Resolve to Love

 By: Kerry and Chris Shook

Right now, there are three relationships in your life that trouble you. Perhaps a good friend said something to you yesterday. It felt critical, but you’re not sure what she meant. The two of you used to be so close, but lately you’ve been drifting apart. Something’s not right. Oh, and your mother called. There’s that. You know you should return her call, but you haven’t. Why? You know there are things you should have said before, you avoided them, and now you feel it’s too late. It’s always so hard with her. Always messy. And then...your son has been missing. Not missing physically, but he’s been distant, quiet, silent. Missing emotionally. What’s that about? What’s going on in his life? You want to reach out, but he pushes you away. It worries you.

Maybe the relationships in your life aren’t exactly like these, but I’m guessing these remind you of someone close to you, a problem relationship in your life right now. Maybe it’s not your mother but your father, perhaps not your son but a daughter-in-law. It could be your best friend. Whoever it is, he or she is someone who matters to you—or else the relationship wouldn’t trouble you, gnaw at you on the inside, make you question and grumble, or even bring you to tears.
So take a moment and think, who are these three key people in your life? Which meaningful relationships are troubling you? Relationships you wish were closer. Relationships you’d like to be deeper and richer. Relationships that trouble you, bother you, even make you a little crazy right now.
Seriously, think about it. Who are they? And now take a moment to name these three key relationships out loud.

Trust me, this is important for you. In fact, this may be the most significant thing you do in your life right now. Why?

Because life is way too short. At the end of the day—at the end of The Day—in this all-too-short life we share, all that really matters is relationships. Our relationships with the God who created us and with the people we love. Compared to these relationships, the job or career goals we set now aren’t really so important, the ladders we try to climb don’t matter so much, and the objects we long to own and possess seem utterly trivial.

What really counts in the end is that special knowing look you share with your spouse, the arms of your child reaching up to you, or the quiet comfort of a friend who stands by your side in a difficult time.
The award-winning animated movie Up contains some profound truths about relationships. In a breathtaking sequence early in the film, we see the entire arc of the life of Carl, a balloon salesman, as he meets Ellie, falls in love, and gets married. They share a dream to travel to South America and save every penny for their big trip. But there’s something familiar about the way their savings are constantly being used for the urgencies and emergencies of daily life. Before Carl and Ellie know it, they’re in their seventies, and although they have a beautiful marriage, they never realized their dream adventure.
Ellie dies, and Carl is overwhelmed with regret about the trip they never took. In a desperate attempt to escape loneliness and recapture memories of Ellie, Carl attaches a bunch of balloons to his house and sets out for South America! You begin to realize as the movie progresses that this dream trip they were saving for, this object of their future plan together, wasn’t really that important after all. The real adventure was the life they shared along the way.

The same is true for us: the adventure of a lifetime is right in front of us. It’s just cleverly disguised as a familiar face.

Think about the possible loss of the relationship with one of those three people you named. You can’t do anything about death and the physical departure of one of them from this earth. That’s in God’s hands.
But you can do something about your relationship with them in life.
Much of what you’ve been told about relationships is upside down and wrong.
Researchers tell us that a baby sees everything upside down for the first few days of life until the brain can adjust the visual picture to right side up. Most relationships today are stuck in this same infant stage; we tend to see relationships upside down, and our culture only reinforces this view. The concept of love at first sight permeates our music, movies, television, and books. What we learn as children and continue to believe as adults is that a fairy-tale relationship somehow just happens. Now, I’m not bashing romance, but meaningful relationships depend on seeing other people as they are and looking at them right side up. Real love—whether romantic love, a close friendship, or a family relationship—happens long after first sight. It shows up as people get to know each other more deeply and often after they work through tough things together. Real love in relationships isn’t a magic act; it’s a journey. When people say, “It was love at first sight,” what they really mean is “I was attracted to that person the first time I saw them.” There is nothing wrong with being infatuated with someone at the start of a relationship. The real question, however, is, do you have a love that is growing stronger and deeper every day?

I don’t believe in love at first sight; I believe in love at last sight. Each of my relationships has the potential to be better the next time we’re together than it was the previous time so that the last time we see each other on this earth we’re closer than ever before.

I’d like you to join me in the Lasting Love Relationship Challenge. The book One Month to Love is the challenge, and you can do it on your own. Just read a chapter each day. There are thirty chapters, they’re short, and you can probably read one a day pretty easily. At the end of each chapter you’ll find the Lasting Love Relationship Challenge, which is designed to help you take the insights from that day and apply them to your key relationships. Also you can log on to onemonthtolove.com each day to access our personal coaching and get extra encouragement and advice or share your story. Our goal is to come alongside you to help you create the very best relationships possible. Let’s resolve to love this year!

Adapted from One Month to Love by Kerry and Chris Shook with permission of Multnomah Books, a division of Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

Wisps of Regret

This bestselling former Palisades release is book five in the new Glenbrooke series by award-winning author Robin Jones Gunn. Shelly Graham has moved home to Glenbrooke, where she's flooded with memories of her high school sweetheart, who took off for Europe after they broke up. But when Shelly travels to Germany, she suddenly runs into the former boyfriend who has filled her thoughts. Learning that Jonathan is engaged, Shelly hides her feelings for him. After returning home, however, she must face these feelings, especially after her path crosses Jonathan's yet again. Only this time, if they can find the strength to be honest, they just might discover what God has in store.She remembers their childhood with longing their parting with regret…

Coming home wasn’t supposed to feel this way. After five years as a flight attendant, Shelly is home again, in a house alive with happy memories. Yet she feels strangely lost. Without direction. Alone.

Where is Jonathan Renrield when she needs him? Jonathan, her best friend nearly all her life, her first and only love. Shelly hadn’t meant to hurt him when she left him behind to chase her dreams. And she misses him more than she’s ever admitted. When they unexpectedly meet in Germany , Shelly manages to hide her feelings from Jonathan—and his fiancée. But she can no longer hide them from herself. Will she ever be ready to tell Jonathan the truth? Will she have the chance?

Not until a business trip takes her to charming Glenbrooke , Oregon does Shelly finally understand: only the truth can set her free. But is it too late for her and Jonathan?

Oftentimes, we as individuals do not see that God has His best in front of us. We need to follow our plans and so as we stray from God's path, God lets things happen to us that will force us to get onto the right path, and in Shelly's case, pain was the only way that could get her back onto the path.

Here is a little bit about the author and her blog: http://www.robingunn.com/

I got this book free from: Blogging for Books!

Little Ordinary Me

The prophet Nehemiah's cousin can speak numerous languages, keep complex accounts, write on rolls of parchment and tablets of clay, and solve great mysteries. There is only one problem: she is a woman.

In her early childhood years, Sarah experienced the death of her mother and her father's subsequent emotional distance and she came to two conclusions: that God does not care about her, and that her accomplishments are the measure of her worth - the measure of her self.

Sarah, the talented scribe and cousin to Nehemiah, is catapulted into the center of the Persian court, working too many hours, rubbing elbows with royalty, and solving intrigues for the Queen. Ironically, it isn't failure but success that causes Sarah to lose her only source of external validation.

Oftentimes, the concept of self-worth is from people we love and trust. Just as Sarah struggled with self-worth, so have I. I have been putting way to much trust onto people's words and not enough on God. I have only come to terms with how others see me and how I should get away from it all. 

God has recently been showing me that I don't need anyone telling me what my self-worth is, except for Him. I don't need to put in effort into something so meaningless as to other people's concept as to how I should act and so forth. Instead, I just need to keep my eyes on Him and He alone will guide me through life.

Double the Blessings

As Christmas day nears, Bree and her faithful search-and-rescue dog Samson follow the trail of a troubling mystery into the snowy forests of Rock Harbor. Bree Matthews is preparing for Christmas guests, but her heart is reeling from the recent and tender loss of her unborn child. Her sister-in-law, Lauri, suddenly turns up on the doorstep of the lighthouse home Bree shares with her husband, Kade, in Rock Harbor. Secretive and withdrawn, Lauri seems curiously intent on discovering what happened to a parachuter who disappeared in the North Woods along Lake Superior's icy shore.
As Bree and Samson, her search-and-rescue dog, plunge into the search, Bree wonders if Lauri may know more than she’s admitted about the parachuter. And then the clues lead them to the trail of a young woman whose family fears the worst about her disappearance.
Will the search on this snowy, silent night lead Bree and Samson to more than clues about the missing girl? And will Bree’s prayer for a baby ever be answered?

I couldn't put this book down when I got it from BookSneeze. I have Collenn Coble's earlier book called: City in the Night. I really like this series because you see in the end that all have worked out fine for good at the end. It's not luck, but blessings. Even though these books are fictional, you really feel God's providence in these stories and esp. at the end with Bree.

I would recommend this book to anyone to read near the Christmas holidays. It's a book that teaches us to be grateful for our families and to treasure one another as we pass another year. 

Right Where I Belong

Natalia’s about to discover her place in the world . . . and it’s not following in her father’s footsteps.
After watching her father jump from one marriage to the next, Natalia has completely written off love. And when her father divorces his third wife—the only one who has been a mother to her—Natalia is ready to write him off too.
Needing a change of scenery, Natalia leaves her home in Spain and relocates with her stepmother to sun-soaked Florida. But she didn’t realize just how far a new school, a new culture, and a new lifestyle would push her out of her comfort zone.
One of her biggest surprises comes from Brian, a pastor’s son with an adorable smile, who loves God with a sincerity that astounds Natalia. She doesn’t want to fall for him, but she can’t seem to avoid him long enough to get him out of her mind.

Oftentimes, I have wondered where exactly I belong. I look at my mediocre life and think, my friends have this and their life is going where I want to go, but in my life, there seems to be too many lacking things. I'm uncertain about my future, while other friends are going places. After I read this book, I realized that God's plan is bigger my life. He can see further than I can, just like a human vs. an ant. The ant can only see in the space right in front of him, but he can't see what's ahead of him.

Right now, even though I can barely see in front of me, I know that God will steer me in the right direction when the right time comes. Now I am exactly where I belong.

Twas the Night Before Heaven for the Sandy Hook Children

Twas' 11 days before Christmas, around 9:38,
when 20 beautiful children stormed through heaven's gate.
Their smiles were contagious, their laughter filled the air.
They could hardly believe all the beauty they saw there.
They were filled with such joy, they didn't know what to say.......
They remembered nothing of what had happened earlier that day.
"Where are we?" asked a little girl, as quiet as a mouse.
"This is heaven." declared a small boy.
"We're spending Christmas at God's house."
When what to their wondering eyes did appear,
but Jesus, their savior, the children gathered near.
He looked at them and smiled, and they smiled just the same.
Then He opened His arms and He called them by name.
And in that moment was joy, that only heaven can bring.
Those children all flew into the arms of their King.
And as they lingered in the warmth of His embrace,
one small girl turned and looked at Jesus' face.
And as if He could read all the questions she had,
He gently whispered to her, "I'll take care of mom and dad."
Then He looked down on earth, the world far below
He saw all of the hurt, the sorrow, and woe.
Then He closed His eyes and He outstretched His hand,
"Let My power and presence re-enter this land!"
"May this country be delivered from the hands of fools"
"I'm taking back my nation. I'm taking back my schools!"
Then He and the children stood up without a sound;
"Come now my children, let me show you around."
Excitement filled the space, some skipped and some ran;
All displaying enthusiasm that only a small child can.
And I heard Him proclaim as He walked out of sight,
"In the midst of this darkness, I AM STILL THE LIGHT."

 When I read the following poem, I felt it brought a little perspective, and I wanted to share it. It's written by Cameo Smith, Mt. Wolf, PA, with Andrea Marie.

No Secret Left Uncovered

Jessica ran from her past...but can she hide from love?

Jessica Morgan wants desperately to forget the past and begin a new life. She chooses a small, peaceful town tucked away in Oregon’s Willamette Valley as the place to start over—Glenbrooke. Once there, Jessica conceals her identity from the intriguing personalities she meets—including the compassionate paramedic who desires to protect her and the jealous woman who wants nothing more than to destroy her.

Will Jessica’s deceit ruin all hope for the future? Or will she find a deeper peace that allows her to stop hiding the truth from those who love her most of all?

 Secrets always have a way to come out, even the deepest secret in the world. Just as Jessica Morgan found it impossible to keep her past as a secret, it eventually came out through Principal Charlotte, the one person who had it in for Jessica.

Even us as Christians, no secret is 'secret' because God knows all and eventually the truth will be revealed for all to see.


I got this book from: Blogging for Books.

Spiritual Warfare

What if you could actually see angels and fallen angels engaging in battle—and you were expected to join the fight?

It’s been one year since Jonah Stone and his sister, Eliza, discovered that their mother is a nephilim, the product of a union between a human and a fallen angel, which makes them and their little brother, Jeremiah, quarterlings, or one-quarter angel. After embarking on an epic journey to rescue their mother and the other nephilim, who were kidnapped by fallen angels, the Stone kids have enjoyed a little peace and quiet.
But when Jonah and Eliza are attacked by fallen angels at school, they learn that quarterlings all over the world are being targeted, and separating them from their parents is the only way to keep them safe. The kids undergo special training to help them discover their own unique angelic gifts, which come in handy when they embark on a mission to find a mysterious prophet who they believe holds the key to Abaddon's defeat in a massive battle between good and evil.

Parents today are looking for fiction that makes Christianity and the Bible exciting for their kids. This series is the first Christian answer to Percy Jackson and the Olympiansand other middle grade series packed with adventure, action, and supernatural fights. But the message is solidly scriptural in that God alone is always in control.

 I have recently noticed that I was under spiritual warfare with the devil and my heart. Even though I am at a Christian university, I have still found myself struggling to be like God everyday. I found that I was fighting a losing battle by myself and arming myself not with the armor that God gave me, but other things that I thought was right and Christian.

Even though I have been at this school for 4 1/2 years, I have come to realize that a Christian school also has its pros and cons. The pros are of course the wonderful classes in which professors will pray for the students at the start of each day, but the cons is that each group is trying to reach the same people and by doing that, is splitting the student body into cliches, instead of really reaching them with the gospel of Christ.

Many things that I have experienced would probably happen to me in s public school, but because a fellow brother and sister in Christ did it to me, I feel more hurt than if a nonChristian did it to me. Because I have started to put on the armor of God, I feel as though God is equipping me to face these trials that have come up against me.

God’s Payment Plan

“For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Hebrews 10:30-31 Someone may be in debt to you. They may owe you money, a reputation, an apology, a job, or a childhood. But God is asking you to let go and let Him. Let Him handle this. He has a payment plan for those who are in debt to his children. It may mean He wipes their slate clean with minimal repercussions. It may mean their stiff neck forces God to bring them to the end of themselves through trials and tribulations. Or, it may mean that what awaits them is an eternity of reaping in hell what has been sown on earth. But God’s position is one of judge and jury. You do not have to carry this burden or responsibility. Your role is to forgive and to trust God with the proper judgment and consequence.
   
Life gets complicated and draining when we take on the responsibility of making sure a person gets what he deserves. This is arrogant and unwise on our part. How can we know what others deserve for their injustices, neglect, and self-absorption? Our role is not to play God, but to serve God. Playing God is a never-ending disappointment. We were not made for that role. Only the Almighty can fill these shoes. And He does have it under control. There is no indiscretion or blatant injustice that is off His radar screen of sensitivity. He picks up on every “little” sin.

So, rest in the assurance of knowing God will pay back in His good timing and in His good way. Give this person or issue over to God. Do not bear the responsibility of executing payback time. Your role is to forgive and let go. God’s role is to establish a payment plan of justice and judgment. Yes, your parents may have blown it through their own selfish tirades. Their immature choices may have built up over time and led to divorce. Because of their indiscretions and unwise decisions, you grew up in a less than favorable home environment. But look at their faces. The hurt and the consequences are etched in their countenances. The results of their wrongs have caught up with them. They need your grace and forgiveness. Be a good son or daughter, and by this you may facilitate healing for your parents’ soul. Sin has its own harvest of heartache, not to mention breaking the heart of the heavenly Father. Trust God with your parents. Let Him worry about what they deserve.
   
You can bring reconciliation to a fractured family relationship by forgiving. Once you have forgiven, trust God to administer whatever punishment He sees as fitting. He may see a broken and contrite heart in your offender that leads to their salvation and freedom in Christ. Your forgiveness and unconditional love may be the very thing God uses to illustrate what they can experience up close and personal. Forgive and give. Forgive them of their hurt, insensitivity, and selfishness; then give them over to God. Trust Him with His repayment plan. He owns the payback process. His vengeance may be swift, it may be delayed, or it may be dissolved. Regardless, you do the right thing, and trust God to do the same. Vengeance is His, not ours. Payback time is up to God. We have enough in our own lives to consider. Pray for yourself and others to avoid falling into the hands of the living God, for it is a dreadful thing.

God's Will Waits for No Man

Susanna is a lady of principles who values family above all. Johann seems to represent all she despises . . . but appearances can be deceiving.
In 1875, Susanna Hanby is headed off to college in Westerville, Ohio, when she discovers her sister Rachel and Rachel’s children have disappeared. Susanna suspects that Rachel’s alcoholic husband knows more than he’s saying and she vows to uncover the truth.

Johann Giere is heir to a successful German-American brewery in Columbus, but longs for a career in journalism in New York City. When Johann signs on as the supplier for a new saloon in Westerville, his and Susanna’s paths cross and sparks fly. A fiery temperance crusader, Susanna despises Johann’s profession, but she cannot deny the attraction.
When Susanna learns that Rachel’s children have been indentured to orphanages in the city, she despairs that her family will be fractured forever. But Johann makes Susanna an offer she can’t refuse—pitting her passion and her principles against one another.
If she can find a way for her head and her heart to be in harmony, a future lovelier than daylight awaits her.

I'm finding out in these few recent days that God sometimes lets things happen for the good of our own future. Even though we think it's the most terrible thing ever, God lets these trials build up our character so that He can break us into workable clay so that we can be a beautiful jade vase someday, shining for His glory.

I got this book from Booksneeze!

The Past Life

Long Trail Home is part of a six-book series about four generations of the Morgan family living, fighting, and thriving amidst a turbulent Texas history spanning from 1845 to 1896.  Although a series, each book can be read on its own.

When Riley Morgan returns home after fighting in the War Between the States, he is excited to see his parents and fiancée again. But he soon learns that his parents are gone and the woman he loved is married.
Riley takes a job at the Wilcox School for the blind just to get by. He keeps his heart closed off but a pretty blind woman, Annie, threatens to steal it.
Through painful circumstances, Riley and Annie learn that the loving and sovereign hand of God cannot be thwarted.

The sovereign hand of God cannot be thwarted....I'm seeing that in my own life now. My heart was hurt so bad when I was a child, I kept huge walls of steel around my heart and God is now breaking down the walls, little by little. I'm fighting it at every turn, yet even my mom knows that God is trying to break down the walls so that He could use me greatly in the future.

Even though I went to Liberty University, all my roommates were double-standard Christians. I have roomed with every kind of person, yet they all still profess that they love God with all their heart. I have had racist roommates, violent roommates and verbally abusive roommates. This year, my roommate is an only child and she has had a 24/7 maid with her all her life until this semester.

Life has been tough, but I feel as though God has been putting me through all these trials to break down the steel walls of my heart, so that when I finally surrender myself to him, he'll be able to use me for his greatness in the future. 

Life's Unsuspected Turns

Love lost doesn’t mean love lost forever.
Can unexpected romance deliver a second chance for two deserving widows?

Full of resolve, young widow Willow Peterson decides to pursue her dreams to be an artist as she settles into a new life in the growing mountain town of Cripple Creek.  When she lands a job working as a portrait painter with handsome entrepreneur and photographer Trenton Van Der Veer, the road before Willow seems to be taking a better-than-anticipated turn. 

With questions tugging at several hearts in town, including the Sinclair Sisters’ beloved Miss Hattie, change is traveling down the tracks as several unexpected visitors make their way out West.  Will the new arrivals threaten the deep family bonds of the Sinclair sisters and the roots of love that are just taking hold for Willow?    

Life often throws curve balls at you, and sometimes it's hard to dodge them. Some of them make your life go down hill and when it's down hill, it gets hard and you have to get muddy.

I have been down that path many times. I can see the pretty side of the hill, but no matter what, I am stuck in the mire of the mud and trudging slowly up the hill. But when I finally get up the hill, I find that I was much stronger than I was before I started up the hill.

If I had taken the easy side, I wouldn't have felt as prepared as when I took the hard side because I see another similar-looking hill in front of me.

To Speak or Not to Speak

We often find ourselves in situations where we don't know what to say, or when to say it. Some people will blurt things out (guilty), while others wait to say it. There are pros and cons for both sides of these situations often leading to guilt and regret.

Almost everyone has found themselves in a situation where they don't know if they should bite their tongue or speak their mind. When is silence golden and when is it better to speak up?

When to Speak Up and When to Shut Up offers practical guidelines for people who want to improve their communication skills. It will help readers explore the cost and purpose of silence, how to ask good questions, how to overcome pressure to remain silent, and more. Using biblical and contemporary examples, this book shares important strategies for discerning God's direction, acting on his word, and building better communication within your workplace, church, and home.

I have learned a lot from this book. I always say the wrong thing at the wrong time or don't say something I should've said. This book helped me to learn tact, God's way and I am thankful I got to review this book for free.

I got this book from Bethany Publishers. 

Letting Go

We all deal with anger in our lives, whether it be in a subtle or violent manner. Being angry can involve such emotional expressions as frustration, irritability, annoyance, aggravation, blowing off steam, or fretting.

The good news is anger can be managed. In The Anger Workbook Les Carter, Ph.D., and Frank Minirth, M.D., offer a unique 13-step interactive program that will help you:

• Identify the best ways to handle anger
• Understand how pride, fear, loneliness, and inferiority feed your anger
• Uncover and eliminate the myths that perpetuate anger-"Letting go of my anger means I am conceding defeat" or "No one understand my unique problems."
• Identify learned patterns or relating, thinking, and behaving in your life that influence your anger.

After I read this book, I understood anger a lot better. I was in the category of: pride and that fed to my anger. I was too proud to let go of my anger and that ate me up, quite literally. Because I was angry at one person, my whole life was all about how that one person made me feel.

Not to worry, my silent audience. It's not a boyfriend, BUT it is a guy. I even went to the police station to file a report and it's all solved now, at least the physical part of it. The emotional part wouldn't go away, and my heart just refused to rest in peace. This book gave me insight as to how to let go and control that part of me. I'm not saying that this book is a miracle and I read it, so POOF! All my anger did not disappear in my night. All I'm saying is that this book has some good advice and it spoke to me.

I got this book from: Booksneeze

Assuming Too Much

Annie Wilkerson is Moose Creek’s premiere horse trainer and equine columnist for Montana Living. Money is tight as she tries to put her kid-sister through college and provide for her young nephew. When Annie’s column is cancelled, she’s given first shot at a new lovelorn column—and she can’t afford to turn it down. Only problem is . . . Annie’s never been in love.
Always resourceful, she reluctantly strikes a deal with the town’s smooth-talking ladies’ man Dylan Taylor: She’ll work with his ailing horse, Braveheart, if he’ll help her answer the reader letters.
Working closely with Dylan is harder than Annie imagined, and she quickly realizes she may have misjudged him. But her unwavering conviction that cowboys are nothing but trouble has kept her heart safe for years. And she can’t risk getting hurt now.
The more Annie tries to control things, the more they fall apart. Her feelings are spinning out of control, and her sister’s antics are making life increasingly more difficult. Annie knows she needs to turn the reins over to God, but surrender has never come easily.
When Dylan reveals his feelings for her, Annie doesn’t know what to trust—her head or her heart. The trouble with this cowboy is that he might just be exactly what she needs.
 
The trouble with assuming is that we do it all the time, esp. when we have been hurt in the past. So when a similar situation comes up, our walls instinctively go up and block out everything relating to the present situation. Our mind and our hearts close up and we end up getting hurt in the future.

I have experienced it earlier this semester in college. I took a similar situation from college and assumed that in the present situation, I needed to make a future assumption with this person as well. The past and present person were almost the same in both personality and appearance. They have the same leadership position and they are both directly above me in terms of authority.

James 5:9 - Don't grumble about each other, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. For look - the Judge is standing at the door!

This was the verse that God gave me when I was judging the girl I wasn't supposed to. I felt guilty and I apologized and asked for forgiveness. Even though it was hard to do, I now feel at peace as I interact with her now. 

Light that Draws the Moth

In a future United States under the power of a charismatic leader, everyone gets the Mark at age thirteen. The Mark lets citizen shop, go to school, and even get medical care—but without it, you are on your own. Few refuse to get the Mark. Those who do . . . disappear.
Logan Langly went in to get his Mark, but he backed out at the last minute. Now he’s on the run from government agents who will stop at nothing to capture him. But Logan is on a mission to find and save his sister, Lily, who disappeared five years ago on her thirteenth birthday, the day she was supposed to receive her Mark.
Logan and his friends, a group of dissenters called the Dust, discover a vast network of the Unmarked, who help them travel safely to the capital city where Lily is imprisoned. Along the way, the Dust receives some startling information from the Markless community, opening their eyes to the message of Christianity and warning that humanity is now entering the End of Days.
When the Dust finally arrives in the capital, it seems that all their careful planning is useless against a government that will do anything to bend its citizens to its will. Can the gentle words Logan has found in a tattered, banned Bible really stand against the most powerful military the world has ever known? Can Logan even sacrifice his own freedom, choosing to act through faith alone?

 This book was action-packed from the first sentence. I could not put this down and I felt a great draw from the beginning to the end and I couldn't take my eyes from it. This book drew me like a light draws a moth from the second I saw and read a blurb about this book...

I can't describe it, but if all books were like this, more people would be drawn to God more. Evan Angler did a great job in writing this book.

BookSneeze 

Being the Bigger Person

Josh McDowell would become one of the world’s most well-known evangelists. But his story begins with a young boy on a farm . . . one who didn’t believe in God.
There’s a saying that childhood is the most beautiful of life’s seasons. And so it should be. But that wasn’t true for Josh McDowell. He was born to an alcoholic father who showed him no love, who valued him only as a farmhand. He endured years of painful abuse. Josh’s mother loved him but was unable to rescue him. In the midst of circumstances no child should have to suffer, Josh cried out to God for help, but He seemed silent. And so Josh believed God wasn’t listening—or even there at all.

How does a boy overcome such adversity to become one of the most impactful evangelists for Christ that the world has ever known?

This is Josh McDowell’s story. For the first time, Josh fully reveals the dramatic spiritual transformation that occurred when he faced his past head-on and put everything entirely in God’s hands. It’s a story of overcoming shame, grief, and despair and embracing real love for the first time. It’s a tale of divine grace: when the worst that life can throw at you happens, you can come out on the other side with a faith that is full, free—and undaunted.


 When I read this book, it moved me to tears and laughter. Josh McDowell's life story was real and transparent. After I read this book, I pondered about how Josh can come from such a bleak childhood, yet become a bestseller today.

I realized that it is clear in the Bible. To become someone great, God will first make you serve mankind. He will humble you until the day you will become the person that God made you to be. But first, there will be great trials in your life that will cause you to stumble and scrape your knees. Those scrapes will hurt and humiliate you, but eventually, it will scab over as you learn your lesson and move forward.

Mark 9:35 says, He sat down, called the twelve disciples over to him, and said, "Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else."

I got this book from: Tyndale Blog Network. 

Letting Go of the Past

Night’s chill tickled her skin. Lonnie pressed her hands together and glanced up. He was even more handsome up close. Having grown up the shy, awkward daughter of Joel Sawyer, she’d hardly spoken to any boy, let alone the one who had mothers whispering warnings in their daughter’s ears and fathers loading shotguns.
 
Pretty Lonnie Sawyer is shy and innocent, used to fading into the background within her family, and among the creeks and hollows of the Appalachian hills. Though her family is poor and her father abusive, she clings to a quiet faith.  But when handsome ladies’ man and bluegrass musician Gideon O’Riley steals a kiss, that one action seals her fate. 

Her father forces her into a hasty marriage with Gideon—a man she barely knows and does not love. Equally frustrated and confused by his new responsibilities, Gideon yearns for a fresh start, forcing  Lonnie on an arduous journey away from her home in Rocky Knob.

Her distant groom can’t seem to surrender his rage at the injustice of the forced matrimony or give Lonnie any claim in his life.  What will it take for Gideon to give up his past, embrace Lonnie’s God, and discover a hope that can heal their two fractured hearts?

Gideon only ever cared about himself. Now that Lonnie is his wife, will he ever be worthy of her heart?

 

Gideon feels wronged from people in his past and he can't give up his injustices. It's actually easier to hold onto all the hurt than letting go because you feel as though you need to hate them all your life. The hate is actually holding you back from God's blessings. I experiecnded that the hard way too. I wanted them to hurt as I hurt, but they don't feel it.

A quote I got from Pinterest said: Hating someone is like drinking poison and hoping that they feel the same way as you. 

 

It just doesn't work that way. Once I let go of all my hatred, my life has been stress-free from all the burdens and all the baggage that I have been carrying all those years in my heart. Once I cleaned it out with God, my heart felt light and it can hold much more important things. 

I got this book from: Bloggingforbooks.com

Losing Control

Seth Kincaid survived a fire in a cave, but he's never been the same. He was always a reckless youth, but now he's gone over the edge. He ran off to the Civil War and came back crazier than ever.
After the war, nearly dead from his injuries, it appears Seth got married. Oh, he's got a lot of excuses, but his wife isn't happy to find out Seth doesn't remember her. Callie has searched, prayed, and worried. Now she's come to the Kincaid family's ranch in Colorado to find her lost husband.

Callie isn't a long-suffering woman. Once she knows her husband is alive, she wants to kill him. She's not even close to forgiving him for abandoning her.

Then more trouble shows up in the form of a secret Seth's pa kept for years. The Kincaid brothers might lose their ranch if they can't sort things out. It's enough to drive a man insane--but somehow it's all making Seth see things more clearly. And now that he knows what he wants, no one better stand in his way.

Have you always felt as though you're riding on the edge? I know many people today are going through life like Seth. He was reckless and irresponsible for his actions. As I was looking at a TV show, a commercial popped up about texting and driving.

The person checked his text while driving and ended up with permanent brain damage. He had one reckless moment and ended up regretting it for the rest of his life. Others were not so lucky. One person lost her sister due to the text she checked right before the car flipped.

There isn't a lot of time in this world, even though we all think that we're not going to die anytime soon. One reckless choice is what it takes to cause you to go over the edge for eternity. This book reminded me not to frivolously waste my life on things that have no eternal value. 

I got this book from: Bethany House Publishers

To Believe or Not to Believe

You Believe God Can Still Do Miracles, But How Do You Know Which Stories Are True?

A blind man suddenly sees. A lame man gets up and walks. A little boy is raised from the dead. You believe the biblical accounts that these miracles happened, but do you believe eye-witness reports that miracles still happen today? Between shady faith-healers, weeping madonnas, and gimmicks like holy land water, it's difficult--even foolish--to believe every miracle account we hear. So how do we discount the fakes without missing out on the real miracles in the process?

Award-winning journalist Tim Stafford shares captivating stories of modern-day miracles, wrestling over what is credible and what isn't. But more than that, he offers wisdom and insight to help you figure out the role miracles should play in your faith. Should you expect miracles? Ignore them? Pray for them? How active is God in the world today? And could he be more active in your own life?

This book opened up my eyes to Bible-based miracles. There are many people out there that are enticed by the false prophets and their miraculous healing. This book differentiates the difference between the two. I would recommend this book to readers who doubt the whole miracle process yet is awed by the fact that miracles still exist in today's world.

I got this free book from: Bethany House Publishers

Trusting God with the Bigger Things

A moving story of hope, faith, persistence and the power of dreams.
A piano prodigy, a nineteen-year-old college grad, a Marshall scholar, and an American Idol finalist. This guy had it made. He could sing.
He could ski blind. What couldn’t he do?
Even if you saw him in concert, you might not believe that Scott MacIntyre is blind, and you’d never guess that at nineteen, he faced a diagnosis that rocked his family and nearly took his life.
So how did he do it? How did he overcome the odds?
This is Scott’s story, but he’d be the first to tell you that it’s not really about him. This is the story of how God used a dedicated family, a selfless acquaintance, hardship, and a host of characters to give him life, faith, determination, and experiences most can only imagine.

As I read this book, I was encouraged. I know that my life is 100 times better than his, in that I can see with my my eyes, but I admire his faith in God. For a few days now, I've been in a stressful situation that like Scott, the situation was beyond my control. I was not given a choice, but I felt as though I've been thrown into a pit and there is no way out. Then a devotion that I subscribed to had a lesson about peace and how even amidst chaos, God still wanted me to have peace in my heart and trust in Him to work things out.

So even though in my mind and heart, I am worried about the situation, I told Him that I will trust and follow His guidance in this situation, just like Scott trusted God with his every step.

I got this book from: www.booksneeze.com

Faith is Bigger than Fame

It was the subject of headlines around the world:  Three Mexican fishermen in a small open boat without any supplies, drifting for more than nine months and 5,500 miles across the Pacific Ocean. Through blistering sun and threatening storms, they battle starvation, dehydration, hopelessness, and death. Their lifelines? An unwavering faith and a tattered Bible.

Thousands of miles away, Joe Kissack, a successful Hollywood executive, personified the American dream. He enjoyed the trappings of the good life: a mini mansion, sports cars, and more. He had it made. Yet the intense pressure of his driven and high-powered career sends him into a downward spiral, driving him deep into suicidal depression, insidious addictions, and alienation from his family. His lifelines? A friend and a Bible on the table between them. 

Thoughtfully told with candor and humor, Kissack weaves together the incredible true voyage of fishermen adrift in the sea and his own life’s journey as a man lost in the world. It is a story that will buoy your spirit and renew your hope and faith.

As I was reading this book, I discovered through Joe that fame, popularity and wealth is not the answer to success in this world. Only with the relationship of Christ through Jesus can sustain you through a well-lived life. As a student, I have thought that "if only" I had enough money, or "if only" I had enough friends, then...
But as I learned through reading this book, wealth and fame is nothing if God is not with you. Life would have no purpose and no meaning.

I got this book from: blogging for books

Never Forgotten

The Captive Trail is second in a six-book series about four generations of the Morgan family living, fighting, and thriving amidst a turbulent Texas history spanning from 1845 to 1896. Although a series, each book can be read singularly.

Taabe Waipu has run away from her Comanche village and is fleeing south in Texas on a horse she stole from a dowry left outside her family's teepee. The horse has an accident and she is left on foot, injured and exhausted. She staggers onto a road near Fort Chadbourne and collapses.

On one of the first runs through Texas, Butterfield Overland Mail Company driver Ned Bright carries two Ursuline nuns returning to their mission station. They come across a woman who is nearly dead from exposure and dehydration and take her to the mission.With some detective work, Ned discovers Taabe Waipu is Billie Morgan. He plans to unite her with her family, but the Comanche have other ideas, and the two end up defending the mission station.

This riveting story was the best at capturing the reader's interest with the right amount of history and fiction. When I picked up this book, I couldn't put it down. I read it in a day and a half. Ned's love brought tears to my eyes because he loved even though he knew of Billie's past and Billie's family never forgot her, even though she was taken captive by indians. They knew she was alive somewhere and I was just reminded of God's presence in our life. Since He made us, He also knows our past and even though we ourselves might want to forget our past, God will always take us in, whether or not, our past is darker than a train's tunnel.

Love Overcomes All

After solving the Mayor’s murder and exposing corruption among the top brass in Las Playas, Carly Edwards is happy to be back on patrol with her partner Joe, putting bad guys behind bars. For once everything in life seems to be going just right.

But then everything starts going wrong. Slow to recover from an injury, her ex-husband Nick, begins pulling away just as they were starting to get close again. Meanwhile when Joe’s wife lands in the hospital with a mysterious illness, their baby is kidnapped. As Carly chases down every lead in a desperate search to find the baby, her newfound faith is pushed to its limits.

This book is a thriller that can't be put down, when started. I finished this book in two days straight. I stayed up late every day and woke up as soon as I could to finish the book and get to the end. Even though there was an adventure on every page, there was still a freshness in Christianity in it. The author doesn't just preach God's word, but uses the characters by applying the Word of God into the book.

In this book, there was a message that spoke loud and clear to me. Love overcomes all. There was a time in my life that I admit, I was overcome with bitterness. I couldn't see past the hurt that many people over the years piled on me. But when I chose to forgive those people, peace and love started flowing into me. Of course it wasn't instant forgiveness, but my heart felt lighter than it has ever before.

I got this free book from: Tyndale House Publishers.

Unconditional Love

Lizzie Engel is used to running away. At eighteen, she left her Mennonite hometown, Kingdom, Kansas, with plans never to return. But five years later, the new life she built is falling apart. Lizzie knows she’s being followed, and she’s certain the same mysterious stranger is behind the threatening letters she’s received.
Realizing she’ll have to run again, the only escape Lizzie can manage is a return to the last place she wants to go. Once she arrives in Kingdom, Lizzie is confident she’ll be safe until she comes up with a new plan. In reacquainting herself with the town and its people—especially her old friend, Noah Housler— she wonders if she judged her hometown and her Mennonite faith too harshly. However, just as she begins to come to terms with her roots, Lizzie is horrified to discover the danger she ran from is closer than ever. No longer sure who to trust and fearful for her life and the lives of those around her, Lizzie finds she has only one place left to run—to the Father whose love is inescapable.

Just like Lizzie's father ruled over her, causing her to mistrust and judge others around her, we should also be careful not to let one person's emotions get in our way. I have learned recently that if one or more people hurt me, God will be there to help us get through it and He will protect us from much hurt. But He will not shield us from the situation because we need to learn to be humble lambs, but at the same time, clever as a snake.

I got this book from: Bethany House Review.

Here is a trailer to the book: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qq7-xzUPkpI&feature=youtube_gdata_player

A Second Chance

I got this book from: Book Sneeze.

The year is 1777. America is in turmoil. And Amish life is far different than today.
Pennsylvania in the late 18th century, once called William Penn’s Woods, was an assortment of different faiths living together for the first time in American history. Included in this tapestry was a small and struggling population called Amish.

Surrounding this peaceful people were unavoidable threats: both Patriots and the British were pillaging land and goods for the sake of the war, young Amishmen were leaving the faith to take up arms and defend freedom. A simple walk in the untamed forests could result in death, if not from bullet or arrow, then from an encounter with a wild animal.
Amid this time of tumult, Adam Wyse is fighting a personal battle. To possibly join the war efforts and leave his faith, which would mean walking away from the only woman he’s ever loved: Lena Yoder. But for that love he’s made a promise that may keep them apart permanently.

This is a story between a father and a son's intimate relationship for a second chance. I picked this book randomly and I admit, the plot was somewhat slower. I even lost concentration in the middle, but God always has a plan when I'm reviewing such books. I find that the book speaks to me through a hidden message, that only I can find through His guiding.

Oftentimes, God sets a path for us and because of numerous situations, we stray off the path, either because it seems impossible or we want to go our own way. But God always gives us a second chance when we ask. He asks us to climb a mountain and most of us aren't even trained or experienced rock climbing.

But as soon as we get there, He is already ready with the gear and ropes. We just gotta trust Him for the next step that will take us to the top.

The Lord is My Shepherd

I got this book from: Blogging for books.

The Lord is my Shepherd; I Shall Not Want.

Psalm 23 is more than just a lovely poem; it is a profound description of the relationship God offers you. In this refreshing, exhilarating book by Tony Evans, you will discover anew one of the most beloved passages of Scripture—and the Shepherd who is more than enough to meet all your needs.

When your spiritual energy is drained, He’ll lead you to refreshment.
When you’re confused by the world around you, God will guide you onto the right path.
When your life seems threatened by forces outside your control, God promises His protection.

That was my introduction to the book. I really doubted that Tony Evans knew his stuff. I decided to read it and find out. The book has six easy chapters that split off into sections that concern one's life journey. I was still very skeptical about the book until I read to chapter three, which talked about God being more than enough for our life's direction. As I read the chapter, I thought about all the issues of the present that I'm facing and fighting against God for. He wants me to go down a path, and lacking spiritual gifts like Moses, I dug in my heels and fought against the push of God.

When I read this chapter, I learned that even if we stray off the path, God will use alternate routes to guide us to His destination, like a GPS system. 

For those of whom are still struggling to see God's will and calling, I recommend that you read this book. Who knows? It might change your life for the better.

Bad Publicity

I have recently read a self-published book by a man named: Jorge R. Guerra. It is about a Princess Rachel who is not content with everything that she has and has set to make some 'human' friends.

Sad to say, I expected a moral to the story and how her new-found friends would make her regret not being happy with everything she had. That's not the case, however. I guess there's nothing to get by in an imperfect world.

 Things that you and I expect is vastly different than what the outcomes of life are.  I read an article once that said there are no bad kids in the world, only bad training. If that's the case, we as writers and authors that create harmless story books should change the world, one reader at a time. This is a fallen world with many evil people.

We do not want the future to decline, but to prosper. To do that, we must present ourselves as more honorable than our counterparts.

In this case, the lack of grammar and tasteless story leaves an unsatisfied taste in the mouth. Calling all writers. In order for any tale to be good, one must have a message that speaks out into the world.

I got this free book from: Dorrance.

God's Will be Done

Rachel and Jordan's feelings for each other are hostile at first, but angelic intervention helps the two discover peace . . . and perhaps love.
The youngest and last unmarried of four sisters, Rachel Hartlzer spends most of her time helping with barn chores. Her role abruptly changes when her father hires Jordan Engles, the son he always wanted.
As Jordan takes on brotherly roles around the house, like escorting Rachel to the youth singing, the enmity between the two grows. Besides, Jordan has one foot in the Englisch world and is determined not to get involved with an Amish girl.
Neither realizes that God has sent an angel, Nathaniel, to help mend their hearts. The angel’s intervention helps them find peace and healing in accepting God's will for their lives.

 As I read this book, I realized that God has a purpose for each of us, and no matter how we planned our own future, God will lead us to the right path. I discovered this past weekend that God indeed has a different plan for my life, one that I would never in a million years choose for myself. I still have a lot of doubts about it, so God will have to help me like He helped Moses.

I guess Moses and I have common ground in that God chose both of us to do big jobs that we would never ever dream of doing and we both lacked so much, but even than, God chose us to accomplish it. The only thing left is to trust God to work out all the specifics, since He is the one directing my path.

I got this free book from: Book Sneeze.

Brought with a Price

Amanda’s heart broke as she watched them drive her beloved twins away. She resolved to hope . . . and to fight for them to her last breath.
Kara and Lizzie are heiresses to one of the largest fortunes in the country. But when their father dies suddenly, the toddlers are ripped from the arms of Amanda, their loving stepmother, and given to their maternal grandparents, who only want the children’s fortune for themselves.

While even the stipend their guardians get for supporting them is squandered, the children are left to raise themselves. Kara and Lizzie grow up believing they are worthless . . . until the day when they learn the truth.


 What does it feel like to be bought? How does one feel exactly when all along you were worth something and someone paid the amount in full by sacrificing his life to pay for yours? That was my feeling when I read this book. I realize that the Lord Jesus Christ paid his own life to save my worthless soul. But my worthless soul means more to Him than His own life.

It's something to think about this weekend as we look forward to the rest of the summer.

I got this free book from: Booksneeze

Seeing the Big Picture

Once you’ve seen, you can’t unsee.

Brielle went to the city to chase her dreams and found tragedy instead. She’s come home to shabby little Stratus, Oregon, to live with her grief and her guilt . . . and an incredible, numbing cold she can’t seem to shake.
Jake’s the new guy at school. The boy next door with burning hands and an unbelievable gift that targets him for corruption.
Something more than fate has brought them together. An evil bigger than both of them lurks in the shadows nearby, hiding in plain sight. Two angels stand guard, unsure what’s going to happen. And a beauty brighter than either Brielle or Jake has ever seen is calling them to join the battle in a realm where all human choices begin.

Oftentimes, there are things to make you fall. There are more setbacks than achievements. We often cry out to God to take these things away from us and remove us from these situations. Most of the time, He doesn't. We are confused. Why not?

Now, when we look back through those troubled times, we can see the big picture. Through those times, God was building our character so that the troubles that we face now can be easily passed through. This book reminded me that God sees all and the present troubles are just a piece of a big picture.


I got this free book from: booksneeze.

One Choice Can Change History

Hidden within the battle of Jericho is the story of Rahab, a beautiful and brave young Canaanite woman who aided the Israelites by hanging a piece of scarlet cord from a window. This act of faith changed her life by placing her in the genealogy of Christ.
Rahab is the beautiful youngest daughter of a Canaanite farmer, taken to Jericho for the pagan New Year celebration so that her father can find her a wealthy spouse. Sala is the only son of an Israelite merchant, in Jericho as a spy for Joshua’s army. Their love would have been destined for heartache, were it not ordained by God.

When I read this book to its entirety, it absolutely blew my mind. I have always heard this Bible story over and over again, but it had never been as real as when I read this book. Rahab was a believer in Baal all her life, until Sala introduced the one true God to her and Rahab believed without hesitation.

When I read about her choices through the book, my heart was stirred and inspired. Even though some of the book's content is fiction, Rahad's choices to do the right thing by Yahweh won my respect. I admit that  through Biblical-fiction, the Bible seems more real to me than reading the real story in the Bible.

I got this book free from: Book Sneeze.

The Tunnel to the Past

Many of us have a past we would like to forget. Others have buried their past so deep into the ground that the happy memories have also been repressed. None of us would ever want to relive our secretive past, right?

In the book, "Jesus, my father, the CIA", the boy of 16 revisits his past to find a photo of his two-year-old self waving happily. On a further look, the writer comes to terms that the little boy in the photo is frantically gesturing to his present self to look inside of oneself to find the true person.

In this book, I also came to terms with my past self. I realized that I have been living in the shadows for far too long. Hiding away in the shadows of other people's spotlights make me realize that God does not want me to relive the bitterness nor the hatred of the people who have done me wrong. Rather, I am to give up this burden of judging other people to Him, so that I will be freed from the shadow's grasp on my soul.



I got this free book from: Booksneeze.

Indeliable

The word means: that cannot be removed, washed away, or erased....

It got me thinking. What can't be erased? The first thing that came to mind was sin. God is the only way that can take away your sin by forgiving you. Then another quote came to mind. I saw it on Pinterest a few days ago. It said, "words cannot be forgotten, only forgiven." That is indeed a powerful quote. I realized that words can be etched into someone's mind whether good or bad. That made me think hard.

As a child, my mom always told me stories of how blunt I was as a two-year-old. Words that a toddler says is def. weaker than what a college student can say now. I realize that I have to be more careful because words can be a spear of hurtfulness or a bandage on a open wound. 

Even though the book is about the past not being able to be washed away or erased, the word lends itself to different meaning through different perspectives. It's about a group of people and how one incident robs the security of the people. Then the same group of people move past the incident and years into the future, the past comes back to haunt the same group of people again.

I got this book from Blogging for books.

Online schooling at LU

LU is driving me crazy! I try to graduate early and take summer classes and what do I end up with?

Teachers with computer glitches that try to make my life hard!!

The first day that the course list came out, I took it. Then a week later, Blackboard e-mails me and says I didn't take it and I will be withdrawn from the class.

Then last Monday I took a quiz and wrote all my short answers and today, when I checked my grade, the teacher takes off two points because my answer happened to be translated to Greek on his computer?

How does that happen? I don't even know what Greek looks like. Sorry....I am only literate in English and a little bit of Chinese....Why in the world would I submit something in a random language like Greek on a test?

Don't Boast about your Family Background

There is something really creepy going on when someone introduces themselves as a PK (Pastor's Kid) and then later acts completely different later on.

At a Christian college, it's normal when someone says they are either a PK or an MK: Pastor's Kid or Missionary's Kid.

It's not normal for them to be friendly and then turn into a creeper later. He was so concerned for me that he acted out of the goodness of his heart to care for me? That is exactly what he said in his 'apology' letter. He said he was concerned for me.

Good thing I let LUPD (Liberty University Police Department) know about it, because I do not want to become another casualty or become depressed over the matter. My life is too important to let it go to waste just like that.

Here was my situation before I reported him to the police:

He would wait at the Rot in corners and stand there and wait until I showed up for dinner. Then he would sit at the same table. How do I know that? My friend would get there first and save me a table. He hates her, so he would never sit at the same table with her because she's Korean.

When I get to the table, he would suddenly appear out of nowhere and sit at the table, and talk to me. He would completely ignore my friend.

What's worse is that if a Korean or a person of black descent opens the door for him or holds the door open for him, he would walk through another door. He cannot stand for any Korean or black person to holding the door for him and he's a PK?

What kind of Christian deeds are you showing? 

Guilty Until Proven Innocent?

When did we change the laws? I have always heard in courtrooms that a person is innocent until proven guilty. Why is it different in a Christian college? Where are all the "Christians"? I seriously regret going to this school.

Here's what happened today:

Roommate: I would really appreciate it if you washed all your dishes after you used them because those are my dishes you're borrowing.

Me: What dishes? I only have my one bowl. I never borrow your dishes anyways and I always wash mine.
Roommate: oh really? OK..I will just ask the Elizabeth than...

What happened to politeness and tact? I'm supposed to have tact but others are not? Basically, my roommate accused me of not having washed her dishes after I supposedly used them?

What about asking first if I had borrowed any of her dishes? How is that for a roommate that's a prayer group leader? This is not even the first time that she has accused me of taking or 'borrowing' things without her permission.

I just hate the fact that every single time something is missing, my roommates are the first to ask me about it. Did you happen to 'take' this? Did you happen to eat that? Why in the world are you asking me?

No! I didn't borrow your clothes or eat my food. Do you not see that I am not your size in clothing or see my two full-stocked shelves of snacks? Let me tell you something...if there was ever a snow-storm, I would be the last possible person to starve in my dorm.

When the food got stolen out of the fridge, I was the prime suspect? Two prayer leaders accused me of taking food when they have no idea who ate it? How about locking the room door for once?

Every single time I come back to the dorm, the door to my room is unlocked! That is why things are being taken. I'm just thankful that no one took anything from me, except candy. I could go without the few extra calories, so I'm not that worried.

And to top it off, my roommate who is a prayer leader lets people borrow her stuff, left and right. I'm not saying anything, but.....you can guess the rest....

Power-Hungry Spiritual Leaders?

Once a common student becomes a student leader, whether a prayer leader, Spiritual Leader Director, a Residential Assistant or a Residential Director, some will use their powers for good, but there are some that will highly abuse their power.

I am here to tell you about the daily corruption I see in every day life through the eyes of a student struggling to stay afloat in this shark pool of power-hungry Christians.

I have tried to keep these things to myself, but if the truth never gets out, it will not do anyone else any good.

For example,

My friend came visiting this weekend. She arrived on Friday afternoon, I went to tell my RAs that my friend arrived. She said that since I didn't submit an order to the RD, I would now be fined $25 for not telling anyone she was arriving and it had to be done 48 hours before she arrived.

My RA also told me that my roommates had to "approve" of her staying in our room before she was actually allowed to stay for a weekend.

Here comes the hypocritical part:

Last weekend, my roommate's sister comes for a 'surprise' weekend and I definitely disapproved in her staying in our room, yet I didn't get any say at all about the situation. I would've have def. disapproved because having 4 other people in the room is not my ideal workplace when I have a huge paper to write.

I find out this weekend that if your roommates don't approve of other people staying in your room, they can't...

Because my roommate is a prayer leader, and my other roommate's sister that let her friends sleep in my room is also a prayer leader, the friends got to sleep in our room for a weekend without any argument or any ___________ (fill in the blank) !!!!


How is that for a Christian environment?

Hypocritical University?

When people hear the word Christian, they automatically think nice people, right?

In this time and age, Christian is now a mere word, used to throw around authority. If I was non-Christian when I came to this school, I would probably shun all the Christians and not want to believe anything else about God anymore. There are some unbelievable things happening behind closed quarters here.

I believe that people in the world should see for themselves the kinds of things that's happening and step out to make these wrong things right again. If we call ourselves Christian, we are under the umbrella of God's name and we should weed out the ones that are seriously making our name sound bad

True Love

 I got this book from: bloggingforbooks. Here is chapter 1: Eye of the Sword

Everyone wishes to be loved forever and ever. Every little girl dreams to meet her knight in shining armor or is waiting for a prince charming to sweep her off to his castle. As the bride goes down to meet the groom at the end of the red carpet, friends and family are writing their story down. As we go through life, we oftentimes make our lists and expect God to generate our boyfriends into our liking. God has already made the perfect guy for our lives and He's just waiting to give him to you in His own timing.


In this riveting novel that I could not put down, it drew me to the theme of the book. It is talking about how Trevin laying down his life to win the heart of the princess. In this case, it is the prince charming that is trying to win a girl's heart.