is unprepared. When Jonah inherits leadership of the Elk Clan from his father, many in the old man's inner circle question his son's ability to lead the tribe to their winter shelter at the ruins of Eliz. A dark stranger, a journey over hundreds of miles of dangerous highway and clashes with feral gangs will push Jonah to the edge.
From best-selling authors J. Thorn and Glynn James comes Dustfall, a new post-apocalyptic series chronicling one man's challenge and his epic quest to save what remains of humanity.
©2016 Glynn James and J. Thorn (P)2017 Podium Publishing.

4. Audible on Smartphone (ATBR).

Deliverance: Forgotten Colony, Book 1
By: M.R. Forbes
Narrated by: Jeffrey Kafer
Series: Forgotten Colony, Book 1
Length: 7 hrs and 36 mins
4.5. I enjoyed this and plan to continue in the series. I did a review on the phone Audible app but it isn’t showing yet. I might have to go back and redo it.
Source: February 2023 Audible Plus Catalog. Expiring 12/31.
Publisher's summary
The war is over. Earth is lost. Running is the only option. And it may already be too late.
Caleb is a former Marine Raider and commander of the Vultures, a search and rescue team that's spent the last two years pulling high-value targets out of alien-ravaged cities and shipping them off-world.
When his new orders call for him to join 40,000 survivors aboard the last starship out, he thinks his days of fighting are over. The Deliverance represents a fresh start and a chance to leave the war behind for good.
Except the war won't be as easy to escape as he thought.
And the colony will need a man like Caleb more than he ever imagined.
Enter the universe of the Forgotten with Deliverance, the first book in the Forgotten Colony series. If you're a fan of Aliens, Battlestar Galactica, Starship Troopers, Ender's Game, or Edge of Tomorrow, you'll love this epic military sci-fi thriller.
©2018 M.R. Forbes (P)2019 Podium Publishing.

5. Audible on Smartphone (ATBR).

Proxima Rising: Proxima, Book 1
By: Brandon Q. Morris
Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini
Series: Proxima Trilogy, Book 1
Length: 8 hrs and 58 mins
3.5. This sci fi didn’t really pull me in.
I did a review at Goodreads.
Source: December 2021 Audible Plus, expiring 12/31.
Publisher's summary
Late in the 21st century, Earth receives what looks like an urgent plea for help from planet Proxima Centauri b in the closest star system to the Sun.
Astrophysicists suspect a massive solar flare is about to destroy this heretofore-unknown civilization. Earth's space programs are unequipped to help, but an unscrupulous Russian billionaire launches a secret and highly-specialized spaceship to Proxima b, over four light-years away.
The unusual crew faces a Herculean task - should they survive the journey. No one knows what to expect from this alien planet.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
©2019 Brandon Q. Morris (P)2020 Podium Publishing.

Currently Reading:
1. Kindle App on Smartphone (eB2023)

The Battle of Atlanta: A Captivating Guide to a Battle of the Atlanta Campaign That Changed the Course of the American Civil War
By Captivating History
This has shared details I was unfamiliar with. I am at 80% so will finish this week. 
Source: Offered and Downloaded through BookSprout.
Click on book title for full description.

2. Audible on Smartphone (A2023).

Raven's Peace
By: Glynn Stewart
Narrated by: Oliver Wyman
Series: Peacekeepers of Sol, Book 1
Length: 9 hrs and 34 mins
I’m several hours into this one and like the lead character. There is good rapport and action has just started in.
Source: February 2023 Audible Plus Catalog, expiring 12/31.
Publisher's summary
Ten thousand stars, once chained, taste freedom. An eternal empire, once undefeated, falls to pieces. An alliance, once united, now lacks a common foe. War was hard enough. Peace may be impossible.
For 17 years, Colonel Henry Wong and the United Planets Space Force have fought the Kenmiri Empire. They drove the alien overlords back from humanity's borders into their own stars and found allies among the Kenmiri's slaves and subjects.
Now the war is over. A great Gathering has been called of the allies who fought the war, but they only ever shared a common enemy. With the Kenmiri in retreat, a thousand new agendas are revealed.
The United Planets Alliance wants peace above all else. Their allies want everything from new homes to new empires - and all too many of them are prepared to do anything to achieve their goals!
©2019 Glynn Stewart (P)2020 Podium Publishing.

There will be more Audible titles expiring end of month but I haven't decided on which one next. 

December 24, 2023 - I am doing the daily readings of BibleProject plan: The Full Story - "From the beginning to the Amen". This week's reading started Revelation and today included Luke 2.

I finished five books, four of which I did short reviews at Goodreads.  

NETGALLEY STATUS--
I have two new audios as well as an older audio on my shelf I should listen to (next year).
I still have the two old NetGalley ebook titles.

Other Sources: I have a dozen or so books that I received from Facebook links and newsletter sign-ups, not specific review requests. plus many titles through InstaFreebie over the past few years.

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 Emma at Words and Peace. Emma is retiring so we are looking for another person willing to assist.

Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

No new review titles this week.
I will probably pick up my Two December Audible credits and I still have to pick my Audiobooks.com VIP.
I still have 25 (or more) Audible Plus titles picked up over the past several weeks. I will list them another day.

No new Kindle titles this week.
Are your mailbox and TBR piles blooming?

Review Titles

NONE

Won

NONE

Purchased

NONE

Free

More Audibles to be listed later. 

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

Songs for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 2023. MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Songs for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 2023. MERRY CHRISTMAS!
O Holy Night BYU Noteworthy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdTbfmJe1O8

Beautiful rendition by 7 year old Claire Crosby and David Crosby. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdbXU3oZ4h4


Noel Chirs Tomlin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBZ6Lqx1OHk



Drummer Boy For KING & COUNTRY Please listen/watch to the end!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzEX3QMuVPM

They have a powerful version performed at the CMA country Christmas 2019 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f09px0FX_4s


Do You Hear What I Hear? Gentri. Sweet rendition with children
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGxpxvWNADY

Beautiful version by Celtic Woman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zPaKwA7838


Heaven is Here by The McClures
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otSfV-u5rC0



Give Him Glory
The Manger Throne by Phil Wickham