I AM SECOND

Hello World,

Today was my last day of my Bible Study.  I can not tell you how much I appreciated these like-minded women coming together weekly to build each other up through studying the word, and praying for each other.  It truly was a great time and I'm so going to miss these special ladies who have walked with me during these last couple of months.  Luckily we'll start back up in the fall, but until I am on my own :-)  Not literally, but you know what I mean.

This review is something that is close to my husband and my hearts because Todd serves with E3 Partners.  Todd has been blessed with the opportunity to serve with them in the sports reach programs which takes athletes (some professional) and goes to countries to use sports as a tool to bring people closer to Christ.  Here is part of their mission statement if you're curious to understand where they're coming.

"e3 Partners equips believers and mobilizes churches to go share the Good News of Jesus Christ in their everyday course of life, make followers and form small groups.  e3 also equips believers and mobilizes churches to establish new churches that last, multiply and make a real difference in the lives of people." (taken from their website).

  Their main goal is to bring people to Christ and to disciple them to grow closer to Christ.  The book I AM SECOND is a tool that E3 Partners uses to share the stories of people's salvation.  You can find all of their stories on youtube, and this book just describes their stories in more detail.  Some of them you would know like the former guitarist from Korn, or a major league baseball player.  All of these stories show God's amazing grace, and how much He truly loves you.

This book is really neat and truthfully a great tool for telling people about Christ.  Not only is it uplifting, but truly it shows that everyone is loved by God no matter what you've done.  If you pick up this book there is a website that you can go to that has a study with it as well as the filming of each of the stories.  Here is the link to the website if you want to go snoop around iamsecond.com.  I recommend this book to anyone who wants to see how Christ works in people's lives.

*I received this book via netgalley in hopes of my honest opinion, and I honestly did.

Matthew 4:28

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

This verse is something that I want you to contemplate.  Are you weary?  Are you burdened?  If you are Jesus is asking you to come to Him.  He is the only one that can give you rest.  That's all I have to say.


Hey last note I want to encourage Christians to find their white chair moment.  And if you don't know what I'm saying go to the website and watch some films or buy the book either way we all have a white chair moment and we need to be able to tell it to others.

Parenting with Scripture

Hello!
It's a beautiful Saturday morning, really a great day to do my non-fiction piece :-)  Last night we had friends over and chatted around a fire.  I don't know about you, but there is something about a fire that is incredibly mesmerizing.  My usual bedtime past by quickly as I was talking with friends and watching the fire burn.  All of sudden I looked up and it was 11:00 pm.  We all decided that it was time to get going and said our goodbyes, but I think that's one of my favorite things to do, talking over a fire.

Parenting with Scripture is literally the best way to describe this book.  Ms. Durbin takes scripture and teachable moments for parents to use as a reference.  She does a great job at using situations that could come up in a child's life and using verses to help guide the child on his/her path of faith.  She recommends that parents use this for children two years old and up.  Heck I'm sure that if I gave my mom this book she would use it for me :-)

Ok I'll admit, upon first starting to read this book, I felt an immense amount of guilt.  I was thinking my goodness I'm an educator and I haven't thought of using scripture to teach my kids in moments that they need it most. Thank goodness Kara Durbin thought to write a book for parents, because I don't think I would have thought of this on my own.  I'm not very good at memorization, so having scripture at the tip of my fingers when a teachable moment occurs is great.  This book is a great reference book, read it through once, but always have it on hand for that moment you need a verse to help you parent your child in a Godly way.  I should note that there is a section of verses that Ms. Durbin highly encourages the reader to memorize.  I plan on do that!  So if you're a parent of a two year old or a sixty-three year old pick this book up.
*This book was given to me via netgalley for my honest opinion and I honestly did.

Thessalonians 5:11
Encourage one another and build each other up.

I'm a musician, and in my world perfection isn't just a word it's an action.  I need to be playing everything perfectly in order for myself to maintain my level as a music educator.  In my profession my peers as well as my students expect me to perform at a high level.  That's what I get paid the big bucks :-) and I hate to say it, but my first reaction to any situation is to look at it with a critical eye.  So for me this verse hits me.  I need to temper my actions and control my thoughts.  I can be encouraging and build people up while I teach them the skills to become a fine musician.  Help me Father to be a light to those who aren't a light, to encourage and build them up, because they might not have anyone in their life who is doing that but me.

Prize of My Heart

Hello World,
What a great week it's been so far.  I think I've finally conquered one of my monsters this week.  Are you curious to know which monster I've finally conquered?  It's the messy house monster.  I found a great little blog on pinterest that posted a daily house cleaning schedule.  Can I just tell you how awesome it is.  It's very simple and not overwhelming at all.  Each day you have upkeep that you have to do, and then on a certain day of the week you tackle one major cleaning chore.  For instance today was cleaning the bedrooms.  Very neat and very easy for my attention deficit self :-)  Here is the link to her blog and the daily house keeping schedule I've started doing. time-warp-wife

Prize of My Heart immediately drew me in.  I was enthralled by the description on the back of the cover.  A privateer searching for his missing son for three years.  Captain Brogan Talvis finally finds him in a small town living with a prosperous ship builders family.  Lorena is the daughter who cares for the young boy and finds herself in a predicament.  She just recently spurned her childhood friend's proposal and she has troubling secrets of her own.  These two are forced together because of their love for one boy and a tale that follows them from land to high seas!

I love ship stories, seriously I gobbled up all of the Pirate of the Caribbean movies (plus the music to the movies is divine).  So when this book was offered to me by Bethany House to review I couldn't pass it up.  This is my first time reading a Lisa Norato novel, and I enjoyed her way of writing and how she led the reader on a merry mystery (yes I did say merry mystery).  With all the twist and turns and a troublesome past of Captain Brogan, I couldn't put the book down.  Literally, I looked at the clock and it was 11:30 at night, way past my mommy bedtime. If the rest of her books are anything like this high adventure romance, I'll certainly be reading more from her.

Ecclesiastes 9:10 KJV
Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might!

I have to admit something... I'm lazy.  Seriously, if I could, I would love to sit on the couch reading book after book and eating chocolate and sipping on a glass of Pepsi.  So when I read a verse like this my conviction meter sky rockets.  Screaming to me, "God has given you an amazing opportunity with these adorable children, and a beautiful house, get to work and stop being lazy!"  So once again I put my book away until the time is right, set aside my chocolates for emergency only, and the Pepsi goes back into the fridge for quick sips as I go about my day trying my hardest to do a job well done for my Lord and Savior.

More Beauty Less Beast

Hello World!
Did you guys know that you, yeah you right now who are reading this blog are from countries such as Russia, Peru, Germany, United States, Canada and a good amount more!  That truly is such a humbling thing.  Thank you for reading my blog and I truly hope you're getting the chance to find some good books, and maybe grow a little closer to Christ.  Since I have so many numerous readers I wanted to do something special; so if you become a follower of my blog I will enter you're name into a raffle.  Once I reach 50 followers I'll choose a name and that person will be sent a little care package from me.  You never know what it will bring, a couple of books, a little sweet treat, and maybe something else, we'll see, but you have to become a follower of my blog to be entered.  So go on, don't be shy, go ahead and subscribe to my blog.  The icon is to the right of this area :-)

More Beauty Less Beast,  when I first saw this book I wanted to read it because of the witty name.  Really I think every woman desires to be a little more beautiful and less beast. I felt as I read the book that Debora M. Coty did a great job of being that friend.  You know the one who just comes over for coffee and a chat, or the one you bring shopping with you because they compliment you on the really expensive dress you want and then they say you deserve it, buy it.  Or, the one who says "YOU ARE NOT FAT!!!"  That's how I felt through out the book, that she truly was writing to me saying "Girl, you are amazing, quit nit-picking and love yourself."  There were so many neat little pointers and quotes that I came away with the book truly desiring to grow closer to Christ and truly looking at myself as someone beautiful.

This book is for any woman who needs a little humor in her life and desires to feel beautiful.  Ms. Coty used amazing quotes and scripture to breathe life into the book.  She used God as the back bone, and her humorous writing to tickle your funny bone :-)  The chapters were short; so if I needed to have a quick uplift of my spirit I could.  Well written and beautifully poignant with a touch of humor made me enjoy this book thoroughly.
*I received this e-book via netgalley for my honest opinion, and I honestly did.

John 16:33b  ESV
In the world you will have tribulation.  But take heart; I have overcome the world.

What an incredible verse!  I teach a 4th grade class every Saturday night and this has been our verse for the month of April.  A lot of times I have students who do have tribulation, whether it's being bullied, their mother passed away, or they have been in very dangerous situation; all of these are cause to make us stop and listen to this verse.  Here, Jesus is talking to us specifically, explaining to us, I know what you're going through because I've been through the same pain.  I can just hear Him whispering these words to anyone who is in trouble "I know how hard it is, but take heart, I've gone through a lot of trouble too, and I've overcome the world for you, and you don't have to bear this burden alone."  Oh dear readers!  Know that Christ loves you, and take heart!  Know that He is there for you whenever you ask Him to be with you! He overcame the world for you.

A Lady in Defiance

Hello World,
It's been one of those crazy busy hectic days where you realize time has flown by.  Yesterday I was really sick, luckily an extremely good friend of mine took the bebs for the day so I could rest up.  I can not tell you how grateful I am for friends like mine.  She has three kids of her own, and to immediately say yes I'll take them was such a relief for my very sick self.  Happily I was able to sleep all day without interruption (except for an amazing husband who brought my favorite drink for me at lunch time) and read a book!  So on to the review

A Lady in Defiance is a historical romance based on actual events.  We find ourselves with three sisters who started out going to California but on the way felt God calling them to a small mining town, Defiance.  Defiance is run by Charles McIntyre a self made man who practically owns the entire town.  Will McIntyre allow these three ladies to show the town the grace and forgiveness of God?  Will Naomi be able to release the sorrow and loss that she has to love once again?  Man I've been ending my descriptions lately with questions, and I'm not sure that that's a good thing :-)  Anywho for now that's what I'm sticking with.

I really enjoyed this book, the plot was laid out nicely and the development of characters were real.  I loved that these ladies desired to see people the way God does. Heather Blanton does an amazing job at allowing her characters to deal with emotions such as sorrow, hurt, anger, love, and pity. Her character (the three sisters) find good even when it doesn't seem like there's good in a person.  To pity someone, who is full of hatred for them.  Doesn't God do that for us?  We're told to love our enemies but truly how often can we say we actually do?  It's a great book and I hope you read it.

Deuteronomy 5:10
But I lavish my love on those who love me and obey my commands, even for a thousand generations.

I love this verse!  It makes me think that some ancestor probably thousands of years ago decided to love and obey God.  Because this person (my family) decided to do that I am getting the blessings.  It also brings a very real question for me.  Am I loving and obeying God's commands so that future generations will receive the blessings too?  Are you doing that?  Remember not only do our actions affect us, but they will affect others as well.

The Forgiven Duke

Hello World!
What a morning,  sometimes I feel that having three kids under three can be extremely interesting when trying to get everyone ready for the day.  Right now I've given up hope of my son ever wearing clothes again.  At least I have two out of three clothed, right?  Luckily we're not going out today or it would be slightly embarrassing.  I hope your Wednesday is going well and that you have a great remainder of the week.

The Forgiven Duke...

Now I want to warn you that this book does not come out until this July.  I know you're wondering why I'm reviewing this book now instead of when it's coming out?  It's because I thought it would be appropriate to put the books in a row just in case someone was reading my blog and was curious to see what the 2nd book was like.  The Forgiven Duke starts with Alex on a ship with her fiance while the poor Duke is left on the shores watching her sail away.  Once again he is on the chase to catch up with her.  The question is, will Gabriel catch up to her and what will happen if he does?

This is definitely not a stand alone book, please be forewarned that you won't understand anything unless you read the first book The Guardian Duke (read my review right here).   I found myself clearly in angst with this book, feeling emotionally drained from catastrophe to catastrophe that happens to the poor Duke.  I was also really quite exasperated at our leading lady.  Lessons that I hoped she had learned in the first book were definitely not learned.  Personally, for me, I would have liked her to grow a little more.  All of this said, I did enjoy the book.  It's well written and once again we are left with a little bit of a cliff hanger.  There was just enough romance to keep me wondering where Alex and Gabriel's relationship will lead.  I'm excited to see what the final installment will take Alex and Gabriel.
 *This e-book was given to me via netgalley for my honest opinion and I honestly did.

2nd Timothy 4: 7-8 NASB
I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.  And now the prize awaits me - the crown of righteousness that the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that great day of his return.  And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his glorious return.

When I read this, I think of someone who has had years of walking in their faith.  They can look back and see how well they have run their race, but what happens if my candle is blown out early?  This proceeds with me asking myself am I running a good race right now?  When I ran track I would usually run the 400 meter dash,  I was trained to run my hardest in the beginning, because it doesn't matter how much I think I can sprint at the end, I won't have enough energy to run the last 100 meters.  If I held myself back in the beginning I could lose first place.  Many times I remember thinking I'll just conserve my energy until the end and sprint ahead of everyone the last 100 meters.  It never happened and I ended up in 2nd or 3rd place.  Where are you at in your race?  Are you giving it all your energy right now, or are you thinking I can make up for it later?  I encourage you dear readers to remember the race that we Christians are on and give it your all now.

The Guardian Duke

Hello Dear Readers!

It is all quiet in my household, because the kids are napping.  It really is just a cherished time where I can sit down and eat a bit of a meal, and think about how the morning went.  For instance my quaint little house is in upheaval from me going through each room and purging it of the things I don't need.  We're having a garage sale this Saturday and I'm hoping that my trash is someone else's treasure :-)  How about you?  What are you doing today?

The Guardian Duke tells the story of two people who don't know each other but are inexplicably brought together by King George.  Alexandria is the daughter of two treasure hunting parents.  She is almost always on her own but, she soon finds herself on a mission to find her parents who are considered dead.  Gabriel the Duke of St. Easton has been placed as Alexandria's guardian.   Recently dealing with a health issue he finds himself on a chase to bring Alexandria back to London.  Thus proceeds a tale between the two and an adventure for the reader.

I'm trying to think how to best word my review without giving too much away.  I will say that this is the first book of three and for me personally this a building book.  What I mean by that sentence, there is a lot of character development and a lot of plot planning.  If you're wanting an adventure book you'll like this book, but I want to make sure you know that there isn't really much romance.  Jamie Carie fans are used to adventure and romance all in one, where with The Guardian Duke almost all of it is adventure.   You historian buffs might not like this book either because it isn't really historically accurate.  Certain guns that were used were not from the right time period and a single woman in this time period would not be allowed to chase across the continent the way Alexandria did.  I'm trying to be honest and I hope you understand that.  If historical inaccuracies don't bother you then you'll have no problem reading this book.  Also, keep in mind dear readers that this is the first book of three (I'll be reviewing The Forgiven Duke tomorrow) so don't be shocked when there is a cliff hanger at the end of the story.
*I received this book through netgalley for my honest opinion and I honestly did that :-)


1 John 2:6  NASB
Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Christ did.

When I read this, I feel like I'm punched in the face with truth.  I think back to how Christ lived and boy was it convicting.  He loved unconditionally, spoke honestly, lived purely, and made wise choices.  Really there is so much more in His life infinitely more.  Lord Jesus convict me if I'm not living the way you are and help me to always desire to live like you.

How to Ruin Your Life by 30

Hello World!
Newly edited as I am sitting next to my husband and watching the last Pirates of the Caribbean.  :-)  I was looking over my post I couldn't believe all of the mistakes!  Oh my... all  I can say is a lot of mistakes, so thank you for bearing with me while I was in transition this week for my non-fiction blog.

 As you can tell by the title of the book our author Steve Farrar is full of humor. Since I am only a few short months away from being thirty, I thought it would be prudent for me to read this book just in case I can save my life.  Note: I am using humor just like our dear author. All humor aside, this is a great book for young adults. I enjoyed Mr. Farrar's way of giving wisdom, it's not so heedy that you want to put the book aside.  Each chapter addresses how you could potentially ruin your life and how you can choose not to.  That really is the gist of the book.

 Ok here are my thoughts. As I was reading this book I was asking myself these two questions 1. Would I have read this book as a young adult? 2. Do I want my kids reading this book when they're young adults. The answer to both of these questions would be a yes. Mr. Farrar does an excellent job at combining quick but wholesome amount of advice for young adults. It's like a good but rich piece of chocolate cake. Any more then one slice and you would start getting sick, but with just one slice you can enjoy the richness and decadence without feeling as if you were punched in the face. So readers if you are a young adult entering into your prime 20 years or if you're a parent who has future young adults I would recommend this book to you!

  Proverbs 31:26 ESV
 When she speaks, her words are wise, and kindness is the rule when she gives instructions.

Oh to remember these words when I forget to think before I speak. You see, I'm one of those ladies who generally puts her foot where her mouth is, meaning I always tend to say something I shouldn't. My prayer for all of us today is that when we speak our words be wise, and kindness exudes out of us always. Even when we are instructing or teaching. Have a great Saturday dear readers, and again I apologize for my lack of technological savvy.

Stardust

Hello!
This week has truly flown by for me and the bebs.  If you don't know what bebs i,s this is a nickname I picked up from a friend meaning children :-)  It suits my kids (bebs), because they're close in age and just adorable.  Anywho, needless to say it's been a fun week, of swimming, treats, and friends.  Now on to the book.

Stardust is set in the 1950's with Georgia Peyton.  Georgia is a young mother with a husband who cheated on her, and has now shown up dead on the shores of Zion.  With a start like that, wouldn't you want to continue to read about Georgia?  This is her story of her past, present, and future.  How she handles the ones she loves, and how she treats strangers as well.

I really enjoyed this book, the characters were complex and weren't picture perfect.  They spoke their mind when needed, but showed control when their words could have been very damaging.  Georgia Peyton was an amazing woman with genuine faith, even when she was struggling with the past of her husband's infidelity.  She wasn't perfect and that made me like her even more.  I hope you read Stardust, it was a very heart-felt, genuine, book of love, forgiveness, and trusting God in all situations.

Deuteronomy 2:7 NASB
The Lord your God has blessed everything you have done and has watched your every step through this great wilderness.  During these forty years, the Lord your God has been with you and provided for your every need so you lacked nothing.


This morning before my quiet time I was praying that God would provide for us on a new journey that we're about to embark on.  I wasn't feeling that He would fully provide for us like He usually does, until I opened my Bible, and this verse popped!  Here we have a group that had been disobedient in refusing to enter the promise land, and they were wandering the land for forty years.  They didn't trust that God would protect them, yet he still  blessed everything they had done, He watched every step they walked through the great wilderness, and they lacked in nothing because God provided everything. If God would do that to people who were disobedient why wouldn't He do that to us who were trying to obey His calling. You see, I forgot one important thing this morning, and that is that God loves us.  Not just sometimes, or when we're following Him, but even when we're disobedient.  He wants the best for us, and He's yearning to give us everything we need.  What a beautiful Father we have, what a true and amazing God we have.

Unashamed to bear His Name

He Is Risen!

When you read this I hope you're enjoying a glorious Sunday morning and church service.  If you're in Amarillo please feel free to stop by Hillside Christian Church.  There are so many different revenues there that I'm sure you would find the spot for you.  In fact I'll be playing my cello in the 8:15 Assembly service and the 9:30 Traditions service.  Here is the website if you want to see what services there are www.hillsidewired.com . We would love to see you there :-)  And if you don't live in Amarillo, TX  enjoy your day and hopefully you'll be going to church on this incredibly wonderful day that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

I really didn't know much about  R.T. Kendall and I really like to know where the author is coming from theologically.  So I googled him and he is described as a very charismatic theologian.  Here is a quote about him by Ernest Paddon.

R.T. Kendall is a man of great authority and leadership. He has an amazing knowledge of the Scriptures and a willingness to deal with any verse in the passage preached, however difficult it might be. I can never remember hearing a sermon which did not bless me. He truly practiced what he has preached. He has sought to reach every type of person and shown increasing patience and love to difficult people. Sometimes too patient! He has always shown himself to be open and honest. —Ernest Paddon, In Pursuit of His Glory

This book is really a good book.  The title I feel is almost deceiving, and the small definition of the book in the front as well.  I really felt that there was just more to the book then what it described on the covers.    I was expecting a book to be for mainly new believers who were having trouble with defending there faith.  I was corrected on that thought several times through out the book.  What this book was for me was a strong base to minister to people and to share the gospel with them.  I learned an amazing amount from a 201 page book.  If you're someone who is looking to get better at sharing the gospel this is the book for you.  It's a sound book that's very sincere.  So please dear friends read Unashamed to Bear His Name.


*Chosen Books provided me with a copy of this book for my honest review, and I honestly did.

John 20:18

Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord" -- and that he had said these things to her.

What a beautiful phrase, "I have seen the Lord."  After three days of being dead Jesus comes back to life.  Has this ever happened before?  Has a human being ever done this after being dead for three days?  I only know of one and that one was God, Jesus Christ.  What an amazing thing!  What an incredible sacrifice for our Lord and Savior to sacrifice Himself for us, that we may have a relationship with the Father.  For we can only have a relationship with God if we confess that Jesus is God and that He died and rose again.  Please consider this, please think through how wonderful this is.  If you have time read the book of John to see Jesus' life.  He truly is God and He truly sacrificed Himself so that we may live.  

The Half-Stitched Amish quilting Club

Hello,
Just in the nick of time I am writing to you.  I know it's not the morning and for some of you it's not even Wednesday anymore, but for me it is so there ha.  What an extremely busy day with my kids, we got a lot done in the house and it's practically clean.  Please note that I'm pretty sure that my house will not be fully clean until everyone has moved out including my husband and myself.

The Half-Stitched Amish Quilting Club is a story about recently widowed Emma Yoder.  Feeling that she has been burdening her children financially Emma prays that God guides her to help with her income.  God guides her to teach a six week quilting class.  Never would she have imagined the diverse characters that join this class and never would she imagine the role God plays in her ministering to them.  So begins a great story about seven character's everyday life.  Their ups and downs all come out in this little Amish home.

What an interesting book.  It definitely is not a book that will smack you in the face with conviction, but there were quite a few times where I could relate.  Ms. Brunstetter does a great job of describing the Amish way of life, and for someone that has very little knowledge of their way, it was helpful while I was reading this book.  I enjoyed the simple lessons that this book had, one of them being that there is more then meets the eye.  If you love a good stroll through a story this is the book for you.

*This ebook was given to me by netgalley via Barbour Books for my honest opinion, and I honestly did that.


Isaiah 6:8 ESV
And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?'  Then I said, "Here am I!  Send me."


I'm guessing that know one lately has heard the voice of the Lord speak out loud to you asking whom should he send :-)  But we have had one command by Jesus to go and make disciples of men.  How many times have I heard that saying and simply took it in, but never truly cut me to the heart that we truly are to GO!  And here is Isaiah excited to do the will of God saying "Here am I!  Send me."  Lord Jesus please place that excitement and urgency in my heart, may I see what you see and love what you love.

Words Spoken True

Hello Monday Morning,
This morning I had my cup of coffee and I was on my way out and as I was walking past our garage door a paint chip fell into my coffee!!!  No joke, so a very nice and perfectly good cup of joe (hardly drunk) was ruined.  That's ok, because Todd my amazing husband said, just go to Palace Coffee House and get yourself something.  When I go there I get the Irish cream Breve (in house cup), it is simply wonderful and brilliant and truly you need to go there.  So, dear readers if you live in Amarillo or the area surrounding please drive to Canyon and let yourself experience a great cup of coffee and tell Patrick I said hi.

Can I just point out the beautiful cover!  Oh my goodness it's simply breathtaking.  Alright on to the story.  Our character Adriane Darcy was raised by a prominent newspaper owner.  Allowing his daughter free reign of the press, Adriane grew up with a quick wit and a sharp mind.  Growing into a beautiful lady Adriane finds herself pursued by one of Louisville's leading society members.  She has everything set for a happy marriage, but she isn't happy with the arrangement.  In walks in a straight forward thinker and competing newspaper editor Blake Garrett.  Sparks fly (yes I did say it)  as the two get to know each other.

I can not explain how amazing this book is.  It really has everything; mystery, romance, purpose, and seeking God's will.  What a great book!  Ms. Gabhart weaves a beautiful tale about a young lady who's main desire is to please her father and try to do the Lord's will.  Clearly Blake Garrett should not be in the picture, but she can't help thinking about him.  If you love a good romance with mystery and suspense you will love Words Spoken True.  Oh and I should write a little about the historical point of the book.  This is pre-civil war so there are quite a few debates on slavery, women's rights, and immigrants.  I found it extremely fascinating and being the researcher I am, I wanted to know more about this time in the United States history.  A good author will do that for me, create such an image in my mind that I'll search the web, or go to my library to check out books on that subject.  Thank you Ms. Gabhart for the book, it was truly inspiring.

Galatians 6:4 ESV
Be sure to do what you should, for then you will enjoy the personal satisfaction of having done your work well, and you won't need to compare yourself to anyone else.

I struggle the most with comparing myself with others.  Her house looks perfect, look how well dressed her kids are, or how in the world does she put herself together like that.  Why am I doing that?  Could it be that I'm not doing what God desires of me?  I think sometimes that is problem.   I laze about in the morning until I  have 15 minutes before I have to leave and then I rush about trying to put everyone and myself together.   Or another example would be letting the house get completely trashed by my three little bebs and then wondering why everyone's house looks so nice.  What a reminder for me!  To do what I should, to do my work well and then I'll have the personal satisfaction of having it done well.  No need to compare myself to anyone else then :-)